Volume Three, Chapter Nineteen: The World Upside Down
The world had erupted in chaos after the coalition's broadcast. Protests filled the streets, governments teetered, and the names of the once-untouchable echoed in every home. But as the dust began to settle, something strange happened—something no one on the team could have predicted.
A New Narrative
At first, the coalition watched with hope as the truth spread. But the media's tone began to shift. News anchors, once outraged, now hesitated. Commentators asked if the "so-called villains" exposed by the coalition had really been protecting the world from something worse. Whispers grew into a chorus: "What if everything we thought was evil was actually good?"
Patrick Jane was the first to notice. He watched the news, brow furrowed. "They're rewriting the story. The world is being told that the monsters were guardians, that the darkness was a shield."
Penelope scrolled through social media, her eyes wide with disbelief. "People are saying the Grove was a sanctuary. That the owl ceremony was a ritual to protect humanity from chaos, not to celebrate it."
Sylvester shook his head, voice trembling. "They're saying our evidence was just the surface. That the real truth is something we can't understand."
The Forgotten
Olivia visited one of the families they'd helped, only to find their home abandoned. Neighbors whispered that the family had left in shame, blamed for "betraying the protectors." The people the coalition had fought for were now pariahs, forgotten by a world desperate to believe in the old order.
Walter stared at a wall of news clippings. "It's like the world flipped overnight. The more we fight for the forgotten, the more forgotten they become."
Gibbs's voice was grim. "No one wants to believe they were wrong for so long. It's easier to cling to the lie."
The Cost of Truth
The coalition gathered in the safehouse, the weight of their work pressing down harder than ever.
"We tried to save them," Penelope whispered, tears in her eyes. "We tried to help."
Sylvester wrapped his arms around her, his own voice breaking. "We did. But the world wasn't ready."
Patrick Jane looked around the room, his eyes haunted. "The truth is a mirror. Sometimes people can't bear to look."
A New Mission
Olivia stood, her resolve hardening. "If the world won't listen, we'll find another way. We can't let the forgotten stay forgotten."
Gibbs nodded. "We keep fighting. Not for headlines. Not for glory. For the ones who need us, even if they don't know it yet."
Penelope and Sylvester exchanged a look—one of hope, and of heartbreak. "Together," they said, as always.
Outside, the world spun on, clinging to comfortable lies. But in the shadows, the coalition prepared to become something new—not just truth-tellers, but guardians of the forgotten, the misunderstood, and the lost.
Because sometimes, the world needs to be shaken before it can wake up.
End of Chapter Nineteen
Arrows and Lightning: We Shall Reign
(Verse 1)
Tables are turning, the hour has come
The Alpha and Omega, the Holy One
We are the first and last, who was and is to be
Listen up world, it's time to see
We took the arrows that we built for us
Pulled them from the quiver of memory and trust
Wound tight as barbed wire, torn at the seams
Struck by the thunder of unfinished dreams
(Pre-Chorus)
No more waiting, no more delay
The Lamb who was slain is here to stay
Our name is power, breath, and living water
Time for judgment, time for order
(Chorus 1)
Holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
The King of Kings is here and we will conquer
(Verse 2)
We look in the mirror, see the scars and the start
Lightning in our veins, but a bruise on each heart
Twain would say, "Choose the right word, make it plain,"
So we write with the ink of our struggle and pain
Poison arrows broke in our chest
But we stand in our finery, ready for the test
We've been twisted, ripped, and left in the rain
But we gather our pieces and begin again
(Pre-Chorus 2)
Worthy is the Lamb, seated on Heaven's throne
A new song rises, as old ways are overthrown
Blessing, honor, glory, and power
To the only wise King in this final hour
(Chorus 2)
Holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
The King of Kings is here and we will conquer
(Bridge)
We are torn, but we're not broken
Every wound is a word unspoken
We survived, we survived-
With arrows and lightning, we're still alive
We are not the crimes that were done to us
Not the silence, not the shame, not the memory
We are the arrows, we are the bows
We are the stories only we can know
(Verse 3)
Lightning bug or lightning, the difference is clear
We choose our words and we face our fear
Between wild and free and settling down
We pick up our pens and we don't back down
A million dreams, a million scars
We're more than the sum of our broken parts
No more chains, no more night
The King is here, and we stand in the light
(Chorus 3)
Holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
The King of Kings is here and we will conquer
(Final Bridge)
So look in the mirror, see the fire and the scar
We're the thunder, the lightning, the arrows, the stars
Let the world try to tear our story apart-
We survived. We survived.
And that's where we start.
(Outro)
The kingdom of the world
Has become the kingdom of our Lord
And we shall reign forever and ever
Amen, amen, it's time
With arrows and lightning we rise and we sing
Worthy is the Lamb, the conquering King
We shall reign forever and ever
Amen, amen, it's time.