The Days After

The Radio

"Grace... Grace"
"huh...Oh, hey, Lucas. What's up?"
"Nothing, just seeing what you're doing because everyone is leaving." He said, pointing to the main door.

Grace looked at her locker, realizing there was nothing in it.

"Right... School's out."
Lucas flashed a Devilish grin. "FOR SUMMER!"
"Yea... For summer."
"Well, I'm sure I'll see you around."

Then he left the school building. Grace got on the bus and rode home that day feeling very spacey. She didn't understand why but figured it would wear off eventually. When she began her walk home, she was on autopilot, as if muscle memory would carry her home. She got right up to her gate before she looked up, but someone was already standing there.

"Told ya' I'd see you around." was all he said.

...

Back in the "real world," when Grace saw Lucas come down into her room, it felt like deja vu.

"What-what's going on?" asked Grace.
"Well, it's kinda a long story."
Grace furrowed her brow. "Were you following me?"
Lucas threw his hands up. "Oh no, no! I was following this guy."

Lucas pointed at the body lying lifeless before them. Grace scanned him over. He was in all black from head to toe. Grace walked over to the body and pulled off his mask, revealing a horribly scarred face. She paused for a split second, then pulled back his collar to reveal the marking.

"Black Army," she said aloud.
"Do they come after you often?"

Grace didn't answer and instead started going through the pockets of her would-be assassin.

"Where is it? He has to have it," she said, still rummaging.
"What are you looking for?" asked Lucas.
Grace ignored him. "It's got to be here!"
"Umm..."

Grace gave up, sighed, and sat on the floor with her wrapped around her knees.

Grace slammed her hands together. "God damnit."
"So, are you gonna tell me what you were looking for?"
Grace sighed again. "The soldiers of the black army usually carry around a radio. I always figured if I could get my hands on one, I could track them down, but wait, why were you following him?"
"Funny you should ask that."

Lucas reached into his pocket and grabbed something. When he pulled it out of his pocket, Grace's jaw dropped.

Lucas held up the object. "Guess we were  looking for the same thing."
"Is it still on?"
"Yea, I think so. Let me jus-"
"NO!"

But it was too late. Lucas had already hit a button. The device began to beep as if it were going to explode, then it just stopped.

"Ugh, I knew it. This always happens. There's gotta be some secret activation method I haven't figured out yet. I've got dozens of those things," she said, pointing to her scrap pile, "and none of them work."
"Let me try something," said Lucas.

Lucas took the radio and squatted down next to the corpse. He picked up the arm of the dead man and paused like he was solving a puzzle.

"What the hell are you doing?" asked Grace.
"It may look crazy, but it may work. Let's see."

Lucas took the dead man's finger and touched a button on the radio. It did nothing at first. Then there was some static. Grace's jaw dropped.

"Oh my God! I can't believe that worked."
Lucas smiled. "Believe it. I got a knack fo-"

"Ah, glad to see you back online 17. I thought she got to you too. Let me know when it's done. Richards out."

They both sat there stunned.

"Who the hell is Richards, and why are they after you?" asked Lucas.
"Your guess is as good as mine."
"Well, we know two things."
"Two?"
"Yea. We got a name, and...." Lucas held up the radio. There was a blinking red dot on the screen, which means it's more than just a radio.

"We got a location."