Heir Ascendant

by Matthew S. Cox

  The others gathered in a cluster too close to the edge for comfort and reclined while gazing up at the sky. Maya kept her distance for a short while until the feeling of being an outsider grew too awkward. She crawled over and took a spot at Sarah’s left. Emily stared out a spot at the corner of the building where the destruction wrapped around and offered an open view to the north. In the early evening, the distant whitish glow of the New Baltimore Sanctuary Zone shone as obvious as the sun.

  “She thinks her parents will move there some day,” said Marcus.

  Pick laughed. “What’d the faeries tell you?”

  “It’s pretty.” Emily crept closer, her toes less than her height away from the end of the slab.

  “Em, get away from the edge.” Sarah waited five seconds. “I mean it. Now.”

  “Aww.” The youngest girl backed up. “I wanna go there.”

  Maya looked at the floor in front of her knees and traced a random squiggle in the damp grime with her finger. “You don’t. It’s not nice there.”

  The other kids, except Sarah, perked up with sudden interest. Soon they all crowded around her.

  “What?” asked Emily, looking heartbroken.

  Marcus raised an eyebrow. “How you know?”

  “What he said.” Anton pointed at his brother.

  Pick jammed his finger up his nose.

  Maya took a breath and sighed it out. “Everyone there is sad all the time. I used to live there. Whenever I looked outside, all the people were always in a hurry, always in a bad mood. There’s Authority everywhere, watching everyone. People never look up because they’re so many drones.”

  Emily glared. “But it’s so pretty!”

  “It’s a lie.” Maya lifted her gaze from the floor and glanced at Emily. “It’s like being locked up. Even when I was home, if I was too close to a window when a drone went by, it would think I was breaking in. If I didn’t stand totally still and let it scan me, it would kill me.”

  “Whoa.” Anton’s eyes widened. “You’re a Citizen?”

  “She don’ look like no Citizen,” said Pick, finger still digging.

  Maya shook her head. “Not anymore. It cost too much money to have a kid, so I got thrown out.”

  “Faerie’s mom ‘bandoned her too,” said Pick.

  “She did not!” yelled Sarah. “She… disappeared. Someone hurt her.”

  “So your parents didn’t want you ‘cause of money?” asked Marcus. “That’s fucked up.”

  Emily gasped and pointed at him. “Ooo. He said the eff! You made the faeries cry!”

  Marcus recited a litany of bad words at random until Emily stopped cringing and burst into tears. He frowned. “Come on, Em, it’s just words. Don’t cry.”

  “Mommy says only bad people talk like that.” Emily sniffled. “An’ if you talk bad, the bad faeries will crawl into your head. They’ll steal your dreams and turn you bad like them.”

  A whiny, laboring mechanical noise echoed up from outside. Sarah’s smile faded and she stiffened. Maya glanced from her to the gap. The noise cut out, followed soon by a car door slamming. Sarah pulled some of her hair away from her face and tucked it behind one ear. Her smile radiated falseness until the building’s front door clanked shut, reverberating off the faces of buildings across the street.

  Maya took Sarah’s hand. The older girl averted her rich blue eyes downward.

  Scuffing noises came from the right far too soon to have been the person who’d just driven up. Maya looked over and up at an old man with long pewter grey hair streaked with traces of black in spots. He walked on sandals made from chunks of car tire, carried a large plastic bag in one hand and a round, black cauldron in the other. Most of his body hid beneath a grey wool wrap and several long wood-bead necklaces. His dark pants, patched and re-patched, looked as old as their owner.

  “Book!” yelled Emily, her mood back to over-happy in an instant.

  Anton and Marcus seemed to shed their detachment and took on the normal energy of ten-year-old children. Sarah smiled at him as well.

  Book ambled over to a spot closer to the inside wall where a concrete slab had fallen over a small pile of chunks into the general shape of a table. Someone had positioned a few metal folding chairs around another blackened bowl. He set the cauldron and bag on the makeshift table. The boys plus Emily scrambled over like a pack of dogs at feeding time.

  Sarah’s smile regained its authenticity and she tugged Maya upright. “Dinner time. And he’s gonna tell us a story.”

  The cauldron contained brown goo that smelled strange but not unpleasant. Over the course of the next fifteen minutes, Maya learned about tacos and struggled not wear more of it than what she ate. Both twins looked at the old man in a way that made it evident he’d assumed the role of caretaker. She avoided giving Book a clean view of her face, fearing he’d recognize her.

  Once the old man finished his portion, he cleared his throat. Maya peered up through her hair at him, her eyes widening at the presence of metal bits grafted to his head and the back of his neck. One stripe of dark steel followed the curve above his left ear, flickering with a row of cobalt blue LEDs. The outward image of the kindly old person gave way to the worry that a Moth-like monster would tear the wrinkled brown skin away and strangle them all with metal hands.

  Book coughed, swallowed, and cleared his throat again. “You’re here just in time.” He smiled at Maya. “Tonight we’re starting a new story. Harry Potter.”

  Emily and Pick cheered and clapped.

  Maya’s eyebrows crept together. “Never heard of it.”

  Sarah looked at her as if she’d announced she’d arrived from outer space.

  “Well, sit back and listen.” Book settled in to a cushioned chair facing the others, and began to speak in a well-practiced cadence, suggesting he read the words from a page.

  All the tiny lights around his ear and neck winked on and off in a continuous, mesmerizing pattern. Maya’s worry faded as the soothing tone of his voice drew her in to the story. Occasional bursts of wind from the missing wall blew warmth over the room with a hint of evening chill. Her eyes snapped open wide when a woman’s voice came out of the old man to speak a line of dialogue. It took her a second to think of electronics in his throat being responsible, but soon, the oddity of it wore off. Maya closed her eyes and imagined the characters, helped along by each having a unique voice. Book must have been doing this for a long time, as she had no trouble believing different people surrounded her.

  For the better part of an hour and a half, Book managed to keep all six kids silent and enthralled.

  “Daddy,” yelled Emily.

  Maya frowned at being torn away from the story world, and looked up at Doctor Chang peering around the corridor at the far end of the open space. Emily sprinted over to him and leapt into his arms.

  “Looks like it’s time for bed,” said Book. “We’ll keep on tomorrow.”

  Pick and the twins whined the sort of whine that protested without having much hope of changing anyone’s mind. Book shooed the twins off to bed and set about gathering the remains of dinner. Doc waved Pick over as well.

  Sarah grabbed Maya’s hand. “We should probably go home too.”

  Maya jumped up, hopeful Genna might be awake. They walked down to the seventh floor, and Sarah followed her inside.

  “Mom?” asked Maya.

  “There you are,” said a still-sleepy-sounding Genna from the bathroom.

  Sarah seemed satisfied all was well, waved, and walked out. Maya trailed after her far enough to close the apartment door. She turned the deadbolt and hurried into the back hallway. Genna emerged from the bathroom in a t-shirt and panties, scratching at her right arm through all the gaps in the spider web plastic cast.

  Every ounce of fear, awkwardness, and unease that had plagued Maya during the day faded away as she clamped on to Genna’s side. She sniffled and cried a little, but smiled the whole time.

  “What happened, baby?”

 
Maya grinned up at her. “I’m glad you kidnapped me.”

  Genna shook her head. “This world gets stranger every damn day. Did you eat anything?”

  “Yes.” Maya nodded. “Sarah gave me a sandwich for breakfast, Pick’s sister fed us lunch, an’ Book made us tacos.”

  “Good. Sorry I been elsewhere.” Genna stumbled to the bedroom, keeping one hand on the wall to steady herself. “Doc gave me another shot. Pain’s still… yeah. Damn walls are movin’ on me.”

  Maya held her hand and climbed up next to her once Genna sat on the edge of the bed. “Your eye looks better. It’s getting smaller.”

  “Should be okay in a couple of days.” Genna picked at the nightdress and yawned. “We need to get you somethin’ more than that to wear. Ain’t payin’ these vultures out here. They charge way too damn much for everything. Say onna count a bein’ a ‘long ride’ ta the Sanc. Be ‘while ‘fore I can head to the city.”

  “Okay.”

  Genna leaned back and swung her legs onto the mattress. Maya scrambled around, pulling the sheet up and over them both. “Goodnight, Mom.”

  “Night baby.” Genna already sounded half-asleep.

  aya awoke in the middle of the night, ran to use the bathroom, and crawled back in under Genna’s arm. In what felt like an instant, a loud bang knocked her awake again. Weak daylight shone in the sliding glass patio doors, though the interior of the apartment remained dark as night. She reached up under the blanket until her hand found Genna’s side, and she pushed and squeezed until the woman stirred.

  “What was that?”

  Genna moaned and wiped at her eyes. “What was what?”

  “I heard something explode.”

  The stink of scorched silicon wafted into the room.

  “Oh. Probably the damn fuse panel again.” Genna clenched her teeth and stifled a scream. “Oh, damn.”

  “Mom?” Maya sat up.

  “I’m… pain meds wore off.”

  She hopped out of bed. “I’ll get Doctor Chang.”

  Genna, eyes closed, nodded and flapped her left arm in a rapid wave as if to say hurry the hell up.

  “Okay.” Maya sprinted to the front door and out into the hall. She opted for the fire stairs―dusty beat spoiled milk―and raced down one floor and over to the door with 112 on it, knocking with both fists. “Doctor Chang?”

  A minute or two later, the door opened to reveal Doctor Chang in the full glory of rumpled white boxers and a pale blue lab coat. He didn’t seem all the way awake yet.

  “Sorry.” Maya looked up with urgency brimming out of her eyes. “Mom’s in a lot of pain. She said the meds wore off.”

  He wiped a hand down his face. “Okay, okay. Come in for a minute.”

  She ducked in when he leaned the door wider. After closing it behind her, he trudged over to the kitchen area and assaulted a small appliance on the counter. Emily streaked from the second bedroom to the bathroom, yelling, “I want the dress!”

  Zoe followed wearing a look of resignation as well as blue fatigue-style pants and a black tank top. She skidded to a halt at the notice of Maya, a tiny denim skirt in her hand. “Oh, hi. Is something wrong?”

  Maya flashed a brief, polite smile. “Mom’s hurt.”

  “I’m going, I’m going,” Said Dr. Chang.

  Burbling noises came from the kitchen, followed soon by the scent of coffee.

  Emily emerged from the bathroom, spotted Maya, and started walking over, still with nothing on. “Hi!”

  “Em, clothes, now.” Zoe pointed at the second bedroom with a no-nonsense face.

  The girl hung her head and trudged under her mother’s arm into her room.

  Maya wandered about the living-room-slash-work-studio, peering at the tables a little below her chin level. One had pliers, wire cutters of various sizes, hammers, screwdrivers, soldering tools, and bunch of fancy-looking boxes with wires and needle-meters on them. The next table held a number of partially disassembled electronic devices and a scattering of fuses.

  Doctor Chang appeared in the archway between the kitchen and living room with a steaming cup in hand. He sipped and smiled.

  Maya huffed. “She’s in pain. Please hurry. Coffee can wait.”

  “I’d rather not give her the wrong dosage.” He sipped more. “This is critical.” He carried the cup with him to the larger bedroom. “I’ll only be a minute.”

  Zoe glided over to Maya. “Have you had any breakfast yet?”

  “No.”

  Emily zoomed out of her room, once more in the frilly dress. Zoe ushered the girls to the kitchen and filled two bowls with cereal. After setting them on the table, she took a squarish carton from a cabinet and poured soymilk into the bowls. Maya poked at the multicolored puff balls smelling vaguely of fruit. Emily dug right in, eating with surprising care given her age.

  “You look like you’ve never had cereal before,” said Zoe.

  Maya swung her feet idly. “That’s because I haven’t.” She considered the substance for a few seconds before trying a spoonful. She’d definitely tasted worse things. “It’s okay. Thank you for the food.”

  “Wow, you sure are a polite little thing.” Zoe patted her on the head before pouring herself some coffee. “I’m guessing you didn’t pick that up out here.”

  “Mmm.” Three spoonfuls later, she looked up. “Can you fix fuses?”

  “Unless it exploded, yeah, not a problem.”

  “It might have.” Maya munched a little more. “It went boom, real loud, and all the lights are out. And it stank.”

  “Hmm. I’ll check it out once I’m done fixing something downstairs. Brian’s been on my case about that heater unit.”

  Doctor Chang returned to the kitchen having changed into the same outfit she’d seen him in yesterday, staying only long enough to leave the empty cup on the counter before he hurried out with his bag. Zoe had a bowl of cereal as well, then wandered off into the back for a few minutes. When she returned, she’d donned boots, a tool belt, and carried a large over-the-shoulder canvas bag.

  “All right you two, come on.” Zoe put the empty bowls in the sink and started for the door.

  Maya hesitated.

  “We can’t stay here ‘lone.” Emily grabbed Maya’s wrist in two hands and pulled. “Too much stuff can hurt us. An’ Sarah an’ everyone won’t be ‘wake yet.”

  Zoe seemed to share Maya’s opinion on stink and took the fire stairs down to the third floor. Every minute or so, Emily would stop and squat near the wall and whisper some variation of good morning before hurrying to catch up. The red-painted door required two hip bumps from Zoe to break free of the frame and let off an ear-piercing squeak when it gave way. Dingy green carpet filled the hallway with the fragrance of wet dog, and three plastic buckets caught drips falling from rot holes in the drop ceiling. The third floor looked as though someone had attempted to turn it into a level from a first-person shooter game.

  They walked down the hall to the elevator lobby where upturned tables riddled with bullet holes suggested a shootout occurred over a distance of about twelve feet. Plaster bits and broken glass glittered around the elevator doors. Zoe kept going into the hall on the other side and stopped at the fifth apartment on the right.

  Maya jumped when Zoe banged on the door. “Brian? Arlene? It’s Zoe.”

  A few seconds later, faint thumps approached from inside. “About damn time.”

  The door flung inward. A thin, youngish guy with short, blond hair and hazel eyes grinned at her, making his grumble seem more like a joke than a serious gripe. Numerous stains adorned his plain tee, and self-adhesive bandages wrapped three of his toes. “Hey. ‘Mon in.”

  The air hung thick and stale, warm enough to cause sweat within seconds, even with only a thin nightdress on. While Zoe followed him to the far corner of the living room on the right, Emily beelined for the couch where a heavily pregnant twentyish woman sat with her legs covered by a huge ratty blanket. A bright orange shirt sat scrunched up under her breas
ts, exposing her rounded belly. Maya felt another twinge of jealousy at the woman’s somewhat darker skin and frizzy hair.

  Emily leapt onto the next cushion and had both hands on Arlene’s belly before the woman had opened her eyes. “Hi, little baby.” She leaned her left ear against the swollen womb. “The faeries told me you’re going to be a boy.”

  Arlene smiled, running a hand over Emily’s hair while waving at Zoe with her other hand. “Did they now?”

  Zoe dropped her bag on the rug near a boxy component set into the wall, knelt, and took out a few tools. “How are things going?”

  “I can’t wait to fit into my clothes again.” Arlene laughed. “You gotta send yo’ hubby down here an’ check my shit out. Shoulda popped by now.” She sent a loving look up at Brian. “Your son’s just like you. Don’t wanna get outta bed in the morning.”

  Metal clattered from the heating unit. Within minutes, Zoe wound up elbow deep in hoses and dirt.

  Emily seemed more excited about the prospect of a new baby in the building than even Arlene did, and her random chattering held the adults’ attention. Maya remained near the middle of the room, tapping her toes into the rug while watching Zoe work, content to be left out of the conversation.

  “Hey, hon,” said Arlene once she finally noticed her. “You be new here?”

  “Yes,” said Maya.

  “Now y’alls in trouble.” Arlene winked and nodded at Brian. “Three sistahs in the house.”

  Brian chuckled. “That girl isn’t black, she’s like, uhh, Dominican or something. Maybe a little Japanese in her.”

  Maya broke her stare from Zoe to squint up at him.

  “Oh, shit.” Arlene chuckled. “You shouldn’t have said that. She’s looks pissed.”

  He winced. “Sorry kid, just tryin’ to be funny.”

  “Keep trying,” mumbled Maya.

  “Ooh,” said Arlene. “I like this one. What’s yo name, girl?”

  “Lisa,” said Maya. “Genna’s my mom.”