A City in Chains - Entry Into York

Posted on Sat Mar 21st, 2026 @ 10:24pm by Cassandra Lennox & Brigadier Paul Felton

2,689 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Before
Location: York
Timeline: Two Years Ago

Soldiers were processing refugees entering the York Safe Zone. People were brought in and asked questions by some soldiers while other soldiers eyed the refugees. Each refugee was then photographed with a Polaroid camera and issued a colored stock card. The refugees were then taken to a nearby warehouse to wait until another soldier or city contanle arrived to gather up a group with similar color stock cards.

The soldier sitting across from Cassandra gave her a once over as she took her seat. He spoke in a tone that spoke of him having to repeat the same questions over and over more times than he could count in a day. "Full name, relationship status, education and most recent occupation?"

“As I told the first person I am not staying here. I did not consent to being chucked into your van.” Cassandra said quietly as she looks back at the man. She had been surprised by the lorry that had appeared on the road she had been trekking along after weeks of not seeing any type of vehicle she had frozen.

The soldier sighed. "Listen, sundown is in less than five minutes. You won't be able to leave until morning anyway. My job is simple. I ask questions and you answer them. The next person takes you to the appropriate housing after processing. I honestly don't care if you want to stay or go. The processing supervisor will take care of that. So, again. Full name, relationship status, education and most recent employment...please."

Cassandra looked around and frowned. Something about all of this did not feel right at all. She grabbed out the only form of ID she had and handed over her driving license. “ Bachelor's Degree from Bristol University and I worked for myself. I was a freelance graphic designer.” She said honestly. It felt like a useless job and skill right now but she had gotten that far.

The soldier took her ID and jotted down her answers in his notebook. He grabbed a folder and started to pull out a gray stock card when a voice called out. He stopped and looked at the woman in fine clothes and put the folder back down. He rose from his seat and approached the woman. A few words were exchanged and the soldier returned shortly. He picked up a different folder and handed her a sheet of pink card stock and pointed to a partition. "You will find a chair behind there. Someone will be by in a minute or two to take you where you'll be staying tonight." He gestured to the next person in line. "Next please."

Cassandra did not like the look of the woman looking her up and down as she spoke to the solider who was refusing to listen. “What does this slip mean?” Cassandra demanded as she saw no one else with that colour. She frowned as the man ignored her and just pointed to the curtain. The woman frowned and grabbed up her rucksack and ID putting it in her pocket instead of inside of her bag and went to the seat behind the curtain. She had been checked for weapons and they had taken her bow and arrow but the person had not take the knife in her boots yet. It was the cool piece of metal against her ankle that was keeping her alert right then and there.

Two women sat in folding chairs behind the partition. One appeared to be in her mid 20, Asian with long black hair and sparkling emerald eyes. The second woman was no older than 20 with flame red hair that framed a lightly freckled face. Both women gave Cassandra a curious expression. It was also clear that both women had no clue why they were sitting there with pink cards in their hands.

“No idea why you are here either?” Cassandra said setting herself down and took off the rucksack wishing she was anywhere but there. She was the eldest of the three looking at them both and neither looked as dirty and messy haired as she did.

The redhead shook her head as she spoke up in a thick Scottish accent. "Ah dinnae ken (I don't know)."

The Asian woman looked at Cassandra and the redhead and spoke in a language neither understood.

Cassandra leaned out and touched the young girls hand and squeezed. She was starting to to think that the pink cards meant something she was not willing at all to do. “How did you get this far from home?” She asked the Scottish woman.

The young Scottish woman scowled. "Ach, it was a richt mess, so it was. Ma faither brought us, me and my brither, doon tae Leeds, see? Just a wee business jaunt, we thought. Then the hale world went properly pear-shaped—just went tae hell in a haun'basket, it did. Before ye knew it, the borders were shut, planes were grounded, and we were stuck fast in Leeds. Utterly marooned in Yorkshire, of a' places. A total nightmare."

“Aye it can be if you aren’t from the area.” Cassandra sighed. She suspected the other girl was a tourist or student and truly had no idea what was going on. It was making her wish she had given a false name or something now. “How did you end up on York? Are you father and brother here?”

The woman Cassandra had seen talking with the intake processesor earlier stepped around the partition before the Scottish girl could answer. She spoke to the Asian woman first in what was apparently their native language briefly. The Asian woman nodded, an expression of relief washing over her face.

The woman turned to Cassandra and the Scottish woman. She addressed the Scottish woman first. "Elspeth, Cassandra. I am Lady Pennington. I volunteer at the in-proccessing center to help get young women such as yourselves lodging, medical care and transportation for your continuing journey. First things first. We need to get you to hospital for a thorough check." She smiled warmly at Elspeth. "I've been assured by the soldiers that your brother is already there getting his leg tended to. Second stop will be my manor to get you settled in for the night." Lady Pennington directed her gaze to Cassandra. "It's my understanding that you only need lodging for the night. I will personally see to it you're provided transportation in the morning to continue your journey." She gestured three soldiers. "If you will just accompany these gent, we'll get you lot all sorted out."

Elspeth expression mirrored the Asian woman's signs of relief.

“I do not need transport. I just need to be allowed out.” Cassandra said quietly as she looked at the woman. Someone women vibes as girls girls but this woman struck her as someone who was not that nor did the soldiers she needed to protect her did. Cassandra slowly rose and shouldered her bag really wishing she could just be let out, she had gotten that far without help so far.

Lady Pennington gave Cassandra an appraising look before smiling. "Of course dear. You can leave in the morning. It's too dangerous to travel at night though. The Zed Heads are not the only dangers on the road. Brigands still roam the countryside and what they would do to you.... Well, you might prefer the Zed Heads finding you first."

“Brigands?” Cassandra asked quietly. She had not heard that phrase before and did not understand it. Cassandra did not miss the appraising look but just smiled sweetly. She had happily travelled and done what she needed so far.

LadPennington nodded. "Outlaw gangs of murderers, pillagers and rapists. They are a blight that is destroying our world as much as the Zed Heads. Someone like you would be used until they would give you a merciful death or traded to another band of brigands where the horrors would start all over again."

“Perhaps.” Cassandra commented. She was not entirely sure on that as she had seen her fair share of horrors but the undead were a bigger issue than that in her opinion. “But thank you for the assistance.” Cassandra look at her with the pleasant smile again that made her feel fake.

Lady Pennington's smile grew as ushered the women to follow her. Their weapons were returned to them, albeit blades were peace bond with cord and Cassandra’s quiver had been capped and bound shut. They were then led outside to a waiting automobile, a luxurious limousine where a uniformed chauffeur awaited. "Hospital," Lady Pennington said to the driver as she buckled in.

A few minutes later the limousine pulled up to a medical facility with civilian doctors, nurses and medical technicians. Lady Pennington led the group of women into a waiting room off the main lobby. Another woman sat at a desk and greeted them warmly. "Lady Pennington, new arrivals?"

Lady Pennington nodded. "Yes Patricia. Please see to it they receive the best treatment possible." Patricia nodded.

"Of course, mum." Patricia resumed typing on her computer. Lady Pennington turned to the three women. "I have a few other people I need to check on. Will you ladies be alright for the next half hour?"

Cassandra nodded. She would be more than fine with being left alone to try to work out what was going on. She was hoping to steal a scaple or something to unbind her quiver. "Thank you." She said, turning to what she assumed could be a nurse. "Where do you need us?"

Patricia gestured to the half dozen seats in the waiting area. "Please just have a seat. We'll have a couple doctors here in a few minutes to check you all out."

"And what are they checking for?" Cassandra asked. "I know I look grubby, but I am not injured." She promised in the sweet voice she used to use on the boss, who hated her but could not work a shift in the pub without her as a student.

"Just a general exam, blood draw for testing, answers to a few health questions and a pregnancy test if you've engaged in sex since your last period. Can't be too careful. We can also get you all showers if you like."

Cassandra just nodded and sat back. The only part of that she liked the sound of was a shower but she do not want to seem to eager, something just struck her as wrong about the set up. A group of young women and no me alway struck her wrong and the way they were being far to nice. Maybe she had become accustomed to the new world order.

Another nurse stepped into the waiting area a few nites later and ushered the woman into the examination suite. Several female medical staff were present. The nurse led them to a locker room and showed them everything they needed to get cleaned up, reassuring the women their clothes would be cleaned while they saw the doctor.

Elspeth locked the door after the nurse stepped out. She turned to Cassandra with a happy grin. "It's a proper tidy setup, this."

Cassandra nodded. She was not reassured by more female nurses at all, everything felt to rehearsed and practiced. And very much like Elspeth said it was a tidy setup but it felt to tidy for Cassandra. “What happened to your brother?” She wondered.

"Ach, we cam' roon' a tight bend, an' the motor just went, ken? Total scunner. Ma brither skelped his heid on the steerin' wheel. Some o' the jocks fetched him up the hospital, while I had tae go through the usual faff at the front desk." Elspeth moved to a locker and began to undress before heading to one of the toilet stalls to take care of her business.

The Asian woman followed suit, though remained silent.

Cassandra nodded. He had been lucky he had gotten medical support even if it was in this strange and unusual situation. Cassandra did the same and was soon under a flow of water hotter than she had it months. It was nice but she had to admit she felt vulnerable.

Elspeth and the Asian woman were in robes holding their bags and specimen bags the sound of running water silenced in Cassandra's stall.

The older woman stepped out and grabbed a towel. “First time I have felt clean in weeks.” Cassandra said lightly as she stepped out and saw them waiting for her. She sat down to dry off not at all worried about the others being there.

Elspeth nodded her head in agreement. "Ah ken whit ye mean (I know what you mean)." It had been days since she had felt clean. She didn't blame Cassandra at all for taking a while with the hot shower.

“Sorry for holding you both up.” Cassandra murmured. “Have they come back for stuff?” She asks noticing their clothes were gone.

Elspeth nodded. "Aye, The bonnie lass came in, took the clothes for washin'."

“Got given these?” Cassandra asked as the Asian woman held out a robe to her. “Thank you. I’ll dry and be five minutes or so.” She assured wishing she could have gotten into her own clothes.

The nurse entered the locker room a few minutes later and led the woman to the examination/treatment area. There was a blood draw and a check on the pregnancy test strips. Then the women were sent into three separate exam rooms where a doctor awaited them. The lady doctor closed the door and gestured to the exam bed. "Sorry, but I need to confirm you have no hidden bites or scratches."

“Been here a few hours and would have turned but understand.” Cassandra said quietly as she sat down and allowed the doctor to examine her. “Cannot be too careful.”

The doctor shrugged. "Signs of fever, excessive sweating, nausea and outbursts of pain are indicators of infection by the Lazarus Virus." She took a stethoscope from around her neck. "Let's get a listen at your heart and lungs." She hung the stethoscope around her neck again once she was done. She picked up a clipboard with a medical evaluation form and checked a few boxes. "Lungs and heart sound good. Have you had any recent exposure to the Dead?"

“4 days ago or so but they never got close to biting distance.” She promised as her arrows had hit the marks for she 3 that she had faced. “None of those symptoms though.” She still found it amusing that they called it the Lazarus Virus in the medical field.

The doctor continued to check boxes on the worksheet and scribble down a note or three. She reviewed the worksheet. "Looks like you're in good shape. Anything I should know about before you go? Any questions for me?"

“How long have you been here?” Cassandra wondered looking around as she covered back up and sat back up.

"I have been a doctor at the hospital here for about 4 years."

There was a knock on the door and a nurse brought in a bag after the doctor gave permission to enter. The nurse placed a plastic bag on a spare chair and glanced at Cassandra. "Your clothes have been washed and dried," the nurse stated.

“Thank you.” Cassandra said brightly thanking the woman. “I am impressed at the speed. It would be nice to have more clean clothes. It had been a while since she had stayed anywhere to clean clothes.

The nurse smiled at Cassandra. She noticed the pink card. "You won't have a problem getting nice clothes."

“Oh?” Cassandra asked, noticing where her gaze went. “I had not thought about that aspect. What else can I do?” She asked as if she was fully in the know of what the card system meant.

There was another knock on the door before she could answer. Lady Pennington had returned. The doctor greeted her before rising from her stool. "Cassandra just needs to get dressed." The doctor turned to Cassandra. "Take your time getting dressed." She then stepped into the hallway with Lady Pennington.

 

RSS Feed