Famished (6 page)

“I wanted to talk.”

“Talk?”

“Yeah. To see how you were holding up.”

“What do you
 
think,
 
genius?”

“I think you’re scared.”

“Of course I’m scared, aren’t you?”

“Not at all. I would have volunteered for this if they would have let me. I happen to think it’s kind of ironic that I got selected in the first round.”

“I happen to think it’s kind of ironic that I got paired with you.” If I would have known better one would think he actually planted the idea in the council’s head so I would be paired with him.

He let out a restrained laugh. “I think it’s fate.”

“I don’t believe in fate anymore.” The Great Famine took away every ounce of fate I had left. How could we be destined for something like this?

“Don’t say that, Georgie,” Colin cooed. He ran his fingers through my hair, curling it around his fingertips. A spark resonated from his touch and brought goose bumps to my skin.

Then it hit me. I didn’t feel like talking to him anymore. I had too much on my mind. All of this I want to know—how you’re feeling—bull, was making me nauseous. Scooting my chair away from him, I got up and walked toward the door. He moved behind, tiptoeing forward until he placed his hand on my shoulder.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you. I will always

protect you.”

With that said, he brushed past me, leaving me standing alone in the doorway. That was a very gallant notion. “I will always protect you.” I just hoped that when it came down to it, Colin stayed true to his word. Not that I really needed his protection. Well, in physical battles, yes his protection could be of use.

There was no doubt in my mind that physically, he was ten times stronger than I would ever be. But mentally, I had him beat. I was cunning, smart, and could think outside of the box in most situations.

Don’t get me wrong, Colin wasn’t a moron. But that little light bulb in his head didn’t always flicker on when it was supposed to. Sometimes it took him a few minutes to catch onto something when he was presented with it.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
* * * *

The next few days flew by and before I could even catch my breath, Sunday was only two days away.

Mr. Baker had Colin and I removed from classes on Wednesday and Friday so that he could educate us on what to expect when we breached the earth’s surface. We sat at a little table in the council room as Mr. Baker paced back and forth in front of us. “Don’t expect to see the earth you once knew. There is nothing familiar. There is nothing pretty.”Colin and I nodded in unison as we continued to listen attentively. “Be on the lookout for traps set by cannibals. They are extremely smart and manipulative. They might appear to be in some kind of trouble, but they aren’t. That is their way of baiting you.” Mr. Baker stopped pacing and faced us both. “You’ll be given four hours to look for supplies. Keep to the task at hand, stay together, and do not under any circumstances, separate. You’ll each be given a knapsack with rations, water, and a list of some items we need.”

At the moment, this seemed like a lot of information to be absorbed in one sitting. I tried to keep my mind on all the things he was telling me to do, but there were too many other things going in my life right now. My complicated situation with Colin, my parents practically breaking up, the thought that I might never actually come back to this world once I left, and the fact that since my mother’s altercation with Mr. Baker in the mess hall, she was nowhere to be found.

I tuned Mr. Baker out as he rambled on. Hopefully, Colin would digest everything that was being explained to him.
 
I eyed Mr. Baker oddly, wondering if he had something to do with her disappearance. Me, I wouldn’t have put it past him. The man didn’t like to be crossed. And my mother didn’t just rub him the wrong way—she humiliated him, in front of the whole colony for that matter. And my father, he didn’t have anything to do with it, did he?

Silently, I disagreed with that theory. I had watched my

father for the last couple days as he sat alone in the mess hall, crying into his food. That wasn’t acting. That was depression and self-blame.

“Do you two understand?” Mr. Baker wrapped it up with a simple question.

“I understand,” I said.

“Ditto,” said Colin.

Mr. Baker nodded. “Good. Be ready at noon on Sunday. You have to be waiting at the exit near the Carver’s quarters five minutes prior to departure.

That night, I decided to sneak out on my own in search of my mother. Hours later, I had gone through every room in the entire colony with no sign of her. The only room I didn’t look in was the hole. And as I stood in front of the big boulder that served as a door, I questioned myself on whether I wanted to open it or not.

If I opened it and she was there, I might of actually considered killing Mr. Baker. I’d wrap my hands around that chubby, little weasel’s neck and squeeze the life right out of him. And if I opened it and she wasn’t there, that could only mean that she left the colony and could never return. I bounced both scenarios around in my brain, unable to make a decision.

Then I heard a voice coming out of the shadows.“Georgina,” the voice whispered. I spun around to nothing. The only lighting in the corridor were candles that hung on the walls.

A tall, misshapen shadow bounced from wall-to-wall as it closed in on me. “Wh-Who is there?” I stammered.No answer. The shadow continued moving. Closer. Closer. And closer until I recognized who it was. “Mom?”

She extended her arms to me and folded me into a hug as I collapsed into her. “Yes, sweetheart, it’s me.”

Nuzzling my head in her shoulder, I couldn’t let go. I feared that if I did that maybe she would disappear. Maybe she wasn’t real. Was I dreaming? “ Mom,” I began, “Where have you been?”

She smoothed my hair back but didn’t let go of me. “I’ve just been staying with the Vickers for a few days. That’s all.”

“And you couldn’t tell me? I was worried. Why do you think I was out in this dark hallway? I was looking for you.”

“Listen Georgie, I don’t expect you to understand. I was very upset with your father and I just thought it was best to stay away for a while.”

She was right. I didn’t understand. I didn’t understand how she could just run away from her problems when she should be facing them. It was a very coward-like thing to do.

The last few years, we all had faced hardships, but eventually we did get through them. “Mom, do you even know what it’s been like for dad? He hasn’t eaten. He hasn’t slept. He’s been a mess! You need to talk to him!”

She hesitated at first, then nodded. I led her down the corridor, brushing my fingertips against the moist walls. I stopped across from an open doorway and
 
pushed her into her old room. I paused for a moment at the door. Then I heard my father’s cry of joy. “Marcy! I’m so sorry!”

“I’m sorry too, Doug,” my mother whispered.

A twinge of triumph flooded through me as I lied in bed that night. It felt amazing to do something good for someone else. It felt so good that it completely took my mind off of Sunday, and Colin—two of the most complicated things in my life.

Chapter 5:The Day From Hell

Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Hebrews 13:3

Five minutes to noon. I stood below the rope ladder that would take me up to earth, tapping my foot nervously. He was supposed to be here by now. Where the hell was he? I glanced up at the rope ladder trying to decipher exactly how high up we would be climbing. Ten, maybe twelve feet.
 

Colin jogged down the corridor, stopping right in front of me. He had two knapsacks with him. One on each shoulder. He took the one off of his right shoulder, handing it to me. I snatched the knapsack forcefully. “Geez, it took you long enough. Mr. Baker said we had to be here five minutes before noon.”

Colin rolled his eyes. “Mr. Baker is the reason I’m late.” He held up his knapsack, shaking it at me. “We wouldn’t be going anywhere without these knapsacks.”

“Whatever.”

My father emerged from his room, followed by my mother and Frankie. He carried two surgical masks in his hand and passed one to me and one to Colin. “Put these on when you get up there,” he instructed. “We don’t know what kind of toxins remain in the air.”

Frankie lunged for me as a crowd began to form in front of us. She slid her arms around my waist, squeezing. “Frankie,” I forced out, “I can’t breathe.”

She loosened her grip, still holding on. “Be careful.”

I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, hugging her. “I’ll be fine. I’ll be back before you even notice I’m gone.”

My mother moved forward, prying Frankie off of me. Mr. Baker
 
pushed his way through the crowd of onlookers, coming to a halt in between me and Colin. He looked between us warily. “You have four hours. There is a watch in one of your knapsacks. You must be back within that four hour mark, no later. And remember what we talked about in our sessions. This will not be the earth that you knew.”

Colin motioned me over to the ladder. “Ladies first,” he crooned.

I put my mask on, grabbed both sides of the ladder and began the climb. I could feel the ladder pull as Colin climbed up behind me. Claustrophobia began to set in as the tunnel surrounding us got smaller and smaller.

Halfway to the top, I stopped looking over my shoulder at the ground. I tensed up realizing that if I slipped, my limbs would be contorted and mangled on the concrete. Colin shook his head, knowing exactly what I was thinking. “Just keep going,” he commanded. “I’ll catch you if you fall.”

Once I reached the top, I placed my hand flat on the boulder above me and started pushing. It didn’t budge. I pivoted around on the ladder, facing Colin, and rammed myback into it. It still didn’t move. Colin climbed up farther, sliding his body over the top of mine. Our combined weight on the flimsy rope ladder made it dip. “The rope is going to snap!”

“It’s not going to snap,” said Colin, who seemed sure of himself. “You need to chill out.” Colin placed both of his hands flat on the boulder. “We’ll push together. One…Two… Three.”I shoved into the rock, letting out a loud grunt as I felt the rock going up into the air. “Keep pushing!” Colin shouted. I bent my knees to give myself some more force and continued pushing.

Closing my eyes with one final push, I felt the rock slide away from my hands as it made a loud thud on the ground.There was a round, dirt room above me with an opening at the end of it. I hoisted myself out of the hole, extending my hand to Colin. Yanking on his hand, I retreated backward, pulling him. After he was out of the hole, he walked toward the light at the end of the room. My knees locked in place and I couldn’t move.

Nervousness set in. A few steps and I would be completely out of my safety zone. My only protection would be Colin. And I didn’t know if he could handle what was really out there.

When Colin realized that I wasn’t following him, he stopped, turned around, and walked back to me. “Come on Georgina. It’s better that we do this sooner rather than later.”

I tried to move my feet but they were still locked in place. “I can’t,” I whined. What happened to me being brave?

Colin looked down at my feet then up at my face. “Do you want me to carry you?”

“No.”

“Well, if you don’t get a move on it, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

One by one, I lifted my feet, taking small, steady steps forward. I almost came to a stop again, but Colin placed his hands on my back, urging me forward. The light that came through the opening at the end of the room wasn’t sunlight. Just brightness, that stunned my eyes from being underground so long.

As I walked out of the opening, followed by Colin, Mr. Baker’s words replayed in my mind
. “This will not be the earth you knew.”
He was right about that.

Even after the asteroid hit us, there was still a small resemblance to the earth I grew up with. A patch of grass. A flower here and there. Trees, even though they were dead. But what was in front of me was like nothing I’d ever seen.

The gray, dismal skyline stretched on for as far as I could see. The white, fluffy clouds that used to be suspended in the sky were gone. Dust particles hung in the air like debris floating around in space. Giant piles of rock surrounded us and as I looked to my left, a sign that said
 
‘Welcome To Lincoln,’ dangled off of a metal pole by one, tiny bolt.