by Marks, C. C.
I approached as he sent one of the guards to the ground and backed out of the ring to get a drink and wipe away rivulets of sweat. “Zeke, can we talk?”
He paused in mid-swallow and nodded slowly. “Alright, Charlie, but there’s nothing you can say to change my mind. I’m leaving at dawn.”
“That’s what I want to talk to you about. I don’t want to change your mind.”
He ran a piece of cloth over his neck and stared long and hard at me. “Okay. That’s a different tune than what you’ve been singing lately. So, talk.”
I looked around at the interested eyes watching us. “Can we go somewhere else?” A quick look at the sky and I saw a reason. “It’s getting dark. I don’t like being out here this late. Can we go inside?”
A twist of his strong mouth and a small shrug of his shoulders was his only answer as he started for the main entrance. I followed, running to keep up.
Once we were inside the cavernous entrance, he stopped and faced me again. “Okay, so tell me what’s suddenly changed your mind about me leaving?”
“Follow me. I have a better, more private place for us to talk.”
“Come on, Charlie. You’re acting kind of weird.”
But I waved my hand once and headed toward the room Thomas and I used recently, and a glance backward showed him tromping after me.
I closed the door behind us and heard his deep breath. His impatience and probable irritation were growing, but I didn’t dare say what I was going to in front of everyone.
“I have something important I need to ask you.”
Now that he was in front of me, I didn’t know how to form the words I needed to say to make him understand. I fidgeted with my hands and ran them up and down my baggy pants. My nervousness only grew when he crossed his arms with another deep exhalation.
“Well, spill it. The dedication ceremony is in like less time than it took to get here.”
I pulled my shoulders back, and rushed the words out, “You have to take me with you tomorrow.” It hadn’t come out at all like I’d planned, more like a you-will-do-this command.
To give him credit, he didn’t immediately rail at me with a shouted No! Instead he swept his head back and forth, dropping his gaze to the floor, like he’d expected this very thing. He muttered to himself a little before looking at me once again. “Charlie, don’t be ridiculous. You can’t go with me. You’d die for sure out there.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I’ve been out there before, scrambling for my life, protecting my mother and unborn sister. I’ll be an asset out there. You need me.”
“You’ll slow me down, is what you’ll do.”
“I know hiding places. Abandoned underground bunkers I hid in on the way here. I could find them again and help you navigate to the city.”
A smile crossed his lips, as if he were amused by my words. “I’ve got a map. Traveled and drawn by Victor. He’s been to Mercy and back, so I’ll trust his information.”
My skin crawled at that name. “You can’t trust Victor. He hates you and will probably send you deeper into the forest to die. Believe me when I say this, you need me out there with you.”
“What are you talking about? You need to stay here, where it’s safe.”
I shook my head hard at him. “I’m not safe here, at all. If you leave me here, I’m as good as dead.”
“Who would hurt you? Victor? He’s harmless really. Thomas will take care of you.” His eyes dropped to the floor again. “And I’ll be back.”
Something in the way he said the words made me think he didn’t believe them any more than I did. His confidence in his survival must have been less than decent, to say the least. That didn’t sound like the Zeke I knew. Or, maybe it was his plan to stay in the city rather than return here. No, he was far too proud to do that. He’d come back, if for no other reason than his father needed him.
“Thomas won’t be able to protect me. Ugh!” I turned away, my frustration building. “I have to go. That’s all there is to it.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. I didn’t like it, but there was only one way to convince him. “Zeke, there’s something you should know about me. Something I should have told you a long time ago.”
“Stop. Just stop. Do you hear yourself? You’re talking nonsense. You have to stay here. Star needs you. Do you think anyone else can take care of her as well as her brother?”
I clenched my teeth until my jaws ached. My heartbeat went crazy. I didn’t know if he could handle my next revelation.
I inhaled deeply through my nose. “That’s just it. What if Star doesn’t even have a brother?”
“Of course she does. She has you. What? That wasn’t your real mother, the one you came through the gate with, the one who gave birth to Star?”
My stomach felt like a million spoons mixing mush around and around. I was sure I was about to lose my supper all over the floor. “She was my mother.”
“Well, I hate to break it to you, but that makes you Star’s brother.”
“Sister.”
“What?”
“I’m Star’s sister.”
With my heart about to burst through my chest, I chanced a look behind me. His wrinkled brow couldn’t get much tighter in the middle of his forehead. Confusion wavered in his dark brown eyes, and I watched as the words truly sunk in. He took one step backwards and then another. I thought he’d probably make a break for the door any moment.
Instead, he changed direction and stalked toward me, his boots heavy on the concrete floor. He grabbed my face between his hands and turned me one way and the other, scrutinizing me like a fieldworker looking for vegetable rot. His lips pursed, and as I’d expected all along, anger rolled off him like a storm wind.
“You’re a girl?” His voice was loud. So loud, I gave a worried glance to the door, hoping no one was on the other side.
“Keep your voice down. It’s not exactly something I want to advertise.”
He got closer, his face perusing mine up close. “Why? How? How did you hide it from everyone?”
A sudden need for space overtaking me, I took a step back, freeing myself from his tight grip. “My mother insisted. She knew something I didn’t, I guess. As to how…well, it hasn’t been easy. I’ll tell you that.”
“Who else knows? Does anyone else know?”
“Quillen and Thomas.”
“What? You told Thomas before me?”
“I didn’t tell him. I didn’t tell anyone. Like I said, my mom made it clear I had to keep it a secret. Quillen and Thomas found out during the exam when I first arrived.”
His confusion seemed to grow as his eyebrows nearly touched. “I can’t believe Thomas didn’t tell the Council. Mr. Hero kept something from the community?”
Jealousy between the cousins seemed to be mutual, but Zeke seemed to be more concerned with Thomas’s position in the community as opposed to his own. Did Zeke covet a council position too?
“This is wrong. You can’t be here. It puts the whole community in danger.”
I reached out a hand and clasped his arm. “You won’t tell, will you?”
Much to my dismay, he pulled his arm free of my grip and inched backward as if I posed a grave danger. Inches from the door, he stopped and a look of disgust came over his features. “You lied. I should go right to the Council and tell them you’ve put us all in danger.” His hands clutched both sides of his head, as if it hurt to think of what I’d done. “It all makes sense now. You…you are the reason the monsters have been more aggressive lately. How could you do that to us?”
“Do what? Protect myself? Protect my sister? Would you rather we died? Rather we never came here at all? Were ripped apart by hideous creatures instead? Well, I can’t change that now. We’re here, and I’ll do anything to protect my sister, even lie.”
His eyes slid closed and he transferred his hands there, rubbing with his palms, as if he were trying to erase the image of me from his brain. Of all the reactions I expected from
him, I really hadn’t thought he’d feel obligated to run to the Council, outing me in front of the men who would hurt me most.
“You can’t tell anyone, Zeke. They’ll use me. I’ll never see the light of day again.” I approached him and touched his elbow lightly. “Are you going to the Council?”
He lowered his arms, breaking contact again, but his gaze met mine, and for a moment, I saw the same Zeke who’d come to my rescue the minute I’d arrived here. I was his friend, and he’d stood up for me more times than I could count. Could he do it again? Or had I crossed a line that couldn’t be uncrossed now?
“I don’t know, Charlie, or…what’s your real name?”
I felt a smile slip onto my face. It had been a long time since I’d heard my given name. “Charlotte Ann Baker.”
“Charlotte Ann Baker,” the words slipped awkwardly from his lips, but he continued, “I don’t know what I should do about you. You’ll probably know as soon as I do, but for now, just stay away from me. Do you hear? I don’t want to see you again…ever.”
I raised my chin, feeling the defiance rise within me. Some friends I had here. Without Quillen, Thomas, or Zeke, I had no one, and I had no business staying in the community any longer. “Just so you know, if you won’t take me with you, I’ll be gone if and when you return. I’ll find a way for Star and me to leave. I won’t stay here much longer.”
With a sharp shake of his head, he turned and stomped out the door, slamming it behind him.
I didn’t know if he would head straight to the Council chambers or where he was going, but I knew one thing, I’d over-stayed my welcome. It was time to gather Star and my few possessions. We’d leave at dawn, too, even if we did it all on our own.
Chapter 14
Michael didn’t notice when I rushed into the laundry room. He was still inefficiently running the laundry through the large-capacity washer and dryer. Though the room was filled with them, we were only allowed to run one washer and one dryer in order to conserve electricity, which could mean long hours in the laundry room, but I’d perfected a system to make the chore go much quicker. He obviously hadn’t run my system.
“I told you to add more clothes to the wash as soon as the cycle started. Once the clothes are soaked, you can fit more in.”
He jumped at the sound of my voice. “Charlie, I didn’t hear you come in. I just have one more load to run through. I’m fine.”
“You’re going to miss the dedication ceremony.”
With a dismissive wave, he shrugged and said, “I don’t really want to be there to see Zeke’s memorial service.”
“Memorial service?”
“Yeah, we all know he’s going to die.”
I’d thought the same thing, but I bristled with anger, hearing it out loud. “No, he’s not going to die. Don’t say that. If anyone can make it, he can.”
A humorless laugh sounded in the air as he turned away from me and continued to work. “No, he won’t. If the Draghouls don’t get you, the human monsters will. It’s not a good world out there.”
I hated to break it to him, but it wasn’t much better on the inside either. “Okay, whatever. I’m taking Star, so you don’t have to watch her any longer.”
“Star? I don’t have her anymore.”
My breathing stopped completely. “What do you mean you don’t have her? Who has her?”
“Quillen came in to take her for a little while, but Thomas was quick on his heels and took her with him instead. I figured, as long as someone in the community had her, what was the big deal, right? She’s still safe.”
I felt my skin tighten as my anger grew. Star had almost fallen into Quillen’s hands again. I was doing a lousy job of protecting her, or maybe I’d chosen the wrong person to watch her, but it wouldn’t happen again. I couldn’t hide the slice of anger in my voice as I said, “I asked you to watch her, Michael. Ugh! Just finish the laundry.”
My boots echoed on the hard concrete floors as I ran to the dining hall. The ceremony would be starting, and though Zeke basically told me not to attend, not that I’d planned to anyway, it’s where Thomas would be, and hopefully, where Star would be, too.
Within feet of the entrance, I slowed to a jog and slipped into the crowded room, moving toward the back, so I could see Thomas. I spotted him almost immediately, and relief overcame me as I saw Star on his lap. She was safe, at least for now. After the ceremony, I’d gather her and our things, and I’d find a nice little hiding place close to the fourth tower tunnels. At first light, as Zeke was exiting the front, we’d sneak out the back, and we’d leave the community, the Council, Victor, and Thomas far, far behind. A small pang of regret hit me at the thought of never seeing Thomas again, but the growing danger of discovery wasn’t going to resolve itself and no doubt about it, I had to leave.
The room fell silent as Jonas approached a quickly thrown-together stage area where Zeke sat, straight as a gun-barrel, his lips tipped slightly on each side, a play of pride glowing in his eyes. I could almost believe in him.
Jonas stood before the gathered group, raised his hands, and smiled tightly. “You have come here to show your support for this heroic young man, Ezekiel Harris, who has bravely volunteered to face the dangers of the Dead Forest and make his way to Mercy, where he will collect supplies to keep us sustained another year, until the next Choosing. Normally, we use this ceremony to choose who will take on this task, but thanks to young Zeke, you are spared for now.
“Some would question the wisdom in volunteering to be Chosen, but I would like to remind you that our only other volunteer, Victor, is also the only other Chosen who returned to us, with much needed supplies. He is a hero, in our estimation.”
I suppressed a skeptical snort, covering with a cough instead. Victor was the very antithesis of a hero, and in reality, the community treated him less than heroic, making him skulk around in the dark corridors of the basement, including him in none of the community events. He wasn’t even here, probably locked away, so he wouldn’t ruin the festivities, which was fine by me.
“This member of the Council couldn’t be prouder of Ezekiel, and I know his uncle is honored to have such a self-sacrificing young man in the family. I could only hope my own son would take on the leadership mantle someday.”
Disappointment rang in his words, but I knew it was entirely possible this community would put their fate into the hands of a self-serving fool like Peter. The history was clear on this. After all, they’d handed power over to the current Council.
“Who would like to say a few words about this wonderful young man?”
Hands shot up, mostly from the table of familiar faces, the community boys who worshiped Zeke. I’d been one of them once, and a small part of me wished I could belong there among them again. There’d been a sense of security I’d never feel again.
“This one time, Zeke had us all on the floor laughing…” Most of the speeches followed the same pattern. To his friends, Zeke was larger than life, funnier than funny, and would be missed most of all.
As I watched Zeke through every remark, story, and speech, his eyes lit up and he laughed loudly. It was the Zeke I remembered, the one I called friend for so long. As the stories began to wind down, I was tempted to share the story of how I was saved, how Zeke pulled my mother and me from the forest and took us to the community without hesitation, but as he swept his gaze over the room, I knew when he saw me.
Immediately, the smile slipped from his face, and he dropped his view to his feet. No, that story wasn’t one he’d take pride in now. It would be a reminder of what he now considered a massive mistake.
It would probably be best if I left. I could easily find Thomas after the ceremony and get Star then. My lips pursed together in an effort to keep threatening tears in check. I made my way toward the exit and the way out. Just as I’d made it about half-way across the room, Quillen stepped through the doorframe, and I froze.
I wouldn’t have been more surprised if a Draghoul had walked thr
ough the door. He never left the basement, as far as I knew, but here he was, shuffling in my direction, his watery gaze zeroed in on me.
My desire to run was strong, but his attempt to get his hands on Star earlier still ate at me. Apparently, I hadn’t made myself clear enough when I told him he’d never touch Star again. Well, he’d know it for sure now.
“Charlie, I’m glad I found you. It’s imperative I examine Star again.”
“You mean experiment on her. Forget it. You’ll never have access to her again. I’m going to make sure of that.”
He waved an impatient hand in my face, and red swam before my eyes. His attitude was really starting to get on my nerves.
“Listen, I believe I’ve isolated the immunity factor, but I need another vile of Star’s blood.”
I clenched my jaw so tightly I thought my teeth would surely crack. My words rolled out through gritted teeth as I emphasized, “I refuse…to let you…anywhere near her…ever again. There’s nothing you could say that would change my mind. Do you understand?”
My point made, I angled to go around him to wait right outside, in the hallway where I’d be able to intervene if he tried to sneak her out without my knowing. He stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. Though I wanted to knock it away and continue on, I stopped to listen to whatever pitiful excuse he could muster to allow him to use my sister as a test animal.
“Zeke’s life could depend on it.”
Rather than making a convincing argument, he went for an emotional response. He had my attention, if only for the opportunity to dispute his ridiculous quack idea. I did roll my shoulder free of his touch before asking, “And exactly how is that?”
“With Star’s donation, I could perfect a vaccine. You know, like when you were a child. The doctor gave you shots, right? To keep you from getting really, really sick? I’m close to creating the same thing for the plague outside these walls. If I could just have access to her one more time, Zeke could go out there protected. He’d survive, but we have to move fast. He’s leaving tomorrow. I only have tonight to get it right.”
