Chapter 3: A War Among Lions
"How are we supposed to trust you? You might be one of those bloody fucking spies…report us to Leader and get our asses killed!" One of the men whispered harshly to Shay.
Shay propped her elbows on the counter and eyed them.
"I'm going to die in the next few months…Leader has ruined every chance of my survival. My mouth turns bitter at the sound of his name. I will not die until he is back in hell where he belongs." Shay gritted her teeth.
The two men looked at each other; finally the Irish one cleared his throat and nodded.
"Just one more question, why are you so willing to die? Why don't you spend the time you have left with family?"
Shay looked down at her hands and sighed.
"Because I have no family; everyone I cared about is dead….I have nothing left to live for. I am ready to die, and it is crucial that you understand that."
"Trevin, your father wants you to come to his next meeting, he says it's important."
Trevin huffed as the house keeper walked out of the room.
He sat up from his stainless steel desk and looked in the mirror. The spitting image of his father people would say. Sometimes Trevin thought his handsome face, black locks, and icy blue eyes were a curse, though the women didn't seem to think so. Trevin smiled to himself.
"Wow, checking yourself out again. I shouldn't be surprised." A sudden voice pulled Trevin's gaze to the door.
"What are you doing here?" Trevin asked.
"I'm here on medical business. Your father sent for me." The young man walked over to Trevin and crossed his arms over is chest.
"You were never fond of following directions yet alone taking them from my father…so why are you really here Gage?" Trevin glared.
Gage smirked and looked past Trevin to the window behind him.
"Do you ever wonder why we still make everything in metal even though we have a cure? Or why the dead don't litter the streets; their bodies just disappear as if they were never there in the first place?" Gage questioned calmly.
Trevin frowned.
"Why are you asking these things when you already know the answers? Everything is made of metal so newborns aren't infected, and the dead are disposed of so the bodies don't spread disease." He replied coldly.
Gage shook his head and laughed to himself.
"If that is true then let me ask you this. If the red disease has killed everyone out there and we are the only survivors…why are we still enclosed in these walls like caged animals?"
Trevin was silent for a moment.
"What are you getting at?"
Gage met his eyes, his smile was gone.
"Your father isn't telling us everything. If I were you I would start preparing myself for what's really going on."
Shay stood up and pulled her jacket on.
"There's a meeting tonight at the old Food Factory. Be there at 11:00 sharp." The Irish man ordered.
"I never got your name." Shay said.
"I'm Kirby and this here is Crabby Joe." Kirby replied as he outstretched his hand.
Shay shook it and gave him a slight nod.
"My names Shay; nice to meet you."
Trevin walked into his father's office. Twelve men sat in black suits at a large oval table.
"Oh Trevin it is nice that you finally joined us." Leader Jonathon smiled.
Trevin quietly sat down across from his father.
"Let's begin. The majority of the Clear population has been complaining of Ruster related incidents." Leader began.
"And what do these incidents include?" One of the men asked.
"Fights, rape, robbery; the list goes on." Leader continued.
"So how do you plan to take action sir?" Another man questioned.
Leader smiled and stood from his seat. He walked over to a covered display board and slowly began to pull the cloth from it; revealing a intricate building plan.
"Two words gentlemen; steel dome."
Trevin's brow furrowed.
"You plan to build a dome…over the city?" He asked.
Trevin's father stared at him, a warning glare took over his features.
"Yes, if we separate the Rusters from ourselves we put Clears out of harms way. No one in…and no one out. Completely eliminating the threat." Leader said proudly.
"But you would also be preventing Rusters from getting any sort of cure." Trevin protested.
"Rusters do not need FVR1. They are a disgusting excuse of a human being. We should be using the cure for our own kind; our children. Not wasting it on those rotting insects." Leader spat.
"You can't do that!" Trevin yelled.
The room went quiet. After a few seconds of silence Leader recovered the display board.
"Gentlemen will you leave us; I will be in contact with all of you about the construction plans." Leader said carefully.
After the men left the room Trevin's father shut the door and walked over to his son.
"I am ashamed to call you my blood. You are as good as a Ruster!" He yelled as he slapped Trevin's face.
"As long as I am leader you will shut your mouth and follow my orders! Cross me again boy and you will wish you were never born!"
Just as he was about to slap him again Trevin caught his hand in midair.
"You forget father, I am not the frail child you used to beat anymore." He whispered in a deathly tone as he pinned his father's arm behind is back.
"You will be stopped; whether it's by me or another. I will not rest until you are punished with the same fate as the Rusters you have killed. It would be a mistake to underestimate me." Trevin continued as he shoved him from his grasp.
Leader stumbled backwards and pointed to him.
"You want a war boy you've got one."
Shay walked through the tall metal doors. She made her way into the dark room and suddenly she heard a gasp.
"Who's there?" She yelled; pulling a small knife from her jacket.
Just then the lights came on. As Shay's eyes adjusted to the brightness she found herself looking at dozens of people.
"We have to take precautions…with Leaders watchmen all over the damn place. Sorry about that Shay." Kirby stepped down from a platform and went over to her.
"I'm glad you came." He said as he grabbed her hand and hugged her.
Kirby motioned for her to follow him to the front of the room. As Shay moved behind him she felt the dozens of eyes staring at her; a chill made its way up her spine.
"For years we have been degraded, killed, lied to, and for years we have been praying, begging for a change! To them we are no better than animals! They spit on us as if we are the reason the world has died! They taunt us with a cure we can never have! They praise the bastard that is responsible for our dead children! They took our families, our freedom, and our lives!" Kirby screamed as the crowd yelled and chanted.
"But now it is our time! Our prayers have been answered! A new era shall rise, a new time shall begin! Let us bury the damned and take back what is ours!"