The Awoken by Katelyn Monroe Howes

Author:Katelyn Monroe Howes [Monroe Howes, Katelyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2022-08-09T00:00:00+00:00

12

REST WAS ABOUT THE furthest thing from my mind as I left One. I headed toward Damien’s train car so he could help me make heads or tails out of what the hell had just happened. Soon enough, though, I stopped. Instead of seeking solace with Damien, I decided I needed to speak to Avon first. So I turned away from the train and ventured toward the upstairs platform, New Chicago.

On the way there, my mind spun. I had just been elected leader of the Resurrectionists. That said, only five people voted for me and I was one of them. It didn’t really give me a mandate to make decisions on behalf of tens of thousands of people. But regardless of the how we’d ended up where we did, an entire room of people listened to me. They called me their leader. It was a dream I’d had since I was a child, to be listened to. To make a difference. It’s why I got into politics. And yet I had this voice in the back of my mind whispering that I didn’t deserve it.

The area the Chicago refugees had sectioned off for themselves was up a series of staircases and through to the other side of the tracks. Having stayed every night in the medical car, I had only been over there once before, so I almost got lost. Eventually I found my way by following the unmistakable sound of Gina’s hearty laugh. It was intermixed with a general din of friendly conversation and the clatter of dishes.

They were all having dinner, or had just finished, by the looks of it, when I approached. The air smelled of pork and rosemary, which at first made me want to puke thanks to the cancer. Then I remembered I needed to eat and hoped there might be some scraps left over.

Gina and the others lounged on deerskin blankets and makeshift pillows around the fire while a small radio played soothing music under the curation of DJ Raheem’s familiar voice. Unlike the rest of the camp, which used trash cans for their fires, here they used metal lids on the ground. It gave off a more romantic camping vibe and felt less like an encampment under the highway. I looked around at these people and was glad to see all of their faces. I was home.

Minnie ran up to me and threw her arms around my waist. I hugged her back, tightly at first, which I quickly released when I felt her wince. I wondered if I might be able to convince Eliza to find her some Dreno.

She looked up at me. “Did you see Damien?”

“No, I haven’t yet. Is Avon here?” I looked around the small platform.

Gina leaned back from her conversation with the other Resurrectionists. “Thought he and Chris were with you.” She chewed open-mouthed on some pork.

“Yeah. They were.” I sat.

A few feet away, Minnie dove back into the rumple of fabric that was her bed and turned on a flashlight, illuminating the mess of electrical wires that entangled the sheets.

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