After The Fall (Book 2): The City Read online

  She got to the operating theatres. The machines were already finishing up cleaning the room. They were doing a good job, scrubbing away the blood and other things Lucy didn’t like to think about, removing any potential contamination for the next patient, whoever and whenever that might be.

  Lucy moved down the corridors and had to double back on herself several times before she heard a voice.

  “Lucy,” Donny said.

  He was standing in the doorway to a private room. He looked dishevelled and tired like his younger brother had. He needed to sleep but he wouldn’t allow his body even that much.

  “I could hear you walking up and down the corridors,” he said. “This place is huge.”

  “Massive,” Lucy said with a nod. “I brought you food. Fatty took half of what they had in the cafeteria so we could have as much as we wanted.”

  “You mean as much as he wanted,” Donny said, rolling his eyes.

  He yawned, wide, taking up his entire face. He rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. The poor guy was exhausted.

  “I brought you a plate of food and desserts,” Lucy said. “I didn’t know what you like, so I brought a bit of everything.”

  “Thank you,” Donny said, taking the plates and setting them on a table. “Jamie was meant to bring it to me.”

  “He didn’t ask me to do it,” Lucy said, defending her friend. “He fell asleep right away. He didn’t eat anything.”

  “Do me a favour and make sure there’s enough for him in the morning when he wakes up,” Donny said. “Otherwise Fatty will clear the lot.”

  “I will,” Lucy said. “I don’t think food is a problem here. If we run out, the machines will make more.”

  “It seems there aren’t many problems here,” Donny said. “Besides the population issue.”

  He checked over his shoulders and lowered his voice as if afraid someone would overhear him.

  “What’s the story with this place?” he said. “Why is there only one guy here?”

  “I don’t know,” Lucy said. “I remember there being more people here. Lots of people.”

  “This is where you’re from?” Donny said. “If I came from here, I’m not sure I would ever leave. It has everything.”

  “Maybe not everything,” Lucy said. “I still can’t remember much.”

  Donny was too tired to continue his line of questioning. He yawned again.

  “How are you doing?” he said.

  Lucy smiled. It was typical of the commune members. No matter what trials and tribulations they were going through, they still cared very much about others. It was a trait she assumed was not very common in the rest of the world.

  “I’m fine,” Lucy said. “I’m sure Dr. Beck will tell us what happened here.”

  “I hope it’s a good story,” Donny said. “I want to know why they never reached out to us, stuck outside in the commune between the Rages and Reavers, scratching a living and dying unnecessarily painful deaths when we didn’t have to.”

  He picked up the plate of food and began digging in. His eyes rolled into the back of his head.

  “Good, right?” Lucy said.

  “Amazing,” Donny said with a thumbs-up.

  Lucy sensed Dr. Beck’s story would have to be a big one. There were so many things left unanswered. She wasn’t sure Donny would accept anything less.

  5.

  JAMIE COULD have done without the nightmares. Images of distended alien bodyparts shedding human skin, revealing a creature with multiple sinister black eyes and two powerful front claws bearing serrated needles plunging into his father’s body over and over again, threatening to tear him apart. A great roar erupted from his father’s throat. Fear, pain. Anger. Disappointment that his sons hadn’t saved him. For that reason, it was the worst sound his father had made.

  The roaring morphed into raging, angry snarls from the engines of the Reaver clan that descended from the valley, without mercy. Trapped between the Bug and the Reavers, the innocent commune children were blown and torn to pieces.

  Lucy screamed as the bullets slammed into her body. The whole world groaned as if it sensed a touch of destiny in her passing. A line of possibility that had been snuffed out far too early. He looked into Lucy’s dying eyes. They stretched their fingertips toward one another. Before they touched, Lucy’s head exploded as it was pumped full of bullets.

  She had been something else. Human, and not human at the same time. Something both more powerful, and yet weaker in the same breath. At her passing, great machines the size of entire cities descended from space and plunged into the Earth, spinning the soil, harvesting the Earth of its valuable resources, on a scale unknown even by the human race.

  Deep inside one of those powerful structures, within its dark bowels, were the Bugs. The giant bugs that could inhabit the skin of men. One screamed, turning to look at him. It held out its giant front claws and thrust them into Jamie’s soft belly.

  6.

  JAMIE SHOT up. Panting, sweating, exhausted. His bedspread soaked with his own bodily excretions. He ran a hand over his stomach, certain he should have felt something there. There was nothing. He ran his fingers through his hair. It was a dream. Just a dream.

  Jamie leaned back on his pillow and took a deep breath. Put a hand to his damp forehead.

  “Are you all right?” Fatty said.

  He was standing at the foot of Jamie’s bed, an obvious look of concern on his rolly polly face.

  “I’m all right,” Jamie said.

  He didn’t move. He still wasn’t stable.

  “You were screaming,” Fatty said. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I said so, didn’t I?” Jamie snapped.

  Despite the insults Fatty had received over the years, he still got hurt by sharp words from his best friend.

  “Sorry,” Fatty said.

  “No,” Jamie said, leaning on his elbow. “I’m the one who’s sorry. You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s been a stressful few days. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”

  “You don’t need to apologize,” Fatty said. “I was there too.”

  It was only then Jamie noticed his situation. He was in bed, a blanket drawn over him, former soiled clothes removed. New clothes sat on the end of the bed.

  “You helped me to bed?” Jamie said.

  “No,” Fatty said. “It must have been Lucy. She helped me too.”

  “You fell asleep without changing?” Jamie said.

  “No,” Fatty said, eyes moving to the side. “I ate a bit too much last night and made myself sick. Think of that. I ate too much! I passed out in the bathroom. Lucy helped me to bed.”

  “Is Dad awake yet?” Jamie said.

  “I don’t think so,” Fatty said. “ Donny would have told us.”

  Jamie reached for his clothes.

  “I should go check on them,” he said. “I was supposed to take Donny some food last night.”

  “Lucy did it,” Fatty said.

  “Lucy,” Jamie said, shaking his head. “The girl we were meant to take care of ends up being the one who takes care of us.”

  He pulled the T-shirt on over his head and glanced at the empty, apparently unused, bed beside his own.

  “She didn’t sleep last night?” he said.

  “I don’t know,” Fatty said. “She might have slept after I went to sleep, then got up first too.”

  “What time is it?” Jamie said.

  “10am,” Fatty said.

  Jamie shook his head. In the commune, he’d normally have completed his morning chores already by now. Now, he’d only just woken up. What a waste of time. His thoughts snagged on the commune. His home.

  The Reaver clan had been coming through the valley, stumbling upon their nightmarish scene of destruction. Jamie wondered what they would have made of it. Had they returned to the commune? Or would they get as far from that place as possible? The sight of the bug’s body alone would have sent most men packing. But the Reavers weren’t most men.r />
  Seeing something like that tended to change things. Things could never be the same again. What did it even mean? His head was still a little fuzzy, finding it hard to focus. He’d think about it later.

  “Are you hungry?” Fatty said. “There’s still plenty of food. And no flies. I’d love to find out how they keep them away like that. Sure helps to make the food last longer when there aren’t tons of bugs crawling over it.”

  “What’s good?” Jamie said, slipping on a fresh pair of socks.

  New socks. They felt so soft, not harsh against his skin like the commune clothing. He liked the feel of it. He’d never worn brand new clothes before.

  “Everything’s good,” Fatty said.

  “Do me a favour and load up a couple rounds of bread with whatever you think is best,” Jamie said.

  “That’s a real challenge,” Fatty said. “Are you sure you don’t want to try everything yourself?”

  “I want to check on Dad,” Jamie said.

  “All right,” Fatty said, rolling up his sleeves and picking up four rounds of bread—two different types!—and began adding ingredients to them, putting the flavours together in his mind before fully committing himself to his final decision.

  Jamie picked up his new shoes. Sneakers. Clean, without a single smudge on them. That wouldn’t last long, he thought. He was shocked by their weight, or rather, lack thereof. They could have been made from air. He shook his head, thinking of the things he used to put on his feet. Handmade items from Guinevere. She always complained about not having the fabric and tools she needed. Jamie hadn’t understood what she’d been complaining about. Now he did. They pinched and broke his skin, had no airflow, and gave him terrible blisters whenever he walked for more than an hour. These new foot coverings were unlike anything he had ever seen before. His feet sighed when they slipped into them. Wow.

  “Done yet?” Jamie said.

  “Just about,” Fatty said. “I’m not sure I got the mixture completely right. It’s the best I can do right now.”

  “I’m sure it’s awesome,” Jamie said.

  He scooped up the sandwiches and headed for the door. He took one bite and stumbled, bracing himself on the doorframe. The flavours were a party in his mouth. Just a day ago he’d lamented how good Fatty’s stew was. That was a muddy puddle compared to this.

  “What is it?” Jamie said. “You should have a name for it.”

  “I don’t know,” Fatty said. “It’s jelly and peanut butter.”

  “It’s the best thing I’ve ever had,” Jamie said.

  “Really?” Fatty said with a big grin. “I tried a bunch of combinations yesterday but not that one.”

  “You should,” Jamie said. “It’s amazing. You might be rediscovering long-forgotten recipes.”

  “Cool,” Fatty said. “Easy to rediscover when no one has had it in decades.”

  “Keep on doing it,” Jamie said. “Before long, you’ll turn me into a foodie like you.”

  He shook his head in disbelief as he headed down the corridor in the direction of the hospital wards.

  7.

  JAMIE FELT uncomfortable. He’d been too exhausted the day before to take in the world he suddenly found himself surrounded by. Layers of technology he couldn’t fathom.

  He munched on his sandwiches as he passed large wards on either side, individual beds in long rows. They bore archaic names Jamie could hardly understand.

  INTENSIVE CARE WARD

  BURN CENTRE

  CORONARY CARE UNIT

  EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

  PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

  Each world was more descriptive than the last. He enjoyed being in a new place without having to check over his shoulders every few seconds. It was the feeling of a free man, of a species that didn’t need to be constantly afraid for its own survival. It was the feeling only a species at the top of the food chain could enjoy. Never needing to look up.

  His father was connected to little white boxes that bleeped with sound and lines of light. If they kept his father alive after the injuries he’s sustained, all to the good.

  Donny sat beside the bed in exactly the same position as when Jamie had left the day before. Jamie was embarrassed. He’d let his brother sit there all night by himself while he lay fast asleep in bed.

  “I brought breakfast,” Jamie said, handing over the second sandwich Fatty had made for him.

  “Thanks,” Donny said.

  “How’s he doing?” Jamie said, pulling another chair over.

  “About the same,” Donny said. “So far as I can tell, anyway.”

  “You want to get some sleep?” Jamie said. “I can take over.”

  “No,” Donny said. “I slept earlier.”

  That made Jamie feel a little better, at least.

  “Lucy watched over him while I caught forty winks,” Donny said.

  It was only then that Jamie noticed the small lump beneath the worn throw blanket on the short sofa. Lucy. Fast asleep.

  “It should have been me,” Jamie said. “Sorry.”

  Donny waved his hand.

  “It doesn’t matter,” he said, biting into his sandwich.

  He paused a moment to savour the flavour. He’d never been much into food either.

  “Good, right?” Jamie said.

  “I’ll say,” Donny said. “What is it?”

  “Fatty can explain the intricacies of the flavours and why it works later, I’m sure,” Jamie said.

  “Forget it then,” Donny said. “Life’s too short.”

  Jamie smiled. Donny smiled back.

  “So, how are we looking this morning?” Dr. Beck said as he entered the room carrying a cup of strong coffee.

  “Fine I think,” Donny said.

  “Any change during the night?” Dr. Beck said.

  “Not so far as I can tell,” Donny said.

  “You would have notified me if something was up, I’m sure,” Dr. Beck said.

  He moved to the machines and checked the readings. No doubt he could understand them in a way none of the others had any concept of.

  “Medicine wasn’t my major, but I have to say, I think I did a pretty good job,” Dr. Beck said.

  “He’ll get better?” Jamie said.

  “He’s doing fine,” Dr. Beck said. “He’s much stronger this morning than he was last night after surgery. The first night is always the decider.”

  Donny grinned and looked at his father with admiration.

  “He’s a fighter all right,” he said.

  “He must be,” Dr. Beck said. “Boys, can I ask you something? There’s something I noticed while I was performing the surgery. His wounds weren’t created by knives, were they? My guess would be some kind of twin cylinders, sharpened to points.”

  “Right,” Jamie said.

  He shared a look with Donny. Neither wanted to divulge too much information. The truth sounded crazy.

  “You don’t need to be shy,” Dr. Beck said. “I know it was an alien. A Bug. A big one.”

  Jamie blinked. Shocked the doctor knew about them.

  “How did you know that?” he said.

  “That is the question, isn’t it?” Dr. Beck said with a wink. “The answer is a rather lame one, I’m afraid. I know about them because I’ve seen them before. We all have. You have too, I’d wager. Not that you would know it. They have the ability to inhabit human bodies, our skin, wearing us like a disguise. They’ve been among us for decades. At least.”

  “You knew this, but didn’t tell anyone?” Jamie said.

  “We didn’t know about them until after the Fall,” Dr. Beck said. “Evidence of their existence only became obvious with hindsight. Tell me, if you and your commune had known about them, what would you have done? You’d have been suspicious of everyone you didn’t know intimately. Perhaps not even then. Existence would have become even more difficult than it is now.”

  “Does the fact it was a Bug change anything about our father’s condition?” Donny s
aid.

  “Yes,” Dr. Beck said. “I’m afraid it does. It makes things a whole lot more complicated. We’ve never had a Bug on hand to study before. Their bodies disintegrate at an alarming rate once they die. I must say, it’s something of a relief I don’t have to convince you the Bugs are a real force out there. One we will have to deal with one day. It turns out the Bug you met forced some kind of excretion into your father’s body.”

  Jamie’s mouth was dry. Donny didn’t move a muscle. Prepared for the worst.

  “What will it do to him?” Jamie said, voice a croak.

  “I removed the majority of it from his gut,” Dr. Beck said. “But not all. Too much had been pumped into him. There was nothing I could do with that which had already entered his system.”

  Jamie looked down at their father. He still looked like the man that had raised them. He wondered what would happen to him after the poison had fully infected his body.

  “I’m afraid I don’t know the poison’s full effect,” Dr. Beck said. “The bugs are violent, aggressive, and not to be trifled with. All we can do is keep an eye on him. Run tests and watch for any ill effects. Perhaps nothing will happen. Or it might be something more sinister. He cannot leave the City until we understand what’s happening to him.”

  “He’s a good man,” Donny said. “He would never harm anyone.”

  “I believe you,” Dr. Beck said. “I’m sure he’s a great man. He raised two exceptionally good sons. That speaks volumes about him. The point I’m trying to make is, your father might not be himself after the poison is done with him. The last thing the human race needs is another outbreak. We must deal with Rages and Reavers already. Your father is still alive and that’s a good start. Until then, we have other issues to discuss.”

  He turned to look at the sleeping form beneath the throw on the short sofabed. Lucy.

  “Things are afoot,” Dr. Beck said. “Things you need to be aware of. You need to understand the game you’re playing, the game none of you chose to be a part of, but have been placed here in any case. The game after the Fall.”