by Eve Langlais
The fog thickened again and hid everything from view.
Laura held on to the bar, jostling in her seat as he ripped through the low swells between the humps. A little reckless, especially if he suddenly came up on something; however, getting far from the blood-crazed beasts seemed more important. Besides, the buggy was made to bounce and roll, the reinforced bars able to handle rough riding.
“You had a name for those things,” she remarked through vibrating teeth.
“Jackena. Spotted, not quite as heavy as a human, but vicious. They’ll rip out your throat in seconds if you don’t protect it.”
“Did you know it was out there when you stopped?”
“There’s always something out there,” he remarked.
“Why stay out here then?”
“Are you asking why I don’t live in a dome?” He glanced at her. Despite her white knuckles, she was calmer than expected.
“You. The others. I spoke to some of the people you live with. Some of them claim to have left the domes.”
“Told you so. And not one wants to go back.”
“I do,” she said softly. “But if it makes you feel better, for a long time I hated my life there. Wished I could live somewhere different.”
“And now?”
“Now I’m outside its walls and terrified. I never knew how much the Enclave protected me.”
He snorted. “More like they imprison. The Enclave enslaves its citizens. I don’t know why anyone would want to go back.”
“What would you like me to say? You see the Enclave as this evil entity that wants to hurt us. Yet my entire life, they represented safety. A way to stay out of dust clouds and mists.” She glanced out her side window. “Food. A bed. Clothes. Things I took for granted.”
“You mean the basics to survive? How kind of them. How generous. And what do you give in return?”
“I work.”
“What if you don’t want to work?”
Her nose wrinkled. “Why would I refuse?”
“Maybe you’re having a lazy day. Or you’re tired. Perhaps you need to do something fun.”
Rather than reply, she asked, “Do you ever have a lazy day?”
“Not in a long while,” he admitted.
“So how is your everyday work different than mine? We both have an obligation we can’t shirk.”
“Because, if I wanted to, I could take a day of doing nothing. Even two. No one would punish me. Things might go to shit in Haven, but no one would begrudge me. Can you say the same?”
She shifted in her seat. “For our society to work, everyone must always do their part.”
“And what do the people in the city do to earn all this fealty?”
“The Emerald City rules the domes.”
“Does it really? Do you have any idea how many people live in the city? Living off the work you and the other domes provide. They are provided with the most luxurious of things, and their job is the least taxing of all. Some don’t even work at all and live better than you. Are you really okay with that?” he prodded. It fascinated to see how truly indoctrinated she was. And yet, he’d seen hints of a feisty side. Could it be she still feared to speak against the Enclave?
“I’m not familiar with how things are in Emerald City,” she said.
“If you were, you’d be rebelling harder.” The satellite domes were all about feeding the needs of the cities, Emerald City being one of the largest. Or so he’d heard. There wasn’t much travel between the fiefdoms.
“I know what you’re trying to do,” she announced as they finally shot free of the mist.
They tore across the cracked lands known as the Wastelands. On maps, the majority of the Emerald demesne was comprised of barren patches with only pockets of green land struggling free of the dead spots.
“What am I trying to do?” he asked
He checked his mirrors and even the tiny camera showing him the path behind. The mist kept swirling, but nothing emerged from it. He eased up a bit on the speed. At least now he could see, but if he moved too quickly, the heat panels would have a harder time charging the battery for later.
“You’re trying to convert me.”
“Why would I do that?” he asked. “Because let me assure you, it is the furthest thing from my mind.”
“Good, because nothing you say will convince me to stay. I want to go back to a dome.”
“Even knowing you might suffer abuse?” he asked.
“I’m sure Nikki exaggerated. More likely she got punished because she didn’t obey the rules,” she said.
“What if they ask you to do something you can’t?”
“They won’t.”
“What if they do?” he asked again.
Rather than reply, she glanced out at the land around them. “This looks just like the area around the Creche Dome.”
“It’s not. You’ll find this kind of scenery pretty much everywhere. These barrens spots tend to act as a winding road around the different dome areas.”
“Meaning?”
“Pull out the map in the pocket in front of you.”
She pulled out a folded map, opening it and puzzling over the images. “It’s a picture.”
“It’s a depiction of what you call the Wasteland. More specifically, our kingdom, Emerald.”
“This is a dome.” She pointed to the ornately drawn globe with its metallic sheen panels. “And this is what?” She pointed at balls of green with brown and black lines.
“Forest.”
She snorted. “If that’s supposed to be how big it is compared to a dome, then I know this is not done to scale.”
“The forest you’re looking at is huge.” The Ajatarai formed a border on one edge of Emerald.
“Nothing is that big.”
“Whatever,” he muttered.
“What’s this?” She jabbed at an almost glowing green glob.
“A lake but not something you want to ever drink or even swim in.”
“It’s toxic?”
“Very.”
“What’s beyond those mountains?” She frowned.
“Other kingdoms.”
She was silent for a moment as she kept studying. “The world is a bigger place than expected.”
“If you want to really feel insignificant, then keep in mind that the map you’re looking at only represents a small part of it.”
Putting the map away, she was quiet for a while until the view changed. She pointed to a smudge in the distance. “What is that?”
“That is the Ajatarai Forest. The one you claimed must be drawn too big.”
“A real forest of trees?” she asked.
“Kind of why I called it a forest,” he mocked. “Let me guess, never seen one before. Has the Academy told you they’re also extinct?”
Her tone emerged annoyed. “I know what a tree is. We have some inside the dome. Grass, too. I just didn’t think any existed outside of it.”
“I guarantee these trees are nothing like the ones you’ve seen before. And never forget they’re dangerous.” Like him.
He would do anything for his friends in Haven. Even sell this woman.
“Dangerous?” she snorted.
“Don’t believe me at your own risk.”
The conversation tapered, and he concentrated on driving, especially once the thin line of barren land split between the encroaching edge of Ajatarai and a chasm. The crack in the ground went deep. Not a place you ever wanted to visit, not even in the daytime. He also wanted to be far from it before nightfall. Because things lived in the Chasm. They came out at night to hunt.
It had been hours since they’d left Haven, and he’d long ago switched back to the electric energy, saving his fuel for when it ran out again.
Having napped, Laura woke with more questions. “How did you end up in charge of all those people?”
“By accident.”
“They look up to you,” she noted.
“They’d look up to anyone who offered them
a hand.”
“But you gave them more than that. Why?”
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
She slanted a gaze at him. “You obviously had a reason to help them. To share that underground space. You could have kept it to yourself, or allowed only a few in, but you took all those people in.”
“They had nowhere to go.”
“Why do you care?”
Did she seriously want him to explain empathy? He almost said something sharp to her. Should have. But she was looking at him with true seriousness in her gaze.
“Living out here is hard enough already. The land fights you. The weather. The animals. Even the plants in some places. It just doesn’t seem right that we fight each other as well. We are stronger together.”
For some reason that statement quieted her, and she spent a long time after staring out her window. The forest and chasm were left behind as they entered a vast stretch of the wastelands. The sun was getting close to setting when something ahead in the distance caught her attention.
“What are those things sticking out of the ground?” she asked.
“It’s the remnants of an Old Earth city.” And where they’d stop for the night.
“An ancient ruin?” Her eyes turned wide. “I thought they were all gone.”
“As you can see, it mostly is.” The ravages of time had mostly buried the traces of their past.
“The Academy teaches the Ancients were sinful. Their greedy ways were what led to the Retribution Years.”
“I don’t doubt they had their issues, but the meteor shower would have happened regardless.”
“It is said our ancestors did many wicked things.”
“Wicked is in the eye of the beholder,” he murmured.
“You are heading for the ruins.” Stated more than asked.
“Care to declare something more obvious?”
He approached the first of the monoliths jutting from the hard-packed dirt. Most stood straight, their gaping windows dark maws that could hide anything. A few leaned, and he knew those were to be avoided, as they were less stable.
“How deep are they buried?” she asked as they passed between a pair, the size causing shadows to fall on them.
“Deep.” Deep enough that no one ever found the bottom, mostly because of the danger the farther underground you went.
He found the building he wanted and parked the buggy alongside it.
“Why are we stopping?”
“Because I need to sleep.”
“Here?”
“Yes here. In that building.” He pointed.
“Is it another place like Haven?”
“Nope.”
Although he’d debated taking over the exposed levels in these ruins. There was enough space for everyone, plus some. But it didn’t take Gunner telling him, “That place is spooky,” for him to squash that idea. A handful of people spending a night discreetly was one thing. He knew better than to tempt the monsters that lived below.
“Is it dangerous?” She chewed her lower lip she stared out the window. Fear shivered off her, and he had to make an effort not to reach out and comfort her.
“What do you think?” was his sarcastic retort.
Exiting the buggy, he reached into the back for the travel pack. He also holstered his gun down his spine. He’d been stupid before, leaving the buggy without it, not just because he might need it. He’d left it in Laura’s reach. His prisoner.
She could have easily grabbed it and used it.
Could have and yet he doubted the thought even occurred to her. She took the term naive to a new level. She just refused to see the truth.
Axel closed the door and realized she’d yet to get out. He leaned against the vehicle and spent a moment waiting. And waiting.
With a sigh, he pushed away and stomped around. He pulled at the door, only to realize she held on to it from the inside.
Seriously? He yanked, and she practically fell out of the buggy as the door responded to his strength.
“Get out,” he barked.
She glared at him. “I’d rather stay in here.”
“Don’t really care what you want. This is not a negotiation. You are coming with me.” He grabbed her arm, hauling her upright. Releasing her, he slammed the door shut.
She appeared quite stubborn. “What happened to your fine words about having a choice?”
“They don’t apply to you.”
“I should have known. Liar.”
“I’m a liar?” he shouted. “You do realize I’ve done nothing but try and give it to you straight. It’s not my fault you’re too dense to believe the truth when it’s looking you in the face.”
“I don’t like you.” She stomped away from him.
“Good because I don’t like you either.” An utter lie. The more he got to see of her, the more drawn he was by the feisty spirit hiding underneath the obedient layer. “You’re going the wrong way,” he remarked.
“Does it really make a difference?” She pointed. “Broken building, broken building. They all look the same to me.”
“Yet they’re not. So, turn around and come back before your stupidity gets you killed.”
“I’m not stupid.” She stamped a foot.
“Says the woman without a weapon who walked away from me, the one person that can protect her.”
“Surely nothing can live out here?” She glanced suspiciously at the ruined remnants of the Ancients.
“Always assume something is waiting to kill you.” His boots thudded the ground as he approached her. While he didn’t think anything would strike in daylight, those who didn’t show caution usually didn’t live to a ripe old age.
“This is why I can’t wait to go back to a dome,” she huffed.
“Where the death is slow and torturous instead. Hopefully the boredom numbs you to the monotony.”
“Nothing wrong with boring and safe.” She glared at him through wisps of hair, her features flushed.
“Bet the suicide rates are high,” he muttered.
“What is wrong with you? Why are you so mean?”
“I’m mean?” he repeated at a high pitch. “You’re the one who went wandering off without a second thought. Weren’t you the one freaking out before about how dangerous it is in the Wasteland? How deadly? If I sound mean, it’s because I’m trying to keep you alive rather than brutally savaged because of ignorance.”
“You’re right.” The hanging head and soft admission took him by surprise.
“Right about what?”
“Everything. I have no idea how to live out here.”
He hammered the point. “Keep that in mind. You won’t last a minute if you decide to escape.”
“Why would I? You’re taking me back to a dome.” Her shoulders rolled.
“Or so you assume? What if I’m not?” He couldn’t have said why he did on purpose to antagonize the woman.
She eyed him. “Where else would you take me?”
The words conjured up a different meaning for him. He shifted. “I’d take you anywhere I like.” The claim emerged gruff.
Rather than reply, her cheeks turned pink, and she stepped past him, heading for their vehicle.
“Now where are you going?”
“You made a point that I should have grabbed a weapon.”
“Not sure how anything will do you any good given you don’t know how to use it.”
“Aim and shoot.”
“Can you, though? I think you’ll freeze instead of acting.” He still recalled how she reacted under stress.
The rebuke straightened her posture. She glared at him. “You’re not the only one who can survive in the Wasteland.”
“I learned how over years,” he emphasized.
“I am a fast learner.”
“Fast does no good if you’re not paying attention. You can’t strut around as if you’re in Enclave-protected lands with a dome over the next hill. There isn’t any safety around here. Without a vehicle
, you’re days from finding something. Days where you’d be out in the open. Nothing to defend yourself with but your hands.” He glanced at them, and she tucked them away. “How would you eat? Where would you sleep?” He barked the words. He harangued her much as he would have done anyone else if they’d put themselves in danger.
But there was an added element to his anger. She’d run from him. Hated him so much she would rather brave the thing that scared her.
“Stop yelling at me,” she yelled.
He arched a brow. “How temperamental of you. Where is this vaunted obedience I keep hearing about?”
“I obey the Enclave, not some marauder.”
“The Enclave isn’t here; I am. I decide if you live or die, which means you listen to me. Or do we need to bring out the rope again?”
She burned him with her gaze. “I hope you die. A slow and painful death.”
He almost smiled at the vehemence in it. Perhaps she could learn. “Better hope not because I’m your best chance of surviving out here. Let’s go. Unless you truly would like to leave. If that’s the case, be my guest.” He swept her a bow and pointed to the jagged maze of monoliths. The setting sun showcased them nicely.
Her lips flattened. “Asshole.”
He almost laughed. “I see you’ve been learning our language.”
“Not funny,” she snapped, reaching into the vehicle and rummaging before emerging with a crowbar he kept under the seat. Not a bad choice. She just had to swing.
Once again she went ahead, in the direction he pointed to. He followed close behind, a hand on his gun. He doubted he’d see anything. Nothing lived aboveground. Even insects avoided this place. Not that he told her that. She’d not even asked about danger before walking away from him.
Showing a hint of independence, and dare he say rebellion? He recalled Nikki telling him she’d seen hints of scarring on Laura’s back. Was she always an obedient Enclave citizen?
“Which building are we entering?” she asked.
He caught up to her and pointed. “That building right there has a room that is secure.”
“Inside.” She had that worried look on her face again.