The Life After War Collection

by Angela White

Doing the right thing sucks, he contemplated miserably. No wonder most people don’t bother.

  2

  The sounds of hammering and digging continued throughout the day and into the evening as Safe Haven continued to recover. It wasn’t easy when the news came of finding two more bodies. Alice and Rodney, their butchers, had been in the animal area when it collapsed. Doug being alive did help, but it also hurt. Everyone who’d lost someone was now tempted to go into the body pit to make sure they were dead. Angela hadn’t wanted the camp to know about the dumping pit, but there had been no way to hide it when relatives and friends had insisted on carrying their loved one to the burial site. The crew filling the hole with loose gravel had suffered the hard stares and tears, but no one had refused. They understood there wasn’t a choice.

  The smells in the rest of the cave were great. Cooking meat was a sign of life. Angela sank down onto a pile of clothes, cradling the hot mug of tea their new cook, Britani, had made. They hadn’t found any coffee, but the tea was perfect as far as Angela was concerned. So was the job for the pretty black woman, for now. Angela was grateful that Britani had cooking skills, but she wouldn’t remain in the mess. Gus was first, but his mate would also join.

  Marc lifted his head, already half-buried in the pile with Cody. It had been two days since the quake and everyone was wiped out. He’d ended the shift by gathering a pile of clothes and putting them in the weapon compartment so they could rest for a bit and free up the guard who had been here. “You just now getting here?”

  “Yeah.” Angela leaned against the hard wall of the cave. She hoped it would stay peaceful while she slept.

  “Things okay?”

  “Yeah.”

  Marc yawned. “You still mad at me?”

  Angela sipped her tea, enjoying the warmth on her hands. Without their heaters and vents blowing warm air, the cave was becoming cold again on these upper levels.

  “Angie?”

  “No.”

  “Liar.”

  She chuckled. “Some days, but not this time. I understand.”

  “Are you going to be okay if he stays?”

  “I’ll survive and so will they. It’s for the best.”

  Marc didn’t hear anything bad in her thoughts or tone. “Coming in here soon? It smells like feet.”

  Angela snorted. “In a bit. I have hot tea.”

  Marc let sleep pull him down.

  Angela waited until Marc’s light snoring said her mind was her own again and dropped her mental shield. The immediate flood was scary.

  After a minute, she forced it all away and spent the time being glad her family had survived. So many hadn’t. Her witch insisted a lot of those gone had been trouble in one way or the other, but the words weren’t a comfort to Angela even if they were true. She’d wanted all of them to live. Her visions hadn’t foreseen so much death.

  Would you have done differently? Adrian asked from the floor below them.

  Angela considered. I would have warned them.

  Would that have changed anything?

  Only who died.

  Adrian sighed at the sarcasm. He hated her pain. It wasn’t your job to decide which ones were saved. Fate picks that, not you.

  Angela winced at the copy of her words to him when she’d first joined his refugee camp. So much had changed since then that those days often felt like a dream. Everything before being shot was like that. I’m losing them.

  Fate is also making that choice, baby.

  I lost the notebooks. She switched topics abruptly.

  Do you need them?

  Not anymore. I’ve got it all memorized.

  Just copy it from the beginning of our journey when you’re ready to pass it on to someone.

  To Jennifer.

  Yes.

  And after her?

  One of Samantha’s sons. I couldn’t tell which.

  What’s going on in the north right now?

  Herds are gathering under nature’s command.

  Killing off survivors?

  Yes. You’re dreaming about it too.

  Yes.

  Tracy wants to stay.

  I know.

  Are you going to talk to her about it?

  No. Charlie sees things too. He’ll convince her.

  Maybe he’s not supposed to go.

  Maybe.

  Adrian grunted, shifting in the clothes pile near the soldiers that he would be on duty with in a few hours. You’re very…unreachable right now.

  I’m weighing my options, like everyone else.

  You’re… Adrian sat up in concern. You’re thinking about staying.

  Angela didn’t answer.

  This is Marc’s fault.

  Adrian concentrated. He spoke directly to Marc. Fix this.

  Angela glanced at Marc, not able to track him in her mind even though he was obviously awake.

  Marc sat up, sighing. “We need to talk.”

  Angela nodded. “Yes, we do.”

  Go away, Marc snarled at Adrian, angry that he’d missed her emotional chaos and Adrian hadn’t.

  Adrian bowed out, closing the mental door. Marc wanted her on the island. He would convince her. Adrian went to sleep.

  Angela stared at Marc in anger and honesty. “If you’re breaking our deal, so am I.”

  Marc stared at her uneasily. “How did I break it?”

  “He gets the herd and you get me.”

  “So if he doesn’t go, we can’t be together?”

  Angela set her cup down. “We made a deal, Marcus. A deal that already lets you take advantage of me. Break it and we’re through.”

  Angela left as he began sputtering excuses and reasons. She went to the bottom level to check on their wounded and the doctor. She was too angry to sleep now.

  Trapped in his own web, Marc burrowed under the laundry and let full sleep claim him.

  In his dreams, Marc told his demon everything.

  Worried that his host was being corrupted, the demon fought his nature to tell Marc what he needed to hear. If you stay here, you’ll live. She knows all of your secrets and doesn’t care about them. Your life is her prize.

  Now on the bottom level, Angela gritted her teeth in frustration. Now that Marc knew the truth, her plan to push him away wouldn’t succeed. She’d tried everything else to protect him. The only thing left was for her to stay here so that he would. That meant someone else had to guide them to the island and it had to be Adrian.

  If fate wants his life that badly, it will happen here, the witch warned. You know that. Why do you continue to fight it?

  Have you never loved anyone? Angela growled mentally. How sad for you to never be human!

  The witch departed in a huff, slamming the mental door.

  Glad to be alone with her thoughts, Angela kept trying to find a way to save her herd and her heart.

  3

  Adrian woke to the sound of laughter. It brought him upright, staring around in confusion.

  Next to him, David and the other soldiers also woke, not sure what was going on.

  Peals of laughter echoed through the cave, waking everyone with the now rare sound. They’d lost a hundred loved ones. Who was disrespecting them with loud laughter?

  That’s Angie. Marc and Adrian recognized it at the same time. She sounds happy.

  The camp gravitated toward the sound, curious and uneasy. Angela hadn’t laughed like that since they’d come to this cursed mountain. They filled the corridor outside the repaired mess, not willing to go in and interrupt once they discovered what was happening.

  Adrian made sure that Marc was already there before joining him in the charred doorway. Kids running by caught his attention and held it. All dressed, washed and faces dotted in crumbs, it was obvious that they’d been cared for, but so had the mess. It had been swept and tables had been brought in. Rickety and charred, with missing chunks, it was a reminder that life goes on.

  Angela blew the bubbles faster, laughing at the kids as they popped the
m, but also at the cat that was doing the same between their feet. Simple, all it had taken was five hours of hard labor and a couple of others who’d also been too upset to sleep.

  Angela handed the sticky bottle to Jennifer and motioned toward the kitchen. “We found oatmeal packets and there’s a cleaned batch of water. Come eat and if you feel like it, blow some bubbles.”

  Angela went to the uneven counters that had been on the floor below it. She made herself a packet by pouring the steamy water into the paper, a little at a time. “It won’t hold long, so eat fast.” She gave the men in the doorway a nod. “While you eat, I’ll tell you something that was told to me an hour ago. It’ll make the oatmeal easier to swallow.”

  Angela perched on a rough ledge and shook the packet, then held it closed. She smiled at the camp as they entered, motioning toward the food. She held up her packet and donned another grin. “Quaker Oats. The breakfast of all apocalypse champions.”

  Loud snorts and surprised chuckles filled the room.

  Marc and Adrian shared a look that said they’d missed something important, something that could have helped, but she’d caught it.

  Angela shuddered at the mouthful, swallowing, and then grinned. “Smooth to the last gag.”

  More snickers hit the walls, lightening the mood.

  Despite not really liking oatmeal, Angela finished the entire packet, then tossed it into the trashcan she’d lugged up the ladder. “The cameras are functioning. Ozzie found the right wire, Theo spliced it, and they were able to connect it to a laptop. You’ll get to view the images later. Right now, just know they aren’t doing well out there. By the time the UN comes, any remaining refugees won’t be strong enough to fight.” She held up a hand. “Which brings me to the news that will make these packets taste better. I said the camera was on. We connected that same wire bundle to the explosives around the mountain. When the UN comes, we can trigger it and bury them alive. Descendants will handle any survivors.”

  A loud cheer broke out, echoing into every passage.

  “In a week, this will all be over. In the meantime, let’s get this cave together for the folks who are staying, you know?” Angela tried to sound eager. “It doesn’t feel right leaving them with a mess they won’t have the manpower to fix themselves.”

  “Has she been to sleep yet?” Adrian was standing in the rear of the crowded mess. Made smaller by the repairs, it was serving to show the camp they still had a lot of people.

  “Not that I know of.” Marc was in awe of her mind. He’d known of the explosives and had even helped to place a few of them, but he hadn’t thought about the wire bundle. It was wrapped around itself dozens of times. Putting the fuse in the center of it had been brilliant. The way things were arranged, any detonation, on any part of the mountain would trigger the rest. The only way to stop it would be to cut every single bundle at the connector part and no one would go to that much trouble. They would cut the top or the bottom, maybe even both, and leave the rest.

  Adrian turned to stare at a new map on the wall. He recognized the handiwork. No, Angie hadn’t been to sleep yet. She’d been caring for the herd. “She’s amazing.”

  Marc spun around to glare, but Adrian still was studying the map.

  “We’ll have cooked meat for lunch.” Angela promised. “I tried the first batch a couple hours ago. Tasted great. I haven’t started hurling, so I believe we’re good on food now.”

  “And reckless.” Adrian studied the map harder.

  “Yeah.” Marc wasn’t happy about that. Testing the food herself was dangerous. Now that people knew she was doing it, that also made their food a larger target.

  “Are we clear on that now?” Adrian asked. “Eight of eight?”

  “As far as I know.” Marc shrugged. “I’m watching for more. Blind spots suck.”

  Adrian understood Marc had received that always-frustrating answer about it not being revealed yet and assumed there might be more problems they didn’t know about yet.

  “I hope not.” Marc was deep into Adrian’s thoughts anytime they were around each other. “Just a feeling.”

  With no reason to doubt Marc’s instincts, Adrian began searching for the next possible problem. If he’d overlooked the obvious cord solution, then he’d done the same with other issues.

  “If she stays here with me and you take the camp to the island, is there happiness for any of us?”

  Adrian stiffened, resisting the light alpha wave that Marc had tossed with the surprise demand. “These people will survive.”

  “And our triangle of anger?”

  Adrian snorted at the wording. “Triple misery, like we’ve had in each lifetime we’ve tried this. It never ends well for us.”

  Marc sighed. “I’m not fighting with you anymore. All deals are off.”

  “What did she say?” Adrian was aware of Angela watching them from the other end of the chattering, eating, bubble-blowing camp.

  “That I was taking advantage of her.”

  “You are. We both are.”

  “She’s trying to save my life.”

  “That’s what I believe too.” Adrian noted Angela’s frown. “Fate is determined to get you on Pitcairn Island.”

  “And you.”

  “But as an outcast. When we leave here, I’m back to being banished. Maybe even before that.”

  “You’ll keep your distance?”

  “In the ways you mean, yes.”

  “In every way.”

  “No, and I’ll show you why.” Adrian turned toward Angela, sending an open wave of respect and approval.

  Angela lit up like a kid on Christmas morning, grin widening to erase the tension from her face. Bathed in Adrian’s glow, she was once again the young girl Marc had loved and abandoned.

  “She needs me.” Adrian left, unable to take the emotions bubbling up. He didn’t want the wolfman in his thoughts right now. When Marc died, when fate took him, Angela would need someone to put her back together.

  Or vice versa. Angela dug the knife in deep. I’ll trade you for him in a heartbeat.

  Adrian winced. I’m sorry.

  So am I. Angela fired the next mental bullet. You can’t be trusted. You’re the threat he’s still searching for.

  Yes, Adrian agreed, not hiding his Joy. And you love me, want me, need me. How’s that for irony?

  It’s a horrible guilt that I carry.

  But you get to be a leader, so stop whining. Adrian was unable to contain his bitterness. Go on and love your boy scout while you can. We both know you’ll be in my bed less than a month after his death.

  Angela gasped in pain. Bastard.

  Yep. Adrian began to whistle. I’d wait a lot longer for you. It’s already been thousands of years, love. A few more are a drop in the bucket to me now that I know what’s coming.

  I’ll stop that future.

  And I’ll help you if I can, but fate has his life planned out and you know that. You’ve tried to interfere in several ways, but none of them have worked because you’re not the Creator. You can’t control death.

  Stop it.

  No, you stop it. Be happy you have him right now. Love him, make another baby if it helps you, but understand this, woman. After he’s gone, you’ll beg me to love you.

  Never.

  Adrian chuckled mirthlessly, sliding down the ladder to the bottom floor so he could join the water crew. I love you. I always have and I always will. Now leave me alone. I don’t want anything to do with you until I can love you openly. I’m tired of being the toy you toss to the cat when he’s getting too close to the truth in your heart.

  What truth?!

  You love us both, but you don’t like either one of us. You’d rather be alone.

  Angela slammed the mental door and stormed into the kitchen to get a moment alone to recover. He was right. After the crap they’d done and the extra stress they’d put her through, she didn’t want to belong to either of them. She wanted to spend time with whomever she wanted, whenev
er she wanted, and nothing more. All those dreams of happy ever after were in Marc’s memories and Adrian’s dreams. It was so far from what she wanted that it wasn’t even in sight. Sex and physical bonding were nice. She enjoyed both, but they came with so much drama that she didn’t believe she would ever be happy again. If she got to make the choice today, without it killing anyone or destroying the dream, she would declare herself single and tell them both to go to hell. It was unconscionable that they would be worried over garbage like this while their fellow camp members were rotting in the tunnel below. The respect she’d once had for both men lowered another notch. Maybe Hilda was right. I should be rooting for Marcella.

  What is the dream, exactly?

  Angela found Kenn sitting in the corner of the charred kitchen with a cup of something that steamed. She wasn’t surprised by his gift, but she was surprised that he wasn’t using it to his advantage yet.

  “He always said he’d explain the rest of it to me when I was ready, but it doesn’t feel right to ask him.”

  “That probably means you’re ready.” Angela studied Kenn, noting how tight he was wired. “We’re creating a society that the Maker will approve of and accept.”

  Kenn had made a mental list of what it could be, but that hadn’t been on it. Despite being so close to Adrian, he hadn’t added up those clues.

  “Why are you twitchy?”

  Kenn shrugged. “I want to stay and she wants to go. She wants to stay and I want to go. We can’t settle on it.”

  “Yeah, I noticed your choice wasn’t on the sheet.”

  “I’m pulled.”

  “There’s no need to be.” Angela put him out of his misery. “Adrian’s going to the island. So am I.”

  Kenn’s expression lightened. “Really?”

  “I’ve seen it.” She scanned his dirty clothes and weary position in the chair. “You should try to sleep for a while. We’re sending you out tomorrow for water.”

  Kenn brightened at that. He was eager to be out of here for any reason or length of time. “She made me sleep for a full eight earlier. I couldn’t doze off yet even if I wanted to.” Kenn saw the yearning glance and waved at the far corner. “Britani had Gus over there for a while. I’ll hang out if you want to make use of it.”