Apocalypsis 03 - Exodus

just won a spelling bee or something.
    The sleep was still muddling my brain. “I don’t get it. Why me?” I asked.
    “Because you’re the mayor,” said Ronald, smiling and opening the door for me.
    “And because you’re the reason they’re all here,” said Jamal. “Now go greet the newcomers.”
    “Aren’t you coming?” I asked.
    “Do you really need to ask that?” said Ronald as he plunked a helmet over his head. “We can’t just let anyone in here. We’ve gotta do some checks at the gate. Jamal and I are on it.”
    Jamal had put his helmet and jacket on too and was taking his shield from Bianca. “Thank you, gorgeous,” he said smiling. “Ready to go!” he announced, puffing out his chest. “I still feel like a cop!”
    Bodo stepped closer to me, pushing the shield out of the way. “Be careful. I will be right here if you needt me.”
    “Why aren’t you coming?” I asked, confused why he was taking a back seat like this.
    “Dis iss your moment. Let dem see you in front, being Bryn. Dat’s who dey want. Dat’s who dey need right now. Not me.”
    “But …”
    “I’m not goingk anywhere. Don’t worry. It’s not a problem … I got your back.” He winked at me.
    “I luff you,” I said, smiling nervously.
    He leaned down and kissed me. “I luff you, too. Hurry up. My lips are already getting coldt.” He smacked me on the butt as I walked away.
    Ronald held the door open for me and Jamal, and then followed us out.
    I walked slowly up to the gate, my lips moving as I silently counted heads. There were at least thirty kids out there, several of them bleeding, all of them looking like they needed food and shelter. I stopped just a few feet from the fence, making sure I was still far enough away that no one could reach through and grab me.
    A kid I’d never seen before was in front of everyone, right by the opening to the gate.
    I stood facing him and waited a few seconds before speaking, taking in his ultra-skinny six-foot-tall frame, his brown, unkempt and unwashed hair, and his intelligent but serious eyes.
    “Hi,” I said.
    “Hi. Are you Bryn?”
    “I am. And who are you?”
    “I’m Derek. I heard you’re starting a new place down here. A cannibal-free zone.”
    My heart stopped as the sound of my dad’s name came from his lips. I was unable to speak for a few seconds, feeling like I was seeing a ghost - my dad from another time and place.
    Jamal nudged me gently from behind.
    “I guess that’s true,” I said, my heart beating double-time to get back to its normal rhythm. I took a slow breath in and out, calming my nerves that were threatening to run away from me.
    “We’d like to join you.”
    I raised an eyebrow. “All of these people are with you?”
    He nodded. “Most of them. Some we picked up recently.”
    “Where are you from?”
    “Tallahassee.”
    “You’re a long way from home,” said Ronald.
    “We have no home anymore; but we want one. And we’re willing to work for it,” he said, nodding his head firmly.
    I wanted to believe him. He shared my father’s name, making him instantly credible in my heart. But I put my own feelings aside, knowing I needed to be smart and protect the interests of my community regardless of how I felt personally. I had to find a way to determine whether he was a good kid needing a home, or a canner trying to breach our defenses.
    “How do I know you’re not a canner … a cannibal? Or a sweeper?”
    “I don’t know what a sweeper is, but you know I’m not a cannibal by looking at me.” He gestured to his gaunt face and skeletal frame. “Do I look like I’ve been indulging in any bar-b-cues lately?”
    “He’s got a point,” said Jamal, looking the guy up and down, shaking his head sadly.
    Derek turned and gestured to the group. “We’re all starving. Some of us barely made it here. We’ve been on foot the entire way. We’d almost given up hope of finding any safe place to live until we came upon the waystation.”
    I frowned. “Waystation?” He can’t be serious.
    “Yeah. The Crackerbarrel? Jimmy and Sissy?”
    I laughed, unable to help myself. “Seriously? You found me through them too?” I guess they really have forgiven me for breaking that door.
    “Yeah. Word’s getting around. And they’re good people. Totally anti-canner. They help anyone who’s on the same side. They’re telling everyone you’re down in the swamps. We started out going there, but then we heard you were coming