Yesterdays Gone: SEASON TWO (THE POST-APOCALYPTIC SERIAL THRILLER) (Yesterday's Gone) (31 page)

Will set a tomato at the bottom of the basket, then looked up at Desmond. “You got somewhere better for us to go?”

Desmond wore the same defeated look he always got when Will made his usual single sentence argument. He stood, deciding to say nothing about John’s overwhelming creepiness, or the two monsters they left lying in the cave. Desmond pivoted his gaze across the courtyard, along the short row of three houses, then over to the communication tower, and hangar, before looking over everything a second time and kneeling back down.
 

“So what happened with the kids?”

Will and Mary took turns telling Desmond what happened. Will’s story focused on Rei, Mary’s on Sarah.
 

“Where’s Carl at now?” Desmond said.

Will pointed to a set of double doors leading to a basement beneath the third house. “Looks like that’s where they keep the sinners,” he said.

Desmond shook his head, then threw a rock from the garden toward the dust of the courtyard. “It’s bad enough we ended up shacking at the bullshit factory, but it’s a crying shame we have to pick their tomatoes, too.”
 

Mary looked hurt, Will didn’t even look up. A door slammed in the distance, instantly attracting Desmond’s eyes away from his friends to the possible threats approaching from behind.
 

John and Rei were a few feet away and smiling. John held his smile as Rei opened his mouth. “Brother Desmond, Brother Will, we thought it would be a good idea if you came and witnessed the hearing.”

Desmond didn’t say anything since
fuck you
probably wouldn't have done much good, and might have put Will and Mary, and maybe the rest of their crew, in danger. Desmond didn’t care about himself, but he wasn’t willing to put anyone he cared about in jeopardy, at least not intentionally.
 

John stepped into Desmond’s silence. “If you’re going to be a part of The Sanctuary, you must know how our justice system works and see it in action.”

I have a pretty good idea, Desmond thought, but said, “What makes you think I’m gonna like what I see?”

“Nothing,” John shook his head. “I don’t think you’ll like it at all, actually. Which is exactly why you need to see it. If you want to live here, you must understand our law.”

He didn’t wait for Desmond to answer, simply cut through the courtyard a few steps behind Rei, expecting that Desmond, and whoever decided to join him, would follow.

***

Every stair creaked on the way down to the otherwise silent basement. The right side of the room looked like a carpenter’s workstation with hunks of painted wood, finishing tools, and an abandoned construction project, which filled the space with the scent of pine. The left side reminded Desmond of a dungeon.
 

Carl was on the left side, strapped to the wall like a medieval torture victim. Will and Desmond paused in the doorway, as though their bodies refused to push them further inside. John and Rei entered in perfect step, stopping just three feet from Carl’s tortured face.
 

The boy was silent, though his eyes said plenty. A bead of sweat fled his forehead and spilled to the cement to punctuate his terror.
 

John took a step back and crossed his arms, watching. Rei took a step forward and started to pace, waving his hands in the air. “You know how God feels about liars, right?”
 

The way the kid flinched a second early, Desmond figured Rei’s act was a routine. Brother Rei’s palm met the side of the child’s face, sending Carl’s head reeling to the side. Carl righted his head and looked back at Rei. Rei smiled and tucked Carl’s damp hair behind his ear with a smile.
 

He turned his back to Carl and started to pace. “I’m going to ask you to tell me what happened again.” He turned back to Carl. “And this time, I pray you have the sense to tell me the Good Lord’s truth. Now, Carl, what happened between you and the girl?”

“Nothing, like I said. I asked her if she would have a picnic with me. She said yes, and we went near the river by her old house. That’s it.”

“Yet, you knew this was forbidden at The Sanctuary, did you not?”

At first Carl said nothing, but then he started nodding his head. “Yes, yes I did, sir. I’m sorry, really I am. I just wanted a moment with her, away from all this. I didn’t mean nothing by it.”

“It’s okay,” Rei’s voice softened. “Who could blame you after all?”

Carl looked confused, but hopeful. Rei continued. “She’s a pretty girl, isn’t she?”

Carl nodded.

Rei continued, “Fair skinned, long, beautiful red hair, and budding breasts. Who wouldn’t want to touch? Obviously the girl seduced you. You had no choice. You only took the apple because it was so freely handed to you.”

Carl was still confused, but it looked like he was starting to figure it out. He shook his head and said, “No, I’m the one who asked her. Rebecca’s real shy; she won’t even ask me if I’m thirsty half the time.”

Rei attempted a laugh, though Desmond thought it sounded more like a weasel choking. He leaned in closer, “Come now, Carl, you can tell me the truth.” He gestured to the dungeon’s new visitors. “We’re all friends here. And your friends want you to come down from there as soon as possible.” He placed a hand on top of Carl’s restraints, then allowed his fingers to run down Carl’s arm. “Really, it makes sense to end this sooner rather than later, don’t you agree?”
 

Rei turned to Will and Desmond. They were silent. John nodded.
 

“I’ll be honest,” Rei took Carl’s eyes. “I’ve no stomach for this. I want it to be over as soon as possible. I want to get you out of those restraints and outside to the long table filled with good people, people who can’t wait to see you back, and know you’re safe. It’s easy to get there. All you have to do is tell me the truth.”
 

Rei waited a beat to speak, then said, “I’ve known girls like Rebecca my entire life. There used to be millions, until The Lord thinned the herd a bit. Now they’re scarce. You’ll know these girls in your life, too. Whores pretending to be godly girls, doing their siren’s duty by distracting you from God’s Good Grace.”

“It isn’t like that.” Carl’s head was pointed at the floor, shaking.

“Well, that truly is a shame.” Rei looked so profoundly disappointed, Desmond half believed he was. “Have you read The Book of The Sanctuary Law? A rhetorical question, of course, as it’s required reading of all students. But have you
really
read it? Have you taken these laws to heart?”

“Of course,” Carl said.

“Then you clearly understand the brand of justice The Prophet will be forced to bring on you if you’re found guilty.” Brother Rei leaned in close. “If you did indeed seduce this child, you will be stoned to death.”

Desmond felt a chill run down his spine. He looked to Will, who stared straight ahead, attempting to avoid emotion. Then Desmond saw that John was watching him, likely gauging his reaction. Desmond pretended not to notice John’s gaze.

“Nothing happened. Nothing!,” Carl said, the treble in his voice rising.

Desmond was chewing on his lip, doing everything possible to keep his brain from sending his body into motion. Will’s plastic glare said:
Don’t be stupid. Sit tight.

Why in the hell would John bring him down to see this? What was he expecting to think? Did he want him to get the hell out of there? Was he testing him? Did it have anything to do with Mary? Was John trying to get to her by getting Desmond to leave?

As if on cue, John smiled.

Creepy fuck.

Rei continued his pacing routine in front of the boy, stretching each minute to the length of painful. He finally stopped pacing in front of Carl, waiting for the boy to meet his eyes. He said, “If everything is as you say, you have nothing to worry about. The Prophet can see innocence as clearly as the daylight. But I would like to help you improve your odds, to give you another chance. Because God forbid, if you’re found guilty ... I’m afraid you’ll have to face his full wrath. Not The Prophet’s, mind you; he is but a humble servant of The Almighty. You will indeed be punished, and it will be according to The Word.”

Rei cleared his throat and softened his voice. “I suggest you start telling the truth and stop protecting the whore. Tell us it was her idea. Tell us how she seduced you. How she practically pulled you inside of her. Tell us you couldn't help yourself, you are only a fragile young man, after all. A young man with wants and needs, that Satan loves to exploit. You’re not yet equipped to deal with these slings and arrows and the Eves that are everywhere. Tell us how you fought off her advances. Tell us you did everything you could to steer clear of the shadows and remain faithful to The Word.”

Desmond could see Carl starting to break, and was digging his fingernails into his palm to keep himself from beating Rei to a pulp and releasing Carl from his shackles. If John wasn’t standing a foot away with a gun, he probably would have – damn the consequences.
 

“Do it for both of you,” Rei whispered, dripping the final sweet drop of his own seduction into the boy’s ear. “The punishment for girls is far less strict than it is for men.
 
You will be helping both of you by admitting the truth. The Prophet is a great man, a loving man. He’ll be looking for any excuse to show mercy on the child. Give him one, Carl. Allow God’s grace to spare your life.”

Desmond was glad he didn’t have his gun. If he did, he’d probably empty it into Brother Weasel before he could finish his brainwashing.
 

“Let’s get you down from there.” Rei ran his hands across Carl’s shackles. “Tell us, is that what happened? Did Rebecca seduce you?”

The perverse smile that spread across Rei’s lips just before his final question caused Desmond to make a vow inside his head. Given the chance, he’d kill Rei. John, too. Not just for making him watch, but for playing his part.
 

Carl started to cry, then nodded. From behind a torrent of fresh tears he said, “Yes, yes, that’s exactly what happened. The picnic was all her idea. I only said yes because she was trying to seduce me and I didn’t know no better. And that’s the honest truth.”

“Thank you, Carl,” Rei said, eyes now turning to Desmond and Will. “The truth shall set ye free.”

* * * *

BRENT FOSTER: PART 2

the next night . . .

For the first time in months, Brent was smiling. He could hardly contain himself. His joy at the thought that Gina and Ben might still be alive was more than he could sort. A part of him had given up and died. Its resurrection was unfamiliar, but wonderful.
 

And while Keenan hadn’t said much about why he needed help searching for
 
Boricio, or why he didn’t just start the hunt with any of Black Island’s other more qualified guardsmen, Brent couldn’t help but think that Keenan had a plan.
 

And Keenan’s plan might actually bring him home.
 

Keenan hadn’t said it in so many words, had even talked Brent down when he asked if it might be possible to return to their world. But there was something in his eyes. Keenan didn’t have to say a thing, Brent could see it clearly — Keenan believed he could get them home. Unfortunately, Keenan had to leave before giving Brent additional details. He promised that he’d fill him in more tomorrow, when they’d leave Black Island and start their search. Until then, Brent had to keep his mouth shut, even when he thought he was alone. Continue acting normal. Every home on the island was monitored, and if they knew what he knew, it could endanger he and Keenan.

Brent was practically giddy, so it was some surprise to Jane when she opened her door to find him smiling like a fool.“What’s got you so happy, and . . .” she glanced down at her watch, which read 4:05 p.m. “So early?”

“Just happy to see you,” he said. Jane welcomed him in, then closed the door. “Got out of work early today.”

Emily, with cute pigtails and turquoise bows to match her tee shirt, ran towards him and hopped into his arms, yelling “Mr. Brent!” He scooped the six year old into a giant hug, and she planted a big kiss on his cheek. He noticed the scent of strawberry.

She giggled, and said, “I just gave you a strawberry kiss!”

“Huh?” Brent said.

“She found some strawberry lip balm,” Jane explained. “You’d think she found a pony, the way she’s carrying on.”

“Yeah, Ben used to get excited about the littlest things,” Brent said. “To be so young, and have such simple things bring you so much happiness.”

“I haven’t even started dinner,” Jane said, glancing toward the kitchen.

“Good,” Brent said, “I can help. We can all cook together.”

“
You
can cook?” A surprised look arched Emily’s eyebrows.

Brent laughed as he carried the girl into the kitchen. “Yeah, of course I can cook!”

“I thought only mommies cooked.”

Jane laughed. “Mike didn’t like to cook, so she figured no daddies cooked.”

“What can you cook?” Emily asked.

“I dunno, let’s see what you have.” He sat the girl on the kitchen counter, then turned to their pantry. “So, um, let’s see . . . I can make, um . . . snakes and meatballs.”