by Petosa, Jess
“Are you here to spy on us?” Heath leaned forward in his chair, his forearms resting on the desk.
So he was going to get right to it, it seemed.
“No,” Ally responded. “We left the City on our own about a month ago.”
“You escaped the City?” Heath seemed interested now, leaning forward even more. “How?”
“Is that really important right now?” Ally asked. “We aren’t here to hurt you, we just want to get to the southern City. We have some friends headed there. Maybe you’ve seen them?”
Heath held up his hand to stop her. “I think you’ll find that I’m going to have a lot of questions to ask you, and I’m going to need the majority of them answered. If you want to stay in this town, we’ll need your cooperation. You saw how the others out there acted. Having one of your kind around is going to unsettle them. I should send you out the door and on your way, let you fend for yourself in the Wilderness.”
“My kind?” Ally laughed. Had she been this put off by Exceptionals when she was an Ordinary? No, definitely not. “I used to be one of your kind not too long ago, and I don’t remember being this arrogant. Maybe we should leave.”
Both Heath and Max appeared shocked at this information, as they should be. Ally could see Max move nervously beside her but it was Heath’s expression she was watching. His eyes grew wide and the color drained from his face.
“You what?”
“Didn’t you hear her?” Stosh leaned forward.
Heath brought his hands up and rubbed them along his cheeks. “That isn’t possible.”
“Oh, but it is.” Ally smirked. “And I can tell you how.”
“Are you contagious?” Max asked from beside her.
Ally raised an eyebrow at him. “No. No one has been contagious in over a century.”
“You said there were others?” Heath asked.
“Yes. Have you seen them?” It was Stosh who asked the question.
“A large group passed north a few weeks back. They were doing the same as you, passing through our town and headed south. We helped them cross through the Guard outpost in small groups, but a half dozen of them chose to stay behind.”
Ally jumped up. “Where are they? Can we speak to them?”
“In time,” Heath said. “First, we’ll need you to go to processing. If you are staying that is.”
They were definitely going to stay. Ally needed to speak with the others, and soon. She resisted the urge to use her abilities to burst their way out of the building and through the crowd, but she knew that wouldn’t go over well.
“Processing?” Willow asked, looking particularly green at the moment.
Max pushed away from the wall. “We hold you overnight to make sure you aren’t contaminated in any way. The doctors run some tests and ask some question; simple things.”
Ally could feel her pulse racing. Doctors? Tests? This was all starting to feel familiar. She could hear a quickening heartbeat beside her. Willow.
“Is it necessary?” Willow croaked.
Understanding flashed across Heath’s face. “You two were placed in the ORC, weren’t you?”
Now it was Ally’s turned to be surprised. “How did you…?”
Max shifted uncomfortably beside her.
“It seems as though we both have information the other would like to hear,” he smirked. “We’ll talk tomorrow, after you’ve been to the processing center. Oh, and welcome to Champaign.”
Four Ordinary men entered the room on that note, apparently ready to escort Ally and her friends to the processing center. Ally didn’t know why they were needed at all. She wasn’t planning on running and if she were, these men would not be able to stop her.
As if Stosh’s thoughts mimicked her own, she watched her brother roll his eyes.
“It isn’t for you,” Max responded to the look on her face. “It is for the others.”
Ally smirked. “I forgot. I’m the big, bad Exceptional in town.”
CHAPTER SIX
The “processing center” turned out to be a two story home several streets over from Heath’s office. There was a small reception area set up in the living room of the house, and the kitchen had been turned into a medical lab of sorts. The four upstairs bedrooms were rooms for monitoring incoming Ordinarys, or in Ally’s case, Exceptionals, and for housing anyone traveling through.
A kind, older woman, who introduced herself as Mona, greeted their group.
She instructed them to sit on an old, floral patterned couch in the living room area while she took them to the back room one by one. The small group of Ordinary men stayed by Ally, keeping watch over her.
Ally was called back last, and she was feeling optimistic since the rest of her group had come out happy and unharmed. Even Willow seemed to be at ease when she plopped back down on the couch.
“Ally, is it?” The doctor asked when Ally pushed a blue curtain aside to enter the room. There was a large exam table in the center of the room, and most of the wall space was covered in cabinets and countertops. The doctor was a female, with dark hair braided down her back.
“Yes, short for Allona.” She sat down in a metal chair the doctor was motioning to with her hand. Once Ally was seated, the doctor started to make notes on her clipboard.
“You can call me Carla. I’m one of ten doctors here in town.” She smiled, still looking at the paper, and Ally could see the corner of her eyes crinkle. “We have a fully functioning hospital a few miles away, but this is much more homey for the processing. I’ll just need to measure your height and weight, check your vitals, and then draw some blood for further testing,
Ally nodded, noticing that the Ordinary men hadn’t followed her in here. There was a large window to her right, easy access for an escape route. Not that she was planning on running, but Heath had taken measures to have her guarded. Why call them off now?
“Because here, we have a fair fight,” Carla looked up for the first time and smirked.
Violet eyes sparkled back at Ally, causing her to gasp. “You’re an Exceptional?”
“These aren’t contacts,” She said with a laugh.
“But… how…. these people, don’t they hate Exceptionals?” Ally asked.
“They hate the ones they don’t know as well as me. I’ve been with this group for many decades.”
“How did you get away from the City?”
“I was never in the City,” she responded. “Now up and out of that chair so I can measure you properly.”
Ally did as she was asked, keeping her gaze on the woman. “You can read minds?”
Carla nodded. “Among other, less useful, abilities. I don’t make it a habit of flaunting them when not necessary. The people of this town might accept me, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t cautious around me.”
Ally stood straight while the doctor measured her height, and remained still as her weight was taken. She sat on the exam table in silence while Carla took several vials of blood, taking extra care with her veins even though her Exceptional body barely felt any pain.
Once the tests were over Ally pressed for more answers. “So, if you didn’t live in the City, how did you get here? Where did you come from?”
Carla smiled softly. “I’ve always lived in the Wilderness, Ally. Not all Exceptionals migrated to the big cities and set up new lives. Some of us stayed behind with our families and friends. Some of us gave up what might have looked like a greater plan, to be with those we loved.” The doctor made a note on her clipboard. “You are dismissed.”
“I have more questions,” Ally blurted out.
“Come back another day. If you still have questions, I’ll do my best to answer them.”
Ally stood and nodded. She couldn’t see why she wouldn’t still have questions by the following day. She was anxious to learn all she could about the Wilderness, and gather any useful information about the City. She would definitely be back.
When she stepped into the front room, she found that t
he others were still waiting on the couch. The Ordinary men sent to guard her stood by the front door, chatting in low voices with Max. Ally thought about what Carla had said, about Exceptionals being in the Wilderness, and having been born there. She had always assumed that all Exceptionals lived in the City; especially with the way Aden collected the powerful ones. She had just about had enough of Stosh’s finger tapping when Mona, the older woman at the desk, took a call on a large phone.
Mona nodded her head and gave a few “uh-huhs” before hanging up the phone. She turned toward Max.
“They’ve cleared the Exceptional, the tall boy, and the red headed girl for immediate housing on Block C. Heath doesn’t think it’s necessary for them to spend the night here. The other two, however, will need to stick around until tomorrow.”
“What? No.” Ally jumped up. “Why weren’t they cleared?” She motioned to Willow and Cody.
“The girl, whom I am told is pregnant, needs to be monitored more closely. She hasn’t received proper nutrition or care from a doctor, both of which we can offer her. The boy is also lacking in his nutrition, and is well below the weight average for his age.”
Willow and Cody were looking thinner than usual, but Ally thought she, Stosh, and Sabine were as well. Life on the run had been rough, but at least they had survived. An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of Ally’s stomach.
“It’s fine, Ally. I wouldn’t mind a warm bed and some pampering,” Willow said with a smile. “And Cody here can keep me company.”
Cody smiled and played with his tattered shirt nervously. “If it means good food, I’m in.”
Ally couldn’t stand here and argue with Mona when Willow and Cody were so willing to stay.
“Just drop it, Al,” Stosh said from behind her. “Let’s get out of here.”
Max nodded. “I’ll take you myself.” He looked at the Ordinary men standing guard. “You’re dismissed.”
Ally held back as Max led them from the processing center, sticking close to Stosh’s side.
“What did you think of the doctor?” she asked.
“Not what I was expecting,” Stosh responded. “I would have thought with the way the Ordinarys here responded to you, that Exceptionals wouldn’t be welcome here.”
“She told me that she hasn’t lived in any of the cities. She grew up in the Wilderness.”
“Strange,” he replied. “Well, whatever the reason, we have a safe place to stay tonight.”
Ally nodded, gripping the pack slung over her back. The vaccinations were still bundled at the bottom, and more than once she thought about what it would be like to take one from the pack and inject the serum into her arm. She tried to imagine what it would be like to feel her abilities and strength diminish. Would the effects be immediate, or would her Exceptional traits fade over time?
She picked up her pace and took stride beside Max. “The others from our settlement… are they in Block C?”
Max nodded. “Yes. Block C is kind of a place for the people in town who don’t have anywhere else to go. Travelers passing through, new residents, orphans, widows, etc. I live in a house with a few other guys my age.”
“Where are your parents?” Ally asked, immediately regretting it. She watched as Max’s jaw hardened.
“Gone, and my Uncle Heath has his own family to deal with,” he said quickly. “It isn’t so bad.”
“Stosh and I are orphans too, you know. Our mother is dead, and we never knew our father.”
She could sense Max relax a little beside her. “Then you’ll fit right in.”
Block C was at the far end of the town, and was filled with tall and thin houses that were smashed together into one long building. Each unit had its own door and yard, and all were identical on the outside, and most likely identical on the inside. They had only passed two of the homes when a female came jogging toward them. She had chin length hair the color of straw, and large, blue eyes. She was a spindly girl, with long legs and arms.
“Max,” she squealed. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Are these our new guests? The girls will be staying in our house for the night… so fun!”
The girl gave Stosh a once over, her eyebrow gaining height in approval. Sabine stiffened by his side and Ally rolled her eyes.
“And he will be staying with you.” She smiled at Stosh.
Ally felt instantly annoyed with this girl. She reminded her of Fern, a spunky girl she and Stosh had grown up with in the settlement. She was loud, and outgoing, and always hanging all over the boys. They didn’t have much tolerance for such behavior in the settlement, so by the time they were old enough for work, Po had worked hard to change Fern’s behavior. Fern didn’t think she could be tamed, so she volunteered to head to the City, thinking she would have more freedom. Ally now knew the truth about what had happened to Fern.
But this girl, the blonde, appeared to be ten Ferns combined.
“Brooke,” Max finally addressed her. “This is Ally, her brother Stosh, and Stosh’s girlfriend, Sabine.”
He hesitated after the word girlfriend, as if to get the point across. Max knew what kind of girl Brooke was as well, and Ally was having trouble deciding if he liked it or not. He was wearing a half grin on his face, using a free hand to mess up his already tousled hair.
“Come come girls!” Brooke said while waving her hand frantically.
“Don’t make me,” Ally whispered toward Max.
He laughed and gave her shoulder a pat. “She doesn’t bite… usually.”
Brooke spun in place and put her hand on her hips. “I have so much to show you.”
“Really?” Sabine asked, looking apprehensive about leaving Stosh’s side.
“You’ll see.” Brooke dragged the last word out, turning into some sort of a song.
Ally grabbed Sabine’s hand and pulled her along, not wanting to prolong whatever had to be seen any longer. She observed Brooke from behind. She was wearing jeans but these were different than the ones she had seen earlier. These were tight, clinging to her skin from the top of her waist all the way down to her ankle. Her blue shirt was tight as well, hugging the curves of her body.
“It is like the movies,” Sabine whispered. “The movies we watched back in the City. The girls dressed this way, remember?”
Ally nodded. “I remember. Maybe the old world isn’t as forgotten as we thought.”
“I don’t know,” Sabine responded. “Maybe it needed to be forgotten.”
Brooke led them into the second row of homes and abruptly turned up the walk of the first house.
We have the end house,” Brooke flicked a piece of hair from in front of her eyes. “It has more space, plus more windows since we don’t share both sides with another home.”
She smiled at them proudly.
Sabine raised her hands, seemingly to clap, but Ally stopped her. She held back a laugh as Brooke turned and bounced up the steps, motioning for them to follow.
“Andrea! Alexis!” Brooke yelled as soon as they stepped into the house. “We have guests.”
There was a loud bang on the second level followed by the pounding of footsteps. Two tall and thin blondes pounded down the steps and stopped in front of Ally and Sabine, their blue eyes glistening.
“Whoa,” Ally and Sabine said at the same time.
“I know, right?” The blonde on the right said. “We look like sisters, don’t we?”
“So you’re an Exceptional?” the blonde on the left asked. She reached forward as if to touch Ally but Brooke slapped her hand away.
Ally managed to nod, entertaining the idea of backing slowly out of the home and running away with Sabine slung over her shoulder.
“Brooke motioned to the blonde on the left. “This is Andrea,” and then to the blonde on the right, “and this is Alexis.”
Sabine smiled and waved, while Ally just nodded.
“They are going to stay with us until…” Brooke frowned. “When did you say you were leaving?”
“We di
dn’t,” Ally pointed out.
“Whatever,” she said quickly. “They are going to stay with us as long as they need. As you can see, they are in need of a major clean up and a tour of the neighborhood.”
Andrea gave them a once over. “When is the last time you showered?”
“In a real shower?” Sabine thought. “Over a month ago. We’ve been using the streams to bathe.”
“Ew,” Alexis responded. “Well, we have a huge shower upstairs with warm, running water.”
Ally perked up at the news. They had electricity, working phones, running water that was warm, and who knew what else.
“We were told that others from our settlement were staying in these houses. We were hoping to meet up with them.”
Brooke nodded. “They are a few rows down I believe. We’ll stop and see them after we make you presentable. No offense, but you stink.”
Somehow Ally didn’t think she meant the “no offense” part, but she and Sabine followed her up the stairs and into a large bathroom. Large was an understatement. The bathroom was the size of a bedroom, at least.
“We did some renovations, turning the master bedroom into one big bathroom.” Brooke stood in the doorway. “We needed more than just two mirrors and sinks to get ready. I mean, this takes time.”
She motioned to herself and then continued.
“Towels are in that closet there. I’ll grab some clothes and set them on the stool over there,” she pointed to a comfortable looking stool that was situated in front of a huge mirror. “My clothes should fit you no problem, Ally. Sabine, I might need to run next door to the neighbor. She is slightly shorter, and wider.”
Brooke slipped from the room just before Sabine’s jaw hit the floor. “Unbelievable.”
“Do you want me to turn her to ash?” Ally asked.
“I’ll get back to you,” Sabine growled, stepped around a pile of clothes on the floor. Ally noticed that the counters were littered with small objects of different colors, and a random selection of jewelry.
“How do they find anything in here?” she asked.