Thomas wanted to tell her that was still a possibility, but he kept quiet. “So, this gang you got in, they introduced you to the Fentanyl?”
“Yeah. It was all free from the NWU, along with vaccines and a universal income.”
The hum of a drone filled the air, and instantly Tori pointed to the brick wall of the building they walked behind. Crouching, they flattened against it as they had so many times before like good little soldiers. Thomas flipped his hood up over his head. A siren blared in the distance. The electronic buzz grew louder, hovering over them like a vulture seeking a carcass. Theclank,clankof metallic footsteps drew Thomas's gaze around the corner of the building. There, patrolling the street was a spiderlike machine as big as a cow with eight legs, two huge laser eyes, and two cannons for arms. He snapped his head back. He’d heard of such things—police robots—but he’d never encountered one. The thing could sense a human heartbeat at fifty yards. Why wasn’t it finding them? He glanced at Tori who, with head bowed and lips moving, no doubt prayed.
Finally, the whizzing diminished, and the hum and clanks faded, and they rose and started on their way again as if the entire event was as natural as stopping to smell a rose along the roadside. Thomas smiled and shook his head at how fast his life had changed.
“We were living the life. Partying all the time,” Sara continued after a few steps. “I finally thought I was free.”
Thomas nodded. The NWU had done a lot for the poor, the orphans and widows. If capitalism were still in play, people like Sara would either die or have to sell themselves on the street.
Aaron moved to walk beside Tori up ahead as if bored by the conversation.
Sara hugged herself. “My friends started dying. We didn’t know what from. The drugs or the vaccines? It was horrible.” She hesitated as, no doubt, memories surfaced. “I ran off, and that’s when Tori found me in an abandoned building, high as a kite and about to die.”
His gaze found the woman in question, laughing at something Aaron said. “She’s incredible.”
Sara cocked her head, studying him before a teasing grin raised her lips. “You got a thing for her?”
The question shocked him, or maybe it was embarrassment that caused a sudden flush to rise on his face. “No. She’s just a friend.”
“Uh, ha. Sure.”
Nothing more was said as they left the shelter of the building and crossed into a neighborhood, keeping as much to what remained of trees and bushes as possible, moving through backyards when they could. An eerie silence permeated each house and yard where pools and swing sets and barbecues were left abandoned. If Thomas listened hard enough, he could almost hear the voices of the people who’d once lived in these homes, their laughter, their words of love, their arguments, their lives.
But of course, they were better off now in NWU housing, weren’t they?
Tori stopped, appeared to be listening to something…or someone… and proceeded to open a back sliding glass door and enter a home.
Once inside, everyone seemed to relax, free from the constant fear of cameras and drones.
Tori made a beeline for the kitchen, opening cupboards and the refrigerator. Sara sank to a chair in the living room. Aaron, cane in hand, hobbled to the couch, while Carla tugged on her mother’s shirt.
Letting out a squeal, Tori deposited cans of soup on the counter, along with a bag of noodles and some tomato sauce. “We will feast tonight!”
Thomas looked at her in amazement. “How did you know this house was empty and had food?”
She raised one eyebrow. “The Lord told me.”
He didn’t care if Genghis Khan had told her. His stomach growled in yearning at the mere sight of something decent to eat.
Brianna approached Aaron on the couch. “Aaron, would you hold Callie for a moment, I need to take Carla to the bathroom.” Before he could agree, she deposited the babe in his arms.
The child’s ear-bursting wail made them all turn and stare. Poor Aaron seemed genuinely embarrassed, jostling Callie and trying to calm her.
Carla tugged on her mother’s arm. “Mama, Callie doesn’t like the bad man. Onafiel says not to let him near us.”
“I’m so sorry, Aaron.” Confused, Brianna quickly retrieved Callie, and after looking around, handed her to Tori. “She’s not usually like that with strangers, but I’m sure it’s just all the traveling. It’s been hard on her, like all of us.”
Aaron smiled. “Not to worry.” Though Thomas noted how quickly his smile fell after Brianna walked away.
Callie cooed in Tori’s arms. Something Thomas could well understand. She caught him looking at her, and confusion flickered in her gaze for a moment before he looked away. Did she know how he felt about her? Even after all these years? In a way, he hoped not, because he couldn’t stand it if she rejected him again, like she’d done fifteen years ago. He’d thought he would die back then. Now, with nothing else good in his life, he probably would.
“Look, a TV.” Sara grabbed a control from the couch and flipped it on.
A wide shot of the city of Jerusalem appeared before the camera zoomed in closer to a massive crowd of thousands waiting at the International Convention Center.
Tori skirted the kitchen counter and approached the TV. “Something is happening.”
