The World is After Us

Chapter 6

Jexton

When the room was empty, I was ordered to leave as well. Farrah called for me, but I knew that I couldn't stop and turn around or so much as say a word to her. I know what they are going to do, and there is nothing that I can do to stop it. It makes me feel bad, but her and I both knew that there would be consequences to serve if we were to be caught; and we were. 

I walk out into the lobby and find Ander standing against the wall with his arms crossed and leg propped up behind him. When he sees me, he smiles and walks to me with arms open wide. He hugs me, but I don't return the embrace. I feel nothing but anger and betrayal toward him; though I have no legitimate reason to. 

"My little brother, it is beyond terrific to see you again." Ander says, and I glare at him. 

"You knew I'd come back, I just had to take my time." I say, and my older brother nods. His face goes from happy to concerned, then genuine. He places his arm around me and walks me out of the courthouse. 

"Jexton Wilson Brigade," the use of my full name makes me cringe. "I feel as if you don't mean seriousness. What has been on your mind lately?" I shake my head and remove Ander's arm from my shoulder. 

"Home. Whatever that is." I mumble, and Ander turns his head to look at me, but I continue to stare forward and walk with him to wherever it is he is leading me. 

"Why, this is your home I thought, little brother. What makes you question?" I shake my head and breathe steadily. I try to think about Farrah's fate, but that is no longer in my hands. Whatever happens to her is out of my control at this point. 

"I'm not questioning, I'm just. . .I don't know. I don't know what to do." I admit. Ander stops walking for a second, then picks up again momentarily. He leads me to the main building of the community, and gestures to the glass elevator. 

"I know what you need to do," Ander says as he presses the touchscreen button to take us upstairs. "You need to stay here and help me run the place." 

Although I hate to admit it, my brother is right. This is my home. This is where I belong. This is what I was supposed to do all along.

As the elevator goes up, I watch as the ground below us grows more and more distant. It's kind of cool to see this happening through a window, and remembering how far up this thing goes make me kind of nervous. 

When we reach the top floor, Ander steps out first, and I follow. He leads me into his office, and gestures for me to sit down on one of the fluffy white chairs in front of his desk. The office is surrounded with big windows—big enough to see outside the walls. 

Ander's desktop computer is see-through like the elevator, so every time he moves the mouse or opens a window, I can see from where I'm sitting. He opens up a playlist and begins playing soft music. He uses his finger to tap on the screen and pick a song, and when he is satisfied with what comes on, he leans back. He places his hands behind his head and brings one of his legs up so that his ankle is resting on his opposite knee. 

"Do you want something to drink?" Ander asks, and I furrow my brow at this random, yet strange question. "The engineers made a new bot that brings you stuff. It's pretty cool." he finishes, then turns his head to the side. "Libby!" he calls. Moments later, a holographic auto bot rolls into the room through the wall and stands itself at Ander's desk. It then molds itself into a solid, and my eyes widen. 

"Haven't you missed this kind of technology?" Ander looks at me and asks. I don't answer him, so he turns back to the bot and smiles at it. "Libby, bring my brother a bubbly, please." Ander orders. Libby nods, then turns herself back into a hologram, and disappears through the same wall she had come.