Sanctuary: Seeking Asylum Book 1

by SM Olivier

  It felt like a lead ball hit my stomach. Mom was very forgetful in the end. The disease had made her a shell of the person she once was. She nearly became unrecognizable. Some people couldn’t handle seeing her that way or even visit her because of her mood swings and mental deterioration. Aunt Pam and Aunt Carol had rarely left her side, though, when Dad needed a break.

  They had taken everything in stride and showed me the meaning of true friendship and love. I had admired them all my life and strived to be like them one day.

  I never knew Mom had dreams of our partners or our marriages. One day, when I was mentally and emotionally prepared, I wanted to ask my aunt more about their conversation.

  “I−” I paused, at a loss for words.

  Aunt Pam smiled and patted my cheek once more. “We’ll talk about it one day. I just wanted to let you know that I’m sure she would approve of your new arrangements, just as I do.”

  I was happy she understood my need to be emotionally and mentally prepared to hear more. I loved hearing stories about my mother and learning the other side I rarely caught a glimpse of. Now, however, wasn’t the time, especially after Emery’s theatrics tonight.

  “Thanks, Aunt Pam.” My voice came out shaky, and my eyes burned from unshed tears.

  “Come on, Pam,” Aunt Carol bade her. “I think our future daughter-in-law has been thrown enough feelings tonight.”

  I gasped and laughed at the same time, looking at Corbin and Wyatt for a little help. Nope! They both just laughed.

  Corbin came up behind me and slipped his arms around my waist. “I like the sound of that,” he murmured in my ear.

  “Stop!” I protested, my maudlin thoughts dashed away at the mischievousness in his tone. “We’re just starting to get to know each other again. We may grow sick of each other in a few weeks!”

  “Not likely,” Wyatt smirked as his dad let him go.

  “Oh, I’m sure you’ll get sick of M&M,” Uncle Mitch roguishly said as he grinned at me. “These boys will never tire of your beauty and kindness, dear niece.”

  I gaped at him. M&M was my secret family nickname for them.

  “M& M?” Kingston inquired with an evil grin.

  “Uncle Mitch!” I protested loudly.

  Uncle Mitch chuckled.

  “I’m Mischief.” Corbin smirked.

  Wyatt grinned. “I’m Misfit.”

  “We teased her a lot growing up,” Corbin said with zero shame.

  “Sounds about right.” Kingston smirked.

  They all began to laugh at my expense, and I rolled my eyes. “Come on, let’s figure out who’s doing what so I can have it finalized and wheel this bad boy into the dining hall.” I pointed to the presentation pad that Uncle Mitch had located for me. After I had finished transcribing our notes onto the whiteboard, I had to transfer it to the presentation pad. The idea was that, when everyone came down for breakfast, we’d all know who was going where. We had every intention of letting everyone know it was temporary and probational duty.

  We realized not everyone was going to like where they were going or even be useful in that capacity we were provisionally placing them in. But we did want everyone to find their niche here. Some people might have multiple talents, while others might find a new one in the coming weeks and months. We were trying to navigate these unchartered territories to the best of our ability.

  “Aww is someone getting embarrassed?” Kingston teased me before bopping my nose.

  I snarled playfully at him. Honestly, I should be embarrassed. Even though I was emotionally wrung out tonight, I felt lighter than I had since our confrontation with Emery. Still, I was more relaxed now, knowing I had the support of my family in this unconventional relationship I had with the guys.

  “Come on, boys,” Axel said gruffly. “Let’s get serious so that Avery can get her sleep.”

  Kingston sighed loudly. “Fine, let’s−” he began before the clang and chime of a bell went off.

  We all paused and looked at each other in confusion. From the distinct sound of the bell, I knew it came from the campers’ cabins. My brows furrowed before a feeling of premonition grazed my stomach, into my heart, and up to my throat.

  I didn’t think, I just reacted. I grabbed my sais off the chair I had been sitting on. I don’t think my feet hit the ground as adrenaline coursed through my veins. I vaguely registered Axel and Corbin falling into step beside me.

  As we entered the chilly night air, my blood curdled in fear as I heard the screams of frightened people. It was closely followed by screams of infected. I witnessed people getting attacked as they tried to run away into the night and saw some infected dashing with inhuman speed towards Aunt Pam, Aunt Carol, and little James.

  Chapter 22

  “Everyone stay on me,” Axel barked out as he began heading towards Aunt Pam, Aunt Carol, and James since they were the closest.

  I never witnessed the infected at night. During the day, they scared me. At night, the paralyzingly fear petrified me.

  “Get inside, now!” Uncle Mitch screamed at the women.

  They had just closed the door when one of the infected reached them, tearing the screen door and ripping it clear off the door frame right where Aunt Pam stood. Axel’s feet didn’t even touch the stairs as he leaped onto the porch. The terrifying screams of Aunt Carol and James wasn’t a sound I would ever forget.

  Bane came from no where, snarling, his teeth pulled back, and if I hadn’t known any better, I would have been terrified of him. He placed himself between Aunt Carol and James, and I was thankful he had seemed reluctant to leave Isa’s side earlier tonight. I knew animals had a keen sense of danger, but had he known this?

  The sounds of Axel's feet pounding on the wooden slats reverberated in my skull.

  “Mom!” Corbin yelled, his voice breaking as the infected fell on top of Aunt Pam. The infected dragged her further out onto the porch as if he wanted to avoid Bane’s viscous snaps.

  I opened my mouth to scream in terror, but no sound came out. If Kingston hadn’t nudged me as he ran past, I would have stayed frozen in fear. I didn’t want to see if the infected had latched onto my beloved aunt.

  Axel launched himself at the back of the infected hovering over Aunt Pam. Another infected was reaching for Axel just as Corbin hurled a knife into its eyes. He didn’t stop moving as he slashed at the next person. A woman that I recognized as one of our new members bared her teeth at Corbin and launched herself towards his arm. I surged forward with my sai, connecting with her temple before turning towards the next infected. I turned just in time as another man went to grab me by my hair and yank me back into his gaping maw. I sliced out at him, grazing his cheek in my panic.

  As he loomed even closer, I pulled my sai from the first infected’s temple, and with both hands, struck out at the infected man. One of my sais landed in his neck, spraying his coagulated blood on my chest and chin. I closed my eyes and mouth just in time as I felt and smelled the metallic scent of blood striking me in the face. I tried to remember where the man was as I hit him with my other sai. The man fell, my hair still grasped in his meaty paws.

  I really regret not putting my hair back, was my last thought as I stumbled back. The feeling of free-falling was alarming, and I hoped my aim had struck true. I was too afraid to open my eyes, too worried that his blood would enter them and infect me.

  “I got you, goddess,” I recognized one of the twin's voices. Without my sight, it was hard to tell which one of them it was. I never noticed how alike they sounded until that moment.

  I was pulled into a chest before a cloth touched my face. “Don’t open your eyes,” he said in soothing tones.

  “Was she bitten?” I heard his twin ask in panic, right as Corbin cried out in relief.

  “I’m fine, I’m fine,” I heard Aunt Pam laugh shakily. “Phew, that was a close one!”

  “Good boy, Bane,” I heard Aunt Carol murmur. “I’m making you a steak for that one, buddy.”

  Ironi
cally enough, Aunt Carol hadn’t liked my dog upon meeting him, even though he was still a puppy. She wanted to believe that the media was correct when identifying dog breeds and their attacks. She was afraid that, since Bane had Pit Bull in him, he would turn one day. I had a feeling she’d be viewing him in a much different light in the future.

  “Get inside and lock the door,” Uncle Mitch said gruffly. “I’ll come and let you know when everything's taken care of.”

  “Good job, Bane,” I heard Axel praise the dog as well. “Now, stay.”

  I felt a wet cloth stroke my face. “Just a little more, goddess,” the twin holding me murmured reassuringly.

  I was shaking like a leaf. I felt like I was going to get sick. It felt like forever as my face was wiped down of the nasty bodily fluid.

  “Okay, angel, open up,” the other twin instructed me.

  “Ave, why don’t you stay with Aunt Pam and Mom?” Wyatt instructed as I blinked my eyes open.

  I was beyond petrified as I looked up into Kingston’s eyes. I should have recognized it was him, considering the fact he’d called me goddess. He had called me that once before.

  “You’re okay, none got in your eyes,” he reassured me as he pulled me in close.

  I melted into his embrace. I just wanted to break down and cry. I wanted to crawl into the house and hide. I looked over at Aunt Pam, Aunt Carol, and James hovering in the doorway as Uncle Mitch clutched them to his chest. He kissed all three of them tenderly, and I was reassured they would be okay as Aunt Carol insisted that Uncle Mitch figure out what was going on.

  Another scream rent the air. Chills slid down my spine as I saw an infected chasing after Ricky, Mike’s little brother. I knew then I couldn’t break down or hide in fear. There were people out there that needed me.

  I pulled away from Kingston and nuzzled his neck. “Thank you,” I whispered before I grabbed the railing, jumped over it into the flower bed, and ran in the direction of the boathouse.

  My determined gaze never left Ricky’s as he slid into the boathouse. I watched in mortification as the three infected followed him in.

  “Avery!” Wyatt yelled at me.

  “No,” I yelled back, not breaking stride. I didn’t have time to stop and argue with him.

  I reached the boathouse seconds before Kingston and Easton. The three infected were trying to push over a canoe, and I reached for the closest one, while Kingston struck out with his kamas. For the first time, I got to witness Easton in action with his nunchucks. I watched in awe and fascination as Easton’s nunchucks whistled through the air and wrapped around an infected’s throat. I blinked− it had happened that fast− and the infected was lying on the ground, his head twisted at an awkward angle. Easton whipped his nunchucks back to himself, his wrist turning fluidly as he swung the weapon back over his shoulder.

  With a swiftness I was both shocked and impressed by, Kingston finished the kill.

  “Ricky,” I called out in fear.

  “Hewe,” he called out in a trembling voice.

  I nearly sobbed at the sound of his sweet lisp.

  A light was turned on behind us, and I saw Ricky illuminated in the bow of one of the canoes. He was curled into a tight little ball as far back as he could get.

  “Are you okay, buddy?” Corbin asked as he stepped forward with the flashlight.

  “Yes,” he sobbed. “Mike wung the bell. She told me to wun with Molly, but I lost her. I lost her,” he shrieked with his lisps. “Mike is going to be so mad at me.”

  “We’ll go find her, come on, buddy, we got to take you somewhere safe,” Corbin held out a hand.

  “Mike will just be happy you’re safe,” Wyatt tried to reassure him.

  Ricky didn’t seem reassured as he eyed us with fear. It was apparent he was still frightened out of his mind.

  “I’ll go get him,” Uncle Mitch rasped. “You help everyone else.”

  “You can’t go alone,” Wyatt insisted.

  “I’ll go with your dad,” Easton reassured Wyatt grimly. “I’ll take Ricky to the med clinic to inspect him.”

  I felt sick once more. The idea that a boy so young could get infected turned my stomach. If he was turned, then what? I didn’t know what we would do in that situation.

  “Avery, you should go with them, too,” Wyatt said grimly.

  “Not right now, Wy,” I begged him. “I can be of greater help out there.”

  Another scream rent the air as if punctuating my point. Until the infected were cleared, we had no clue how many people were injured. Easton needed to return to get the clinic set up. Uncle Mitch had enough combat medical knowledge to be of help. My presence would just be overkill until the dust settled.

  “Let’s move out,” Axel commanded, his eyes running over me as another inhuman shriek sounded nearby. “Eden, our girl comes with us.”

  I saw Wyatt open his mouth to protest, but his military training was deeply embedded in him, so he snapped his jaw closed and jerkily nodded. He knew he couldn’t argue with his commanding officer, and even though they were no longer in the field, Axel still held power over him in times like these.

  Axel turned to leave first, and we followed. We made our way up the hill. The following ten minutes, thirty minutes, hour−hell if I knew how much time had passed—went by in a blur. As a unit, Axel, Corbin, Wyatt, Kingston, and I worked together taking down infected.

  My chest was heaving, and I didn’t think I would ever be able to breathe again as we neared the campers’ cabins. We met up with Chad, Joe, Cal, BJ, and Mike at the bathrooms. We turned to assess our surroundings. My eyes strained as I heard grunting off to the right. Wyatt and Kingston pulled out their flashlights, scanning the area.

  I nearly cried out in warning as I saw Trevor approximately forty feet from us. He was taking shots at a couple of infected. It was clear his adrenaline was too high as he continued to miss. He didn’t even hear the four other infected running up behind him. Axel and Corbin reached down to their hips, pulled out their guns− damn near in sync− and took careful aim, shooting the infected one by one and dispatching all of them in less than four seconds. Their ability to work together would never cease to impress me.

  Trevor looked over at us in relief before he headed towards the lake. “Thanks,” he mumbled as he ran shaking hands through his hair.

  “Wait up. What are you even doing out here, Trev?” Corbin asked in a tight voice as he ran over to him. He embraced Trevor into a hug, then released him. I knew that, even though they may be at odds with each other, they still loved each other.

  Trevor walked over to the deck boxes located near the lake. It was usually full of beach toys and inflatables. He reached down, and when he stood, I nearly cried out in relief when I saw Molly’s little arms wrapped around his neck.

  “I was taking a walk around the lake when all hell broke loose,” he explained. “That’s when the bell began to ring. I saw a boy and this little one getting chased. She was nearly in the lake when I stuck her in there until it was safe.”

  “Molly!” Mike cried out as she ran towards the little girl. “Where’s Ricky?”

  “Ricky’s safe,” Corbin reassured her. “He’s down at the med shack. Chad, would you mind taking them so we can do a final sweep and start the cleanup?”

  “No problem,” Chad nodded. “Come on, mini-warrior,” he bade Mike before looking over at me with a tilt of his lips. “If you’re a little warrior, this one here is a mini- warrior.”

  I smiled at his attempt to alleviate a stressful and scary situation.

  Mike seemed to preen at his praise before muttering positively. “I did what I had to.”

  “And warned us all,” BJ reminded her before swinging an arm around her shoulders and hugging her.

  In the beam of the flashlight, I was pretty sure I saw her blushing under his attention.

  “I gotta go get my brother,” Mike murmured before stumbling back. She had her head down and wouldn’t even look up at BJ.

&nbs
p; That wasn’t like the girl with grit I had come to know. She’d spent all afternoon working and had no problem telling people what should or shouldn’t be done, in regards to the animals or farming in general. There was no doubt her grandparents had leaned on her and had her helping them from a very young age.

  “Where’s your other brother, uh… Carson, right?” I asked her in concern, hoping to help her from her adolescent awkwardness.

  “Mike rang the bell and started running some of the little ones towards the loft in the barn,” Joe explained as he pointed in the direction of our cabins. “I ran into her as she was coming back out to fight off the infected. Felix, Josh, and Amy took the kids on the quads to Sylvia and Officer Miller in Sleepy Pines,”

  Our cabin, Sylvia's cabin, Officer Rhys Miller’s, and two other vacant cabins, shared a patch of land Nana named Sleepy Pines. Sleepy Pines was the closest set of cottages, but if you continued down the dirt road, other cabins were there. Not all of them were set up like ours, and some of them offered a lot more seclusion. We chose our cabin because of its vicinity to the central part of the camp and because it housed the smaller cottages. On one of the farthest points of Sanctuary Lakes’ developed land, there was a cabin large enough to sleep thirty people.

  “It’s probably best if they stay there for now,” Axel agreed with a nod. “Let’s do our sweep and begin to burn the dead. Did anyone check them over for… bites?”

  “Mike was able to get them to safety before they even encountered any infected,” Cal reassured us.

  “We should recheck them,” Axel insisted.

  We all stopped in the quiet of the now-still night and looked about us. It was dark, but the landscape lighting strategically placed on the paths was enough to illuminate some of the carnage.