He sighs with relief.
“So, who are these gentlemen,” Erika asks happily. “Are these guys going to lead us to the bunker?”
Introductions are made all around. Finally, I meet Evander Colon.
He has dark hair, windswept and long. His eyes are brown, evenly set, thoughtful yet mysterious. He’s tall and lean, reminding me of a swimmer’s body. He wears khaki pants, sandals, and a loose fitting button shirt. He’s an odd presence in this natural environment.
Luke Hale is one of Michael’s Army buddies. The man has biceps stretching the limits of his black t-shirt, a broad torso with hills and crevices that makes me wonder if he spends all day lifting weights. He has on camouflage pants and black boots. In his arms is a loaded M16 rifle. He’s not a great looking guy, but Erika, with a grin for days, overlooks that one shortfall.
I notice the ring on his finger and reply, “He’s married, shark.”
She rolls her eyes and huffs.
“So, this is the young lady you want to bring into the Collective,” Evander asks.
“Yes,” Michael answers stiffly.
“Do you trust her?”
Michael mentioned before that Erika had no loyalty, but with all we’ve been through together, I wonder if he feels differently.
“It shouldn’t matter,” he answers.
“So, you don’t trust her.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“The answer is a simple yes or no. If you don’t, you know what’s going to happen.”
“What’s going to happen?” Erika asks, annoyed. “Michael, just tell him you trust me!”
“Colon, why is it important how I feel about her?”
“Because if you don’t trust her, then how can I? How can anyone in the Collective feel safe if there’s an individual among us who do not share in our principles and goals? So, I will ask you one more time. Do you trust this woman?”
“I do,” I speak up.
Michael is surprised to hear my answer.
Evander steps to me and asks, “And why is that?”
“I lost someone who was important to me, and when I blamed myself and was ready to give up, Erika helped me understand that it wasn’t my fault. Now, I can be a difficult person. She experienced that first hand. But that didn’t stop her from standing in the darkness at my side to bring me back to the light. So, yeah, I trust her, and if that’s not good enough, then that’s too bad. She’s my best friend, and she’s going in the bunker with me. And that’s final.”
Luke laughs.
Michael shakes his head.
Erika hugs me before I can stop her, squeezing me so tight to the point it hurts. She has no idea how much she helped me. No idea at all.
Impressed and laughing himself, Evander widens his arms and ceremoniously announces, “Welcome home to all of you. Welcome home.”
Dust to Dust: An Apocalyptic Thriller Page 22