Theo and the other farmer escorted the woman away. Theo hated being a party to anything that caused the poor woman more suffering.

  Today there were no incursions from the starving ghosts on the porches. Theo worked at turning over a patch of soil. The food grew fast on the island and was harvested quickly. The farmers were ordered to turn the soil and plant again as quickly as possible. Theo heard from some guys who seemed to know that this was not the best way to treat the earth, but orders were orders.

  "Hey, Essex, you hear what's going down tonight?"

  Stan, one of the farmers Theo saw on a regular basis, walked over to him looking strangely excited.

  "No," said Theo, "I don't really get much news."

  "Yeah, man, I know," said Stan. "I don't either. Just happened to hear some people talking. There's a big ass thing going on down at the convention hall. Tiberius is speaking! Nobody's seen him since he took over… I mean, other than the people who, you know, got busted. Something big is going to happen tonight."

  "And you think this is a good thing, Stan?"

  "Hell, yeah! It's time for things to change. I'm sure everything's gonna start getting better."

  Theo sighed and clapped Stan on the back. "I wish I shared your optimism, buddy."

  "Will you be there?" Stan asked.

  "Hmm… yeah. Yeah, I will be." Whatever was going to happen, Theo wanted to see it for himself. He didn't believe in any way that things were going to get better. All he could do was get all the information he could to be prepared as things got worse.

  Chapter 18

  Theo hadn't considered how uncomfortable he would be with returning to Boardwalk Hall. The vision of the attack on Mayor Lucas haunted him as he walked with his sweaty hand in Kylee's.

  "You don't have to do this," she said. "I'm sure we can easily find out what's discussed tonight."

  Theo shook his head. "No, babe. We need to be there. I don't for a minute believe that Tiberius is done with us. I want to know everything that's happening. We can't access his inner circle but this is…something, I guess."

  "You really think he's going to come for us?" she whispered.

  "Maybe. Maybe not you or me, but what about Bill?" He pointed ahead at Bill's and Jamie's backs in the distance. "Bill's sentence being overturned was the beginning of all of this. It was what started the rift that led Tiberius to kill Lucas and—"

  "Don't do that." She pulled her hand away and wheeled around to face him.

  "What?"

  "Don't you dare blame yourself for what happened to Mayor Lucas."

  "How the hell can't I? Everything that's happened here is my fault. It all traces back to my begging Lucas to pardon Bill."

  "Bull. It traces back to the Event. It traces back to Tiberius being given the authority to make the decision that sent Bill and the other protestors to jail in the first place. You don't know everything about the dynamic between Tiberius and Lucas before you came along, but I bet you it wasn't any good."

  "That may be. Still… my involvement did something. I think I upset a balance of power."

  "Big words," Kylee was getting frustrated. "But what do they mean? What I see in front of me is a well-intentioned guy trying to be a big martyr. I don't mean this as an insult, Theo, but have you considered that all of this is bigger than you? Or me? Or any of us? If you want to do something to fight back against Tiberius, okay, I'm with you on that. But if you want to sit around and beat yourself up for what happened to Mayor Lucas or what's happened here since he died, I'm not going to sit with you and join your pity party."

  "But…Lucas listened to me, and now he's dead!"

  "Well, now you listen to me! Sam Lucas was a grown man. A wise man. If he acted on your request it was because he thought it was the right thing. He made up his own damned mind, just like Tiberius did. You are not to blame, Theo! Stop doing this to yourself!"

  Theo was stunned. Kylee rarely expressed so much emotion. Bill, Jamie, Ryan and Michelle circled around, drawn by Kylee's shouting.

  "You guys okay?" asked Bill.

  "Yeah," said Theo. "We're okay. I was just being dumb and Kylee's helped me to figure that out."

  "Oh," said Bill. "You were being the martyr again, huh? Yeah, we all think that's pretty stupid."

  Theo laughed. "Okay, fine. You guys know I just want what's best for everybody."

  "We do," said Ryan. "Nobody blames you for anything, and for what it's worth we believe in what you and Mayor Lucas wanted for Atlantic Island. That's why we are all coming out here tonight."

  Theo couldn't help notice Michelle rolling her eyes at Ryan's words. What was the deal with that girl?

  "Okay," said Theo. "So none of you has any idea what's going on tonight? What Tiberius is supposed to announce?"

  "I just kept hearing the words, 'big event,'" said Jamie. "Because what we need is another big Event. Do you guys know how this thing leaked out? There weren't any fliers as far as I can tell. Who started the word of mouth?"

  "Tiberius, probably," said Kylee. "Whatever this is, he wants people to think they are seeing something important."

  The crowd around the hall was buzzing nervously. Theo knew that many of them had been present for the assassination of the mayor, though few of them had been as close to the incident as he had been.

  Bill walked up next to Theo. "I don't want to put any more pressure on you about anything," he started, "but do you think we're safe here? Tiberius doesn't like us."

  "I think there's only a pretty small group he actually does like," said Theo. "There aren't many opportunities to get this close to the action and I think we will be safe mixed in with all these other people. None of them has any idea who we are."

  "Good thing," said Bill, "I don't play well with others and I'm not much of a leader. It might not hurt for people to know who you are though. Mayor Lucas thought you had some good ideas for the country."

  Theo decided to resist exclaiming that Mayor Lucas wasn't around any longer. No need to kick that beehive again. "Well," he said, "it's something to think about. I'm just not positive I want to paint that big a target on myself."

  "Yeah, I hear ya," said Bill. Theo thought he looked mildly disappointed. "Just, you know, keep it in the back of your mind."

  "Okay, man. Will do."

  They walked into the arena and found seats high above the ground. Theo had no interest in being close to Tiberius. He settled into his seat and looked down at the arena floor. Something was odd. There was no stage and no podium. The bare concrete expanse was strangely foreboding.

  "Do you guys see this?" he whispered. "There's nothing set up at all."

  "Well," said Kylee, "There are those." She pointed at the ceiling from which hung giant banners with the Atlantic Island flag.

  "Nice," said Bill. "Still think they could have sprung for some balloons."

  The audience was still entering the arena, but Theo could tell that he and his friends were not the only ones noticing the lack of staging for the night's event. The crowd chattered in low tones, nervously anticipating the arrival of the Supreme Leader.

  A voice boomed over the loudspeaker, startling Theo. It was not the same voice heard in previous gatherings. They fired the announcer? He thought. Seriously?

  "People of Atlantic Island," echoed the deep voice. "Rise and give thanks to your Supreme Leader, Paul Tiberius!"

  The people rose as one. Theo, reluctantly moving to his feet, scanned the crowd. It was easy to see in the faces around him a division between those who legitimately supported the new regime and those who only played along out of fear. A spotlight turned on, aiming at the crowd on the opposite side of the arena from Theo and his friends. There, on some kind of a balcony, stood Tiberius, dressed in black robes and surrounded by four members of his Security Force, in black uniforms and dark metal helmets.

  "Do you see that?" whispered Bill. "Could they be any more obvious about trying to scare the crap out of people?"

  "Atlantic Island," said Tiberius, "You have made me proud in these weeks and months as we recovered from the tragic loss of Sam Lucas."

  Theo bit into his lip to refrain from yelling out.

  "With our new systems and laws in place, we have seen an impressive drop in all manner of crime. Those who still chose to defy our laws have been dealt with appropriately. Our country is strong and growing stronger. Our farms are flourishing, fresh water is flowing, and our weather remains beautiful as ever. Life on Atlantic Island, I'm sure you will agree, is glorious."

  Theo waited for those who did not agree with that sentiment to interrupt. Nobody stirred. Tiberius with his false, cruel smile controlled this mass of people through utter fear. The days of Mayor Lucas allowing for all opinions to be heard were gone now.

  "We have accomplished much," said Tiberius, "but our country is not without its challenges. Though it seems astonishing after the great losses we have experienced, our population exceeds that which we can properly support. There are those among us, I'm afraid, who are not getting enough to eat."

  Mutters of agreement from the crowd. Theo shifted uncomfortably in the plastic arena seat. Something wasn't right. Where the hell was this going?

  "I assure all of you that my advisors and I thought long and hard about what to do. As Supreme Leader it falls to me to make the final decisions, no matter how difficult they may be." Tiberius stood aside as a woman pushed a small cart to his right. On the cart was a laptop computer. Tiberius turned to the computer, tapped a few keys and read from the screen. "Howard Coates and Ravi Singh step out to the arena floor."

  Slowly two men emerged from different sides of the arena. Both were thin and looked exhausted. Howard had many flecks of grey in his black hair, making him appear significantly older than Ravi, though Theo wasn't sure that was actually the case.

  The men walked to the center of the empty floor and turned to look up at Tiberius.

  "Now," said Tiberius, "You two men of Atlantic Island, chosen at random, have been granted a great honor. You will fight for the other man's rations and belongings. If you win you may keep the winnings for yourself or assign and distribute them to others, family members, friends, even strangers, as you see fit. The loser, I assure you, may have the greatest honor of all, for though he shall perish his name shall be remembered as a sacrifice for the greater good of the island."

  People screamed. Theo looked at his friends. Their jaws trembled and fists clenched with fear and rage. He turned back to the two men on the concrete floor. They were standing perfectly still, continuing to look up at Tiberius. The shock of the order had rendered them incapable of movement.

  "Perhaps you need some encouragement," said Tiberius. "Mr. Singh, I want you to punch Mr. Coates in the face."

  Ravi paused, seeming to consider his options. "I am sorry," he yelled up to Tiberius's balcony. His voice carried in the terrible silence. "I simply cannot do such a thing."

  Tiberius frowned. Nobody said a word. Tiberius turned and spoke to one of the masked guards next to him. The guard spoke into a radio on his wrist. From behind the two men on the floor came another masked guard brandishing a large rifle.

  "I command you again, Mr. Singh. Punch Mr. Coates in the face. Now."

  Ravi shook his head. "I am sorry, sir. I cannot."

  Tiberius raised his hand out, flicked his thumb up, and flipped his hand upside down. The guard behind Ravi and Howard fired. Ravi's head disintegrated and he fell to the ground. More shrieking and crying erupted from the crowd, but many people stayed perfectly still, not wanting to raise the ire of the Supreme Leader.

  Tiberius turned back to his computer and typed again. "Glen Charlotte. Walk to the floor."

  Another man made his way to the floor. He looked utterly petrified. Theo wondered how the man was moving when he was that scared. Then he saw the guards with guns at the man's back, prodding him along. How had they known where to find them? Theo wondered if the computer was all part of the show. Maybe all of this was thought out in advance.

  "Let's try this again," said Tiberius. "Mr. Coates? If you would be so kind."

  Again there was a period of silence. Theo wondered if Howard would sacrifice himself to make a point. Suddenly, Howard let out a primal scream of rage and attacked Glen Charlotte. He tackled Glen to the ground and unleashed wild swings at his face. He continued screaming like something not quite human as he mounted Glen and took the poor man's head in his hands. Howard bashed Glen's head into the concrete over, and over and over. Theo wanted more than anything to look away, but he couldn't. He had to see this, had to know that what seemed to be happening was real. Finally, the guard who had shot Ravi ran over and pulled Howard off Glen's mangled corpse.

  "Ladies and gentlemen," Tiberius said with so much pride in his voice that it made Theo nauseous, "your winner is Howard Coates. Mr. Coates, you have the appreciation of your nation and your Supreme Leader."

  Theo looked at Howard. The man didn't look like he felt appreciated. He was practically foaming at the mouth while being restrained by the Security Force. As they forcibly moved him toward the entrance to the arena floor, Howard shook loose, looked up at the crowd and shouted. "Yaaaaaaaaaah!"

  Amazingly, many in the crowd began to cheer and applaud.

  "I'm going to be sick," said Kylee.

  "Let's get the hell out of here," said Bill.

  "I'm not sure we can," said Ryan, disgusted. "We haven't been dismissed."

  "Citizens of Atlantic Island," said Tiberius, "I regret that we have to engage in this barbarism, but this is something we must do for the good of the island. No one person among you is more important than the group. The nation must survive. Tonight we will have two more battles, and we will meet every month for three additional battles until the population is at a reasonable level. Also… citizens are forbidden to conceive children until we have developed a system to handle births in a controlled, sustainable way. Now then…" he turned to his laptop again.

  The second battle was between two women, Jessica and Molly. Theo had expected Tiberius to make unfair pairings between men and women, but it seemed that the man was actually intrigued by close matches. The women circled each other and pulled each other to the ground, but their fight did not have the brutality of the previous encounter. Neither seemed strong enough or willing enough to seriously injure the other. After a few minutes of this, guards entered the arena floor with a variety of weapons. Before long, Molly had gained the upper hand and was standing over Jessica with a metal baseball bat raised above her head. Molly cried as she stood hesitant. The guards pointed their guns at her. That was all it took to push Molly over the edge. She brought the bat down with all her might and was declared the victor. At this the majority of the crowd actually stood and cheered. Theo saw faces full of false smiles, brimming with fear.

  "Time to go," said Theo. "This is our chance."

  Behind the rows of standing, jumping, applauding people, Theo and his friends made their exit. They had no desire to see anything more.

  Back outside, they moved quickly under the cover of night. Jamie was the first to speak. "How… how can this be happening?"

  "I don't know," said Theo. "But it is. We all saw it. We saw what Tiberius is capable of. We saw what he plans to do to this country. Worst of all, we saw how quickly fear can break people… make them do things they would never dream they could or would do. What we need to decide now is what we can do about it."

  "What do you mean?" said Michelle. "There's nothing to do."

  "You're wrong," said Theo. "We can't bury our heads in the sand and hope everything will be okay. This won't get better unless we make it better."

  "But we're alone!" said Michelle. "What good are we?"

  "Excuse me," called a voice in the shadows. A man was standing several yards away in the darkness hugging his crying wife to his chest. "I don't know who you all are, but I want you to know that if you're going to do something, anything to end this madness, we are on your side."

  Chapter 19

  One week later Kylee and Theo welcomed five strangers into their home for the first meeting of something that had no name but one purpose: find some way to right the wrongs of Paul Tiberius.

  The husband and wife who had stepped out of the shadows after the disgraceful blood sport at the arena were named Brian and Liz Lambert. They had owned a condo in Ventnor and had been making their first weekend visit of the summer at the time of the Event. They had been evicted from their home by the lottery system and now lived in a smaller place in the city.

  Their friends Joseph and Andrew had been vacationing with them and stayed with them even now. Theo observed an unusual dynamic between Joseph and Andrew, who only introduced themselves with their first names. The two men seemed to be intentionally keeping distance between them as they sat in the apartment, as if to hide that they were a couple. Theo wondered if this wasn't a little technique they had developed to stay under the radar of the government, which wasn't proving to be exceptionally open-minded.

  The final member of the group was a young man named Dale Nester. Kylee recognized Dale from their brief time in the Atlantic Island School. He was a year or so younger than the other teens and, it appeared, exceptionally angry with the leadership. Theo wondered what Dale's experience on the island had been like. The young man wasn't forthcoming with details. They did know he was living with the adults in his party, a recent development.

  "We really appreciate you all coming such a distance in the night and taking such a risk," said Kylee.

  "It's no problem," said Brian, "It's amazing what you all are trying to do. Our apartment's in the city. Walking through streets without cars isn't such a huge deal anyway."

  "We aren't fooled into thinking that we will have that apartment for very long," said Liz. "The government is giving the city to supporters little by little. I think we haven't seen the last of the 'transitions' here."