by Angela White
That sent fear running through the more timid, but the aggressive survivors that had managed to make it to Safe Haven also saw the opportunity.
“We are going to fight them when they come for Adrian. I won’t let him be taken. I’ll die first.”
There was no doubting her claim and no one was foolish enough to think that Marc would be able to change her mind.
“What if we… broke into smaller camps, hid from them?”
“Until when?” Angela asked, perching on the edge of a table that had been cleaned. “And where will you go? We’ve seen the camps others form. There is no place like our Safe Haven.”
She glanced around. “You are the chosen people, and we are your Defenders. It’s up to you to accept that gift. If not, go. There are other groups out there who can come together and do what has to be done.”
Adrian’s voice came, “I’ve always put the herd first. So does she. We’d never lead you into a slaughter.”
“We’ll have plans in place to evacuate if the tide turns against us, but I don’t think we’ll need them,” Marc led. “If we win one big battle, I believe we’ll be free.”
“How do you figure that?” Jones demanded, but even his voice held more interest than scorn.
“There’s only one bunker, only so many men. If we win one, we weaken them so badly that they can’t come up and be a problem.”
“After one battle, we’ll outnumber them,” Angela finished harshly. “And then we make the rules.”
“And what will those rules be?” Hilda asked. “We don’t like the ends that were used to achieve this.”
Angela didn’t back off. “I’ll do whatever it takes to keep us alive and if that doesn’t work for you or anyone else, I wish you luck as you leave. We’ll send you out with a few day’s supplies if you choose to run, but that’s it. We’ll need it to care for the people who stay to fight with us.”
Angela motioned Kenn forward. “We printed ballots for this. It was too big of a choice to make alone. We’d planned to handle it at the monthly meeting tonight, but I guess now works as well.”
Kenn started passing around the slips of paper and small pencils, and Angela kept working on them while the others pushed out calming obedience in mental waves that should have drowned them all.
“Before we vote, I want you to hear the plan. Nearly every member of Adrian’s army helped with it.”
Angela settled on the ground, showing that she didn’t fear them, though they clearly did her. The hints had been enough. They’d observed too much over the last months to misunderstand.
She used her knife to draw in the dirt and as the crowd passed the details to those who were further away, the bubble above them glowed a calming blue.
Angela pointed at a place on her wide diagram. “We left a fake body for them here. They should find it in the next five days. They won’t know it isn’t Adrian until they get it to their bunker for testing. That’s another two weeks. Then, they have to get troops together and make it here from Utah. Another two or three weeks,” Angela stated firmly.
She looked round at the relaxing faces, the scared and defiant murmurers. “We’ll have a month, bare minimum, before they get here.”
“What then?” Zack asked, starting to get excited. Fear of the government returning and taking control of them had been on everyone’s mind this week, thanks to the camp gossip.
Angela marked an area on her map and then slammed the blade into it. “That’s where we need to be when they come. We’ll start preparing over the next few days, stock up on food, water, and fuel, then get to those mountains and set the biggest ambush the new world has seen.”
She pointed to an area far away from the battle zone. “This is where we’ll start hitting them. Teams will go out to pick them off, so that by the time they make it to our chosen place, there’s less than half of whatever they originally send out.”
Angela looked up at them, no longer pushing anything but the truth. “They want us because they know you guys are also survivors. Survivors who loathe them. They want our protection–from you, and our gifts, to control you. We chose to stand with the people they betrayed, the citizens they gunned down, the families of the draft. With you.”
Samantha reluctantly accepted her new role in the camp, moving to her team leader’s side. “We were born this way. We didn’t know why until we came to Safe Haven.”
Angela accepted the hand up from the ground, and gave Samantha a nod to continue.
“We don’t like being different, but at least now we know why we are. We were born into this time and place to protect you, to make sure America survives.”
“Not only survives,” Angela added, sheathing her knife. “We have to change it. The old world can never be allowed to restart. All the killing and greed, the ignorance of the government to the plight of the people. We have to stand against them. If we don’t, no one else will.”
“They’ll run this country again if we don’t fight,” Marc stated. “And that means they’ll take you for the draft, for experimentation and studies, and for labor.”
“As long as you remain with us, we’ll defend you,” Angela promised. “But you have to fight for yourselves, as well. We can’t do it alone.”
She gave them a minute to think, judging the mood, deciding how much more they needed.
“A little push,” Adrian advised. “Careful, but hard.”
Angela gestured to one of the Eagles, and he quickly escorted someone to her side.
“This is Adrian’s son.”
Angela put her hand on his wrist in comfort. “They had him and a group of kids locked up in Arkansas, kids like him and Charlie. One of them got a call out and Adrian went in. It was a trap, as you’ve heard. What you weren’t told is that the Major and his men killed the other kids–slit their throats. The government hasn’t changed.”
“...we have.”
Angela smiled gently at Becky, thinking she appeared happy on Seth’s arm. “Yes, we have. We no longer live by their rules. We honor Adrian’s dreams for the future.”
Feeling time slow, Angela took a breath and spoke the words from her dream, the ones that would trigger the final scene. “The only thing that can sink us is a traitor contacting them. If that happens, we’re all dead. Please, if you leave, hold our secrets.”
Angela could feel the anger coming, the sense of togetherness that a rebellion instills, and then the radio crackled right on schedule.
“Too late, Witch! I already called!”
Matt’s horrible laughter floated over every radio in menacing taunts.
“They know it’s a fake body. They turned the team around. Safe Haven won’t exist in a month.”
“Find him!” Marc’s growl of rage triggered the camp into a panicked frenzy of searching that began ripping down tents, scattering supplies, and turning out vehicles.
Angela let them go, sure Matt wasn’t in camp anymore. He’d made his own plans. Angela hoped some of them included future survival for him and his father. Mitch wouldn’t know how to provide food if a deer came and sat in his lap.
“Pass the word. It doesn’t change anything. We still have four weeks.”
“They’re pissed. If they find Matt, they’ll kill him,” Kevin stated.
Angela didn’t feel the need to act as if she was as shocked and angry as they were. “Traitors get what they deserve in this camp. Sometimes it just takes a while.”
“What if he was lying, trying to...”
Kevin knew by her look that wasn’t the case. Matt had called the government. In roughly four weeks, the battle would start.
8
“Raven! QZ!”
Angela responded to that panicked call the same way Adrian would have.
“Lock us down, check-in, full team to the QZ,” Angela ordered to the men running alongside her.
The men on the QZ directed her to the medical camper, where John had been working on a batch of relief drinks for their Cancer patients.
&
nbsp; Angela climbed tiredly into the tin-can to find Millie on the floor between two bloody bodies.
The girl glanced up in panic. “He fell and she tried to help… What do I do?!”
Angela noted John’s breathing was steady and went to Jennifer. Blood was pooled around her legs and the amount was too much to hope that it could be stopped.
“Get Kyle. She’s having them now.”
“Now?”
“Get going!” Angela barked, sliding over to allow Brady room to help.
“Put her in the recliner.”
They got Jennifer into the plush chair and she began to moan.
“Jennifer? Wake up, honey. You have to help.”
Jennifer’s lids opened and her face clenched in pain.
“It hurts!”
“I know,” Angela soothed, removing clothing as Eagles closed the door behind Anne.
It opened a few seconds later and Kyle flew inside. “Jenny?”
His voice was panicked and Angela grabbed his arm. “Keep her calm or get out!”
Kyle nodded curtly and took the stool on Jennifer’s left.
“Here we go again,” Jennifer complained, hands cradling her enormous belly. “Stop and start. These kids are gonna be… Ahh!”
Angela injected Jennifer’s arm, not responding to Kyle’s concern. She had her hands full with the girl and there was still the unconscious man on the floor behind her.
Chapter Eleven
1
A lone wail of life split the tense air, pathetically weak.
Behind it, came a mother’s scream of denial.
“But is it the good one or evil?” Marc’s demon asked, cuddled with Angela’s witch in their mental hideaway.
“That has not been revealed.”
The Demon chuckled, staring at her.
The Witch held still. It was something he was prone to do for long minutes and after so much solitude, she understood. Not being alone anymore felt strange.
“Why do you come here?”
The Witch made the air around them snap with flames. “Teaching, learning, enjoying. Many things.”
Marc’s demon reached out and took a hold of her arm. “How do I gain his trust, so he’ll let me roam the way she does you?”
The Witch smirked, soul-searching orbs lighting up. “Would you like me to coach you on that? I’d have to stay close.”
The Demon swallowed thickly at the images. “I have no problem with it.”
The Witch cackled. “Your master will. Marc hates me.”
The Demon agreed reluctantly. “Just stay in the rear. I’ll work on him.”
Marc waited by the camper door, worry growing. He knew Angela would be a wreck when she came out–word had already gotten around.
“Is she okay?”
Marc stiffened. “If she isn’t, I’ll handle it.”
Adrian sighed, moving by him. “Yes, I’m sure you will. Where’s Conner?”
“With John. She asked him to help.”
Adrian didn’t argue. It’s what he would have done.
Marc watched Adrian until he and Kenn vanished into the shower campers, then turned his back to them to keep from glowering through the window. How he hated that man!
The medical door opened and Angela stumbled out, looking ten years older.
“Need sleep.”
Down to words instead of sentences, Marc swept her into his arms and went to their tent. She began drawing from him the instant her arms went around his neck.
2
Adrian stared out the window, ignoring Kenn’s meaningless chatter as he got things ready. The pain of constantly accepting being turned away was enough to choke on. He wasn’t going to do it much longer.
“You ready?”
Adrian began stripping down. It was his first shower since before going into Little Rock and he’d been anticipating it.
“Make it hot. I want to sweat some of this shit out.”
Kenn adjusted the water and began laying out rags and small bottles. As he worked, he kept his mouth shut this time, sensing his boss was working on something.
Adrian appreciated the quiet. He had a lot to consider. For the first time since Las Vegas, he didn’t have to think about the herd first, but he still was. He needed to get into that bunker and kill whoever was in charge. Once that happened, Safe Haven would be free. Angela’s plan didn’t account for the return to their homeland–probably because she wasn’t expecting to make one, but Adrian had already seen parts of that surreal time, too. They would be gone for years, but eventually, this would become their home again.
“Angela will see to that,” Adrian murmured.
Kenn frowned. Everything about Adrian said Angela’s assessment was right. The real boss was planning to sacrifice himself for the good of the herd. Getting in and killing The Man was a great idea, but someone had to be left here, to lead, and even if she were hard enough, Angela didn’t want the job. Adrian had to stay. Someone else would have to die in his place and to Kenn, it didn’t matter who.
3
“Come on, boy!”
Matt groaned as his arm was yanked, stumbling to his feet. He’d passed out in a small cave around dawn and now felt like hell.
“Where are we going?” he demanded.
“To make a call,” Mitch answered cryptically. He’d found Matt’s hiding place easily enough now that he wasn’t drinking anymore, and grabbed the boy before the Eagles came.
“Who we calling?” Matt asked, trying to keep up as they struggled to the top of the incline.
“The government, of course. They need more details and we need a ride.”
Matt didn’t ague. He’d gotten through on the com truck cb, using the new channels he’d learned in the Jr. Eagles, but he hadn’t asked for anything from the man who’d answered. He’d only wanted to expose Angela and those like her so that Kevin would be taken away. Now an outcast, Matt wished he’d asked for protection.
“A little quicker, boy. We can’t be up here in plain sight for long. One of the sniper’s will pick us off.”
Matt shivered. “What have I done?”
Mitch grunted, out of breath, but clear-headed and hopeful. “You freed us, boy.”
Mitch tugged his son closer, helping the hungover teenager along. “Wish I’d done it.”
4
The fireworks were a mixed bag of emotions as they began. It drew the usual appreciation, but it also brought memories that people didn’t want to face and caused moments of tension. The expected musical accompaniment also stirred them up, and the Eagles observed people drinking and dancing in concern. Three hundred of them could do a lot of damage if things got out of control.
What concerned them most were the conversations taking place. Some were openly against fighting the soldiers, while a few more were trying to gather people to leave and form their own group with.
“We’re losing people,” Rusty stated, directing Seth’s attention to the parking area. “We’re light two cars now.”
Seth scowled, but didn’t call it in. They had orders not to stop anyone from leaving.
“We’ll be short twenty come dawn if she doesn’t do something,” Rusty guessed, watching a small group go to their tents with furtive glances at the Eagles and Angela. He had loved his time on Seth’s team and would do anything to keep it from ending.
“More than that. Some of the men won’t come back.”
“Eagles?” Rusty questioned angrily.
“Self preservation will thin the herd. That’s why we’re not to stop them,” Seth stated. “She’s lightening our load for the move and for the battle.”
“She’s also protecting the chain of command,” Kenn pointed out as he walked by, thrilled to rate his own shadow. “All of us have guards tonight. She’s worried. Watch your six.”
Kenn continued on his rounds and the men indicated that they would. The mood was tense and a bedtime story was only going to do so much. If Angela wanted to keep this camp together she’d better
do something by tomorrow at the latest. After that, half the camp would flee.
5
“Can you take over the Kai lessons for a while?
Jeff tore his eyes away from the group of females working out on the other side of the training tent. “Yeah, uh, sure.”
Neil slapped him on the arm, ginning. “Get to enjoy that ride yet?”
Jeff scowled. “I didn’t ask her out.”
Neil guessed what had happened next. “She went out with someone else.”
“Yes. He’s staring at her.”
Neil did a casual sweep and only found three men paying any attention to the dirty, sweaty women of Angela’s team. Marc, Adrian, and Zack.
Neil was surprised. “I thought he hated women.”
Jeff huffed angrily. “He changed, Neil, you know that. What matters is that she wasn’t bluffing.”
Neil snorted. “You thought she was? Oh, man, were you wrong.”
“No shit.”
Neil spent a moment thinking and then asked: “How many times have they gone out?”
“Twice.”
“She’s still fair game. Go over right now and offer to cook her a hot meal tonight.”
Jeff started to say he couldn’t do that, then grunted. “What the hell. It’ll put an end to it, at least.”
“Exactly. You’ll know where you stand.”
Jeff walked toward the women who were doing sit-ups, eyes glued to Crista’s dirty ass. “I can do this. It’s going to go well. Relax and pay attention. You know how she stuns you sometimes.”
Neil listened to Jeff’s instructions to himself, shaking his head. The Eagle hadn’t figured out what he and Jeremy, and many of the others here, already knew. Love and lust made the rules. The best a person could hope for was a balance of the two that didn’t smother everything else.
6
Crista tensed at the Eagle moving her way, stumbling. It broke the groove.
“Take a five!” Cynthia snapped, guessing what was about to happen.
Crista knew Jeff was annoyed by her dates, but didn’t think it would come to anything. Over the last weeks, she’d discovered that Jeff was as stubborn as she was.
Guess he just doesn’t like me, she thought unhappily.