Black Labyrinth

We Were Never Built to Last

“Did you know about the barricade?” I looked over at Quincy as he stared ahead.

The line of armed guards served as a border to what looked like a completely different city now. The southern part of the Island was blocked behind a wall of armored vehicles, and as we contemplated our next move we became familiar with the protocols for entry.

“No, this is new. Then again no one I know has been this far south in years,” Quincy turned his head to face me as he answered.

“So they have some sort of database specifically for southerners? Why else would they be scanning I.D chips?” I asked as we watched one of the guards pull out an identification scanner for the passengers of the entering vehicle. It was getting dark and the large light fixtures turned on to shine a light on the border entrance.

“So what now?” Quincy asked as he turned to face me, then turned his body to look at Olivia in the backseat.

From the back we could hear the rustling noise her pant legs made as Olivia readjusted her position, calling out, “I think I know a way in.”

The building’s entrances were boarded up. There were still shards of broken glass that covered the floor from the glass doors that were once there. It was an older building, a landmark of the city’s storied past. Olivia walked up to the wooden board and knocked three times, stopped and knocked once more. From inside the building we could hear footsteps approach us. The board moved slowly, leaning in toward the building, creating an opening for us to enter.

The floors and tiles were made of marble and the large open hallways remained in tact.

A small, gaunt dark-skinned man came out from behind the wooden board. He slowly moved the board back and hammered it into position with his fists, locking it in place. As he turned around carefully to look at us, he smiled.

“Name’s Herb, what brings you to Grand Central?” he said as he began to escort us through the large historic building.

As we walked toward the staircase we noticed that most of the storefronts were open and functioning with new merchants. It was as if the halls of Grand Central station remained frozen in time.

“We’re here on business. Looking for a conductor to take us south,” Olivia responded.

Herb continued to wobble forward in front of us. I noticed that some of the storefronts had been turned into lodging. As I turned to look at all the changes that were made, I caught the eyes of some of the inhabitants who greeted me with smiles.

“Didn’t know this place was still running,” Quincy interjected as he continued to take in his surroundings with what almost seemed like wonder.

“Wasn’t always.” Herb responded.

“How long you been here, old timer?” Quincy asked again as we all stepped off the staircase.

“Been here since things went to shit,” Herb answered before swiftly turning around to address Quincy directly.

“You’re not so young yourself,” Herb announced as both men glanced at each other’s grey. Herb turned back around and I noticed the smirk that landed on Quincy’s face.

“Was a ticket salesman here for over 30 years. Didn’t pay much, but it was enough. Enough to retire, enough to live. Plus it was my wife who really brought home the bacon,” he said as he chuckled to himself.

“She was a brilliant professor, who had no business marrying an old fool like me. But we were happy. Even traveled the world together, but you wouldn’t think so if you saw me in that booth. Looks can be deceiving.”

“What brought you back here? You said you retired.” Olivia asked as we walked past a group of inhabitants conversing in a circle in the middle of the large open room.

“I’ve had my life, my experiences, my love. What’s real or not real isn’t going to change any of that now. But my wife passed a year prior to the article. I hadn’t heard from my son in months, my granddaughter, my daughter-in-law. I had no way of knowing whether or not they were alive. I was raised to be of service, to be of use. We all need purpose, mine was this place. This place had always taken care of me, figured it was my turn.

It’s a shame the condition this place was in when I got here. The riots had really done some damage, especially to the glass. Managed to clean most of the mess in here, boarded up the entrances. Made it easier to protect, thankfully I’m not alone anymore.”

“I was just about to ask you about that. Seems like this place is thriving.” I asked as we began going down another flight of stairs. I noticed something I hadn’t seen before, at least not that I could remember.

I fixated first on the smile and as I focused away from her small mouth I could see her gleeful screaming. She flapped her little arms up and down chasing what could only be her father in a circle.

“Folks just showed up looking for a place to stay. I didn’t have the heart to turn them away. Enough of them came that some of the southerners took notice. Came here personally to inquire about reopening some of their stores. Employed those who stayed and paid me for maintaining the station. Now we’ve got a community of people and an economy that although is hanging on by a very thin rope, is actually thriving. People come and try to claim a spot inside, finding lodging here guarantees work. You can make enough money save up and open up your own shop, or even catch a ride out of this godforsaken city.

But to maintain this place, we’ve had to set rules. To guarantee a spot you have to be here before ten in the morning. If you leave, you can’t be gone longer than six hours and if you lodge, you work.”

“Sounds like a homeless shelter,” Quincy said.

“You’re exactly right, only better. How far south you looking to go?”

“Just past the border,” Olivia answered.

“Most people come looking for a ride out of this city, not further into it. I've heard some things about the south and I can tell you, some things are better left alone.”

Herb stopped walking and turned around to face us.

“I hear ya, but we got no other choice,” Quincy responded.

Herb’s face grew serious as he looked us each in the eye. His eyes dropped and with it his expression.

“I'll see if I can find Charlie. He's a good man, damn reliable too. You have credits?”

I shook my head slightly upward.

“Ok,” he said. “From what I hear, most of the old subway platforms aren't accessible from the surface. Get Charlie to take you to Astor Place. Supposed to be a building above where the old entrance was. There's a good chance the buildings elevator system is still attached to the old platform. If you're lucky, you have an easy way in and an easy way out.”

“Thank you,” Olivia said as Herb began to walk away.

“Don't thank me yet,” Herb said as he walked off to find Charlie. “You need to make it back first.”