Chapter 178
- Evan -
"AGH...!"
I rubbed my temple for a second to force myself to think clearly.
Districts one and two are flooded and sealed. District three is overcrowded, and the grid is starting to fail.
Josh leaned close in beside me.
"You've got a plan, Captain?"
"Working on it," I grit between my teeth. "This is why I call you little brother, Pest."
Josh smiled. He was trying to get me out of my head.
"I would rather have your instincts than your logic. Your head might explode." Josh teased.
I know he was trying to help, but damn it, I could still kick him in the gut.
Seeing families reunited helped keep some of the panic from spiraling out of control too fast. Josh was happy to see that as well.
That didn't help people stop arguing.
"ENOUGH!" I shouted.
"We're all in the same situation right now," I said calmly. "Arguing about territory isn't going to help anyone."
District 3 resident #2: "Then what will help?"
That's a fair question.
My head hurt, and unfortunately, I didn't have a clean answer yet.
Duke put his hand on my shoulder to steady me, but before he could say a word, the lights flickered, and half the street went dark.
Even some of the emergency lights were being redirected.
James looked up again.
"If the flood keeps going, it will affect the lower conduits... maybe a few hours before full grid failure," James sighed.
"A few hours are at best all we can hope for right now. We are limited on time, so our next moves may be," Micah added.
Josh whistled under his breath and muttered. "That's comforting." Becky elbowed him for me.
I turned back and looked toward the sealed emergency doors below us.
Water thundered against them nonstop, calling to push their way farther in.
A man leaning against the barricade again. "The governor told us everything was under control."
Someone answered.
"Does this look under control to you?"
"Finally, people are starting to question him," Josh chuckled.
Trust was a fragile thing right now.
Once it cracked, it didn't repair easily.
Josh stretched his arms beside me.
"Any chance things will get easier from here?"
"No, not a chance. Not even a little."
This was like the dome all over again, but more forced and much faster. There may not be so many demons to battle, but humans left to their own fears can be just as catastrophic.
And somewhere deep inside Bushel Shell City, another section of the power grid failed.
James stepped forward.
"I may have a solution, but nothing to put your money on."
"Talk—I am all ears."
"I've tracked the system's 'main brain' to the exclusive districts of City 7; only the governors' families and elites are allowed. If I can get to the control panels, I might be able to stop or slow the hackers down. I've been studying grid systems since the dome attack months ago, but I don't have nearly as much knowledge as I would like. It's going to be a long shot in the dark, but I am willing to try."
I nodded. "Go and be safe if you can make it. We need to know. Try to tell us through the intercoms. "We are in your hands, James!"
Micah hugged him before he left.
"Now, as for the people here, we may need to stay ahead of the attacks and get some of them to the next city; the hospitals are meant to hold large numbers of people. It may be safe to say that getting the families and the elderly here is a priority for Districts 1 and 2 for now. It will give them a chance to rest since they have had to move 2 times. We will focus on the District 3 market level once we return."
The crowd didn't immediately move.
People rarely do when they're exhausted and scared.
They wait.
They look around.
They hope someone else will make the first step, so they don't have to.
Josh clapped his hands loudly.
"Alrightly! You heard the captain!" He shouted. "Families with kids and anyone who needs help walking — you're with us!"
A few people hesitated.
Then a small woman holding a toddler stepped forward.
That was all it took.
The movement spread throughout the crowd like a ripple.
Duke stepped forward beside me, his wings folding tightly against his back so he wouldn't knock anyone over.
I am sure that seeing the Waymakers and guardian angels in action has given them some hope and promise right now.
He directed the people up the street by pointing and waving them toward the next district's incline.
"The hospital towers are up in District Four. There is plenty of room, a solid structure, and an actual bed if you're lucky."
Some people didn't move and refused to evacuate again.
A small woman holding a sleeping toddler stepped forward.
That was all it took.
The movement started to spread; the crowd moved faster now.
"I'll take the rear again and make sure people keep moving forward. We need to move as many people as we can right now."
Baby nodded beside him.
"I'll help with the elderly.
Micah was already 10 steps ahead. She used the wind, curling it around her, Becky's, and Kaysi's hands to lift a collapsed barricade beam off the street and shoved it aside so people could pass more easily.
"Path's clear," she called.
Josh grinned.
"See? Teamwork. We're great at this."
"I think you mean girl power; now move," I told him.
He laughed and jogged ahead to start organizing.
The incline into District Four wasn't far, but for the hundreds of frightened civilians, it probably felt like miles away.
Water splashed around our boots. It's only ankle-deep now.
Most of it drains slowly into the city's runoff channels.
People stepped carefully through it, holding children or helping grandparents walk.
Becky walked beside an older woman who clung to her arm like a lifeline.
"You'll be alright," Becky kept reassuring her gently.
Kaysi carried the toddler who had just fallen asleep so the mother could guide her elderly father.
Micah floated just above the street, looking ahead from time to time to make sure everyone was okay.
Josh jogged back and forth along the column like an overexcited shepherd.
"Stay together!" he called. "Hospital towers are just ahead!"
The glow of the hospital district lights finally appeared at the top of the incline.
Tall glass structures with emergency red cross markers glowing along their sides.
The doors had already been forced open.
Inside, medical staff and volunteers were scrambling to prepare.
Once, a nurse looked up as the first civilians entered, and her eyes widened.
The people breathed a sigh of, "Thank God."
Josh leaned against the doorway frame.
"You're welcome."
Becky elbowed him. "We aren't done yet. Get to helping them."
For almost an hour, we did nothing but help the hospital set up cots and places for everyone.
Trip after trip, we moved the people in.
The crowd slowly thinned as people made peace with their current situation.
Children were finally getting blankets and warming up.
Older residents sat down for the first time since the evacuation started.
Duke carried an elderly man the rest of the way and got him into a nearby wheelchair while nurses helped.
Baby stayed behind with the hospital volunteers, helping calm people once they got settled in.
Her voice was soft amid the panic, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
Josh tried to keep spirits up, the only way he knew how—making jokes.
"Look at this," he joked, "free hospital stay. Normally this costs thousands!"
The father of a small boy laughed.
Small victories.
Duke stepped out of the hospital doors into the cool morning air.
"They'll be safe here for now."
"Good," I replied.
We were done; we went back down the incline to help the rest of the people and figure out how they could coexist while we waited for James to come through ot the next attack.
Once we were back to the start, where the main markets were located, Josh's grin slowly faded.
"...Uh."
That was never a good sign.
I followed his gaze.
And my stomach tightened immediately.