by Chris Kreie
The woman eyed his mom.
“Oh, come on,” Darsha said. “Look around, it’s not like you’re swamped with people in here.”
Austin hadn’t noticed, but Darsha was right. There were half a dozen empty cots in the cabin. Only two cots had someone sleeping in them. Austin didn’t see any signs of real medical equipment either.
“All right, fine,” the woman said, setting down her magazine. “Bring her over.” She led them to one of the empty cots.
“I think she needs fluids,” said Austin. “And she has a fever. Can you give her something to help?”
“We’ll do what we can,” said the woman.
“Do what you can?” echoed Austin. His patience was getting thinner by the second. “What does that mean? Do you guys even have medicine in here?”
“Son, I don’t care for your tone,” snapped the woman. “We will give your mother the finest care possible. Now I suggest that you quit asking so many questions and leave me to my work.”
Darsha looked at Austin and nodded at the door. “Let’s go.”
Austin glared at the woman one last time. “Okay. But you’d better do everything in your power to make her better.”
He kissed his mom on the forehead. “They’ll fix you up in no time,” he said before following Darsha to the door.
“So long, Darsha,” the Yellow Jacket called as they left.
Austin glanced at Darsha in surprise. He was about to ask her how the Yellow Jacket knew her name when Darsha darted ahead of him. “I have to go. I hope your mom feels better. I’ll see you later!”
He watched her jog off, wondering if he was missing something. “Thanks!” he called after her. “For everything!”
Chapter 6
Lunch brought another small meal. And the afternoon brought more backbreaking work. By dinner time Austin felt weak and completely drained.
He sat down with Michael, and soon Mr. Forrester appeared from the kitchen to give another message. “Our government has been toppled,” he announced grimly. “Washington, D.C. has been totally shut down. This could mark the end of America as we know it.” People in the dining hall began to chatter.
Austin turned to Michael. “Are you buying this?”
“No way,” he replied. He gestured to the others around them. “But they are.”
“Don’t worry, you’re safe and secure here,” continued Mr. Forrester. “You’ll always be safe here!”
The crowd broke into applause. Austin and Michael just looked at each other and shook their heads. No one else seemed to doubt that Mr. Forrester had reliable information about what was going on outside the camp. But it just didn’t seem believable to Austin.
Austin thought about checking on his mom again after dinner, but since he hadn’t hit it off very well with the lady at the clinic earlier in the day, he decided to stay away until morning. He figured the Yellow Jacket might take better care of his mom if he wasn’t bothering her every few hours. So instead of stopping by the clinic, Austin decided to use the extra time to get clean.
After filling a bucket at the river, he waited in line outside the shower room. Thirty minutes passed before the Yellow Jacket in charge finally let him in. The water was freezing. He had just washed his hair and upper body when the guard inside called “Next!” and forced him and his group out the back doors. Austin barely had time to pull his clothes back on, and he hadn’t had a chance to fully dry off so his clothes clung uncomfortably to his damp skin now.
He returned to his cabin to find it filled with even more people than the night before. Michael was reading a book in an empty spot on the floor. Austin sat down next to him.
“How’s your mom?” asked Michael.
“She’s not doing so well,” said Austin. A lump formed in his throat. “I’m not sure what to do.”
Michael reached over and patted him on the shoulder. “I’m sure she’ll be fine,” he said. “She wouldn’t want you to worry.”
Austin chewed thoughtfully on his lip. “You think we’re going to be okay in this place?” he asked. “Do you think Mr. Forrester and these Yellow Jackets know what they’re doing?”
“No,” said Michael bluntly. “This camp is a hot mess. The Yellow Jackets are making everything up as they go along. Mr. Forrester wants everyone to believe they’ve got everything under control, but they don’t.”
“He’s just trying to scare people, right?” asked Austin. “To keep us in line and make sure we follow all his rules?”
“Probably.”
“So what do we do?” asked Austin.
Michael shrugged. “Nothing. We ignore Forrester’s rantings. We keep our heads down. Do the work. Get your mom better. And we hope for the best if the Visitors ever do land.”
A Yellow Jacket stepped into their cabin. “Curfew!”
As Austin listened to the Yellow Jacket call out the names of everyone in the cabin, he couldn’t help but wonder if coming to this shelter had been the absolute wrong decision.
Chapter 7
Austin felt like he’d just closed his eyes when he was shaken awake. He rolled over to see Michael standing below his bunk. “Let’s go,” he said. “Time to eat.”
“Just five more minutes.” The mornings were getting cooler, and Austin had no desire to abandon the warmth of his blanket any sooner than he had to. He rolled over again.
“We have to go,” said Michael. “I heard they ran out of food at the end of last night’s dinner. If we don’t get in line right away we might miss out.”
Austin groaned. How can they be running out of food? he wondered. “Didn’t Forrester and the other people who started this place come prepared at all?”
“Apparently a bunch of the food they brought has already spoiled,” said Michael. “I guess the food supply depends a lot on what people find while they’re out scavenging. Come on. Let’s go.”
Austin reluctantly got up from his mattress and followed Michael out the door.
While waiting in line inside the dining hall Austin spotted something he hadn’t seen the day before. Through the kitchen, in another room, was a different group of campers eating at their own tables. Some wore the all-too-familiar yellow vests, while others without vests were mixed in with them. They appeared to be eating different food from what was being handed out in the line Austin and Michael were standing in.
“Hey.” He nudged Michael. “What’s going on in there?”
“That’s the dining hall for the Yellow Jackets,” said Michael. “Haven’t you noticed they don’t eat with us?”
The two of them shuffled a few steps closer to the serving counter. “They’re eating bagels and fruit,” said Austin.
“Yep,” said Michael. “I hear they even get canned meat.”
“That’s not fair,” said Austin.
“They’re the Yellow Jackets,” said Michael. “They think they deserve it.”
Austin frowned. “They’re keeping the best food for themselves. But we’re the ones doing all the hard work around here.”
“Hey, I get it,” Michael said. “But Forrester and the Yellow Jackets say they’re offering us protection from the Visitors. It’s hard to argue with that, even if it feels sketchy. And that’s how they’re able to do whatever they want.” As Austin and Michael continued to move ahead in line, he kept his eyes on the Yellow Jackets. Most of them seemed to be in good spirits and enjoying their food.
Suddenly he spotted a familiar face among the group—Darsha. She was eating with the Yellow Jackets. She looked at Austin, then quickly rose from her chair and rushed across the kitchen toward them.
“How’s your mom?” she asked.
“Not sure,” said Austin. “I’m going to visit her after breakfast.”
Michael looked at Austin. “You know this Yellow Jacket?”
“I’m not a Yellow Jacket,” snapped Darsha.
“Could’ve fooled me,” said Michael. He and Austin grabbed protein bars from the table.
“Darsha!” A woman
from the other room was calling to her. “Come back and eat.” She gave them a tight smile.
“I don’t think your mom likes you talking to us,” said Austin.
“It’s fine,” said Darsha.
“Darsha, honey!” her mom called again.
“We’re not good enough for her family,” said Michael. “Or the other Yellow Jackets.”
Darsha frowned. “That’s not true.” She looked at Austin. “But I’d better go.” She left for the other dining room.
Austin and Michael had just sat down to eat when Darsha reappeared.
“Take these,” she said, sitting down with the boys. She slipped them both something under the table. Austin reached down and felt an apple in his hand.
“Where did you get these?” Austin asked.
“There’s a cellar,” she said. “There aren’t a lot left, but you guys deserve them just as much as we do.”
“Thanks,” said Austin.
Michael looked at her sideways. “I might have to rethink my opinion of you.”
“Just make sure to eat them in private,” Darsha said as she glanced over her shoulder. “There are tight rules about . . . you know, rationing.”
Michael snorted.
“I should go,” she said.
“What,” Michael said, “you can’t stay and sit with us commoners?”
Darsha glared at him. “It doesn’t seem like you’re enjoying my company.”
She stood up and rushed back to the other side of the dining hall.
Austin watched her leave, then grinned as he rolled the apple in his hand. This would be the best breakfast he’d had in days.
Chapter 8
Austin hid behind the dining hall and ate his apple in secret. He realized it had been days since he’d eaten anything sweet. He took his time, savoring the entire thing, core and all.
When he was finished, he went to the clinic to visit his mom. He was met at the front table by a Yellow Jacket.
“Can I help you?” asked the man.
“My mom’s inside,” said Austin. “I just want to see how she’s doing.”
“I’m sure she’s fine,” said the Yellow Jacket.
“Well, she wasn’t fine yesterday,” said Austin. “I’d really like to say hi to her.”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” said the man. “Nobody is allowed in the clinic unless they’re sick. Run along now.”
Austin spotted Darsha standing across the room, bringing a cup of water to someone lying on a cot. “You let her inside,” said Austin, pointing to her. “She’s not sick.”
“She’s part of the volunteer staff,” said the man.
Darsha heard Austin’s voice and came over to them. “Oh, forget your stupid rules,” she said, grabbing Austin by the hand. “Let’s go.”
The Yellow Jacket stuttered out an excuse, but Darsha just pulled Austin along behind her.
As they walked across the room, she turned to him. “I just got here myself. Your mom doesn’t look any better.”
Austin rushed over to his mother’s cot. Darsha was right. She looked awful. “Mom, it’s me.”
She turned toward him. “Hi, buddy,” she mumbled. Austin touched her face. She was burning up. She was clearly getting worse. He looked across the room and spotted the woman from the other day. He marched toward her. Darsha followed.
“Why aren’t you helping my mom?” he demanded.
“We are helping her,” said the woman. “We’re doing the best we can.”
“Well, you need to do better!” Austin shouted.
“How did you get in here anyway?” she asked.
“That doesn’t matter,” said Darsha. “What matters is that you give Austin’s mom the treatment she needs and you get her healthy again.”
“There’s only so much we can do with our limited resources.”
“I bet she’d be fine by now if she was a Yellow Jacket!” yelled Austin. “I bet you would help her then!”
“Okay, that’s enough.” The woman got the attention of the Yellow Jacket at the door. He stormed over. “Will you please get this young man out of here? The stress isn’t good for his mother.”
“Gladly.” The Yellow Jacket grabbed Austin by the arm and began pulling him away.
Austin yanked his arm back. “Keep your hands off me!” He stepped toward the Yellow Jacket. “I’ll leave, okay?”
The Yellow Jacket raised his hands. “Easy, kid.”
Austin went back to his mom. “Have they been giving you any medicine?” he whispered.
“Not much,” she said. “Just some painkillers once a day.”
He knew she would need more than that if she was this sick. And with the rations on food and water, it was likely she wasn’t getting enough nutrients either. He turned back to his mom one last time. “I’m going to help you, Mom. I promise.”
Chapter 9
That morning Austin and Michael were placed in a group of teenagers on crop detail. After leaving camp and walking to a nearby corn field, they were ordered to pick whatever crops had been passed over during the fall harvest. They were joined by four Yellow Jackets who kept a close eye on the group.
“I’m going to get out of here,” Austin said to Michael as the two of them searched for corn. Every so often they’d stumble upon a dried-up cob lying in the dirt. One of them would pick it up and drop it into a backpack hanging from his shoulder.
“What do you mean?”
“My mom needs medicine,” said Austin. “If the Yellow Jackets won’t help her, then I guess I have to.”
“Kind of risky, don’t you think?”
“I’m not sure I have any other choice,” said Austin.
They continued to walk the rows of picked corn.
“Where are you going to find medicine?” asked Michael.
“The nearest town is just a few miles away. Burlington,” he said. “I’ll try there. If I skip dinner I can be back before curfew.”
“Keep moving!” shouted a Yellow Jacket. “Less talk and more work! That corn won’t pick itself!”
“I’m coming with you,” said Michael.
Austin stopped walking and looked at him.
“I’m from Burlington. I know where the pharmacy is. I can show you the way.”
Austin shook his head. “You sure you want to risk it? What if Forrester’s stories about the dangers on the outside are true?”
Michael laughed. “Come on.”
“Won’t your parents notice if you leave?”
“It’ll be fine,” said Michael. “This trip should take us a few hours at most. If we’re careful, my parents won’t even know I’ve been gone. Besides, how do you think I’d I feel if your mom got really sick, or worse, and I did nothing to help?”
Austin nodded. “Okay, you can come,” he said. “We’ll leave this afternoon.”
Chapter 10
It was late afternoon by the time Austin, Michael, and the others finished working. The two boys dropped off their half-filled backpacks in a shed behind the dining hall and then took off quickly for the gates.
They were surprised when a guard stopped them on their way out. “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked.
“We need to get medicine for my mom,” said Austin.
Michael added, “She’s really sick and the clinic doesn’t have what she needs.”
“I’m sure the staff at the clinic is taking very good care of your mother,” said the guard.
Austin shook his head angily. “They’re not. And it’s not really any of your business. Just open the gate, please.”
“Nobody leaves.”
“Are you kidding?” asked Austin.
“Nobody leaves?” asked Michael. “Is this place a shelter or a prison?”
“It’s not a prison,” said the guard. “But we’re doing this for your protection. Plus, all residents must pay off their debts. Mr. Forrester has provided you with food and shelter, and you’ve agreed to do labor in exchange. You can’t leave
until you repay what you owe him.”
“What?” sputtered Austin. “I’d say I’ve done plenty of work already—more than enough to make up for the food I’ve eaten.”
“Then when life outside camp becomes safe again, you’ll be free to leave.”
“Come on.” Austin was pleading now. “My mom is really sick. We need to find the medicine she needs. The clinic here doesn’t have it. After we find the medicine we’ll come right back. We promise.”
“No can do,” said the guard. “Like I told you. It’s against orders. And besides, you’ve heard Mr. Forrester. It’s dangerous on the outside. You guys wouldn’t survive long enough to get your mom her medicine.”
“You ignorant bozos don’t really believe Forrester’s horror stories, do you?” asked Michael. “You’re being brainwashed just like everyone else inside this place.”
“Watch yourself, kid.” Another Yellow Jacket stepped toward him.
“Or what?” Michael stood unfazed.
Austin had heard enough. “Let’s go,” he said to Michael. “This is pointless. These people are never going to listen to reason.” He turned and walked away from the gate.
Michael stared down the Yellow Jackets. “Unbelievable,” he said. “If anything bad happens to his mom, it’s on you.” He turned and walked away with Austin.
“So,” Michael said. “What are we going to do now?”
“What else can we do?” Austin stopped and looked at Michael. “We’re going to escape.”
Chapter 11
“So, what’s your plan?” asked Michael as he and Austin sat in the dining hall and wolfed down their dinner.
Austin nodded his head in the direction of the Yellow Jacket’s dining room. “My plan is in there.”
Michael looked over his shoulder. “You mean Darsha?”
“That’s right,” said Austin. “She’s got special access around here. She can help us sneak out.”
“You really trust that girl?” asked Michael. “We hardly know her.”
“I do trust her,” said Austin. “Every time I’ve seen her, she’s been trying to help others. Besides, it’s not like we have a whole lot of options.”