365 Days At War

by Nancy Isaak

  Erroll said nothing—just grunted his approval.

  Sue, meanwhile, poked at the white sheet she had removed and placed on the bench beside her. “And now we girls have to wear this stupid thing! Like it gets so hot underneath, and it’s hard to see anything except what’s right in front of you. Plus, the guys still get to grab at us, even wearing this—so it’s not really fair at all, is it?”

  Alice reached for the bottle of wine in the middle of the table and pulled out its cork. “Yeah, life sucks,” she muttered. “So, can we please get on with it?”

  She held up the bottle, raising her eyebrows at me.

  “No thanks.” I covered the plastic cup that was in front of me.

  “You sure?” she asked. “It’s a pretty good cabernet. Not like anyone is going to be carding you.”

  “Still not interested…but thank you.”

  Erroll pushed his plastic cup forward. “Just a little.” Then, he looked at me, apologetic. “I’m thirsty.”

  Amused, I turned back to Sue. “Your sister?”

  “Rachel’s good. She’s with us, back at the house. We’re all living in Westlake Village right now—on the border with Agoura Hills.”

  “I’m glad to hear she’s okay.”

  “Yeah…it was hard for her at first,” admitted Sue. “I mean, I got lucky because Alice got to me right away. But Rachel took longer to get—so she went through some stuff.”

  “Took longer to get?”

  “She means that I bought Rachel,” explained Alice.

  Sue nodded. “The White Shirts put Rachel up in the slave market. But, like not right away. They had her for four months—so it was pretty bad.”

  I felt sickened; Rachel was never exactly a friend of mine—just a girl I went to high school with—but I certainly would never have wished anything like that on her.

  “It was luckier for me,” Sue continued. “Because Alice grabbed me, like right away—in the football stands. She told me to stay next to her, when all the stuff went down—so I did.”

  “And everything’s been peaches and cream ever since,” grunted Alice. “Except, of course—it hasn’t.” Then, she slapped the table with both hands, causing all of us to jump a little in surprise. “Enough chatter…time to talk!”

  “Okay,” I said, leaning back in my chair—crossing my arms and trying to look authoritative. “Go for it.”

  Alice took a moment to gather her thoughts. Then, she slapped the table once more and began.

  “First—I want to apologize.” Her brows knit together and she frowned, thinking hard. “Like for everything…the stuff I did in high school, the stuff me and the Foxes did when the world crapped out on us…all of it.”

  “Like telling us that there were ‘beasts’ out there?” asked Sue, in a small voice.

  “Yeah,” said Alice, trying to stifle a grin and not quite succeeding. “That wasn’t very nice. Like we couldn’t believe it when everybody actually thought we were telling the truth.” She looked at me then, cocking her head. “But you guys never really believed it, did you?”

  “We did, for a while,” I admitted. “Then, it just became too much, you know—everything that was being said…done. That’s when we realized, that you and the Foxes were just trying to control us—using the idea of the beasts to keep us inside of Agoura and those boundaries you made up.”

  Alice nodded. “Orla’s idea.”

  “Figures.”

  “Yeah, well…I also want to apologize for everything that happened after,” Alice continued. “I know I was just trying to survive like everyone else but…Brandon, Orla, and Tray…they’re like so freaking psycho! They make us do such horrible, stupid things, you know.”

  “Don’t do them,” muttered Erroll. His voice was low and angry—his hands on the table were tightened into fists.

  “Like here’s my choice, dude,” barked Alice, dipping her head, glaring directly at Erroll. “Like I can do some bad now and possibly make a whole lot of good later on because of it. Or I can just abandon everyone up in the Valley, run away and save myself.”

  Then—before I could even open my mouth—Alice spun around and pointed a finger at me. “And I’m not accusing you guys of running, and I’m not even suggesting that you’re cowards because you left Agoura Hills, so don’t even! It was a completely different situation with you and your group. If you guys had stayed, you would have been killed—or worse. But my only chance…to me…was to stay and change things if I could—from the inside.”

  “So, you became a Star?” I said.

  She nodded. “As soon as I found out that the Stars existed. But before that, I did other things, like—buying girls when I could, so they’d be safe…or making small adjustments to Brandon or the Foxes’ plans, so that they’d fail—or not go as well as they should have.”

  “And now?” I asked. “Now, what are you doing?”

  Alice grinned. “Now, I’m planning a revolution—and I need your help.”

  * * * *

  After twenty minutes, we had yet to begin discussing Alice’s plan to take over the Crazies. Instead, we talked about what had happened to our spies. As we did, Erroll watched Alice through slitted eyes, his arms crossed defiantly in front of his chest.

  It was obvious—he didn’t like Alice, nor did he trust her.

  “Josh was a good kid,” Alice was saying. “I tried to save him but, like they had his cage locked up tight. There were White Shirts everywhere.”

  “Well, then you didn’t try hard enough, did you?” Erroll growled.

  Surprisingly, Alice didn’t take offense. Instead, she looked Erroll up and down—apparently liking what she saw. “I’ll bet you’d fight hard, wouldn’t you? Wouldn’t let anything stop you, if it was important enough.”

  “Damn straight!” he hissed.

  With a nod of approval, Alice turned back to me. “It was Tray’s idea, by the way—to put Josh’s body in that bouncy-ball. She got off on it—like something that asinine was a turn-on to her.”

  “Was Tray the one who tortured Josh?” I asked.

  “I’m not sure,” Alice admitted. “I mean, I think she probably had her hand in it. And Brandon, of course. I would guess that Orla was there, too, but I doubt that she’d have done anything. Orla probably just watched and egged them on, that sort of thing. I do know that it was Tray who killed Josh, though, because she bragged about it afterward. She said that she thought it was funny to watch his eyes go dead.”

  Erroll and I exchanged a dark look—a simmering of fury.

  “I’m really sorry,” said Alice, sensing our anger. “I really did try to figure out a way to save Josh…really. I just couldn’t get to him in time.”

  “How did they catch him?” I asked.

  “Just dumb luck, apparently. Josh was over in Chumash Park—like they’ve set up this training area there, for the soldiers and stuff. I’m not sure exactly what Josh was doing there, maybe just counting guys, checking on weapons, that sort of thing. But anyways—Brandon saw him, recognized him from when he lived on the Point.”

  I shook my head, frustrated. “Dammit, Josh...why did you have to go to Chumash? You should have just come home!”

  “Dude was stupid-brave,” acknowledged Alice. “And I mean that in a good way. Like in an honorable way.”

  Erroll nodded, for once able to agree with Alice. “Josh was one of the bravest kids I’ve ever known.”

  “It takes a very brave soul to put your life on the line for the people you care about.” Alice said this directly to Erroll and—as she did—a tiny alarm went off in the back of my mind. Because there was something slightly off about Alice’s words—an ulterior motive still unspoken, I was guessing.

  “Any other…um…guys that got caught? Like any of your Star-guys?” I asked, carefully.

  “If you’re trying to ask about your other spies—the ones who came up into the Valley with Josh—well, I’m pretty sure that they’re gone, too… I’m sorry.”

  “Like
dead?” asked Erroll, uncrossing his arms, leaning forward in consternation.

  “I don’t know for certain,” admitted Alice. “But I would guess that Josh probably gave them up when he got…um…”

  “Tortured?” I suggested.

  She nodded, looking down and tracing along the edge of her wine glass with one finger. “They’re keeping it real quiet, but word in the Foxes’ compound is that some Local spies were captured. I tried to find out who they were and what was done to them, but nobody’s talking.”

  “If you had to guess—”

  “If I had to guess…I’d say that your spies are either dead, or they’re going to be—on Halloween. We lost two of our own Star cells, by the way—the two that worked directly with Josh. That was nine people—three girls and six guys. We’re figuring they’ll be killed on Halloween, too…if they aren’t already dead.”

  “What’s so important about Halloween?”

  “Anniversary of the event, of course—when the world went tits-up. It’ll be a big Arena day up in the Valley. Almost everyone is required to attend, so I’m thinking that, if any of your guys are still alive, they’ll probably be put in there with our surviving Stars—to teach the rest of us a lesson. Like—look what happens if you betray the Crazies, betray the tribe—that kind of thing.”

  “So, do you think that’s what happened to Brent and Han? They got caught up with the other Stars? Is that the reason they’ve disappeared?”

  Alice suddenly looked stricken.

  Her eyes dropped to the table and, for a moment, it looked like she might actually cry. “It’s like…I kind of hope that they’ll show up in the Arena, you know…because that will mean that they’re still alive. But I don’t think they will. Because Brandon and the Foxes—any time they talk about Brent and Han—they use the past tense…like they’re already gone.”

  “Like they’ve already killed them,” I said, quietly.

  She lowered her head—saying nothing.

  “Alice?”

  Slowly, she looked up at me—rubbing at moist eyes, embarrassed by her tears.

  “How come they didn’t get you?” I asked, carefully.

  Beside me, Erroll leaned forward—very interested in Alice’s answer.

  “If Josh gave up our guys,” I continued, “and the Stars that he knew—well, how come Josh didn’t give up you, too?”

  “Or maybe he did,” suggested Erroll, in a tight, accusing voice. “And maybe you did get caught up just like all the others. Only maybe you made a deal and now you’re being used to catch us. Or maybe you were with Brandon and the Foxes all along and you were the one who turned everyone else in.”

  “No…you’ve got it wrong.” Alice shook her head. “Look around you. If I was part of them, there’d definitely be soldiers here by now. Because a chance to take in Kaylee—to give her to Tray and Brandon—do you not understand the reward that I’d get for doing that? How desperately they want her? How much Brandon wants her?”

  A shiver ran down my spine. I peered around at the hills that surrounded us, searching for skulking figures—slowly moving closer, their intent deadly and nefarious.

  When my gaze finally returned to Alice, she merely shrugged. “It’s hard trusting each other, isn’t it?”

  My eyes narrowed. “Just tell me your plan, Alice.”

  * * * *

  “It’s Brandon’s hubris that is going to give us the chance we need.”

  “What’s hubris?” asked Erroll, frowning at Alice.

  “False pride,” I told him.

  “Oh,” grinned Erroll. “My mom would simply have said that Brandon was too big for his britches.”

  “He is…Brandon definitely thinks that he’s invincible,” continued Alice. “That he can’t be defeated in the Arena, because he’s almost a black belt and so damn big. And he’s so smug about it that he’s made it a challenge—just because it amuses him to have guys try and beat him.”

  “We’ve heard about that,” I said. “Like if you take Brandon down in the Arena, then apparently you become leader of the Crazies.”

  “Like the old-time Native American tribes,” Alice nodded. “At least, that’s how Brandon describes it. He says it’s a way of keeping our guys frosty—his word not mine. Give them just enough hope that they can become leader, without actually allowing it to happen. Then, cut them down in front of everyone else and you become an even stronger leader.”

  “If somebody actually did beat Brandon, would it happen?” I asked. “I mean, would the tribe actually follow the new guy?”

  “We think they would. I mean, I know with all the White Shirts and the slave market and everything—that it looks like the Crazies are all psychos or something.”

  “Uh…your tribe’s name is Crazy,” muttered Erroll.

  “But there are so many really good people up there,” Alice continued. “Like there are more good Crazies than there are bad, I swear. It’s just that the bad ones—the White Shirts, the slavers—they’re the ones with most of the weapons.”

  “And they use them,” I said.

  Alice nodded. “It’s like there are two groups of people in our tribe. One is just normal kids trying to survive, trying to live using the old laws and rules from before—be good, work hard, don’t hurt anybody. The second group—they do whatever the hell they want, and they’ve got tribal law and the weapons to back them up. But—and I swear this is true—there are more of the good kids up in the Valley. Given a chance to have a new leader—they’ll absolutely back him up. I’m certain of that.”

  Nearby, a raven flapped noisily down onto a large branch of an old oak tree. It perched there, clucking at us, expressing its disapproval—until a small bird suddenly flew at it, dive-bombing at its head. The three of us watched as the tiny bird attacked—most likely protecting a nest somewhere close by—until the raven got irritated and finally flew off.

  I chuckled at the sight. “David takes down Goliath. You set that up, Alice—a little life lesson to illustrate your words?”

  She sighed. “I just wish it would be that easy.”

  Erroll picked up a small stone and threw it in the direction that the raven had flown. “So, what’s the big plan, anyway? How are you guys planning on taking down Brandon and the Foxes?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” I said. “One of the Stars is going to challenge Brandon in the Arena.”

  Alice shook her head. “No…one of you.”

  * * * *

  “No fracking way!” I was so furious, I could barely get the words out. “There is no fracking way that I’m sending one of my guys into that Arena! Are you insane?! Brandon would just cut him down!”

  “But we don’t have anyone who could challenge him,” insisted Alice. “Most of the Stars that are left are girls—and the guys that we do have…well, they’re like, thinkers—not fighters.”

  “Then, find someone who’s bigger and train him.”

  “There isn’t time. The Arena is next month.”

  “So, you want me to give you one of my guys? Are you crazy?!” I couldn’t believe what Alice was asking. My hands took on a life of their own, waving, punctuating my words, pointing in her face. “You seriously think that I’m going to send a Local up into the Valley just to be tortured, to be beaten up—to get killed by Tray and Brandon—just for a chance to become leader of your tribe?!”

  “We don’t have anybody who can fight Brandon,” Alice insisted. “We just don’t.

  Beside me, Erroll spoke out—quietly. “I’ll do it.”

  I ignored him, continuing my verbal attack on Alice. “And what about that new rule you’ve got—that only Brandon gets to have weapons in the Arena? Like what the hell, Alice?! Like—even in this crazy-ass world—where does it say anywhere that it makes any kind of sense to put an unarmed guy into an Arena with a psychotic? I mean, Brandon will probably be holding a sword…or a gun…or both!”

  “I’ll do it,” Erroll said again—this time, a little louder.

  “Bu
t it’s the perfect opportunity, the perfect time,” Alice insisted. “Almost the whole tribe will be there, so they’ll see the challenger win. Then, there’ll be no argument—like he’ll become the new leader right there.”

  “If he wins!” I growled at her. “Which you damn well know he won’t!”

  “I can beat him,” Erroll said. “I know I can.”

  This time, I turned on him. “Stop it, Erroll...you just stop it!”

  “But if he wants to try,” pleaded Alice. “And he’s a big guy—almost as big as Brandon, which is what we need. Because there are going to be other slaves who will probably challenge Brandon—ones that aren’t Stars. We need someone big enough to make it interesting for Brandon to choose him, because he’ll only fight one challenger. And looking at Erroll, I think that he can be that guy. Plus, I know that you’ve got MMA guys down in your tribe. They can teach Erroll how to fight someone like Brandon—get him ready.”

  “In a month?!”

  “It’s possible,” Alice said, not looking me in the eyes; it was obvious even she didn’t believe her own words.

  “I want to try,” said Erroll.

  “This is probably going to be our only chance,” Alice continued. “From now on, the leadership challenge is only going to happen on the anniversary of the event. That means, if we can’t find someone to challenge Brandon on the 31st—someone who actually has a chance to win—then, our next chance won’t be until next year.”

  “Then, we wait until next year,” I concluded. “Pick out a handful of guys—Stars and Locals—and train the hell out of them, so that they’re really ready.”

  “Except that there’s another reason that we can’t wait until next year.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You’ll all most likely be slaves by then—or dead.”

  * * * *

  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

  Like Erroll beside me, I simply sat there with my eyes wide—horrified—listening carefully as Alice talked.

  “It was Orla’s idea. She said they were ideally situated…like the perfect treaty partners.”