Mass Extinction Event (Book 11): Days 349 to 356

by Cross, Amy

  “I guess newspapers aren't exactly easy to come by,” Martha says.

  People are pushing past us now, as a guy at the front of the crowd climbs up onto some scaffolding. There's a palpable sense of excitement in the air, and I guess people are desperate to hear any news that might suggest things are looking better. The guy on the scaffolding is waiting for more and more people to get here, and it's pretty obvious that these news announcements must happen quite regularly.

  “I've just been outside the hall!” he announces finally, as everyone quietens down, “and there's good news! We launched another raid against the Project Atherius base, and we destroyed another section of their fence! The enemy started really panicking, but they barely fired back. Do you know what that means? It means they're running out of ammunition and they don't seem to be getting more from outside. All their current advantages are being eroded one by one, just as the prophecy said would happen!”

  A cheer erupts, and as I look around I realize that the people here seemed to get agitated at the mention of Project Atherius.

  “We're still working on plans for a full-scale attack,” the man continues. “At the moment, we're just chipping away at the base, but we'll get there eventually. We're like a river, slowly but surely eroding the shore, and you know that nothing can stand in the way of a river. Those people at Project Atherius -”

  Boos break out across the crowd, drowning the man out for a couple of minutes. I look over at Martha, and she's clearly concerned, and then I realize that we've lost sight of Katrina. When we stopped to listen to this guy, she must have gone on ahead.

  “Those people at Project Atherius think they can hide away forever!” the man shouts, causing a chorus of angry hisses. “They think we can't get to them, they think they can keep all their resources to themselves! As far as they're concerned, we're nothing but miserable, bottom-feeding scavengers, but we're going to prove them wrong, aren't we?”

  Now the crowd gets louder than ever, and Martha and I find ourselves being bumped from all sides. At first I was simply interested in what's going on here, but now I'm starting to worry that we might end up being crushed. This is like some scene from history, with everyone jeering and yelling just because of stuff that some random guy is telling them.

  “There's something else!” the man yells. “Wait! Listen! There's even more good news!”

  “I've never liked crowds,” Martha mutters darkly. “Or mobs.”

  “There's more news!” the man shouts, and now the voices are starting to get quieter again. “Another prophecy has been revealed!”

  “These people are morons,” Martha says. “They're actual fucking idiots.”

  “Quiet!” I hiss, bumping her arm. “Someone might get offended!”

  “See if I care.”

  “The twice-turned zombie is getting clearer and clearer in his visions,” the man exclaims. “There's no doubt about it now, our great leader is going to lead us to salvation. Everything that we need is wrapped up tight inside the Project Atherius base, and we're going to be led straight in there soon. Our enemies will pay a heavy price for their refusal to let us through their gate. Through ten thousand eyes, the truth has been seen by one mind, and there's no way for the prophecy to be denied! We will emerge victorious! Look! Some of them are coming, even now!”

  Suddenly hearing a roaring sound, I look over my shoulder in time to see a helicopter rushing this way. I immediately freeze, reminded of the time that helicopters attacked us at Lake Erie. I remember running with Melissa and Katie, I remember seeing people getting gunned down, and after a moment I take a step back until I bump against the store's broken window.

  “Tell them what we think of them!” the man on the scaffolding roars.

  Within seconds, people in the crowd start throwing rocks high into the sky. The helicopter's too high up to get hit, of course, but that doesn't stop people throwing as hard as they can. A few people even get hit as the rocks come crashing back down, but that in no way dampens their enthusiasm and they continue to scream impotently as the helicopter roars directly over us and heads off toward the far side of the city.

  “Go and hide, you cowards!” the man on the scaffolding shouts. “See how long you last! We're coming for you!”

  More cheers erupt, and this time Martha grabs my arm and starts leading me through the crowd. People are starting to chant now, and I'm starting to think that this meeting has been gripped by an almost religious intensity. Finally Martha and I manage to find shelter in the doorway of an abandoned store, but already the crowd is starting to disperse.

  “They're talking about prophecies,” Martha says with a sigh. “Did you hear that? Prophecies are the last refuse of scoundrels, they're empty promises that get lapped up by people who lack critical thinking skills. That guy at the front was manipulating all the people here, and they let him do it! They were hooting and hollering at his every word.”

  “Maybe they just need hope,” I suggest.

  “Don't make excuses for them,” she replies with disgust in her voice. “I've never heard so much bullshit in all my life. And did you see the way they were tossing stones at that helicopter? They're turning into savages, they're almost like cavemen!”

  “They seem to really hate the people at Project Atherius,” I point out.

  “No kidding. It sounds as if someone's trying to get them ready for an attack., but why? So far, it seems like all these Project Atherius guys do is fly overhead. I didn't see any sign of them when we were on the outskirts of the city, and it's as if they simply want to be left alone. In which case, why bother to attack them? Why get all worked up?”

  “I don't know,” I tell her, “but it sound like these people are getting all riled up. I think they're looking to go to war with Project Atherius.”

  Thomas

  “Have you seen a guy named Riley? Please, try to think, has anyone by that name been through here?”

  “There you are,” I say with a sigh of relief as I catch up to Katrina. “We thought for a minute that we'd lost you.”

  “No-one's seen Riley,” she replies, turning to me with a hint of desperation in her eyes. “One man said they almost never see new faces, he said everyone tends to stick to their own part of the city.”

  “It'll be getting dark soon,” Martha points out. “We should think about heading back to that place where we woke up. Doctor Hoyle promised us food and somewhere to sleep, and right now my bones ache enough for me to take her up on both counts. Not that I'm saying I trust her, of course. I just figure we might as well take advantage of her hospitality while we figure out what these assholes are up to.”

  “You don't know that they're up to anything,” I remind her.

  “Really? Did we just hear the same so-called news broadcast a moment ago? Those idiots were literally throwing rocks and stones at a helicopter, it's clear that they're being riled up for some specific reason.”

  “You can't just call them idiots based on five minute of observation.”

  “I'm right,” she tells me firmly. “You'll see.”

  “I was so sure I'd find him,” Katrina says, still looking around as if she expects to spot Riley at any moment. “It doesn't make sense for him not to be here.”

  “Seriously?” Martha replies, turning to her. “Actually, the most likely explanation is that he -”

  “I don't think we need to hear any theories right now,” I tell Martha, cutting her off before she can make another comment about how Riley simply ran away. “It might take us a while to find our way back to that place. We should probably start now.”

  ***

  “Project Atherius is a vast, extremely advanced facility,” Lucy Hoyle says as she scoops some potatoes out of a pot and sets them on her plate. “It's impossible to say exactly what's going on in there, but they clearly have a lot of resources. And since this madness started, not one person from that place has come to check on the people of this city. They're simply ignoring us.”

  �
�Okay,” I reply, taking my turn at the pot, “but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's time to start a war, does it? If they're not actually hurting anyone...”

  “Tell that to the people who are starving to death. Tell that to the people who've lost loved ones, simply because we're lacking basic medical resources. If the assholes at Project Atherius just shared a little, this whole city would be in a much stronger position.”

  “I guess.”

  I watch as she takes a slice of meat from a plate.

  “What's that?” I ask.

  “The meat?” She pauses. “I don't know. Pork?”

  “You have pigs here in Philadelphia?”

  “You don't have to eat it,” she tells me. “If you're a veggie, I don't mind having your portion, but I should warn you that restricting your diet isn't a smart move around here right now. You won't find vegetarian or vegan options on any of the menus, you simply have to eat what you're given.”

  “Sure,” I reply, thinking back to the sight of Krex's buddy picking that foot clean on the camper van. “I guess I'm just not feeling quite as hungry as I thought.”

  “Your loss is my gain,” she says, taking another slice of meat for her own plate. “Yoink.”

  I take a few more vegetables, and then I follow Lucy over to one of the tables. The room is mostly deserted, except for a few people who are eating at the far end, but Lucy warned me that we're a little late for food this evening.

  “So are your sister and your friend settling in okay?” she asks as we sit down.

  “Katrina's worried about someone,” I explain, “but eventually she has to realize that he's not...”

  My voice trails off, and I still can't quite accept that Riley simply walked away. Sure, I only knew him for a few months, but those were intense months and I think I'd have known if he was some kind of coward. Of course, if he didn't abandon us, that means something bad happened to him. Either way, I don't feel good about the situation.

  “It won't always be like this, you know,” Hoyle says suddenly.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Once we start sharing the Project Atherius site, we'll have more of everything,” she explains. “Life won't be so hard. The prophecy clearly states that we're going to get through those gates, and that we'll all live in peace once we've gained what's rightfully ours.”

  “But -”

  “They act like we're not here,” she adds, and it's clear that she's starting to get quite agitated. “The world is teetering on the brink, and they think they've got it all figured out. They want to keep their doors shut and focus on surviving, while we struggle out here. And do you know the worst part? They seem to be under the impression that we'll just sit here and accept it all, that we'll literally just wait to die in the ruins of this city while they carry on like nothing's happening. Does that seem fair to you?”

  “I guess not,” I say cautiously, “but what about the fact that -”

  “Doctor Hoyle.”

  Turning, I see that a man is standing in the doorway. There's something about his knowing smile that immediately makes me bristle.

  “Having a short break?” he asks.

  “I'll be back at work in a few minutes,” Hoyle stammers, as if she's panicking a little. A moment later she gets to her feet. “In fact, I've already had enough, I should just head back right now and get on with the -”

  “Take your time,” the man says calmly, interrupting her. “There's no point running yourself ragged, eventually your work will suffer. Please, take all the time you need before you get back to your office.” He glances at me. “And who might you be?”

  “Thomas,” I tell him. “Edgewater.”

  “I haven't seen you around before, Thomas Edgewater.”

  “I'm new here.”

  “Then I hope you'll find a vital and fulfilling role,” he replies. “I'm sure you'll fit in very quickly. You seem like a very smart young man, and that's exactly what we need around here. If you do what's expected of you, and show a little initiative now and again, there's no reason why you can't rise to a very high position here in Philadelphia.”

  With that, he turns and walks away, leaving me feeling a little freaked out as I turn back to Hoyle and see that she seems really worried.

  “I should go back to work,” she says, pushing her plate toward me. “If you don't want this, take it to the hatch and let them know. You can't just throw it away.”

  “Wait,” I reply as she steps past me, “what's wrong? Who was that man?”

  “You haven't met Edward Doncaster?” She turns to me. “He's in charge of a lot of things around here. When decisions are made, he's the one who relays them to all of us. He's put me in charge of some very important programs lately, and that means I have to make sure that I don't let anyone down. The prophecy is a guide, but it doesn't mean we're guaranteed to succeed. It's more a way of predicting a possible path, that's all.”

  “Do you really believe all this prophecy stuff?”

  “Why wouldn't I?”

  “You're a scientist. Or a doctor, at least. I thought people like you tended not to believe in anything too weird or crazy.”

  “And a few months ago, you'd be right,” she tells me. “That was before I saw proof. He sees things, and he's demonstrated that enough times. He sees things before they happen, and I don't have to understand that in order to know that we have to listen to him.”

  “Who are you talking about?” I ask. “That Doncaster guy?”

  “I really don't have time to talk right now,” she says. “Whatever I tell you, you'll only end up getting more and more questions. You'll learn about it all soon enough, and until then you simply need to buckle down and help out with whatever need doing.” She pauses for a moment. “We're going to get through that gate,” she adds finally, almost as if she's repeating a mantra to herself. “There's simply no doubt about it. Those people at Project Atherius won't get to keep all those resources for themselves, not forever. We'll get through, and then everything will be okay again.”

  With that, she turns and hurries away, leaving me sitting alone as I try to figure out exactly what's happening. Philadelphia seems to be pretty well organized right now, but there's an undercurrent of weirdness and I learned a long time ago that I need to trust my gut when it comes to these things. I hate to admit it, but Martha might be right about this place. And one thing's for sure: I definitely don't believe in some stupid prophecy.

  Day 353

  Elizabeth

  “Look at them!” Sammy yells, as she runs across the grass and sends seagulls scattering in every direction. She tries to grab one, but she's not quick enough. A moment later she falls over, tumbling across the grass but still laughing.

  Standing at the window, rubbing my sore left forearm, I don't know whether to be relieved or nervous. At least Sammy's busy and, as she disappears from view down the slope of a hill, I figure that hopefully I don't have to worry about her trying to get me to join her again. On the other hand, there's clearly something not quite right about her, and so far this morning Patrick and Wendy have shown no sign that they're preparing to leave. How long are these people planning to stay at the lighthouse?

  “Are you ready?”

  Turning, I see Wendy standing in the doorway, holding a bowl of water.

  ***

  “Is it possible that you got some shrapnel stuck in here?” she asks a few minutes later, as we sit at the kitchen table. She's examining the sore spot on my arm, where a slight discoloration has started to show through the skin.

  “I don't know,” I tell her. “I guess, but wouldn't I have noticed?”

  “Not necessarily. Not if there was already a lot going on.”

  “I didn't feel anything. Not until the other day.”

  “Well, there's definitely something in here.”

  I watch as she continues to examine my arm. I haven't told her much about what's happened to me, and I definitely have no intention of letting her know about the time
when I briefly became a zombie. Still, she's a doctor and there's definitely something wrong with my arm, so I figure I might as well let her take a look.

  “And you said you were in the subway system?” she continues after a moment. “It was completely dark down there?”

  “Completely.”

  “For how many days?”

  “I'm not even sure. Two. Three, maybe.”

  “So it's possible that you got cut while you were down there.”

  “It's possible, but I don't remember seeing any kind of wound there when I came out. And it'd have had to be pretty big, wouldn't it?”

  “And what kind of state were you in then?”

  “What do you mean?”

  She glances at me, and I can see the sense of concern in her eyes.

  “It sounds like you've been through a lot,” she says cautiously. “That experience in the subway would be enough to finish some people off. I can't even begin to imagine what what it must have been like to wander around in total darkness for days on end. When you finally emerged into the light again, what did you do?”

  “I started walking.”

  “Did you have a plan?”

  “Not really. All I knew was that I wanted to get away from New York. From the sun, I figured out that I was heading east.”

  “And that's how you ended up here?”

  I nod.

  She looks back down at my arm, and then she starts gently pushing against the skin.

  “I don't like the dark much, anymore,” I tell her.

  “No kidding.”

  “That's the only time that it's bad, though,” I continue. “The nights are hard, but then I'm fine during the daytime, it's almost as if I -”

  Suddenly I let out a gasp of pain.

  “Sorry,” Wendy says, “but whatever's in here, it's trying to get out. What I mean by that is that your body is slowly rejecting it. I think the pain will only get worse until the object is out.” She looks at me again. “Elizabeth, would you like me to remove this thing? I can do it safely, and I think you'll be saving yourself a great deal of discomfort down the road.”