by Amy Cross
As the words leave her lips, helicopters swoop low over the street, heading away from the center of the city with their lights blazing bright against the afternoon sky. I watch them for a moment, before turning back to Natalie and seeing that she's already running to catch up to the others. As the helicopters get further and further away, I start to realize that Charles must have found a way to get the council to agree with him. I guess he cried a few tears, told them about Alison, and persuaded them to respond with emotion rather than reason.
Then again, Charles was little more than a puppet, put in place by Diane and my father. He did the job that was expected of him.
Making my way over to the nearest building, I head inside and then find the stairs, before hurrying up several flights. Despite the pain in my right foot, I keep going until I reach a doorway, and finally I burst out onto the roof. Making my way to the edge, I find that I've got a great view for several miles, and I realize I can see figures far away. They look like little more than ants from here, but I guess they must be some of the people who've been living outside the city, trying to find a way inside.
And then the gunfire starts. I watch as the helicopters fly low, and I realize that the killing has started. Mesmerized and horrified in equal measure, I stand and watch as the distant figures start running. The gunfire continues, and a moment later I also hear several large bangs, which I guess come from the soldiers at the barrier. Assuming that none of the people outside the city have any kind of firepower, it sounds as if the entire encounter is a massacre, but I can't turn away or cover my ears. Instead, I stay completely still, barely even blinking, as I listen to the fighting coming from every direction.
***
“The operation was a complete success,” Diane announces a short while later, standing on a makeshift stage in the square outside the main building. “The entire perimeter of the city has been cleared, and we've extended our safe zone ten miles in every direction.”
A round of applause erupts from the crowd. With Alison gone, there are now eighty people in the city and they've all gathered here to listen to the latest news. Glancing at the faces of the people around me, I can see a genuine sense of relief, as if much of the tension of the past few days has given way to a sense that the danger is over. It's as if I'm the only person who has any doubts.
“First,” Diane continues, “I want to thank everyone who took part in the operation. I know that a few of you were unable to do so, due to lack of training on the equipment, but you mustn't feel as if you didn't contribute. We all add something to the life of the city, and now that we've removed the threat from our doorstep, we can focus on really pushing ourselves forward. Tonight, the future of our city was given a huge boost.”
Another round of applause breaks out. Feeling someone nudging my arm, I turn to find my father standing next to me.
“See?” he says with a smile. “This is about life, not death. Hope, not despair.”
“I also want to make another announcement,” Diane continues. “Thanks to the tireless efforts of our technical team, I can tell you tonight that the electric barrier is ready to be installed. Within a few days' time, we'll no longer need to have men and women stationed all around the edges of the city, because the electric barrier will keep any trespassers at bay. A new -”
She pauses as more applause rings out across the square.
“A new gate will be erected,” she adds with a broad smile, “and this will be the only route into and out of the city. We'll need an armed presence on that gate at all times, of course, but for the most part the people of Boston can now focus on other areas that need to be improved. The council is considering so many projects, we barely even know where to begin, but over the next few days we intend to draw up a detailed timetable. In the meantime, I'm declaring tonight and tomorrow to be a public holiday, so apart from those who are needed to work on the gate's construction, I want everyone else to just relax and try to reflect upon the huge achievements we've managed so far.”
My father puts a hand on my shoulder, and this time I don't push him away.
“Because no matter how good things might seem now,” Diane continues, “there will be challenges ahead. Fresh surprises, fresh obstacles, fresh losses. But also fresh victories, fresh achievements and fresh chances. The project to rebuild this great city of Boston is only in its early stages, but nothing is going to stop us, because we have history on our side. We're doing the right thing, we're persevering for the sake of the whole human race, and we're not going to let anything stand in our way! And now, I wish you all a very good evening. Take this time to celebrate and to reflect. We've all earned it!”
As more applause breaks out, I turn and see that Natalie is among the first of the people who are starting to leave the crowd. She still has a rifle slung over her shoulder, and there's a dark, haunted look in her eyes.
“Lizzie -” my father starts to say.
“Later,” I tell him, turning and hurrying after Natalie.
“Hey,” she says, having apparently lost most of the enthusiasm she showed earlier. She can barely even look at me, and she's limping slightly.
“Hey,” I reply. “How are you doing?”
“Good.”
“Are you hurt?”
“Twisted ankle.”
I wait for her to elaborate, but as we make our way across the dark square, away from everyone else, I can tell that something's not right.
“What?” she shouts eventually, stopping and turning to me. “Christ, you -” She lets out a gasp of frustration. “What do you want, Elizabeth?”
“I want to know what happened out there.”
“We had guns and they didn't, so what do you think happened?”
“Did you really kill people?”
“No, we tickled them until they ran away. Of course we killed them, you fucking idiot.”
“But I mean you,” I continue. “Did you personally kill anyone?”
She stares at me for a moment. “Yeah. I did. Why, are you jealous?”
“After everything you said about the helicopter,” I reply, “I never thought you wanted to see people getting hurt again.”
“That was the thinking side of my brain,” she explains, “but sometimes thinking gets in the way. You tie yourself up in knots when the answer's simple and it's right in front of you. Today I realized that thinking gets you nowhere, that sometimes you just have to do whatever's necessary.”
Staring at the rifle, I try to imagine what it must have been like for her.
“There were way more than we realized,” she continues after a moment. “They were like rats. At first they ran toward us, but then the helicopters opened fire. Then they started running away from us, but none of them got very far. I figured a few of them would escape, but I don't think that happened at all. I heard the same from other people who were in different areas.”
“How many people died?” I ask.
“I don't know, and I doubt anyone's gonna count, but... maybe close to a thousand.”
“A thousand people?” I reply, shocked by the idea. “That's... Are you sure?”
She rolls her eyes. “Do you wanna know the best bit? They're leaving all the bodies out there, right where they fell, to act as a deterrent for anyone else who comes this way. I reckon it might work, too, seeing as there are women and kids out there with bullets in their backs. I mean, Jesus Christ, if I came across a scene like that...” She pauses for a moment, with a hint of shock in her eyes but a faint smile on her lips. “I'd run like hell.”
I take a deep breath, trying to take it all in.
“Your pal's there too,” she adds.
“What pal?”
“Eddie. The asshole who took us hostage. They hung his corpse from an old streetlamp. Seriously, Elizabeth, there's some mental stuff going on out there. It might be all happy families and civilized discourse in the heart of the city, but to safeguard all that shit we've got some savagery on the fringes. You've gotta admire the im
agination of those sick bastards, though. War really brings out the creativity in some people.”
“But -”
“This is how the world is now, Elizabeth. I know you're struggling to deal with it. That little voice in the back of your head, telling you that everything's unfair and immoral? You need to learn to find a way to shut it up, so you can focus on helping to keep this city alive. After all, no-one likes a freeloader. Sooner or later, you're going to have to join us.”
I open my mouth to ask more questions, but something seems to be stopping me. My chest feels tight and for a moment I'm worried I might not be able to breathe, but finally I manage to get myself under control.
“I'm tired,” Natalie explains. “I need to -”
“That gun,” I reply, interrupting her. “Is it heavy?”
“Heavy?” She seems surprised by the question. “Kinda, yeah. It takes some getting used to, especially the kickback, you can end up with a really bruised shoulder. When you -”
“And is it difficult to operate?”
“Not really, you just point and aim.” She pauses. “Well, there's a bit more to it, but you get better with practice. Why?”
I stare at the gun for a moment, before turning to her. “Maybe you'd better start showing me how to use one of these things,” I say finally, as I feel a strange kind of heaviness starting to fill my heart.
Thomas
As soon as I taste gasoline coming through the hose, I turn and spit. The stuff is foul, but this is the only way I can get gasoline from the row of parked cars, and so far I've almost filled the canister. At this rate, I should be able to get a decent little stash sorted out before I get going again.
Once the hose starts to run dry, I screw the lid back onto the canister's lid and then get to my feet. I've exhausted this row of cars, but I figure I could try a few more before I head back to the truck. Making my way along the dusty sidewalk, I can't help but look around, constantly on edge in case there's any sign of movement. I keep thinking back to that Clyde guy I met a few months ago, and the way he and some of those other creatures seemed to be just loitering in a small town. At the same time, I figure it's been long enough now, and if -
Stopping suddenly, I realize I can hear a noise in the distance. I hurry over to a nearby building and duck into the doorway, listening as some kind of vehicle comes closer. Finally I peer around the corner and see three army trucks making their way slowly along the street, but although there's a part of me that wants to call out to them, the incident with the helicopters has made me wary. I duck back out of sight and listen as the trucks pass on by, until finally they disappear into the distance and silence falls once again.
As soon as I'm certain that the coast is clear, I hurry back along the street. My plan to steal more gasoline is officially canceled; now I just want to get to the truck as fast as possible, start her up, and get the hell out of here. Now that I'm starting to feel a little better, I figure I can head back to Lake Erie and try to make things work with Melissa and Katie. It won't be an ideal situation, but it's better than nothing and if we can make some kind of life up there, I guess we'll be a lot luckier than most people these days. Hurrying the way I came, I reach the parking lot close to the main road and make my way around the side of the old shopping mall.
And then I see them.
Stopping and taking a step back, I realize that the three army trucks have stopped on the other side of the road, no more than thirty or forty meters from my track. It doesn't seem that the truck itself has attracted their attention; instead, they seem to be getting ready to take a look around the town. I quickly count ten soldiers in total, with perhaps a few more still in the vehicles, but they look to be heavily-armed and from the other equipment they have, it's clear that these are real soldiers rather than a bunch of idiots who've found a stash of army gear. Pulling back to make sure I can't be seen, I take a deep breath and try to stay calm.
“You two go that way!” a voice shouts in the distance. “McGuinness, take Taylor and check out that mall. The rest of us are going to take a look at the main street. Remember to be vigilant, and don't be afraid to use your weapons. At the first sound of gunfire, I want everyone to reassemble right here. Understood?”
I wait, until I start to hear footsteps making their way closer. Slipping around the back of the building, I duck down behind some old dumpsters and then peer out to watch as two soldiers make their way past, with guns slung casually over their backs.
“Are we seriously gonna stop in every hick town along the way?” one of them asks.
“You know what he's like,” the other replies. “He's nothing if not thorough.”
As they head off into the distance, I stay completely still and quiet, determined to make sure that I'm not noticed. If I can just stay out of sight, I figure the soldiers will look around town for a few hours and then get going, leaving me to get back into the truck and head off in the opposite direction, toward Lake Erie. I can't help imagining what Melissa and Katie are doing right now, and hoping that they're okay. Now that my fever seems to be passing and it looks as if I'm not infected, I realize that I should have just stayed with them, but at the time it seemed as if I was doing the right thing at the time.
“That was a dud,” says a voice suddenly, as the soldiers head back this way.
“I hope they found something in the mall,” the other soldier replies.
“They must have done. Look at this place, it's completely dead. There's not been anyone through for weeks.”
I wait and listen as they head off into the distance, and finally I get to my feet and peer around the dumpsters. I don't see anyone, but at the same time I'm determined to play it safe so I wait a few more minutes before heading along the alley, hoping that I'll find that the soldiers are already setting off. I can hear voices in the distance, but it sound as if they're way over where their vehicles parked, so I make my way cautiously around the side of the building until I can look around the corner. Sure enough, some of the soldiers are milling around by their trucks, although they clearly aren't all back yet.
“Don't move,” a voice says suddenly, right behind me.
Turning, I see two soldiers with their guns aimed straight at my face.
“I'm not one of them!” I blurt out, holding my hands up.
“Not one of what?” asks the female soldier.
“Them! The creatures!”
“No-one said you were,” she replies.
“We can tell you're not one of them,” the male soldier replies. “What are you doing scurrying around in this place, though?”
“I just stopped to get some gas!”
“You did, huh?”
“I swear, I just want to get gas and then leave. I'm not even going in your direction.”
“Where are you going?” the female soldier asks.
“Back to -” I pause suddenly, realizing that I don't want to tell them the truth. After all, they're probably linked to the people who sent the helicopters. “I'm just heading north,” I continue after a moment, “that's all.”
“And what do you think you're going to find up there?” she asks.
“I don't know, I swear!”
“McGuinness!” a voice shouts from nearby. “Taylor! Where are you guys?”
“Move,” the female soldiers continues, indicating with her gun for me to go on ahead.
“Please -”
“Move!”
Turning, I put my hands behind my head and walk forward slowly.
“You don't need to do that with your hands,” the male soldiers tells me wearily. “Just walk normally, and don't try anything dumb. Are you armed?”
“No.”
“Have you got any weapons at all? In your vehicle, maybe?”
“No.”
As I'm forced to head out around to the front of the building, the other soldiers by the trucks notice me, and a few of them start making their way in this direction.
“Look what we found!” the female sol
diers shouts. “Don't worry, he's harmless!”
“I'm not that harmless!” I reply, slightly irritated by the way she described me.
“Just keep moving.”
“Hello there,” says one of the other soldiers as he reaches me. “What's your name?”
“Thomas,” I reply cautiously.
“Thomas what?”
“Edgewater.”
“Well, Thomas Edgewater,” he replies, holding a hand out for me to shake, “my name is Patterson. General Bill Patterson, formerly commanding officer at Mitchfield military base. I've got to admit, it's something of a surprise to run into you out here.”
“I was just looking for gasoline,” I tell him.
“Join the club. Please, follow me.”
Allowing him to lead me over to their trucks, I can't help but notice the way the other soldiers are eying me with suspicion, as if they expect me to suddenly start trying to attack them.
“Where have you been all this time?” Patterson asks. “You don't look too malnourished.”
“Around,” I reply.
“Around?”
“Here and there.”
“Don't wanna be specific, huh?” He stops by one of the trucks and turns to me. “I get that. Hell, I even respect it. Given the way things are going, I don't see why anyone would be inclined to trust anyone else.”
“Why'd you do it?” I ask.
He frowns. “Do what?”
“Those helicopters,” I continue. “I saw what they did.”
Pausing for a moment, he seems concerned. “Why don't you tell me where you saw those helicopters?”
“You already know.”
“Humor me.”
“North.”
“I see.” He pauses again. “Would you believe me, Thomas Edgewater, that those helicopters have absolutely nothing to do with me or my men?”
I open my mouth to answer, but suddenly I realize that I don't know what to say.
“Would you believe me,” he continues, “if I told you that, in fact, those very same helicopters attacked us when we were at Mitchfield?”
“They did?”
