The Beginning

by Alice I Lunsford

  “Who else should I blame?”

  “Maybe the assholes who put that shit in him? Or how about whoever broke him out? Hell, you can even blame 7B himself since he’s the one that infected someone out there. Look, I know what you’re going through. You know I was blaming myself when he first got out, but you set me straight. So, let me do the same for you. It’s not your fault, there wasn’t a damn thing you could have done. Someone wanted him out, and they were going to do it no matter how many safeguards you put in place. I mean, they fucking TORTURED Blackburn, for Christ’s sake. That’s a level of crazy you couldn’t anticipate.”

  I stared into Mitch’s earnest eyes. Part of me knew he was right, but my guilt still persisted. While it eased enough to let my exhaustion edge to the forefront, it still lingered in the background and I was sure it was going to become a permanent fixture in my soul. I pushed my feelings aside and nodded at Mitch as I stood up from my seat.

  “You’re right, I should get some sleep.”

  “Okay, man. Just think about what I said, okay?” Mitch said, eyeing me as I stepped out of my office.

  “Sure, I will.” I probably wouldn’t, at least not right now, and I could tell Mitch thought the same. Even though he looked like he wanted to say more, Mitch didn’t speak as I turned and walked towards my room. My exhaustion was building by the second, so I headed straight to bed. Hopefully, I’d get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep.

  Chapter Six

  Peyton Industries, Site 1: Ortega Mountains

  Destiny Williams

  I jerked awake, my body shaking in terror from the after-effects of my nightmare. It was our fourth night here, and every time I closed my eyes, I had the same nightmare. They were all a repeat of the one that woke me the first night. I knew sleep wouldn’t come again, it hadn’t any other night, so I knew tonight wouldn’t be any different. I climbed slowly out of bed and glanced at the clock on my phone. 5:18 AM. At least I had gotten six hours of sleep before this one woke me up.

  I decided to shower while Chris was still sleeping. He’d been waking up around 6:00 AM the last two days, so I had plenty of time, and I didn’t have to leave him alone since our room had a shower.

  The shower was heating up when I started to feel my skin crawl, like someone was watching me. I glanced around the room, but Chris was still out cold. Probably just nerves. I decided as I stepped under the warm water. But the feeling increased, and I couldn’t shake it, so I finished quickly and wrapped my bathrobe around me. I eyed the walls and ceiling of the bathroom, trying to spot anything that looked like a camera as I towel-dried my hair. Nothing stuck out in here, so I repeated my inspection in the room. Again, nothing that looked like a camera.

  I shook my head again, feeling silly. IF cameras were in the room, and someone was watching, they would be laughing at me for sure now. The feeling of being watched lingered while I dressed and faded shortly after I pulled my shirt over my head. I tried to convince myself it was just an after-effect from the nightmare as I tried to relax with a book while I waited for Chris to wake up.

  An hour later I was knocking on Andrea’s door. We’d developed a pattern over the last few days. I’d come and drop Chris off, then head up and grab breakfast for everyone. After eating, Andrea and I would take the kids to B1, which had been cleared of all office equipment, so the kids had a secure indoor play area that was still below grounds.

  There wasn’t much up there now other than some seats for the adults, a few TV’s playing some kids shows or movies, and a few toys and stuffed animals. Most of the families with kids had started leaving items they’d brought there when they learned how sparse it was, so the toys were slowly increasing.

  Andrea answered the door after my second knock and she smiled tiredly at me.

  “Sorry, can we skip breakfast today? The kids went to bed late and are still asleep.”

  “Sure, do you want to meet up on B1 later?”

  “Yeah, probably after lunch.”

  “Okay, get some rest, we’ll see you later.”

  Andrea smiled at me gratefully and nodded before closing her door.

  “Well, looks like it’s me and you for breakfast today.” I said, looking down at Chris. “Want to eat in the cafeteria today or in our room?”

  “Our room. It’s too noisy up there.” Chris said, his expression serious. I struggled to hold back a laugh. It was hard to keep a straight face when my little guy tried to act like an adult, but somehow, I did it.

  “Okay, so you can help bring the food down. How’s that sound?”

  “Can I wait in the room and play games, mom? Please?” Chris tried his best begging face, but I shook my head no.

  “Not today, honey. You can play when we get back down with the food.”

  “Fiiiine.” Chris replied with a pout.

  We walked down the hall to the elevator and I couldn’t help but stare at Alex’s door as we passed. I hadn’t seen him since we kissed in the elevator three days ago. Yesterday I had told Andrea about the kiss and how he’d basically disappeared afterward, and she had told me that she was worried about him. As the news worsened, so did Alex. Her and Mitch were positive he wasn’t sleeping or eating much. He was closing himself off from everyone and spending most of his time closed up in his office or his room. Mitch had tried talking to him, but that was a couple days ago, and Mitch hadn’t be able to talk to him since.

  I had been worrying about Alex ever since, and so I decided as we waited for the elevator that Chris and I would grab some extra breakfast and drop it off before heading to our room to eat. Easy peasy!

  “Hey honey, Aunt Andrea’s a bit worried about her boss, want to take him some breakfast?” I ask as we step onto the elevator and push the button for the cafeteria’s floor.

  “Sure!” Chris replied excitedly. “Aunt Andrea says her boss, Alex, is awesome and that he likes you. Does he like you, mom?”

  I quickly curse my sister and her big mouth.

  “I don’t know, honey,” I replied awkwardly. “He hasn’t said anything to me yet.”

  “I bet he does. You’re awesome, so he HAS to like you.”

  “Aww, thanks honey, but he might not. And that’s okay if he doesn’t.”

  Liar.

  “Why wouldn’t he like you?” Chris asks in confusion.

  “Well, that’s just how it happens sometimes. You can’t make everyone like you, and sometimes you meet people who may think you’re a good person, but they don’t like you the way you want them to.”

  “That’s dumb.” Chris says with a frown.

  “Yeah, it is.” I reply softly.

  Just before the elevator comes to a stop, Chris looks up at me with a curious expression.

  “Mom, do you want Alex to like you?”

  “Wow, um…” I look at Chris in surprise as I struggle with my answer. The elevator dings and the doors start to slide open before I decide to answer truthfully. “Yeah, I guess I do.”

  Chris grins and nods before bouncing off the elevator towards the food.

  “Can I get his food, mom?” Chris asks as he reaches for a plate. The cafeterias crowded, but thankfully most of the people are sitting at tables. Only a few are gathering food.

  “Sure, honey.” The words have barely left my lips before Chris darts around loading the plate up with food.

  By the time I finish filling a cart up with food, drinks, and utensils, Chris has finished and is walking over to me with a heaping plate of food.

  “I didn’t know what he’d like, so I got him all the stuff I like. Do you think he’ll like it?”

  “He’d be crazy not to, honey.” I smile fondly at him. He was such a sweet and giving child, always making me proud of him. I was thanking my lucky stars every day that I was blessed with him. “Why don’t you put it on the cart and we’ll head back?”

  “Can I carry it? I don’t want it to get messed up.”

  “Okay, sure. Let’s head back down.” I say as I look over the cart to make sure
we have everything. Satisfied, I head towards the elevator with Chris gingerly walking next to me. I can’t help but start praying that Alex is receptive to our bringing him breakfast. With how excited Chris is over this simple act, I know he’d be crushed if he doesn’t get to deliver Alex breakfast.

  It only takes a few minutes before we are standing in front of Alex’s door. I feel anxious, my Chris is grinning and barely able to stand still with the plate. I can’t help but smile when I look at him, and I force myself to relax as I tentatively knocked on the door.

  The door swings open and I quickly suppress a gasp when I see Alex’s haggard appearance. Jesus, what is he doing to himself?

  “Destiny?” Alex says in surprise as he looks from me to Chris. “And Chris, right?”

  “Yeah! We thought you might be hungry. Are you hungry? I picked my favorites for you, see?” Chris replies eagerly holding the plate up to Alex.

  Alex eyes the plate piled with waffles, scrambled eggs, French toast, bacon, and pancakes while I fidget nervously. I can’t help but worry he’s about to say no.

  “We just wanted to drop it off with you. There’s some coffee, milk, and orange juice here too. I didn’t know what you like to drink with your breakfast.” I say sheepishly as I gesture towards the cart next to me.

  Alex meets my eyes, and I can tell he’s battling with himself over something. What, I have no idea, but eventually, he cracks a smile, looks down at Chris and steps to the side so the doorway is open.

  “Sure, buddy. Looks great. Would you and your mom like to come in and join me?”

  “Yeah!” Chris yells with a grin and quickly rushes into the room. “Wow, mom, it’s huge in here! Oh, look at his TV, mom! Do you have any games?”

  “Baby, put the plate down somewhere before you drop it!” I call out quickly before smiling apologetically to Alex. “Sorry, he’s easily distracted.”

  “Yeah, I think we all were at his age.” Alex says as he holds the door open for me.

  Even looking haggard Alex is still hot, and I try to ignore that fact as I push the cart into the room and Alex closes the door behind me.

  “Where shall I put this?” I ask, eyeing the room in front of me. Chris was right, it is huge. Easily twice the size of Andrea and Mitch’s rooms here. Chris and I were in what I compared to a studio apartment, Andrea and Mitch had basically a three-bedroom apartment, but Alex was basically staying in the penthouse and I was having a hard time not staring wide-eyed around the room. It was so weird seeing the living quarters down here. It was almost like living in some high-rise condominium or apartment complex rather than the underground portion of a lab facility. Sometimes it made it easy to forget where we were and why we were here, but that was only sometimes.

  “Oh, the coffee table is fine.” Alex replies as he steps past me and heads towards the couch. “I do actually have some games, Chris, and a PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch. Maybe we can check them out later if your mom says it’s okay?”

  “Yeah, mom, please!? Can I?”

  “Let’s eat first, then we’ll see, okay?” This is the first time I’ve seen Chris so animated in the time we’ve been here, so I know I’ll say yes if Alex is still open to the offer later.

  “Okay!” Chris replies happily as he sits on the floor next to the coffee table.

  I can't help feeling happy about Chris's excited attitude while I set the plates down on the coffee table. He'd been sullen and quiet for the past three days. When we'd go up to B1 he'd spend most of his time playing on his tablet rather than playing. Most of the kids were quiet up there, only the youngest ones seemed to play without a care, and the rest either had an inkling of what was going on or just sensing the tension in their parents.

  I was glad that, for this moment at least, he was back to his normal energetic, excited self. I finally finish transferring everything from the cart to the coffee table and settle down on the couch next to Alex before grabbing my plate. Chris had begun eating the second I put his food down and he had almost finished, Alex, on the other hand, didn't touch his plate until I sat down and grabbed my own.

  At first, he picked at his food, but after a few bites and watching Chris annihilate his food, I guess his hunger finally kicked in and he started eating with gusto. I smile as we eat in silence. I don't want to interrupt either of them, especially as Alex looks less haggard the more food and coffee he has in him.

  Chris finishes first and stares at Alex for a few moments before breaking the silence.

  “Do you like my mom? She told me she wants you to.”

  Oh my God! I stared at Chris in disbelief.

  “Chris, honey, that's not an appropriate question.” I say quickly.

  “Oh no, it's okay. Actually, Chris, it's a great question. I think I like your mom.” Alex's reply has my gaze snapping to him and I find his eyes on me. Oh crap. I feel my cheeks heat again. “I'd like to get to know her and you better too, what do you think? Would you like to get to know me better?”

  “Sure, but can I play games first?”

  Alex's laugh fills the room and Chris grins back at him before looking at me with pleading eyes.

  “If it's okay with Alex, sure.” I reply with a smile.

  “Yeah, I have them all set up in my office. Come on, you can pick which system and game you want to play.” Alex says as he stands and walks around the couch to a door. Chris quickly launches after him, talking excitedly.

  Their voices become muffled when they enter the office and I smile, content for the moment. I just hope the real-world horrors stay far away and let us have more moments like this.

  Chapter Seven

  Peyton Industries, Site 1: Ortega Mountains

  Alex Peyton

  I felt lighter as I watched Chris's animated antics while playing a Mario game on the Switch. Thankfully he didn't ask to play one of the other consoles, so I didn't have to worry about his mom skewering me.

  While watching Chris I couldn't help but imagine what being a dad was like. If he were my son, if we were a family, how I would feel. I felt a warmth spread through me. It would be something to live for, something to fight for. I felt a twinge of sorrow for what I'd missed so far, but I quickly pushed it aside when I realized Chris was speaking to me.

  “What was that, buddy?”

  “Did you see what I did? Wasn't it awesome?” Chris asked, his eyes never leaving the screen.

  “Oh, sorry I missed it, buddy. Can you show me again?”

  “Sure, watch this!” Chris leaned to the left and right, matching the movements in the game before letting loose with a laugh as he finished his 'awesome' move. “That was great, right?”

  “Definitely! Are you all set, buddy? I want to finish that great breakfast you brought me before it gets too cold.”

  “Oh yeah!”

  I shake my head as I step out of the room. Chris is so wrapped up in the game now I doubt he'll even notice anything else for a while. I'm glad to see the kid enjoying himself, but I can't help the twinge of guilt that sparks up as I join Destiny on the couch again. We were safe while hundreds of thousands of people were dying, living in terror, or suffering through some other horrible scenario. And it was my fault. Something must have shown in my expression because Destiny's hand comes to gently rest on mine.

  “Are you okay?” Her eyes show only concern as she gazes at me.

  “Yeah, it's okay. Nothing to worry about.”

  “I doubt that. You looked like hell when you opened the door, and Andrea and Mitch are both worried about you. That means something is going on. I won't pressure you to talk, especially with Chris in the other room, but I'm here if you want to.”

  Talking about my problems isn’t really on my list of things to do today, but something tugs at me inside urging me to unload some of the burden. I resist, even though Chris is occupied he’s only a few feet away. This is definitely not a topic to discuss around a six-year-old.

  “Thanks. I might just take you up on that later.” I reply, glanc
ing up to meet Destiny’s eyes. She smiles softly and nods at me before pulling her hand back and I feel a surge of sadness at the absence of her warmth. “Hey, do you have anything planned tonight? Maybe you and Chris could join me for dinner? I can bring the food down from the cafeteria this time.”

  “Sure, that sounds awesome. I’m sure Chris would love to get his hands on your games again.” Destiny says with a laugh as she gestures towards the other room. “What time?”

  “How about 6:30?”

  “Okay. So, I have to ask, why did you build these on your lab?” Destiny asks, gesturing at the room. “I mean, it’s definitely convenient right now with so many people staying here, but it’s just...I don’t know, weird I guess?”

  “Yeah, I can see your point.” I say looking around my room. The quarters were all designed like a high-rise condominium, with full living spaces, kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms. There were no windows, but plenty of recessed lighting that could be dimmed or brightened to the occupant’s desire. “I realized early on in my company when we first started getting government contracts, that some of the projects could have serious negative impacts. Some even global impacts. I figured if this is what our own country was doing, then it wouldn’t be too far-fetched that other countries were as well. The probability of something getting out was too high to ignore, so I decided to build all my lab sites with living quarters, self-sustaining utilities, air recyclers, stockpiles of food and supplies, the works. I wanted to know that we could provide somewhere safe for people to go if the worst happened.”

  Destiny nodded, appearing deep in thought for a moment.

  “Are you letting anyone else in the sites, or is it just employees and their families?”

  I stare at her for a moment before replying, trying to find the right words. What I’m about to share is one of the reason’s the guilt keeps gnawing at me.

  “No... not anymore, that is.” I reply, looking away as the guilt grows within me. “I gave the order to fully lock down all sites, to not let anyone else in.” My gaze falls to my hands on my knees. I can’t stop the flow of thoughts, the self-recrimination. “I left everyone else out there to die.”