by Jill Caplin
“I’ll try and ask about both of them,” Axel said. “Don’t work in Security, but I do know a few people there. Did Hope to tell you about North Wales?”
“No, she says I have to wait until tomorrow,” Audra said.”
“It’s worth waiting for,” Axel said, “Tessa, can I talk to you for a moment?”
“Of course,” Tessa said and followed Axel into his bedroom.
“Glad you made it. Tomorrow you’ll have a chance to pick a job at the Freeman’s Employment Center.”
“Choose a job? Really?”
“Yeah, but pick maintenance to do more than just stay in one place.”
“Thanks for the heads up. First, I need to try and save my cousin.”
“Don’t blame you. You know with Hope pregnant; I have to be careful.”
“Of course, you do.”
“It’s almost time for lights out. As far as I know, I don’t know what you’re planning on doing, right?”
“Right.” Before Tessa went to sleep, she devised her plan to save Felicia. She just hoped Baron kept his promise about meeting her.
33
Audra
The next morning, Hope and Axel awakened Tessa and Audra.
“Have to go do my shift,” Axel said, “I’ll ask around about Aden and Mason. See what I can learn. Should know something by the midday meal.”
Tessa and Audra walked with Hope to the back of the Containment Centers until they reached the center of The North Wales Annex. A building stood constructed at the place where the podium stood in most centers.
A huge wooden sign stood pinned on top of the front door. It read, “Welcome to the Freeman’s Department of Work.”
Tessa gasped at what she read. She turned to Hope for an explanation.
“You can choose the Center you want if there is an opening. Otherwise, they assign you where you’re needed. More important, you can also choose a place to work in North Wales’s New City.”
“We can choose where we want to work? “Tessa asked.
“You sure can.”
“Where would we live in The North Wales Annex?” Audra asked.
“They only have apartments here.”
“Where do people live if they choose a job in North Wales’s New City?” Tessa asked.
“As far as I know, the majority of people like living in the homes of people they work for. Those that don’t can live in apartments that are beyond the shops.”
“Those are big changes,” Tessa said. “I did see the force field.”
“The force field has scanners on both sides. If people in The Annex can afford to enter New City and go to the shops or the Entertainment Center, they can go. It will just cost them.”
“We’re still divided. You know no one from New City will come to The Annex to shop.”
“No, but they do come if they can’t afford to live there any longer.”
“That’s still the same,” Tessa said, “What about Conservation?”
“Why would you ask about that?” Hope asked
“Because I was part of that, thanks to Aden.”
“Sorry, I don’t think so,” Hope said.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Audra said.
Tessa never heard Audra say sorry and she appreciated it.
“Thanks,” Tessa said to Audra.
“Well, everyone has a job,” Hope said. “If you are sick, there’s the Medicinal Center.”
“Do they return from that Center?”
“No one keeps track of whose working.”
“So that’s the same,” Tessa said.
“At least in North Wales, there are families in the apartments.”
“No, dorms?” Tessa asked.
“No dorms. You and Audra could be roommates. They have that service as well here, matching roommates.”
“As long as that’s all they are matching,” Audra said. Tessa tried not to smile at her comment.
“We made friends easily here. You’ll see. I have to get to my shift. I’ll see you two tonight,” Hope said.
Tessa wondered how every Hope told could be real. Even though she wanted to, Tessa realized it would be impossible to tell Hope the truth about her plans.
She walked with Audra inside the Center. A skinny man sat behind the table. He scanned their eyes and then stared at them. Tessa seemed nervous how he would call Security on them once he checked their background.
“Since you both are new to The North Wales Annex, I can only offer limited job choices. Here on this screen is what we have available. While you look at your options, I will review your scans.
“If he checks my scan, won’t Mason see where I am? He’s a Counter?”
“If your mother told him anything about the way he treated you, I wouldn’t worry. Isn’t your father above Mason in rank?”
“Yes, he is higher in rank.”
“We’ll see what Axel figures out,” Tessa said. “Any job you’d want?”
“I hope you aren’t offended. But there’s a clothing shop in New City I would like to work in.,” Audra said, smiling
“I think it would suit you just fine. You know I won’t go to any New City?”
“Of course, I understand. I’ll be fine. Just thank you for helping me get here.”
“We decided what was the best for both of us,” Tessa said and smiled at her.
The man walked back into the office and glanced at both of them.
“Have you made a choice? I will see what I can do.”
“I’d like the clothing shop please,” Audra said.
The man scanned Audra’s eye. He then took a card and scanned it through a slit on the side of the reader.
“You need to take this card to get you into New City. You will need to report to the Security building by the Power Center. Someone will take you to the Work and Housing Center of New City where you will get settled, and then you report to your shop.”
“When do I start?” Audra asked.
“We just arrived,” Tessa said, interrupting their conversation, “Could she leave after the midday meal? Our friends here want to meet us in the cafeteria to say goodbye to her. “
The man tilted his head to Tessa with an odd expression on his face. He glanced at Audra, who just stared at him.
“Well, it’s important for everyone to get settled and start the right way. Audra can leave after the midday meal. I need you to choose your job.”
“That’s fine. I choose the maintenance job.”
“You want to sweep and clean up trash?”
“As long as it’s not near vegetables,” Tessa said. She wanted a job which would allow her access inside all of the Centers. Tessa wanted to finally feel freedom for a while rather than being stuck in one Center.
“Done,” the man said, “You can also change jobs after the required six months. Now, you have to go somewhere. Go to the cafeteria and see what you can do for those getting ready for the next meal. That’s the best I can do.”
“Thank you,” Tessa said.
“I need you to return here afterward.” He said, looking directly at her. Tessa smiled at him, nodding in agreement.
Tessa left with Audra. They managed to maneuver their way to the cafeteria. They walked into the building without scanning our eyes. A Supervisor, who seemed to know about their situation, met them.
The hefty woman showed Tessa and Audra to a bolted metal table where there were dozens of empty salt and pepper shakers. Sitting on the table were two big containers and two funnels. They had their job to do, so they sat down and filled the shakers.
A few hours later, the bells rang for the midday meal. Tessa and Audra walked through the cafeteria line, chose their food, and sat down at one of the long tables. To her surprise, people were talking in low voices to each other. Tessa noticed they were allowed more than ten minutes to eat.
Tessa saw Axel walking up to them. He devoured his food while they finished their meals. Audra stared at him, waiting for him to speak.
“Here’s what I know. Aden is back doing his undercover work somewhere in the Thorndale Annex,” He said, first speaking to Tessa.
Axel spoke to Audra. He said, “Since you left Mason, he has the right to take another bride. He’s still a Counter, but since he didn’t do anything to stop your escape, he only has control of the money of the Thorndale New City. Stay in North Wales, and you should be fine.”
“Thanks for letting me know. I better get going now.” Audra said. She stood up. Tessa stood up to say good-bye. She accepted a hug from her.
“I wish you the best in North Wales’s New City,” Tessa said.
“Thank you. I wish you the best in your life too,” Audra said and left the cafeteria. Tessa wondered if she would ever run into Audra again.
The bells rang after fifteen minutes. Tessa smiled at Axel. They cleaned their trays and placed them on the conveyor belt.
“So now that you’re here, what now?”
“I’m going to try and save my cousin.”
“You know that code I gave you the other day.”
“Sure do.”
“Reverse the last three numbers, and it should open Thorndale’s Annex entrance. Then reverse them again. You should be able to leave once you find your cousin.”
“Really?”
“I was a code setter for Security. You just won’t have much time to escape back through the same exit once inside.”
“Thank you for everything. I better go to my maintenance job,” Tessa said. Axel left.
Tessa reported to the man who gave her a work card. Instead of going to where she would be assigned, Tessa used the code Axel told her. She hurried towards the Thorndale Annex. Locating Felicia would be more important to Tessa than anything else.
34
Requite
After two days rerunning the tunnels, Tessa shook her head in disbelief as she stood back inside the Thorndale Annex and outside the same Holding Center.
She smiled, happy, and grateful to see Baron waiting for her. They didn’t locate Aden anywhere outside. He had to be doing Security inside somewhere. Tessa handed Baron the Taser.
She watched how Baron caught the Security person on duty off guard. Baron hit him with the Taser. He handed the Taser back to Tessa.
They were able to get inside the Center using her passcode.
Tessa immediately walked around the Center looking for Felicia, leaving Baron to keep an eye out for Security.
After passing multiple bodies, Tessa finally located Felicia. She forced back tears, seeing Felicia once again trapped in a container, locked in eternal sleep.
Tessa remembered how Aden hit a button to lower her pressure releasing her from the container. Before started the process, Tessa checked on Baron. He made a motion with his hand.
Tessa turned around.
Aden stood within a few feet from Tessa, approaching her. She had to face him. In the back of her mind, she hoped Baron would come to her aid in the opposite direction.
“What are you doing here?” Aden asked, yelling at her
“What I have to do. You’re not stopping me.”
“It’s my job to stop you.”
Aden tried grabbing her arm.
Tessa backed away.
He charged again, trying to land a punch.
Tessa ducked under it, remembering a lesson he taught her.
She lunged around and punched him in his ribs.
He reeled back.
He scowled his crunched red face. He tried grabbing her hand, holding the Taser.
Aden yanked her arm. He punched her with his fist.
He smacked her nose. Blood dripped. She tasted a salty liquid.
Aden lunged another punch. He hit her in the stomach.
Gagging, Tessa backed up.
He tried again. She blocked his arm.
He charged towards her.
Tessa hit his body with the Taser not once but twice.
He shook with convulsions and fell to the ground.
She started pushing the buttons on the panel to lower Felicia’s heart rate and blood pressure.
Tessa smiled after Baron arrived. He stared at Aden on the floor. He then glanced at her.
“You okay?” He asked, glancing at Tessa holding the bottom of her shirt to her bloody nose.
“Yeah, didn’t think he’d stay down.”
“Well, I set the gun for you to stun him, so that should keep him down. Where did you learn to fight?”
Tessa pointed to Aden, and Baron chuckled.
“Is she almost ready to go? We’re running out of time.”
“She’s ready.”
“Let me carry her,” Baron said.
“The carrier will need a body. What if we leave Aden in her place?”
“Be happy to,” Baron said, without pausing to think about it.
They picked up Felicia out of the container and placed her on the floor. Tessa wrapped her with the long shirt Tessa wore over her t-shirt. Baron grabbed Aden under his arms and Tessa held onto his legs as they lifted him into the carrier. They placed him inside and set whatever previous settings meant for Felicia.
They left the building with Felicia in Baron’s arms. Tessa marveled how Baron how secure her carried her back to the same exit. Putting the code in the way Axel told her to, the door opened.
After Tessa shut the door, they fled back into the tunnels. Tessa dressed Felicia in a pair of jeans in her bag. As soon as Felicia woke up, she smiled and hugged Tessa.
“Can’t believe you came back for me…again”
“You’re family. Besides, that’s what cousins are for.”
“Who is this?”
“Felicia, this is Baron.”
They smiled at each other. After a few sips of water, they were about to start their journey back to North Wales. Tessa gave Felicia and Baron an odd look as she stopped them for a moment.
“You know, I can’t really enter another Annex after what just happened,” Tessa said.
“Well, neither can I,” Baron said, “I helped you with the body.”
“Once they find Aden’s body, they’ll be looking for me. What’s our next step?” Felicia asked me.
“It’s time for me, for us, to see what’s beyond this set of tunnels. Maybe there are people like us who are sick of the unmormal arrangement between The Annex and New City.
“You know,” Baron said, “I heard talk from a few associates that in other underground cities in subways northeast of here. Who knows? It might be even better than North Wales.”
“We could get caught,” Tessa said. “I wouldn’t want that to happen to either of you.”
“I’m way in,” Baron said.
“After everything that’s happened to me, I’m in,” Felicia said.
“Okay,” Tessa said. “Let’s go. Hopefully, it’s a place where Exchange Day doesn’t even exist.”
“With Freeman Employment Centers are everywhere,” Felicia added.
“Don’t forget an Entertainment Center?” Baron asked with a smile. The two women just stared at him. He shrugged his shoulders.
“You know, if we can’t find normal,” Tessa said to her friends, “Then let’s hope we find someplace close to it.” They all shared a laugh and went on their way.
Acknowledgement
This novella would not have impossible without the recognition of my husband and confidant, Steven, who showed extraordinary patience during this journey. I want to extend a thank you to Jennifer Smith, who read and edited my drafts with precise diligence and excellent commentary. I thank Polgarus Studios for the fantastic job of formatting. I would like to thank rebecacovers at Fiverr for the awesome cover design. I would like to thank my twin sons, Joshua and David, who listened too many times as I discussed ideas with them. Finally, I wanted to give a special thank you to my cousin, Nancy, who always listened to whatever ideas I had as far as plot twists, character traits and titles. With these people, the journey felt less lonely and worthwhile.
Auth
or Bio
Jill Caplin grew up in Los Angeles, California. She holds her B.A. in Journalism from San Jose State University. She earned her teaching credentials for General Elementary and Special Education from San Francisco State University. While raising her twin sons, she taught for 25 years in Special Education. Jill lives in Florida with her husband. Please feel free to contact her at [email protected]