AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sam calls out from across the room. “Are you dressed? Lori’s waiting.”
Lori! She’s okay.
They don’t answer right away, studying me while I sit up, looking right back at them. I’m smiling, and their faces are relieved, but there’s worry behind their eyes.
“Boys, it’s me,” I say. “Can you see me?”
“Beau, take your sister,” Sam orders. His voice sounds tired, growing unnerved that he’s calling for the boys who don’t move or answer.
Beau points to the ceiling and he mouths, “Up,” at me.
“I don’t understand. Tell him you see me,” I say to them.
Lewis shakes his head, and Beau turns, meeting Sam in the center of the room. Sam places Morgan in his arms, and Beau cradles her against him, collecting the messy blanket that wraps around her.
“Go up, not down,” Lewis says, his eyes widening at me, pleading with me to understand.
“Okay,” I agree, unsure what he’s talking about.
“What?” Sam asks, hoisting a duffle bag over his shoulder and motioning for Lewis to get going. “What did you say?”
Lewis turns to follow, not giving Sam an answer and standing next to his brother while Sam fiddles with the door. They give me one last look before they step out of the room.
I scramble to my feet and go after them, and we enter a hallway heavy with people, most carrying bags and accompanied by small children. Keeping my distance, I watch as my family blends in with the crowd wearing red jumpsuits and moving with purpose.
Families are everywhere, and I’m surprised by how many children I see. BeLew are the youngest so far, but they keep in stride with their father, Beau toting Morgan in his arms, and Lewis holding two bags. We twist down unfamiliar halls, passing what looks like a cafeteria and common area. I catch up to them when the crowd thins enough so I’m not passing through strangers.
“BeLew,” I say, walking alongside them. “Can you see me? Can you hear me? Wink at me or something. Fuck, can you even wink?”
Lewis chuckles and shoots me a glance. Beau’s focused on holding his sister, but there’s a smile on his face. “Don’t say fuck,” I order. “I love you. I’m here, okay? I’ll get to you.”
Moving to a wider hallway, there are some people wearing a different uniform, one that looks like Alex’s. The boys stiffen when they pass by these men, and I recognize the weapons at their sides and the way they inspect the crowd. It’s more than security. They are eyes for the Eminent and the boys know not to look like they’re talking to walls while they’re watching.
“I love you,” I say before I pull back, walking behind them.
Sam comes to a stop at double doors with drawings scribbled in crayons and pencils taped to the front. He scans his hand and steps through. I look over the pictures before I follow, noticing so many have sunshine beaming from the corner of the page and blue skies scribbled across the top. The kids remember. They miss the outside world.
Further inside, I see nursery rooms full of babies and toddlers waddling around sparse toys and play mats. A teenager greets Sam while he tells her that Morgan’s eaten and has a clean diaper. The young girl flicks her eyes down Sam’s body and blushes. He doesn’t notice, focused on the kids and whatever lies heavy on his mind. He nuzzles Morgan’s cheek, and she places a chubby palm on his lips, pulling at one and smiling.
The teenager attempts to flirt, saying something to Sam about his important work, but he returns nothing more than politeness. She takes my daughter, and I step closer, wanting to get one last look at Morgan. I want to kiss her as Sam did, hold her in my arms.
“I’ll come home,” I promise her, knowing the words might be a lie. Her face relaxes with the sound of my words, and I think I see her eyes move in my direction, but it could all be in my mind. I want to see these things, but the teenager adjusts her, cradling her on her other side and the moment’s gone.
Morgan cries when Sam steps away, and I wave as she drifts out of sight, the young girl swaying her in her arms and humming a song.
It’s difficult to leave her, but I’m not really here. I’m a spectator in this future, not real to everyone but BeLew. We continue down hallways until Lori and Luke come into view. She doesn’t change her expression when I’m standing before her, and I’m relieved by the sight of my best friend, even though she looks exhausted.
She goes in on Sam right away about work he did the night before, and how she doesn’t understand his notes.
“I should be cooking or doing literally anything else,” she whines. “I’m not an engineer. How am I supposed to help fix the cave in? I’ll kill more people.”
The cadence of her voice tells me she’s exaggerating, but my ears perk up at the few facts she’s spitting out.
Luke wraps his arm around her shoulders and kisses her head. “It will get easier,” he promises. He looks better than ever, gaining strength back and keeping his easygoing demeanor.
“You said that weeks ago,” she snaps back. “This emperor - Eminent, whatever the fuck he is, will have me beheaded at this rate.”
“Lower your voice,” Sam warns. He grabs her by the arm and pulls her down the hallway until they reach an empty corner. Luke allows it, shoving his hands in his pockets and following, knowing the surrounding eyes are the true danger. Sam lets her arm go and chastises her. “You want to get yourself killed? All of us killed?” he hisses. “Working with me won’t do it. Your mouth will.”
