Aftermath (9 page)

“O’Connor, get back here!” the principal hollered at her.

Paige just ignored him, and headed off.

***

“Hey, Paige. Wake up.” Paige’s eyes inched open, to find Trish hovering over her. The young girl gently shook her. “Are you awake yet?”

Paige slowly sat up on her elbows. Between the damp tunnel air, thin blanket, and cold stone floor, she’d barely gotten any sleep.

“Sort of,” Paige groaned.

“Good,” replied Trish. “You gotta come see this.”

***

Paige followed Trish out the bunker door, and into the surrounding rubble and field. The sky was a dull overcast gray, but it still took a second for her eyes to adjust. And when they did, she thought for a moment she was still dreaming.

Los Angeles had been completely wiped away, as if it had never existed, and in its place stood the most bizarre “city” she could have ever imagined.

At once alien, it also combined elements that felt familiar. Massive stone monuments and pyramids towered into the sky, with ornate decorations carved in their sides. Statues, and monoliths. It was massive, this new city which had been constructed from nothing overnight. But despite a suggestion of ancient Egyptian architecture in many of the forms, there was nothing human behind its design and construction.

“You sleep okay,” Drew asked, standing nearby with Randy, “cause things just got a lot weirder.”

Paige could only manage a nod, completely spellbound at this new creation she was seeing. It was impossible, and yet there it was.

“It was like this when we woke up,” said Trish, tapping her on the arm.

“What do you think’s going on,” asked Randy.

“I don’t know, kiddo,” Drew replied, patting the young boy on the back. “But I’d like to know who it’s for. Us, or them,” he added, nodding to the ominous spaceships hovering above the new cityscape.

Suddenly the air crackled with static, and a brisk wind sent dust billowing across the terrain. The sky lit up with Tesla sparks, streaking across it like bolts of lightning.

Then an image appeared in the sky, massive enough to see from miles away. Wavy at first, it soon focused into the holographic projection of something vaguely resembling a man’s face. But it clearly wasn’t a man, or even anything living. It was being generated by whatever those things were in the ships.

And it was ghoulish, Paige noted with a shudder, with black, intense eyes that stared down from a disturbingly oval-shaped face, and shaved head.

“Inhabitants of the world,” the apparition’s deep voice began resonating across the valley, “what you’ve witnessed over the past week is the return of what your ancestors called The Watchers.”

Trish pressed herself against Paige, taking her hand, as the voice continued, “Ever since man first crawled forth from the primordial pits at the dawn of time, our race has watched you digress ever closer to your own extinction.”

The projected holographic image flashed to scenes of wars, and riots. Famine, and pestilence. “And now, with your species perched on the precipice of your own doom, we saw the need to intervene.”

The image then flashed to scenes of serene vistas and landscapes. “This isn’t the end of humanity, but rather a new beginning. Under our guidance, mankind has been given a second chance. The opportunity to build a world free from the conflicts and ideologies that have divided you.”

The image then flashed back to the ghoulish oval-shaped face, with those intense black eyes, and shaved head. “You’ll be provided with food and housing. In return, you’ll be expected to serve. While we mean your species no further harm, any disobedience will be met with your annihilation.”

At that, the projected image dissolved away, leaving Paige and the others staring at the sky.

***

“I don’t know. Maybe they’re telling the truth,” commented Trish, who Paige was coming to realize was ever the optimist. “I mean, they did promise us food, and a place to stay.”

“They killed my friend and brother,” Paige grunted, shoving the last of her stuff into her backpack. “That makes them my enemy.”

The group had decided to venture into the new city to see what it was about. Paige could care less what it was about, but knew it was her only hope of finding Chad. If he was even still alive. Trish’s words the night before, about the guards just killing Chad on the spot if they wanted him dead, had been strangely reassuring, but Paige still had her doubts.

As a precaution, they’d hidden their weapons in a duffel bag behind the generator, and were taking only their clothes, some bottled water, and a few MRE packs. It never hurt to have a plan to fall back on in case shit hit the fan. And every instinct in Paige told her it was going to.

“But maybe they want to be peaceful now,” Trish responded.

“Oh, yeah. Obey us, or we’ll annihilate you. That sounds really peaceful,” Paige shot back, then instantly regretted it. Sometimes her sarcasm could be biting, and the hurt look in Trish’s eyes let her know this was one of those times.

“I’m sorry, Trish,” Paige said, softening her tone. “You didn’t deserve that. I’m just pissed.”

“It’s okay,” Trish let her know. “Maybe we can ask them about your friend. I’ll help.”

Paige nodded, giving the young girl a pat on the head. “Thanks, Trish.”

“Everyone ready?” Drew asked, as he and Randy joined the girls.

“I guess,” Paige shrugged, throwing her backpack over her shoulder. “But for the record, I think this is a really stupid idea.”

“Objection noted,” Drew smiled back. “Anyone else?” He glanced down at Randy, who managed a shrug. “Looks like we’re a go,” Drew added.

“We’re still gonna help her find her friend, right” Trish reminded Drew.

“That was the deal,” he nodded back. He turned to Paige, giving her a reassuring nod as well.

The New LA

The “city” was a maze of these colossal new structures. For lack of a better term, Paige was calling it LA version 2, or “LA v2” for short. But it bore no resemblance to version 1. It was alien in every aspect. As Paige and her band of homeless kids roamed down what seemed to be a wide promenade-like mall, she took in the enormous pyramids, monuments, and obelisks towering on either side. Palm trees and plants had sprouted up along the mall, growing to their full height overnight.

It wasn’t so much that LA v2 was ugly, it was just different. And felt cold. That was it, Paige thought. There was no warmth to it. With the exception of the plants, everything was a dull gray, as if it had been molded from the same blocks of cold dead stone. The intricate patterns carved into the sides like hieroglyphics did little to break up this chill, and actually added to the alien feel. It was still stone, and lacked the colorful flare of the storefronts and awnings which had given life to LA v1.

“I don’t know. I think it’s kinda cool,” commented Trish, gazing up at the architectural behemoths.

Trish and her optimism, Paige thought, resisting her urge to make some sarcastic comeback. “The old one looked better,” was her reply.

That was when Paige noticed something in the sky overhead. The sun had just reflected off of something, hovering maybe a hundred feet above the mall. Then it vanished, as quickly as it had appeared. Drones, she thought, of course those things were using drones to monitor them. And they were masked with some sort of camouflage, that cloaked them with the sky. She had just happened to catch it at an odd angle to the sun.

They moved along with a throng of people, all of whom were equally in awe, as if walking through a massive museum exhibit. I guess you can’t really blame them, Paige thought, glancing around at their faces. The place really was a sight. And at least for the moment, it seemed as if the invaders, Paige’s new term for the alien occupants of the ships, had ceased their hostilities. Except, that is, for the presence of the guards stationed along the mall. They stood like statues, watching the throng through dark tactical sunglasses. Rifles in hand, although aimed at the ground. She couldn’t help but feel like a prisoner of war, being herded through the gates into the enemy’s work camp.

“We should find out where we’re going,” Drew suggested.

Paige nodded towards the guards. “Do you want to ask them?”

“Not really,” he grinned back.

“Let’s ask her,” Trish suggested, nodding towards a grey haired woman standing along the side of the mall. She seemed to be giving people directions.

Before anyone could respond, Trish headed off in the woman’s direction. Paige and Drew exchanged a look, shaking their heads. What is it with that girl?

Trish strolled up to the grey haired woman, followed by Drew, Paige, and Randy.

“Hey,” Trish asked, tapping the woman to get her attention. “Do you know where we’re supposed to go?”

The grey haired woman looked down at Trish, giving her one of those broad grins that just screamed fake. “Why what adorable children,” the woman replied, giddily. “Have you registered yet?”

Trish shook her head “no.”

“Well you’ll need to do that right away,” the woman responded. “They have registration tables set up on the next mall over.”

That was something else Paige was noticing about LA v2 - there were no longer any streets or sidewalks; there were malls, and paths. The malls, like the one they were on, were broad, and paved with polished stones, with thick clusters of trees and plants lining the sides. They seemed to be used to divide the new city into blocks of buildings. The paths, on the other hand, were much narrower, and wound between the buildings.

“What do they make you do?” asked Paige.

“Oh, it’s nothing to be concerned about, young lady. They just ask you some questions, and then they give you your key.”

“Key to what?” Randy chimed in.

“To your new home, young man,” the woman responded, bending over to look Randy in the eye. “Is this your family?” she asked, straightening up.

Randy looked at Drew, Paige, and Trish. He nodded.

“Excellent. Well you’ll be pleased to know that you’ll all be assigned to the same apartment building.”

“And that’s it. That’s all we have to do?” Paige asked.

“Well of course you’ll also be assigned to your new jobs,” the woman replied, as if pointing out the obvious. Then, turning that fake condescending grin back on Randy and Trish, “but you young children won’t need to worry about that. You’ll be expected to attend school, where you’ll learn all about our new hosts.”

Paige did a double take. Hosts? “You mean them,” she asked, motioning to the spaceships looming in the sky high above LA v2.

“Of course,” the woman replied. “Who else would I mean.”

Paige’s bewilderment must have been obvious. “It’s really nothing to be worried about,” the woman interjected. “Our hosts have made the process quite simple. I can take you there if you’d like.”

“Oh. No. That’s okay,” Paige quickly responded. “We can find it.”

“We’re just admiring the work of our… new hosts,” Drew added.

The woman eyed them for a moment. Did she buy it? Paige couldn’t be sure.

“Very well then,” the woman finally continued. “But you children be sure to behave.”

“Oh, we will,” replied Paige.

“We should get going,” added Drew, anxious to break off this bizarre conversation.

“Yeah. Don’t want to keep our new… hosts… waiting.” Paige couldn’t resist throwing this in.

The four of them strolled off.

“Wow, someone really overdid it on her meds this morning,” Paige remarked, as soon as they were out of earshot of the woman. “That was like talking to the Stepford grandma.”

The others nodded.

“I think we should go back to the tunnels,” Randy suggested.

“Me too,” Trish agreed.

Drew and Paige exchange looks, both nodding in agreement.

“Let’s go.”

They turned, and started back down the mall the way they had come.

“Hey. You kids need to keep going that way.” It was one of the guards, who’d spotted them trying to leave. He pointed in the other direction.

“Right. Sorry about that,” Drew responded.

The four of them turned, rejoining the throng of people flowing down the mall. At the end of the mall stood several more guards, directing the flow of people to the right.

They turned down the mall, where they found four lines of people waiting their turns in front of a row of tables. Behind the tables sat more guards, asking the people questions, and filling out forms. Other guards stood watch, rifles in hand.

Paige had revised her impression of this place. Now she felt more like they were cattle, being herded off to slaughter.

When it was their turn, Paige was the first to go.

“Name,” asked the guard.

“Paige. O’Connor.”

“Age?”

“Sixteen.”

“Family?”

Paige thought about this for a second. She looked back at Drew, Randy, and Trish. “These are them,” she responded.