The Annihilation of Foreverland

flesh and soared to higher planes. It had been thirty years in the making, and now it was here. He swirled the tomato juice into half a glass of vodka. It would be the last time he would need a drink. From that day forward, euphoria would be on tap.
    “Director,” the intercom called. “We’re ready down here.”
    “Very well, continue. I’ll be down after the round is complete.”
    He lied. They could get started, but they’d never finish.
    His plans were carefully laid out. He wouldn’t need them anymore. Wouldn’t need anyone.
    The Haystack bell rang.
    The Director finished his drink while the group walked toward their final round. He waited until a trio of boys crossed the Yard – one propped in the middle of the other two. Once they entered the path leading to the Haystack, he placed the drink on a table and slid onto the chair. The material stuck to his skin but was soft and warm. The rollers whirred beneath his buttocks. He sunk into the cushions.
    The needle was greased and ready.
    It entered his brain.
    Here I come, world. Ready or not.

55
    Reed’s head bobbled.
    Danny and Zin walked sideways to get down the narrow path. Reed was throwing a lazy step for every two steps they were taking. They were almost carrying him by the time they reached the Haystack.
    Mr. Smith was standing at the entrance. Reed’s lips were tinted green. He wouldn’t feel a thing. Danny wanted to give the sadistic old bastard the finger, standing there with his hands behind his back, waiting patiently for Reed.
    Danny and Zin began turning to walk Reed through the door. “Stop there, boys.”
    “He can’t walk.” Danny cleared his throat, tried to take the venom out of his tone. “Mr. Smith, he can’t walk on his own. He’s messed up, as you know.”
    “You won’t be going inside.” Mr. Smith didn’t hide the smirk.
    “What are you talking about?” Danny said. “The Director told me we were all going to do this round, you can ask him.”
    “I don’t need to, son. He changed his mind. You and Zin will be sitting out this round.”
    The other boys were going to their cells. Reed’s chin was touching his chest.
    “I don’t believe you,” Danny said.
    “I don’t care.” Mr. Smith put his hand in his pocket. “You can ask the Director, but right now you’re going to let go of Reed. If you don’t, I’ll drop you on the ground. You’re familiar with that feeling, aren’t you, son?”
    Smile.
    Danny pulled Reed back. The old bastard would have to zap him, if that’s what he wanted. He wasn’t giving him up. Zin got between him and Mr. Smith, like that would stop the tracker. The old man smiled bigger. He was going to enjoy this.
    “Danny Boy.” Mr. Jones came out of the Haystack. “It’s true, son. The Director gave us new orders to postpone your round until this one is over. It’s only temporary, my boy. I promise.”
    He reached out, but Danny jerked away.
    Mr. Smith took a step forward, reached deeper in his pocket. Mr. Jones put up his hand to stop him. He looked sad. Remorseful. Pleading with Danny to stop the foolishness. Mr. Smith would drop him if he didn’t.
    Danny took Reed’s arm off his shoulders. Mr. Smith ducked under it and took Reed’s weight. He needed Mr. Jones to help with the other side. Together, they walked into the Haystack.
    Reed’s feet were dragging.
    Just before the door closed, Mr. Clark could be heard announcing from inside. “Clothes on, gentlemen. The Director has granted you reprieve.”

    “Something’s not right.” Danny paced outside the door. “None of it makes sense. No suffering, clothes on. Something’s not right, Zin.”
    He looked at the closed door.
    “He knows.”
    “Who?” Zin said.
    “The Director. He knows I was going to blow up the island. He locked us out and now something big is going down. I got a bad feeling, Zin. I got a bad feeling Reed isn’t going to hold out. He’s going inside the needle.”
    Zin took a knee at the door, inspected the lock. He could pick it. They could go get Reed as soon as the Investors were gone. But that would only delay the inevitable. And make it worse. The Director would toss them over the cliff for sure.
    There were no needles anywhere except the Haystack. Even if they could find them, they wouldn’t work. Putting a needle in his brain wouldn’t automatically take him to Foreverland. There had to another way to access the island, another way to hack into the system.
    “I got it.”
    Zin turned