by HJ Lawson
The silence is killing me. “What do you know?” I ask impatiently.
He remains silent. “Gérard…” Jada says, looking at him.
Another boy joins the group, carrying a woman; Jesus, she looks like the living dead!
“Are we stopping to make new friends? Zak, can you give me a hand?”
God, he’s so handsome. Brandon places his arm around me; I guess he’s noticed how good-looking the lad is.
“Hey.” Brandon nods to the newcomer.
“Hey.” He nods back. “Come on, Zak, we have to get her to the hospital.”
“Good luck,” the boys say as they carry the lady away.
The others follow. Only Jada remains.
“Jada, let’s go… we’re running out of time!” Gérard yells back at her. She waves him off and nods.
“Quick, listen to me. You don’t have much time… get as far away from New York City as you can. This is only the beginning,” she says. Then she hurries off to catch up with her group and yells out, “Good luck!”
Brandon and I stare at each other for several long moments. “What do you suppose she meant by all that?” he asks, scratching his chin.
I shrug my shoulders. “Got me.”
“And what did she mean that we don’t have much time? Are aliens coming?”
We both look up to the sky. After today’s events, anything is possible.
“Run, kids, the prisoners are here!” a woman screams to us.
Oh my God. They must’ve made it over from Rikers Island.
“Annabel, we have to get out of here now. Let’s head underground,” Brandon says.
“Okay.”
We take off running, like everyone else around us.
A blood-curdling cry for help flitters down from the fleeing pack.
“What was that?”
People suddenly turn around and start to scurry in the opposite direction, heading right back for us. What the hell is going on?!
“Let’s change directions —”
Before I can finish my sentence, I can see what the screams are for. A sea of orange is coming right toward us. It's the escaped prisoners, all banded together.
“Oh crap!” Brandon yells out, and all their eyes fall on us. Especially the ones belonging to the man in front.
No… no… it can’t be! My worst nightmare is coming true. Oh, God no!
“Shit, Brandon, run!” I scream.
“Get her! Get the little bitch!” My heart races, as Big Red yells his orders.
The prisoners run at me like a pack of angry wolves, ready for their first taste of freedom.
“Run!” Brandon yells.
But I’m already moving… and running for my life. We have to make it to the underground tunnels. “Brandon, do you know an entrance to the place?” I don’t want them to know where we’re going.
“I think so… I hope so.”
He'd better, or we’re dead for sure.
“We’re younger and faster… we can outrun them.” Brandon tries to reassure me, but he is already gasping for air. Smoking has really screwed up our lungs!
“Not forever,” I yell as I weave around a stranded car, briefly turning around to see the pack of outlaws hot on our tails. I can make out Red’s hair somewhere near the back.
“We’re nearly there. Look.” Brandon points up, and I can make out Penn Station. “We can lose them in there, and then head out to the entrance,” he adds.
“Watch out!” I yell.
There’s another, smaller gang coming toward us; they must’ve split up, because these men are a lot faster and younger than the others.
“Come here, Annabel… Big Red has been telling us how sweet your tits are!” one of them calls out.
My cheeks burn with embarrassment and fear.
They start to laugh like a crazy pack of hyenas, knocking over anyone that stands in their way. They rule the city now.
Brandon glances over at me. His eyes are dilated, and I can see that he is very angry.
“Quickly! Over here,” he commands, and we duck in through a door.
Thank God, we made it.
Police with sniffer dogs are surrounding Penn Station. We act casual and do our best to merge in with the crowd of people.
“Step back, everyone. The station is closed. You must find another way to get home!” a policeman is yelling to the crowd.
Turning back, I see the prisoners all waiting for me on the opposite side of the road. They easily outnumber the amount of police officers around.
I can feel Big Red’s eyes burning in my direction. It sends a shudder through my body. Our eyes lock, and it’s almost as though no one else is around us. Sweat drips down his repulsive face, and a wicked grin appears. He raises his hand and draws a single, fat finger across his neck.
“Brandon, they’re going to kill me!” I whimper. Brandon looks over to Big Red and he does the same hand motions.
“Looks like he wants to kill me as well!” Brandon adds.
Big Red begins to laugh, and the others join in; their laughter gets louder and louder.
Everyone around us becomes aware of them, and the crowd falls silent.
All that stands between us and my tormentors are some parked cars. People begin to move closer to the police officers, almost pushing them to the front of the crowd.
Brandon takes my hand, pulling me toward the stairs entrance, which has been taped off.
“Train station is closed!” the policeman yells at us.
“Has anyone told them?” Brandon yells, pointing over to the orange mob. They are moving across the road, and coming for me.
“Brandon, run!” I duck under the tape.
“Get back or I will shoot!” a voice yells out.
Bang, bang, bang!
Each shot makes me shake. The police are no match for the angry mob of prisoners.
“They’re here!”
Chapter 30
Life for a Life.
JADA
“What did you tell her?” Zak asks me, as we continue to run.
“To leave New York City as quickly as possible,” I reply. “I hope she listened to me.”
“Did you see her hair?” he asks.
“Yeah, it looked cool.” It was bright white and pink. Coloring hair is a big thing in the USA.
“They both looked like they’d had a good beating,” Zak adds.
“Yeah... Zak, I have to tell you something.”
He looks at me, puzzled.
I take a deep breath. It’s now or never. “I read the letter last night, the one my mother wrote for Gérard. He… He is my father.” The words tumble out of my mouth.
Zak freezes. Then he slowly nods. “That explains a lot. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Are you okay? Have you spoken to him about it?”
I shake my head. “I want to, but with everything happening, I haven’t exactly had the chance.”
“Jesus, your head must be really messed up,” he says softly.
“Zak, your turn,” Ali yells out. They’ve been taking turns carrying Hanna. Haytham refuses to leave her side.
“Go… I’ll be okay.”
Zak gives me a peck on the cheek. “Catch up to Gérard.”
I nod.
I’m glad Liquorice is always by my side. I don’t want to run on my own.
The prisoners from Rikers Island are in New York City. Every few minutes I catch an orange jump suit from the corner of my eye. Liquorice barks at them each time they get close to me; it's like he knows they are bad.
“Gérard, how long till we’re there?” I cannot remember where Faith’s hospital is.
“It’s right there.” Gérard points with his free hand. Ashton has not let go of the other one since the bridge.
Kyra and Ali are already at the entrance. I can just make them out in the crowd of people that has gathered.
It quickly becomes clear what is happening – the hospital is full, and they have a makeshift emergency ward outside.
“Gérard, over here!” a guard yells.
“Kids, this way.” Gérard waves Kyra and Ali over. “Hey, Dennis... God, it's good to see you! What insanity! I need to get to Faith.”
“Quickly. Through here.” Dennis opens the door he’s been blocking.
“Cheers, mate. Good luck,” Gérard says sadly.
“Sorry kid, you can’t bring dogs in.”
What? No!
“Can you watch him?” Gérard asks Dennis.
“Yeah, he can be my guard dog.” Dennis reaches out for the leash. I don’t want to leave Liquorice. He’s my guard dog!
“Jada, hand it over. We won’t be long, and Dennis will take care of him.”
I hesitantly pass Dennis the leash and he smiles.
“I’ll take good care of him.”
“You better!” Or I’ll come back and beat you black and blue!
“Jada…” Gérard gives me a look, and I squint my eyes back at him.
The hospital is bursting at its seams; bodies are laid out in the corridors, and many people are screaming in pain.
Gérard leads the way to the elevator, and we all silently pile in. He presses the button for the seventh floor. No one says a word as the elevator flies up from one floor to the next.
Gérard turns and looks at us. “We’ll get to a safe place soon, kids.”
The metal doors open to more cries for help. I want the silence of the elevator again.
“Stay close,” Gérard instructs us. It’s then that I realize he’s responsible for all of us right now. He’s the only adult left. No wonder he looks so stressed!
“Stephanie, where’s Faith?” Gérard asks a receptionist at a desk.
“Oh, Gérard, I’m glad you’re okay! Faith has been worried about you, about all of you.” Stephanie continues, “She's on ward two.”
“Thank you.”
Faith comes walking out of the room, and her white overcoat is covered in blood.
I cannot do this… not again. I move toward the back of our group.
Faith spots us and comes running toward Gérard with her arms open wide, embracing him.
“Kyra, Victoria, Jada,” Faith yells out, and we all fall silent.
“Faith…Victoria didn’t make it.” Gérard softly tries to explain what happened. Kyra rushes toward Faith, sobbing, and holds on to her tightly.
“Jada…?” Faith asks.
“I’m here,” I yell from the back. Faith briefly stares at me, and my eyes wander down to her crimson red overcoat.
Faith follows my line of sight down toward the blood, and both of our eyes glaze over. She raises her hand to her mouth and blows me a kiss. I can feel everyone watching me. I wipe my tears from my cheek.
On cue as always, Zak speaks up to break the silence. “Faith, Hanna needs help.” Zak nods toward the woman Zak and Haytham have been carrying.
“Quickly… in here.” Faith changes back into doctor mode.
Haytham places Hanna on the only free bed. “Faith, please look after her.” He steps over to the window and gazes out — he hasn’t been able to speak to his family all day. I hope they are okay.
Ring… ring… ring. The sound fills the hospital… everyone rummages in their bags to see if it’s their phone.
“Yes, yes, I’m okay, are —” Haytham is cut off before he can finish.
“Yes, Mother are you…? MOTHER!” he yells. “Are you okay?” Then he falls silent, and his head bobs up and down. “You too,” he murmurs; his cheeks glow a little red. “Mother, everyone is here. Okay, fine… I love you too. Good bye.”
“Gérard, the driver in Mother’s car wants to talk to you.” Haytham passes the phone over to Gérard.
Gérard goes outside the ward, and we cannot hear what he’s saying. He comes back a moment later. “They’ll meet us at the airport,” he says, as he returns the phone to Haytham.
“Gérard, what happened to this woman?” Faith asks. Gérard tells her what we know.
Faith calls over to one of the nurses, “Take her to the second floor. She needs x-rays and a CT scan.” The nurse nods and reaches for a wheelchair.
“Please help get Hanna into the chair,” Faith says to one of the nurses.
“Haytham, can you come with me?” Hanna asks softly.
“No!” Gérard quickly snaps, making us all jump. “Sorry, only patients allowed.”
Faith looks over at Gérard and scowls, as if he’s lying.
“You are safe with me,” the nurse states as they leave the ward.
“Faith, can you check Ashton?” Gérard asks. “I did a quick exam and he looks okay. Ali needs a bandage for his ankle.”
Faith does as Gérard requests.
“Kyra, I’m going to call your father,” Gérard says, and her face turns white. Gérard heads out of the room, and Kyra dives into Ali’s arms for comfort. We all know how she feels. I can feel the tears coming once again.
Think of something else, Jada. Don’t go to the dark place.
“Hi, Ashton, this will all be over soon. We can get you back home. Do you know your address?” Faith asks.
Ashton nods and tells her where he lives.
“Ashton, does your daddy live there?” I ask.
“No, just me and my… mommy.” Ashton bursts into tears, as he realizes he has no one else.
Another child injured by war. His first love has been stolen from him, his mother!
“Charles is going to meet us at the airport,” Gérard informs us as he walks back into the room.
“Did you tell him about Mom?” Kyra mumbles. Gérard pushes his lips together and slowly nods.
Kyra takes a deep breath in, as though she’s trying to compose herself. “Thank you.”
“Faith, we have to leave now,” Gérard states.
“The hospital needs me. What about the patients?” Faith asks in a panic.
“There will been no more patients soon. We’ll only make it out alive if we go now.”
“Gérard, what are you saying?”
“Everyone who stays here will die… there is a nuclear bomb!” he blurts out.
Oh my God!
“Gérard, that cannot be true. The government will not allow it!” Faith snaps.
“I’m not waiting to find out!” he retorts.
“We have to take Ashton with us… he has no parents, and he’s an orphan like us,” I explain.
Gérard picks Ashton up. “What about Hanna?” Haytham asks nervously.
“There’s no room on the plane, Haytham,” Gérard explains.
“We’ll have to make room!” Haytham yells, and the veins on his face bulge.
“It’s not that simple.”
“She can sit on my lap, it is that simple! See you guys downstairs! She is coming!” Haytham yells, as he heads out of the room.
Gérard stands back in amazement. “Jesus, that kid has some crazy hormones!”
“Gérard!” Faith snaps.
“What, oh for God’s sake, we have to go! I will take you kicking and screaming if you'd like!” Gérard shouts. We all stand looking at each other awkwardly. It’s like when your parents are fighting and you don’t want to be in the room.
Ali signals toward the door, and we all silently hurry for it.
“Always so bloody stubborn!” Gérard yells.
“Stubborn for wanting to look after people?” Faith retorts.
They both fall silent, as they lock eyes on each other.
“Faith, I just want to look after you. You and the kids will all die if we stay here. We have to go, now!”
Chapter 31
Fulfilling My Father’s Work.
ETHAN
Pure joy fills my body as we approach the target. I have never felt this way before, even with my monthly cleaning and removing the trash from the population.
Father is with me.
Chapter 32
Escaping One Danger to Enter Another.
ANNABEL
“It’s here.” Brandon bends do
wn over a sewage cover outside the back of the train station.
Really! In the sewage?!
Together we lift up the drain cover and look down. It's pitch black in here. “Quick, the light,” I say, scrambling to add the batteries. My hands are trembling, and I cannot get them in. Brandon reaches over to help me. His hand brushes mine, bringing tears to my eyes.
“We’ll be okay,” he says. “I will shine the light down for you.”
Taking hold of the wet and slimy rungs, I begin to descend into the black hole of nothing, while Brandon lights the way for me.
Jesus, the ladder goes on forever. Step after step I take, until finally, I feel solid ground beneath my feet. Or, at least, sort of solid. I’m standing in water. Gross.
“Come on down,” I yell nervously. God, this place is creepy.
I don’t hear anything and cannot see anything. “Brandon, are you coming?” Why is he not answering me?
“Brandon…?” I shout louder.
“Brandon’s not here right now, but I am,” a voice yells down the sewage opening. I feel like my heart is about to explode in my chest.
Big Red. He’s found us. He has Brandon.
“Annabel, why are you so quiet? That’s not like you. Normally you are so chatty, telling the cops everything!” Big Red yells down.
“Brandon!”
The light disappears completely from the sewer opening. I scurry backwards until I reach the tunnel wall, preparing to run.
Holding my breath, I carefully listen. There is no sound from above me.
Suddenly, a sliver of light shines down… and then some more.
Someone is hurrying down the ladder, and I panic, until I see who it is. Brandon!
“What’s happening? Are you okay?” I ask frantically.
“I spotted Big Red coming, so I hid, and then I hit him over the head when he wasn’t looking.” Brandon laughs, and I let out a huge sigh of relief. “Come on, we have to run… he’ll wake up soon,” he adds.
“Do you know where to go?” I ask.
“I think so.”
“Come on, let’s move!”
We take off running. Brandon leads the way with the flashlight, and I can hear the rats scampering along with us. The acrid smell of filth fills my nostrils. I’m in hell!
