by E. A. Darl
Gabe began opening cupboards to see what was inside. Alexa knew what she was looking for and went straight for the last upper cupboard, where she found the medications and supplies that Dr. Song needed so badly, to treat Peet.
“Oxycodone, bandages, alcohol wipes, needles....” She listed off the supplies as she put them into a bag, taking more than was strictly needed but hedging her bets that they wouldn’t go to waste.
“Alexa, Avalon is sick.” Gabe’s voice filled the room, a deep baritone that broke mid-way through. The child’s voice came and went within the same sentence. “We believe she has been stung by the bees that the government is experimenting with.”
Alexa’s back stiffened and she whirled around to face him, alarm on her face.
“No!” Terror flashed over her face. “The bees kill. Why didn’t you tell me this sooner? Where is she? Is she with you?”
“No, she is with the Firebrand gang. They snuck into warehouse that we used to house supplies in. A couple months ago, the Feds arrived and took it over. They began pulling people off the street. We got wind of it and rather than start a full-scale war with the government, we sold our ‘protection services’ to them, to act as lookouts and keep the warehouse secure. It was ours anyways, but,” he shrugged, “it seemed better this way. Avalon and a couple of other Firebrands arrived a couple days ago and snuck into the warehouse, but were cornered by the Feds. They got away but we saw her collapse in an alley. The bees are loose in the warehouse. We don’t dare open a door. We can see them swarming the windows, trying to get out. We are planning to burn the building to the ground.”
“When?” Alexa grabbed her bag of supplies and pushed it into her back pack.
“Tonight,” said Gabriel.
“I need to get these supplies back to Peet, but they will want to know where the Firebrand gang is so they can go to Avalon. Do you know where their headquarters are?”
“Yeah, I could lead you there, easy enough.”
“Will you help me find it?”
“Sure.” His lips twisted into a tense smile.
A large crash sounded from upstairs and then the sound of hundreds of feet pounded over their heads. A muffled voice shouted instructions, then other voices rose in anger. Alexa and Gabe exchanged looks.
“We need to get out of here,” said Gabe. “Come on.”
He grabbed her hand and dragged her back toward the cellar doors just as a door opened at the far end of the basement.
“Who left this light on?” grumbled a voice as Alexa and Gabe ran to the doors and slid the bolt, unlocking the cellar door to the outside.
They slipped past and quietly lowered it, then ran off to hide behind the wall. They heard the bolt slip back into place. It was an old game, one they had played many times with the old friar. He made sure that the street gangs had the medical supplies they needed in exchange for some extra muscle on soup kitchen day, when the hungry throngs teetered on the edge of violence. The Imbroglio gang’s protection of the church was recognized by the throng and no one wanted to cross the gang members.
Gabe whistled softly as they ran out through the back gate and answering whistles followed their flight. Once clear of the crowds, they ran through the overgrown park and out the back end of town, toward the abandoned farm and the lawn tractor, which would take them back to Peet much faster than walking. They reached the tractor about thirty minutes later. Gabe sat in the seat and set Alexa on his knee and they were quickly on their way.
Alexa couldn’t wipe the grin off her face. She had acquired the needed supplies and she had the best seat in the house, as far as she was concerned, on Gabe’s knee. It was a good day, for sure. She giggled and Gabe gave her a shy smile. Ripped jeans or no, he was the most handsome man she had ever seen.
Three hours later, they roared into the lane at the back of Dr. Song’s house, bouncing through the ruts to the house. Dr. Song stepped out onto his back porch, a shot gun in hand. Gabe cut the engine and they allowed the sound to die before Alexa called out.
“It’s me, Dr. Song! I went to get medical supplies.”
Hearing her voice, the gun lowered. A voice roared through the open door.
“Alexa I am going to tan your hide for scaring me like that. Get in here, right now!”
Alexa grinned and took Gabe’s hand. “Come on, his bark is worse than his bite.”
Together, they entered the house, a frowning Dr. Song following them inside. Alexa gave Dr. Song a hug as she passed him and he grunted, his eyes never leaving Gabe. Gabe walked cautiously behind Alexa, giving Dr. Song no reason to level his gun.
“Alexa! Get in here!” Peet bellowed from the couch.
Alexa skipped into the room, and ran over to Peet to give him a hug. “I’m here, see?”
“I wish I had my pa’s belt. I would soon teach you to sneak away like that. Time you had some proper supervision. Sneaking off like that, you gave us heart attacks!”
Alexa directed her best ‘tween’ pout at him, which was half way between a lip tremble and a smirk.
“You let Avalon go do what she wants. And I am the age she was, when we were first left alone. Besides, I have been going out on my own for a couple years now. Do you really think I just sat in that old barn by myself for all this time? This is Gabe,” she said, pulling Gabe forward by the hand. “He is part of the Imbroglio gang, and a good friend. He can help us. He wants to help us. We have supplies, see?”
She upended her pack on the floor as Dr. Song sank into his chair. Medical supplies tumbled onto the floor. Dr. Song’s eyes inventoried the loot.
“That is quite the haul, Alexa, and appreciated. But you see, I have more supplies here. I only keep what I need in my bag. You didn’t need to risk yourself to get them. Next time, let us know of your plans. We need to work together. If you know of a source of medical supplies then we can be more specific on what you collect.”
Alexa blushed, her ears turning red. Chastised, she mumbled “Ok. Maybe you are right.”
Gabe spoke into the embarrassed silence. “Alexa did well. She is resourceful and smart. She also knows her medications. We’d recruit her to the Imbroglio but she is too loyal to her sister. Speaking of which, Avalon has been stung.”
“Oh shit,” said Peet, grimacing. “That girl! Where is she? We must go help her.”
Dr. Song nodded. “If she has been stung, she has but days. No one survives longer than a week. Where is she?”
“She is being cared for at the Firebrand’s headquarters, an underground restaurant called Frankie’s Finger Foods,” said Gabe. “I can show you where it is. I know the safest routes in and out of the city center. Better yet, I can make sure your car is still there when you want to leave.”
Gabe slouched, pushing the flop of curls back off his forehead. His ripped jeans were soiled and his t-shirt plastered to his back with sweat, but despite his grubby appearance, Dr. Song liked him.
“Son, if you would like to take a shower before we go, helps yourself. Bathroom is on the right. Water is set to a five minute timer and shuts off automatically, so be quick about it. There are towels in the cupboard behind the door.”
Gabe nodded, grateful, and headed down the hall to the indicated door.
Peet watched the skinny lad disappear behind the bathroom door. “Nice kid. I like him.” He shifted on the couch, grimacing. “Now hand me my pants so I can get dressed.” Dr. Song tossed his clothes to him. “Alexa, go pack some drinks and food. You don’t want to see this.”
Giggling, Alexa ran out of the living room as instructed.
Ten minutes later, they were all assembled in the living room, and they trooped out the door to Peet’s waiting sedan. Dr. Song had washed the interior upholstery, cleaning away the bloodstains but a tinny smell lingered in the air when they opened the doors. Alexa wrinkled her nose as she climbed into the back seat with Gabe.
“Hey, I took a shower!” said Gabe, grinning at Alexa.
Dr. Song helped Peet into the passenger seat
and took the wheel, starting the engine with a flip of the wrist. He steered the car down the lane and out onto the main road. Alexa felt a thump of anxiety at the familiar scenery passing by her window, remembering her last panicked trip down the same road. Gabe bumped her shoulder and she leaned over to whisper in his hear.
“Can you really get us into the Firebrand gang without us all dying? They don’t allow people on their turf, especially Imbroglio gang members.”
“Yeah,” he whispered back. “I am one of the few who can talk to them. My brother sends me when the two factions need to talk. They will not harm anyone under sixteen.”
He smiled, and Alexa thought the dimple on his cheek was adorable.
“Which way, Gabe?” Peet’s gruff voice broke into their musings.
“Take the exit for the city center. After crossing the Burgoyne Bridge, turn right and left at the brickworks. Once you reach the projects, pull over by Garden Alley Five. Dumb name, never were any gardens planted in the alleys.”
They travelled in silence for about thirty minutes. They passed only one car on the highway and only light weight, fuel efficient motorcycles, once they got off at the exit. Most people did not use their cars unless absolutely necessary, as gasoline supplies came into the city once a week, and then with an armed escort. Most gas stations had electrified perimeter fencing in place and the driver had to prepay outside the gate before they were allowed inside, to pump gas. Armed security was present day and night. They drove past one of the stations and the guards watched them drive by with hands on their guns, suspicious of their intentions. Their narrowed eyes did not leave the car until they turned the corner at the old brickworks.
“This is it, pull over here.” Gabe pointed to a fire hydrant. The caps were missing, having been removed a long time ago to search for water. Someone had spray-painted it to look like a city worker, pissing on the sidewalk. A puddle of paint was sprayed on the sidewalk in bright yellow. As soon as the car stopped by the curb, twenty teens melted out of the shadows and surrounded the car.
“Stay here for a minute, I will talk to them.” Gabe opened his door and got out, walking over to a solid girl of about eighteen, who looked ready to hit him.
Alexa reached for the door handle to get out but Peet’s voice halted her.
“Stay put, let him do his thing. Wait.”
Alexa hesitated, and then sank back on the cushion, watching Gabe with anxious eyes. The girl laughed and the gang members followed suit, but Gabe waved his hands and gestured toward where the Imbroglio’s territorial lines intersected those of the Firebrand. His lips moved and then he pointed at the alley. The girl frowned, then spoke to a blonde haired girl. She nodded, and the gang parted, allowing the two girls to approach the car. Peet’s door was pulled opened.
“Follow us,” said Magnum.
Chapter 14
The End Of The Beginning
MAGNUM LEAD THEM DOWN the staircase into Frankie’s finger foods, and back through the restaurant to the kitchens. Peet’s limp was more pronounced by the time they reached the swinging door, and he paused for a moment to lean on the door frame. Alexa, noticing that he had stopped walking, hurried back to him.
“Peet, you need to sit down. You are still weak. You lost too much blood.” She took his arm and tugged him toward a chair back in the restaurant, but he brushed her hand off of his arm, swaying slightly.
“Not until I see Avalon,” he growled, then straightened and followed Dr. Song’s retreating back.
They snaked around the grimy countertops and past peeling painted walls to the back of the kitchen. The second half of the kitchen was dark, as was the room where Avalon was being treated. Magnum stopped then spun on Cris, who nearly bumped into her.
“Weren’t you supposed to be watching Avalon? Making sure she was cared for? Why were you out on the street today?”
Cris gave Magnum a disgusted look. “Would you want to be around someone stung by those bees? Who knows what the side effects are? I told Trench I would only stay as long as I felt it was safe to do so. When her skin erupted in blisters, I left. I have no desire to be near someone like that. You all should have done what I said. She should have died on the street and the disease along with her.”
Alexa pushed her way up to the two girls, Gabe at her shoulder. “You would have let my sister die?”
Cris spared a fraction of a glance at the younger Gainsborough then said, “In a heartbeat. She will be the death of us all now.” She grabbed Magnum by the sleeve. “It’s not too late, you know,” she whispered.
The sound of a gun’s safety being removed filled the room like a glass shattering on cement. The sound was echoed by six other guns, and a tense silence shivered through the room.
“There will be no shooting.” Peet’s hand was steady as he leaned back against the door frame, gun pointed at the pair of girls. All five guns pointed back at him but he paid them no mind.
Magnum glared at Peet. “You dare bare your firearm inside the headquarters of the Firebrand? Are you insane?”
“Perhaps. Or maybe I am just too old to care about your little turf wars. I am here to get Avalon and I will bring her out of here alive. The question is, how many of you are willing to die to prevent that? Is it really worth your life, when your leader has seen fit to save her?” He waved his gun in the direction of the dark. “Now, go turn on the lights so we can see what the hell we are dealing with here.”
“Put those away!” snapped Magnum, glaring at the others. “And keep your mouth shut, Cris. No one is going to save your backside again.”
When the guns disappeared into pockets once again, she turned her back on everyone and walked to the back wall to flip the switches. The back half of the restaurant lit up.
Dr. Song, who had stepped out of the line of fire, hurried over to the back office, which was still in the dark. The blinds were pulled. On the door a sign had been taped, written in a rough, male handwriting, the strokes bold and sharp. “Warning! Do not enter. Occupants are contagious. Trench.” Dr. Song turned on the light from the switch located by the door. The room was bathed in a weak light from the single overhead bulb. Trench and Avalon lay sleeping on the bed, covered in blisters. Their chests rose and fell, the breathing laboured. Dr. Song sighed, the sound a low groan as it passed his lips.
“No one will be moving these two.”
He took his hand away from the door knob and before he could react, Alexa and Gabe had gripped the handle and opened the door, stepping inside the room. Dr. Song gasped then pulled the door shut.
“Alexa, what have you done?” he shouted, furious.
Alexa looked back at him, not understanding his concern. Then her eyes fell on the back side of the taped message. She could read the message in reverse as the marker shone through the glass. Peet was just behind them but Dr. Song grabbed him by the shoulders and pushed him back.
“No one is to enter this room!” he shouted. “It is quarantined. Magnum, you need to place a twenty four hour guard at all times on this door. DO AS I SAY!” he yelled at the startled girls. “Peet. You can’t help them. Now back away.”
For an elderly man, he had surprising strength, and Peet staggered as he was shoved hard.
“I can’t just leave them there! We have to help them. That is why we came, dammit!”
“You can’t help them if you are dead. Now, sit.”
Peet sank into a chair by the door, his mouth sagging with misery.
Alexa and Gabe turned their backs on the watchers and moved over to the side of the bed. Alexa reached over and gave Avalon’s shoulder a quick shake. “Avalon, wake up. It’s me, Alexa. Avalon, wake up!”
Avalon groaned, and slowly her eyes opened. She blinked several times then said in a husky voice that sounded like crumpled paper, “Alexa? Is that you?”
“Yeah it’s me. Can’t you see me? I am standing right here.”
Avalon squinted at her then put a hand over her eyes. “The light hurts. Can you turn the light out?”
“Ok.” Alexa went over to the door. “Turn off the light; it’s hurting their eyes.”
Dr. Song nodded and the light went out. He crowded in close to the glass to peer inside the room.
“Is that better?”
“Yeah. You shouldn’t be in here.”
“I had to see you. They said you were dying.”
“I might still be dying. And now you will too.” She swallowed heavily, throat dry. “Water.”
Alexa handed her the glass of water sitting on the stand and Avalon took a small drink. “Under the bed, med kit. You must take a shot right now, both of you. Oxycodone. Hurry. Only thing that might save you, she rasped past a throat that was like sandpaper.
Alexa reached under the bed and pulled out a tool box filled with medication and bandages. She drew a shot of Oxycodone for both her and Gabe then walked over to the door to show Dr. Song the amount. When he nodded that it was the proper dose, she administered the shot to both herself and Gabe. Avalon sat still on the bed, swaying.
“Tell them to bring you two sleeping bags for the floor. You are not leaving until you are better. Your fate will be the same as mine. You should have stayed away.”
“Our fates were always tied together Avalon. I love you. We will get through this, together, as we always have.”
Avalon smiled at her words.
“Who is your friend?” said Avalon.
Gabe introduced himself. Trench stirred. He opened his eyes, blinking steadily, raising his hands to rub them with his blistered fists.
“I can’t see. Avalon, are you there?” Trench swayed where he sat and then he vomited, spewing sick over the side of the bed. Most of it hit the bowl he had placed there but some did not. With a groan he laid back down, head hanging over the side. Alexa got the bucket of salted water and began mopping up the sick. She emptied the basin in the toilet of the spartan, ensuite bathroom, and returned with the clean vessel, placing it back on the floor.
