by Roman Shepp
“I've got your back,” Phil said.
Jane knew he meant it and knew that Tony and Saeed shared his sentiments. She didn't know what she had done to deserve friends like them, but she wanted to keep them safe. Tara as well. The little girl was going to grow up in a more dangerous world than any of the others had grown up in, and it was their job to protect her and teach her to take care of herself.
Jane never had been a mother before, but it was starting to come naturally to her. There was a genuine bond between her and the child, one that she hoped would serve them both well. And yet as she and Phil walked away she only could think of Frank and how her heart still was tied to him. She already had wasted too much emotion on him but seeing him again brought everything flooding back. How she wished it would be easier for her to find her a way through the twisting turbulence of her own heart, but it was as scarred and crazy as the rest of the world.
Chapter Three
Frank Underwood walked away from Jane and her sword-armed friend whistling. The blade on that man's arm had been pointed at him, but Frank thought he could take anything that was dished out to him. He was invincible, after all. The world was meant for him, this was his time to shine, the time he had been waiting for his entire life. Now it was all there for the taking. Men like him couldn't die. He was the hero in his own story, and there was too much for him to accomplish. Frank was the type of person to go down in history. He'd known that from a young age, and everything he'd done in his life had been to cultivate an image of a man, an image that people could follow and love. Some men were born great, some had greatness thrust upon them, but men like Frank scraped and clawed until their flesh had been worn to the bone to be great.
And now it all was working as he had planned.
To top it all, Jane was there with him. That girl had caused him so much trouble, but when he thought about her he only remembered the good times. Damn, she was worth the trouble. He remembered the way she first had come into his office with those ruby lips and that short skirt. She'd been entirely professional, of course, but both of them knew it was only an act. She'd glanced at the wedding ring but ignored it, and then let Frank have anything he wanted from her. After a stale marriage the young, ambitious woman was a breath of fresh air. Their affair had lasted far longer than Frank had imagined it would. His wife had remained clueless throughout, always far too concerned with her New Age yoga classes to be an attentive wife. Not that Frank minded too much. To him, a family always had been part of the image. The people needed to delude themselves into thinking that he was a paragon of virtue, remaining true to all the values they held dear.
Still, Jane had started to become more clingy over the past few months, always nagging him about when he was going to get a divorce, when he could become more serious. She had a real bugbear about that one, and it was all he could do to shut her up. She hadn't turned out to be as ruthless as he thought, but that night when he had been chasing her reignited something within him. A sweet feeling surged through him as he had been chasing her through the streets, and now that she had come back to him he was sure they were meant to be together. For someone who was a self-made man, Frank had a strong belief in destiny. He wasn't so foolish as to ignore the signs, and he was going to listen to what the universe was telling him. He and Jane were meant to walk the same path. He just had to get her back on his side.
For some reason she had gone around with that motley crew, but once she realized what she was missing she would come back to him. Still, she'd have to pay first for what she had done to him. Rubbing the back of his head, he felt the welt still there from where she had attacked him. He couldn't let her get away with that, revenge would have to be dispensed. But she understood that. It wouldn't have been the first time she was punished for being a naughty girl anyway. It was all part of the fun, and once that was dealt with the two of them would be able to move on, and this time he could be the real Frank Underwood. No longer would he need to hide behind a false smile or have to drag a family along behind him just because it's what the people expected.
No, the end of the world was the best thing to ever happen to Frank. He could do away with all the pretense that had haunted his life. Well, almost, once he had full control. The soldiers in the bunker were causing him some problems, but it wasn't anything he couldn't deal with. He'd seen how the world was going to hell, and when it came time he would ride in and give people the hope they needed. It was the way the game was played, and it was a game he excelled at.
Frank always had been the patient kind. He had to be in the game of politics, so it wasn't a chore for him to stay safe in that bunker. There would be other scores to settle when he returned to the surface as well. Tony for one, that idealistic kid amused him, but he couldn't be allowed to continue living, not after he had humiliated Frank in that alley. The bruises still stung, and in time Tony would be punished. There were more people as well. Those he had encountered on his journey through the city. The person who had stolen his wallet, the ones who had tried to steal his clothes when he had been rising again. Frank had managed to scare them off, but he'd had to prowl through the streets like a wild animal to do so.
The realities of the new world amused him in a darkly ironic way. He'd spent most of his life navigating the dangerous pathways of politics, so this was nothing new. When he awoke after being knocked out by Tony he had tried finding Jane's trail but had been unable. He'd moved through the city stealthily manner, mostly waiting until after dark, when it was easier to hide. He'd had to commit a number of crimes, though. The victims’ screams still echoed in his head but he told himself that it was all a price that had to be paid. The suffering of all those people was a burden that he had to live with, but it was one he would carry with him over into the new world. He would make sure the New America was dedicated to all those who suffered. Such an undertaking could not succeed without blood being spilt.
The path to control was clear as well. He doubted that the President or any of his cronies had survived. They all were incompetent, and it was about time something had been done to get him out of office. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise that Frank never had quite made it to the Oval Office, even though that had been his driving ambition. Now the path was clear for him to seize and seize it he would. Oh yes, he couldn't remember life ever having been better for him. He just was waiting for the day when all his long-gestating plans would come to fruition.
Returning to his friends, he sank into a chair and put his arms behind his head, stretching his legs out onto a table.
“How was your little friend?” Megan asked.
“Oh, she was just fine, just fine indeed,” Frank said.
“You think she can be an asset?” Brian wheezed.
“She's been working for me for years. I know things have changed but I think I can bring her back into the fold. She showed great potential, and I think deep down she knows the way things should be.”
“It's risky. I'm not sure I like it,” Brian said, running his fingers through his wispy gray beard. Frank had to hide his disgust every time he looked at the man. He'd never let himself get so out of shape. Brian was like a damp sack of bones, but it meant he was easily led. The fewer people who could challenge Frank, the better.
“We need more allies. Roberts and the others get more frustrated every day. Frank, I appreciate your vision of the world, but I don't know how long we can wait. That boy did have a point. We really can't… well, stay down here forever. At some point we're going to have to raise our heads and do something. We only can hold out for so long,” Megan said.
“I'll deal with Roberts. He's a good solider. He knows the way things should be. He's been brought up in the army. The chain of command is in his blood. Don't worry about a thing. It all will go according to plan,” Frank assured them.
“And what of the others?” Megan said. “Are they worth the risk?”
“One is a cripple and the other is a little girl,” Frank said dismissively.
; “The other one thinks he's a knight in shining armor, which always leads to a downfall, and the last one doesn't even want to seem to be on this plane of existence. It's a wonder they've managed to stay alive this long. I've a feeling that's all due to Jane. Trust me, she's worth the risk of keeping these people around, but their presence here changes nothing. We still have to wait for the world to tear itself apart before we can put it back together again. I'm not going back out there until the time is right,” he said.
Megan and Brian nodded. They were following his lead, as it should be. This was just practice for when he was President. He'd have to change certain things, of course. Neither of the two were good enough to help him take the country by the scruff of its neck. They would need to be dealt with in due course, but for now they served their purpose. Frank looked up at the ceiling and thought of the world beyond the bunker, of how all the crazy people were killing each other, culling the herd. Little did they know they were paving the way for the new world, led by Frank.
He imagined himself riding back into town with the people broken and bloodied. They would need a hero and a leader. He'd pick up all the shards of their lives and reforge them into something incredible. Of course, it probably would require one final lie. He couldn't very well be honest with them and say that he had been hiding out in a bunker. If they thought of him a coward, they never would follow him. He wasn't a coward, of course, he merely was being prudent and pragmatic. There was no sense in risking himself when there was so much to be gained by his survival. The world could afford many sacrifices, but not his. Never his.
Megan and Brian carried on talking, but Frank was lost in thought. The world was going to be his. He would ride it like a stallion and Jane would be by his side. Once she learned her lesson, of course. The others either could find their way to him or be cast aside and suffer the fate of everyone else. The new world only could have those who shared the same vision as Frank.
Power surged within him. It was an intoxicating feeling, and one that he was going to get used to. As he moved through the city he would bring others into his party. Those who doubted him, such as Captain Roberts, would see the error of their ways before too long. Naive fools like Tony would be a thing of the past. No longer would he have to listen to those silly, childish ideals. People told themselves those things to help them sleep better but those sweet lies of heroism and equality had led to the country being taken to its knees. Frank was going to show the people the true face of America, the ruthless pragmatism that had been holding together the fabric of the flag throughout the entire history of the country.
Chapter Four
Saeed stretched out his arms and moved his neck from side to side. He had yet to come to terms with how he felt about current developments. Something inside didn't feel right about being stuck underground. Since he'd come to peace with the fact that he had been left to walk the world while his family had been taken into Heaven, Saeed saw his mission as one of mercy. He had to help people, but while in this bunker there was nobody to help. They all had shut themselves off from the world, and the politicians seemed deluded if they thought they simply could walk back up to the surface and declare themselves leaders again. After all they'd been through, the bunker was a respite, but Saeed did not want to stay for any length of time. He'd agreed with Tony initially, but he knew at some point they would have to leave again. The world needed good people to take a stand, not to hide away. What lesson would they be teaching Tara if they hid from the horrors of the world?
He'd been more comfortable with himself ever since he had made peace with Tara. He even was coming to like the company of the little girl. Like Aaminah, she was bright and friendly, inquisitive about the world. Sometimes she reminded him so much of Aaminah it hurt, and that vulnerable part of him wanted to shy away to avoid the pain, like he had when Tara first had joined them. Now, however, he embraced the pain and made it a part of him. It wasn't fair to Tara to punish her for simply being a child, and it wasn't fair to him either. If he had died in place of Aaminah, he would have wanted her to remain kind and generous, not to close herself off from the world and refuse to make human connections. So, Saeed tried heeding his own lessons, even though it often was more difficult to take your own advice.
The visions of Nadya had become less frequent, which was relieving and troubling at the same time. Saeed often liked to have a tether to his wife, even if it was just a part of his mind speaking to him. It didn't feel right that he should be at peace when his family had been killed. It was not entirely rational, but Saeed felt as though he should hold onto the pain even though it burned him like a hot coal. Being locked down here in the bunker was to be away from the stress of the world, and to be removed from the immediate knowledge that it all was ending. Here Saeed was safe, yet it pained him to know there were so many others who would be praying for something like this.
As it turned out, it was not easy to be a survivor, for with it came a heavy burden. Saeed had seen how others had reacted to the end of the world, and he was determined that he was not going to be like them. He was not going to become a living ghost.
By now, Tony and Tara also had woken up, and Jane and Phil had returned, leaving the door open behind them. Jane seemed shaken, which was understandable given how she had been forced to come face to face with her attacker. Saeed was surprised that she was holding it together as much as she was. If he had been in the same position he wasn't sure anything could have stopped him from launching himself at him, even if there were soldiers around. Then again, Jane always had had a better handle on her emotions, at least from what he had seen.
“Okay, I've been thinking while we were asleep. I know we can't stay in this bunker forever, and not just because of who we share it with,” Tony said. “I think we should get out the map and have a look at what the rest of the world looks like. We might find something that can give us hope. I refuse to believe that nobody has built a sanctuary anywhere around here. There has to be a place of safety, a place where people have come together and united in the common goal of survival.”
Phil pulled out the map and laid it over one of the bunks. Everyone, including Tara, gathered around and pored over it, figuring out exactly where they were. Notations were scribbled in red pencil all over it, most of which could not be read. However, nearby there was a large red ring around a section of the first notation. In the middle there was something that had been written and then crossed out, and then a skull had been drawn nearby. It was entirely ominous.
“What do you think it all means?” Saeed asked. He'd never really had any experience at reading maps. Phil was the one who had the most. He traced a line with his finger around the outer edge of the circle, then looked at it from difference angles, trying to make sense of the writing.
“I don't think it means anything good,” Phil said. “When does a skull ever mean anything good?”
“What about these smaller circles?” Tony asked, pointing to the map. Around the big circle were smaller ones, with lines joining them to the big circle.
“I guess they could be smaller camps?” Phil said.
“I wonder if they're safe. There aren't any skulls around them,” Jane said.
“Maybe they suffered from some sort of disease. It might be a warning to stay away,” Saeed said.
Farther away from the main circle there were question marks, with writing scribbled next to them. No matter how many ways Saeed looked at the markings he could not figure out what they said. The man who had written them must have been in a hurry. He showed quick thinking, though. The biggest downfall of people in this world was being distracted, and not reacting quickly enough. Whoever this man was had done them a huge favor, and Saeed wished he could display his gratitude.
“This has to mean death. Whatever happens, we must avoid the skull,” Jane said.
“I agree but look at the area. Whatever this place is, it's huge. I don't know how we're ever going to be able to avoid it all. And if this is a community, it's goi
ng to expand. We don't know when this map was made. The whole thing might be different,” Tony said.
“Let's not look at the worst yet. If this is a community, it might not expand as quickly as you think. They're probably too focused on survival. Then again, I wouldn't fancy my chances at walking around the perimeter,” Phil said, which seemed reasonable.
“But where else are we going to go? It's either going this way or going back to the city. Maybe we should try these little circles? They might be friendly,” Saeed said.
“The ones with question marks?” Tony asked.
Saeed nodded.
“It could be a plan. I mean, we have the advantage of knowing where they're located. We always can scout them out first before we actually introduce ourselves,” Phil said.
“There's always the masked man walking around as well. We have no idea where he's going to strike next,” Tony said.
“Well, we can't account for that anyway. Is there anything else on the map we could use? Any other places of safety?” Jane asked, craning her neck to see the far corners of the map. At this point Groot began barking, although none of them paid him any attention. Saeed just assumed he was getting restless and wanted to play.
“It's a shame this map doesn't cover more area really. We always could try walking along the freeway to the next town. Maybe things are better there?” Saeed said, even though it was a forlorn hope.
“I don't know about that. I think things are going to be bad everywhere. What we really need is a ranch or a farm, somewhere where we can live self-sufficiently. There must be one of those out here somewhere,” Tony said.
“What if this community is ill?” Phil asked. “Shouldn't we get out of Dodge as soon as possible? I mean, I don't like the thought of going back to the city any more than you guys, but I prefer that versus taking our chances with sick people. Without hospitals or any kind of medical aid we're going to have to be careful about how we manage sickness. We've been lucky so far, but we could get a virus before any of us know what to do, and winter will be especially hard.”