by Max Lockwood
Matthew sighed. He didn’t have a rebuttal there.
“The issue is that people would know about those things and fight back. Here, we have a different situation. For the most part, no one knew that the virus was going to be released as a form of population control. So, no one could be outraged and try to fight back. In the meantime, we have a thriving group of some of the most powerful people in the country residing here, waiting for the virus to die off so we can repopulate in a reasonable manner.”
Matthew couldn’t believe it. He had always laughed when people talked about conspiracy theories. He thought they were entertaining, largely because they were so improbable. This was real. Someone planned to kill off a large chunk of the population, and this little town was in on it. People could have stopped large-scale destruction, but they didn’t. It was sick.
“There are too many people in this world,” she repeated. “It’s just not good for society. How many terrible car accidents have you seen because there are too many drivers on the road? How many times have you waited for hours to see a doctor, only to get an astronomical bill? Parks are disappearing so new apartment buildings and malls can be built. Litter covers our streets. People are destroying the very planet we live on from all the transportation, waste, food consumption, and energy use. If things continue at this rate, we will all be living in hell.”
Matthew shook his head in disgust. He hated what Mayor Shilling was saying, but he hated that he didn’t disagree with everything she was saying. She made a lot of good point, but he still felt like what she did was wrong.
“I’m sure a lot of people you knew got killed,” Carl said. “And friends and family member of those people, too. Does it not affect you personally?”
She sniffed. “Sure. But it helps me move on to know that they died for the greater good. Besides, I don’t really have time to think about it. I’m running perhaps the biggest safe community in the country. I have my own people to take care of.”
“Is this the only one?” Matthew asked.
“No, I don’t imagine so. While I do think we are special here, I’d reckon that there are others who were warned. There are a lot of important people in DC and LA who I’m certain were given extra protection. It’s just hard to communicate with others because so many lines of communication are down. But like I said, it’s hard to worry about others when I have my own village to run.”
Matthew looked out toward the gate and wondered how many people were sitting in their fancy gated communities and bunkers. Were other people suffering as much as the people around him were, or was this only limited to the highly populated cities they inhabited?
“So, if someone made this virus, does that mean that someone can cure it?” Carl asked, his voice shaking.
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Mayor Schilling said. “It was made to kill. I don’t think there’s an off switch. It’s highly contagious, as you already know. It was meant to be easily transmitted through kissing, sexual contact, or sharing eating utensils. People will pass it within families, ending bloodlines. But as you’ve seen, it’s mostly transmitted through bites and scratches.”
Matthew’s hand reflexively reached up to the long, jagged scar on his face. If it was so contagious, then why wasn’t he sick?
“I was also told that it is only transmitted through living creatures,” she continued. “So you can’t get sick from the dead ones. I mean, I don’t know what one would have to do to get close enough to one to be infected, but I guess the virus doesn’t live in dead organisms. It also doesn’t seem to live on objects. So, if you accidentally touch some dried blood or something, it won’t infect you. There are fewer accidental infections that way.”
“Accidental?”
“Beyond its intentions. We don’t want someone to clean up after the fact and get sick. Eventually, this illness should just fade away as the infected die off.”
“I don’t think the zombies are really alive,” Sergio said.
“Alive enough,” she said. “I was also informed that the incubation period can vary. Some get sick immediately. In others, it can lie dormant for some time. That’s what makes it so dangerous—in some cases, it might not be evident that the victim is sick at all.”
“This is so messed up,” Sergio said, throwing his hands in the air. “You’re basically telling us that we’re meant to die.”
“Not at all,” the mayor said. “The three of you are soldiers. You fought nobly for this country. You have the respect of every citizen in the country. You’re more than welcome here. Besides, the three of you are fighters. If you can survive the virus, then that means you’re meant to survive. We need the strong to outlast this.”
“Survival of the fittest?” Sergio scoffed.
“Perhaps, yes,” Mayor Schilling said.
“That concept doesn’t apply when people in power are deliberately infecting the population.”
“Whether or not you like it, society needs to purge the bad and reset to a higher standard. It’s happening, so you better decide if you’re someone who can contribute to our new society. If you want to, then that’s great for us. If not, then move out of the way and leave some space for those of us with ambition.”
“You should be purged from this world,” Sergio said, pointing a finger at her. He was practically foaming at the mouth with rage. Even Matthew was a little frightened.
Mayor Schilling flinched ever so slightly, then went back to ignoring anything she didn’t want to hear.
“Whose idea was this?” Carl asked, his throat dry and scratchy. “Did this happen in the upper echelons of government or was this some private citizen’s idea?”
“Carl, I wasn’t really privy to that information,” she said. “I know the bare minimum I needed to know to keep my community safe. I cannot tell you whose idea this was, but I can tell you how to survive it. I cannot even begin to describe how the virus works, but I could probably find some scientists who do. I can give you everything you could possibly need to hang on until the zombies are dead and the virus is gone. In return, I just want your allegiance, respect, and promise that you will be a constructive member of our society. You’ve been accepted into a prominent neighborhood in one of the grandest metropolitan areas on Earth. You are all very fortunate.”
This struck a nerve with Matthew. He did not find himself in good fortune. Sure, he was lucky to be alive, given the circumstances, but his will to live died by the very virus Mayor Schilling praised. According to her, Rebecca wasn’t fit for life in an advanced society. She was meant to die.
There was nothing noble about her death. She died terrified after trying to help. She was ripped to shreds by a complete stranger. Her funeral was overshadowed by a strange wave of violence that no one could understand. There was no dignity.
That, and if anyone deserved to live, it was people like Rebecca. To some, her life was average, but only Matthew knew how truly extraordinary she was. She had the ability to be firm and gentle all at once when Matthew was struggling with the trauma of war. She fought for what she believed in, but always took the time to understand the ins and outs of an argument. She was smart, caring, and fun. The world needed more people like her, not less.
“I’m not sure if I trust your judge of character, Mayor Schilling,” Matthew said after clearing his throat.
“You’re the scum of the earth, and I hope your precious virus swallows this elitist community whole.”
Mayor Schilling blinked. She finally seemed like she was affected by their words. But instead of taking them to heart, it only irritated her.
After receiving nothing but praise for the better part of her existence, it was confusing to hear any dissent. Normally, there was a close friend around to dismiss the naysayers, reminding the mayor that there were people who were not as powerful as her who were only jealous of what she had.
She did not understand why three young men were admonishing her for providing them with the most valuable resources they could ever need. Th
ey had been given a place to stay, food to eat, and invaluable information, yet they said rude things about her. She had only ever been reasonable with them, yet they tried to tear every point apart. If they did not want her help, then they only had to say so. If they did not want her town, they didn’t need to stay and insult her any longer.
“If that’s the way you really feel, then I suppose I was wrong about the three of you. There is not an elite bone in your body. Since you’re here, you can stay as long as you want, but I think it’s best if you leave. I had your vehicle cleaned and it’s sitting where you left it. You know your way out.”
She was trying to call their bluff. Matthew knew this, but part of him felt guilty for using their resources when they never planned on staying. Everything they experienced in that day was an attempt to keep them happy and complacent. They had been treated far better than any other resident, which was already far above what the average survivor faced.
However, this was a matter of right and wrong. Sergio had been correct in his assessment—there was something very wrong with the secluded town. If they stayed, then they were basically showing their support for mass murder. Matthew knew that he could not live in luxury while decent people suffered. He wanted to get back out on the battlefield and protect the average citizens whose only crime was not being born wealthy.
Matthew looked at the other two, who had seemed to make their decision.
“That’s fine,” Sergio said, sounding eerily cheery. “We don’t need you and your stupid town. We’re going to pack up and get the hell out of here as soon as possible. You’re a monster and you’re going to get what’s coming to you.”
“Then I’ll leave you to it,” she said, motioning toward the house, seemingly unperturbed. “I’m sorry this didn’t work out.”
Sergio scoffed as he marched back to the house. “Yeah, I’m sure you are.”
Matthew jogged to keep up with him, nerves dancing around his stomach. There was no way that a powerful woman like the mayor would let them go so easily. After all, she had told them things that would cause absolute chaos if the general population knew. Someone, likely the government, had planned to execute citizens by the millions. As far as he knew, this could happen in other parts of the world, too. The implications of their conversation were monumental, yet she was willing to let them walk from her community without another word. It just didn’t seem possible.
A chill swept through the air as they walked up the stone steps toward the house. Matthew knew he was being paranoid, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching him.
17
“Pack your bags and try to take anything else that might be useful,” Sergio hissed as they made their way to their floor. “We’ll meet at Matthew’s room to plan our escape once we’re finished.”
“Got it,” Matthew said, before parting ways with the two. He had fire running through his veins. It felt as if they were really going to battle. He was nervous about the outcome, but still buzzing with excitement. It made his hands shake.
Matthew was surprised to see Crystal sitting outside his room, leaning up against the door. When he came into view, she popped up with a sheepish smile on her face.
“What are you doing here?” he asked coldly.
“I just wanted to make sure everything was okay,” she said, holding out an object draped in a kitchen towel. “I managed to snag an extra loaf of bread. I thought it would make up for the stupid jokes I made about your friend.”
Matthew scowled. Dinner had long been put out of his mind. It all seemed so trivial now.
“We’ve got bigger issues,” he said gruffly. He opened the door, and before he could slam it shut, Crystal slinked in after him.
He turned and stared at her. “What is it that you want from me?”
Her mouth gaped open, baffled by his sudden harshness. “I—I don’t understand,” she stammered. “Did something happen?”
Matthew scoffed and started pulling open dresser drawers, jamming t-shirts and socks into his bloodstained backpack.
“Were you sent to my room to spy on me?” he asked, taking a sip from the whiskey bottle before wrapping it in a pair of jeans for safe keeping.
“Spy? Now you’ve lost me. What the hell is going on?”
She said this so firmly that Matthew paused to look at her. She seemed genuinely confused and frustrated with his behavior. He took the bait.
“We just finished going on a lovely stroll with your mayor. I know you said this place was great, but I would have appreciated it if you would have told me what was really going on here. It would have saved us a bunch of time. In fact, we’d probably be back with our real friends by now, instead of fearing for our lives.”
“Did the zombies break through?” she asked, terror in her voice. She grabbed on to Matthew’s bicep.
“No, there are no zombies here,” he said, yanking his arm away. “You people might be scarier than the zombies. At least they’re unaware of what they’re doing.”
“Hey,” she barked, grabbing onto Matthew’s shoulders so he would stop gathering supplies. “Sit down and tell me what’s going on.”
“I’m sure you know.”
“I’m sure I don’t. You’re really freaking me out. What did the mayor tell you that upset you this much?”
Matthew sank into a chair while Crystal sat on the floor, crossing her legs underneath her.
“Let me ask you this,” Matthew said, trying to figure out where to even start. “Why do you think you’re so safe here?”
She furrowed her brow and thought for a minute. “I guess it’s probably because people here are rich and had the money to create defenses. They can buy big guns and military vehicles and that sort of thing.”
Matthew could tell that she was truly naïve about the community’s power. Money had a lot to do with it, but it went much deeper than that.
“The zombies came without warning. How did those defenses go up so quickly?”
“I’m not sure,” she said, walking over to the desk. She flipped through pages on the large calendar that covered the surface. “This is when Mayor Schilling announced to us that we needed to stay inside because of the disease,” she said, pointing at a square. “I remember the power going out on that day. I couldn’t get in contact with anyone outside the community.”
Matthew shook his head. “My wife was killed here,” he said, pointing to a square three spaces to the right. “First reports of the attacks were that day, maybe a day earlier. It’s not possible that there were any sightings the day you were locked in. There was plenty of time to create defenses with everyone locked in their homes. Mayor Schilling knew that this was going to happen before anyone else did. It sounds like she purposefully cut the power so no one would find out what was going on or warn anyone else.”
Crystal stared at the calendar. “Are you sure?”
“Positive,” Matthew said wearily. “I’m likely to remember the worst day of my life.”
Crystal exhaled slowly, trying to wrap her head around a completely different reality than the one she knew.
“I don’t understand.”
“I didn’t either, until your mayor gave us a pretty thorough explanation of what happened. She’s not a good person, Crystal.”
Crystal sat back down on the bed, her eyes fixed on the wall. Matthew was angry, but he was finding it difficult to be mad at Crystal. It truly seemed like she was just as shocked as he had been.
“This zombie virus isn’t an accident—it was created to kill humans and released into the population as a means to rid the country, maybe even the world, of ‘undesirables’. Your mayor was told about it ahead of time in order to create a safe haven for the rich and powerful. Are you telling me that this is news to you?”
She nodded, her eyes still fixed to the blank wall. Her freckled face had gone even paler, causing blue circles under her eyes to pop out.
Matthew sighed. He was starting to understand how Sergio felt. It was hard
to trust anyone. He had trusted that Mayor Schilling would treat them well as visitors. But it didn’t take long to learn that she was part of a conspiracy to commit genocide.
“I don’t think anyone could do that,” she said in disbelief. “She always talks about how important it is to take care of one another.”
“Yes, but only if she approves of the people in question. Do you know why there aren’t any zombies in this area—why the air is fresh and the streets are clean?”
She nodded. “We have guards who can shoot zombies from a long way away. Some of them even drive out to surrounding areas and take care of them.”
“Not quite. Do you hear a lot of gunshots? I’ve been here all day and have yet to hear one. They’re luring all the zombies to poor areas. We drove past a few yesterday. There are still survivors fighting them. I’m sure they’re all dead now.”
Crystal covered her mouth with her hand. “How sure are you?”
“Positive,” Matthew said wearily. “It all came from the mayor’s mouth. That’s why we’re leaving. We can’t stay here knowing that this has happened. We might be able to leave and do a little good.”
“We have to tell everyone,” Crystal said, getting up from her seat. “People will be horrified.”
“A lot of them probably know or don’t care. I’d guess you’re in the minority of people who weren’t let in on the secret. It’s probably because you’re a guest, not a permanent resident. The mayor’s ideas are scary and dangerous, but I can’t imagine that she’s the only one here with that mindset. Keep what I told you a secret. You could get hurt.”
She scowled at Matthew. “Do you really think I can stay here?”
“If you lie low, yes. You’re perfectly safe here, as long as you don’t stir up trouble. Survive this thing, and then tell the truth. Or don’t—I don’t care.”