Here Skies Surround Us

by Melanie Mcfarlane

  I put the thought out of my mind as I approach the north quarter. There are sounds of construction—buzzing and sawing—and voices shout out directions. As the commotion comes into view, I see the beginnings of a large wall, cutting off the northern quarter from the community. The people building that wall are all wearing laundry scrubs.

  “Miss, you can’t come this way,” a New Order member says.

  “But my friends are there.”

  “Anyone on the other side of this wall is staying there.”

  “You don’t understand—”

  “Are we going to have a problem here?” He raises a baton and taps it against his opposite hand.

  I shake my head. “No, sir.”

  I scan the wall for a familiar face. There’s one person here that I know who could get me to the north quarter. Someone who knows how to sneak in and out of the different quarters without being seen. Someone who’s so low in the grand scheme of things, no one would suspect her.

  Ali.

  “I meant my friend is working the wall.” I quickly add. “Is it okay if I see her?”

  “When she’s done.”

  “You don’t understand,” I push. “Her—brother is sick. I’m supposed to let her know to stop at the hospital afterward.”

  He raises an eyebrow and narrows his eyes, studying me.

  “I promise, I’ll be two minutes.” I offer the sweetest smile I can muster.

  “Fine, hurry up.”

  I dart past him, running along the wall searching for Ali. A few times I look over my shoulder and see the New Order member watching me. What am I going to say if she’s not here?

  Finally, a small frame with short mouse-brown hair comes into view. “Ali!” I call out. The workers around her pause and eye me up. “Ali! Over here.”

  She turns, her face lighting up the moment she sees me. But it quickly shadows when she sees the New Order member hovering behind me. She motions for me to come over and I quickly cross through the debris and reach her.

  “Ali, I’m sorry but I need a favor.”

  “Sure, just keep your voice down.” Her gaze keeps jumping around from person to person working within earshot.

  “I need to get to the north quarter. It’s—important.”

  Her tiny head shakes back and forth. “No, there’s no way now. Unless that boyfriend of yours can get you through?”

  “I can’t wait for him to get back, this is an emergency.” I pause and look around before leaning in closer. I need Ali’s help. If I can’t trust her, then I was never going to get this done. “I need to try to find some missing kids. I’m worried they’re going to get hurt.”

  Her eyes widen at the word kids. A frown crosses her face and her lower lip trembles. For a second I think she’s going to lose it right here. I look over my shoulder and see the New Order member still watching me. If anything, Ali’s reaction will make this even more believable.

  “They’ll just never stop, will they?”

  I shake my head slowly. I can’t imagine the post-traumatic effect this has all had on Ali. Her dome being invaded. Her family having to sacrifice her. How she hasn’t broken before now is beyond me. I know that we do what we need to survive. And I’ll do everything I can to get her out of this place, if she’ll leave.

  “Nora,” Ali says, shaking her head again. “You need to find Nora from the hospital. She can help you get through. I heard they’re letting her teams cross over to treat the injured.”

  “What’s happening?” Images of Ray’s body flash through my head. Is he still lying there, alone and broken in that alley? The thought makes my skin crawl.

  “A bunch of New Order members went over there to calm things down, only they didn’t. They’ve just formed a line on the other side of this wall to stop anyone from leaving.”

  My chest convulses, as if I’ve been punched. “But why?”

  “I don’t know, but it’s not good. I heard someone say a rebellion is starting. These people don’t know just how ruthless they can be.”

  “Are we just about done here?” I jump at the sound of the New Order member’s voice right behind me. Ali’s eyes go wide, and she turns away from me and runs back to the wall.

  “All done.” I slowly turn and duck around the guard, keeping my head down. “I have to get back to work.” My feet move swiftly across the ragged ground, carrying me farther and farther away from the New Order and their wall. The guard doesn’t call after me, and by the time I reach the hospital I’m out of breath and shaky.

  The three-story building stands above, reminding me of my imprisonment when I first arrived. I take a deep breath and pass through the front doors, scanning the room for elevators. It’s so busy in the waiting room that no one notices when I slip past the desk to the elevators. Inside I pause—which floor was I on? I push the button for three and hold my breath, hoping I’m correct.

  The elevator pulls me upward and the doors open to the same floor where Nora works. When I step off and look around, there’s a crowd around the desk. My heart skips a beat as everyone turns to look at me.

  “Natalia,” Nora says, coming forward. “What are you doing here?”

  “I was hoping I could join you,” I say quickly. “To help, you know, in the north quarter.”

  Nora raises an eyebrow at me and comes closer. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”

  “I won’t get in the way, I promise,” I add as she steps in front of me. I drop my voice to a whisper. “Evan, Alec, and Nico are checking into something on the outside. I really need to find Remy, Jess, and Shell. It’s a long story.”

  She purses her lips and wrinkles her forehead, then quickly nods and grabs my arm. “Okay, come with us. You need medical scrubs and a mask, and you can help carry a bag of supplies. Got it?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  We leave the hospital in our small group of six and make our way to the wall. Barricades stretch upward and outward, closing off the northern quarter from the rest of the dome. We stop near the gates and I freeze as a New Order member approaches us—the one that let me talk to Ali.

  “What’s the situation out there?” Nora asks him.

  “We’ve got it calmed down,” he says, glancing at me quickly and then back to Nora. “We’ll be sending in a gift of good faith. You know, show all is forgiven if they keep the peace. So don’t be long.”

  “Let us through,” Nora says. “I will take as much time as is needed.

  “Gates open!” the member shouts. Members work some pulleys and the gate creaks open, metal groaning as it shifts to the side. I follow closely behind Nora.

  Inside the walls, I’m instantly reminded of the night before. Garbage lies strewn in the streets. Homes are blackened from the fires the night before. But no one’s rioting. No one’s fighting. They’re just … nowhere.

  I look to my side and notice someone peering out their window. When our eyes make contact, the young girl quickly pulls the curtains shut.

  “Over here,” one of Nora’s team members shouts. A man is propped up against a house with an injury on his head. The team follows and Nora looks him over.

  “Take him back to the wall, and set up a temporary medical center there. It appears many people are hiding inside, so once they see we’re here to help maybe that will make them trust us. I’m going to go look around a bit more. Wait until I return.”

  The team helps the man up while I follow Nora down the street. She walks boldly, as if challenging anyone to come out and stop her. No one does, not even when we come across a group of kids playing near an alley. When they see us dressed in our masks and medical garb, their eyes get wide and they scatter.

  Up ahead I can see the hostel. Its door is hanging open at an angle, with one hinge left attached to the jamb. “Go find the others and get out of here,” Nora says. “You heard the New Order. Something is happening here. It might not be safe for long.”

  “But there’s no rebellio
n.” I wave my hands around. “Just look for yourself. People are afraid.”

  “I know, Nat. But this is all we can do for now.” She walks away, back to find her team and help those who have been hurt. I turn back to the hostel and walk inside.

  “Nat!” Remy calls out. “Glad to see you’re safe!”

  “How did you guys get back here? They’re building a wall out there.”

  “Evan got us in this morning, so we could gather our things and see if the kids were back.”

  “Where is Shell?” I ask, looking at him and Jess, sitting alone.

  “She didn’t show up,” Jess says, her lip trembling as her usual macho facade falls. “Maybe they took her with the children?”

  “I know where they are,” I say.

  Jess narrows her eyes at me. “How do you know that?”

  “I saw Quinn in the Axis. I bet they’re holding them all there until Court.”

  “The Axis.” Remy’s face drops.

  “But I only saw Quinn,” I say. “He was all alone on an entire floor. The other kids weren’t there.”

  “It’s a big building.” Jess says. “I’m sure we’ll find them there somewhere.”

  “Let’s go.” Remy moves out the door.

  As we walk down the street, six large trucks pass by us. I look back and notice a tarp lifting on one. They’re filled with boxes stamped with a red symbol I can’t quite make out, but I’m sure I see a water droplet on it. People come running from their houses. It must be the gift of good faith the member told us about.

  We make our way through the open gate toward the entrance to the dome. The south quarter goes about their day in normal fashion, oblivious to the events the night before. I realize most of them won’t even know that a wall now exists, keeping them even more ignorant.

  We make our way quickly to the Axis, and when we arrive I see the skittish girl working the desk is back; I’ve never learned her name. She stands as we enter, looking frightened at our arrival. I look back at Remy and Jess and realize we look like a roaming band of troublemakers. A loud voice comes from the direction of the elevators.

  “Where is she?” Evan says, holding a New Order member against the wall. The kid’s face is spotted with acne and he can’t be more than my age, possibly even younger. Nico stands by watching. “I’ve checked the lab, but no one’s seen her for hours. Tell me where you’re hiding Nat!”

  “Evan!” I call out. “I’m here.”

  He looks over his shoulder in surprise, and loosens his grip just enough for the kid to wriggle loose. He runs past us, straight out of the Axis.

  Evan runs over and picks me up in his arms. “First Quinn, and then you. I thought for sure they took you.”

  “I went to the north quarter to get your friends for help,” I try to explain, but he cuts me off.

  “Why can’t you ever stay put when I ask?”

  “You should know better by now.” I nestle my face in his neck and enjoy his embrace for a moment before remembering why we’re here. “Evan, your mom has Quinn. She brought him here yesterday. I think she has the other kids, too.”

  He lets me go and looks over to Remy, who nods in agreement. “Okay.”

  Evan leans over the counter of the front desk, grabbing four walkie-talkies. The girl opens her mouth as if to stop him, but all he says is, “I’ve got business with my mom.” She hurriedly sits back down, her mouth hanging open, and I can feel her gaze burning into my back as she watches us enter the elevator.

  “Nico,” Evan says, passing her a walkie-talkie, “you and Jess check the upper floors and work your way down. Nat and I are going to look for Quinn and then pay a visit to my mom.” He hands Remy one as well. “Stay here and keep her from alerting everyone.” Evan points to the front desk. “The first one to find any kids calls it in.”

  On the elevator, Evan and I get off on Floor 4 and the others continue up. “Take this in case we get separated.” He hands me a walkie-talkie. The hallway is dark. “Quinn!” Evan calls out, running and checking every room. “Quinn?”

  It’s hard to swallow. I can feel pins and needles in my hands as I rub them against my pant legs. Quinn’s not here and I have a sinking feeling he’s not coming back. Suddenly the memory of Quinn’s last words play in my mind. Can I turn the key this time? I turn around and hit the button. I can still hear Evan looking for Quinn down the hall, but I know if I don’t hurry, we might never see Quinn again.

  “Nat!” Evan calls, running toward me. The elevator doors open and I jump inside, hitting Floor 2. As the doors close, Evan jumps in beside me.

  “What are you doing!” he yells.

  “She took him to B3—I’m sure of it. But that was hours ago. We have to hurry.”

  As the doors open, Evan pushes through them and runs down the hallway to his mother’s office. I catch up to him as he reaches her locked office door. He bangs on it but there’s no answer. The lights are on inside.

  “I know you’re in there!” Evan yells. He bangs again. No answer. “Move!” he says, and I jump back. He takes a step back and then kicks the door, throwing his body against it. As the door flies open, Evan falls inside, and I’m right behind him.

  The office is empty. No one is here. Light spills into the room from an opening in the bookshelves along the wall. I look at Evan in terror. We know where that door opens. It’s the only way to get down to B3. I can’t believe I was right.

  I look up at Evan during our silent elevator ride. How does it feel returning to the floor where he was thrown into cells with infected, forced to fight them off and kill them just to survive? Had I not made it in time his next fight would have been his last.

  I put my hand in his and Evan looks down at me, worry etched on his face. He squeezes my hand and then we watch the doors, waiting for them to open. At least we have each other.

  As the elevator dings, a familiar hallway greets us. It’s long and lined with doors that open to small one-room cells, like B3 back home. Disgust shudders down my spine. Evan lets go of my hand and we slowly check the rooms, one by one. They’re filled with walls of weapons and ammunition. What is this place? An armory? I’d never seen anything on this scale back home. It was common knowledge that the Order used to have a small armory, but nothing like this. This is the apocalypse waiting to happen all over again.

  “Let’s split up,” Evan says. “That way if they’re up ahead, we’ll have them flanked on both sides.” I know from experience that the hallway splits into two, each rounding a section of labs. If the cells are weapon storage lockers, I don’t want to see how they’ve changed the labs.

  “I don’t think that’s a great idea. We don’t have any weapons.”

  “We don’t need any,” he says. “It’s my mom.”

  Though I beg to differ, I merely nod. Evan goes to the left, and I go to the right. My palms are starting to sweat again. I wipe them on my shirt as I slowly walk around the labs. Two labs sit across from each other down each hallway, circling toward two test rooms at the end. Back home it met with an exit that held in hundreds of infected. I shudder again. Some things you just can’t forget.

  As I approach the first lab, I slowly creep up to its window and peer around the edge. I jump back. Inside are five children standing in line. A New Order member is injecting them with a needle.

  My heart jumps against my ribs. They’re infecting them! They’re just children! I run toward the door, about to burst inside when I hear my name called out in a squeaky little voice.

  “Nat!” Quinn calls. “Over here!”

  I pause with my hand on the handle of the door and turn to my left as Quinn runs over to me. I kneel and sweep him into my arms, holding tight as if I will never let him go. If I could I would turn and run out of this place with him in tow, but I can’t. There are too many innocents down here. They all need my help.

  “What are you doing down here?” I ask, my voice shaking with every word.

  “Mommy
brought me,” he says, smiling up at me with all his innocence. “She says she’s going to protect us.”

  I set him down and quickly look over him. He seems okay. “Did they give you a needle, Quinn?”

  “Of course, I did.” Caroline walks around the corner. “He is my son.”

  “How could you do this?” I ask, standing, keeping a hand protectively on Quinn’s shoulder. “They’re just children.”

  “That’s exactly why we’re doing this,” Cabri says, joining Caroline.

  “You? What hand do you have in all of this?”

  “I’m surprised you don’t want us to spread your precious immune serum around,” Cabri says, looking down his nose at me.

  “Immune serum?”

  “Of course,” Caroline says. “I believe in the protection of the innocent.”

  “So, you’re not infecting them?”

  Caroline breaks into laughter. “Of course not, silly girl. We’re taking the proper precautions for everyone.” Then her eyes narrow. “What were you going to do if we were? Save them all?”

  “When are you going to let them go?” I ask.

  “They go to Court tomorrow,” Caroline says, leveling me with her cold stare. “There’s still the matter of the items we found in the hostel.”

  “But—”

  “Look who I found,” Mason says, coming around the corner with Evan.

  “Son!” Caroline says, opening her arms to him.

  Evan ignores his mother, instead kneeling and calling out to his brother. “Quinn!” Quinn runs over to his big brother, who pulls him in for a hug. “I’ve been looking all over for you. You worried me sick!” Evan shoots Caroline a cold glare.

  “I’m sorry,” Quinn says. “I’ve been playing here at the Axis. It’s fun.”

  “Yes, I bet it is,” Evan says, staring at his mother over his brother’s shoulder. “I think it’s time to go home.”

  “Not yet,” Caroline says. “He has to wait twenty-four hours in case of a reaction to the immune serum.”

  “You gave that to him?” Evan grip on Quinn tightens.