Shaun Jeffrey: Dead World

Isaiah realised Roman was leading him to the Governor’s residence. The building stood apart from all the others. The residence was a square two storey structure, grey brick walls fronted by an arched colonnade. Roman marched up to the front door, red robe kicking up swirls of dust where it swept across the ground, and strode inside without knocking.

Isaiah increased his pace and followed him inside.

They walked along a short hallway and into the dining room where Carmichael sat behind a table laden with food of better quality than most of the residents had access to. Due to his large girth, Carmichael’s chair was pushed back from the table to allow him to sit comfortably. His features were distorted by the extra weight he carried and he always smelled of pungent body odour. Isaiah never liked spending too much time in his company and he always made his reports of the books as succinct as possible.

Many ancient artefacts decorated the room, including a large standing clock, and a frame with a glass frontage Isaiah had learned was called a television. Then there were ornaments and knickknacks the purpose of which was impossible to imagine. Nobody had much knowledge about the artefacts.

Carmichael sat poised with food wavering on his fork. “You’d better have a good reason for bursting in while I’m eating.”

“When aren’t you eating?” Roman muttered.

“What did you say?”

“I said you missed the meeting.”

Carmichael waved his hand dismissively, food flying from his fork. “Seen one you’ve seen them all.”

“Not like this one. The Chosen one ran away.”

Carmichael shrugged and lifted the fork to his mouth and started eating.

Roman leaned forwards and placed his hands on the desk. “Didn’t you hear what I said?”

“The Chosen one ran away,” he said while eating. “So what? Out with the old, in with the new. Space has been made in Sanctuary for the newborn, so what’s the problem?”

“I’ll tell you what the problem is. Her mother took her and fled into the forest. Along with her other two children.

Vincent shrugged again. “Well that’s good news, isn’t it? We now have even more space available.”

Roman shook his head and exhaled noisily. “It’s not that simple. The people are angry and scared.”

“Scared of what?”

“Well they’re afraid misfortune will befall our community because the sacrifice ran away.”

“Will it?”

“Of course not. We both know that. But if we’re not careful the people will panic, or worse lose faith. Who knows where that will lead.”

As if noticing Isaiah for the first time, he fixed his gaze upon him. “Isaiah, what are you doing here?”

“This is the Chosen one’s father.”

Isaiah held his book to his chest as if it was a shield. He inwardly shrank beneath the two men’s gaze.

Carmichael sat up taller in his chair and squared his shoulders, taking on a more regal posture. He looked Isaiah up and down over the tip of his nose.

“So your wife’s run away. Do you mind telling me why?”

“I wish I knew.” He shook his head. “She’s never done anything like this before. I think she might be a little crazy. She’s been spending a lot of time with my mother, and I’m afraid she may have bought in to the ravings of an old woman’s mind.

“A little crazy? She’s jeopardized our community.

She’s… I don’t…

Roman held up a hand, a sly expression on his face. “If I may interrupt, I’d like to suggest he is sent out with a small troop of Enforcers to bring them all back.”

Carmichael seemed to consider this for a moment before he nodded. “Excellent idea.”

Isaiah’s eyes grew wide and he shifted his grip on the book so he could hold one hand up. “But… it’s been too long. Wouldn’t they have already succumbed to the Gods?”

Roman wheeled on Isaiah, face flushed. “Since when do you possess the authority to question the Governor’s rules?”

Isaiah dropped his head submissively, and took a step back. “I… I don’t…”

Carmichael tapped his fork against his plate. “Well no time like the present to make a start. Roman, I’d like you to lead the party.”

Roman’s jaw dropped. “Me. Sir, I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“Now who’s questioning the Governor’s rules?” Isaiah said.

Roman glared at him.

“That’s settled then,” Carmichael said. “Oh, and Roman, on the way out, get the cook to bring me some more pie.”

Anna and her family huddled beneath the trees, catching their breath. Save for the sound of birdcall, the area was quiet and the trees provided shade from the sun. Such was the insular nature of Sanctuary; Anna had never stepped outside its walls before. Everything she needed was provided for within her community.

She looked at her family. Tears had left clear tracks down Ben’s angry face, and Lucy seemed shaken and confused. Zeke meanwhile appeared anxious and timid, but he tried to put a brave face on when he sensed his mother was looking at him.

“So now are you going to explain why you dragged me away, Mum? I was about to become an immortal. Do you know what that means?”

Anna wrung her hands together. “You’ve got to believe me; I did this for your own good.”

Ben shook his head and glared at his mother while Lucy cradled her head in her hands, sobbing.

“She’s lying,” Ben said. “She’s jealous because she wasn’t chosen. I want to go home. I want Dad!”

Zeke punched his brother on the shoulder. “Shut your mouth, runt.”

“No, I won’t! I want to go home.”

“Stop it, you two,” Anna said. “We need to work together here.”

Anna walked across and dropped to her knees beside Lucy and placed one hand on her shoulder. She cupped Lucy’s chin in the palm of her other hand, forcing her to look up.

“Lucy, I’m anything but jealous. I’m terrified. I love you kids so much and I can’t bear you getting hurt.” She paused, searching for the right words. “I don’t believe what the church has been telling us…not about the Gods, not about the lottery, not anything.”

Ben snorted. “What don’t you believe? Cousin Hannah was chosen the other month. The Gods took her, and then days later she was back outside. She’ll live forever with them.”

“I don’t understand what I saw, but that wasn’t Hannah. At least not the cousin you knew. Say what you like about your grandmother… she’s been at Sanctuary a long time, and her mother and grandmother before her. She’s not as addle brained as she let’s on, and she says it’s all a lie. The church, the lottery, the Gods… everything’s a bunch of lies they are using to control us.”

Ben shook his head and stepped away from the group. “I don’t believe you.”

“We’ve all seen them come back with our own eyes. If they’re not Gods, what else could they be?” Lucy asked between sobs.

Before Anna could answer, leaves rustled and she cocked her head; heard a branch snap. Movement caught her eye and a man lumbered through the trees towards them. His flesh was grey, what remained of his clothes ragged strips of cloth. Cuts and bites decorated his skin. Seeing Anna and her family, the man shambled towards them.

“Mum!” Zeke shouted.

Ben jumped to his feet, grinning. He stood still as the man lurched towards him, lifting his arms as if about to embrace him.

Anna’s pulse increased, heart pounding inside her chest. She back peddled, almost tripping over a broken branch. She crouched down, picked it up and charged at the man, swinging the makeshift club. She struck the man in the face, felt the reverberations travel along her arm and winced at the pain. The man’s head twisted to the side, his skin puckered where the branch had struck. He continued his advance unperturbed.