Peter Clines - Ex-Communication

She gave him another glimmer of a smile. “Since you used my name, sure.”

“Do you need to breathe?”

She shook her head. “I don’t think so. I have to think about doing it, but it just feels weird not to. And it makes it easier to talk.”

“Ahhh.”

“So, we’re in Hollywood now, right?”

“Correct.”

She looked at the buildings across from the Wall. “Are there any celebrities living here?”

Freedom shook his head. “I don’t believe so. There are a few actors, but no one I’d heard of before coming here.”

“Oh.” She rolled her shoulders. “How about dead ones? Have you ever seen any ex-celebrities?”

He thought about it. “That’s probably a conversation for another time.”

“How come?”

“I’d rather not say, ma’am.”

“You’re doing it again.”

“That time was deliberate.”

“Ahhh.”

A trio farther up the street stepped off the sidewalk and started walking toward them. Two men flanking a woman. Each of them held something dark. They were half a block away when Freedom recognized the woman as Christian Nguyen, the former councilwoman running for mayor. The two men were familiar, but the officer couldn’t place their names. They were holding Bibles.

Madelyn hunched as they got closer. The practiced slouch of someone trying not to be noticed. It made him wonder just how many bad experiences she’d had with strangers during her travels.

“It is you,” beamed Christian. “I was hoping I might run into you. What a lucky coincidence.”

The two men slowed down and let her approach alone. It was rehearsed enough that Freedom ruled out “coincidence.” They were both tall, but still stood a head below him, and weren’t half as broad. He took a single step, which placed him right behind Madelyn. “Good morning, Ms. Nguyen,” he said.

“Captain.” She tipped her head, then focused on the dead girl. “If I could just take a moment of your time,” she said, “I wanted to introduce myself. I’m Christian Nguyen.”

She held out her hand. Madelyn looked at it for a moment.

“It’s okay,” said Christian. “I know who you are. A friend of mine from the hospital has been talking about you nonstop for days now. I was hoping I’d get a chance to meet you.”

Madelyn glanced up at Freedom. He gave a slight nod. She looked back at Christian and took her hand. “I’m Madelyn Sorensen.”

“You’re cold,” said Christian. “But that’s probably healthier for you, isn’t it?”

“I guess,” said Madelyn.

The older woman beamed at her. “You’re amazing, you know that? So many of us hoped to see someone like you, but we weren’t sure it would happen in our lifetimes.”

The dead girl shifted on her feet. “Someone like me?”

Christian nodded and gripped her Bible a little tighter. “Someone who came back.”

Madelyn looked around the street. Her brow furrowed above her sunglasses. “Came back from where?”

Christian’s smile faltered, but she caught it before it fell. “From the mindless dead. Your soul’s risen again in your body.”

“Oh,” said Madelyn. “Thanks. I guess.”

“We’re heading to evening services now. Would you like to join us? I’m sure everyone there would love to hear about your experience.”

“Umm,” said the dead girl. “I don’t really know you. Or them. No offense.”

“We’re a good group,” said Christian. Her smile, a rare thing the past few years, was beaming at news-conference brilliance. “People can depend on us when things get tough.”

“That’s … umm, cool.” Madelyn looked up at Freedom.

He cleared his throat. “I’m afraid Ms. Sorensen isn’t going to have a lot of free time for a while. Stealth and Dr. Connolly have her on a fairly extensive schedule of tests.”

The smile wavered again. It came back just as quick, but this time it didn’t touch Christian’s eyes. “Of course they do,” she said. “It’s a waste of time, though, trying to explain a miracle with science, isn’t it?”

“If it can be explained with science, it isn’t a miracle,” said Madelyn. When the cold eyes flicked at her, she added, “That’s something my dad used to say. He was a scientist.”

“Of course,” said the older woman. Her smile warmed. “You’re probably still in shock from learning you’d lost them. My condolences. But there’s still hope.”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

“Well, we must be going or we’ll be late,” said Christian. “It has been a pleasure meeting you. I hope you’ll take me up on my offer and visit our congregation sometime soon.”

“I’ll keep it in mind,” said Madelyn. “Thanks again.”

“Thank you for being so understanding. I know everyone wants to meet you.”

Christian bowed to Freedom again and walked past them. The two men fell in step behind her like good assistants or bodyguards. One of them nodded to Freedom. The other gave Madelyn a long look.

They walked on for another half a block. Then Madelyn spun to walk backward so she could face Freedom. “What was that all about?”

“It’s complex,” he said.

“Was I wrong, or was she completely giving me a creepy ‘chosen one’ vibe back there?”

“It’s complex,” repeated Freedom. “There are some people who’ve come to believe certain things about the ex-humans. Your existence … well, like Christian said, they’ve all been hoping to see someone like you.”

“But Dr. Connolly says I’m not an ex. And wouldn’t your supervillain guy, Legion, count as back-from-the-dead, too?”

He smiled. His lips were tight and controlled, but it was a smile. “Not exactly,” he said. “That’s complex, too.”

Something caught his eye. He looked past her and his brow furrowed. She spun back around.

Another trio, two women and a man this time, headed for them. Beyond them were two couples, looking and pointing at Madelyn. Her shoulders slumped. “Seriously?” she said. “How did I end up becoming the golden child?”

Freedom looked around. He held out his arm to Madelyn. “Ms. Sorensen,” he said, “I believe you asked about the Big Wall?”

She looked up and smiled. “Yes,” she said. “That’d be cool.”

He picked her up, cradled her in one arm, and she threw her arms around his neck. The huge officer flexed his thighs and launched into the air. He landed on top of the Wall and the structure shook from the impact.

Madelyn’s sunglasses tumbled from her face. She snatched them out of the air before they fell into the street beyond the barrier. She slid out of Freedom’s hold and thumped onto the wooden platform.

The two guards there saw her face, the white skin and pale eyes, and brought their weapons up. Freedom stepped forward. “At ease, men.”

One of the guards, a soldier named Truman, lowered his rifle. The other, one of the civilian guards, kept his weapon up for a few moments and then let it drop it grudgingly. Both of them kept their eyes on her.

“This young woman is a guest here,” Freedom said, “and should be treated as such. Her name is Madelyn Sorensen.” He said the last with a pointed look at Truman.

The soldier’s eyes went wide. “You mean she’s the doc’s—”

Freedom nodded once.

Truman shouldered his weapon and held his hand out. “It’s an honor to meet you, ma’am,” he said.

“Again with the ma’am,” she sighed, shaking the hand.

“Your father was a great man,” he said. “He made me who I am today. Literally.”

Her mouth wavered and she pushed the sunglasses back over her eyes. “Thank you.” She looked up at Captain Freedom, then back to Truman. “You’re one of the Unbreakables?”

He nodded and stood at attention. “Alpha 456th, ma’am, at your service. You need anything at all, you just come looking for me.” He tapped the name on his chest. “Sergeant Mike Truman.”