When I got to the window, a hand grabbed mine, just as I reached out to the curtain. Nick was standing next to me, slowly shaking his head from side to side.
My eyes filled with a red anger that matched the outside sky and Nick reluctantly let go of my hand.
We both jumped when something pinged against the window again.
“God dammit,” Nick whispered.
I eased my body closer, keeping it pressed tightly to the wall. My breathing steady as I looked out of the small space between the window and the curtain.
There was a man out there, staring up at the window. He knelt down and picked up a small stone.
“Someone’s out there,” I said quietly without turning away. “He’s throwing rocks at the windows.”
“Why?” Blair asked quietly.
I ignored her question, not because I wanted to, but because I didn’t have the answer.
Nick carefully inched over to the other side and peeked out. “Jesus.”
It was just the one man, and for some reason, he was mostly concentrating his efforts on my window. He threw another pebble.
“Please! Someone! Help me!” he shouted.
The man didn’t appear to be well. Somehow, he was standing out there, but even from the second floor, I could see the sores on his face. Most of his hair had fallen out, but there were patches of it left in various spots on his head. It was like he’d managed to fight off the illness but not after it had damaged him.
“I see the light,” the man shouted. “I know you’re in there. Please!”
“We can’t let him in,” Nick said.
I could see the man’s lips moving, but I couldn’t hear what he was saying. He ran his hands through what was left of his hair, and when he pulled his hand away, there were clumps stuck between his fingers. The man looked horrified and shook his hand as if it were covered in bugs.
“The door downstairs is broken,” Bronx said. “He could just walk in, come up to the room.”
Nick’s hand hovered over his gun.
“Nick,” I said. “He’s just trying to survive like we all are.”
“We can’t help him. What if he’s still sick? He could get us all sick again. We don’t know him, and we can’t trust him,” Nick said.
“There has to be something we can do to help,” I said chewing my cheek as I looked back out at the suffering man.
Several men stepped out from behind a building and started approaching the man. Each one of them carried a large gun and wore gas masks that hid their faces.
“Shit,” Nick said. “Blow out the candle.”
Maggie dashed across the living room and blew out the candle that was giving off a small glow on the kitchen table. My eyes were glued to the people on the ground below.
It appeared as though they were talking to the man. They kept their distance, but occasionally they would nod. After several minutes, the man pointed up toward my window
Nick and I both sharply moved back at nearly the same time. I sighed and shook my head.
“They can’t see us,” I whispered.
“You sure about that?” Nick asked cocking his head to the side.
I blew out a breath. “Sure enough.”
I leaned forward and watched as the group of men led the sick man away.
“They’re leaving,” I said swallowing hard, watching as they disappeared from view.
I stepped to the side and pressed my palms against the wall. I sucked in a long breath as if I’d been rescued from drowning.
My eyes shifted over to Nick’s. His shoulders were tensed up toward his ears. Just as his arms started to relax, the pop of a gun ripped through the air.
“Oh my God!” Maggie said.
“Jesus Christ,” Nick said inside of his inhale.
“What did they do? What did they do to him?” Maggie asked, desperate for answers I didn’t have. Her whole body was shaking, and she looked as though she might scream.
Bronx grabbed her shoulders and held her tightly as he looked into her eyes. “Stay calm. It’s okay.”
“They all want us dead. They’ve come to finish us off!” Maggie said, her wide eyes glowing in the increasing darkness.
“We’re going to be okay,” Bronx said, his thumbs moving up and down on her shoulders.
“No, we aren’t,” Maggie said letting her shoulders drop as if someone had placed ten-pound weights on them. “We’re all going to die.”
Bronx looked over his shoulder, first at me and then at Nick. He whispered to Maggie as he led her into my bathroom.
I crossed my arms, refusing to look at the others. There wasn’t anything stopping the men from coming into the apartment building. The main entrance door had been shattered. All they had to do was walk in and force their way through my apartment door.
Maybe getting to my grandma was going to be more of a challenge than I thought. If Nick’s horror stories were true, it would be difficult making our way out of town, and that wasn’t even considering food or if the illness would still find a way to take us.
I caught Nick’s eye, and it almost seemed as though he could tell what was on my mind. His eyes were softer, but he didn’t even try to say anything that might ease my worries.
But seeing and hearing the close gunshot, only made me want to go see my grandma more. She needed me.
Ten
When I got up the next morning, Nick was sitting near the window with his back against the wall. His knees were up, and his gun dangled out of his hand between them.
“Did you sleep?” I asked looking out of the window. The sky was still red, but I was almost sure it had lessened. Instead of being tomato red, it was blood orange.
“Not much. Was worried,” Nick said nodding at the door.
My head bobbed. “We could have taken turns.”
“It’s fine. I’m not sure I could have slept anyway.”
The others started to stir, and I glanced over at Jamie. He’d been watching Nick and me, but quickly looked away when our eyes connected.
I turned to go to the kitchen, but Nick grabbed my arm. His eyes locked on to the pile of backpacks near the back closet.
“I think we need to come up with a plan to get out of here.” Nick lowered his voice. “They could come back.”
“Maybe that man was sick,” I said, my voice equally quiet. “Maybe they had a reason.”
“Maybe, but maybe not. There are people out there right now who would kill for those,” Nick said his eyes still on the backpacks.
I pressed my lips together. “You’re overreacting.”
“I don’t think I am. None of us are sick, I think we can go out there,” Nick said.
I shook my head. “Those men had gas masks. Clearly, they don’t think the air is safe.”
“It’ll be safer in the country,” Nick said, turning his eyes to meet mine. “Less crazy people to worry about.”
“How hard will it be to get out of town?” Bronx asked. He’d apparently been listening as well.
“I think we can manage,” Nick said. “But we’ll need to be careful.”
Maggie popped up. “I’m not going out there.”
“My grandma lives in the country. Her place is big enough for all of us, and I want to make sure she’s okay,” I said almost wishing I could take back my words. It wasn’t like my grandma was going to like having guests any more than I did.
“We’re safe here. We should stay here and wait for help,” Maggie said, her eyebrows squeezing tightly together.
Nick shook his head. “We don’t know if help is coming. If they do, it could take weeks, months, maybe even years. It’s every man for himself.”
“You don’t know that,” Jamie said, sitting up. His eyes were on his hands in his lap.
Nick stood. “You’re right I don’t know. All I can do is guess, and if Gwen wants to go to our grandma, I’m going with her. None of you need to come with us if you don’t want to.”
“I don’t know when I’m going to g
o,” I said grabbing my elbow.
“I’m worried about those men coming here,” Nick said.
My hands dropped down to my sides. “I’m worried too, but I’m worried about rushing out there too.”
“At some point, we’re going to have to figure out a plan,” Nick said, and it seemed as though he was talking to me specifically.
“And we will,” I said, ignoring Bronx as he looked over his shoulder at us. If there was something on his mind, he kept his mouth closed. “I need to eat. Excuse me.”
I walked into the kitchen and grabbed whatever I could find from my cupboards. My eyes were down as I walked by everyone and shut myself in my bedroom.
There were so many thoughts racing through my head I couldn’t eat. My stomach twisted and turned craving some food, but my mind wasn’t allowing it.
I could hear them moving around outside my door, but I couldn’t make out any of their soft whispers. It was probably better that I didn’t because either way, I was going to attempt to make my way to my grandma.
There was a soft knock at the door. My head fell back as I worked to suppress a groan. I didn’t feel like talking to Nick.
“Yes?” I said unable to keep the annoyed tone from my voice.
“Sorry, can I talk to you?” Jamie asked peeking his head into my room.
“Oh,” I said letting out a breath. “Yeah, of course, come on in.”
Jamie stepped inside closing the door behind him. He turned and blinked before looking around my room.
“You can sit if you’d like,” I said tilting my head to the side.
“I could, but you’ll probably kick me out after I say what I’m about to say,” Jamie said, his jaw stiff.
“I doubt it.” I flashed him a tight-lipped smile.
Jamie nodded and sat down, the bed squeaking with his weight. He stared at his hands as he slowly opened his mouth.
“I don’t think we should go out there,” he said.
“Get out of my room,” I said, and Jamie turned to me. “Totally kidding.”
Jamie chuckled, but his eyes were narrowed. He let out a breath and turned to me, his captivating ocean blue eyes staring into mine.
“It’s just that I think we have it pretty good here as far as supplies are concerned.” Jamie scratched the back of his neck.
“We packed the bags. I think we can make it, and my grandma has tons of food in storage. She loved to can stuff.” I bit my lip and stared at the window. “If we can get there, I really think we’ll all be safer.”
“It’s the if we get there part that makes me worried,” Jamie said. “I don’t want anything to happen to you… any of us.”
It wasn’t like I wanted anything to happen to anyone either, including myself. But I couldn’t stop picturing my grandma sitting there at the window staring out, worried and scared about what was happening.
Her nearest neighbor was at least two miles away, and he had a family. It was highly unlikely that he was running out to her house to check on her.
“I noticed you didn’t mention how far away she lives,” Jamie said.
“It’ll be a hike,” I said twisting my fingers together. “But doable.”
“You’re still not saying,” Jamie smiled.
I let out a short breath. “Don’t freak out.”
“Oh, that far, huh?”
“Less than two hundred miles.”
“How much less?”
I blinked twice before forcing myself to look into his eyes. “She’s roughly seventy-five miles from here.”
“Are you kidding?” Jamie said standing up. He drew in a deep breath and lowered himself back down. “You’re planning to walk seventy-five miles?”
“Yeah, it’ll take a few days, but it’s doable.”
Jamie was shaking his head. “It’s going to take more than a few days. If you walk five miles a day, it’ll take you like fifteen days to get there.”
“I think we can do more than five miles a day.” I shrugged.
“I think you’re giving everyone too much credit.
“We’ll be motivated.”
Jamie rubbed his palms roughly on his thighs. “Can I do anything to talk you out of this?”
“I don’t think so,” I said refusing to meet his gaze.
“What if she’s… sick,” Jamie said clearing his throat at the end of his sentence.
It felt like hands grabbed my heart and squeezed. “I’d want to know.”
“Okay,” Jamie said sliding his palms up and down his thighs. “Okay.”
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“Sorry for what?”
I looked into his eyes. “I have to do this.”
“Yeah, I understand.” Jamie’s shoulders dropped as he let out a breath. “And I’ll help you get there. If that’s what you want.”
“Yes,” I said smiling. I hesitated before I wrapped my arms around his neck, hugging him. My arms quickly dropped, and I inched away. “I’d like that. It kind of feels like we’re in this together.”
“I know what you mean,” Jamie said, flopping back on my bed. He reached over and lightly touched his fingers to my back. “I feel the same.”
Our eyes met in the darkness, and even though I wanted to look away from the intensity of his gaze, I didn’t. There was something in his eyes that held me tightly. I didn’t want to look away.
“Argh,” Jamie said as he crunched himself back into a seated position. “I guess I should get back out there.”
“What’s the rush?” I asked offering him my box of cereal.
Jamie grabbed the box and pulled out a handful. “Your brother is out there trying to rally the troops. Everyone is on board except for—”
“Maggie.”
“Right. And we can’t leave her here alone.” I stood up and walked over to the window, peering out between the blinds. “And I don’t think we’re ready.”
Jamie swallowed. “Nick’s ready.”
“Nick’s not in charge.”
“You might need to tell him that,” Jamie said.
Every muscle in my body tensed. “I don’t think he’ll leave without me, but if he does, that’s his choice.” I turned, my hands clenched into tight fists at my side. “I’ll go when I’m ready.”
“Can I join in or is this a private conversation?” Nick asked as he lightly tapped on the door.
My eyes rolled into the back of my head. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough,” Nick said, his eyes darting to Jamie for a split second. “I just wanted you to know that I’m not leaving here without you.”
Nick was acting like he had something to prove. Maybe he was trying to make up for his past.
“Okay, well, I’m not ready. I don’t want to leave Maggie here,” I said crossing my arms.
“She’ll come around,” Nick said with a big smile that went ear to ear.
“It’s not just that, I want to make sure we’re ready. We need to be ready. Bronx had us pack those bags, which was a step in the right direction, but we didn’t know what was out there when we packed them,” I said swallowing down the acidic taste at the back of my throat. “I think we need more.”
Jamie narrowed his eyes and Nick cocked his head to the side. My eyes moved down to Nick’s hip.
“I think we need to be armed. And not with brooms and steak knives.” My body shook with my exhale. The words had felt strange leaving my lips. It was something I never thought I’d say.
I could see Jamie staring at me out of the corner of his eye. Clearly, it was something he had been surprised to hear too.
Nick’s head bobbed up and down, as he pulled his shoulders back. “You’re absolutely right. There’s a store not far from here… we can find something there.”
“Okay,” I said placing my trembling hands on my hips to stop them from shaking.
Nick slowly clasped his hands together in front of his body. “As long as it hasn’t all been taken.”
Eleven
“I think you should stay here,” Jamie said, swallowing as he pressed his lips together. “Your brother and Bronx can handle it.”
I grabbed Jamie’s arm and pulled him to the side. The feeling of Nick’s eyes on us prickled my skin.
“I want to help,” I said my voice low as I looked into his eyes. “I want to see what it’s like out there.”
Jamie dug his fingertips into the back of his neck. “It’s just that—”
“It’ll be fine,” I said with a smile. “We aren’t going that far. We’ll be back before you know it.”
His eyes darted over my shoulder before settling back on mine. Jamie opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Nick cleared his throat.
“Ready, Gwen?” Nick asked from the living room.
“Yeah,” I said without looking away from Jamie.
I couldn’t even understand the thoughts that were going through my head. There was so much in his eyes I couldn’t understand, but the one thing I did get was that he was already worried.
There was a slight pinch inside my chest, and I swallowed hard. I forced myself to turn away from him, but he grabbed my hand and pulled me back.
He hesitated and drew in a quick breath. “Be safe.”
“Of course.” I smiled, and he let go of my hand.
Nick’s head was down, but his eyes were on us. As I looked around the room, I noticed he hadn’t been the only one watching. Blair had been watching too, and her eyes narrowed when she caught my gaze.
“Let’s go,” Nick said causing me to turn away from her.
Bronx was standing at the door ready to go. He looked anxious. Excited.
I checked my pocket to make sure I had my apartment key although the others would be here to let us in. It made me feel better to have it just in case.
We stepped out into the hallway, the silence wrapped around me like cling wrap. It felt weird leaving my apartment with Jamie, Blair, and Maggie inside.
Every footstep we took echoed in the hallway. Even though we were trying to be quiet, our surroundings were quieter.
The Red Sky Series Box Set Page 6