“It’s Max! Big Max? We worked together. You trained me.”
“Right,” Jamie said bobbing his head as the memory came back.
“How are you doing?” Max asked.
Jamie’s mouth opened, but no words came out.
“Oh right,” Max said. “Forgot about all the shit that happened. Looks like you manage to avoid the sickness. You look good considering.”
“Thanks… I think,” Jamie said.
“Well I meant it as a compliment,” Max said wearing a big grin that displayed his perfectly white teeth.
Paul looked back and forth between the two men before clearing his throat. “We should get moving.”
“Hey,” Jamie said leaning closer to Max. He whispered something quickly and then took a step back.
“I’ll take good care of her,” Max said with a quick salute. “I promise you that.”
Max jerked his head toward the building, and Jamie reluctantly stepped back inside. He offered him a subtle nod before closing the door and fastening the padlock.
I followed Paul away from the building, Max at my side. My arms were wrapped so tightly around my middle I was struggling to take in full breaths.
We walked by two other large shed-like buildings similar to ours before turning into a small building that resembled a tiny home. It looked like it had been constructed relatively recently.
“Come on in,” Paul said pushing open the door and stepping to the side.
Max stayed outside the building. I could see his shadow through the small curtain at the top of the door.
“Have a seat,” Paul said gesturing toward a faded red loveseat.
I sat down and folded my hands in my lap. My eyes quickly moved around the room.
There was a small pristine kitchen with a door at the back. Another door, just to my right was open wide enough that I could see that it was a bedroom.
“Is this your home?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“How nice, you have windows,” I said, sourness saturating my tone.
Paul grinned. “Play your cards right, and you’ll have your very own windows soon enough. So,” Paul said leaning back in his brown leather chair, “tell me about yourself.”
“There isn’t anything to tell,” I said shaking my head.
“Of course, there is. Basically, what we’re interested in is your skill-set. What did you do before the attack?”
“So, it was an attack? Do you know anything about what happened?” I asked leaning forward.
Paul shook his head. “I do not have any insider knowledge if that’s what you’re asking. Like everyone else we’ve talked to, all I know is that it was some kind of attack. I take it by your reaction you don’t have any further information?”
“No,” I said slumping back.
“Anyway, tell me, what are you good at doing, Gwen?” Paul asked.
I shook my head. “Nothing. I wasn’t good at anything before, and I’m even worse at everything now.”
“Everyone has a skill,” Paul said. “We’ll figure yours out with a little soul searching. Is there anything you were passionate about before the attack?”
“No.” And if there had been, I wasn’t about to tell Paul the absolute stranger.
“You’ve survived this far, you’re clearly skilled. What did you do to survive?”
I pressed my lips together and raised my brow. “Fell in with the right people. I guess. Or maybe we’ve just been lucky.”
“You’re not giving me much to work with, Gwen,” Paul said letting the disappointment show in his eyes. “We have lots of open positions. Servers, cooks, gardening, recruiting, runners—”
“Runners? What is that exactly?”
Paul smiled at my interest. “Someone who goes out and collects supplies. Right now, the team is full.”
“Oh,” I said letting my own disappointment show.
“Have you ever given birth?” Paul asked keeping his chin down as his eyes peered up at me.
I squinted at him. “No. What does that have to do with anything?”
“One of our standard questions. Well, I’ll make a note of your interest, however,” Paul said with a heavy blink, “we need a certain amount of trust with our runners. We need to know they’re going to come back.”
“Of course. That makes sense,” I said. It wasn’t like I had the time to sit around proving I’d be loyal. I needed to be out there finding Nick now, not weeks from now.
Paul continued to talk. I listened as he went on about the morning routine, the lunch routine, and it was around then I zoned out.
I didn’t care about their routines. What I cared about was finding a way out of this place. We needed to not be locked up. We needed to figure out a way out of the fence. And do it all while not being shot in the back.
“That’s all for now,” Paul said standing up. “We’ll talk again soon.”
“Oh, okay,” I said wondering if Paul had noticed that I hadn’t been able to pay attention to his words.
I was tired. Scratch that, I was exhausted and there wasn’t any amount of sleep I could get in this place that would help.
“And don’t worry,” Paul said walking with me over to the door. “We’ll figure something out for you. See you tomorrow for your first adjustment class.”
“Adjustment class?” I asked.
His face pinched up. “The classes I was just telling you about.”
“Oh, right, the adjustment classes,” I said forcing a smile. Hopefully, Jamie and Danny would pay better attention and they could explain it to me after their evaluation. I didn’t want to let Paul know I hadn’t been paying attention. I didn’t want to upset Paul.
“Let’s head back and get your roommate,” Paul said opening the front door.
Max stepped to the side and smiled at me. I wanted to smile back, but I didn’t have the energy, and I still wasn’t sure what I thought of Jamie’s old buddy Max.
As we made our way back to my metal prison, I noticed that our building wasn’t far from the fence. The only problem was the wound-up amounts of barbed wire at the top. Even if we got out of our cell, I wasn’t sure we’d be able to get over the rusted-up clumps of needled metal.
Max opened the door, and Jamie was there pulling me to him as he looked at the men over my shoulder. He looked me up and down before pushing me protectively behind him.
“Did they hurt you?” Jamie asked quickly.
I shook my head.
“Don’t be silly,” Paul said widening his stance. “Your turn, James.”
“Jamie.”
“Isn’t that kind of a nickname for James?” Paul asked.
Jamie exhaled. “Not in my case.”
“My sincerest apologies. Your turn,” Paul said nodding at Max.
“It’s fine,” I said in Jamie’s ear. “Just questions.”
Jamie’s head bobbed slightly in a barely noticeable nod. “I’ll be back.”
And with that, they were gone. When they locked the door again, Danny shuddered.
He twisted his fingers in front of his body as he paced the floor. Danny was so nervous it radiated out of him and pinged as it bounced against the metal walls.
“Paul just talks to you. It’s quick and painless,” I said trying to ease his concerns.
“For now, but what about next time?” Danny looked at the door as if he was going to throw himself into it. “I can’t stand another minute trapped inside here.”
He took another step and paused when we heard what sounded like a gunshot. Danny ducked and stared at me as he waved his hands at me to get down. My heart started to race as I pressed my palms to the wall and listened.
“Did you hear that?” I whispered knowing that he had.
Both of us jerked back when another shot rang out. “What the hell?”
Feet scuffling against the ground outside our building made my palms sweat. Voices started shouting what sound like commands.
“Jamie,” I muttered at the wall wi
shing it could answer me. Tell me where he was. And if the wall was granting my request, the door opened.
The gunshots were louder. It sounded like we were in the middle of a battle zone.
Jamie stepped into the room, and the door didn’t close behind him. “Tom’s enemies are here.”
“I don’t care!” I said, my eyes focused on the opened door. “Let’s find a way out of here!”
Jamie shook his head. “We can’t. We’re surrounded.”
Chapter 27
“There has to be a way,” I said fighting back the tears. Tears of frustration. And as if the weather sensed my mood… rain started pouring down just outside the door. It tapped loudly on the metal roof.
A low rumble of thunder hid the sounds of the gunshots. Paul pushed Jamie to the side and stepped into the room.
“Either you all show you’re with us and fight, or you get down, and I lock the door.” Paul's eyes were red and his hands were shaking. “Decide now.”
I wasn’t about to fight for them. The screams I could hear not that far off warned me against stepping into Tom’s war.
I didn’t give my actions much thought. Even though I could see Max standing just outside the door with his gun ready, I pushed Paul so hard he tripped over his own feet and tumbled to the ground.
“Let’s go!” I said grabbing Jamie’s hand as I gestured for Danny to follow. We had to make a move while Tom’s men were busy.
We stepped out into the rain. Max shifted his gun from us to something that sounded like it was approaching.
“What are you waiting for?” Paul screeched. “Shoot them.”
Max stared at whatever was coming. After a second, he lined up a shot, but it wasn’t at us.
“Max!” Paul shouted. “Fine,” he said reaching behind him and pulling out a pistol. “I’ll do it myself.”
“Oh crap,” Danny said grabbing my arm.
Paul pulled the trigger, and Jamie grunted. “Shit!”
“Dammit, Paul!” Max said shaking his head. The gunshots were getting closer. The volume of the shouting was increasing. There were so many cries it sounded like a sea of injured people wailing for help.
“Do something!” Paul demanded, and Max finally looked at us. His gun was still pointed to whatever was making its way through the camp. “Shit.”
Max lifted his boot and kicked Paul back to the ground. Paul’s eyes were wide with shock as he looked up at Max.
“He’s going to kill you,” Paul said. “That was really, really stu—”
Max’s boot to the face cut Paul’s sentence short. “I’m a dead man walking.” He turned to us with eyes bubbling with anger.
Blood was streaming out of the wound just below Jamie’s shoulder, but he ignored it and stood in front of Danny and I. I couldn’t see his face, but I could tell he was breathing heavily.
Another gunshot rang out, and Max turned his back to us, aiming his gun between the buildings. He shook his head and glanced at us over his shoulder.
“You guys want out?” Max said.
“Yes,” I answered without hesitation.
“Good choice,” Max said turning toward the back of the camp. He skipped as he took two steps. “Follow me.”
We weaved between several more metal prisons, the sounds of the gunshots diminished slightly as we put distance between us.
“What are they going to do to you?” Jamie asked as we stepped closer to the fence.
“Paul will probably have them kill me,” Max said pushing at the fence. “Especially if they find out I helped you three escape.”
“Come with us,” Jamie said.
Max looked as though he considered it for a second but then shook his head. “I don’t want to go out there. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to be in here either, but I got a bum knee. I won’t get far, and I don’t want to hold you guys back.”
“You’re sure?” I asked.
Max nodded. “I’m positive.” He lifted a portion of the fence about a foot off of the ground. “Go on, before they make their way over here.”
“Thanks, Max,” Jamie said quickly shaking his hand. “I owe you one.”
“Who knows, maybe one day I’ll come to collect,” Max said with a chuckle, but there was a distant look in his eyes. The kind that showed he already knew his future was questionable. “Hurry. Get out of here before someone sees you. Tom’s men, or his enemies… neither are any good.”
Jamie nodded and motioned for me to go through the fence. I got down on my stomach and wiggled my way under the jagged metal that scraped at my back even through my clothing.
When I was through I stood. My mouth dropped as I saw the men I didn’t recognize approaching.
Max followed my gaze and grunted as he pressed his lips together. Danny had just pulled his feet through when Max dropped the fence and turned to aim his gun.
“Jamie!” I said wrapping my fingers around the metal.
“Go!” he said letting his hand fall away from the wound at his shoulder. His eyes shifted over to Danny. “Take her… get out of here… explain.”
“Explain? Explain what?” I asked, my heart racing so fast it was making me lightheaded. It felt as though I had suddenly been sucked inside a dream.
“Halt!” the men shouted.
I reached down for the fence, pulling to lift it the same way Max had, but my strength didn’t allow for the same amount of space Max had been able to achieve.
“Jamie, hurry!” I begged.
His eyes locked with mine and I instantly knew he wasn’t coming. I also knew that there wasn’t anything I could do to change his mind.
“You have to go. There’s no time,” Jamie said pressing his hand to the fence. “I love you. Now, go.” He turned to Danny and raised his voice. “Go!”
I held the fence tighter, but Danny wrapped his arms around my middle and yanked me away. He was strong… much stronger than I’d been prepared for.
“I’m not leaving without him,” I said as Danny pulled me through the tall grasses.
“I don’t want to leave him either, but we don’t have a choice,” Danny said.
Sourness bubbled up my esophagus. “Of course we do!”
“Look,” Danny said staring into my eyes, “he’s not coming. There isn’t anything you can do to change his mind.”
I didn’t understand. If Nick could survive a gunshot wound, surely Jamie could at least try to fight for his life from his. There was no reason to give up, especially not yet.
“Jamie, please!” I shouted, and Danny clamped his hand down of my mouth. There were rustling sounds in the shrubs off to our left.
Jamie turned and flashed me a tight-lipped smile. There was so much sorrow in his eyes it made my bones ache.
I didn’t understand. My feet were refusing to move even though Danny was dragging me with all of his might.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t pull my eyes off of Jamie. Not even when his body jerked back, and Max started shooting rapidly at the small group closing in on them.
“Oh my God!” I said between Danny’s loosening fingers. “No! Oh, dear God, no!”
Tears were rolling down my cheeks before Jamie’s body dropped to the ground. He pushed himself up to his hands and knees, but it only took one more shot to drop him to the ground.
“Come on, Gwen, please keep moving,” Danny pleaded as he tried to turn me away from the gruesome scene.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was forgetting something. But of course, I knew I felt that way because I was leaving Jamie behind.
“We have to go faster,” Danny said looking over his shoulder. I followed his gaze but didn’t see anything. “They're going to come looking for us when they find out we’re gone.”
“Do I even care?” I asked.
“You do,” Danny said with a heavy sniff. “Nick’s still out there. Your grandma.”
The front of my shirt was wet with tears. “We shouldn’t have left him behind.”
“There
wasn’t anything we could have done to save him.” Danny squeezed his eyes shut for a moment before looking at me. He knew something. Something I didn’t know. Something about Jamie.
Danny looked over his shoulder again and picked up our pace. He was leading us toward a small grouping of trees in the distance, but I had no idea if it was the way we wanted to go.
“I don’t understand what happened back there,” I said keeping my voice low. I wasn’t sure, but I thought I’d heard shouting not too far behind us.
Danny let out a heavy sigh. “He promised me not to tell.”
“Tell me what?”
He grabbed my hands and led me into the trees. Danny stopped for a moment and scanned the area behind us. “I can tell you now, but I wish we were further away.”
“Tell me what?” I said too loudly as my hands balled up into tight fists at my side.
Danny squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. “I’ll tell you if you promise to keep moving… we have to.”
“Fine. I promise.”
Danny grabbed my arm and kept leading us away from our kidnappers. “He was dying.”
“What? Nick survived a gunshot, he could have at least tried—”
“No,” Danny said shaking his head. “I saw it when he leaned forward… you were sleeping.”
“Saw what exactly?”
Danny swallowed. “His chest. The cloud poisoned him.”
Chapter 28
Everything around me started to spin. I had no idea which way we’d even come from. I opened my mouth to say something, but no words would come out.
“His chest was black… the veins were sticking out. He wasn’t sure how much more time he had,” Danny said. “He made me promise not to say anything to you.”
“Why would he keep that from me?” I said the words scratching my throat.
“He was going to tell you. He was waiting for the right time,” Danny said ducking under a low hanging tree branch.
I thought back to our time together… when I’d reached for his shirt, he held my hands away from him. He hadn’t wanted me to see, and now I knew why.
I wasn’t sure how I could feel so much anger and so much sadness all at the same time. Jamie and I had been in this together since the first day. I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to keep going without him.
The Red Sky Series Box Set Books 1-4: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Series Page 30