Reentry

by Heather Carson

  *

  Katrina stared at the ground as Dr. C went to tell John the girls needed to lie down for a little while. The earth floor was broken in, pounded flat by the foot prints and equipment that had stamped over it in the past few weeks. She felt numb staring at it and smirked to herself when she recognized the emotion. They all had been numb, she thought. Distant and removed, not caring enough to actually do anything to stop this. What could she have done though?

  “I’m scared,” Mia whispered, breaking Katrina’s trance. “What if I never see Dreya again?”

  Katrina looked at the girl and smiled. “I promise we will find your sister.”

  “How can you promise something like that though?” Mia moved closer to her. “What if she comes back here looking for me? Where are we even going?”

  “It’s my dad getting us out.” Katrina looked at the partition that Dr. C had walked behind. Nothing moved. “I’ll ask him to help us find her. He will help.”

  Mia covered her eyes with her hand and then slid her palm down her face. “But your dad helped to build all of this. He is in the military. How can we trust him?”

  “I don’t know anything anymore. I don’t know why or how this happened. No one felt like telling us the whole truth at first because they thought we were a bunch of dumb kids. Or maybe they did, and we just didn’t listen. That doesn’t matter anymore now. My gut tells me to trust my dad. He left the truck to help me get out. That has to count for something right?”

  Mia hugged her knees to her chest again and was silent for a moment. “She trusted you, so I’ll trust you too. But if this turns out to be another bad plan, well I told you so.”

  Katrina smiled. “It is the only one we have right now. And sometimes you just have to hope.”

  Chapter 26

  “Stand up and put your hands behind your back,” Cpl. Boulder commanded as he stepped into the medical area. Katrina jumped to her feet. Mia was shaking beside her.

  “What is the meaning of this?” Dr. C yelled as she ran into the room. “These girls are sick. You brought them in here for help.”

  “I’m under new orders,” Cpl. Boulder said as he secured zip ties around their wrists. They were military grade ties, heavy duty. Katrina panicked. I don’t know if I can break this one, she thought.

  “What’s going on?” Mia cried out. “You can’t just keep tying us up for no reason.” Cpl. Boulder stared hard into Katrina’s eyes as he finished securing Mia’s hands.

  Her heart slowed down, and her vision cleared. “Do what he says Mia. We have to trust that it will be okay.” Mia stopped talking but she was still shaking.

  “What is happening?” John asked as he walked into the tent.

  “This man,” Dr. C pointed at Boulder, “is harassing our young women patients and tying them up.”

  “I’m under new orders sir,” Cpl. Boulder addressed John. “I’m to take them to a different dandelion unit. They want all the trouble makers removed to there.”

  “These girls are not trouble makers,” Dr. C put her foot down. “They are very well behaved.”

  “I’m sorry ma’am.” Cpl. Boulder grabbed Katrina by the arm. “Orders are orders. I promise they will be taken care of though.”

  “We will be okay,” Katrina whispered to Dr. C as she was led out of the room. “Thank you for everything.” Dr. C stood back with John and watched the girls leave.

  *

  Jayden and James stood just outside the tents with their arms also tied. Katrina had to wipe the smile from her cheeks as she saw James and then looked back to Boulder’s stone face. She stared at her feet as they moved forward, the happiness bubbling inside of her. He did it, she thought. This guy is a superhero. Cpl. Boulder had them stand in line and began to march them to the vehicle.

  “And where do you think you are all going?” Lt. Bayer’s voice came from the shadows. He stepped out under the floodlights illuminating the outskirts of the tents.

  Cpl. Boulder halted the kids. “I have orders from the higher ups. These kids have been labeled as instigators, so they are being moved to another shelter. I’m to bring you back replacements.”

  “And how did you receive this order?” Lt. Bayer stood a few inches shorter than Boulder. He widened his stance and crossed his arms to make up for it.

  “Sgt. Major Floyd radioed a few minutes ago. General Edwards spoke with him. Ask the general if you have any questions sir,” Cpl. Boulder said looking past Bayer.

  “Why do you think Floyd would send his own daughter to the bad kid’s shelter?” Lt. Bayer scratched his chin.

  Mia’s eyes widened as she looked to Katrina for an answer. Katrina stomped gently on Mia’s foot and she looked back to the ground.

  “I don’t know sir. Maybe you should ask the Sgt. Major that question.”

  Lt. Bayer looked to the night sky for a moment before he burst out laughing. “I’m just giving you grief man.” He lightly punched Boulder’s shoulder. “I already talked to General Edwards. He told me to ride along with you to see if I could be of any assistance.”

  Cpl. Boulder’s lips twitched into a forced smile. “Thank you sir, but I’ll be okay. I don’t need any assistance.”

  Lt. Bayer shrugged. “Orders are orders, corporal. Let’s get this show on the road.”

  *

  Cpl. Boulder led the kids into the back of an enclosed camper military truck. Lt. Bayer shut the tailgate and winked at Katrina before walking over to the passenger side. James was bouncing his knee with his tongue in his cheek. Katrina slid over to sit next to him.

  “Are you okay?” she whispered.

  “I hate that guy,” James hissed back. “I hate his whole family. How are we going to get out of this one?”

  “I don’t know.” Katrina shook her head. “I’m hoping Boulder has a plan. Did you hear him talking to my dad?”

  “No,” James said as he looked out the back window. “He brought the radio to General Edwards during his speech. The general walked away to take the call. He looked scared when he came back and told us to go with Boulder.”

  Katrina smiled. “Yeah. My dad has that effect.”

  “Listen.” James turned to look at Katrina. “I’m trusting you, trusting your dad, because I think I love you.”

  “Or you just don’t have another option.” Katrina smiled at him, butterflies flipping in her stomach.

  “Something like that.” James leaned his head back against the metal wall of the camper.

  “Wait,” Katrina said as the truck roared to life. “Did you just say you love me?” Cpl. Boulder pulled the truck out of the compound entrance and stared driving down the dirt road.

  “Yeah,” James sighed. “I guess I did.”

  Katrina’s smile spread across her face. She adjusted her hands up higher against her back so she could lean over and kiss James on the cheek. “I think I love you too,” she whispered. “But only kind of. Don’t get a big head.”

  Chapter 27

  They drove through the night. James stretched his legs out and Katrina laid her head on his lap. Mia curled up behind Katrina’s bent knees and used her thigh as a pillow. Jayden sat up on the other side of Mia, keeping her warm and talking with James until they both fell asleep.

  Katrina could feel Mia’s even breathing as she slept. It’s going to be okay, she told herself. I’m going to see my dad. And if it’s the worst-case scenario, if he helped to destroy and create this world, I’ll convince him he was brainwashed. He’ll let me, let us, go to the cabin. I know it. And somehow, I’ll convince him to help me find Dreya too. It’s all going to be okay, she thought again as she drifted off to sleep to the rhythmic humming of the truck driving through the desert.

  *

  Daylight came filtering through the dirty window in the back of the truck as Cpl. Boulder pulled over to the side of the road.

  “Wake up kids,” Lt. Bayer called while banging on the side of the truck. “Time for a pit stop.”

  Katrina groaned as she sat up
and tried to rotate her stiff shoulders. Her hands were tingling below where the zip tie was placed, and her hip ached from laying on the metal floor. Cpl. Boulder opened the back of the truck and the kids climbed down.

  She was just about to slide out when Boulder grabbed her by the wrists. He cut her zip tie loose with a single slice and put the pocket knife into her hands. “Wait a second,” he whispered in her ear.

  Cpl. Boulder stepped to the side of the truck, standing in front of the kids. Lt. Bayer stood in the brush with his back to the truck facing the rising sun.

  “Bayer,” Cpl. Boulder shouted, raising his pistol toward him. “Put your hands in the air and then turn around.”

  Lt. Bayer put his hands in the air as he slowly turned. His face was distorted in confusion. “What do you think you are doing? Corporal? Lower your weapon now. That is an order.”

  Boulder chuckled. “An order from who? You? You aren’t my chain of command and I don’t take orders from pansies like you. Katrina, take his gun.” Katrina ran over to unholster the pistol from Bayer’s waist. “Drop to your knees now Bayer. Kids, get back in the truck.” Boulder held his pistol out, trained steadily on the man’s head.

  “This isn’t the last I will be seeing of you sweetheart,” Bayer whispered to Katrina. “I have a feeling that our paths will cross again. Say hi to your dad for me, will you?” He smiled at her and Katrina’s stomach rolled as she quickly ran back to the truck. She kept the gun pressed tightly against her as she climbed back in. Boulder’s arm holding the pointed pistol didn’t waver as he walked over to the driver’s side and started the vehicle.

  “It would probably be best if you shot me Corporal,” Bayer called out.

  “It probably would be,” Boulder yelled back as he stepped onto the frame. “But I don’t shoot unarmed people.” He slid into the seat and slammed on the gas pedal. The truck went screeching down the desert road.

  *

  They traveled deeper into the desert over bumpy dirt roads. Joshua Trees began to sprout up and a random cactus or two poked out straight from the ground. The air was hot and stifling in the back of the truck. Katrina wished she could open a window. They drove past abandoned houses and stores down a long, paved road. The truck slowed as it moved between concrete barrier slabs.

  “Where are we going?” Mia asked trying to look out of the back window.

  “It’s some kind of military base I think.” Katrina moved to sit next to her. “We are coming up to the gate.” Boulder stopped the truck as he talked to the gate guards before driving through the station. They passed three Marines and a Sailor holding rifles at the entrance.

  Outside of the back window, Katrina saw the giant flag poles inside the barricaded walls surrounding the base. All four branches of the military flags flew beside the Marine flag along with a yellow Gadsden “don’t tread on me” flag depicting the coiled snake. The flags were all flown at half-mast slightly beneath the American flag. The American flag was hung upside down signifying the country in distress. Katrina felt a rush of pride tainted with sadness as she watched the fabric dance in the wind.

  Chapter 28

  The truck climbed a small hill up to a circular driveway which sat in front of a cluster of buildings. Boulder pulled to the end of the circle and killed the engine. He jumped out and ran to open the tailgate.

  Mia climbed out first and momentarily disappeared from Katrina’s line of vision. She heard the girl scream “Dreya!” at the top of her lungs and Katrina scrambled out after her.

  Running down the steps from the center building was Dreya. Her braid, with all its flyaways, was blowing in the desert breeze. The hot air burned Katrina’s eyes and dried the tears that began to form as she watched Mia tackle her older sister to the pavement.

  Katrina looked to Jayden who had quickly climbed out of the truck when he heard Mia scream. “What are you waiting for?” she laughed. “Go get your girl.”

  “Nah.” Jayden smiled as he put his hands in his pockets. “Let them have this moment. I’ll get her later.”

  Katrina smiled as she turned to James and he kissed the top of her head. When she looked back to the girls, she saw a tall Marine with wide shoulders and tightly shaved hair cut exit the main building. The Marine made his way down the steps. Katrina thought of all the times her father had deployed and how it had seemed that every Marine in uniform looked like him. But this time… She sharply inhaled.

  “Daddy,” she called out leaving James’ embrace and running to her father. He opened his arms wide and caught her in a crushing bear hug.

  “It’s so good to see you sweetie,” he said putting her down on her feet. “I’m really glad you are okay.”

  “Um.” Katrina took a step back and glared at him as the words rushed out of her mouth. “No thanks to you! Well maybe right this minute and the truck, thanks for that by the way, but what the hell is going on? Why did you put me in that bunker? Why did you leave me there? You lied to me! You told me you didn’t know what was going on with the bombs. What is this new government and why is the military shooting unarmed civilians? I want answers and I want them now. Starting with, how could you do this to me?”

  Sgt. Major Floyd let out a deep chested laugh as he ruffled the top of his daughter’s head. “It’s good to see that even the apocalypse didn’t change your attitude, I guess. I told you the truth. You were safe there while I did what I needed to do. If it’s any consolation, I blew my cover due to the stunt you pulled back at the shelter, so we lost an edge in this war. I was already going to get the sister out- I like Dreya by the way, you could take some lessons in manners from her- but you had to throw a tantrum and cause a scene.”

  More men in service uniforms came out and Boulder went to them. “Sgt. Major,” he yelled. “The Corpsmen want to take a look at the kids.”

  “In a minute,” Sgt. Major Floyd called back. He looked to his daughter. “We saw this coming and we tried to warn them. I could have left. I probably should have left. But there were some good people caught up in all the confusion. I couldn’t leave my men behind.”

  “What is this then?” Katrina asked looking around the base. “Are you working for the new world government?”

  Her dad smiled his big lopsided grin. “Those bunch of traitors? Hell no.” He spread his arms out. “Welcome to the resistance.”

  He crossed his arms back over his chest as Katrina’s jaw dropped. “So, we are fighting the government now?”

  “Not my government,” Sgt. Major Floyd said. “We weren’t going down with those fascists, so we did our job as we formed the resistance under the radar. This new government thought we were just sheep, but we are wolves dressed in wool. Thinking that we were weak and would follow their rules was their first mistake. We’ve taken back most of the military bases around the country and more are joining us every day. We sure as hell weren’t going down without a fight. And oh, what a fight we are going to give them.”

  Katrina hugged her dad again. “I knew it wasn’t true. All the stuff they were saying about you.”

  Her dad smiled. “You can tell me all about that later. And I really want to know why you weren’t at the cabin. Cpl. Boulder was supposed to meet you up there before we got word that you were captured by Colonel Adams.” He chuckled. “I’ve been sending that poor kid all up and down the state looking for you. Maybe you should thank him sometime, eh?”

  “Maybe you should thank him.” Katrina narrowed her eyes. “You were the one giving him orders.”

  “Ah, he volunteered for it.” Sgt. Major Floyd put his arm over his daughter’s shoulders. “Introduce me to your friends.”

  Dreya and Mia were standing by James and Jayden near the truck. Katrina squeezed her dad’s hands as they neared her roommates. Jayden tucked a lock of Dreya’s wild hair behind her ear and smiled at her with adoring eyes.

  “You already met Dreya,” Katrina said as they approached. “How did that happen by the way?”

  Her dad nodded. “I heard of a rebel l
eader in the mix, she belonged here.”

  Katrina shook her head. “Well this is her little sister Mia, and this is Jayden, her boyfriend.”

  Jayden shook the Sgt. Major’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Likewise,” Sgt. Major Floyd smiled at him. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  Mia grabbed Sgt. Major Floyd’s waist and crushed him with a hug. “Thank you so much for saving my sister and for getting us out of that awful place.”

  “Now, now,” Katrina’s dad smiled at her. “Don’t go thanking me just yet. We still have some work to do and I will need every able body to accomplish the mission.”

  Mia stood up straight. “Whatever you need me to do sir, I’m your girl.”

  Katrina laughed as she turned her dad away. “And this,” she said smiling as she raised her chin. “Daddy, this is James.”

  James extended his hand. Katrina saw it shake and hoped her dad wouldn’t notice. “Thank you for getting us out sir.”

  Sgt. Major Floyd looked up and down over James. “Uh huh,” he mumbled, leaving James’ hand hanging in the air. He turned to face the buildings. “Let’s get you kids inside. It is hot as hell out here.” He began to walk away, and the teens trailed behind him.

  Mia and Dreya laughed as they teased one another. Jayden couldn’t wipe the smile from his face. He kept glancing over to look at Dreya as if he was worried that she wasn’t real. James and Katrina followed them across the pavement and onto the sidewalk.

  “I’m not so sure your dad likes me,” James whispered to her as they climbed the stairs.

  “Of course he does,” Katrina smiled. “He doesn’t have another choice.”

  *

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