by Andrew Gates
“I found some good pointy sticks for hunting. We could use these later,” he said as he brought them over and dropped them onto the ground.
Dan sighed and studied the group. Everyone was just sitting around. It was unlike them to stay put for such a long period of time.
“How is everybody doing?” he asked.
There were a few nods here and there. Ophelia remained motionless. Grey turned to face her.
“Ophelia?” Grey said, addressing her.
She slowly looked his way, but did not make eye contact. She was quiet. Her face was pale. She had no expression whatsoever.
“How are you?” he asked.
Ophelia simply bobbed her head up and down, but remained silent.
Grey turned to his brother.
“She’s in bad shape.”
Dan nodded.
“Yeah, I understand.” He sighed. “We need to get her mind off of what happened.”
“What do you mean?” Grey asked.
“We need to find some way to distract her. That will help.”
“It might help you,” Grey said, “but everyone copes differently. Maybe she just needs this time to herself.”
“Well… sitting here won’t help,” Dan retorted.
“I think I know where this is going,” Selena added, butting in. She waved her hands as if urging Dan not to say anymore.
“What?” Dan asked.
“You know,” Grey replied, backing up his wife.
“Okay, okay, I think we should continue west. Is that what you wanted me to say?”
There was a pause all around. Everyone knew this conversation was bound to happen, but no one wanted it to come. Iris had always been the one to stop this debate before it got out of hand, but with her gone, it was free to explode like the fire that had consumed the forest.
Grey took a deep breath.
“Yes, that’s what I was waiting for,” he said, trying to remain calm.
Dan glared at him and wiped his face with his hands. Finally, he was showing some sort of expression.
“I’ve already made my point. What else do you want me to say?”
Grey shook his head and threw his hands in the air.
“I… I don’t know. I just hope you can see that moving west won’t change anything. We had a good hiding place in the Megastructure. We were safe there. We could sleep calmly at night and not worry about attackers.”
“How would you know? We never got a chance to spend a night there,” Dan debated. “The mantises were above our heads, remember?”
Grey took a few steps towards him, knowing this conversation was about to escalate quickly. There was no sense holding back anymore.
“We didn’t have to go out and check. We could have stayed there until the mantises left!”
“Then why didn’t you, huh?”
“Because of you! You were the one who pressured us to go outside again!” Grey was practically shouting. “And look where that got us!”
Dan took a step back and lowered his head. He let out a deep breath and raised his head again.
“Don’t use that argument against me. Don’t put her death on me,” Dan said. He started tearing up.
Grey realized he had gone too far. He wanted to take his comment back, but it was too late. At least he finally responded to something.
“Ryan and Tobias both believed in me,” Dan continued, not eager to stop. “If they were still here, they’d support me.”
“And what do you think happened to them?” Selena asked, jumping in.
No, no, don’t put more deaths on Dan. Grey wanted her to stop, but Dan turned to face her and glared. He could tell this debate was only just beginning.
“I don’t want to hear this from you too! For all we know, they could both still be alive. Just because they are separated from us doesn’t mean they’re dead. Ophelia is a perfect example. She was separated, but now look at her!”
Grey instinctively glanced over to Ophelia. She seemed engaged in the argument. This was the first time she appeared interested in anything since Iris’s death.
“Dan, why is it you want to go west so badly? Why?” Selena wondered.
“I’ve already gone over this. There’s no sense repeating it,” he explained. “You guys just won’t hear it.”
“We’ll be safer in the west!” Jallah added, backing up Dan. “There will probably be less mantises there. And less zombies.”
“Exactly,” Dan said, facing Selena the whole time.
“And you know this how?”
“I don’t,” Dan replied, “but I’m pretty sure.”
“Pretty sure?” Selena repeated sarcastically. “You’re going to base your entire argument on being pretty sure?”
“I haven’t heard you offer any better ideas!”
“We want to go back to the Megastructure,” Grey said. “We’ve already been over this.”
“You wouldn’t have even found the Megastructure if we hadn’t gone west. Think about that. If we stayed put, like you have been asking, we wouldn’t have discovered your new favorite place!” Dan debated. “Who knows what else is out there? We could very well find the safest place on the planet.”
Grey ran his fingers through his hair.
“Iris said the Megastructure is one of the safest places on the planet.”
“It was. This is not the surface she knew. The rules are different here.”
“But you have to admit, you felt safe there, didn’t you?” Grey asked.
Dan nodded.
“I did. That’s not the point.”
“Then what is the point?”
“It’s about staying still in one place for too long. After a while, even in the safest place, someone is bound to find us,” Dan explained. “And I think the likelihood of someone finding is us greatly reduced with every step we put between us and the ocean.”
“You have no facts to back that up.”
“I have science and history. Look, Grey, societies have always lived closest to the water.”
“This is not the same surface we used to know. You said it yourself. Did you just forget your own argument?” Grey was growing frustrated. He rolled his eyes and placed his hands on his head.
“That’s different,” Dan retorted. “I was using that argument to reference the safety of an ancient surface structure. You’re using that argument to reference societal behavior. Those arguments are not the same.”
“How?”
“Structures change with time. Look around. This whole land has changed with time. Behavior is a science. There are rules,” Dan explained. He seemed so confident. “It’s not as likely to change.”
“Look… it doesn’t matter,” Grey said, letting out a deep sigh. It was time to let go of this whole debate. “I can’t convince you and you can’t convince me. We’re both too set on our own opinions.”
Dan froze for a moment. Then he lowered his head. He bobbed it calmly up and down before returning to meet his brother’s gaze.
“I agree. So what do we do about it?”
“Well… if you keep moving west, I won’t join you. I’m putting my foot down,” Grey said, pointing to his boots. He could not believe the words that just came out of his mouth.
Selena looked back at him, surprised, but proud. Dan seemed taken aback as well.
“Are you suggesting we split up?”
“No,” Grey replied, shaking his head. “I’m suggesting that if you want to keep moving, you do it alone. The rest of the group will stay together.”
“Alone? I’m not the only one that wants to head west, Grey.” Dan turned his body to face the whole group. “We’ll take a vote, since we’re all fans of voting. Who wants to continue west?”
Unsurprisingly, Dan was the first to raise his hand. Jallah and Margery joined in shortly after. Grey thought that would be all, but then the silent Ophelia raised her hand as well.
“Raise your hand if you want to go back to the Megastructure,” Grey said.
> Grey, Selena, Kaitlyn and Misha all raised their hands.
“Four to four,” Grey noted, counting the hands.
Dan shook his head.
“Two of your votes don’t count. The girls are too young to understand what they’re voting for. They’re just raising their hands because their parents are raising their hands,” Dan challenged.
“They’re smarter than you think,” Grey responded. He turned to Kaitlyn. She still held her hand high. “Kaitlyn, why did you choose to raise your hand?”
She turned to face him.
“Because I want to go back to the big building,” she explained.
Grey smiled and turned to his brother again.
“See? She understands perfectly.”
“I’m still not convinced,” Dan replied. “She’s just repeating what she hears. You’ve been using your kids to gain votes since we landed here. Honestly, I’m getting sick of it.”
“So what do you propose, huh? Splitting up?”
“Let’s not forget who proposed that!” Dan replied, pointing directly to his brother.
“Factions,” interrupted a monotone whisper.
Grey quieted down and turned his head to face Ophelia. It sounded like it came from her, but she had not spoken in a long time. He could not be sure.
Suddenly Ophelia started moving. Apart from raising her hand, it was the first time she had shown any sign of motion during this debate. She stood up and held her arms out. Everyone quieted down, curious to hear what she had to say.
“Factions,” she repeated in a hushed tone. She looked at Grey, then at Dan. She took a deep breath and lowered her head towards her boots. “The night after the zombies attacked, I couldn’t sleep. I was up all night staring at the moon. It was beautiful. Spaceships flew around it like fireflies. But I was scared. I couldn’t get the zombies out of my head. Iris came and talked to me that night. She comforted me and made me feel safe.”
Grey listened intently. He was eager to hear where this story would go. If Ophelia had found the courage to stand up and speak, it must have been important.
“Iris told me about factions, like how a group can break up and form smaller groups. I asked her if she thought we would break into factions.” Ophelia raised her head now. “All Iris replied was, ‘I hope not’. The thought seemed to bother her.”
“She’s right,” Dan added. He slowly made his way to Ophelia and patted her on the back. “Iris wouldn’t have wanted us to split up. She would want us to stay together. She told me the same thing.”
They’re making this an Iris argument. Damn them.
“Don’t guilt me with her death. It won’t work,” Grey pleaded.
“Iris would’ve wanted us to be safe too,” Selena said, jumping in. “She would have seen that the Megastructure was the safest option.”
“She would’ve agreed to come west. I know it,” Dan debated.
Grey was not so sure which side Iris would have taken. He decided to drop it.
“Look, splitting up is only going to make things harder for us. We’ve already lost so many. Do you really want to make our group smaller?” Grey said, trying to think of another argument, anything.
“If we split up, it’s not because of me. It’s because of you. It’s because you and your wife are refusing to come along,” Dan replied. He pointed to them both.
“That’s not how I see it,” Selena said. “I see it as you leaving us.”
“Don’t overcomplicate it. You’re refusing to come. That’s it.”
Grey lowered his head and slowly kneeled down to the dusty ground. He let out a deep breath and covered his hands with his face. He held that position for a few seconds before putting his hands aside and looking up to his brother again.
There he was, the bearded, kindhearted man that Grey had loved his whole life. The two of them were practically inseparable since the moment he was born. Nobody had played a greater role in shaping him into the man he was today. Dan was the one who first inspired him to take an interest in STEM, to go to college and become a teacher. He owed so much to his brother.
But he also knew how dangerous it was to continue west. When it came down to it, safety was a greater priority.
“There’s no sense arguing anymore, is there?” he eventually said with a sigh.
There was a quietness. Dan slowly nodded his head. It seemed the two of them had come to a mutual realization: without Iris, the group could not stay together. She was the glue, and now, she was gone.
“I guess not.”
Grey turned away from his brother and stared at the creek.
“Part of me always feared it would come to this. I just thought if it did happen, it wouldn’t be for a long time,” Grey explained. He picked up a small pebble and felt it in his fingers. It was so smooth. It almost didn’t feel real.
“Same,” Dan agreed.
“What, so that’s it? We’re splitting up?” Margery asked.
Grey felt a tear come down his face.
“It… it… looks like it,” he replied. He tossed the pebble into the stream. “I don’t see any other way we can function together.”
“So we’re just going to ignore what Iris wanted?” Ophelia added.
“I suppose we are,” Dan explained. His voice was solemn.
“I can’t believe it,” Jallah said. “I can’t believe it.”
Grey could hardly believe it either. He turned to face his wife. A small grin formed on her face. It seemed she was the only one remotely pleased by this decision.
Dan slowly walked over to his brother and sat down next to him. They both sat quietly for a few seconds before Dan leaned in.
“You know, the power won’t last forever in the Megastructure. It may last a few days perhaps, but not much more.”
“I know,” Grey said. He was fully aware of the risks.
“I’m going to miss you,” Dan eventually added. “A lot.”
Grey remained crouched by the water’s edge. He turned to face his brother. Dan was crying too.
“And I’ll miss you.”
“We’ve always been a pretty good team.”
Grey smiled.
“A great team.”
“Remember what mom used to say when we were teenagers?” Dan asked.
“She said a lot of stuff.”
“True, she said a lot of stuff.” Dan chuckled. “But I remember she used to say we had to find our own paths in life. Do you remember that?”
Grey nodded.
“I do. But she said it to get us to move out. I don’t think she wanted us to live with her forever,” he explained with a forced grin.
“True, true. But I think what she meant was that we have our own destinies. We’re a great team, but we’re also our own people. Maybe it’s time for us to separate, find our own paths.”
Grey smiled at his brother.
“I hope you’re right,” he said. “I hope mom would be proud. She would’ve liked to see how far we’ve come, the life we’ve made for ourselves up here.”
“She would’ve been so mad to learn that I’ll never get married,” Dan joked.
Grey could not help but laugh along. It was good to see that Dan still had his sense of humor, even in the darkest of times.
The two of them were silent for several seconds. Grey tried to take in the moment. This was an important step in their journey, perhaps the most important step of all.
“We’re never going to see each other again, are we?” Grey eventually asked. He let out an exhale and lowered his head, solemnly.
Dan paused before responding.
“Probably not,” he finally replied. “I wouldn’t count on it. It’s a big world out there.”
Grey lifted his head and stared forward. The forest was so dense, so thick. It was easy to get lost in it all.
Dan patted him on the back. Grey turned his head towards his brother again.
“Do you think you’ll be able to find your way back to the Megastructure?” he asked.
/>
Grey shrugged. He was not expecting this question.
“Uhm… it might take a few tries. The forest looks different now. But I’m sure we’ll find it.”
Dan nodded his head.
“I’m sure you will. You’re passionate and smart. If anyone can find it again, it’s you.”
“Thanks.”
The two brothers locked eyes. Grey saw deep into Dan’s dark irises. They were just like his. Tears streamed down his face, caressing his bearded cheeks and getting lost within the hair.
Grey instinctively stood up. Dan followed, all while keeping their eyes locked on one another. Once standing, they embraced. Grey felt Dan’s warmth against his body. They held each other tightly, knowing this would be their last time together.
“I’m going to miss you,” Dan said.
“Me too. I love you,” Grey replied.
“I love you.”
They pulled apart. Dan looked away. Grey did too. Perhaps it was best to end it there. Looking back would only make things harder.
Jallah approached Grey now. He seemed scared. His eyes were red. He shivered. Grey opened his arms to him and gave the boy a hug.
“Bye,” he said through the tears.
“I’ll miss you, Jallah,” Grey replied.
“Me too.”
The boy pulled away and wiped his face, looking at Grey the entire time. Grey looked back for a few moments, but then turned to face someone new.
Margery was next. She walked right up to him and gave him a hug. Of them all, she seemed the most composed, but she held the hug for longer. Once she let go, she looked away, just as Dan had.
“Goodbye,” she said, facing away from him. It seemed she dared not even look him in the eye.
“I’ll miss you, Margery.”
Ophelia was the last to say her goodbyes. She was quick about it. She remained quiet the entire time. It was as if she just wanted this whole thing to be over.
After everyone had said their goodbyes, Dan and his group crossed through the other side of the water. Four stood to the west of the creek now. Four stood to the east.
They stopped and stared at each other for a split second. Grey lifted his left hand and waved.
Dan nodded back to him and then turned. His group followed behind as he slowly walked away. There was a strange feeling in Grey’s heart, knowing that he had just seen his brother’s face for the last time.