by Jay Posey
The raindrops became heavier, more oppressive, and the wind more insistent. Lightning flashed in the heavens, momentarily illuminating the clouds from within with an unearthly glow. Thunder growled. Still they trudged on. Whether consciously or not, Cass noticed the group had closed in more tightly together. Everyone was stoic and determined.
Wick glimpsed her looking at him out of the corner of his eye, and glanced over at her. He was bareheaded, hair plastered and dripping, but he flashed a quick smile and winked at her. She got the impression he might actually be enjoying himself.
“Nothing like a good rain to remind you how nice it is to be dry, huh?” Wick said.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you like it out here,” Cass said.
He shrugged. “Out here just is. You gotta make it what you want.”
“Why don’t you make it dry and sunny, then?” Finn said from Cass’s other side.
“Ehn, sun’s bad for my complexion,” Wick answered. He lifted his face towards the sky with his eyes closed, letting the rain splash over it for effect.
“Obviously haven’t found anything good for your complexion yet.”
“It’s just ahead,” Elan said from the front of the group. He pointed at a squat building. There was a pair of tall iron-barred fences around it, one inside the other, both with circular razor wire along the top. It looked exactly like a prison. As they got closer, someone darted out of the main entrance and opened the gates. “Wait here a second,” Elan said. “I want to make sure there are no surprises.”
The group stopped a few feet away while Elan jogged to meet the gatekeeper. An electric cry cut through the rain, distant but unmistakable – the first of the Weir.
“Cutting it close,” the gatekeeper said as Elan moved in.
“Lil make it back?” Elan asked.
The gatekeeper nodded. “About ten minutes ago. She told us you were bringing guests.”
“Did she explain? About the two?”
“She explained. Not sure I believe it.”
“You will.” Elan turned back and motioned to the others. As the group started towards the building, Swoop caught Cass’s arm – just inside her elbow – and leaned in close.
“Don’t let your guard down,” he whispered forcefully. “We don’t know these people. They’re just as likely to tear you apart as they are to accept your help. Keep close to Mouse.”
He didn’t wait for a response. Swoop went through the gate with a sharp nod to the gatekeeper. As soon as he was through, Swoop started scanning the place.
Cass had wanted to believe he’d been unnecessarily concerned before. Now, standing just outside the gate, she understood what he’d been trying to tell her back at the village. Once they passed through, they’d be trapped inside, and they didn’t really know how they’d be received. She’d said it was worth the risk. Looking at what she’d led them into, though, made Cass wonder. If things went bad… well, if things went bad, she’d just have to make sure they only went bad for the people inside, no matter who they might’ve been once.
“Mama?” Wren asked. He was standing a little ahead of her, about to go through the gate.
Cass took a deep breath. “Coming.”
SEVENTEEN
When they got inside the building, Wren’s first impression was that the walls were too close and too… heavy. It was almost like he could feel the weight of them bearing down on him, like they were squeezing the air tighter somehow. The entryway was darker than he’d been expecting, and warmer. There was a thickness to the air, and it had a faintly unpleasant smell, though Wren couldn’t place it. There were few windows, and those were high and narrow slots, reinforced by steel grating.
They were all standing in an open room without furniture, waiting, as they’d been asked to do. Well, all except for Swoop and Wick, who had dropped their gear off and then insisted on going back out to walk the grounds. Neither of them liked to be anywhere without having a solid idea of the layout. Wren didn’t know how they could keep at it. It seemed like it’d been days since any of them had gotten any real sleep.
As for him, he felt like he could fall asleep standing up if they had to wait too much longer. The idea of standing up any longer was pretty hard to face, though, too. Wren couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so completely wiped out. Mentally, physically, emotionally. He just felt totally empty. It was a strange, vibrating hollowness; like he was really nervous and maybe wanted to cry, except he’d already cried so much Wren didn’t feel like he had any tears left.
Lil finally reappeared in the corridor that led off from the entry room.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” she said. “I just wanted to make sure everyone was aware of the situation. We have several rooms prepared for you. If you’ll follow me?”
The group gathered their packs up off the floor, and Lil led them back down the corridor. They passed a few doors on either side, though most were closed. One was cracked open slightly, and Wren thought he caught a glimpse of someone peeking out as they went by. They reached an intersecting hall with branches leading left and right.
There were sounds of activity coming from the left, and a few people stood further down that direction watching them, but Lil led them off to the right. This hall was shorter and there was a cluster of six rooms at the far end, three to a side.
“We’ll put you in here, if some of you don’t mind sharing,” Lil said. “We have more space back down the other way, but I thought you’d prefer to all be together.”
“This’ll be perfect, Lil,” Cass said. “Thank you.”
Gamble quickly designated rooms for everyone, keeping Cass, Wren, and Painter in the middle rooms, with her team members on either side.
“I’ll give you time to get settled,” Lil said. “When you’re ready, come get me and I’ll show you around and make introductions. My room is there, at the end of the hall.” She gave a little nod and turned to go.
“One sec, Miss Lil,” Mouse said. He ducked into his room for a few moments and then came back out with his medical kit in hand. “I’d like to go ahead and take a look at your injured, if that’s alright.”
Lil seemed surprised. “Um, certainly,” she said. “Of course. If you feel up to it.”
“I do.”
“Alright. Come with me, I’ll take you to them.”
She took Mouse back down the hall, and the rest of the team went to their rooms to get their gear settled. Cass and Wren had the room on the left of the hall, across from Painter’s. Gamble had given him his own room, but Wren guessed somebody would be keeping a close eye on it.
“I’m gonna dump my stuff,” said Finn. “Then I’ll go make sure Swoop and Wick know where we are.”
“Yeah, check,” Gamble said. Wren thought, they sure did say check a lot.
“Come on, baby,” Cass said. “Let’s get changed into something dry.”
They went together into their room and closed the door. There wasn’t a whole lot to it. Two metal beds, one on each side of the room. But they had been made with simple blankets and pillows that looked clean. Wren remembered those blankets from the time he’d spent at the village before: light and a little scratchy, but warm. There was also a small table in the corner, but no chair. The room was lit by a single light that shone orange-yellow and sat recessed into the ceiling.
Wren dropped his pack on the bed and started taking off his coat. Cass made a little clucking sound with her tongue and walked over to grab his pack.
“That’s going to get your bed all wet,” she said, running her hand back and forth over the blanket. She took the pack and put it down on the table in the corner.
“I wasn’t going to leave it there,” Wren said.
Cass opened his pack and dug out a change of clothes for him. Wren put his coat on the table, collected his clothes, and took them back to the bed. He slipped his boots off, thankful that they’d kept the rain out. Wet socks were the worst. His shirt was mostly dry, but his pants were soaked, s
tarting from about midway down his thigh. They were hard to take off. He sat down on the bed to wrestle with them.
“Here, hold on, hold on,” Cass said, walking towards him.
“I can do it,” Wren said. His mama reached down to grab one of the pant legs anyway. “I said I can do it!” he said again, snatching his leg away from her. She looked at him sharply, but after a moment she held up her hands and then went back to their packs.
Wren fought his feet out of the clinging pants. It was frustrating when Mama treated him like he was just a kid. Sometimes it was like she completely forgot how old he was. He wasn’t seven anymore. With a flurry, Wren kicked his feet free and his pants flopped to the ground with a wet slap. He slid into his dry pair and then put his boots back on. Cass was laying her own clothes out. Wren went to the door.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“To see Lil,” he said. Wren put his hand on the door, but didn’t open it. He shouldn’t have to ask for permission.
“OK,” she said. “Don’t go far.”
Wren slid the door open and went out into the hall, and then shut the door behind him. He wasn’t really mad at Mama. It was just… well, he didn’t really know. Wren felt out of sorts and wasn’t sure why. But after all they’d been through, Mama didn’t have to treat him like he couldn’t change his own pants.
He padded down the hall towards Lil’s room. The door was partially shut, but cracked. Wren raised his hand to knock and then caught himself. He was nervous. Maybe he should just wait for everyone else. It’d been such a long time. He had so many questions, but standing here now he wasn’t sure if it was the right time to ask them.
It didn’t matter. The door swung open and Lil gave a little start when she saw him there.
“Oh, Wren,” she said. “Is everything OK?”
Wren nodded. He wasn’t sure what to say. She’d changed her clothes, removed her sword and cloak. Now Lil looked much more like he remembered her. But more serious than before; her eyes didn’t have the same spark of life that they’d once had.
“You’ve grown,” she said, putting a hand on top of his head.
“A little.”
“It’s good to see you again.”
Lil’s words were warm, but Wren felt a gap between the two of them that he hadn’t expected. “It’s good to see you, Miss Lil.” His mouth was dry, and he couldn’t think of anything else to say.
There was a noise from inside the room, and Lil turned back to address it.
“Are you hungry, sweet one?” she said. And then, “Come here, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.” There were more shuffling noises, and Lil pushed the door open a little wider. In the middle of the room, a little girl was standing – brown-haired, brown-eyed, and a little chubby. She had some soft thing clutched to her cheek. She didn’t come any closer. “This is Wren. He stayed with us for a little while, a long time ago.” The little girl just stared, wide-eyed. “Wren, this is Thani.”
“Hi, Thani,” Wren said with a wave. Thani returned the wave, but didn’t say anything. Wren guessed she was probably about six years old.
“Was there something you needed, Wren?” Lil asked.
Wren shook his head.
“OK. I’m going to take Thani to get something to eat. Would you like to come with us?”
“I should wait for my mom.”
“OK. Well, we’ll be just down there,” she said, pointing down the hall towards where it bent to the right. “Around the corner, and at the end of the hall. You can join us there when you’re ready.”
“OK. Thanks, Lil.”
She nodded, and then turned and held out a hand to Thani. “Come on, sweet one, let’s go find you some food.” Thani took Lil’s hand. Wren stepped back away from the door to let them out.
“See you in a little bit,” Lil said as she closed her door. Wren nodded. He stood watching the two of them walking down the hall, hand in hand, until they disappeared around the corner. Then he walked back to his room and stood outside the door, waiting for Mama. And while he waited, he felt completely out of place.
Later that evening, after Swoop and Wick had come back in from their scouting, Lil had given them all a quick tour of the complex. It was larger than it had initially appeared, with several floors extending down below ground. Whatever its original purpose, the building was clearly built to hold more people than were there now.
Lil had originally told them that she’d put them up on the top floor so they could all be together. But as they’d gotten shown around, Cass couldn’t help but get the feeling that Lil had wanted to keep them separated from her own people as well. Everyone they’d met was cordial, but Cass could feel the distance between the two groups. And no one quite seemed to know what to make of Painter and her.
Mouse had clearly gained some favor amongst the people, having tended to the many wounded and having made improvements where he could. Even though Elan had counted eighteen able-bodied among them, it’d turned out that most of them had injuries as well; they were just too stubborn to let their wounds be considered anything more than minor. Mouse had come away impressed, both by the quality of the people and the skill they showed in medicine.
Afterwards, the team gathered in the mess hall, where a number of Lil’s people had prepared a meal. Cass recognized some of those that had escorted Lil, among the cooks. There were several rows of long steel tables with benches, and Lil directed them to seats. Though Gamble and her team had put up a lot of resistance, Lil’s people insisted on feeding them from their own stores. This place clearly hadn’t been some improvised shelter; it had been stocked well ahead of their need, and for more than had survived.
Two men brought trays over to their table, carrying bowls of stew on them. They placed these in front of everyone wordlessly, and then departed. For the most part, they were left to themselves, but Lil and Elan both joined them at the table, as did the little girl, who was introduced as Thani.
The stew was brown and thick, and though Cass couldn’t identify much of what was in it, she was surprised at how delicious it was. She’d expected something more typical of a survivors’ enclave: thin, watery, flavorless. Instead, the meal was hearty and nourishing.
“I have to admit, Lil,” Cass said. “I’m a little overwhelmed at your hospitality. You’ve done far too much.”
Lil shook her head while she finished the food she had in her mouth. “A poor reception compared to the welcome you would’ve received a week ago. We’ve suffered much. I’m afraid it’s made my people wary and suspicious.”
“Everyone’s been very kind.”
Lil sighed. “I’m glad that’s how it seems.” She looked over her shoulder at the people gathered around other tables. “But you didn’t know us before. We’re a changed people. I fear this latest attack may have broken us.”
“It’s only been three days, Lil,” Elan said. “We’ll adapt, same as always. Just takes time.”
Lil turned back and stirred the stew in her bowl. “I hope you’re right, Elan.” She looked at Thani, and stroked the girl’s hair. “But it wasn’t just the attack. We’ve been dwindling for a long time now. Once we lost Chapel…”
“Chapel was your leader?” Cass asked.
Lil smiled a little sadly. “He would’ve said ‘no’. But Chapel was the heart of our community. He was the first to believe we could live without walls. The first to show it. After he was taken…” She paused and shook her head again. “It was a slow process, but hope started to drain away. Families left. I suppose it was only a matter of time before our little remnant would fail.”
“How did it happen, Lil?” asked Wren. There was an edge to the question, a hint of anger. “How did they get him?”
“I still ask myself the same question, Wren. It seems impossible, doesn’t it?” Wren nodded.
“One night they came, and we repelled them. It wasn’t even that large an attack. Nothing like the one we suffered when you were with us. But afterwards, when we all
gathered back together, he was just… gone.”
“Lil pursued them,” Elan said. “She never tells that part.”
“Many of us did, Elan.”
“Not like you.”
Lil shrugged.
“After Chapel, Lil has led us in his stead,” Elan continued. “She kept our community together. If not for her, it would’ve collapsed completely.”
“Elan is being generous,” Lil said. But Elan shook his head.
“No, I’m being honest. If not for her, I don’t think any of us would’ve survived.”
“What will you do now?” Gamble asked.
“Get well first, I hope,” Lil said. “After that, I have no idea.”
“You could come to Morningside,” Cass said. “I’m sure we could find a place for you there. For all of you.”
Lil made a little frown, but more from thought than displeasure at the idea. “I’m not sure how my people would adjust. That would be quite a shock.”
“It’s not like it used to be,” Wren said.
“And yet you fled it?” Lil asked. Cass and Gamble exchanged a quick glance.
Lil smiled gently. “You looked too much like a war party for me to believe you were just out for a visit.”
“It’s temporary,” Cass answered. “We’ll be returning soon.”
Lil dipped her head. She didn’t press for more information, but her eyes suggested she knew more than they’d shared. “We need some time to recover. Then we’ll see. It’s been years since I’ve been to a city.”
“We can exchange SNIPs, if you like. When it comes time to make a decision, you can always pim me.”
Lil nodded. “I’d like that. And what about you then? How many days do you think you’ll be with us?”
Gamble shook her head. “Not many. We don’t want to be a burden.”
“You’re free to do as you wish, of course, but you’re no burden to us.”
“Just the same,” Gamble said.
