2050: A Time of Courage

Chapter 7: Rosalie

As we keep moving toward Manchester, Jason and I stay busy by going through the city patrol woman's backpack. He doesn't really speak, other than pointing out the supply of dried fruit she was carrying, or counting the four bottles of water tucked away inside. I know his brain is probably working overtime, trying to process what he's done.

I can't believe he killed that woman, and I'm sure it must have been a bigger shock to Jason.

He was afraid, and people do things like that when they're scared. You don't have time to think, so you just act.

I want to explain this to Jason, to make him feel better about this somehow, but I can't. I just don't know how. There aren't any words to make what Jason did seem okay, How do you convince someone that murder is acceptable if you're saving someone else's life by doing it?

After we finish with the pack, we sit quietly in the backseat, listening to the static that has taken over whatever radio station was turned on. Brynn hasn't said a word since we ran across the Inhumanes in the road nearly an hour and a half ago, and it feels like we're all afraid to speak. It's nothing new for me, but for Brynn and Jason to stay this quiet is a little unusual.

After her episode earlier, I wonder what Shemik is thinking. Is she as scared as I'm feeling right now? Does she think we're going to die?

I've been thinking about that lately, and the closer we get to these soldiers the more likely it seems.

~*~

We're on the edges of Manchester when Brynn points out the building. Everything about it looks evil, from the three men standing at the tall gate, to the fence surrounding the place, to the grimy-looking building itself.

It creeps me out, making me feel even more afraid with every passing second.

I try to focus on Brynn and Shemik, who are carrying out a whispered conversation up front. Somehow, even though they have to be, I can't imagine either of them being scared. Shemik sounds incredibly calm, and Brynn's voice holds no indication of fear.

They're probably just as scared as I am, though. I know poor Brynn must be at least.

We start moving again, continuing down the roadway for about five more minutes. We take a series of turns, ending up in an alley in what has to be the most rundown part of the city.

We're hiding the car, I realize. If, when, we find the others, our vehicle will be out of the soldiers' sight for a while.

Shemik turns the key, and suddenly everything is quiet. Too quiet.

She opens her door, scrambling out of the vehicle in a way that says she's in a terrible hurry. Brynn gets out too, then Jason is moving to open his door.

It only makes sense for me to be last, I guess. I'm the youngest, the smallest, and being so I'm always last to do things.

I hope that doesn't mean I'll be last to die. I'd rather go sooner than later, to not be stuck waiting around to watch everybody I bothered to care about die.

No.

I shake my head, taking a deep breath as I follow the others out of the car. I slip the city patrol woman's pack onto my shoulders, surprised at how heavy it feels.

No one is going to die, Rose. Just because things look bad now, that doesn't mean they can't turn around in a hurry.

Six throwing knives for each of us.

I'm so nervous that even though I'm trying to pay attention, I only catch a few words of what Shemik is saying.

This has to work, it has to.