by S. E. Meyer
Atticus nodded. “I'm making progress. We found the perfect location and we have about fifty living there. It will be a lot of work to get the major systems up and running, but we're getting there.”
Frank handed Atticus a box of vials. “Good. I need to know that helping you, and putting my family's life at risk, is for a reason.”
Atticus nodded, handing Frank a similar-sized box. “Have you made any progress on an alternative to getting Anna's blood? She is getting old enough to remember.”
Frank nodded. “Yes, I have a man on the inside now at the Morton's clinic. We can get the samples when she goes for treatments.”
Atticus let out a breath. “That's a relief.” He shook his head. “It's crazy to me that the only human with the cure in her veins has to go for treatments she doesn't need.”
“We have to keep up appearances. And follow the law.” Frank replied.
Atticus nodded. “Until next time then.”
The scene swirled away from her and Anna opened her eyes. She angled her head to look at the control panel. The screen now read. 'Damarion Brockman file: 87'
What is going on? The chamber is playing other people's files?
Anna let out a gasp.
Am I doing this?
Anna closed her eyes and a dark cell appeared. Damarion sat in the corner, a tear hanging from his chin. “I will never tell you where they are. Never!” he said, drool trickling from the rim of his mouth.
That doesn't sound like a man who would have ratted everyone out.
But if not Damarion, then who?
The display changed to read, 'Playing Richard: File 47'
Anna watched as Cornelius reached back, pulling his belt down hard across Richard’s shoulder blades.
Anna flinched at the horror of the old man lashing the boy. Over and over he brought the belt down, buckle out, against Richard's flesh.
The scene changed to a burning church and Anna watched Richard save Atticus and the priest.
The machine flashed scenes in front of Anna at an increased pace. She watched Richard free her mother from the Chamber.
What? Richard let mom go?
And saved Atticus?
Anna watched as the beatings increased both in intensity and frequency.
“You killed Margaret by letting her go!” Cornelius spat. “She had an implant.”
Anna sucked in a breath, realizing she was watching a Chamber file.
The only way I could watch this is if Cornelius put his own grandson in here.
Anna winced at the sound of the belt breaking Richard's skin.
“This isn't working. It's time for something new, boy!” Cornelius coughed. “It's time you try out my new project.” Cornelius smiled.
Well, that explains why Richard turned out to be, well, Richard.
Anna's surroundings changed. She recognized where she was as soon as the house came into focus. It was her house, and she was standing on the street.
Richard was in the bushes looking up at her bedroom window. Anna stepped around the corner to see herself changing her clothes.
That's a little creepy, Richard.
Anna watched her family, along with her young self, leave the house. Richard crept to the side window and slid it open.
Oh, Richard, Anna thought. Prowling, peeping, and unlawful entry?
Richard crawled inside the window of Margaret's office and Anna's surrounding changed to her bedroom. Richard jogged into her room. He picked up the pair of panties she had left on the floor and ran back downstairs.
I guess we're adding sexual deviancy and burglary to the list.
They were now both standing in Margaret's office. Her tablet was still running with the display illuminated.
Anna saw Cornelius's name and several others listed out on a sheet of paper in front of the tablet.
His grandfather's name caught his eye as he ran passed Margaret's desk.
She forgot to close her tablet before she left.
Richard stared at the screen for several seconds. “I think my grandfather would like to know what you're doing with all this information about him,” Richard said, pulling his phone from one pocket, while stuffing Anna's underwear in the other.
“Finally I might make Grandfather proud of me.”
He up-linked the phone to the tablet and downloaded the entire hard drive and then noticed Margaret's smart drive still plugged into her tablet. He pulled the smart drive and drove it into his pocket before crawling back out the open window. Richard scurried around the corner of the house, landing on the sidewalk and almost bumping into Margaret. He slid his phone into his pocket.
“Oh, hello Richard. I'm sorry, Anna's not here.”
Richard stood with wide eyes.
“Are you okay?” Margaret asked.
“Oh, yes. I'm okay Mrs. Morton,” he finally said before running away.
“I'll let her know you stopped by to see her,” Margaret called after him.
Richard. It was Richard who told Cornelius everything and gave him mom's smart drive.
But how did the resistance get it back?
'Playing Victoria: File 23', the machine responded.
Anna's surroundings melted into a patient room at Gentech laboratories. Atticus lie on the bed, badly burned. Isabell's mother set Margaret's smart drive into Atticus's only good hand and closed his fist around it. “A boy gave this to me. He told me it was important and that you would need it.”
Richard gave it back?
Anna opened her eyes and re-scanned the control panel, shaking her head.
I don't understand. It would seem the chamber is answering my questions.
But how? Why
The display changed to read, 'Playing Frank Anderson: File 29'
Anna closed her eyes.
She was back in the church, standing in front of a younger-looking Atticus. His hair was midnight black, with only a few gray wisps above his ears. He was sitting next to Frank Anderson.
“Did you bring me what I need?” Frank asked.
Atticus nodded, handing Frank a box of blood-filled vials.
Frank set the box in his lap. “Perfect. I'll get started on a cure.” He raised an eyebrow. “Atticus, I ran her entire profile.”
“What did you find?”
“There's nothing to worry about. Everything worked as planned, but in the process of protecting her DNA, I found a few anomalies.”
It was Atticus's turn to raise an eyebrow. “Anomalies?”
“Yes. A genetic mutation giving her a higher propensity towards telepathy. I would like to run a few tests on Anna's brainwave pattern and electrical activity. It would seem there were a few accidental genetic enhancements.”
Atticus pressed his lips together. “I don't think Margaret will agree to any tests. Allowing us to take her blood is as far as she'll go. Let's keep this information between us.”
I think I’m controlling it.
Anna's breaths quickened as she re-opened her eyes and checked the display “Telepathy?”
The control panel displayed one word, 'Scanning'
She closed her eyes and the scene inside the wall at the top of the hill came back into focus. There was a sudden explosion and the surrounding wall crumbled to dust. Shadow appeared through the cloud of debris. He came up to her and bowed.
While staring deep into her eyes, the wolf spoke.
“Only when sheep become wolves, and wolves become sheep, will man have peace and restful sleep.”
Anna opened her eyes. “Richard?” she said, her eyebrows raised as Richard ran into the room with a gun in his hand. “What are you doing here?”
Atticus followed in behind him.
“I'm saving your ass,” Richard replied.
“How many times is this now?” Anna asked.
“I stopped keeping track. Don't be funny, we have to hurry,” he said releasing Anna's bonds.
Anna looked into Richard's eyes, realizing for the first time the pain she saw hiding behin
d them. “Richard,” Anna whispered. “I'm sorry for everything you've endured.” She stood and hugged him. “I was wrong about you. You've spent your life balancing your morals between pleasing someone who cannot be pleased and the bite of their belt.”
Richard's eyes widened as he ended the embrace. “How could you know that?” He waved Anna's apology off. “It doesn't matter right now. Don't get all mushy on me. My plan has been taking too long, and it's execution day. I can't wait any longer. Here's your gun.” Richard handed Anna her weapon.
“You have to kill him. Right now. He's alone in his study. Do you understand?”
Atticus faced Anna. “Are you ready?”
Anna popped the magazine from her handgun and tipped it towards her to see the initials in the top round. She slid the clip back into place while nodding. “I've never been more ready.”
-
CHAPTER 58
Anna and Atticus followed Richard up the basement stairwell and into the main ballroom. “Where is everyone?” Anna whispered.
Richard turned his head. “Outside, getting ready for Grandpa's big day. Okay, you two go on from here. You know where the study is, just down the hall,” Richard instructed in a low whisper.
“You're not coming?” Anna asked.
“No, I have to get the files started for Damarion's swearing in. Damn it. I shouldn't have waited so long, but this is the first time he's been alone all week. Now get it done!”
Anna entered Cornelius's study, followed by Atticus. She trained her weapon, pushing the door closed with her elbow.
Cornelius looked up from his desk with wide, bloodshot eyes. Drool dripped from the corner of his mouth as he leaned sideways. Anna raised an eyebrow. “You're not looking so good, Sir.”
Cornelius waved his hand. He lit a cigarette before answering. “I guess these things have finally caught up with me,” Cornelius coughed, spraying a mist of blood onto his desk.
Anna moved closer, aiming her gun at Cornelius's forehead.
“And so have you, it would seem,” he added.
Anna nodded. “I've been waiting for this moment a long time.”
Cornelius slipped his hand below his desk, pressing the panic button to call for guards. “Do you really think killing me will change anything? Have you looked outside? The people have gone back to their daily lives. They're rebuilding the wall.”
Anna stepped toward the window.
“We don't have time for this, Anna. Kill him now,” Atticus demanded.
Anna scanned the wall from the Mansion's window. Beneath a periwinkle sky, a massive crowd had gathered. An impressive line of heavy equipment filled the street as workers prepared the site.
“Anna!” Atticus yelled. “What are you waiting for?”
Cornelius smiled, wiping the drool from his chin. “Yes, Miss Wool. You see? Everything you've worked for, all for nothing.”
Footsteps echoed through the ballroom.
Atticus moved closer to Anna. “They're coming.”
With pursed lips, Anna pressed the barrel of her gun into Cornelius's blotchy skin while tensing her finger on the trigger.
Cornelius continued. “Even your mother's death is now meaningless. All is lost, Miss Wool, but pull the trigger. See what happens.”
The color of Anna's eyes darkened while applying more pressure on the trigger. She turned her head to take one last look out the window.
Anna trained her widening eyes. The giant pendulum of a wrecking ball swung towards an intact section of wall while a second crowd arrived carrying signs. The crowd cheered as the ball found concrete, smashing a large section next to the explosion site. More people arrived carrying sledgehammers, pickaxes and wheelbarrows.
They're not rebuilding the wall. They're tearing it down.
The crowd stopped in front of the wall and lifted their signs displaying a red dragon with a spear through its heart.
The ball took aim, ripping through another section of wall, followed by more cheers.
Anna closed her eyes, her finger a fraction of pressure away from sending the bullet through Cornelius's brain.
She exhaled, opening her eyes as their color changed from black satin sortie to paradigm powder blue.
She eased her finger on the trigger as footsteps pounded the hallway.
Atticus lunged toward Anna. “We're out of time. Give me the damn gun. I'll do it myself!”
“No,” Anna argued. “You can't.”
“If he doesn't die, right now, everything I've worked for is lost.”
Anna nodded. “Atticus, I know everything you've worked for. I know it was you who started New Easton. I also know you did it with my blood. My entire life I had nightmares of someone sneaking into my room in the middle of the night. I remember now. It was you in my room, coming to stick a needle in my arm. I understand how much we've both sacrificed for this moment, losing Margaret, and your decades of work, but we can't kill him.”
Atticus grabbed the gun. “I'm sorry what I did to you, but I had no choice then, just like we have no choice now!”
Anna shook her head, struggling to point the gun away from Cornelius. “No! There's always a choice. Everyone has been telling me my emotions and anger have muted my own instincts. I see it now. I have to listen to my gut, and it's telling me we can't. I can feel it, he's hiding something. It's almost like he wants me to kill him.” Anna pried Atticus's hand from her weapon and looked into his eyes. “Our purpose is greater than one life.”
Six armed soldiers entered the room, fanning out while aiming their automatic rifles at Anna and Atticus. “You have three seconds to drop your weapon or we shoot you both,” the soldier in front of Anna said.
Atticus shook his head. “It's too late. You've just killed us all.”
Anna dropped her gun onto the floor. “No, Atticus. Look outside. The people have finally decided to fight.”
Cornelius stood. “Cuff them. We'll see how much fight they have left after seeing your executions!” Cornelius coughed, spraying more blood on his desk. He continued to cough for a half a minute as his face turned pale. He took a step in front of Anna. “You should have killed me when you had the chance.”
Anna sneered. “I'll just wait another minute. Nature may do it for me.”
He turned to Atticus. “Ah, the decades of work you put into this.” He shook his head. “However, Rome wasn’t built in one day, was it?”
Atticus tensed his jaw. “Go to hell, you son of a bitch!”
Cornelius smiled. “But it burned in one.”
He tugged a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the blood from his lips. “Take them to the courtyard. We're having the execution as planned.”
Two soldiers grabbed Anna as Cornelius went into another bout of coughing. They headed for the study's door as Richard entered the room.
“Wait, stop.” Richard said holding a stack of papers in his hand as an elderly gentleman stepped into the study behind him.
“Richard,” Cornelius wheezed. “What are you doing?”
Richard lowered his eyebrows, staring at his grandfather. “Doctor, test him.”
The doctor pulled a tablet from his pocket and moved toward Cornelius.
“Get away from me,” Cornelius sputtered before bending over in a fit of coughing. He fell to one knee, which twisted sideways, sending him sprawling onto the floor.
The doctor pricked Cornelius's finger and applied the tester. A red light illuminated.
The doctor nodded, producing a pen. He took the paperwork from Richard and signed it.
Richard smiled. He turned to the soldiers, holding up the papers. “I have here an official document signed by the chief justice, the senate, and now Easton's own surgeon general relieving Cornelius Cromwell as Governor for having late stage Fleishman's. He is now deemed unfit to serve and perform his duties as Governor.” Richard lifted a second set of papers from his suit jacket. “Damarion, please come in.”
Damarion entered the study, followed by a supreme court
justice as Richard continued. “I have orders here to initiate the swearing in of Easton's second in line as Governor, Damarion Brockman.”
Richard turned to the judge. “Your Honor, if you will?”
The judge stepped up to Damarion. “Please raise your right hand.”
Anna looked out the window as the Justice swore Damarion in. Several more sections of wall were now in a heap of debris. She flashed back to her time in the Chamber while atop the hill. The wall around the massive heart crumbling around her as the wrecking ball outside found another target.
A dog appeared in the falling dust of the ongoing demolition. It jumped back and forth climbing the debris pile and Anna covered her mouth with her hand.
“That's not a dog,” she whispered.
Shadow.
The wolf accomplished the peak of the pile and tossed his head back, letting out a howl.
Anna smiled.
You're alive. But How?
A picture played through her head of Shadow jumping through the broken window of an old shed. He spun three times, faced north, and then squatted, taking care of his business before trotting towards New Easton's gate.
Cornelius sputtered, turning to his side to expel more clotted blood. “Richard,” he gargled. “My own grandson. You poisoned me. You turned me into a common sheep.”
Richard looked outside. “Yes, and now you have the people to worry about.” Richard scanned the scene along the wall. “They'll be coming for you, and they look like a hungry pack of wolves.”
Anna cocked her head. “What did you say?”
“I said the people are coming for him.”
“No, you said wolves.”
Only when sheep become wolves and wolves become sheep will man have peace, rest and sleep.
Richard looked into Anna's eyes. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, it just reminded me of something the wolf told me.”
Richard raised an eyebrow. “You're talking to animals now? Are you sure you're okay?”
Anna nodded. “Yes. For the first time in a long time, I think I finally am.”
Finished with swearing in, the soldier in charge turned to Damarion. “Your orders, Governor?”
“Take your men out of here and empty the holding cell on the front lawn, the execution is canceled. Next, secure every food plant in Easton and stop production until we can make it safe.”