Free Those Who Lived: Fallen World Stories by Megan Crewe

too.
    They didn’t trust me enough to criticize him in front of me. Why should they? Michael had sent us together. Of course they’d assume I was Nate’s lackey. I hadn’t done much to prove otherwise.
    The next morning I came down to grab breakfast and found Tyler appealing to Nathan outside the radio room.
    “Our supply’s almost gone,” he was saying, keeping his voice quiet and his head low. “I wanted to ask if you’d reconsidered—”
    “Look at you,” Nathan interrupted with a sneer. “I don’t know why I’d want someone like you in my outfit anyway. Maybe if you can survive long enough for the second shipment to get in.”
    Tyler paled even as his eyes narrowed. “Just tell me what you want me to do,” he said.
    “I want you to wait,” Nathan said, and noticed me watching. “Yes, Drew?”
    I didn’t see any point in continuing to withhold Tyler’s shot, other than whatever malicious pleasure Nathan got out of the power trip. The guy hadn’t made a peep of protest since that first day, to Nate or me, and from what I’d seen he handled himself efficiently in the radio room. But Nathan had edged his question like a knife. In the space of my hesitation, I couldn’t find a way to express my disagreement that I didn’t think would just set Nate even more firmly in his tracks—and set back any progress I’d made in earning his trust.
    “Just passing through,” I said, and ducked into the kitchen biting my tongue.
    I didn’t look at Tyler when he stalked in a minute later and banged a mug down on the counter, but I was aware of him on my periphery as I gulped down the oatmeal the guy on morning meal duty had cooked up. I still couldn’t think of how I could have handled Nathan better just now. So much for my “smarts.” How could I get a foothold with him when he was keeping himself too removed to even touch?
    How would I have tackled a figure like him in my former life?
    I turned that idea over as I finished my bowl. Someone at the top of the food chain, a CEO or politician, I’d never have aimed at straight on. I’d have known there was no point and focused on rallying other people until there were enough of us to force a change.
    The Wardens were already unhappy. If I had their loyalty, if they’d stand behind me in standing up to Nate... Michael had never said I couldn’t simply displace him.
    I washed the bowl, chucked it on the rack, and turned to face Tyler. “Come with me,” I said.
    He eyed me over the top of his mug. When I tilted my head toward the door, he got up. I led the way to the vaccination table, where the doctors were passing a creased entertainment magazine back and forth while waiting for our next customer.
    “It’s his turn,” I said, in a tone I hoped conveyed sufficient authority, as I jerked my thumb toward Tyler.
    They looked from me to him and back again. Tyler just stared at me.
    “From what I heard, the guy in charge—” one started, and I cut him off.
    “Sometimes the guy in charge needs a little help taking the right course. That’s what second in commands are for. Give him the shot.”
    My heart was thumping so hard I crossed my arms over my chest not just for emphasis but also to make sure my hands didn’t tremble. If Nate walked in now, I’d lose more than an earlobe. But he didn’t. The doctor got out a syringe and gave Tyler his vaccination, and Tyler let out a sharp laugh of relief.
    “If anyone asks, you’re still waiting,” I told him while the doctors could hear. My safety was assured in the fact that any of them would be in just as much trouble as me if Nathan found out. Tyler nodded, look-ing at me with a keenness that hadn’t been there before.
    I smiled, the fading surge of adrenaline leaving me energized. I could build on this. A spark of an idea lit in my head.
    “Grab a few of the people around and meet me back here as quickly as you can,” I said. “I’ve got a job for us to take care of.”
     
    Twenty minutes later,