Chapter Eight
~/*\~ Cherry ~/*\~
There was the sound of horrible human screaming, coming from far away, as though she was moving down a long dark tunnel towards a torture chamber.
But the blackness in her vision was fading as she slowly came back to herself. She felt the heaviness in her limbs first, before pain settled in, and then she was moving, pushing weakly at some kind of smothering presence on her face. As she pushed at it, she came back to consciousness, and started figuring out where she was.
The riot was in full swing, with two crowds crushing at each other nearby. The mass of humanity closest to her was roaring in anger, trying to push forward against the line of soldiers.
The car they had been in was wrecked, and the airbag had plastered her against the passenger seat. She felt the blood trickling from her nose, and turned her head weakly to see Jamel was already awake, and wrestling with the driver’s side door, trying to get out. The ringing sound in her ears faded, and she realized he’d been shouting her name for several minutes now.
The riot was in full force. The staccato sounds of gunfire rang out at regular intervals, along with the occasional boom of something explosive. If it was something the rioters were throwing at the lawmen, or something the lawmen were shooting back; Cherry couldn’t tell.
Jamel was pushing madly against the door, and from where she sat, she could see the metal had twisted enough that it wouldn’t swing open. She tried for her own door, and it didn’t move either. “We gotta get-(Cough) gotta (cough cough!)-”
There was a haze in the air, and she felt her throat burning.
Gas! They’re using tear gas on the rioters!
The car door beside her suddenly fell off its hinges. It had been immobilised a moment ago, and suddenly it was flat on the ground. Cherry fell out of the car, and felt a hand go around her arm. “This way!” The voice said, clearly audible.
Eyes shut from the gas, unable to breathe, or think; she wasn’t sure how she was moving, but she was. The grip led her directly, without so much as bothering to pause. There was no evasion, no halting steps. She had no idea who was leading her, but whoever it was had their own personal highway through the pandemonium.
After several steps, she felt the air change around her, and a staircase leading down. She had no coordination at all, but her mysterious guide nearly carried her down the steps, sure-footed. There was the sound of a slamming door, and suddenly the noise of the riot was far away.
Blinded from the gas, tears and mucus and spit covering her face, she felt sick to her stomach. A hand put a cold bottle in her hands. “Drink.” The voice said gently, soothing her as something brushed at her face. “You’ll be safe here until the danger passes.”
“Wh-’here’s (cough!)-” She clutched at the water, gulping it down quickly, trying to clear her throat.
“Jamel is here too. He’s safe, just as you are.” The voice assured them. “Rest now.”
And for some reason, though still blinded, and gasping for air, Cherry felt safer than she had in years.
~/*\~ Iyara ~/*\~
It took them hours to get access to their father. He wasn’t at the farms, or stopped at the Gates. Rahab had figured it out first. They had been taken prisoner.
“There’s a lot of it going on.” Rahab confided to Iyara as they pushed their way through the crowd. “The Guards are grabbing anyone for anything, and the King’s Guard gives them a choice: Getting punished, or joining the City Militia. They grab any able-bodied man they can get.”
“Then it’s going to be hard to get them back.” Iyara commented grimly. “I mean, you didn’t call us here to help defend the City, did you?”
Rahab was about to respond when the crowd shifted and they finally got through to the Guard House. It was as much a scramble there as anywhere else. People who had discovered there was no chance at escape had done the next best thing, and come for weapons. The Guards were handing them out willingly, but there were only so many swords to go around.
Rahab pushed her way into the Guard House, and found her father and brother, locked up in a crowded cell. They both jumped up to talk, but they could only come as far as the prison bars. Iyara got to their father first. “What happened?”
“As soon as we arrived in the market, two guards dragged us this way.” Bodhir explained quickly. “We were drafted into service for the defence of the City.”
“But when we were halfway between the market and here, Isidro came up to the guards and told them that we were working for the Invaders.” Arjun put in. “I can’t believe it. He’s been my business partner in Jericho for years. Why would he turn on us now?”
Iyara and Rahab traded a bleak look. Without a word being exchanged, Rahab went in search of someone with enough authority to let her family out of prison. Iyara went looking for Isidro, doing a slow boil.
~/*\~
Iyara found him at his tavern. Even with the City in chaos, there were some responding to the situation by drinking heavily. Iyara went to the counter, and called for Isidro to show himself.
The old man came out, harried by the demands for more drink; but he still froze in his tracks when he saw Iyara. “What are you doing here?” He demanded.
“Looking for a safe place.” Iyara scoffed. “The Jordan did nothing to hold back an invasion.” Her face hardened. “You named my father and brother as traitors to a City we’d barely arrived in. What did they ever do to you?” She swallowed a scream of rage. “What did I ever do to you?”
Isidro met her gaze head on, with something akin to hatred. “Yes, I was the one that pointed the Guards to Rahab.” He spat, and he sounded proud of it. “I knew you had taken the Invader’s spies there. I knew you weren’t aware of where they came from. But when they got there, Rahab was alone in her Inn. Where did they go? Where did you go? Remember, I have a full view of the stairs from my tavern.”
He isn’t wrong. Rahab made a deal with our invaders. A thought nagged at her, but she pushed it away. “And on that, you decided to have my father arrested?” Iyara demanded. “My father’s been your business partner for longer than I’ve been alive!”
Isidro glared at her harder. “I was barely ten years old when the Hebrews walked out of Egypt. I woke up in the middle of the night, and my sister was already turning cold beside me in the bed we shared. No wound, no illness. Every family lost their firstborn. And that was after nine more Plagues. People were ready to eat each other. There were no friends left. No gods, no family, no rule worth a thing. We were all dead men.” He gestured out at his customers. “They know it. If Rahab made a deal to save herself, then she can’t take her family with her. None of us ever could.”
Despite herself, Iyara looked out over the tavern. It was no secret what had happened in Egypt a generation before. Jehovah was something of a ghost story, used to frighten the children into behaving whenever the Hebrew Camp came closer to the River. Now the whole City, perhaps the whole nation was gripped with the terror that children had for the dark.
“...help me understand one thing.” She said finally. “If you think Rahab found a way to save herself, by agreeing to serve Jehovah when they come here?” She searched for the right way to put it. “Why didn’t you try for that deal? They were in your Tavern before I led them to our Inn.”
“I didn’t realize until after they spoke to you.” Isidro admitted. “It had been decades since I heard their language spoken.” He shook his head. “Worship Jehovah? He’d smite me just for asking. I’m Egyptian. We aren’t welcome in His house. Tent. Whatever.”
“And what about me?” Iyara asked. “Are you going to kill me now? If you think Rahab made a deal to save herself, then what about me?”
The second she said it, she wished she hadn’t. He could easily do exactly that. With all the chaos in Jericho, he might even get away with it. Looking at him now, she could tell he was thinking about it. She suddenly remembered that she was in his place, with no one to look out for her.
Isidro glared at her, before his eyes went dull. “You are… so young.” He sighed, almost in mourning. “Almost the same age as my grandchild. But that won’t save you. When Jehovah was done with Egypt, He turned His hunger on Israel next. A whole generation, left in the desert. And now they’ve come here. And they’ve brought their death god with them. We’re all going to die.”
The thought floored her. “You’re so sure of that?”
“The Gods of Egypt made us the mightiest nation on Earth. Armies, economies, Kings… All bowed before us.” Isidro nodded. “Jehovah went through all our gods like they weren’t even there.”
He’s lost hope. Iyara thought. The thought came to her, and it sounded almost like Rahab’s voice. Everyone needs something different. Sometimes they need it so badly, they’ll pay a stranger to pretend they’re offering it for a few hours.
She swiftly understood. Isidro turned on his old friends, because he needed to feel like he could do something, so he lashed out. Does everyone in Jericho feel that way?
At that moment, Tawnya came in, with half a dozen other Priestesses coming in beside her. They were half-carrying her. “Get her a drink, Isidro! Something strong.”
Isidro started pouring immediately, as Tawnya slumped into a chair. The other girls surrounded her immediately, making crooning sounds of support and approval.
Iyara wandered over to join them. She would later think that it was a strange thing for her to do. But after realizing that Isidro, a lifelong friend of her father, had reacted to the loss of all hope by turning on them; she seemed to gravitate naturally towards the Molech worshippers, looking to see what they were feeling. “Bad day?” She said sympathetically. “I’m surprised. I would think that the Temples would be filled with devotees right now; preparing for the fight.”
The Priestesses turned as one to look at her. All of them wore expressions of disbelief and rage. Tawnya stared at Iyara blankly, like she didn’t even understand what she was looking at.
They came to such a sudden silence, that Iyara knew that she’d just done something wildly offensive. “What? What have I said?”
Tawnya stood up slowly, stepped out of her protective group of friends… before she hauled off and punched Iyara hard enough to send her crashing to the floor.
Isidro’s wife appeared from a back room at the commotion, and stepped into the fight. “Alright, enough of that. If this place gets shut down, we may never reopen with everything else going on. You can drink, or you brawl; but you can’t do both in here.”
Iyara, seeing stars, fought to sit up. “I… I don’t know what I did.”
“Get. Out.” Tawnya seethed at her, full of fury. Tears were rushing down her face like rivers. “OUT!”
Iyara was running before she even straightened up. Isidro didn’t try to stop her. Once she was outside, her main feeling was relief. She’d been getting in over her head since the moment she left Rahab’s side.
~/*\~
Iyara found Rahab on the stairs up to the wall. She had Bodhir and their father with her. The men looked humiliated. Rahab looked resigned.
“You got them out!” Iyara said suddenly, thrilled. “How did you do it?”
“One or two of the guards are still hoping to get out of the City before battle is joined.” Rahab said darkly. “Even with all of them keeping watch on each other, a few have decided to play along until they can make a run for it. If Jericho falls, they’ll need resources.”
“You bribed a guard.” Iyara summed up.
“I ‘made a contribution to the defence of the City’.” Rahab said archly. “It cost me everything I had. Every coin I saved in my life.” She got a closer look at Iyara as they passed by a torch, and turned the younger woman’s face to the light. “What happened there?” She asked, seeing the swelling bruise already forming up the side of her sister’s face.
“I’m not entirely sure.” Iyara admitted. “I must have said something wrong to Tawnya. I ran into a group of Priestesses, including her; and I commented that the Temple must be busy with worshippers; given all the appeals that will be made to the gods this week.”
Rahab winced hard. “Oh. Bad.”
“Obviously.” Iyara agreed, gesturing at her face. “But why?”
“Molech worshippers practice child sacrifice for ‘special occasions’.” Rahab spelled it out for her. “Where do you think they get children for that? From their ‘generous donors’? Why risk upsetting the wealthy, when you have the ‘truest believers’ working the Temple, and attending every orgy?”
Iyara blinked like a stunned owl. “You mean… Arria?” The little girl who had begged for honey cakes filled her mind for half a second, and she felt her knees shake at the implication. “Her own baby?”
“The Priest would tell her that the gods demanded it, and were pleased with her act of devotion.” Rahab said tightly, leading the way back to her Inn.
~/*\~
As they reached the door, Vihaan looked out the upstairs window, and waved; hurrying inside to open the door for them. The four of them had a quick reunion, overjoyed to see each other. As the world flew apart, the family was coming together in one place, for the first time in years.
“As grateful as I am, Rahab; we can’t stay for long.” Arjun said urgently once he’d released Vihaan from a tight hug. “The whole city is preparing for a siege. And that means we need to get some food stored up for the duration.”
“Somehow, father… I don’t think the siege will last as long as you think.” Rahab said grimly, and gestured to her kitchen. “But take a look.”
With a frown, Arjun went to the kitchen, and found huge sacks of grain and baskets of vegetables stacked on every surface. “Gods, Rahab. How much do your customers eat?”
“I started laying in provisions as soon as Israel showed up on the far side of the River.” Rahab said promptly. “For all the happy talk that our leaders made about how the Jordan River would hold them back; I had… other information. I knew people would be getting scared soon, and when that happens? Everyone starts hoarding. I decided not to wait for the rush. I’ve been able to avoid the chaos at the Market.”
“If we’d come straight here, so could we.” Iyara remarked, and immediately regretted it, eyes flicking to their father.
“Well. This is embarrassing.” Arjun said profoundly. “I’m trying to provide for my offspring, and see them through an imminent war, and it turns out my daughter has done the work for me.”
Knock knock. “Rahab, let me in!”
“Mother!” Iyara said with a rush of breath, and ran to the door, pulling the bar up and letting her in. “Where have you been?!” She almost yelled at her mother.
“In the Temple, praying for our safety, of course.” Sasah fussed, coming in with a large bundle hugged to her chest. “Someone has to do something practical for the good of our family. Since your father has insisted we all come running here with nothing but the clothes we were wearing, we had to leave the Icons behind too.” She walked into the middle of the room and began unpacking the bundle she carried. There were stone and clay statues of Baal and Molech. “Where shall we set the family shrine?”
Rahab opened the shutters on the window beside her, and came over to her mother. As soon as Sasah set the icons down, Rahab picked them up again, and swiftly threw them out her window. Somewhere outside the walls, they smashed on the ground below. Her mother yelled inarticulately in shock at the audacity.
For a split second, it looked like Sasah was about to strike Rahab, but Arjun got in the way. “Rahab.” He said, and the ring of authority reached everyone in the room. “I think it’s time you told us what’s going on.”
Rahab nodded and gestured for everyone to sit. “Iyara will have told you that the last time she was in Jericho, I had two guests. The two men were believed to be spies, making a study of Jericho for the invaders.” Rahab took a breath. “This belief was true. The two men were Hebrew.”
Iyara crumpled. “I brought them here. I was trying to earn a little business for the Inn. I’m sorry, sis.”
“It was a blessing in disguise, sister.” Rahab assured her. “In exchange for getting them out of the City without being caught, I put them under oath to their God that our family would be spared.”
Dead silence.
“You… decided this. Yourself.” Arjun said slowly. “On behalf of all of us. You spoke for the whole family, to the invaders.”
Rahab met his gaze, not confrontational, but not ashamed either. “I did.” She confirmed.
Vihaan and Iyara traded a glance, keeping their mouths shut. The father was usually the head of family decisions, but this family had been spread across three cities in Canaan. Rahab had called them together, and apparently negotiated for all of them without anyone else knowing it.
“I felt there was no alternative.” Rahab said seriously to her father. “The Hebrews tell me that they don’t expect to leave many survivors. I was able to gain sanctuary for us.”
“Under their leadership.” Arjun pointed out.
(Author’s Note: Rahab made a deal for her whole family, but her family is never mentioned. We don’t know their names, their ages, or anything about them. We don’t even know how many there were. If her father was there, he would surely be the one speaking for the family; but Rahab made the deal. I elected to take this route. The point of this series is to tell the stories of people who observed the events in Bible History. In this case, Rahab’s sister. The only thing we know of Rahab’s siblings from the Bible record, is that they existed. Everything else is my own invention.)
“You did this without consulting with us.” Sasah was horrified. “You swore allegiance to the God of our invaders, and put the whole family under oath to Him?”
“I put everyone in this house under oath.” Rahab clarified. “The two of them vowed by their lives, and their God, that if we stay in this house, we are to be spared.” She met her mother’s gaze head on. “If you want to put your trust in Molech, all you have to do is walk out that door.”
“Nobody’s leaving.” Arjun barked, sharply enough that everyone froze. “I was at the edge of the River. I saw the water stand up on end for them to walk across on dry land.” He looked hard at his wife. “The stories are true. The Plagues. The Miracles. All of it. I saw it.”
Sasah was looking shaken. “My love, we’ve always served Mol-”
“The Invaders have crossed the River.” Arjun said darkly. “We were lucky to get into Jericho before they shut the Gates to anyone coming this way. Whatever happens next, it’ll happen fast. Another day or two, and we’ll find out what Molech and Baal are worth.”
~/*\~
And for more than a week, nothing happened at all.
Israel didn’t leave the edge of the Jordan River. Jericho had been bristling with weapons, making their peace with the gods, saying goodbye to their loved ones… And then nothing happened. The invasion didn’t come.
There had been scouts doing recon on the Invaders. The Hebrew Camp was still, with very little movement or signs of an army forming ranks. In fact, a lot of their men were out of sight, remaining in their tents. Speculation on why was rampant and varied in Jericho.
Still they made no move towards counter-attack. None of the cities of Canaan wanted to make the first move. None of them wanted to risk it. For better or worse, the next move was up to the Invaders.
Everyone filled time in their own way. The Temples kept their services going. The market was shut down. People moved carefully between homes and buildings, keeping the streets clear for soldiers who patrolled endlessly.
Iyara and her family never left the Inn. With the Gates sealed, there was nobody coming in and out. A few men who knew Rahab well had come knocking, but when she called from her window that all the rooms were occupied, they moved on. There were other places they could call on.
On the fourth day, the King opened the Gates and ordered the workers to bring in more grain. Their siege hadn’t started yet, but they were living off their hoarded supplies; and didn’t want to be caught off guard.
The Watch went out to the fields, in case of encroachers. There was nobody. All the land of Canaan knew Jericho was surely their first target, fortified on the crossroads further into the land.
“But nobody’s sending reinforcements.” Arjun observed, looking out over the fields, away from the City walls. He hadn’t really left that spot in days, except to eat and sleep.
Rahab nodded, unsurprised. “Canaan isn’t exactly a united nation right now. Everyone’s waiting to see what happens next.”
Most of the family found ways to fill the days. Their mother fussed with the supplies that Rahab had kept ready, deciding what to make of them. Bodhir had taken the flax and reeds, and was working them into goods. It was his way, to work with his hands wherever possible. Iyara and Rahab had adopted each other again, talking in one of the upstairs bedrooms, where their parents couldn’t hear.
“You said that everyone in Canaan is waiting for Israel to make the next move.” Iyara said quietly to Rahab. “You aren’t. You made a deal already.”
Rahab nodded. “It’s not about Jericho. This city is my home, and I know practically everyone here. Some of them, better than others. Some of them, I know better than their own wives do.” She sighed hard. “I know what I’m asking for. I made a deal for us to survive when the whole nation falls; and everyone we’ve ever met is put to the sword.”
“Unless they lose.” Iyara put in. “At some point, we have to talk about that possibility.”
Rahab was about to answer, when there was a knock on her door. She went to her window and looked to see who it was, down at the front door. “We’re closed!”
It was Farzin. “I’m not here for that, Rahab.” He called up to her. “By order of the King, all able-bodied men must report for the defence of Jericho.”
Rahab scanned the area outside her home. No sign of anyone else. He came alone. “Wait right there.”
She came downstairs, let herself out the front door, and shut it behind her, putting herself in the doorway. “We don’t have any customers, or clients. It’s just my family here.” Rahab told him seriously.
“Rahab, you know I like you, but we’ve got multiple reports saying half a dozen people are here.” Farzin dropped his voice too.
“Me, my sister, my parents, and my brothers.” Rahab said succinctly. “My older brother is unsuitable for military service. His leg is lame.”
“We need everyone, Rahab.”
Rahab lowered her voice further. “You really think one man with no training is going to be the difference?”
“To the City? Probably not.” Farzin admitted. “To the man standing next to him on the wall? Maybe. Speaking as a man who’ll be standing on the wall…”
“Why did you really come here, Farzin?” She pushed past that. “It’s not official. If you were coming to drag my family members into the City Guard, you’d have at least one other soldier with you.”
Farzin sighed. “I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, but the Wall isn’t the safe place you think it is. Your house is set up here, and the Guards are discussing taking it over for the defence. A fortified spot on the Wall? With windows you can shoot from, room for barracks, a full-time watch?”
Rahab felt a thrill of horror go through her. “This is my home. And my place of business.”
“That’s what I’m saying, Rahab. It may not be either for long.” Farzin tried to smile for her. “If that happens, you and your sister would be welcome to stay with me.”
Rahab gave him a look. “Your mother agree with that?”
Farzin flushed, and Rahab knew she had cut him deep, bringing that up. Farzin was as proud as any young warrior, and the fact that he had to care for his widowed mother (famously a harsh, cruel woman) had made his attempts at marriage difficult. It was half the reason he knew Rahab so well. Her Inn was his hiding place.
Rahab was about to say something else, when a horn blew from one of the watchtowers. Another one answered it from the other direction, and Farzin immediately forgot all about Rahab, running to the edge of the wall. “They’re here!”
~/*\~ Cherry ~/*\~
Cherry had no idea how she’d fallen asleep, but she must have at least dozed; because she woke up with a start. “Jamel!”
“I’m here.” He said immediately, and she felt him clasp her hand in the dark. It was later in the evening now, and the place they found themselves had little in the way of windows or lighting. “The riot appears to have been dispersed. We should be safe for a while.”
Cherry took in a breath, and was amazed to find she could breathe clearly. “What happened? Who saved us?”
“I couldn’t see, because of the gas; but I think it was a kid.” Jamel said. “I only got a look at him for a moment. He didn’t stay. He left as soon as he was done washing my face with… I don’t know. Something.”
“Must have been something amazing.” Cherry murmured as her eyes adjusted to the dark, and she looked around. “Tear Gas isn’t meant to be… well, so easy to recover from. My throat doesn’t hurt. My eyes are clear…” She sniffed at her clothes. “We don’t even have the smell of it in our hair or clothing. That’s… kind of impossible.”
“While we’re on the subject of ‘impossible’, how did a kid even get us out of the car? I was fighting for my life with the door, and then it just… opened for me.”
“Me too.” Cherry said, reaching for his hand, and holding it tightly. She could feel Jamel’s hand trembling in her grip. She wondered if he was thinking the same miraculous possibilities that she was. Even with everything happening, it seemed too fantastic.
Why? She challenged herself. Because you believe in God’s judgement more than His protection, or because you don’t believe an Angel would show up for you?
Even so, she sent up a prayer of thanks for their deliverance from the Riots.
His trembling hand didn’t leave hers, and she could feel him move as he stood. She stood up with him. She felt healthy, strong enough to run. Another thing that shouldn’t have been possible so quickly after the car accident. “Where are we, anyway?”
“A basement-level space.” He reported. “Nobody’s been by. If it was that close to the fighting, you’d think someone else would have come in here, either to hide, or search for people in hiding.” He glanced at her. “The car is beyond wrecked, even if we could get back to it.”
She glanced around the basement. In the dark, she wasn’t sure what was in here, but it was clearly used for storage. “I don’t know if I want to stay here, given that… well…”
“Given that we’re waiting for the world to end, and we don’t know how long it’ll take?” He nodded. “Are we still trying to get to the Hall?”
She checked her watch. It was broken. “Its been too long. My father might have been waiting for me, but I doubt he’s still there. Gail will be there, though. Or at least, she would have tipped them off.”
“If riots like this one are popping up anywhere else, I think you’re a low priority.” Jamel told her. “Those weren’t local cops firing tear gas into the crowd. Those were Coalition troops.”
From somewhere in the distance, they heard more gunshots. Someone howled, barely audible. Both of them shuddered; feeling surrounded by enemies.
“Well, we can’t stay here, and I don’t know where else to go.” She admitted. “The others in the Congregation? I met them all at the Hall. I’ve been away long enough that I don’t know where any of them live now, other than my dad; and that’s too dangerous.”
Jamel pulled away from her enough to go to the door, and opened it just enough to peek outside. “Looks clear…” He called quietly. “I might know a place we can go. Somewhere not connected to you, or to Gail.”
~/*\~
The two of them crept out of the basement, back onto the street. There was debris, and bullet casings all over the place. One or two shapes that looked like bodies in the dark. The streetlights were all out too. There was a little movement, here and there, as other people came out of hiding spaces. Cherry felt someone watching her fearfully, and she quickly followed Jamel in the opposite direction. “Where are we going?”
“I have a… Well, a ‘friend’ isn’t really the word for it.” Jamel told her. “But he won’t turn us in. That much I can tell you for a fact.”
Cherry shuddered. She knew that to feed his addictions, Jamel had made some contact with criminals; though never violent ones. If he was taking her to them…
Then what? She challenged herself. You’re a criminal too. The Law of the Land says to sign the Renouncement, and you’re not going to. Jesus himself was executed by law for something similar.
She shook that off, and kept walking. With all the lights out, only the moon and stars were left, but Jamel’s hand was in hers, and she followed where he led. As her eyes adjusted further to the dark, she saw the damage the riot had done. There wasn’t a building on this street that wasn’t damaged, or a window that wasn’t smashed. She had no idea how two sides fighting each other could do this much collateral damage.
But deep down, she knew better. As her life had gotten desperate, trying to keep her head above water for years, she found herself fighting the urge to smash something, just because it was the only thing left in her power to do. She wondered if this damage had been done by the lawmen, or the rioters. Either way, this was a street she had travelled many times, and it suddenly felt like another world. Something evil had already taken control of this place.
She heard Jamel’s voice when he quietly broke the silence, and knew that he was feeling it too. “You think that’s what they meant, about how it was better to act ‘sooner than later’?” Jamel asked her quietly once they were away from the battlefield.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, Witnesses like your dad weren’t caught up in the riots. I haven’t really been following the news, but if it was over food, or money? The Witnesses would have prepared for that weeks ago.”
She nodded. “My father was keeping me supplied with food once the markets started getting dangerous.”
“People like me, who came in at the last minute… they wouldn’t have preparations like that.” Jamel offered. “Getting caught up in riots would be a real risk for them.”
“For us.” Cherry reminded him. “The only reason we were in that riot was because my Roommate was part of the Opposition. I had to run for my life. Another problem my father wouldn’t have.”
“Not an encouraging sign, is it?”
“For us, you mean?” She shook her head. “The fact that you drove up at exactly that moment to save me is another not-so-minor miracle. And if that kid who carried us to safety was another one, then we can be sure God still has our backs right now.”
He was about to answer, when he saw lights in the distance. “Hide!”
The two of them found a hiding place among the debris, and went still, like little mice trying to go unnoticed by predators. A Coalition van rolled past, lights flashing. It didn’t even slow down as it passed them. “We’re not really a priority to them, are we?”
“Hope not.”
~/*\~
“The National Guard could not be deployed, as full authority over it has been handed to the Coalition. They insist that the current disruption to regular food deliveries is a temporary problem; and their supply trucks will be rolling as soon as the streets can be secured. The Governor is asking all citizens to remain at home and keep the streets clear. Deliveries will be made, and citizens will be issued emergency supplies in the interim.”
~/*\~
“She never showed up. We agreed that if we were out of contact, we would meet at a spot near the Hall. She never came.” Eldon reported. “I can’t even call her. I had to ditch my phone, which means they’re actively looking for me, and for her.” He ran a hand through his hair, and for a moment almost seemed to be trying to pull it out. “I waited half the night, and then the Coalition vans started showing up. For all I know, they caught her, and made her confess our ‘rendezvous point’.”
“I’m sorry, brother. That’s rough.” Nate said with sympathy. “For what it’s worth: This isn’t like any other time of oppression. I’m hearing some stories about our people getting out of harm's way that are downright miraculous.”
“I’m hearing them too, which makes me wonder: Why is my daughter missing?" Eldon nearly growled. “Her return to the Truth is… new and fragile. Either God has decided not to save her, or He’s decided to do it without me. And I probably won’t know, until this is all over.”
Nate nodded, feeling useless. “As much as I’d like to let you deal with this in your own time…”
“No, I know. My house isn’t safe anymore.” Eldon nodded, getting back to work. “The brothers that were getting ready to ‘ride it out’ with me need to go elsewhere now.”
“My place is burned too.” Nate agreed. “I’m making a delivery run, to supply our brothers with food and medicine until this is over. You want to come with me? We can let others in your group know that the plan has to be changed.” He shrugged. “If nothing else, we can keep an eye out for her while we drive.”
~/*\~
Cherry found she was watching the street behind her. She had no idea if there were cameras in the street, recording her face right now. The Coalition had access to everything on the planet. Somehow, she knew Gail would keep looking. Having her roommate escape while at gunpoint was surely an embarrassment to her, and she was seeking advancement in the Coalition. But surely she was unimportant to the rest of the world? She always had been before. Would the world really make her a priority now?
She couldn’t see any cars with people in them, or any cameras scanning the street.
The street was suburban, but the lower end of it. The sort of place where people always kept their blinds shut, and their doors locked. Jamel led the way to an apartment complex. Four apartments in a building with a shared driveway. He knocked hard on the door nearest the road. There was no answer. Jamel was undeterred, as he knocked again. “Mikel! Open up, man. It’s me.”
The door opened as far as the chain, and a grungy, desperate looking teenager gazed back. “I got nothing left, man. It’s over.”
Jamel shook his head. “I’m not looking for stuff. I need to crash here for a bit. Me and my girlfriend.”
Their relationship was more complicated than that, but Cherry knew it was a safer story than the truth.
Mikel was unmoved. “What makes you think you can stay here? It’s over man. I got shut down weeks ago. The Law ain’t looking the other way anymore. Not on anything. Food costs more than I used to charge you. If I had the scratch, I would have gotten out of the city yesterday. The only reason we’re not homeless in here is because our own landlord got busted for watching a cop beat up some guy-”
“I’ll trade you.” Jamel interrupted. “Let us take the place until the law sorts that out, and I’ll give you enough to get out of town.”
Mikel swore at him, not buying it. “If you had that kind of money, you’d be gone by now.”
Jamel’s eyes flicked awkwardly to Cherry, then did a quick scan of the street behind them, before he leaned in closer to the door, and took a plastic packet out of his pocket, showing it discreetly to Mikel. “It’s good, man. You said food was worth more, but I’m betting you know where to find someone who’s getting desperate enough by now.”
“Yeah. You.” Mikel admitted, nonplussed. A moment later, the door shut, and they heard chains sliding around. The door opened again, and Mikel snatched the packet from Jamel. “Don’t mess up my stuff. Don’t answer the door. Lock up when you leave.” He said shortly. Though he couldn’t help the grin. “Usually, I’m selling this stuff to you. Funny how things work out, huh?”
“Hilarious.” Cherry said flatly, slipping past him, into the apartment. She caught a glimpse of Mikel grabbing a bicycle from the side of the house, and heading for the street. Jamel shut the door, and started turning multiple locks. “Just like that? You give him drugs, and he gives you his apartment?”
“Its not the first time he’s had to leave town for a while. Laying low at a moment’s notice is a basic survival skill.” Jamel explained. “He figures the food supply will be sorted in a week and the cops will notice him again. You and I figure it’ll go a differn-OOF!”
She shoved him into the wall, suddenly white-hot with rage. “You liar!” She snapped at him. “You said you were clean again! You said you were-”
“Well I am now. I gave him everything I had left.” Jamel defended, holding up his hands. She was still swinging her hands at him, not really attacking, but in no mood to calm down. “Babe, cut it out! It worked, didn’t it!?”
She finally got enough of a grip to shove him hard against the door again, eyes blazing. “Do you have any idea what I risked for you and Gail? I could be safe with my father right now, but I had to…” She suddenly felt the breath go out of her lungs, and she slumped, exhausted. “To what? Save you? Redeem you? God!”
His arms went around her then. She could feel his heartbeat racing. Was it adrenaline, or was he still high, even now? Emotion and adrenaline and anger all hit her at once, and she broke down sobbing, trying to pull away from him, but he wouldn’t let go.
“I was… rationing.” He said finally, once her sobs eased. “I really did try. I even turned him in. I told the Coalition where to find him, back when this started. I figured if my Dealer was gone, maybe I could finally stop.” He looked sick. “I tried. I really did. But I just wasn’t strong enough. It took me less than a day to find someone else to buy from. Mikel was ‘back to work’ a week later.” He took a breath. “When you came to me, and told me what was going on… I figured maybe I could try and at least avoid going cold turkey. I rationed it out, trying to keep myself on the edge of going crazy.” She finally pushed free of his arms, and he let her go, neither of them able to look the other in the eyes. “The whole world was crazier that I am at my worst, but I still wanted to… You’ve said it yourself: There’s no promise I can make that stands up when I’m feeling it.” He trailed off, looking at her with haunted eyes. “I’ve been a believer for a few weeks. How do I ask God to forgive me for a sin that controls me completely?”
Cherry started to answer, but froze. “I don’t know.” She admitted. “I really don’t know what to say. My father would say that ‘faith is stronger’, and God would give you the strength to resist, but even lifelong Witnesses fall off the wagon sometimes. I don’t know if the rules are different now, or if…” She spread her hands wide. “I just know that I feel like an idiot around you. Because when you got clean the first time, I was so proud of you I felt like I could fly, just being in your arms. And then it happened again. And again. And again.”
“I know.” Jamel sighed. “Believe me, there’s nobody who hates me more than I do.”
“I’m betting my life on the hope that God loves me more than everything I’ve done since leaving home.” Cherry told him. “I can’t exactly declare that you don’t get the same chance I’m asking for.” She rubbed her eyes. “And if I don’t forgive you completely, what does that mean for me?”
“Believe me, I know what a waste I am. Sometimes I wonder if that’s why they call it ‘getting wasted’.” Jamel admitted. “But… If I decide not to ask God for forgiveness, even now? What if He’d be willing to give it anyway? If I don’t ask… Doesn’t that take the choice away from Him?”
Cherry finally looked around the small dwelling. There was furniture, but it all looked like hand-me-downs and salvage. Nothing was new. Most things were stained. Everything reeked of cigarettes. “The most basic fact of being a Christian is that nobody’s got power over their sins. That was the whole point of Christ coming to Earth. Saying we ‘deserve’ salvation is wrong in itself. If we decide we deserve it less than anyone…” She rubbed her eyes, exhausted. “Why is it so hard to ask forgiveness of an all-powerful being, who’s defined by His efforts to forgive and love and cherish us all? Why’s it so easy to think that the things we’ve done wrong are too big for someone who’s bigger than the whole universe?”
“I don’t know.” Jamel sighed. “But the people who refuse to ask? The people who would rather blame, and rage at God; rather than let Him decide? Isn’t that why all of this is happening?”
Cherry sank into a chair. She felt the cushion beneath her sag dangerously. The chair was barely holding together. She didn’t care, her head already drooping. “I’m so tired.” She admitted helplessly. “We nap, and then we find my father. Or someone from the Congregation. Someone that’ll help us.”
She was asleep again before she heard his answer.
~/*\~
Gail swept the scene with her eyes, looking for a solution. The rest of the troops were shooting steadily, but the crowd wasn’t dispersing. Tear Gas had worked at first, but solutions to that were available online. People were organizing. Fuel bombs were being lobbed at the lines, and the Coalition were holding position, hiding behind their riot shields.
Roderick fought his way through their troops as reinforcements showed up. The centre of the riot were two masses of people, trying to crush each other out of the way.
BOOM! Another fuel bomb exploded into flames.
Roderick reached Gail and a few others. “I’ve had enough of this. I’m authorizing the use of lethal force! Colin, call in air support!”
Gail felt a thrill of horror go through her. The adrenaline had become familiar to her, like a welcome ally that would keep her safe in battle. But the gleeful look on Colin’s face was something chilling.
The gunfire rang out a few moments later, and the sound of yelling was overshadowed for a second. A moment after that, the screaming had changed in pitch. The ranks of the Coalition surged forward as people started to run.
“See?!” Colin called gleefully as they all rushed forward to hold the line together. “We should have done this from the start!”
More gunshots rang out, and Gail couldn’t even tell which side was shooting. She heard helicopter blades in the distance.
“Soldier! What are you waiting for!?” Roderick roared at Gail. “Your team is in danger!”
The world felt like a rollercoaster, like everything around her was racing to get somewhere, and she was being tossed about by the ride. Her sidearm came out of her holster, and she barely felt the weight of it, as she searched for a target. “Ohgod…” She muttered under her breath. “Ohgawd!” She took aim and started shooting, leading with her gun as the soldiers pushed forward against the riot, driving it back as the terrified people started to break and run.
But not all of them were running, and the bullets started coming back at them. Something whistled past Gail, so quick that she didn’t notice it until after it missed her. Realization came without conscious thought. Someone had just tried to shoot her. Her arm swung, her sidearm barking in response. Gail felt her face twist, teeth baring in fury as she started gunning down anything that wasn’t in a uniform like hers. Running away, taking aim, hiding in a corner; all of them were enemies to her now. Colin was beside her, firing wildly, whooping like he was in a wild west show.
The helicopters came over, and suddenly the street ceased to be a riot and became a shooting gallery.
The helicopter didn’t pause, didn’t even slow down. It passed low, and slow overhead, so that Gail ducked automatically. The rotors kicked up enough dust and dirt that for a split second, everyone had to close their eyes…
And when it passed, there was silence.
Gail’s eyes were wide, her mouth was open and panting, in total brainlock. The dust had cleared and the street was full of motionless bodies.
Colin was dancing like he’d never stop. “Whooo! We rule! Haha! That’s what you get!”
Gail suddenly came out of brainlock and hauled off to slug Colin in the mouth, sending him to the ground. “What is $%&@#! wrong with you, Colin?! They’re civilians! These people aren’t crazy, or evil. They’re hungry!”
Colin bounced up like he was made of springs and came at her throat. “You want a bullet?! You wanna fight me, right now!?”
Roderick was suddenly right there, between them, holding them apart. “AT EASE, BOTH OF YOU!” He roared. “Adrenaline’s high right now. Don’t waste any of that fury on each other!” Roderick pushed Colin back towards the rest of their troops. “Colin, go see if any of our people need medical attention, and check the street. Round up any survivors. Gail, with me.”
He led her the other way, towards the market that they had been protecting. “All of this, over a supermarket.” Gail growled, blood still pumping.
Roderick gave her an unsettling look, and waved for the doors to be unlocked. “It’s worse than you think.” Once the doors were open, he led the way in.
She followed, looking around, checking the corners and exits as she’d been trained. And a moment later, she realized. “The shelves are empty!” She was suddenly incensed. “We gunned down all those people for an empty store?”
“We held the line. They were the ones who amped it up that much.” Roderick told her sharply. “Besides, if they got in, they’d have torn the building down looking for food that isn’t here. What would they have done next?”
“Gone to another supermarket.”
“Which one? The whole chain is having the same supply problem. So are the other chains. Until we take direct control of all these places for Food Drops, the shelves will stay bare.” Roderick told her. “And once the mob realized that, the only other place they could turn to for food would be each other. Every penthouse in the City, every nice suburban street. Turning the main roads into shooting galleries is ugly, but at least we can match them here. If they go kicking in their neighbors' doors all over the country, we’d never be able to respond in time.”
Gail stared at him. “We forced the fight here, because at least when they’re all in one place we’re able to shoot them?”
“It’s triage.” Roderick said firmly. “Be grateful. You’ve chosen the one team that is guaranteed a meal before anyone else.”
There was another gunshot outside. They both looked in that direction, and Roderick led the way. Another shot rang out just as they reached the door.
Outside, the survivors of the riot were being loaded into trucks. One or two of the prisoners were laying dead on the ground. Colin standing over them.
“What’s this?” Roderick asked cooly as he strode up to the scene.
“One of the ‘bus drivers’ has a big mouth.” Colin reported. “The prisoners heard that they were being sent to Camp 101, and decided they’d rather go down fighting.”
“Why?” Gail asked, stunned. “We’ve been sending people that way since this whole thing began. What’s changed?”
“Don’t worry about it.” Roderick told her. “Help Colin keep order here. I have to make a call.”
Gail waited until he was out of earshot. The rest of the Coalition Troops herded the captured rioters into the trucks, and Gail gave Colin a look. “What’s the real reason?”
“Camp 101?” Colin nodded. “It’s processing. People go in there, and they get shipped out to wherever we decide to send them. Word is there’s a lot less people leaving the Camp than there should be.”
“What does that mean?” Gail blinked.
“I dunno, but the rumors have these people spooked enough that they’d rather risk a bullet.” Colin waved it off. She gave him a hard look, and he wilted, speaking more than he planned to. “What? They don’t tell us grunts anything either. Rumors are all we’ve got.”
“So tell me the rumors.” Gail insisted.
Colin sent a glance at the prisoners, and lowered his voice. “What do you think is gonna happen?” He asked coldly. “The supermarkets are empty for a reason. We don’t have enough food for everyone, let alone prisoners.”
Gail stared at him, spooked. “Are you saying… Are they…”
“More likely they just don’t have anywhere to send them.” Colin shrugged. “Prisons are overloaded. There’s no food going to them either.” He didn’t seem concerned. “Back in feudal times, people who shoplifted lost a hand. You know why? Because you can’t get subsidized living for committing a crime. Tell any of these people that they’d get three meals and a bed for the next thirty years if they kill one of us, they’d do it. They already tried.”
Gail blinked like she was coming out of a long dark tunnel. What was any of this for, if that’s the case?
~/*\~
~/*\~~/*\~~/*\~
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