Ben joined me at the basin, and tried to pat his clean, blonde hair back into place. It had fluffed up after being washed and he cursed softly. “Wasn’t sure I’d ever have to worry about my bloody girly hair again, but here we are…”
At that point the door opened and Williams stepped in. “Good stuff, you two look like new men. Follow me please, the kitchen has a meal ready for you.”
I smiled at Ben and clapped him on the shoulder. I knew it was just the buzz of being clean and the promise of food, but I suddenly felt amazingly alive and positive…more positive than I had felt since before my parents had died. He grinned back at me and we followed Williams out of the bathroom.
3
Five minutes later we were in the clean, sterile looking cafeteria that we had passed earlier. It was now empty besides us, but whether this was by design or just that the meal time was over, I wasn’t sure. Regardless, I was somewhat relieved that I wouldn’t have to face the strangers who had seen my backside not so long ago. Ben and I stepped up to the counter. A heavyset and stony faced man in an apron stood behind it. Without greeting us he picked up two plates and put them down beside the bain-marie before starting to slop food on them.
“I’m Ben, this is Luke,” said Ben pleasantly, as the man dipped his ladle into the second container. He glanced quickly at Williams, who had stationed himself by the door before looking back at us.
“Theo,” he said, with a finality that indicated he wasn’t inclined to talk.
I slotted their little interaction away and watched Theo add to the peas already on the plate. He dished out roast potatoes, carrots and what I thought might be roast beef followed by a generous ladle of gravy. The smell of the food was amazing, even if it looked like it had been sitting there a while, and my mouth was watering as I thanked him and took my plate, barely able to resist dipping into the meal with my fingers. I grabbed a bread roll and knife and fork and headed to the nearest table.
About halfway through the meal, I paused and called to Williams, asking him when we would be reunited with the girls and Sonny.
“Soon.”
Girls or no girls, Ben and I wolfed our food down as if it was the last meal we would ever have.
Ben had returned to the counter for seconds and I was just mopping up the last of the gravy on my plate with the bread roll when the doors slid open. A guard in the same uniform as Williams entered. Behind him were Brooke, Indigo and Allie.
All three girls looked clean, radiant and happy. They broke into smiles when they saw us. Brooke made a beeline for her brother, who had just put his tray down and turned to her as she swooped into his arms. Indigo was either outrun or let Allie reach me first and I stumbled, only just managing to keep my feet as she jumped into my arms.
“Hi Allie,” I said and she pulled away slightly.
“Where is Sonny?” she frowned.
“He’s fine, they are monitoring him because he hit his head when they zapped him.”
“Well they shouldn’t have zapped him, he was just trying to talk to them.”
“I know, we’ll talk to them about that. How are you feeling?”
“I’m great of course! Everything is great now. We found the Safe Haven!”
Hearing the words, I felt a mild pang of sadness for the ones we had lost…and the ones we had left behind. We might have been able to save John and Mark, after all, the Facility’s medical resources were obviously top class. And of course if we had brought them, Samara would have been here too. I pushed the guilt down as Allie moved to the side and allowed Indigo through.
“Hi,” she said simply.
She looked beautiful. Her clean hair fell in soft blonde waves over her shoulders and her skin was glowing. Under the fluorescent lights, I noticed for the first time that she had a spattering of pale freckles on her nose. They didn’t subtract from her beauty, if anything they enhanced it. I didn’t say anything, just reached out and we hugged and held each other for a few seconds before Ben and Brooke joined us at the table.
“Well you two scrub up all right, don’t you?” Ben said to Allie and Indigo as he hugged them. I returned an enthusiastic embrace from Brooke.
“Do we know how Luke is?” she asked as we separated.
“He’s fine, I’ll tell you more in a second but you should get some food first.”
I followed them to the counter and got seconds. Back at the table we talked quietly as we ate our fill. The girls had a similar experience to us. They had been examined by a doctor after their blindfolds were removed. Brooke was the only one who had required any sort of treatment; the doctor confirmed she had a sprained ankle and had strapped it after her shower.
The shower. They all spent a good few minutes discussing how good it had been to bathe, clean their teeth and dress in fresh clothes. When we had exhausted that subject we got down to more serious topics. I told them how we had seen Luke being treated and that the doctor had assured us he would fully recovery. The girls were as happy about that as Ben and I. Again I was reminded what an integral part of our group he was.
“So what do you think of this place, Isaac?” asked Indigo, after we had eaten our fill.
“Hard to say until we know more and meet this Professor. It seems he is in charge of the whole place even though there’s a military presence and Homeland Security.” I gestured to our two escorts. “I wish Luke was up and about so I could pick his brains, he know lots more about government and military stuff than me.
“One thing I’m pretty sure of is that it’s top secret. I’ve heard about the government having secret bases where they research new weapons or hide the President or Joint Chiefs if we come under attack. Cheyenne Mountain is the name of one.”
“Oh my God! Do you think the president is here?” Allie asked excitedly.
“No, I don’t think so.”
“I agree,” said Ben. “I think if the President or anyone important was here we wouldn’t have been rescued from the Chinese. They wouldn’t risk discovery.”
“Maybe, but don’t they usually have a secret name for the President, like the package or Eagle?” Brooke asked. “Maybe President Ryan’s code name is Professor?”
“You’ve been watching too many movies sis…”
“She’s right, I have heard that too. I think President Clinton was Eagle. Anyway, I don’t think President Ryan is here. The virus moved pretty quick, and the last I’d heard he was in the air. If he’s not dead he probably went somewhere safe like Australia or England,” I said.
“Maybe they’re planning a counter attack?” Allie chimed in.
“Let’s worry about here and now. They told me we can meet the Professor after we eat and rest. We should be able get some answers to our questions then.”
As if on cue the two Homeland Security officers came over to our table. My eyes went to the holstered guns on their belts as Williams addressed us.
“Okay kids, all fed and happy?”
It was probably churlish, but I bristled at being called kids after all that we’d been through. I didn’t let my annoyance show.
“We sure are sir, thank you, it was amazing.”
“Good stuff. Okay, it’s time for you to get some sleep,” he looked at his watch. “We’ll be taking you to Top level now. You’ll be quarantined from the rest of the facility’s population for a few days so we can debrief you and make certain there are no underlying health issues. It’s just a precaution, the Doc has given you the all clear but the Professor thinks it best. Follow me please.”
“Top level?” I asked, as we walked.
“Yeah, it’s the research and development level. It’s where all the labs are and the Professor’s office. Also where my men and I are stationed.”
“Oh, you’re not stationed with the army guys?”
“No,” he said, without offering any further explanation.
“How many levels are there?” I asked.
“Three. This is midlevel, it’s where the civilian living areas are, along w
ith the hospital. Under this level is ‘Bottom’. It houses the military, storage and greenhouses.”
Williams wouldn’t answer any more questions as he led us through the white corridors of the Midlevel, promising all of our questions would be answered in due course. After a few turns we came upon a glass walled lobby. He led us through the doors which were guarded by two more Homeland security officers. The large, high ceilinged room was quite opulent, and reminded me of the lobby of a five star hotel my family and I had stayed in once. I felt a little stab of sadness in my chest. Funny how, even after all I’d been through and all that had happened since, thinking of them could still affect me.
Like the rest of the facility, it was painted a stark white but instead of being plain, it was richly furnished and decorated. There were paintings on the walls, and instead of the polished concrete floor of the rest of the facility, the lobby had rich, dark brown carpet. The expensive looking furniture—sofas, low tables and chairs—were placed strategically around the cavernous space. Opposite the doors through which we had entered was another set of timber double doors. To the left of that was an expansive reception desk with no one behind it.
We were led past the desk to an elevator at the far left of the lobby. It wasn’t guarded but the two Homeland security guards with automatic weapons patrolling the Lobby made me wonder what…or who they were guarding against.
I saw Allie looking around in wonder, and tried to put away my natural suspicion. It was time to switch off. Despite the rude way in which we were brought in, we had been rescued. I could relax now. It was time to let go of the constant state of wariness and be a kid again. Even as I thought it, I felt the tension drain out of me. When we stepped into the lift I maneuvered around everyone so that I was next to Indigo. I felt goose bumps break out on my skin as our arms bumped against each other. When she looked at me and smiled, I felt a warm glow of happiness and a long buried hope.
4
The Top level looked much as Midlevel had. It was all white, glass and metal, and looked even more sterile. We were led past several heavy looking doors with small viewing windows and even though I didn’t have time to stop and look closely, I could glimpse enough through the small windows to see that they were fully equipped labs.
Eventually the corridor we were following came to an end at a glass wall that sealed the entire passage. It had a large airlock in its center, beside which two Homeland Guards stood sentry. They both carried automatic weapons. Only about five feet behind that wall was another. It was glass too and I wondered briefly what sort of research would warrant such heavy duty precautions. Trying not to be too obvious, I peered through the glass.
Further on, the sealed corridor looked similar to what we’d seen already, except there was a glass wall down one side and behind it I thought I could make out rooms or cells. For observation, perhaps? My thoughts were interrupted when I felt Indigo’s warm hand find mine. I looked down into her clear blue eyes.
“Relax Isaac. We’re safe now,” she said as we followed Williams around the corner and away from the mysterious, sealed area. Indigo gave my hand a final squeeze and let go. I closed my hand, savoring the recently lost warmth of her.
The turn led us deeper into a wing that contained living quarters and a breakout area with sofas and a pinball machine, along with some other stuff. We saw more of the Homeland guards down here, some in uniform but most in regular clothes as they relaxed and socialized.
A short distance further on, Williams paused and swiped his security card, unlocking a door and leading us into a large room with ten single cots, a couple of sofas and a table and chairs.
“Okay, here we are,” he said. “Home sweet home for the next few days. I’ll have some games and reading material brought in for you shortly. Unfortunately you’ll be required to stay in the dormitory until the Professor gives you the all clear.” He pointed to the far end of the room. “There’s a small bathroom with a shower. The sink has a second tap which is filtered drinking water and there is a receptacle with paper cups beside it. Your meals will be brought to you. Anyway, you look beat, I suggest you all get some sleep.”
He turned and left the room, the door closing behind him with a click. I walked to it after he left and even though I knew it would be locked, I tried it anyway. The handle didn’t budge. Like the shock of our unfriendly rescue (capture?), being locked in a room wasn’t quite how I had envisaged being treated when we reached our ‘Safe Haven’.
“It’s locked?” asked Ben.
“Yeah.”
I walked back to where they were busily claiming their cots and sat on the first one I came to. I gazed at the wall mural that lined the long wall opposite our cots. It was a photograph of a beach with golden sands, palm trees and sea….and happy people laughing and enjoying the sun. I knew the life-size image was designed to make up for the lack of widows and natural scenery in the facility, but it only struck me as sad. A bleak reminder of the world that we had lost.
“Well it’s fair enough,” said Indigo, perhaps sensing my disquiet as she unfolded a blanket and fluffed the pillow on the end of the cot she had claimed. It was two down from the one I was sitting on. “After all, they don’t know us, it would be strange if they weren’t taking precautions.”
“Yes,” agreed Brooke. “It makes sense, I don’t think we should take it personally.”
Ben dived onto one of the cots and turned on his side, with a hand cocked under his head, grinning at me. “I’m sure it’s just another one of their rules. It is Government after all.”
“I know. You’re right, I’m just tired. Why don’t we get some rest? I don’t remember the last time I slept on a mattress. I guess we can finally relax now that we’re here.”
Allie yawned and fell into the cot next to mine. That was slightly annoying, I had thought…well I don’t know what I had thought really, but I felt strangely disappointed that I hadn’t been quick enough to claim the cot next to Indigo.
Ben and Brooke had already disappeared beneath their blankets, as had a yawning Allie. I slipped my shoes off and laid down. I couldn’t stay mad at her for long and smiled when I heard her soft snoring.
Even though it was not the most comfortable bed I had ever laid down upon, right then, it felt like resting on a cloud and I too fell asleep within seconds of my head hitting the pillow.
What followed were three of the best days I could remember having since…well since my parents and sister had died in the fire. They would have been complete if Sonny and Luke had been with us, although of course, the dynamics may have changed if Sonny had been there, him being a grown up and all.
As it was, we were five kids and we acted like it. Now safe and well fed, we got back to the business of being kids and having fun, something that had been missing from our lives for months and months.
We played games, not only the board games that were supplied to us, but silly games we made up. We spent hours one day just playing a variation of hide and seek, which involved one of us taking a Monopoly piece and hiding it while the others looked away. Another day we spent hours acting out scenes from movies we loved.
Best of all though, we talked and told stories and got to know each other as we hadn’t been able to when we were running, hiding and fighting for our lives. Even though I already felt like I knew her well, I got even closer to Indigo during that happy time. Watching her interact with the others, the way she took Allie under her wing and shared her happiness, I only felt my love for her grow stronger. Yeah, I said it. Love, although I might have denied it back then if you’d asked me.
Of course I hid it well—I was a teenage boy after all. Did she know? Of course she knew. Even though I wasn’t overt, I guess there was no way she could fail to notice my occasional doe-eyed stare and the goofy way I responded when she was in close proximity. I’m pretty sure she was emotionally mature enough to understand that I was smitten with her.
I think by the end of the three days in the dorm, I had finally let go
of the constant wariness that had been an integral part of my nature since the Pyongyang Flu had ravaged our country. I now had other things to think about, not the least of which was the beautiful girl I had fallen in love with.
5
Apart from our meals, we were visited by the doctor every day for a few minutes. He seemed satisfied with what he saw each time, and on the fourth day after breakfast instead of him showing, Williams came back.
“Okay, medical has given the all clear for you to be released into the general population. Today you’ll be debriefed individually by Colonel Randall, he’s been set up in an office down the corridor.” Something in his tone told me he didn’t approve of this. Whether it was us being interviewed by Randall or the fact that he was on Top level, I don’t know.
We were taken out one by one, starting with Allie. I wasn’t able to talk to her before she was led out, but I quickly told the others that no one should mention Huian and her group or Sonny’s link to her. I didn’t want his situation to get any worse than it may already be.
We had a break for a lunch of sandwiches and cheese, amazed and curious as to where they were getting the variety of fresh food we had been enjoying. Ben had his interview after that. He was gone for an hour and I was just beginning to worry when he was brought back in and I was led out.
Thankfully, Allie had told me when she had come back that she hadn’t even thought about Huian during the interview and so hadn’t mentioned her. She seemed a little put out that I was asking her. “I wouldn’t have said anything anyway Isaac, I’m not stupid.”
The After Days Trilogy Page 28