C. Schmidt - Hock City

“Yeah, yeah; okay. Whatever.”

The guards continued to escort Langston and Jesse down the hallway to a penthouse elevator – Pearl’s private transport which came equipped with carpet, a chaise and reading materials. The smell of body odor, machinery and perfume, clouded the wide space. It was built large enough to hold her and a few others.

“Neutralize and transport them,” spoke a guard.

Another guard waved his hand in a circular motion in front of Langston and Jesse. Langston backed away from the gesture, holding his hand up to guard himself.

“Jesse, what the – “ He and Jesse blacked out before Langston could finish his question. They were outside of the casino when they awoke. Langston looked around, puzzled at what took place. His heart rate was up, his body sweatier than before. He looked over at Jesse, who had a similar demeanor.

“What the f-?!” Langston mouthed to Jesse.

Jesse was just as surprised as he shrugged.

“Let’s go to the armory, stock up and head out,” a guard said to another.

“Move!” Langston was pushed in the back, “No more talking,” the guard insisted.

The group journeyed to a section of Hock City that was quieter. It was more secure than the main entrance. The only people in sight were people in casual, uniformed clothing.

“What part of the city is this?” Langston asked.

“Looks like workers,” Jesse replied.

“Shut up. I said no talking,” a guard snapped back, “You two, wait here. Keep an eye, or three – on them. You two, with me,” spoke the leader to his subordinates.

“You want to explain what just happened?” Langston asked.

Jesse shrugged again. “I don’t know what happened. That was my first time doing that. Pretty cool,” he replied. He sat down on the top of a backrest of a bench.

Langston joined him, “We have to get away from these guys,” he whispered. He spoke while looking forward away from Jesse, while the guards were preoccupied with their endeavors. “Cause she is going to kill us regardless. Kill me, anyway.”

“What are we supposed to do?” Jesse asked.

“We can’t be in plain sight. We need to get underground. We have to get to the tunnels. “

“I never been back here before, Mr. Langston. I only know the area I brought you through. I don’t know which way to go from here.”

“How hard could it be to find a tunnel?”

“I don’t know. I just know the tunnels I use. We have to go through the Gatekeeper’s gate first. Any tunnel without a gate before it is dangerous.”

“Dangerous how?”

“Dangerous because those tunnels lead to other places, like Snake Valley and Scorpion Lake. No one is welcomed to these places.”

“So, these tunnels that lead to these other areas, are not connected to Hock City and Pineville tunnels at all?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Well we have to risk it. How much more dangerous can it be anyway? We can die here at the hand of your precious Pearl, or die trying to get freedom. I rather die trying to get outta here.”

“I don’t wanna die at all.” Jesse looked at his feet thinking deeply about the situation. During the exchange, an old woman sat behind Langston and Jesse, on an adjacent bench, facing the opposite direction.

“Looks like you two in some trouble. I can help.”

“Don’t know what you talking ‘bout,” replied Langston, suspicious to who the lady was and why she offered to help.

“Suit yourself.”

The lady stood and started to walk away. Jesse bit his lip as he gazed slightly over his shoulder. He looked at the guards who were still preoccupied, catcalling women as they walked by. He saw an opportunity, so he hopped the bench and followed the woman.

“Distract them.”

“What? Where you going?” Langston tried to stop him, but was ignored. He chewed his finger as Jesse spoke to the lady. Jesse slid up his sleeve, and held his arm up reluctantly. The woman did the same.

“When are we leaving? Y’all not done yet? Man, those are some cool guns. Can I see?” Langston put on his best performance.

“Sit down.”

Langston continued to distract the guards as best as he could. Jesse made a transaction with the strange woman. Thereafter, Jesse ran back to the bench and sat down, just as another guard walked over. The guard stared with suspicion at both he and Langston. The two returned to their original seated position – as if they hadn’t been plotting an escape behind him.

“Stop moving. You’re making me nervous,” the guard ordered. He breathed his sour, heavy breath into Langston’s face, “And don’t get up again, human,” he whispered.

“What did you just do?” asked Langston, “Did you pay that lady to do something?”

“I had to do what I had to do. That’s basically what you just told me, right?”

“I hope this is good.”

“Just be ready for the signal and follow me.”

“But wait; what’s the signal?”

Darkness crept into the sky while moisture filled the air. Clouds gathered in small groups. The wind gushed as it traveled through the greenery. Locals began to move indoors. The sounds of conversation and laughter began to fade.

If he did not hurry, what lived outside of the walls, would be just as much of a threat as what was within.

Kinth looked at the gold pin he was given. For a moment, it looked as if the design on the pin was alive. It was moving with his movements. He rubbed his eyes to gather himself. His uncle’s words echoed in his mind, just as everything else that he knew thus far.

Since he had been living in the gas station, random people came by seeking help. Mostly men and women, all without knowledge of how they got there. Dehydrated, and hungry. Most of them, he didn’t respond to or turned them away – providing no assistance. Many were never to be seen again. The others fell to the evils of the desert.

He approached the back entrance. It sat near mounds of sand, under tall grass. The entrance was connected to the same wall that enclosed the rest of Hock City; tall with random markings across it. Wanderers paced in front of the wall, some talking to themselves, shaking as if they had a nervous condition. Their faces were unseen.

“Hey! Hey! How do I get in here? Hey! You!” Kinth spoke to the wanderers, expecting a response. The wanderers didn’t pay him any mind. They continued to pace back, and forth. “Hey, you! How do I get in?” Kinth asked again as he tried to get closer to the barrier.

“Step no further! You, sir! Stop there!” a voiced hollered.

Kinth looked around but couldn’t see from where or whom the voice was coming from. At first he thought the voice was from one of the wanderers, but they were no longer in the area.

“Why do you approach?” the voice continued.

“I need access to the city,” Kinth replied.

“But for what reason?” the voice asked.

“I’m not saying nothing else until I see who I’m speaking to,” Kinth responded with assertion.

The force of the wind increased, causing trash and other debris to move along the ground, near his feet. He looked away, distracted by the sounds. When he refocused his attention, the wanderers that had previously disappeared stood before him. They had been perimeter patrols in disguise.

The voice spoke again, “I ask again – why do you approach?!”

The patrols took a forceful step closer to Kinth in formation. They held out their hands; spears formed in their palms.

Kinth stepped forward, unbothered by the act. “Listen I –“A guard jabs him in the chest with his rod before he could say more. The force of the jab knocked him to the ground. Kinth chuckled to himself, as he tried to get up, “Ok, ok. Look, I don’t want to have to hurt y’all. I have business in the city.” He was jabbed again.