CHAPTER SIX

Ryan stared at the fireplace in deep thought. Astrid had only been gone a few hours and he still couldn't believe she'd gone at all. After she'd blown up at him, Ryan stayed on the porch and tried to come up with a plan. There had to be a way to let the Mallrats know he was alright. But he couldn't come up with anything that didn't involve him at least making it down the mountain someways.

A couple hours later Astrid came downstairs to find Ryan had fallen asleep apparently exhausted from all that planning. She gently woke him and he looked up at her nervously. But Astrid's face was now calm and her eyes at peace. She sat on the railing and gave him a small smile.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you." She sighed. "I understand that you want to see your friends. Especially Salene and your baby. And I don't know why I got so upset but I am sorry."

Ryan shrugged and smiled back. "It's... It's okay."

"I can't expect you to wanna stay here forever." Astrid looked down. "But I am right about your leg. You're just not strong enough to make it to the city. And if you forced it you could hurt yourself even more." She shook her head gently. "Never mind if you ran into trouble..."

Ryan sighed and nodded. "I know." His quest home would just have to wait.

"So I'm gonna go."

At first he didn't comprehend her quiet statement. He looked up and stared into those almond eyes. They were completely sincere. "Wha... What?" He finally sputtered.

Astrid shrugged. "I said I'm going..."

"Thank you!" Ryan interrupted as he broke into a large smile. "Thank you!"

Astrid felt awkward when he attempted to move towards her. She was subtle as she moved out of his path to the door. A burn built in her chest as he stood beaming at her. Folded her arms she looked away.

"It's no big deal. I mean, I should find out what's happening in the city anyway. Besides if I don't get us more food we'll be hunting squirrel soon."

They both chuckled.

"Still," Ryan couldn't stop smiling. "It means a lot to me."

Astrid finally smiled back. A real smile. "I'll leave tomorrow morning."

The empty fireplace was screaming at him. How he wanted to build a fire in there. It wouldn't be hard to gather the dead branches around the house. If he was feeling strong enough, he could lug a couple logs from the wood supply out back. It would be a shame not to use the fireplace. Ryan bit his lip with indecision. If only he didn't have Astrid's warnings ringing in his ears.

"I should only be gone two days tops. It could take till nightfall to reach the city and and find a decent place to stay the night." She was pacing the room as though looking for something. "Hopefully there's still a free trade market. No telling what lunatic is running the place now. Then I have to find food and supplies. I'll try to find out what I can about your friends." She stopped for a moment. "I mean they might not be at the mall. Or even in a tribe anymore." Ryan nodded and Astrid resumed her random pacing. "Anyway, I'll find out what I can and if I find them I'll let them know you're okay. I should be back by tomorrow night. If not the following morning. There's enough food until I get back so you should be fine. Just be careful when going to the creek. And take it easy around here." She pointed at him. "You could fall or something and be stuck until I come back."

Another nod.

"Okay." Astrid finally sighed and made her way to the door. "You should be fine." She said again as though convincing herself. "Just try to rest and I'll be back soon."

"I'll be fine." Ryan gave her a reassuring smile. "You just... be careful."

Astrid looked up at his friendly face and nodded. Just before she stepped off the porch she turned to him.

"And no fires. Can't afford anyone seeing the smoke."

"Okay," Ryan waved her away. "Bye."

"Bye."

"No fires." Ryan said to himself and headed out to the porch.

It was a beautiful morning and the world outside was alive with sound. It seemed like everything in nature was celebrating something Ryan wasn't aware of. He stood out in the yard and reveled in his surroundings. He had no idea what to do with himself. Left with no one to talk to or anything amusing. He didn't even have a deck of cards. Finally he eased himself down and stared up at the clouds.

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Astrid took a swig from her water bottle and stared down the road. She'd been walking for a few hours and still hadn't run into anyone. So far so good. She was already hungry but wanted to save her food in case she couldn't get any in the city. Though she'd never admit it out loud, Astrid was nervous about returning to the city.

Once upon a time she'd sworn she'd never leave. She'd always felt more at home on the streets anyway. There was a strange sense of comfort knowing that you couldn't get much lower than sleeping in an alleyway, sharing a box with some crack head you'd just met. To Astrid the adults dying was more of a twisted irony than a tragedy. Adults had only made her life more difficult anyway.

But now having gotten away from the decay and filth, Astrid had no desire to go back. In the cabin she'd found a small semblance of peace. Her spirit felt at rest for once. The world stood still out there and all a person had was time. Time to think. Time to dream. Time to wish away reality.

Astrid considered not going back to the city. She could always try to find supplies in the suburbs. Or perhaps a farm that might be nearby. She'd probably have better luck finding a non hostile tribe to trade with. One that hadn't been disturbed by the Chosen. Then she thought about Ryan back in the cabin waiting to hear news of his friends, his wife, his baby. She couldn't let him down. Another swig from her water bottle and she was on her way again.

She arrived in the city late afternoon, earlier than she had previously guessed. Taking the road down the mountain was much faster than taking the river up it. Astrid easily reverted back to her old city slicker self as she deftly made her way along the streets. At first she stayed hidden and took the back alleys. But soon she began to notice that there was a strange liveliness about the place. A familiar hum she hadn't witnessed since before the Chosen took over. Maybe they were defeated after all. Not exactly sure what was up and not wanting to ask a stranger Astrid knew of only one place she could head to. She only hoped it was still there.

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Ryan's eyes snapped open and for a moment he was confused to be staring at the sky. He blinked and realized he'd fallen asleep in the yard. Rubbing his eyes he slowly sat up. He'd slept outside many times since the virus began but he'd never felt safe about it. Out here there was nothing to fear. No tribes fighting for power. No fighting whatsoever. Just peace. The perfect place to have a family.

He sighed as he thought once more of Salene and the baby. The two of them haunted his dreams relentlessly. Had the baby been born yet? Salene had never admitted to when she'd gotten pregnant though Ryan was pretty sure it was before the wedding. He might have been slow about many things but he was quite sure that the baby was the only reason Salene reconsidered his proposal.

At the time he'd been too happy to care about those details. He could tolerate Salene not loving him as he loved her. He just wanted to be with her, take care of her, be a family. But during the months in the mines he had nothing else to do but think. And all he could think about was why Salene had turned on him. Why had he been so easy to cast aside? All he'd ever done was try to make her happy and it was never good enough. Why had she stopped loving him? What if she never loved him to begin with?

Ryan sighed as he shook those thoughts out of his head. There was no point in thinking about it. Nothing could be changed now. Salene and his baby were still somewhere in the city while he was stuck in the wilderness. The Chosen had come in and crushed all their dreams. Leaving nothing but sorrow, destruction and a mass of unanswered questions in their wake.

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Astrid cautiously approached the old building. It's outward appearance gave no indication of what might be going on inside. It had always been a dump. Attracted less attention that way. She watched as two kids came out, one obviously drunk and having trouble walking. Astrid smirked at the good sign. Being sure to keep her guard up, she climbed the steps and went inside.

The lobby looked the same. It actually appeared somewhat neater than she last remembered. As though it had a good cleaning. She could hear life upstairs but it was the dining room that held her interest. A low hum of conversation and food on the grill. Astrid's stomach growled as she swallowed her hunger pangs. It all seemed civilized. She took her chances and slowly pushed open the swinging door.

There were some guys playing cards in the corner. Another group of kids eating and having quiet conversation near the windows. Fresh glasses sat on the bar and there were new stools. The windows looked clean though there was still a familiar darkness to the room. The door to the kitchen was cracked and Astrid could hear someone mumbling to himself as he walked about clanging dish ware. She sighed and leaned against the bar still looking around.

"Can I help you?"

The sudden appearance of a body from behind the bar made Astrid jump. She hadn't meant to let her guard down.

"Gees!" She gasped.

"Well look who survived."

Astrid turned and looked at the familiar face. "Learies," She smirked.

"Astrid."

"I can't believe you're still here."

"I can't believe you're still alive." Learies glanced at the window. "They're making mincemeat out of anyone who used to be a Chosen out there."

Astrid narrowed her eyes at the girl still smirking. "You thinking of turning me in Learies?"

Learies cocked an eyebrow as though she were considering it before chuckling. "No. We all sold our souls to survive."

Astrid relaxed finally and rested her bag on a stool. Already she felt like she was home. Back in the old Inn that she'd spent so much time in before the Chosen. Learies ran it with her boyfriend Tesh who was a freedom fighter. Learies had always been more of a survivor like Astrid. She opened the Inn for the misfits and strays on the street. Kids belonging to no tribes.

The Inn was a place to trade for food, supplies, a bed. Learies would take anything for trade. She said it kept customers coming and she was right. The Inn was never empty or in need of supplies. The kids kept coming because Learies made trading easy and fair. And It was a safe place to hang out with Tesh and his fellow freedom fighters as bouncers. He would tolerate no fighting or abuse. He claimed the Inn was one of the few places where they could truly be free and he would die before he allowed it to change.

Astrid thought back to her last night in the Inn. The night the Chosen came. It was more than crowded with strays, kids sharing rooms without complaint. Astrid included. No one wanted to be on the streets. It had turned to confusion in the weeks after the antidote was no longer needed. Kids were disappearing and reports of a black van prowling the sectors had everyone shaken up. No one knew who was responsible though three main tribes were suspected: The Mallrats, the Locos and the Chosen.

It was quiet even though there were kids everywhere. Tesh could be heard above the low murmur of conversation. He was preaching against the Mallrats and their so-called power over the city. He was angry about their using the antidote for leverage. Forcing the city kids to follow their new laws or die of the virus. He claimed they were no better than the adults and that following them was the same as being in slavery.

"And what of this damn newspaper they publish?" He paced the room, almost all eyes on him. "They print something and we're meant to believe it. Am I the only asshole who thinks that's a bit messed up?" He stopped and looked around before continuing. "Where are they getting their information? How many sources? Have they ever interviewed any of you? Who the hell are they speaking for besides they members of their own peedly tribe?"

Astrid watched from the balcony that overlooked the dining room and smirked. She'd heard all this before. Verbatim.

"And did you read their issue about the Chosen being finished?" Tesh laughed mockingly. "Well ain't that a relief! I can sleep soundly now. Thank God they wrote that or I'd never feel safe again. Please, if we all believed that then why is everyone here right now? Why ain't there anyone on the streets?"

He was answered with low murmurs as everyone contemplated that question themselves.

"I'll tell you why... because we don't believe it. Maybe some of you read it and it made you feel better... for a minute! But people are still disappearing out there and Ebony and her militia are doing little to stop it. I wanna talk to that little Mallrat reporter who wrote that crap. I wanna know her source and if she had viable proof before printing that pack of lies. I'm telling you, the Mallrats can't be trusted. They use the paper to control and manipulate the masses. So what if they found the antidote. Should we have to be indebted to them forever?"

"Hey man, they don't mean any harm." Some one finally spoke up.

"Yeah," Another kid found his voice. "They saved my life... for free. I got no beef with them."

"They're just trying to make things nice again Tesh."

"Maybe they got a little power hungry with the antidote but you have to admit they did it with the best of intentions."

Tesh looked over at the girl who spoke. "The road to hell is paved with the best of intentions."

Learies smiled from the table where she sat playing cards. "And what's the road back paved with love?"

Tesh smirked at her. "Humility."

It was barely an hour after that when the Chosen came. They came like a shadow at night, quietly surrounding the Inn and coming in all entries. Just as Astrid saw them coming in the dining room, she realized they were already on the balcony as well. There was no place to run, no time to react. They were simply there, weapons sharpened and psyche's badly damaged.

Tesh and his boys immediately tried to fight them off throwing the entire room into chaos. It was only minutes before many of them were badly injured including Tesh and the rest had no choice but to back off or be killed. Learies rushed to Tesh's side and realized he was bleeding from a deep wound.

The rest was a blur for Astrid. The Guardian did his song and dance about Zoot and his Chosen victory and Power and Chaos. It all came out to mean they either joined or died with the rest of the unwashed heathen. Astrid went numb as she was led out with the others. She turned around once to see Learies sobbing over Tesh, the puddle of blood growing larger. Learies was quietly begging someone to help Tesh. He was still alive. That was the last Astrid heard before she was led away.