Dee rolled her eyes before looking at the rest of the group. “Right. Any questions?”
Cat nodded. “I’ve got one.”
“Go ahead.”
“Now that you’re here, do you want us to leave?” Cat asked, her dark eyes matched by her gleaming brown hair.
Dee shook her head. “Of course not. I’m not a monster. It’s too dangerous out there to be wandering around on your own, especially with little ones in tow.”
Cat’s shoulders slumped in relief. “Thank you.”
“There’s safety in numbers,” Ryan piped up. “If we work together, we stand a better chance of surviving.”
“You think so?” Dee asked with a raised eyebrow.
He shrugged and shuffled his feet. “I do.”
She punched him on the arm. “Relax, I’m just teasing you. You’re right of course. We need to work together.”
“Where do we start?” Cat asked.
“By sorting out the sleeping arrangements,” Dee answered. “I call dibs on my old room.”
“I’ve been sharing the main bedroom with Juan and Theresa,” Cat replied. “They don’t like sleeping alone.”
“Well, I guess that’s fine.” Dee turned to Kerry. “Would you be willing to share a room with Lucy? There’s a spare bedroom in the house.”
“Sure, I’ll share with her.” Kerry put an arm around Lucy. “Would you like that, Lucy?”
Lucy nodded and shifted closer to Kerry, still sucking on her thumb. Though small, she looked about the same age as Juan, too old for such a babyish habit. Dee decided to ask Ryan what the child’s story was as soon as she had a chance. Poor thing looks like she’s been through a lot.
“That leaves the sewing room and the study,” Cat said. “I think we should keep the sewing room intact. We might need it for repairs for our clothes and so on.”
Good thinking,” Dee replied. “Why don’t you boys sleep in the living room tonight, and tomorrow you can convert the study into a bedroom?”
“You mean we’ve got to share?” Jonathan protested. “What about the fishing cottages? I’d rather stay in one of those.”
Dee shrugged. “Whatever floats your boat. As long as you keep it neat and―”
“Tidy?” he asked with a look of exaggerated horror.
“Yes, tidy,” she said in a firm tone of voice. “I am not cleaning up after your ass, Jonathan, and while we’re at it, I’ll draw up a list of chores for everyone to share from tomorrow.”
“Chores,” he muttered, his face twisting with disgust.
Ryan just shook his head with a wry smile.
“We’ll also have to figure out how we’re going to live. Everything’s gone. The police, the government, all of it,” Dee added.
“What about the grown-ups? Shouldn’t we look for someone to take care of us?” Kerry asked, her innocent words expressing her belief that an adult would know what to do.
“Most of them are dead, and those who aren’t, let’s just say not all of them can be trusted,” Dee answered, her face darkening as a recent memory surfaced.
“What do you mean?” Kerry asked, all innocence.
Dee shook off the unpleasant thought and said, “I mean that for now, we’re on our own. Besides, aren’t I grown-up enough for you? I’m nineteen.”
Kerry shook her head. “You’re not a mom or a dad.”
An awkward silence fell as her words sunk in, everybody remembering the family they’d lost, the parents that were no longer there to rely on. Eventually, Cat said, “We might not be moms, but Dee and I will do our best to look after you, Kerry. Ryan and Jonathan too.”
“Okay,” Kerry said, looking a little more at ease.
“Now,” Dee said, clapping her hands. “What’s for supper? I’m starving.”
Cat raised a packet of marshmallows. “I thought it would cheer up the kids which is why I made a fire. I wasn’t expecting company.”
“Are you kidding? Roasted marshmallows are my favorite. I’m sure there will be cookies in the pantry too. My mom loved baking,” Dee replied.
For the first time that night, Lucy smiled. “Cookies?”
“Yeah, do you want to help me look for them?” Dee asked, bending down to Lucy’s level.
“Okay,” the little girl replied, not blinking once. “I like cookies.”
“Great, come along.” Dee stuck out her hand, and after a moment’s hesitation, Lucy took it.
Together, they walked to the house. Inside, everything looked the same except for one glaring fact. Her mom and dad weren’t there to greet her with happy smiles and warm hugs. I still can’t believe they’re gone.
A warm tear trickled down her face, and she was startled when Lucy tugged at her arm. “Are you sad?”
She met Lucy’s earnest gaze with her own. “Yes, I’m sad. I miss my family.”
Lucy nodded. “I miss mine too, especially Daddy, but Mommy too.”
“I’m sorry, baby.”
Lucy carried on talking as if she hadn’t heard Dee’s answer, her voice low and matter-of-fact. “Daddy tried to eat me. Mommy said it was because he fetched his hussy first before he came for us. She said the hussy made him sick. Do you know what a hussy is?”
“I…” Dee was at a loss for words.
“I think it’s a bad word.”
“It is a bad word,” Dee finally managed to say.
“She said he abandoned us. I didn’t believe her and told her I hated her. Then she said she wished I was never born.”
Dee sucked in a shocked breath. What on earth has this poor child been through?
“Mommy took it back, though. She said she loved me best of all, more even than Daddy did. That was before Mr. Burns killed her. She told me to hide while she tried to keep him away from me.” Lucy stared at Dee. “Do you think it’s true? Did she really love me?”
Dee dropped to her haunches and brushed her fingers across Lucy’s cheek. “Yes, I think so. It sounds to me like your mom fought very hard to save you from this Mr. Burns.”
“She did. I listened to them fight, and then…then I listened to him eat her.”
“Oh, my G―” Dee stopped talking abruptly and pressed trembling fingers to her lips.
One horrified thought after the other chased each other across her mind while she sought to find words of comfort for the stricken child. Lucy’s calm manner and lack of emotion disturbed her even more. She knew she had to say something, do something to help the girl process what had happened to her. Is she in shock? I’d be in shock if I were her.
“Look, Lucy. Whatever your mom said about your dad, I’m sure she didn’t mean it. She was just scared okay? Being scared can make us say lots of strange things.”
“Like Daddy not wanting us?”
“Like that,” Dee agreed. “He didn’t abandon you, and he got sick by accident, that’s all.”
“By accident? So it wasn’t the girl in the car with him? She wasn’t a hussy?”
“No, baby. You know what I think?”
“What?”
“I think your daddy’s a real hero. I think he tried to save this girl while he was on his way to you. Wouldn’t you have wanted him to try and save someone if they were in trouble?”
Lucy thought about this. “I guess so. He always liked to help people.”
“There you see? He was just trying to help this poor girl and got sick by mistake. He still tried to get to you, didn’t he? He went after you and your mom.”
“I suppose, but it was too late. He became a monster.”
“Yes, but not because he wanted to. He couldn’t help it. The person that tried to eat you wasn’t your real daddy. Not anymore.”
Comprehension dawned on Lucy’s face. “Just like Mr. Burns.”
“Just like him, yes,” Dee agreed. “As for your mom, she loved you very much. So much, she even gave her own life to save you.”
Tears shimmered in Lucy’s eyes, and her shoulders shook. It was the first real emotions Dee had seen from
her all night.
“Mommy,” Lucy said as the tears began to flow. “She told me to hide; she said he mustn’t hear me, that she wasn’t strong enough to beat him.”
“Oh, baby. Come here.” Dee gathered the sobbing child into her arms and listened as the whole story came pouring out in bits and pieces. “It’s okay; it’s okay.”
Ryan walked in and paused when he saw what was happening. With careful steps, he backed away and ushered the rest of the group back to the fire. Dee was grateful for his tact.
With Lucy held tightly against her shoulder, she got up and went to the bathroom. Inside, she wet a towel and washed Lucy’s face, waiting until she calmed down. Once she’d stopped hiccuping, Dee said, “Are you feeling better now?”
“Y…yes,” Lucy said.
“I want you to know that you can talk to me anytime you’re feeling sad. Or even when you’re not, or if you just want to cry. Got that?”
“Okay,” Lucy said.
“Good. Now, how about those cookies?” Dee said. “Want some?”
Lucy smiled. “Yes, please.”
“Let’s go get them, Tiger,” Dee said, adding a mock growl for effect. “First one to the kitchen gets all the goodies!”
Lucy shrieked and ran down the passage as Dee pretended to chase her. After a lengthy search in the pantry, they emerged triumphant with an armful of chocolate chip cookies and another packet of marshmallows. From the fridge, Dee retrieved a pack of hot dog sausages and a bottle of milk on the edge of turning.
With their makeshift dinner balanced in their arms, they returned to the fire. The boys took on the job of grilling the sausages which they ate with their fingers and afterward they had milk and cookies followed by roasted marshmallows on a stick. In no time at all, the smaller kids were nodding off and had to be put to bed. That left just Dee, Cat, Ryan, and Jonathan around the fire.
“I guess since we’re all stuck together, we might as well get to know each other a bit better,” Cat suggested.
“Good idea,” Dee said. “Why don’t we take turns?”
“Sharing what? Our star signs?” Jonathan asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He fluttered his eyelashes in an exaggerated fashion. “Typical girls. All you want to do is talk about your feelings and stuff.”
“No, you idiot. I meant telling each other how we got here,” Dee replied, shooting him a nasty glare. “And you’d better watch your mouth if you don’t want this girl to kick your ass.”
Jonathan rolled his eyes. “As if you could,”
“Oh, yeah?” Dee said, her hands balling into fists. “I’ll punch that stupid grin right off your face if you don’t shut up.”
“Fine, fine. I was just joking, okay?” Jonathan said with his hands raised in mock defeat.
“Zip it, Jonathan,” Ryan added with a warning look. “This is her house, remember?”
“Have a sense of humor, guys,” Jonathan answered with a groan.
“Whatever,” Cat said, interrupting him with a flick of her wrist. “I’ll go first.”
Dee listened intently while Cat shared her story. The girl’s tone remained even throughout even when she spoke about her mother, and Dee’s estimation of her rose quite a bit. She’s tougher than she looks.
The boys followed up with their adventures, and she found herself feeling sorry for them, even Jonathan. At least she hadn’t been faced with either her mom or dad in zombie form. She wasn’t sure she’d have been able to kill them if she had.
“Tough break,” she said when they finished.
Ryan shrugged, though his eyes spoke of hidden grief. “Your turn.”
She sighed and sat down on the low stone wall that surrounded the barbecue area. “Here goes.”
Dee’s Destiny - Chapter 3
Dee shifted from one foot to the other, impatient with the long queue that stretched ahead. The muted boom of the music inside the club set her nerves on fire, and she longed to get on the dance floor and let loose. Neon lights flashed above her head casting a lurid glow over the people gathered below.
It was the hottest club in town, the it place to be at the moment, but Dee cared about none of that. Nor did she care about the pretty boys or the fancy drinks that waited inside. All she cared about was the music. Tonight there was a top DJ in town, and she wanted in on the action.
Next to her, Eliza and Lolly tittered with excitement as they checked their makeup in compact mirrors, reapplying their lip gloss for the umpteenth time. Their constant simpering and flirting with anything on two legs got on her nerves. Not for the first time, she cursed Aiden for inviting them along.
“Will you stop that?” she demanded, eyeing their short skirts and sky-high heels with irritation. “Any more of that glitter and you’ll look like walking disco balls.”
“Shut it, Dee,” Eliza answered with a nasty look. “Just because you look like a hobo doesn’t mean we have to.”
Her eyes traveled over Dee’s torn jeans, combat boots, and faded Metallica vest in a pointed fashion. Her disdain was made obvious with the rise of an overly-manicured eyebrow, plucked to the point of death until it resembled a drawn pencil line.
“She’s right, you know,” Lolly added in a simpering tone that fooled no one, least of all Dee. “You should make more of an effort, like us. Maybe you could even be pretty for a change.”
Eliza shook her head. “Don’t give the poor girl hope where there’s none, Lolly. You’ll just make her feel bad.”
Lolly faked a gasp. “Oh, I’m sorry, Dee. I didn’t mean to give you the wrong impression but don’t worry; not everyone has what it takes in the looks department.”
Dee smiled through gritted teeth. “Did you say looks, Lollipop? Or did you mean brains? Because you sure as hell don’t have any.”
Lolly’s eyes narrowed, and she hissed like a snake. Eliza moved between them and shot Aiden a pleading look. “Are you going to let her speak to us like that?”
“Eliza, please,” Aiden said with a sigh. “Don’t play the innocent with me. Can’t you at least try to be nice to Dee?”
“Me?” Eliza said. “I’m not the problem here. She is. What do you see in her anyway?”
“Stop it, Liz,” he said. “Right now, or we’ll all leave. You too, Dee.”
“Fine, whatever,” Eliza said and turned her back on Dee and Aiden, ignoring them both.
Dee dropped her voice to a whisper. “What do you mean me too? You heard what she and Lollipop said to me.”
“You started it with your disco ball jab, babes,” Aiden pointed out. “And Lollipop?”
Dee folded her arms and looked away. She couldn’t stand either Eliza or Lolly, short for Lola. The only reason she tolerated the shallow duo was because of him. “Yeah, yeah. I can’t help it, okay?”
“Just try, please.”
Eliza whispered something in Lolly’s ear. The two laughed while they stared at Dee over their shoulders, and she gritted her teeth. “Did you have to invite her along. Couldn’t it just be us tonight?”
He shrugged. “She’s my sister, babes, and she needed a ride.”
“Whatever,” she muttered, not at all happy with his answer.
“Don’t be mad at me, babes. Please? Come here.” Aiden threw his arm around her and pulled her close.
For a second she resisted, but she couldn’t keep it up for long and leaned against him. “You know I can’t stay mad at you.”
He laughed, and she looked up into his eyes, losing herself in their deep blue depths.
Eliza made a gagging noise, spoiling their moment. “I think I’m gonna throw up.” She grabbed Lolly’s arm. “Come on, let’s go. I’m not standing here for another second.”
Dee watched the two sashay over to the bouncer guarding the door. With flirty looks and batted eyelids, they charmed their way inside ahead of the rest in the queue. Angry groans rose from the waiting crowd, blithely ignored by the bouncer who carried on as if nothing had happened.
As Eliza stepped through the doors
of the club, she paused to shoot Dee a sarcastic wave. “Have fun outside, loser!”
Dee tossed her the middle finger, gratified to see Eliza’s glee turn to anger before she disappeared inside. She turned on Aiden with a glare. “See? That’s why I can’t stand your stupid sister.”
Aiden sighed. “I know how she is, Dee, but she’s my sister, and you’re my girlfriend. I want you two to get along.”
“Ain’t gonna happen,” Dee replied with a vehement shake of her head. “No way, no how.”
Aiden tilted his dark head and pouted. “Please? Won’t you just try? For me?”
“Stop that!” Dee cried, throwing her hands in the air. “You know I can’t say no to that face.”
He grinned. “That’s why I use it. It’s my secret weapon.”
Dee smiled back despite herself. “Come here you.”
She stood on tiptoe and dragged his head down to hers, kissing him hard on the lips. He groaned and returned the kiss, wrapping his arms around her.
“Ugh, get a room, you two,” someone behind them in the queue called out.
Aiden pulled away with a sheepish grin. “Sorry.”
“I’m not,” she said with an unrepentant look at the ass who’d heckled them. “Screw you, dude.”
“Dee,” Aiden cautioned.
“Yeah, yeah,” she replied, turning away. “I’ll behave.”
“As if,” he laughed. “That’s what I like about you. You never behave.”
“Into bad girls, are you?”
“All the way.”
Dee smiled and leaned into his side. “Is this line never going to move? I want to dance.”
“You can always charm your way in like Lolly and Eliza did,” he teased.
“Please,” she scoffed. “Me? Flash my boobs for a free pass? Never. I’d rather kick the bouncer’s ass.”
Aiden chuckled. “That’s my girl.”
With growing impatience, Dee waited for the queue to move, tapping her foot as the minutes passed. She glanced at the chunky watch on her wrist. It was past eleven already. “Ugh. I’m not waiting any longer. Let’s go, Aiden.”
“But what about Eliza? I’m her ride tonight,” he protested.
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