Severed Ties

by Jo Schneider

  Wendy looked around. “Don’t you have a bunch of people to save? Is there a plan?”

  “How many?” Matt asked again.

  “Riggs wants a plan.”

  “Has it gotten worse since Pelton? Or since Dennis shut you in that cabinet?”

  Wendy ground her teeth. Saying it out loud would make it real.

  “Nightmares? Every night, or just most nights?”

  Wendy balled her hands into fists.

  Matt shook his head and his shoulders sagged. “Why didn’t you come ask me for help?”

  “What are you supposed to do for me? Knock me out every time the world dissolves around me?” She glanced over at Kev, who met her eyes.

  “No.” Matt rubbed his face again. “Wendy, Doc has exercises that can keep the flashes from coming so often. He has herbs that will help you sleep. He has seen this more than a few times, and he’s been worried about you. But you keep saying you’re fine.”

  Wendy swallowed. “I’m not fine. Can I go?”

  “Go? Where?”

  She started to pace. “Out of here.” She turned to Kev.

  “No, you’re going to get yourself killed,” Kev said. “I already told you, we don’t leave friends behind.”

  Matt stood and came over to them. “Don’t blame Kev for this.”

  Wendy turned on Matt. It must look comical from afar, a slight, short sixteen-year-old girl facing off with two young men who each had a foot on her. “No, I blame Pelton. I blame Dennis. I blame Mike for bringing me here.”

  Matt nodded. “Placing blame is one of the stages.”

  Wendy grabbed Matt by the front of the shirt. “Is fantasizing about killing Dennis one of the stages too? Because that’s been going on for a while now.”

  Matt’s cheeks flexed. “It can be.” His blue eyes pled for her to pull herself together.

  Wendy shoved him away. “Leave me alone.”

  “No,” Matt said, “I need your help.”

  “My help?” Wendy turned on him, pointing at herself.

  “Yes, you and Kev. We still don’t have a single teenager who is sick. Doc and I found some medical books, and since you’re both pretty good readers I’m asking you to help me go through them to try to find out what this disease is.”

  Wendy turned away, but Matt’s hand shot out and caught her shoulder. “So you’re going to sit over her and sulk?”

  “Maybe I will.”

  Matt let her go, shoving her away a step. He turned his attention to Kev. “Try to talk some sense into her. I’ve got an entire complex of people to save.” He stomped away.

  Kev whistled. “Wow, I’ve never seen him that grouchy.” He leveled his gaze with Wendy. “And I’ve never seen you so irrational.”

  Wendy felt a broad range of emotions trying to surface. Tears stung her eyes. She sat on the bench. “I can’t stay here, Kev. I know Dennis is over there, and there’s this horrible voice in my mind whispering that I should go kill him. It’s what he deserves.”

  “Does he?” Kev asked. His dark eyes bored into hers. “He’s a jerk, and he deserves to be punished for what he did to you. Even more, he deserves a good beating for lying about it. But death?” Kev pointed toward where Dennis was sitting with his eyes closed, now guarded by Jeff. “He’s a stupid kid. He’s practically grown up here. Sure, he’s a good fighter, but he doesn’t really know what it’s like to be outside. Doesn’t know what it really means to be hungry or hunted. He’s weak, but does that mean he deserves death?”

  “You wouldn’t have said that a few months ago,” Wendy said. “I saw the looks you used to give him.”

  “Sure. You’re right.” Kev stepped closer. “That was before we followed you and got caught by Pelton. It’s been a few years since I was outside. I’d forgotten how scared you are all the time. And when even the normal people are trying to kill you? Suddenly a little rivalry doesn’t seem all that important.”

  “You’re saying he deserves to live?”

  Kev grinned. “I’m saying he deserves to live up until the point where his stupidity kills him. That almost happened today. With you. That was dumb, but when I pulled him off the ground, all I saw was a scared kid. He’s not like you. He’s not brave.”

  “It was pretty brave to corner me by myself.”

  Kev snorted. “No, that was stupid. He wanted to die. I saw it in his eyes. He thinks he’s worthless now.” Kev squat down and looked at Wendy. “Much like I imagine you do.”

  A lump rose in Wendy’s throat. She swallowed it down. “Since when are you this smart?”

  “Since always. I’m amazing. I think you forget sometimes.”

  Wendy tried to smile, but it was interrupted by a sob trying to break free.

  “Can I tell you a secret?” Kev said as he rose to his full height.

  “If you feel like it.”

  “I’m a terrible reader, but Matt needs our help. Matt is, like, the nicest guy I know, next to me of course. Let’s go help.” He turned and started to walk away.

  Wendy’s hand shot out and grasped his arm.

  Kev stopped and turned back. “What is it?”

  “Kev, if I can’t control it—the monster in my head—will you help me get out of here?”

  He studied her before answering. “As long as you let Doc try to help you first.”

  “Okay.”

  “Let’s go.”

  They made their way across the mess hall. Wendy felt Jeff’s eyes on her. She didn’t turn to look at him. Matt and Sven sat on either side of a table beside a mound of books. There had to be at least thirty of them—big, thick things that looked as if they’d been around for a hundred years.

  “Still need help?” Kev asked as he sat.

  Sven glanced up. “Please.”

  Wendy gingerly lowered herself onto bench. Doing forms helped her knee, but eventually it would get cold and swell up.

  Kev rubbed his hands together. “What are we looking for?”

  Matt waved at the pile. “Start anywhere. Look for anything that mentions a fever with spots and swelling in the lymph nodes.”

  “Spots?” Wendy asked.

  “Lymph nodes?” Kev asked.

  “Doc told me that most of the patients started out with swelling under their arms or near their crotches.”

  Kev shifted. “Uh, okay.”

  “These people were sick last week, but felt better for a few days. Now most of them have black blotches on their skin and some are coughing.”

  “Okay.” Wendy opened the book and flipped to the table of contents. She’d read enough books at the Den to know how to find information. The chapter and section titles were mostly foreign to her.

  “Here, take those off,” Matt handed Kev a set of keys.

  “You sure you want to do that?” Wendy asked as Kev inserted the key into her cuffs.

  “Pretty sure you’re as dangerous with your hands tied as without.”

  The binders clicked then fell away, leaving Wendy feeling lighter. It was easier to focus on Matt’s next words.

  “Start with viral or bacterial infections,” Matt said.

  Kev mimicked Wendy—going about half the speed she did—and they both began searching the tables of contents. The first three chapters were about genetic diseases, animal-carried diseases and highly communicable diseases. Chapter four looked more promising, so she turned there.

  Focusing on something as simple as a search soothed Wendy’s mind. The urge to kill Dennis waned as she dove into the books. It didn’t matter that all of the medical terms began to bleed together. Her sanity latched onto the words like a lifeline.

  Wendy found the list of diseases and their symptoms. She began to scan through it. Nothing with spots and swelling. She spent what felt like an hour reading, but nothing matched the symptoms. She traded books and started again.

  Kev, she noticed, read slowly, and often pointed at the page as if trying to decipher a puzzle.

  Wendy was on her third book and Kev was reaching
for his second when Sven hissed.

  “What?” Matt asked. “Did you find something?”

  “It’s not exactly the same.” Sven handed his volume—a thick book with a blue cover and gold edges on the pages—to Matt. Matt took it and put it on top of the one he’d been looking through. “There.” Sven pointed.

  Wendy didn’t bother to try to read the words upside down. Instead, she watched Matt’s reaction. His eyes started out moving back and forth across the page. After a few trips, they sped up. One finger traced his path on the paper. Matt started to mutter the words under his breath. He nodded. His expression darkened, and he went back and read a part again.

  The color in his face drained, and Matt looked up at Sven.

  “I’m hoping I’m wrong,” Sven said.

  “I am too,” Matt said.

  “What is it?” Wendy asked.

  Matt waved Riggs over. “Let me confirm with Doc before I go any farther.” He stood, hauling the book with him.

  “Did you find something?” Riggs’ dark face was pale.

  Wendy noted the rings under his eyes as well as the slight tremor in his steps.

  “Maybe,” Matt said. “I need to confirm with Doc.”

  “Show me,” Riggs said.

  Wendy and Kev got up so Riggs could sit. The fact that he did so told Wendy just how sick he was.

  As Matt showed Riggs the section he’d been reading, Wendy’s eyes skimmed across the page and she saw a little row of symbols at the bottom of the listing. She recognized a couple of them.

  As Riggs read, Wendy asked, “Matt, what do these symbols mean?”

  “Some of them tell how communicable and deadly the disease is.”

  “What about this one?” Wendy asked, pointing at a triangle with a circle in the middle and three more circles meeting in the center.

  “It means that this can become lethal very quickly.” Matt studied the symbol with a mournful expression in his eyes.

  “Can it be cured?” Wendy asked.

  “Sure, with the right meds.”

  “Do we have these meds here?” Riggs asked.

  “I don’t think so. Doc will know for sure,” Matt said.

  Wendy leaned in and pointed at the triangle with the circles. She lowered her voice. “Riggs, this symbol was on the map.”

  Riggs took a moment to study the symbol, then looked at Matt. “If this is on a map, would the place have the meds you needed?”

  “Maybe,” Matt shrugged. “Doc would know better than I would.”

  At that moment Hound, Cal, Janice and a gangly boy about eleven years old came into the mess hall and approached the table.

  The young boy grinned and waved at Wendy. It took her a second to place his face. Ron. One of the kids she’d rescued from the Skinnies in the marketplace. It felt like a lifetime ago. Wendy looked at the thank you cards the kids had sent her almost everyday. In those few months, Ron had grown and his face had thinned out. She gave him a little wave.

  “Riggs,” Hound said, breathless.

  “What is it?” Riggs asked.

  “We figured out what was wrong with the shield.” Hound pointed between he and Cal.

  “What?”

  “It’s an internal generator gone bad.”

  “Can we repair it?” Riggs asked Janice.

  “No, the space is so small Ron here barely fit. From what he says, it’s dead.”

  Ron nodded, trying to look important.

  Riggs looked down at him. “Dead, huh?”

  Ron spoke. “No lights are on, and there’s black sludge leaking from one side.”

  “Do we have a replacement?” Riggs asked Janice.

  “I don’t know.”

  Dennis’ voice rose from behind them. “No, we don’t have a replacement.”

  Riggs turned to Dennis. “How do you know?”

  “Because I’m on the mechanics team that maintains the shield.” Dennis got to his feet, and Jeff followed.

  The hair on the back of Wendy’s neck rose as Dennis approached. Kev put a hand on her shoulder.

  “And?” Riggs asked.

  “That generator has been twitchy for a while. We usually bypass it, but for some reason it was on today.”

  “He’s right,” Janice said.

  “Why hasn’t it been repaired?” Riggs asked.

  “The space to get in there is so small that we usually have to send one of the kids in, but none of them have the strength or the skills to do the real repairs.”

  Riggs swore. He looked back and forth between Hound and Matt. “None of this is good news.” His eyes slid past the two men to Wendy. He seemed to chew on his next thoughts for a few seconds. Then he turned to Sven. “Go get Mike.”

  Sven nodded, rose and left.

  “Do you know where we can get the parts?” Hound asked.

  “Maybe,” Riggs said.

  Hound almost smiled. “Oh?”

  Riggs frowned down at the book. “Give me a minute.”

  Chapter 14

  Sven returned a few minutes later with Mike, Hank and Doc in tow. Riggs rose—only swaying a little—and met them.

  “You don’t look so good,” Mike said.

  “I’ve felt better,” Riggs said. “Matt has news.”

  Wendy avoided Doc’s gaze. She could feel his eyes on her, but couldn’t bring herself to look at him.

  Riggs glanced around. “We should probably do this somewhere private.”

  “Good idea.” Mike said.

  Riggs pointed to a small room just down the hall. “That’ll work. Come on, Matt.”

  Wendy watches as Riggs, Mike, Hank, Doc and Matt walked away. Hound, Janice, Cal and little Ron stood to the side, talking quietly about the shield. Dennis and Sven moved to join their conversation. Ron gave Wendy a little wave. She waved back.

  “And they just leave us here,” Kev said with a huff.

  “Not like we have anything to bring to the table,” Jeff said.

  Wendy let her eyes slide off of Dennis as she directed her words to Jeff. “Dennis is on the shield repair team?”

  “Yeah. He’s also a mechanic. Matt says he’s pretty good.”

  “And so is Janice?” Wendy asked. She studied the woman.

  “No.” Jeff shook his head and sat. “But like I told you, she does mechanical work, just not with the shield.”

  “Then how does she know so much about it?” Wendy met Jeff’s eyes. Did he remember Mike asking them to watch the fighters and the teenagers?

  Jeff held her gaze. “I don’t know.”

  Kev, who had been looking around jerked his thumb toward the room Riggs and the others had gone into. “What do you think they’ll do?”

  “It depends,” Jeff said. “If they decide to go after the meds then they’ll send some fighters out.”

  “They’re all sick,” Kev said.

  “Not all of them,” Jeff said.

  “Everyone in here. Even Hound isn’t looking so good. I’m sure the rest of Shelter is the same,” Kev said.

  “Would they send us?” Wendy asked.

  “Us?” Jeff asked.

  “Sure, none of us are sick.”

  Jeff seesawed his head back and forth. “I don’t know.”

  Wendy bit her lip. “I didn’t ever thank you two for pulling me off of Dennis back there.”

  “Someone has to keep you in line,” Kev said.

  “It’s not easy,” Jeff said with a small smile.

  The words didn’t actually make her feel better, but Wendy knew that they’d done her a favor. Maybe saved her sanity for at least one more day.

  Silence fell around the trio, but a few minutes later Matt stuck his head out of the room. “Jeff, Wendy, they need you in here.”

  They both stood.

  “Jeff I get, but why you, Shrimp?” Kev asked.

  “We’re going to use the map,” Wendy said. It was the only reason to include her.

  Jeff led the way, and the two of them slipped into the small room, al
ready crowded with the others inside.

  A table had been pushed against one wall. Riggs and Mike were looking at the map, which lay on top. Doc was holding a book flipping through pages, and Hank leaned against the wall, watching the others.

  Riggs waved Wendy over. “These are the symbols that you were talking about?”

  Wendy followed Riggs’ pointing finger to the map. The symbols were slightly different. “Yes, those are the ones I remember. Obviously they’re not the same as in the book.”

  Doc snorted. “Close enough for what we need.”

  An unexpected flush of pleasure rushed through Wendy. “Really?” Wendy asked. She made the mistake of meeting Doc’s eyes.

  The man looked through all of her defenses and straight into her damaged psyche. How he could always tell exactly what was going on with people was something no one could explain. Matt called it magic.

  “Really.” He paused and narrowed his eyes. His expression promised a long talk later.

  Mike pointed at the map. “Wendy, you’re sure that this means there’s a shield around this place?”

  “As far as I can tell,” Wendy said. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Unless we’re way off, Shelter is here. This other place has all of the same symbols, but also these extra medical ones.”

  “You’re thinking that we could find a replacement part?” Jeff asked.

  Mike nodded. “That and the meds.”

  “If anything is left of the place,” Doc said. “People have been through these mountains a thousand times since the Starvation started. It’s likely that the place has been sacked.”

  “It’s a risk we need to take,” Mike said.

  Hank cleared his throat. All eyes turned to him.

  The other times Wendy had seen the man, he’d held an air of joviality about him, even when he was serious. Arie liked him quite a lot, which meant he was smart. Right now he looked thoughtful.

  “What is it?” Riggs asked with an edge in his voice.

  “If you’re right about the location of this place, then you’re going to need either Mike or myself to talk to Christian before you go in.”

  “We can use the camouflage transports. He won’t even know we’re there.” Riggs said.

  “What if he’s using the place?” Hank asked.