Oculus (Oculus #1) (26 page)

“Better mad with the crowd than sane all alone.” -
How to Use Your Enemies
, Baltasar Gracián

I
WILL NEVER, FOR THE
life of me, understand how people live under The Corporation’s thumb. Being told that you can only have something when they think you have earned it. Having everything stripped away from you the moment they feel you’re no longer deserving. Arbitrary tyranny, that the sheeple of The Corporation embrace with an almost fervent joy. While they may privately, and very quietly, grouse about the things they are not able to have, they revel in the advantages they have over their neighbors. The Corporations are easily able to play their servants off each other in a never ending game of one-upmanship.

During my skulking around the compound I had been witness to almost every type of underhanded dealing imaginable. From sexual favors being traded for supplies to guards beating low ranking employees for daring to look at them too long. Then there was the sickening existence of the supervisor, the late Mr. Benson and his abuse of the compound’s children. All part of the disgusting machine that is The Corporation. The entire place was like a cesspool where the slaves climb all over each other in an effort to be on top. It doesn’t matter what you do, you’re still covered in shit.

Since the recent demise of Security Chief Ingram, changes have been occurring all across the compound. It started small, the additional guards on the wall and then new cameras being installed. Next, the patterns of the roving internal squad’s paths were altered. Patrols now overlap in a way that maximizes efficiency. This is important, as I had eliminated a large amount of their staff during my race to save Iris. After the ‘terrorist attack’ had claimed the lives of so many security personnel, the new chief had to make do with what she had. I would love to have been a fly on the wall when Chief Williams examined the tapes looking for the attackers. The terror she had felt at all the blind spots in their surveillance network would have been amusing.

Chief Williams is taking no chances. Every non-resident building in the settlement is being retrofitted with electronic scanners. The Corp has decreed that all the residents will be given twenty percent less power because of this and other security enhancements. The grumblings this causes are subdued, most of the people are frightened enough to comply. I hate that something I’ve done was giving The Corp more power over their slaves. They’re opportunistic bastards; you have to give them that.

When I examine all of the changes together, I’m able to see a disturbing pattern emerging. Chief Williams is making her mark. Public announcements of her appointment have blared from all of the video stations in the compound. Though she has yet to make a personal appearance, she’s making her presence known. At the rate she’s going, the entire compound will soon be locked down, making escape with Iris problematic.

There’s no way I’m going to hazard taking Iris out of the compound in a hail of gunfire. A stray bullet could take her from me, and that’s not an acceptable risk. After extensive recon, I find three escape routes that are as yet undiscovered by security and set about making them inaccessible myself. The exit from the old hospital basement that I used before was the easiest. Security dropped most of the basement already to destroy that path. I simply had to shift some heavy concrete out to make a warren hole in the lower corridor. The slabs I’m able to move were far too heavy for a normal man to shift. Even two men would be hard pressed to lever them out of place. Secure in the knowledge, I put two such slabs in place. This will be my primary escape route. From there I can make my way across the gap in the corridor below to the outside. I’d made it over the gap with Iris in my arms before, which makes it the only trusted method of escape.

I clear tunnels along paths that security had collapsed with explosives. I’m able to crawl through them to the outside after shifting debris, however I’m unable to stabilize the tunnels themselves. Still, it gives a safer option than racing away through a hail of bullets. Using the tunnels, I move supplies outside the perimeter whenever time allows. I want to be ready once Iris comes to her senses.

Had it been anyone else I would have sedated them, thrown them over my shoulder, and made my escape. This tried and true method had served me on several occasions when I had to remove key personnel that The Resistance had a use for. But when it came to Iris, I hesitated.

Knowing she is real, that I can touch her, hold her in my arms. It is all just too much to process. When she is happy I feel like I could fly, but when she is sad I want to sink into a hole. Is it just the genetics? It is some biological imperative programmed into me like my need to exercise? Or is it more? It feels like more.

As security tightened its grip on the compound, I was glad that I had stockpiled supplies. Electronic locks could be bypassed, but that normally sets off an alarm. It would have been problematic for security to realize that they had a Resistance agent loose inside their compound.

Because only a fool would overstay his welcome like I have.

Even with all the activity, I needed to get out of the compound, at least for a few hours. Being cooped up in the house didn’t allow me to get enough exercise and I shortly felt like I was going to bounce off the walls. I did push ups while Iris was away at the hospital. Between my enforced captivity and my concern for her, I had to do something to burn off the excess energy. When she returned we spent a few hours together. She was angry, upset at her father, at me, at The Corporation. It took me a while to distract her and tire her out. When she was sleeping soundly, I went out the window. I took one of the tunnels that I had to crawl through, doing what I could to reinforce the walls as I passed through. When I was finally outside the compound I cautiously moved away into the woods.

My caution was warranted. Security Chief Williams had changed the patrols out here as well. Overlapping groups armed with high powered lights swept the trees at irregular intervals. I was able to pass undetected, but I could tell this was going to be an issue. Even if I could get Iris to leave soon, it would be difficult to get out completely unseen. My mind worked through the issue as my body races through the darkness.

If I set up an explosion near the center of the compound, that would draw security in from all parts of the wall. Then I wouldn’t be telegraphing my movements and I could slip out with Iris. Perhaps a wall breech, or two…no, they’re watching the wall too closely. Wait…the tunnels. They think they’re still sealed. I could plant explosives in each tunnel and that would draw them away from the perimeter patrols. Yes, that just might work.

It was a rough plan, but it was better than what I had when I woke up. The supply caches I had were far enough outside the perimeter sweeps to have remained undiscovered. Collecting a large batch, I set off for the Junior Resistance hide out. When I arrived, I found Cade hiding in the trees outside. He was doing a better job of remaining hidden than he used to, I had given him a few tips, but I still picked him out in seconds. The Corp would probably be using heat sensors and would have found him almost as quickly.

“Cade,” I say quietly as I eased up next to him. He jumped and started swinging his fist towards my face. I caught it easily and gave him the half second pause it took for him to recognize me before I released his hand.

“God, do not do that! Give a guy a little notice.” I smile, because I knew that was what he expected, but I didn’t see anything funny about the situation.

“What are you doing outside? Your presence will alert The Corp to the others if they scan for heat signatures. The walls of the hideout are what protect you from their scans. Keeping a look out is archaic and will get you all killed.” I say it calmly, but he pales and his eyes rapidly scanned the woods behind me.

“Is that why you’re here? Are they coming for us?” I shrug off my pack and tossed it to him. He catches it, stumbles back against the wall, then recovers and sets the pack on the ground.

“No,” I say. “But things are changing in the compound. There is a new security chief, Williams. So far she has closed a lot of escape routes from the compound, locked down all the supplies, and is systematically searching the facility. It is imperative that you make your rations last for as long as possible. I’m not sure how many more runs I will be able to make.”

“Do you think we should make a run for it?” He looks close to panic. I give him a thoughtful look then I shake my head emphatically.

“No. You would get caught. They have an outer perimeter sweep going on right now. The best thing to do is wait for an opportunity. We may have a window soon and if so, you will need to be ready to move. Take only what you need to survive, food, water, medicine and haul ass. The best direction for you to travel is east by north east. That line will take you up in to the foothills, away from Corp presence.”

“Wait,” Cade says , “aren’t you going to come back? To lead us out?”

“Plans change on the battlefield in an instant.” I say. “Contingencies will keep you alive. Do you still have the compass I gave you? Do you remember how to use it?”

Cade nods, and pulls the old brass compass from his pocket. I review with him again how to use the needle to find his direction, and how to use the lines on the glass to navigate. I have no plans to return for Cade and his followers, not unless Iris demands it. So I give him the means to save himself. I don’t have a lot of faith in his chances, but anything is possible.

I go inside with him and check on the others. The interior has begun to take on a rank odor I associate with large groups of unwashed people. I don’t stay long. There’s a hostility in the gaze of many present, as if I am somehow to blame for their current situation. I have Cade accompany me to the door, using the moment to give him a few last-minute instructions.

“Stay inside,” he nods, but I don’t let it go. “I mean it. There is more chance of them spotting one of you outside with their tech than of you seeing them. If they find you, then all of you are as good as dead. Remember that.” He nods again, his complexion paling at my words. “And Cade? Keep an eye on your people. This is the time, when things get desperate, that people start to crack. If one of them tries to run home and beg forgiveness you could all end up in the ground.”

Closing the door behind me, I spend a few minutes covering the signs of my approach to the hideout. Backtracking on my own trail, I set a few false paths before making my way back toward The Corp compound. Patrols are thicker now, almost too heavy for me to slip past. It’s as if they know that I’m there.

Getting back into the compound is easy. I simply crawl through the roughest of the tunnels. I shore up the walls as I go, noting the best place to lay explosives for my diversion. When Iris and I leave, I can probably drop part of the wall by careful placement of a bomb. The wall was designed to resist damage from the outside, not underneath.

Coming out of the tunnel, I slide back a rough square of concrete. Making sure I’m alone, I conceal the opening beneath the slab again then make my way into the street. It’s only an hour before the pre-dawn light brightens the eastern sky. I need to get back to Iris. I’d felt no alarm from her through the night, yet I yearn to see her again, to touch her again. My lip curls in a devilish grin as I imagine just how I’ll wake her this morning.