Page 95 of Obsession

“A movie in a theater,” I say, giving him a playful glare. “With buttery popcorn and candy and a huge soda to go along with it.”

“That is different,” he says after a moment. “It would be nice to see something new, instead of the same movies over and over again.”

“You have a point with that one.”

“What else is there?”

“What about zoos? A big one, with all kinds of animals and a reptile exhibit.”

“I like that. What else?”

“How about museums? We’ve got all kinds: history, art, science.”

Aris doesn’t immediately respond, and I take some time to think of other places we could go, things we could do. All that he’s seen of the world is from television, and, once we’re out there, he wants to experience it all.

We’ve been walking for hours, taking breaks here and there so I can rest. At first, I wondered if we’d ever get out of this place, or if Jaegen really did put us in some twisted dimension. Now, my fear has temporarily abated; there’s a silo atop a green field in the distance, a sign of civilization.

“What if none of that is left?” Aris says, distracting me. “The broadcasts showed nothing but rubble.”

I glance at him, heart stuttering at his dejected face. I want him to be excited again. Demanding—what else, what else, Mary?

“It’s possible,” I say carefully, “but people will make new things. We’re good at that.”

“But what about art that is priceless, or tablets carved centuries ago? They cannot be replicated.” He pauses for a moment. Our hands are no longer swinging, but he doesn’t let go. “When I released myself on those trees, I enjoyed it, but there are consequences to destruction. How could I not have understood that?”

“You did, but… you just didn’t care.”

“Why?”

I think of how we stood and watched cities burn. “People didn’t matter,” I say.

“But you mattered.”

I’m not sure, but I don’t say that.

We continue in silence for a minute or two. Finally, he says, “Certainly, there is at least one zebra left. Two, hopefully. Then they can mate and make many more zebras.”

I look at him. I have no idea what he’s talking about.

“Zoos, Mary,” he says so emphatically that I have to laugh, and he grins as well.

“I’m sure there’s lots of zebras,” I tell him, relieved that his mood has lifted. “Rhinos, too.”

“Alligators?”

“Oh, yeah. And crocodiles.”

“Elephants.”

“And a big ostrich.”

“Hippos.”

The two of us continue walking, listing animal after animal.

By twilight, we’ve neared the silo—close enough to see that it’s badly maintained. Abandoned, maybe. It makes sense; Aris poisoned the soil and killed crops. Why would any grain be left?

“You will have to sleep soon,” Aris points out. “What will we do?”

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