spreads her hands demonstratively, leading the way.
I follow, giving one last short and troubled glance behind me. Where did Megan go??
Oreo doesn’t offer much time to think on my missing Human, as she pecks me with all sorts of questions about Trenton. Or as she keeps saying: Tonton. The entire time we approach the city, I’m telling her about the habits of the Trenton people. I explain the two main things our Undead “eat” … namely, wax and who-knows. When I ask about “real food” I am relieved to learn that they, indeed, have plenty of resources for Living occupants. The two ladies even excitedly confess that a portion of their population—albeit a very small portion—are alive.
“We will be most happy to share with the people of Tonton,” the tortilla lady exclaims. “We have more than we need.”
“Far, far more than we need,” Oreo lady confesses.
There are no protective walls surrounding this city, unlike Trenton. When we walk down the main street, which is surprisingly vacant of anyone at all, we find ourselves gawking at the height of the buildings. Just a typical one is twice the size of Trenton’s tallest. Oreo explains that in the center of After’s Hold, there’s a thicket of skyscrapers, in fact. Bank buildings and business towers from the Old World. The Seven Mayors that rule After’s Hold reside in the center tower, which they call Everhold. The Living aren’t allowed there, apparently, because the air becomes so thin near the top that they’re known to pass out from lack of oxygen. It’s quite a changed world.
“This way!” cries the tortilla merrily, spreading her hands as if to present a magic trick. “In here, yes!”
I find myself clutching Benjamin, though I can’t say whether it’s protectively or because I’m feeling in need of protection. Call me paranoid, but in my short time on this ruined planet, I’ve learned to trust nothing. And if there’s anything I trust less than nothing … it’s kindness .
“Here.” The women present the hotel, each pulling open a glass front door. All the buildings in this part of the city are brick, and the interior of the hotel appears in great condition, I must say. Clean-looking carpets. Sturdy walls, nice furniture … It leads me to believe the rest of the city might give just as good a first impression.
And if there’s anything I trust even less than nothing and kindness, it’s a good first impression.
“We will let you spend time with your friends, now,” says the Oreo. “The four of them are on the second floor, rooms 201 through 204, just as you get off the stairwell.” She gives us both a wink and a kiss. “If you need a thing at all, simply speak to Esandramelda here at the front desk.”
I thank her, give a short nod, and watch her leave the building with her tortilla friend. Ben has been pressed so close against me since we’ve entered the city, everyone’s likely to think he’s my conjoined twin.
“Where’d the little girl go?” Ben whispers into my ear.
I clench my jaw. I knew I shouldn’t have brought her along. I knew it. I knew it in my unbeating heart, in my stone of a bowel, in my feet. But Megan was acting so stubborn back at the camp … she simply wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“She went back home,” I answer, though I’m in no way certain. Where else could she have gone? It was like she literally just … disappeared.
“Think John and Helena and the other one are really up there?” Ben goes on, anxious, voice thin as paper. “Or do you think it’s some kind of—”
“Trap?” The smile I wear is sickly, I’m sure. “Funny, we both think so alike.”
“We share a certain memory of … being held captive in a c-certain p-place. Megan, too. And Helena. I think it’s rather … understandable, all our levels of … mistrust.”
For a sudden moment, I consider what my real reason is for bringing Benjamin along. Did I bring him with me because I really wanted to help him
I follow, giving one last short and troubled glance behind me. Where did Megan go??
Oreo doesn’t offer much time to think on my missing Human, as she pecks me with all sorts of questions about Trenton. Or as she keeps saying: Tonton. The entire time we approach the city, I’m telling her about the habits of the Trenton people. I explain the two main things our Undead “eat” … namely, wax and who-knows. When I ask about “real food” I am relieved to learn that they, indeed, have plenty of resources for Living occupants. The two ladies even excitedly confess that a portion of their population—albeit a very small portion—are alive.
“We will be most happy to share with the people of Tonton,” the tortilla lady exclaims. “We have more than we need.”
“Far, far more than we need,” Oreo lady confesses.
There are no protective walls surrounding this city, unlike Trenton. When we walk down the main street, which is surprisingly vacant of anyone at all, we find ourselves gawking at the height of the buildings. Just a typical one is twice the size of Trenton’s tallest. Oreo explains that in the center of After’s Hold, there’s a thicket of skyscrapers, in fact. Bank buildings and business towers from the Old World. The Seven Mayors that rule After’s Hold reside in the center tower, which they call Everhold. The Living aren’t allowed there, apparently, because the air becomes so thin near the top that they’re known to pass out from lack of oxygen. It’s quite a changed world.
“This way!” cries the tortilla merrily, spreading her hands as if to present a magic trick. “In here, yes!”
I find myself clutching Benjamin, though I can’t say whether it’s protectively or because I’m feeling in need of protection. Call me paranoid, but in my short time on this ruined planet, I’ve learned to trust nothing. And if there’s anything I trust less than nothing … it’s kindness .
“Here.” The women present the hotel, each pulling open a glass front door. All the buildings in this part of the city are brick, and the interior of the hotel appears in great condition, I must say. Clean-looking carpets. Sturdy walls, nice furniture … It leads me to believe the rest of the city might give just as good a first impression.
And if there’s anything I trust even less than nothing and kindness, it’s a good first impression.
“We will let you spend time with your friends, now,” says the Oreo. “The four of them are on the second floor, rooms 201 through 204, just as you get off the stairwell.” She gives us both a wink and a kiss. “If you need a thing at all, simply speak to Esandramelda here at the front desk.”
I thank her, give a short nod, and watch her leave the building with her tortilla friend. Ben has been pressed so close against me since we’ve entered the city, everyone’s likely to think he’s my conjoined twin.
“Where’d the little girl go?” Ben whispers into my ear.
I clench my jaw. I knew I shouldn’t have brought her along. I knew it. I knew it in my unbeating heart, in my stone of a bowel, in my feet. But Megan was acting so stubborn back at the camp … she simply wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“She went back home,” I answer, though I’m in no way certain. Where else could she have gone? It was like she literally just … disappeared.
“Think John and Helena and the other one are really up there?” Ben goes on, anxious, voice thin as paper. “Or do you think it’s some kind of—”
“Trap?” The smile I wear is sickly, I’m sure. “Funny, we both think so alike.”
“We share a certain memory of … being held captive in a c-certain p-place. Megan, too. And Helena. I think it’s rather … understandable, all our levels of … mistrust.”
For a sudden moment, I consider what my real reason is for bringing Benjamin along. Did I bring him with me because I really wanted to help him
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