“Well, I'm not in any position to try and bribe the Watch,” he said. “Besides, we need to get going. It’s time to head back home.”
The sun was starting to rise over the settlement. Jesse took Angela through Millennium Park on their way back. Angela enjoyed seeing her reflection as she walked under an enormous mirrored sculpture Jesse called “the Bean.” A few other people were in the park: a father and child playing tag and a man putting various trinkets on a blanket to sell them to passers-by. Angela took in the man's hair, bright green, and his face, covered in tattoos.
“When more of your freedom is getting taken away, the more you want to feel like an individual. A lot of people are turning into mod-freaks,” Jesse said. “People have been getting more tattoos, piercings, and skin treatments than ever. The new popular ones are eye-color changes, eye tattoos, and skin-color changes. It’s a visual way to flaunt your money, if you happen to still have any. The lead singer of Piano has fake, bright red skin. Rain likes it, but I think he looks like he has a permanent sunburn.”
Angela laughed, “But how could they possibly do that?”
“If you have money, you can pretty much do anything,” Jesse explained. “Did you know that before the war, scientists figured out how to slow down aging? The oldest man lived to be 201 years of age. But no one has money for things like that anymore. But, tattoos . . . tattoos are something that today's rich can afford.”
“Doesn't everyone get the same amount of credits from the Watch?” Angela asked.
“Yes, everyone gets an equal amount of rations from Kane, but we still buy and sell to each other. Some people are better equipped to earn more credits on their own. The rich have goods and resources that help them make extra money.”
Angela tried to imagine what it meant to be rich in a world with so little, but she had no point of reference.
“How do you become rich?” Angela asked.
“If I knew that, I would be rich,” Jesse laughed. “It’s old money mostly. You needed money to survive the war, to buy food and try experimental medicines. Then, you needed money to buy cures when those drugs did not work. Today’s middle class is yesterday's well off. The one positive thing that came out of this is it has taught people to be more cooperative. Back then, people thought their money would keep them safe, and many opted to live alone rather than in community with others. After the war, the survivors all migrated back to these large settlements to help each other out. We found that we need each other to stay alive and share resources. If you think about it, it is kind of beautiful that for humanity's survival, we have no other option than to stick together. We are better together, don’t you think?”
“Of course,” Angela said. “I have always wanted a community.”
Jesse walked over to a man with a long, white beard who had started cooking hot dogs over a fire and was attempting to sell various food items to passers-by. He purchased two hot dogs from the salesman.
“You can’t take a tour of Chicago without trying a Chicago hot dog,” he said. There was no bun, but rather an old piece of bread on the verge of molding. Jesse threw the bread away before offering the hot dog to Angela.
Angela watched him become engrossed in his breakfast before tasting her own. While the food was unremarkable, simply being around him lifted her spirits. She liked how thoughtful he was and how he recognized the value in togetherness. She thought about Emi’s questions about if she liked him romantically.
Jesse plucked a purple flower from the ground and put it in her curls.
Angela laughed, “But I like the yellow ones better.”
“The dandelions?” he looked disgusted. “Those aren’t flowers. They are weeds.”
Angela frowned, “Says who? They sure look like flowers to me.”
Angela picked a dandelion and examined it. It was bigger than the purple flowers, and just as bright and beautiful. She couldn’t fathom why this plant would be placed in a lesser category than the other.
“The other flowers were obviously just jealous that this kind is so strong,” Angela decided. She put the dandelion in her hair as well. Jesse smiled at her. They walked in silence for a while, but it was a comfortable silence.
“Jesse, I have a question,” Angela finally said.
“What is it?” he responded.
“Why did you let me join The Resistance?” Angela asked. “I’ve kind of picked up on the fact that not just anyone is allowed to join. I think I’m the youngest person here, except for maybe Emi.”
Jesse shrugged, “I guess I liked you. Besides, we are always looking for new people to join, if they are worthy.”
Angela frowned. She didn’t understand what made her different from the other people in the settlement — the people at the mercy of the Watch, and still in the dark about the existence of The Resistance.
“What makes a person worthy?” Angela asked.
Jesse glanced up before he spoke, “Well, you know, someone who will work hard and contribute. We do look for people with unique skills. Rain, for example, was studying medicine before she joined up. She wanted to be a pharmacist, but minored in chemistry. Her parents were mutants, I think she was hoping to cure her family, but it was too late for them. She cured her own mutation. Here at The Resistance, she has been helping Freedom create formulas to cure the man in the cage and others who live in Chicago. Zinc uses his coding skills to make our counterfeit CitCards, Emi’s bubbly personality is perfect for finding recruits and communicating with patients. We use our skills to help the world. As long as you are willing to do that, you will fit in here.”
Angela nodded, thinking of the fact that she had no special skills to contribute.
“This movement can only be underground for so long, you know,” Jesse went on. “We have to find a way to keep our people as safe as possible once we go public. You are new, but you will be expected to help out.”
“Okay. So what will my job be?” Angela asked.
“Today, Freedom will have a job assigned for you. She will come by and let you know what that job is. So before you have to work, I just wanted you to have some fun and see the settlement.”
A smile slipped onto her face. Angela couldn’t think of a better way to spend the day than with Jesse.
Chapter Ten
By noon, Angela and Jesse were well on their way back home. Even without the speed of the mechanized cars, time seemed to move too fast. She didn’t know if the source of this phenomenon was hanging out with Jesse or being in the settlement, but Angela wished that there were more hours in the day. The settlement was full of so many exciting places and experiences that she did not feel tired despite her lack of sleep. The excitement did not stop her mind from drifting back to her father. She wondered if her father knew about hot dogs, if he had ever seen ‘the Bean,’ or sat inside a Ferris wheel while it moved. He must have, at some point, if he lived here with her mother.
Jesse looked over at Angela.
“Those flowers in your hair haven’t even died a little bit. They look as vibrant as when we plucked them, maybe even better,” he said.
“Maybe they like me?” Angela shrugged.
When Jesse opened the door to the warehouse, Freedom was waiting at the entrance with a grin on her face that, for once, felt genuine.
“Are you ready to hear your fate?” Freedom asked Angela.
“Ready as I'll ever be,” Angela said.
“Well, come on.” Freedom summoned the elevator and they all boarded the small box. When the elevator stopped, Angela noticed how quiet the halls were. She could usually hear Rain’s music or Emi’s loud chatter from anywhere in the basement, but not tonight. They walked into the computer room and Angela gasped in shock.
“Surprise!” various voices cheered in unison.
Zinc, Rain, and Emi were joined by Becca, Lucas, and Maria from The City Below. There were a couple of people who Angela had yet to meet, a little girl who looked about nine snuggled closely to a teenage boy who was probably her bi
g brother. The girl’s eyes glowed bright green, and Angela figured she must have some type of mutation that Rain was working to cure. She reminded Angela of the girl who was killed at the market.
“I think most of you have met our newest member, Angela,” Freedom said. “We are excited to have her here.”
“Thank you,” Angela said, glancing at Jesse. His grin revealed that he knew about this but didn’t tell her, which made her a little annoyed. Was this why he had kept her out all night?
“Angela, your job is to help us grow our own food so we will be less dependent on buying food with our fake cards,” Freedom said. “You have seen our small greenhouse in The City Below. If you need supplies, I’m sure Jesse has taught you what buildings and shops are safe to visit. And remember, stay away from the Watch. You’ll start your job tomorrow. But today, get to know The Resistance. Eat. Drink. Be merry. Leave me alone.”
Angela was relieved that her job did not involve any of the guns or knives she saw. She was good at gardening; she would prove herself to Freedom in no time.
There was food on the table, and drinks of both the alcoholic and nonalcoholic variety. She doubted any of her new friends would be critical of her having a drink at her own party, and poured herself a glass of wine. She took a whiff of its pungent scent before chugging it down. The drink stung her throat as she swallowed but, not wanting to appear rude, she continued to sip throughout the night.
All of the computer screens were off except for the ones used for surveillance, and Rain’s radio had been moved into the control room. Instead of the hip-hop and rock Jesse's friends were usually listening to, it was playing classical music. Some of the songs were from a real piano, not the band, and Angela thought it was sweet that they had selected this music for her. It was time to celebrate with her new family away from home, but by the end of the night, her lack of sleep mixed with too many drinks caused her to walk away feeling somewhat discombobulated. She fell asleep with an overwhelming feeling of being out of place.
Angela had a strange dream that night. She was in the sky, sitting on a giant cloud. Colorful fruits and veggies floated all around her. She munched away at them. Her father was there, too, and he was eating as well. Then Angela disappeared from her own dream and her father was alone, searching for her and calling out her name. All of the fruit started to disappear around him and the cloud started to dissolve under his feet She knew her father would soon have nowhere to stand and he would fall hundreds of feet towards the ground.
“Angela!” Emi’s voice cut through her dream. Angela opened her eyes and saw Emi standing over her, her eyes wide and her blue hair glowing in the dim light from the hallway.
“Wake up, I’m gonna go with you to get supplies for your job today to make sure you know what you are doing.”
Angela stretched and slowly slung her feet over the edge of the bed.
“I’ll meet you in the computer room,” Emi said as she bounced away.
As they left The Resistance together, Emi told Angela she was taking her to a shop located in someone's home. Emi tried chatting with Angela as they walked towards this shop, but Angela was quieter than usual and offered only one-word replies to Emi’s babbling.
“You look like you’re in deep thought,” Emi finally said. “What’s up?”
“I really want to go check on my dad,” Angela said. “I had a dream about him last night.”
Emi chose her words carefully. “I’m sure he’s fine, the Wardens rarely go out into the forests unless they are looking for someone. If you have been there for years, I doubt they are looking for him.”
“I just have to see him to make sure,” Angela said. “Jesse says I have to convince Freedom I’m worth the risk, but I have a bad feeling in my gut and I want to go as soon as possible.”
Emi grimaced, replying, “Well, you’d have to get permission from Freedom. You are really new to be asking for favors like that.”
“I don’t think she likes me very much,” Angela added.
Emi shook her head in disagreement.
“She acts like that to everyone who is new. Don’t worry about it,” Emi said. “I know for a fact that she is excited to have you here. She didn’t think Jesse would be able to find you out there.”
Angela froze in her tracks.
“Find me?” Angela asked Emi. “He found me on accident. He didn’t tell Freedom about me until after we made it back.”
“Oh right, my mistake,” Emi’s face was beet red. She was quiet, which was unlike her. They walked in silence for a few moments.
“Was Jesse . . . looking for me?” Angela asked, though she knew that was impossible. No one knew she or her father existed. Her father had made sure of it by never allowing her to leave. Jesse sure made it seem as if he found her by accident. It was her choice to come with him.
“No, I just meant you were a lucky surprise,” said Emi.
Angela looked down at the sidewalk as she walked. Was Emi lying? Could it be possible that Jesse was in the forest, not simply to hide from the Watch, but specifically looking for her to bring her back to Chicago with him?
It was too much to contemplate for now, but she made a mental note to get to the bottom of this later. Right now, she needed to focus on her first mission.
She looked up at the small home that they were approaching. The gray paint on the outside of the house was chipping away and the front door was broken, but there were two tiny flower pots outside and a hand painted ‘welcome’ sign on the door. It was clear that whoever lived here was doing all they could to make it look inviting.
“What if Freedom says I can’t go see my father?” Angela asked as they approached the makeshift store.
“Then that’s what’s best, for now. You can’t exactly run off; if you take your card with you, she can track your whereabouts on our computer. It will not show your location to the Watch, but she’ll know just where you are. If you leave it behind, there is no way you'd make it back to the settlement,” Emi warned.
“But why would you make the fake CitCard traceable if that’s the thing you guys are fighting against?” Angela asked, frustration in her voice.
“It’s to keep us safe,” Emi said. “You know where we are located, so we need to know where you are. If a Warden got that information out of you, we would all be at risk of death.”
“I can wait for now, but if Freedom doesn't eventually let me go, I will go back and try to find him alone. Will you help me find my father when the time comes?” Angela asked.
“You can get me into a lot of trouble with The Resistance,” Emi replied, but there was compassion on her face. “But I understand that you are worried about him. Let's at least wait a week before you ask Freedom, and if she says no, I’ll come with you.”
Angela gave her a big hug, lifting Emi off of the ground. Emi smiled, surprised by Angela’s affection.
“Also on a lighter note, you told me to tell you and now I’m telling you,” Angela said. She let Emi out of her grip.
“Telling me what?” Emi asked, happy to be back on the ground.
“So, maybe I do like Jesse a little bit,” Angela forced herself to say out loud.
“Oh my God!” Emi was her usually bubbly self again. “I knew it!”
They walked inside the store. The glass on the door was shattered, but it still let out an off-tune bell sound as it was opened, alerting the homeowners so that they could come to greet their customers.
“I think he likes you, too,” Emi said. “I haven't seen him this happy in a while.”
The inside of the home looked more inviting than its decaying exterior. It was more home than shop, and the owner, a gray-haired woman who appeared older than her father, greeted them with a kind smile. Children's toys were scattered about the floor, which made Angela wonder if the owner, in her advanced age, had kids living in the house. Everything that was for sale was organized neatly on a table. There were only three customers in the small store, all of them older than Angela and Em
i.
“There’s no way they are going to notice your card is fake here,” Emi reassured.
Angela got canned food items, water and chips. She also got seeds to grow vegetables and fruit in the garden. She was surprised at the high prices of water. For all of her life, water had been free.
“Why do people pay so much for water?” Angela asked Emi.
“It’s contaminated everywhere near here. Has been for a while. No one wants to end up dead or with a mutation. All of this is imported from places far away with less pollution.”
“Are you sure?” Angela had been drinking water less than thirty miles away for all of her life, and she was fine. Emi nodded as if certain, so Angela didn’t argue.
Could it be possible that the lush garden where Angela had grown up was the only healthy place left near Chicago? If so, she wanted to know what made it so special and how her father happened to find it.
The doorbell rang again and a tall woman walked into the store. She had curly brown hair pulled back into a bun and wore a blue suit. A metal badge was clipped to her top.
Emi grabbed Angela’s arm, pulling her over to the fruit, and focused on the tomatoes.
“What?” Angela whispered, sensing Emi’s panic.
“That lady over there is a Warden,” Emi said. “She’s not wearing the traditional striped shirt, but I’ve seen her in uniform before. If she checks her radio scanner she will see less cards than people in this store.”
The woman was immersed in a conversation with the owner of the home and shop.
“What should we do?” Angela asked.
“Act casual. Can you do that?” Emi asked.
“I think so,” Angela whispered, but her heartbeat was starting to speed up.
Emi took Angela's shopping basket out of Angela’s hands and headed over to the counter.
“Don’t worry about it today. I’m good at acting natural. I’ll pay for it,” Emi said.
Angela nodded as they walked over to the counter. Emi waited behind the Warden, and proceeded to ask Angela casual questions about her day with Jesse.
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