Inside Paradise - V

William had to use his flashlight to pierce through the darkness of the underground garage. He searched for a few minutes through that enveloping darkness, until he found one of the few dozen supporting pillars. At the base of the large cement structure was a small crack, which grew into a hand-sized hole. William slowly lowered himself down onto his hands and knees, and reached into the crevice. He retrieved a small plastic bag, wiped off the dust, debris, and small insects then slid the bag open dumping its contents on the floor.

A set of car keys, some more papers, and seven-year-old credits. He rifled through the papers, upon which were lists and lists of names and badge numbers. Across from all the badge numbers was a second number ranging between one and ten. Most of the older officers had a lower corresponding number. William found two of the younger officers who would be in their early and mid-twenties by now, who had either ones or twos across from their badge number. He then went to another set of papers and found those same names. The men were Hammond and Hume. In the second pamphlet, William studied the men. Hammond had a brother who died of tuberculosis, bringing Hammond to drugs and alcohol, but that was almost twelve years ago. Yet, Hume sounded promising. The boy was now twenty-four, he was a glutton and a thief. They put him on the line instead of stoning him, at twelve, for stealing food-cards.

William put the papers back but noted Hammond and Hume's credentials, before counting up whatever credits he had. The credits he could use were few, counting up to seventy, but if he could convince one of the guards to flip the expired credits he could make do with almost three hundred and fifty. William also decided he didn't need the booze for himself, and if Hammond or Hume were easy to read he could give three bottles and the credits for passage. It would be enough even when counting for inflation. But then again William didn't know the market like he used to and had no idea what the true inflation was. If the guards didn't take the deal he'd surely be hanged. If the guards did take the deal, he'd still probably be hanged. But there was a chance he could make it.

He left the underground and went to collect some items from a few other stashes. He moved through the city in darkness. But as he gathered the last of his stash, his pack weighing heavy on his shoulders the sun was up, and light refracted through glass. He checked his watch, it read half-past-six and he began to hear the alarms wail across the city.