The Collection (24 page)

Chapter 55

POLLUTION PLAGUES MOST OF THE WORLD; AMERICA VOTED GREENEST COUNTRY ON THE PLANET

—
American Gazette

Dinner made Andrew feel like an animal. All of the people of Affinity kept glancing over at their table. Neither Mia nor Carter seemed to mind. Zack and Sarah were nice enough, but Andrew wished he could be alone with Mia and Carter. They needed to discuss Rex and their future plans. Andrew wasn't sure joining another army was the right idea and Affinity seemed like a well-oiled machine.

“You seem nervous,” Mia said.

“Stomach is upset,” Andrew lied.

All day he'd been having flashbacks to his time in the militia. He kept reaching out to touch Mia, to make sure she wasn't a figment of his imagination. Then he thought about her auction and his anger would flare. It was turning into a cycle. He vowed that she would never come to any harm again.

“Excuse me,” Zack said. He stood up from their table and went to the front of the mess hall.

“We are still missing a person,” Zack said. “But let's take the time to welcome three people who traveled very far to join us this evening. I'm sure you have seen them around, but please let me introduce Mia, Carter, and Andrew.”

Zack held his hand out toward them. The whole room erupted in applause. Andrew felt a chill run up his spine. They were loud and their claps echoed off the ceiling. The lights started to get bright and Andrew had to close his eyes. The applause started to morph. It was the strange noise and it was deafening.

“
Why won't you break?” the sergeant yelled.

Andrew didn't respond. He was having a hard time keeping his eyes open but wouldn't fall to the floor like his body was demanding of him. Not in front of this man.

“Do you want this to stop?” the sergeant yelled.

Andrew's knuckles were turning white. He raised his arm back and charged at the sergeant, but his fist never made contact. Two guards rushed over and held Andrew down to the ground. He struggled against them, but he was too weak. Then the doctor was leaning next to him.

“This will knock him out,” he said. “Leave some bread in here, he'll eat it when he wakes up.”

Andrew tried hard to kick and pull his arm away from the syringe. It did no good. As soon as the solution was inside his body he went limp on the floor. He felt his body shake before losing consciousness.

“Andrew,” Mia said. Her hands were on his arm, shaking him.

He blinked several times, unsure of his surroundings. The applause was gone; nobody was paying any attention to them. People were filing out of the hall.

“You don't look well,” Mia said.

“I'm fine,” Andrew said.

“Tell me what's wrong,” Mia said. “You had the same look earlier today.”

Earlier he had flashed back to his training in the militia. Mia was talking to him then, and he'd seen her face vanish; she turned into the general, describing Andrew's new life. A feeling of dread came over him. If he didn't learn how to control his memories, he could hurt someone.

“I need some fresh air,” Andrew said.

“I'll come with you,” Mia said.

“Stay,” Andrew said. “I'll be back soon. I need some alone time. I'm all right, I promise.”

Mia looked hurt, but Andrew didn't want her to know how weak he was feeling. He thought about Dr. Drum's offer to help. It had seemed absurd earlier, but now all Andrew could think about was getting back to the infirmary.

Chapter 56

The most severe punishment Affinity will deliver is exile from the community. This may only be issued under extreme circumstances.

—Internal memorandum from Affinity

“Where's he going?” Zack asked.

“He's been through a lot,” Mia said. “He needs some time to himself.” She wasn't sure if she was trying to convince Zack or herself.

“I think I could use some of that too,” Carter said.

He pushed himself up from the table and started for the door.

“Wait,” Mia said.

She had let Andrew storm off because she didn't think she could help him, but maybe Carter could.

“Will you try talking with him?” Mia asked. “I mean, the two of you went through something together. Maybe he needs someone to talk with. I don't have a clue what you guys went through or how you're feeling.”

“You're right,” Carter said. “You don't.”

He shook his head and turned around, leaving a stunned Mia standing alone.

“Men,” Sarah said. “They think we're the fragile ones.”

“Something is off about the two of them,” Mia said.

“Well they were held hostage and tortured,” Sarah said.

“It's something else,” Mia said. “Like they're bothered by different things.”

“Let them blow off some steam,” Sarah said. “We have something fun planned for
you
now anyway.”

Mia spun around to face Sarah. Zack stood up from the table and walked over to the girls.

“I thought you might want to take us for a drive,” Zack said.

“Really?” Mia asked. “Isn't it getting late?”

“Not far,” Zack said. “We have a couple hours of sunlight left. I want to see your accident site anyway. Rex said he left his truck there and maybe some supplies we can use.”

Mia was worried about Carter and Andrew, but they were safe here and she didn't think either would try to leave. She did want to get behind the wheel again. The smile she was holding in came to her face and she nodded her head.

 

Z
ack had a vehicle ready down by the entrance to the camp. They stopped by the welcome building first and he went inside.

“Do you drive?” Mia asked.

“No,” Sarah said. “Never felt the urge to learn. I'm sure I could figure it out though.”

“It's not too hard,” Mia said.

Zack came back from the building. He wore a holster over his arm with a handgun tucked inside. He tossed Sarah a matching belt.

“Sorry,” Zack said. “You don't get one tonight.”

“I don't want one,” Mia said. Her experience with guns wasn't pleasant. “Why do we need those anyway?”

“Protocol,” Zack said. “We always leave the camp armed.”

“Do you think someone is going to attack you?” Mia asked.

“Guatemala is a pretty civilized country,” Zack said. “But there aren't really laws or law enforcement here. We've run into trouble with people trying to rob us before. Think of it more as a formality.”

“Just don't shoot me,” Mia said.

“All members are trained in arms,” Sarah said. “There's a shooting range on the other side of the camp. It can be pretty fun, letting off some steam.”

“Have you ever shot anyone before?” Mia asked.

Sarah laughed and shook her head. Mia bet that if she had, her attitude about guns would be a bit different. Sarah went into the backseat and Zack jumped in the passenger side. Mia climbed in the driver's seat.

“Show us what you got,” Zack said.

“It's not fingerprint coded?” Mia asked.

Zack shook his head.

“Too many people here,” he said. “Any finger will start it. That's why someone always waits by the car when we take them out—no solo trips.”

Mia pressed her finger down and the engine came to life. It was a quiet hum.

“Is there backup fuel in here?” Mia asked.

“Don't need it,” Zack said. “This is the wave of the future. Totally electric cars. This guy can run for five hours before the battery dies out, and we have a battery pack in the back to give it a recharge.”

Mia hit the buttons and they started down the drive.

“I'm surprised you know about that,” Zack said. “In America the cars are strictly gas.”

“Why is that?” Mia asked.

“America still has access to oil,” Zack said. “They're the number one oil-producing country in the world. The electric vehicle is one of the few inventions that didn't come out of America. They have no need for them there.”

“Before the Great War almost all cars were gas,” Sarah said. “Most of the oil came from the Middle East.”

Middle East. That rang a bell. Mia remembered seeing a headline on the Internet about America brokering peace there.

“Did the Middle East run out of oil?” Mia asked.

Zack and Sarah were quiet.

“I'm sure it's still there,” Sarah said. “But not worth the risk of trying to recover it. Heavy radiation out there.”

“What do you mean?” Mia asked.

“That's ground zero for the Great War,” Sarah said. “It was actually over oil.”

“But I read America brought peace there,” Mia said.

“Don't believe anything you ever read in America,” Zack said. “The Middle East is a barren wasteland. After the war the radiation went south, taking out Africa, which was pretty destroyed from the war too.”

“Is that what happened to the rest of the regions?” Mia asked. “The ones the kids were talking about today?”

“With the exception of Antarctica,” Sarah said.

“What started the war? Which countries? Over oil?” Mia asked.

“Let's focus on your driving,” Zack said. “You have the rest of your life to learn world history.”

Mia realized she was driving slowly. Being behind the wheel did bring a level of comfort. She pressed her foot down on the accelerator and felt her ponytail fly behind her in the wind. The simple act gave her some peace of mind as she drove them back down the mountain.

Chapter 57

We should never be afraid of foreigners; they should be afraid of us.

—
American Gazette

It took longer for Andrew to walk back to the infirmary than he thought it would. He spent the time rehearsing what he was going to say to Dr. Drum. Now that he had made it here, he forgot everything he'd planned. Andrew swung the front door open and was surprised to see Dr. Drum sitting on a couch in the front room and Rex sitting next to her. Both of them stood up.

“Andrew,” she said. “You're back. Do you feel all right?”

“Are you two alone here?” Andrew asked.

“I sent the technicians back to the group,” Katie said. “I thought I would keep Rex company.”

Andrew didn't like that. He was giving Rex some freedom, but leaving him alone with the doctor wasn't on his list.

“You shouldn't be alone with her,” Andrew said.

“It's better that I let her stay by herself in an empty building away from everyone else?” Rex asked.

“Wow,” Katie said. “You two have some strange ideas. I might be female, but remember, we're not in America. I'm capable of anything either of you are. I don't need someone to tell me what I can and cannot do.”

Rex's face did not relax. Andrew kept his eyes glued to the large man.

“Is that what you came all the way out here for?” Katie asked. “To check on me?”

“No,” Andrew said. “Can we talk in private?”

“I was going up to my room anyway,” Rex said. “I never went to sleep today and I could really use some. Good night, Katie.”

Andrew cringed at the way he said her name. He couldn't lose focus though. He did have a reason for coming here tonight.

“Please,” Katie said. “Sit down.”

Andrew walked over to the couch and had a seat.

“I want you to give me something,” Andrew said. “I was thinking . . . if drugs did this to me, maybe there's something that can fix me. Reverse everything that happened.”

“Back up,” Katie said. “What makes you think you need fixing?”

“I've been having flashbacks,” Andrew said. “To my time with the militia.”

“What are you remembering?”

“They played noise, loud,” Andrew said. “Then they would check on me and inject me with medications, leave me a small piece of food for when I woke up, but I was always hungry. It felt like I never slept.”

“Sleep and food deprivation, manipulation of your senses,” Katie said. “I have to say it's a good sign this is coming back to you.”

“No,” Andrew said. “It's not. I feel like I'm slipping into another reality when it happens.”

“I was concerned you weren't going to be able to form new long-term memories,” Katie said. “This is positive. If your old ones are coming back, that means your new ones aren't in jeopardy.”

“Can't you give me something to speed this up?” Andrew said.

“It's a natural process,” Katie said.

“I don't want to hurt anyone,” Andrew said.

“What makes you think you will?”

“Just a feeling,” Andrew said. “I go back to that spot. I react like I wanted to then. If I'm alone with the wrong person I might attack . . .”

“The odds of that happening are slim to none.”

“But they still exist,” Andrew said. “Please, you must be able to give me something.”

“I want to tell you a story first,” she said.

Andrew was willing to listen to anything if she made the flashbacks stop.

“During the Great War, a lot of people lost their lives. North America was the only continent that didn't see battles,” Katie said. “A lot of Americans died fighting, but the ones who made it home returned to a horrible surprise.”

“What?” Andrew asked.

“The same thing they saw overseas,” Katie said. “Death and destruction. The world was in ruins, so nobody paid much attention. They had their own countries to fix. Rumors fly around about what happened.”

“So nobody knows?” Andrew asked.

“I didn't say that,” she said. “America was on the forefront of modern technology. They always have been; the refrigerator was an American invention, along with countless others. The brilliant minds left at home during the war were trying to create a superweapon. Do you know what biological warfare is?”

Andrew shook his head.

“Countries used to think about releasing a disease on their enemies, one that had no cure and would take out the whole population.”

“So America released one at home by accident?” Andrew asked.

“Even way back then the world knew this was too dangerous,” she said. “What if it spread and took out the whole planet? But all is fair in war, so America was trying to prepare for an attack like that. You know how people receive vaccines? Shots you probably got when you were young and some boosters along the way?”

Andrew nodded.

“It was that,” she said. “A single dose of medicine that wards off fevers, infections, viruses, and bacteria. You can still get sick, but nothing like people in the past were scared of. Back then the flu could kill you.”

The flu. Andrew was familiar with that term. The government had found a cure. Now most diseases were hereditary and didn't strike until old age. If someone got an infection, all it took was some medicine to clear it up. Katie continued with the story.

“America developed a cure. One shot and biological warfare wouldn't be a threat. It passed with flying colors. They sent it out to everyone who was at home first, in case America was attacked. People were lining up at clinics everywhere. But the scientists were under such pressure to do this quickly that the drug wasn't well tested.

“Your leg got a scratch and the blood wouldn't clot because of a drug in your system,” Katie said. “Now it's a minor side effect, but before this medicine actually made blot clotting impossible. Anyone who had received a shot was in grave danger of bleeding to death even from minor injuries. There was no cure.”

“So what happened?” Andrew asked.

“People died,” Katie said. “Others went crazy with fear and locked themselves inside. Nobody wanted to have children because it meant a sure death for the mother. There was a fear the population would disappear. America would be no more.”

“How did they stop it?” Andrew asked.

“They didn't,” Katie said. “All those affected were gone and it wasn't communicable.

“The reason I wanted to tell you this story is because sometimes a quick fix isn't the best answer,” Katie said. “If you want help getting through this, drugs aren't a solution.”

“What is?” Andrew asked.

“Talking,” Katie said. “You can come see me and we can work through your memories together.”

“Why isn't this happening to Carter?” Andrew asked.

“Maybe it is,” she said. “Did you try asking him?”

Andrew shook his head.

“People react to trauma in different ways,” Katie said. “But talking it through always helps. We can start tonight if you want.”

It was hard for Andrew to admit he wanted the doctor's help, but that concern wasn't as large as his fear that he risked hurting Mia. He nodded his head.

“Tell me everything that you can remember,” she said. “Once you get to a point where your head starts to ache and the noise comes back, we will stop. I promise, nothing bad will happen to you here.”

Andrew took a deep breath before starting in on his story.