I grab his arm and he turns to me, his face hard and angry.
“The main gate,” I pant. “Have to get out now. Before they close it.”
Dane’s face clears and he nods. “To the gates! Everyone, out the gates!” he bellows.
“Where’s Jay?” I shout at him, but he doesn’t appear to hear me and is gone before I can repeat the question.
Figures run past me as another section of the barrier pops into existence. I jog in the direction of the gate, searching the faces of the people around me. Where are you, Jay?
The air is full of shouts and cries.
“It’s closing!”
“The gate is closing!”
“Get out!”
I see a face I recognise and grab his arm. “Have you seen Jay?”
“He was at the back of the store. Must be out now though.” The guy pulls his arm out of my grasp and runs on.
I sprint back to the warehouse and pause at the entrance, craning my neck to see to the back of the huge space. A hand grabs me.
“What are you doing here?” Sweat is pouring down Rich’s face. Drops of it cling to the spikes of his hair.
“Jay?”
He shakes his head. “He’ll have got out somewhere. Come on, the gates are nearly shut.”
He runs ahead of me, not stopping to look back. I start to move, slowly first, then faster as I get in sight of the gates. Rich was right, they’re closing rapidly. The gap is perhaps six feet. Now five. Dane is on the other side, shouting at people to hurry. Ahead of me, figures drop their burdens and run for their lives.
My lungs are burning. Breathing is so painful I want to stop. I pump my arms, trying to get my legs to move a bit faster. Come on, Aleesha. The gap has narrowed to four feet. Then three. Behind me are footsteps. Someone pushes past and I stumble but manage to stay upright. More footsteps, but they are too far behind. They won’t make it.
Then I see Jay’s face, through the narrow gap. “Run, Aleesha!”
The fear in his voice and the terror of being left behind gives me an extra spurt of speed. Two feet. Can I even make it through that gap? I launch myself sideways, feeling the cold metal brush my shoulders and hips as I fall through. Hands grasp me, pulling me forward. Something catches on the sole of my boots, then the gates slam shut behind me.
Coughing, I’m half-dragged to my feet. Jay’s arm is around me, pulling me forward. My legs stumble as they try and keep pace with my body. The strength in my muscles has vanished. Behind us, fists pummel against the metal gates. There are shouts for help. Shouts of desperation that we can’t answer. As if in response, the sound of sirens cuts through the night. Blue pulsing lights flash in the rainclouds. The Metz are coming.
We make it across the exclusion zone as the first pod hovers over the depot. Crates are piled in the side street, some of them broken open, others intact. Dane’s shouting orders at people to move them out. A second pod hovers above the exclusion zone behind us, then a third.
“We’ll have to leave some of them,” Jay pants as we reach Dane.
Dane looks around. “Take what you can and get out of here. Metz’ll be all over this place in a minute.”
Jay glances down at me. “Can you give me a hand?”
“In a second.” I cling to him, not wanting to let go. “I thought you were still in there …”
He kisses the top of my head lightly. “I got out the back way before the barrier went up. Dane said you were right behind him, but when you didn’t appear …” His voice is full of emotion. “I was about to go back in to look for you when I saw you leggin’ it towards the gate.”
A tap on my shoulder interrupts us. Dane. “Didn’t you hear? Get out of here!”
Jay looks back at the black and yellow pods that are now on the ground. He gently pushes me upright. “Come on, let’s go.”
He steps over a half-open crate of knives to one marked as food. I lift my end and stagger back under the weight. We stumble along the street; Jay carrying the bulk of the weight while I just try and keep up. The harsh robotic voice of a Metz officer shouting orders follows us as we escape into the dark.
5
Back at headquarters, Jay is given the job of counting the missing. Perhaps it’s his punishment for the raid not going totally to plan. Though what we’ve achieved tonight is more than any gang in this part of the city has ever done.
Everyone else is more concerned with the spoils. Dane takes control over distribution, particularly of the weapons. Mostly knives and clubs, but there are a handful of guns in there. He puts those to one side, out of the reach of ordinary gang members.
I wander over and he motions to the guns, inviting me to take one. I shake my head, but pick out two more knives to add to my collection. They’re good quality. The blades are sharp and straight.
“You saved us, Aleesha,” Dane says, in a voice low enough that nobody can overhear. “Things could have gone very wrong if you hadn’t thought about the gate. I won’t forget that.”
Now why does that sound more like a threat than a compliment? Perhaps I’m imagining it. Besides, it’s always useful to be owed a favour, particularly when food or tronk is scarce.
The food containers have been stacked neatly in two piles: a large pile for the Area, and a smaller one, to keep here at headquarters. Blue crates are basic rations. The crap you’re entitled to if you can’t afford to buy anything else. Yellow crates contain the food you can buy in the shops. But there are also a couple of green crates that I haven’t seen before in the gang’s pile.
They have stronger seals than the other crates, but someone’s managed to get a crowbar under the lid of one. When I lift it a strange sweet smell wafts out. Inside are rows upon rows of fruit. At least, I think they’re fruit – I’ve only ever seen pictures. My mouth begins to water. I hesitate for a second, then reach inside. There’s a loud cough. Dane’s dark eyes are on me. He shakes his head, almost imperceptibly. I sigh and let the lid fall back down. I’d better get one of those. Surely I’ve earned it.
The talk is all about the success of the raid. No one talks of the likely retaliation. I’m not sure if they even consider it a possibility. But the government will strike back and hard. They won’t attack us directly – they’ve been burnt by that in the past – but there will inevitably be a Cleaning. Perhaps more than one.
That’s the irony of life Outside. We steal food to give to the people of Area Four only for them to risk losing their lives and homes in a Cleaning. But ask most people on the street and they’d take the food and risk the Cleaning. Out here you have to live one day at a time. Besides, if you know they’re coming, most of the time you can escape. That’s one of the gang’s responsibilities, to raise the alarm for Cleanings.
The tally of those who didn’t make it is nine. Four dead and five who were still inside when the gates closed. Effectively they’re dead too. We’ve had better days. And worse.
Dane calls everyone to order. He starts giving a speech about how the New Year is a new start. How next year we’ll expand our territory. Grow the ranks. It’s the usual stuff, but this time it feels hollow.
I look around for Peder but can’t see him. When I ask Jay he shrugs and says he saw him outside after the barrier went up, but not after that. Strange. You’d have thought he’d want to stick around to get his share of the stash. Unless he’s been called back. Job done. No need to hang around any longer.
Dane finishes his speech by announcing the start of the party. It appears there was some hard liqueur in one of the food crates. Tonight is going to be messy. The clamour of excited voices, each person trying to shout over another, feels suddenly overwhelming.
“You okay?” I feel Jay’s arm around me. His warm breath on my ear.
“Yeah. May head off for the night though. D’ya mind?”
“Na.” He knows I’m not a fan of gang parties. Too many people. Too much noise. Jay, on the other hand, loves being the centre of attention and is quite happy doing so without me ar
ound.
On my way out, I feel a tug on my arm and look down to see the young boy who was in our group at the start of the raid. Kids as young as him aren’t usually allowed in here, but he’s the younger brother of an older gang member; one of Jay’s hangers on. His thin face is pale and drawn.
“M-me brother,” he gets out finally. “He was inside. When the gates shut.” He hesitates for a moment. “Will they let ’im go?”
Why do kids always ask the wrong questions? Doesn’t he know? But someone needs to tell him. There’s no point hiding the truth. False hope doesn’t get you very far.
I place both hands on his shoulders and try and make my voice sound caring. “I’m sorry. If he got taken alive, they’ll either kill him or take him to the Farm.” A pause to let it sink in. “You’re going to have to look out for yourself now. Okay?”
The kid nods as he tries to swallow back his tears. I feel a pang of guilt. Perhaps I’ve been too harsh with him. “Look, go get yourself some of that food. And a knife. I’ll give you some lessons if you like. And if any of the guys start messing you around, come and see me, okay?”
He wipes his arm across his eyes and smiles weakly up at me. “Thanks.”
I give his shoulder a pat and push him gently in the direction of the food pile. Poor kid. I’ll ask Jay to look out for him. Least that way the kid’ll have some protection from the bullies in the gang. The ones who punch first and think later.
Outside, the rain has stopped. I’ve got half an hour before midnight. Plenty of time to reach my roof before the light show starts. Except once again, I get the sense I’m being followed through the streets. I slow my pace, then whirl around and come face to face with Irish. Great, just who I wanted to see right now.
“Will you quit following me?
He takes a step backwards, raising his hands as if to ward me off. “Easy now. How are you doing?”
“Fine,” I snap, “no thanks to you.”
“You did some good work at the depot.” There’s a trace of sarcasm in his voice which irritates me.
“Well, it wasn’t a total success. They got the barrier up again. We lost people.” My voice is accusing.
He shrugs. “Nothing to do with us. We helped get you in, didn’t we?”
“And where’s your little spy run off to now?”
He doesn’t answer.
“Well as far as I’m concerned, you didn’t keep your side of the bargain. So you can take me off that bloody device of yours then piss off and leave me alone.” I turn and stride down the street away from him, my hands balled into fists. It’s so tempting to punch him, but I suspect I’d come off worse for it.
“Peder took down the barrier. We’ve kept our side of the bargain which means you’re bound by the agreement.”
That does it. My knife thunks into the panel of the boarded up shop an inch from his left ear.
“Jaysus! What you trying to do, kill me?” He reaches a shaking hand to his ear.
“If I’d been trying to kill you, you’d be dead.” I’m calmer now. The anger’s drained out of me. I go back to retrieve my knife. “Get out of here.”
“Wait. There’s something else we can offer you.”
I sigh. It’s been a long night. “And what’s that?”
“Look, I’d much rather you chose to help us rather than being forced into it. And I happened to overhear a conversation between your boyfriend and Dane yesterday. About your parents.”
I roll my eyes. “Just happened to overhear?”
He shrugs. “Alright, I was listening in. Anyway, I’ve been making a few enquiries on your behalf. And I’ve found someone who saw your mother after she left you that day. Who knows what happened to her.”
Time slows. All I can hear is my heart, beating loudly in my chest. All this time, all my searching and nothing. Then he comes along and finds someone who knows?
“Who?” For once, I’m unable to keep the emotion out of my voice.
“Someone who used to live near you. I can arrange for you to meet them. If you’re sure you want to know.”
Come on, control yourself. Perhaps this is all a lie. I search his face, but there’s not even a flicker in his eyes. If he’s lying, he’s an expert.
Swallowing, I glance down at the street. My boots are almost invisible under the layers of mud. I’ll have to clean them again. I don’t doubt that I’d be in trouble with the Snakes if they found out I was working for another gang. Even a gang who don’t call themselves a gang. But to have a chance at finding out the truth? Perhaps another clue as to who my father is?
I look up at him. “Fine, I’ll do it, on one condition. Nothing that betrays the Snakes.”
He smiles. “No problem.”
“So what is it you want me to do?”
“Information gathering mainly. For now, just wait. I’ll get in touch when I have a job for you.” He holds out his hand. I stare at it, wondering what I’m supposed to do. He sighs and drops it to his side. “I’m Murdoch. Nice to do business with you Aleesha.”
I nod silently, then turn and walk away into the night.
* * *
Back on my roof, I cram food and medical supplies into the lock box until it’s bulging. The rest stays in my backpack. At least I won’t be going hungry for a while.
My stomach rumbles as I rip open a bar of fake-meat protein. It’s pretty tasty. Hot and spicy. I follow it with a chocco bar, savouring the sickly sweetness on my tongue. As I reach into the bag again, my fingers brush against a small packet. The tronk.
As soon as the thought hits me, the craving returns. Surely, I deserve some now? But I restrain myself, unpacking the lock box and repacking it with the tronk at the bottom. Out of sight, out of mind. Perhaps next year I’ll finally be able to give it up for good.
Speckles of pod-lights pierce the clouds that hang around the tops of the highest glass towers. They must have cut the electricity to the apartments as, for once, they’re dark. The Wall is more subdued in colour too; light blues coupled with greys. The show is about to start.
I’ve watched the light show from here for the past four years. Spying on the Insider celebrations from afar. Thinking about the year ahead. Wondering if it’ll be the same as all those previous. A struggle for survival. Living from day to day, until one day my luck runs out, or the tronk takes me down in a final, dark embrace.
This year though, I feel a new kind of excitement. I try to dampen it down. Murdoch could be lying about my mother. But even if he is, he must have good connections, both to have found out what he has about me and to have set up the raid. Perhaps if I help them out then they’ll help me get out of here. Presuming Dane doesn’t find out and kill me first, of course.
The midnight bell begins to toll. The twelve chimes ring out across the whole city, Inside and Outside the Wall. As the last chime dies away, the light show begins. Flashes of coloured lights. Images of strange creatures shoot across the sky. Bangs and whooshing noises that I can only faintly make out, but must be almost deafening if you’re below them. I wonder what it must be like to watch it from Inside. Maybe one day, I’ll find out.
Expendables Preview
I hope you enjoyed reading Outsider. As I mentioned at the start of this book, it’s a prequel to book one of The Wall Series. Expendables follows the adventures (and misadventures) of two very different young people: Aleesha (who you’ve met already!) and Trey.
Read on for a sneak preview of Expendables…
Chapter 1: Aleesha
I awake with my face pressed into the cobbles, surrounded by the stench of vomit, piss and dead rat. Daylight filters down between the tall buildings. A dull, soft light, the sun hidden behind layers of dense cloud.
Where am I? Slashes of red graffiti designed to look like a bloodbath mark the metal door on the opposite wall. Shankster territory. My pulse quickens as memories return.
A Shankster party. Monotonous beat of the music. People dancing, drinking, making out. The wild-eyed contortionist with
dreadlocks to his waist who could invert his body into a perfect circle. Fighting my way up the stairs to the upper rooms. Pushing past the guards. And him. Green-eyes. The new leader of the Shanksters. My target.
My mind goes blank. What happened next? There’s a tang in my mouth, faint but recognisable. Tronk. Oh, yes. That.
I’m in Green-eyes’ lap, laughing as he plants rough kisses down my neck. Whispering in his ear that we should find somewhere quieter. A small room. The guards retreat. Just the two of us. But when I open my mouth to speak — to finally get the information I’ve come for — he silences me with a finger and holds up a tiny packet of white powder.
A flash of pain radiates up my arm and I realize I’m grinding my knuckles into the ground. It does little to temper my frustration. You idiot! You could have been raped. Killed.
I close my eyes, wishing I could make the world disappear. But it’s cold lying here and, to top it off, it starts raining. Soft droplets dribble down my exposed thighs. Feeling around for my dress, I find it scrunched up around my waist. Urgh. I yank it down and clamber to my feet, which I realize are bare. It appears my shoes were another casualty of last night’s failure. At least I didn’t wear my good boots.
The one advantage tronk has over liquor is that there’s no hangover. My head now feels as sharp and clear as this time yesterday. Though perhaps that makes the inevitable walk of shame even worse. There’s a titter and I realize I’m not alone in the alley. Great. Being perved on by a group of scrawny kids was not how I’d planned my night to end.
“’Ey, we thought you was dead,” one of them comments in a part-curious, part-bored tone.
“Sorry to disappoint.”
I attempt to stride past them purposefully but fail miserably when my bare foot skids on a patch of unidentifiable goo. There are a few giggles from the audience.
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