Sanctuary's Aggression Box Set Books 1-3: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Series

by Maira Dawn

  "Just say you'll clean it!"

  Wade couldn't ignore the panic on Skye's face. "I don't know about these other guys, but ya know we keep a good house. It'll be nice and germ-free."

  Skye's tension eased a bit. "Yes, I know you do. I'm sorry. It's just, no one really knows how to care for him."

  All the men had returned from the fight, but there had been injuries. Two of them were shot. One a flesh wound, but the other more serious, and no one was sure of the extent of Dylan's wounds. But they patched them all up as best they could. Without a doctor, they all hoped what they did was sufficient. And whether it was his body healing or his sheer stubbornness, to Skye's horror, Dylan was up and moving the next day.

  As many of the families did, Skye and Jesse made it a habit to take dinner for Dylan and Wade to their cabin if the weather was good. Skye and Jesse would sit in the yard, close but not too close, and the men would sit near an open window to talk to each other.

  A couple of days after the battle, Skye spread a blanket out on the grass for her and Jesse and settled to eat.

  She couldn't help but wince at the deep bruising on both the men. "How are you both feeling?"

  "Feelin spry enough," Wade said. "Me and Dylan were thinkin on running some sprints today."

  Skye playfully rolled her eyes at him. "You'd better not. I want you both healthy and hearty as quickly as possible." She looked at Dylan. "Tricia's been using the radio to find a doctor, but she hasn't had any success yet. But she hasn't given up."

  "I'm fine, Skye," Dylan said. "She doesn't need to be wastin her time like that. I'm just sorry we're stuck in here. It can't be easy on you by yourself."

  "Hey!" Jesse said, "She ain't by herself!"

  Skye ruffled Jesse's hair and smiled. "That’s right, Dylan, I'm not by myself. We are both quite capable. Don't worry. We are doing fine too."

  Dylan grunted as he eyed her, trying to discern her truthfulness. "How'd it go when we were fightin? Did any show up at the cabin?"

  "Nope." Skye shook her head. "It was quiet as can be. We stayed tucked up in the attic, kept a lookout as we played games and watched some shows I downloaded before this all started. It was as peaceful as a spa day."

  Dylan gave Skye a lopsided smile. "I got no idea what a spa day is like, and I'm sure I don't want to know. But seems it went good. More'n a little surprised, but happy, you listened to me."

  Skye made a face at Dylan. What she didn't tell him was the deep-seated fear she'd carried all that day. How she and Jesse jumped and ran to the lookouts, not only every half-hour as instructed, but with every small bump and scratch they heard. But in the long run, the most exciting thing that happened that day was Skye winning her first game of Jenga against Jesse.

  Sure she was developing a skill for the game, she insisted they continue to play even as she lost every succeeding match to the boy. Finally, Skye gave up and broke out old episodes of Stranger Things she downloaded before the AgFlu began. They used their precious daily allowance of electricity watching monsters as they chewed their fingernails over the real monsters Wade and Dylan fought. It hadn't been a peaceful day at all.

  After a couple of hours, Dylan and Wade encouraged Skye and Jesse to go home. Though the brothers were happy to spend time with them, they said it troubled them Skye and Jesse traveled on their own. When Skye finally relented, Wade followed them in his vehicle to make sure they made it back safely.

  The routines established the first few days of the quarantine had continued until the day they came home.

  Skye bit the inside of her cheek as she glanced at Dylan for the hundredth time this morning. He raised his coffee cup to his generous lips and took a sip. The steam rose against his rugged face. The light bruising remaining around his eyes brought out the blue in them. He squinted, just a bit, as he sipped the hot liquid.

  Her gaze lingered on his neck as he swallowed, his Adam's apple raising and lowering with the action. Dylan's black hair was almost to his shoulders. Skye stared at it, sure it teased her, daring her to reach out and run her fingers through it.

  Her eyes traveled to his side. He favored it, though he tried not to show it. When he thought no one was looking, his hand often strayed to his wound, as it did now. He hadn't stayed quiet long enough.

  Dylan put down his coffee and looked at her. He caught her eye, a grin at the corner of his mouth. He knows, he always knows when I'm looking at him.

  She returned his look for a moment before turning her attention to an excited Jesse, who jabbered about their project.

  It was yesterday the self-imposed quarantine lifted, and the men came home. No more sleepless nights for Skye as she tried to watch over Jesse and endless days doing three people's jobs. Jesse had more than pulled his weight, but he couldn't replace two grown men. And though Skye proved to herself she and Jesse could survive on their own, it was a far less comfortable life.

  More than that, she had missed Dylan and Wade. Their physical presence changed the house, giving the home back the energy it lacked without them. Once their brawny bodies filled the doorway and a 'hello' was uttered in their masculine voices everything seemed back to normal.

  Their reunion was emotional. The family had been apart too long. It took an unexpected turn for Skye when her gaze met and locked with Dylan's fiery one, igniting a matching blaze in her eyes. It took everything she had to drag herself away from him and welcome Wade too.

  Last evening, more often than not, when her eyes strayed to Dylan, he was already looking at her. Now, once again, she dragged her gaze from his and stared out the window.

  Something's starting. It's been starting, and I've just been trying to ignore it. We aren't ready for this. We have too much baggage to get through yet. And too much danger at every turn to be thinking of anything else right now.

  Her mind flew through every lousy romance scenario that existed, ending with her and Jesse homeless and hungry surrounded by the Sick. She scolded herself, even if everything ended badly, Dylan would never throw them out.

  But it could still ruin so much. Skye bit the inside of her cheek as she sent a sly glance Dylan's way. The separation had increased their chemistry. It worried her. Skye loved this little family. She'd lost her own flesh and blood, these people were how she filled the empty void.

  She rolled her eyes at herself. All this emotional back and forth of hers was getting crazy. So, yeah, things needed to get back to normal.

  Skye blew out a long sigh, causing tendrils of hair to dance around her face. A bluebird flew onto the porch and sang in a sunbeam lighting up the front of the house.

  She and Dylan could use a distraction, and she had just the thing on this beautiful, warm day. "How about a picnic?"

  10

  A Fine Idea

  Jesse's face lit up at the mention of a picnic, and though breakfast hadn't begun, he immediately listed what he wanted for lunch.

  Wade flipped another pancake, tossing it from the pan to the air, then waited for it to land. "That sounds like a great day to me!"

  Turning to Dylan, Skye asked, "What about the cliff that overlooks Colton? Is that a good place for a picnic?"

  Dylan hesitated then wrapped both of his hands around his hot mug of coffee. "Huh, yeah, should be okay."

  Skye’s forehead creased. Dylan seemed reluctant. But before she could question him, Wade distracted her.

  "It's a fine idea!" Wade said, "I'm hungry. Can't wait to get there."

  Skye breathed in the light, sweet smell of the pancakes and laughed at Wade's foolishness. "You haven't even finished breakfast yet!"

  “When it comes to food, I’m always thinking ahead. By the time we get there, I know I’ll be hungry as a springtime momma bear!” Wade mimed a loud, ridiculous starving bear, which started everyone laughing. None as much as Jesse, who fell to the floor in exaggerated amusement.

  After breakfast, the four of them walked the trail to the overlook. Skye had loaded a backpack carrying all the requested food. Before they were
out the door, Wade grabbed up the pack and ran off a little way as if stealing it. Jesse raced after him.

  "There better still be food in that backpack when we get there!" Skye laughingly called out after them.

  Skye sped up to Dylan, and he matched his steps to hers. She looked up at him. “Do we need to worry about the Sick up here?”

  Dylan frowned and shook his head. “I don’t think so. It’s usually clear of them. I walked it every day. There’s fewer of ‘em up here now, and it’s unlikely they’d climb up even a small mountain to the top.” He thought for a moment. “Unless we have more of the Infected pushing them up here, the only thing you’ll see is a view of Colton.”

  The conversation changed to how the neighbors fared when Wade joined the discussion. He’d taken up Dylan’s rounds while his brother recuperated. Skye and Dylan eagerly listened to Wade’s update.

  Jesse sprinted here and there on the path. Skye called out to him, worried he was getting too far away. Jesse's shoulders slumped, and he sighed, but he moved closer to the group.

  The sun filtered through the trees, warming them as they strolled through the forest. The tree line broke, opening to a thinly grassed clearing. Skye walked the rocky ground to the natural overlook and sent Dylan a questioning glance. “It seems quiet. Do you think Tom and Tricia are doing okay?”

  “Yep, looks good.” Dylan pointed out the sheriff’s house.

  “It’s so tiny, how can you tell?” Skye squinted her right eye, then her left as she tried to make out the correct house. “Man, you must have good eyes!”

  Jesse zig-zagged around the clearing with no particular destination. “Hey, look at the clouds! They are the puffy ones ya like, Skye likes clouds. She likes trees too. Her favorite plant is a tree. Isn’t that weird?”

  Skye laughed. "I don't know it is weird, it's just different from you."

  "Yeah, me, and every other person. Who likes trees?" Jesse dragged out the word as he rolled his eyes. "You're a girl. You should like flowers."

  “I do like flowers, just about every one I’ve ever met. But you asked me my favorite plant, and it is trees.”

  “Yeah, and not only one — every kind. What does that say about ya? Huh?” Jesse stood with his hand on his chin as he played therapist.

  “It says I like trees.” Skye raced after him, reaching out to tickle him. He giggled and ran away, darting this way and that trying to outrun her longer strides. But Jesse didn’t succeed, Skye was a fast runner.

  She came up behind him and pulled them both down to the ground. Jesse kicked and laughed as he went down, letting out a couple of squeals. Skye relented, and the boy got himself under control. When she patted him on the head and let him go, he was soon distracted by some bugs in the grass.

  Wade walked up to Skye. “That boy is gonna be all right with you as his mom.” His tone made it clear he admired the bond between her and Jesse. “If Dylan and me woulda had that, well, let’s just say, things would’ve been different, is all.”

  “You’re doing okay, Wade,” Skye reassured him.

  “Well, we’ve had our ups and down, but we’re doin okay now. Maybe you’re helpin us out too, Doc.”

  Skye chuckled. “Doc. It seems so strange to hear that now. It’s hardly been a couple of months, but it seems so long ago.”

  “People really called you Doc?” Dylan asked. To him, she had always been Skye.

  Skye spread out a blanket she packed. The men threw questioning looks at each other and shrugged before awkwardly helping her.

  Straightening it to her satisfaction, Skye continued, “Well, my receptionist did. And the kids did and the kid’s parents. So yeah, they did.” She pursed her lips. “Well, that’s what I was.”

  Dylan reached over and squeezed her shoulder. “What you are.”

  Skye settled herself on the blanket. “I’m not sure what I am anymore. You can’t do much good as a therapist if you don’t have any patients.”

  Jesse, seeing the promise of food, came running up and caught the conversation. “I’m still your patient, even if I call ya mom now. I’m still plenty messed up. You have to fix me.” He plopped onto the blanket beside Skye, nonchalantly reaching for the bag of chips.

  Eyes tearing up, Skye reached out to the boy. “Jesse—“

  Wade gave a low chuckle. “Can’t get much more messed up than us three. It seems like ya have plenty of patients around here. We’ll keep you busy for a while.” He scratched his cheek. “Not sure you're gonna get rich tendin us though.”

  Skye found it sad but amusing they volunteered themselves. "Fortunately, I'm not looking for riches. I want good old-fashioned food, clothing, and shelter, of which you have an abundance. Oh, and your sharp survival instincts of which I'm seriously lacking. Not a single dime needs to change hands."

  "Well, that's good," Dylan said, "Cause I'd be seriously hard-pressed to find me a dime."

  11

  The Picnic

  After lunch, Dylan and Wade lounged on the blanket, it seemed a blanket wasn't such a bad idea. But Jesse, unable to stay still for long, explored.

  Skye sat, cross-legged, on the edge of the blanket as she side-eyed the men. I seriously need to bring two next time.

  She turned her attention to the gorgeous view in front of her. The overlook's sizeable grassy field dropped away as one neared its edge. Below that, raw rocky soil formed cracks and fissures down the face of the small mountain.

  Skye's gaze roamed over the quiet town below, as well as, the low mountains stretching as far as she could see in either direction. Water burbled to the right, and she told herself to ask Dylan how large the river was when she woke up. Right now, Skye wanted a little nap.

  Skye lightly pushed at Dylan so he would give her enough room to lie down. The sun warmed her cheeks as she stretched out, and the wind gently brushed across her.

  A bird called from above, and Skye squinted up. There were two. She turned to ask Dylan what kind they were.

  Jesse noticed the birds too. His face tipped to the sky as he backed up, keeping them in sight. Skye opened her mouth to call him closer to her. He was too close to the edge for her comfort.

  Wide-eyed, Jesse stared at the dirt at his feet. Sheer terror covered his face as he threw out his arms.

  He disappeared in a small upward blast of powdered soil.

  A bolt of white shock ripped through Skye. She tore at the ground, pushing off it into a run. She gasped and screamed as she ran.

  "Jesse! Jesse! Oh, my God, please no, no, no!"

  Then she screamed for Dylan.

  Somewhere in the comfortable haze of Dylan’s light doze, something shifted. Even before Skye moved and uttered her first shrill scream, he had stirred.

  He and Wade went from resting to sprinting so quick it was barely perceivable. They communicated without a word as they raced to the edge. A nod from Dylan meant Wade needed to keep Skye from seeing what could be over the side.

  Skye was almost to the brink. And at the speed she flew, Dylan questioned her ability to keep from plunging over herself. He reached to grab her arm just as Wade caught her around the waist and threw himself backward.

  Desperate and angry, Skye fought for her freedom as she screamed Jesse's name.

  Wade held Skye tight as Dylan picked his way across the shaky ground. Dylan lay flat and peered over the edge. He desperately wanted the boy to be okay, by some miracle. But he knew this mountain, this cliff. The odds of that were slim to none.

  Skye realized what the men feared, and it fueled her terror. She could not get control of herself. One piece of her fought and screamed. Another part, the doctor part, told her all the reasons she had to calm down. But it wasn't working.

  Dylan's voice, hard and sharp as the crack of a whip, cut through her turbulent thoughts. "Skye, stop!" It's what she needed. She quieted to a soft sobbing.

  "He's there. Hanging on."

  Ears still ringing from her own screams, she wasn't sure she heard correctly until Jesse's voice
echoed up to them. "Mommy?" Her hands went to her mouth, and her wide, scared eyes flew to Dylan.

  Dylan kept his voice gentle. "You ain't comin over here if you can't control yourself. I can't worry about you too.”

  "Yes, yes. I understand." Skye pushed at Wade's arms.

  "Skye, crawl low and slow. Ya got it?" Dylan stared, taking in her wild expression. “Skye.”

  "I will. I understand. I'll be good. I promise." Skye would have agreed with anything to get to that edge.

  Wade released her when Dylan nodded at him. With great care, Skye made her way to the rim as Dylan called down to Jesse.

  Skye's stomach rolled when she peered over the edge. It was a long drop. There was no way one small ten-year-old boy would survive it.

  Jesse clung to a protruding rock about ten feet below, arms wrapped tight around the stone. His fingers clawed the only solid thing available, but his feet dangled over air.

  Skye whimpered.

  "Steady." Dylan grabbed Skye's hand, squeezing it hard. It told her all she needed to know about his nerves.

  Dylan looked at Wade and blew out a breath. Then said to Skye, "I am gonna need your help. You'll be okay?"

  She squared her shoulders."Yes, just tell me what to do.”

  "Okay. Wade and I are gonna lower to that ledge. We should be able to reach him from there. I think it'll hold. But if it doesn't, you know what you gotta do."

  Skye's eyes filled as she shook her head. "Don't talk like that. Not now."

  Dylan put a hand under her chin. His voice insistent. "Yes, now. You get in that Jeep, and you don't stop til you're at Tom's."

  Skye raised a trembling hand to brush away a tear and nodded. "Okay, I will. I'll get help."

  Dylan heaved a sigh. "If that shelf doesn't hold, we won't be here for anyone to help. I gotta know you'll be safe, that you'll go straight to Tom."