They nodded, and then Amanda met his eyes pointedly. “Let’s get out of here. We don’t know if there are any more out here.”

  Harlen went to Gretchen, wrapping the woman in a bear hug. He looked at Austin before silently passing him, Gretchen on one side of him and Malachi on the other. Austin knew it had been too much for the trio. They needed to recuperate.

  “Wait!” Austin called out.

  Harlen turned back. “We’re going back to the house.”

  “I know, but take these. We need the weapons,” he said, picking up two of the automatics, handing one to Malachi and one to Harlen.

  He’d had no intention of giving one to Gretchen, but she held out her hand. “I’ll carry one,” she whispered.

  Austin silently gave her the weapon. He knew she was going to be struggling with what she’d done for a long time. He hated that she’d had to kill a man, too, but was grateful she’d found the strength to do it. The three of them walked ahead, leaving him and Amanda behind with their promise that they’d catch up.

  “Thank you,” he said, though the words felt incredibly inadequate.

  “Of course,” she replied, shrugging—as if killing six men wasn’t a big deal.

  “Are you okay?” He stopped her when she moved to follow the others.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Amanda, are you sure you’re okay?” he asked again.

  She let out a long sigh. “I’m fine, really I am. I’ve been trained for this. I’m somewhat desensitized to what happened here. It’s them I’m worried about.”

  He realized that she must have gone back into soldier mode, and that was the new vibe he was getting off of her. She really was fine, even if they couldn’t say the same for the others. “I think we’ll know very soon if they’re going to stay or go.”

  “I think so, too. They all agreed to help me rescue you. I gave them the option of walking away, Austin. They all wanted to do what we had to,” she added.

  Austin wrapped her in a hug, the guns clanking between them. “You’re an amazing woman. Thank you for saving me.”

  She laughed, pushing him away. “You saved me. I was returning the favor.”

  “We should probably head back. I think it’s safe to say it isn’t safe out here. They’re actually looking for me personally,” he muttered.

  She grimaced. “I guess it was a little too much to hope they would just forget all about us.”

  With that, they followed the others, erasing their tracks as they went and then veering off as they got closer to the house, circling back and laying out a false trail away from the bodies, keeping a watchful eye around them as they tracked in a different direction and then took a long detour back to the house. They couldn’t risk leaving a trail right to the front door. The soldiers were looking for them. And when those bodies were found, it would become clear there were people in these woods who were willing to fight back. Burying them wouldn’t do any good, either—disappearing in this area would be just as suspicious.

  This fight they’d engaged in would certainly increase patrols and hunting parties. Unless, by some chance, it would be taken as a warning to stay away. Austin could only hope.

  8

  Nash sat on the couch in the living room, the house virtually empty. Everyone was outside doing chores while others stood guard. The events yesterday had shaken them all. The soldiers were looking for people in the mountains, and Austin specifically; that didn’t bode well for them. Nash was only irritated it had taken them this long to get with the program. He’d tried to tell them there was a good chance soldiers would be roaming the mountains, but not looking for survivors. They were there for another reason entirely. If anyone would stop moving long enough to listen to him, he could explain it.

  He’d spent all of yesterday going through the files on the drive. The more he read, the more he realized they weren’t dealing with normal, sane people. It was a collective group of crazy people, but they were crazy people who were crazy smart and had a crazy amount of resources at their disposal.

  “Hey,” Austin said, coming through the door.

  “Hey,” Nash replied.

  “What’s up?” he asked, sitting on the other couch.

  Nash stared at him. “What’s up? I’ve been trying to tell you what’s up. You ignored me and nearly got yourself killed yesterday.”

  Austin frowned. “I’m sorry. What is it you wanted to tell me? Is it something you found on that drive?”

  Nash took a deep breath. “Yes and no. I found a file filled with information about bunkers and secret hideouts. And remember that cave, where we got the laptop from? There was a door on the far wall.”

  Austin nodded. “I remember.”

  “I think there’s more to that bunker,” Nash said.

  Austin shrugged. “Possibly, but we can’t go back there, especially if you think they’ve been there since we stole the laptop.”

  “What if that’s their real headquarters?” Nash demanded.

  “What? We’ve been to their real headquarters—Zander admitted that much,” Austin pointed out. “And what if it is? You want another shoot-out?”

  Nash shook his head. “No, of course not, but we need information, and there weren’t people there before or they would have stopped us taking the laptop itself. That drive is loaded with files, too many files for me to go through on my own. A lot of them have information in them that doesn’t make any sense. I feel like there’s something I need to see, but there’s so much crap to filter through that I’m getting distracted; it’s hard to know what’s important and what’s not. I think we should go directly to the source.”

  “The source? The source of that information is dead. I can’t ask him what’s on there,” Austin said, frustration evident in his voice.

  “I know that, but I think that door could be something worth investigating. Your friend, he gave you this information because it could be used for something,” Nash argued.

  “You heard what happened yesterday. It’s dangerous out there,” Austin reminded him.

  “What if the soldiers are out there because they’re going to that cave? What if they’re protecting the real headquarters?”

  Austin scowled. “They’re out there looking for survivors.”

  “It doesn’t feel right. Something bigger is happening. I think we have the answers right here, and I just haven’t found it yet.”

  Austin stared back at him, as if measuring his words, and then shook his head, looking away. “Nash, you’re working day in and day out on that thing. Take a break before you make yourself crazy.”

  Nash sighed, feeling like he was talking to a brick wall. “You don’t understand. I think that cave is important. I think it’s the key to shutting this whole thing down, Austin. We just have to figure out how to use it.”

  “I get it. I do. We saw there were a lot of electronics and other equipment in there. That’s a big deal, and it’s probably what you’re seeing on that drive. They hid the electronics in there to keep them safe from the EMP. We need to focus on what to do next here. That laptop isn’t going to help us right now. Right now, we need to think about defenses,” Austin said, getting to his feet. “I want to solve the mystery of it, too, but we’ve got bigger things to worry about right now.”

  There was no point in arguing. Austin had initially thought the drive was a priority, but things had shifted. No one was paying attention to Nash or his opinions.

  Austin walked out of the living room, leaving Nash alone in the house once again. He reached for the laptop once more, opening it up and staring at the screen. Maybe he was too wrapped up in the stupid thing. The idea that there was a magic button to shut everything bad down and return the world to normal was nothing more than a fantasy. Even the idea that a single button could dismantle that organization and make things safe again was likely a pipe dream.

  “Hey there,” Wendell’s voice came from the kitchen.

  Nash looked up, surprised to see him. He’d thought he’d been in the house alone. Wendell stumbled as he watched him, smiling as he righted himself before walking into the living room and flopping onto the other couch.

  “What are you doing? Are you drunk?” Nash asked.

  Wendell shrugged. “I’m not drunk. I had a drink.”

  “You’re in here drinking while everyone else is working?” he asked with disgust.

  Wendell rolled his eyes. “I wasn’t drinking. I had a drink while I did inventory.”

  “Inventory?” Nash echoed.

  “Yes, Ennis wants me to do a full inventory and then budget out what we have to make it last as long as possible. When it was just me and him, we would have had food for at least a year.”

  Nash smirked. “It was never just you and him. I was here before you, and Austin and Savannah are family. They were on their way before you were.”

  Wendell waved a dismissive hand. “Well, fine, but the rest of them, they’re more mouths to feed.”

  “The rest of them are out there hunting and doing things that will make life easier,” Nash reminded him.

  “I’m doing my part in here,” he replied easily.

  Nash shook his head, dismissing Wendell and returning his focus to the screen in front of him.

  “I think you’re right, you know,” Wendell said after a time.

  “What?” Nash asked, looking up at him.

  “I overheard you and Austin talking. I think you’re right, or at least I think you think you’re right, which is about all that matters since we all know you’re some kind of genius. My opinion is they should listen to you,” he replied.

  “About?” Nash asked, one eyebrow raised.

  “About that cave you’re talking about. Why don’t you go check it out yourself if you think it’s important?”

  “Because I’m not an idiot, and I don’t go running off on my own,” Nash shot back.

  Wendell grinned. “You mean you listen and do as you’re told.”

  Nash closed the laptop and got to his feet. “I’m going outside for some fresh air.”

  Wendell smiled, still slouching on the couch. “Suit yourself.”

  Nash took the laptop with him. He didn’t trust Wendell not to purposely break it or mess with the files. The guy was strange. He honestly got the feeling Wendell wanted them all to leave the house to him and Ennis, or maybe even just to him, and would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.

  9

  Wendell watched Nash walk away. The guy hated him. He could feel it every time the kid looked his way. Nash was one of the valued members of this little group of survivors, too, and Wendell knew Austin tended to believe whatever the kid said. Nash was likeable, if someone liked that kind of thing, which was not good for him.

  It wouldn’t be long before the entire house was against him.

  Right now, Ennis was his only ally. If Austin and Nash had their way, he’d be sent packing. Wendell wasn’t interested in trying to survive out there all by himself. It was nothing short of a miracle he’d made it as long as he had. Somehow, though, he had to secure his place in this group, and the only way he knew to do that was to get on Nash’s good side.

  He’d make a point of talking to Ennis about checking out the stupid cave. That would prove to Nash he wasn’t a bad guy. Then, he’d align himself with the genius and slowly win over Austin and his girlfriend.

  With nothing better to do at the moment, and that plan in his thoughts, Wendell headed back to the pantry. He didn’t mind hanging out in the dark space. After all, it’s where the alcohol was stashed.

  He sat on the floor, cross-legged with the notebook in his lap, a pen in one hand and a bottle of Southern Comfort in the other. It wasn’t necessarily his drink of choice, but it certainly got the job done. He stared at the notebook, trying to remember what he’d been counting when he’d heard Nash and Austin talking.

  “Corn, canned corn,” he mumbled to himself, taking a swig directly from the bottle.

  He held it up to the light as he swallowed and told himself not to forget to add some water to the bottle once he was finished. The others would be pissed if they found out he was helping himself to the stash of liquor. It was one of the luxuries that was supposed to be regulated to make sure everyone got some—not that the Bible thumpers were big drinkers. He hoped it stayed that way, too—more for him.

  “Wendell?” Ennis called out.

  Wendell squeezed his eyes closed as if that would make him invisible. “Yes?” he asked, trying to appear innocent and sober.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Inventory,” he replied.

  “Are you drunk?” Ennis asked, anger in his voice.

  “No.”

  Ennis stared down at him, his lips pursed. “Wendell, get up.”

  With some serious effort, Wendell managed to get to his feet, using one of the shelves to pull himself up.

  “What?” he snapped.

  “Nash said he thought you were drunk, and now I’m asking, are you?” Ennis asked, his tone softening a bit.

  Damn kid. “I’m not drunk. I had a few drinks,” he said, hoping that would be enough to get his friend to back off.

  Ennis reached for the bottle, taking it from his hand and walking out of the pantry. He put it on the kitchen bar before turning back to him with a look of disgust. Wendell had followed him, but standing wasn’t working well for him, so he slid onto a barstool, waiting for the lecture he felt sure was coming.

  “Wendell, what’s going on? I’ve smelled alcohol on you the past few days. How much are you drinking?” Ennis asked.

  Wendell shrugged, realizing he was caught. One excuse after another went through his mind, but he knew none of them would work. “I have,” he admitted. “I mean, I am. I’m sorry,” he muttered.

  Ennis stared at him for several long seconds. “Is this a problem for you?”

  Wendell looked down at the counter, a rush of shame rising up in his gut and making it difficult to look Ennis in the eyes. “Yes. I mean, no. It used to be.”

  Ennis sat down on the stool next to him. “Wendell, I don’t know a lot about this, but I don’t think there is such a thing as ‘used to be.’”

  Wendell nodded. “You’re right. There isn’t. I got treatment for it a few years back. I’ve managed to stay sober until recently. The stress has been too much.”

  He opened his eyes wide as he looked down, trying to bring on some tears. When he finally looked at Ennis, he knew his eyes were glassy, but not only from the alcohol. He hoped he looked like he was on the verge of tears, at least. Maybe something good could come of this.

  Ennis reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. “I didn’t know. I wouldn’t have put you in charge of inventory if I had known. I put the bottle right in your hand.”

  Wendell shook his head. “No, no. That’s not the problem. I’m the problem. I let my demons get ahead of me. I knew better. I knew one little drink was too much.”

  “We’ll figure something out,” Ennis assured him.

  “No!”

  “What?” Ennis asked, shock sounding in his voice.

  “I mean, please don’t tell anyone. I don’t want anyone else to know about this. Can we keep it between us?” he pleaded.

  Ennis hesitated before nodding. “Yes, I won’t say anything, but I want you to promise you’ll come to me if you feel like you need a drink.”

  “I will, I swear I will. I’ll quit cold-turkey right now!” Wendell promised.

  Ennis looked at him, his eyes saying it all—he didn’t believe him. “Okay. For now, let’s give inventory duty to someone else. We’ll remove the temptation.”

  Wendell hid his reaction to the news well. He wasn’t looking forward to one of the other many jobs around the house. His drinking wasn’t really a problem, either. He just liked drinking, and it helped dull the stress of living through an apocalypse. What was the harm in enjoying the liquor while they had it? He’d have to find another way to get his fix, though. For now, he’d be on his best behavior.

  “Thank you. I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me. You’re a good friend.”

  Ennis clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re welcome. Now, come on. You need to get cleaned up and brush your teeth. I’ll take care of this.”

  “Thanks, Ennis, I owe you big for this,” Wendell said, sliding off the chair and doing his best to walk a straight line out of the kitchen.

  But he cursed himself as he left. He’d screwed up. It’d been stupid of him to get caught. He knew his limit, but he’d let himself get carried away. Now he was off inventory duty.

  And then, once he reached the living room, he stopped in his tracks and smiled. In some ways, getting caught had been a good thing. He and Ennis shared a secret—one that could bite Ennis if he were to tell. Austin would be mad that he’d kept something from him.

  Wendell took the stairs slowly as he gripped the handrail. The whole thing might actually work out very well for him. And besides that, Ennis would never kick out a friend in need.

  10

  Austin walked out into the dark night, illuminated only by the moon surrounded by a million stars. The view was phenomenal. Without any light pollution, the stars looked so much brighter and closer to earth. They reflected colors, looking more like prisms hanging high in the sky than plain, white stars. It was such a beautiful sight, it was hard to think of the ugliness happening beyond the forest.

  He followed the hushed sound of voices, finding Amanda and Ennis sitting on the park bench under the trees, enjoying a nightcap. Crickets were chirping all around them, trying to outdo the sound of the owls high in the trees. The forest could be very loud at night if you actually stopped and listened.

  “Hi,” Amanda greeted him, scooting over on the bench and making room for him.

  He took a seat, his thigh pressed against hers on the small bench. “God, it’s so beautiful out here,” he commented.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81