A tear ran down Strike’s cheek, seemingly the only thing moving on her body. “Julian Caruso. He would’ve taken over when I went missing.”
Chris nodded to the men who had stood awkwardly in the corner, and they left the room.
“So I have the pleasure of two Commanders in my house at the same time,” Chris said to himself. “What a blessed day. You slept through the bombing. I counted over 15 that he dropped on us. It was hard to tell; at one point the house was just constantly shaking and the sounds of explosions were nonstop. I didn’t know you peaceful people had access to such bombs.”
“We have them, but never planned to use them,” Strike said, wanting so desperately to simply sit up.
“Well, it appears Commander Caruso here had different plans. And look at him now.” Chris laughed. “So who is in charge now when both Mommy and Daddy aren’t home?”
“We hold a special election.” Strike lied. Bill would be in charge right now, but she wasn’t going to give this lunatic anyone’s name. “There should be a new Commander selected within the next two days.”
“An election, huh? Think I have a shot?” Chris howled, his laughter echoing around the walls and sending chills through Strike’s motionless body. When he settled down, he returned his attention to Strike. “This is unfortunate, though. I was hoping to give whoever dropped the bombs the same welcoming hospitality you received. It’s only fair. But he’s dead, so that won’t be very fun.”
Chris paced around Julian’s body, studying the corpse like a scientist. “You don’t suppose this is our guy, do you, Commander?”
“What do you mean? He’s one of my people.”
“Yes, we know that. I mean the man who came over and sold you out. The man was about this size, and his voice sounded younger, much like our friend here.”
Strike still didn’t believe anyone in the Road Runners would do such a thing. Surely Chris was bluffing, but she studied Julian with suspicious eyes just the same. How else would Chris have been able to get her so easily?
“I guess since he’s already dead,” Chris continued. “I’ll have to move forward with retaliation. His body is a lovely gift—I’ll be sure to thank your people—but it’s not what I was hoping for. Did you know we have enough bombs to end civilization? And they are all over the world. Talk about a fireworks show you don’t wanna miss.”
Chris giggled while he shook his head.
“Why would you blow up the world?” Strike asked. “You live here.”
“Oh, Commander, I have no plans on blowing up the world. I just like having the option in my back pocket. It’s a strong wagering chip, as you might imagine, and most people are smart enough to know I never lie.”
“Are you going to tell me what you want? Or just keep talking nonsense?”
“I love your eagerness, Commander, but you really should relax. It’s going to be at least two more days before you can lift yourself off that couch. I must say you do look quite comfortable, like a cat taking a day off from its hectic life.”
“And what is your retaliation?” She tried to sound unimpressed, but was terrified at learning how many explosives Chris had access to.
“Eye for an eye, Commander. I don’t try to one up my enemies, just return the favor. They tried to blow up my house, so I have no choice but to blow up one of yours. Where is your election going to be held?”
“It’s not held anywhere. Everyone votes from whatever office they’re in.”
“I see. Election day might be a fun time to rattle your little underground forts. It would be a shame for the rest of the world to find out about this secret society you’ve kept hidden for so long.”
“What do you want from me?” Her body may have not been able to move, but her voice came out sharp and demanding. “Tell me, dammit!”
“It’s not so much what I want from you, Commander. See, you and I want the same thing: to end this war. Now that I have you in my possession, that is becoming a reality as we speak. Your pathetic group of warriors are now flailing around like headless chickens. Their leader is gone and their backup leader is dead on my floor. Forgive me for saying this, but you silly Road Runners have never had a day as bad as this, and it makes me beyond tickled.”
“You know most wars end with a sort of peace treaty, not destruction.”
“Commander, I’ve been to most of the wars throughout history, and destruction is what leads to the peace treaty. Trust me. No one is asking for peace until their backs are against the wall. Much like yourself right now.” Chris grinned and sat down in a love seat opposite the couch, Julian’s corpse between them. “We can work out a deal, but I want to have my fun first. I can’t let you walk out of here looking like a hero who negotiated a deal. I have to blow some things up, kill some of your people, and paint the picture that I drove you to surrender.”
“You’re a twisted piece of shit,” she snarled. “All we’ve ever done is try to keep the world safe from your lunatic ideologies.”
Chris threw his head back and chuckled. “Commander, people love my ideology. You’ve seen the future, the whole world loves it. Humans only worry about themselves and not others. I’ve found a way to stroke those selfish desires and turn the world on its axis. Chaos is the world naturally cleansing itself, resetting us back to our barbaric roots.”
“You’re wrong. People will always strive to be better and improve. Nobody wants to go backwards.”
“I’d say Mr. Caruso here took a step backwards, wouldn’t you? I didn’t even have the pleasure of killing him myself. I was gonna televise it for all of your people to see what happens when you try to disrupt my life. Perhaps you can fill that role, or maybe we can work out a deal. Maybe both?”
Chris leaned back and stroked his chin, the dials turning in his sick mind. Strike would happily offer both of her legs if it meant getting out of this mansion, but knew even Chris wouldn’t accept those terms. He enjoyed mind games more than dead bodies.
“I’ll have to get back to you, Commander.” Chris pulled up his sleeve and checked his watch. “I’m gonna head to bed, it’s about that time. I’ll leave you here to catch up with your friend, maybe he’ll answer to you why he decided to drop bombs on my beautiful mansion. Have a great night.”
Chris stood, winked, and left the office, closing the door behind him.
Strike remained on her side and cried as an earthy odor rose from Julian’s dead body, his perished eyes open and gawking at the ceiling. A long night awaited as she would need to decide how to best surrender the war.
122
Chapter 29
Martin woke up the next morning and vomited in the toilet. Gerald had planted the idea of Sonya playing mind games, and he couldn’t shake the thought, having woken up in a nervous sweat multiple times throughout the night. His morning meeting with Sonya loomed, and as the hours ticked away each time he woke up, a sense of doom crept into his conscience like a slow moving funnel cloud waiting to demolish a small town.
Sonya had left the Road Runners behind, having no choice, but would she go as far as reuniting and with her estranged, demented father? And actually do him a favor by trying to capture Martin?
He doubted it, but crazier shit had already happened on this brief adventure to the future. Martin owed it to himself to meet with Sonya. At this point, what did he have to lose? He had already braced his mother for the possibility that he might not return. It was a classic high-risk, high-reward scenario, with the reward being a return to 2019 with the cure for Alzheimer’s.
Web was dead, so he at least owed it to him to not have his death pass in vain.
After rinsing off under the sink, Martin returned to his room to dress in his Revolter attire of dark jeans and a long sleeve, plaid button-up. His suitcase was filled with plenty of similar outfits to blend in around the city for at least another week.
Today’s the day, Martin thought as a knock came from his door. He expected Gerald, and pulled open the door to confirm.
“Ho
w did you sleep?” Gerald asked.
“I hardly slept. I just wanna get this medicine and go home.”
“If all goes well, hopefully we’ll be on our way in the next couple of hours.”
“I know.” Martin slipped into his shoes and looked in the mirror, wondering if this was the final time he would see himself alive.
“What’s bothering you?” Gerald asked, monotone like always.
Martin sighed. “Am I making a mistake, Gerald? Part of me is starting to think that I might not make it back.”
“That’s always a risk living in this era. Being a Road Runner after the year 2030 is basically a death sentence. But that’s beside the point. I take it you thought about what I said about Sonya.”
Martin nodded. “I did. I still don’t buy it—I don’t think she would do that to me after all we’ve been through. But I still can’t make myself rule it out as a possibility. I might show up expecting the medicine and end up back in Alaska with Chris, to never see the light of day again.”
“I wish there was more I could do to help, but we can’t risk it. If only you could’ve had her agree to meet you outside of the city, but I doubt she would fall for that.”
“It’s too late now, so let’s head out.”
Gerald stepped aside and let Martin pass into the living room. The blood splatters had been wiped off the wall, but the stains in the couch would never come out, appearing like a deep, black hole in the center cushion, ready to suck another life into it.
“Is Brigham still sleeping?” Martin asked.
“Trying to. I checked on him just now, said he’s been staring at the walls all night, going to try and fall asleep now.”
“Poor guy must be horrified.”
“Yeah, he’ll be okay as soon as we get back home.”
Thanks for the extra pressure.
Gerald pulled the van keys out of his pocket, and they left the hotel and Brigham behind, oblivious to what the next few hours had in store.
The abandoned roads at seven in the morning surprised Martin as they headed toward downtown. It made sense, though, since everyone who worked downtown already lived there. Those on the outside had no business in town, unless authorized.
Gerald pulled over to the same spot as yesterday to let Martin out. “I’ll wait here,” he said after not speaking a word during the tense ride over. “One hour, then I’m going back. If it takes you longer than that, I’ll be back at noon. That sound good?”
“Yes.”
“Good luck.” Gerald shook Martin’s hand before he headed off to his date with Sonya.
Martin stepped out of the van and never looked back, starting down the long sidewalk toward the checkpoint where a handful of people formed a short line to get through security. He only waited two minutes before stepping through the metal detector and getting the green light to enter the city. He wondered if he had never met Chris, what side of the electric fence he would have ended up living on. Would he have even survived the initial wave of genocide that occurred after the Revolters snaked their way into government?
He shook off the thought as he passed through security and stepped into the bustling city. Even though no one had to commute into the city, there were still thousands who needed to get across town, leaving the roads clogged and jammed like rush hour in Manhattan.
Martin entered through the same location as yesterday, a couple blocks behind the capitol. On the other side of the golden structure would be Sonya, hopefully alone and holding a bottle of medicine. He walked down Colfax, the cars on the street a sitting parking lot that shimmered under the morning sun. Birds soared above, chirping, while Martin fought to keep the weight of his upcoming encounter off his mind.
Within a couple minutes, Civic Center Park appeared, dozens of businessmen crossing it on their way to work, coffee in hand and briefcases at their sides. Martin started straight for the same location where he had left Sonya last night, and believed he saw her sitting on a park bench.
If it was her, then she was alone, easing his mind. Martin had half-expected her to show up with someone else, either to escort the medicine that was apparently a hidden treasure, or to help take him away so Chris could feast on his soul forever.
The walk toward her felt like an eternity, but when he finally reached her, all sense of doom vanished. She sat on the bench, peaceful as she watched a group of butterflies flutter across the park. She was the same girl he had fallen in love with; nothing would ever change that.
“Good morning,” he said when he reached the bench, sitting down next to her.
“Hi, Martin,” she said, her face lighting up with a wide smile.
She’s either excited to see me, or happy knowing this is the last time.
Martin pushed the thoughts aside, knowing how the mind played tricks on itself when paranoia ran wild. “How was your night?”
“It was fine. Yours?”
“It was okay.” Martin debated telling her about coming home to a murder, but decided against it. He couldn’t afford to let anything derail them from the task at hand.
They sat in awkward silence for a few seconds, neither wanting to speak next while they absentmindedly watched people pass through the park.
“I have the medicine,” she finally said.
Martin exhaled, not realizing he had been holding his breath. “Thank you. I don’t know how to ever repay you.”
“You don’t owe me a thing. Just remember our deal.”
Martin slouched on the bench, all tension leaving his body. “Can I ask how you got the medicine so easily? They made it sound like an impossible mission for us to get it.”
“Let’s just say I have connections being Chris’s daughter—as much as I hate saying it. I’ve never used it to my advantage until last night when I went to pick up the medicine. It felt gross dropping his name, but I had no choice. Your mother doesn’t deserve this.”
“Thank you. I’ll tell her it was you.”
“Please, just forget about me.”
“Sonya, you don’t have to live the rest of your life in this world. This doesn’t need to be your new normal.”
“Easy for you to say. I don’t have many options if I’m supposed to dodge Road Runners trying to kill me.”
“I still don’t understand why this became a thing all of a sudden. Haven’t you been a Road Runner for years?”
She nodded. “They didn’t always know about my life being linked to Chris’s mortality. When it became clear that he can’t be killed through any conventional means, they branched out their research to find other ways. And that’s how they discovered this.”
“How did you find out?”
“They told me. That’s the Road Runner way, you know, being transparent with everything. They never made plans to kill me; in fact, they wanted to study me and see what they could learn. Maybe there was a way to kill Chris by removing a part of my body or something, but nothing ever came out of it. Just recently is when these conversations started, but I had friends in high places who warned me.”
“Was it Bill?”
She nodded slowly, her hair swaying in a silent breeze. “Bill had become a father to me during my time with the Road Runners. He was never going to let anything bad happen to me. He tipped me off seconds after the vote was cast to decide my fate, and had an escape plan in place. It was his idea for me to hide out here. He said it was the only logical place where a Road Runner wouldn’t be able to get their hands on me. He deserves to be the next Commander if things don’t work out with Strike. He may be a bit reserved, but he has such a bright vision for the future.”
“I’ll be sure to vote for him.” Martin couldn’t bring himself to tell Sonya that Bill had been murdered; she had been through enough already.
“Whatever ends up happening, just be ready to make a huge decision when you get back.”
“What do you mean?”
“This mission you’re on is a test. The other Commanders around the world are watching to see if you
succeed or not, and how you are when you get back to 2019. I told you, there is consideration for you to run for the Commandership.”
“It doesn’t make any sense, I just joined not even a week ago.”
“And that’s exactly what they want: a fresh perspective. There are lots of lifetime Road Runners who will throw their name into the mix, but they want someone with more of an outsider’s perspective, and who also has the merit to take on the role. When you return with this medicine, you’ll basically be sealing your fate as a future Commander. Once you have the support of other Commanders, it’s nearly impossible to lose an election.”
“But I don’t want to be a Commander. I just want to go back to my normal life.”
Sonya sighed, staring straight ahead, but speaking out of the side of her mouth. “Your normal life is gone. You’re a Road Runner now, an important one with a special gift. You either stay with the organization, or get hunted by Chris. And he will catch you if you leave the protection the Road Runners provide.”
Martin stood up, needing to move around, and rocked on his wobbly legs. Is she going to give me the medicine? Or keep trying to tell me the future?
She joined him, reaching into the purse that had been hidden by her side. “I guess this is where we say goodbye.”
“It doesn’t have to be,” Martin pleaded.
“But it is. You’re going home and your life is going to change forever. And I’ll be staying, living here until the world ends. That’s the way it is, and there’s nothing you can change about it.”
Martin’s face flushed, his eyes growing heavy with tears as a lump bubbled his throat.
“If I could cry I would—I want to. I’ll never forget you, Martin Briar. You’re going to do big things.”
“This isn’t goodbye,” Martin said, his voice shaky while a lone teardrop streamed down his cheek. “If I have any sort of influence with the Road Runners, I’ll make sure they drop their mission to kill you, and you can return home safely.”
“I’m sure you will, but I’ll be staying here. I hope one day, in another life, our paths cross again.”
Wealth of Time Series Boxset Page 73
