Addie's smile halted because she hadn't thought about that, sure this place wasn't as nice as she hoped it would be but the ones in the market did look angry and desperate to make ends meet, “or not...” she whispered to herself.
Without taking more than ten minutes before she was forced to be an adult again. She once again had to think about her words, and know that somehow there would be consequences if the right information got to the wrong ears.
Even though he and Quinta were on the same page, Dane shook his head before he reached over to ruffle her hair, “Don't worry about it. I'll take you when we find more things to sell, I promise.” he muttered in her direction.
Addie was not entirely convinced because she knew exactly what that meant in Dane talk. Meaning he was going to set up the shop with her and pretty much act like the muscle and a body guard for her. This was his intent to make sure no one messed with his kid sister or short changed her.
Leon was waiting by the door sipping on his drink. With his back was pressed against the wall, he was slouching and slacking off only to perk up at the sound of their footsteps approaching him.
With a smile, he held the door open, “We're making good time, all aboard. I've been notified that your residences have been cleared and are all ready to go. I'll be dropping off Miss Patterson off first and then you two.”
They all hopped into the cart and puttered off down the road, “I'll be the one to drop off your schedules tomorrow. Everyone here must work and do their part here. You've already been assigned your priorities while here which will earn you rations, soap, and toilet paper. You will learn all of this in the rules and regulation manuals that have been left in your homes. You have one week to read through it before an official, usually me, will come by to pick them up. They must be reused if you understand. Don't worry about the job you have being mundane and repetitive because you won't be doing them as much as the others. Boy, do we have something special in mind for you guys.” He said with a laugh.
Leon then went tense in the lips because he immediately regretted what he said. Blundering, he went and told them enough information to know that something was amiss before they were to find out. The special treatment, the tour, early release, all of it now felt like a weight on his shoulders.
Quickly and nervously he spoke to save his ass, “Oh uh...forget I said that.”
All eyes were on Leon the moment he made his mistaken revelation.
Quinta held onto the side of the cart as he took a sharp right. From the way they picked up speed, it was obvious that he was trying to get rid of them now.
Quinta’s eyes narrowed at the back of Leon’s head, “How are we goin to forget wut yuh said? Wut do yuh mean special?” She asked.
This was not the first seed of distrust towards this environment but it was for him. Addie's big, blue eyes stared up at Leon's hardened profile. Now she could see that he was hiding more than he led on and used his chipper demeanor to distract their suspicions. At his silence, she then turned her body slightly to look to her brother for comfort and understanding, to see if he knew what was going on in the situation. Dane stayed silent as he looked to his sister with agreed suspicion.
Addie’s attention was briefly taken by the sound of singing coming and fading away. She turned to see a group of people standing on the sidewalk with hymn books in their hands and a hand-written sign that said “church here”. The building was adorned in hand made crosses and cut out letters to spell out encouragement of faith and trust.
“There's a church?” Addie asked before she thought.
With a huff, Dane rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. He was never much of a religious man but now, even more so than ever, it was hard to believe in a benevolent being after mass amounts of loss and chaos on this dying world.
Leon, on the other hand, was raised in belief of god. Of course, he'd only found himself at the church on holidays or in moments of true distress. But in the end even he hadn't been in quite a few months and it grated on his mentality to let that part of him go.
“Anyway, this is the church. Pretty cool, eh? The prominent religion in this sanctuary is Christianity. I've heard that they have a mosque a few northern states up but, this is what we've got.” He said.
His tone was a lot more serious now as he forced himself to focus and finish his task so that he could go home and unwind himself. Driving around a row of greenhouses that were flourishing with precious food and herbs, he slowed down a bit for them, “These are the collection of greenhouses. We've expanded with a few new ones in the last few weeks. They're looking for more gardeners to tend to them.” He pointed out.
Clearing his throat purposefully to allude that one of the three were assigned the job. About five more minutes down the road along the shorter eastern wall, he turned into a small parking lot and parked.
The building was a bright orange, old, double-story motel. The kind where even before the outbreak it was a dirtied harbor for undesirables and seedy people.
“And here we are, Quinta this will be your home, do you have everything?”
Quinta was silent the entire ride after Leon ignored her. She had glanced over at the church and skimmed at the greenhouses because she was much too worried about what Leon was hiding. There was a sickened, over worried feeling in the deepest part of her stomach and it nagged in the back of her mind. There was this sudden need for her to get as far away from this man as possible and just relax. She was overloaded and needed to get away from the stress and suspicions. They may have been safe but she was far from being worry free and Leon was the straw that broke the camel's back. Thankfully she was brought to her new “home”.
Rolling her lips in, Quinta readjusted the strap of her bags along her shoulder, “Yuh me 'ave everything.” she said to him in passing.
Dane looked to Quinta with his sister as though at a loss of how to act now that the time to part had come. Even though they'd only met just four short days ago, they had been through so much. Life, death, and safety. At least they knew where to go and visit her when the time came. Getting out of the cart first, Dane reached out, took a hold of her wrist, and pulled her under his arm.
Doing the same with Addie, who lowered her head, they joined together in a three-way hug before Dane released them, “I suggest you make the place nice for when we drop by. Which will be soon.” He said quietly for only the two of them to hear.
With a half-smile, Quinta was about to respond only for Addie to break away and bring her into a tight hug of her own which in turn caused Quinta to stumble back. Addie's face was buried into Quinta's chest and her arms were tightly wrapped around her back. Taking a glimpse up at Dane, Quinta gave a soft smile before she wrapped her arms around Addie's shoulders and kissed her on her temple.
“‘ey dere. Yuh actin like yuh never going to see me again.” She whispered to Addie.
Prying Addie away, Quinta sighed out and took the key that Leon held for her. Wandering over to the second floor, she held out a hand and waved to them before she unlocked it and pushed the door open. The first thing to hit her, other than the shaky sense of belonging, was a stale odor that proved this room had been empty for quite some time. With a flick of the light switch she was given the first look of her new home. The door shut behind her to block her away from Dane and Addie's view. The space was small, transformed, and fixed up to be a studio apartment, albeit small. These were the normal accommodations for single persons and couples without children.
There was a bed, a dresser, a bathroom, and a small kitchen with one counter top and both a salvaged stove and refrigerator. The rest would be up to her. The sound of Leon's horn going off caused her to look over her shoulder. Suddenly there was a sense of loneliness that rippled over her frame. While the strap of her bags fell from her shoulders and down her arms, she came to the realization for the first time in a year, she was safe and she was alone. Those two hadn't gone hand in hand in a very, very long time and for once she didn't know what to do.
Dane's arm stayed over his sister's shoulder and back while they watched Quinta disappear behind the door to her new home. Hesitantly, he turned back to the cart and lightly nudged Addie to climb back in. Taking another look over his shoulder at the building, what Leon said still hovered over his thoughts as they took off into the sunset.
Leon had done this gig a few times before but what lingered in his thoughts was the fact that they weren't family. Yet they seemed so close. Then again this was coming from a man who literally had nothing left in the world. Not a soul. He could scarcely remember how it felt to miss another person much less have them miss him in return.
The cart rumbled in front of an old, sad excuse of a building that had the gall to advertise that it was previously a condo. Like Quinta's building, this too was only two stories but the walls were a horrid white washed eyesore.
Leon ran his fingers through his hair, “End of the line, this will be your new home. Remember if you have any concerns, questions, anything at all, you can reach me at the police department. That's by the shopping district and don't forget the name is Lieutenant Leon Delacroix.” He announced to them.
Dane nodded, “Thank you.” He replied at Leon with a new-found distance.
Addie tucked her hair behind both ears and held onto her bag, “Yeah, thanks.” She said after her brother.
The day was long. With too much change and information thrown at them yet there was also the feeling that part of them was missing and sat across town. Hearing Leon drive off, they opened the door to their two bedrooms condo and like the Flash, Addie ran off to pick her room. Dane quietly checked the small, but livable, space. He hadn't seen a home in so long, he hadn't seen a place like this in working order and so clean. Even though they had the bare necessities to start their lives, he found himself traveling over to the window. The sound of Addie shrieking and letting out her happiness rang in the background. He pulled the curtain aside and simply stared out at the parking lot before he released a long, needed exhale. This place was far from perfect, it had stripped Addie, he, and Quinta bare before it put them back together but finally, he was able to breathe. Finally, he was home at last.
Chapter 6
All residents of this establishment receive a total of five minutes, per person, per twelve hours for showers. They are monitored and one will be cut off once maximum time limit is hit.
Flushing the toilet is only permitted for fecal or purge waste. Leftover urine is permitted to be flushed every six hours.
Monetary pay for services and work done around this sanctuary is distributed once a month.
Ration cards will be received on the 15th of every month on one's doorstep which will sustain for three weeks. One will need to buy own groceries with own money once cards run out. There will be no replacement if cards lost, misplaced, or traded. All food supplements will come from own pocket.
Toiletries will be received on the 1st of every month. There is a limit of two complimentary toilet paper distribution, per person, to those within the community. If one is sent outside of the wall for a scavenge on any items, those can be used for the greater good of our people will be confiscated by half. The rest of the proceeds will be released to your person.
Curfew is at sunset. There will be one alarm to announce that one has an hour left to return to an interior residence for the night. Any person caught wandering outside after hours will be reprimanded and dealt with accordingly.
Public fighting can lead to expulsion. There will be consideration for reason but any rift that could endanger the safety of our home will be dealt with accordingly.
If one is caught dealing drugs will be expelled from this sanctuary immediately. Trafficking of weapons will be killed on site once found.
Due do safety regulations, it is prohibited to swim at the beach.
No public, sexual misconduct or ones will be fined 500 dollars to be collected within a week, or one will receive punishment.
Absolutely no animal is allowed within the walls in fear of contamination.
The list continued in this manner for six pages with more to be added when the time was necessary.
Fourteen days. It had been a full two weeks since Quinta, Dane, and Addie had found their home and started their new lives within a place they could call safe. Every morning just before six o'clock, Quinta would awake to the sounds of the crashing waves rolling and breaking upon the shores. So close and yet so far. Though the Eastern wall where she resided wasn't built as tall as the other three further inlands, any sort of traversing out onto the sands were strictly forbidden.
This was one of the many, many rules that she had read about in that nifty handbook left behind. The more she read, the more it sounded alike to a prison. One thing was certain though, she would rather be in here rather than out there with her fate unknown.
She had found herself down at the market to buy herself the bare necessities. A small table and two chairs, a pot, a pan, utensils, two cups, two plates, and bathroom supplies left her tapped out for the month. Thankfully, tomorrow was her first job outside of the wall since they had recruited her. In all reality, it was more of a forced measure, since she was of age and an immune she was automatically put on the ledger who, when summoned, had to report for duty.
Quinta already had check into the clinic for her mandatory sterilization shot which was a necessity every three months. No periods, no pregnancies, no problems.
The last two weeks had kept Quinta quite busy, too busy to even find out where Dane and Addie lived. Although she'd seen Addie once or twice in the shops and Dane once in passing, she couldn't stop to say hello thanks to her new job. Turns out that when Leon spoke that one of them had been assigned the greenhouses, he meant her. So, day by day, four days a week, she was working on nurturing their food supply.
Standing on the balcony, the slightly chilled breeze hit against her features. She lifted a warm mug of tea up to her lips, blew, and sipped as she watched the pink dyed sky. Sunrises were beautiful. Her mind could wander and think about how her life drastically changed and how her family all died right in front of her; down to the last one. Taking one last sip, she sighed out and wondered just how Dane and Addie were and how they fared. This was an inconvenience. She didn't know where they lived and the fact that they hadn't been by showed just how busy the sector kept them. Between the work, getting situated, and paperwork there was rarely anytime in the day for herself. Other than sleep.
Passing through her small living set, she rinsed out her cup, grabbed her bag, and went out to work for the day. She had to make extra money someway and she'd stay there from sun up to just before curfew to do so. Even though she wouldn't see the benefits for another two weeks, she concluded that all the work would be worth it in the end.
Once they were situated in their home, Dane had been given his job title as a carpenter to rebuild the sanctuary and Addie was set for her lessons. Being that she was still a minor and had a couple of months before she was useful, they still tried to incorporate some sort of schooling at the church.
Not long into the “job”, Dane noticed that he was being given the runaround. Any task he received always seemed temporary and none of his colleagues, if they could be called that, never expected him back. They always changed location but the labor was the same, they'd build and he lifted the heavy equipment. Maybe that was it? He was a professional “lifter”. Either way ever since they found out that he was one to do most of the work outside of the walls their demeanor towards him changed. There was rarely a word spoken to him, almost as though they didn't want to get to know him. Their own way of saying he wouldn't be back.
Dane became easily frustrated with their reception and oddly enough he was happy that he had been summoned for a scavenge. He didn't truly like the idea of getting thrown back out there but that seemed better than being treated like shit here. Dane also didn't like the fact that other than being needed there wasn't many details that surrounded his first mission. Without a one-hundred percent c
ertainty that he could be home to the people he cared about bothered him. Speaking of, he couldn't stop his mind from wandering to thoughts of Quinta. The usual questions of how she was doing, how she was settling in, and if she was alright were there. But there was also the thought of how her experiences were, if she'd found anything useful to bide her time, along with deeper, personal questions.
If he and Addie had lived close to her, they would have had some time to stop by but now that week’s had passed, and she was on the opposite wall, they found their time stretched. Already had they planned and failed at five attempts and each time the load on them was too much and once, she wasn't home. Luckily though he had caught a moment of Quinta. He remembered the time well because she caught him off guard. She was passing across the street and rushing the opposite way from him. It felt nice to see a familiar face in that gray world they had adapted to. The sudden glimpse of her caused him to stop and stare even though that was the worst time for him. He was on the job with a group of guys that weren't about to stop and talk to a stranger; especially one going the opposite way. He felt a lot lonelier that day than others.
Time passed by and the people within the walls were finished with their jobs for the day. Shops were closing, hymns were being sung, and the night soldiers geared up for their tasks of protecting the people. After a rather long, draining day at work, Quinta placed one last crate of harvested crops on a shelf outside of the green house. These vegetables were ready to be picked up, cleaned, and saved for the next morning to sell. Quinta blew out with her hands on her waist while she waited in line to take a drink from the hose with the other workers. She listened to their chatter about what they saved up for, applied for off days, and what their lives used to be before the outbreak.
With the hose in her hand, she took one long gulp after the other before she handed it off and wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. Fanning herself, Quinta caught sight of someone waving goodbye to everyone which prompted her to lift her hand and return the gesture. Even though this was far from the life she knew and loved, these days were better than most. Although she was sweaty and exhausted from putting in hours, she looked much better than when they first arrived.
The World We Once Knew Page 10