The Inner Fence: a dystopian post-apocalyptic young adult novella series (Remnants of Zone Four Chronicles Book 2)
Page 12
The enormous inner city gate came into view as they made the last turn. As they came around the corner, though, they found themselves face-to-face with their worst nightmare. Three shiny cars were parked just inside the city limits, two of them with the words “Elite Security” printed on the side. The people inside these cars were obviously here for one purpose—to find Lefty.
Zero threw the forklift in reverse and spun it around. Lefty was now standing in the center of the road in front of him with his arms folded.
“This is where I get off,” Lefty said.
“Get back on, Lefty,” Zero said.
“No.” He walked past the forklift straight toward the security guards.
Zero spun the forklift toward the front gates again and pulled up next to Lefty. “Don’t do this. Where’s the fight in you? You said you’d rather take your chances with the jaguars than go to Exile.”
Lefty hung his head. “I’d rather take my chances alone in Exile than drag you into my mess. I got myself cornered, here. If we try to run together, not only will I still get caught but also I’d be taking you down with me. It’s over.”
He dropped his backpack next to the forklift, shoved his hands into his pockets and walked slowly toward the cars with his head down.
Decked out in official-looking badges and heavy gear, two Elite security guards stepped out of their vehicles and stood next to their cars.
“Are you the one they call Lefty?” one of them asked.
Lefty nodded.
“Turn around and place your hands behind your head, interlocking your fingers.”
Lefty did just as he was told. The man slapped a shiny cuff onto his right wrist, pulled it down to the small of Lefty’s back and then did the same to his other wrist. Both of his arms were now shackled behind his back.
“There’s no need for these things,” Lefty said. “I’m not going to put up a fight.”
“It’s protocol,” the security officer said. “For our safety as well as yours.”
“Oh, really? To keep me from doing what?” Lefty pulled against the handcuffs and within a second his right hand was free. He held it up and wiggled his fingers. “These things would only work on people with two hands. I only have one and a half.” He laughed, but nobody else seemed to find humor in the situation.
The security guard placed the cuffs back on his wrist and warned him not to do that again.
The driver’s side door to the third car opened—a large boxy silver one different from the security cars—and Lucid stepped out. His long purple robe slid along the road as he walked toward Lefty. He held a Taser in his hand—the same one he had used to zap the Remnant that had snuck into the city a few days earlier. He stopped about five feet from Lefty and pointed it at his chest. “You think you’re funny, don’t you, boy?”
The fear in Lefty’s eyes was clear. “You won’t get any problems from me,” he said. “I swear. I’ll go easy.”
Lucid squeezed the trigger. Two probes shot out of the barrel, piercing into Lefty’s chest. The crackling sound of electricity reverberated through the air as Zero watched his friend fall face down onto the road, jerking uncontrollably, his hands still behind his back.
“You’re not so clever now, are you, boy?” Lucid said, grinning.
Lefty took a deep breath and smiled. “So that’s what that thing feels like. You gotta tell me where you got that thing. I could keep myself entertained for months with one of—”
Lucid squeezed the trigger again.
Zero felt an intense hatred grow inside as he watched Lefty’s body lurch and convulse, bouncing the side of his face off the pavement. The longer the air crackled with the sound, the deeper the memory and emotions ingrained into Zero’s mind.
Lucid eventually dropped the Taser to his side and stood over Lefty. He looked down at him for a long time, undoubtedly waiting to see if Lefty might have any more clever remarks. Nobody made a sound as Lucid grabbed hold of the wires and jerked the probes out of Lefty’s chest, balled them up, and shoved everything into the pocket of his robe.
“Clean this mess up,” Lucid said before retreating back to his car. He completed a three-point turn and had his car facing the gates by the time the security guards were able to scrape Lefty off the road and get him to one of the cars. Just before taking his place in the back seat, while one of the guards had his hand on Lefty’s head to push him inside, Lefty made eye contact with Zero one last time. He winked and flashed a grin that only Lefty could muster at a time like this.
Zero faked a smile and watched his friend get stuffed into the car. He could do nothing but watch as the gates opened and closed, as his best friend sped away from the city.
This was it.
Lefty was gone.
He wouldn’t be coming back in two weeks.
Zero looked down at the backpack sitting next to him on the road. He picked it up and traced his finger across the name Lefty written on the front. He looked at the tail-lights growing dim in the distance.
“I’m going after him.”
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