Jason Morrow - Anywhere but Here

Gilbert glances at me in the rearview mirror and shakes his head. I know he won’t leave it alone. I know he won’t forget that I saw something. I just can’t bring myself to tell him what it was.

The vehicle ran out of gas only a few miles away from Crestwood. Several long, silent hours have passed since I saw what will happen to Gilbert in the future. He hasn’t asked me again, and I haven’t told him. But at dusk we are in sight of the walls and our hearts feel light, and whatever happened earlier is old news. Perhaps what I saw wasn’t what I think I saw. Or maybe it is just one of many random possibilities. In my heart, I know this isn’t true, though, but I have to focus on the present instead.

Right now is the defining moment of our lives. If the people of Crestwood allow us to stay, then we might just get to live out the rest of our days in peace. Though, I can’t say that for Gilbert.

The guards at the wall stop us with guns pointed. Gilbert is the one to do the talking. He tells them that we are travelers and we were told that Crestwood was friendly to people who wish to be a part of a community.

As we wait for someone to come out and meet us, I look at Ethan and Gilbert and ask them not to say anything about what I claim I can do. I didn’t even want to tell them about it, but it just came out. They agree, though not without a snide comment from Gilbert that I don’t fully hear.

We wait for about ten minutes before a man comes out and meets us.

The man from my vision!

I try not to let my face betray my feeling of shock as the man comes near us. He has shaggy hair and a few days of stubble on his face. He carries a rifle over his shoulder. He greets us with a curt smile. He almost seems upset by something.

“Hope you will forgive the delay,” he says. “Today has been quite eventful. My name is Gabe. I’m here to take you inside for questioning.”

After Gabe asks me a few questions about myself, I sit in a small room alone for several long hours. There is no clock, but I would guess that it’s at least nine. I am tired and I wish they would just let us in already.

I reflect on what I saw earlier and I can’t get the images out of my mind. Everywhere I look, every place I go, I search for the surroundings that somewhat resemble the warehouse where all of us will soon be huddled together. The presence of Gabe makes me feel uneasy. It is a confirmation that I am not ready for, but it’s not like I can just blurt out that I’ve seen him in a vision. Everything in me wants to get away from him. I think that if I can keep him away, then I won’t find myself in that situation. But it seems impossible. I feel that if I try to push him away, then me trying to push him away might, in fact, bring me to that situation. But I also feel that if I do nothing then events will inexorably take me down the road to Gilbert’s doom.

After what seems like forever, Gabe finally opens the door to my room and leads me to another where there is a chair and table waiting for me. I expect to see Ethan and Gilbert, but they are not here. Gabe tells me to have a seat and that a man named Paxton will be with me shortly. He leaves the room and I sit here alone.

I hate the feeling of being alone. I hate being in this room. I don’t know why, but part of me would rather be on the outside, taking my chances with the greyskins. But I tell myself that if they let me in, everything will be better. I will be able to start something that resembles a life.

After a few minutes, Gabe and another man, who I assume is Paxton, walk into the room. Gabe stands on the other side of the room waiting and the man sits across from me. The dark, short beard on his face only tells me that the people here have no hardships. Whenever I see a man with a neatly trimmed beard, I know he must have a good life somehow because if he has access to razors or clippers, then he has access to other things. Trimming a beard is one of the last things a man would think about if he were trying to survive day-to-day. Yes, it seems Crestwood will be very nice indeed.

With one hand he holds a manila folder and a pen, and with the other he reaches out for me to shake. I look at his hand and bow my head low instead.

“Pardon me,” I say, “but I haven’t had a chance to wash my hands. I would like to do that before shaking your hand.”

He looks at me strangely as he pulls his hand back, but I don’t care. I don’t want to accidentally see his future too. I don’t want to know. All I can do is hope that he accepts my feeble attempt of respect.

“You’re name is Waverly?” he asks.

“Yes,” I say.

“What do you know about Crestwood?” he asks.

I clear my throat. “I know that you are a town that has reportedly accepted many people within your walls. I came here in hopes that I can be one of your citizens.”

He nods at me and stares at the table with his cheek resting in his palm. “Tell me about the other two you are with. Ethan and Gilbert. How do you know them?”

“I met them only a few days ago,” I say. “I don’t know much about either of them, but they have been very helpful. Ethan tends to watch out for me. Gilbert can act a little brash, but he only wants to survive like the rest of us.”

“How old are you?”

“I am seventeen.”

“Where are you originally from?”

“Oakridge,” I say.

Paxton’s face turns suddenly serious and he stares at me for a long moment. After a while, the moment starts to become uncomfortable.

“Did I say something wrong?” I ask.

“No,” Paxton says. “It’s just… Nothing. Never mind. Uh…” He looks down at his manila folder and opens it then closes it, dropping it to the table. “I’ll just move along. Do you have any special abilities?”

I can feel the blood drain from my face. Gilbert must have said something to him about it. I’m taking too long to answer, I know it, but I don’t know what to say. If I tell him yes, who knows what he will do with me. If I lie and tell him no, he might count me and Gilbert as liars and throw us out into the street.

My heart beats faster. I can feel sweat drops beading at my brow. Finally, I blurt out, “You mean other than tap dancing?” I ask. I feel so dumb. I’ve never tap danced in my life, but this seems to make Paxton happy. He lets out a snort and picks up the folder from the table as he stands.

“We have room for you and your friends, though we are steadily running out.”

Paxton and Gabe lead me to the next room where Ethan and Gilbert wait for me. Gilbert looks annoyed but Ethan smiles widely.

“You made it through,” he says.

“ We made it through,” I answer.

And then he does something that makes my heart flutter, yet sends a wave of terror to my spine. He puts his arm around me and holds me close. It feels…secure.

Gabe leads us through the dark city streets of Crestwood. It looks bleak and empty, but I’m positive it is more lively during the day. He takes us to an apartment building where we must share a room for the night.

“It’s only for the night,” he says. “I’m sure that tomorrow there will be some other living arrangements made, but you have plenty of blankets and room to sleep for now.”

“Thank you so much,” I say. “This is wonderful.”

Gabe looks at me and takes a deep breath. “Yes,” he says. “I’m sure it is.”

Gabe starts to leave the room when Ethan asks him another question. “Do you enjoy it here?”

“It’s safe,” Gabe says. “For some of us, anyway.” He looks away and scratches his head when he says this. “It’s hardly a city. There are only a few things for people to enjoy, but at least you are safe. Do any of you have any more questions?” When none of us say anything else, he gives us another curt smile and walks out of the room.