Free Evolution by Kate Wrath

Jonas holding me back while
the metal monster ripped little Oscar out of my life forever….
    Overwhelming grief brings with it the urge to run.  But
there’s no running.  I just suppress everything and stroll on, denying my
heart the right to feel all the things that it clearly feels whether I grant it
the permission or not.
    As we pass the gates, a large party of men is coming
in.  I stop to watch the Sentries swing open wooden barriers that weren't
there just yesterday.  Fifteen or so men come through.  They're all
recognizable as Matt's.  They carry rifles slung on their shoulders, and
behind them they drag a litter piled with animal carcasses—deer, rabbit,
something striped.
    "What're they doing with all that?" I mumble.
    "Feeding us," says Taylor.
    I glance at the brothers.
    "We have to make up for our lost supplies
somehow," Jacob explains.  "The shipments are running again, but
there’s still all the ones Grey hijacked.  There's plenty to eat out
there.  We’d be stupid not to take advantage of it."
    Hunters used to stand inside the barrier all day to wait to
fight for one deer.  I wonder how long it takes to catch them when you can
go into their territory.  I wonder if there really is plenty out there to
feed us all.  The thought is alarmingly hopeful—too good to think.  I
can't imagine a world where there is enough for everyone.  Trying to only
makes me sad.  Cautious.
    "Will Matt let anyone hunt?"  I'm pretty sure
I already know the answer.
    "It would be chaos," Jacob says.  "He's
put together teams to get as much as we can.  But for now, no.  It's
dangerous out there.  We still don't really know much about what's beyond
the barrier."
    A little shiver moves up my spine at the thought of that
mysterious world.  "What've they found so far?"
    He shrugs.  "Lots of trees.  All kinds of
different animals.  Weird stuff, some of 'em.  There's a river, not
far.  And a pond, too."
    "Have you seen it?"
    He gives me a look.  One that says he is unfortunately
too busy babysitting me all the time to go see things that are actually
interesting.  I give him the look right back.  Not like I asked for
it.
    "What about the gates?"  I’m wondering if
Matt really needs them to keep people in, when the Sentries are there to rip
apart anyone who tries to get away.
    "Security," Taylor offers.
    Jacob elaborates.  "No more travelers or visitors
allowed."
    "None?"  I eye the wooden structure that now
closes off the Outpost's wall.  "What do they do if someone
comes?"
    Jacob shrugs.  "Turn them away?"
    Taylor snorts.  "Not like anyone's coming. 
Imagine the stories Grey's men are telling.  They'll spread.  Would
you come?"
    I shake my head.  "Hell no."
    We start walking again.  A group of boys skitter across
the street in front of us, one of them lugging a box full of broken
glass.  The others are adding to it from the gutters.  I look away
from them, and try not to think of Oscar.  I fail miserably.  I'm
blinking away tears when I see him: Jonas.  He walks the cross-street with
his hood up, head down, hands tucked in his pockets.  I can't see his
face.  He doesn't see me.  He just walks across quickly, folded in on
himself, like he's hiding from the world.  I realize for the first time
that he must be.  He was the leader of a massive failure.  People
died because they followed him.  Are they blaming him for what happened? 
Is he hated?  Ostracized?  Is he even OK?  Whatever cost he is
paying, it’s all because of me.
    I stumble onward, considering the weight of my choices yet
again.  Wondering if I could have done something differently.  If I
could have spared him this pain.  Wondering, if some other way, we could
have been together.  Even as I turn away from that thought because it
brings too much pain, I think of Apollon….  Is he dead because of
me?  Sweet, silly Apollon, with his dimples and shining blue eyes. 
The memory of him stabs sharply into my chest, bringing