by Kirby Howell
“I just can’t believe you’d deliberately disobey the rules we set in place when we all decided to live here together as a family. We agreed! We agreed on these... agreements!”
Her last comment broke me, and a giggle snuck through. I slapped a hand over my mouth, hoping Connie hadn’t heard. She had. She looked down at me, her eyes wide and accusing. Another giggle split my lips apart, and then it was like a dam had burst inside me. Waves of laughter crashed through me, and I gasped for air, clutching at my sides. I rolled away from her, trying to control myself and failing. It was something that might have happened before The Plague. Something so fantastically normal, and it tickled me so much to be thrust back into the old world after so long.
The redness left Connie’s face, and she folded her arms across her chest. She looked at Grey, who stared at me, perplexed.
“Well, I don’t really see how this is quite that funny, Autumn,” Connie said, trying to hide a smile. I lurched off the bed to go hug her, slid on an abandoned pillow, and fell to the floor laughing again.
Both Grey and Connie helped me up. Grey had lost his blankets, and Connie seemed to have lost the will to lecture us further.
“I’m sorry, Connie, I don’t mean to be disrespectful,” I said, my voice quaking with barely controlled giggles. I clutched my sides and pushed on. “Honestly, this is my fault. Grey has never stayed the night here, because he respects your rules, and the only reason he was even up here last night was because I asked him. I was upset about what happened to Ben and didn’t want to be alone, and then we must have fallen asleep.”
The giggles had left me now, and I took Connie’s hand between my own. “I’m sorry we broke your rules. But nothing happened – we just fell asleep. That’s all. And I’m sorry for laughing, it wasn’t at you, I promise. It was just so normal and nothing has been normal for a year and a half. I’m not sure why it was so funny to me, but–”
“It’s okay,” Connie said, hugging me to her. “I think I understand what you mean. Though, this,” she said, pointing at Grey and me, “cannot happen right now. I know you two are young and in love, and this is all very natural, but it’s dangerous. And I love you both too much to see you have to endure that kind of heartache.” She paused. “And you...” She pointed at Grey, “will leave now, as quietly as possible, because Rissi isn’t awake yet, and I will not have you putting ideas into her head as to what is acceptable behavior.”
I pressed my lips together. It was definitely something my dad would have said. Grey nodded and began rooting through the blankets and pillows on the floor for his shoes and socks. I helped by pulling the sheets back onto the mattress.
“But come right back because breakfast is almost ready. I made oatmeal pancakes.” She turned to leave and then came back. “Oh for crying out loud. The whole reason I came up here was to tell you a runner from the Mayor’s Office came by early this morning.”
I paused in remaking the bed to look at her. “Did they find the guy who set off the bomb?”
“No, they haven’t found him, but there’s another meeting set for noon back at the Bowl. Daniel’s going, and I think you both should, too. That is, if you’re not needed back at the hospital, Grey.”
“Is it safe to meet there again so soon after?” Grey asked, hurriedly tying his shoes.
“Shad rode off to join the rest of the Guard right after the runner left. They all went down to the Bowl to clean it up as much as they could and to inspect it for any remaining threats. You’ll probably all be searched before being allowed in.”
“I promised Shad I’d take next watch on Ben,” I said.
“Rissi and I are headed there after breakfast. Everyone can come to look in on him, but Rissi and I can stay and take the next watch. And don’t worry, we’ll send word the second there’s any change.”
After that, Grey politely slipped out past Connie. I sighed and pulled open my closet door. Connie appeared at my side.
“Wear this,” she said, pulling out a thick, hooded sweater and handing it to me. “It’s not raining this morning, but it’s colder outside.” It was the same color as the moss green dress I’d borrowed from her to wear to the dance at Hoover the night she and Rissi didn’t come back from Las Vegas. The night everything had started again — Karl wheedling his way back into our lives by texting me with Sarah’s cell phone, making me think she was still alive, my relationship with Grey being thrust back into the forefront of my mind, Connie and Rissi in danger after the sandstorm and accident at the Egyptian Casino in Vegas. I turned to look at her, but before I could say anything, she did.
“Please be careful with Grey. I know you’re young, and this is fresh and new, and things seem safe here, but please, please be careful.”
I was surprised to see her eyes glassy with tears.
“Things that happen in a rush usually have the ability to change your life forever.” She patted my arm, then turned and left, shutting the door behind her.
* * *
Jen was still sitting next to Ben when we arrived back at the hospital later that morning. She’d found another chair to prop her feet up, and was reading Anne of Green Gables.
“Hey guys,” she said, smiling at us as we approached. She stood up and stretched. “I think he’s looking better, Dr. Grey.”
Grey bent over Ben and examined the monitors. “You’re right. Everything’s stable. That’s really good.” He turned back to Jen. “Did he ever seem like he was coming to?”
“No, not yet.” She ran a hand over Ben’s hair. “But I have faith that today’s the day.” She smiled at Ben, and for the first time, I didn’t dislike her.
“Thank you for staying with him,” I said to Jen, meaning it. “It was very kind of you.”
“It’s no problem. The girl I’m rooming with right now snores like a pig on steroids, so it’s actually easier sleeping during the day while she’s awake!” Jen laughed, and for a moment, I did, too.
“Okay, those of us going to the meeting should probably head out,” Grey said. Connie took Jen’s seat, and Rissi took the chair where Jen’s feet had been resting.
“Daniel,” Connie said, “Will you stay back with Rissi and me for a bit?” Daniel nodded and went about moving another chair into the room.
“She’s going to tell Daniel about this morning, and then he’s going to get mad at us, too,” I protested to Grey as we exited the hospital.
Grey looked at me out of the corner of his eye, then said, “Better now than later.”
“How can you be so calm about them being mad at us?”
“I’m not, but the truth is we did mess up last night. Your mistake was that you asked me to come up. My mistake was that I did, and then allowed myself to fall asleep. And she was right, we did agree to these rules, and it’s not a very respectable way for me to treat you.”
He led me between Snicket and Gideon and lowered his voice. “And just because I’m able to get back and forth between the guesthouse and your bedroom without attracting attention, doesn’t mean I should.”
I stared at him, eyebrows raised.
“What?” he said flatly.
“You’re being so noble,” I teased. In response, Grey raised one eyebrow, checking to his left then right, then pulled me close and kissed me deeply. When we separated, he grinned.
“What was that for?” I asked.
“Just so you don’t think I’m too noble.” Then he boosted me up onto Snicket’s back.
We rode side by side to the Hillside Bowl and tied our horses under the tarp-covered corral. As Connie had predicted, one of the guards stopped us on our way up the steep hill to the seating area. He patted us down, then waved us through.
The stage was black with soot, and the remains of the iconic white band shell were burned and crumbling, but the seats were mostly unaffected by the explosion. I spotted Shad across the Bowl, seated high up on one of the retaining walls, binoculars hanging around his neck and a rifle across his knees. A chill crept down my back, and not from the weat
her.
Grey found us seats near the front, and we saved an additional spot for Daniel, who was coming through the entrance. I tensed as he wove his way through the crowd, heading toward us. Daniel surely would be as mad as Connie. He was the one who stayed up waiting for Grey to leave or for me to come home.
I was surprised when he smiled broadly, his freckled cheeks and the tip of his nose pink with cold.
“Sure feels like winter, eh?” he asked, putting his arm around me to rub warmth into my shoulders. “We should build a fire tonight. And maybe Rissi will let us have some of her stash of marshmallows to toast. We need to do something to celebrate her birthday. What do you think of that?”
I nodded, relieved by his friendliness. “That would be really nice.”
Diego clapped his hands together on the stage, the sound echoing off the back of the Bowl. The chatter died down, and the last few people standing found seats. I noted without surprise that there were fewer people here today.
“This is a last-minute meeting, so we’ll not heckle any latecomers.” Diego paused and smiled at the small patter of laughter from the crowd.
“Anyone seated further back, please come closer. We won’t have microphones or speakers today due to the lack of power.”
I turned to glance behind me. People were dispersed as far back as where the overgrowth of weeds began to cover the seats like a green blanket. No one moved.
“Okay, I guess we’ll get started. By now, you are all aware of what happened here yesterday. The New Burbank Guard and my office have been working tirelessly to ensure the safety of today’s meeting, and we’re improving our efforts on the outside, too.”
A figure moved behind Diego in the darkness of the ruined band shell. My heart leaped, and I grabbed Grey’s hand.
“What’s wrong?”
“Someone’s back there.”
“Where?”
“Behind Diego, in the shadows.”
He nodded. “It’s Karl. Hart, as well. Along with several people from the Mayor’s Office.”
I squinted, but I could only see a faint outline in the darkness.
“Show-off,” I whispered, nudging Grey with my elbow. He could see in the dark almost as well as a cat.
Diego continued gesturing and smiling to the crowd as he spoke, but his words contradicted his friendly manner. They were instituting a sunset curfew starting tonight. Doors and windows should be kept locked and suspicious people and behavior reported immediately. Every resident would be issued an ID, all firearms had to be registered with the New Burbank Guard, and lookouts would be posted twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. And they needed more volunteers.
Hoover had similar laws, and they’d made me feel safe when I lived there. But I’d gotten used to more freedom in New Burbank, and returning to stricter rules made me feel like I was drowning. This should be a good thing, I reminded myself. This would make it more difficult for The Front to attack us again.
When Diego finished, there was hearty applause.
“It appears people want action, even if it doesn’t make sense,” Daniel said quietly, leaning forward so he could see Grey. “None of these measures will stop what’s happening.”
“They couldn’t hurt,” Grey said, shrugging.
The crowd’s applause died suddenly, and we all straightened to see what had happened. Karl stood next to Diego, holding up his hands for quiet.
Karl’s smooth, clear voice set my teeth on edge.
“I realize the peace talks are on hold until the bomber is found,” he said soberly. “But I recently received news I must share.”
I touched the back of Grey’s arm, and he took my hand in his, winding his fingers through mine. He glanced down at me, and I could see the same concern in his eyes that I felt. He squeezed my hand, then placed his other on top of mine. His fingertips were cold, but his palms were warm, and they thawed my own icy fingers between them.
“This morning,” Karl continued, “we received word of a plan to hold a meeting of survivors across the globe, a Summit of New Nations. We’ve been invited to be part of this conversation.”
A collective gasp came from the crowd, and chatter began to fill the air. Grey and I looked at each other with wide eyes.
Karl waved his hands in a downward motion, trying to quell the excitement.
“The Summit takes place in six months, and I think it’s in all of our best interests to make sure our leaders are there to represent us on the global scale. But there’s one problem.” He paused, looking around at the rapt audience. For a moment, I felt his gaze on me, and I shuddered.
“People of Los Angeles, we are going to have to work together to get there. Because the Summit of New Nations is in the City of Light — Paris, France.”
CHAPTER FIVE
I was struck dumb. Paris. Only months ago, Grey and I had stood on the Eiffel Tower, staring at the signs for a French Reconstruction Front, wondering how on earth we were going to stop Karl from taking over the world. And now this Summit of New Nations would be held in Paris? It couldn’t be a coincidence.
I turned my head, catching Grey’s eyes, and knew he was thinking the same thing. He squeezed my hand reassuringly while the people around us continued their nervous chatter.
“Please, everyone. Calm down, calm down,” Diego said, walking to center stage. “Is this true?” he asked Karl.
“We picked up the transmission on our shortwave less than an hour ago. Contact Hoover — they must have heard it, too.”
“And can we be sure this transmission actually came from Paris and not another aggressive group?” Diego asked.
Karl thought for a moment, leaving the audience in suspense. “We can’t. The best I can say is that the transmission was weak, as if coming from a long distance. And minutes after it ended, there was another one from New York, relaying the same information.”
“Paris wants every post-plague settlement to send a delegate to assist in re-building our global communications. We shouldn’t miss out on this opportunity. I suggest the Westside and New Burbank each send someone.” Karl turned to the audience and projected his voice. “Hold elections, or send Diego here. It doesn’t matter to me. But we need to move fast. The world is coming back together, and we should have a say in how that happens.”
“If each city is to send a delegate, why are we sending a representative from the Westside and New Burbank?” Diego asked. “Perhaps we should be sending one to represent us all.”
An undercurrent of boos was audible despite the hearty applause.
“This city is not yet unified,” Karl said, speaking above the noise. “As evidenced by the bombing at our last meeting, we still have a long way to go, and I’m not confident you, or another representative, will have the best interest of my people at heart. I will go to represent them.”
The muscles in Diego’s jaw tightened. I could tell he was annoyed by Karl’s command of the discussion.
“Fine. An election will be held for New Burbank to choose its delegate. Until then, this meeting is adjourned.”
It was just after mid-day by the time we got back to the hospital. I headed toward Ben’s room with the others close behind me, and crashed into Shad’s back when he stopped suddenly in the doorway.
“Shad, what–” I began, but words fell away when I stepped around him and saw what had caused him to stop short. Ben was awake.
Relief washed over me, as he turned his head and smiled at us. Rissi broke away from Connie’s side to wrap her arms around me.
“Look at Ben!” she shrieked with joy.
“I see! I see!” I rushed to the bed and dropped my arms around him. To my surprise, Shad fell in behind me and draped his long arms over us all.
“Careful, everyone,” Grey said, walking up behind me and staring down at Ben. “You’ve suffered a spinal injury. We need to restrict your movement until the swelling subsides.” He began giving Ben the once over. “How long have you been awake?”
“About
an hour,” Connie said.
Ben’s voice was soft, but alert. “What did I miss at the meeting? We throwing Karl in the stockade yet?” He tried to smile, but I could tell it was false.
“How are you concerned about that right now?” I asked.
“Better to focus on that, than this.” Ben gestured to his legs. Then I frowned. I hadn’t seen him move his lower limbs yet.
“Can you all step out for a few minutes while I examine him?” Grey asked. He seemed even more earnest this time, and suddenly the joy I’d felt about seeing Ben awake was replaced by a sinking feeling.
We stood outside the exam room for twenty minutes. Rissi was confused. She seemed to think Ben would be walking out of here with us in a matter of hours, now that he was conscious. I wasn’t as naïve.
Grey opened the door and gave us a grim smile. “Ben still has no feeling below the waist. We’ll know more in a few days.” He looked down at Rissi. “Are you okay hearing this? Or would you like to let us talk first?”
“I’m okay,” Rissi said, taking my hand.
“I think, given the current situation, we should keep him here for observation for at least a few days, then re-evaluate. Depending on what happens, we can make the call whether to let him come home or not. At that time, we may need to make some adjustments at the house.” Grey glanced at Daniel, who nodded.
“I’m pretty handy,” he said. “If we need to put in ramps or anything, I can take the lead on that.”
“Ramps for what?” Rissi asked.
“For a wheelchair, Riss,” I whispered. “Ben may need one. We’re not sure yet.”
“Oh,” was all she said.
“Ben’s taken the news remarkably well,” Grey said. “I’m truly amazed.”
“He knew the diagnosis might be coming,” Connie chimed in through her tears. “When he woke up, he realized what was going on right away.”
I hoped we wouldn’t need to install ramps. I hoped Ben would walk out of here. Soon. But I didn’t like the tightness in Grey’s expression.
We all walked back into the room and found Ben staring out the window. He turned to face us and wiped his nose with the back of his hand. “You guys again, huh?”
