by Angela White
Adrian shook his head, thinking if they didn’t find water soon, it could mean trouble. The liquid was precious and that QZ tanker had been full this morning. “I need you here.”
Neil opened his mouth, and then closed it without saying anything. He left with slumped shoulders. Unlike the rest of the teams, who were excited about the coming Level tests, Neil and his weren’t taking them and had little to look forward to.
Adrian understood the need to go, but they were only fifty miles from Wichita and already gearing up for a trip into that city. The camp was hoping for a new load of convenience supplies, like batteries and music, but Adrian was hoping to find fuel and water. They would add a search-and-rescue for the kids, but Adrian wasn’t sending a team out yet.
Neil still hadn’t settled down, though it was all over. Finding out about Becky’s rape had screwed with his sense of worth, and he’d been leaving camp every chance he got. Those opportunities were frequent, calls from survivors needing escorts were coming in almost daily. Many of these were minorities. Now that they’d beaten the slavers and proved they were capable of defending their members, other races were finally starting to join. It was helpful that anyone considering asking for shelter could see other dark-skinned refugees in camp. It went a long way in calming old fears.
It was also helping Joseph, one of the few black men in Safe Haven, to understand Adrian’s words to him back in Wyoming. Guilty of expecting their leader to fix it all quickly, the professor had also become a convert. He was now regularly seen escorting the nuns as they rotated from area to area. Camp rumor said he had a thing for Missa, who had recovered enough to occasionally join the group on their morning activities. Scuttlebutt also said she wanted nothing to do with Joseph, or any other man. Only time would tell if she might recover in that way.
The kids from the airfield were also a mix of races and fitting in well with the camp’s younger crowd. The college kids liked to have fun, but they were also old enough to want to help with the dream. It wasn’t uncommon for them to show up at the workouts and meetings–hopeful shadows in the background that Adrian would bring into the fold. Mixing races together before the war had been a trial-and-error process that had to accommodate the chains of the past. To fix centuries of such negligence and abuse wasn’t something Adrian expected to achieve in six months or even years, but he was incredibly proud of the progress he had made so far.
As the women and children from Cesar’s camp had been cleared, they’d been put with a small group of camp females for their day-to-day lives to help them settle in. That was the way Safe Haven had always handled new arrivals that were abused. The few exceptions to this were either Eagles or leadership, and it wasn’t missed that Kyle’s camper and tent hadn’t left the QZ even after he and Jennifer were clear.
The camp members had found out that Jennifer was carrying Cesar’s children, but it was quickly pointed out that several of the new kids were offspring of the enemy. It hadn’t taken long for the majority to accept them for what they were–victims. In the next few months, Jennifer would give birth. If it came sooner, and the babies didn’t make it, that was fate. New life was always welcome in Safe Haven.
Adrian realized he’d misjudged a bit, though, thinking the herd wouldn’t be able to handle that or all the awful things the Eagles did on his command. Part of their acceptance was pride–Safe Haven had come out on top–but the rest was the effects of the former slaves telling stories and convincing people without meaning to. There hadn’t been another choice.
The rest stop had been looted when Adrian had taken the camp by it, but the carnage was clear. For Safe Haven, it was the sight of the sombreros and the bullet-ridden rest stop that finally made the end of the slavers feel real. For the Eagles, it was the stains from Angela’s blood near the door. For the former slaves, it was that once golden corvette, now charred and crushed under Adrian’s old semi. These things sank into people’s hearts and unlocked chains to terror that they were finally able to let go of. It was over, thanks to Adrian.
A few people still viewed him with resentment–Tonya, Mitch, Peggy–but the Eagles and the camp were firmly behind their line-walking leader. He had brought them through the fire with only a slight burn. If Angela had died, things might have gone differently, but fate had saved them all.
5
“We’re not taking the Level tests this time around.”
It wasn’t a surprise, but hearing it from Kyle sent fresh tension through the team disposing of the bodies. Other than curt answers, none of Kyle’s team had spoken to him in a week. He hadn’t expected their support, but the isolation was nearly intolerable.
“Let Daryl know what event you want to oversee.”
Daryl, who was smothered in guilt over the way he’d graduated to second in command, said nothing. He thought their team was being unfair to Kyle, but if he spoke out, it would be viewed as sucking up. Right now, they were reluctantly accepting Kyle’s decision to have Daryl replace their fallen XO.
“What event are you covering?” Shawn sneered, implying Kyle wouldn’t be there.
Behind them, bodies burned hotly.
“I’m not,” Kyle answered curtly.
“Got better things to do now, I guess,” Shawn accused, glaring.
“I have duty over Angela.” Kyle moved toward the trader’s neat truck. “Marc is testing this time around, and doesn’t trust anyone else.”
Kyle climbed into the driver’s seat and got set to roll back to where his heart now waited.
His men exchanged worried glances. The team leader they knew would have struck back at that open challenge.
“What the hell’s wrong with him?” Morgan asked.
“We need to talk to Adrian,” Shawn suggested reluctantly. Going to the boss over your Eagle leader was a huge no-no that violated their unspoken code to handle things in-team.
“Maybe call a vote?” Crone added. He was the only one eager to see Kyle replaced.
“I’ll handle it,” Daryl stated, choosing to do what he thought was right. Seen as sucking up or not, it was part of his new duties to support their team leader.
“How?” Shawn demanded.
“I’ll start with talking to him instead of throwing challenges,” Daryl responded pointedly. “We’ve looked up to him the entire time we’ve been Eagles. Why does that disappear without him even getting the chance to explain?”
“You think it’s all innocent?” Crone asked snottily.
Sure that it wasn’t, Daryl didn’t lie. “No, but I do think there’s a reason to his madness.”
Daryl slung the bag of tinder over his shoulder, glad it didn’t smell like the small pellets of shit that it was full of. “He isn’t breaking any rules, you know. We’ve watched the shadows on that tent more closely than we ever did Rick’s. We’d know.”
Daryl’s tone was grew hard as the others absorbed that light blow. “Kyle may want her, but he won’t cross that line until it’s legal. And yes, I’ll bet my new place on it–for those of you taking notes and wanting the slot.”
The six other men shared leery glances. They were relieved not to have to talk to Adrian, but it was obvious that they didn’t trust Daryl as their new XO. They wanted their team back the way it was before.
6
“Judging by the lack of marks, I’d guess that it was Eagles this time, instead of camp members,” John observed, ignoring the sudden nausea that sank into his stomach. He gathered a tray of supplies as quickly as he could. It had been a busy day for medical care. “They don’t leave me as much evidence.”
“Yeah,” Dale agreed dejectedly. He and Ray resembled each other enough to be related. That helped with new arrivals until they saw the lingering glances and soft brushes, and then they understood. Most glared, but more than a few would remark on it. Only once had there been a different reaction. When the vet had seen them, he’d started joining them for evening meals. Dale had assumed the vet was also gay, but would never ask. He was just glad to have so
meone else sitting at the table.
“Eagles did this?” Ray asked angrily. As Kevin’s XO, he had a lot of interactions with the other Eagles and Adrian, and no longer had problems with the senior members. It was the incoming rookies that Ray usually had to set straight.
“No, not since you got hurt...”
“Saving Adrian,” John finished.
“Explain ‘this time’!” Ray demanded.
Dale and John both shut their mouths.
Ray scowled angrily. “Don’t worry over it. I’ll know before I hit the rack tonight!”
Dale groaned. “No. Don’t do that, okay?”
Ray tried not to relent. “Then tell me.”
“Sometimes the rookies say shit to me.” The failed Eagle couldn’t hide his hurt. “And sometimes they want to see a little queer blood.”
“Who?!”
“I won’t tell you that.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s like you said the other night while we were at the movie. I don’t have a real place here yet. When I do, they’ll leave me alone.”
“They should anyway!” Ray growled.
“Yeah.” Dale dropped his head, chest heavy. Wasn’t there ever going to be even a little peace and happiness for him?
Ray felt Dale’s misery peak and moved closer. “Hey. Damn. Are you okay?”
John left the tent to give the couple a moment of privacy–one Ray would take advantage of to offer comfort. John personally believed the males had the right to love whomever they chose, but the idiots getting a free ride in Safe Haven weren’t about to accept that view. The three men who’d beaten Dale in the shower didn’t have a set place here, either.
John was angry, stomach aching loudly, and his feet took him straight to Adrian’s tent.
7
“Is it a variation of Stockholm Syndrome, in either case?” Adrian asked.
In the hour John had been here, smoking and relaxing, they’d moved onto other topics.
“Unlikely,” John stated sourly. “Bonding after a crisis takes strange forms. In time, they’ll both recover and choose what suits them. I expect they’ll stand by their men, as well. From what I’ve heard from the other freed females, Jennifer is much harder than any of the men are giving her credit for. We already know how determined Rebecca is.”
“And my camp?”
John blew out a tired grunt with the lungful of smoke. “Will fall in line, so long as you approve.”
Adrian didn’t respond to that. Yes, they would, but not without causing problems first, testing the strength of those underage bonds.
“How about you?”
John stubbed the roach out. “I’m surviving.”
“Angela wants to try.”
“She’s not strong enough yet.”
“That’s what Marc said, but she makes those calls.”
John didn’t argue. The pain was becoming intolerable without the pills. He was spending too much time stoned on them.
“She’s healing well.” John wanted to ask Adrian how she was recovering so quickly and stopped himself. That would reveal a faint edge of envy that the doctor didn’t want known. “When?”
“In the next week or so. She’ll tell me.”
“Okay.”
As they stood up, Adrian clapped John gently on the shoulder. “How about cutting off early and getting some rest? Bags that dark under your eyes are not a good advertisement for a doctor.”
John looked at him without amusement. “When will we head for Arkansas?”
Always a quick thinker, Adrian stared back steadily. “We have been all along.”
“I mean openly. When will the Eagles start gearing up for the fight waiting there?”
“Sometime after Wichita,” Adrian answered, pushing back the heavy worry. “Right now, they still need a break, too.”
Adrian left to do his rounds, and John returned to the medical tent. Ray and Dale were gone, and the doctor headed straight for the medicine cabinet.
When the flap rustled a bit later, the doctor was in his chair, waiting for the pills to work.
Anne didn’t say anything as his angry gaze went over her muddy clothes and new bruises. She set her broken glasses on the table and grabbed a bottle from the medicine cabinet. He had his demons to fight, and she had hers.
8
Marc found Angela in the usual place as full dark settled over dystopian Kansas views–perched on the top of the highest, sturdiest structure inside the perimeter. This time, it was Adrian’s semi.
It’s like she can’t get close enough to the sky, Marc thought.
He noted her shadows, and the newest layer of awning on the outer edges of the perimeter. It was a deflecting glint that would interfere with the sights on a scope and make it rough to pick out a single target. They only had one side of the camp covered so far, but it was something they were adding to every day that Safe Haven wasn’t on the road.
Marc nodded to Kyle, Angela’s senior shadow.
The mobster quickly vanished toward the QZ.
No doubt to check on Jennifer, who he hadn’t been able to get near since returning from the dump and burn. It would be a short moment, though, because Kyle had duty over the farthest perimeter from the girl for the next five hours. Now doing schedules together, Marc and Kenn had agreed that a separation was needed, and this first day of it had to feel like it wasn’t ever going to end. Tomorrow wouldn’t be any better for Kyle.
Marc only held a bit of sympathy. He had always been a little leery of Kyle, but he’d honestly thought the man was one of the good guys. It’s like he and Adrian switched places on me, Marc thought with a resentful frown.
Reaching the semi, Marc called, “Permission to come up?”
“As you would, grunt,” she replied cheerfully.
Marc cleared the top of the truck and stopped, stunned at the sight of the shield above the camp. Right over Angela, it was pure purple.
Marc was glad the sheep weren’t paying much attention yet. For now, only Adrian and a few of his Eagles knew of the magic building itself around Safe Haven.
“Watch this…”
The colors above them faded, and then began to change like a rainbow.
“It feeds off of emotions, reacts to them.”
Marc sat down next to her, mind racing for a response. “What is it?”
“Can’t you guess?”
He flashed to their clubhouse in the snow. “Protection.”
Angela flushed at the thoughts now rolling through his mind. They’d experienced something like this once before. The shield had been a lot closer then, almost hot to the touch, but so strong that nothing could have gotten through. It was right after he’d had said I love you for the first time.
“It’s so nice to be able to remember those moments.”
Angela slowly leaned against his arm and happiness settled into Marc’s heart. He had Angie and Charlie. He wanted little else.
Angela didn’t bat a lash when his arm slid around her, still concentrating. She was making the shield fluctuate in small ripples. Sort of like a pond, she thought.
“Brace.” Angela inhaled deeply, pulling energy from the bubble.
“Noise coming.” Marc let off the button an instant before a crackle of harsh static went through. It was loud enough to make the dogs start yapping and the wolf come from under the truck.
Curious, Marc waited.
Radios lit up again, “Just a pulse. At ease.”
Marc’s mouth dropped open as Angela let go of the mental link.
“There’s something new for ya!”
Marc didn’t say anything, working on accepting it. She was able to send her thoughts over the radio. What would she be capable of in a year? Or ten?
Angela had been lying low about her gifts over the last two weeks. She wasn’t too weak to use them anymore. She wasn’t sure she was strong enough to control them. However, seeing Charlie in the line of fire today had reminded her how serious the challenge a
head was. Complete control or not, she wouldn’t be sitting back anymore.
“Is that frightening to the big, bad Marine?” Angela joked awkwardly in the silence.
“A little.” Marc’s expression darkened. “For you.”
“Me too, Brady, but also for our son. He’ll always be a target. First, to trap me, and then, to trap him.”
Not sure how to change that, they sat in silence as the camp slowly settled back down from the pulse of energy she’d sent.
Neither of them was surprised when Adrian came through the shadows a minute later. His expression said he wasn’t happy about what she’d done, and a sharp glance passed between them.
Adrian left soon after, delivering a hard, warning sweep of her guards as he vanished.
“What was that about?” Marc asked, stifling his jealousy.
Angela leaned closer to Marc’s heat. “He wants to be sure I’m not preparing for a suicide run that I haven’t told him about.”
Those words sent Marc’s profile into an instant scowl. “Are you?”
“No. One gunshot wound at a time, please.”
Marc wasn’t amused by the joke, still too hurt from the near loss.
Angela didn’t offer ear candy. He had to deal with it, just like she did when the nightmares woke her up gasping for air.
“Are you sleeping through yet?” Marc asked.
Angela winced at his accuracy. “Some nights.”
“You can wake me. I’ll stay up with you.”
“And still work your shifts as alertly?”
“No.” That’s the line, he realized. If it would hurt the camp, or even affect them badly, it was too far. That was her limit now.
“Yes, it is.”
Marc’s mind kicked into high gear, picking out the mind-reading and the things she knew, but shouldn’t if she were too weak. Not only had she caught his conversation with Charlie, she knew that he approved of the down time she was being forced to take.
“You know that I can block them, right?” Angela viewed him with shuttered eyes. “Your thoughts.”
Marc wasn’t sure where she was going. “...yes.”