| |
ALEXA CREPT UP ALONG the low stone wall that framed the gardens at the rear of the church. Dried grasses crunched underfoot as she ran in a half crouch along the structure, staying hidden from the throng of people that waited out front of the church for the doors to open. It was as large of a crowd as she had ever seen lined up for food. Knowing that the fights usually broke out around the time the doors opened, Alexa hurried to the exterior cellar doors. As she crept closer, she spied a familiar face. Smiling, she raised her hand in greeting. Alexa closed the distance between them and popped down beside his kneeling form.
“Heya, Gabe.”
“Heya, Alexa.” Gabe ran his fingers through his mop of dark hair, pushing the curls out of his eyes. Slender and tall for fourteen years of age, he exuded an aura of confidence. “The priest knows we are here. I heard the bolt click back on the doors a few minutes ago. Come on.”
He grabbed her hand and pulled her along behind him, crossing the few feet separating them. Reaching the slanted doors, he grabbed the right handle and pulled. The door opened to reveal a staircase descending into the ground. They scurried down the steps, pulling the door closed behind them and bolting it from the inside. At the base of the stairs they flipped the wall switch, illuminating the windowless room. Metal shelving lined the walls, filled with boxes of supplies for Sunday services. They hurried past the boxes to a smaller room with a glass door. They pushed open this door and entered a room outfitted with a small kitchen. Shabby folding chairs sat around a matching metal table. A fridge and stove sat side by side on the end wall with a small counter wedged between the two appliances. Cupboards lined the right wall.
Gabe began opening cupboards to see what was inside. Alexa knew what she was looking for and went straight for the last upper cupboard, where she found the medications and supplies that Dr. Song needed so badly, to treat Peet.
“Oxycodone, bandages, alcohol wipes, needles....” She listed off the supplies as she put them into a bag, taking more than was strictly needed but hedging her bets that they wouldn’t go to waste.
“Alexa, Avalon is sick.” Gabe’s voice filled the room, a deep baritone that broke mid-way through. The child’s voice came and went within the same sentence. “We believe she has been stung by the bees that the government is experimenting with.”
Alexa’s back stiffened and she whirled around to face him, alarm on her face.
“No!” Terror flashed over her face. “The bees kill. Why didn’t you tell me this sooner? Where is she? Is she with you?”
“No, she is with the Firebrand gang. They snuck into warehouse that we used to house supplies in. A couple months ago, the Feds arrived and took it over. They began pulling people off the street. We got wind of it and rather than start a full-scale war with the government, we sold our ‘protection services’ to them, to act as lookouts and keep the warehouse secure. It was ours anyways, but,” he shrugged, “it seemed better this way. Avalon and a couple of other Firebrands arrived a couple days ago and snuck into the warehouse, but were cornered by the Feds. They got away but we saw her collapse in an alley. The bees are loose in the warehouse. We don’t dare open a door. We can see them swarming the windows, trying to get out. We are planning to burn the building to the ground.”
“When?” Alexa grabbed her bag of supplies and pushed it into her back pack.
“Tonight,” said Gabriel.
“I need to get these supplies back to Peet, but they will want to know where the Firebrand gang is so they can go to Avalon. Do you know where their headquarters are?”
“Yeah, I could lead you there, easy enough.”
“Will you help me find it?”
“Sure.” His lips twisted into a tense smile.
A large crash sounded from upstairs and then the sound of hundreds of feet pounded over their heads. A muffled voice shouted instructions, then other voices rose in anger. Alexa and Gabe exchanged looks.
“We need to get out of here,” said Gabe. “Come on.”
He grabbed her hand and dragged her back toward the cellar doors just as a door opened at the far end of the basement.
“Who left this light on?” grumbled a voice as Alexa and Gabe ran to the doors and slid the bolt, unlocking the cellar door to the outside.
They slipped past and quietly lowered it, then ran off to hide behind the wall. They heard the bolt slip back into place. It was an old game, one they had played many times with the old friar. He made sure that the street gangs had the medical supplies they needed in exchange for some extra muscle on soup kitchen day, when the hungry throngs teetered on the edge of violence. The Imbroglio gang’s protection of the church was recognized by the throng and no one wanted to cross the gang members.
Gabe whistled softly as they ran out through the back gate and answering whistles followed their flight. Once clear of the crowds, they ran through the overgrown park and out the back end of town, toward the abandoned farm and the lawn tractor, which would take them back to Peet much faster than walking. They reached the tractor about thirty minutes later. Gabe sat in the seat and set Alexa on his knee and they were quickly on their way.
Alexa couldn’t wipe the grin off her face. She had acquired the needed supplies and she had the best seat in the house, as far as she was concerned, on Gabe’s knee. It was a good day, for sure. She giggled and Gabe gave her a shy smile. Ripped jeans or no, he was the most handsome man she had ever seen.
Three hours later, they roared into the lane at the back of Dr. Song’s house, bouncing through the ruts to the house. Dr. Song stepped out onto his back porch, a shot gun in hand. Gabe cut the engine and they allowed the sound to die before Alexa called out.
“It’s me, Dr. Song! I went to get medical supplies.”
Hearing her voice, the gun lowered. A voice roared through the open door.
“Alexa I am going to tan your hide for scaring me like that. Get in here, right now!”
Alexa grinned and took Gabe’s hand. “Come on, his bark is worse than his bite.”
Together, they entered the house, a frowning Dr. Song following them inside. Alexa gave Dr. Song a hug as she passed him and he grunted, his eyes never leaving Gabe. Gabe walked cautiously behind Alexa, giving Dr. Song no reason to level his gun.
“Alexa! Get in here!” Peet bellowed from the couch.
Alexa skipped into the room, and ran over to Peet to give him a hug. “I’m here, see?”
“I wish I had my pa’s belt. I would soon teach you to sneak away like that. Time you had some proper supervision. Sneaking off like that, you gave us heart attacks!”
Alexa directed her best ‘tween’ pout at him, which was half way between a lip tremble and a smirk.
“You let Avalon go do what she wants. And I am the age she was, when we were first left alone. Besides, I have been going out on my own for a couple years now. Do you really think I just sat in that old barn by myself for all this time? This is Gabe,” she said, pulling Gabe forward by the hand. “He is part of the Imbroglio gang, and a good friend. He can help us. He wants to help us. We have supplies, see?”
She upended her pack on the floor as Dr. Song sank into his chair. Medical supplies tumbled onto the floor. Dr. Song’s eyes inventoried the loot.
“That is quite the haul, Alexa, and appreciated. But you see, I have more supplies here. I only keep what I need in my bag. You didn’t need to risk yourself to get them. Next time, let us know of your plans. We need to work together. If you know of a source of medical supplies then we can be more specific on what you collect.”
Alexa blushed, her ears turning red. Chastised, she mumbled “Ok. Maybe you are right.”
Gabe spoke into the embarrassed silence. “Alexa did well. She is resourceful and smart. She also knows her medications. We’d recruit her to the Imbroglio but she is too loyal to her sister. Speaking of which, Avalon has been stung.”
“Oh shit,” said Peet, grimacing. “That girl! Where is she? We must go help her.”
Dr. Song nodded. “If she has been stung, she has but days. No one survives longer than a week. Where is she?”
“She is being cared for at the Firebrand’s headquarters, an underground restaurant called Frankie’s Finger Foods,” said Gabe. “I can show you where it is. I know the safest routes in and out of the city center. Better yet, I can make sure your car is still there when you want to leave.”
Gabe slouched, pushing the flop of curls back off his forehead. His ripped jeans were soiled and his t-shirt plastered to his back with sweat, but despite his grubby appearance, Dr. Song liked him.
“Son, if you would like to take a shower before we go, helps yourself. Bathroom is on the right. Water is set to a five minute timer and shuts off automatically, so be quick about it. There are towels in the cupboard behind the door.”
Gabe nodded, grateful, and headed down the hall to the indicated door.
Peet watched the skinny lad disappear behind the bathroom door. “Nice kid. I like him.” He shifted on the couch, grimacing. “Now hand me my pants so I can get dressed.” Dr. Song tossed his clothes to him. “Alexa, go pack some drinks and food. You don’t want to see this.”
Giggling, Alexa ran out of the living room as instructed.
Ten minutes later, they were all assembled in the living room, and they trooped out the door to Peet’s waiting sedan. Dr. Song had washed the interior upholstery, cleaning away the bloodstains but a tinny smell lingered in the air when they opened the doors. Alexa wrinkled her nose as she climbed into the back seat with Gabe.
“Hey, I took a shower!” said Gabe, grinning at Alexa.
Dr. Song helped Peet into the passenger seat and took the wheel, starting the engine with a flip of the wrist. He steered the car down the lane and out onto the main road. Alexa felt a thump of anxiety at the familiar scenery passing by her window, remembering her last panicked trip down the same road. Gabe bumped her shoulder and she leaned over to whisper in his hear.
“Can you really get us into the Firebrand gang without us all dying? They don’t allow people on their turf, especially Imbroglio gang members.”
“Yeah,” he whispered back. “I am one of the few who can talk to them. My brother sends me when the two factions need to talk. They will not harm anyone under sixteen.”
He smiled, and Alexa thought the dimple on his cheek was adorable.
“Which way, Gabe?” Peet’s gruff voice broke into their musings.
“Take the exit for the city center. After crossing the Burgoyne Bridge, turn right and left at the brickworks. Once you reach the projects, pull over by Garden Alley Five. Dumb name, never were any gardens planted in the alleys.”
They travelled in silence for about thirty minutes. They passed only one car on the highway and only light weight, fuel efficient motorcycles, once they got off at the exit. Most people did not use their cars unless absolutely necessary, as gasoline supplies came into the city once a week, and then with an armed escort. Most gas stations had electrified perimeter fencing in place and the driver had to prepay outside the gate before they were allowed inside, to pump gas. Armed security was present day and night. They drove past one of the stations and the guards watched them drive by with hands on their guns, suspicious of their intentions. Their narrowed eyes did not leave the car until they turned the corner at the old brickworks.
“This is it, pull over here.” Gabe pointed to a fire hydrant. The caps were missing, having been removed a long time ago to search for water. Someone had spray-painted it to look like a city worker, pissing on the sidewalk. A puddle of paint was sprayed on the sidewalk in bright yellow. As soon as the car stopped by the curb, twenty teens melted out of the shadows and surrounded the car.
“Stay here for a minute, I will talk to them.” Gabe opened his door and got out, walking over to a solid girl of about eighteen, who looked ready to hit him.
Alexa reached for the door handle to get out but Peet’s voice halted her.
“Stay put, let him do his thing. Wait.”
Alexa hesitated, and then sank back on the cushion, watching Gabe with anxious eyes. The girl laughed and the gang members followed suit, but Gabe waved his hands and gestured toward where the Imbroglio’s territorial lines intersected those of the Firebrand. His lips moved and then he pointed at the alley. The girl frowned, then spoke to a blonde haired girl. She nodded, and the gang parted, allowing the two girls to approach the car. Peet’s door was pulled opened.
“Follow us,” said Magnum.