Ascent (7 page)

With the binoculars I can see what’s happening on the street below. The opposition looks like nothing more than a group of former hotel workers. Women holding signs asking for a fair wage stand with children close behind.

A man from the front of the group moves toward the Hummer. He climbs up on the front bumper. The driver is one of the Party’s security members. The guy doesn’t get off.

Then there’s a gunshot.

Half the crowd – the closer half – duck. The people standing in the back turn to run, scattering in all directions.

The gun fires into the air again and this time it’s so loud I can hear it in my room. A woman runs towards the tank and the gun moves her direction.

I drop the binoculars and head out the door.

The hallway is empty. The normal security that waits in the hall to greet us in the morning is absent. They’re outside, guarding the front of the hotel, or inside the casino ensuring the guests they are safe.

I’m sure of it.

The elevator is there a second after I hit the button. The door slides open and I’m alone in a rectangular box surrounded by mirrors. I don’t look at my reflection. I’m scared of what I’ll see.

I race through the lobby towards the exit. I don’t look around. I’m sure if I look around a guard will make eye contact with me and he’ll realize I don’t belong outside.

The lobby isn’t deserted. It’s filled with security and guards block the entrance. A man dressed in black with an assault rifle strapped to his waist notices me as I get close to the exit. He waves at the men he’s speaking to and heads my direction.

“Can I help you?”

The sound of an explosion makes me jump. I look over his shoulder out the glass window to the pandemonium in the distance.

I need a way out.

And we’re not supposed to go out front. It’s one of the rules.

But I don’t care.

“No; I just came down to see what’s going on.”

He takes a step closer and gives me a skeptical look. “Dr. Thompson doesn’t want any of the Party trainees downstairs. It’s not safe down here right now. You’re not supposed to leave your floor. I’ll have someone escort you back to your room.”

My eyes dart around the lobby for a way out, a path to escape without being spotted. A darkened hallway lies to the left. It’s long – but I can see the light coming from the end.

“I don’t need an escort. I can make it back by myself. Like I said, I just came down here to see what’s going on.”

He pauses and then shrugs his shoulders. “Fine, suit yourself. Go back up to your room and lock yourself in. We’ll let you know when it’s okay to come out.”

“Sure.”

The elevators are down the hall to the left, the hallway that leads outside is to the right. I head to their intersection, watching what happens behind me in the reflection of a giant mirror hanging from the wall. A member of security watches me for a while, but then another guard gets his attention and he walks away.

As soon as he turns around I dart to the right.

The hallway is empty and the doors are closed. Maids’ carts line the hallway, one neatly stacked cart outside each room. The staff stays on the bottom floor. The hierarchy at the hotel is top down.

I run down the hallway towards the exit, trying not to glance over my shoulder every few steps. Looking behind will slow me down and I don’t have time to waste.

I get to the exit undetected and push open the door. I know an alarm will sound. But I have time, enough time to do what I need to do.

I push open the door and red lights flash behind. I look over my shoulder and see a security guard round the corner.

I start to run.

“Stop right there!”

I take a right and I’m behind the tanks along the side of the casino. I hug the far right side of the sidewalk. My heart beats in my chest and I take a couple of sharp breaths. The air burns going down. I know I’m in better shape than this. I’m an All-American Athlete.

“Stop!”

The sound startles me. My heart almost jumps in my chest. I push my head down and run faster. I know I can outrun my pursuer: I can run a mile in 4 ½ minutes.

The armored Hummer belongs to the Party’s security detail. The vehicle is massive, and even larger from my vantage point at ground level instead of high above the Strip. It moves forward, towards the crowd. I try to get ahead of it. A gun goes shot rings high into the air and another shot fires. I’m deaf. It’s like I can hear sounds happening around me but I can’t make out what anyone is saying. I look back and see the security guard running my direction. His mouth is moving, but I can’t make out the words.

The tank moves forward. I run to the fence and a couple of women from the opposition take a step back, their faces full of fear.

And it occurs to me that it’s me they’re scared of.

Then I’m standing between security and the opposition. I hold my hand up in the air for it to stop. It inches forward, daring me to hold my ground.

I stay.

I have to.

“Get away from there!”

My hearing is back. It’s the security guard that chased me out to the road. Behind him come three more. Big guys ready to take me back to the casino.

But I’ve got other plans.

I take a step forward towards the Hummer. It inches towards me. I can smell the fumes. The gun swings around in my direction.

“Please be advised you are interfering with Party security. You have fifteen seconds to move or we will open fire.”

I hear a few screams and the crowd behind me thins.

“You can’t scare us,” yells a voice behind me.

The seconds count down in my head.

“Matt, you need to move. You’re not supposed to be out here. You need to step to the side and return to your room. There is a serious penalty for interfering with Party security.”

It’s Liam, the head of security. His words are harsh but they don’t match the look on his face. I can tell he won’t shoot me – but I don’t know about the rest.

“Get out from in front of the vehicle!” the bullhorn screams. It’s so loud my ears ring.

The gun moves towards the crowd behind me.

“Killers!” a woman behind me screams. She has a small boy standing in front of me. He looks at me. His eyes are like marbles. His body is trembling.

The gun moves toward her.

I run in front of her, on the opposite side of the fence.

“Matt, please, Dr. Thompson doesn’t want you out here.”

“Then turn the Hummer around! What are they doing out here anyway? No one out here is armed! It’s a peaceful rally and the Party sends guns?”

“We need to keep everyone in line.”

“It’s more than what’s necessary.”

“Matt, you need to come back inside.”

“Not until security turns around.”

Liam crosses his arms over his chest.

“Killers!” the woman yells again. She’s wearing a shirt with a picture of a smiling man on the front. Above his head says
Roberto Munez, 1990 – 2011
.

“Ma’am,” I say, walking in her direction. “This isn’t a good idea. You need to leave.” I’m opposite her now, the fence is the only thing between us. I feel the tank behind me. Adrenalin rushes through my body. I feel like my head might explode.

“Killer,” she hisses at me.

“I haven’t killed anyone,” I whisper back.

“You’re one of them!”

“Look.” My voice is so low that only she can hear me. “What’s your name?”

“Angela.”

“Okay, Angela, please leave now. I’ll do my best to make sure nothing bad happens again. But you need to go. Now’s not the time. If you want to make a difference for your group, you should really go.”

A loud crashing sound fills the air. Security has fired another shot in the air. My heart jumps into my throat. It’s enough for Angela. She grabs her son.

“You better not be lying,” she says as she walks off.

I walk back towards Liam. I can’t tell if he’s mad or surprised about what just happened. He grabs my arm without saying a word and pulls me back to the hotel.

Chapter Nine

Matt

Saturday I spend in mandatory lockdown in my room.

Lockdown is punishment for not following the rules. And this was only my first infraction. I don’t want to find out what happens the second time around.

Sunday they’re allowing me out. I spent all Saturday watching the opposition outside the hotel, holding signs like they were part of a labor union, even though they’re really opposed to the Party. It’s the only way they can protest without being driven away by guns.

By Sunday morning the crowds have dispersed, but I’m pretty sure the heat wave that’s hit the desert is the cause of their disappearance more than anything. If you look outside in the middle of the afternoon, you can watch the streets melt.

It’s like the sun is closer to the earth here in Nevada. It’s brighter, bigger in the sky. It’s like the earth bulges out here. That’s possible, you know. Gravity changes the shape of the earth. For some reason the effect feels greater here.

I’m sure it has to do with geography, but I like the idea of the earth bulging towards the sun. It certainly feels that way. And, anyway, I did learn in Physics it’s possible.

The heat doesn’t stop us from meeting at the pool once we’re allowed out of our rooms. It’s on the eighth floor, and for Party members only.

The pool is just what you would expect from a mogul like Marvin Winn. It’s surrounded by empty chairs with towels hanging over the backs and covered with multi-colored cushions. The staff stands around the pool, waiting to satisfy the request of any Party member who steps outside. Only the members that live at the hotel are too busy planning their takeover to spend time at the pool. So it leaves the space to us, the trainees.

The hot air blasts my face and burns my skin. No wonder the opposition gave up and went home.

There’s a shaded bar with a man dressed in white standing behind the counter. I’m parched. It’s dry heat, but it’s definitely heat. I have no idea why people act like sitting in an oven isn’t that bad as long as the humidity is low. I swear I feel my blood boiling.

I walk over to the bar.

“Good afternoon,” the man greets me as he bends down and grabs a glass from under the counter.

“Same to you.” I can’t believe we have a bartender. I examine the bar behind him and I’m relieved to see there’s no alcohol. Just juice, soda, flavored waters. I can’t stand the smell of alcohol. “Do you have ice?”

“Yes, sir.” He grabs a scooper and fills it with ice, pouring it into the glass.

“Okay, I’ll take a Coke on ice and a bottle of water.”

He fills my drink and pushes it across the bar at me. I turn around in time to see Farrah and Casey walking out to the pool. Both are wearing bathing suits. Casey’s Pacific Northwest skin is so white that it glows. If I knew her better, I’d throw a bottle of sunscreen at her. Farrah’s tan is a stark contrast to Casey’s pasty skin. Farrah is the classic California girl: she’s all Hollywood – the daughter of a famous actress whose candle faded too soon.

I wave them over. “Hey, ladies!” Having company is better than sitting alone. I spent yesterday alone in my room. And Farrah looks pretty good in a swimsuit. So that’s a bonus.

They pull up chairs next to where I’m sitting and make themselves comfortable. Casey eyes my drink.

“Where’d you get that?”

“Bar.”

Her brow wrinkles. “Bar?”

“Yeah, over there, free drinks during our stay.”

“Oh, wow. Cool.” She turns to Farrah. “Want anything?”

“A bottle of water would be good.”

Casey walks away, leaving the two of us alone.

Farrah starts rubbing sun tan lotion on her legs. I want to reach over to help. I feel my hand quiver in her direction, but I catch myself. Rubbing lotion on my classmate’s legs isn’t why I’m here.

Farrah breaks the silence. “I heard about what happened. I can’t believe you went outside. You know we’re not allowed out, don’t you?”

I shake my head. “It looked like things were getting out of hand. I needed to make sure no one got hurt.”

She takes a strand of hair and pushes it behind her ear. “You’re braver than I am. I looked out the window and couldn’t believe it. I locked myself in my room.”

“Maybe it’s not bravery. Maybe I’m just crazy.”

“They screen for the crazy here, you know. Everyone enrolled at IYD is supposed to be sane.”

“That doesn’t explain Rick.”

She smiles and pushes up her sunglasses, pulling back her hair. She’s very Hollywood. Anyone would be able to tell her mother was an actress. “Rick’s sane, he’s just weird. There’s a difference.”

Casey returns holding a bottle of water in one hand and a sweating ice tea in the other.