by JM Butcher
“Excuse me, sir,” Lexa says, marching toward the officer. “Is there something wrong?”
He doesn’t answer, nor does he even acknowledge her. Instead, he waits for his partner to join him. The partner takes his sweet time. When he arrives, the two Coats whisper in each other’s ears, taking breaks to inspect each of us.
The first Coat looks at Lexa. “No, miss, I don’t think there’s any problem. Just be careful. Get to where you’re going. Your best bet is going north. Here, I can show you where to…”
“We’re good,” I say, “come on, guys. Thanks again, sir. And thanks for your service.”
The Gray Coat tips his hat and lets us pass, squinting at me. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief, except for me. I’m worried I was made, and there still are a few other Coats in front of us. They don’t look concerned with us, though.
Stupidly, I peek back at the first Coat. “Wait!” He says and walks toward me. “You. What’s your name?” We act like we don’t hear him and keep moving. “Excuse me. Wait.”
We don’t stop. My legs grow stiff as we approach the three Gray Coats huddled up in front of us. While they didn’t before, they now seem to take interest in us. I don’t make eye contact with any of them, but Melli waves and smiles. No problems, yet.
A radio buzzes. “Officer Chase? Are you there, Office Chase? Could you please stop those girls who just passed? One of them may be a target. Margaret Gordon. Stop them. Apprehend them, if necessary.”
As I hear the voice over the intercom, my legs stiffen up. I can’t move. Melli and Gia push me forward. My legs robotically move in stride with theirs.
“Girls!” A voice yells. “Stop, now!”
“Pick her up,” Gia hisses.
“You have to walk, Maggie,” Melli says, taking a hold of my hand. “Don’t stop now.”
“Girls!” I sense the Coats gaining ground on us. I keep moving, as well as I can. There’s no way I can keep this up. We’re going to get caught.
I regain full control of my legs. I look over my shoulder and see a Gray Coat speaking into his intercom. He’s calling for backup as he continues to gain more ground. It’s not like he needs anyone else. He has a weapon; we don’t.
“What’s the deal?” a voice in front of us says. “Those ass-Coats back there bothering you?” We don’t even have to answer. “Hey boys, we got some jack-clowns up here that need to learn a lesson.” The kid is traveling with a pack of five others. With this much fire in them, my guess is that they’re infected.
The kids pull out guns and maneuver around us. “Go!” Gia shouts. As we run, rounds of gunfire ring out behind us. We’re safe for the moment. “Turn left.”
As we turn the corner, a white van slowly rolls in our direction. It looks exactly like the van that Jack stole. The blue u-Net name barely bleeds through a hurried paintjob. Whoever covered the name wasn’t worried about complete secrecy, just enough to keep the infected Unfavorables from targeting a corporate van.
“Hey, hey,” I say. “Did Jack come back for us?” I point to the van as it slows down.
Before anyone has the chance to answer, five muscular men hop out of the side door and surround us. All of them are missing a left eye. Suits. It’s not Jack that came back for us.
Hayden steps out of the passenger door.
“Hey, Maggie, I’m glad you got to see me again.” Hayden snickers. “Why don’t we all be good little kids and get in the van?”
This is the end. We have nowhere to go. At least, I don’t. Maybe I can spare some of the others. I charge forward, attempting to break through the circle of Suits. I know it’s impossible to get away, but I get the results I hoped for. Three of them grab me, leaving a small gap.
“Ty-ty!” I yell as the Suits tighten their hold on me. “Reunite Lonnie!” Or is it Roxa?
It doesn’t matter. He understands; I don’t need to say it twice. Lexa and Tyler sprint through the gap. As the two free Suits make a move to chase them down, the three girls stand in their way, giving Lexa and Tyler enough time to get away.
“Eh, forget about them,” Hayden says. “We got the two we want—and two bonus girls. I’d say we made out just fine.”
I try to scream, but the Suits tie a shirt around my mouth. The other girls all are gagged, too. There’s no use in resisting. We enter the van.
I can’t see her mouth move, but I hear Makayla’s voice when she asks, “Where to, honey?”
“You already know,” Hayden replies. He kisses her, then looks back and winks at me.
I hope that when Lexa and Tyler make it to Florida, they’ll visit Orlando Beach for me.
Chapter 25
Feed 66:
I don’t know why I feel the need to message you. It must be my arrogance.
It looks like I didn’t need you after all. The deed is done.
Oh, and Tara, I just want to tell you you’re too late. I have her and will use her as I choose. I haven’t decided how. I’ll be sure to let you know.
Out.
Anonymous, 17 October 2040
The van that was my safe haven now is my prison. And except for its occupants, the van looks the same on the inside. It’s remarkable how much can change in a matter of hours.
The four of us are helpless in the back of the van. We can’t scream with gags in. We’re outnumbered five to four. Seven to four if I count Hayden and Makayla. And I’m sure the Suits are all packing weapons. They didn’t even feel the need to tie our arms.
The van doesn’t have side windows, so no passersby can peek inside to witness the kidnapping, not that anyone outside is paying attention to a car anyway. They’re all preoccupied with recording the chaos.
When Hayden is done speaking into an antique radio apparatus, he peeks between the seats. “I know it’s crowded back there, but I trust your chaperones are making your stay as comfortable as possible.” His smug smirk makes me want to vomit, preferably on him. None of us entertain him with any sort of response.
“They’re so rude,” Makayla says. “Absolutely no gratitude. We didn’t teach them well enough.”
“No, we did not,” Hayden agrees. “You know, you girls are quite the problem children. It’s hard to believe that Maggie’s the only Unfavorable. When this is over, I might send an anonymous tip that the rest of you need to be reexamined. Gia at the very least. That is, if we let you live.”
We remain silent. We’ve conceded defeat. I think our surrender disappoints Hayden, because there’s no point talking to people who won’t respond, even if the gags are removed. There’s no fun to be had for him.
Holding my stomach, I credit the bumpy ride and bad driving for my nausea. The cause, though, is more likely the fact that I’ve put so many lives in danger. If only Gia hadn’t come back for me on the river deck. If only I’d surrendered to Hayden earlier. If only I hadn’t gone snooping around.
Melli puts her head on my shoulder, a sign that tells me to keep my head up. She always knows when I’m feeling down. Whether it’s despair, self-pity, or guilt, Melli has some mystic ability to recognize any sort of misery in me. I lay my head on top of hers and close my eyes.
Closing my eyes used to be a coping mechanism. More like a way to restart my mind. Without the T-Blox, I don’t have this luxury. I’m happy I don’t have that option because now I close them to remember. To reflect on my times with my friends. To experience an emotional connection, even if it took this long for it to happen.
I picture the first time I bumped into Gia. She hated me from the time I stepped into the compound. Now, we’re connected by a bond that will never break. Spitting on me one moment, saving my life the next. If we survive this somehow, I’ll do anything in my power to reunite her with Jack. For her, not for him.
Olivia and her useless rants in history class. Entertaining, for sure, but useless. Not that she was ever off base. In fact, I’ve come to understand and appreciate her angsty, rebellious nature. She just never had a shot of swaying Ms. Tatum. Ms. Tatum’s probably enjoyi
ng today’s wreckage.
Maybe one day, classic rock music will bounce back from government censorship. If it does, and if the members of AFI are still alive, I hope Olivia gets the chance to go to a reunion show at Bogarts. She’d be the happiest yahoo in the universe, and maybe the only person at the concert. Well, Crow might make an appearance. They’ll have a good time together.
It doesn’t matter how much she plays the Queen role; Melli will always be my shining star. Digging up my backyard together. Lending me her sunglasses when I refused to face the world. Painting my nails. Removing the polish from my nails. Repainting my nails. Playing soccer on the same team. Sharing secrets with each other. Being my date to school dances because no boys asked me. Always lighting the darkness in my world.
If I could tell Melli anything right now, I’d tell her to wear the Bic-bun more. I’d let her know it’s okay to be vulnerable. It’s okay to be sad and to be scared. It’s not her fault that she can’t save me this time. That I’ll be there for her when the inescapable Bic-bun times in life bring her down. That I’m here with her now. And that she’s always beautiful.
I would tell her that I love her.
I know that Lexa will find Ronnie. She’s the toughest person I know. And when they get together, they’ll take care of Tyler. Tyler will have to learn to like Ronnie. They’ll be okay; I know it. I just know it.
It’s depressing that it took me this long to realize that night thoughts aren’t always dangerous. They can be good. They can be comforting. While I rarely complained that T-Blox blocked my thoughts, it was because I feared the bad thoughts. I now know that I missed out on a lifetime of the good. Missed out on the solace of thinking in complete darkness.
I decide to pray, something I’ve never done before. I don’t pray for myself or ask for harm to Hayden. I pray for Lexa, Tyler, and Ronnie.
Please, anyone out there, please help Lexa and Tyler find a safe Ronnie.
A loud popping sound from outside snaps me back to reality. I can’t identify if it’s an exploded window, a gunshot, or a blown tire. At this point, most the noises all sound the same. All of them except noises from human torment. The sounds of hopelessness and anguish are unique to each scream and weep and wail.
“I can’t go left up here, Hayden!” Makayla screams. “Coats aren’t letting anyone through.” She pounds the steering wheel in frustration.
“Well, can you go around the block?” Hayden asks. “Make it happen.”
“No, I can’t go straight either,” she replies. “Do you not see that pileup?! There’s no flippin’ way! We have to go right!” She starts to rotate the wheel, but Hayden stops her.
“No,” he says, “that leads us back south. We’ll be stuck in the middle of that mess.”
“The mess you made,” Makayla reminds him. “I told you not to go so big all at once.”
“Shut up,” Hayden says.
Their bickering pleases me. The little victories are all I can count on. Each one is a little sweeter than the last.
“Uhh,” Hayden peers in the side rearview mirror. “You can back up. There’s room. We’ll hit up that last street.”
“Maybe you need to drive!” Makayla shouts. “This van is too dang big. I can’t see anything behind us.”
Gia cracks up. It’s muffled through the gag, but it’s absolutely noticeable. It causes the rest of us to follow suit. I don’t even think it’s funny. I just want to stir the Hayden-Makayla pot as much as possible.
“Shut them up!” Hayden orders, shifting his focus to the back of the van.
“How would you like me to do that, sir?” a Suit asks. “Their mouths are already tied up. It’s not that loud.”
“Watch your mouth!” Hayden snaps back. “It’s not that loud, sir. Remember your role and shut those pigs up! Drug ‘em if you have to. I don’t care. But shut them up!”
All four of us make as much muffled racket as we can. It reminds me of car rides with my family when Tyler and I annoyed Dad and Mother just for the sake of annoying them. The childishness of our actions give us all a much-needed reprieve.
The five Suits scramble through their bags to find a sedative while Hayden’s face heats up as he resumes his argument with Makayla. A Suit finds and fills a syringe and prepares to shove it into my neck.
“No! You idiot!” Hayden stops him. “Any of them except her. We need her awake.” He hits his own head with the heel of his hand. “Think, stupid!” Hayden’s losing it. We keep the racket going.
The Suit nods and turns his attention to Melli. Melli exposes her neck like a champ, taunting the Suit to knock her out. She truly is a boss. As the Suit points the needle toward Melli’s neck, Gia pounces forward headfirst, knocking him out of the way.
“Ouch,” the Suit yells, as the syringe pricks him. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to knock him out.
“You five idiots can’t handle a few measly girls?” Hayden shouts. “Gimme the damn needle and bring me the goth one.” A Suit grabs Olivia. We all kick at him, but with little effect.
Right when Hayden squeezes between the seats, a car rams into the passenger’s side door. As a result of the wreck, Hayden tumbles onto me. Had Hayden not been moving to the back, the impact of the crash would have crushed him. In that split second, I can’t help but think that I wouldn’t have been upset if that had happened. That’s the true thought of an Unfavorable.
Without receiving orders, a Suit opens the back doors and steps out. The two boys we crossed paths with earlier are waiting with bats in their hands. I never thought I’d see those kids again—Tommy and Craig, I think were their names. Crow is with them, too. He’s the one who swings a baseball bat across the Suit’s head.
The other Suits get out of the van. After only seconds of wrestling, the heroes are on their faces. But the scuffle gives us time to crawl out of the van, as Hayden inspects himself for injuries. Once outside the vehicle, we help remove each other’s gags.
While the Suits continue to pound on our saviors, Lexa and Tyler appear from the side of the van.
“I told you…” I begin to say before Tyler cuts me off.
“Come on, Margie. You really think we’d leave you? I don’t want to miss it when you turn into one of those robots.” He grins.
“Thanks, Ty-ty.” I throw my arms around him and squeeze with all my might. “But how…”
“Dude, you won’t believe it,” Lexa says. “We ran into these guys and told them the story. They were all about helping. They stole a car and boom! You know the rest.”
Everyone exchanges hugs, but our reunion is short-lived.
“What do y’all think you’re doing?” Makayla interrupts the gathering. She aims a gun in our direction. We start to move, but she stops us by cocking the firearm. “Uh-uh, you ain’t going anywhere.”
The Suits finish their business, and Hayden crawls out of the van. Unfortunately, he doesn’t look to have been injured that badly. He takes the gun from Makayla.
Pointing the gun at us, Hayden directs us to back up onto the sidewalk. We bump into a few pedestrians, but they act as if nothing is out of the ordinary.
“I’m done playing nice,” he says. “I gave you all a chance. You all could’ve come out of this alive. But ya had to be heroes. Now, you’re all gonna die.” He rubs the barrel of the gun on his head, like he has an itch or else is deep in thought.
I grab the hands on either side of me. It doesn’t matter whose they are. I just don’t want to die alone.
“Everyone except for you,” Hayden says to me. “So Maggie, which one should I shoot first?” He takes a turn pointing the gun at each of them. “Rebel girl? Nah. Brother? I’ll come back to that. How about the hot best friend? That would hurt the worst.”
“Just do it, Hayden,” Makayla commands. “We gotta go.”
“Shup up, Kay!” Hayden yells back, then resumes his decision process. “What about goth girl? Some red in your hair might look nice with the black.” Then he points the gun at Lexa. “But angel fa
ce, here, is begging for a bullet. Aren’t ya, honey?” He presses the barrel against Lexa’s temple.
“Do it!” Makayla screams.
Hayden looks back and Makayla and asks, “Who would you choose first, doll face?”
“Kill the brother,” Makayla quickly responds.
“You heard her. I guess it’s the brother.” Hayden stares Tyler down.
I close my eyes. I can’t bear to see any of them killed, and certainly not my brother. All of this is because of me. “No!” I shout, interrupting Hayden for a split second.
“It’s too late,” he responds. “Your brother’s going down.” Hayden raises his gun.
Feeling dizzy, I catch glimpse of infected kids tearing apart the van. They evidently saw through the weak white coating of paint. If only they would’ve noticed a little earlier.
Hayden cocks the gun.
I close my eyes again. A thought comes to mind. The darkest thought I’ve ever had. The most horrifying. The most immoral. The most inhumane. The most unfavorable of all thoughts.
“Hey, you terrorists!” I yell to the kids stripping the van. They stop what they’re doing. “Yeah, I’m talking to you. You freakin’ good-for-nothing Unfavorables.”
A group of them turn and walk toward me, grunting louder with each step. Hayden even drops his arm for a second to see how this unfolds.
“You all familiar with Patrick Mills?” It doesn’t matter how infected they are, that name would make any Unfavorable perk up. “Meet his son.” I point at Hayden.
To have a camera in this moment, to take a picture of Hayden’s face. His childish, quivering, horrified expression. A picture wouldn’t do it justice.
Immediately, the group of Unfavorables turns to Hayden. Another pack joins and steps between us and them.