Tabitha grinned. “Sometimes you have to force the peace issue. If someone shows up here, I don’t think you can simply tell them you’re peaceful. Whoever has the most guns wins and in this case, I think Wolf wins.”
“Wow. I had no idea. I guess that should make me feel safer.”
“Yes it should. Five years is a long time. We’ll probably be meeting a lot of not-so-nice people and will need every one of those guns,” Tabitha warned.
Regan swallowed down the nerves she felt at the thought of being stuck on the island for that long, but she supposed it made sense to plan for longer rather than shorter, and be prepared. “I know that’s on his mind. It’s something he complains about a lot. He’s beating himself up over not having some way to communicate.”
“Do you know anything about those radios?” Tabitha asked.
Regan shrugged. “I know, with the right equipment and an experienced operator, you can talk to people on the other side of the country.”
“Can you imagine?” Tabitha asked wistfully. “What if this whole thing is isolated to just this one area? We could be sitting here, suffering, while the rest of the world carries on business as usual.”
Regan smiled. “I thought that in the first week or two, too. But when I was at the compound, the grapevine of information said it was everywhere. And, if it weren’t, it kind of seems like we’d know by now, but maybe not….”
“What do you believe?”
“I have no idea. We have to believe at least part of it’s true, though, right? The how and the why are likely to remain a mystery for a long time. Unless we get invaded by a foreign military, and then we’ll know,” Regan quipped.
“I don’t even want to imagine what that would be like,” Tabitha said shortly, leaning back in her chair and staring out into the trees. “No communications. No way to call for help. Nowhere to get help. It’s too much to wrap my head around. I think it’s best we stay on the island and forget about the outside world.”
“You know that isn’t possible,” Regan offered gently. “I think we have to be prepared to deal with people coming out here eventually.”
“Don’t say that! I like living in my bubble world—and that is where I am going to stay,” Tabitha said, a hint of laughter in her voice.
Regan nodded, happy to live in that world for a short time. It gave her brain a brief respite from the constant wondering and what-ifs. The break was sorely needed.
A cool breeze flowed through the screened-in room. Both women lifted their arms and let it wash over them, enjoying the little break from the heat.
“He thought of everything,” Tabitha said, picking up their conversation. “I can’t imagine where any of us would be without him.”
“I know. It wouldn’t be pretty. Did you ever watch his show or the ones like it?” Regan asked in a low voice.
Tabitha smiled. “Honestly, not always. I mean, I liked his show because I felt like I was learning, but the other ones? I always chalked most of them up to people acting crazy. I used to tell Geno I couldn’t imagine living my life preparing for the worst. It seemed like it would be a real downer. Boy, do I feel foolish now.”
Regan laughed. “Sadly, I think it’s only a very small part of the population who actually did prepare, which is why we’re out here on an island. I bet you there are families across the country, especially in the mountain regions, that are living in bunkers.”
Tabitha shook her head. “It’s crazy. I feel bad that I thought they were a little nuts. Turns out, they were smarter than the rest of us. Like you said, if it hadn’t been for Wolf—”
She didn’t finish her sentence.
It was the same comment they had all made about a million times. Regan liked to think she could have handled it, but deep down, she wasn’t so sure. Without anyone by her side or watching her back, it would have been a lonely, scary world. She’d gotten just a taste of it in the way she’d stumbled into that compound, and that had been more than enough for her.
Wolf emerged from the house into their easy silence, coming to sit on the small wicker loveseat that faced the two women and put his back to the trees. “What are you two talking about?”
“Tabitha was giving me the lowdown on your little plan to make everyone happy,” Regan answered with a smile. “Do you really think that’s the best idea? Maybe we can just have one big shouting session. We could yell and scream at each other until we get it all out of our systems.”
Wolf grinned, but his eyes were serious. “That could be very dangerous. People say nasty things in the heat of the moment. I have a feeling there’d be more hurt feelings and even more animosity. People would likely leave,” he added, looking directly into her eyes. “No. I trust Tabitha to pair people up and restore order to this lovely little island. She’s more likely to keep us from mutinying against each other,” he added.
Regan laughed at the comment, and noticed Tabitha was blushing—she didn’t like being the center of attention, but she really was the silent mediator keeping everyone calm. Rather than embarrassing her friend further, Regan patted Tabitha’s arm in thanks and looked to Wolf. “Have you talked to Lily at all today?” Regan asked.
He shook his head. “No. She wants to camp out again.”
Regan wrinkled her nose. “Is that safe?”
“Safe enough with our regular patrols and our ability to defend the place.”
Regan wasn’t quite so sure, but didn’t argue. Group dynamics were not her strong suit, and it was Wolf’s daughter they were talking about. This whole argument about Lily splitting off so much was definitely right up Tabitha’s alley more than hers anyway, and if Wolf thought it was okay for his daughter to camp out, alone, that was his decision. He knew the island and the dangers it held far better than she did. Besides, she hadn’t been much older than Lily when she’d been on her own, and in a far more dangerous world. Regan just had to give Lily the credit she was obviously so desperately seeking from each of them.
“Should we tell the others then?” Wolf asked, slapping his hands on his thighs and standing up.
“Let’s do this!” Tabitha all but jumped up from her chair, a bright smile on her face to once again broadcast her bubbly personality.
Regan followed them back into the house and headed for the living room for yet another group meeting. The fans were going, but did little to actually cool the room. She sat down on the floor, which was always a lot cooler than sitting on the furniture. Geno took his normal seat on the couch, with Lily sitting at the opposite end.
Fred sat down in the chair above Regan, his giant feet nearly kicking her. “Sorry,” he muttered, clearly not paying attention to his surroundings since, as usual, his nose was buried in a book.
RC had pulled a chair in from the dining room and was sitting up front, watching them all file in. The man had a quiet strength about him. He didn’t talk a lot, but always seemed to be soaking everything in. It had been a little eerie to get used to at first, but Regan had quickly figured out it was his way. She could relate to it, too. She tended to be the kind of person to hang back in the shadows, watching people and forming opinions about who they were. At least, that was who she’d been before falling into the thick of this group.
Today, Tabitha did the talking, explaining everything she had just said to Regan. Everyone seemed pleased enough with the arrangements.
“Do you have tools?” Geno asked Wolf, excitement bleeding into his voice.
It was RC who answered. “Yes. There’s a large toolbox in one of the sheds. They aren’t fancy, but they’ll do.”
Geno clapped his hands together. “I guarantee I’ll get that old boat running again.”
“You’ll need to help RC, as well, if he needs it,” Tabitha reminded him. “If he needs you to help stabilize a building or other maintenance, that’s the first priority. That has to come first because right now we’re working around a broken boat, and that’s fine, but we don’t need more going wrong. This is a team effort. Each team has in
dividuals in charge of a task, but it’s up to the team to help each other out. I chose you two to work on a task based on your strengths. We’re playing up our strengths to make our group stronger as a whole.”
Regan fought the urge to roll her eyes. It was all a little cheesy in her opinion, but if Wolf and Tabitha thought this would somehow magically fix the group’s problems, she’d go along with it.
“I’m working with my dad?” Lily pouted. “Why? Everyone else is working with someone they like. Why can’t I work with Fred?”
Her words had sounded a little harsh, and Regan could see Wolf’s jaw clenching in response; she knew he’d been hurt by his daughter’s reaction. For her part, Regan had to fight the urge to jump in and defend Wolf. She couldn’t, though—not if she wanted to keep the modicum of peace they had going.
“Maybe you can work with him another time. Right now, Fred is working on a plan,” Tabitha said gently. “It’s kind of a one-person job, and isn’t really something you can help with, Lily.”
“He’s thinking long-term, which isn’t your strong suit,” Wolf said in a low, stern voice. “You and I are a great team. Or at least we used to be.”
The look on Lily’s face upon hearing her father’s words said it all. Her eyes narrowed, and she bit her bottom lip. “Whatever. You don’t need me on your team anymore. You already have a partner,” she sneered.
“Lily, watch yourself,” Wolf warned in a low tone.
Regan could practically feel the holes being bored into her, knowing full well that Lily was staring at her. She refused to turn sideways and face her.
“I’m going to be alone. I’ll get my job done on my own,” Lily snapped.
The adults in the room watched as Lily stormed out the door. It was becoming her thing. Wolf sighed, his shoulders drooping forward as he shook his head. “I’m never going to win.”
The tension had become thick, and Regan felt like she’d been dropped into a family drama she could only observe and suffer through. Wolf’s face had been re-set into a grimace. He looked as if he was in physical pain as he moved toward the window and looked outward. The small fan in the room oscillated, blowing his hair as it washed over him, and Regan stood to stare out the window from beside him, wondering what kind of chaos the tween was causing. Together, they watched his daughter throw a coconut husk hard at a tree before kicking at another piece.
This was the drama Regan hated. It was part of being in a group of people in a relatively confined space, she knew, but it drove her crazy. After dealing with all the ups and downs they’d faced on their way here, she’d thought she had come to accept it and been ready to handle life on this island.
Moments like the one she was witnessing now had her second-guessing that belief.
They had to find some middle ground, or this situation would never work. She hated that she was considering leaving once again, if only at this moment, but it could end up being the best choice for everyone involved. If she was the catalyst for the drama, she would happily leave, knowing it was the right thing to do. And it sure seemed, at times like this, that she was the main cause of the strife between Wolf and his daughter.
Turning from the window, Regan glanced helplessly around the room, but it was clear that everyone felt the tension. Finally, Tabitha took a few steps forward toward Wolf, and reached out and patted his shoulder.
“This isn’t exactly strange behavior for a teenage girl, Wolf,” she offered gently. “You would be dealing with this regardless. I can’t tell you how many times I stormed out of my mom’s house, slamming the door hard every time for dramatic effect.”
RC made a noise. “Wolf was not an easy child, himself. He was very good at the dramatic exits when he wanted to be. Don’t let this calm demeanor fool you. Inside, he can be a drama queen, as well.”
The comment pulled a chuckle from everyone but Wolf, whose scowl only deepened and in turn led to more amusement. RC didn’t often speak, but when he did, he chose his words carefully. Hearing him use the term ‘drama queen’ had been funny in itself.
Regan smiled at watching the way Wolf narrowed his own eyes at his father now, thinking of a younger, smaller version of the man in front of her pitching a fit. She wondered if his hair had always been long. Would it have sailed behind him as he’d run away from his dad?
“Anybody have any questions?” Tabitha asked.
“Are we starting this today?” Geno asked.
“Yes. Get familiar with your tasks and then, tomorrow morning, we’ll hit the ground running.”
“I guess I should read up on that aquaponics some more. I really feel kind of lost going into this,” Regan mumbled, feeling unsure of herself now that it seemed like they were jumping right in. It was a big deal, being in charge of the group’s food supply system. She could feel her old doubts surfacing, and she suddenly felt nerves in her belly at the thought of failing, of letting everyone down.
“It’s easy. I’ll give you a quick tutorial on it,” Wolf said, seeming to read her mind even though his gaze was still settled out the screen door where his daughter had just made her exit.
3
Lily
Dear Diary,
Today sucks. Every day has sucked since the lights went out, but today really sucks. It can’t stay like this forever. I can’t live like this. Seriously. Does my dad expect me to live here, on this tiny island, for the rest of my life? Of course, he won’t mind. He has a girlfriend. I swear, I thought Regan was cool. I should have known she was only being nice to me because she was seeing my dad. She used me! But I am not going to help her win my dad over. She thinks that if she’s friends with me, then Dad will think we’re going to live happily ever after together on this island.
Not. Going. To. Happen. No way!
I can’t even be in the house anymore. Grandpa has moved back into his room. Tabitha and Geno took the spare room, dad is back in his room and Fred is on the couch full time pretty much. Regan has basically moved into my dad’s room. She never goes to bed with him and I never see her there in the morning, but I know she sleeps in there. It’s like everyone knows, but nobody says anything. Gross.
That’s why I’ve been camping out. It’s way better than being in the house with them all the time. They treat me like a child. Even Dad and Grandpa do, though everyone else is worse. I know so much more than them about this island and surviving on it. I hate that they think, just because they’re older, they’re somehow smarter than me. I know none of them could make it without my dad or our house. I feel like they’re using him.
Every night, I walk to the east side of the island and stare at the landscape. I can’t actually see anything, but I always wait in case I see light. It’s strange not to see boats on the water or lights coming from shore. There used to always be this glow; now it’s completely black. I always wonder if there’s someone out there, staring out to sea like I’m staring inland. Where are all the people? Where did everyone go? I mean, I know there are people there, but not as many as there used to be. When the lights went out, the people disappeared. Or, at least, that’s how it feels.
I’m camping because I figure I’m going to have to live like this one day eventually. I kept hoping the lights would come on, the first few days after it all went dark. Then, I was like, “Okay, it won’t be longer than a month.” I kept hoping things would be normal again. When my dad got back, though, that’s when I could see he was worried. That’s when I realized this was the real thing. This is what he’s been prepping for.
I still don’t want to believe it actually happened.
What if the lights never come back on? Dad says they will eventually, but what if something’s out there or way up in the sky that makes that impossible? What if this is how it’s going to be forever? I may as well get used to living in a tent without electricity at all. One day, the batteries on the solar power system are going to go out and we’re going to run out of propane for the generator. And, you know what? I’m going to be ready. I’m going to be
used to it. The rest of them are going to be crying and complaining they can’t turn on a light or use a fan to cool down.
The blackout isn’t even the worst part. My dad and his new best friends, Tabitha and Regan, have decided we get to have buddies. We’re teaming up to get stuff done that me and Grandpa did by ourselves for weeks while Dad was gone. These guys are so useless, they have to have a buddy. Seriously! And, more than that, everyone else gets to work with a friend and I’m supposed to work with my dad. I already know Tabitha and Regan are going to talk all day and have fun. It doesn’t take two people to run the greenhouse. Whatever. And Fred is making a five-year plan! Five years! No way am I going to live here with all of them for five years. I’ll be seventeen by then. If they’re all still here, I’m going to leave. I’ll almost be an adult. My dad can’t stop me.
Meanwhile, I’m stuck with Dad on this whole stupid team thing. He says I’m not any good at long-term planning. Uh, hello, I’m twelve. What am I supposed to plan? I know I’m planning to leave here the first chance I get—that’s what I know. And, I’m planning on ignoring all of them for the next five years. How’s that for planning?
I already know he’s going to make me do all the stupid jobs.
I so hate this. I want to go to town and see what’s happening. Maybe something has changed. Maybe I can find one of my friends and ask them to come live with us on the island. Ha! Dad would have a coronary. Only he can bring strays home. I feel so alone. Regan has moved in and I’m going to be pushed out. I can’t compare to her. She’s beautiful and I know my dad is falling in love with her, or maybe he already has. Soon, he’s going to forget all about me. I want her to leave. I want my dad back. I know it isn’t going to happen, but I don’t have to like it. I don’t have to be nice and pretend everything is good.
For now, I’m going to sleep in my tent. I don’t want to be around them. I’m really mad at my dad for not telling me about him and Regan, too, and I’m really mad at Regan for butting in and ruining my life. She should have just stayed back at the compound or whatever it is they said she was living in. She’s ruining everything!
Surviving the Refuge (Survivalist Reality Show Book 2) Page 4
