Beulah turned to face Park. "My sister made these things. Well, she didn't actually make them. She caused them to exist, though. She laid the groundwork."
"Whatever you say, lady," said Park, still trying to process what was going on.
"And I have laid the groundwork to stop them," said Beulah. "All of them. I mean, I can do this to each one I encounter myself..."
She stopped speaking and turned back to the corpse. She tapped it lightly on the chest. There was a loud wet “pop” and the corpse exploded. Tiny bits of it flew backward away from Beulah, smacking into the trees and snow.
"Shit," said Park, more of a whisper than an actual statement.
Beulah turned back and began walking to him. "...but this form makes it so I can only be in one place at one time. It would impossible for me to do that to all of them."
"You bet," said Park.
"So that's why I had to have a plan. A pattern that can lead to the end of what my sister started. Do you like patterns, Parker?"
"Sure," said Park, wanting to be somewhere else. Again, the pain in his head told him to stay.
"You are part of that pattern, Parker. I suppose one might see that as an honor."
"Oh yeah," said Park. "It's some touching shit."
She reached Park and stopped. She looked at him and smiled. "Would you like to know what your part is, Parker?"
"Not really," said Park, wanting to shove her aside and get the fuck out of there.
She ignored that and kept smiling. "I want you to kill Angela Land."
* * *
Angie leaned on her cane and looked around the medical shed. Every child who had wandered into World Memorial was there, as was Mikella. Maylee and Dalton were there, back against the wall and watching. The rest of the guards and most of the townsfolk were at the square, repairing the gates. There would have been no room for them anyway. The shed was almost too full as it was. Occasional gusts of wind howled outside, rattling the metal walls of the building.
One group of children stood in a line leading up to Dr. Graham’s workbench. Another group of them stood off to the side, the younger of them holding their arms where blood had been drawn. Zach stood at the very end of the second group. He'd been tested first. He glanced around the room, looking very nervous.
The current child, a girl of six or seven named Kelly, sat on the table and looked unsure what she should be doing. She held her arm and watched Dr. Graham study her blood under the new microscope Angie had gotten from West. He mixed another substance into the blood on a slide and watched it through the lens. He pulled back and nodded.
"Her too?" said Angie.
"Yes," said Dr. Graham. "So far every one of them has been immune. Their blood reacts just like Dalton's."
"How could we not have put it together before?" said Angie, feeling stupid.
Dalton shrugged. "It's not the sort of thing that would immediately come to mind."
"This is incredible," gushed Dr. Graham. "Think of all the new subjects I have."
The children muttered among themselves. "Whoa there, doctor," said Angie. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves."
Dr. Graham turned in his chair to frown at her. "You can't be serious. Surely with one of these children we could isolate something."
Kelly shifted on the table next to him. "Can I get down now?"
"Hmmm?" said Dr. Graham, looking at Kelly like she had just appeared there. He blinked, then nodded. "Oh yes, of course, there you go."
Kelly hopped down from the table and went to join the others.
Angie leaned in close to Dr. Graham, keeping her voice low so the children wouldn’t hear. "You've accomplished next to nothing so far with Dalton. Let's keep our heads before we start draining all these other kids too."
Dr. Graham continued to speak at his normal volume, seeming oblivious as to why Angie had dropped her voice. "But what are the odds? All these special children, right here. Think of—"
"No no no!" Zach yelled suddenly from his spot in line. He stepped away from the rest of the group, shaking his head.
Angie turned to him. "It's okay, Zach. No need to get upset."
"The bad people said I was special! They said we were all special!"
The children looked to one another nervously.
"He didn't mean it like that, Zach..." said Angie, reaching out for him.
"Oh but they are special..." said Dr. Graham.
"Please shut up, doctor," Angie snapped under her breath.
Zach kept backing away and shaking his head. "Why did you bring us all here?" His eyes were wild, darting around the room.
"Hey, dude," said Dalton, stepping up and speaking in a calm voice. "It's okay..."
"It's NOT okay!" yelled Zach. "They'll get me and they'll get you too!"
Zach ran for the door. Angie spun to stop him but Zach was at the door before she could act. Zach pulled the door open and a blast of cold air blew into the room.
Elton stood there, with twenty or so townsfolk behind him. He had a smirk on his face. The townsfolk behind him looked angry. Zach stopped, confused. He glanced around the room, looking panicked.
"Well isn't this sweet," said Elton, stepping into the room. A few of the townsfolk followed, but the rest stayed outside. "Turns out all the kids who get to live in the big house don't have to worry about getting bit."
Angie stepped toward him, not allowing her face to show the pain in her ankle. "And what exactly the hell is supposed to be your point?"
Elton stepped closer. "My point is that we all have to live outside in the snow. And they get to live inside with you. And they aren't even in danger!"
"Of course they're in danger!"
"It's not the same and you know it!"
Angie sighed. She imagined pulling her sword and stabbing Elton in the balls but let the thought pass. "What exactly do you want me to do?"
Elton stepped closer, his face turning red. He practically spat out the words. "What I WANT you to do is run this place with the tiniest bit of fucking sense!"
"Get the fuck out of here, Elton," she said, keeping her voice calm and even, gripping her cane.
Elton stepped again, now almost right against her. "You gonna make me, cripple?"
Dr. Graham stood up from his stool, squeaking it across the floor. "Please, everyone—"
Elton whipped his head in Dr. Graham's direction. "Sit down!"
Maylee stomped over, her feet pounding on the metal floor. "Get out of here!"
Elton raised his hand to knock Maylee aside. Angie twisted her cane handle and the sword was free and at Elton's throat before she could even think.
"You really gonna punch my daughter, old man?" she said, holding the blade inches from his throat.
Elton looked between Maylee and Angie. His face spoke disgust. Disgust and fury. Those with him looked confused and worried. Angie wondered what would happen if things went further.
"Fine," said Elton, his voice thick with hatred. "Fine. We'll continue this later."
"Yeah," said Angie, "let's do that."
Elton stepped back from Angie and Maylee and turned toward the door. The townsfolk started filing out quietly, but the air hung heavy with tension. Elton followed at the end, shutting the door behind him.
Angie lowered her sword, sheathed it into her cane and leaned back on its support.
She scanned the room, chest pounding with rage. Dr. Graham was standing against his workbench, looking very protective of his equipment. Maylee and Dalton stood to one side. Maylee's bat was out but pointed toward the floor. Dalton looked mad, like he was disappointed a fight hadn't broken out. The children stood as far back against the far wall as they could, looking very shaken. Angie scanned them all, running through the list that had been building up in her head over the past few months. All the children seemed to be accounted for.
Except....
"Where's Zach?" said Maylee.
* * *
Angie threw open the door and hurried outside, as quickly
as her ankle and cane would allow. Maylee and Dalton followed. Mikella stayed behind to watch over the remaining children as Dr. Graham examined them.
"Zach?" she called, looking back and forth.
"Zach!" yelled Maylee. Dalton did the same.
The town was dark. Flames from one of the town’s nightly fire barrels provided the only light.
The three of them stood, listening. Wind whipped around the rough structures, rattling metal and whistling through cracks.
"Damn it," said Angie. "He could have gone anywhere."
"Not anywhere," said Maylee. "The only way out he knows is through the gate. And there’s lots of Guards there fixing it—"
"There!" yelled Dalton, pointing. Angie and Maylee turned, following the direction of his finger.
Between a dented metal shed and a stack of rusted barrels, Angie could see one of the outer walls of World Memorial. And she could see one of the ladders that led up and over the wall, the ladders on which The Guard would perch to scan the woods outside. And she could see Zach climbing up it.
They ran for the ladder as fast as they could, Maylee quickly overtaking Angie as she limped along. Maylee started climbing the ladder with a recklessness that worried Angie, but with an ease that made her feel almost proud.
"Zach!" yelled Maylee as she ascended the ladder. "Stop!"
Dalton reached the ladder next. He put one hand on the highest rung he could reach and one foot on the lowest. He started to climb.
"Dalton, stop!" said Angie.
He released one hand and craned himself around to look back at her. "I can handle a ladder, Mom."
"It's not that," said Angie, pushing through the pain of her ankle to close the distance. "We need to stay down here in case..." she trailed off, not allowing herself to say it. If he falls, maybe we can catch him, she finished to herself. She'd taken responsibility for everyone that had come to World Memorial, promising herself she'd protect them. The loss of any one of them cut into her painfully. She'd led so many to their deaths at Ashton Memorial Zoo. They'd lost several today to the break-ins. And to end the day by losing one of the children....
Dalton seemed to understand and let go of the ladder, stepping back. Angie reached the bottom and looked up.
Zach had reached the top of the wall and was looking over the edge, leaning away from where the second ladder, chained to it, continued up. He looked in every direction, like he was searching for an escape route. Maylee had nearly reached him but slowed, climbing more cautiously now. Angie knew it was not from concern for her own safety. Maylee approached Zach like someone might approach a cornered animal.
Angie gripped the ladder and stared up at them. Her back grew tight as she watched.
* * *
Maylee slowed her ascent to a crawl. The wind whipped around her, pulling her hair this way and that. It bit into her cheeks. The ladder swayed slightly as the wind buffeted it, but Maylee had spent hours on this ladder and others like it. She knew it would hold. Was reasonably certain it would hold. She pushed down that line of thinking and looked up to Zach.
He leaned away from the ladder, holding on with one small hand as he peered down over the wall. He looked around frantically. Maylee heard him cough in the cold air. He hadn't yet noticed her creeping up from below.
"Hey, Zach..." she said, trying to sound soothing.
He made no response. She realized he hadn't heard her over the wind.
"Zach?" she said, louder this time.
He jerked in surprise. He turned, twisting his arm around as he did, and looked down. His eyes were wild, panicked.
"Hey buddy," said Maylee, stopping and trying to strike a balance between gentleness and volume. "It's dangerous up here."
"I've got to get out of here!" Zach yelled down at her. He took a step to the left, standing on the edge of the wall. He held the ladder for balance and looked down at Maylee.
"Don't do that!" said Maylee, reaching up for him. He was too far. She furiously debated with herself over climbing closer. Would it save him or scare him into doing something stupid? She stayed put and tried to sound calming. "It's safe here."
"No!" yelled Zach. "The doctor sounds just like them!"
"Who?"
"The bad people! I don't want to be special! I don't want to have a purpose! I don't want any of this!"
"What are you talking about?" said Maylee, yelling over the wind. Fear crept up her back as she noticed the wind was approaching danger level. A storm.
"Why doesn't anyone care what I want?"
Zach let go of the ladder and leaned backward. He fell over the wall and out of World Memorial.
"No!" yelled Maylee, climbing the ladder as fast as she could without slipping. She reached the top of the wall, her chest pounding, and looked over the side. She braced herself for the sight of a small broken body.
At first she only saw snow, piled thick against the walls. She blinked in confusion as the wind howled in her ears. The wind was getting louder and she could hear her mom yelling from below.
Several holes were punched in the snow packed against the walls, mostly from where animals had fallen during fights with the Guard. One hole, though, was moving.
"Wait..." she said, mostly to herself.
The hole shifted further and Zach crawled out. He stood and shook snow off his coat.
Maylee breathed out and turned to look down. Mom and Dalton stood looking up at her. Mom was motioning for her to come down.
"He's okay!" Maylee yelled down at them. "He landed in a snow drift and ..."
A gust of wind hit the ladder so hard she almost fell off. She corrected herself and scanned the ground. The trees shuddered and snow flew in all directions. A storm was definitely coming.
She leaned over the side and yelled down. "Zach! Get down! I'll come get you!"
Zach either didn't hear or wasn't listening. He pulled his coat closer to him and hurried toward the trees, his little feet making tiny prints in the snow.
"Dammit, Zach!' yelled Maylee as the howling wind grew around her. "Stop!"
A second blast of wind rocked the ladder. Maylee's hands slipped and she dropped two rungs before catching herself. Zach was almost to the trees, which were shaking furiously.
"Shit shit shit!" yelled Maylee, climbing down as fast as she could.
* * *
Angie and Dalton stepped up as Maylee reached the bottom of the ladder. The wind roared around them.
"What happened?" yelled Angie.
"He hit a snow bank," Maylee answered, turning to run. Angie knew she was headed for the town square, for the gate. "He's okay."
Angie grabbed Maylee and pulled her back. Maylee turned to face her, frustrated confusion in her eyes.
"We've got to get inside!" yelled Angie.
Wind whipped overhead, rattling the makeshift buildings and sending snow flying. Guards were running in from the town square. Townsfolk too, who were carrying tools. Dunwoody was with them. He raised a hand to Angie, signaling that the gate was fixed.
"Mom, we have to hurry!" Maylee shouted. She pulled away from Angie but didn't resume running. "We can still get him!"
"It's too late!" Angie’s voice was almost lost in the howling wind.
Maylee turned for the square. She stomped through the falling snow, spitting it from her mouth.
"Dammit Mom!" she yelled.
Angie followed, grabbing Maylee’s wrist and jerking her to a halt "Dammit Maylee!"
Maylee spun around, yanking her hand away. She looked furious. Then the look broke and sadness flooded her eyes. "But..."
Angie felt like she could cry. "I know. But we can't do anything about it."
"Shit!" yelled Maylee the snow with her boot to emphasize her words. "Shit dammit shit!"
"I know," said Angie. "Come here."
Maylee resisted but Angie hugged her anyway. Angie kept hugging until Maylee's stance softened and she hugged her back. They held the position for a moment, despite the howling wind and pelting sn
ow. Angie heard movement to her left and looked. Elton and a small group of townsfolk were watching them. Elton shook his head. It put a bad taste in Angie's mouth.
She pulled back and looked at Maylee. "Come on, let's get inside."
* * *
Maylee stood at the open gate to World Memorial. Her binoculars were pressed to her eyes, scanning the tree line. It was morning and the world seemed almost calm. The occasional breeze reminded her otherwise.
"Are you sure?" said Mom behind her.
"Definitely," said Maylee, adjusting the focus. The snow just beyond the tree line was freshly disturbed. It looked like something small had climbed out from under it. "He must have made it to the trees and hunkered down there. I can see his footprints leading into the woods."
"He can't have gotten far," said Angie. "Not on his little legs."
"I bet I can find him," said Maylee, lowering the binoculars. She let them fall against her chest, held by the strap around her neck and turned to face Mom.
Mom shook her head. Her eyes looked tired. "We'll send some other guards."
"I'm the best of all of them."
"I don't doubt that, but you signed up to be in charge, Maylee. You have to stay and be in charge."
Maylee turned back to the trees and lifted her binoculars again. "You're just using that as an excuse to protect me."
"And why wouldn't I?"
Maylee spun back, dropping the binoculars. "Because it's embarrassing, Mom! I'm an adult and I'm telling all these people where to go and what to shoot. And oh no, wait, here comes my mom to make me a sandwich and tell me to be careful and..." Maylee shook her head and turned back. "Never mind. Just fuck it."
Mom sighed behind her. "Fine. You want to endanger yourself to prove something, fine."
Maylee turned back, crossing her arms. Her cheeks felt warm. "I'm sorry I said—"
"No, no, you have a point. And we need to get Zach back so Elton doesn't have any more ammo against us."
World Memorial Page 11
