Ashton Memorial

by Robert R. Best

  “According to this,” said Dalton, “there's only two places someone could have opened all the cages from.”

  “Where?” said Angie, leaning in to look more closely.

  “Well, one's here, where we are,” said Dalton, pointing at a spot on the map labeled Communications Office. Several icons on the building indicated the services housed there. One of the icons was a small padlock. Angie guessed it indicated, as Dalton had said, the ability to control the locks in the zoo.

  Dalton kept pointing and moving his hand in a long line clear across to the other side of the map. It came to rest at a small building labeled Emergency Backup Station. “And the other one's here,” he said.

  Angie scanned the map quickly. Dalton was right, only the Communications Office and the Backup Station had the padlock icon. “So that must be where Gregory is.”

  “That must be where Lori is, too,” said Park.

  Angie nodded and stepped away from the map. She took the folded map she'd grabbed the night before from her pocket and unfolded it. She held it up to the large map, comparing. She found the spot on the smaller map that corresponded to the Backup Station. She made a mental note of it, then folded the map and shoved it back into her pocket. “Okay, then. Now we know where we're going.”

  “Then what?” said Park.

  “Hmm?” said Angie.

  “You said we find Lori, then something. Then what?”

  Angie thought about it. “I'm sick of running, Park. We have no home left back in Lakewood. This place is big. We can clear out the corpses and lock it back up. Let everyone who wants to go, go, and everyone who wants to stay, stay. We could stay here for who knows how long.”

  “What are you saying, Mom?” said Dalton.

  “I'm saying that once we get Lori and force Gregory to step down, we're taking over the zoo for ourselves.”

  Seventeen

  Lee sat on an overturned milk crate in the kitchen of the Bites. He wiped a steak knife on a rag in his other hand. The knife left a thin line of blood on the rag.

  Lee smiled at the young blonde woman sitting on a second milk crate across from him. “You're all set.”

  The young woman smiled, sweat collecting on her forehead. She rolled down her sleeve, trickles of blood running down her arm.

  The woman stood, revealing a line of Keepers behind her. Some looked stern and focused. Many looked scared. Lee felt for them. These were tough times.

  “Next,” said Lee.

  A young man with fat cheeks stepped up and sat down on the milk crate. He looked around nervously. He looked at the knife in Lee's hand, then over to Lee's left. Lee followed his gaze to the three bodies stacked in the corner. All with throats sawed open and heads pushed back. Dark blood stained their faces and the floor beneath them. Darts were embedded in each of their foreheads, assuring they wouldn't get up again.

  Lee looked back to the young man. The young man swallowed and looked back at Lee.

  “It's sad, really,” said Lee. “I think one or two of them might have changed their minds at the end. I saw it in their eyes, but by then the knife was already in and the blood was already out.”

  The young man blinked and nodded.

  Lee smiled at him. “But this isn't about them. This is about you. About us. The Keepers. Are you a Keeper, son?”

  The young man, who might have actually been a year older than Lee, nodded. “Yes, sir. I am.”

  “Do you commit to the Keeper’s Code? Do you promise to keep order? To keep the weak ones safe and the strong ones in line?”

  “I do, sir.”

  “Good,” said Lee, nodding. Outside, the rain picked up. Lee heard it pounding on the windows. It was late morning but the room was dark. “Lift up your sleeve.”

  The young man paused, then swallowed again. He grabbed his left sleeve and rolled it up, exposing his bicep and shoulder.

  “Lean in,” said Lee. The young man did, turning to present his upper arm, just below the shoulder. Sweat already collected on the young man's forehead.

  Lee leaned forward and brought up the steak knife. Slowly, carefully, he carved a large K in the young man's shoulder. Blood pooled in the lines and the young man winced with each stroke.

  Lee finished and sat back, examining his handiwork. Blood trickled from the K, but Lee knew that could be wiped away. The K would last. Lee was proud.

  “Good job,” said Lee. “You can go.” The young man nodded and rolled down his sleeve. Blood seeped into his shirt. He stood and walked to the side.

  Lee wiped the knife on the rag and surveyed the others. Still quite a few to go. It would be a long morning.

  The communicator on his belt crackled to life. Lee jerked in surprise. He'd almost forgotten he had the thing.

  “Lee?” came a voice from the communicator. It was Gregory.

  Lee placed the rag and knife on the crate in front of him. He took the communicator from his belt and held it to his mouth. He clicked the button on the side. “Sir? Is that you?”

  * * *

  Lori strained against the ropes holding her legs to the chair. Gregory had his back to her, focusing on the microphone on the desk. She desperately wanted to believe the ropes were looser after days of straining, but she knew they were not. She wasn't going anywhere, but she couldn't stop trying. She pulled at the ropes with her fingers, tips already raw from effort. The ropes wouldn't budge.

  As she struggled, she stared at the remains of her phone in the corner. She wondered if she could put it back together. She longed to try. She wanted to rip the ropes free, run to the phone and call Ella. Just speak to her for a few seconds before the phone finally fell apart for good.

  Gregory spoke and Lori flinched. His voice grated on her, even when he wasn't speaking to her. He spoke into that stupid microphone. Someone responded over the speaker that also sat on the desk. Lori thought she recognized the voice. It sounded like Lee, the quiet zookeeper boy. But then, it didn't sound like Lee. Not anymore.

  “Sir?” said Lee's voice. “It’s an honor to hear from you. We've been listening to your broadcasts and I would like to thank you for all you've done.”

  Lori rolled her eyes to no one and pulled at the ropes. Her heart jumped when her right leg shifted. Just a tiny bit. Nothing that would even be visible. But it was more than she'd managed in days. Lori almost couldn't believe it. She had hope.

  Mom looks like something is wrong. She stares blankly at the road as she steers the car.

  “Are you okay, Mom?” says Lori.

  “No,” says Mom.

  “Thank you, Lee,” said Gregory into the microphone. “You're too kind. I'm calling because I need your help.”

  “Help, sir?” said Lee's voice. Lori pulled and tugged at the ropes, desperate to replicate the movement she'd managed a few seconds ago. She couldn't. “Anything, sir,” said Lee. “The Keepers are at your command.”

  “Good, good,” said Gregory. “That's good to hear. As you're no doubt aware, a woman has brought chaos to our zoo. First she let those things outside in. Then she and her gang have somehow turned the animals themselves against the zoo. They should be attacking the creatures, driving them back. But instead they attack our own citizens. It breaks my heart to see it. She has to be responsible. It is the only explanation.”

  “I agree sir,” said Lee's voice. “She came to the Bites the other day and nearly started a riot. If I had realized how truly dangerous she was I would have put her down on the spot.”

  “Don't be too hard on yourself, Lee. These times have been trying on us all.”

  Lori rolled her eyes again, pulling on the ropes. She felt another little shift. Tiny, barely any movement at all. But it was miles to Lori.

  “But it gets worse, I'm afraid,” Gregory continued. “This woman has infiltrated our buildings and stolen our equipment. She has access to our weapons and our maps. Which means that my attempt to call on the animals to defend us has had a tragic side effect. She knows where I am, or will very soon. She i
ntends to steal my daughter from me. She broadcast her intent over the entire zoo. Using my equipment, Lee. Our equipment.”

  “I heard, sir,” said Lee's voice. “It's a terrible thing. The Keepers will fight to the last to defend you and your daughter, sir.”

  “I know Lee, I know. But first things first. We must move. She knows where I am. She knows where the food is. We must consolidate our power somewhere else. Somewhere she isn't expecting.”

  “Sir, if I may make a suggestion. We should retake the Communications Office. We could command the whole zoo from there.”

  “No, Lee, no,” said Gregory, shaking his head at the microphone. Lori pulled at the ropes. She heard rain pounding outside. Gregory drummed his fingers on the desk. “There's no point in that, I'm afraid. We don't know how many of her people are there. We can't risk good Keeper lives on what may be an ambush. Second, it is only a matter of time before the power goes out. The world has ended, Lee. Soon the outside resources will fail. All of our cameras and communicators will be useless. We will have to work on a more basic level.”

  “What do you suggest, sir?”

  Gregory leaned forward, speaking lower than before. Lori could still make out what he was saying. She didn't care anymore. Gregory had lost his mind. Everyone had. She had to get out. She had to get free. The ropes wouldn't give anymore than they had already. She felt like crying. The rain outside pounded and Gregory's low voice muttered into the microphone. She hated him. She hated everything but Ella. She had to get out. She had to.

  * * *

  Lee lowered the communicator and looked around the kitchen. His heart felt large with pride. With purpose. The other Keepers looked back to him. Some looked confused. Lee knew they would come to understand.

  Gregory's voice came back over the communicator. “I know I can count on you, Lee.”

  Lee raised the communicator back to his lips. “Thank you sir. I won't let you down.”

  A click came from the communicator, signaling Gregory had switched off his end. Lee hooked the communicator to his belt. He surveyed the Keepers.

  “You heard him. We have work to do. Which means we'll have to step things up here.” He turned to the Keepers he'd already given the K. Blood smeared on their arms from where they’d wiped away the trickles. He indicated roughly half of them. “You guys, come over here.”

  He led the group to the nearest stainless steel counter in the kitchen. He slid open a drawer, revealing dozens of steak knives like the one he was using. “Everyone take one,” he said. Each of the Keepers reached into the drawer and pulled out a knife.

  Lee nodded to each of them holding a blade. Rain pounded outside. “Alright.” He nodded at the others, the ones waiting in line to receive their K. “Give them all the mark. Be careful. Be neat. An injury would just make it harder for them to fulfill their duties. And that's one less Keeper to help you. Understand?”

  The others nodded.

  “And if any refuse, well...” Lee trailed off. The others nodded. “Just make sure to put a dart in their head afterwards. To be sure.”

  They all nodded a third time. The young man with fat cheeks swallowed again. Lee noticed he did that a lot. He worried about the young man's resolve.

  “To work, Keepers.”

  They all left Lee there and moved to the Keepers line. Lee watched them get started. They had Keepers rolling up their sleeves and were carving in no time. Lee felt proud.

  When he was satisfied in their work, he grabbed a handful of knives from the drawer. He moved back to the second half of the K Keepers. “The rest of you,” he said. “Come with me.”

  He led them across the darkened kitchen, out into the eating area. There was slightly more light here. Outside the room’s large windows, all was gray. Rain pounded down on the glass.

  He reached the front doors and turned to face the Keepers. He handed each one a knife. “Alright,” he said, turning back to the door. “Follow my lead.”

  He opened the door and stepped outside into the pounding rain. It pelted his head and shoulders, soaking him in seconds. He ignored it. Today was a glorious day.

  Many people huddled outside, waiting for feeding time. They looked at Lee and the others, all hunched shoulders and hungry eyes.

  Lee smiled, holding the knife down at his side. “Who here would like some food?”

  * * *

  Angie lowered her rifle, watching the corpse of a small old woman fall. The dart embedded in her forehead bobbed up and down as she slumped. Angie shouldered the rifle and wiped rain from her face. It was immediately soaked again.

  Angie looked around, willing herself to go slowly. The rain had picked up and it was harder to see. She stared at the large figure in the area up ahead. She felt ridiculous, but she had to make sure it wasn't moving. It was still.

  “Okay,” she said, nodding. She walked forward. Park grunted behind her, pushing the wheelbarrow.

  They walked slowly and the shape resolved into a large stone statue. A rich man looked proud and serene with bushes surrounding him. Richard Ashton IV, said a plaque underneath the statue. Founder of Ashton Memorial Zoo.

  “Here,” she said. Park set the wheelbarrow down.

  “Fuck about time,” he said. “Fucker was filling up with water.”

  “I could have pushed for awhile.”

  “I didn't say that,” said Park, smirking. “I just wanted to bitch a little.”

  Angie nodded, looking around. No corpses or crazed animals in sight. “Okay,” she said. “Here goes nothing.”

  She took the communicator from her pocket and held it to her mouth. She clicked the button. Her voice boomed from speakers all over the zoo.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” she said. “My name is Angela Land. If you are trapped in this zoo, or if you just want to free this place from the madness that has overtaken it, please join me. Together we can make the Keepers give us food. Together we can force the madman who has taken over to step down. We have weapons but I pray we won't need them. Our numbers should be enough. We are waiting by the statue of Richard Ashton. Join us. Thank you.”

  She lowered the communicator and switched it off, feeling ridiculous.

  “You know you just told the crazies where we are, too,” said Park.

  “I know,” said Angie. “I don't know how else to do this. We just have to risk it.”

  They waited, staring silently into the pounding rain. Five minutes later the first people appeared. They were scared, confused, and alive. They looked at Angie questioningly. She nodded and motioned them to the wheelbarrow.

  * * *

  Lori sat motionless as Gregory opened the door and stepped out of the room. She stared at the floor, making her face as blank as possible. She wanted to look defeated, helpless. She wanted him to think nothing of leaving her alone. She wanted him to think he'd won. He told Lee where they were moving to. Right in front of her. She wanted him to think there was no point in hiding information.

  He shut the door behind him, leaving Lori alone. Lori grabbed the ropes on her legs with both hands, pulling as hard as she could. She kept glancing at her broken phone across the room. The more she stared at it, the more repairable it looked. She could see how the battery fit back in, how the keyboard could be snapped into place. If she could just get a message to Ella. If she could just tell her where they were going. It was possible she was being ridiculous. She knew it. But she had to try.

  She pulled, feeling hope when her leg shifted slightly. She'd heard that woman the night before. Her father was with her. Her real father, not the bearded monster who kept smiling at her. She hadn't heard from her real father in years. Ella hated him for it. Lori was indifferent about him, but at the moment he was preferable to Gregory.

  Her leg shifted again and she risked a small hop. The chair inched closer to the corner. To the phone. She was crazy. She knew it. But she had to keep going. She'd heard the woman over the speakers. She'd heard her dad. They said they were coming for her. They said nothing a
bout Ella. That meant Ella was with them. It had to.

  That, or...

  She forced that line of thinking to stop. She pulled at the ropes and hopped again. The chair slid forward, then tipped. For a moment her chest pounded and she teetered, then she fell forward. She put up her palms to brace herself.

  She hit the floor hard. Her palms smacked against the floor and the chair cracked against her legs. It hurt. It hurt a lot. But more importantly, it was loud.

  “What's that?” came Gregory's voice from outside the door. Not right by the door, but close enough.

  Panting against the cold floor, Lori reached for the ruins of her phone. Her shoulders and legs hurt. Her palms were raw and sharp pains shot up her wrists. She ignored it as her fingers closed on the mass of plastic and metal that had been her phone.

  She pulled the mass to her, working as quickly as she could. She heard Gregory approaching. She had seconds, if she was lucky.

  Her hands shaking, she snapped the battery into the back of the phone and pressed the keypad into place. For a moment she stared at the dead phone, feeling heartbroken and so very very stupid.

  Mom looks like something is wrong. She stares blankly at the road as she steers the car.

  “Are you okay, Mom?” says Lori.

  “No,” says Mom.

  Then the screen lit up.

  Her heart leapt as the phone booted to a start in her hands. Gregory was close. She heard his footsteps right outside the door. She heard him fishing around in his pockets, looking for his keycard.

  As quickly as her shaking fingers could manage, she typed a text message.

  The sound of Gregory digging through his pockets stopped. Lori pressed send and watched as the message was delivered.