by A. M. White
“Forward.” Caleb pushed me.
“Is Timothy okay?” I asked further down the corridor.
“I have no idea.” He mumbled. I could tell he was taken aback by her statement also.
I dutifully allowed the medics to do their thing upon arrival. Once I was all geared up, I was taken in to see Jason.
This time, the cuffs remained on my wrists and two medics accompanied me. They walked ahead of me, to Jason’s head. They cranked the bed up to a seated position.
Jason looked at me and smiled. I burst into tears. I grabbed his hand. “Can you feel me?”
He squeezed my hand and nodded. He began to cry too.
“Are you in any pain?” I had to ask.
He shrugged and made a sign with his other hand; a little.
I giggled between sputters. “I’ll take it.” I confessed.
He nodded again.
The medics pulled back the sheets. One of them took his other arm. “You are going to get up now.”
I shot her a glare. “Already?”
“Yes, the sooner the better.” She replied.
Jason coaxed his legs to the side of the bed. He let them dangle over the edge for a minute to try them out.
The medics assisted him. He wobbled, so they continued to steady him. He put one foot forward and shifted his weight. One step, then another, and another followed. A strange sound came from Jason and I realized he laughed.
I wrapped my arms around him. I felt so much relief. He would be okay. “Jason! You are amazing.”
He wriggled free from the medics and hugged me back. He cried against me. The sounds he made were gargled.
I stepped back and held his hands in front of me. He knew I wanted him to walk to me. He watched his feet as they moved closer to mine. Then he looked me in the eyes. The look he gave me was unmistakable. He had feelings for me.
I sighed and dropped his hands. This was not the time to address it. “I am proud of you. You have been through so much.”
The medics took him back to the bed.
“You have to practice, Jason. As much as you can.” I told him.
He motioned to the medics to get him a pen and paper. They brought them from the counter.
Jason scribbled two words:
Alex
Timothy
“They are going to be fine, too.” I answered.
He smiled.
Then he wrote: You?
I wiped my nose with the back of my hand. “I’m okay Jason. I always am.”
He reached for me. I cautiously took his hand. He caressed the back of my hand with his thumb.
“Time.” Crackled over the intercom.
“I have to go.” I leaned in to hug him. I whispered in his ear. “We are leaving soon.” I backed away. He locked eyes with me. “Practice. Promise?”
He mouthed, “Promise.”
The walk back to my room was silent. Neither of us wanted to draw any more attention. This morning had been a close call with Lori. There was no need to create a problem.
Caleb held my arms as he unlocked the cuffs. His thumb circled the skin on my wrist. I searched his visor and caught a glimpse of his white eyes. He bowed slightly and left me alone.
The silence haunted me. It was a long time until tomorrow.
Caleb
The night was restless. I tossed and turned for hours. My anxiety was too high to sleep.
I pretended to be asleep when my roommate came in from duty. He dropped his gear by the wall and stalked over to me. “Get up.” He shook my shoulder.
It was go time.
“Everything good?” I asked. I peeled myself from the bed. It was early morning.
“You wouldn’t believe what Lori did to the mole prisoner.” He shook his head. “She gave him some sort of drug. The guy was unconscious by the time we got to him.”
Fear struck me. I began to pull on my uniform. I tried to act as normal as possible.
“Is he okay?” I ventured.
“What do I care?” He stated in finality. My roommate flopped down on his bed. Before I was dressed, his breath slowed.
I crept over to his belt on the floor. His knife was sheathed in its case there. I put my hand on the leather.
He moaned. I jumped back. He snored gently.
I quickly pulled out the knife and tucked it between my boot and sock. I sighed in relief.
I pushed a box of extra ammo into my pocket. My hands shook. The bullets jingled softly.
I looped my belt through the pants and holstered my pistol. I eyed my roommate’s. I decided not push my luck.
The bag that contained the boots for Cara and Timothy were tucked under my bed. I grabbed them last.
My body moved on autopilot down the maze of corridors to the medical unit. I scanned my badge to enter.
One of the desk clerk security officers reclined in his chair. His feet were propped up on the counter. He glanced at me and yawned.
“Long night?” I asked like I do every morning.
He stretched. “My bed is calling me. Thank goodness I am relieved in five minutes.”
I chuckled and approached him from behind. I hit the top of his head with the butt of my rifle. He immediately slumped down in the chair. If anyone came into the room, he would appear to be asleep.
I sprinted into the hall of patient doors. I swiped my badge to open Cara’s door first. I figured she would help me to get her brother out.
She sprang from her bed, fully clothed, and ran to me. I dropped the bag of shoes on the floor and handed her the smaller pair. She stepped into them quickly.
“Lori did something to Timothy. I don’t know what shape he will be in.” I explained.
Her face flushed with anger.
“How much time do we have?” She asked as we jogged down the hall.
“About four minutes.” I panted. “Unless Bryce has an issue.”
I scanned Timothy’s door. Cara ran in first.
“Get up! Get up!” She yelled as she ran to his bed.
Timothy sat up groggily. “What? Cara?”
She punched him in the arm. “Get up now! We are leaving!”
He sprang from the mattress, ready to fight her. He was in shock and tried to get his bearings. Cara pulled a shirt from the bedside table and pushed it on him.
“Are you real?” Timothy blinked. “What about Alex and Jason?” He asked, still blurry-eyed.
“Bryce is getting them. I need you to hurry!” I yelled at him.
He put on the shirt and realized Cara wasn’t alone. “Who is he? He isn’t one of Lori’s?” He shook with fear.
“Just shut up and do what I say!” Cara punched him in the arm again.
She dragged him over to me. I waited with the boots.
“Get those on!” Cara commanded.
He did as he was told. He was bigger than I imagined. His muscles contracted as he moved.
“Here.” I gave Cara the extra knife. “Follow me.”
I ran from the room. We barged through the security station.
Lori opened the opposite door to the station. We stopped in our tracks. Timothy backed into a corner and crouched.
Lori was bewildered for a split second as she calculated the situation in her head. Her eyes shot over to the control board in front of the incapacitated clerk. She bolted for it.
Cara caught her arm before she had the chance to push it. She whirled Lori around and slit her throat. Lori fell to the ground. She wiped the knife on Lori’s smock. Cara turned her head toward me. “She deserved it.”
My mouth hung agape.
“No time to get squeamish.” She announced and caught the door, which still was ajar.
Timothy was still in the corner. I grabbed his arm. “She is gone! She can’t hurt you anymore.”
There was a flash of realization in his eyes. He ran his hands through his dark hair. I noticed several dark scabs along his hairline.
“Timothy, get yourself together!” Cara spoke sternly to h
er brother.
He took my hand and slowly rose to his feet.
We ran down the hall at full speed.
“Left up ahead!” I called out.
We darted around the corner. Luckily, no one was in our way. I didn’t want Cara to leave a trail of people in our path.
Timothy kept up well. I heard his breath close behind. He seemed winded.
At the next turn, I pushed Cara against the wall. “There may be people ahead. Put your hands in front of you to look like they are cuffed. Move briskly; I will have my gun drawn for effect.” I instructed them.
They lead the way. We passed a carrier that eyed my prisoners. She was too busy to inspect them closely.
At the end of the hall, a guard was posted. Sweat trickled from my temples. The helmet concealed my wild eyes.
“State your business.” He ordered.
“Transport of level 3 prisoners.” I replied.
“Name?” He questioned.
“Caleb.” I answered.
“Pass.” He moved from the path.
We continued.
At little further down, I directed them to the right.
“Run!” I gasped.
They picked up speed. We were almost there.
The alarms sounded.
“Go! Go!” I yelled frantically. “There! Turn there!” I screamed over the sirens.
There they were; the rest of the escape crew. They waved to us to hurry. I didn’t see Alex, Bryce, or Jason among the crowd.
Bryce
Jason wasn’t as light as I imagined he would be. I pumped my legs as fast as I could. The muscles in my back burned from his weight. We were so close, when the alarms sounded.
My arrival into critical went as planned this morning. Caleb and I synchronized our rescue to give me exactly ten minutes between the shifts.
I simply walked in the lobby with my guns drawn. The two medics on duty flinched.
“Hands up, don’t move!” I growled.
Their hands immediately shot up. Medics weren’t trained for combat. I knew this part would be easy.
“Put your hands on your head and come around the counter. If you cooperate, you will live.” I promised.
Both medics looked terrified, but they followed my instructions. I cuffed them and ripped the badges from their necks.
“To Alex’s door.” I demanded.
I pushed them ahead of me. I holstered one of the guns. I used one of the medic’s badges to gain access. The door slid open.
Alex popped up from her bed. “What’s going on?” She was surprised to see a guard usher the two medics inside.
“Get on the ground and stay still.” I ordered the medics. They obliged.
“We are getting out of here.” I threw the bag of boots at her. She caught it with her one arm. “Put on a pair, now!”
“What? Where are the others?” She stood with a dumfounded expression on her face.
“We are meeting Cara and Timothy! Hurry! We have to get Jason.” I held the gun over the two on the floor. “I promise. You have to trust me.”
Her eyes moved between the bag and me. She decided that I provided a better option than imprisonment.
She clumsily put the shoes on.
“Come on!” I took her by the arm and we backed out of the room. The door closed.
I dragged her to Jason’s room. “I might need your help.” I gave her one of the guns. I swiped the medics badge again.
The door opened. We ran inside. Jason slowly sat up. His mouth hung wide at the sight of Alex.
“Get up Jason! I’m getting you two out of here.” I yanked the sheets back. I grabbed his ankles and pushed the boots onto them.
Alex wrapped her arm under his and helped him to his feet. “Can you run? This guy is taking us to Cara and Timothy.”
He shook his head. His eyes apologized.
I handed Alex the packs of supplies I carried. “You; hold these.” I bent my knees and threw Jason over my shoulder. “Sorry buddy, we gotta move! Cover me Alex.”
I shifted Jason to scan us out. As soon as the door opened, I bolted through the lobby and into the tunnels.
“We don’t have time to make this clean. Shoot on sight.” I huffed.
Alex paused and cocked the pistol between her knees. She immediately came back into pace with me.
A soldier came around the corner. Before he had a chance to pull his gun, Alex shot him. I leapt over his body.
A few tunnels later the alarms sounded. The siren blared. I couldn’t hear Alex behind me anymore, but I felt her.
Two soldiers entered the hallway from behind us. A shot was fired at us. I turned back to see Alex take them both down without hesitation.
We were close; so very close.
“Down to the right!” I yelled back to her. My muscles threatened to give out. “Not now.” I said aloud.
I skidded into the next tunnel.
The stairs were empty. My head cocked to see the door above. Timothy had his body wedged between a small gap; to hold it open.
“Timothy!” Alex screamed to him.
“I can’t hold it much longer!” He struggled to answer.
We bounded up the stairs.
“Stop!” A voice demanded from below.
Guns fired. The bullets ricocheted against the metal of the stairs. Alex shot down the stairwell
as she ran. Another round blasted toward us.
Instantly, I felt immense pain in my calf. I hunched over and let Jason fall on the landing.
“Get out!” Timothy strained.
I held my wound and limped toward Timothy. He gave a mighty heave and held the door for me. I wove between his arms and out into the night.
Alex dragged Jason with one arm, as she grunted and moaned. Gun fire rang out again. She fell through the opening with Jason. Timothy slid away from the door.
We all collapsed into the nettles and leaves. The heavy door clanged shut. Gears turned inside the metal and a great lock clicked into place.
We were free.
Epilogue
I knew something was different the moment I woke. I heard voices outside my shack. That wasn’t allowed.
I hurried to slide on my shoes. I glanced at the empty cot across from me. Andrew had disappeared one night and never came back.
He wasn’t the only one. That same night, half of the laborers had been taken. Poof! Gone in a flash, like they never existed. I remembered him, though. He had existed.
I cautiously peeked through the cracked door. There was no meal pail on my doorstep.
Someone walked past. He had a pitchfork in his hands. He stopped when he noticed that I was at the door. I recognized him from the fields. He operated irrigation for the crops. He was calloused and bulky.
“Rise and shine! Get out here; you have to see this!” The direct communication scared me. His voice was thick with a southern accent. He gestured to the perimeter.
I walked into the daylight. He trudged ahead of me. A large crowd of laborers had gathered by the wall that lined the vegetable field.
They created a lot of noise. I whirled around to see if any of the dirt dwellers had come to intervene. I didn’t see a single soldier or guard.
When I got closer to the mob, I saw that they used farm tools to beat against the wall. Small shards of wood fell to the ground.
Several people were on top of the wall. I couldn’t recall seeing them before. There were two girls. One was very petite with short cropped hair. She began to climb down the formidable structure with a teenage boy in tow. The other girl was missing an arm. She kept an eye on both sides of the wall. Her movements made me believe that there were more people on the other side.
The leader was tall muscular man with dark hair. He yelled to the crowd. “Today, you will be free! Free to decide if you will make your own way or fight against those that enslaved you!”
People in the horde cheered.
The man allowed the girl with the missing arm to climb on his back. He mo
ved down the surface of the wall like an animal. I had never seen anyone move like that.
“Out of the way!” The stocky worker pulled my arm. I spun around to see one of the compound’s tractors rev its engine as it plowed by.
“What happened?” I asked him.
He smiled broadly; his leathery, sun burned cheeks stretched. “They are all gone! All of them. They are gone for some reason. Must’ve run back down underground.”
I couldn’t process it. For years, I worked under their iron fist.
The tractor plowed into the wooden structure. It swayed back and forth violently, before it tumbled in on itself.
Books in The Roar series
The Roar
Into the Roar
And coming, spring of 2017
Above the Roar