“If anything happens, you get in that truck and drive as far as you can and don’t come back. Am I clear?” Josie gave me one quick nod, the tears building up in her eyes. She had said before that she couldn’t imagine a day without Quinn and me. We felt the same about her.
With my thumb, I brushed the smudge of grime off of her sunken cheek and half-smiled at her. Tears tracked down her face. As I started to turn, she grabbed me and hugged me as tight as she could. I returned her embrace, holding her for a moment. “Don’t do that. It’s going to be fine,” I soothed as I stroked her hair. She broke away and grabbed Quinn. It was plainly obvious that Quinn looked at Josie like her own daughter. Her love was unyielding for the two of us.
Quinn wrapped her shaking fingers around the small metal ring that was attached to the metal plate in the door. I held up one finger, two, then I positioned myself over the lid. I exhaled, settling my nerves and rolled my neck. I readied the rifle at my shoulder, finger hovering over the trigger, and nodded at Quinn.
With a fierce yank, the lid came up and she jumped back. I stood over the dark cavity in the earth, aiming the rifle. Out of the darkness, I was met with four pairs of frightened eyes.
Chapter 38
“Please…don’t shoot!” the woman cried out.
As I kept my gun trained on the entrance, I realized that three of those sets of eyes belonged to children. “Are you alone?” I questioned in a harsh voice.
“Yes. Please, don’t hurt us. My husband left to go find us more supplies, but he never came back.” I wasn’t sure if I should trust her, but she did seem to be in a bit of a panic.
“Do you mind if we come down and take a look?”
“Absolutely not! I don’t want any harm to come to my children.”
“I have no intentions of harming a hair on any of their heads. I assure you.”
The woman’s eyes were familiar—tired and worried, much like Quinn’s. She didn’t strike me as too old, but was wise beyond her years.
Quinn decided to step up to see if she could persuade her. She greeted the scared woman with a warm smile. “Hello, hon. I’m Quinn.” The woman’s skeptical eyes ticked back and forth between us. “If you want, I will come down unarmed.”
“No, you won’t!” I barked at Quinn. What the fuck is she thinking?
“They aren’t going to trust us if we are too forceful,” Quinn countered.
“Someone may be hidden down there, ready to kill. I will go.” I handed Quinn the rifle. “If anything happens, you and Josie take off. No questions. Just go.” I kissed her on the cheek. “Love you.”
“Love you, too, but I don’t like this.”
I sat down, took one last look at Quinn, and dropped down into the giant hole. As I did, the obviously petrified woman pushed her kids behind her and against the earthen wall. “I swear to you, it’s just the four of us. Don’t hurt us, please.”
“I don’t plan on it. I would just feel more comfortable if I could take a look around. Please, don’t fear me. I have no intentions of harming you or your children, nor do we want to take any of your supplies.” I was sincere. I would never harm a child again.
“Okay, I guess. Follow me.”
She walked around the bunker with me. It was pretty much just a large metal shipping container with shelves and loft beds toward the back. There was a small sitting area that doubled as a place to eat.
As I circled the unit, I asked, “Are you doing okay with food and water?”
“We are just about out.” She was distraught. “My husband left a couple weeks ago and hasn’t returned.”
“I can tell you that there isn’t much out there…supplies, people, or otherwise.”
She leaned in and softly said, “I figured either one of those things got him or it was the bombings.” Two of her kids were huddled together, carefully watching me. Cute little cheeky monkeys. The youngest was wrapped around her mother like a peel on a banana, frightened to pieces.
“I’m sorry,” I said remorsefully. Every time I saw eyes full of fear and hunger, I felt so goddamn remorseful for my actions. “Do you have any weapons?”
“Just this one knife.” She pulled a two-inch blade out of her back pocket. “We were still trying to prepare the bunker when this whole thing began.”
I nodded. “Would you like to come out? We have been out here for a couple hours and haven’t seen anything.”
She looked around at her kids. “Yeah, I think so. They could use a few minutes of sunlight.” She pushed the kids forward and we all walked to the opening.
“I will go up first and help hoist everyone out.”
“Thank you. I didn’t catch your name?”
“Gunther. Gunther Erikkson.”
“Thank you, Gunther.” I smiled, then pulled myself out of the hole in one swift move. I cringed, feeling my abdomen protest. The pangs I was having were making me think it was more a lack of blood than food.
Josie was standing with Quinn, peeking down the hole at the kids. I lay on the ground and reached down. There was a ladder to climb up, but it was more like a stepstool. “Take my hand, little love.” I reached down, but the young lass was hesitant. With a little encouragement from her mother, she allowed me to pull her up. I pulled up the other two children, then helped the mother out. She immediately picked up the youngest lass.
Now that I could see the family properly, the mother’s long and wavy dirty blonde hair was loosely pulled back. Her clothes were just as filthy, if not worse, as the kids’. They were a sad looking bunch. The kids were unkempt and far too slim, but cute as hell.
“Thank you,” she said as the kids nervously gathered around her legs. Quinn went back to the truck and pulled out some blankets.
Josie knelt down in front of the oldest lass and held out her hand. “Hi, beautiful. I’m Josie Patterson. What’s your name?”
She looked back at her mother, who nodded. “Kate,” she whispered.
“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Kate. I’m eighteen. How old are you?”
“I’m nine.” Josie smiled at Kate. She touched her nose gently and Kate smiled.
“I’m Silas and I’m five!” The little lad was excited to talk to Josie. I got the feeling he was excited to talk to anyone. I had to chuckle.
“Calm down, Si,” his mum scolded. “Don’t scare the nice girl.”
Josie laughed. “Someone this cute couldn’t possibly scare me.” Josie tousled his brown curly mop.
“Oh, you have no idea. He can be a little too forward at times. This is my youngest, Callie. Say hello to the nice people, Callie.” She turned her head into her mother’s chest. “She just turned two and is quite the shy one around strangers. I’m Cora Mitchell, by the way.” She held out her free hand. Quinn took it into her own.
“They are absolutely precious,” Quinn said with a stunning smile. She was glowing as she looked at the children. It made my heart ache a bit, though. I wished I could see that look on her face with a child of our own. I could only imagine how stunning she would be.
“Is she yours?” Cora asked me as she pointed at Josie.
“Yes. Well, no…not biologically.” I smiled at Josie. “I rescued her and she has been ours ever since. Love her like my own, though.” Josie blushed.
“Are you two married?” Cora asked Quinn.
“No. We’re together, though.” Quinn firmly wrapped her arm around my waist. I loved it when she touched me. It made every nerve ending stand at attention.
“Gotcha,” Cora said. “Are you heading anywhere in particular?”
“Here, actually. I had a pre-planned gathering near here and I was hoping they would be around. It was a crap shoot. Didn’t have anything to lose by traveling the distance.” I turned away and stood with my hands on my hips, looking off down the dusty road.
Cora looked at me curiously. “From which direction did you come?” I jerked my thumb behind me. “My house is that way. Peter and I own the land from here to about two miles back.” I
looked down the road and I distinctly remembered seeing a house burnt to the ground shortly before we pulled up to this area.
“I can drive you back that way, if you like,” I offered. I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea, but maybe she needed to see what she was facing.
Cora’s face lit up. “I would like that. Maybe my husband is there.” I didn’t want to break the news to her. She needed to see for herself.
“Everyone…pile in,” I muttered. I glanced over at Quinn. The grim look in my eyes told her exactly what I was thinking. She threw me a single nod and got into the truck.
We drove the two miles and pulled up to what used to be Cora and Peter’s home. You could hear a pin drop in the truck. Cora handed an unwilling Callie over to Josie, who was surprised to find herself holding the toddler, considering we had only known one another for less than ten minutes.
“I need to go look.” Her voice shook with every word and every breath.
I scrubbed my bearded face. “Christ,” I mumbled into my hands. I popped open the door.
“I’ll go with you,” Quinn volunteered.
They both stepped out of the truck. She took Cora’s hand as they made their way toward where the front door used to be. There wasn’t much left. The strong odor of melted plastic and burnt electrical tickled our noses. There were a few stray pieces of lumber standing in place, but they were completely charred.
When shit like that hit on a personal level, it crushed me. My heart felt like it was in a vice again. I pushed my big palm into my chest with the hope of relieving the pain I felt.
It was a useless action.
Cora’s face showed absolute devastation. “I knew this could happen…but I never imagined it would.” She looked at Quinn. “What am I going to do? We can’t live in that bunker. It was just supposed to be temporary. And with no Peter…” Quinn wrapped her arm around Cora’s shoulders. Tears ran down Cora’s dirt smudged cheeks.
“I am so sorry this happened to you and your family.” Quinn forced herself to stay strong. It proved to be difficult because she knew her home back in Atlanta must have looked the same. She never asked Gunther to take her back to her house because she couldn’t bear to see it, especially knowing Carrie and Max lay dead in the backyard.
Cora began walking around the perimeter of her home, stopping at the back left corner. Quinn heard the truck door close and looked behind her. Gunther was walking around, surveying the area with rifle in hand. She looked back at Cora, realizing she was lost in thought.
Cora stood and stared at what remained of her house. Her body trembled. She thought back to when she and Peter first saw the house about ten years prior to the outbreak.
-September 2004-
Rena Van Camp pulled her shiny new Toyota Avalon into the driveway. She pulled the listing information out of the manila folder before she opened the car door.
“Okay. This one has a lot of land. According to the provided map, it goes down the road about two miles that way and the same running back.” Rena pointed to her left and then forward.
“And why is it up for sale?” Cora asked.
Rena pulled the paperclip off and flipped through paperwork. “It says here that the owner passed away.”
“Not in the house, I hope!” Cora chuckled.
“No. Thankfully,” Rena replied, smiling.
“Well, you want to take a peek, Cora?” Peter asked from the back seat. He seemed excited. His dark brown, curly hair bounced as he spoke.
“Yeah. I like the idea of all the land, and the barn seems nice, too. We could really do what we want here.”
Peter hopped out of the car and opened the passenger door for his new bride, who was very pregnant with their first child. Holding his hand, Cora slid to the edge of the seat. She took a moment to breathe before Peter helped her stand.
“Everything all right, sweetheart?” Peter’s eyes darted around her body.
“Yes. I’m just tired.” She smiled at him. He held her steady as they walked toward the house.
Peter glanced at Rena. “We will make this the last one for the day then.”
Nodding, Rena unlocked the front door. As soon as they walked in, Peter said it was perfect. Cora laughed. He was always so enthusiastic about everything. The house was dated and needed remodeling, but it wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle. After they examined the house thoroughly, they put in an offer right then and there. It was perfect for them and their soon-to-be family of three. The month after they moved in, Kate was born.
-April 2015-
Cora took a deep breath and shuddered. “Our bedroom was right here on the second floor. I gave birth to all three of my babies in there.” Cora wiped her face with the sleeve of her tattered sweater. “I guess we just have to move on.” Cora cleared her throat, trying to push back her emotions. She had to be strong for her children.
“It will be difficult.” Quinn’s words were quiet and sullen.
“Did you lose anybody?” Cora asked as she turned away from the charred remains of the house.
“Yes. My daughter, my grandson…and my husband.”
“I thought…” Cora glanced back at Gunther, who was still watching their surroundings.
“It took me a long time before I realized James wasn’t coming back, and Gunther has been there for me one hundred and ten percent. I fell in love with him.”
Cora understood. She turned and faced her home again, letting out a rattled breath. “I don’t know what to do,” she said listlessly, staring at what used to be her home.
“Let me talk to Gunther and see what his plans are.” Cora nodded.
Quinn and Cora walked back to the truck and Cora slipped into the back without a sound. Quinn grabbed me and guided me toward the fence. “What do you plan on doing?” she asked.
I stood silent for a few moments while I continued to observe our surroundings. “She has her bunker. That’s a start.”
“They can’t stay in there forever, Gun.”
“I know, but it’s more than what we have. Our house is on wheels.” I leaned against the section of fence that was still standing. “And we’re almost out of gas.” The gears in my head were turning. “Let’s find out if there is a town around here and we can go from there.”
“Okay. I can’t bear to see anything happen to those kids.”
I smiled and touched Quinn’s cheek with my cool, weathered hand. “I feel the same, love. Be right back.” I headed back to the truck.
As I approached, everyone was staring at me, waiting for some sort of direction. I opened the back door. “Can you step out for a sec?” I asked Cora.
“Yeah…sure.” Cora slid out, Callie clinging onto her neck.
“Let’s walk over here,” I murmured and pointed to the fence where Quinn was still standing. She was leaning against it, elbows behind her and her chest pushed out. She looked unbelievable. I shook my thoughts out of my head, then asked Cora, “When was the last time you heard any bombings?”
“About two weeks ago, I guess. I heard some happening shortly after Peter left, but they were well off in the distance. There were a few really bad storms, as well. A lot of thunder. I’m wondering if some of this damage is from lightning.”
“It’s quite possible. Is there a more populated area close by?”
“Maybe. The port is a few miles east, and there was a town about fifteen miles west. We used to do some of our shopping there. There were a few stores, restaurants, that kind of thing. The kids’ school was there, as well. Si was supposed to start kindergarten this fall. He was so excited.” I looked at Quinn and, judging by her reaction, she felt my agony. “Anyway, that’s where Peter was supposed to be heading.” I stood silent for a few moments, chewing my cheek, looking around with my hands on my hips and my rifle slung over my shoulder.
“Okay, here’s my idea. We take you and your family back to the bunker. Josie and I will walk to town and see if we can find gas and supplies.”
“I will go. Josie will be safe
r in the bunker.”
“No. I want you to help keep the kids safe. You’re a good shot.”
“But…”
I interrupted, “Quinn, it’s not up for discussion. This is what we are doing. Josie is perfectly capable to fight beside me, if need be. I think she has proven that time and time again.” I took her by the arms. “And if something happens to me, she will have you. I can’t risk both of us. If we find gas, we will figure out what to do when we get back.”
“She could get hurt, as well. I’m just worried.” She swallowed hard.
“I know you’re worried. When are you not?” I winked at her and kissed her on the forehead. “We will be fine.”
“But what about Hen…”
I cut her off, “Not now,” I warned. I didn’t want her to say anything about Henry around Cora. “I have it handled.” I did my best to reassure her. She knew as well as I did that Henry could have been anywhere around the area, and we both knew he wanted me true dead.
When we pulled back up to the bunker, Cora huddled the kids all together. They didn’t want to go back into their dark, temporary home. Quinn knelt down to Kate and Silas. “Is it okay if I stay with you? Like a sleepover?”
“Yes, Ms. Quinn! I would love that!” Silas was excited, but Kate had skeptical look. Quinn said Kate reminded her of Carrie—shy and a critical thinker.
I picked out a couple of guns for Quinn and Cora, making sure they both had full magazines, and requested they keep them hidden unless needed. We lowered what was left of our supplies, including everything that Josie and I wouldn’t be taking with us, into the bunker. We geared up and turned to say our goodbyes. I was worried it would be goodbye forever, but I was not going to show Quinn my fears. She worried enough for all of us.
Quinn wrapped her arms around Josie. “Please be safe.” She pulled back so she could see her face. “You take care of him and keep him in line. Put your foot down, if need be.”
“I will, Momma Quinn.” Josie valiantly fought her tears. Quinn pulled her in close and hugged her tight. She whispered to her how much she loved her, then Josie stepped away to collect herself.
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