The Free City

by Marius Pitigoi

  “I was trying to help you,” said Samantha.

  “We appreciate it, Samantha,” said Dylan, “but maybe it’s not the best idea to discuss our situation with everybody. If one single person starts talking to the wrong person, we are done for.”

  “I trust my friends. They know how to keep a secret.”

  “You’re probably right. I am not contradicting you. But why take that chance? Why pointlessly risk it? The fewer people who know, the better.”

  “On the other hand,” said Samantha, “the more people who know, the quicker we might find a solution as to what to do. Look, take my friend Milan for example. Do you know what he said he’d do if he were you?”

  “What?”

  “He’d build a jetpack and get to The Island of the Rich by flying there. He’s an engineer and works in the aeronautic industry.”

  “Oh come on! With a jetpack?”

  “Exactly. That’s a device you attach to your back and it propels you into the air.”

  “I know what a jetpack is; I just find it unbelievable. Where would I even find something like that? What about fuel? And how would I just fly around without being noticed? If it were that simple, nobody would go to The Island of the Rich, they’d escape New Hope.”

  “You can’t escape New Hope. There’s that buffer area of 1 kilometers and the city itself is guarded by the army. They have proficient radars. You wouldn’t stand a chance. But The Island is not as well guarded. There is only one artificial river and an electrified fence separating us. And only one security company. And it is part of New Hope, after all.”

  “All right, but how would I purchase one?”

  “That’s what I am telling you, my friend Milan can build it himself, from scratch. He works in the industry and is good at it.”

  “In the laboratories within the ward, if you have money you can go there and work on whatever you please.”

  “Precisely. If you have money or access to the ward. At the moment, we have neither.”

  “Do you think he could do that for us?” asked Dylan.

  “I asked,” said Samantha, “but unfortunately, no. Even if he were willing, it would take him weeks or months.”

  “I don’t think we have that long.”

  “Well, I was only telling you what he’d do in your situation. And I hoped that might give you some ideas.”

  “It’s an option, true, but it’s not applicable in our case.”

  “Maybe a jetpack is too much. Maybe a hot air balloon might work.”

  “Let’s stop dreaming.”

  Many of the friends who were vacationing in New Hope with Samantha Rogers were quite well informed.

  “Another friend told me of someone who could get you on The Island of the Rich. That would cost five hundred dollars. I am not sure if that helps, but I thought you should know.”

  That was good news. At least they could get close to Krugar. They could sell the things they stole from the photographer and get the money they needed. They lacked many options.

  One idea that might work was to bluff Krugar. Dylan could walk straight up to Krugar and tell him he had evidence against him—that he’d go public. He would try and draw him or someone close to him outside the island. The plan was very risky and had many missing pieces. Krugar was an ill-tempered man who would probably torture him until he confessed everything. On the other hand, if Krugar or one of his minions found Dylan first, there was not much he could do. But then again, it was unlikely, that Krugar would just expose himself. It would be far safer for Dylan to avoid direct contact with him for the time being. But he still had to figure out a way to break into his house without being caught. He had to find something compromising to use against Krugar.

  But this plan was incomplete. How could he ever get inside such a well-guarded house? And even if he did, what did he hope to find? They would spend half their money getting there and for what? If they didn’t find anything, what would they do next?

  The lack of promising ideas tormented him. Should he and Nathan live like outlaws from then on? What would that entail? Committing robberies maybe once a week? They would also have find lodging. Could they persuade someone to rent them a room? And that same person would have to buy them food and whatever else they needed. Keeping that person quiet would cost a fortune. And you have to have a certain type of mentality to survive off what you steal. The use of violence shouldn’t bother you. That lifestyle didn’t suit either of Dylan or Nathan. During the short time Samantha Rogers spent in New Hope, they’d have to find their way, one way or another. They didn’t have much time.

  Dylan woke up extremely tired. He was becoming overwhelmed by despair. He spent the night on the floor and had not slept well at all. The bed only had room enough for the two lovebirds, who weren’t very comfortable either.

  That morning, Samantha Rogers left for the ward to bring them food. Their biggest problem was water. Drinking water was only available in the ward. In New Hope, it was never a good idea to carry big bags. The fuller the bag appeared, the more attractive it became for thieves. As many of her friends were going to the ward, she decided to join them. She bought ten liters of water. She was fortunate that some of the men vacationing in her group offered to carry her purchases.

  After walking only a few hundred meters, a blonde woman caught up with them. She was all made up, with mascara, foundation, and lipstick. She obviously didn’t fit in. In New Hope, women usually avoided walking the streets looking like that. A woman wouldn’t want to draw attention to herself in that way in New Hope—as she might in the outside civilization. Here things were quite different. If you turned a man on too much, he might try to rape you, with no consequences.

  The blonde called out to Samantha, who turned to face her. She had never seen her before.

  “Who are you?” asked Samantha.

  “My name is Rose Brooks and I work for the National Security Office. I would like to speak to you for a few minutes. Alone.”

  “What’s the National Security Office doing here? Since when does it have jurisdiction over New Hope?”

  This was interesting. As far as Samantha knew, the NSO dealt only in possible attacks from other countries. Its main purpose was to fight against terrorism.

  “It doesn’t. That is why you are in no way obligated to talk to me.”

  “Well good-bye then.” Samantha turned around to continue walking with her friends.

  “It might help Nathan.”

  She stopped. How did this woman know Nathan Green? She also knew Samantha, since she called her by her name. Maybe she really did work for the NSO. But what if this was a trap? What if she was an undercover sheriff sent to capture them both?

  But something didn’t quite add up. If she knew Samantha’s name, then she also knew where she was staying while in New Hope. If she worked for the sheriffs, all she had to do was pay Samantha and her friends a visit. Judging by what Dylan and Nathan said, the sheriffs had no problem with breaking down doors. In any case, their situation was desperate. They had no promising plan. They needed to get on The Island of the Rich. But after that, the plan lacked substance. Help was welcome from anyone. Maybe this was their chance. Dylan and Nathan won’t last for long after she leaves New Hope.

  “So what do you want?” asked Samantha.

  That was enough to let Rose know she had the right person, that Samantha, indeed, knew Nathan Green and was hiding him. She gave herself away.

  “Allow me to accompany you. I will tell you on the way.”

  “No. Tell me here what it is you have to tell me. I don’t hide anything from my friends.”

  “Very well. As you know, the sheriffs made a raid the day before yesterday. Many people were shot. Some were killed. They have all been identified. I accessed the authorities’ camera feeds, including the ones at the subway. Two people from the building escaped. Nobody knows how. Those two people are Nathan Green and Dylan Smith. I’ve reviewed the last few days’ recordings of Nathan Green. You showed
up in a few of them. By associating with them, you are also in danger. You and all your friends you arrived here with. If I managed to make the connection between you two, then the sheriffs will also make it. It’s just a matter of days. Maybe even hours.”

  Rose paused in order to observe their reactions. Samantha and her friends were all listening. Although Samantha Rogers was emotionally involved, the others were there only for fun. They didn’t want to get into anything complicated. Their situation already crumbled as it was. Now Rose was talking about dead people and imminent danger. That was just too much for her friends. Not even Samantha could ask for their support in her endeavor.

  “Let’s go. We must all have a talk,” said Rose Brooks. Samantha thanked her friends with helping her carry the water and food and returned to her studio with Rose.

  Samantha Rogers opened the door and entered the studio together with Rose Brooks. Dylan thought she was a friend of hers, so he paid no attention to the guest. He walked over to help out with the water and the rest of the items she bought. He and Nathan were also quite hungry.

  “Boys, this woman here works for the National Security Office.”

  Silence. Nathan Green had found some fresh bread and stopped eating it mid-chew. They both froze. Neither made a gesture. Was Samantha kidding? How could she joke during such moments?

  “Don’t be scared,” said Rose. “I am not here to hurt you. If I wanted to hurt you, I would have gone about this another way. I am here to help you. And I ask for your help in exchange.”

  This was for real. Nether girl was even smiling. Should Dylan grab his gun? It was too late for that. However, thinking about it, she was right. If she wanted to, she could have ended them. Just like the sheriffs tried to. Rose Brooks sensed their anxiety. Rose approached each of them and shook their hands, smiling.

  “By the way, I am Rose Brooks. You must be Dylan. And you Nathan. You’re probably wondering how I found you? The recordings at the subway. The surveillance cameras even record the signal emitted by the bracelets. You may not realize that when you use your bracelets as a mobile phone, the signal emitted is traceable. I understand that in that sector, the sheriffs killed nine people. They’ve all been identified. Three of them lived in different areas, which is very suspicious. Even more suspicious is that two minutes of recordings are missing from the archives at the subway, beginning from when you two arrived there.

  Someone does not want you two to have any connection to the three dead people who lived out of area. But they weren’t careful enough to also erase when you re-entered the station. I suspected something was wrong because you had no active bracelets. I had to search the archives to find the recordings of the three who died. Then I found you at the gym. And I looked for any of your friends. That’s how I found Samantha Rogers.”

  “If there are no laws, why is New Hope swarming with cameras?” asked Dylan. It is like big brother in George Orwell’s 1984 or something?”

  “It’s just to maintain balance, so that maniacs and madmen don’t roam the streets freely—and most importantly, to avoid the formation of gangs. Gangs are dangerous in New Hope’s eyes. Once they’re formed, it’s difficult to break them apart.”

  “What do you want from us?” asked Dylan.

  “New Hope hasn’t always been like this,” started Rose. “Initially, the same rules applied to everyone. But ten years ago, some very strange murders took place. The victims were people who visited New Hope out of curiosity, tourists, as we call them. As there was no budget for a more conclusive investigation, many of the murders were never solved.

  “The public eventually found out about the murders. This led to outside pressure from civilians for a resolution to keep safe those who wished to visit New Hope. So Garry King came up with an idea: New Hope should have a secure, restricted area. The idea was approved and implemented. That is how The Island of the Rich came into being. No murders occur there. The state and the people were satisfied.

  “However, the existence of this new privileged area caused an imbalance. First of all, for those who refused the confrontation, if they had enough money, they could bribe someone to help find him refuge at the Island of the Rich, all while leading a luxurious life. So a lot of illegal requests for access to the island were being granted. Profiteers emerged. People traveling to and from the island were no longer controlled by the state, but by Garry King, which gave him extraordinary power.

  “In essence, Garry King is the true ruler of New Hope. He can do anything without being held accountable. Dylan’s story is not unique. Many others are in his situation. Although I must admit Dylan’s case is somewhat unusual. Most times, the sheriffs capture and kill who they pursue. Officially, they report the victim was killed in his room by unknown perpetrators. However, sometimes there are survivors, and they pretty much all mention the same name: Krugar.

  “Krugar’s real name is Fyodor Kuznetsov. He is a murderer who was sent here fifteen years ago. He has a quick temper and created many problems. He committed many murders, both out in civilization and here in New Hope. He was checked into different psychiatric hospitals thirty times. He passed the psychological tests by the skin of his teeth each and every time, and they were forced to release him. He then would commit even more atrocities.

  “Garry King approached him with the offer to do his dirty work. Krugar gladly accepted. The Island of the Rich soon became more than a business. It was a court of law that dealt sentences: deciding who lived and who died, which is against all principles according to which New Hope was created.

  “At first we were just suspicions, now we’re almost certain. All we need is hard evidence. That’s why we need you. And seeing as you have nowhere turn, the logical decision would be to for you to help us.”

  Rose didn’t even ask them if they were willing to help her or not. But she was right; she was their only chance. They would have done anything to escape. If Krugar was the only obstacle, maybe they could manage on their own, although they were finding that extremely difficult already. But with the sheriffs after them, it was seemingly impossible.

  And even more important, Dylan could prove his innocence in Lydia’s death. And that mattered greatly.

  “We must hurry,” said Rose. No one is safe here. Samantha Rogers, you must leave New Hope and return home right away.”

  Samantha sadly glanced over at Nathan. “Okay.”

  “Pack your bags as quickly as possible. I’ll talk to your friends as well. They’ll stay the duration. If anyone asks them why you left in such a hurry, they’ll say Nathan Green came to you, told you everything, and asked for your help. You got scared and left. It was just too much for you. The others are staying because they paid for this vacation and they don’t think they’re in any danger. Some don’t even believe this whole story. It’s very important not to mention our meeting. It would misdirect their actions for a while.”

  Samantha Rogers sat on the only bed in the room. She listened, captivated, as if she wasn’t involved in all this. Leaving seemed like a good idea. She hated complications, especially if they meant involving her friends. However, she made no effort to move until Rose gave her a warning glare. Only then did she take out her bag and started packing.

  “Remember, no matter who asks, say nothing about me until I contact you personally. All you know is that you got scared and left. Nothing else.”

  “Okay.”

  After Samantha packed all her belongings, they chose a less-traveled road to use to reach the subway station. The separation was easier than Nathan Green expected. Their emotions were focused on more important things. On the other hand, Samantha Rogers hadn’t had enough time to actually fall in love. She helped them because she had a kind heart. She hated trouble and thought she’d put her friends in danger if she stayed. That convinced her to sacrifice the rest of her vacation. It was money lost, as well as fun forgone. She knew there were good things about Nathan Green, as well as bad things too, so the situation was well balanced. She didn’t cry a
fter him, but she wished him well. She left no contact number. He could find out more about her from the NSO agent, if needed.

  Rose, Dylan, and Nathan then left, heading to a new hideout, careful to avoid the surveillance cameras. The agent was walking 50 meters in front of them, guiding them and at the same time, keeping safe in case of an ambush. After almost two hours, they reached the new building. Their studio was on the second floor. Inside, they found the same old décor: bed on one side, table in the middle, and shelves standing for wardrobe on the other side.

  They were tired, thirsty, and hungry. Fortunately, they found food and water in the room—cans and packages with extended expiration dates. They ate and drank greedily. The studio was arranged in such a way that if any unexpected visitor entered the room, he wouldn’t suspect a thing.

  There was no time for rest. After they finished eating, the agent informed them what she required from them.

  Chapter 23

  “Mr. Garry King, I thank you for the honor of granting me this interview.”

  “It is my pleasure to speak with you. I admire your work and professionalism.”

  “That’s too much,” said a member of Garry King’s team. “It might seem you want to seduce her. Only answer with ‘My pleasure.’”

  Garry King always requested assistance with his media appearances. His team was present trying to temper him whenever he went just off-flow. The anchorwoman Sally Donte was one of the sexiest women in the industry. She also worked as a model and was well known for her appetite for influential men. So Garry King needed now more than ever someone to advise him regarding the appropriateness of his answers. Otherwise he risked saying whatever his interviewer wanted to hear. The interview wasn’t live, so they could do as many takes as necessary.

  “I’d like to discuss the recent protests in New Hope,” continued Sally. “It would seem they are growing in number. What, in fact, is the issue? What are they rebelling about?”

  “You know how it is… there will always be someone who’s dissatisfied. No matter the provision we offer them and no matter how much we do for them, they will always ask for more. And let us not forget they receive everything for free.