After the Ending

by Lindsey Fairleigh

  As I set up my little orange and white tent for the first time, I was thankful for the slowly rising sun. I wasn’t afraid to admit that I needed the instructions to manipulate the fabric and poles into something resembling a shelter.

  I couldn’t help but think about the people I’d left behind. Jason would be waking soon; he always rose with the sun. He was weird like that. In a few hours, he and the others would begin their second day of searching the city of Fort Bragg. I guiltily wondered if Jason blamed himself for my sudden departure. I’d made it abundantly clear that I wanted to continue on to our hometown, and he’d flat out denied me, but not before he’d let me glimpse the deep emotions hidden beneath his stoic façade.

  Not for the first time, I wondered how Jason had reacted when he’d discovered I was gone. And Chris? Ky?

  With my campsite finally set up, I crawled into the tent and then into the sleeping bag, cringing in pain. I hurt like hell. Loneliness and self-loathing kept me company as I tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position. My last, hazy thought was of MG. Will I see him again? I wondered before finally falling into a fitful sleep.

  Again I woke somewhere entirely different from the place I’d fallen asleep. Much to my surprise, I was standing with a badminton racquet in my right hand. As I looked around, my surroundings coalesced into a jumble of odd elements. A perfectly trimmed grass field extended in all directions, met by a cloudless blue sky at the horizon. A net appeared in front of me, justifying the racket clasped in my hand. Zoe stood on the opposite side of the net, patiently waiting for the game to begin.

  Conjuring a birdie, I served. The joy of playing with Zoe, especially doing something we hadn’t done since the carefree days of high school, overtook me, and I laughed. I felt two hundred pounds lighter, like I might just float away with happiness.

  “IT’S TIME FOR DOUBLES MATCHES,” announced a booming, disembodied voice. I half-expected it to continue with, “PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!”

  Out of nowhere, MG appeared and stepped onto my side of the grassy court while Jason did the same on Zoe’s side of the net. We had our partners. I took a moment to study the two new arrivals. MG was around the same height as Jason, making him about six-foot-four, but Jason was thicker, his body more heavily muscled, and where MG was pale and blonde, Jason was tan and raven-haired. For the briefest instant, both men’s clothing disappeared, giving me a full view of their various attributes. I hastily returned their t-shirts and shorts, blushing furiously.

  MG smiled like the Cheshire Cat. “What was that all about?”

  With my cheeks still burning, I looked back and forth between the two men and mumbled, “Um…uh…”

  “Who’s he?” MG asked, his smile turning snide.

  “Jason. And that’s Zoe,” I said, pointing at her with my racquet. “Hi guys.”

  “Hi D!” Zoe replied.

  “Hey Red,” Jason purred.

  Glaring at Jason, MG ordered, “Shut up, both of you.”

  “Hey!” I shouted and threw my racquet at him. “Nobody tells my friends to shut up in my dream except me! Especially not you, MG!”

  “MG?” he asked, cocking his head to the right and raising a questioning eyebrow.

  “Umm…yeah. It’s short for ‘Mystery Guy’? You haven’t exactly told me your name,” I grumbled.

  Laughing, he nodded. “You barely know me, and you’ve already given me a nickname. I’m honored.” He finished with a mocking bow.

  “So you were right—it was 3:23 on the dot,” I admitted through gritted teeth. I wanted to get the I-told-you-so moment over as soon as possible.

  Relief flashed across MG’s face and quickly disappeared. “I know,” he said.

  I was surprised he hadn’t seized the opportunity to gloat. “So…”

  “So now I’m going to tell you something extremely important…which you probably won’t believe.” He paused, and I gestured for him to continue.

  He stepped closer, letting me see the truth in his eyes. “You see, people who survived the Virus have been demonstrating remarkable abilities. It seems to be a result of the Virus itself—a spontaneous genetic mutation. Every single person I’ve…seen…has either experienced this mutation or lost their minds entirely. I’m sure you’ve noticed all of the completely insane people running around.”

  I nodded, feeling numb. The Crazies. But I’d also witnessed abilities like he was describing with Chris and Ky. And then, of course, there was Zoe.

  “Most of these abilities are too weak or so useless that they’re inconsequential. A few of the more powerful and advantageous, however, could be essential to human survival. I, for example, can consciously enter the sleeping minds of others, as you’ve seen. I’m especially drawn to the dreams of people with a certain type and strength of ability.” I was getting the distinct impression that “Ability” was an official term wherever MG was. “I’ve been drawn to you since you recovered.”

  I shook my head. “Then your Ability must be broken. I don’t have any special powers—no sparks exploding out of my fingertips or objects floating around the room.” Even so, I needed to keep him talking, explaining. He knew what was happening to Zoe…and Ky and Chris. I glanced at the imaginary Zoe standing placidly across the net.

  “You surprise me, Dani. Most are resistant, even angry at the idea. But you…you must already know someone experiencing the change. You know it’s true,” he claimed, watching me carefully.

  I tore my eyes away from Zoe, desperate not to give away her secret. “What do you think I can do? What’s my Ability?” I asked impatiently.

  “Hmm…I have several guesses, but I know one thing for sure.” He smiled knowingly. “I’m not going to tell you. You won’t believe me without seeing it for yourself, so…I have an assignment for you. It should help you pinpoint exactly what you can do.”

  “And that would be…?”

  “When you wake up, experiment. Don’t talk to your animals out loud, and see how your day progresses.”

  “Why?”

  “Just do it, okay?” he said, suddenly right in front of me. His hand reached out, and his fingertips brushed down my arm. “What were you thinking about when you caused that brief wardrobe malfunction earlier?”

  Staring into his inquisitive, blue-gray eyes, I retreated into my mind.

  24

  ZOE

  I‘d been walking for hours. Lately, restful sleep had become foreign to me. Every time I woke, I thought. Every time I thought, I worried. I couldn’t stop replaying the attack or worrying about Dani traveling alone. I thought about Jason’s panicked response after I’d written to tell him why Dani had left, and I feared he would do something rash. I wanted to ruin Cece as much as he wanted to, but the hostility in his email was hair-raising. I also worried about what was happening to me. I was changing, evolving somehow, and though I knew Harper and Sanchez were there to help me, I was afraid.

  After repeatedly counting every knot in the wooden rafters over my bed, I managed to memorize and draw them. When I grew bored with that, I sketched seashells and other things that reminded me of home. In the midst of failing at my third attempt to get the shading just right, I gave up and threw my pencil across the room. I heaved myself off the bed, hastily dressed, and hurried out of the barracks, hoping a breath of fresh air would whisk away the chords of insanity unwinding in my mind.

  Being outside was uncomfortable; the morning air bit at the healing scrapes on my face and hands, but the sunshine made it worthwhile. I wasn’t the only one out enjoying the early morning rays. Off in the distance, a rabbit hopped around on the barren ground, foraging for breakfast. Little finches jumped from branch to branch on a leafless, withered tree, chirping and playing. I walked softly, trying not to disturb them.

  Feeling partially rejuvenated, I let my mind run away from me. Hope took root deep inside…maybe we’ll get an early spring. But my optimism faded as gray clouds drifted in front of the sun, casting baleful shadow
s. Maybe not.

  I let my boot-clad feet determine the pace and followed a winding sidewalk through the abandoned base. Where are all the dead bodies? I wondered, not for the first time. I shuddered and hoped I wouldn’t stumble upon any of them. As I strolled down the path, surrounded by dark, empty buildings, an eerie feeling settled over me, like I was taking a guided tour through the future:

  Graffiti art was a popular medium of expression during The Ending. You’ll notice, “We’re all going to die!” painted on the brick buildings to your right and the rusted doors of the personnel offices to your left. When people started losing their minds and/or dying during the Apocalypse, chaos ensued. In all the uncertainty, people left everything behind. They looted and scavenged, leaving Fort Knox the abandoned footprint of civilization you see here today. What was once home to thousands of cavalry, artillery, and infantry soldiers became home to squatters, freaks, and a new breed of humanity.

  Nearing the enormous gym, I shook myself from my demented daydream. Sarah had told me that Biggs and Harper had taken to playing basketball there when they had downtime. Concentrating, I could hear the sound of a ball being dribbled inside.

  My curiosity was piqued, and I made my way in to see if my friends were playing an early morning game of HORSE. Pulling my hands from the warm sanctuary of my pockets, I pulled the clunky metal door open and stepped inside. The dribbling continued until the door slammed shut behind me.

  Walking further in, I spotted a single person in the vast space, and my smile faded. Jake, breathing heavily, held a basketball against his side with one arm as he waited to see who had disturbed his morning exercise. His face hardened when I stepped into view.

  It was the perfect opportunity to thank him, but I was distracted by…him. Perspiration glistened on his angular jaw, and his black t-shirt clung to his brawny, heaving chest. As he rubbed a hand over his short, damp hair, his sculpted biceps flexed, and I found myself silently hoping he would…

  “Did you need something?” he asked abruptly. Yet again, he didn’t seem happy to see me.

  “I was just…” Frustration eroded the thought I was trying to articulate, but before I could make a second attempt, the door flew open.

  “There you are.” Harper’s amicable voice perked my mood up like a thirsty flower given water. “I went by your room, but you weren’t there.” He nodded to Jake, then caught my eye and motioned toward the doors. “Let’s get some breakfast.”

  I glanced back at Jake and wondered if I’d ever get the chance to thank him for saving my life…or to ask him what his problem was. Our eyes met for only an instant before he looked away, but I thought I saw curiosity in his gaze.

  Walking back outside with Harper, I asked, “What’s his story?”

  “Jake? I’m not sure. Why?”

  I shrugged, pretending to be indifferent. “Just wondering.”

  Harper slid his hands into his pockets. “I don’t know. You’ve known him as long as I have. But, I think it’s safe to say he’s a pretty private person. He probably isn’t sure he can trust us. I’m the same way.”

  “I really can’t see you being reserved given your history of scandalous propositions…in front of everyone,” I teased.

  He winked. “It all depends, Baby Girl.”

  Laughing, I shook my head. “You know how demeaning that is, right?”

  “What, you don’t like your nickname? It just seems right. I like the way it takes you by surprise every time I say it.”

  “I just can’t believe I’m letting you call me that.” A sudden, bone-chilling gust of wind assaulted us, and we quickened our pace. We continued on toward the mess hall in silence.

  When we stepped into the giant dining room, everyone was clustered around a long cafeteria table in the far corner. I could feel their eyes on me as Harper and I crossed the room to the breakfast buffet. They probably wonder whether I’m crazy or not.

  My concern vanished as my mouth began to water at the sight of bacon, biscuits, and gravy. My appetite had definitely returned.

  “OJ?” Harper asked, pouring some into a glass.

  “Yes, please.” We carried our trays to the table and sat down by Biggs, Sarah, and the other women.

  Halfway through our meal, I heard shuffling footsteps and looked up to see Dave and Stacey walking into the mess hall. The scrapes on my face pulled as I scowled at the sight of my former friend—I hadn’t seen him since the incident in the woods.

  Stacey’s brow furrowed sympathetically as she took in my damaged appearance, but she quickly caught herself, forced her mouth into a warm smile, and waved. I quirked my lips slightly, trying not to disturb the progress of their healing, and smiled back.

  Dave stopped, looking like his feet were suddenly glued to the ground. His face paled, and I lowered my eyes, focusing on my plate of food. I needed to smother the rage billowing inside me. I needed to hit him. Just ignore him, I told myself.

  “Alright, everyone,” Sanchez said as she marched into the room with rolled up maps and blueprints under her arm. “We’ve got a lot to cover today, so let’s get started.” She looked around. “Where’s Summer? And Jake?”

  “Here.” Jake nonchalantly strode into the dining hall, pulling a sweatshirt over his head. Cooper, the Husky, trotted in behind him, his tail wagging and his tongue hanging from his mouth. I watched Jake as he walked to the buffet and started plating his breakfast. The other women were distracted by Cooper, fawning over him and playing with his velvety ears and bushy tail. I, on the other hand, couldn’t stop thinking about Jake’s corded muscles. Again, I was surprised he was moving around so well only a couple of days after being shot.

  “Do you mind?” Sanchez said in my mind.

  Snapping my head to the right, I met her stare. I sheepishly looked back down at my breakfast and picked at it with my fork. I wondered how and why our bodies reacted to the Virus so differently. With that thought, I studied the other members of the group, considering the possibility that Sanchez and I weren’t experiencing these changes alone. What aren’t they sharing?

  “And Summer?” Sanchez looked over to Tanya, Summer’s sister. “Where is she? I haven’t seen her since yesterday afternoon.”

  “She’s still not feeling well,” Tanya said softly. “She decided to stay in bed a little longer. I’ll fill her in on everything.” Her eyes were full of worry.

  “Let Harper know if she needs anything,” Sanchez said and clapped her hands together. “Okay, let’s get started.”

  Sanchez began by informing everyone of the decision to stay in Fort Knox for a few more weeks. “We have an armory to inventory. We need to figure out exactly what to take when we do leave.” Glancing at Jake and me, she continued, “Some of you are in need of medical attention, and Harper has access to an entire hospital here. We have shelter and enough food to last us months, if needed. There’s no logical reason to leave until the weather gets better and we have a plan of action.”

  There was dissension from Tanya and Clara, two of the women who’d already been on the base when we’d arrived, which wasn’t surprising—they wanted to get as far away from the place as possible. I’d only seen a glimpse of the atrocities Jones and Taylor had inflicted upon them, and could hardly imagine the horrible memories that awaited them around every corner.

  “I know things haven’t been easy for you the last month or so, but I guarantee you’ll be safer with us,” Sanchez promised them. “Obviously the Virus has changed things. Life’s different now, and more than anything, we need to be prepared for what comes next. My team and I will do everything we can to make sure nothing happens to you, but if we leave, it’ll be more difficult. We need to know what we’re up against before we move on. The more information we can collect before leaving, the better.”

  Silence surrounded us as her words hung in the air, threatening to dissolve the illusion of peaceful solitude we’d clung to over the last few days. I felt a twinge of anxiety—a few weeks seemed like a long time to wait, bu
t I understood Sanchez’s reasoning. I hoped to never come across someone like Jones or Taylor again.

  “That gives some of us time to learn how to defend ourselves too,” I said, partially raising my hand to interject. I made a conscious effort not to lock eyes with Dave.

  Harper looked at me and grinned. “If you insist…that’ll be fun,” he said playfully.

  Ignoring him, Sanchez nodded. “I’ll get to that in a minute.”

  Biggs joined her at the head of the table. He unrolled a few of the maps and held them up, pointing out the hospital, the repair garage, and several places where we could find more supplies and clothes on base. Sarah’s eyes were appraising, never leaving him as he explained our modes of communication and our emergency plan should there be any sort of infiltration.

  “The Internet’s up for now, but there’s no way to know for how much longer. As for transportation…we’re working on it. Jake, since you said you know your way around an engine, we need you get a few vehicles up and running. I’m not sure how difficult it’ll be since it looks like they’ve all been tampered with.” Biggs paused, considering something. “You obviously know how to use a gun, so we’d also like you on the patrol team.” His eyes shifted to me. “Zoe, you’re going to be Harper’s medical assistant. You’ll begin training with him in the hospital today.”

  “I want a full inventory of the medical supplies we have at our disposal,” Sanchez added before assigning the rest of the duties.

  As she started to dismiss us, I interrupted, “What about the self-defense lessons?”

  Sanchez’s dark eyebrows arched, and she looked like she was hiding a smile. “Those of you who want to learn how to protect yourselves, which I encourage each of you to do, come see me,” Sanchez told the seven civilians in the room. “Zoe, since you’re so keen on the idea, you can start as soon as you’ve healed a bit more.”