Free Awakening: Parables From The Apocalypse - Dystopian Fiction by Norman Christof Page B

of gone over his head for this exercise.  He’d be glad to let you go for a while, and I’m sure your department can find someone else to pick up the slack.”
    Alex’s right eye started twitching off and on.  “I don’t know, Colonel.  I’m getting pretty used to the work here, and it’s not such a bad place.  As long as I keep my distance from the general I have some pretty good days.”
    Chaz pulled his chair closer to Alex and looked him in the eye. 
    “We need to find Christa, son.  I think she’s in some trouble and could use our help.  I know what happened the last time we tried helping her, but this is different.  It looks like she may have gotten tangled up with some really nasty folks and could be in over her head.”
    Alex didn’t say anything, but started rubbing his right eye.
    “Alex, I know what happened when we were all last together.  I know it may seem like she left us in a bad spot, and things didn’t go well for either of us after that.  Especially for you.  I know that.  Matt told me what happened with your dad and everything.  That stuff never should have happened to you.  To anyone.  Certainly, you shouldn’t have had to go through it alone.  If it makes you feel any better, I believe Christa was trying to protect us.  I think she knew what they had in mind for her, and she knew we’d get dragged into it pretty good if she stayed with us.”
    Alex looked up.  “I got dragged into things pretty good even without her!”
    Chaz leaned back to listen.  “Do you really think she did me a favor?  She destroyed my entire life.  I have no family. I have no friends.  I have no life.  All I have is the work I do here.  I know it’s not much being a stinking janitor, but someone has to keep the place clean.  So, why not me?”
    Chaz nodded. “You can ask her that when we find her.  You deserve to get some answers, and she’s the only one that can tell you why she did what she did.  I could be totally wrong, but I think she’ll tell you.  You two always had a connection.  You looked out for each other and me when we fought our way here.  I’d never have made it without you two.  You owe it to yourself to at least ask her.”
     
    Alex got up and paced around the room for a few minutes.  Chaz didn’t say anything.  Alex’s eye twitch got worse, but the walking seemed to calm him down.  Eventually he came back and sat down next to Chaz.
    “I’ll go,” he said.  “I’ll do it.”
    Chaz nodded his approval. “Great.  That’s good.  It’ll be good for the both of us to get out of here for a while.  It’s been too long.”
    Alex got up and started to head for the door.  “I’ll just tell my boss they’ll need someone else to fill in for me for a while.”
    “Right, that’s a good idea.  I should start prepping things as well.”
    Just before Alex headed out the door, he turned and said, “You know, Chaz, I really haven’t missed her.  Not at all.  I’ve never felt alone all these years, because she always been here.” He raised his index finger to his head. “She talks to me all the time.  Christa does.”
     
     

Three Zombies and A Dinghy
    The dingy was making good time across the Gulf.  Luckily the weather held, and the storm didn’t start until they were nearing Gulf Shores just south of Mobile Bay.  It was dark, and there wasn’t much traffic, so they weren’t likely to be noticed.  The trip had been pretty quiet amongst the three of them until Andreas broke the silence.
    “I remember you being inside my head, but not being able to do anything about it.  You were distant, and you weren’t making any sense.  How did you do that?”
    “I’ve had the ability to hear all of you ever since I matured.  Mutating is what the scientists called it.  I used to be a zombie, but then I developed certain abilities … like being able to talk to you inside your head, and hear what was going on in yours.”
    “That’s pretty