Falling Darkness Series - A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller - Books 1-3

by Kellee L. Greene

  Ethan forced a smile. “No, of course, I totally understand.”

  When Kate stepped around the corner and out of Ethan’s sight, she pressed her hand to her chest and sucked in a deep breath. Even though she knew better, Kate wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep lying to herself about how she felt toward Ethan.

  She looked out of the peephole and then opened the door. “Everything okay?”

  Laura was rubbing her hands together as if she was washing them. She walked past Kate and into the room.

  “Oh, um,” Kate said trying to stop her from seeing Ethan lying on her bed.

  But Laura was in her thoughts far too deep to hear. She froze like a statue when she spotted Ethan.

  “Oh, crap. Sorry, I didn’t know you had company,” Laura said holding up her hands as she took a step away. “I am so sorry for interrupting.”

  “No, you didn’t interrupt. It’s fine,” Kate said ignoring the heat in her cheeks. “What’s going on?”

  Kate knew it had to be important or Laura wouldn’t have bothered to stop by. Even though Simon was gone, she still didn’t spend a lot of time away from her kids unless it was to help out in the kitchen.

  “It’s that new guy,” Laura said, and Ethan perked up with interest.

  “Did he do something?” Ethan asked, his voice raspy.

  “No, I guess not,” Laura said, and a flash of disappointment crossed Ethan’s face. “It’s just that, well, I’ve seen him before.”

  Kate cocked her head to the side.

  “Out there,” Laura said, pointing at the wall. “Probably about six months ago. I don’t think he lived all that far from us. I suppose it’s not a big deal, but he hadn’t been alone.”

  Ethan stood up and crossed his arms. “Who had he been with?”

  “A young boy, and another man. They came to our house asking for food and water. It had put Joel on edge for weeks afraid they’d come back,” Laura said with a far-off look in her eyes. “It’s probably nothing, but I wanted to let you know. I guess he still gives me that uneasy feeling because of Joel’s reaction to the whole thing. Seeing him in the cafeteria was a bit of a shock.”

  “Thanks for telling us,” Ethan said rubbing his thumb against his chin. “Is there anything else you remember?”

  Laura shook her head. “No, they left when Joel held up his shotgun. They said they didn’t want any trouble. Anyway, I should really go. Need to check in on Alice and Micky.”

  “Okay,” Kate said, watching Laura as she flashed them a nervous wave before leaving the room, closing the door behind her.

  “I knew he was going to be trouble,” Ethan growled.

  “We don’t know that,” Kate said with a small frown.

  Ethan threw his hands into the air. “What’s it going to take for you to see, Kate? Hmm?”

  “To see what?” Kate grimaced. She knew she shouldn’t be getting into a conversation about Will when she was so tired.

  “That this guy is trouble.”

  “He’s trouble because he asked Joel for help?” Kate took a step back and crossed her arms. “How do we know he didn’t just want, oh, I don’t know, help? Like food. And water, so that they might try to survive.”

  Ethan let out a harsh laugh. “You say you don’t trust anyone, but here you are trusting this guy. A guy who doesn’t deserve it.”

  “Just because I let him come here doesn’t mean I trust him!” Kate’s blood was near the boiling point.

  “I just don’t get it. Is it because of how he looks?”

  Kate’s mouth dropped open. “What? That’s what you think of me? That I would make decision based on something like that?”

  Ethan opened his mouth, but Kate held up her hand to stop him.

  “I’m tired,” she said her lips forming a perfectly straight line. “I think it’s time for you to go.”

  “Kate—”

  “No,” Kate said walking over to the door. She jerked it open and stared out into the hallway waiting for Ethan to walk by her.

  Ethan’s shoulders slumped down. “I really didn’t me—”

  “See you tomorrow.”

  Ethan hesitated in the doorway for a moment before stepping out into the hall. Kate closed the door behind him and flipped the lock into place.

  “Fuck.” Ethan’s voice was mostly muffled by the door.

  Kate walked away wanting nothing more than to put her head back down on her pillow. She wasn’t even halfway to her bed when she heard Ethan’s fist hit the wall.

  As she lied there, she wanted to be angry at Ethan, but all she could do was think about the kiss. And the fact that he was right about one thing. Will was extremely good-looking, but it still pissed her off that he’d thought that was the reason she’d let him come into the town. His looks had nothing to do with it, and Ethan had been an ass for even suggesting it.

  Kate didn’t have time to get involved with Ethan. She should have stopped the kiss. No matter how amazing it had been, it shouldn’t have happened.

  She needed to keep her focus on what she wanted. Her step one was to help the town get back to running smoothly after she’d murdered the man who’d been running it, and step two was to get out there beyond the fence to find those who were putting the world back together.

  If she’d learned anything from the kiss… or the argument, it was that she needed to get back on track. To get out of this town.

  First thing in the morning she’d deal with Simon’s prisoners. There were probably several of them locked up only because they’d annoyed Simon for one reason or another. Or maybe on that given day, he’d just felt like imprisoning someone. Kate would have to go to them one by one and figure out their story. She’d play judge and jury, hearing only one side of a story, but she already knew Simon’s story. Perhaps that would be all she needed to know.

  There was also the matter of the locked up Unholy chained to the wall. That, however, would be easy to deal with.

  Kate’s eyes were locked on to a dark stain on the wall that reminded her of the gunk that oozed out of The Unholy. The town was safe, and anything she could ever need was stocked inside, but this wasn’t what she wanted. She didn’t want to be in charge of a town.

  She could leave it to Tommy, or Wayne. Maybe he Ethan would take it. Would he stay behind?

  Kate ignored the flutter in her heart. Fuck Ethan. As far as Kate was concerned, he owed her an apology. But it didn’t really matter. It would be better for him if he did stay behind. Kate was sure that whatever waited beyond the fence wasn’t going to be fun or easy.

  The kitchen was running smoothly, thanks to Laura, and the guards easily picked up where they’d left off. For the most part, the city was running itself, minus the few issues that came up from time to time, but anyone could address them. It wasn’t like Kate had magical powers and was the only one that could fix the minor issues. The town could handle them without her.

  Kate would take care of the prisoners, the chained-up Unholy, give it a few days, and then announce her departure. It’s what she’d always wanted to do, and she was going to do it. She’d travel faster and further on her own. With Simon gone, nothing was keeping her in the town.

  Her eyes closed and her thoughts drifted off to her life before the disease. She’d gone to work every day, worrying about how she was going to afford her bills and food for the month. But there had been phones, the internet… cars. Could the world ever go back to what it had been? Was anyone out there even trying to get it back?

  She couldn’t waste any more time in this town. Kate was determined to find out what was out there.

  Chapter 11

  Kate was in her office waiting for her morning meeting with Tommy, Wayne, and Ethan. She was far from excited to see him after what had happened between them.

  Her eyes settled on her dirty fingernails as her leg nervously bounced up and down. Ethan would show up first, as he always did, and Kate had no idea what she’d even say. She already planned to tell them she was leavi
ng, but she was going to give it a few days before giving them the news.

  They’d try to stop her, but hopefully, they’d ultimately understand. She knew when it came down to it, they wouldn’t stop her.

  The door opened, and Kate fought the urge to look up. She didn’t want to see Ethan’s eyes staring back into hers. It was far too early in the morning for that. But despite a valiant effort, in the end, she’d failed.

  Ethan was there, but he wasn’t alone. He entered Kate’s office laughing and joking around with Tommy and Wayne. It was also far too early in the morning for that too.

  “What’s on the docket today, boss?” Tommy said, with a big grin. His smile faded, and he shoved his hands into his pockets when Kate didn’t smile back.

  “More weapons training?” Wayne asked, scratching the back of his neck.

  “Actually, no, I need your help with something else,” Kate said.

  Ethan pressed his lips together tightly when their eyes met. Kate looked away and tapped her fingers on her desk.

  “What can we help you with?” Tommy asked.

  There was a knock at the door, and all of them turned at nearly the same time.

  “Expecting someone?” Ethan asked.

  Kate rolled her eyes. “People stop by all the time you know that.”

  Tommy and Wayne exchanged a glance thanks to Kate’s tone. Ethan ignored them and turned around to open the door. His back stiffened.

  “What can I do for you?” Ethan asked his voice as sharp as the edge of a razor.

  Kate couldn’t see who was outside, but she had a guess.

  “I’m here to see Kate,” Will said.

  Ethan roughly pulled the door open and stepped to the side. He made a grand flourish, gesturing toward Kate.

  “Um, thanks,” Will said as he looked around the room. “Am I interrupting something?”

  “Kind of,” Ethan mumbled.

  Kate shot him a quick look before waving Will in. “It’s fine, just discussing our plans for the day. What’s up?”

  “I was just wondering if there was anything I could do to help out? If not, might there be somewhere I could get a book or a notebook?” Will asked keeping his eyes on Kate.

  “Actually,” Kate said stubbornly avoiding Ethan’s cold glare, “you can help us.”

  “Oh, um, sure. Sounds great,” Will said, and Kate could tell he was purposefully avoiding Ethan. It was clear he’d picked up on the attitude Ethan was giving him, but it didn’t really seem to bother him that much. “So, what are we doing?”

  “We’re going to,” Kate said hesitating a moment. She’d realized Will didn’t know what things had been like when Simon was in charge. Kate cleared her throat knowing she’d have to explain. “We’re going to go around and question the prisoners.”

  Will’s head bobbed up and down, but Kate could see the questions filling his eyes.

  “What exactly are we going to do?” Ethan asked.

  “We’re just going to talk to them. Listen to their story,” Kate said with a shrug. “I’m guessing some of them shouldn’t be locked up.”

  Will looked around at them trying to understand what was going on. It was clear it didn’t make sense to him, but he didn’t ask questions.

  “Oh, and one other thing.” Kate scratched the side of her head. “The white house on Adams, on the corner… there’s an Unholy in there we’re going to need to dispose of.”

  “Not a problem,” Wayne said looking excited. “It’s been a while.”

  “For you it’s been a long while,” Tommy teased.

  Wayne eyed him. “Please, I’ve killed more of them than you ever will.”

  “I don’t care who does it, just do it,” Kate said, her lips curling into a smirk. “Maybe do it together then you can both add half a tally to your low count.”

  Ethan chuckled but quickly cut it short. “How do you want to do this?”

  “We can all go together, or we can split up,” Kate said keeping her jaw stiff.

  “We can ask questions until the cows come home, but how are we going to know they’re telling us the truth?” Ethan asked.

  Kate rubbed her elbow. “We won’t. We’ll have to use our best judgment. There will be three options for them. The first is that they are let out and can stay in the town, the second is that they’ll be released outside of the fence.”

  “What’s the third?” Tommy asked.

  “They stay exactly where they are,” Kate said. “Sound good?”

  “Sounds good,” Ethan mumbled, and the others nodded in agreement.

  Kate chewed her fingernail and avoided looking in Ethan’s direction. “Together or in groups?”

  “We’ll cover more ground if we break up into groups,” Ethan said jerking his chin toward the door. “I’ll take the boys, you can take Will.”

  Kate's nose twitched, but she forced a smile. “Perfect. We’ll meet up later to discuss.”

  “You got it,” Ethan said opening the door. Tommy and Wayne looked at one another and then back at Kate. They could feel the tension, but thankfully they didn’t comment or ask questions.

  When the men were out of the office, Will took a step closer to Kate. “I’m not sure I’ll be of much help. I don’t really know what’s going on.”

  “Someone else used to be in charge here and to make a long story short, he really screwed things up,” Kate said twisting her neck to the side. The anger seemed to be accumulating in her shoulders making every muscle in her upper body tight.

  “Wrongful imprisonment. I’m up to speed.”

  “Maybe… probably…,” Kate said gesturing toward the door.

  After Kate and Will stepped outside and walked down the road, she saw Ethan stepping into the building that house The Unholy. She wasn’t surprised that’s where they started. Hopefully, they’d burn the body when they were done.

  Kate and Will spent the next several hours going into various buildings questioning the prisoners. There’d been two she’d released after hearing their story, and one that begged to be let out of the town. Kate obliged, and the second he was outside, he ran away from the town without looking back. He hadn’t even cared that Simon was gone, or maybe he didn’t believe it.

  Kate had gotten Will up to speed on everything that had happened, and she was happy that he hadn’t asked many questions. She didn’t have to tell him that she’d been the one to kill Simon. Maybe he’d figured it out, maybe he hadn’t, Kate didn’t care.

  “So, you run this whole place, huh?” Will asked as they walked up to a small house near the burn pit.

  “Not by choice,” Kate muttered.

  Will laughed. “I know I haven’t been here long, but it seems like you’re doing a fine job.”

  “It’s just temporary anyway,” Kate said opening the door to the house.

  “This time I’ll be the bad cop,” Will said bumping his elbow into Kate.

  “What?” Kate said sucking in the word sharply.

  Will laughed. “Kidding.”

  They walked into the house and Kate went to the first locked door. Her hand hovered over her hip as she stepped into the room.

  “Kate?” the woman said as she turned.

  Kate blinked several times. “Maya? What are you doing in here?”

  “Oh my God, Kate!” Maya said charging toward Kate with her arms stretched out. “It is so good to see you!”

  “Oooook,” Kate said patting her on the shoulder, before trying to peel her arms away from her neck.

  It wasn’t like Kate and Maya had been close. In fact, Kate wasn’t sure they’d even really ever talked.

  “What are you doing in here?” Kate asked narrowing her eyes as she looked around.

  “Simon… he… he’s an asshole,” Maya said twisting the ring on her finger. Her eyebrows squeezed together as she crossed her arms. “Why did he send you instead of Philip?”

  Kate rubbed the back of her neck. “Um, I’ve got some news.”

  “Good or bad?” Maya aske
d.

  “Good if you ask me. Simon’s dead.”

  Maya’s face shifted through a myriad of expressions, settling on one Kate couldn’t read.

  “You okay?” Kate asked tilting her head.

  “Yeah, he put me in here,” Maya said rubbing her arms as if a chill had washed over her.

  “What did you do?” Kate said, shaking her head. “I should say, what did he accuse you of doing?”

  Maya huffed. “He said I was getting in his way.”

  “His way? Of what?”

  Maya looked over Kate’s shoulder. “Who’s he?”

  “I’m Will,” he said stepping around Kate as he stretched out his hand.

  Kate narrowed her eyes at him, and Maya stared at his hand. He pulled it back and ran it through his hair.

  “I guess we don’t do that around here,” Will said.

  “He’s new here, helping me out,” Kate said. “You were saying?”

  “Oh right, so like I was saying he put me in here because I was getting in his way. I was trying to stop him from drinking so much and,” Maya said leaning closer and lowering his voice, “I was trying to get him to stop his wild nights. You know, with the women.”

  Kate knew exactly what she was talking about. “He put you in here for that?”

  “Yep,” Maya said crossing her arms. “So, who’s in charge now?”

  “Me. I guess.”

  “Who killed Simon?”

  Kate cocked her head to the side. “What makes you think someone killed him.”

  “Please,” Maya said raising her eyebrows. “It was that tall guy, Ethan, right?”

  Kate couldn’t help but smile. “Ethan? Why would you think it was Ethan?”

  “Simon hated him,” Maya shrugged. “Seemed like only a matter of time before one took out the other.”

  Will’s hand moved up to his mouth to cover his smile.

  “It wasn’t Ethan,” Kate said with a half-frown. “I guess you’ll find out sooner or later… it was me.”

  “You?” Maya looked Kate up and down, after a moment she smiled. “Color me surprised. Who know you had it in you?”

  Maya laughed and hit Kate in the shoulder. Kate stiffened her spine.

  “So, now what do we do? You’re like in charge of everything?” Maya asked.