Autumn in the City of Angels (22 page)

“There,” said Grey.  I looked in the direction he was pointing and instantly found Ben, Rissi and Connie.  I grinned, and Rissi tore away from Ben and sprinted toward us.  I caught her in a bear hug and carried her back to where Ben and Connie were waiting.

Connie immediately reached for me and hugged me tightly.

“I was just about to grab Daniel to head back out for you guys,” said Ben.  “Where are all the meds?”

“It’s a long story,” I said with a look of finality, glancing toward Rissi.  I hoped he’d pick up my meaning and drop the subject until she wasn’t around.

Grey looked toward the front of the theater where Lydia stood over Shad.  “I should go check in with the others.”  He squeezed my hand, and I watched his retreating back.

 “We were so worried when the alarm went off and we couldn’t find you,” Connie said.

“I’m so sorry,” I began.

“Seriously, where
were
you?” Ben asked.  “I ran all over the place looking for you.”

“We could barely find anyone ourselves.  You were there.  It was chaos.  I don’t know how we missed you.” My voice trailed off.  I hated lying.  Especially to Connie and Ben, but I didn’t see any way around it.

“Where’s Todd?  Isn’t he with you and Grey?” Ben asked.

I stammered and looked at the floor, unsure of how to say it.  I pulled off my backpack and gave it to Rissi.  “I found a surprise for you.  Why don’t you go over there and peek inside.”

“Autumn, where’s Todd?” Connie asked quietly as Rissi perched herself on a theater seat and unzipped the bag.

“He didn’t make it,” I said, then explained our narrow escape from Karl.  Ben and Connie stared at me, dumbstruck.  I couldn’t look at their faces anymore, so I looked over at Rissi, who was staring in disbelief at her Molly doll.  When a Cheshire cat smile broke over her face, I felt warmth seep back into my bones.

I looked at Ben, who was watching Rissi as well.  He had a distant look in his eyes, and he stammered, “I can’t believe he’s gone.”  He sighed and continued to watch his sister play with the Molly doll.  “Where did Rissi get that?” he said suddenly.

My voice was nearly a whisper as I replied, “We found it on the walk here.  I thought she’d like it.”

“Oh,” was all Ben said as he continued to stare in a near-hypnotized state.  I saw Connie gently take his hand.

“I should see if there’s anything else I can do,” I said, feeling like I needed to remove myself before I, too, became hypnotized by the gravity of the situation.  I turned and began walking away, and thankfully, Ben didn’t try to stop me.  I felt his eyes on my back as I retreated, though.

I found Grey down at the front of the theater with Lydia and a few other familiar folks.  I assumed he’d broken the news about Todd because of the stricken looks on everyone’s faces, but it appeared they were still trying to function as leaders and come up with a course of action.

I came up behind Grey and slipped my hand in his.  I wearily leaned into him.  Our few stolen hours at The Water Tower already seemed days ago.

“We were just discussing temporary hiding places in the city,” Grey said.

“
In
the city?” I asked, suddenly more awake.  “Why aren’t we leaving for the Hoover Dam?  I thought they were waiting for us.”

Daniel, who’d spoken up for Ben when he volunteered for the scout, shook his head and said, “Perhaps in a few weeks...”

I cut him off.  “We know The Front’s weaker now than it’s been for months.  We should take advantage of that fact by escaping while they regroup.”

Grey nodded.  “I agree.”

The men nodded in agreement, and my eyes shifted to my friends.  It was going to be a long walk to Whiteman Field, and it wouldn’t be easy for anyone, especially if the rain didn’t let up.  Then a memory flashed before my eyes.

“We won’t have to walk,” I said confidently, letting a large smile overtake my face.  That got everyone’s attention, so I continued.  “We can use the Smart cars in the tower nearby.”

“I would say they would be perfect, except for the fact that gas has become somewhat of a hot commodity these days,” Daniel said with a tone of finality.

“They’re electric,” I explained.  “There’s got to be two dozen in that tower.  If we could get them out and charge the batteries—”

 “They’ve been sitting a long time,” Daniel interjected.

“It’s worth a try.  Those cars are small enough to drive around all the other abandoned cars on the roads.  In theory, all they should need is a good charge.”  I knew I was being audacious, but I had a good feeling about those cars.

Daniel looked at Grey, eyebrows raised.  Grey shrugged, hiding a smile.  He looked back at me.  “I’ll put some people on it now.  God knows how we’re gonna get those things outta that tower,” Daniel said.

“There’s something else,” I said, feeling more confident.  An idea had been taking root in my brain, and I decided to test my newfound influence.  “Grey told me we know where The Front’s been broadcasting from up in the Hollywood Hills.”

“That’s right,” said Daniel.

“I used to volunteer at a radio station after school,” I said.  “I know how most of those boards work.  And I’m positive I’ve been to that station before.”

“Autumn, what are you suggesting?” asked Grey very hesitantly.

“We know there are other, smaller groups still out there hiding from The Front.  Once we’re gone, they don’t stand a chance.  But we could slip into the radio station and broadcast our own message to let everyone know that if they can make it to the dam, we can protect them from The Front.”

“You realize The Front will hear your message, too, right?” Daniel asked.  I nodded.  “And you want to tell them where we’re going?” Daniel said, eyebrows raising again, but this time, he didn’t look impressed.

“It doesn’t matter if they know.  They’ve already been shown up by the Hoover Settlement.  Karl knows better than to try again!  With our numbers on top of those already there, it would be crazy for them to follow us.”  I looked up at Grey, whose eyebrows were pinched with worry.  “Grey, you and I could do it while everyone else makes their way to Whiteman Airfield.”

I squeezed his hand, “Please, do this for me?  We can stop that stupid tape they’ve had on loop for the last few months and tell people what’s really going on and where they can come and be safe.  There are so many people like us still left in this city.  This is our last chance to help them before we leave.”

Grey sighed deeply and slowly. “You’re sure you know how to work the boards?  Because I don’t.”

I nodded.  “No problem.”

He rubbed his hand over his eyes as if he were tired and looked down at me for a moment.  I tried to be as strong and confident as possible.  He sighed and finally said, “Okay.  I’ll take you.”

Relief flooded through me, and I resisted the urge to throw my arms around him.

Daniel nodded his approval and said, “Keep a watchful eye out.  I’ll fly back for you at dawn.”  He motioned to Grey.  “Let’s go see about those cars, shall we?”

Grey squeezed my arm and smiled before heading off with Daniel. Then Ben appeared beside me.  “So, what’s the plan?”  I explained quickly.  His reaction was much like Grey’s.  His lips pinched into a knot.  “I don’t like it.”

“Ben, it needs to be done.  Think of all the kids like Rissi out there in hiding and running out of food.”

“Can’t someone else go?  You’re too important... to Rissi.  And Connie,” he added quickly.

“Do
you
know how to work sound boards at a radio station?”  I asked.  I didn’t wait for him to shake his head.  I knew he didn’t.  “It was my idea.  I want to go.  Besides, if you can put your life at risk by going on a scout, then I can put mine at risk to help out the last few good people left in the city.”

 “Yeah, whatever.  I don’t like it.”  He stood there and stared at me, his unblinking eyes trained on me.  There was nothing more to be said, so I reached to hug him, and surprisingly, he let me.  “Just, don’t take too long, okay?” he said.  “I don’t know what I’m going to tell Rissi while we wait for you.”

“I’ll be right behind you.  Promise.”

Once Daniel figured out the mechanics of the tower, it didn’t take long to unload the cars.  I stared in awe as the tower’s hydraulics hummed while spinning and lowering the cars one by one before spitting them out at the base of the large glass structure.  The batteries were dead, but everyone helped to push and steer the cars toward the maintenance area of the dealership where each car would get a quick charge.

The tower wasn’t as noisy as I feared it might be.  We were a couple miles from the school, and occasionally had to stop and run inside for cover when one of Daniel’s lookouts on top of nearby buildings saw one of Karl’s scouts getting too close.  So far, we hadn’t attracted any attention.  I hoped our luck would hold out a little longer, at least until we had all of the cars ready to go.

There were barely enough cars for everyone.  Ben sprang from car to car, watching the batteries slowly fill, a Smart car manual clutched in his hands.  Once a car had just enough juice for the fifteen mile trek, he unplugged it and called for a group to come over from the theater.  The cars were only made for two people, and we needed most to carry a third person, possibly a fourth.  Once the car was filled to capacity, they were sent on their way to the airfield.  The electric cars were so small and brightly colored that each departing group looked like a small caravan of clown cars as they disappeared into the growing nighttime.

Grey and I were part of the last group of cars to leave Hollywood.  I breathed a sigh of relief as we finally crossed Sunset Boulevard and stole up into Lookout Mountain unnoticed.  Taking Laurel Canyon Boulevard through the Hollywood Hills without headlights was terrifying.  The narrow two-lane road consisted of hairpin turns that went for miles through the mountains.  Knowing Grey’s eyesight was stronger than my own was a great comfort as we drove.

The few cars left abandoned on the road weren’t so much a problem as the debris from the fires and mudslides.  The multi-million dollar houses that used to line the street were now black, burned-out shapes, sulking in the darkness beyond the road, only shadows of what they once were.  By next year, the mudslides would probably render this route completely impassable, cutting off West Hollywood from the neighboring San Fernando Valley.

We’d planned to separate from the group at Mulholland Drive and wait until enough time passed for everyone to get to Whiteman Field and start getting people in the air.  Then Grey would project us to the station.  He wasn’t thrilled with the idea of projecting to a place he’d never been, especially with me, but he thought it would be safer than sneaking in.

“There,” I said, as we crested the hill, and I saw the familiar intersection.  Grey turned and we went up even further into the mountains.  After a couple of miles, he pulled off the road and turned off the car.  The rain finally stopped, and the only noise was the occasional droplet from the trees hitting the roof and windshield.  Through the burned tree trunks, we could see a few lights still twinkling below us in the Los Angeles basin.  This must have once been a scenic look out.  I felt a sudden moment of embarrassment.  Being in a parked car with a boy at a scenic overlook felt so hysterically normal all of a sudden, and I couldn’t help but blush.  A smile came over my face as I thought of how things would be different if we’d been here like this before The Plague.  I snuck a look at Grey.  He was watching me.

“Why are you always looking at me?” I said, sounding exasperated but loving the feeling of his eyes on me.

“Because you’re beautiful,” he said, eyes still focused on me.

I looked back at him, suddenly conscious of my dirty sneakers and tangled hair.

Even in the darkness, his eyes pierced me with light.

“You know I love you, right?” he said.  “Even if you change your mind and don’t go through with this.  It won’t change a thing for me.”  I hoped he wasn’t going to try to talk me out of this again.  I loved him, too.  I had from the moment he pulled me into his arms in that dark alley.  But there was no way I was going to back down.

I shook my head.  “I can do this.  I need to do this.”  I unbuckled my seatbelt, pulled myself closer to him and rested my head on his chest.  I felt better touching him.

I hadn’t meant to, but in the darkness, lying against him, I dozed off.  Every time I woke and looked up, Grey was looking down at me, giving me a reassuring smile.  He told me to rest, that he’d keep an eye on the time.  And I did.  I reveled in being in his arms and not having anywhere else to be for at least a little while.

Finally, he whispered into my ear, “Autumn?”

“Hm?”

“Can you describe the radio station to me?  It would help me visualize.”  I sat up and tried to remember the room when I was there last.  It wasn’t a station I’d gone to every day, like the one I worked at after school, but I’d been there often enough.  I closed my eyes and tried to picture it.

“The room they broadcast from is small and the walls are beige.  There’s a table in the middle of the room with the board and all of the controls.  It’s about six feet long, maybe a little bigger even.  There are two microphones that hang over the table and a couple chairs on both sides.  One of the walls has a glass window and door leading into a bigger room where the producer sits.  Is this helping?”  I looked up at Grey and found him with his eyes closed in concentration.

“Yes.  Very much.  Is there anything else?” he asked without opening his eyes.

“Um, the chairs are bright yellow, I remember thinking that was odd.  That probably doesn’t help, though.”

“No, no.  Every detail you can remember helps.  Is there anything else?” His eyes were still closed, and I could tell he was hanging on every word.  I tried to think back, to recall anything, but there was nothing else.

I shook my head.  “That’s all I can remember.  And Karl could have changed it since they started using it.”

“Let’s hope they haven’t,” he said as he opened his crystal blue eyes and smiled at me.  He pulled me back against him.  I was so happy to reclaim my place there that I didn’t mind the uncomfortably small center console that had been made to hold drinks and not my behind.  “When we’re inside, if things don’t go as intended, I want you to promise you’ll allow me to get us out of there.  No questions asked.”