Save Us!

Chapter Ten (Bain)

November 5th, 2059

"When dictatorship is a fact, revolution becomes a right."

Victor Hugo

I was ready when the doorbell rang. We’d already said our goodbyes and we’d worked up a message plan so I could still touch base with Ben once in a while.

We were all waiting in the living room, just sitting around.

When it rang, I stood up and Ben gave me a quick hug – much too quick, Robbie waved, and I walked out of the door. Just like that.

Gale was standing on the porch. I was carrying a box – it was empty but it was supposed to give the allusion of having something important in it. We went over to the truck and I climbed in the back, putting the box in, and Gale closed the back door.

I heard the truck started and took off, zooming down the street. There weren’t any windows, but I could picture myself getting further and further away from the house.

But I was okay. I would leave Ben and Robbie, but I would join Connie, Gale, and Scooter as well as the whole Outcity force. They were the core of the Rebellion. It was an adventure.

Some time later, the car stopped and the back was opened. Gale coughed twice, which meant I could get out. I climbed down out of the truck and he got back in then drove away. I just stood there a minute, looking at my surroundings. I was in some sort of storage area. It was extremely dim lit, and there were boxes piled high to the wall. I wasn’t sure, but it looked like the walls were made of concrete, something that was rarely seen in the city.

I hugged my jacket closer to my body and stood there. I had been instructed to wait for Connie, another member, and she would tell me how to get to the farms, where I would work from now on.

I don’t know how long I stood there in the dark, just waiting. It was extremely unpleasant. The air was moist and the floor was damp, which created a most unappealing smell.

Finally, I heard a door open. I prayed it was Connie, and when the figure stepped into my view, I saw it was.

I hadn’t seen her in years. She used to live with us – she and her brother had been orphans and Ben took them in – but she and Gale met and they became the best of friends. She moved to the Outcity to be with him.

“Bain?” she whispered. “Oh my god, I haven’t seen you since–”

She threw her arms around me and I grinned. Maybe this wouldn’t be so awful after all. “I missed you too,” I whispered.

“You have no idea – okay, I’ll talk later.” She pulled back and grinned sheepishly. “Okay, getting to the farms isn’t that hard. You just leave here through the south door and you’ll see this dirt road. Just take one of the hoses on your way out and no one will question you. It’s only a ten minute walk to the farm. Matt will meet you there. He’s great, don’t worry. And as for housing, we all live together. We found this cave that’s far enough away that they won’t find it, but close enough that it isn’t a nuisance to walk here and there from.” She grinned. “It’s fantastic, you’ll love it, I know. I mean, the occasional fighting to keep it is annoying, but it’s a great place. Definitely worth it.” All of a sudden, she frowned. “Bain, what did you do to your hair? Didn’t it used to be brown?”

I frowned. “Yeah. Ben made me dye it black because apparently it makes it harder to recognize me.” I scoffed. “It wasn’t my decision.”

“I like it,” she said. “As far as I can see in this light. It makes you look older.”

“Thanks… I think?”

She laughed. “Yes, that was a compliment. You look very handsome. Now go – don’t forget the hose. I have to get back to work. I’ll see you tonight, okay? We’ll catch up then.”