Invade

Chapter 26 -- ???

I peaked my head in through the crack of the door, looking into the darkened room. Richard stood behind me, in the hallway that was connected to the elevators. I looked back at him to see that he was looking at me. His whole body dripped from the rain water that had drenched him outside. I too was drenched from head to toe in rain water.

"Do you want to come in with me" I asked him.

"No, I'll be fine here. Besides she did just ask for you" he shrugged.

"You'll be fine here"?

"Yeah. I'll be fine. I'm just gonna wait right here until you're done talking with her".

I nodded and began to open the door again. I stopped again and looked back at Richard, lightly closing the door.

"What is it" he asked.

"Well I never really got to thank you back there. Back when we were out of the walls".

"Thank me for what? You made it by yourself out there along with the rest of us. That was your doing. You did fine out there. I was just there to overlook everything. Please don't thank me" Richard chuckled a little.

"Yeah, you're right. Sorry 'bout that".

"Hey" he said, stopping me. "Don't be sorry about anything y'hear? It's a tough world out there. Sorrys are for last resorts".

"Of course. Thanks" I nodded. I opened the door and stepped into the dark room.

The clouds that were outside the large windows were darkened and ominous with the heavy rain hitting the glass. Some of the lighter clouds actually lit up the room by just a little bit. The shadows of constant rain were petty against the shallow carpet.

It took me a second to register that Zoe was standing in front of the window with her back toward me. I could make out that she wasn't wearing any dresses or fancy clothes. She just wore a white short sleeved shirt with dark blue jeans on. That seemed very unlike Zoe. She always had something really nice to wear.

"Hey, you wanted to see me" I stood at the head of the table, away from Zoe.

She turned around a smiled a bit, but that was drowned out by the dull darkness of the place. Her hair was in a mess with some of it going over one of her eyes and the rest of it in a wavy craze.

"Yes, I did. I wanted to talk to you for a quick second. Please, take a seat" Zoe gestured to the chair in front of me.

"No thanks, I'm fine with standing here".

"Fair enough" she shrugged.

"So, can I ask something first. Before you have to tell me whatever you have to say" I asked.

"Sure. Ask anything".

"Why are you in common clothes? Don't you have any dresses or nice clothes"?

"Oh this" she laughed and pointed to her clothes. "I have tons of dresses. Probably too many to count. But I thought 'when's the last time I've worn normal clothes' and hence, how I am dressed now".

"Ah. Well it does look very nice on you" I smiled a bit.

"Really? Thanks" she paused shifting around and still standing like I was, across the other side of the table.

"Yeah, so why am I here"?

"Oh right. So I heard everything went alright out in the land beyond, everything is all in place and done" she asked questioningly.

"Yes ma'am. Everything was surprisingly easy once we were out there. And thanks to Richard we got there in a short time. And yes, the bombs are in place. Everything is done as you said".

"That's great! I'm glad to hear. And was there any difficulties along the way" she asked.

"No, not really. Except that we lost Jay, his rappel broke off when we were climbing down the dam and he fell all of the way down to his death".

"Oh, I'm very sorry to hear that. He seemed like a promising kid" Zoe stuffed her hands in the jean pockets.

"Well, that's the kind of sacrifices you have to make to keep this city in order" I shrugged.

Zoe seemed to smile with her teeth almost. It was difficult to tall behind the darkness but somehow I knew she was. "Wow, speaking like a true leader. You're really taking over me" she laughed a little nervously. "And the outside world was..." she changed the subject almost instantly.

"It was alright. Not something I'd ever want to live in. I don't even know why anyone would want to be out there. There's not a sign of anything friendly or welcoming out there".

"Exactly what I say!" Zoe paused stepping a little to break her stiff posture.

"So is that why you really brought me in here" I questioned.

She sighed and looked down at the floor. "No, not really. It's actually something I want to offer, per-say. If you're willing to listen for a quick moment".

"Of course" I said. An offer? What could it be for?

"You see, there is no doubt that in a short time span that I might meet my inevitable death to the hand of a Virtue person or any other rebellion person. Everyone just hates me and has had it out for me over the years".

"Zoe, you're not going to be killed by-"

"Please" she interjected. "Let me finish".

"I've come to grip with the reality that my time is running short. And I'm quickly losing that time by each minute. So there's been this thing that always clawed at the back of my head begging me to resolve it. That thing being: 'Who's going to run the city once I'm dead, or killed by someone'".

"Originally, I had always wanted a child of my own. But no one really went after me because they either really hated me or just ignored me. It's just a shame because I always wanted a daughter to call mine. But since I have no child there's no one I could really have as the next leader of this city. They're just gonna elected a random person to be it".

"But I want someone I know, someone I trust to take this position after I'm gone. And that's hard, trying to find the right person to rule a city of ten thousand and counting".

"The point I'm trying to make here is that I think you could be that perfect person. You're trustworthy, you got through that task diligently. We even think alike which is great! You understand what it's like and what needs to be done to keep this city in working order. You could have Richard stand alongside you and help you in the council. It would be a great change for you".

"So what do you say?" she asked.

I stood there completely shocked. Me? Be the leader of this city, next down in line after Zoe? Only in my wildest dreams could I think of such thing. All of the worries and hardships that would come with it didn't even seem to cross my mind as I thought about the joy of being leader of the city.

"I don't know what to say" I laughed a little.

"Well say 'yes'" Zoe smiled.

I thought for a second. This could be something great. I could be the best leader this city has ever seen. I'd protect all of the citizens from the cruel rebels. I could wipe out all of the Virtue if I needed to.

"Sure. I'll do it" I finally answered.

"Really? That's great to know. This means a lot" she said a little excitedly.

"Of course. I'm glad to help out Zoe. Now if you'll excuse me I should be going, I'm really tired from all of that outside the walls stuff".

"Say no more. You get a good rest" waved me off.

I walked to the door and grabbed the handle. I looked back to her to see that she was still looking at me.

"And Zoe..."

"Yes"?

"Thank you for this great opportunity. And just, thank you for everything".

"No Madelyn... thank you" Zoe smiled widely.