When Stars Go Out

by Grey, Ransom;

  Before she left, Lucy confided that she hoped he didn’t mind her volunteering him to stay behind. “I’m sorry. It was the only thing I could think of at the moment. You’re not mad, are you?”

  “No, not really. I mean, of course I’m not. Like, at all.”

  She smiled sweetly. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Besides Cody, who was waiting for Elijah, Alec was the last to leave. He gave Reed a bit of advice. “Watch out for the ringer tomorrow,” he cautioned. “The Council’s being so quiet that I’m worried. Something’s not right. The ringer’s probably going to be on high alert, looking for any info he can get. He could strike anytime, and you’re on the list now.”

  Reed shrugged. “Well, what better list to be on?” His own words surprised him. “I mean,” he added, “if they come after us, we’ll make a good pair. You can beat the fire out of them while I can make tracks to Mexico. But seriously, I’ll be careful.”

  Alec flashed a grin, his blue-green eyes twinkling in a way only his could. “You make tracks, huh? We’ll see about that. Take care, bro.” He slapped Reed on the back and disappeared out the door. Reed liked Alec alot.

  Reed himself was about to leave and had stepped into the doorway when Elijah reentered the kitchen alone. “Hey, Reed! Hold up a sec.”

  Cody tactfully slipped outside as Elijah joined Reed by the door.

  “I know you don’t want to leave yet,” he said, leaning one hand against the door frame, “but you have to see what we mean.”

  Reed nodded. “I do. And, thinking about it, it’s not as awful as I would’ve expected.”

  Elijah’s face lit with a reassuring smile that made Reed feel everything was going to come out right somehow. “That’s good! I know you still want to talk, and I’m doing my best to make it happen. But I have a feeling God’s going to bring things together tomorrow. I might not need to say a word.”

  “I hope so,” said Reed. “Anyhow, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “See you, Reed. I’m still praying for you.”

  With a grateful nod, Reed turned and stepped into the night. A soft breeze greeted him, sweeping across his face with the sweet breath of night—fresh cut grass and lingering flowers and sleeping fields in the darkness. The sky was filled with stars, burning clear and bright. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He didn’t know what tomorrow held, but tonight was lovely. He wanted to soak it all up in case it was never so beautiful again. He cast a glance over his shoulder toward the open kitchen door, but it was empty.

  Chapter 36

  The next morning found Reed up earlier than usual. He had the room to himself for, despite Michael’s warning, both Reagan and Riley spent the night somewhere else.

  Reed was at his shelves, going through his clothes and tossing an occasional item in his backpack. He was packing to leave. It felt so strange and final, like going through the yearbook at the end of school. Each shirt had a recollection attached to it—where he had bought it, when he had worn it, who had liked it—and, as ridiculously sentimental as it sounded, each felt like an old friend. Still, he took only what he needed or couldn’t bear to part with.

  He’d almost finished his task when the door opened softly, and Reagan tiptoed into the room. He stopped when he caught sight of Reed. “What are you doing?” he whispered, closing the door. “I thought you’d still be asleep.”

  “Just… cleaning out my closet.” Reed went on with his task, forcing himself to sound casual. He had not anticipated Reagan returning so soon.

  “At this time of the morning?” Reagan sounded doubtful.

  Reed opened a drawer. “Sure, why not?” He did not look up from his work.

  Reagan moved over to his bed and sat down, watching him in silence. “You’re leaving, aren’t you?”

  Reed stopped. “What?”

  “You’re leaving the Hill. Don’t try to hide it. I can tell.”

  Reed forced himself calm. “What makes you say that?”

  “You,” Reagan said. “I’ve been watching you lately. You’re different. You’ve been hanging out with Elijah’s group. They’re changing you, Reed. Everybody sees it.”

  “They say I’m… different?”

  “Yeah. People notice, dude.”

  There was a pause. “So what’s that got to do with my closet?” Reed said, still hedging.

  “Come on, Reed! You hang out with Elijah, who gets thrown in jail; you’re in deep depression till he mysteriously escapes; you get mugged a week later and don’t explain how you get away; and now you’re packing. It’s not that hard. You’re leaving with him, aren’t you? Why?”

  Reed deliberately zipped his pack shut. He stood and faced Reagan. “You’re right: I am leaving. I have to. For one thing, the Council’s after me, and it’s not safe for me here. But it’s more than that; this place isn’t enough anymore. I know there’s something better out there! I’m not going to find anything in this place. It’s not… not… well, it’s not what I thought it was.”

  Reagan stared at him with an expression Reed could not interpret. “And you think they’ve got what you’re looking for?”

  Reed hesitated. “Yes,” he said, “I think they do. I know they’ve got something. I’m not getting any answers around here.”

  “Where will you go?”

  “I don’t know, but I’ve gotta leave now.” He shouldered his pack and stuck out his hand. “Thanks for everything, Reagan. You’ve been an awesome roommate.”

  Reagan reached out and shook it, still staring at him. “You do realize nobody can help you if you get caught. You’ll be on your own.”

  Reed returned his look. “I know. I’ve thought about it, but I figure it’s worth the risk. G’bye, Reagan.”

  He turned and opened the door.

  “Reed.”

  Reagan’s voice stopped him half-way out. He turned. Reagan stood in the middle of the dorm room, looking tired and small. The usual airy spiritedness was gone and left him an ordinary, dejected kid.

  “Reed, if… if you do find what you’re looking for, I wish… would you… could you find some way—any way—to come back and tell me how?”

  “I will, Reagan. If it’s at all possible, I will. See ya, bro.” He shut the door.

  Half an hour later, when he arrived at the factory, Reed found Lucy already behind her desk, alone in the lobby. She smiled as he entered. “They’re gone,” she said.

  He nodded. “Good, I guess. What about us?”

  “Gabe said we should meet at the Dorms after work and go to the Gorge together. He’s still really worried about us.”

  Personally, Reed doubted Gabe was very worried about him, but he didn’t say so.

  “That’s fine,” he replied. “Whoever gets back to the Hill first should wait for the others outside your dorm. It’ll be easier to find each other.”

  She agreed, and they parted.

  The rest of the morning was a typical Saturday at the factory. The other workers complained about working weekends, took a poll on how bad breakfast at the Mushroom had been, and argued about the movie premiere the night before. Reed didn’t enter into the conversation. He contemplated how different things would be this time tomorrow.

  The morning dragged on. Reed began to feel nervous and wondered if noon would ever come. Noon came. But the whistle did not sound nor did the belts stop promptly on the hour. The teens mumbled about paid overtime but continued their work.

  Twelve-thirty approached and passed. Still the belts rolled on. The mumbling changed to louder grumbling. Reed began to worry.

  One o’clock came and passed. Nothing changed. The grumbling turned into angry outbursts and dark looks toward the door. “What do they think we are, slaves?” some began to growl. Reed sweated and tried to stay calm.

  One-thirty… two… two-thirty… three. Everyone was furious by now. Several tried the door into the hall, but it was locked like it usually was during working hours. Reed chewed the inside of his cheek until he tasted blood.
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  At last, when the time neared three-thirty, the parts stopped spilling down the belts. The workers bolted out of the room in a mass exodus. Reed was the first to toss his backpack over his shoulder and dart up the steps and out the door into the lobby. Lucy’s desk was empty.

  With a groan, he dashed out the double glass doors and down the road to the park’s entrance. When he arrived at the gate, breathless, he found that his company had not been the only one to keep its workers overtime. Young people were still streaming down from the other factory and pooling by the road. That was a relief; Gabe and Lucy must have been delayed as well. But the crowd was not waiting on the curb as usual. A growing line stretched down the sidewalk into the city. Reed, confused and out of breath, stopped a passing girl.

  “What’s going on?” he panted.

  The girl scowled. “The shuttles aren’t here, and they’re not coming. We have to walk back to the Hill.”

  Reed’s shoulders slumped. That was a long way on foot, but there was nothing else to do. Cursing under his breath, he started down the street at a brisk walk.

  He hadn’t gotten far when he became aware that someone was walking beside him. He glanced over and saw Hunter, keeping pace and eyeing him curiously.

  “I wondered how long it would take you to notice.” The other boy grinned when Reed caught his eye. “You look like you’re in a hurry. Goin’ somewhere?”

  “Yeah, back to the Dorms like everybody else.” Reed turned his eyes back in front of him. “I just don’t like being three-and-a-half hours late.”

  “Late for anything in particular?”

  “Nope. Just in general.”

  “So… you don’t have anywhere to be or anyone to meet?”

  Reed shot him a sideways glance. “Why should I?”

  “Aw, come on, Reed!” Hunter exclaimed. “Everybody knows you’re the life of the party. What ya got planned? I know there’s something.”

  “Nothing,” Reed shrugged. “Why?”

  “Oh, it’s just my business to know things. I know all about everything.”

  Reed had to smile at the boast. “Everything? Then tell me about these supposed plans I have tonight. I’d love to find out about them.”

  Hunter snorted. “Don’t get smart, Reed. I know what I’m talking about.”

  Reed glanced at him, half-annoyed, half-amused. “You know, you’re kinda creepy sometimes. Why do you make it your business to know all about everything and everybody? Does somebody pay you?”

  “Who would do that?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. The Council pays the ringer. Maybe they’d pay…” Reed’s grin faded, and he broke off as if struck by a lightning bolt.

  Hunter’s eyes snapped to his face and burned there with a terrifying intensity. Reed looked back at him, stunned. Any doubts about his sudden flash died at what he read in those steely gray eyes. It fit like a long-sought piece into a puzzle.

  “You,” he finished in a whisper. “You? You’re the… ringer!”

  Hunter’s face had lost all teasing, like paint melting from iron. It was hard and sharp with a dangerous glitter in the eyes. Nothing he said could deny what was written on that face, and they both knew it.

  “How?” breathed Reed, “How could you? You always hated the government.”

  “I do,” Hunter shot back. “I always told you I was in it for myself. I walk the line, work the system to get what I want. If the government pays me, fine, I’ll do that. But I’m not loyal to them. I get what I want from them, but I hate them.”

  “You mean they give you benefits for being a...?”

  “They do. They pay me, give me bonuses for ‘special assignments,’ extend my rules, you name it. They hired me before I even got here and gave me top-of-the-line training for any kind of situation. But I took that a little further than they think. I do more than they know when it serves me. Right now, with what they taught me and what I’ve taught myself, I could go superhero or turn terrorist. I’ve got anything and everything I want. Oh, yeah, they pass me on shakedowns, too, so my room’s frickin’ stacked. There’s a whole arsenal in there they don’t know about. I was the one who armed the gunner at the street fair. He bought that stuff from me.”

  Reed could scarcely breathe. “You killed sixty-seven kids? You turned in the potheads and set off the first shakedown? You were the one who turned in Elijah?”

  “I was.” Hunter sounded proud of himself. “And much more. But I had a little help on the Elijah thing, from you.”

  “Me? Never!”

  “Maybe not that you know about, but yes, it was you. The first day I met you on the bus, I could tell there was something about you. I decided to stick with you ’cause you might be useful. I was right. You got famous, and you were invaluable. Not long after we got here, I thought I was on the trail of this Christian group the Council wanted, then you started disappearing at nights. You were very clever, all of you; I never could find out names. It took months, but I got closer and closer. We almost got you that night in the woods. Finally, it all came together when you let your guard down for the first time and led me straight to a bright-eyed, pretty-faced kid on a park bench. The next morning, they arrested Elijah on my say so. No, you didn’t know it, but you were very useful.”

  Reed went numb. So he had done it. Him. It was his fault all along. He pushed the painful thought aside to make way for another.

  “You mean all that time, you were just using me? You didn’t care for me as… a friend?”

  The cold steel of Hunter’s face never changed. “Why should I? I look out for myself, not anybody else.”

  Horror, fury, and disgust filled Reed’s soul in a rush. “You traitor!”

  “Chill.” Hunter cut him off icily. “If you care for your life, you’ll keep your mouth shut, now and permanently.” His gray eyes, somehow wolf-like, sent shivers down Reed’s spine. “I’m in hot water since Elijah escaped. The Council’s angry and expects me to find him. I know exactly where he’s going to be this afternoon, and I’m bargaining with them for that information right now. I’ve named my price, and they can’t say no. They want him too badly. If you mess anything up, you will pay for it. I’ve never even met Elijah, but I will make sure he is destroyed, and you, too, if you get in my way.”

  The utter hatred and cruelty that filled every word shocked Reed. With his mask off, Hunter was a different person—a monster. His complete callousness left Reed hurt, stung, reeling. And the realization that he had led the Council to Elijah’s door was terrible to him. But above all these, another thought rose in his mind. This treachery, this baseness was what he had ascribed to Gabe. Gabe who, he saw, had only acted out of loyalty and love for the others’ safety all along. Gabe, who fought for his friends with the same tenacity that Hunter fought to destroy them. To load him with this betrayal… it was unjust, cruel, undeserved. Reed saw that plainly now.

  They had reached the Hill and climbed the sloping road to the Dorms, wrapped in the conversation. Reed broke from his swirling thoughts to find they were some of the last to arrive on the Square. The crowd was enormous; the entire Hill was outside.

  Why don’t they go inside? he wondered. “What in the world?”

  This last comment was spoken out loud as he realized the pandemonium that filled the Square. All was confusion. Five thousand teenagers swarmed over the pavement, buzzing like a hive of upset bees. Some appeared bewildered and lost; others looked angry. The walls of the Dorms echoed and doubled their babbling drone.

  Reed searched the mass for a familiar face to question and found one almost at his elbow. It was Allie, and he grabbed her as she passed.

  “Allie, what’s going on?” he demanded. “What happened?”

  She turned a teary face toward him. “I don’t know! I just got back and tried the door to my dorm, but it’s locked! They all are. We can’t get in!”

  “Locked? Did you try your key?”

  “They don’t work. All the lights are turned off, and even the Mushroom and
rec center are shut up. We can’t find the RDs anywhere!”

  Reed was about to question her further when a boy pushed through the crowd and sprang up onto the high edging of a nearby flowerbed. He waved his arms for silence. “Hey!” he yelled. “Listen up!”

  A gradual hush fell. “I just came from Dorm Four.” His voice bounced off the brick walls so all could hear. “Michael the RD is gone, but his door was open. He left a note in his room.” He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and began to read aloud.

  “If you’re wondering what’s going on, I’m not sure I can tell you since I’m not an economist or a lawyer. Most of you know our government was broke, living off credit to other nations. That stopped today. I don’t know exactly what happened, but the limit was reached. It was time to pay up, and Big Bro couldn’t. The market plummeted, banks closed, businesses went bust…it’s complicated. In terms we can understand, the government has collapsed. All federal agencies and programs have fallen through and are dissolved. The Hill is shut down permanently.”

  A complete uproar erupted as the boy finished reading. The angry and despairing cries of disbelief from five thousand former Hill residents were deafening. Reed heard Hunter, still next to him, explode.

  “How dare they!” he bellowed, “the double-crossing traitors!” With much more and much worse, he spun around, raging. “I’ll make them pay for this!” His wild eyes fell on Reed. “You’ll all pay! Nobody pulls something like this on me!” He darted away into the crowd and out of sight.

  In the meantime, the boy who read the note was still atop his flowerbed, trying to restore order. This was difficult, to say the least, and it was several minutes before he could make himself heard. When the chaos died down, there was silence for a moment. Reed thought he heard a faint tinkle like breaking glass, but he paid it little attention. The boy was speaking again. “You heard what Michael said. We’re dumped.”

  “What do we do?” cried a girl in the crowd.