by E S Richards
Jerry paused and considered what his wife was suggesting. The thought had obviously already occurred to him, though he was worried about the roof of the farmhouse collapsing further and seriously damaging the structural integrity of the house. The barn might not have all the homey comforts they were used to, yet it, at least, would remain standing even if the farmhouse itself buckled. With him aware of how much he was already struggling with his health, Jerry wanted to make sure he didn’t inhale anything that would damage his lungs further.
“I honestly don’t know what makes more sense,” he admitted to his wife, explaining his reservations about the farmhouse crumbling to the ground completely. Linda listened carefully, thankful that her husband had considered all the factors affecting their decision. He had always been a planner—someone who would prepare for all eventualities even though the majority would never happen. It was yet another thing that Linda admired in Jerry, one of the many, many things that she loved him for.
After several minutes of deliberation the two of them made their way out of the kitchen and up the stairs, once again surveying the damage that was there. Not only was ash filling the room from the outside now, but snow as well. The whole upstairs of the farmhouse was noticeably several degrees colder than downstairs, the old walls not designed for insulating heat even on the warmer days.
“I’m worried about the added weight on the roof here,” Jerry pointed above him, the roof sort of sagging over the edge of the house. The gaping hole in the wall was filled somewhat with the bookcases and Riley’s wardrobe, which had been stacked against it yet providing minimal protection from the outside world. “Especially if it keeps snowing,” Jerry continued with a worried look outside. “I’m no roofer, but I don’t think this would stay up.”
“Would it damage the house much more, though?” Linda questioned, still trying to understand how much danger they were in as she wrapped her arms around herself and shivered, rubbing her hands up and down her forearms to try and keep warm. “Like, would anything else fall down?”
The roof above them looked mainly intact to Linda. She could tell—obviously—where it wasn’t, one side of it giving way to the outside world and the hole where the window had once been still present. A few bits of plaster hung down into the room, while some wooden boards were left broken in a jagged position from where they had snapped. It was clear the roof had rested upon them, the added weight from the storm weakening the structure and causing it to buckle.
“I don’t know,” Jerry answered honestly. “I think we need to decide whether we take a risk and stay downstairs, which would be easier and more comfortable, and also potentially dangerous. Or if we move out to the barn like we planned. It won’t be very luxurious, though we will be safe. It’s up to you, darling.”
Linda frowned, hating that her husband was leaving the decision up to her. She had to try and figure out what was best for the both of them, considering Jerry’s health and their long-term living environment. With Jerry’s lungs undoubtedly damaged—though Linda couldn’t be sure how badly—he was right in pointing out that they shouldn’t be forced to move between the barn and the house on a regular basis. But was staying inside worth the risk?
She looked up at the failing roof above her and considered their options. Outside looked dark and dreary, despite being just after midday. The sun was completely hidden by the dark clouds, filled to the brim with ice and snow that waited to fall to Earth. Visibility had been reduced to just a few feet, Linda unable to make out the old milking station in the fields that lay in the distance. She knew it was out there though and much like she believed with her grandchildren and Mia too, she knew she would see it again once the storm passed.
The land that Linda could still see was rapidly losing its color and giving way to darkness. Green grass had grown dark and straw-like, the life fading from it as quickly as the clouds had rolled in. It looked like it would be solid underfoot, the bounce taken from it like broken springs in an old mattress. Linda’s once-colorful garden borders of flowers were now all dead too, the bright pinks, purples, and yellows all merged together into a filthy brown. It reminded her of when the children used to paint and always ended up mixing all the colors into one—a horrible shade that made everything look dirty and desperate.
That was how she described the outside now: dirty and desperate. It didn’t look like there was any hope left in it, like the scenery itself had given up and knew there was no chance of returning to the fruitful, glowing valley it had once been. It seemed bizarre to think that it was less than two weeks since everything had happened. Not fourteen days ago, she had stood at the same window and watched her grandchildren playing outside, Chase practicing his lacrosse swing while Riley read her book on the grass. It made her smile to think about her family and snapped Linda back to the reality of her situation. She had to make a decision and both she and Jerry had to stick to it. Could they survive in the farmhouse, or was there a real need to move away?
Chapter 5
Chase sat at the back of the classroom, trying to keep from falling asleep as he listened to an overweight member of the Authority tell him and the other boys about the importance of food rationing. It seemed ironic that this particular man had been chosen to give the lesson, especially considering it was unlikely he’d ever rationed anything before in his life. Yet still he droned on, warning the boys about the food shortage that was about to come and how important it was that they didn’t waste anything they were given in the meantime.
To listen to such a lecture after just being served a disappointing bowl of gruel for breakfast was particularly difficult. Chase was used to the meal now, but that didn’t make it any more appetizing than it had been on his first morning in the pit. He had adjusted to having only two meals a day as well, though every evening his stomach still growled at him, expecting the final meal of the day to come. It never did, and even though it had only been six days, Chase could already see his physique changing, his waist growing thinner and his face more angular.
“Dude, this is torture.” Joel leaned over and said exactly what Chase was thinking, echoing his thoughts out loud and reminding Chase that he wasn’t completely alone. Over the last six days, Joel had been a lifeline for Chase. He missed Riley and his family so much, so having Joel to talk to had kept him sane. Chase was certain he would’ve done something stupid by now if it hadn’t been for Joel keeping him grounded.
“I know,” Chase whispered back to his friend. “How much longer do you think there is until lunch?”
“Can’t be long now,” Joel replied. “I feel like Tubby has been talking for hours.”
Chase chuckled at the nickname, the boys in his block having all come up with pet names for the members of the Authority that they saw regularly. Tubby was one of them, Scarface another—he had a nasty-looking scar that ran down his left cheek. Then there were Red and Dead, a pair of guards who always worked together, one with shocking red hair, the other with a zombie-like expression permanently plastered on his face; and finally, Magic—a huge man who towered over all of the boys by at least a couple of feet. He was nicknamed after one of the boys’ favorite basketball players, a reminder of the previous life they all used to enjoy.
There were countless other members of the Authority who patrolled the pit, but those five were the ones who seemed to be responsible for them on a day-to-day basis. Tubby was undoubtedly the most boring of the group, all the boys collectively groaning when they saw him at the head of the classroom that morning.
“You heard what we might be doing this afternoon?” Joel continued to speak, ignoring the look he received from Tubby as his whisper cut across the classroom in a moment of silence. Chase looked at his friend and raised his eyebrows, indicating for Joel to continue.
“There’s some sort of construction work that needs doing in one of the other theaters,” Joel explained. “I think we might get a chance to leave this pit and go out for a few hours.”
“Really?” Chase was
immediately interested. Not because he wanted to be a part of the construction team or because he had any concern in reviewing what the other theaters were like. Just that if they had the chance to leave the pit, that meant he could possibly see his sister. “Where did you hear that?”
“Some of the guys from C Block were talking about it earlier,” Joel shrugged. “I think they were out there this morning.”
“Ah man,” Chase replied, slightly annoyed that the construction work was already underway. He knew as well as everyone else that certain people did lessons in the morning like he did, but other blocks and theaters did theirs in the afternoon. That already lessened his chances of seeing Riley and after six days he was desperate to see her face again. He’d asked the Authority on several occasions if she was okay, despite their refusal to even tell him where she was being housed. If the children were all being rounded up for their own protection, Chase felt like he should be allowed to know if his sister was surviving. “Do you think for sure that we’ll go out after lunch then?”
“Don’t know for sure,” Joel replied. “Still, it makes sense. Can’t think what else we’d be doing. Are you hoping the girls will be out there too?”
“Yeah,” Chase nodded, his voice rising as he thought of his sister and earning both him and Joel another glare from Tubby. “I’ve got to see her, man,” he continued in a quieter voice. “I need to make sure she’s okay.”
“I get that,” Joel agreed. “I want to see them too. It’s been over a week since I saw Hazel.”
“Last time I saw Riley, she had her hands tied behind her back,” Chase quickly retorted. “At least you know your sister is alive.”
“Hey, calm down dude,” Joel held his hands up toward Chase. “Chill. I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I know,” Chase shook his head and sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m just fed up with this, you know? I’ve got a family that needs me and I’m stuck here listening to Tubby ramble on about rationing food. We get it. The crops are dying. The food is running out. But we’re all being kept prisoner here so what can we even do about it? I just don’t see the point.”
“If you don’t see the point,” Tubby suddenly raised his voice and spoke directly to Chase, slapping the ruler he had been holding in his hand to point at things down on the back of the chair in front of him. “I can arrange for you to spend your mornings elsewhere.”
Chase winced, embarrassed that he had been called out. It was ridiculous. The world was literally falling to pieces outside and he was being kept in a classroom like a child. He felt like he was twelve years old and in trouble at school again, the threat of being called to the principal’s office looming over him. But this wasn’t school. There was no principal’s office and the real threat that Tubby was using against him was much worse. Confinement. Scarface had fallen out with one of the boys from Chase’s block a couple of days ago and that boy had been locked in his cell ever since. He had his meals brought to him twice a day, and other than that he was left completely alone. It was a fate Chase didn’t want for himself, knowing that his chance of finding Riley would be reduced to zero if that happened.
“Sorry, sir,” he apologized, “I didn’t mean that.”
Tubby scowled, the overweight man clearly expecting more of a fight back. “Very well,” he replied curtly. “Let’s try and keep the talking to a minimum for the rest of the lesson, shall we?”
Chase did as he was told, zipping his mouth closed and sitting silently for the rest of the morning. Tubby finished talking about rationing and moved on to how they would potentially grow crops again in the future, speaking of hydroponic farms and irrigation systems. That was something at least that Chase could take some interest in, trying to commit certain points to memory as they weren’t allowed a pen or paper to take notes with. Finally though the lesson finished and the boys all stood up in unison, ready to return to the cafeteria for lunch.
“That was a close one,” Joel nudged Chase in the ribs as they walked, Tubby remaining behind in the classroom as Magic stepped over to escort them. They all knew the way by now, yet they still weren’t allowed any freedom. Apparently, it was different in some of the other theaters. Unfortunately, where Chase was being kept there was strictly no allowance for the boys to go off on their own. Rumors said it was because they were all over the age of sixteen, but Chase didn’t see the logic behind that. Whatever the reasoning, Magic escorted their group to the cafeteria and stood by the door as they filed in, the plates of food already at their seats, as they always were.
“Thought I was out of there for a second,” Chase finally replied once he and Joel were both seated, joined on a table by a couple of other boys they had both become fairly friendly with, Mike and Leo.
“You wanna watch it with Tubby,” Leo cautioned. “He’s starting to grow more of a backbone ever since Scarface locked Benji in his cell.”
“Yeah,” Mike agreed. “Poor kid is still in there. I think he’s starting to go a bit insane.”
“Jeez, all right. No more talking in lessons for me,” Chase admitted. “Wow, that sounds ridiculous. Anyone else feel like they’re a child again?”
“A child that’s being kept prisoner—yeah.”
“Or a child that’s being groomed for something,” Joel suggested, earning sullen looks from all the other boys around the table. “Anyway,” he continued, “we might get a chance to spread our wings a bit this afternoon.”
“Yeah, is that what you guys were talking about?” Mike asked, ripping a large mouthful of his stale bread bun off with his teeth and spraying crumbs across the table as he spoke. “What’s happening?”
“Building work I think,” Joel explained. “In another one of the theaters.”
“Ooh,” Leo perked up. “I like the sound of that. Be nice to have a change of scenery. You’re still looking for your sister as well, aren’t you Chase?”
“Yeah,” Chase nodded. “Riley. She’s being kept somewhere around here.”
“Fingers crossed then, mate,” Leo encouraged. “Today could be your lucky day.”
Chase flashed a forced smile at Leo, really hoping that he was right. The conversation between the four of them changed then, focusing on reminders from the past as they often did, each of them desperate to forget where they were and what was happening to them—even just for a few minutes. Chase found it hard to remain involved this time though, his thoughts focused on Riley and what he would say to her if he did get to see her again. The boys and girls were strictly prohibited to mix once they were above a certain age, so Chase knew he would have to be subtle about it. Even if he didn’t get to speak to her, just knowing that Riley was alive would be a boost that Chase seriously needed. His morale was fading fast inside the pit, he and Joel no closer to a plan of escape and being forced to carry out the mundane daily routine only wore him down even further. By the time Chase was back in his cell at night, all he wanted to do was lie down and sleep.
Half an hour later, as Chase stood in line with his block waiting for Magic to escort them out of the pit and to the site of the construction work, he was practically beside himself with nerves. He didn’t understand why he was so worked up about it, almost hopping from one foot to the other as he waited in line.
“Chill, dude,” Joel whispered to him. “You need to calm it down a little.”
Chase listened to his friend’s words and tried to take them on board, forcing himself to stop fidgeting in case he drew more unnecessary attention to himself. There was every possibility that Tubby had told the other members of the Authority about his behavior that morning. If they were already looking out for him, Chase seriously needed to watch his back.
“Stay in line,” Magic barked as he walked down the line one last time, making sure the boys were all ready to leave. They were about to leave the pit and that meant they would be going outside again. Makeshift breathing devices were strapped to their faces, though they were no way near as efficient as the Re-Breathers that Riley had made back at the
farmhouse. The Authority had proper masks, and the cloths that covered the boys’ faces were tame in comparison.
“I don’t need to remind you what happens if you try to run,” Magic continued, preparing to open the door and lead the boys outside. He was right. None of them needed a reminder of what would happen if they tried to flee; the rumors that circled the pit were more than enough. None of the boys knew if they were true or even where they had started from, but they all feared for their lives. Being kept prisoner by the Authority wasn’t a pleasant life, but at least it was a life. The threat of death was all too real for each and every one of them.
Taking a deep breath, Chase prepared himself to leave the theater. It was his first time going outside since he and Riley had been captured and he was a little anxious to see how Houston had changed. He rarely saw the outside world now and he knew a lot had likely happened during his time inside. He was right. The city was so dark. Black ash covered everything, filling every crevice. The different colors of Houston were long gone. The sky was dark, the streets blanketed in gray and the buildings weeping a dusty hue of distress.
Chase gaped at the sight in front of him, marveling at how much the city had changed in what was relatively such a short period of time. If things were this bad in the center of Houston, he could only guess at how bad things had gotten at the farmhouse where his grandparents were. The air was freezing cold, the threat of snow prodding at Chase as he walked the short journey between the two theaters. He could see where he was heading immediately, the roof of one of the buildings sagging in one corner under the weight of the ash.
His grandparents appeared in his mind again. The farmhouse. It was all too familiar. Chase wondered if they had managed to fix the roof themselves or if they were suffering through this new winter with little protection from the outside world. He felt guilty for not being there and for not being able to help. He had left to try and save them all and somehow—they were all in more danger now than they had been before. Hanging his head and rushing his way back inside, Chase wondered when—if ever—he would get to see them all again.