Skilled and dependable.
Before the event, my lack of trust in my troubled son caused me to load a tracking app on him. Knowing exactly where he was at all times. I never confronted him when he lied, I was just happy when he came home…alive.
Then when he was sentenced to Military school, I had high hopes for him.
In a way, he exceeded my expectations, just not in the world I thought it would be.
Yet, Danny got to see that world.
With the exception of the days Ed led me from Haven and I went with Stacy across the bay, I felt and in a sense was a prisoner.
I wanted to see the world.
I wanted to see cities that had fallen. Turning the ugliness of the end of the world into a beautiful, green post-apocalyptic landscape.
None of that was even a choice.
Not for any of us.
Danny, Sonny, Miles, the soldiers, even Randy, they moved freely. It surprised me that Alex was gone at the crack of dawn. When I heard him come in to kiss the baby, I didn’t think anything of it other than he was starting his day.
I didn’t know until a grumpy Sonny told me Alex was starting his day outside our secure fence and traveling four hundred miles away with my son.
“What’s wrong with you?” I asked Sonny, watching him pull his shoe strings like he had something to prove.
“I wanted to go out there.”
“I know.”
“I’m the only one still cloaked you know,” Sonny said.
“I know.”
“It’s my thing. I’m good at it. But…” he pulled his strings. “Instead.” Another hard pull. “They picked…” Another tug. “Alex.”
“What?”
“You didn’t know?”
“No.”
“Yeah, Beck sent him out with Miles and Danny to scout that storm of Sleepers.”
“I don’t get why they didn’t let you go along.”
Sonny shrugged. “Said he wants me and Randy on the phones.”
“That makes sense. Alex going…doesn’t.”
Sonny stood and gave a good stomp to his foot to fix the fit of his boot. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m mad that I’m not going, but not mad that Alex is. I’m worried. Beck said Alex should lead by example, show he’s not afraid to go out beyond our fence. But…when is the last time Alex did that? There is more to taking them out than just a gun. Other ways, especially if a pack go after you.”
“And we all know Alex isn’t good with packs. I remember how they tore him apart.”
“I do, too, but unfortunately no one else remembers.”
I cringed. “Shoot.”
“You don’t think Beck did that on purpose, do you? I mean, sent him out to die.”
I awkwardly chuckled. “Why would you say that?”
“Get rid of him.”
“For what purpose?”
Sonny just stared at me.
It took a second for his implication to click and I shook my head instantly. “No. Not at all.”
“You’re right. At least Danny and Miles are there with him, I mean if he wanted Alex to die he wouldn’t send those two. Those two are a good thing.”
“You’re really that worried about Alex?” I asked.
“Yes. It’s been a while for him. He’s not prepared.”
“Sonny,” I said softly. “Most of us aren’t.”
“You don’t need to be,” Sonny said and walked to the door. “Just focus on trying to live normally again. You got us to handle the bad stuff.” He flashed that Sonny smile and left.
Living normally.
I supposed each place we called home created a sense of “normal”.
Living at Grace was the closest we had been, then again, it was not long after the event we moved there. A former cult with high walls. We had a house, a commune home big enough for the whole lot of us.
There was a lot.
When we moved into that house, we had nine future kids, Phoenix, Keller, Alex, Sonny, Danny, Jessie and me.
Just before Grace fell, the Stiltons adopted two of the future kids. Still, with the kids and Beck that was fourteen.
At Haven we took an entire pod. Which was a group of cells and in the center, the main area, we made that our living space.
While the hotel at Haven Two wasn’t Grace, it was nice, really nice.
During the two weeks we had been here, an entire wing was dedicated to our family. We had a room that was made into a family room and two banquet tables down the middle of one so we could all eat breakfast or dinner as a unit.
But my life never changed. Pre-Sleeper world, post. I was taking care of the home and kids. Not even in our new place was I given any responsibility.
I had just cleaned up after breakfast, made all the beds. Hope was sleeping and Phoenix and Keller were playing with Legos. The entire time I kept thinking about my conversation with Sonny.
Then Randy showed up.
“Ready to communicate…again?” Randy asked as he stepped inside.
“Setting up the phones?”
“Yep. I’m a pro at this now. Family units get them first. Don’t ask me why.”
“Coffee is on the stove if you want some and…Renee gave me cream. Can I get you a cup?”
“That would be great,” Randy replied.
I walked into the kitchenette, grabbed a mug and made Randy a cup of coffee. “So,” I said as I handed it to him. “Are you able to spare like thirty minutes?”
“What’s up?”
“I really need to talk to Beck and I need someone to stay with the kids.”
“Sure. Go. I’ve been doing this for three hours. I can use a break.”
Excitedly, I darted a kiss to his cheek. “You’re the best. Thank you so much. I won’t be long, I promise.”
Not one for wanting to take advantage of someone babysitting, I hightailed it out of there and made my way to the offices.
I looked for Sonny’s scooter, but couldn’t see it—I figured he had it already.
It took me a few minutes to get to the office building and I had to slow down to catch my breath. I found Beck’s office. His door was open and he was standing, gathering papers at his desk.
I knocked on the arch. “Hey.”
He looked up and smiled. “Hey, this is a surprise.”
“Got a minute?” I asked.
“Absolutely. You wanna sit.”
“Yes.” I walked in, taking the chair across from his desk and Beck sat down.
“What’s going on?”
“Sonny and I were talking.”
“Oh, boy.”
“What?” I asked.
“Is this about Alex going and not him?”
“Sort of. But…Sonny said he was worried about Alex because Alex hasn’t been out there.”
“Alex isn’t alone,” Beck said. “And I’m sure if he’s rusty his instincts will kick in. Besides, those Sleepers are congregating. Chances are slim they’ll run into them.”
“That’s good. But not why I’m here. I’m here because I told Sonny…Beck, none of us are prepared to face Sleepers. I mean you are, Sonny, a select few, but for the most part most people in this community are shit out of luck if we run into a Sleeper. I mean we can shoot…”
Beck raised his eyebrows.
“Not always accurately. But what if there aren’t any guns and we need to rely on skill?”
“You have us.”
“I know.”
“And, Mera,” he said. “I don’t plan on having most of this community facing off against Sleepers.”
“I get that I do. What if it happens, though?”
“It won’t.”
“Beck, what if it does?” I said adamantly. “How am I supposed to protect the kids. I can try, bu
t I have no skills. I haven’t killed a Sleeper since I ran them down with the car that second day or third.”
“You remember that?” Beck smiled.
“Really? You’re smiling.”
“At the memory and…you’re right.”
“I am?”
“You are. Listen, as much as I believe in my heart you won’t need skills, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t have them.”
“Thank you.”
“In fact,” he said. “I’ll start planning a training regiment for anyone wanting to attend.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.” I stood, turned and stopped.
“Something wrong.”
“Sonny said…”
“Oh, boy.”
I sat down. “Funny, but Sonny asked if I thought you sent Alex out there on purpose.”
“I did. So he can lead by example.”
I shook my head. “Sonny thinks it’s so he dies and gets out of the way.”
“Is that what you think?” Beck asked.
“No. Not at all. But I want you to know what Sonny said because others—”
“Mera, I don’t care what others think. Only you. And honestly,” Beck stood and walked over to me. “If I wanted Alex dead, I could have done so. I don’t need Sleepers to do it. Alex drives me nuts.” Beck crouched down before me. “But he’s Alex and I love him to death. No pun intended.”
He reached for my hands and I clutched his. “He drives us all nuts.”
“Mera, I know. I know I made mistakes.”
“I did, too.”
He shook his head. “I got scared. Scared of Alex, scared of what you may have felt for him.”
“Beck…”
“Hear me out,” he said. “I didn’t want to be crushed when you chose to be with him. That…is why I did what I did.”
“I know,” I said. “And you need to know. I was fully committed to you.”
“Was?”
“Figure of speech. Was, am, always, however you want to say it. We started out rough for like a minute.”
Beck shyly smiled. “We did. But, honestly, I started this journey with you. To find Jessie, it was a focus for me after losing everything. It became much more.”
“It did. Beck, you have had my back every step of the way. You’re an amazing father to ten kids now…” I laughed. “You left to give me room to make a choice. I appreciate that. You know, there was a time when you had a choice….”
My mind flashed to years before, to the roof. Sleepers amassed below, the rescue helicopter arriving because the bombs to destroy the city were on their way.
But they weren’t taking my daughter.
“Danny, please.” I pleaded with my son.
“Mom. No!” His words were ragged with emotion. “I love you. I can’t leave you and Jessie. You’re my family!”
“And you’re my son.” I laid both hands on his face. “My son. Please, please, live. Please. I can’t leave your sister. I can’t. I can’t leave her alone on this roof knowing she is going to die. But I can watch you get on that chopper knowing you are going to live.”
Danny whimpered, trying not to cry. “I can’t leave you alone, Mom.”
“She won’t be alone,” Beck said softly. “I’m…I’m not going.”
Both Danny and I looked at him.
“Beck, no,” I told him.
“Mera,” he said calmly, “no argument. Okay? I’m not going. I don’t want to go. So I’ll be here, Danny, with your mom and sister. If I can get us out of this, I will.”
“Beck,” I whispered his name. “I need you to…”
He shook his head. “Do you know why I am still alive? Because I met you and Danny and wanted to help you find Jessie. We did that.” He smiled. “Mission accomplished. Can’t top that one, so I stay put.” He looked at Danny. “Get on the chopper, son. It’s okay.”
Beck stayed. It was a story I told a million times and one I’d tell a million times more. He was willing to die for us.
“You made a choice that night on the roof,” I told him. “And from that moment on, no matter the circumstances, when it came to you…” I clutched his hands tighter and moved my face closer to his. “When it comes to you, there is, was and never ever will be a choice.”
THIRTEEN
SONNY
It was the strangest thing that I found. While checking on the top floor of the hotel for the unaccounted-for Sleeper, I found one of those players cards they give you when you go into a casino. It was from Las Vegas and it immediately brought back memories for me.
I remembered when my parents, me and my wife went to Vegas. It was the summer after Maria and I got married.
I was the big lecturer.
Don’t gamble. See the sights and lights. Until I put that twenty dollar bill in the slot machine.
It was one of those video ones with all kinds of bonuses. Suffice to say, I didn’t win. My father ended up pulling me to the casino after I took our rent out of the ATM.
I vowed not to gamble again. Yet, in this world, all I did was gamble. Only it wasn’t money.
I checked and cleared that entire top floor. Not that we would be needing it anytime soon, but I was bound and determined to find that missing Sleeper. If it even existed.
Randy was checking in periodically about the phones, ringing back to Beck and everywhere else, driving Renee and Bonny insane I supposed.
I thought a lot about Alex, Danny and Miles and their trip. By my calculations they were arriving at the spot where they could locate the storm.
Once they knew what we were facing, I wondered what the next step of the plan would be. I wandered that top floor, a space reserved for higher ranking officials. The rooms were bigger and nicer. I was thinking of taking that floor for myself.
At the end of the long hallway was a window that overlooked the base.
Peering out of it, I didn’t realize it also overlooked the bay. I could see the man from across the bay get out of his boat, carrying a crate.
Who was he and why did this man chose to live all by himself? I got that circumstances prior dictated it but we had been on base for two weeks. We were a community, I would think, that if his mission was to get the Sandman like Mera said, and if he truly believed the Sandman was with us, why wouldn’t he live among us?
I needed to know more about him and given that I had some time, I thought the trip across the bay would be exactly what was needed.
See for myself what he was up to, get a feel for him.
I left the top floor and made my way down, stopping to see Beck to let him know where I was going.
“Is it that important?” he asked me.
“I don’t know. I just know he came from the future, that’s what he says and wants to take out the Sandman. So in an essence we’re on the same team. But…we just want to do it differently. We want to cure the Sandman so he doesn’t become that…what does Alex call him?’
“Super Shredder.”
“Yeah, that.”
“Yes, we do want to take a different route. Do me a favor, get Randy to go with you.”
“I think I can handle this guy by myself.” I laughed at the notion that I’d need Randy for protection.
“Just don’t go there alone, that’s all,” Beck said. “I know you can handle him. The other question…get a feel for the other fourteen that came. What they look like, where they are, will they expose themselves.”
“You got it. I won’t belong, unless you know, he’s cooking crab.” I turned to leave.
“Sonny?” Beck called out stopping me.
“Yeah.”
“Where’s your…‘I’m bringing Macho back’ Tee shirt?”
“In my room. I wore it yesterday.”
“Is it real dirty?” Beck asked.
“No
t really. Why?”
“I think you should wear it.”
“Oh, okay. Sure.”
It was as strange request but I understood. I guess I looked tougher in that tee shirt and Beck wanted me to look intimidating.
I could hear the baby crying when I got back to what I called our wing of the hotel. We occupied half the third floor while the Stiltons took the other half. I figured Danny would be leaving soon once he and Patty had the baby.
While I wanted that top floor as my lair, I wasn’t going to leave the family.
I change my shirt and popped in the main room to see Mera. She was walking around, holding Hope.
“Everything good?” I asked.
“Yeah, she’s just fussy. Needs Beck.”
“He has the magic touch.”
“He’s the baby whisperer,” she said. “You weren’t around when we found Phoenix—man was he good with him. Didn’t you wear that shirt yesterday?”
“I did. Do I smell?”
Mera leaned into me and sniffed. “Nope. You smell good as always.”
“Thanks, Mera. Hey, um…I’m headed over to the man across the bay.”
“Peter?”
“Yes, Peter.”
“Why?” she asked.
“I wanna get a feel for him, and Beck thought it would be a good idea.”
“Well, be careful.”
“I will.”
“Sonny…can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“I know you want to go, and if you don’t have an answer, that’s fine, you can think about it, you know, while you’re rowing across the bay.”
“What’s up?”
“I’m telling you this because you’re really special to me and we’re very close.”
“I know this,” Sonny said.
“I need to tell Alex that…that…he and I can’t….”
“Can’t…?” It took me a second. “Whoa. Was he expecting it?”
“I don’t know. But I don’t want to mislead him or think there’s a chance. I love Alex. I love him very much, but I need to go where my heart tells me to go.”
“And that is?”
“Come on Sonny, I think we both know, don’t we? We know where my heart says I should be, don’t we?”
The second she cocked that eyebrow I wanted to blurt out “fuck”, but I didn’t. Instead, I nodded and told her I would think about it on my way.
Sleepers | Book 8 Page 5