Page 16

Snap and twist. Raise my bound wrists above my head so they can secure them at the window. Belt goes on.
Every time. Tied like a good pet to get the cell to open.
The funny thing? I never did anything wrong to end up here. An animal in a cage. Being born like this is my only crime.
Special. That’s the lie they feed me.
Harvestable. An asset.
Well. This is unique. A hall I haven’t walked. It looks the same, but fewer locks. Taking a chance to run too soon might ruin a better opportunity. Better to wait and see what lies beyond.
Thing one and thing two open the double doors to a rush of blinding light and humid heat.
Outside.
“Oh my god! I get to see the sky? What benevolent slavers you are!” I skip past the steel barricades until my chain pulls tight and rips me backwards off my feet.
The dizzying hit to the back of the head when I land is worth it.
White puffy clouds. A bird calling. The soft tickle of the damp air draws tears from my eyes. Even with the heat of the asphalt scalding into my shoulders, I want to stay here and stare at the vastness of the empty space above me.
Three helmeted heads lean over me.
“Y’all are ruining my view. Like a damned goon trilogy.” Heavily gloved hands haul me to my feet, but they can’t stop my gaze returning upwards. It’s only been on television and in books I’ve envisioned it.
So much better.
Broken skyscrapers dot the horizon past the small airfield we’re walking to. “Okay, stooges. What happened to the buildings?”
Their neck protectors creak as they look at each other.
“They bombed it after the outbreak.” The babysitter behind me is the one to break the silence.
“Was it really that bad?” I’ve heard stories about the dire day. “Doggies gone wild too much for everyone to handle?”
One of the half-breeds came through the lab. I think I was ten or twelve. Fifteen? Time flies when you’re repeatedly disemboweled.
I just remember thinking how cool it would be if I got close enough for those big ass claws to rip my head off. There’s no way I could survive that.
Fuck, I’d hope not. That would hurt for days.
“Bad enough they destroyed most major cities to try and get rid of a big chunk of the wolves.” This from the walking brick shit house to my right.
“Poor puppies. Bet all they wanted was belly rubs.” A three hundred pound pooch could play fetch with a redwood. How would I even throw it? I’d need some sort of catapult. A giant slingshot.
“It was a scary time.” The deep voice of the third guy rumbles next to me.
At least the dogs wouldn’t strap me down to harvest me over and over. Nope, that completely monstrous activity is saved for humans.
“Maybe for you. There’s worse things than wolves.” I wish he’d look at me so he could see me sticking my tongue out at him.
One day, I’ll bust out and find my own pack of creatures. The worst that could happen is they eat me.
It’d still be better than this.
“My, my grandma. What a small plane you have.” This isn’t quite the jet I was expecting like I’ve seen in old movies. I have to stoop to go through the door.
“Big enough for you. Sit there.” A big hand points in front of my face to the second row.