The First Twenty

by Jennifer Lavoie

  “How could they do this?” Cooper asked, staring at the flames as they ate the carpet and crawled toward the hardwood floor. Sparks leapt onto the plastic blinds and they twisted and curled as they melted.

  Another crash startled them as a bottle hurtled through the window and erupted into more flames. They jumped back in horror as the upholstered furniture caught. “We need water! Quick!” she screamed as they both dashed for the kitchen.

  It wouldn’t be enough. They needed help, she realized, as the water took its time coming out of the faucet. Cooper carried the first pot of water to the furniture and dumped the contents over the flames, but it hardly mattered.

  “We need more.” She left the second pot filling and ran for the door, screaming for help and water. The doors across the hall opened, and soon a flood of people had formed a line, helping move loaded pots and pans to the apartment that had turned into an inferno.

  The fire spread up the walls despite the brick because of the pictures taped there. One of the men got too close to the flames and burned his arm.

  “Nixie, go tell Dr. Easton what’s happening.”

  “But I have to help here,” she argued.

  “Just go! She needs to be prepared for injuries.”

  God, she can’t deal with that right now. Not with Avery in labor. She nodded and sprinted for the door.

  The medical wing was quiet compared to the front of the building, and Nixie burst into the room. She heard a scream from the back and cringed but followed the sound. Avery lay back in a bed, sweat covering her face. She glanced at Nixie as she appeared in the doorway and she smiled wanly.

  “Dr. Easton,” Nixie said, not wanting to distract her.

  “What’s happening out there?” she asked. She never took her eyes from Avery.

  “There’re fires breaking out. It’s…it’s the Scavengers.”

  That got the doctor’s attention. She glanced quickly at Nixie before turning back to her task.

  “They’re throwing bottles of fire. I don’t know how.”

  “Sounds like Molotov cocktails. They were used for rioting Before. Where’d he get flammable material is what I’m wondering. Does he make moonshine?”

  “Moonshine?” Nixie frowned. “I don’t even know what that is.”

  “It’s alcohol. Made from grains. Does he have a car radiator set up anywhere, away from camp?”

  Nixie thought back to her visits to his tent and saw all the bottles filled with a clear liquid. She had assumed it was water. Then there were the trips to that field where they’d stolen grain that was never made into bread for the people.

  Bread they desperately needed.

  “I haven’t seen it, but he probably does.” She told her about the grain, and Dr. Easton nodded.

  “Most likely is, then. Go back and help them. I’m sure they’ll need all the help they can get.”

  “But what about you? If they start coming in with burns—”

  “I’ll manage. Avery isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.”

  As Nixie left the room, she was greeted by Ranger. He leaned against the doorway of his room, one arm around his ribs. “I’m going with you,” he said.

  “You should be in bed,” she argued, but he brushed off her arm even as he winced.

  “I can’t just lie around. It’s Faulkner out there. I should have known he’d do something like this. I was listening to Dr. Easton, and she’s right. He has moonshine. I should have realized what he was doing, but he doesn’t tell me everything. Listen to me. He really has gone crazy.”

  “What? But…” Hadn’t he been defending him earlier? No, she realized. He hadn’t, not really.

  “Moonshine is strong stuff. It’s okay when you make it right, but running it through an old radiator? He’s been poisoning himself with the stuff, and it’s made him crazy.”

  “He’s been drinking the stuff they’re throwing at the Mill? The stuff that’s setting it on fire?” she asked, incredulous. It was unbelievable that something so flammable could be consumed by a human. But then, it would drive a man crazy to have that liquid in him.

  “I didn’t realize it. I should have. All those bottles in his tent. I’m an idiot, Nix. A complete idiot.”

  “Come on, then. Let’s go.”

  The two of them headed for the front of the building where everyone else was. More apartments were on fire, and those on the inside continued passing through pots, pans, and anything that could hold water to help combat the flames, but it wasn’t enough. The fire was spreading and ate at some of the floorboards. In one of the rooms it licked at the rafters.

  “We need more water!” someone screamed.

  Another shouted back, “The water pressure! The water is just dripping out!”

  Peyton rounded the corner with Willow and Jasper flanking her and others who looked like guards. She spotted Nixie.

  “Nixie! What are you doing?”

  “Helping,” she said from the line she’d joined. Ranger struggled to hold the pot, and Jasper rushed forward to help him.

  Peyton pulled her from the line, holding her shoulders at arm’s length. “We’re losing water. The river. It stopped flowing. I think they did something to dam it farther upriver and we’re running out. We’re going to lose the building.”

  Nixie stared at her in horror. Without water, everything would be lost. All the food they’d stored, all of their technology. “I can help,” she said suddenly. “Get me to the roof, and I can help.”

  Peyton nodded and grabbed her hand, entwining their fingers together. The anger she’d had the night before was gone, replaced with relief. She tugged her along and Willow led them to the side stairs, getting everyone to move as they followed in her wake.

  I can do this. I can help them save the building.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  The upper floors had fewer people on the stairs, and for that Peyton was grateful. She didn’t want to hurt anyone in her hurry, but she had to follow Nixie. Seeing her in the line with everyone else, helping to put out the fire, doused the flames of hatred in her heart. Who was she trying to fool? She couldn’t make her leave.

  “I need to make it rain,” Nixie said as they ran onto the roof. Willow had left them on the fourth floor to join the rest downstairs.

  “The rain won’t be enough. Besides, it won’t get into the building to put out the fire.”

  “No, it won’t, but if it rains hard enough, it’ll burst the dam they built and give us enough water to combat it. Please, Peyton, just let me try.”

  Us.

  She’d said it would give us enough water.

  Peyton’s chest constricted at the inclusiveness of the word. She nodded, and Nixie ran to the center of the roof. She closed her eyes, turned her back on Peyton, and began her dance.

  Once Peyton had watched Nixie start and felt sure she was safe, she ran back into the building and nearly collided with Graham.

  “Go help everyone. I’ll watch over her,” he said.

  She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. “Thank you. You were right.” She didn’t elaborate, but she didn’t need to.

  The main entrance to the building was blocked by fire. Most people were fleeing out the back, and she fought against the waves of people. Some moved out of her way, but most rushed past in sheer blind panic.

  “Let me through!” she cried, stumbling as she was jostled around. Time was wasting, and each second counted. She had to get to the door and face the Scavengers and buy some time for Nixie. Turning the corner, she finally reached the door and pushed her way through, realizing too late that the only weapon she had was a short hunting knife clipped onto her belt.

  A group of Scavengers stood at the end of the bridge holding an array of makeshift weapons. Most looked to be branches with sharpened tips, though a few held crude bows and arrows. Peyton placed her hand on the handle of her knife and pulled it out of its sheath.

  Hopefully none of those arrows can fly.

  “Stop t
his!” she called in a loud, clear voice. “What is it you want?”

  An older man stepped forward, his gray hair a knotted wreath around his head. Even from a distance she could see the crazed look in his eyes. “It’s time you Settlers pay for the crimes you’ve committed against Nature.”

  “Crimes? What crimes?”

  “The world fell for the sins of humanity, and you attempt to bring us back to that age with your machines. We cannot let that happen.”

  “Our technology helps us survive. There is nothing wrong with it. We will share it with you if you stop this.”

  “You offer it out of desperation.” The man turned back to his people. “Don’t listen to her. It’s a Settler trick. You know what these people are capable of.”

  “No! Nixie was going to come back to you and make an offer!”

  At Nixie’s name, the people turned to each other, murmuring words she couldn’t hear. The man yelled at them to shut up.

  “But Faulkner—” one started.

  So this is their leader. He’s insane. No wonder Nixie seems to fear him.

  “Where is Nixie? You speak of her, and yet I don’t see her with you. You stole her from us. How do we know she’s even alive? And Ranger. Where is he?”

  More murmurs from the Scavengers, and Faulkner grinned.

  Peyton started to speak, to protest that she was alive, but the low rumble of thunder drowned her out. Everyone looked to the sky in wonder as clouds moved in with unnatural speed.

  Nixie. You did it.

  The sky opened up. A torrential downpour soaked Settler and Scavenger alike as it came down with a force Peyton had never seen. Some of the Scavengers lifted their arms to the sky, shouting with laughter. Peyton could understand how they felt; she wanted to laugh with them.

  To her left, the flames outside the building sputtered as the rain fell, and to her right a sudden roar caught her attention. She and Faulkner turned simultaneously to see a wave of water barreling down the river.

  “How?” He turned to stare at her.

  She smirked. “Looks like your dam wasn’t very strong, was it?” Water raced under the bridge, carrying debris from the dam with it. As the water filled the lines she heard shouts inside the building that the water was flowing again, and she breathed a sigh of relief. They’d get the fires under control. Thanks to Nixie.

  “You bitch,” Faulkner snarled. He spun around and grabbed one of the weapons from another Scavenger and turned, taking aim. Peyton stared in disbelief as the weapon produced was not a crudely made bow of wood, but a gleaming, deadly crossbow from Before.

  The heavy metal door behind her banged open and a body blurred past her, knocking her to the side. She heard a shout a second later as she slammed into the metal railing.

  Ranger staggered back, one arm hanging dead at his side. He turned to look at Peyton in shock, and then collapsed. An arrow stuck out from just below his shoulder. An arrow meant for her.

  “You shot Ranger!” one of the Scavengers cried.

  The door banged open again and Jasper appeared at her side. He held one of the few pistols the Mill had, and he lifted it to take aim just as Faulkner raised the crossbow again.

  Peyton yelled out a warning, reaching for Jasper to push him away.

  A shot rang out.

  Faulkner dropped the crossbow and staggered backward, clutching his chest. He looked down at the wound, and then crumpled. The Scavengers gathered around him as Jasper thrust the pistol into Peyton’s hand and dropped to Ranger’s side.

  “Ranger! Hang in there,” he said, turning his face to force the man to look at him.

  Ranger looked up, his hand around the arrow shaft and pressing the wound. Jasper covered his hand carefully.

  “Don’t try to pull it out. We’ll get you up to Dr. Easton, and she’ll get you fixed right up,” Jasper promised, looking up at Peyton. “Get help!”

  Peyton spun on her heels and ripped open the metal door just as another shot rang out.

  This time from the roof.

  *

  Calling the rain came easier this time. Nixie hardly had to think about it before the thunder rolled around her and the sky opened and brought the life-saving rain. The harder and faster she danced, the faster the rain came. She moved in ways she didn’t think possible, contorting her body and throwing her arms wide.

  At one point she thought she’d tear a muscle with the force in her moves, but she just let herself go deeper into the dance, temporarily losing herself to the storm.

  It was the gunshot that pulled her back to the present.

  Startled, she turned to look at Graham, who was already racing toward the edge of the roof. She moved in that direction as well and just beat him to it. They both struggled to look over the high sides but couldn’t see anything.

  “Is Peyton all right,” she yelled over the roar of the rain.

  “Do your people have guns?”

  “No, of course not. Where would we get them?”

  Graham murmured something inaudible. “I think this rain will help.”

  “I hope so. I’ve never seen it like this.”

  And she hadn’t. The water came down so quickly it was hard to see a foot in front of her. When she turned, she realized she could hardly see the other side of the roof.

  “I hope it doesn’t drown the crops,” she said, though Graham didn’t answer her.

  Water ran down her face in thick streams, and her clothing molded to her body. Beside her, the older man shivered and she put a hand on his shoulder.

  “You should go inside!”

  “What about you?”

  “Me? I love the rain!” Despite the dangerous situation below, she laughed. She felt free for the first time in her life, and she spun in circles with her arms outstretched. Graham laughed with her. As she neared the center of the roof again, the access door opened. She spun to it with a smile on her face, which was quickly wiped away when Ryan stepped through the open doorway.

  “Ryan,” Graham said, quickly moving to her side. “What are you doing up here? Shouldn’t you be helping Peyton with the Scavengers?”

  “I am helping her. With the one up here.”

  He raised his arms and Nixie was staring at the barrel of a gun. She took a step back.

  “Put that down!” Graham yelled, pushing Nixie behind him. “Are you crazy? Nixie’s helping us!”

  “The only thing she’s helping do is brainwash us. She’s got Peyton wrapped around her little finger.”

  “Oh, shut it, Ryan. You’ve always hated Peyton. Stop pretending you’re worried about her now when it suits you.”

  “It’s not her I’m worried about. She’s got the Doc wrapped in her web, too. Soon our medical supplies will start disappearing. She’ll give everything to those Scavs and then where will we be?” He shook his head slowly from side to side. “You should have picked me, Graham. We wouldn’t be in this mess if you’d picked a man for the job.”

  “What I’m looking at isn’t a man but a spoiled little boy.”

  The first shot rang out and Nixie screamed. Graham’s leg started to buckle and she reached forward to help him just as the second and third shots fired. He dropped to the ground before she had a chance to catch him.

  “Graham!” she screamed, dropping to her knees and turning him onto his back. But he didn’t respond. His eyes stared lifelessly at the sky. “No, oh God, no,” she cried, knowing it was too late but trying to shake him awake anyway. “How could you?”

  Ryan stopped less than two feet away from her, and she looked up to find the gun leveled at her head. He grinned and his finger twitched on the trigger. Nixie closed her eyes.

  I never got to tell Peyton I love her.

  Ryan cursed. She cracked one eye open as he pulled the trigger again and then swore. Relief coursed through her body as realization dawned: he was out of bullets.

  Graham had saved her life.

  The rain started to slow and Nixie hoped it was enough to get the fires under
control, because she couldn’t dance again. Not with Graham lying dead in her arms and his blood staining the concrete of the roof.

  “Ryan!” Peyton’s shout drew their attention and they turned to look at her. Her hands were clenched into fists at her side. Willow and Julian stood just behind her. When they saw Graham’s body, they pushed past her and rushed to Nixie’s side.

  The gun clattered to the ground.

  “It’s too late,” Nixie said through her tears. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” she sobbed. She didn’t know when the tears had started. Hard to tell through the rain, but she felt them now, coursing hotly down her cheeks.

  “Shh, it’s okay,” Julian said, pulling her into his arms and away from Graham. Willow leaned down and closed his eyes, which made her sob only harder.

  “If it wasn’t for me, he’d still be alive.”

  “Stop that. He did what he had to do.”

  “But he shouldn’t have been here.”

  “It was his job to look after you, Nixie. He was a guard.”

  That caught her attention. “No he isn’t.” Wasn’t. “He’s a forager. He told me—”

  “I know that’s what he told you.” Julian helped her to her feet. “But he was a guard, same as me and Peyton. Same as Enrique.”

  She wanted to argue with him, but she just shook her head. She fell into Peyton’s outstretched arms and buried her face against the wet fabric of her shirt. She was inexplicably exhausted, and she wanted to sleep for days. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for Graham to get hurt.”

  “It’s not your fault. Ryan pulled the trigger, not you. He’s with Dad, now. Wherever they are.”

  Nixie pulled back. “I thought you didn’t believe in things like that.”

  Her guard shrugged a shoulder, kissed the top of her head, and looked up. “No, but it sounded pretty, didn’t it?”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  It would take months of work to repair the damage to two of the apartments that had received the brunt of the fire damage. A few others suffered only minor smoke damage, thanks to their quick-thinking inhabitants. Peyton surveyed each one with Cooper, helping him make a list of the materials they would need.