It would take far longer than she wanted it to, but Vera knew she would freeze to death long before she found Kay if she ran out in only her house clothes and apron. As quickly as she could, Vera layered her thermal pants and snow-proof coat, wrapping herself in a spare cloak and scarf before donning her warmest snow boots. Just as she was about to slip into her thickest mittens and gloves, the phone rang.

(Vera glanced at the dead officer again. Her heart was in her throat - they had called for assistance. It would be here eventually.)

But the caller ID sung Levi’s name in a cheery tone, and Vera couldn’t bring herself to let it go to voicemail.

(There might not be any coming back from this.)

“Hello?”

“Vera, darling, you sound stressed. Are you alright?”

“Fine - sorry, just, Kay’s - Kay’s not feeling well and I know we won’t get a doctor to the house in this weather.”

“Damn, poor kiddo. I could call around and see if Patel knows anyone in the area - ”

“Oh, please, don’t - I think we’ll manage ‘til the weather breaks. Just - just going to be a long night.” Vera was very warm in her layers still standing in her heated home. “What were you calling for?”

“Ah, right, right. A State officer just left - they wanted to know about Kay.” Vera’s heart stuttered, but Levi quickly continued. “I called around and it seems like all our friends got a visit.”

“…what did you - ?”

“Told them to leave you the fuck alone, that’s what I told ‘em. Kay’s a good boy.” Vera couldn’t help but look down at the body sprawled out in red on her kitchen floor. “Everyone else is keeping mum on it too. But - I wanted to warn you.”

“…might be a little late for that.”

“Oh, dammit, what happened? I think the Tunnels are still open; we could make it to you - ”

“Kay’s gone.”

“Those bastards - ”

“He ran.” Vera looked at the snow swirling outside her window. Her voice started to break, hot tears in her eyes. “He ran and I don’t - he left his shoes, and I don’t - I can’t - ”

“Oh, darling, we’ll be there as soon as we can - ”

“No! No, he - he can’t have gotten far, in this weather - please, stay home.” She swallowed, the tang of iron in the air was starting to become noticeable. “I - I’m headed out to look.”

“Vera…”

“If I can’t find him within the first few blocks I’ll go back but - but I have to try. You, tell everyone else to stay home and keep an eye out. He might - he knows where you all live; he might go there just to, to be somewhere else.” Though Vera doubted he would make it anywhere close to them if he was traveling above ground. (He didn’t have an ID to swipe for Tunnel access, she had just been letting him through using her own for so long - )

“Will do… fuck, I hope he’s somewhere warm.”

“Me too, Levi. Me too.”

—

Five blocks later, Vera hadn’t had any luck. The city was deathly silent; the snow absorbed all sounds save for her crunching steps and labored breathing. She screamed Kay’s name again. It echoed back so softly she barely heard it. Tears were freezing along her eyelashes.

What if she didn’t find him in time?

What if she didn’t find him at all?

What if she had to go back to her home and the corpse there and explain to the State that, despite the evidence, Kay was kind and gentle and -

A klaxon started blaring.

The familiar siren had been silent for so long she had almost dared to hope it would never cry out again. But she was wrong to hope.

For the first time in nearly a decade, the homes and apartments on either side of the street lit up, people immediately scrambling to gather their belongings and loved ones. Vera stood frozen as they began to trickle into the snow covered street, racing toward the Tunnels.

A new Wave was here.

The klaxon kept screaming, children ripped from their beds were crying, and all Vera could hear was the blood rushing in her ears. Kay was still out here somewhere. Out here and alone and freezing and heavens knew if he understood what the klaxon meant and -

Vera turned, running against the crowd as best she could. She tripped, and for a split second was terrified the crowd would trample her to death. But someone with strong arms pulled her up to her feet - a total stranger.

“The Tunnels are this way! Let me help you - ” She was trying to be helpful, tone concerned.

“No!” Vera weakly pushed against her hold, and the woman’s grip faltered. “I - my son, he’s - I don’t know where he went and - I can’t go. Not without him.”

“Lucy!” Another woman in the crowd called. There was a child in a snowflake patterned onsie wrapped in a fluffy red blanket on her hip. “Lucy, we need to go.”

The woman who had helped Vera to her feet looked between the old lady and her partner.

“I hope you find him.” She let Vera go, backing away toward her family.

“Me too.” Vera mumbled with a nod, stumbling forward through the snow and wind and crowd. A shriek and more screams rose behind her as red lights streamed through the snow swirled sky, some crashing into and through buildings a few blocks away.

She hoped she found him very soon.

Masterpost | Previous | Next