by K. Weikel
She sits on the bed, Daniel already asleep. She could fall asleep right there too, if she didn’t feel guilty about running away from the battle.
“Well, after I was forced to watch One die, which freakin’ sucked,” he said, kicking a pole holding up the bed. He’d had a thing for her for a long time. Everyone knew about it but One. “I took off and silently quit the Unnamed. Unlike you. I went and started living in a home. Oh, I have a name now, by the way,” he tries to joke, taking a seat next to her. “It’s Martin.”
“Nice to meet you, Martin,” she says, letting a smile mask her frustrations.
“Anyway. I made friends with a few Elites. They actually aren’t that bad.”
Rose glances at Daniel. “I know.”
“So?” Martin sings, poking Rose in the side. “What’s the story with you two? Y’all making kissy faces at each other?”
Rose smacks him on his arm, almost angry. “No! There are more important things at stake right now.”
“Eh. Just the end of the world. If I had a girl I was traveling with that was like you, I’d be head-over-heels. Besides. I heard you trusted him after he betrayed you, and you saved his life. What is that if it ain’t love?”
“Shut up, Two,” Rose spits quietly.
Martin pauses. “If this wasn’t happening... do... do you think y’all would have...?”
Rose looks at him, her old friend. Her heart swells and she just feels like crying, but she stays sewn together. Her eyes drift to the sleeping Elite Runner, the boy she grew up with. They never knew each other, and she only noticed him when she began to daydream while running. He passed her twice, and she wasn’t going to let that happen.
“Honestly... he was so caught up in competing... he’d never give me the time of day.”
“So... you like him?”
“I...” Rose shakes her head and places them in her hands. “It doesn’t matter.”
“It matters because we need some light in the darkness. It’s a light subject. One that can make you happy.”
“Dreaming of what you wish could have happened instead isn’t something happy, Martin,” Rose chastises. Her tone makes him shake his head and smile.
“But dreaming of what you wish could have happened might change your view for the future.”
Rose doesn’t respond.
“So. If things were different—”
“We probably would have never talked.”
“But—”
Rose glares at him. “What? What do you want me to say?”
“I want you to tell me your deepest darkest feelings about Daniel the Elite Runner.”
She shakes her head. “You’ve always been so nosey.”
“Hey, that’s what I’m here for,” he smiles.
“So what’s been going on down her?” She asks, changing the subject. Her eyes fight to stay open.
“The Elites have been trying to come up with a strategy, and have found nothing.”
“We could fight,” Rose offers, teetering on the edge of the bed.
“It’s not that simple. The people want change. The Elites began to spare the lives of the Unnamed and just cast them out into the wilderness. Overpopulation was something they were afraid of reoccurring. But the people were beginning to be afraid of their government, and the Elites realized that isn’t what the feelings toward a government should be. They should feel protected, not endangered. And now they want something else.”
Rose nods her head. She has flashbacks of the past years she’s been a part of the Unnamed, and how she craved revenge and how she kept her anger in check. If it had been two years earlier, she would have followed right behind those riots with all the anger she’s pent up. But now she’s older, and understands more. She knows what empathy is. “Humans are never satisfied, are they?”
“Afraid not.”
Both the former rebels’ attentions snap upward and to a man in a red jacket. The Elite Leader. The leader of the only group that is watched year-round. Every decision they make is tallied either for or against them. And here is the winner for the past few years. The man who intimidated Daniel and made him betray the Unnamed.
Rose feels a flare of hatred lick her insides.
“I remember you,” the Elite Leader smirks, placing his hands in his pockets. “You were the rebel we held captive. I still don’t understand how you got away.”
Rose grits her teeth and takes a deep breath in. She feels the pressure of “playing nice”, especially when Martin places a hand on her shoulder.
The Elite Leader smiles. “Do you know why this type of government was created? This “Elite System”?”
“Not really,” Rose mutters quietly, but turns to listen anyway.
“The people were complacent, but they did nothing about it. And they expected so much from the government; they wanted free handouts, but never considered where that money comes from. It came from those that were hard-working and paid taxes from the money they worked hard to earn. And it wasn’t fair to those people that they were working hard to put food on the table while there were slobs at home sitting on the couch getting free food. Not everyone was that way, but it was the majority. And then they who got things free wanted more. They tried to overthrow the government and the nation fell into a civil war, during the Olympics.
“The population suffered and they came upon a depression where only the ones who worked for their money got fed. Their nation got smaller and smaller and their debt came back to bite them in the butt. Other countries took over. Over time, the weather grew worse and the nations began to wither away, money becoming scarce. And so the Elites rose and promised shelter and food. These were the wealth of the nations. So they gave their people everything as long as they’d agree to living a certain amount of time. They did, and then they grew tired of it. They rebelled because the Elites were living longer than they were. So they came up with a game. Those that won would live as long as they wanted, and those that lost would die. After that, they became angry again. It was “too hard” and the Elites were like royalty. Only their blood carried on the position. So they tweaked the game. Those that won would try to beat an Elite in order to take that leading position. Those that lost died.
“And here we are today. The defeated are alive and were casted out in order to keep control of the population, and they’ve risen up, angry because... why?”
“They aren’t as proven aged as the Elites,” Rose mutters exasperatedly. Anger had been building in her chest. He made it sound irrelevant, what she used to fight for, what she still fights for. She hates to admit it, though, the truth that lingers. Humans are never satisfied, and will do anything for comfort. And that’s what even she was wanting.
“Why did the Elites allow these changes?”
“Because the people wouldn’t shut up,” the Elite Leader chides. “They don’t understand that they have to work hard toward their goals to earn something. And the Elites understood that. But the ways of thinking changed for the worse. The people shouldn’t lean on their government for support. The people should hold themselves up and keep the government in check.”
“Is that why you’re hiding from the people?” Rose asks snidely through clenched teeth.
“Were letting it cool down out there. I thought it was the best choice.”
“Why not fight back?” Rose snaps, not looking at the man.
“Because more will die.”
“You don’t know that!” She bursts, standing. Her body wobbles from exhaustion. “You are the Elites. Can you not stop a riot?”
The Elite Leader answers with silence, studying her.
“Sometimes the best choice is to wait.”
“This can’t wait! People are dying. We were tortured.” She looks down at Daniel, her heart aching. “The only reason we were saved is because you knew him.”
“He is an Elite,” the Elite Leader scolds. “We save Elites first.”
“Snobby, selfish—”
“Because,” he inte
rrupts, holding up a finger. “We know the people in their Category best. We, as a whole, can come up with a solution together. The Elite Solver is the one who figures out what to do once we explain who we are as a Category. We are simply those who represent our people. We know what is best for you, even if you think against it. Even Blaise had his bright moments.
“The only way our cities can survive this is together.”
The Elite turns to walk away, and Rose clenches her fists. She loathes him. That truth rings through every cell in her body. But she can’t deny that he is right.
She sits, defeated, and collapses into her hands.
“Get some rest,” Martin whispers softly as her body shudders. She nods and slowly stands to get to the bed across from the Runner. She lays down and her body shuts down to finally rest. Every worry disappears as she begins to dream.
21: Intruders
An alarm screeches to life, waking everyone. Rose sits upright and immediately turns her attention to Daniel, who is awake as well. Her heart softens a little as he rubs his eyes.
Martin rushes up to the two of them, shoving guns into their hands. Banging erupts from all around their sanctuary, from each of the doors visible from where Rose sits.
“What’s going on?” The Runner’s voice was scratchy and rough, but he feels better than he had. Sleep rested his muscles and his brain, and he needed that now more than anything. He’s glad Rose let rest come upon them last night, otherwise the task that seems to be ahead, judging by the guns and the way the Elite Guard darts around checking the area, would be impossible for their tortured bodies. Daniel understands he isn’t completely healed, but he can at least move his body now.
Martin turns to him and shakes his head as another chorus of banging emerges. “The rebels found us. We haven’t even been down here for long—”
“That girl must have been doing more than snooping,” Rose sneers, cocking her gun. “Where do the three doors lead?”
She is in survival mode, and Daniel can tell by the glint in her eye. He hopes, deep inside, that when this is all done, he can get to know the real her, not the plotting, cunning, and guile version of her. Not the assassin, but the girl. The real Rose.
Her eyes land on Daniel’s, softening for a moment before turning back to Martin to hear his answer. Does she wish the same thing?
“Each door leads to a different city: the Planet, the Base, and the World. We’re right between them all.”
Rose nods her head at his answer just as the Elite Guard calls for attention. Jim. Daniel recalls hearing his name, and it sent him into the past for a moment. Jim had been his friend, even if that’s not how they started out. He was snarky, playful, and serious all at once. But this man, this Elite, was not. He was the opposite. Stern, cautious, and strong. Daniel got to know him a little bit during his time as an Elite.
“Cock your guns and prepare to shoot,” Jim instructs. “We’re either going to fight until the death or escape. And either of those options are possible if we stick together.”
Jim nods as everyone falls silent, understanding. The Elites understand more than the rebellion thinks, and, just like them, they will fight for the good of their people—or what they think is for the good of their people.
The Elite Guard checks the screens that reflect what the cameras see outside the heavy metal doors. Daniel knows that those doors will be super tough to get through, but he’s learned not to underestimate the Unnamed, especially the day the old One threatened his life in the darkness of the tunnels to their city. He longs to return there, if only once, to see what’s happened to it. Have the new Unnamed ruined it, or possibly the government? It was so serene and nice down there; how could anyone mess up the harmony it created with destruction? They may have gotten bored of the city, of living in harmony, and they began to overlook its beauty. How easy it is to forget blessings and see the flaws and cracks in things you’ve seen all your life.
There was a girl Rose shot, and Daniel’s attention turns to her. They haven’t moved her an inch, serving as an example, he’s guessing, just as he served as one for the Unnamed if anyone decided to go against the wishes of the new, brutal One. His muscles barely work now, but they work better than they had when he was locked up in that room. How could someone bring themselves that far from goodness to torture a human being? How detached can One and her minions be to do such a thing? Do they have any shred of humanity left in them, or have they killed enough and murdered enough to lose all sense of mercy?
Daniel’s heart aches. He’s had days to ponder over these questions, and, yet, he finds no answer. And in the midst of an ambush he wonders again about the answers to these questions. He wants it all to stop. He doesn’t want things to change, not as drastically as One wants it to. Some things are terrible, but, like the Elite Leader said last night as Daniel drifted to and from consciousness, humans will never be satisfied, no matter what changes happen in their favor.
And that is something One doesn’t understand.
Jim moves to the last screen, Daniel watching him as thoughts flood his mind. He wants it to end, this rioting, this chaos, but how could he possibly win, when the Unnamed outnumber the Elite?
His eyes drift to the dead girl and he stands, his legs still shaky and aching, and moves to her. Her flesh has begun to rot, he can smell it, but he pushes it away. He’s seen worse than just a dead body over the course of his introduction to the Unnamed.
His hands reach into her jacket pockets, hoping he’ll find something of use, some hint as to what she was going to do, or something that will help him find a way to defeat the Unnamed. He doesn’t feel panicked or rushed like many of the other Elites, and he wonders if it’s because of his exhaustion, or he just doesn’t care anymore.
His fingers knock against something, and he wraps his hand around it, someone coming up behind him. He pulls it out as the person squats beside him to look over his finding.
“A grenade?” Rose asks, taking it gingerly in her hands. “How did they get their hands on this? It’s so... old.”
“We could use it,” Daniel tells her, knowing the girl would have exploded the hidden base if she hadn’t have been shot. “The Unnamed has changed for the worse, and I don’t think there’s any chance in saving them.”
“So you want to blow them up?” Rose asks skeptically. She shakes her head. “That won’t solve anything. It’ll make everything worse.”
“You’re right, Daniel agrees, standing up. “Fighting fire with fire only creates a bigger fire. We need to think bigger, past our obvious desires. To win... we need to lose.”
The bunker the Elites stay in shakes, small bombs going off right outside the doors. Daniel can see them beginning to cave in as Rose jumps up to view the screens showing the camera’s angle.
“Pack up,” she demands, her voice echoing over the crowd’s cries. “We need to leave. The Unnamed has the least amount of people and most of us could probably make it.”
“Most of us?” Someone cries, the ruckus growing even louder. She looks at Daniel, anger and frustration playing in her eyes.
Daniel stands slowly, catching a few people’s eyes. The Elite Leader meets his gaze and makes his way over to the Runner, anxious to hear what’s swimming through his mind.
“What’s your idea?” The Elite Leader asks, placing a hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “You can’t be a Servant of someone like Mortimer and not pick anything up from him. I know you have something.”
“I do. But it’s the opposite of what everyone wants to do.”
The Elite Leader takes this into consideration, the crowd only getting louder as the room shakes again and the walls begin to crumble.
“Then it’s the opposite of what they will expect from us.” The Elite Leader turns back to Daniel. “Let’s do it.”
22: Surrender
The door leading to the World falls onto the floor with a loud metal clang. The Unnamed burst through, weapons raised and ready to attack, but they still as the low
chanting makes its way into their ears. Could it be?
“We surrender.”
The Elite and their chosen helpers sit on the beds, their hands on their heads as they stare at the ground. The Unnamed’s confusion sends them rushing through the room, furrowing their brows at all the men and women willingly giving up their position in the government. Are they not going to fight them? Do they not care about their jobs? Their lives?
“Hey,” a boy bursts through the confusion, the Unnamed the ones making the questioning sounds. “It’s the Elite Runner.”
He knocks Daniel to the ground, who catches himself with his hands and stands, placing his hands behind his head and continuing with the chant.
“What’s going on?” The boy asks, hitting Daniel’s side with the butt of his long gun. He points it at his head as a threat.
“We surrender,” Daniel said, a little louder than the chanting. “You win. We give up. Take the cities. Take the government. The Elites have fallen.”
The Unnamed followers are silent for a moment as they take this in, looking around them at the Elites they know the faces of, the faces they either grew up with or grew up watching. Could they really be giving in? Or is this a trap?
Daniel places his wrists out before him, as if they were supposed to handcuff him. The former Elites follow suit, saying the chant one last time before silencing themselves. Some of their faces are blank, while others are streaked with tears, as if they know this is their last moments. Other emotions flicker throughout the sitting crowd as they stand, but the rebels can feel the certainty in the room. They really have given up, haven’t they?
“I can’t take this anymore, Daniel—”
Rose’s fist meets the jaw of one of the rebels, and she turns to hit another in the stomach. They begin to rush toward her, and Daniel calls her name, loud and clear.
“Stop!” He demands. “Stop, Rose, please. It isn’t worth it.”
Rose looks at him as two rebels take her hostage and wrench her arms behind her back. Her eyes tell him she knows differently, that she alone isn’t worth this. She can’t be told what to do when she believes differently. Her will is too strong to be overcome. But she takes a breath and still, the rebels holding their weapons up toward her, ready to shoot if she made another dangerous move. These people know her. They know what she can do. And perhaps that’s why they hesitate when they threaten to shoot. Because they know her. Because they, too, are humans who can sense right and wrong.
