When We Were Young by Jonathan Troll

Author:Jonathan Troll
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: AuthorLoyalty
Published: 2021-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

19: Flooded

Emily slowly returned to consciousness, awakened by the alarm on her watch.

“Turn that off,” the Orator said.

William went to Emily’s tied hands and silenced the alarm. Emily sat captive on a wooden chair opposite the Orator facing the seawall. She looked at the window. A crack of lightning outlined thrashing waves as the winter storm raged.

“You and your brother have been a thorn in my side for some time now. Why do you insist on spreading your lies to these young ones? Filling their heads with false hopes and expectations when they know, first hand, how unforgiving the world up there really is?”

Emily turned to Rebecca who stood just to her right. “This is important. How long was my watch alarm going off?”

“Do not disrespect me in my own office. I asked you a question.”

Emily kept her eyes on Rebecca.

“It just started before you woke.”

Emily twisted her bound wrists.

“Whatever it was that you were waiting for, you missed it,” the Orator said, as he turned Emily’s satchel upside-down. Dozens of papers fluttered to the floor. “I told you what would happen if you were ever caught again. You will not influence these young minds anymore.” The Orator held his hands behind his back. “You have been found guilty as charged.”

“And what’s my charge?”

“Oh, does it really matter? And since the two boxes are currently occupied, we’ll just execute your punishment right here and now.”

William wheeled a small gas-powered generator beside Emily. Connected to the exhaust was a five-foot rubber tube with an attached mask.

William secured the mask to Emily’s face. “And what of the tree outside, sir?”

“What about it?”

“The kids are all gathered, but half the tree is still dark.”

The Orator snapped his fingers. “I almost forgot. Well, go on and light the rest. It is Christmas after all.”

William retrieved his walkie-talkie from his desk and gave the approval.

Rebecca begged him to stop until the faint sound of an engine and cheers could be heard from outside.

William walked to the generator beside Rebecca and gripped the pull cord in his hand. “Now for the star.”

“I will not be rebelled against,” the Orator said. He nodded at William. William pulled the cord. Nothing. William pulled the cord again. Still nothing. Emily twisted her wrists all the more knowing that the generator would eventually fire.

William adjusted a small knob and a lever on the machine. “There, that should do it.” He gripped the pull cord once more.

“Don’t do it,” Rebecca said, holding out a flame burning from William’s lighter.

“And what exactly do you think you’re going to do with that?” William looked at the Orator and then at Rebecca. He smiled as he took hold of the cord.

The Orator looked at the open oxygen tanks and then at William. He yelled for William to stop but it was too late. William had already called Rebecca’s bluff and pulled the cord with everything he had. Rebecca let the lighter fly. The engine roared to life as the growing flame hit William’s pant leg.

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