Uprising

by Shelly Crane

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive. Besides, aren’t you doing Cain’s laundry? I promise you, we are just friends.”

  Mitchell took that opportunity, unbeknownst to him that he was being talked about, to walk in.

  “Hey, Lil. What are you ladies- Ahh. You didn’t have to do that. Thank you, though,” he said as his spied his shirt in her hands.

  “It’s fine. I was already doing mine anyway. I know you’re busy with Keeper stuff.”

  “Not really. There really isn’t any Keeper stuff anymore. Max was just showing me how they schedule their runs and things like that. Maybe I can help them next time.”

  “Or me.”

  “I already thought you were going today. What happened?”

  “Well... I just didn’t feel like going.”

  Lies and Mitchell could tell as well.

  “Lil,” he chastised softly.

  Mitchell began again and I suddenly realized I might as well have not even be in the room. They were about a foot apart and he was looking down at her and I saw it as all too familiar. I stood still and quiet and let them finish while Mitchell continued.

  “You didn’t go because of me. Right? Because of what I said?”

  “Well...”

  “Lil.” He leaned a little closer and placed his palms on her upper arms. “I wasn’t trying to make decisions for you. I just knew I’d worry about you while you were gone. I’m sorry if you thought I’d be upset with you.”

  “It’s not that, I just didn’t... If you didn’t want me to go, I knew there was a good reason so... I trust you. That’s all.”

  Awkward. I wish I could slip out of the room but I know I’ll break the trance. His eyes are fiercely and affectionately locked on hers and his thumbs are moving back and forth over her bare shoulders. She looks endearingly oblivious to what is really going on with Mitchell. Does she know how he really feels? How can she not see it?

  I try to tip toe out but Lillian is brought back down to earth by my movement.

  “Oh, Sherry. I’m sorry. Uh...Mitchell, remember, this is Sherry. Sherry, Mitchell.”

  “I remember,” Mitchell said, reluctantly releasing Lillian’s arm and extending a warm hand to me. “I can’t tell you how great it is to see you again. All of you. Ya’ll have quite the set up here.”

  This was the first time I’d gotten a really good look at Mitchell. His body was about thirty eight or thirty nine I guessed. Quite a bit older than Lillian who, if I remember correctly was only twenty two or three. He had brown hair, was taller than Lillian, who was taller than me. He was pretty slim but nice looking with brown eyes. He looked very easy going with his beard stubble and somewhat shaggy hair.

  “Yeah, we do. Unfortunately, the people who let us stay here with them are no longer here, except Max. They both died, recently.”

  “I heard about that. I’m sorry.” It sounded like he really meant it. “Well, I wasn’t trying to interfere with your work or butt in. I just wanted to check on Lil,” he looked back at her and his eyes stayed there, “and uh, you know, see how things were going. You don’t have to do my laundry, but thank you. I appreciate it.”

  “Mitch. After all you’ve done for me, it’s the least I can do for you,” Lillian said softly.

  “Well, thank you.” He cleared his throat. “Nice to see you again, Sherry. The guys are about to be back, Max said, so I’m gonna help them get all the vehicles unloaded but, uh, maybe we can talk some later, Lil, after dinner maybe?”

  “Yeah, sure,” she said and picked up another batch of clothes to start scrubbing, it was a shirt I’d never seen and could only assume it was also Mitchell’s.

  “Ok. Great. See ya later.”

  He left but peeked at her once more at the door way before heading into the hall. Wow. That Keepers got it bad.

  “Lil? Mitch?” I ask her with a coy smile.

  “Yeah. It’s what we call- What?” she said incredulously, seeing my look.

  “Uhuh. Well, Lil, I think it can safely be said that that Keeper is definitely more than your friend. Or at least he wants to be.”

  “Really? You think so. See this whole time I just thought he was being nice because of Michael, but when we got here and I saw you and Jeff and Marissa. Well, now I’m starting to wonder if maybe...there was something more there. He is a little touchy feely. I don’t know what I’m thinking...” She threw the clothes down in the water, splashing suds everywhere which just seemed to exasperate her more. “Sorry,” she muttered.

  “It’s ok. This isn’t about Michael is it?”

  “Shouldn’t it be?” she said shrilly.

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Well, he was my husband. He’s only been dead not even a year yet and I’m...I’m entertaining the idea of someone else having feelings for me? It’s not right. It’s not right, Sherry.”

  “Lillian, there’s no time table that tells us when our grieving can end. That’s up to you. It doesn’t mean you didn’t love him if you move on.”

  “It does though, doesn’t it? Especially if I move on with his Keeper. It just feels...”

  “Wrong?”

  “No. It feels right. That’s why it scares me. Not Mitchell, per say but... Moving on feels right, I mean. It has to mean something was wrong with Michael and I and I just didn’t notice it or...I don’t know.” She ran her hands through her hair. “I’m so confused. And Mitchell has never made a pass at me. Never tried anything so, maybe I’m misunderstanding the whole thing.”

  “Michael would want you to be happy so, no, I don’t think that’s what it means and uh, no. I witnessed Mitchell in all his googly eyed glory just now. That Keeper feels something for you.”

  “You think so? Really?”

  “Really.”

  Her lips twitched as she tried not to smile, but I saw and we both burst out laughing. We finished our laundry and talked about something entirely different. Anything we could think of that didn’t involve googly eyed Keepers.

  Max was right, all the store trip pairs started to get back within a half an hour later. I always hated this part. Waiting to see when Merrick would come in, if at all. I didn’t like thinking like that but I worried so much about him. Him and Cain always went out together, which was the one thing that made me happy. The same teams always worked together, so that they knew how the other worked and handled things.

  I would think that Cain and Merrick made a good team. They got along great at home. Better than great actually. Other than me, Merrick was closer to Cain than anyone else, even Danny lately. They hung out and goofed off all the time.

  Team after team came home. I unloaded the stuff in the kitchen as they brought it in, pile after pile but most of it went into the hall for future use. I tried hard not to think the worst when Merrick and Cain continued to not be the ones coming through the door. Finally, they were the only ones left out who hadn’t returned yet.

  It was time to start dinner already. I got Lily up from her nap and Pap and Maggie, along with Lillian entertained her while I started to cook with Marissa and Kay to help me. My nerves were making my stomach knot. They’d been last home before, but not long after everyone else. The last team came home twenty two minutes ago. Twenty two minutes. Am I being nuts? Am I worrying needlessly?

  I start to boil the water for the pasta and brew the tea.

  Thirty five minutes past.

  I set out the silverware and fold paper towels. Marissa says they’ll be here soon, for me to stop pacing, they’ll be fine.

  Forty seven minutes past.

  I mix the cheese in with the pasta, get out plates and help Marissa put ice in glasses.

  One hour and thirteen minutes past.

  We call them to start the line to fill their plates and I settle Lily in with a bowl.

  Jeff hugs me sideways around my shoulders at the sink and tells me not to worry, they probably got hung up or a flat tire. Nothing they couldn’t handle.

  One hour and twenty eight
minutes past.

  Then, blessedly, I hear the familiar squeak of the trap door being lifted and race to the stairs from the kitchen. As soon as I turn the corner I see Merrick looking around. When he sees me, he grins and opens his arms to me. I jump up into them without hesitation and exhale all my worries and stress.

  These stupid all day store run trips just kill me. I can’t handle the stress of it and in fact, I’ll be glad to be rid of them.

  He kisses me forcefully. I’m glad to see I’m not the only one that was still glad to see the other. He holds me up to him and I can hear the others behind me. I even hear some ‘ahh’s and ‘finally’s. I can’t hide my worry, everyone knew I was freaking out. Then I hear something a little bit more annoying.

  “Ahem.”

  We both part, reluctantly, but he still holds me up and we look over to see Jeff.

  “Thank goodness you’re back. I thought I was gonna have to tie Sherry to a chair to keep her from ruining the floor with her pacing,” Jeff said smiling.

  “My Sherry? Worried?” Merrick looked at me playfully and put my feet back to the floor. “Impossible.” He kissed my nose. “Now, Jeff, if you’ll excuse us. I have some business with my wife,” he said, never taking his eyes from mine.

  Then he grabbed my hand and began to tow me to our room amid all the people smiling and trying not to giggle at us.

  “Business, huh?” Jeff said laughing. “Is that what they’re calling it now?” he called after us but we didn’t stop.

  As soon as we entered our little room, his lips were on me. I was still upset and curious as to what made them so late but it would have to wait. And I wasn’t complaining.

  He was extremely eager. His hands were in my hair, where I loved them. His breathing was out of control in no time and his breath hot on my neck as he kissed my jaw and collarbone. That hadn’t changed. His body temperature was still incredibly hot. One more reason we were so perfectly matched, because I was constantly cold.

  Clothes flew away with incredible ease, lips and hands claiming skin, he urged me gently to be quiet as he sometimes has to do.

  Afterwards, he silently continued to kiss and caress me as we laid on our sides, facing each other. Maybe he understood how scared I’d been and wanted to completely reassure and comfort me before we talked about it.

  “I’m sorry we were so late,” he finally said. “Cain ran into credit card trouble, but he handled it. Just took a little bit longer than normal. I’m sorry. I hate it when you worry.”

  “It’s ok. I know sometimes things happen but I just can’t stand not knowing what’s happening with you out there. My mind runs wild with-”

  “I know.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “I’m sorry.” He kissed my cheek. “I’ll make sure that little jerk gets his act together for next time.” My jaw. “Please forgive me.” My forehead. “I missed you like crazy.” Then he kissed that little spot behind my ear making me groan and giggle and bite my lip.

  “It’s ok, Merrick. You’re forgiven.” I laugh as he continues to kiss all sorts of places in his plea for forgiveness. “You’re forgiven! I missed you, too. I always do. I’ll be so glad when this is over. I’d rather you be a farmer than a shopper.”

  “Me too, but we need this right now. A couple more runs, that’s all we need to help get things started good for us, that’s all we can do really anyway. Then I’m home free and you won’t be able to get rid of me.”

  “Good. I can’t wait.”

  “Mmmm, I really missed you. Cain’s not half as cute as you are,” he said, skimming his fingers down my arm.

  I laughed which I do a lot lately. Especially with Merrick. He’s a pro at knowing exactly what to say to me in whatever situation. Whether I’m happy or sad or mad or worried. He still knows me completely.

  “I hope not! So other than that, how’d it go?”

  “Fine,” he said quickly.

  It was a one word lie. I froze.

  Merrick just told me a flat out lie.

  A Little Slice Of Heaven

  Chapter 7 - Sherry

  Oh no. I swallowed hard. Merrick hadn’t just flat out lied to me since we’ve been at the warehouse basement. And it was all silly relationship stuff, never anything important. Should I call him on it? He knows I know.

  “Fine?” I ask again softly.

  “Yeah, fine,” he said moving his hand to play with my fingers on my belly but not looking at me.

  My heart flips in disappointment. He wouldn’t lie unless it was something important. Something he really really didn’t want me to know, for my own good. I bite my lip while I contemplate how to handle this but then he groans and puts his face down on my belly.

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I can’t do it. I can’t lie to you,” he said muffled. He raised his head then and looked me in the eye. They were full of regret and something else. Fear. He thought I would be furious with him. “I’m so sorry, baby. I thought I could just say it was fine and you wouldn’t question it but I knew you could tell. I was trying to protect you...but I shouldn’t have to lie to do it. I’m sorry.”

  “What happened that you thought you had to lie about it?” I ask softly.

  “Can you just trust me to handle it? It wasn’t anything too terrible. I just don’t want to worry you over it, ok? It’s over.”

  “Now I am worried,” I said and sat up.

  He groaned again.

  “Don’t be, baby. You know me.” He sat up too and framed my face with his hands. “I’m not gonna do anything stupid or reckless.”

  I continued to look at him, worry etched all my face. He spilled.

  “Ok. Ok. There was a man. He questioned me. End result, I had to put him to sleep and we dropped him off somewhere to wake up later,” he rushed through the words so fast I barely heard him.

  “Who was he,” I asked.

  “One of the new human enforcers.”

  I gasp.

  The enforcers were a human task force, not unlike police officers, who’s main job and goal is Keeper and resistance hunting out and the new Taker laws enforcement. The new laws were put into place to keep people like us from cheating their system. No one in the stores without being checked behind the ear, no loitering in any parking lots, no home or small business deliveries of any kind, no television programming allowed but the local news. Ect.

  “Merrick!” I pulled back in shock. “That’s not a little thing. The enforcers answer directly to the Lighters and city officials. You could have been taken right then!”

  “This is why I didn’t want to tell you. We handled it. We’d done it once before-.”

  “You what!?” I covered my mouth with my hand in shock, then put it back down to my lap. “Once before? Merrick!”

  I was so upset. All I could see were visions of Merrick being brought before the Lighters and being dismembered or worse, tortured slowly for information about the rest of us. Poking and prodding through his brain for thoughts of us and our whereabouts.

  “Honey, listen,” he sat up too and framed my shaking face with his hands once more. “There is nothing to worry about. Cain and I can handle ourselves against one human man. I won’t ever do anything that will make it so I can’t come home to see your pretty face again.” He kissed me when I snorted, then became serious again. “I will always come back to you. Do you hear me? Always together, remember?”

  “Merrick. I don’t know what I’d do if something were to happen to you,” I creaked.

  “You’ll never have to find out.”

  “You can’t be certain-”

  “I am. I mean it. Trust me. I’ll always come back to you,” he said firmly, then plastered another smile that I could feel against my cheek on that still after all this time made my heart flutter. “Now, that you’ve drained me of all my energy...” He pulled me back to the circle of his arms and kissed me deep and long, probably trying to distract me. What does it say about me that it worked? “Can you please feed me now? I’m starving and I thought I smell
ed your scrumptious macaroni and cheese earlier.”

  “Flattery will get you everywhere,” I say wryly and can’t help but laugh.

  He helps me dress in the dark, since he can see and I can’t. Once everything is back in place and we’ve snuck a few more kisses, we head out for our walk of shame.

  That’s not really an appropriate title I guess, since were married, but it seems like this is a common occurrence for us. Every week he comes home from the store run, every week we make a spectacle of ourselves with kisses and hugs at the stairs and every week he shamelessly drags me to our room, unable to wait another second. Ok, he doesn’t have to drag me, I practically run down the hall with him but, you know. We’re newlyweds for goodness sake!

  Then we come out some time later and he could care less what everyone thinks as we walk hand in hand like nothing happened, but I can’t be that way. I see their silly looks and giggles. I know it’s all in good fun but still... Oh well. I guess I should be happy that Merrick is so confidant and secure about us. And it’s not like I’d have it another way.

  As soon as we reach the commons room Lily jumps from Marissa’s lap and runs to Merrick. He nabs her up and she squeezes his neck.

  “Lily bug.”

  “Mewwick! I missed you. I had to take a nap all by myself today.”

  “Really? That’s terrible,” he said mockingly as he toted her into the kitchen, with me on his heels.

  He started to make himself a plate, while carrying Lily but I told him I’d get it. He sat down at the table with Lily on his lap and Cain there already with a plate of his own.

  “So, what else did you do today?” he asked her.

  “Shawwy let me help make bwownies today.”

  “Brownies? Wow. Well, where are they?”

  “Well, Uncle Danny and Uncle Wyan ate dem all.”

  Cain tried to stifle a laugh but choked on his tea instead. Merrick chuckled but didn’t seem too surprised.

  “Did you at least get one first?”