by Paul Seiple
"I'm really sorry about your friend," Beverly said. "And you too. You shouldn't be here."
"You're not like the rest of them. Why are you here?" Melanie asked.
"I want to live. I'm an old woman. I cannot survive out there on my own. I sacrificed my morals for survival," Beverly said.
"You’re not a follower of that psychopath?" Melanie asked.
"I'm a survivor," Beverly said. She pulled away from the stitching and flashed a smile at Melanie. "You are too, dear."
"I'm not too sure about that. I can't see myself getting out of this."
Beverly sewed the final stitch. She brushed Melanie's hair from her forehead. "Hang in there, dear."
"You finished?"
The male voice seeped under the door.
"Just about, Finn," Beverly said. She smiled again. "They're antsy, aren't they?" She didn't give Melanie a chance to answer. "All stitched up."
"What is he planning to do with me?" Melanie asked.
The smile drained from Beverly's face. "I'm not sure. But you seem like a good soul. I'll do what I can to protect you. Will you have people looking for you?"
Melanie opened her mouth to speak but caught herself. She thought back to Abe, and how he tried to gain her trust. Abe turned out to be nothing more than a mindless follower. Beverly seemed different, but she could be fishing for information.
"It's OK. I wouldn't trust me either. He listens to me, though. I won't let him hurt you," Beverly said.
"All right, Doc. We have to go," Finn said.
Beverly ran her fingers through Melanie's hair. "I'll be back to check on you in a bit."
"Now, Doc."
"Don't you dare rush me, Finn," Beverly said without taking her eyes off Melanie.
"Sorry, but you know how Maestro gets if schedules aren't kept," Finn said.
Beverly smiled again. "He'll live."
Melanie closed her eyes. The metal door opened as she drifted off. Finn entered the room. He wasn't a tall man, maybe five-foot-eight, but he was built like a bodybuilder. His shoulders took up most of the doorway. Even with his imposing frame, Melanie wasn't threatened by Finn. He didn't hide his allegiance to Maestro, unlike Abe, who feigned fear at the mere mention of his leader's name. With Finn, Melanie knew where she stood. There was no use in trying to win him over.
"How's your noggin?" Finn asked.
"My noggin?" Melanie asked.
"Your head? How's the cut?"
"I know what you meant. I just haven't heard the word noggin since... well... I don't know when," Melanie said.
"You should get out more," Finn said.
"Funny you say that. I mean, with me being held your prisoner."
"Oh, you're not my prisoner. You're Maestro's guest. You should enjoy that honor."
"Like my friend enjoyed being gutted like a fish," Melanie said.
"Your friend received the ultimate gift from Maestro. His suffering is over. Now he can rejoice in the afterlife," Finn said.
Melanie shook her head.
"Anyway, come with me. Maestro would like to meet you."
Finn extended his hand to help Melanie to her feet. She rejected him and slid further away.
"It doesn't have to go down this way," Finn said. "You're coming with me whether you like it or not. So let's make it peaceful." He shook his open hand at Melanie.
Melanie didn't move. She knew at some point she would have to face Maestro if she had any hope of going home. Melanie majored in psychology in college. It was her only weapon at this point. She had to get inside the psycho's head. Maestro spoke confidently about the power of control. Melanie had to test that control. She had to take the power. She had to be the one in control. Melanie took Finn's hand and got to her feet.
"Now that wasn't so bad, was it?" Finn asked.
"I guess not."
"Well, it's much better than having to be dragged kicking and screaming," Finn said.
Melanie shot a quick, flirty smile at Finn. "So tell me what Maestro is like?"
"The first time you meet him is a bit intimidating. I've never met a man like Maestro. Most people fell apart when the devil's virus spread. He was the opposite. Maestro truly became a leader. He puts his people first. He is determined to make sure we survive," Finn said.
"Became a leader? What was he before this?" Melanie asked.
"It's not my place to tell you that. Ask him yourself. Let's go."
"Why do you call Judas the devil's virus?" Melanie asked.
"Maestro says it's modern-day Armageddon. The pit of hell opened and released the virus on a world that needed to be punished," Finn said.
"And you believe that?"
"Maestro is a wise man. He is smarter than me," Finn said.
"So you're a sheep," Melanie said.
Finn smiled. "I'm a student. Maestro says it is my duty to keep learning. Knowledge is a weapon in today's society."
"Yeah, sheep," Melanie said.
"I don't care what you think of me. Come on," Finn said.
Beverly ignored the command to stop. A thin, short man, barely an inch taller than her, blocked Beverly's path. She chuckled.
"Do you really want to do this, Tom?"
"Maestro said no disruptions," Tom said.
"Move to the side, Tom, if you want to keep receiving antibiotics for that unfortunate little thing you've contracted," Beverly said.
Tom lowered his head but stood his ground.
"I'm serious. If you don't let me pass, the antibiotics could disappear. Do you know how rare azithromycin these days?"
"You're a doctor. It's your responsibility to take care of us," Tom said.
"I'm a doctor, but the rules are different now. Don't test me," Beverly said.
"He's going to be mad at me if I let you by."
"I can handle him," Beverly said.
Tom let out a deep sigh and stepped to the side. Beverly smiled and knocked on the trailer door.
"I said no disruptions. That means you too, Tom."
"It's Beverly. I need to speak with you about our new patient."
The door swung open. Maestro stood in the doorway. He no longer wore the mask. He swiped his greasy hair from his eyes. "Is she OK?"
"She's banged up, but it's nothing serious," Beverly said.
Maestro motioned for Beverly to enter the trailer. He cut a look of displeasure at Tom.
"I ignored his command," Beverly said with her back to Maestro. "He is not to be punished."
Maestro shut the door. "Never talk to me that way in front of them again."
Beverly faced Maestro. "Never talk to me that way again, period. I'm not like them. I like you, but I don't worship you. I like helping people, but I don't need to help these people. I choose to."
"Fair enough. I like you too. Don't use that against me."
Maestro pulled a chair away from an antique kitchen table. He slid it towards Beverly.
“Is Melanie going to be fine?" Maestro asked.
"What are you planning to do with her?"
"I'm enamored with her leadership qualities. I want to get to know her better," Maestro said.
"You're not to hurt her," Beverly said.
"I said I like you. Out of respect, I will politely tell you this is my congregation. I am the leader. You're not to tell me what I can or cannot do. But, to ease your worry, I do not plan on hurting Melanie."
"Listen, you run this place however you want. I don't agree with you murdering an innocent man to play mind games with her. If death wasn't a suitable cure for this hellhole of a world, I would have a bigger problem with it. But she is a good soul. Do you understand me?"
Maestro flashed a quick smile. "I'm really glad we rescued you at that clinic. I know you don't agree with some of my methods, but our talks keep me grounded."
Beverly returned the smile. "You mean when I rescued you at the clinic. If my memory serves me right, you were this close..." She held her thumb and index finger as few inches apart. "... to death. Without my
care, the infection would have been the end of you."
"We can argue all day about who rescued who. I did kill those two zombies who were about to feast on you. But there is no time right now to determine who is the bigger savior. I need to talk to Melanie," Maestro said.
"Seriously, Wayne, what are you planning to do with her?" Beverly asked.
"I'm hoping to convince her to join the congregation."
"And if she doesn't want to be a part of this?" Beverly asked.
"I haven't given a thought to any other scenarios. I'm confident she will see the benefits of becoming a member."
"You're not a new messiah, Wayne. You're just a punk kid with a lot of charisma."
"My name is Maestro. And the world needs a new messiah. The old one didn't do a good job of protecting his disciples."
Twenty-Two
Finn led Melanie through a narrow passage. The walls were made of a tent-like material that collapsed at the center. It reminded Melanie of a haunted house she went to on Halloween as a child. The walls were meant to induce claustrophobia. She had the idea these were meant to do the same thing.
Finn held her wrist, not tight, but just enough grip to make sure Melanie didn't try to escape.
"How much farther?" Melanie asked.
"Freaking out over the walls?"
"No. I get that it's supposed to scare me. It doesn't. But it smells like cow shit in here," Melanie said.
"Yeah. The smell isn't the best. It's not far."
A glimpse of light caught Finn's frame as they neared the exit. He let go of Melanie's hand and stepped into the open. There wasn't much chance of her trying to backtrack. Melanie cleared the shrinking walls.
"Better?" Finn asked.
Melanie ignored the question to take in the surroundings. A row of trailers lined her left. Rides surrounded her. About ten people were riding a Ferris wheel. Ragtime music came from the speaker of a food truck draped with white lights. A sign flashed the words “Hot Popcorn.”
"What the hell is this place?"
"It was a traveling carnival before the outbreak. Most everyone got sick or became dinner for the sick. A few of us survived, but I'm the only one left," Finn said.
"You're a carnie?" Melanie asked.
"I ran maintenance on the rides. The Ferris wheel is safe if you want to take a spin later."
"No thanks. I don't like heights. So is Maestro a carnie too?" Melanie asked.
"No. He found me a few miles up the road almost dead from dehydration. I showed him this place. He made it our home," Finn said. "Maestro wants to meet over there." Finn pointed to a sign that read “Screams from Hell.”
"You're kidding, right? He wants to meet me in a haunted house ride?"
"Technically, it was never a ride. People jumped out from behind holes in the wall. It wasn't scary."
"Oh, that makes it so much better," Melanie said.
Finn smiled. "Come on. Maestro doesn't like to be kept waiting," Finn said.
Maestro shifted the gas mask above his mouth. He hated the thing, but it was a key component to his persona. He took on a different attitude when he wore it. Maestro was always the leader of The Congregation, but behind the mask, he became its god.
He stood in front of a funhouse mirror and waved his arms. The effect slimmed him down to almost a skeleton and stretched his tall frame to nearly giant proportions. The distortion on his body reminded Maestro of a demon. Behind the mask, he felt like a demon. It was the only perk to wearing it.
The room was dark, lit only with dull yellow bulbs recessed in the ceiling. The walls were painted with images of classic monsters... the Wolf Man, Dracula, Frankenstein. The haunted house was Maestro's favorite part of carnivals growing up. “Screams from Hell” reminded him of spending Halloweens with his brother. Maestro hadn't seen his brother for a few years before Judas hit, but he knew he would never see him again. Death came early for Maestro’s brother, and while he preached to The Congregation that death was the cure for the disease, he still felt the need for revenge. Maestro's brother was immune. One of the souls to be spared the wrath of the devil's virus. He vividly remembered being cooped up in their room with H1N1. Maestro's brother was murdered, and he vowed revenge every day.
"What do you think, Wolfie? Am I monster enough to join your gang?" Maestro traced the Wolf Man's face. "How about you, Drac? I strike fear, right?"
"I have Miss Carpenter."
The muffled voice sparked gooseflesh underneath Maestro's coat. Nervousness rushed into his gut like bad airport food. Butterflies, he thought. He’d watched Melanie for months before he gave the order to bring her to him. Melanie was a strong woman. She was also a leader. A damn good one. He shouldn't be intimidated. Maestro planned the meeting for months. He should be prepared. He eyed the mural of monsters.
"I'm ready," he said. He lowered the gas mask. "Bring her in."
Finn's broad shoulders blocked sight of Melanie as they walked into the room. It added to the anticipation of seeing her. Finn stepped to the side, giving Maestro a good look at Melanie. Maestro noticed the bandage around her head. Dried blood clung to her matted hair, but her beauty still stunned Maestro. The fluttering in his stomach intensified. The white dress she wore for The Inferno was sullied with dirt and crimson specks. It didn't matter, Melanie was still more beautiful than any woman in The Congregation.
"Should I leave?" Finn asked.
"Yes," Melanie said. "I've heard a lot about him. I have a lot of questions." She hoped the cocksureness hid the fear. She prepped herself not to be scared, but Maestro was an imposing figure. The dirty, painted gas mask only added to the creepiness. The robotic voice was the topping on the psycho cake.
"I was talking to Maestro," Finn said.
Maestro smiled beneath the mask. He knew what Melanie was doing. In a strange way, knowing she was afraid gave him confidence. The butterflies subsided. "It's fine. She's right. We have a lot to talk about."
Finn nodded, left, and shut the door behind him, leaving the pale-yellow bulbs to provide the only light.
"Have a seat," Maestro said, offering a chair to Melanie.
"You first."
"That's how it's going to be, huh? We're really going to have a pissing match?" Maestro asked. "You're my guest. Please, sit."
"I'm your prisoner, not your guest. You may have your followers fooled. But not me."
"Fine." Maestro took a seat and slid the other chair closer to Melanie. "Happy now?"
Melanie sat down, ignoring the question.
"You use ‘followers’ like it's a bad word. I've seen you lead. You have followers too," Maestro said.
"I'm not a goddamn cult leader who hides behind a gas mask," Melanie said. "I care about the people I lead."
"Have I given you the impression I don't care about my people?"
"Well, you hung one upside and threatened to slice him open like a piñata, and the others I've had the displeasure of speaking with shake at the mere mention of your name," Melanie said.
"There has to be order in chaos. I never intended on killing Miles. He disobeyed my teachings. He isn't worthy of the afterlife yet. As for the others, without my leadership, every last one of them would be dead."
"You're delusional. You speak of the afterlife as if it's the cure for this world, yet you keep people here as your followers."
"Miss Carpenter, there was a deeper meaning to The Inferno. We are living in purgatory. Heaven is earned."
"Hell is too," Melanie said.
"Exactly. When someone deserves Heaven, I give it to them. When they deserve Hell, I give that as well. Until then, I will make purgatory as comfortable as possible."
"You're not God."
"I respectfully disagree. Here, I am the only god," Maestro said.
"All right. Whatever. Why am I here?"
Maestro leaned closer to Melanie. "The tough girl act isn't working. I smell the fear."
Melanie slid the chair away from Maestro. "If anything, you smell the fact I h
aven't showered in a few days. I am not afraid of you."
Maestro shrugged his shoulders. "OK."
"Speaking of fear, though, why do you hide behind that mask?"
"I'm not hiding. The mask is part of who I am. When I wear it, I'm Maestro. When I take it off..." He paused and lifted the mask away from his face. "…I'm Wayne."
Melanie gasped. Without distortion, Wayne's voice sounded familiar. She ran through every person she remembered turning away from Winston. It wasn't too many.
"What's wrong, Melanie? You look like you've seen a ghost."
You've seen a ghost. Those words were familiar too. It was a haunting from Melanie's past. Dean said those very words when he revealed himself as one of the men who robbed her in New York.
"How was Dean last time you saw him?" Wayne asked. "Funny, I didn't get to say goodbye. I was too busy doing time."
"I... don't know what you're talking about. Who's Dean?" Melanie asked.
Wayne blew the hair away from his eyes. "He was your boyfriend, right? I mean, before you murdered him," Wayne said.
"You've mistaken me for someone else," Melanie said. She placed her hands to her sides to hide the trembles. The more Wayne spoke, the more she recognized the voice.
"I am surprised you turned out to be a leader. That night in New York, you were pitiful," Wayne said.
"That night in New York was another lifetime," Melanie said.
"Ah, so, you do know who I am," Wayne said. "Dean sent me letters about you. He was smitten. He was also a serial killer, so..." He shrugged his shoulders.
"If you're going to kill me, get it over with," Melanie said.
"Kill you? I'm not sure you're ready for the afterlife. Do you think you deserve Heaven or Hell?" Wayne asked.
"Well, I enjoyed putting that bullet into Dean. I guess that's probably not a heavenly thing."
"Probably not. I've sought revenge ever since I left that prison and found my brother's decomposing body in Black Dog."
"Well, now's your chance," Melanie said, adding sarcasm to her tone in hopes it hid the fear. "Here I am."
"Not so fast. Why rush things?" Wayne asked. He stood up and paced the room. "Initially, I was going to torture you to a slow death. And then a funny thing happened when I began watching you at your camp."
