FLOOR 21: Descent (The Tower Legacy) Page 10

  “You see, Jackie, you and I both agree that finding a way out is the end game of the Scavenging. Perhaps it does not happen on this journey or the next, but it must happen. Though, to be quite honest, I feel strongly that we must make our escape immediately. If we do not take advantage of this chance then, in the future, Tower Authority might abandon all pretenses of finding ground level. It suits their purposes for now to advertise this as a search for the lost Scavengers, while paying lip service to me about escaping. Yet, once the population of Floor 1 is again distracted and after volumes of Voluptas have wiped their brains of any fear of the Creep, I believe the notion of searching for an exit shall be abandoned. That is why I must ask of you a favor.”

  So, dude’s got my attention, and I lean forward, balancing my elbows on my knees while my head sits on my knuckles. “Okay, so what’s going on here, Edward? Because you’re making this sound, like, super serious. Do we have an issue with Tower Authority or something? Are they going to come in and mess this up? I mean, they’re not going to try and do anything to me, are they?”

  “I’m not sure what Tower Authority can actually do once you’re in the Creep.” He raises a finger. “One thing I am certain of is that Abbott is no ally of mine. He has long been suspicious of me, since I am not officially a part of the council, whom he serves. He is their guard dog, and while I have no true way of knowing, I suspect that, in the end, should you be anywhere near to finding a means of escaping the Tower, he would rather turn your team around and march back into the upper levels. He serves at their command, not mine. So, I am here, in the end, to give you a separate order meant for you and, perhaps, anyone you feel you might trust.”

  He leans in and looks at me with eyes that flash like silver jewelry. “Do whatever it takes to divorce yourself from Abbott, should he cease his exploration for any reason except overwhelming danger. If it seems he is simply turning about because ground level is actually attainable, then you must find a way to slip from his sight. Our survival all hinges on you, Jackie, by proving to the Tower that we can actually escape from this monstrosity.” He pulls something smooth and white from his pocket and leans across to me so I can take it. It’s shiny and curved, almost like an earring. “This is a listener. Wrap it around your ear. Along with the Pocket Space Generators, they are among the oldest of the Pre-Tower Technology we have. They use powerful sensors to record the world around you, both audio and visual, as well as to allow communication with Tower Authority for commanders. The rest of your team will also be assigned some and told that they are for monitoring vital signs, such as heart rate. Their true purpose is disguised from the Scavengers, so that they do not become aware of the fact that the Scavenging is ultimately used as an entertaining diversion for the population of Floor 1. This particular listener, though, has a separate feed that will allow me to monitor you individually. At least, this way I can also inform your father of any goings on that are kept from the public. It will also give me peace of mind and allow me to gather information for future Scavengings should you fail to reach the ground, though I hope that does not happen.” He stops a second and gives me this creepy smile. “I’ve even included a small bonus with this particular listener. I know how much you love those recordings of yours. You’ll be able to turn this one off simply by removing it from your ear. Don’t take it off for too long at a time, though. That will draw attention that I won’t be able to cover for.”

  My frown’s bent down to my jaw as I slip the thing over my ear. Even though it’s hard plastic, it feels like it’s buzzing on my skin for a second before it sticks tight to my skull. “Whoa. What was that?”

  “They’re designed to adhere to human skin, but remove easily when you pull at them.”

  “And Abbott’s not going to be, you know, just kinda weirded out by the fact that I’m already wearing one?”

  “He has been informed you are already to receive one. It’s not terribly common but not completely unheard of, either, and seems more likely given your father’s relationship to Tower Authority. This relationship will benefit us since, as long as I can secure the channel privately, I will be able to contact you from time to time.”

  I nod but feel an uncomfortable buzzing in my back. “All of a sudden, I feel like this is the most terrible plan in the world.”

  “The stakes are high, Jackie.”

  “Yeah, no freaking joking, dude.” I bury my head in my hands. “I was just getting my head wrapped around the fact that the Creep’s way more intense than I thought it’d be, and now I’ve got to worry that I might have to deal with Abbott. You think he’d try to stop me if I told him I was going to ground floor anyway?”

  A smile breaks free from the director’s face. “What do you think, Jackie?”

  “Crap.”

  “Abbott is not, by his nature, a religious man. However, he is very dedicated. Tower Authority has made him a very privileged individual, and though he will fight to the verge of death to protect the mission, he will see any individual attempt to reach ground as a violation of the council’s orders. To him, all that matters is what the council says. Should you try and break away, Abbott will see it as an act of insubordination, and for that reason, you must be subtle.”

  See, this is what I thought of Abbott before I became a Scavenger. That’s why I can’t get a handle on whether I think he’s a hero or villain. “Well, this is looking like a real winner. I mean, who doesn’t look forward to going up against a guy who literally walks around with a flaming sword on his hip?”

  “Jackie, I wouldn’t make this request if I did not believe you had the resourcefulness to get it done. In fact, I’ve never met anyone that I believed to be more capable than you. You are, after all, the hero that brought down Sally.”

  “Did anyone ever tell you that you really know how to flatter a girl?” My hands clap as I tilt back into the chair. “Okay. I can do this. I’ve gotten this far, I mean, so what’s one more obstacle?”

  Edward nods as he gets to his feet. I get up too, because respect, you know? Anyway, he puts a hand on my shoulder and squeezes. Apparently everybody’s feelsy today. “I believe you can do this. Although, none of us can truly know who we are and what we are capable of until we’re put into the position of making hard choices.”

  “Ugh. Just, don’t remind me. I prefer avoiding them.”

  “Many do, in their teenage years. Perhaps that is why so many do not find out who they really are until they are adults. That’s when we become faced with the unavoidable difficulties of the world. Of course, your choices will be more grueling, in some respects, from any your friends and family have had to make. You will make decisions that affect life, death, and the survival of our race. So, the true question is, are you the Jackie that I believe you to be?”

  I look up at him, and I really don’t have any answers. Even the first time we met, Edward asked me questions that I just couldn’t respond to. They’re always . . . deep, I guess, and if the last few weeks have taught me anything, it’s that I have a hard time facing up to my issues. I couldn’t even stand up to the Creep, even though I’d spent years telling myself it wasn’t a big deal. “I don’t know who I am. Seriously.” When I say it, it’s really like, the most truthful thing I’ve ever confessed.

  “As all of us who sit on the edge of adulthood eventually do, you are about to find out.” He squeezes my shoulder again before turning to the door. “I’m looking forward to seeing how you fare in the depths of the Tower, Jackie. If it helps you at all, know that your friends and family believe you to be a strong young woman, capable of overcoming the great difficulties ahead.” He gives me a last look as he opens the door. “And so do I.”

  Recording Seventeen

  “Day One of the Second Scavenging has begun. Happy Scavenger’s Day.”

  The announcement comes on over the speakers and pulls me out of my sleep. Suddenly, I’m fighting to pry my face off of a pillow that wants to stick to my cheek. Abbott’s already in the room and inspecting ou
r gear, which gets us jumping out of the beds and slipping into our vests. Knowing where we’re going, I take a second to pop open a hole in Pocket Space and slip my cap into it. As annoying as it’s going to be, I put my combat helmet on, but just . . . God. The thing’s so heavy, and I can’t see to my left or right. To say it’s a concern is putting it mildly and has been since the first day we trained with the stuff, plus I can’t stop thinking about how Edward once told me that some of our equipment’s not exactly cutting edge. Why? Because a few deaths here and there are good for ratings on Floor 1.

  Well, I’ve never wanted to be a celebrity, and I don’t want to be a ratings grabber. Now, I might have to put up with this piece of junk, but at least I’m going to try and stay alert. So, I get done slipping my armor back over my uniform, but I’m thinking it’s a shame we only get one day to use the room. The bed was probably the most comfortable thing I’d ever slept in, and it was nice to wake up to soft, white light instead of the concrete and rust red that paints the lower floors. Tommy, looking like a human goliath in all his armor, gives me this psyched up smile as he holsters his pistol and slings his rifle over his chest. I’ve got the same set-up going on, plus my monster-killing baseball bat hanging at my hip. I’m kind of a badass really.

  Once we’re all geared, we start the long climb down the Tower. This is my first time walking in a Scavenging, and Abbott’s got the lead as he takes us down to Floor 4. Still, I know what to expect. Every Scavenging starts with a parade, so I’m not surprised when we through open the doors and find lines of people on both sides of us. It’s like a dream world. Normally, the halls are some pretty drab concrete shades, but today we walk into an explosion of balloons with colors so bright it almost shocks my system. Music’s blaring through the speakers and kids are clapping. I’m not even sure what I’m supposed to do, I mean, it’s not like there’s training for this. So, I just do what the commander’s doing and wave at everyone. I’m not even sure if my smile’s fake or not. But, like, I’m glad that everyone’s happy, and it feels really cool to see them excited. A few of the kids even have posters with my nickname on it: Jazzy Jackie. Which, I’m not sure that it’s the best nickname, but whatevs. I’ve got one, and that’s all that counts. The bummer about the whole parade is just knowing what’s coming next. As much as I want to get into the Deep, it’s also hard to ignore all the warnings we’ve been given about how dangerous it is. But, I mean, for right now, I at least try and enjoy the parade. It’s not like I want to disappoint children. I might not like kids, but I’m not trying to be a jerk, either. I remember what it’s like to be on the sidelines and cheering for the Scavengers, which does remind me of one thing actually. Dad and mom aren’t there. We’d already kinda talked about it, and I knew that when we said goodbyes at the apartment that they'd probably be skipping the parade. It’s not a big deal . . . at least, I try to tell myself it’s not. I had the same talk with Allison and, I mean, I understand. Goodbyes aren’t exactly my thing either, so once we had our final night together, I was cool with her staying home today.

  So why can’t I get over feeling bummed?

  Anyway, we make the march down the hall, which of course is huge. Then we wrap back around, hit the exit, and head down to Floor 5. It occurs to me that we’re going to have to do this, like, multiple times before we get off of the upper floors. So, yeah, basically we’re on repeat all the way down to Floor 11. Just because, later on, I don’t want to have to listen to myself for too long, I’ll skip the grueling details of just how numbed I got by the time I’d finished waving to the one thousandth kid in the hall. And the music. God, stop. I’d been listening to the marching music for hours by the time we got down to Floor 11.

  Which, you know, at least things spice up once we’re there. First of all, at the checkpoint, we all have to show our identity cards. If that isn’t enough, the Security guys that are keeping us from heading down are a bit too insistent that we get our blood drawn. Abbott’s cool with it, I guess ‘cause he’s been through this before, but I hate needles. The minute they mention they’ll need to draw blood, I’m in panic mode, but it turns out they really just need to prick your finger. Which, I guess that’s fine. I still don’t like it, but at least it’s not the super huge needle I thought I was going to have to stare down. They basically just put this thing to your finger that shoots a blade out super quick. It bleeds you, collects the sample, and then you wait around for a second until the light on its side glows green. Not as bad as I thought. Not that I enjoyed it, just saying that things could’ve been worse.

  Anyway, Floor 12 is where our march really starts to get interesting. I’ve been down here plenty of times, just not as, you know, a Scavenger. I’m all super elite now, yo. So, it’s already been a few hours since we left, and I’m starting to get antsy about really getting into the Deep Creep, but Abbott explains that we’ve got to at least check each floor to make sure things are chill. If there’s any sort of weirdness going on, we’re supposed to check it out. Thing is, Floor 12’s not too bad. I mean, you do see some Creep on the floor and on the baseboards, but nothing that’s going to make you trip out or anything.

  It’s right around Floor 16 when I start to really get a bad vibe from the halls. The rusty haze in the air gets thicker and the Creep gets super visible, plus all of the walls are covered in a thick transparent goo that seeps down from the ceiling. We’ve been on an almost constant march, so I’m a little surprised when Abbott orders us to a stop.

  He nods to the wall. “It’s standard for our team to inspect these floors and interview the locals to make sure there’s no risk of a Creep Incident. Today will be no exception.” He says this as he starts walking again. We follow along and I think, probably for the first time in my life, that I’m really seeing what life is like for everyone down here. You know, once in a while you realize you’re just ignoring other people, and apparently that’s been my strategy every time I’ve come down this deep. Thing is, every time I’ve been on this floor, I haven’t really, you know, cared about who was living here. I was into it because I wanted to know about the Creep. But now? God.

  I don’t talk to any of them, but Abbott knocks on a few doors to see who’s home. Most of the people look like parents and some are even carrying a baby in their arms. All of them are thin, like the skin’s pulling tight to their bones. I don’t even want to mention the rooms, which are all way different from those on my floor. Down here, everything is sparse, and there’s spots of Creep everywhere, like a mold that’s invading. A mold that will make you hallucinate and see visions of Demons, I mean. Even standing outside, I notice that the Creep’s slowly trying to crawl down and into the doorframes. Abbott explains that it’s common for teams to come through the halls on a daily basis to hold off the infection with fire.

  Thing is that, as we go deeper and deeper, I find it pretty unbelievable that you’d be able to really stop the Creep. Every floor gets progressively more infested, like we’re literally walking into a disease. This goes on for a few more hours as we talk to people about what’s going on in the area. Sometimes the commander will stop and let Security know that they need to take care of a really nasty infestation that’s building up in an apartment, but it would take every flamethrower in the building to get rid of what we’re seeing by the time we get to our destination.

  Floor 21.

  The second I set foot there, I know something’s up. The rusty haze is incurably relentless and the Creep’s starting to burst through the baseboards and chew into the walls. When you live on the upper floors, it’s easy to think you can hold off the Creep forever. Here, you can’t even walk anywhere without realizing that’s a complete lie. Some walls have already been eaten into or have thick tendrils bursting out of them. The rooms are barely any better. People here talk about having to burn away infestations every day just to stay alive and get some sleep. I believe it, I mean, there are growths hanging from the ceiling and the walls are shiny with all the saliva dousing them. It makes you wonder how
people can live here, and also, you kinda get why people join the scavenging teams. It’s the one way for you to move off of this floor, at least if you can survive seven years in the Deep Creep.

  Abbott’s talking to another person and I’m just waiting around in the hall with everyone else. We’re all a little distracted since we’re adjusting to the effects of being down this deep, and I know this is when the hallucinations start to kick in really heavy. That’s why I try to ignore it when I look to my left. The dim lights burning overhead are filtered through the crimson air while, way off in the distance, I can see a person stepping out of the wall. A hazy blackness forms together around him and I watch as parts of it burn away. The arms form first, then the legs. Finally, the last bits of shadows melt off, leaving this face with no features looking back at me. It moves with shaky steps, like it’s a movie monster coming my way, but the film is jumping. My eyes feel like they're burning as I stare while the creature’s head brushes the roof. Meanwhile, its crooked feet bring it stuttering forward, looming larger and larger. Finally, my breath comes to a halt, and my fingers wrap around my gun when I see shadow man brace to rush at me. My fingers are brushing the trigger when I hear someone say, “Jackie?” The voice snaps me from my stare and my head jolts the opposite way. Tommy’s eyes are poking at me from under his tightened brow. “Jackie, you okay? You seeing something?”

  My mouth falls open as I look between him and the hallway. The figure’s gone, like the thing was just playing games with me. Except, it couldn’t have been playing games with me. It was never there. Right? I shake my head at Tommy while my fingers dig into my temples. “No, Tommy, just . . . ugh, sorry. I was tripping balls right now. There was a second where I was super sure I was staring at something down the hall. You know, one of those things?”