Mankind

Chapter Eleven

Salvation. The word hung in the air like a thick smoke. The Queen's Island Settlement took them in quickly and tended to Jesse's gunshot wound while Cassie and Sam were checked out as well. With a clean bill of health for the two, a shower, and a fresh pair of clothes, they were free to and look around.

The Amusement Park wasn't much different than she remembered it, except most of the coasters were scrapped for metal and used in building fortifications, and the shops turned into various apartments, sleeping dens, infirmaries, and whatever else they need.

The hustle and bustle reminds her of home. Kids play in the park, while others stroll down the streets. She could almost picture her life here, a fresh start.

"Cassie." Sam's voice calls out to her, shaky. He fiddles with his fingers like he's nervous. "I wanted to say sorry. I-I got lost and..."

"It's not your fault. None of it is. Those men were after me."

"But I should've been closer." He sighs.

"It was dark, Sam. You were lucky to even find us." Cassie takes a deep breath. "Sam, you need to stay here with Jesse, make sure he gets better. I'm going to Steelton tomorrow."

"Cassie."

"Don't fight me on this. We're only thirty miles from the city. We're so close...and I can't wait until Jesse heals."

"I really hope you survive." He scoffs and turns away.

That night, dinner comes in the form of burritos, corn, and beef from a butchered cow. The dining hall is huge, one of the largest buildings in the park. Cassie sits on one end of the long cafeteria table while Sam sits on the other, away from her.

"Where are you headed?" The man across from her asks as he shovels food into his mouth.

"Steelton."

His eyes droop and he bites his bottom lip. "You do know what's there, right?"

Cassie nods. "The Federation. I know."

"Then why go?" He presses for answers.

"My mom was taken by them and I plan to get her back."

As Cassie spoke, the man's expression softened, his eyes reflecting a mixture of sympathy and concern. "You're brave, kid," he remarked. "But Steelton's a dangerous place, even for the toughest of us."

Cassie met his gaze with determination. "I know the risks," she replied, her voice stern. "But I can't just sit back and do nothing."

The man nodded slowly, his features conveying a newfound respect for Cassie. "Well, I won't try to talk you out of it. Just be careful out there. The Federation doesn't take kindly to trespassers."

Cassie offered him a grateful smile before returning her attention to her meal, her mind already racing with plans and strategies for her upcoming journey. Despite the warnings and the dangers ahead, she remained steadfast in her determination to confront the Steelton Federation and rescue her mother from them.

As the evening wore on and the dining hall began to empty, Cassie found herself lost in thought, her mind filled with images of her mother and visions of the challenges that awaited her in Steelton. But amidst the uncertainty and the fear, one thing remained clear: she wouldn't stop until she found Joan.

Before she settled in for the night, she stopped by the infirmary where Jesse lay unconscious. She scoots a chair next to his bed and grabs his hand, pressing it against her forehead.

"I'm leaving in the morning, Jesse. I know it doesn't make sense to do this without you and Sam but I have to. I have to see this through." She watches his chest inhale and exhale. "I've come so far. Goodbye, for now."