April 23, 2032
Michael knew that there was no way he could enjoy Wilson's hospitality forever. As comfortable as it was to live there, he needed to be free of the place so he could begin to do something about freeing his friends. He still did not have plan but he had to do something.
The next morning, Michael was straightforward with Wilson. He told him that he would like to get a job at his farm. Wilson was taken aback by his directness but appreciated.
"I had the same idea, boy," he said. "But surely you could stay here for a few more days as my guest. You haven't even begun to settle down here."
But Michael refused so the next day, Wilson led him around the homestead and the various farms that were clustered around it. The sun was blazing down with a slight breeze blowing that made the crops in the field dance. Michael followed Willy through the mazy field until they reached a small patch where all the paths through the field intersected. There were boxes laid out on which workers sat down yawning and red-eyed while a man holding a notepad stood in the middle. They all looked up as Wilson entered and instantly straightened up, as if in the presence of royalty.
"How's it going boss?" said the supervisor walking up to Wilson and shaking his hand. "What brings you here? Checking up on the work? The haul's been superb and better than the last three years. Hopefully it don't start snowing with how the weather is nowadays."
"That's good news. But I'm here to introduce someone else. This here's Michael. I'm sure all of you know what he did for me."
"Ah yes, of course," said the supervisor. He seemed nervous in Wilson's presence. Michael couldn't help but feel he should be acting the same.
The workers all looked at Michael with a degree of uncertainty. Wilson had told him it was normal for people around here to be suspicious of strangers. Michael tried to stand unwavering in front of the people while anxiety boiled inside his heart. He remembered the advice Chuck had given him that seemed like years ago:
'Be the alpha, otherwise you're gonna get hunted down.'
"Michael's looking for work here and so I offered him a job working in the fields with you," said Wilson. "He's from the city but he's done his fair share of work in the mines at the Peak City. Certainly held his own on his journey from there to here. I say he could handle the Freelands pretty well too. I give him to you Al to show him how things work here. Don't work him too hard for his first few weeks here. He still needs time to get used to everything here."
"Don't you worry, boss," said Al smiling warmly at Michael. "I'm sure he'll get the hang of it. Come, Michael, we were just starting work today. Why don't you join us? See how we do stuff 'round here."
Wilson bade farewell to Michael who followed the supervisor as he gave a few last minute instructions to the workers and then watched over proceedings.
Al, whose real name was Alexander, showed Michael around the fields explaining how each patch grew turnips, corn, beans, squash, beet, carrots and even tomatoes and melons. There were also barns which held hundreds of cattle from where majority of the dairy products were made. Al explained how farming in this terrain was a difficult task considering the weather and how hail storms or prairie fires simulated by the dry weather could destroy all the harvest within hours. He also explained how due to climate changes the weather was unpredictable with it snowing one day and being extremely sunny the next. Michael listened intently as he watched workers organized into groups deal with their own patch of field.
Michael got a few strange looks from the workers who were clearly not friendly towards outsiders. Nonetheless, working here seemed to be a lot better than the mines where even survival was not guaranteed. The thought of the mines reminded him of the miners in his group and he immediately shrugged off the thought. The thought of them dying in the massacre filled him with dread and guilt.
They returned to the original group by noon who were sitting beneath the boxes with a shade erected over them. They were all sweating profusely with their skins tanned by the blazing sun. They drank water from insulated bottles and ate after a hard day's work. Michael and Al joined them.
"This is the group you will be working with Michael," said Al. "I've got to check on the work these guys did so I suggest you break the ice with them."
Michael smiled at them but only one, a boy who looked like he was in his early teens, smiled back. That worried Michael a bit but he kept on his smile. He had to be the alpha, unfazed by any attempt they made to scare him. He had learnt his lesson from how Chuck and the gang had treated him.
Three days of hard work followed for Michael in the corn fields assigned to their group. He learned how to check if the corn stalks were ripe by hand and how to remove the corn from the husk properly. He realized how hard the work was under the blazing sun but at least it took his mind off some of the stress. He still hadn't figured out how he was going to save his friends. He knew that he would eventually get caught after hearing talk in the towns of how the Nazis were investigating the outer edge towns of the Freeland. It was only a matter of time before they got here. And then what? What would he do?
He needed help. He needed friends. He needed a proper plan. That would take time. That would take money. Maybe he could use his powers of which he had no idea how to control. But that would mean killing and he was done killing. He needed another way.
Michael had made only one friend and his name was Hilario, the one who had smiled at his earlier. He was of Mexican origin which was apparent in his accent although he spoke English fluently. He was barely a teenager and the youngest member of the group Michael had been assigned to. He looked like a kid because of his short height and child-like facial features. He had a kind voice and his manners seemed completely opposite to his ruggish co- workers. This combination was why he was constantly picked on by the others. Michael had pitied him which was one of the reasons why he had decided to befriend him. Hilario seemed to like his presence too. He must've been desperate for any sort of affection.