Things to Smash With

I punched the wall as hard as I could. The impact created little knuckle sized dents. I knew that if I continued to pound it that eventually we'd be able to break through to the other side and rescue Norm.  However, Olivia was less than impressed. "What are you doing?" She cried. "Norm is trapped. So I'm doing what I can to save him." "You're gonna turn you hand into dust." "You have a better idea?" "Maybe. Just stop hitting it." I comply with Olivia's wish. "Let's see if we can find anything in the waiting room."  We casually walk back to the waiting room. It's in the same disarray it was before. Shards of glass and bits of the broken couch are everywhere. Olivia picks up a couch leg. "This could work." She declares. I stare at the leg as if it were a foreign item. "You know it will." I nod and pick up a particularly  sharp piece of glass. "Yeah, but I'm grabbing this too." "Go for it." We stroll back to the wall. This time we are ready with a bludgeon and dagger. As soon as we are about to strike the wall, we hear an angry command from down the hall. "You there! Stop what you are doing." "You think we should stop?" I ask. "No, I think we should smash faster."

Block the Door

Norm pushed his bed flesh against the door. It created a horrible noise and I hoped to God that no one heard it. "Could you be more quiet?" I ask, annoyed. "Unfortunately. I can not." "Enough bickering. Did you successfully block the door?" Olivia asks. "I did, but we have a new problem." "I sigh."What now?" "The only way out is if you guys smash the wall." "Can't you climb through to this side?" Olivia wonders. "Nope. I need both my arms for climbing. I only got one right now." I turn to Olivia. "Any ideas what we can smash the wall with?"

Muffled Voices

We had our ears placed against the cold wall for a good while. Right as we were about to give up we heard the smallest voice. "Who is it?" Olivia asks in a whisper. "I don't know. I can't tell, but it sounds like there are other people there." "Well, keep listening."  A few more minutes passed by of us listening to muffled voices. I took my head off the wall. "What if it's Norm?" Olivia shrugged. "It's possible, but we have no way of confirming that, let alone getting to him." The indistinct chatter on the other side of the wall continues, and we scratch our heads as we are unsure of what to do next. Then , suddenly the voices stopped and a door slammed shut. "There goes who ever it was." Olivia says. I sigh. "Now what?"  Our existential dread was interrupted by banging on the other side of the wall. Olivia appeared white as a ghost. "Don't move a muscle. Don't say a word. No one will know we're here." I whisper. "I know you're there." The voice shouts from the other side of the wall. I squint my eyes. "Norm, is that you?" "Yeah it's me. What are you guys doing?" "We don't know. We sorta found ourselves here. Who was with you?" I ask. "Some doctor checking up on me. I don't think he really gives a shit. You know, just checking up because he has to." "He didn't hear us, did he?" Olivia asks. "As far as I know, no." "How can you be sure?" "I'm a rodent. We have better hearing than you guys." "That works for me." I reply. "You guys stay where you are. I'm gonna find a way to lock the door and get to you."

Between Walls

The hole in the wall was narrow, but we were able to push in the edges and make it wider. On the other side was a dark, narrow tunnel. Bits of light would would shine in here and there. Olivia guessed that we were between walls. I placed my eye against on of the many cracks to check out Olivia's theory. I could see soldiers resting in their barracks. It was lights out which also meant that Olivia and I  were to step even lighter than before. To do that we walked ever so slowly. It must have taken an hour just to move a foot, but we reached the end of the tunnel without causing a ruckus . The only problem was that we were now at a dead end again, and this time there were no cracks in the wall to peak in. Olivia placed her ear against the wall. "You hear anything?" I ask. "No." I place my ear against the wall. "Do you have any luck." She asks. "No, but let's wait here for a minuet. We're bound to hear something."

Killing TIme

Some people can block out certain noises. I can not do that, at least not with clocks. I try. I close my eyes and think of a happy place, but that ticking noise never stops. Once you notice it, it is impossible not to. For me at least. Olivia has no problem tuning it out somehow. She sits next to me with her legs crossed in a meditative position. Good for her, but I need to do something a bit more drastic. I stand up on the couch and grope the edges of the clock in search of an off switch. No such luck, but I don't give up. There had to be something. Unfortunately my curiosity would get the better of me. The giant clock started to come off the wall. Olivia was still meditating, blissfully unaware. I shouted at her that clock was falling and we didn't have much time, but she couldn't hear me. I had to do something. I lept forward pushing Olivia off the couch in the process. A second later the clock crashed into the couch. "Did you do that?" Olivia asked about the wreckage. "Yeah." Olivia whistles. "Thanks for getting me out of the way." "I had to. You would have been squished like a bug." Olivia gets up and examines the new hole in the wall. "Well, looks like we found a way out."

Soldier Friend

Zip, the quite soldier with a blonde buzz cut studied Jones as he struggled to get on his wheelchair. It was more difficult than Jones had anticipated, and Norm noticed Zip's lack of effort to help. "Ain't you gonna help?" "Pipe down.He has it." Zip snaps. "Yeah, I do. Why don't you mind your business?You disgusting rodent." Norm knew that Jones was playing them, still the comment did not sit well with him. Unfortunately his annoyance was obvious to Zip. "Something bothering you?" Norm did not respond. "I said is something bothering you?" "No, not at all." Zip gets in Norm's face. "You don't like being called a rodent, do you?" "Can't say I do." "Well that's too bad." Jones is finally sitting in the wheelchair. Zip walks behind Jones and starts to push him. "You are a rodent. I will not call you anything else." "That's fine, but where are you going?" Norm asks, changing the subject. "You don't need to know." Jones says coldly. With that Jones and Zip exit the room, leaving Norm alone. "What have I created?"

Bad Plan

"What do you think Davies wants from him?" Jones asks Norm. "I don't know. Probably the same thing he wants from you." "And that would be?" Norm sits up. "You can not be this dense." "What?" "He wants you to fight for him, again." "I get that. I mean I am a soldier after all. But why would they want that guy? Why would they want him to fight?" Jones questions. "They probably see him as someone they can easily manipulate." Jones sighs. "I suppose you're right,but what do we do now?" "You go with them." "Excuse me?" "You heard me. You're gonna go with them. When Davies comes back your stomach will be much better, and fix that wheelchair. What the hell were you planning on doing with that?" "I was going to beat him over the head with the wheel." Jones says, defiantly. "Yeah, and then what?" What do you mean?" "After you beat Davies over the head were you planning on doing the same thing with everyone else? You know, just hobbling along on one leg, bashing every single soldier with a pillowcase?" "I suppose it's not the most well thought out plan." Jones admits. "No it's not. In fact it's suicide." "Okay I won't do that. I'll join Davies, then what?" "Then you act like you absolutely despise me. I'll do the rest."

New Position

Initially Davies and Todd did not see eye to eye, but it did not take long at all for Davies to sway Todd's view. On the way up to Eagle Eye's office, Davies filled Todd's head with ideas of finally getting the respect he deserves. The door to the office was ajar, suggesting that Eagle Eyes was waiting for them. Davies pushed the door all the way open. This time Eagle Eyes did not have his back to anybody. Instead he was seated at the window sill, admiring the newly lit city. Neither Davies nor Todd said a word. They waited a minute for Eagle Eyes to speak. "This was all my doing." He says, looking out the window. "And what glorious work it is." Davies replies. Eagle Eyes turns his attention to Todd. "Your employee had a chance to be in on this. You know, the one with the red cape?" "I think I know who you are talking about." Eagle Eyes nods. "He could have been a part of this, but he refused to help." "What exactly did you want him to do?" Todd asks. "It does not matter." Eagle Eyes takes a pause before continuing. "Is it true he was a general?" "Yes, technically." "What do you mean technically?" Eagle Eyes questions. "It was a merely a strategy he did to save his own skin. He knows nothing of the art of war, or much else for that matter." "That's obvious." Eagle Eyes snickers. He then stands up and walks toward Todd. "I know a bit about you as well." "What do you know?" Todd asks, nervously. "I know that you were in charge of the health and wellness of many people, but I don't care to go into the abstract right now." "What do you want to know then?" "I've done some research and I've noticed every single building you've worked in was destroyed in some way. You want to know what I think?" Todd gulps. "It's those clowns you've been hanging around with. They are responsible, not you. You create. You don't destroy." "I certainly try to create." "You do. You create, and you create well. That's why you will make a newer, stronger fortress for us." "I suppose I could." Eagle Eyes half smiles. "You will. Davies will make sure of it." Todd glances back at Davies to see him cracking his knuckles.

Inside His Head

"You know why I picked you out, don't you?" Davies asks while walking Todd down a cold, dark corridor. "It's something I know, isn't it?" "You could say that. As a boss I would assume you would know much." "You would be correct." Todd responds, feeling flattered someone notices his depth and intelligence. Davies stops abruptly. "But what do you know?" " I know lots of things." "But specifically. What is your areas of expertise?" He asks. "My position has changed over time slightly."  Todd says, hesitantly. "Then in your prime. What was it?" "I oversaw the health and wellness of my people and -" "Your people?" "Yes, my people?" "So, you are saying you had a society?" Davies snarls. Todd nods. "Precisely." "And where did the other two fit into your society?" "They were a splinter group. They set out to discover the unknown." Todd explained. "Sounds like they're a bit nosey." "They can be." "I sense some animosity in your voice." Davies points out. "It's fine." Todd says, brushing it off. "They don't respect you. Do they?" Todd looks away before responding. "Not as much as they should." Davies shakes his head. "It's a shame. They don't understand your potential." "They do they just ..." "They just what?" Todd does not respond. "You can't even reply. You don't need them. Stick with us. We will give you the respect you deserve."

Davis is Back

Norm, Todd, and Jones watched the door with eager anticipation. When it finally swung open they were surprised to see Davies with an overly enthusiastic grin. "Good news. You don't need to be quarantined anymore." Todd foolishly smiles. Davies catches Todd's smile out of the corner of his eye. "Just him." He says, pointing to Jones. "Why just him?" Norm asks, defiantly. "Because those are orders." Davies howls back. Jones stares at his pillowcase. "What's the matter? I said you could go." "I know. I'm just not feeling well." Davies bites his lip. "It was dinner wasn't it?" "It may have been." "I knew it. Those fuckers never cook the food that well." Davies stares at Jones for a moment. "What is it? Projectile vomiting?" Jones nods weakly. Davis grimaces. "Fuck. Fine you stay here for now. I'll come back later." Davis starts to exit. He turns to Todd. "But you're coming with me."

Find Weapons

Todd frantically searched the room for any small items that he could easily place in his pockets. "There's nothing." He shouts, worriedly. " "What? Did you expect them to leave out the surgical tools?" Norm taunts. "Shut up. Did you check under Norm's bed?" Jones asks. "I did. Nothing but wood panels." "No, we don't want to rip that apart. We can't destroy the place." Jones says. "And why not? They are playing to kill us anyways." Norm snaps. "They already don't trust us. They can't come back to see the room in disarray. They need to believe that we know nothing. If they come in here and it looks like everything is in tact that means we have the upper hand." Jones cautions. "What should I do then?" "I may have an idea." Jones limps off his wheelchair and hops onto his bed. "This is a crappy, old wheelchair. I'm almost certain that the two front wheels will come off. But only take one of them off." Todd does as he was told. He was able to take off the wheel with minimal effort. "Now what?" Jones tosses Todd a pillowcase. "Stuff it in there." Todd places the wheel in the empty pillow case. He starts to pace back and forth with the pillow case. "No, don't  do that. Sit on the foot of my bed, and place the pillowcase on your lap." Todd carefully sits down at the foot of the bed with the pillow case. "You nervous? It's ok if you are." Jones asks. "A little." "Understandable. You probably have never done anything like this before." Todd stares at Jones for a moment. "That's where you are wrong. I attacked O'Neil." "You what?" Norm shouts. Jones takes a deep breath. "Keep that fire. We may need it."

Strategy

"Why would you say that? What could possibly possess you to say that?" Norm scolds Todd. "I had no idea he would react like that." Todd says, trying to defend himself. "You had no idea? Look at me. I was shot. And this guy over here had a knife in his leg." "I didn't think anything I said was that bad." "You told him that you are the boss. Do you know how bad that looks?" Norm replies. "No, I don't." Todd says, stubbornly. Norm turns red. "It's bad. Let's just say that. They already didn't trust us." Jones jumps in. "So now what?" Todd asks. Jones stares at the closed door for a moment. "See if the door is locked."  Todd walks over to the door and jiggles the handle with no luck. "It's locked." "Of course it is." Norm sneers. "Well, there's no widows, and as far as I can see that's the only exit." Todd says. "No, escape would be unwise at this time." Jones replies. "Then what do you suggest?" Norm asks. Jones looks directly at Todd. "Pocket any and all small items that could be used as a weapon. A bludgeon would be preferable, but I'm not against a shank." "What?" "You heard me. They'll be back."

What to Do?

"What is there to do here anyways?" I ask, looking at my surroundings. Olivia plops down on a big, red couch. "I have taken many of naps on this thing." She says proudly.  "I haven't been gone that long." "I have taken one glorious nap on this thing." She corrects. I smile. "Besides napping, is there anything else to do?" "No. Which is why you should nap. I take a nap and a then I look at the giant clock. It's like the best time machine ever." "It does sound tempting, but I'm not tired. Also how do you sleep with the constant ticking? Doesn't it drive you nuts?" I wonder. "It did, but then I got used to it. It became like a white noise." "I don't think I could ever get used to that." "Give it an hour." I shake my head and sit down next to Olivia. "What do you think is going on with Todd and them right now?" I ask. "I don't know, but there is no way they could be having more fun then us."

Waiting Room

Tick, tick, tick. Olivia sat under a giant, analog clock. The kind that grade schools use, but bigger. Much, much bigger. So big that it took up half the wall. It wasn't a bad room to be stuck in. There were comfortable chairs, the temperature was perfect, and it was well lit. There just wasn't anything to do in there . That's all. By the time Eagle Eyes opened the steal door, and threw me in Olivia was beyond happy. Not even because it was me, but that she would now have someone to distract her bored mind. "How was it?" She asks excitedly, wrapping her arms around me. "Weird." I answer simply. She breaks away from the hug. "That's all you have to say?" "Well, I don't think I'm on his good side anymore." "I gathered that from you being down here. What happened?" She asks. "Oh, he wanted me to shoot the sun." "He wanted you to shoot the sun?" She repeats. "Yeah, strange right?" "It is. But that's all he wanted you to do?" "As far as I know." "Ok. Did you shoot it at least?" I shake my head. "Why not?" "Because the sun looked like a smiley face." Olivia squints her eyes. "What?" "You know, It looked like one of those yellow smiley faces. They were really popular in the 70's." "I know what that is. It really looked like that though?" "It did." "That's a little disturbing. I can't say I blame you for not shooting it." Olivia takes a breath. "And then what?" "And then he wasn't happy. So, now I'm here. What is this place anyways?" " I was told it was the it is the waiting room." "What are we waiting for?" Olivia shrugs. "We're waiting. That's all I know."

Shoot the Sun

Eagle Eyes handed me his jacket gun. "Ready? On the count of three we blast the thing to hell." I shook my head hesitantly. "One.. " I raised the handgun. It was much heavier then I thought it would be. I had never held a gun, let alone fired one before. I was nervous and couldn't keep myself from shaking. "Two.." I took a deep breath to steady my aim, but then I saw the cartoon eyes staring back at me. How could I do it? "Three!" Eagle Eyes fired his rifle directly into the mouth of the smiley faced sun. It then broke off into a million little, yellow balls of light. The balls of light scattered in every direction. Some went in the abandoned buildings. Others landed in the streetlights. All of them did their part to illuminate the ghost town. In the end the city started to look alive again. I marveled at the sight and thought to myself perhaps Eagle Eyes did a good thing. "Pretty, isn't it?" He asks. "It sure is." I say in admiration, sticking my head out the window. "It's a shame you had nothing to do with it." He says, jabbing my side with his rifle. "What's this about?" "You showed your true colors today." "What are you talking about?" I ask. "You didn't help. Now, earlier you mentioned how you wanted to see your girlfriend. No problem. I'll take you to her."

Rising Sun

I stared out the room's only window and watched as dawn slowly broke. It reminded me of my time with Bernard, the lighthouse worker and how he would enjoy watching sunrises.The main difference between the two would be that Bernard looked on at sunrises with awe and admiration where as Eagle Eyes saw sunrises as something he had to eliminate. A light purple was streaming in. The sun was still no where to be seen, but curiosity was flowing through me. Eagle Eyes glanced at me. He saw me biting my lip. "The sun will be here soon. Don't worry." "Are we really going to shoot it?" I ask. "You bet." "But why?" "Don't ask why." "Then how?" "Do exactly as I do. That's how." Eagle Eyes turns back to the window. "It's cooler today." He says, changing the subject. A few moments pass by. More light purple fills the room. I squint my eyes and see a bit of yellow off in the horizon. "That's it!" I shout excitedly. "Yes, but we need to wait. We'll never hit it from this distance." I wait for few more minutes, trying not to look directly at the rising sun. It is soon so bright that all I can do is stare at my feet. Eagle Eyes yells at me several times to look up but I can't. Water flows down my eyes. I look away one more time. Eagle Eyes yells at me again. This time however, he screams in jubilation. "It's here. It's finally here." I look up to see a bright, yellow face staring back at me. It is reminiscent of the smiley faces from  the 70's except it has teeth. "Now shoot it!"

Eagle Eyes' Instructions

Zip escorted me to Eagle Eyes' office. He gave no indications  why Eagle Eyes summoned me as we climbed the many stares. Actually he didn't say anything at all. I didn't mind the silence though. It was  not as if we were friends. Besides what could he possibly tell me that I'd to hear other than why anyone would call him Zip. It seemed like such a stupid name, and a drastic departure from the formal last name basis of the other soldiers. I  hated everything about this man. I hated his blonde buzz cut, I hated his deafening silence, and I hated his stupid name. I brewed on this animosity as we climbed higher and higher. Eventually we made it to Eagle Eyes' office. Eagle Eyes, just like last time had his back to us as he looked out the window. "He's here , sir." Zip announced. "Thank you, Zip. You may leave now." Zip did as he was told, closing the door behind him. Eagle Eyes turned around. He had a bottle of brandy and  a glass. "Care for a drink?" "No, not now." "Then I won't either." There was a brief pause. "Don't you want to know why I've asked you here?" "I want to know why you have my girlfriend locked up." "I've done some research on you." He says changing the subject. "Oh you have, have you?" "Yes, I have." "And what have you learned?" I ask. "I know that you are a general, or at least somehow rose to that status at one point." "How did you find that out?" "Never mind. You are not in trouble." He assures. "Then why do you care if I was a general?" "There is a war going on. You can shake your head all you like, but it's real. You've heard this before from me, but I need to know are you with me or are you working behind my back?" "Who are we even fighting?"  "Not the answer I wanted to hear." Eagle Eyes reveals a hand gun that was hidden in his jacket." "Ok I'm with you. I'm with you. What do I do though?" "Stay here. Dawn will be in a few hours." "And then what?"  "Then we shoot the sun." "What?" "You heard me. We'll shoot the sun."

Confronted

"I've been thinking. This place isn't so bad." "Not so bad? We were just told we can not see our friend who they shot." Olivia reminds. "They're just a little strict." I say. "Forgive me. I didn't realize you drank the kool aid." "I didn't drink the kool aid I just don't know why we want to leave." "You can't think of one reason why we would leave?" "I can think of a few, but let's look at the facts. We got a place to stay and they're probably keeping us safe from the aliens." Olivia slaps me lightly. "Snap out of it." "All I'm saying is maybe it's not so bad. Maybe we're too quick to judge." Olivia shakes her head. "You've lost it." "I have not lost it." I insist. "You have. There is no other explanation." We hear someone clearing their throat and turn around to see Davies. "Sorry to interrupt. May I have a seat." Davies sits down besides us before either of us respond. "What exactly is your business?" He asks. "You mean right now? We're trying to eat." Olivia remarks. "No, not now. I mean with the man." "What man?" Olivia asks. "You know who I'm talking about. The other man. He's your employer." Olivia stares at him for a moment. "So what if he is?" "There shall be no knowledge kept secret. What is your business with this man?" He questions. "It's fine we just go out and seek the unknown for him." I say, trying to cool things off. Unfortunately my words did not help one bit. Davies grabbed Olivia by the arm. "What are you doing?" I shout. "It sounds like spy work to me." "Well, it isn't." Olivia says, as she is being picked up. I try to pry Olivia free, but Davies pushes me away. Davies attempts to walk away. There is a soldier blocking him. "Out of the way, Zip." "I have orders."  "Orders from who?" "Eagle Eyes." Davies takes a deep breath. "What does he want." "He wishes to see them." "He wants to see both of them?" Davies asks. "Yes, but mainly him." He says pointing to me. "Then escort him upstairs. I'm locking this one up."

Food Delivery

Davies watched Todd carefully as he handed Jones and Norm their meals. Norm sniffed the gruel.
"What is this." "It's food." Jones says while digging in his fork. He takes a bite and grimaces. "Well, it's sustenance at least." "It is. Be thankful." Davies says scornfully. "Oh, we are. You always hang around together?" Jones asks. Todd briefly looks back at Davies standing by the doorway. "He insisted." Norm clicks his tongue. "Gotcha." "Hey, where's the other two?" Jones asks. "They couldn't make it." Todd says. Jones knowingly nods. Norm sighs quietly. "Don't be disappointed. You're starting to sound like my employees." Todd says, jokingly. "Employees." Davies questions. "Oh, it was just a joke." Todd clarifies. "A joke? What did you mean by it?" "Well, the other two technically work for me." "They work for you?" Davies shouts. "Yes, technically." Davies leaves without saying a word. He slams the door behind him. Norm clears his throat. "No offense, but I think you made it worse."

Mess Hall

Olivia, Todd, and I soon found ourselves in the mess hall. It was filled with loud  soldiers and dead eyed lunch ladies who served a grey meal of some sort. The three of us sat at a table far away from the other soldiers and examined our food. "What do you think it is?" Todd asks. "I don't know. It's food of some sort." I  reply. "You gonna eat it?" Olivia asks. Before either Todd or myself could answer Davies sat down at our table. "Sure they will. They'll eat it." "What is it?" I ask. "Doesn't matter. Eat it." He says. I reluctantly take a bite of the grey gruel. It had a strange taste. It was meaty and tough, but cold and wet at the same time. "Not so bad is it?" I choose not to say anything. "You three are in trouble." He says sternly, changing the subject. "What did we do?" I ask. "You didn't wait for me to come back. You left without me." "We didn't know we were supposed to wait." Olivia says. "You should have. You don't do anything from now on without  my or Eagle Eye's permission. You got that?" We all slowly nod our heads. "I know that raccoon is your friend, but I can't have you visiting him anymore. At least not at the same time. You proved you can't handle that." "Can I at least visit him now?" Olivia asks. "Are you kidding me? You want to visit him now?" He questions. Olivia nods."Why do you want to visit him now?" "Someone has to give him his food." She says. "You're right. Someone has to give him his food, but it doesn't have to be any of you. I'll find a guy to do it." "It's just..." Olivia starts. "It's just what?" He snaps. "It's just it would be good for him to see a friendly face." "You're right." Davies turns to Todd. "You're coming with me to bring their food." "Why me?" Todd asks, befuddled. "Because you didn't ask. Come on up." Todd gets up out of his seat. Davies then addresses me and Olivia. "You two stay here. I'll know if you left."