by Angela White
Angela had worse issues than Adrian’s state of mind. She was now playing a dangerous game with all of their lives, and most of the plan hinged on a fourteen-year-old boy and his alcoholic father.
You’ve covered the possibilities, the witch soothed. Try to relax, store a reserve.
First in a line of almost two hundred, Angela ignored the request and began searching for any other survivors she might have missed in her first few mental sweeps.
7
“Can we talk to you about something?”
Trying to enjoy the last of the afternoon sunlight, Samantha glanced up from the map. “What?”
Her surly tone wasn’t comforting, but Neil pushed on in Jeremy’s sudden silence. “You don’t look well.”
Sam grunted. She didn’t feel well. “So?”
The men exchanged looks.
“We, uh...we want you to get checked out.”
“I already made an appointment with John. It’s a cold.”
“We meant with Adrian.”
Samantha gawked at Neil. “For what?”
“Your…radar is off.”
Jeremy spoke up, voice careful. “Not off, exactly. You’re predicting differently.”
Sam turned to glare at him. “What do you mean?”
Jeremy glanced at Neil in the mirror. He wasn’t exactly sure what to say.
“We’re seeing it now, in our dreams,” Neil stated.
Samantha was startled for about a second. With the bonds they were creating, she should have expected that. “Power rubs off, remember? You’re doing it yourselves.” She revealed her fear, her failure. “Doing it for me, because you know I haven’t been.”
Now they were the ones surprised and Samantha heaved a miserable sigh. “It’s gone. I can’t pick anything up.”
And it’s a relief to know that you’ve been able to in my place, she thought, not wanting the camp to be unprotected. How long it would last was unknown.
“We’ll get you time with Angela,” Jeremy offered.
“It’s a cold or something blocking me. It’s happened before,” Samantha hedged.
Both men knew she was lying. Neil put his foot down. “Adrian, Angela, or John. Take your pick.”
Sam looked out the window, able to discern skeletons and debris in the fading light. “John.”
Not satisfied, but unable to argue, neither man protested.
“As soon as camp’s settled.”
“Okay.” Samantha tried to find a comfortable position, but her pain refused to be soothed. The aching had become a steady pound that was making her stomach rock.
Neil and Jeremy both made mental notes to talk to someone other than John about it, though they each chose a different leader. Between them, they expected to have an answer that explained things within the next couple of days. They didn’t want to push her, but looking out for Samantha was necessary. She didn’t always care for herself.
Samantha knew they were worried. She was, too. She’d had times when she couldn’t pick anything up from nature, but that had only been during traumatic events. She was terrified that her gifts were fading, had faded, and that her time for being useful had gone.
Pain lanced through Sam’s head and she tried to cushion it with her arm, eyes clenched shut. She’d taken pills, tried to avoid noise and light, but nothing was helping.
Neil had a good view of her profile, and his lips tightened a bit more each time she grimaced. He began avoiding the bumps and ruts, causing them to fall behind.
Jeremy didn’t like the gaps between cars, but he was also observing her face, using the mirror. He opened his mouth to offer a suggestion...
“Yes, and do it now,” Neil interrupted. “We’re lagging.”
Jeremy rose up and hit the button to lean Samantha’s seat back. As she floundered, he leaned over and slid a big arm around her waist. He pulled her onto his lap and used his foot to force the seat up.
Jeremy let her adjust and moan, cradling her loosely until she grew still. When he was sure she wasn’t going to fight, he pulled his jacket from the seat next to them and awkwardly tossed it over her shoulders.
“Try some sleep.”
Samantha wanted to be angry at the manhandling, but her head was throbbing harder than it had been, and she carefully rested against his neck. His warm hand came up to her shoulder, supporting her, and Samantha shoved herself into the darkness to escape the pain.
“Straight to John?” Jeremy asked when he was sure she was sleeping. The Samantha they knew should be taking his balls off for doing that.
“Adrian,” Neil ordered. “It’s no coincidence that she’s sick and her gifts aren’t working normally. Something’s going on with that side of her. John won’t be able to help.”
8
I’d like to leave for a little while.
Marc stiffened at the demon’s request. I’m not stopping you.
I have to have permission.
Marc sighed. Where are you going?
To visit the witch.
Marc gave his consent without asking anything else. He assumed the demon would feed the witch and Angela wouldn’t have to draw. She certainly wasn’t going to take from him willingly right now.
It was an assumption that the demon allowed Marc to believe. When he spent time with the witch, she was in the lead and they traveled further than he’d ever dreamed of.
Marc didn’t notice the difference. He’d been ignoring the demon for too long and wasn’t accustomed to the way it felt when they were together or apart. He still wasn’t ready to accept it, but he had to admit that the advice from the demon had been solid. Only he’d used it on Angela, not Charlie.
Marc waved at the last car to roll ahead of his, and then gave the all clear on the radio. They’d made a quick refueling and food stop, but they were on the road now, with roughly ten hours left to go. The two supply teams that had gone out would catch up at the spring.
Running on high alert, Marc keyed the radio. “Check-in, Kevin. Get on it.”
The radio lit up an instant later and Marc returned to scanning their ass for signs of problems.
9
A few vehicles ahead of Marc, Adrian had the boys doing the same thing while he tried to find holes in Angela’s plan. So far, there weren’t any. She’d accounted, and the work was already underway.
Conner and Charlie had the backseat, Kenn driving. It had been a long, sometimes awkward ride. They’d told Conner to keep quiet about Tonya, but Kenn had sensed the boy was keeping something from him. He hadn’t called him on it though.
Adrian didn’t think he would. Kenn was too busy avoiding the next prank. Adrian chuckled at the images of Kenn searching for the next mistake waiting to be triggered. There hadn’t been one recently, but there was a feeling of something coming, something bigger.
“You okay?”
Adrian grunted. “Be better when we’re parked for a while.”
Kenn chuckled. “You sound like a camp member.”
Adrian’s voice dropped into monotones. “That’s what I am.”
Kenn didn’t like the instant wave of depression. Adrian’s moods were up and down, almost unpredictable, and Kenn was sure his previous observations were right. It was time to do something.
“What do you think about extending the magic classes to a few of the lower level men?”
“Up to Angela, but I don’t see why not,” Adrian conceded.
Kenn kept his tone light. “I’ll mention it to her, if you’d rather not.”
Adrian glared at Kenn for a long moment where the Marine refused to squirm.
“I’ll do it,” Adrian said finally, tone unreadable.
Kenn continued, aware of their mostly occupied audience in the backseat. “I’m almost done with the tags.”
Adrian didn’t answer. After fourteen hours on the road, there was little patience left for small talk.
“Should I deliver them after the next Level test?”
“Yes.” Adrian paused. “Ex
cept for the top people. I’ll handle those.”
“I’ve got you set up in the wing this time, with a few appointments. Neil and Jeremy insisted on being first. It’s something about Samantha,” Kenn informed him.
“That’s fine.”
The updates and details went on in the front of the Blazer. In the rear, both boys had earbuds on and game systems in their hands, but they’d long passed boredom. Playing the same Mario mini-game, they would occasionally remove an earbud to give a direction or compare scores. Not quite friends yet, both were clearly hoping for it to happen.
“Hey, look!” Conner grabbed everyone’s attention. He’d just cleared a board and done a stretch while it was saving. “Behind us.”
The Blazer slowed, turning a bit, and all of them were able to view the endless line of ants in the distance. They advanced steadily along the dirt and road, as if such travel was routine for so large a pack.
“Not a pack,” Adrian murmured. “The entire colony.”
Kenn agreed. There had to be thousands of them for his human vision to pick out the movement through rainy glass at this range. “Did you give her something for that?”
“She has her own something for it,” Adrian replied.
“What?”
“You’ll find out with the rest of us. She said to linger at the rear of the pack after our final stop,” Adrian said. “And to keep Dog away. He flat out refused to try communicating.”
A bit resentful that he’d been left out of that loop, Kenn was also curious and unable to deny the tiny bit of apprehension that he felt for Angela. If the things she’d started didn’t pan out, faith and support might vanish and he didn’t want that to happen until Adrian was ready to take over.
The radio crackled. “There’s a small problem we don’t want to fight with. Nothing serious. We’re going to do a turnaround and take another path.”
Angela’s voice was calm.
Adrian heard no panic as people began to copy the transmission.
The convoy made a sloppy, quick turnaround in a mini-mart parking lot and the last cars were able to see the problem she’d spoken of. It was coming toward them on hungry legs. Southern Arkansas had a rat overpopulation that knew the sound of vehicles meant people and food.
Adrian estimated the convoy would be out of sight in a matter of minutes and doubted the rats would follow them far in the rain.
“She got it in time,” Adrian stated. “Crack a joke.”
Kenn picked up the mic. “You do know the fare goes up when you add on miles, right?”
Angela’s voice was tired, but amused. “I’m a big tipper. Keep rolling.”
Kenn grunted, forced the words out. “Yes, ma’am.”
The boys were observing out the rear window and they saw the signal from the last car.
“He told her he’s ready,” Charlie murmured. “I think they’re doing the experiment now.”
Adrian swore under his breath. “Fall back and stay with whatever car picks her up.”
Kenn did as he was told.
“What’s the problem?” Conner asked, confused. They’d been excited about her idea, hadn’t they?
“It’s more like nervous,” Charlie explained, holding onto the door when Kenn did a neat slide and turn. “She gets a bit…”
“Reckless,” Kenn and Adrian supplied together.
“Yeah,” Charlie confirmed. “But she’s also cool. Help me get these kits below the window line so we can see. No way she lets us out of the Blazer.”
Marc pulled alongside them a few seconds later, by Kenn’s window.
Adrian tried to ignore the feeling of isolation as the camp got beyond his sight in the light storm and thick darkness.
“She added something, changed something,” Marc stated in frustration. “I don’t know. And we only have a dozen men. Advice?”
Adrian waited until Marc looked at him before he spoke. “Take her place.”
Marc was gone a second later.
10
“They’re too close, Angie,” Marc insisted. “We have to move.”
She hadn’t agreed to let him do it alone, but she had acquiesced to a partnership and he’d had to settle for that.
“I’m almost positive on this, or I wouldn’t be doing it,” Angela answered, unwrapping the basket. “Roll, don’t throw.”
“I got it. You just keep a hand on your holster,” Marc instructed.
“No guns, Marc.” Angela began pitching the leftover food toward the advancing line of ants. “They know what it is.”
Marc swore silently as Angela went forward.
Like she’d expected, the ants flinched from the food and the larger members of colony rushed towards it, presumably in defense. The soldiers approached the food without caution, but only checked it.
Angela paused as the two biggest soldier ants made contact. In that glance, she read curiosity and mistrust. What she didn’t pick up, was hatred.
The soldier ants stayed still as they stared at her, at all the humans waiting in the steady rain with baskets, and Angela motioned for the others to start.
Food began splattering across the ground and ants fled from the path while soldiers rushed over in defense.
“Now get back,” Angela instructed, dropping her own empty basket.
Marc did the same next to her.
The line of Eagles retreated a dozen paces, but refused to go any further when Angela didn’t join them. In the rain and darkness, clear shots would only be had by a close proximity.
“They’re taking it!” Jake exclaimed over the radio.
The minor ants were being allowed to pick up the gifts and Angela pushed into the next part of her idea.
“Let the rats through,” she ordered softly over her headset.
The Eagles tensed as the barricade of vehicles began moving, the sounds drawing the pack that was still visible in the distance. The rats had stopped not long after the convoy turned, but this was close enough to trigger them.
Lights flashed on as the cars were loaded and lined up for a quick escape. Everyone saw the hungry rodents streaming their way.
“Get ready,” Marc ordered over his headset. “Listen for my call.”
Marc wasn’t taking any chances. He and Kyle had an extraction plan in place if this went as badly as he thought it might. For an instant, Marc wished his demon was here in case he needed the power.
“Here they come,” Jake warned.
Doors began slamming shut and Eagles scrambled to be in the right place as they observed the river of rats flooding their way.
Angela stared at the soldiers who were still directing the picking up of the food that she and Marc had thrown first. She sent out a scent of fear, searching over her shoulder, and caught their reaction from the corner of her eye.
The two soldiers tensed, antenna extending to test the air…and then they came straight toward her.
Marc grabbed her arm, but Angela pulled loose. “Stand still.”
The two ants neared their feet…and went by, now hurrying.
Waves of piercing orders filled her mind and then the other ants began to take notice, follow.
Marc and Angela held still as the colony streamed around them, both amazed. The minors in the colony continued to pick up food, content their defenses would handle the threat, and the Eagles shared shocked words of encouragement.
Angela slowly turned to view the coming battle, careful not to step on any of the ants. Marc did the same.
“They’re fleeing!” Jake roared over the radio. “The rats won’t fight ‘em!”
Angela gestured for Kevin to take over the radio, glad they were using the headsets and not open waves.
The rats turned tail, and Angela wondered how far the ants would go. She was both elated and horrified when the soldiers hunted the rats deep into the distance. There were no squeals or destruction that they could hear from here, but all of them were sure that both were happening.
“Will they hurt the people?”
Kyle asked lowly.
“No,” Angela answered.
“Will the people hurt them?” he continued.
Angela sighed, but didn’t answer. She had another group to protect, to feed, and to get the camp to accept.
“It was a great idea,” Adrian praised through his open window.
Marc noticed even that didn’t shake Angela’s somber mood. What was going on inside her mind?
Shall I look for you? the demon offered contentedly. She’ll know, but she won’t mind.
I thought you were gone for a while? Marc asked.
You called me back, the demon answered. May I be of use?
Marc observed Angela staring at the ants in concern and gave in. Yes. What’s she worrying over now?
The demon didn’t need to get into her mind for that. Queens have a thousand babies a day. She’s trying to figure out how to feed them all.
“Oh, shit,” Marc groaned. “She would be.”
“What?” Angela turned to him in worry. Had she missed something?
Marc took her gently by the arm. “You would have been a cat lady, I swear. We’ll figure something out for it. Come on, you’re soaked.”
Angela let him lead her to the vehicles, helping her avoid the minors and food mess. “We need to do some research. Maybe they’ll eat something we’re not using.”
“We’re two short,” Kevin said in a low rush as he joined them. “Tucker and Anderson. All their gear’s gone, too.”
Marc studied Angela, and found her moving away.
She knew, he thought.
“Get a three-man team on bikes. Go find out if they broke down somewhere and couldn’t call,” Marc ordered. He studied Angela’s stiff frame. What was she hiding from him?
Marc handed her into the rear of the Blazer, where Cynthia was waiting with towels and a mug of coffee.
Angela sipped the hot brew while they tended to her, mind blazing with strategies. If they fed the ants regularly, the soldiers would be a new line of defense. She’d had the thought, tested and proven it in a non-controlled environment. When the time came, she would use it to Safe Haven’s advantage.
“Get her into the lead truck when she dries off,” Marc instructed. “I’m making a quick recon to that library.”