The Zero Trilogy (Book 3): End of Day (2 page)

She saw him.

He was an Asian boy, several years older than Elle. He stood tall and lean, glossy black hair pulled into a ponytail. He wore all black. His skin was smooth and tanned, his clear, gray eyes a beautiful almond shape. But what struck Elle the most was the sword strapped across his back. It was a Japanese katana – just like hers.

The boy looked dangerous, like a ninja, standing there in black, his arms folded across his chest. His gaze flickered to Elle’s and she looked away, disturbed. He seemed familiar somehow. Logically, she knew she had never met this boy before. But somewhere deep inside her, a seed of fear took root.

She sat down on the front steps of the barracks. The concrete was cold. The camp was buzzing with activity. Bravo sat beside her, his tongue lolling. He seemed incredibly relaxed here. The active military environment was not new to him. He, like Elle, felt almost…safe.

Elle brought her gaze up to the boy again, but he had vanished. She shook herself. It had been a long journey to the Bear Mountain Military Base, and the disappointment of failing
to find her uncle here had taken its toll. She needed to rest before she decided what she was going to do next. Before she decided whether or not she and Bravo were going to stay here and assimilate into the militia environment.

“I’m a survivor, not a fighter,” Elle murmured, stroking Bravo’s fur. His body was warm. “I don’t want to be a soldier. I just want to stay alive.”

Bravo barked.

Human
.

The hair on the back of Elle’s neck stood up.

She sprang to her feet and whirled around. The boy with the dark hair was standing right behind her, a crooked, interested smile on his face.

“What do you
want
?” she demanded, raising her fists.

Bravo growled.

“Relax, little ninja,” the boy replied. He had a slight accent. His words were short and clipped. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

Elle lowered her hands. Bravo sat by her side, alert.

“Your companion is invaluable,” the boy continued. “The loyalty and intelligence of a dog like yours cannot be matched. You are a very lucky girl.”

“Who are you?” Elle asked, bluntly.

“I was about to ask you the same question.”

“But you already know who I am. You’ve been watching me all day.” She raised an eyebrow. “What do you want?”

“A conversation, maybe.” The boy flashed a roguish grin. “This apocalypse has made me a lonely boy.”

Elle’s lips twitched. An almost-smile.

“That’s the truth,” she said.

“My name is Cheng,” he replied, bowing his head.

“I’m Elle.” She touched Bravo’s head. “This is Bravo.”

Cheng looked long and hard at Bravo.

“You are fighters,” he stated.

Elle said nothing.

She noticed his tall black boots, stained with mud and bits of grass. His long, dark jacket was open, revealing an inky shirt. A beautiful piece of jade hung on a leather cord around his neck, marked with Chinese characters.

“I’m not a soldier, if that’s what you’re wondering,” Cheng said. He lowered himself onto the concrete steps, resting his forearms on his knees. “I am here as a…what is it you Americans call it? A contractor? I’m a freelancer.”

Elle sat down, but she kept at least ten feet between her and Cheng. Bravo sat at her feet, never taking his laser eyes off Cheng.

“You freelance as what?” Elle asked.

Here, Cheng smiled again.

“Many things. Whatever they need me to be.” He looked at Elle. “And what are you, Elle? You do not look like a soldier, but you carry danger with you. I can smell it.”

Elle picked at her jacket sleeve.

“I’m just surviving,” she said. “I came here looking for my uncle. He’s not here.”

“Who is your uncle?” Cheng asked.

“Manny Costas. He’s a pilot.”

“Ah. Yes, they call him the crazy one.”

Elle looked up sharply.

“My uncle isn’t crazy,” she retorted.

“
I
didn’t say he was. That’s just the general consensus.” He smiled again. “He’s known to be a little eccentric.”

Elle opened her mouth, then closed it.

“Well,” she said. “There’s truth to that.”

“I have never met him,” Cheng went on. “But I have seen him. He’s well known in the militias.”

“That’s what everyone keeps telling me,” Elle replies. “He’s just not
here
.”

“Everything happens for a reason.” Cheng laughed. “Even the end of the world.”

Elle raised an eyebrow. She wasn’t particularly enthused with Cheng’s sense of humor. In fact, she didn’t know why he was talking to her anyway. What did he want?

She stood.

“Nice chat,” she said. “But I’ve got to go.”

She motioned to Bravo and he followed her down the steps.

“Elle,” Cheng called.

Elle paused and turned around.

“Nice blade,” he said, gesturing to her katana.

There was a mischievous spark in his eyes.

Elle wanted to like him, but she knew better. She kept her face expressionless and headed toward the Civilian Ward on the edge of the camp. She never looked back, but she could feel Cheng’s eyes on her until she disappeared around the corner.

“I don’t trust him,” she whispered. “What do you think?”

Bravo trotted ahead.

He smelled trustworthy
.

“
So
not helping.”

He did!

Elle rolled her eyes.

She would worry about Cheng later. Right now, she needed to decide what their next move was. She needed a place to live. She couldn’t keep wandering aimlessly for the duration of the apocalypse. She couldn’t keep chasing her uncle around, hoping to catch him at some point in the
state. She needed stability and shelter, not just for her, but for Bravo.

He deserved that much.

After everything, they both did.

The Civilian Ward was noisy. There were lots of children. Mothers nursed sickly infants while toddlers whined and cooed. Elle curled up on a cot in the corner, her back to the wall. She watched everyone wander around. The wall of noise was deafening to her – loud and annoying. It was enough to drive you crazy.

Bravo didn’t look too happy about it either. He lay on his stomach, his head between his front paws, a distressed expression on his face.

“I know,” Elle muttered. “Too loud.”

She and Bravo were used to the silence of abandoned landscapes and empty cities. There was none of that here. All of these people, crammed into a small space, most of them unwashed and sweaty.

Elle sat on the edge of the cot. Skylights in the high ceiling allowed sunlight to filter into the building. She stood up. She didn’t want to be here anymore. She walked through the crowd of people. Bravo followed, eager to make his escape, too.

As soon as she walked outside, she took a deep breath of pure, cold air. It felt good. The military compound was still as busy as ever. Civilian survivors were being checked in at the front gates.

Something about seeing these people affected her. It was rare to find a place where people helped each other these days. This was a treasure. A diamond amidst the callous ashes of the apocalypse.

“Bravo, come,” Elle said.

She moved forward, walking through the camp. Bravo trotted beside her, his ears pricked up. He was happy to be out of the Civilian Ward. Elle reached the main building and walked up the steps, pushing through the heavy metal doors. The guards near the front desk paused. A
woman with gray hair and a dark jacket looked through her glasses as they walked inside.

“Miss Costas,” she stated. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in the Civilian Ward, according to Lieutenant Felix.”

“I’m here to talk to him,” Elle replied.

The woman sighed dramatically and stood.

“He’s in his office,” she said. “Wait here.”

She walked through the busy room. When she appeared again, she said, “Go ahead.”

Elle nodded and walked through the building.

“Hold it,” the woman said.

Elle turned around.

“Leave the dog here. We don’t want animals inside Headquarters.”

Elle raised an eyebrow.

“Bravo comes with me,” Elle stated.

She kept walking. The woman must have seen something dangerous in Elle’s face, because she dropped the subject.

They reached the Secure Room, where they had met last night. Felix was standing at a
table, tracing his finger along a map. He looked up and smiled broadly when Elle walked in.

“Miss Costas,” he exclaimed. “Have my men been taking good care of you?”

“Yes.” Elle motioned to Bravo with her left hand, and he sat. “Bravo and I appreciate your help – and the food.”

“That’s what Bear Mountain is here for.” Felix splayed his fingers on the table. “Have you met Cheng?” He gestured to the back of the room. Elle turned, alarmed to see the tall Asian boy on the far side of the room, leaning casually against a map nailed to the wall.

He smiled.

“We’ve met,” Cheng said, a languid expression on his face.

Elle looked away.

“Good.” Felix walked around the table and reached his hand toward Bravo.

The dog released a warning growl and Felix drew his hand back quickly.

“Ah, I see he’s not the friendly type,” Felix commented.

“He’ll warm up to you,” Elle replied.

“Cheng and I were just having a chat about you two,” Felix went on, clearing his throat. “We believe you could be valuable to Bear Mountain. You’re a survivor, and a fighter. You’ve got a bomb dog. That’s an asset. You could help the operation here. Bring in survivors, save lives. How does that sound to you?”

Elle looked at the floor.

And there it was. A chance to start over – to do something with her life, to be helpful. She could have food and protection. She would be doing something good.

“We could really use your help, Elle,” Felix said.

The smug expression on his face was gone. He looked tired in that moment – just as tired and scared as everyone else was during these terrifying times. He took a seat in a metal chair and folded his hands.

“The truth is, Elle,” he went on, “is that this base’s survival depends on volunteers like you. We are not an army. We’re not technically military, either. We’re different. We don’t attack
military targets. We stay hidden and hope to stay off Omega’s radar. That’s how we operate.”

Elle pondered this.

She really had no way to find her uncle at this point. Sure, he was in Sacramento, but that was a long journey, and by the time she got there, he could be gone again. If she stayed here, she could survive in the seclusion of Bear Mountain, helping survivors of the Collapse.

“If I stay,” she said, “Bravo is with me. He will be treated just like any other volunteer. Same rights, same treatment.”

Felix nodded.

“Of course,” he agreed.

“And I want privacy,” she continued. “I don’t want to stay in the Civilian Ward. I don’t care if you give me a cardboard box to sleep in, I just want to be alone.”

Felix smiled.

“Absolutely,” he said. “You won’t regret this. We’ll be able to help you as much as you’ll be able to help us.”

Elle wasn’t so sure.

But something was bubbling up in the pit of her stomach, rising through her chest. Was it…excitement? Was she happy? She shook herself. It didn’t do any good to get her hopes up. This arrangement might not work out. She might have to leave tomorrow. She couldn’t get comfortable here.

Still…she allowed herself to smile. Barely.

“Welcome to the team,” Cheng said.

Bravo rested his chin on Elle’s knee.

So. We’re playing on a team now?

“Thank you,” Elle said.

Felix shook his head.

“Thank
you
,” he answered. “You won’t regret this.”

Elle licked her lips. Between Felix’s enthusiasm and Cheng’s grin, it was hard to believe that anything was wrong with this arrangement. Sure, she knew better than to trust them completely, but this was the best option they had right now.

Survival was a game. Play it right, and you get to live.

Elle was good at playing this game.

This looked like the right move.

“You can stay with Cheng’s division in the back of the compound,” Felix said. “He can show you where it is.”

Cheng nodded, pleased.

“This way, little ninja,” he said.

Elle clicked her tongue and Bravo followed her out the door, right behind Cheng. They exited the Headquarters building and moved outside.

“So. You’re working for them now.” Cheng tilted his head, each of his steps the length of two of Elle’s. “How does it feel?”

“I don’t know. How should it feel?” Elle replied.

“That’s a question only you can answer.” Cheng led them across the compound, past the Civilian Ward and the Chow Hall, to a smaller concrete building with the number one painted in red on the door. “This is where people like us stay.”

“People like
us
?”

“Hired help.”

She stepped inside. The building was mostly empty right now. It was dark. Strips of sunlight slipped through cracks in the wall. There were canvas cots. Four or five people were asleep, huddled under blankets.

“You can have the cot in the far corner,” Cheng said. “Mine is here by the door.”

He gestured to a perfectly clean cot with one blanket and pillow.

Elle dropped her field pack onto the bed.

“Come on,” Cheng continued, “I want to show you something.”

They closed the door and Elle and Bravo followed Cheng to the very back of the compound, behind the building. A concrete wall separated Bear Mountain Military Base from the side of the mountain. Metal stakes had been driven into the ground. There were punching bags, targets and a makeshift wrestling mat.

“What is this supposed to be?” Elle asked.

“Training.” Cheng playfully punched the black bag. “We aren’t soldiers, so we find our own ways to stay sharp.”

Elle looked around, impressed.

“How many volunteers are there?” she asked.

“Like us?” Cheng shrugged. “You’ve got the regular militia volunteers, the ones with the guns who run around in the convoys and keep Omega out of our hair.” He wiggles his eyebrows. “But we are the crazy ones, Elle. We are the ones who go into the burning buildings to save the babies. We are considerably fewer. There are four of us now.”