Awakening: Parables From The Apocalypse - Dystopian Fiction Read Online Free Page B

kind of wish it was.  They took a pretty keen interest in me after they hauled us back in here.  Or at least after I woke they did.  They were downright pissed about losing Christa.”
    “You were around for all that?  I thought you were in a coma as well.”
    “Oh I was, but not for very long.  Less than a week actually.  They really couldn’t explain why I woke and you didn’t.  Everybody’s different I guess.  I wish you had woken first.  You could have handled things better.  I didn’t do so well.”
    “What do you mean?  Not so well?”
    “Well, they were pretty upset, right, and I was the only one around of the three of us.  Christa disappeared to who knows where.  That was a major loss around here.  Sure, they wanted her out eventually, but they wanted to control that.  They wanted her out there on their terms, spreading the mutation.  Then, when they were ready, they were going to pull her back and do things with her.  I don’t know what, but it wouldn’t have been good for her.”
    “Yeah, I may have some idea as to what they had in mind.”
    “What do you mean?  You knew this?”
    Chaz looked to Matt across the hall and said quietly, “Not really.  I saw some things before we got out.  I was going to tell you about it all, but not till we were out of there.”
    “Things like what?”
    “Not here, I don’t want to say here.  I don’t know who’s listening.  Some other time.  So what happened after you woke?”
    Alex hesitated. “It’s not easy to talk about.”  He glanced at Chaz, then stared at his feet. “It got really ugly for me.  The general needed a scapegoat, and I was the only one that fit the bill.  He tried court-martialing me at first, but somehow my military records got lost, and no one actually believed I was in the service.  Can you believe that?  After everything we did to try and save everyone, they said I wasn’t even in the service.  How many times did I nearly die trying to protect this country?”
    “I’m so sorry, kid, you shouldn’t have had to go through that alone.”
    “It got worse.  They dragged me through the public courts.  Everyone knew.  All my family and my friends heard about it.  I was international news.  They said I’d be responsible for the deaths of thousands of people because of what we did.  They really just did it for the publicity in the media.  They wanted everyone on the lookout for Christa, and my trial made headlines everywhere.  They never did find her though.  Blaming me for all of it was easier then blaming one of their own.  I think that’s how my military records got mysteriously lost.  Pretty convenient for them.  The general in particular.  He really covered his ass pretty good.”
    “Sons of bitches.” Chaz shook his head. “They’re pulling the same shit on me now.  They want me to do some mission for them but won’t say what it is.  They threatened me with the same court-martial, and my family as well.”
    “Your family?  Why?  They had nothing to do with any of this.”
    “They left the country before we met, remember?”
    “So? Everyone in their right mind that could did the same thing.  Why would anyone want to live in a place full of freaks trying to eat you every day?”
    “Yeah, well, not everyone gets caught, and of those that do, how many are related to ex war heroes that desert the military and blatantly disregard orders?  The shitty thing is, I obviously still have something they want.  That’s why they’ve got me going on this mission.  Wish I knew what it was.”
    “I’m sure you’ll find out eventually, whether you want to or not.”
     
    Matt stepped back closer to interrupt.  “I’m sorry guys, but I need to get you back, Chaz.  There are some here that wouldn’t approve of you two talking, and I wouldn’t want any of my bosses thinking I stressed you out on your first day out of bed.”
    Chaz looked up at Matt.  “Yeah, sure.  I think I may need a