Katie nodded. "I went with her. When I screamed for her to stop, I said we would tell you, but that witch said if we uttered a single word, she'd kill Dad. We're supposed to say a bigger kid beat her up."
Reginald hugged Katie to him. "No one's dying. After dark tonight, we'll leave."
Mary Anne closed her eyes. "I can't believe this."
"Until then, you need to act normal. Don't attract any attention. Today is just another day, okay?"
"Yes." She crinkled the sheet between her fingers. "So I have to face this beast and ask her about a big kid who brutalized my baby? I don't think I can."
"Mom, you have to." Katie put her hands on Mary Anne's cheeks. "It's the only way we can leave here. She'll kill us if you don't."
"She's right, Mom." Belle sat up. "I'm okay. Katie and I'll stay out of everyone's way and not speak to anyone."
Vixen had scheduled Reginald to inspect the fencing. He hated walking out and leaving his family, but he needed access to the car barn to make sure they always kept the keys in the cars. He started on the far end of the town to avoid suspicion. If he went straight for the cars, someone would question his actions. He slung the rifle Vixen had given him over his shoulder and went to the outer side of the fence. It still galled him she insisted Atlas remain a gun-free zone. Didn't the woman realize the danger she placed the town in if a horde of infecteds overran the fences?
Reginald inspected for weak areas or breaches. The entire thing was flimsy. They only had one layer of protection and guards positioned at either end of the road. He shook his head and muttered as he rounded to the backside of the town. The car barn butted up against the fence using the metal as the back wall.
He opened the door to the barn and checked the fencing inside. No one was around so he inspected the cars. Keys hung in the ignition of each one. If they took their older car, the Charger would catch them in no time if Vixen decided to give chase.
He finished his check, and returned to Vixen. He had to make safety suggestions without questioning her authority for her to buy in that he wanted to be a productive member of this society. He never had been good at office politics.
Vixen looked up from her desk as he walked in. "Reginald, did you find any problems?" She stood and reached for his weapon.
It irked him to hand it over, but since he didn't want to raise suspicion, he had no choice. "The fence is intact, but we might consider installing an outer perimeter." He handed her the rifle. "To add another layer of protection against those things out there."
Vixen held eye contact with him long enough he wanted to flinch, but he forced himself to continue to meet her gaze. "I'll take that under advisement. How are you and your family adapting to our little society?"
"It was difficult at first, but I think we're starting to realize we can relax." Reginald grimaced. "Although, that incident with the boy who attacked my daughter is disconcerting."
Vixen nodded. "The young man has been dealt with. I can assure you, he will never harm another kid in the city."
"I hope not. We've been on the road for so long, relaxing and trusting is hard. When my daughter came home beaten and bruised, it did cause concern about our safety here."
"You have my word." Vixen held up her hand. "Bullies in our society are punished. If it continues, they're banished."
"Thank you. On another note, I've never been one to sit around, so please don't hesitate to put me on the schedule for anything. KP duty, guard duty. I don't care if you want me to be the street sweeper as long as I can stay busy."
"Excellent. Since you offered, Kaley needs help in the kitchen. She's got a fresh deer that needs skinning and cutting."
Reginald turned, but glanced over his shoulder. "Do I need to clean the skin for it to be tanned?"
"Do you know how?"
Reginald shook his head. "The skin has to be cleaned of all meat and hair before tanning or it will rot. I'm not sure other than that."
"Clean it, and we'll see if anyone knows."
Reginald was exhausted by the time he got back to their quarters. Mary Anne and the girls weren't in there. Vixen probably had them working, so he stretched out on the bed. He closed his eyes and thought of their compound. They were almost home. The welcome darkness of sleep washed over him.
Reginald woke to someone shaking him. "Reg, wake up." Mary Anne stood beside the bed. "Get up. We need to leave."
"What time is it?"
"A little after one."
He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and slid off the bed. "Let's go."
"Here." Mary Anne stuck a Glock nine in his hand. "I stole this and eight bottles of water earlier. We need to hurry."
They sneaked out of their quarters and slipped down the street staying in the shadows until they reached the park. His heart thudded in his chest, and his throat went dry "Run," Reginald whispered.
"Where?"
"Back fence. Hidden door."
"But—"
"Go. Don't stop. I'm behind you."
They reached the fence, and Reginald pushed open the secret gate. The hinges squealed loud enough to wake the entire community. Sweat popped out on his forehead as a flashlight beam shined in the night. "Hurry!" He herded his family toward the Charger. They slid into the car, and he grabbed the keys from the other cars before he joined his family.
Reginald turned the ignition as shots rang out.
*****
Randi leaned back in the chair as she watched over the front road to the compound. Her eyes closed for a second. She jumped up and shook herself awake. Get it together, Martinez. A soldier never abandons her post. Another look through the night-vision binoculars assured her no one had breached through the front. Did Barker have a plan to fix this nightmare? How many years would that take even if he was still alive?
She slung her AR-15 over her shoulder walked onto the bridge and breathed in the fresh, clean scent of the winter air. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth in anticipation of springtime and the grape-scented flowers of the mountain laurel. If she lived that long. On that maudlin thought, she went back inside.
"Hello." Ethan stepped through the opposite door. "My side of the world's safe."
"Good to know." The guy had a mass of short braids, golden eyes, and muscles upon muscles. "What's your story?"
"Huh?" Ethan twirled a chair around and sat backwards with his arms crossed on the back. "I don't have one."
"Everyone does."
"Really?" Ethan cocked an eyebrow up and gave her a half grin. "So, what's yours?"
"I asked first."
"Before the world fell apart, I was a fireman in Midland. Several of the paramedics in my unit contracted the disease early on. Not pretty to see when it happens to someone you care about. When your guy found me, I was trying to get to my parents in San Antonio."
"I'm sorry."
He shook his head. "No pity for me. Everyone's lost loved ones in this mess. What about you?"
"I ran my dad's construction company. No husband or children."
"Boyfriend?"
Memories of Aaron flooded back. "Dead." She wasn't going to elaborate. If he thought she lost him to rabies, that was fine with her.
"I'm sorry."
"No problem. As you said, we all have pain." Randi looked at him for a few seconds. "What else?"
"Why do you think there's more?"
Randi shrugged. "You look like a young rapper."
Ethan rapped a few bars of some song she'd never heard and did a hip-hop dance to it. "I didn't have a rap group hidden in my garage if that's what you mean."
Randi smiled at his antics. In many ways, Ethan reminded her of Aaron.
"I listen to country music. Not rap." He raised an eyebrow. "You know, black people can listen to country music."
"I didn't mean to offend." Randi raised her hands in a surrender motion. "It has nothing to do with the color of your skin, but man. I'm so disappointed in you. How do you listen to that junk?"
Ethan grabbed his
chest and leaned back like he was dying. "Hit me where it hurts, why don't you? How can you not like country?"
The door creaked open, and Josh glared at them with a raised eyebrow. "Ethan, did you leave the backside uncovered?"
"He was making rounds." Randi crossed her arms. "What's up?"
Ethan gave her a gentle punch to the upper arm. "See you later, I need to head back to my station."
After he left, Josh took a seat next to her. "How're you feeling?"
"Good." The stuffiness of room threatened to suffocate her. She tugged her jacket off, and as she did, her shirt rose up on her side.
Josh held the hem of her shirt up enough to see the tat on her side. "I've never noticed this tattoo before."
"Yeah. Not one of my brighter ideas." She didn't want to explain the cross and Bible verse.
He touched the cross with Jeremiah 29:11 inked into her side. "'For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you.' One of my favorites."
"Yeah. If you believe it." Randi jerked her shirt back in place picked up the binoculars, and looked out the window. "It's in memory of someone who believed that junk. As for me, I know He either doesn't exist, or He doesn't give a rip about me." She'd gotten the tattoo to cover the scar left by the shrapnel that ripped across her side when Aaron died. She wanted one that matched his. The meaning was in Aaron, not the stupid verse. "Even after..." She shook her head. "I begged God to save the love of my life, but instead I watched him die in my arms."
"Randi—"
"Don't you dare. I don't want to hear that Christianese you guys are so fond of spouting. I've heard enough to last the rest of my life." She waved her arms around. "Look at the world. It's gone to pieces in a matter of a few weeks. Are you telling me the God you serve didn't do this? If He didn't cause it, either He allowed it, or He's too puny to stop it. No thank you. I can do without a powerless eye in the sky."
Chapter Thirty-Six
Reginald floored the gas and took off. At least they couldn't follow them right away. He checked his rearview mirror every couple of seconds. Would Vixen follow him? His heart hammered in his chest, and he checked the rearview mirror again. Still no sign of anyone behind them. He loosened his grip on the steering wheel and eased off the gas a tad. They were too close to home to risk hitting a deer.
"Thank goodness the garage was outside of the gates. I would've hated to drive through their fence, and leave them vulnerable." Mary Anne shifted in her seat. "How are we on gas?"
Reginald checked the gauge. "Not good. If you see a station or an abandoned car, let me know."
"Do you think we'll make it to there today?"
"I hope so." Reginald again glanced in the rearview mirror. His girls were cuddled together sleeping. A guttural roar escaped his lips as he saw prominent bruises on Belle's sweet face again. "At least then I know you'll be safe."
He drove for several miles when Mary Anne pointed to a convenience store on the side of the road. "There."
"Let's hope that car has gas, and we can find a siphon hose."
He pulled up next to the older sedan and climbed out. The station had a water hose hooked up on the side of the building. As he filled the tank, a huge man barreled out of the store screaming at him. Before he could move, the man slammed his beefy hand on Reginald's shoulder and pinched. "What are you doing?"
"Trying to get my family to safety."
The man looked in the back window at the girls and rubbed his hands over his face. "I've been living here for a short time trying to survive."
"I know what you mean. If the infected don't get us, the living will."
"I'm Kurt Grissom." The man stuck out his hand.
"Reginald Barker," he said as he shook the man's hand.
"Take the gas." He pointed to the girls. "Do you have somewhere safe to take them?"
"Yes, but I won't leave you here without a way to get out."
"I don't have children. It's better that something happens to me than them."
Mary Anne walked around the car. "Mr. Grissom, there is no need for us to leave you stranded. Help my husband fill the tank and come with us."
Reginald's eyes went wide. Was she inviting this man to their sanctuary?
She raised an eyebrow and stared at him daring him to argue. "Isn't that right, Reginald?"
"Uh, of course. Come with us. That is if you don't have any bites or scratches." He knew better than to argue with her on this. Not with the look she gave him. "We're getting close. If we don't run into trouble, we should be home very soon."
Grissom frowned. "I'm clean, but why is your house any safer than any other?"
"It's not just a house. I've built a compound in the Hill Country." Reginald described their new home to the man.
Convinced, he took Mary Anne's spot in the front, and she climbed in the back with the girls.
"Mr. Grissom, what did you do before this?" Mary Anne asked.
"Please, call me Kurt. I owned the gas station where you found me."
"Did you run into much trouble?" Reginald glanced at the man. "I mean before you caught us stealing gas."
Kurt shifted in his seat. "Nope. I guess 'cause I'm not on the main highway."
"How did you stay in business?" Reginald asked. "Since you were out of the way?"
"Most of my money was made from repairs. I'm a decent mechanic."
The car grew quiet, and Reginald glanced in his mirror. Mary Anne and Grissom both had dozed off.
Reginald rubbed his eyes and yawned.
The sun peaked over the hills as Reginald pulled onto the dirt road leading to the compound. They were finally home. He punched the code in, but nothing happened.
"Give me a minute." Reginald climbed out of the car and walked up to the gate. An electric fence ran across the inner area. Josh and Mark must have seen a need, but how were they going to get inside?
An ATV came flying across the field and slid to a stop on the other side of the gate. Josh climbed off. "Uncle Reg, we've been praying you'd make it."
"Good to see you, son. My code isn't working."
"A safety thing. We only turn it on as needed." He unhooked his radio from his hip. "Jill, turn on the power to the keypad. My uncle has finally arrived."
A few seconds later, Josh opened the outer gate. "Follow me, and I'll show you where to park."
Reginald parked where Josh indicated and stared at the cars and people living on his land.
"Josh, what's going on here? Who are these people and why are they camped here?"
"The more people we have living here, the safer we are," Josh said as another man walked up.
"Mr. Barker, I'm Xever Martinez. If you want us to leave, my family will pack up immediately."
Reginald nodded. "Yes, I want you to go. What right do you have taking over someone's property?"
"If they go, Mark and I are out of here, too." Josh flexed his arms. "Good luck doing perimeter patrols and keeping the compound safe by yourself."
"What are you talking about?" Reginald pointed to the fences. "I had this place built to be safe. We don't need perimeter checks."
"Right." Mark crossed his arms. "Then how in the world have people gotten in? That is, before I designed the electric fence? What about the infecteds that gather at the fences? Can you keep them at bay without all of us? What are you going to do if someone gets ill? If we leave, you'll lose the pharmacist and the doctor. And all of the medicines they've brought into our complex."
"Everyone relax." Mary Anne held both hands up in a stopping motion. "No one's leaving. Reg, honey, they've built a thriving community here. We're not going to disrupt it."
"It's our home. I built it for us." Reginald waved his hand around the compound. "I want everyone out within an hour."
"Then sweetheart, it's going to get very lonely here alone, because if they go, the girls and I go."
*****
Randi flew down the steps. She heard the yelling all the way up in the gua
rd tower, and she'd be scalped before she let Barker send her family on their way. Not when she suspected he'd caused this outbreak. Why else did he have her build this fortress? She could take the scientist even though he looked fit for his age.
Barker stood staring at his wife. "You can't mean that."
"Listen here you pompous jerk." Randi jammed her finger into his chest. "You're the reason we aren't living normal lives. You caused this outbreak, and if you think for one second we're going without a fight, you're crazy."
"Miranda."
She ignored her father's warning. "I built this place, so I understand it's yours, and you have every right to dismiss us, but I promise you, you won't survive long. Not without others to help protect your family. If we leave, we're taking everything we brought in with us. Including every weapon and every last box of ammo."
Barker's wife stepped between Reginald and Randi. "Miss Martinez, no one is going anywhere." She looked at her husband. "Isn't that right, Reginald?"
"Fine, but get out of my house."
"No one is in your house." Randi resisted the urge to roll her eyes at his tantrum. She motioned to the camp they'd set up. "Look around. If we lived inside, do you think we would need this?"
"Before we allow you inside the gates, I have to ask if any of you have any bites or scratches." Her father held up his hand to stop Barker from interrupting. "I realize it's your property, but none of us will live if anyone brings this disease inside."
"Of course not." Reginald glared at Randi's father. "Do you think I'm an idiot?"
Before anyone could answer, Randi's mother stepped up to the group and waved her hands. "Enough talk. These folks have traveled a long distance and must be famished. Come, eat."
Leave it to her mother to try to fix everything with food. Randi shook her head as she went back to her post.
A while later Josh joined her. "Why are you still on duty? I thought it was Adriana's shift."
"It was, but she has a stomach bug. Been puking for a while. I offered to do this, because I sure didn't want to take care of her."
Josh took a seat next to her. "My cousin died while they were trying to get here."
Dark Days (Book 1): Contagion Page 28