by Shelly Crane
"Listen here, Red, I'm doing plenty." He shoved the box into the back of the van all crooked and out of order. I rolled my eyes and fixed it as he went back to bantering with Rylee. "I'm keeping my eyes glued to the sky watching for something that might come and take your pretty little head off."
"Aw, you think my head is pretty," she said in her best girly voice and batted her eyelashes. Miguel was turned from me so I couldn't see his face, but he didn't say anything. Eventually her playful smile turned down and then she…blushed! She turned quickly and practically ran back inside the store.
Miguel looked at me with awe etched on his face. "Did you see that! Her cheeks were as red as that gorgeous hair."
"What did you do?"
He coughed. "Nothing. Just, uh, I was thinking of what to say, is all."
"And what did you come up with?"
He sighed. "I didn't. I couldn't stop staring at her freckles."
I laughed and he glared at me. "What?" I defended. "I remember being a babbling idiot once."
"Babbling idiot? What you mean by that?" he barked.
"You've got a thing for Rylee," I said slowly. "It's practically tattooed to your forehead."
He laughed, exaggeratedly. "Ha! Good one, Keeper. Me, like that red headed cactus? Nah."
"You sure are protesting a lot, Miguel." I loaded the last box in and slammed the doors shut, thankful that they shut without jamming from the full load. "She is pretty. Are you telling me she's not?"
"She's pretty enough."
"Pretty enough for what?"
"Someone else!" he barked and started to walk away, but stopped. "Don't tell Sherry about this, ok?"
"Ok, Miguel. Your non-existent but totally there crush on the red head who wants to serve your spleen on a platter is safe with me."
He grinned. "Thanks, mate."
I laughed as he walked away and peeled my sweaty shirt from my body. I threw it over the van top to dry hopefully. It was so hot, it should be criminal. I hoped that since the snow was gone that the new basement we were headed to wouldn't be too hot to stay. We needed a break. We need one thing to go our way.
I looked over at Jeff and saw that his shirt was off, too, and he was yelling at Billings to hurry up and quit 'lollygagging'. I'd never understood that expression.
I heard the radio start downstairs. The hatch door and store door were wide open so the sounds drifted to me with a slight echo. I heard Billings yell, "Yeah, Billy Joel! About time you played something decent around here."
I had no idea who Billy Joel was, but it sounded nice enough.
No one had brought me any boxes in a while, even though the van was full, they didn't know that. I trotted through the door to see what was up. Rylee, Ryan, Miguel and Max were going at it about when we should leave.
Apparently, Max and Rylee were for waiting until nightfall, and Miguel and Ryan were trying to get them to understand that we needed to go right then.
"Lickety-split!" Miguel yelled. "You really think they are going to give us the whole day to regroup and not try to ambush us before the day's over? You're loopy."
It sounded weird to hear the fighting over Billy Joel's cheerful words. "For the longest time. Whoa, for the longest time."
Rylee yelled back. "You don't know anything about strategy!"
"Ginger, leave this to the big boys, ok?"
I felt my mouth open a little at the look she blazed his way. The steam coming from her ears wasn't even the worst part. She walked right up to him and grabbed his shirt front. "You listen here, buddy. I am not some little sweet girl to be tossed in the back with the women and children. I will wield a knife just like the rest of you." Her lip quivered a bit as she went on. "I deserve to earn my revenge, just like the rest of you."
Miguel caved, just like that. He pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. She put up a fight just for show. If she wanted to displace herself, she could've. "I told you, don't pity me."
He smiled down at her, and it was a smile I'd never seen on him before. I felt instantly like I was intruding, and judging by the awkward looks on Ryan and Max's faces, they agreed with me.
Miguel said low, "So, a guy has to be full of pity to want to put his arms around a pretty girl with spirit?" She looked stunned in that girly way that shows that a guy completely surprised her. He put his hand behind her head and pulled it to rest on his chest. "Just rest here a bit. And don't you worry about those bastards, love. You and me are gonna make them pay if it's the last thing we do."
She sighed as if the weight on her shoulders had been lifted and closed her eyes. I'd never seen her face relaxed like that before. She looked so fragile and tired that way. I guess that's why she never let herself show that. She had this hell bent flag to carry that said she was too strong to be affected.
He leaned against the wall at his back and they just stood there, the shadow from the stairs above covered their faces.
Daniel leaned over and asked, "What's a ginger?"
"Redhead," I answered, knowing what he was going to say next.
"Why not just call her a redhead?"
"Humans have an affinity for nicknames."
He looked puzzled, but shrugged and walked back to the hall. Ryan and Max beat feet to get out of there, so I went to find Sherry and see if she was almost ready. Instead I found Lily. She was in the back corner of the commons room and she was crying. Her arms reached for something that she couldn't touch and she jumped and stomped her foot. Then she started to climb the shelf.
I blurred to her and caught her up to me. "Whoa, what are you doing, baby?"
"My doll," she whined and pointed. "My doll, Miwey, is up there."
I looked up and saw the doll's leg sticking out of the shelf from behind a book. I reached in and grabbed her. A small stack of books fell to the ground. I just looked at them. It was pointless to worry about it or clean it up. This wasn't our home anymore. I held the doll out and Lily took it, sighing with relief. With all of Lily's newfound talents - bringing people back to life, healing Daniel and Lillian, seeing Trudy - it was easy to forget that she was still just a child.
I kissed her cheek. "Who gave Miley to you?" The poor doll was still missing a leg and ragged.
"My sister." She stroked her hair lovingly. "I love Joy, but my sissy gave me dis doll and said she had super powers. She had to leave me and said that dis doll would pwotect me. And it did, Daddy!" She looked at me excitedly. "Uncle Jeff and Uncle Miguel found me when I was getting her outta da twash can."
I felt a hard tug on the organ in my chest. It pumped sympathy out and made me squeeze her to me. She patted my neck like I was the one who needed comforting. Maybe I was, but then she said, "Daddy, you're squeezing me."
"Sorry, baby," I apologized and leaned back. "You keep your super power doll with you until we get to our new home, all right?"
She nodded like it was serious. "I pwomise."
"Good girl. Let's go find Mommy."
"She's in the kitchen," she said matter-of-factly and swung her arm while holding my hand with the other. "She said it was filthy!"
I chuckled. Leave it to Sherry to worry about the kitchen being clean during the possible end of the world.
Sherry was wiping the counters and then bent down to scrub the cabinet doors. She bent directly from the waist and I felt my lips twist even as I twisted my head to check her out. Those jeans were looking pretty good on her right about then. Though she was getting so thin, she still was gorgeous. Lily ran to the table and snuck a small pack of Raisinets. She saw that I caught her, but I nodded and smiled as she took off.
I inched to Sherry quietly and palmed her warm behind. She jumped, gasping, but smiled when she saw it was me. I bent so she could reach my neck and she wrapped her arms around me. I wrapped mine around her slim waist as well and then palmed her behind again. She giggled and squirmed. "What's gotten into you?"
"Those jeans," I said and heard the low notes in my voice. "That's what."
She
didn't laugh, but smiled at me like she understood. She brought her hands down and rubbed my bare chest, my bull tattoo actually, with her fingers. He fingers inched to the red mark on my arm; my reminder that Markers and Keepers don’t mix. "I am going to miss our little room."
I chuckled. "Me, too. Never thought I'd say that."
"Me either. But it's true." She sighed and bit her lip as she looked up at me. "I wish…we had time for one more go, ya know. With privacy."
I felt the blood jolt in me. "Mmhhmm." I leaned down to nuzzle her neck. "Who says we can't?"
She laughed and pushed me back a little. "That one says."
I peeked behind me to find Lily covered in chocolate. Knees to face. I smirked guiltily, but Sherry just laughed and called Lily to her. She hoisted her on the countertop and cleaned her up. Then she let Lily run off to play and came back to me. She pulled me down again and kissed my lips gently. "Love you."
"I know," I sighed in happiness.
"I know I need to stop cleaning." She looked around the uselessly clean kitchen. "I just can't imagine Mrs. Trudy leaving it any other way." She licked her lips. "Max is having a hard time."
"I know. I heard, but there's not anything to do about it. He's acting really strange lately anyway."
"Yeah," she half heartedly agreed.
"Hey," Danny said from behind us and jumped to sit on the counter. "What's up? We heading out or what?" Wow, that kid looked weird with a beard and shag head. He wasn't as hairy as the rest of us, but for someone who had shaved twice a day before, he sure looked different now.
"We're heading out," I said with certainty. Max nor anyone else was going to stop me from getting my family the hell out of here. In fact…
I don't know what the hesitation is about, but we're leaving today. It's the best thing to keep everyone safe. It's daytime, they won't be expecting us to move in the day. Honestly at this point, I don't care if someone decides to stay or not; we're going.
No one has a problem with leaving now, Jeff intercepted. Who has a problem?
Max sighed. I have my reasons. I think I'm the only sane Keeper in this group anymore! Everyone else's heads are crammed up some human's butt.
Now hold on just a minute! Kay yelled, making me squint. Maxwell, just because your charge is gone doesn't mean that we're wrong for still being close to ours.
I didn't say that!
I butted in with, Listen, I wasn't trying to start the great debate, I'm just saying, my family and I are leaving with or without you. I hope you come, but don't try to talk us into staying. We need to get out of here as soon as possible and I'm not going to wait around because someone's trying to change everyone's minds.
Duly noted, Max barked.
I let my eyes focus again and Sherry was watching me with a curious expression. "It's so weird how your eyes are still open, but you blank out like that when you talk Keeper talk."
"Sorry. I just remembered something I wanted to tell everybody."
"No, it's fine."
Danny said, "Well it's not cool with me. Rude, man." He grinned and then laughed when Sherry slapped his leg.
"Where's Celeste?" Sherry asked.
"She's crying in the second room."
We jerked to look at him. "What?"
"Yeah," he sighed. "She's pretty upset. She doesn't want to leave, she's scared, she'll miss this place 'cause Mrs. Trudy was here...and her mom."
"Well then go and hug her, you idiot!" Sherry yelled and glared.
"I did!" he defended and dodged her swat. "She said she was fine, that she just needed a minute."
We heard a loud sniffle from the door and turned to see Celeste. He was telling the truth. She looked wracked.
"Celeste," Sherry sighed and opened her Mother Hen arms up to her. She went right into the semi-circle her arms were making and I stepped back a step to give them some room. She sniffled again and let Sherry stoke her back. "Now, what's wrong?"
"Well, Mom…" She didn't finish.
Sherry hugged her for real and I ticked my head to Danny to follow. He pressed himself to Celeste's back and whispered something in her ear. She nodded and he kissed the side of her neck before following me out.
"Dude, this sucks."
"Yep," I said, letting the 'P' pop to show my annoyance. "I'm just ready to get you guys out of here."
"I'm right there with you, Pops."
I looked at him sideways with my What The face. I knew what the little twerp was getting at. "I am not your father."
"I know." He chuckled a little bitterly. "You're here."
"Danny, look." I stopped us. "I know things are rough right now and everybody seems to be going down memory lane, but I've got to tell you, I need you, man."
"Ok," he said and crossed his arms. "What's up?"
I sighed in a groan. "We are going to have to trek it back to that dilapidated dying facility with all the girls and kids and Specials, right there in the open daylight." I hoped he understood my urgency. "One wrong move, one person who thinks something's out of the ordinary, one thing. That's all it will take and we're done. I need you, you get me?"
"I got you," he said strongly. "I get it."
"Good. Now go get Celeste and make sure you have everything." I turned to go make sure everyone was ready. "Because we aren't ever coming back," I called over my shoulder.
Right Place, Right Time
Chapter 9
Sherry
Lily was on my lap as Jeff cranked the engine and began to pull away. She wasn't buckled in, but I could've given a rat's patootie about that right then. If we got pulled over by the cops, her seatbelt would be the least of our worries.
Besides, we were all crammed into the vehicles like disgruntled sardines anyway, there was no room for law abiding citizens anymore.
The Enforcers were in full swing, but Billings, who was in the front seat making a Marissa sandwich with Jeff, had conveniently worn his uniform and said he'd tried all he could to deter them if we did get caught on the way there.
I couldn't help myself. I turned in my seat to watch as the store got smaller behind us. It was just a stupid gas station. An eyesore, a place that held some of my worst memories…and some of my best. It was bittersweet with a side of heartache to leave it.
I felt Merrick's hand on my shoulder and I turned to look at him. He had that look on his face, like he could read my thoughts. "The new place is even better."
"Really? I thought you destroyed it?" I teased.
"Kind of," he said and grinned. "Actually it was your brother's fault."
"I'm not surprised," I quipped and leaned my head on his shoulder. I peeked as a car passed us. It was Cain and Ryan along with their ladies and Calvin in the Jeep. Show off.
"It'll be great," he said with as much spark as he could muster. "It's the perfect hideout, plus Pastor and the others had quite a stash of supplies we had to leave behind there. It should help."
"Food?" I asked excitedly. I felt the pulse jump in my neck.
"Yep. A couple crates if it."
I sighed and sagged against him. "Oh, thank God. I was so worried about feeding everyone. That helps some." I turned my head to lay against his, my side to his front. He rubbed his nose against my forehead, breathing me in.
We heard screeching tires and looked up. The Jeep was swerving and braking swiftly. I gasped as it went up on two wheels trying to avoid whatever was in the road. Merrick pressed me to the seat along with Lily with his outstretched arm.
Jeff cursed and slammed on the brakes, too. The van behind us did the same. The stench of burnt rubber filled the van, but I was barely breathing waiting to see what was going on. Merrick and Jeff both cocked their heads at the same time. Ryan was talking to them. Jeff cursed again and yelled, "It's a trap!"
Merrick nodded, his eyes unfocused as he listened or spoke Keeper talk. I held my breath. Cain's door opened, then Ryan's. That was when I saw the dark object on the pavement. It was a body…
Then people jumped out
of the ditch with guns, yelling and pointing, crouching as they barked orders like a military mission. The body from the pavement lifted fluidly and bounced on its toes. It was a girl, or woman I should say, and she was smiling. She trailed her fingers across Cain's chest in a cocky Nana Booboo motion, but that was so stupid. I held in my cringe when he grabbed her around her neck and swung her to hold her hostage against his chest.
The ditch men traded glances that said Is she worth the fight? What was this? Some elaborate, but apparently horribly thought out plan to what? Rob us? I rolled my eyes and huffed. Idiots. I guessed people were just desperate.
But when they started moving toward the van, toward Lillian and Ellie, Cain was done playing. He tossed the woman aside, probably because they didn't seem too worried about her anyway, and clotheslined the guy closest to him. Daniel blurred passed the van to help Cain with Max on his tail.
"Ah, crap," Jeff complained and opened his door just as Merrick was opening his. "Stay here with Billings, sweetheart."
"You, too," Merrick said to me and they both blurred to Cain's side. Ryan had jumped out of the Jeep, too, and was already helping keep the guy's friends off Cain. Though he didn't seem to need much help. He kicked one guy in the guts and then punched another in the throat. They both went down and the other robbers looked around in question. The Keepers yelled back and forth with them, probably trying to get them to join us or something.
The knock on my window startled Lily and I both. I glared at Danny before cracking the door to talk to him. "Don't sneak up like that."
"Sorry. What's going on?" he asked and looked at the fight as if he wanted to join them.
"Someone tried to rob us or something," I mused and squeezed a sleeping Lily on my lap. "What are you doing?"
"Just seeing if they needed help." He glanced at Billings. "Why aren't you helping?"
"Woman and children duty," he said calmly.
"Uhuh. Well, I guess I'll- oomph," Danny cut off and I looked up just in time to see him get tackled. I scrambled to the window to see and saw Danny slap the guy's face and compel him to roll over and play dead. He got up furious. "Hell's bells, man!"