Chapter 151: Ariel’s birthday.
The two men stared at each other suspiciously. One was probing and the other was guarded. They were playing a game of chess, and each was determined to win.
Cassius let out a quiet scoff. "I do not think that you understand the kind of winter that is coming. From what she said it is going to start out as a normal winter, with some snow falling. After two weeks, it will freeze everything in its path.
We should first survive that brutal winter before thinking of anything else. Just like we were unable to walk around freely in the acid rain, it is going to be difficult to move around in such a winter.
I think Moon mentioned superhumans that have ice controlling abilities and she talked about the need to find mutated animals with wool. I think animals like sheep, goats, alpacas."
He offered up something about the mutated animals. Something that was not in the apocalypse brochures. How Ceasar would find the mutated animals was none of his business.
Cassius looked around nervously. The watcher birds were gone but that did not mean they would not return. He did not want to be outside when they returned.
In the meantime, Ceaser’s mask cracked. Fear flickered in his eyes, the kind that no shield could block. But arrogance quickly smothered it. He leaned back and laughed. "Just a cold? Then we will prepare! Stockpile, build fires and rebuild the broken parts of the wall quickly. Finding mutated animals will be simple. These are just more challenges to showcase my leadership skills. The people will need me more than ever and I will not let them down." He looked up and laughed,
His laughter rang hollow.
Cassius did not join him. He looked instead at the ruined fountain; it’s surface still as death. To him the white house was no fortress except for the bunker which housed the important people. The White house was too open, and their guns were useless against those monstrous birds. This place seemed more like a tomb waiting for its occupant.
He debated his stay there and wondered if wanting to be vice president was worth it. Crosstown was probably safer. Moon was probably there.
Cassius’ silence unsettled Ceaser, who pressed again. "There must be more that you are holding back. Moon said the apocalypse would last five years, surely you must know more details about the others."
Cassius raised his eyes calm but sharp. "She was the secretive kind and would not give up all that she knew. I will need some time to remember everything she said. I would not want to pass on the wrong information."
The words landed like a blade, Ceaser’s grin faltered. He disliked Cassius instantly. The man was too greedy, and he thought he was clever.
Ceaser narrowed his eyes and cut into his meat stiffly. He hated clever people.
****
At Fortress four, there was joy all around. No tense faces like those found beyond the wall. Preparations for Ariel’s birthday party were on going and many people were excited because it was the first major celebration on the base.
The fortress, usually brimming with the clatter of guards, and stern weight of survival, was transformed into something warmer. For once, the talk of patrol schedules and food rations was replaced with chatter about cakes, bright ribbons and the children’s cowboy dance which they had been practicing for a week secretly.
Those jogging could hardly contain their excitement, and their chatter was loud because they were competing with the DJ that was selecting what music to play at the party. Rori Quinn had been very strict in what kind of music she wanted to hear.
"Isn’t it wonderful that the president has allowed all kids born this month to join Ariel in celebrating their birthdays." A woman said.
"At least we will have one happy thing to look out for every month. I heard there will be one mass birthday every month."
"And I heard that we are going to eat and drink as much as we want today."
They bubbled over with laughter as they continued with their run.
Meanwhile in the Quinn household, Sunshine was running up and down like a busy bee. She had been up the earliest, sorting through the things she bought in the food section of the mall.
They were the strangest but most delicious foods that she could buy as well as oddly shaped fruits that shimmered in light. Ariel liked eating healthy foods, so she focused more on that rather than snacks.
She had smiled at the thought of his expression, Ariel was turning eleven today and although he acted like birthdays were beneath him, Sunshine knew that deep down he cherished these gestures.
By mid-morning, the fortress was alive. Women and men gathered in the kitchens, their sleeves rolled up as they kneaded dough and stirred steaming pots.
The smell of bread began to drift through the section hallways, chasing away the usual sent of the glue. Bakers dusted their aprons and laughed as they shaped sweet rolls into little animals for the children.
Another team was doing final touches on the cakes while others tied bright colors to the walls, their colors glowing against the grey stone.
Hades was also busy in the second wall, decorating the cars which would ferry Ariel and all the children that had birthdays in this month. As for the adults, they would only join in if they wished.
In the dining hall, the Quinn children helped their grandparents in decorating, Earl darted around his grandfather, copying his movements with a piece of ribbon. Castiel clapped his little hands and threw glitter around, convinced he was part of the decoration team.
Ariel, of course, pretended not to care. He just stood there, hands in his pockets, gaze cool like as if none of it mattered.
When Sunshine delivered lunch to them, she found him with his hands in pockets, watching the scene like a little supervisor.
As she handed him his lunch, she looked into his eyes. There was the smallest flicker of warmth and gratitude he refused to voice. He sat down with a huff, muttering. "What is the farce about?"
Sunshine only smiled, brushing his hair back with a tenderness that spoke louder than words.
By late evening, the tables were overflowing with food. Roasted and fried meats, trays of fruits, steaming bread, drinks, snacks and ten brightly decorated cakes. The fortress had not seen such abundance in months. People moved with a lighter step, grateful for both the food and the reasons to celebrate.
When it clocked 7 p.m., the party began. Children squealed as they chased one another under the glittering lights outside the dining hall. Music echoed through the base and people danced in every open space.
At around 7:30, something unexpected happened. Soldiers in the watchtower announced vehicles driving up to the gates of the base.
Hades and Sunshine rushed to the information center in the first wall and accessed the cameras. Ten cars had come and, in the lead vehicle was none other than Jon Kingsley!