We lay there together as, one by one, we drifted off to sleep, reassured that King would wake us if there was any trouble.
* * *
I startled myself awake in the darkness.
King lifted his head and looked at me. I waved my hand at him that everything was alright. He plopped his head back down to sleep with an exasperated huff.
I looked over at Cheyenne. She lay on her belly, her T-shirt pushed up to her waist, exposing that cute bare rear-end of hers. I reached down and carefully covered her since she wasn’t wearing any underwear. She couldn’t stand sleeping in underthings now that there was a bed. It was too hot for it, she said. She was wearing the oversized shirt because of the others in the room, but that was reluctantly. I didn’t mind. She wiggled her butt slightly after I covered her before settling again. She looked beautiful as she slept. I moved some of her hair out of her face, so she could breathe better. She smiled contently, made a grunting noise, and began a low series of snores.
Janessa lay on her side facing away from us, no snores, no twitches, no startled movements. Peacefully sleeping for once.
Caroline lay on her back, one hand twisted protectively into a ribbon attached to Sebastian’s bassinet handles, her bandaged hand across her chest. Her eyepatch came off in her sleep and I picked it up and laid it on the table beside the bed.
Julie and Lexi faced each other, lying on their sides, with their arms wrapped around Mia in the middle. Their breathing was regular and steady, all three deep in repose.
I grinned, I was surrounded by amazon warriors.
They’re some of the strongest, bravest, women I’ve met in my life and somehow, some way, they thought I made them feel safe. At least that’s what I thought, or maybe it was Cheyenne? Meh, it’s a toss-up. Eighty to twenty in Cheyenne’s favor.
I watched the world through the steady, gentle rain against the window panes, the drapes left open for some degree of light. In the distance, lights shown through the trees from patrols. A slight breeze passed through the high window screens to circulate the air around us. Our contact radio was turned to its lowest setting on the table beside my head. That way no one would be startled awake from idle chatter. Thankfully, no one seemed to be in the mood for talk.
I guessed it was three or four in the morning, my sense of time fairly accurate in the past week.
I wondered how my mystery would be selling right now if all this hadn’t happened?
Cheyenne would’ve looked beautiful on the red carpet at the grand opening of the movie adaption of my book. I can dream, can’t I? It would have been a great movie. Oscar winning.
Who should have played the killer?
I wonder I could steal the rest of Julie’s Tootsie Rolls? I know she has a hidden supply somewhere.
Devil woman.
Has Sea Bass had all his required shots? Maybe Janessa and Cheyenne will know what he needs.
I wonder if Bill Murray changed?
Can’t wait to meet Captain Biggers, Leticia’s, survivors tomorrow.
Did I brush before bed? Yeah, I did.
Janessa is going to miss Demetri for a while. Maybe I should talk to her tomorrow again about it.
Julie is a nut. I’m glad she and the sisters are here.
Dad, I hope you and mom are together wherever you are.
Nash, you better be alright. I miss you, big brother, and those god-awful jokes you tell that I really do like. Well, the good ones at least.
We need to find more ammo and refill the ammo boxes in the Jeep tomorrow.
What training program should I make for Diego’s students? He’s doing well so far. I’ll have to give a few corrections tomorrow.
I wonder how long this rain will last? Hopefully, someone is changing out the rain collectors during the night like I suggested.
Meh, Mrs. Gale will make sure of it. She’s on top of things.
What in the world was that?
I squinted, looking out the window at the horizon over the sound toward the north.
There was a flash, then another.
Orange, then blue, then green, then white.
Now, nothing.
There it is again.
What is that?
I squeezed my eyes shut.
Nope, it’s nothing.
I didn’t see nothing.
It’s not a big deal.
I opened my eyes after a few minutes and there were more flashes in the eastern sky.
I closed my eyes, rolled over and pulled Cheyenne close. She moved into my arms and melted against me, snuggling her face in my neck.
It was nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Aw, crap.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
When not practicing or teaching Kung Fu, T. M. is reading or watching horror, thrillers, or sci-fi movies.
T. M. prefers writing in the horror, science fiction, post-apocalyptic and, occasionally, romance genre.
T. M.’s favorite authors include Clive Barker, Patricia Briggs, Dean Koontz, and Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Available on Kindle, Amazon.com, and other online stores by T. M. Starnes
Crazee Teena
The Unchanged
The Unchanged Survivors
The Unchanged Safe Harbor
Aurora Skies: Assimilation
Shattered Time
Anthology short story selections including T. M. Starnes
Enter the Apocalypse
Enter the Rebirth
Edited by Thomas Gondolfi
The Unchanged (Book 3): Safe Harbor Page 21