AfterLife

by S. P. Cloward

  From where she stood, Meri called out to any of the Atumra soldiers who could hear, “Some of you have been recruited to the Atumra without your consent and without knowing what you were getting into. I just want you to know that you do have a choice. There is always a choice. If you want to know more about that choice, AfterLife can help.”

  Wes didn’t know if the announcement would produce an effect on the retreating soldiers. In a way it would be considered surrender on their part, and he didn’t know what kind of brainwashing the recruits had undergone. However, after a few seconds, some of them put their hands up to indicate their interest.

  Ken stepped back to Wes. “How is your brother, Mr. Wes? Is he alive?”

  Wes nodded. “He is.”

  “Very good to hear. A very good thing to hear indeed.” Ken’s face wrinkled as he smiled. “How do you like my new invention?” He directed this question to Meri, who simply smiled. “My tea was only a jumping off point. This particular brew produces real pain.” He smiled again and then joined Carol and the others who were holding off the loyal Atumra soldiers.

  Meri turned to Wes. “Let’s go get your brother while they clear the exit.”

  Wes nodded.

  “It’s over, Seth,” Wes yelled down at him from the second floor PeopleMover platform, “Your soldiers are falling back at your headquarters and I’m holding your body hostage.”

  Seth looked up and shook his head. “You’re a fool if you think I’d believe that! I won’t fall for another one of your tricks.”

  “You’re a fool if you don’t believe me.” Wes stopped all motion in the park. The guests all froze in place and the spinning rockets above Wes’s head paused midflight. “If I can do all this, what makes you think I can’t be in two places at once?”

  Wes could tell by the look on Seth’s face that he did believe him. Suddenly, Seth disappeared. He’d broken the sync. Wes realized too late that he should have waited a little longer to gloat. He and Meri had not yet reached the stairwell and his brother was still in the basement on the table…close to Seth’s body.

  The theme park disappeared and Wes reunited his mind.

  Chapter 29

  Wes started descending the stairs two or three at a time with Meri following close behind. Seth was free. The stairwell shook as an explosion ignited in another part of the building and Wes stumbled on one of the landings. He quickly regained his footing and continued down the stairs.

  The room he and Seth had been in was empty; Seth was gone. There was no telling where he went or if he was still in the building. He quickly ran to the room across the hall where Lyall remained unconscious on the table. The gray-haired man with the sunken eyes stood over his brother. Wes lifted his EDDIE and prepared to shoot a dart at him.

  “No Wes!” Meri yelled from the doorway. “He’s with us.”

  Wes kept his gun pointed at the man. He couldn’t be Meri’s friend – he worked with the Atumra! He was keeping his brother drugged!

  Meri walked to Wes and placed her hand over his, lowering it and the EDDIE. “I was referring to Ken,” Meri said into her communicator. “Wes was having trouble seeing him.” She reached up to her ear and turned off the device before turning back to Wes. “This conversation is for your ears only. This is Doc. He’s been a spy for AfterLife for years, but only Zach and I knew. I knew him before they planted him.” She walked over to Doc and gave him a quick hug. “Doc, can he be moved?” She looked at Lyall.

  “Yes, if we’re careful.” Doc began maneuvering around the steel table. “Zach contacted me this morning to make sure we could get him out quickly. He’s going to be fine, Wes,” Doc said as he unhooked the IV and lifted Lyall off the table. “I put special lenses in his eyes that prevented Seth from syncing with him. Seth thought it was because he was still under the influence of the drugs.”

  Wes stepped closer to the table. “If you were here, why did we have to come rescue him at all?”

  Doc continued prepping Lyall to be moved. “Zach is the only one who knows I’m here. He’s suspected a spy among the Ancestors for some time. If the others knew, it would have gotten to Seth, and I wouldn’t have been able to keep your brother safe.” He lifted Lyall in his arms and began moving toward the door.

  “Did you see Seth leave?” Wes stepped back into the corridor outside the room, allowing Doc to carry Lyall through.

  “Yes. He ordered me to kill Lyall and then took off down the hallway in the direction of the second stairwell. Shortly after that the fire alarms went off, so I assume it was he who broke the gas main in the crematorium two floors above us. We have to hurry now. These lower levels are all cement so we’re okay for a few minutes until the upper floors collapse in on themselves; then these walls are constructed to collapse as well.”

  Doc walked swiftly down the corridor in the opposite direction from the stairwell Wes and the others had used to get to the lower levels. “There’s an emergency access shaft down here that should enable us to get through the fire above us. There’s only a ladder but I’m pretty sure the shaft itself is fireproof. When the Atumra restored this building, it was engineered to be completely destroyed if the need arose. This emergency exit will be the only way out from where we are.”

  Wes and Meri followed Doc down the corridor as the fire alarm continued ringing loudly throughout the building. Water from emergency sprinklers on the upper levels was running down the stairwell behind them and filling the hallway. They splashed through it as they moved across the white tile floor. Suddenly the power failed and the emergency lighting flickered on.

  The exit shaft was situated behind a door at the end of the hall. It was not marked, and Wes would never have guessed the intent of the room behind the door. It was small and square, large enough to hold only a few people. On the wall opposite the door was a ladder that rose through a circular hole in the ceiling. On Doc’s instructions, Meri closed the door behind them, eliminating all light in the room except a small amount that flickered down from an emergency bulb a few floors above.

  Meri led them up the ladder. Doc held onto Lyall with one arm and pulled himself up the ladder with the other. Wes brought up the rear. One level up was another room just like the one they had entered below. On the next landing, Wes could see the metal door that shielded the shaft had turned a soft red from the extreme temperatures on the other side. This must be the floor the crematorium was on, Wes thought. It was now totally engulfed in flames with only the door between them and the raging inferno on the other side.

  They continued until reaching ground level. Doc opened the door. They were back at the loading dock, close to where they first entered just a couple hours before. Had they known the shaft was there, it would have been a much better entrance than the one they’d used. Of course, they were led by Charlie, Wes thought, and he was part of the trap. Well, no need to worry about him anymore.

  Doc handed Lyall to Wes. “You’ll have to take him the rest of the way. I have to maintain my position within the Atumra. Coming with you will jeopardize that.”

  “Thanks, Doc,” Wes said. “I owe you for watching over my brother. If you ever need anything…” He let the words trail off.

  “I’d be grateful if you’d keep my little secret. Tell no one.”

  Meri nodded. “Then as far as we’re concerned, you didn’t help us out of the building and we never had this discussion.” He nodded, turned, and left them, quickly walking off in another direction.

  Meri and Wes exited the building the same way they came in earlier. Ken, Carol, and the others had long gone. The Atumra soldiers must have left when Seth set off the gas main to explode. There was no reason for them to stick around with their leader gone.

  They hurried down the alley to the street and away from the building. Flames and smoke were pouring from its open windows. The wood paneling in the main lobby must have gone up pretty fast, Wes thought. If the building had the same paneling throughout, there was little that would stop the spread of the fire.
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br />   About a block away from the building, Wes could hear the blaring sirens signaling the arrival of the fire department. There would be nothing they could do to save the building though. It had been built to be destroyed.

  Chapter 30

  “I knew he’d be the champion when the time came,” Caleb said as the Ancestors walked back to their office from Ops where they had been monitoring the night’s events. Caleb took a seat in the center of the kiva.

  “It is a fortunate turn of events for sure,” William said, finding a seat near Caleb.

  “I only wish I’d been there to be involved in the action.” Caleb added, sounding slightly gloomy. “I always did love a good brawl.”

  Anne Marie and Zach also found seats in the kiva.

  “I didn’t know Ken and the others were going to show up. Did any of you know?” Anne Marie asked.

  “Oh yes,” Zach said. “Meri talked to me about it earlier today and I authorized it.”

  “Without notifying the rest of us?” Anne Marie looked frustrated. “What if things hadn’t gone as well as they did? We could have lost more of our people. It was not a sure thing at all!”

  “Everything worked out,” Zach said quietly, countering Anne Marie’s remark. “Their involvement was critical to the success of the operation.”

  “It definitely was.” William sat with a look of pleasure on his face. “Too bad Wesley lost his communication device. I would have liked to have heard everything going on around him. It was also unfortunate Meri’s earpiece stopped working. It was like missing the end of a really good movie.”

  “Fortunately they all made it out safe and sound,” Caleb said. “It is our first real victory in this skirmish. It was a good idea to send in reinforcements, Zach. Beautiful strategy.”

  “I think there is one thing we must discuss.” Zach looked around at the other three Ancestors. “It is apparent to me there is a spy among us. Someone tipped the Atumra off that we knew about their trap.”

  After a moment of silence as his words sank in, William laughed slightly and said, “There isn’t anything that points to that. We all know Seth was expecting Wes to come and try to free his brother.”

  “Yes, but they didn’t know he was bringing others with him. Without being tipped off, they only would have been expecting Wes and maybe his companion. There would have been no reason for the army that was there.” Zach’s expression was grim.

  “You might be right,” Anne Marie said thoughtfully, agreeing with Zach. “Now that you mention it, unless someone had tipped them off they could not have known of Wes’s syncing abilities. Yet if we are to consider this fully, the leak may not even be among us four. We may have to look at the Ancestors at the other Hubs as well. They were all notified of Wes’s unique talents.”

  Zach nodded but his expression didn’t change.

  “Well, whoever the spy is, he wasn’t successful.” William folded his arms. “Wes is safe. His brother is safe. We even recruited many of the Atumra soldiers to our own ranks.”

  “If we can trust them,” Anne Marie added.

  “I think we can,” Caleb said. His eyes were wandering the ceiling as if he was pondering everything that had happened that night. “They came to our people when they could have escaped. I’m sure the Atumra has an emergency rendezvous plan if the building were ever destroyed. The building collapsed so quickly that I’m almost positive it was engineered to do just that. It had a built in self-destruct.”

  “For now, the important thing is to keep Wes safe. He’s going to be a major target once the Body hears what happened.” Zach stood up and walked to his desk. “We should also keep a close watch on his brother.”

  “Not to mention that Seth got away,” William interjected. “He may still be a threat.”

  “I don’t think we’ll have to worry too much about him,” Anne Marie said as she stood. “He failed. Knowing the culture of the Atumra, he will no longer be in favor with them.”

  “Very true,” William said, still sitting with his hands folded.

  “I’m going to Chicago to check in with Meri and Wes,” Anne Marie said as she collected some items from her desk. “I want to speak to both of them personally.”

  “Tell them we’re very happy with what they accomplished,” Caleb said as Anne Marie headed out of the office. “They are the heroes of this battle.”

  Chapter 31

  “How are you feeling, Lyall?” Wes leaned forward in the chair sitting next to the hospital bed. It had only been 12 hours since they’d left the Atumra’s building in flames, and Wes had spent the entire time with his brother. With directions from Oscar, he’d taken Lyall to a hospital that had a doctor and several nurses who belonged to AfterLife. They had cared for Lyall without asking any pesky questions. They knew what had happened.

  “I’m alive.” Lyall’s bruised eyelids looked heavy as his eyes rolled around looking at his surroundings. “I am alive, aren’t I?”

  “Yes, you’re alive.” Wes knew some of Lyall’s life had been taken, but there was no sure way to know how much without syncing; something he was afraid to do. He didn’t want Lyall to become a Mortui.

  “You’re fine for now, but you’ll have to stay here for a couple more days until you’re stronger. I think the hospital called Mom.”

  Lyall’s eyes settled on Wes. “Why didn’t you call Mom? She would like to hear from you.”

  “She can’t know I’m still around. No one can. You’re not even supposed to know.” Wes thought about placing his hand on his brother’s but didn’t.

  “So, you’re dead but you aren’t, huh? How’s that working out for you?” Lyall closed his eyes and centered his head on his pillow.

  “It’s different, that’s for sure. I think I’m a better person now than when I was alive. Dying has helped me learn some things about living.”

  Lyall cleared his throat, but his eyes remained shut. “I never doubted you were already a good person. Not much of a family person, maybe, but still a good person.”

  It was the first real conversation Wes had had with his brother in years and it was bitter-sweet. Becoming a Mortui had given him a second chance in more ways than one, and he didn’t want to waste it. This time he did squeeze Lyall’s hand. “I’ve come to realize how much I love my family. I love you, Lyall. I’m sorry we drifted apart. It was my fault.”

  “Don’t blame yourself. It takes more than one person to disagree, and I didn’t do anything to improve the relationship either.” Lyall let out a gargled cough.

  Wes continued, “When Dad died, I wasn’t willing to give you the space you needed to grieve.”

  Lyall opened his eyes and moved his head to look at Wes. “Take the blame if you want it. You always were the greedy one.” He smiled.

  “Hey, I resemble that remark.”

  They both started laughing.

  After a moment, Lyall sobered. “I’m not going to pretend that I understand what’s happened. I only picked up pieces of everything that was going on. Are you going to be able to stay around long enough to explain it to me?”

  Wes shook his head. “No, and I don’t think it will do much good trying to explain it to anyone else, either. Especially Mom.”

  “No, I don’t think it will,” Lyall agreed. “So, I find out my brother’s back, even if he is dead, and now he’s going to leave me again.”

  Would it be worth risking Lyall’s life to be able to visit him whenever he wanted? Maybe it would be. He decided to let Lyall make the choice for himself. “If I sync with you, it would provide me with a way to see you on a more regular basis,” Wes said. “But it could be dangerous. I don’t know how long anyone’s synced with you before.”

  “I don’t know what that means, Wes,” Lyall smiled, “but if it means I’ll get to see you, then I say go for it.”

  “Okay, but if you die and end up like me, it won’t be my fault.” The lenses Doc put in Lyall’s eyes had been removed, Wes synced with him long enough to make a connection and then i
nstantly broke the link. He could sense that his brother had more life than he expected. He wouldn’t make it to old age, but there was still enough to experience what life had to offer. With his help, Wes would make sure it was a full life.

  Lyall didn’t seem to realize the sync had taken place. “So what do you have to do for us to be brothers again?”

  “I already did it,” Wes said.

  “Good. Then I’ll see you around.” Lyall shifted his head back to the center of the pillow and closed his eyes. His breathing indicated he’d fallen asleep.

  Meri made a quiet noise from the doorway to get Wes’s attention. She was standing beside Emily, who must have driven up from the Hub to see them. “Your mom’s on her way up. We’d better go so she doesn’t accidentally see you.”

  Wes nodded and stood. He hadn’t said everything he wanted to say to his brother, but now that he’d made the connection he could sync with him from anywhere any time they wanted to talk. He had a family again.

  Wes, Meri, and Emily took the stairs to the lobby to avoid running into Wes’s mother, exiting the side of the hospital opposite the parking lot. Once outside, Wes stopped. “Meri, do you mind if I talk to Emily for a minute?”

  Meri didn’t hesitate. “Sure, I’ll wait for you on that bench over there.”

  Emily spoke first. “Meri told me you were in sync with Seth. I’ve heard scary things about him. How was it?”

  “It was pretty bad until I got him to my theme park. Then everything seemed to work out okay.”

  “Where did he take you before that?” Emily asked.

  “The Coliseum in Rome. It would have been magnificent if he hadn’t been trying to kill me.”