The Maze

Travis

July 1st -

I brought a cake into work, hoping that Luna might show up. I'm sure she has better things to do than visit here on her birthday. Even with this thought, I was still disappointed when my shift ended without any sight of her. I knew she didn't want to see me. I just hoped maybe our friendship would still mean something.

I was wiping down tables when the bell above the door jingled. "Hey. Sorry. We're closed."

"It's me." I forgot that I had told Zeke to come after hours. I wanted to talk to him about the note that I found.

"Hey. Give me just a second to finish cleaning up and then we can head to my place."

With Zeke's help, we managed to finish cleaning up the diner in a little over an hour. I locked up and we walked to my apartment. Zeke looked around the room like he was checking if someone was there. Ever since the night he thought someone was at the orphanage, he's been on edge. I didn't believe him, but after the incident a few nights ago, I was also constantly looking over my shoulder. The other day, I went through all my things, checking for bugs that someone could've hidden.

After he was satisfied that we were alone, Zeke had a seat on the couch. I took all my electrical devices and put them in a safe, including both of our phones. I'm not a conspiracy theory type, but I didn't want to risk anyone overhearing our conversation. Especially not the Fathers. Once I was done, I pulled the note out from under my mattress and handed it to Zeke. He gave me a strange look.

"A few days ago, someone was outside my apartment, shining a light in the window." His eyes grew wide and he opened his mouth. I continued before he spoke. "Just like you had said happened at the orphanage." He nodded. "When I got up to look out my window, there was a knock at the door. I think the light was a diversion so whoever was at the door could leave that." I tilted my head toward the note in his hand.

I watched as Zeke quickly scanned over the note. Then he read it again. And again. "'If you're looking for freedom'? What does that mean?"

I shrugged. "I don't know"

He looked over the letter again. "Are we not free here?"

I went to respond with a yes but hesitated. In school, they teach us that Fairfield is one of the only places in the world that was able to rebuild after the last war ripped through. There are other territories out there but none close enough to travel to in less than a day. So, we stay here. The wall they built around us is to keep the animals out. Rumor has it that the animals were affected by all the radiation and have changed because of it. Stories of fanged beasts whose claws are coated in toxins and people who are savages and have grown extra limbs are told around the fire place. The Father's keep us safe from everything scary.

But are we free? We can't choose where we work or who we love. When my family died, I couldn't choose where to bury them. I couldn't keep any of their things. I couldn't even visit them in the hospital. I wouldn't call that freedom.

"Maybe we aren't."

Zeke's head whipped toward me. "What do you mean?"

"Maybe we aren't free, Zeke." I gestured around "We grow up being studied so that we can be placed with someone and told where to work. In school, we learn about our history but not about things that we enjoy. Is that what being free is?"

He was quiet. "Do you think there's other territories out there?" The question was whispered so soft that I almost didn't catch it.

My answer was just as soft. "There has to be."

He looked up at me, his expression determined. "I want to go out there. I want to find them." He waved the note at me.

I nodded once. "Then lets do it."