The Annihilation of Foreverland

sat around the table killing time while they slow-roasted their bodies in the mid-afternoon heat.
    Danny had been to the beach. He was expecting Reed to be warming up on the dune, but it was empty. He wanted to tell him.
    Merry Christmas, Danny Boy.
    It was from her. The red wrapping, the same bright red of her hair. The sand, he figured, maybe that meant the beach. Meet her at the beach inside the needle? Was that it? Or meet Reed at the beach when he got back? And Merry Christmas?
    “Zinski!” Sid slapped Zin. “Wake up, boy. It’s your deal.”
    Zin had his elbows on the table, staring at the mess of cards. He was yawning. Danny caught him shivering, earlier. Zin slowly unraveled the cards, stacking them all in one direction. He attempted to shuffle but they sprayed over the table.
    “I think Zinski’s heading for the Chimney, boys,” Sid announced. “You feeling a little foggy, son? A little muddled in the noodle?”
    Zin batted his arm away. “I’m waking up, fool.”
    “Oooooo…” Sid poked the cards out of his hands. “This dog’s got some bite.”
    Zin carefully picked them up and began putting them back together. He was sluggish. Maybe he was tired, but he was breathing through his mouth. Vacancy lingered in his eyes now and then. How long before the Chimney took him?
    Danny didn’t want to think about it. He just got here and now Zin was looking more like Parker. Danny got up and stretched.
    “Where you going?” Sid scooped up the cards as Zin dealt them.
    “A walk, I guess.”
    “Maybe you’re going to the beach with Reed.”
    “Why would I do that?” Danny snapped.
    “I don’t know. You been there a couple times, I thought maybe you two were dating.”
    “Give him a break,” Danny said. “Who on this island is normal?”
    “That’s my point, you lunatic. He’s standout crazy on an island of crazies. Right, Zinski?”
    Zin blocked Sid’s attempt to rustle his hair.
    “Reed’s in his room,” Zin said. “I heard him in there before I came down.”
    “Well, good,” Sid said. “Maybe they finally broke through his granite skull and he’ll pop the needle like the rest of us.” Sid played a card. “He thinks he’s too good, that’s his problem. He’s special or something, all high and mighty that he can’t damage his royal head. Friggin idiot, is what he is.”
    “You hit it right on the money.” Danny stepped closer. “He’s so stuck up that he would rather suffer than go inside the needle. All this time I thought he was trying to work something out or maybe he was just afraid we’re all doing the wrong thing, but now you’ve made so much sense, Sid. He’s an asshole! Why didn’t I think of that?”
    The game stopped. Sid tapped his cards on the table. “What’s your problem, kid? You got a crush on Looney Tunes?”
    “You ever stop to think why we’re here, Sid?”
    “We’re here because we’re sick.” Sid nodded at the others. “This is a revolutionary method of healing, or did you miss orientation?”
    “You buying that?” Danny looked around. “We’ve all had our memories sucked out and scrambled and we’re marched into a prison cell and forced to get naked before they torture us until we stick a needle in our brains… that’s what you’re buying, no questions asked?”
    “It’s revolutionary, dummy.”
    “Or something else,” Danny said.
    Silence settled.
    Sid tapped his cards into a neat stack and placed them face down. He was thinking. They all were. It was the line of questions that was always ignored. No one wanted to think about it. Even Danny.
    But it was out there like the Ace of Spades.
    “Okay, hotshot.” Sid was expressionless. “Why don’t you do something about it?”
    Danny clenched his fists so no one would see him shaking. He didn’t have any more balls to do something about it than any of the rest of them. He was reaching for the needle just like they were; swimming towards a bone-crushing waterfall.
    Danny opened his hands. His fingers trembled.
    “That’s what I thought.” Sid picked up his cards. “So why don’t you shut your little cake hole and play some cards.”
    Sid shouted for the next play. Zin was staring, mouth open.

23
    Danny went to the beach a couple of times that week. Always empty.
    He avoided Sid and company and they didn’t seem to care. They had locked up first place so they didn’t need Danny anymore. They went to the game room without him while he was lying in the middle of the Yard