Chapter 25: Silas
It was not the padding of boots that woke Silas up, but the sound of sighs and murmured groans as the boys in the ward started to wake up. After a whole day without hearing anything, the sounds of even the smallest movements were trumpet blasts to Silas’ ears. His heart jolted in his sleep, but once he realized that the others were waking his whole body relaxed. Jamar had done it. He wasn’t sure how, but Jamar was behind everyone waking up.
His neck was stiff and now that the excitement of the night had worn down, his stomach growled for food. He hadn’t been fed once since waking up. To ease his stomach some he drank as much water as he could without bloating. It helped a bit, but he knew if they were forced to run he would have problems.
Patton groaned and rolled over in his bunk.
“Are you...what day happened?” he asked. His throat sounded dry and he coughed.
“What?”
“I--I don’t know.” Patton sighed.
“Everyone was knocked out during the riot and has been asleep ever since.”
“Not you?” Patton took his time taking in Silas’ alert state.
“No, I was too. I woke up earlier, but not by much.” His roommate didn’t need to know how long it was.
Patton didn’t respond. He just stared at the other wall as if he didn’t have the energy to do anything else. Silas crawled back into his bunk going slower than he could. There was nothing he could do until he talked to Malina. The minutes blended together. Patton half fell out of his bunk to pee and drink some water. While the faucet was running Silas thought he heard the hall door open, but with all the other cells containing movement it was harder to tell. The boot stomps in the hall on the other hand were perfectly clear.
“Out!” Westminster shouted as a cell door down the hall opened.
Patton shuffled closer to the door and Silas rolled out of his bed. He felt under his pillow for the implant and slipped it into his pocket once he was certain Patton wasn’t watching. In case they could still monitor its location it would be best for him to keep it with him.
Their cell door opened and Westminster shouted, “Out!” just like he did for all the others. He didn’t even seem to notice they were ready and only needed him to move out of the way. Silas tried to match Patton’s sluggish walk, especially once they were in the hall and it was obvious that everyone else could barely stand. It was hard to drag his feet on the floor when he couldn’t wait to get out into the yard and all his insides wished the line would hurry up.
The hall filled with boys like a bucket filled with a gentle trickle of water. Silas noticed that there weren’t as many boys as there usually were and he wondered how long he’d been out. Stephen was gone, so was Sebastian. With a creak the yard doors opened and they stumbled out into the sun. Since Stephen wasn’t there to lead them, the first two guys try to run like normal, but there was no gun shot when the third boy tripped out of the running path. The boys couldn’t keep their feet going and one slumped against the wall which also did not receive a warning shot. By the time Silas could walk around the group in front of the doors no one was even attempting to run. The same was true of the girls’ side only there were more girls than there were boys. Not as many of them had been taken.
Malina was pressed against the wall inside the corner that couldn’t be recorded. She knew he would want to talk. Her eyes were red, but when she saw him they lit up and she smiled, yet the smile quickly faded from her eyes.
“I worried about you,” she said, her voice was still scratchy.
“I worried about you too,” Silas said and let his lips smile back.
She dropped her eyes and Silas leaned next to her.
“You were right and I was stupid. We should have gotten out before.”
“Do you still have the e-mem?”
Malina nodded.
“If you see Cortez, ask if we can get out tonight.”
There was a small gasp from Malina and Silas noticed she wasn’t paying attention to him.
“He’s still alive.” Malina straightened her back.
Silas glanced over to the yard doors as Marcus was escorted out the last boy left. His eyes were haunted and his shoulders drooped. No one looked in his direction although everyone knew he was there. He made his way to the nearest gap in the wall and sat in the dirt. Then his eyes looked up and found them. Malina gave him a half wave and she tried to tuck some of her stray hairs behind her ear.
“You heard me right?” Silas asked.
“Yes, we have to get out tonight,” Malina said. “And we have to bring Marcus.”
“What?”
“I’ll talk Cortez into it, but he has to come with us. There is no way they will let him live if he stays. Look at him all alone.”
“Malina--”
“Why are you doing this, Silas?”
“What?”
“Tell me why you want to do this.”
Wasn’t it obvious? “To save you.”
“Well, I want to save someone too. I--I think I love him.”
Silas blinked. He checked Marcus out again. The guy was taller than Silas, a young seventeen with tan olive skin and dark brown hair that curled at his neck. He looked fairly average to Silas, definitely not hideous, but not the most handsome guy in the yard. Silas wasn’t really sure he wanted to figure out what his sister might see in Marcus, but she was right. Marcus would not be allowed to go to the farm. If Malina wouldn’t go without him then he would have to come. It might be good to have another guy to protect her.
“Fine,” Silas said. “If Cortez will take all three of us then he can come.”
“He will.” Malina smiled. She reached over and brushed Silas’ hair off his brow. “You are the best brother. Just think tonight we can run under the trees and climb a mountain. We can do whatever we want because we’ll be free.”
She walked over to Marcus and sat next to him. He listened for a bit. His eyes jumped to the wall with a near panic in his gaze, but then he nodded his head. Not a muscle was relaxed, he was ready to go.
They would be free. The words were wonderful, but they tasted sour as Silas spent the rest of the yard time watching the other boys and girls. Tomorrow would be another day like all the others before it. They would still be here behind the wall hoping that the guards would not come for them or anyone else they cared about.
When everyone returned to their cells a small lunch of grilled cheese was waiting.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Patton said, between bites of his sandwich.
Silas stuffed the rest of his sandwich into his mouth and rolled into his bed.
“Fine,” Patton said. He climbed into the top bunk and pushed hard off of Silas’ frame so that the mattress bounced. Patton kept all his books up on his bunk and Silas closed his eyes. He managed to nap some before dinner was brought. It was some kind of casserole that tasted of freezer burned meat and salt water. Aside from the casserole, there were also two apples on the tray and Silas slipped his into his pocket. He had to save something for later.
Somehow he managed another nap, but once the sun set and his cell was dark, Silas couldn’t get his heart to slow down. Patton’s breathing was shallow and paced like it always was when he was in a deep sleep. The after effects of the drug probably helped.
It took a lot of concentration to forget that he would be abandoning Patton here. Who knew what questions Patton would have to answer or how he might be punished? The only thing Silas held onto was that he could not save everyone. He had to save Malina first. All others were blocked out of Silas’ mind. He could hate himself later, but there would always be someone he would have to leave. It was best not to think about it.
A short scrape sounded at the door, but Silas ignored it and then the cell door cracked open. Silas nearly jumped out of bed. Cortez beckoned him with a finger and Silas crept out of his cell.
A large cleaning cart with three rubber trash cans blocked much of the hall. Cortez pointed to the middle can, pointed to Silas and pull
ed off the lid.
“What about my sister?” Silas whispered.
Cortez held a finger to his lips and pointed to the first can. Silas stepped onto the cart and waited for Cortez to hold it still while he swung his leg over the edge and climbed inside. A powerful wave of bleach, moldy cheese and rotten banana peels swirled around him. It was so strong that he almost tried to stand, but Cortez was already securing the lid and Silas was trapped. He held his breath as the cart was pushed down the hall and had to breathe in when it stopped and Cortez opened the cell door for Marcus.
Marcus was much quicker to obey, although when he climbed into his can he bumped into the others and Silas’ ear smashed into something gooey. He wanted to rub his ear, but anytime he started to move his hand the displacement of his weight sounded so loud he was certain if there were any guards within hearing that they’d hear. Instead he concentrated on not breathing deeply and listening to the music of the cart’s wheel as they squeaked over the floor.
The cart jumped as it hit a bulge in the tiles and Silas’ ear hit the goo again. There was a pause and then the cart jumped violently. Marcus’ can slammed into Silas’ can making him lose his balance. He squished against the can’s side praying he wouldn’t tip over and ruin everything. The whole cart began to jounce. It took every muscle for him to push against the other side of the can and keep it somewhat stable. This kept up for a while until Silas’ muscles burned and shook. Then the cart stopped.
“You can come out now,” Cortez said. He spoke softly, but Silas heard him. He struggled to his feet and pushed the lip off. His first breath was so sweet, cool and fresh that it tasted like freedom itself. They had stopped by the edge of the woods. Silas scrambled off of the cart and Malina wasn’t far behind him.
Cortez cleared his throat and held out his hand. He stared, pointing at Malina, but she was gazing at the trees. Silas elbowed her. “You need to pay him.”
“Right.” She let out a small laugh and handed Cortez the e-mem. The moon cast a bright light that left shadows stretching out around them. Marcus finished climbing out and they all watched as Cortez spun the cart around and headed back for the Cartiam.
“Now what?” Marcus asked. His voice sounded small next to the tall trees and dark open sky.
“We have to get as far from here as we can,” Silas said. He glanced back at the Cartiam. They were on the opposite side from where he’d been with Jamar, but that meant that the road they were on went to the nearest town. They had to head for the mountain and as far away from other people who might realize who they were as possible.
“This way.” Silas started off into the woods at a fast jog.
Malina and Marcus kept pace behind him, although Marcus spent much of his time looking over his shoulder. They ran for two hours always heading in a straight line for the mountain. Once Silas feared he’d gotten turned around, but there was a small clearing in the woods that let him see they were almost on track. The moon shone at their backs and as long as Silas kept it there they headed in the right direction.
There was a short cry and someone behind him tumbled to the ground. Silas stopped.
Marcus was on his hands and knees and then he collapsed on the ground.
“You’re hurt.” Malina rushed to his side and tried to help him up.
“I think I twisted my ankle. We’re running too fast and it is night.”
Malina glanced back at Silas. He knew she would want him to slow down, but they had to get away. If they were caught now all his planning would be for nothing.
“Can you get up?” Silas asked.
“I--I don’t think I can yet. Can we rest a bit?”
“Of course,” Malina said.
Marcus was breathing heavy, more than Silas was and more than Malina was. He should be used to running. What they’d done so far was not that much more than they did most days. Granted not in as many days recently, but the training was there.
“What was that?” Marcus asked. His head whipped around.
“I didn’t hear anything,” Malina said.
Silas held his finger to his lips and they all listened. The forest was quiet.
A twig snapped a hundred yards out and to the left.
“Get up.” Silas said.
Marcus shook his head.
Off to the right a leaf rustled.
“We have to go if we don’t want to get caught,” Silas said to his sister. He pulled her sleeve and she stood up.
“We can’t leave him.”
“If he won’t get up then we have to unless you want to go back.”
Malina glanced back at Marcus. His head was bowed and he looked even more defeated than he had in the yard.
Something crashed twenty yards away. For a brief moment Silas hoped it was a bear, but then Malina screamed out and grabbed her head. Marcus’ teeth were gritted in pain too. Their implants. Dark shadows were emerging from the woods and if Silas turned and ran in that moment he might still be able to escape. Malina was curled into a ball and she turned her face toward him and yelled, “Go!” Then the pain was too much and she passed out.
Silas took a step and stopped. He couldn’t leave. What’s more he would not leave her. Whatever might happen he wanted them to be together. The approaching guards covered the gap and it was too late. The giant hulk of Tymas stepped out from the trees. He instantly took the crumpled bodies of Malina and Marcus and a standing Silas.
“Interesting,” his deep voice resonated in the forest. Then Westminster grabbed Silas from behind.