Dreams in the Tower Part 3 by Andrew Vrana Page B

nature on the day all this had started. He would probably be safe if he went—at least for now, for tonight. Somehow he knew, though, that stepping into the helicopter would change his life forever. God damn he needed a drink. Why had he taken that stupid pill?
    Screaming now out of both impatience and necessity, Diane said, “What’s it going to be, Mike?”
    Rather than acknowledge her, Mike set off boldly for the helicopter. He mounted the steps up onto the platform and jogged over to the grinning pilot, who helped him inside and turned to help the other two. Once they were all in, Garrett closed the door. “Didn’t expect y’all so soon,” the pilot said, his gaze lingering on Mike. “Settle in. I’ll get us moving.” He hurried off to the cockpit.
    Carl and Diane chose seats on opposite sides, so Mike was forced to sit next to one or the other. He took a seat next to Carl, who was on the wider side, so Mike could put more space between them. As the helicopter began its wobbly ascent, Garrett came back out and went to sit by Diane. “Scooch over there missy,” he said. “Thank you.”
    “Are we on our way?” Diane asked, smiling at the friendly pilot.
    “We are,” Garrett said. “About twenty minutes with the low-profile route. You know,” he looked at Mike, “we have to make it look like we’re doin’ what we’re supposed to do and give our friends time to cover up what we’re actually up to.”
    “Where are you taking me?” Mike blurted, unable to keep the nervousness out of his voice.
    They all stared at him silently for a while and then Diane said, “To see the product of Silvan’s grand vision. Peering down at bloodstains and bombed-out cars is one thing, but you need to develop a deeper understanding of your complacency—and all of its implications.”
    “You’re sheltered, Mike,” Carl said, his face wooden. “You have no idea how bad things are out there. Silte hired the best of the best to keep order, but all that did was give the violent ones an opposing army. It’s war out there, no matter how the media tries to hide it.”
    “You don’t think I know that?” Mike said defensively.
    “Maybe,” Garrett said, all trace of his jovial attitude gone. “But knowing’s a lot different from understanding.”
    Mike couldn’t think of anything to say to that, so he stayed quiet. Nobody spoke for a long time; in the silence, Mike’s fear of whatever waited at their mystery destination grew into borderline panic. He thought desperately of diving for the door as soon as they were within jumping distance of the ground but realized how pointless this would be if they were landing somewhere where they had friends. No, they had him: the pathetic animal that had followed its captors into the cage. By the time a gentle lurch initiated their descent, his legs had begun twitching anxiously, trying to anticipate the unknown.
    But he didn’t do anything stupid. He sat there as Garrett went to the cockpit and the helicopter eventually touched down and Carl and Diane stood and moved toward the door. Based on the short decent, Mike guessed they had landed on the roof of another building, and now his thought of fleeing seemed even more foolish. The pilot came back out into the cabin and stood by the door, pausing with one hand resting on the handle and the other absently scratching the stubble on his chin.
    “I’ll stay here,” Garrett said. “We may need a quick escape. But remember…” He paused and gave Diane a grave look that was almost comical in its sincerity. “If you get into trouble and we do have to get outa here quick, then we ain’t goin’ back to the Plaza. It’ll be fugitives’ lives from now on.”
    Diane nodded, unshaken.
    “I’m staying too,” Carl said. “Too risky if there’s three of us.”
    “Right.” Diane nodded again. “Well Mike, after you.”
    With a heave from the pilot, the door slid open and Mike’s ears were flooded with the roar of the blades