by Kip Nelson
“I had a feeling that teacher was too soft. That's the problem with the younger generation, and it's the reason why the world is in the state it is now. Back in my day we'd get a swift crack on our ass if we misbehaved and that soon put a stop to it, but now people are so fragile. No wonder the world fell apart, with so many weak people leading it. I tell you, our generation was the golden era. We knew how hard life could be and we knew how hard we had to work to make something of ourselves. We didn't just have everything handed to us on a silver platter. We had to work our hands to the bone. Look at these,” Lisa said, holding out her hands. Annabelle wanted to look away, but she was afraid to do so. She looked at the horrid sight of the wrinkled, creased flesh before her.
“These are the hands of someone who has lived. Don't give me all this stuff about anxiety and all these disorders. People just need to get on with it and live their lives. We're all going to end up in the same place, so we might as well enjoy ourselves while we can. Anyone who tells me I can't is going to get a clip around the ear. That's how we settled things in my day. That's what my dad was like. He was a hard man, a stern man, and, oh my, if you crossed him you certainly knew it. He had a temper like a storm, so we had to behave, and most parents were like that. That's how we grew up, knowing how to act. We weren't going to waste our time on all these problems people have today. You just have to get on with life, and in my day little girls never would have dared to sneak out of their classroom. I think I need to have words with that teacher. I knew she was being too soft on you. I'm not going to have your generation make the same mistakes as the one before. You need to be hard if you're going to survive in this world.”
The thought of Tara being punished for Annabelle's own audacity filled her with fear. It was bad enough she had been caught. She did not want Tara to suffer as well.
“No, please, she didn't have anything to do with it. It was all me,” she said.
Lisa's dark eyes gleamed as she examined the young girl. “How touching. It appears you like your teacher. What a kind soul you have,” she said, and at first Annabelle thought the old woman would show some kind of understanding, but then Lisa threw her head back and laughed.
“You'd better get rid of that as soon as you can, young miss. You won't get anywhere in life with that. People will walk all over you. The moment you start caring about someone is the moment you turn weak. I'm sure you've seen it before, anyone who loves anyone else always is going to suffer. That's just the way of the world. Let me give you some plain old homespun truths that I wish someone had given me when I was your age. Everything sucks, and everything is going to die, and the only person who always is going to be in your life is yourself. So, you'd better do what's best for you and fuck the rest. I've seen a lot in my time, and people get their knickers in a twist over so many things.
“Frankly, I'm glad the world ended because we were due for something to wipe the slate clean. I could see the way the world was going, and it wasn't anywhere good. Too many people wanted to stand around talking when what we needed was action. That was the good thing about my day. At least people knew what to do, and that's what I'm trying to do here. That's what some people don't understand. All I want is to have a place where people actually can live their lives and not be dragged down by so much emotional baggage. You think that those kinds of people can live in this world? We need to be tough. We need to be strong. Those are the lessons you should learn, and I damned well hope Tara is teaching you that,” Lisa said.
“Is that why you're attacking those other people?” Annabelle asked. This time when Lisa smiled it was genuine. It seemed as though she was impressed by Annabelle’s daring attitude.
“You're going to do just fine in this world, my dear,” she said.
“And the reason we're attacking those people,” she continued, spitting out the last word, “is because they have not been the nicest. I've tried to be friendly with them and welcome them into the fold, but they don't seem to want to cooperate. You see, I wanted to come to an arrangement with them so they could supply us with weapons and food and other supplies, and in return we would protect them and make sure their camp ran smoothly. Unfortunately, they were not open to that opportunity as much as I had hoped. They said no. But I don't like people saying no to me, not when they have something I want, not when I know what's best for them.
“I had to teach them a lesson, you see, but they fought back. So, now we're wiping them out. I want them to crawl up to the gate of this camp and beg me to take them in. I want to see everything they've lost in their eyes, to hear their desperation, and do you know what I'll say to them? I'm going to tell them no, because they had their chance and they blew it. You never get more than once chance with me. I wanted them to work with us, but we need their supplies, and a choice between them and us is no choice. I want to burn their homes to the ground and make them realize what a mistake they made.”
Annabelle was horrified by everything that Lisa was saying. She couldn't believe that such vile things were spewing from the mouth of this elderly woman. When Annabelle first had seen Lisa from a distance she had looked innocent and harmless, but it was clear she had the heart of a demon.
“Was that answer not to your liking?” she said, prodding a bony finger into Annabelle's shoulder, digging it in until the pain shot through her body and Annabelle's eyes welled up with tears.
“You know, your friends probably won't even return either.” Lisa twisted her finger a final time and her gray lips formed a wicked smile as she threatened Annabelle with the death of her friends.
Annabelle whimpered a little, but tried staying strong, tried remembering the lessons her father and Diana had taught her about how to live in the world and how to deal with bullies, because that's what Lisa was. Deep down, beneath all that hatred and life experience she was just a typical bully.
“They will come back. They will! And when they do they'll make sure you get what's coming to you,” Annabelle said, twisting again, still trying to wrench free of the giant who was standing behind her, always with his hand on her shoulder. His fingers were like sausages. Lisa seemed amused by Annabelle's threat.
“Oh, to be so naive again. You know, Annabelle, in life things never go the way you want them to. You might think I'm a horrible person, but I'm not. I'm just trying to do what I think is best for myself and everyone else who lives in this camp. It just so happens that I'm going to have some fun along the way. As for your friends, well, they are a meddling lot, aren't they? I thought there was hope for Adam, but he turned out to be as useless as the rest of them.
“Anyway, if the apocalypse couldn't kill me, then I think it's highly unlikely your friends will be able to. Do you really think I'd make it that easy for them? I know certain people don't like me, but I'm not going to let that bother me. I'm safe here, and nobody comes in without my knowing. There's nothing you or your friends can do to me, so let go of that childish hope. I'm building my own empire, and nothing is going to stand in my way,” she said. Annabelle's eyes went wide with horror, and she prayed the mightiest prayer her young heart could muster that Diana and the others would return, because Lisa had to be stopped.
Tara had been searching all over the camp for Annabelle while someone else watched the class. She thought Annabelle knew better than this and was surprised she had run off. She knew Adam and the others never would forgive her if anything happened to Annabelle, and she wouldn't forgive herself either. The young girl was perceptive, yet Tara didn't want her in any danger wandering about. Sadly, given the question she had asked about Lisa, the teacher knew where Annabelle would be heading, right into the lion’s den. Tara went into the community center, being careful because she knew Lisa didn't like anyone coming in who wasn't supposed to be there. Frankly, Tara didn't want to encounter Lisa either, because then she would have to explain why she was not with the other children, and that would not do.
She walked up the corridor to the main hall and heard distinct voices. She was there to w
itness most of what Lisa said to Annabelle. When Lisa dug her finger into Annabelle's shoulder Tara almost cried out, but had to stop herself before she made a sound. It was no use having both of them captured. Tara listened intently as Lisa spilled everything. Tara was filled with revulsion at what she was hearing. She had known something was up, but had tried turning a blind eye to it, hoping she just was mistaken, but now she felt guilty. Under her breath she whispered for Annabelle to hold on just a little bit longer because help was coming. Tara wasn't going let Lisa get away with this. The truth was going to have to come out, but Tara needed to wait. She only could hope that Adam and others she trusted would return from the battle, because she knew she couldn't take on Lisa alone.
Then, although it pained her to leave Annabelle in Lisa's clutches, she knew she had to leave. Lisa was a horrible person, but Tara didn't believe she actually would harm or kill Annabelle, and there was no way Tara could mount a rescue mission yet. She had to get back to the children, so her absence wasn't in anyway suspicious, and then start thinking of a plan. As soon as Adam and the others were back she would go to them and tell them what had happened. Annabelle needed her help, and even though she didn't think of herself as the most heroic person, she wasn't going to let anything happen to the kids who were in her care.
Chapter Nine
The army marched back home without any problems. Nobody from the other camp pursued them and they were not troubled by anything else in the city. Soon after they left the other camp Adam and the others felt the cool rush of air chill their bones, for their sweat-clad bodies made the temperature drop even more dramatic. For so long they had been in the warm bosom of the fires, but Adam wasn't foolish enough to still want to feel the kiss of the flames. The silver moon hung in the sky and the stars bore witness to the horrors they had accomplished. He and Pete long ago had fallen silent, both of them occupied with their own thoughts, as were a number of other people who marched along with them. Some of the men who had marched toward the battle with their chests puffed out and a smug look on their faces now walked with cowed shoulders. Some of them had not returned at all.
Diana’s absence was pronounced, and Adam walked with a heaviness in his heart. Pete tried soothing his anguish by telling him that Annabelle was a tough kid and that she could handle it, but it didn't make the prospect of telling her any more appealing.
There was a saltiness to the air that Adam could taste on his tongue as he marched back. He also could smell the sweat and urine. Some of the amateur soldiers had let their fear get the better of them as evidenced by the dark stains on their pants. Lee and the men with him were still in good spirits, and every time Adam looked at that man he was filled with mixed emotions. He easily could have killed Lee, just shot a bullet into his back and watched the life slip away from him, cool and clean, unlike Clark and all the others who had died by Lee's hand. But Adam wouldn't be alive if it hadn't been for Lee.
The army was split into two distinct groups. People like Adam and Peter were haunted and disconsolate. They were glad to be going home, but also filled with trepidation for they did not know how they were going to face their loved ones, or themselves in the mirror. Sins had been committed and unspeakable horrors inflicted and all of it had been done willingly. They all had marched there in the name of a just cause, but what they had done had not been just at all. Adam didn't know if he ever would be able to come to terms with everything he had done, but perhaps that was part of the challenge of this new world. Their humanity was being tested all the time and it was difficult to see how far one could be pushed until they lost their soul. And then there were people like Pete, who had rediscovered theirs.
So far, after the end of the world he mostly had been untouched by sorrow. In his old life he had not been close enough to anyone to feel the deep sadness that came with losing a loved one. He didn't have any children or romantic partners, and his parents had not been a factor in his life for a long time. He was a lone wolf, with a few colleagues at work, but only a few he even would call a friend, and even then, he never really saw them outside of work. The only loss he had suffered had been his profession and all his fictional worlds, all the worlds he no longer had access to. He never again would see Captain Kirk save the universe, or watch Darth Vader finally redeem himself. He never would get to design a game again either, but at least he still clung to his life. Yet, now that Diana likely was dead – he didn't want to give himself the false hope of believing she still was alive because it only was delaying the inevitable – he finally was forced to confront the loss of someone he genuinely cared for.
There had been a point when he felt something romantic would happen with Diana, from his perspective anyway, but he soon came to realize that was borne of loneliness. Actually, the two of them were not well-matched in a romantic sense. No, but they were firm friends and they trusted each other. He remembered how she had looked at him with suspicion when they first had met, and how it was only due to Annabelle that Diana had even given him a chance. Since then they had been through so many adventures together and it felt as though Adam only just had begun getting to know her.
After hearing her pour her heart out at the hospital he wanted to talk with her again, to deepen their bond, but now he never would get the chance. He thought to himself that that was the saddest thing about death, all the opportunities that never would come to be, and all the possibilities that would be cut short. The more he thought about it the more distraught he became. Now that he was away from the heat of the battle the adrenalin slowly was leaving his body and he was left staggering, exhausted, thirsty and hungry, even though he didn't want to eat. He wanted to fall to his knees and tear his hair out, and if he had been by himself he surely would have, but he didn't want to fall in front of everyone else, not in front of Lee.
It wasn't fair, he thought, it just wasn't fair. He now knew how all those families had felt on that first night, how scared they had been, and how much they had wanted to stay together, to protect each other. It was hard enough to live through this world on your own, even harder when there were people you cared about. Dying was an easy thing because you didn't have to live with the sorrow, with the thought that you could have done something different. Adam tried replaying the battle to see if he could pinpoint the moment when Diana had disappeared, but he could not. The whole thing was a blur. It was surprising to hear Lee and the others talk about the battle because they had a completely different perspective from Adam. In his mind the whole thing had been an epic battle that had lasted for hours. Indeed, he was surprised the morning light was not dawning, but it had been a much shorter time than it had seemed.
The outlines of the buildings appeared before them and Adam was glad to see his home, although it brought with it other feelings. Now he would have to tell Annabelle the truth about Diana. He would have to go on living in the same camp with Lee and all the others who had relished this battle. He would have to go on living with Lisa, who had ordered the attack, declaring it a defensive move, a retaliation. Adam could not feel a victorious spirit within him, though. He dreaded to think what other tasks he would have to perform in the name of justice, in the name of this camp...in the name of Lisa. One battle was bad enough, but there was a big city out there and within that city were surely more camps, more threats. He hoped this would be the last time he had to wield a gun, but a sinking feeling inside told him it wouldn't be. He only hoped that the next time he had to hold one it was for a cause he believed in.
When they reached the gates the group waited patiently for them to swing open, but all Adam could see were the terrified people pouring out of the other camp as the flames rose and swirled and performed their deadly dance. All was quiet in their camp, though, and everyone was safe. He was looking forward to seeing friendly faces and being with Annabelle, even though he had to give her some devastating news. At least the three of them would be together, and could mourn Diana and give her the respect she deserved, just like the others would mourn the loved
ones they had lost. Perhaps there even would be a memorial service for everyone who had given their lives. Still, for all these grand thoughts, it was hard for him to remember that all this fighting, all this death, all this destruction had been over food and weapons.
He walked through the open gates and heard them swing shut behind him. Pete squeezed his shoulder and was about to move away, wanting to get an early night, when Lee came up to them. He had a smug grin on his face and that casual swagger that he so perfected, and that drove Adam crazy. Instinctively, his finger fell to the trigger, but it was an empty gesture. He hadn't shot Lee before when it had been just the two of them, and he certainly wasn't going to shoot him now in front of everyone. Adam long ago had forgotten his death vow.
Lee strode right up to him and spoke tersely. He was so close Adam could feel the heat of his breath and had to stare into his cold eyes. The gun was the only thing that stood between them. Otherwise, they were as intimate as lovers.
“You're lucky you made it back in one piece. I lost a lot on you. I thought you'd go down in the first few minutes. You're a fighter, aren't you? Or maybe you're just blessed with dumb luck. Shame about your friend, though, wasn't it? I wanted to see more of her. Damn, that ass...if I could have chosen which one of you I wanted to see back here, it would have been no contest. This world is cruel, isn't it? It's always the hot ones that die,” he said, with a disgusting sneer. Adam still could feel Pete's hand on his shoulder, but everything else started fading away, everything except Lee. That old familiar rage surged within Adam and he was starting to lament his decision to spare Lee.
Lee had an unerring ability to detect Adam's thoughts. It was as though he had burrowed into Adam's mind and now was residing there as a parasite, and Adam hated it. He hated how Lee knew exactly how he was feeling and what he was thinking, because it made Adam feel second best. As far as he could tell Lee had no special powers, he was just better at this than Adam, and he knew it. But it was high time someone took him down a peg or two. Adam just wished he knew how.