by Crist, J. D.
BOOK 2
Rebuilding
BY J.D. CRIST
Dedication
To my family, who continues to support and encourage me on this process. It is your love and support that keeps me going. Without all of you, Emily and Marley’s story would still be untold.
Chapter 1
Much had changed since Hope was born and Sanctuary was coming to life. Emily stood at the top of the wall with Hope on her back, looking out over the town. The sun was barely up, but movement was happening everywhere. Emily knew that Jacob was hard at work on the farm, and Terra was trying to finish her morning chores before school. Emily went to the farm some mornings to help and was amazed at their accomplishments over the past four months. The animals were healthy, and half of the cows were pregnant. Jacob had cleared the dead crops from the fields, and a sea of green now stood in each.
Even high up on the wall, Emily could smell that Julia was already baking the bread for the day. Julia made a fresh loaf of bread for each household every day. While Emily had told her that this was not necessary, Julia had insisted. Sam was already walking the streets, doing his morning checks on each person. Derick was making his way to the construction building to work on his project for the day. Howard and June would be enjoying their morning coffee and preparing to head to the school.
Jessica would be in the grocery store. She spent most of her time there as it was the most used store right now. They had gotten the credits system online, and she worked to ensure that everyone used them correctly. Sarah would be down in the communications building. It was some type of office building before, but Emily had Derick convert it earlier this month. Sarah had plans to set up a system outside the wall to help people find Sanctuary and help them to communicate while they were out.
Marley would be back any moment; he ran the wall each morning to look for Shawn while Emily waited. Shawn always took the two to six wall shift so that everyone else could rest. Emily had no idea when he found time to sleep with as many shifts as he took. With their numbers still so few, they couldn't have a proper watch duty. Emily was pulled back from her thoughts by the sound of playful barking. She looked to her right to see Shawn and Marley walking towards her.
"Everything quiet?" she asked.
"A few dead in the distance but nothing to worry about," Shawn smiled back at her.
"Who's taking the next shift?" Emily asked while walking towards him.
"Howard is this morning," Shawn replied after thinking a moment.
"Howard?” Emily asked confused. “Doesn't he normally do the after-school shift with June?"
"Normally, but Bobby has been doing well with his school work and asked to do a shift with his dad. So, Howard switched with Sam so they could do it after school."
"That was nice of him."
"Yeah, except for June told him that he could make dinner tonight since he didn't have to work," Shawn laughed.
"Oh, she is brave to let him cook," Emily mused. "You know he told me one time that he burned water."
They both laughed, and Hope giggled from her perch on Emily's back.
"She is growing fast," Shawn remarked as he reached and tickled Hope under her chin.
"Already holding her head up enough for the backpack."
"I know it," Emily smiled. "I feel like I'm going to wake up tomorrow, and she will be full grown."
"Yeah, I heard that's how it works. But you are doing it right, you know?" Shawn stepped back and looked at Emily once more.
"What do you mean?" Emily asked.
"You take her with you everywhere. You spend every possible moment you can with her. Most moms in your position would have hired a nanny or something to watch after the kid while they worked."
"Yeah,” Emily laughed. “That’s not going happen. I hate asking someone to watch her." Emily remembered seeing these types of moms before. Some of them were so busy with their careers that they forgot their own kid's names.
"Oh, we know it," Shawn laughed.
Emily loved it when he laughed. It made her feel safe somehow, almost like if he felt comfortable to laugh, then nothing in the world could be wrong.
"So, any idea what Derick is working on today?"
Emily hoped that Derick would be finishing the quarantine zone soon. Doc had said it would be safer if Derick built some huts separated by walls for newcomers. The cabins would give them a chance to ensure that none of them were infected or give them a safe place to say their goodbyes if they were. Derick had disagreed, saying they should kill anyone suspected of being infected. Emily had to put her foot down on the issue. She had been bitten and was immune. While rare, there could be others like her, and she would not kill them. As a way of showing his protest, he had been drawing out the project, and Emily was beginning to grow frustrated.
"He's working with Sarah today. She had something she needed his help with."
"Another delay on the quarantine zone," Emily sighed.
"Did he not tell you?" Emily turned to look at Shawn. "Of course, he didn't. He finished those yesterday. I checked it out, and it's good work."
Emily could not help but let out a little squeal. Finally, Derick had finished, and she could stop asking about it every day.
"I have to see this," Emily replied while heading for the stairs. Marley began to follow as she ran down.
"I'll be down as soon as Howard arrives," Shawn called to her.
Emily hurried down the metal steps and towards the gate. She left the inner gate open a little to allow Derick to get in and out with the construction supplies. To the right was where they parked the cars they used for runs. They tried to keep them inside, but it was too much clutter. A wall was built in front of the cars with a wooden door. Emily knew behind it was the graveyard where Ronald was buried. She turned her attention to the left and saw a small building attached to a wall that spanned the area between the metal plates.
There was enough distance between the building and the gate to give them room to drive vehicles in and turn around. Emily opened the door to the small building and saw that the building was set up with everything Doc requested. There was an exam area with a table and a closet where clean cloths would be stored and plenty of space for medical supplies. Emily headed through the door on the wall and found herself with the metal plate on her right and more wooden walls on her left.
She opened the first door on her left and found a small one-bedroom cabin-like structure. It had four built-in bunks and a washing station in each. In front of each was a small fire pit with seating. Emily continued down the wall and found six areas in total, exactly what she requested. There was nothing fancy about them, but they had plenty of comforts to get folks through a couple of days. They would have to bring bedding and food to each as they came, but that would be no issue. Emily headed back through the wooden wall and out of the gate.
"So, does it meet your standards, your highness?" Emily could hear the hatred in Derick's face as he spoke.
"They are perfect!" Emily tried to pretend he was not trying to instigate a fight. "Thank you so much for doing that."
"Not much of a choice," Derick spat back at her. "If it wasn't you bitching at me, it was that criminal."
"Derick, I wasn't trying to." Emily tried to explain she wasn't a nag, but Derick was not in the mood.
Derick turned and headed into the communications building to meet with Sarah. It was at this moment that Emily realized that she had no idea what Sarah's project was. Emily started to follow Derick to speak with Sarah about it.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Shawn called out from the steps.
"Why not?" Emily asked.
"Two rea
sons," Shawn replied as he walked towards her. "One, she said it was a surprise. Two, you don't want to be a witness if she kills that bastard, do you?"
"Oh, when you put it that way, I have something else to do way over there," Emily laughed back at him.
"I thought you might. You mind if I walk with you?" Shawn asked.
"Of course not." Emily turned and began to walk back up the main street with Shawn and Marley.
"We should plan another run soon," Shawn stated as they walked.
"Are we out of something?" Emily couldn't help but sound concerned. Robert had filled Sanctuary with so many supplies it was hard to believe that they could be gone so soon.
"Lumber is starting to run a bit lower than I would like. Derick is already trying to use it as an excuse not to do projects."
"Robert had a delivery of lumber that was supposed to come in before the flash. It's probably sitting in town still."
"That was my thought. It may already be on a trailer just waiting to be brought in if we're lucky."
"Fingers crossed," Emily smiled back. "You and I can head out on Monday to check it out."
"Sounds like a plan, boss lady." They had reached the end of the main street, and Emily stopped.
"I should probably go check in with Doc or Jessica to see how things are going."
"You may want to start with Jessica. She was pretty angry last night but said she would only talk to you."
"Well, that sounds like fun." Emily rolled her eyes and headed for the grocery store. The small bell that Jessica had installed rang out as she opened the door.
"I swear to God you will not get anymore no matter how much you scream!" Jessica yelled from the back of the store.
"Okay, but just so that I know, what am I not getting?!" Emily yelled back. Jessica came running to the front, and Emily could tell Jessica was visibly shaken. "What happened?" Emily asked.
"It was Derick. He has already gone over the weekly alcohol limit. I know, I shouldn't have let him go over at all, but I just wanted him to go away," Jessica explained. "He came in last night to get more, and he didn't have enough credits. I told him I couldn't give it to him and he lost it. He threw the bottle at my head and started screaming at me."
"He did what?!" Emily couldn't help the anger she felt growing inside her.
"He said he wasn't going to let a child tell him what to do and grabbed another and walked out," Jessica continued. "I locked up the rest of the bottles in the back. He came back this morning to get more, and I refused him again. I have spent the past hour cleaning up the mess he made, looking for more. He told me to have his bottle ready tonight, or there would be hell to pay."
"You did the right thing." Emily tried hard to steady herself. "Next time, though, come tell me right away. Don't wait."
"I didn't want to bother you because I know Hope was in bed already." Emily could tell that Jessica was embarrassed.
"I appreciate that, but you could have been hurt," Emily explained. "Does it cause any issues for the alcohol to be locked up in the back from now on?"
"No, no one else gets it. I mean, Shawn and Sam do on occasion, and I think June and Julia each have taken a bottle of wine."
"Let's keep it locked up then, and if you don't mind, people can only have it by request. I want you to charge the credits for the bottle he broke and the one he took to Derick's account."
"I can do that, but it's not going to stop him from coming in here and throwing a fit." Jessica was visibly scared of a repeat encounter with Derick.
"I'll take care of that. We need to make a list of people and specific goods they are no longer allowed to have."
"Are you saying he's not allowed to have alcohol ever again?"
"At least not for a very long time." Emily could see that Jessica had a new fear. "Don't worry, I'll tell him, and I'll make sure that someone is close by when he's done with work for the day. I won't let you deal with him alone again." Emily could see that Jessica relaxed.
"Are you going to tell him now?" Jessica asked.
"I'll head straight over as soon as I leave here. Unless you need something else?"
"Maybe Hope should stay with me?" Jessica looked at the ground as she spoke. "I would feel awful if he went into another fit and she got hurt."
Emily smiled and turned her back to Jessica. Jessica quickly removed Hope from the backpack and began talking to the baby.
"I'll be back in a little bit. Don't you two go causing too much trouble," Emily smiled as she left. Jessica helped Hope in waving goodbye and then headed back into the store. Emily could see Shawn talking to Sam across the street. Part of her thought of going to him and asking for his help in breaking the news to Derick. However, she forced herself not to and continued walking. Derick had no respect for her as it was, and if she kept asking Shawn to help her in these situations, it would only get worse. Emily continued to talk to herself as she walked. She had faced down a gang of rapists and walked out the winner. She had Marley with her, after all. What else did she need?
Emily reached the communications building and could see Sarah and Derick standing at a table. Sarah looked annoyed and explained to Derick that she was asking for a simple design, and she would not change it. Emily entered the building and waved to Sarah.
"Thank goodness," Sarah breathed. "I wanted it to be a surprise, but apparently, there are not enough supplies to get it done."
"So, you need me to approve my surprise?" Emily smiled.
"Yes," Sarah sneered as Emily walked towards the table. Emily looked down at the drawings. "They’re communication stations for outside the wall. I will need four of them to put up to the east, west, north, and south. They will each hold water, a little bit of food, a map, and a solar-powered walkie. The stations will allow us to find people that are out there and help them get to Sanctuary."
"Seems like an efficient design," Emily commented. "What's the problem?"
"The problem is that the lumber is almost gone," Derick replied. "I can do this if you want, but then I will be out of work until you get more."
"Go ahead and get these done." Emily smiled back at him. "How long do you think they will take?"
"I don't know, a week, maybe two?" Emily knew that the project shouldn't have taken more than a day or two but wouldn't argue it with him. "Great, we should have the lumber delivery here before you finish with these." Emily could see Sarah smiling at the irritated look on Derick's face.
"We'll see." Derick began to gather the papers from the table and head for the door.
"Wait up," Emily called to him. "I have something else to talk to you about."
"If it's another project, I'm not discussing it until you get more lumber." Derick walked out the door without looking back. Emily walked quickly to chase after him and caught up with him on the street outside.
"It's about what happened in the store with Jessica," Emily started as she reached him.
"Oh, lord," Derick exclaimed. "If that little cunt can't handle an angry customer, then she is in the wrong line of work. Just tell her that the customer is always right and to give me my damn drink!" Derick began to walk away.
"I'm here to tell you that you are not allowed to purchase alcohol anymore." Emily
watched as he froze mid-step. Even from behind, she could see his ears turning red and imagined that his face was the same red shade.
"What?!" Derick yelled as he turned and began to make his way towards Emily. His yell had gotten the attention of others on the street. Everyone had now turned to see what was going on. Marley moved to stand between Emily and Derick, a growl escaping his throat.
"You are blocked from all alcohol purchases until further notice," Emily explained further. "This decision is based on…"
"Bullshit!" Derick was not calming down, and Marley's growl grew louder. "This decision is based on bullshit! You cannot take away my basic right to drink!"
"You cannot threaten Jessica and throw a temper tantrum," Emily heard herself yell back. "This decis
ion is final!"
Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. Emily watched as Derick dropped the papers to the ground. He closed his fist and began to draw it back. He stepped forward and began to draw his fist forward. Suddenly, Derick let out a scream that sped the world back up. Emily saw that Marley had attached himself to Derick's arm, stopping the fist from coming at Emily. The red blood was already dripping from Marley's jowls and splashing on the pavement.
"Enough," Emily yelled out, and Marley released Derick's arm.
"I'm going to kill that fucking dog," Derick screamed while holding his bloody arm.
Emily drew back her fist and hit Derick in the face as hard as she could. She was surprised to see the man fall to the ground. Emily looked up to see Shawn running towards the scene but stopped a few steps away. The smile on his face could have been seen from the top of the wall.
