For an hour Helena listened to the repeating broadcast. She took notes, she rewrote phrases and made a point to be sure of the nuance in word choice and phrasing he used in an attempt to mimic it. But by what must have been her fifteenth time listening, she knew she was stalling.
It just has to be brief. Be clear. But as she pressed pencil to paper Helena came up with a blank. ‘Hi, we have someone who can't get infected. There's a plan to trade her for an escape off this godforsaken continent, but we might free her instead to find a cure. Are you interested in helping us doom our entire camp on the pathetic hope for a chance to save the world?’
She wrote down the ridiculous message and immediately scratched it out. The words felt clumsy and, as she balled up the paper, she couldn’t prevent herself from thinking the words themselves could be dangerous. What if someone figured it out? What if Reid, Ashley, and she were caught? Looking around the spartan room she now called home, a stifling impotence strangled her breaths.
I can't save these people. I can't fix anyone. I'm just a band-aid on a gaping wound. Our numbers dwindle steadily and… we can't go on like this.
Something has to change.
Turning the radio on again she listened one more time.
“This is a recording from Doctor Lancaster residing in Casa Loma. I am looking for any information on the outbreak. We have collected samples from specimens of varying degrees of infection and are testing for inherent resistances. We believe we can find a cure but more samples are required. If you are willing to help, can provide samples of uninfected blood, or have information pertinent to the infection please contact us. Do not give in to despair. There is hope.”
“She's all stowed for now,” Eric said.
Helena startled upright and switched off the small radio.
From where he waited by the door, Eric’s gaze narrowed on her as if he could figure out why she was on edge if he squinted hard enough. But when she stared back, nodding only the once, he relaxed and leaned into the door frame. He’s waiting for an invitation. For what, specifically, Helena was never sure. I can't ask him to get involved.
Her eyes softened, if only slightly, before she stood. “Good, one less thing to worry about.” Helena pulled the tie from her hair and smoothed the strands back. Repositioning and straightening it out she tied her hair again, her hands quick and nimble at the task. In the old cracked mirror on the wall, she spied the bags weighing her eyes. Sever eyes. When did I come to look soo… hard?
With a quick adjustment of the shirt that fit just a bit tighter than she remembered, she nodded again.
“Reid and Finn are watching her for now. Some of Finn's people will keep an eye on her though for the next while.” Eric paused, shifting his weight. “There's going to be another meeting. They want you there.”
Helena’s jaw tightened at the thought of another summons. “Who? Your mother or someone else?” The words came out bitter and she watched Eric sigh before straightening himself out.
“Don't know, the word was passed down. I'll go keep an eye on things with our 'guest',” he said with a sarcasm unlike the big soft man she knew he was. “I don't trust Finn's boys with anything delicate.”
Guilt swarmed in Helena's gut but before she could apologize he was gone, his footsteps lighter than she would have guessed as he left the building.
He's always looking out for me. She packed up her notes, stowed the radio in her desk drawer, and sighed. One of these days he's going to get hurt.
As long as Helena had been a member of this small community she had always been aware of the needs of the council. Not one of them went out of their way to keep it to themselves. Their word was law and you did not show up late. With that lingering in the back of her mind, she hurried through the dining hall and back up the old stairs. The steps creaked from age but were practically mute with the commotion in the room at the top. Unlike the calm collected meeting just a few days earlier, their raised voices trickled through the walls. With the door ajar, the uproar around the table was barely a discussion, more an argument, as they bickered on a variety of issues. But one remained more prominent on their tongues.
“We must make the call,” Abigail Raisa spat out. “With the state of our food, the small bit we do have, we won't last another year. If we don't get help, or get out of here, we'll starve. That’s not a hypothetical situation. It’s fact.”
Helena stepped up to the door, and opened it, slipping inside.
Evelyn gestured Helena to the chair by the door but didn’t bat an eye at her. Instead, she reeled on Abigail with an unnecessarily loud sigh. “We don't know who we are dealing with. The wanted information is vague at best and there are scant details about what they can actually do to help us.” Evelyn rolled her eyes and turned to her son, Lydon, at her side. “I prefer facts and numbers over hyperbole. What do the stores say?”
The room quieted and all eyes turned to Tae-Hyun.
“Abigail is right. If we continue at our current rate of production and acquisition, coupled with the new community members, we would run out of a stable food supply during winter. Approximately late January without further rationing.” Tae-Hyun opened a ledger on the table, his finger tracing along the lines. “But there are options. Introducing a new source of labour, branching research into other areas around the city for food and clean water sources with acceptable loss projection and an adjustment to further extreme rationing measures for those with less laborious responsibilities... we could survive until spring. Late April, to be more precise.”
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
“Why wouldn't we leave?” Kam said. “The children alone should be reason enough to reach out and contact these people.”
Jonas leaned forward in his chair. “All I think Evelyn is trying to say is that we don't know what to expect.” He scratched the back of his head and cast a look Helena’s way. “We've been broadcasting that we have children here for, for well as long as I can remember. These people aren’t bleeding hearts coming to our rescue. Helping us would be a cost, not the goal.”
“But we have her to trade,” Magda insisted to her brother, her hand reaching out to him pleading. “They have to help. We can’t stay here.”
“If there is anyone to help.” Finn had made his way up the stairs and stepped in beside Helena. He gave her a knowing nod and she felt a bit of tension leave her. Aside from Kam, he was the only one who seemed to drop the “council authority” when outside the small cramped room. “We can't rule out the possibility there's no one else left. The posters could just be the remnants of the government’s last-ditch attempt at covering up their fuck ups and that broadcast could be a recording. They don’t update it.”
“I'm not ready to accept that.” Kam shook his head, stepping back with the table almost in disgust. “We have to hold onto hope.”
Kam is right on that. Helena searched deep in herself and took a steadying breath. They have to listen, I have to make them listen. They're not bad people, they'll want another option.
“There are other ways.” Her voice echoed over the group and strangely had a silencing effect. Eyes turned to her as though they were just noticing her there, like an uninvited guest.
“Yes?” Jonas wore a strange smile. When he leaned back, a few of those that had stood in physical defiance of the debate relaxed back to their seats as though he’d commanded it.
I can do this. She exhaled and stood up from the chair. “There is a transmission coming from Casa Loma.”
A collective sigh erupted from the group.
“He mentions research into a cure. Maybe-”
“We've heard this before.” Evelyn waved her hand as though she could swat the idea aside. “Lancaster is a waste of time and effort.”
“Maybe she's right.” Abigail's brow furrowed in concentration. “Not the cure but we aren't the only ones who could benefit from this evacuation. What about Lancaster and the people he has there? We've reached out to them before but, if we do manage to negotiate a rescue for our people, should we-”
“We're not responsible for everyone who's managed to stay alive in this city,” Magda blurted in a panic. “What would you have us do? Go get him and put our own people at risk?”
Helena looked between them. They’d missed the point entirely and before she could stop them, they were back to the bickering. Save themselves, save others, call for help, stay where they were... everyone is thinking only of themselves! It's bigger than all of us! But not a soul could see it. As quickly as she had entered the room she was just as easily forgotten and their voices clamoured about their own survival.
“No one's calling anyone.” Saul Delgado entered the room late to a group of glares. His hands were filthy and his brow was wet from sweat. “I just got done with Omarr.” Wiping his hands off on his pants did him no good. “We have long-distance communication issues.” A collective curse and wave of frustration rippled across each of them in the room. Even Helena felt a touch of it.
“So we can't contact anyone?” Evelyn asked directly but Saul shook his head.
“I can see us contacting maybe just outside the city but the transmission for the people that want our fugitive, that’s sourced outside of North America. We can't make that call. Not without some more parts.”
“When the hell did this happen?” someone shouted and the displeased accusations few from around the room.
“Don't blame the messenger!” Saul protested. “Omarr knows what needs to be done and he'll make a list of supplies. If we can get them from around here we will but we might have to go outside.”
“Well fuck,” Jonas cursed under his breath and leaned back.
“Why weren't we told about this sooner?” Magda barked, trembling in her seat. “This is our survival we're talking about here, and... and you broke the goddamn radio!”
Saul's casual defence firmed as he focused his eyes on cleaning his hands with the rag. “Omarr's been pressing for parts upwards of three months now for all sorts of equipment issues including the radio.” He shot glances around the table and several of the council members leaned back as though they could get further away. “I voted to give them to him. Majority said no. This isn't on Omarr or anyone outside of this room.”
“We can take another look around the college,” Tae-Hyun offered but Saul shook his head.
“Already did with those who know what to look for. What he needs, we don't have, not within these walls. But, before you tell me, he’s looking now anyway. I will too, once we’re done here.”
“You said we could still contact Lancaster?” Helena asked. “Maybe he has supplies?”
“He'll want to know why we need to fix our radio,” Evelyn commented.
“Then we tell him.” Kam quickly responded. “If we can barter enough space for all of us there won't be a problem adding a few more people. He can't have that many with him.”
“If he has the supplies he's not likely to deliver the parts himself. Or send any of his own.” Jonas said.
“I can contact him and make arrangements.” Helena looked around the room for consent in the faces she knew would side with her. Kam, Abigail, and Saul all agreed without hesitation.
“We need our doctor here,” Lyndon said with a touch of panic in his voice.
Helena knew he would protest, they all did.
“Anyone can talk with Lancaster and meet him but my son, he needs-”
“To get out of this place,” Evelyn finished for her son. “Not everyone can handle Lancaster. She might have a chance of getting through to that man. Helena, you can show Reid and Carol who needs special attention if this goes forward.” Evelyn turned to Jonas for a final consent, Magda and a few others quickly nodding after he did.
“Then it's settled. You contact Lancaster about the parts. Speak with Omarr on what he'll need.” Evelyn motioned to the door and Helena was quick to take the way out.
“Wait, Helena-” Jonas called, as her hand met the doorknob. “How’s our guest?”
“Recovering,” she answered. “It will take some time. Her run-in with...” Hesitation was a saving grace in this place and she didn't want to step on toes now more than ever. So she bit her tongue, though Saul looked down and shame seemed to light his features for what his brother Monte had done.
“Her wounds will recover in time. Maybe a week or two before she should be going anywhere.” The lies came easily as she remembered the woman's wounds. Ashley. Her name is Ashley. “I'll be sure to update you on her progress. For now, she'll be monitored more closely.”
“Yes, she will,” Jonas spoke gravely, his eyes narrowed on her and she knew it was a warning.
Despite the knot that spawned in her gut, she nodded and hurried out the room.
Put it from your mind, focus on the task at hand. Her feet couldn't carry her fast enough out of the building and into the quad. Don't run, she told herself, walking as fast as she could. Don't bring attention to yourself. Just get to that radio, make the call. I can do this. Hurrying to her office she opened the door and sliding into her seat. She opened the textbooks stacked on her desk and started brushing up on her virology vocabulary in anticipation of the conversation.
“I can do this,” she whispered to herself. There is hope.