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He put them in his wallet and stretched out his hand again. “Elodie? We need to get inside. It’s not safe out here after dark.”
“But, how do I know that’s really me?”
“There’s a mirror in the castle. You’re going to have to trust me. What’s the worst-case scenario?”
“You’re a psychopathic killer?” I said, not sure if I was kidding.
He rolled his eyes. “And if that’s the case, you’re screwed anyway. Now come on. I’ll explain everything when we get home.”
* * *
I felt so weak,like my legs had forgotten how to work right. Was that the adrenaline and fear? I had to lean against Trevor and half-walk, half-hobble. The castle rose out of the center of the destroyed theme park, shining like a beacon. It was the only building that had electricity. The dilapidated shops and rides along the way lay in ominous shadows as if they might spring to life and attack at any moment. In spite of myself, I clung more tightly to Trevor’s hand.
“The castle runs on solar power. It’s the only thing here that does, but it’s got everything we need for a while,” he said.
What had happened to this place? Why were we even here? I was afraid for us to get inside the castle to find out. Whatever it was, it felt like something... apocalyptic.
“Just a little farther. It’s safe inside.”
After helping me out of the pirate ship, he hadn’t let go of my hand, and I hadn’t pulled away. I needed help navigating the unpredictable terrain. I was almost afraid to tell him how weak I felt because I didn’t need him to think I was dead weight. His hand was warm and solid. It was the only thing that keptmesolid.
The castle was enormous and the main hub around which all other things had once revolved. The bottom level was some kind of medieval fairy-tale themed ride. Spiral stairs and an elevator on one side led up to the second floor, which had what were once restaurants and a couple of gift shops. Trevor led me up the steps, past the main restaurant, and to another set of stairs. On the third floor were some hotel-type rooms and an office. A final staircase led to the tower, which seemed to be where we were going.
I couldn’t get over how weak and wobbly my limbs felt. It was starting to seriously concern me.
I pulled my hand out of his as we reached the final staircase. “Please, just tell me why you can’t take me to a hospital.”
I knew already. I just didn’t want to believe it. I didn’t know the details yet, but I knew. It was only morbid curiosity that kept me playing dumb.
He sighed. “I don’t know if thereareany hospitals anymore. Definitely not any close.”
“What?” I was getting the hang of thisdumbthing.
“Just come upstairs. If you really can’t remember anything, I think you need to be sitting for what I have to tell you.”
The tower was a fancy suite with a large living area and bedroom that were all one large circular room. There was a connected master bathroom off to one side. Or ithadbeen fancy at one time. Now it was just as abandoned and broken down as everything else. Trevor gestured toward an overstuffed chair next to a window. I sat, unsure I wanted to hear this.
“You don’t remember anything?” he asked again as if still hoping this was all some game to me. I must be wacky that way.
“No.”
“But you remember what the world was likebefore, don’t you?” The wordbeforeheld more gravity and weight than the rest of his sentence, more gravity than all the other words he’d spoken to me so far.
“Before what?”
“You know about the world in general?” he asked.
“I... I mean, I guess. Sort of. I think.”
Trevor seemed skeptical. He sat on the edge of the king-sized bed near my chair. It creaked and dipped under his weight with a great resigned moan of springs.
“Elodie, the world is gone. More or less.”
He’d only gotten the first sentence out and already I felt the tears burning behind my eyes. I might not remember my life, but the implications for anybody’s life were already surfacing.
“Do you know what a solar flare is?”
“Yes.” I didn’t know how I knew what a solar flare was, but it was in the box of scattered random awareness like pirate ships, theme parks, and ATMs.
