Sanctuary's Aggression Box Set

by Maira Dawn

  Skye bristled. "But, I can-"

  Dylan‘s eyes widened. “Is there ever gonna be a time ya just listen?"

  Skye looked down. She had just told herself that he had ore experience, that he knew what he was doing. She needed to let him do it, and show she had faith in him. “I’ll stay here. Please be careful.”

  Skye made sure Jesse still sat in the Jeep, then watched Dylan and Wade take food and water to the people behind the fence. A lot of the Sick were in the last stages of the disease and wouldn’t be interested in sustenance, but there were those among them that seemed alert enough to want it. Those desperate for supplies strained their arms through the wire openings, fingers opening and closing as they reached for the meager help Dylan and Wade provided.

  Dylan and Wade handed some water bottles and food, but for the Sick in the middle and back of the horde, the men threw the nourishment over the top of the fence, deep into the field behind the large group. Some followed it, picking it up where it fell. It helped lessen the weight against the fence.

  Skye frowned. There was still a lot of Sick pushing on the fence and staring at Dylan and Wade with too much aggression in their eyes. Skye scanned the barrier again. If the Sick kept pushing against the barrier, it would come down. Dylan and Wade needed to hurry.

  Skye bit the inside of her cheek. The horde now worked together, pushing at the fence in unison, their blue-tipped fingers shaking the thin fencing. Skye held her breath. The small swing of the fence was getting wider, and the brothers noticed the back-and-forth movement.

  Dylan rocketed the bottles into the pasture. Wade pointed to a few of the Sick that looked like teenagers and moved that way.

  "Hurry, hurry," she whispered clenching the edge of the seat and willing the men back to the cars.

  The Sick, even in their fevered haze, realized what they were accomplishing and pushed harder. The wire wall swayed and bent only to bounce back, at first. But as they continued to shove at it, the metal poles loosened from the soft ground.

  "Hurry!"

  Skye slid to the driver's seat, her eyes following the men’s every move.

  At last, Dylan and Wade’s arms were empty, and they turned toward the cars. Behind them, the fence gave way. Their feet dug deep into the soil looking for traction as they started their fierce sprint. The horde were inches behind them.

  Skye rolled down the driver's window and yelled to Jesse, "Get the car ready. We will have to leave fast!"

  Jesse gave her a few quick nods.

  A heavy thud against the passenger's side of the truck caught Skye’s attention. She jumped. Dylan thumped on the windows again and pointed the locks.

  Skye’s stomach tightened as she looked at the driver door of the unfamiliar vehicle. There were so many buttons, it looked like a rocket console. She glanced out the window at Dylan only to see the Sick closing in behind him. Skye laid on the horn. The Sick stepped back almost as one. It held them at bay for a moment.

  Skye hit buttons. Beeps and pops sounded with each one. When her shaking hands hit the right one, she punched it again just to make sure the doors were open. Dylan jerked open the door and leapt into the vehicle.

  Dylan reached for the steering wheel and blasted the horn again to hold the horde back until Wade reached his car.

  “Good move,” he said over the noise.

  “Yeah. They hate it.” Skye pointed at the Sick‘s twisted faces. “Problem is, it makes them more upset.”

  Wade made it to the Jeep, steps in front of the angry Sick. Skye and Dylan exchanged looks of relief when Wade‘s door banged shut.

  Agitated, the horde gathered around the back of the truck, thumping against it.

  "Go! Go!" Dylan bellowed to Jesse.

  Jesse’s car left black marks on the road as smoke poured from the tires. It caught and took off. Skye's hand went to her thumping heart. When Wade straightened in his seat and reached the wheel to help Jesse, Skye sagged with relief.

  As soon as the Jeep was out of her way, Skye floored the truck and shook off the Sick clinging to the sides. She glanced at their stricken faces. They only wanted help. Her heart ached anew knowing they would never get what they sought.

  Skye looked Dylan over starting at his feet. When she reached his face, he was staring at her.

  “Are you okay? I'm so, so sorry," Skye said, "Just being out here, I put myself and Jesse in danger as well as you and your brother."

  Dylan grunted. "Yeah, you did. Well, now ya know."

  “I never imagined it would lead to all this. I won’t do it again.“

  Skye drove for a while. After the excitement, the two were quiet, each in their own thoughts.

  As they passed the welcome sign for Colton, Skye looked toward Tom’s house. A stop there would put her mind at ease, and she may be able to call her father on their landline. But would Dylan go for it?

  She glanced at Dylan and her cousin’s road again. She could wait no longer, if she was going to run it by him, it had to be now.

  "So Dylan, I was thinking--"

  "No."

  Skye studied his set face and crossed arms. "You don't even know what I was going to say!"

  Dylan waved a hand at her. "I don't care. Whatever it is, it’s no. You've asked enough of me today. Have the decency to wait a day before you ask for anything else."

  Skye watched the road to Tom's house go by. She sighed and allowed her lips to make a soft pop sound at the end. Skye and Dylan had been at odds all day, and he had bent to her wishes every time. She owed him big, a lot more than this.

  “Okay. Tomorrow then."

  Dylan snorted and slouched down in his seat for the rest of the trip home.

  28

  This Tryin Thing

  The next morning, Skye woke with a start. The sky was dark, and Dylan stood over her. He was alert, as if this early hour was the perfect one to start the day.

  "What do you want?" he asked.

  “Huh?" Barely able to open her eyes, she rubbed the sleep from them, but she settled for squinting out the side of one.

  "What did ya want yesterday?" He scowled.

  Skye peeked up at Dylan with her one eye and scolded him. "Hey, no mean looks. It's, like, super early. My brain isn't working."

  "I've been up for hours." He sighed as he crossed his arms.

  "Of course, you have," Skye mumbled. "Pfft, not all of us are awake before the chickens." Skye rolled to her side, pulling a pillow close.

  "We ain't got chickens."

  "Yeah, we should get chickens..." she trailed off on a yawn, closing the one good eye.

  But Dylan wasn't allowing that. "Hey, you speak now, or you ain't going anywhere."

  Skye puffed out a vaguely irritated breath. “Oh. Um, to see Tom and Tricia and to call Dad. They have a landline." She brought her hand to her mouth to cover a yawn then opened both eyes gauging Dylan's reaction to the request.

  He gave a little grunt Skye took to mean okay and pressed his lips together a few times as he scuffed one foot against the wood floor. "Get ready then. I'm gonna check things out, we can go after breakfast." Before Skye knew it, he was almost out the door.

  "What? Now?" Her moaned response made it clear she did not agree with Dylan's plan.

  "Yeah, now."

  "Has anyone ever told you, you're a very mean man? Turning people out of their beds like this?"

  "Now." Dylan chuckled but didn't relent.

  "Ugh!"

  Skye sighed but thanked him sweetly as he walked away.

  When Dylan got back, breakfast was ready. As they ate the morning meal, the group decided that everyone would go to Tricia and Tom's. Jesse wasn't about to miss another field trip, no matter the horrible results of yesterday, of which he wouldn't stop talking. Wade didn't want to stay behind either.

  After eating, the four packed some supplies the Cole’s were willing to part with, and that Skye thought Tom and Tricia would appreciate, into Dylan's newly acquired truck and headed off into town.

&n
bsp; "So, new truck?" Skye asked as she leaned up from the back seat where she beside Jesse. She remembered a whole evening dedicated to the debate over what truck was best, and this had been one Dylan admired.

  "Neighbor’s,” Dylan said.

  Skye winced. Every new item seemed to come at someone’s expense. She took a deep whiff of the leather interior. "Mm. Nice!"

  "Figured you'd like it." He smiled at her in the rearview mirror.

  She agreed and smiled back.

  Skye dropped her gaze and frowned. Something was different about him.

  This morning before the sun rose, Dylan had crouched at the edge of the woods and listened as it woke. A night’s sleep and the soothing sounds of his beloved forest helped calm the anger that still burned within him.

  Today is a new day, I ain’t gonna spend it angry. What's done is done. I don't agree with letting them go, but she wouldn’t go for anything besides comin home. That's what she said, 'Take me home’. My whole world tipped when she said that.

  Dylan‘s resolve had eased things between him and Skye. He was more relaxed with her today than he had ever been. But while Dylan was relaxed, it wasn’t the case with the rest of them. Dylan felt the mood like he felt the weather. At first, he'd thought the tense atmosphere was from yesterday's scare. But the more he thought about it, he reckoned it was possible it had something to do with his bad mood yesterday. He needed to do better about that.

  Skye liked to talk things out, and Dylan tried, but it was as foreign to him as a day in Japan. Still no matter what he thought, she said a person should communicate, and she had the book learning to back it up. It was what she wanted to teach the boy, and it sure wouldn’t hurt Wade and him none.

  For now, he wanted to smooth it over with her. "Ya know, we would've been there sooner yesterday, but we couldn't make out that chicken scratch you call writin you left behind."

  Skye stared at him stunned for a moment. Uncertain, she studied his serious face and hesitated as she asked, "Are you joking? Is this you teasing me?"

  Dylan's stern demeanor broke as his eyes crinkled, and a smirk curved the right side of his mouth. He was as tickled by his joke as her response.

  Skye made a fist and punched his arm. "You are teasing me!" Her eyes lit up, and she laughed.

  He didn't know how women felt about this kind of interaction, but guys considered it a success.

  "Nah, it was a nice letter.” Dylan hung his head a little. His self-confidence was raised, but he still felt on thin ice. Dylan glanced at Skye. Had he said the right thing? He wasn't sure how this friend thing worked with a woman, but from her reaction, he seemed pretty good at it.

  Skye smiled. "I meant it. Every word."

  He nodded and faced the road again.

  Maybe this tryin thing wasn't so bad.

  29

  Numbers

  Skye sat on the seat's edge, hugging the headrest in front of her as they pulled into Tom's drive. A few days had passed since they talked on the phone, but it was too long in this new way of living. She scanned the property and sagged with relief that the house was intact and the yard clean. That was a good sign.

  Please let them be okay. Please let them be okay.

  Tom's home was better than untouched, it was pristine compared to the neighbors. Skye inspected the surrounding scene. Three of the houses were burnt to their foundations, others covered in bubbly scorch marks along the siding.

  Many of the houses stood open to the elements with smashed windows, and front doors open and screens hanging at odd angles. Animals scurried around on the porches going in and out already making their homes within them. Although not every house was in that bad of condition, almost all looked deserted.

  The light wind pushed papers and loose garbage along the road. Trash cans lay tipped and their contents spilled in yards and onto the pavement. Skye shook her head. The lovely street had disappeared, something foreign and eerie had taken its place. It was like a ghost town. They needed to invite Tom and Tricia to the mountain.

  Skye shot a glance at Dylan and Wade wondering what they would think of the idea. She warmed. The Cole’s should be fine with it. Safety in numbers was something yesterday taught her, there was no doubt the brothers were already aware of that.

  Dylan stopped the car and sat a minute. Skye waited for his next move, but he didn’t budge.

  Dylan threw a glance over his shoulder at Skye. “The horn might attract attention we don’t want. If anyone’s on watch in the house, they’ll see us.”

  Skye nodded and bit her cheek as the truck idled.

  A shadow hovered near the front window beside the door. The window eased open the tiniest bit. With a careful eye, Dylan and Wade studied the residence and yard. After a look and a nod from his brother, Dylan stepped out of the vehicle.

  Dylan stayed behind the open door of the pickup and yelled toward the house. "I have Skye Jackson here. If you're Tom or Tricia, she'd like to see you.”

  The front entry flew open, and Tom stood in the doorway, one hand laying on his gun belt, the other gripping the door handle.

  "Any of you sick? Or infected?" Tom scanned the black truck.

  "Nah, we ain’t,” Dylan said.

  "That you, D?"

  "Yep, it's me."

  Skye knitted her brows. Only Dylan’s closest friends called him D so why was Tom calling him that? Tom never indicated he and Dylan were buddies, and Dylan certainly hadn’t made that claim.

  She forgot the thought almost as soon as it came into her head. She was too excited over seeing her relatives to think of anything else. Skye leaned against her car door waiting for the go-ahead.

  "Come on in then," Tom said.

  Bright joy flashed through Skye, and without knowing how, she made it to Tom before anyone else. Tom opened the door wide and held out his arms. She dove into them and wrapped hers around her cousin.

  After a couple minutes, she stepped back and looked up at Tom. “Please tell me you and Tricia are fine."

  "We are. We're just fine."

  Tom's reassurance was what she'd hoped for, dreamed about and nearly panicked that she wouldn't hear especially after her father’s news. Tears of joy flooded Skye’s eyes.

  "I've been so—just so worried! Not getting ahold of you, I didn't know what was happening."

  Tom laid his hands on her shoulders and gave her a small squeeze. "We're fine, cuz."

  Skye sniffed. "Okay."

  Behind Tom, Tricia entered from the kitchen. Skye's voice broke as she said Tricia's name and raced to her. "You can't imagine how happy I am to see you two!"

  "Oh, I reckon we do.” Tricia’s own tears and delighted laughter started as she embraced Skye. "And look who you drug along with ya."

  "Dylan and Wade and, of course, Jesse." Skye smiled as she reintroduced them, a hint of pride in her voice.

  "It's been a while since I seen you big scruffy ones and a bit for you too, little mite. How ya doin, Jesse?" Tricia went to Jesse and gave him and the men a quick hug.

  "Real good, ma'am. Real good,” Jesse said.

  "Excellent!" Tricia said as she examined the odd group before her. “It isn't every day two true mountaineers, a runaway boy, and a professional city slicker come together, willingly or no. You've got to tell me how this happened."

  Tom chimed in, "Yes, sit a spell, and let's get reacquainted. Tell us how things have been going for you.”

  Skye gave an abbreviated story of meeting Dylan and Wade and, unsure what to confess to Tom about Jesse's rescue, she kept that part short. She eyed her cousin during her explanation. He took it well.

  Despite the friendly greeting and an invitation to stay and visit, uneasiness lingered among the men. Skye and Tricia looked at the guys, then each other. Skye sent her friend a questioning glance, and Tricia gave a little shake of her head.

  Tom, Dylan, and Wade silently assessed one another, in the way only those who were once true companions could. If Skye hadn't been aware of it before, she was no
w—there was history between them. Her curiosity peaked.

  A nervous smile floated over Tricia's lips. She knew something.

  Skye’s gaze lingered on Tom and his harsh expression. What kind of past did they share? She frowned. Skye didn’t want them thinking badly of the Coles. Dylan and Wade had saved her and Jesse, offered them a home. They may be a little rough, but they were good people. Skye giggled to herself. Wow, she’d come a long way since her first meeting with the fierce brothers. She’d been so frightened of them that day on the side of the road.

  Skye glanced at her cousin again, making sure to insert all the help the Coles gave her and Jesse into the conversation.

  Dylan shot her a couple of questioning looks. When Skye spoke of the training the brothers offered her and Jesse , his lip curled. Dylan knew what she was doing.

  Once the conversation turned to less interesting topics, Tricia winked at Skye and nodded toward the kitchen. “Welp, you men just keep on talkin. Skye and I are gonna go make cookies. I’ve hoarded some ingredients for an occasion like this.”

  Jesse wiggled in his seat beside Dylan at the mention of the sweet treat. Skye ruffled his hair and kissed him on the head before following Tricia into the other room.

  Tricia took the ingredients out of the cupboards as Skye soaked in the kitchen‘s warm atmosphere. Tricia regained Skye‘s attention when she slapped a stainless steel bowl onto the counter and said, "So how's it really goin?"

  30

  History

  Sky turned pink as Tricia’s gazed bounced from her to the Coles and back again. Skye’s color increased when her cousin-in-law wiggled her copper-colored eyebrows. Skye lowered her head, letting her dark hair cover her face, and twisted to scrape a wood chair away from the table and sit.

  “Well,” Tricia said, “that’s interesting.”

  Still not looking at Tricia, Skye gave a shake of her head.