The Sky Beneath Us (on hold)

TWENTY FOUR

Day 30. 17:38.

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Two days had passed, and the rebuilding of what became known as the ‘black area’ – the scorched section of The Settlement – was underway. Mark was pretty busy, so Avery didn’t really have the chance to discuss with him the situation with what they referred to as ‘Crawlers’. That part of the story had remained secret to the public, yet news of everything else had spread through the colony like wildfire. Everywhere he went, people had thanked Avery for going after the psychopaths and “killing every son ‘o bitch”, as one supporter put it. None of them, it seemed, really understood the true horror of the whole ordeal.

Avery and Brady assembled with the rest of The Settlement in the colony’s meeting area – the large, open circle complete with a shabby wooden podium. A town meeting had finally been called by Richard. Agatha stood apart from him, hidden behind the podium quietly. The mumble of voices and rustle of movement ceased as he got up to speak. All eyes focused on the ex-SWAT officer. Richard cleared his throat loudly, lifted his head high and put his broad shoulders back.

“Thank you all for coming. It’s been a hard couple of days, nothing can relieve us of the horror and injustices that we suffered. Even I remain shook up by the incident”.

Suddenly the chatter rose again, with some citizens challenging his statement.

“You were supposed to protect us asshole, and now my wife is dead!” a burly man roared shakily.

“What happens if they attack again?” someone else shrieked.

“We should go after them, see how they like it!” a thin man shouted from the back.

Richard held his hands over the crowd, an unmistakable look of annoyance and frustration across his face.

“Settle down, please people! This will solve nothing” he shouted over the rumble. Slowly, the crowd’s volume lowered and allowed Richard to speak again.

“We’ve lost a lot, all of us, these past few days. Our loved ones, our possessions, our spirit. But out of the ashes or our darkest hour, rises a phoenix. A new dawn. With the threat gone, we can only prosper from here”.

There was some, small applause. But it was shaky, thought Avery, as the heavy losses were still tolling these people’s minds. Mixed with the minuscule clapping were some angry insults and slurs.

“There’s been discussions. And to facilitate our fresh start, we’ve changed the council roster somewhat”.

An instant hush flew over the crowd and every ear perked up to listen.

“The new council shall consist of myself, Ben Darby, who will be replacing his mother, and…”, he paused, “Avery Greenwood, appointed as Head of Council by popular opinion”.

There was heavy clapping as people turned to face a surprised Avery. Some patted him on the back, congratulated him, cheered him on. What was this? What popular opinion made him the leader of the entire Settlement?

His head was confused, and in a rush. He looked around him, caught the gaze of a smiling Becca, darted his eyes away just as quickly. When he glanced across again, she was walking away.

***

Day 30. 21:25.

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Avery sat on a rusty kitchen stool outside his makeshift shack. In one hand he toyed with his blood-red revolver. Joseph had given him the weapon in good faith, almost like a bribe so as not to challenge his leadership. It had served Avery well, however. The thing was lucky for sure.

In his other hand he held the gun’s last four bullets. Given six of the golden tubes, two had been used with just cause. Chad expended the first to save Avery’s life. Avery used the second to end the Jackal’s. Staring at the four pieces in his fist, he only wondered what they may be used for in the future, and hoped beyond anything that they would never have to be used at all.

But The Flip didn’t work that way, did it?

There were footsteps as someone walked his way, Eve. She carried a footstool in her arms, and opened it out to sit beside him.

“How are you?” she asked gently.

“Ha…over the moon” he replied sarcastically.

“And you and Becca?”

“I…I haven’t spoken to her”.

“Avoiding her?”

“Yeah, how’d you know?”

“I figured”, Eve sighed, “let me guess, it’s to do with recent events?”

“Yeah, it is. I mean…everything’s changed Eve. Everything. To be honest, it’s almost too much to bear. I can’t cope. How can I hold a relationship together if I can’t even hold my head together, you know?”

“Yeah, I get you. And I know the feeling”.

“Let me guess this time, Brady?” Avery grinned slightly, although meaning no true smile behind it.

“You really are damn observant, ain’t ya? But yeah…Brady. I mean, he’s a nice guy, and he saved my life a few times but…I don’t think he gets that I’m not his damsel in distress. I don’t see him in that way”.

“I see”.

There was a few seconds of awkward silence. Eve’s hands were balled into little fists. Avery wiped a lock of dark hair from his brow.

“Anyway, let’s talk about what I really came here for. People want you to be in the council, more specifically, the head of it” Eve said, tone of voice now changed and business-like, almost calculating.

“But why me?” he demanded loudly, now frustrated. Why did these people suddenly worship the ground he walked on, and why now? He wanted to know, and clung on to every word of Eve’s reply.

“Because you can inspire people Avery. You can give them hope where there is none. People know your story. How you took that ragtag band of desk-job drones and brought them out of that collapsing building. You led them through the sewers, promised them they’d get sanctuary. They know your crucible, the captivity and torture you endured from that gang of scavengers. They know how you went after Becca and those other captives, against all odds, and brought them home safely. You’re leadership material, Avery, we all see it. Maybe Rich doesn’t, but to hell with Rich. I’ll stick by you until the end”.

Avery blinked out a lone tear that had formed and sat at the base of his eyelid. Eve’s rant had made him think of all that had been lost before now, all the sacrifices that had been made just so the group could survive The Flip. And maybe she was right, maybe in the end, he had succeeded.

“You’re a great friend, you know that, right Eve?”

“Friend…yeah”, she replied wearing a smile that looked almost strained, “I know that”.

Avery stood up, held out his hand to her. She took it firmly, and he helped her up.

“Eve Thompson, I am glad to have you as an ally. And I’m going to accept the Head of Council position. But only with you as my personal advisor. What do you say?”

“Hell yes” she smiled, before punching his bicep gently with her fist.