by Angela White
“Please deliver these notes quietly.”
“You got it,” he replied, and vanished.
Angela joined the small crowd around the board. Marc would handle the outside and she would cover the inside.
Before she could add the totals of loads that had been brought in so far, Cynthia appeared.
Angela caught Cynthia’s expression. It said there was a problem she wouldn’t want everyone to hear, and Angela read the reporter’s thoughts.
It only took a moment, and then Angela yawned, showing that calm, almost bored façade again, but her mind buzzed. If Cynthia was right, there was yet another traitor in their midst and Angela had missed it.
“Getting old,” Angela muttered lowly, nodding to Cynthia.
“What was that, lass?” Doug asked, leaning down.
“I said I’m getting old,” Angela covered as the reporter left. “Letters are blurry to me.”
“We have an optometrist now,” Ray volunteered. “Just have to find him the equipment.”
To Ray’s delight, Angela took out her notebook and wrote it down.
“Great. Now all I need is a count on crews,” Angela stated. “Who hasn’t checked in yet?”
4
Marc didn’t like the new people even before he had his demon examine them. Reckless driving, tossing garbage out of filthy windows, honking horns and shouting–none of the signs of civilization that most of their new arrivals came with. Marc didn’t detect gratitude to have found organized people, but he did perceive greedy eyes casing the fences, estimating weaknesses.
“This should be fun,” Kyle stated sarcastically, hand dropping to the replacement Glock on his hip.
“Yeah, let’s get some help on this.” Marc signaled for two more teams to be called to the rafters on this gate, indicating that they should open fire at the least provocation.
Kyle went with Marc as the gate opened.
Marc signaled for the gate to be locked and waited with his hands on his Colts for the vehicles to reach them. The demon inside was whispering of all sorts of atrocities, but Marc didn’t need to hear it to know these people were trouble. The feel of them was bad and it only increased when the cars stopped and the people emerged.
“Oh, this is nice!” the leader exclaimed, coming to Marc with a glad hand out. “I’m Benn.”
“No physical contact,” Marc informed the man, not shaking. “Stay back. How can we help you?”
Benn lowered his hand, sleazy grin widening. “Sure, sure. Makes sense.” His brown gaze went to the gate, to the Eagles pointing rifles and hostile glowers.
“We want to join Safe Haven. Heard your fighting on the radio and knew this was where we should be.”
“The fighting is over,” Marc stated. “This is a settlement now and we don’t let everyone in.”
Benn’s bearded countenance expressed only a light dismay. “But you guys called for survivors.” He gestured at the three dozen men and women waiting nervously behind him. “We’re survivors.”
“And maybe trouble,” Marc accused. “There’s only one way to tell that now. You’ll have to stay in our quarantine zone so we can determine what type of people you are.”
“Sure,” Benn agreed eagerly. “Open those gates and we’ll do what you tell us.”
Feeling Angela surveying the new arrivals, Marc glanced up to verify what she wanted him to do.
Angela slowly pointed toward the large, double-gated site. “Zone C.”
Benn’s expression dipped into something dangerous. “Up there? Away from you?”
Marc motioned Zack to open the electronic gate they’d only finished installing this morning. “Yes. We’ll bring some supplies out, but we don’t have much to spare. You’ll need to do your own scavenging.”
“You won’t take care of us?”
“Survivors take care of themselves,” Marc stated coolly.
“How will we get out?” Benn protested, retreating as all the Eagles on the rafters suddenly aimed at him.
“We’ll open your gate twice a day so you can come and go. If you agree to leave this area, the gate will be opened at any time and we will try to send a few things with you.”
“Is this how you treat people who come here?” a woman behind Benn demanded angrily. “We need your help!”
“And you’ll get it,” Marc stated. “The doctor needs to run tests and you can tell him about your medical problems.”
“They do have a doctor!” the woman told to those still in the car next to her. “A real doctor!”
“When more refugees come, you may have to share your area,” Marc explained the new rules, already positive that he wouldn’t put anyone in with them if he could help it. “We’ll expect you to share and get along while we evaluate and run tests.”
“What if you say no?” Benn asked, eyes on Marc’s guns.
“We’ll ask you to leave,” Marc replied evenly. “And you will go, one way or the other.”
“We don’t want trouble,” Benn said, backing up further. “We want in there with you, where it’s safe.”
“You’re safe up there, if you follow our code of conduct,” Marc stated, beckoning Kenn over. “These are our rules. The sooner you accept them as yours, the sooner we can let you all in.”
Marc pointed. “That road leads to the site. Go there now or keep going. Your choice.”
Weapons cocked, enforcing Marc’s instructions, and Benn quickly stomped to his car. The others with him did the same and the angry people tried not to drive off the cliff as they turned around.
Everyone hoped the group would keep going as they neared the path for Zone C. Instead, Benn led them up the weedy street and drove straight into the gated-area.
Kyle and Angela exchanged a hard glance, and she shook her head, denying him.
“Someone else has that heavy chore now. Just take care of your run. Distractions are costly.”
Kyle stayed outside the gate even after Marc slipped in. Angela’s words were a warning, but he wasn’t worried for himself. Is Jennifer in danger again?
Uneasy, Kyle paced the perimeter in place of his workout, searching for weak spots where an intruder might make it through. He was about to leave on a run and he wanted to know those inside the gates were as safe as they assumed they were. If he found anything, he would take it straight to Marc.
Marc waved to Zack and then, to Kenn. Both men came quickly.
“I want people on Zone C at all times. Make it a regular stop on all patrols. Make sure the stationary men don’t get bored and forget to monitor the rear gate. If something stirs up there, I want it recorded.”
5
“Ready for food?”
Angela let Marc lead her to the mess that had been expanded. There were now two dining areas. One had the usual tables and buffet. The other had tables crammed together, with both hot trays and packed lunches. One for the camp and one for the workers, Li Sing and his family were already busy filling and refilling each of the bins and trays on either side.
Angela didn’t have them on a normal eating schedule right now–she couldn’t with so many crews leaving and coming–but it was still important to waste as little as possible. The pre-packed lunches and breakfasts would help. She hoped. Marc’s numbers on food, water, and fuel had been discouraging. She was being forced to send out more crews for those things and now, instead of later. They couldn’t wait.
Angela scanned the parking area by the QZ, noting teams preparing for their morning run. They would pack, eat, and then leave.
Seth and Becky were at his truck, along with Neil and Donald, who were helping to load the leaving vehicles. The two groups would bring supplies that Safe Haven desperately needed if they were going to make it inside the earth. Being underground would be bad enough. Without having lights and power, it would be a disaster.
The rookies on the two leaving teams were standing together, drawing strength and comfort from each other for their first trips out. These new people had just signed up and
hadn’t received a moment of training. Their nervous postures revealed their unease.
“Which is why I put them with strong Eagles,” Angela muttered. “Stop it.”
Marc didn’t comment or try to comfort. He understood how the voices inside could get so adamant that an actual oral response was required to satisfy them. Demons didn’t like to guess–about anything–and Marc agreed completely. Even if it were horrible, knowing was best.
Angela felt his mood shift, felt that awful question coming and she spun around and kissed him.
Marc clutched her gratefully, letting the passion carry him away from the edge that he didn’t really want to peer over.
Angela made sure he was rock hard against her hip before she retreated. “You ready?”
“Oh, baby,” Marc crooned. “If only you knew.”
They laughed and took the center table in the camp side of the mess that was being called the breakroom by the toiling shifts. Doug had even hung signs to let people know which side they should be on and the atmosphere here was relaxed. On the other side, busy bees were buzzing toward their chores and the noises carried.
“Damn! Ozzie has first place!”
“No!”
“Got the blueprints finished, didn’t he?”
“Yep. Jennifer knocked them out last night.”
“Explains why Theo’s crew has second. Who has third and fourth?”
“Blank, on both. First loads haven’t come in yet.”
Angela’s head tilted. “That just changed.”
“We have a crew pulling in,” the mess speaker informed them all. “It’s Billy’s crew!”
Cheers and groans echoed and those who were off duty hurried to the main dumpsite to determine how big a load Billy’s team had brought in.
“There are some items in that load that should be quietly removed and put up for later,” Angela stated quietly, cutting into the steak. It was bloody. Perfect.
“Will I know it when I see it?” Marc asked, sliding the bowl of rolls toward her.
“Think winter and you’ll have it,” Angela answered, dipping one of the rolls into the bloody juice.
Marc grimaced and focused on the moody sky. He liked a good steak, but blood in the morning wasn’t what he enjoyed.
Liar! the demon accused jokingly.
Marc hid his smile in his coffee cup. Spilling was different than eating.
Angela felt Marc’s good cheer and leaned against his heat as the chilly wind blew over them. It was light now, but that would also change. The storm Samantha had predicted wasn’t one to be taken lightly.
“Preparations are in place,” Marc comforted. His mind has also gone to their next challenge, but he’d been busy last night and would be again tonight.
“Thank you.”
Marc leaned over and kissed her cheek softly. “We’ll be okay.”
“I know.” She let go of the worry and got back to her meal. “Anyone check in yet?”
“Quinn has. He liked the second spot, but wanted to stay a night and make certain of it when he could get a better view of everything.”
“Good,” Angela approved. “They’ll come home light. Have rotating kits ready for them.”
“Guarding the area already?”
Angela nodded, not looking up. “Yes.”
Marc sighed. “Okay. I’ll make sure they’ve got what they need for intruders of any variety.”
“Great. Jerry has been seen to?”
“Yes. We dug the hole last night.”
“We’ll have the service after lunch. Have it announced on the radio.”
“There won’t be a large turn-out,” Marc warned. “He didn’t have many friends.”
Neither of them stated the truth–no one liked him–but they were thinking it. Jerry had been too pushy, too know-it-all without compromise and he hadn’t fit in.
“Is it wrong for me to feel like that’s a problem solved?” Marc wondered in a low mutter.
“Yes,” she answered. “And no. Death happens too much now for most people to get upset unless it’s someone dear to them. That’s the nature of an apocalypse.”
Marc agreed. He didn’t like losing people, but he had no desire to attend the funeral.
“Anything else for me?” he asked, yawing.
“No,” she said. “Go sleep. In my mind, I’m climbing in behind you.”
“Other way around, baby,” Marc laughed, leaning down to kiss her.
Angela pushed a wave of light as they kissed, needing him to understand how happy she was with him. Marc had turned out to be her partner in every way. It was amazing.
“Wow, is that truck full! Ozzie and Theo will have some competition,” Kenn gushed over the radio.
Angela and Marc parted as the updates continued and the camp began to fully wake. After a day in the mountains, surrounded by so much natural beauty and danger, people were finally taking note. People had their cameras around their necks, some even had packs for hiking on their breaks, and Angela controlled her concern as best she could. Leader or mother, it felt the same most days and it was often a struggle to figure out when to ease off the reins. Letting them grow on their own, even when she knew trouble would come from it, was incredibly hard.
She scanned the parking area again and reluctantly went that way.
Chapter Seven
In the Dark
1
“I don’t like it. You shouldn’t be leaving.”
Becky didn’t tell Seth that only the chain of command was grounded. He already knew.
“I’ll be fine. Neil’s crew is one of the safest teams I could be on, right?”
“Yeah,” Seth admitted. If she had to go, Neil could keep her alive.
“And we’re only going to a lighting store. Hardly anyone uses that stuff now, so there shouldn’t be anyone around to cause trouble. Right?”
‘Yeah,” Seth echoed, unable to ignore the bad feeling in his gut. “Just stay with Neil, huh?”
Becky rolled her eyes, but gave the expected, “You got it.”
Seth pulled her in for a quick kiss and then forced himself to get into the passenger side of the truck that Donald was driving until they got to the golf course. After that, they would be gathering trucks to use for hauling. Angela’s notes had said they would be passing a truck stop on the way, to pull their needs from there, and Seth was eager to do well and help assist with their settlement. But he knew something was wrong.
Becky climbed into the next truck over, taking the backseat. She took out her notebook and scribbled, waiting for them to leave. Her kit was at her feet, her rifle lying on top of it, and she felt okay. This wasn’t hard compared to surrendering yourself to the enemy to lure them into a slaughter. She didn’t expect problems, but it bothered her a bit to have Seth upset. When she returned, safe and sound, he would be able to relax, and hopefully after each run that would get easier.
Becky glanced at the next truck over, where Kyle’s men were prepping his vehicle. They’d lost men over the months, but they were still the strongest team, the one to fear and to beat, the one to be like.
Becky scribbled harder on the page. She wanted that some days, but most of the time, she wanted to sleep and eat. She assumed it was because of the pregnancy and was doing both of those as much as their rations and schedules would allow, but her mind also seemed to have a fog over it when she woke. She was one of the people Angela had mentioned, but resigning didn’t feel right either, so she was going to do her duty and keep being an Eagle. At least, for a while. Once she got big, she would have to discover other ways to be useful.
Why? That voice inside questioned without rancor. Why must you play their games? You have power beyond their narrow minds.
Becky didn’t like to listen to that voice. It told her things and pointed out ugly truths that she had no defenses for. She didn’t want to be evil. She liked being accepted and she loved being Seth’s mate.
Because he’s like you, the voice stated. He has gifts like your
s.
Becky knew that. Not many people did, but in time, they would and they might resent Seth for not telling them. He would need her help with that.
Walking by the trucks, Angela paused as Becky’s thoughts came to her. She examined the girl deeper, not caring for the slightly depressed colors. Becky hadn’t honestly recovered yet, but the time for the next stage in that was almost at hand. Becky would make a hard choice soon and then she would be free to recover or she would be damned and pull others down with her.
Hoping to swing Becky towards the light, Angela went to the window and tapped lightly.
Becky rolled down the glass, face betraying only a little of her guilty thoughts.
“Remember to count the cost.”
Becky winced, but nodded, aware that she was being given the chance to do the right thing. The problem was…she didn’t want to.
“That’s a line we all walk, Rebecca,” Angela responded tolerantly to the thought. “When you count the cost, the choices become easier.”
Angela left the girl to consider the words, both of them glad no one else had heard. It would be easy for someone to misunderstand. She hadn’t given Becky permission to make the wrong choice, but she had given her a chance to salvage her darkening soul by making the right one. Becky had witnessed Tonya’s treatment for playing with the men, and the others who had come through here and tried to twist people against each other to satisfy their own desires were either gone or pariahs. If she took a moment to count the cost, she would be fine. If she didn’t, it would force someone else to make the right choice and Angela wasn’t confident that Neil was capable of it.
2
“We’re ready now,” Kenn stated, standing up. “Tell her we’ve done everything we can.”
Greg wrote it down and then lingered, waiting for a moment alone with Kenn. They were gathered in one of the huge tents that Angela had Safe Haven sheltered in until the caves were ready. The heavy new roofs Marc had insisted on yesterday were perfect for the solar energy system Kenn had put in place. In fact, Greg now almost hoped the tent did get hit by lightning. Kenn’s setup would steal some of that power and store it in their battery bank. They couldn’t hold much of it without blowing up, but Kenn had installed an automatic cutoff switch and then a release line that would direct the energy into their garbage pile. Extinguishers would be standing by. It was a dangerous experiment and Greg was actually anticipating seeing if it worked. So was Theo.