The World We Once Knew

by Trahan, Leeaja

  Dane's sentence ended because with this confirmation in his hands, all he could think about was Leon. How this man lured them in, convinced them to join the very people who didn't care, and risk their lives for the greater evil. Not good. The tests that they ran on them, the months of struggling to survive and working themselves to the bone. All for their lies of a better and safer life. This betrayal drove Dane to a breaking point.

  Almost on cue, Addie and Leon rounded the corner of the building and appeared along the sidewalk in front of the station. Seeing Dane and Quinta, he felt relieved that there wasn't a zombie in sight and that they were safe.

  Right when Leon approached to speak to him, Dane mentally snapped as he watched Leon advance and close the space between them. Even though Quinta felt sick to her stomach it was the moment Dane pulled away and proceeded towards Leon in a rush that caused her to grip the book tightly in her grasp. Dane's long legs carried him over in Leon's direction and instantly greeted him with a fist to the face. The breath was knocked from Leon's body as he stumbled back and fell against a fallen rack. At first, he was shocked because Leon didn't see this coming in the least. Dane had a poker face. Even now a stern expression overshadowed the hatred that radiated from his gaze.

  After watching Leon's body careen back against the pavement, Quinta looked to Leon's assailant, “Dane...” She said.

  Quinta pressed her fingertips along her slick forehead and winced while she watched Leon writhe on the ground. Addie's breath caught in her throat because this sudden attack surprised her most. Leon's nose radiated heat and he still reeled from the pain. Warm liquid flowed from his nostrils as he groaned out and cupped his face with a shaken hand. If his nose wasn't broken, it damn sure felt like it was.

  Dane glared down at Leon, “Why the fuck are we here? Tell us the fucking truth.”

  Addie cleared her throat and quickly crouched down with her bag to find Leon a clean cloth to wipe his nose with. Even though she felt horrible for Leon and cared about his well-being, she too wanted to know what the hell this was all about. Leon looked up through his blurry eyesight and tried to focus in on Dane. His nose burned but once the tears cleared he could see this man's seething nature and he couldn't make heads or tails of this.

  “W-w-what? W-why? For the t-the mission! What's wrong with you?” He stammered.

  Leon's plugged voice accompanied with how scared and lost he looked only softened Dane a bit. Holding his hand out towards Quinta for the book, he waited as Leon struggled to his feet with his hand still cupped over his nose. Quinta handed the book over to Dane before she crossed her arms and watched Leon.

  Dane shoved the book into Leon's chest, “Tests. Experimental sanctuaries. Casualties. Failures. DEATHS. Does any of this sound familiar to you?” His chilled, sharp words asked.

  Leon's slate gaze locked with Dane's gaze while a sense of authority surfaced through his demeanor, “What the hell? You weren't qualified to read that. It's classified information that pertains to sensitive and confidential reports! You guys are NOT supposed to be involved in ANY of this.” He ordered.

  Though Leon didn't want to admit to the fact of what was going on, he told on himself that he knew at least a bit of what these documents contained. Dane slapped his hands together and he stepped towards Leon. He was not going to drop this issue.

  “WE are the ones risking our lives out for this thing. You want to pretend that they're just keeping tabs on these people that's fine. But again. Termination and Deaths. What the HELL does that mean to you Leon? Why are they doing THIS?”

  There was a force behind both men's voices. They still knew better than to shout even in a time like this. All Leon wanted to do was diffuse their curiosity and animosity towards him until he could make this right.

  Leon hissed in response to Dane with a desperate intensity, “IF you want to get out of that shit hole we live in. Then I am begging you, all of you, to just do your jobs. Make your money. Get your shit. And move up in the ranks, QUIETLY. Do NOT act as though you know anything about what these people are doing. Just understand, please, that you're in way over your head.... just like me.” Leon admitted as he looked to Dane with eyes that pleaded him, “Please when we have the time. When it's safe, and when I'm able to tell you what I know...I'll tell you everything. Just...trust me for right now. We need to get to the warehouse, call in, and get back home. Safe.” Leon ended.

  All he wanted was for Dane to let this go. For now.

  With that final plead, Dane stepped away from Leon with a heavy sigh, and finally backed down. Feeling light headed, he silently accepted Leon's words, and turned around just to get away from him to cool off. Dane rubbed his fingers along his forehead when a sudden, tell-tale bout of vertigo and tunnel vision reminded him to take his medication. He had forgotten earlier and this was his body's way of warning.

  To have Leon go off on a tangent, to admit to the fact that he was in on whatever the government was doing but also to urge them to stay low and under the radar. The tone of his voice showed that even though he was an official, he did not believe as one. Just for that Addie could not find an ounce in her to turn her back on Leon. She handed the cloth in his direction only for Quinta to look at him. Even though she wanted to allow this to slide she didn't accept deception and secrets openly. Still she didn't hate Leon but she wasn't the happiest with him either. Clenching her jaw, Quinta backed away and turned before she followed Dane over to the other side of the lot.

  Trying to cool off after his explosion, Dane still felt residual frustration and stress about the unknown. He pressed his hands against his forehead and shook his head before he bent forward. His usual, calm demeanor was nowhere to be found now. It wasn't often that he lost his temper but in those rare moments he did was usually over the people he cared for.

  Hearing footsteps approach him, Dane lifted his head and relaxed when he saw that Quinta stood in front of him. He searched her honey, brown eyes before he shook his head and looked away once more. She understood him, he could feel that, and they didn't have to speak to each other to know what he thought. It would be a lie to say that he didn't feel better that she chose to be by his side in the end. Even if she had just checked on him.

  Leon watched after the other two for a moment before he glanced back at Addie, grabbed the cloth, and pushed it to his nose.

  He had a hard time looking to Addie afterwards, “Thank you.” His voice muffled under the cloth.

  Addie bit on her bottom lip and sighed, “You've really done it, now haven't you? Even though you've done a shitty thing Leon, I believe you. But I stand by my brother so...you better tell us everything when we get out of here, okay?” She asked.

  She was optimistic and kind to him as though the situation didn't faze her. Perhaps if she had someone to look after she could ignore the conditions they'd endured. She seemed like the kind of person who checked out when the times got rough. Either way, in that moment, he was happy that at least one person was on his side.

  Leon nodded his head, “I promise. Let's get to the warehouse for pick up.” He replied.

  Wincing, Leon made his way towards Dane and Quinta while he dabbed under his nose.

  Blowing out after a few moments of silence, Dane finally felt better to answer Quinta's question, “Yeah I feel better. Let's just....”

  Cutting himself off, Dane watched Leon as he and Addie approached from behind and waved for them to follow. Dane straightened his back before the two men shared a strong, penetrative gaze that pierced through the other. They both were at odds and they knew that wouldn't change until the truth came to light. While the men had their moment, Addie looked to Quinta before she huffed out and tilted her head back. Rocking his weight from on foot to the other, Leon made the first move and they were off to their last destination.

  Quietly the group followed Leon in the same formation they'd arrived in and made their way down the street, beneath the overpass, and towards the warehouse on the map. Addie stared down at her feet an
d their shadows while Quinta busied herself with the sights out the seemingly never-ending street. Although they were vigilant in their duties there was a depressed feeling in the air. Their mission was complete and yet there was nothing to celebrate.

  Leon couldn't push the images of the contents written in the documents from his mind. The unusual monitoring of chosen sanctuaries and empty complexes puzzled him. Completely competent and reliable soldiers were dispatched from major government sanctuaries along the Eastern coast lost their lives. All for the suspicious reasons they more than likely didn't know. Now the residence of Deer Park and those he figured he helped months ago were completely destroyed. Their lives ripped from their bodies and his superiors paid no mind.

  This was too much to bear, even for Leon. He'd had enough unanswered questions.

  Stopping suddenly, Dane stumbled directly into Leon's back while Addie and Quinta came to rest. Each of them were on edge and ready for a threat to attack but Leon simply waved his hand and turned to him; his nose was crusted with dried blood.

  “You guys wait here and take a rest. I need to call in.” He said.

  The trio did as Leon stated and found themselves a bit of shade before they sat down. Although Addie and Quinta were hot and sweaty, they couldn't help but notice how water profusely streaked along his face and neck. Dane was beginning to feel dizzy and his sight began to flicker to black before returning to normal. This was not the heat, it was because of the rush from leaving that morning, he had forgotten take his medication. Huffing out, he pulled his bag from his shoulders and plopped it down beside him before he searched for the pill bottle inside.

  At the sound of a rattle she knew all too well, Addie chided her brother with a soft whine, “Dane! It's well past noon! What were you thinking?” She asked.

  Dane cut his eyes over to his sister while he rolled a pill around in his mouth. Popping the cap of his canteen, he downed what he needed and proceeded to lay against the ground and waited for the medication to take effect. Quinta licked her lips as she watched Dane take his medicine with a long breath. Rubbing her arms, she cleared her throat and quietly fixed her ponytail.

  Walking towards the abandoned Jeep dealership to the immediate left, Leon reached for the phone and stepped aside. There was a conversation with Decker that was long overdue. Thankfully, Decker was mostly always on his side throughout his career and he could possibly trust him most.

  The tone rang twice before Leon was greeted with Decker's gruff tone, “This is Decker.”

  Leon's mind blanked for a moment as he hesitated and lost his gall.

  Swallowing, he regained himself, “Lieutenant Delacroix speaking, Sir I have some questions I need to ask pertaining the documents that have been recovered. There's mention of monitoring sanctuaries, tests, and termination... I called in yesterday about Deer Park being completely massacred by what looks like...like an explosion of some sort, The Major didn't seem all too concerned about it and I can't help but feel that something isn't right here.” The more Leon spoke and revealed just how much he'd caught onto, the faster he spoke, “That something is going on... I've had this feeling for a while Decker and I can't keep holding it in, I used to oversee Deer Park before you promoted me. I need. to. know. Tell me what happened to them!!”

  His passion and need to know these answers ran deep in Leon's blood. There was already enough carnage in this world. Deer park and those soldiers blood was spilled unnecessarily. They were people, just like him, who simply wanted to survive. Leon's last shout was forceful enough for the others to hear which caused Dane to grow uncomfortable.

  Leon shouldn't be loud, not here.

  Decker was immediately placed in a position that compromised his position and his views. He had been fond of Leon for the passion he expressed and helped Leon into the position he was in now. But, he was digging into something he was better off keeping his nose out of. He fully intended to make this crystal clear.

  “You better listen to me, Leon. Keep out of matters that are out of your security clearance and above your pay grade. Do you remember where you came from? Do you remember your struggle? You'd do well to keep that in the forefront of your mind because you'll end up worse off than that if you think to take this any further. Do you understand me lieutenant? Don't call back until you're ready for pickup.” Decker answered sternly.

  The line then went dead.

  Leon was frozen. He thought Decker, out of all of them, would have been willing to help him as he had back during the initial outbreak. Now his own neck was on the chopping block just so Decker could save his own ass. Leon had no answers, he had been instructed by a trusted informant not to say a word to any of his supervisors but...foolishly he opened his mouth. There was a foreboding feeling deep within his gut that he was on Decker's radar now. He was just like them and Leon knew that he'd lose more than his career if he pushed anymore. Gritting his teeth, Leon felt infuriatingly helpless and overwhelmed.

  His native tongue rolled out while he cursed uncontrollably, “CONNARD! RÉPONDS-MOI!!!” He wailed out.

  Addie's head lifted the moment Leon shouted out. Quinta inhaled a deep breath before she stood from the grass and dusted her backside off.

  Quinta turned her attention towards Leon's direction with a squint only for her stomach to drop, “No!” she called to Leon.

  It was too late.

  With his demeanor completely snapped in half, Leon bent down and lifted his foot and kicked the cracked pole of the jeep logo. Snapping, the hollow pole clattered against the ground before the large blue and white logo detached from its rusted holdings. Rolling towards a car, it crashed into the front end which jerked the car to the right and the car alarm caused his breath to cease. The moment the first alarm blared through the sky, Addie stood up all while Quinta began to take a step back. Addie's breaths began to sharpen and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Quinta's eyes burned while her arm reached behind her and pat along Addie's arm. Leon felt a chilling rush of dread coarse through his entire body which hit him right in the stomach. The vibrations from the initial alarm set off another, and another, and another like a chain reaction of dominos across the whole lot.

  Dane's eyes opened wide before he pushed himself to sit up. Knowing from experience, he and Quinta realized what was about to come. Hurriedly, Dane shoved his pill bottle into his pocket before he rose to his feet and quickly pulled his bag from the ground. Grabbing her bag, Quinta was the first to take off running all before she pointed to the left as though to tell them to hurry in that direction. Grabbing his sister, they took off running after Quinta with Leon trailing behind them. There was no time to explain because among the blaring alarms were the distant screeches and howling from all around. Echoing from every dark, nook and cranny like a death sentence.

  The howling that broke through the sky was enough to get them moving. There wasn't time for emotional rants or passing blame. Survival mode kicked in on high for all of them once again.

  Their shoes stomped against the asphalt while the men followed behind the women. The memories that haunted Quinta's subconscious pushed her to the point of desperation to get Addie to safety as quickly as possible. She would not lose another sister.

  Running five minutes straight, they could hear the scraping, howling, and running of the hordes after them over their own panting breaths. Feeling as though the shadow was closing in on them, Dane took a glance behind him. He couldn't believe his eyes. There were at least a hundred of them that flooded the street and twenty of them broke off to chase behind.

  This was out of the realm of the norm. Dane's eyes grew wide and pushed himself faster with a slim hope that they'd make it. Coming up to two cars that had crashed into each other, Leon rounded the wreck while Dane pushed himself between them. His bag snagged on the side mirror, and since his medication had yet to fully kick in, vertigo grasped the better of him and he lost his balance. Falling to the ground, the bottle fell from his pocket, hit against the ground which in turn
popped the lid off. His medication scattered beneath the cars and rolled out of his grasp. It felt as though the world slowed and his instinct was to claw and pick up as many that he could.

  His large hands fumbled and scrambled to push anything pack into the bottle before the dead had surrounded him. Within seconds arms hooked beneath his armpits and pulled him back onto his feet. He gripped the bottle in his hand with desperation all before he stumbled back into a run and looked straight ahead.

  Quinta was his savior.

  How she found the strength to pull him with ease, he had no idea. Following behind her, his long legs caught up only for him to grab her hand and urge her to go faster. If she could forgo exhaustion to make sure he lived, then he would do the same for her. Always.

  Leon pulled Addie in the distance now after he'd taken over for Quinta. He opened the door and pushed Addie within. She was safe but mortified at the thought that her brother and Quinta was lost. Leon held the door open for Dane and Quinta while he stared out beyond their bodies. There was no way that this place was this heavily populated the last time he'd rolled through. What. Happened?

  The thought alone caused him to feel sick. He gestured sharply for Dane and Quinta to hurry and the frantic expression showed just how scared for them he was. Their throats were dry, their bodies were overheated, their muscles and lungs burned with an intense fire. They pushed themselves to the limit and with a few seconds to spare rushed through the door before the ones that kept on them made it.

  Leon slammed the door with a dull, metallic thud which echoed through the space. Dane's bag fell from his shoulders as he rolled onto the floor and laid on his back. The room was spinning and his chest was rapidly rising and falling in deep succession. Shutting his eyes, he needed a moment. He felt weaker than usual and if he didn't calm himself soon he would only worsen the symptoms he already felt.