Phantom Universe (29 page)

“
Yes?” Lucy’s voice is small. The room is quiet for several seconds before everyone starts laughing hysterically.

CHAPTER
31: MONEY

16 years old

The door between their rooms stays open as the evening progresses. Everyone is hanging out and having a good time while Summer stays quiet and observant. She learns many things about the people around her. Like besides Lucy’s fear of spiders, she also hates heights. Avery’s parents died in a car wreck not long ago in Kentucky, and that’s how he ended up in California with his aunt. The thing Rob misses most is his dog Paco and his guitar. He’s also still deeply upset over the Dear John letter he received from his girlfriend the day before the Exodus happened.

The Exodus. This is talked about in length throughout the night and seems to be a regular topic between everyone in the camp. Summer overheard some of the history that night on the beach, but still doesn’t know much about exactly what happened. Basically, the Exodus was world-wide, wiping out all people with certain antigens and antibodies in their blood. Over two hundred million people went missing, and the world wanted answers. When no one produced any, people—namely countries—began to point fingers at others to satisfy the growing tension in their own. World War III broke out and decimated many countries, including the US of A. As countries pulled themselves back together afterward, they began to plot again. There were more wars, and during those times many American’s moved to Canada to find refuge. Canada, on the other hand, decided to build themselves an army that could take the USA. With lax borders, it was easy. There hasn’t been war in the Canadian Federation in almost a hundred years, though New York State, now its own country, has held its ground, refusing to back down. No one knows how they haven’t been taken over; it’s one thing the Leaguers don’t talk about.

“
So Summer,” says Jaden as their conversation switches topics, “tomorrow word will be out about what happened today. There are about three thousand people in this camp—all young—and most of them from the Beverly Hills area. Do you know what that means?”

Summer shakes her head.

“
It means that many of the people in this camp are privileged—their families are wealthy. Not all of them are snobs, but a large majority will look down on anyone who doesn’t have a lot of money,” explains Jaden.

“
We’re the outcasts, remember?” pipes in Landon.

Summer nods, though she doesn’t really comprehend exactly what being an outcast entails. She knows that being an outcast means you’re ridiculed, picked on, and treated pretty poorly over-all. She always thought it was such a cop-out when she compared her life to anyone who considered themselves an “outcast” in books she had read. But this time Landon holds a very serious expression which tells Summer she should listen and pay attention to what Lucy’s about to tell her.

“
You’ve met some of the bad characters already,” says Jaden. “Blake I don’t think will be a problem again.” Summer smiles at the memory of kicking him. Twice. It was very empowering—still is. “Rob beat up Preston pretty thoroughly, but I have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of him yet. The girl with the butterfly tattoo on her face? That’s Violet. The only reason she has any standing here is because her very rich aunt owns the most popular tattoo joint in L.A. She hangs with some shady characters so just try to stay away from her.”

“
Don’t scare the poor girl,” Lucy chimes in.

“
Are you scared, Summer?” asks Jaden.

Summer shakes her head.

“
All right then. She needs to know this so she doesn’t step on the wrong toes,” says Jaden.

“
Summer’s incredibly perceptive,” says Landon proudly. “And she knows how to avoid people like they have the black plague if necessary.”

“
Exactly,” agrees Jaden and glances at Summer. “Now Summer, I want you to be careful around Carter. You can’t miss him—he’s the tallest person in this place. Stay far, far away from him. He’s been especially violent lately because he is detoxing from cocaine. He’s dating Kayla who acts like she runs this place. She’s the one who made a quip about gang signs, remember?”

Summer nods, remembering the girl flipping her dark blonde hair like magical golden dust would flow from the ends. Maybe she’s an evil faerie?

“
Wherever Kayla is, her posse is never far behind. Which includes Alexis, Blake, Preston, and Wyatt—the one who was holding Landon back during the fight. Sometimes you’ll find Violet hanging around her too. Basically, if you see a really tall dude and a blonde Barbie go the other direction.”

Summer absorbs the information, hoping she can remember it all tomorrow when she has to face these people again. It’s not much different than the ship’s hierarchy.

“
That’s not all, though,” says Landon quickly. “There are also the Leaguers.”

“
Hey, give the girl a break,” says Lucy. “Don’t you think she’s been through enough? Plus, she probably knows a lot more about the Leaguers than we do considering her outfit.” She waves her hand up and down, gesturing to Summer’s new clothes. She’s still wearing the black pants, black shirt, and black boots of the Leaguers, though the green and black jacket is gone.

The thought reminds her that Gage said her stuff would be in the room already. She’s anxious to see what “her stuff” is. She rises from the bed and goes to the dusty dresser. They all watch her curiously as she pulls the first drawer out and shuts it quickly. It’s all underwear, and her face flushes a little. She opens the second drawer and finds it full of clothing. Lucy and Jaden come up from behind her and look over her shoulder. They squeal at what’s inside.

“
Clothes!” they shout and dance around, holding them up to see if they will fit. “I’m so happy you know a Leaguer,” exclaims Lucy.

CHAPTER
32: CHAOS

16 years old

The next morning, Summer and her friends make their way between the buildings to the courtyard. Outside the cafeteria and kitchen is chaos, a crowd pushing and shoving to get inside. Some people are walking away with bruised eyes and bloodied lips.

“
Hey, what’s going on?” Landon asks a kid who ambles by with a cut above his eye.

“
They ran out of food this morning, and it’s first come first serve,” he explains and keeps walking, limping slightly.

“
Bloody hell,” says Rob in exasperation. “You’ve got to be kiddin’ me! I am
not
fighting my way through a peckish crowd of rich kids for some manky cafeteria meal.”

“
It’s getting worse,” says Landon faintly.

Rob, ignoring Landon, continues his rant. “What happens when people start starving? Are we going to have to battle through these impulsive gits with their buffoon, shite-throwing attitudes!?” His eyes go wide in irritation, and his hand runs through his wild hair, only making it stand on end. “Some of these people couldn’t figure out how to pour piss out of a mangy boot with the directions on the bottom! And now I’m stuck with them. Damn, I need a cigarette.”

“
You need something,” jokes Jaden, chuckling.

“
Maybe we should line up for lunch when things die down?” suggests Lucy. “If this is how it’s going to be for breakfast, maybe we should beat the crowd—not literally, of course.”

Avery heaves a sigh while staring into the distance. “It’s not like we have anything better to do.”

“
I heard they’re going to start making us work,” says Landon.

“
Doing what?” asks Jaden.

“
No idea.”

An alarm blares, and guards filter through the crowd. On the steps of the Leaguer building, the one Summer woke up in yesterday, a Leaguer stands with a malicious smile on his scarred face. He’s obviously enjoying the angry mass of people, but after a few seconds of absorbing the scene, he begins to talk, and it’s as if he’s on a loud speaker.

“
Outlanders!” he says calmly while his light brown hair ebbs and flows in the warm breeze. The crowd quiets and turns to the man. “We apologize for the lack of food this morning. Starting tomorrow we will be doing a roll call in the morning, and teachers will be escorted in for classes.” There are groans throughout the crowd and a few choice curse words. “Yes, you heard me right. Each and every one of you will be required to get an education. No exceptions!”

Several people boo.

“
Tomorrow,” the Leaguer interrupts, “everyone will meet in the courtyard at six in the morning where you’ll be assigned a schedule that you’ll be expected to follow. Those who don’t comply will lose the privilege of eating on the Federation’s dime. That is all.” He turns and strides into the Leaguer building, two other Leaguers taking up positions on either side of the door as they shut.

“
Shall we line up anyway?” asks Lucy uncertainly.

Landon turns to Summer, his face a mask of confusion. “Yeah,” he says absently. “There’s something going on, but I can’t put my finger on it.”

“
You’re telling me, mate!” exclaims Rob. “We have to go to school to eat? A job, sure, but school?”

“
What do you mean?” asks Jaden curiously.

“
We’re obviously prisoners here,” explains Landon, his hand waving out, gesturing to the fence with its warning signs. “Why would they want us to be educated? Why don’t they put us to work instead? Make us useful to them?”

“
Maybe that’s why they’re ‘educating’ us,” offers Lucy. “Maybe they want to A, brainwash us somehow, or B, teach us how to do the work they need us to so we can be useful. Let’s face it—technology has changed a lot in two hundred years. What’s simple to them might be incredibly complicated to us.”

“
Brainwash us?” Jaden giggles.

“
What?” Lucy looks offended. “We are Americans—”

“
I’m not,” says Rob proudly.

“
Except Rob,” says Lucy with an eye roll.

“
Neither are me and Summer,” adds Landon.

“
Fine!” snaps Lucy. “Jaden, Avery, and I are Americans. That isn’t the point—the point is that we are foreigners here. These people took over the U.S. and now their country is crawling with the U.S.’s ancestors! That has to be threatening to them, and I’m sure there are several people who aren’t taking the change well. It would be in the Federation’s best interest to educate the young Outlanders of their ways and convince the older ones of their cause.”

Summer silently agrees with a bob of her head, but she suspects there’s something else behind the classes too. And, stupidly, she can’t help but hope for the mythical creatures of her favorite novels to come to life. She’ll be going to school—an actual school! The possibilities are endless.

“
This should be interesting,” says Jaden. “And yes, I do think we should line up for lunch. I’m already hungry.”

They aren’t the only ones who have this idea. Many people are already settled in front of the cafeteria doors, chatting and goofing off in clustered groups. Sitting on a piece of cracked concrete, Summer listens to her new friends while constantly on the lookout for the people she was warned about last night. Not far away she sees Preston and the blonde girl named Kayla. Preston’s face is purple and swollen—he looks ten times worse than Rob. At the table with them are a few people she recognizes from seeing yesterday. Their heads are all close together as they talk, Preston’s eyes constantly glancing in her direction.

It’s sweltering hot outside as the sun beats down on them in the cloudless sky, but that isn’t why a bead of sweat rolls down her spine. Her heart picks up beats with each of Preston’s flickering glances. Something’s up, but she isn’t sure what. She interrupts Avery’s play-by-play of how he won first place in the swimmer’s regional meet by tugging on Landon’s grey T-shirt.

“
Ducky?” His forehead is moist with sweat, and his cheeks are pink from the sun. “What is it?”

She covertly points to the group at the table. Lucy and Avery, the ones with their backs to the group, quickly twist around.

“
Turn around!” whispers Rob frantically. “Blimey! Could you be any more obvious?” He mumbles a few insults under his breath while shaking his head.