Dead World

CHAPTER 4

It appeared everyone in Sanctuary had turned out to view the ceremony. Lucy was wearing a yellow dress and had a ribbon in her hair. She smiled at everyone she passed but Isaiah saw beyond the smile to the sadness in her heart that her mother hadn’t come to watch her on this, her special day. He didn’t understand what had come over Anna recently. He knew they weren’t as close as they used to be, but he hadn’t realised until now how much she had changed. Perhaps she had been listening to his mother too much.

“I’m so proud of you,” he said to Lucy.

“Thanks, Dad.”

“This is your moment. Enjoy it.”

He smiled down at her for a moment, and then wrapped her in his embrace, his stance a little stiff. Lucy hugged him back, but as they separated a hint of sadness crept into her face.

“I wish Mum had come.”

Isaiah glanced back to the crowd, frowning. He forced a smile and ran a hand down her cheek. “I know, sweetheart. I do too.”

He took hold of her hand and continued leading her forwards.

The Enforcers observed from the watchtowers that dotted the walls, while the residents of Sanctuary formed an open pathway for them, leading towards the single gated exit.

He noticed Ben and Zeke standing at the front of the crowd. Zeke had his hands in his pockets, fidgeting, kicking at the dust, looking like he would rather be anywhere else. Ben had his arms crossed, pouting. Isaiah knew his youngest son was jealous his sister had been chosen. He probably wasn’t alone. It was an honour to be sent outside. Why didn’t Anna realise that?

Anna stood towards the rear of the crowd, nervously wringing her hands and chewing her lips. Despite the heat of the sun, she wore several layers of clothing, and carried a small satchel over one shoulder she tried to keep hidden as best she could. She stared up at the platform where Roman stood. Roman looked out over the crowd and caught her eye. He fixed her with his gaze, eyes narrowed, a fierce expression that said he was in charge, a glare that seemed to dare her to try to stop what was about to occur. Anna turned away, feigning subservience.

She sensed the crowd growing restless as people shuffled around murmuring, and the Enforcers seemed unsure whether to focus their attention outside Sanctuary or on the courtyard. Roman nodded to the other brethren and signalled the Enforcers at the gate.

The heavy front gate opened and Isaiah led his daughter outside until they stood several metres out. He gave her a hug and a kiss, and hurried back inside. A man in one of the towers struck a loud gong. The sound reverberated around Sanctuary.

Anna fidgeted. She chewed a fingernail. Roman lifted a well-worn leather bible. He raised one hand and the crowd fell silent, all eyes on Roman, as if anticipating his next words.

“But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You, who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.”

The man in the tower struck the gong again.

The crowd began to chant: “Out with the old, in with the new.”

Anna weaved her way towards the front where her children stood. When he saw her coming, Zeke appeared taken aback.

“Mum. I didn’t think you’d show up.”

Ben turned and looked up. He smiled. “She’s so lucky,” he said, indicating his sister.

Anna peered through the gate. In the distance she noticed crooked figures stumbling from the tree line. Their movements jerky and awkward, they seemed to sniff around aimlessly as if looking for direction. The gong reverberated through the air again, and all visible heads snapped simultaneously towards Sanctuary.

Anna grabbed her children and pulled them close enough to hear her above the crowds chant. “Both of you, listen to me. This isn’t right. Something’s wrong.”

Ben tried to pull away. “You’re hurting me. Let me go.”

Anna didn’t relinquish her grip. “You’ve got to trust me. I can’t tell you how I know, but your sister wasn’t chosen. The lottery was rigged.”

Ben shook his head, looking at Anna as if she’d grown a second head.

“We were there. She was chosen.”

Zeke frowned.

“Zeke, I know you’re unsure about the Chosen. I see it on your face every time there’s a lottery.”

“I’m not… I don’t…”

“Come with me.”

“Come where?”

Anna glanced towards the gate. Zeke followed her gaze.

“We’re getting out of here.”

Zeke’s mouth dropped. “Are you crazy? That’s their domain. Nothing’s out there except them. That’s why we’re not allowed out without express permission.”

“How do you know? How do any of us know what’s outside? Nobody but the Hunters are allowed outside the walls. We only have the brethren’s word.”

“You don’t trust them?”

Anna shook her head. “No, but I’m asking you to trust me.”

Ben started squirming in her grasp. “Let me go. Dad!”

Anna held him tighter. “Together, we have a chance. One day, your name might be drawn.”

“Good! I want to be chosen,” Ben said.

Anna glanced back through the fence. The figures in the distance were getting closer, their gaits shuffling and slow. Then the gates were shut.

Zeke looked from his mother to the door, then gazed around at the chanting crowd. He pursed his lips and nodded.

“But what about Dad?”

Anna peered up at the walls where Isaiah had climbed to look outside.

“Your father, he… he doesn’t understand. Your grandmother thinks he’s blind.”

Ben snorted. “Gran’s crazy. Even Dad says so.”

“She understands more than you think…”

Ben shouted for his dad, but the roar of the crowd drowned him out.

“Come on, we’ve got to go, now.” Anna dragged her son towards the gate. Ben thrashed around and she had difficulty keeping hold of him. A couple of people stared at them but they didn’t take too much notice as they were busy making their way to the walls or the chain link fence to stare outside.

Now that the gate had been secured, it had been left deserted and nobody noticed as Anna drew back the bolts and opened the gate. She pulled Ben outside, with Zeke helping.

Up ahead, Lucy was standing watching the approaching figures.

When the residents of Sanctuary realised that Anna had gone outside, the chant died and a strange silence descended until she heard Isaiah shout, “Anna, what are you doing? Get back inside.”

Lucy turned around and saw her mother and siblings coming towards her. Her peaceful expression turned into a frown.

“Mum. What are you doing out here?”

Anna swallowed. “We’ve got to go. This is all a lie. You weren’t chosen in the lottery. Quail rigged it.”

“Rigged it? What are you—”

“I don’t have time to explain. You’ve got to believe me. We’ve got to go.”

“Go where?”

“Anywhere. Zeke, grab your sister. Now!”

Zeke hesitated a moment, and then grabbed Lucy’s arm.

“But the Gods… I’m going to become an immortal. I was chosen.”

Anna studied the figures shuffling towards them across the field. She counted fifteen in all.

“Do they really look like Gods to you?”

Closer up, the figures appeared dishevelled, grey flesh peeling. Some were missing limbs or chunks of flesh. They lurched forwards, arms extended and jaws wide, eager for their prey.

“Of course they’re Gods. They don’t die,” Lucy said.

Anna shook her head, her expression a mixture of exasperation and fear as she glanced again at the approaching figures.

“I’m your mother, and you’ll do as I say. Now let’s go.”

Anna headed away from the approaching figures, wanting to distance herself as much as possible. Ben still struggled and shouted for his dad. Zeke pulled Lucy along, although she still seemed confused, hesitant.

Behind her she caught angry shouts emanating from Sanctuary. Words such as “Blasphemy”, “Cursed” and “Heresy,” rang out, but she ignored them.

As they reached the tree line, a man dressed in tattered rags staggered out from the trees and lunged for Lucy. His skin was rotten and congealed and the bones of his hand were visible where the skin had decayed. Lucy let out a little scream.

Acting out of instinct, Anna swung her satchel around, hitting the man in the face and sending him sprawling to the ground.

“Run,” she screamed.

Behind her she thought she heard her husband shouting but couldn’t be sure.

“I’m sorry, Isaiah,” she whispered. “For everything.”