Chapter 9.2: On the Cusp of Autumn (continued)

Raz is surprised to see Soda in the Crypts. He’s hardly seen NBAZ’s new runner at all since everything went down earlier that summer—just like how Dead Boy changed when he started running outside, Soda seems to prefer the fog to civilized society now.

Soda’s leading a group of six older men down the platform. When Raz catches his eye, Soda gives him a nod like he has something to say, then tells the other guys to wait up and jogs over to greet him.

Raz raises his eyebrows in surprise. Soda’s barking orders to a bunch of adults now? Man, that kid’s really changed.

He looks different, too. He used to wear that red parka everywhere he went, with a carefree smile and an easy-going attitude. But since that night he spent at Raz’s place, Soda’s become much more somber and reticent and he’s changed his style up to match. Dressed all in shades of white and pale grey, Raz guesses Soda must be pretty hard to see jogging around in the fog.

Raz clasps his friend’s hand in greeting. “Haven’t seen you in a few weeks. Who’re they?” He jerks his head to the men Soda’d come in with, who are now loitering wide-eyed near a food stand.

“More refugees. Brought ‘em in from Potrero Hill, just arrived fresh outta the fog.”

“Ah.”

Raz is about to make light of the attacks that have been going on in the southern settlements, but his words fall dead when he glances over at the six survivors. None of them arrived with any personal possessions save the clothes on their backs, and some look underdressed at that.

He looks back to Soda, who’s so well-armed the refugees are probably terrified of him. Sometime in the past month and a half, he’d picked up an actual sword and a rifle, both of which are slung across his back. He’s not carrying any sort of pack either, which is … odd for a runner? Isn’t he supposed to be foraging out in the fog or something?

What is up with this guy these days? Raz wonders. He disappears all summer and then shows up packing a bloody longsword and a gun? Where did he even get those things?

“I stopped in to visit our friend on the way back,” Soda continues in a low voice, and Raz knows he’s talking about Garden. “Had to tell her something important before everyone else finds out.”

“Oh?”

Soda takes Raz by the shoulder and leans in close. His eyes are sad. He opens his mouth, but can’t seem to find the right words.

“Soda, what is it?” Raz looks around nervously. Nobody’s close enough to eavesdrop.

“It’s Dead Boy,” Soda says at last, his voice trailing off as he takes a deep breath.

“Shit…” Raz shuts his eyes, thinking of Carlita. She’ll be heartbroken, but at least she’ll finally have some closure. “Where did they find his body?”

“No, not that. He’s alive.”

Raz opens his eyes again with a gasp, his thoughts of Carlita suddenly diving down a jealous avenue that he wasn’t at all expecting. “Alive?!”

“Yes. But, there’s a problem. Dead Boy’s joined the Deadheads. His eyes are frozen and everything. He’s gone over to the other side.”

Raz stares at his friend incredulously, speechless. Slowly, he slides down to sit on the ground, all the strength draining out of his legs. Soda crouches beside him, quietly studying a pitted patch of the cement floor as Raz processes this terrible revelation.

Raz breaks the silence with a groan. “I really don’t wanna have to tell Carlita this news.”

“Yeah, I know. They were close right?” Soda pats Raz on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’ll tell her.”

Raz shakes his head in earnest. “No, no, I mean I should really be the one that breaks the bad news to her. Just, not looking forward to it.”

“Yeah? You sure?”

“Yeah. Carlita and I are … kind of a thing now.” Raz shrugs and cracks a half smile. “So, it’s best if she hears it from me.”

“Whoah, when did that happen? And whaddaya mean, kind of a thing?” Soda’s grinning now, too.

Raz grunts. “I dunno. It’s like, we’re for sure together, but her heart’s still with Dead Boy. Every time I try to kiss her, she just pipes up about Del, can’t stop talking about him. Kinda puts a damper on the mood. So, it’s like, we’re a thing but not quite?”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Soda whistles, long and low, then slaps his friend on the back again. “Glad I’m not in your shoes, bud. Well, I’ll head up with you anyway. Gotta deliver the news to Sunshine before I report the new arrivals to the Committee. Haven’t told Jazzman yet, but well, this is more important.”

Raz nods. “Sure. Well, come on. Let’s get this over with.”

###

“Back so early? Did you forget something?”

Carlita’s sitting by the gap in the railing behind the greenhouse, chipping away at the ice accumulated on the garden drainage pipes that extend off the rooftop — the pipe insulation should have been replaced at the end of summer; just one more item to add to the long list of neverending chores around this place.

She whacks on the pipe a few more times before she realizes Raz hasn’t answered. She looks up. He’s standing next to the greenhouse a couple yards away, and clearly appears distraught.

“Raz, what’s wrong?”

Raz looks up at the sky and says, “I ran into Soda down in the Crypts.”

“Oh my god, is he alright?” Carlita can’t help but feel worried for Soda; runners don’t exactly have the best survival rate around here.

“Yeah, he’s fine!” Raz replies, his hands buried deep in his pockets. “He’s acting super weird lately though.”

Carlita stares back at Raz, thinking, You’re acting super weird. She wonders if he’ll just spill the beans if she waits long enough. It works.

“I mean, the entire walk up here, he wouldn’t answer hardly any of my questions. Very dodgy. He’s got a sword now, didja know that?”

“A sword?”

Raz nods, his face creased with consternation.

Carlita snorts. “You came all the way back up here to tell me about Soda’s sword?”

“No.” Razz puffs out his cheeks and looks out at the sunset, obviously stalling and acting very uncomfortable.

Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no! Carlita sucks in a cool lungful of air, gulping down her anxiety. She’s been dreading this day for oh so long, but she’s always known it would eventually come.

“Raz?” She stands and steps forward a few feet, holding her cane delicately poised in front of her with folded hands.

Carlita’s quote-unquote boyfriend just stands there dumbly, hiding his lips with a sour pucker, his hands buried deep in his pockets. No hugs. No closeness. Just dumb, cold awkwardness.

Yep. This confirms it. He’s dumping me.

She couldn’t expect him to just wait forever, could she? She’s been acting standoffish this entire time, obsessing about Del. Raz is so damn cute, he could’ve had any girl in the whole NBAZ — and he chose me! At least, at first. But I guess I’ve made it clear I’m not interested.

She grits her teeth, frustration coursing adrenaline through her body. Except I am. I am, I am, I am interested! But she can’t bring herself to say it, because … she follows Raz’s gaze out to the sunset and thoughts of Del flit distractingly through her mind, scattering her attention.

She slouches her shoulders in defeat. It doesn’t matter. It’s too late. Now Raz is gonna dump her and she’ll even lose him as a friend. There’s no way he’s not going to act awkward every time she sees him from now on, after all. Smooth-talking Raz will turn out to be just another dumb boy on her list of guys who won’t say more than two words to her.

She juts her chin out indignantly and glares at him. “Well?”

Raz shivers with chattering teeth, takes a deep breath, then says, “Do you remember, after everything went down, how I told you I’d always be there for you?”

Carlita’s jaw drops incredulously, her blood beginning to boil. This is how he’s gonna drop me? By rubbing dirt in the wound?

She’s not having it. “Look, if you’re breaking up with me, just get it over with already,” she snaps at him, then turns away. She doesn’t want to see this.

“Oh! No!” Raz exclaims. Carlita looks suspiciously back at him over her shoulder. “It’s not that! Just, I have some bad news.”

She slowly turns back around, her heart melting away into a cold pit, a sneaking suspicion suddenly rising up. She doesn’t want to say it, but she can’t help it — his name is already escaping her lips. “De– Del? Not Del…”

Raz nods slowly, his eyes wet with welling tears, all but proclaiming Del’s death sentence.

This is the other day she’s been dreading.

But then he says something even worse, just blurts it out in a rush:

“Soda found Del out in the fog. ‘Lita, he’s … he’s turned into a deadhead.”

Carlita shakes her head violently. No! No, it can’t be true! Raz’s lips keep moving, spouting terrible things about how Del must be basically brain dead now, but Carlita’s not listening. Stop talking! Stop saying this!

“I’m sorry, ‘Lita. I really am. Del Rey is gone.”

Raz steps forward with arms open to embrace her, but Carlita shuffles backward, dodging his affection. She’s still shaking her head, trying to shake it all off like maybe he’s wrong and he’ll take it all back.

“I’m sorry,” he says, proving that he meant it. He’s still holding his arms open expectantly, like he can make it all better with a little snuggle.

“No, don’t touch me!” She doesn’t mean it, but she can’t help it, just wants to be left alone. She turns and pushes away from him.

She realizes too late that she’s stepped right through the gap in the rooftop railing. Her left foot scrabbles on the drain pipe, but it’s suddenly slick with fresh ice and she can’t stop her forward momentum. Her hands flail wildly but find nothing to hold.

The horizon tips and Carlita falls over the edge of the roof.

###

This is the end of Flight Into Shadow, book two of The Apocamist. Find out what happens next in book three, Powers Untold.