Chapter Five

*16 months after the bombs*

Red alarms blared throughout the outpost that struck a sense of fear and unsettlement into everyone that heard it. Everyone in the outpost had heard this sound before, and it wasn't a good sign when it rang. I remember the last time it rang when one of our guards was found on the lawn completely torn into pieces. Mrs. Darach had done an autopsy on the body and discovered that the man was killed by a murder of crows ironically. I had dreams about that day for weeks and now have a new fear of birds, especially after thinking that we, as an outpost, might have to face such dangers once food storage runs out.

Speaking of, considering our lack of food, our portions of food have been cut to 2 servings of gelatin blocks the size of a small ice cube a day. I knew we were going to probably die in this outpost due to starvation or a raider attack, known as the people that survived the nukes. My faith in Michael had faded after a couple of months, with no word from him. I thought that if he had any plan in saving me, he would have by now, but then it makes me wonder why? Why did he do all this just to kill everyone off? Or if he lied to me and just wanted me to have a slow death. The last time I even talked to him was during that interview, everything else was explained through Mrs. Mead, and there was nothing about co-operative members going to the outpost within the binder he gave us. Maybe he just thought I was too pathetic for the future of this world, so he just abandoned me here.

For now, I guessed I would just wait to see what happens in the meantime.

Everyone was gathered into the living room, looking terrified after the alarm stopped. "What's going on?" Raven mumbled, rubbing her eyes from the discharge that consumed them. Within our schedule, it was the middle of the day, but because of everyone constantly being inside, everyone has grown accustomed to their schedule, Ravens being that she sleeps or spends 20 hours within her room. This leads me to believe that most of us have grown depressed. I haven't even had much time to talk to Jaxon and Stephanie. Mostly because all of us have been sucked into this attitude that nothing matters now. I made sure to stand near the entrance of the living area so that if things turn frightening, I could bolt.

Around me, everyone looked to see if anyone had any idea as to why the alarm was going off, looking terrified. For me, this wasn't something I was necessarily scared of. I mean, what do we have to lose? Abruptly the noise stopped. It took a second for my ears to finally adjust to the newfound silence.

Above us, Mr. Eden stepped out of the shadows over the railing above us so we could all see him. "Good Afternoon, everyone. Me and Ms. Darach are terribly sorry for the disturbance and insist that everyone is to return to their daily activities till supper, where Ms. Darach will clear up any questions you may have," he said with an unamused expression not very worried in the slightest. He then turned around and walked somewhere to deal with whatever the alarm was about. Everyone sighed and slumped back into their chairs "Is it only me that kind of wishes that something happened so we could feel something exciting around here?" Mitch said, standing near the fireplace.

A conversation then sparked in the living area about the possibilities that they wished happened, but a conversation behind me sparked my interest. "Where is he now?" An unfamiliar voice said.

"For now, Ms. Darach is accompanying him, and all you need to worry about is getting his room in order." Mr. Eden said, before I heard them both scatter.

Someone is here? Could it possibly be... Oh my I have to go.

As soon as I'm about to turn the corner, I feel a hand grab my arm and pull me back. I bump into whoever's chest to see the beautiful mud- brown eyes and luscious long curly hair. "Where do you think you're going?" Jaxon asked, smiling down at me. I back away from him to give us some space. I placed my hand on the back of my neck and tried to avoid eye contact, so I wasn't lying straight to his face. "I just need to use the restroom," I said, looking behind him at everyone and then back to him. Jaxon shook his head and crossed his arms, making it clear to me that he knew I was lying and that I wasn't going anywhere without him finding out the truth.

"You know it's pretty easy to tell when you're lying Malia. I thought you could trust me come on i wont tell." he said pouting his lip. Jaxon did have a point I just didn't want him to get in trouble like I might for snooping, but I guess if he is fine with the risk, then I will drag him along.

Looking at him dead in the eyes, I walked past him while grabbing his shoulder, ignoring the weird glares I was probably getting from behind me. "Wait! But where are we going?" Getting whispered behind me, I chose to ignore him and kept a straight path towards Ms. Darachs door. Once we got to the door, Jaxon went on one side while I was on the other, ears perched on a hollow part of the door. From where I was, I could hear two voices, Ms. Darach and an unfamiliar man's voice. He definitely wasn't one of the greys, but then again I rarely hear them talk. Then after hearing his voice more clearly, I knew for sure it was him.

"Ms. Darach from what I have seen so far, you have done a wonderful job with the outpost, considering it is still standing," he says, slowly walking further from the door. Jaxon pushes himself a bit closer so he could hear better.

" Mr. Langdon, as much as we enjoy a cooperative member here, I need to know what is going on. The company has not updated me about the plan for 7 months. I believe they have some explaining to do." Ms. Darach spits, but I am unable to speak because now I knew for sure it was Michael. All I could do was hold my mouth and back away from the door at the realization that our Michael had finally come for me, hopefully. Jaxon looked at me with concern and held onto my back and asked me questions like 'whats wrong', 'Are you ok?', and 'Whose Mr. Langdon.'

"Just we need to leave now before we are caught!" I said as I pulled on his arm to go back to the others, but he refused and stood still till he got answers. "Jaxon don't do this right now. I will explain everything, but you just need to come with me before we are caught," I said, feeling him loosen up so we could walk back but as soon as I turned, I heard the loud clicking of the doors opening.

We were busted.

"Ah, Ms. Montgomery and Mr. Foster, so happy to see you were spying on others' conversations," Darach said from behind me. She did not sound impressed, and I had a feeling we were in a lot of trouble. Turning around, I finally saw his face again after these years, it was refreshing, but also different. Michael had changed a lot since 2018 when I first met him. His shoulder-length curly blond hair had turned into long wavy locks, his boyish charm had become more manly, and he seemed to have gotten a bit taller. One thing that had not changed was his piercing blue eyes that striped you with a single glare. When I looked into his eyes, he had an amused glimmer to them almost like he enjoyed the mischief I have caused.

"I am so sorry, Mr.Langdon, for this complete and utter disrespect towards your privacy. I'll have them dealt with right away." Darach said as a pair of hands wrapped around my arms and pulled. Jaxon and I must have looked pathetic to him even though I knew Jaxon had no idea who this person was.

"Ms. Darach it is no trouble to me, Mistakes are always forgiven..." He said, placing his hand on her back "...the first time," he continued grinning at her then us. Darach looked unamused at the thought that she didn't have to punish us, which only made me despise her more. "But if it isn't too much trouble, I would like to have a word with Ms. Montgomqery," He asks, only for Darach to nod at the guard who let me go. I grabbed onto my arm after his tight grip was released and walked forward. Darach smiled towards Michael, which only made me cringe, despite her having a beautiful smile. After all these months, I have never seen her smile, but as soon as she turned back to Jaxon, her smile faded away, and she walked with the guard following her pulling Jaxon. He looked at me for help, but all I could do was mouth that I was sorry.

Turning back to see Michael, he was already back in the office, waiting for me to follow. Standing with his arms behind his back, he waited for me to follow after him. When I walked into the room, I felt him smile and close the door after me. "Please sit," he said, making sure the door was properly closed. I walked over to the comfy chairs that sat across from the big desk that had papers scattered across it. On one, I noticed a folder that had 'Herminie Everly' labelled on top.

Michael made his way over to the chair and sat down in front of me, getting comfortable. "Malia Montgomery, it has been and long time no? How have you been handling this?" He said, laughing, knowing full well this place sucked for everyone in here. He may look more mature, but there was the childish teenager that I met on that island 2 years ago still hiding beneath.

"The question that needs answering Mr. Langdon is where were you all these months?" I asked, folding my arms over one another and crossing my legs. I'm not in the mood for his mind games, waiting 16 months in a place where watching a wound heal is entertaining can make you less susceptible to making jokes. Especially, given the fact, that Michael was the person who put me here in the first place. His lips curled into a mischievous smirk at my anger and discomfort, which only made me more impatient "Well..?" I shrieked, almost lunging forward at him.

"Malia. I understand your frustration. 16 months is a long time, but you must understand that I was doing what I needed to protect the human race. I had been travelling to every outpost picking out the perfect people to populate the planet for my father and your lord," he said casually, switching from a childish to stern mood. Michael started to rearrange the papers on his desk before talking again, "Unfortunately, while traveling to each outpost, I realized that the old world was infested with liars and fakes that hide their truest desires...." He said, getting up and walking around the desk."...they needed to be purified," he continued and sat at the corner of the desk in front of me.

"So, you killed the other survivors from other outposts?" I asked, not knowing what to think of it and looking away from him.

He got up again and forced me to look at him by placing his hand on my chin, "I had to be done. A while back, I heard a story from a catholic preacher. He told me of a man that asked his boss, a farmer, if he should pick out the weeds in a crop for the wheat to grow. The farmer then said to him, 'Let both grow together until harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First, collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat. and bring it into my barn' and that is all I'm doing separating the weeds from the wheat" He explained walking around me.

All this time, I thought that Michael had abandoned me, only he was traveling to each outpost, "So, have you chosen anyone?" I asked. Reaching behind him, he grabbed a paper and handed it to me. I looked down at the folder, and he pushed it forward for me to grab, holding onto the folder I looked at the title 'Outposts.' I opened it to see the reports on all of the survivors it was divided into three categories: Undecided, Purified, and Chosen. Flipping the page to Chosen, I was able to see the three people that were chosen and where they came from.

Michael had chosen 3 people from Outposts 8,5 and 4. I skimmed over the 'Purified' and got to the 'Undecided.' "Wait, I don't know who these people are?" I questioned, pointing at an African- American woman. Michael nodded and smiled at me like he wasn't telling me something.

"I still have one destination Outpost 3 in which you will accompany me. After we leave, whoever is not chosen from this place will be food for the canker puss monsters waiting outside the door like I did for the other outposts," He said, smiling casually smiling down at me. He then picked up the folder and placed it in its spot on the desk before looking at my horrified expression. "Don't look so frightened, Malia; it was my destiny to do this. Just like God my father leaves his child to do his dirty work."