Shed some Light

by Amber Naralim

  “Ellie!” Vincent cried. He didn't have a good enough hold on his emotions to hide his frustration. “No!” He opened his mouth to argue further.

  She shook her head not willing to listen. Pain ripping through her with each movement she made. “I am coming with you. If he needs to die, then I am going to be the one to kill him. There is no arguing here.” Her voice was hard, and yet, it held a heartbreaking sorrow. “And if you try to leave me, you know damn well that I will find him myself,” she said, glaring at Reese.

  Reese and Vincent shared a look. Vincent closed his eyes. Reese nodded. “All right, Ellie. We do it your way,” Reese told her. His eyes slid to his little brother. He did not look at all happy with this idea. Reese thought he was in love with her before. He knew it, now. He had never known anyone with a will like hers. Vincent rested his forehead against hers. He sniffed.

  “Charlie, you need to get what you need. Reese will go with you. You guys need to be ready to run,” Ellie told her. Charlie nodded, coming to her feet. She crossed the floor to what baby stuff they managed to collect for him up to that point. She grabbed a cloth shopping bag from the closet and began putting in the essentials.

  “Wait, are you fucking kidding me?” Shane said, his voice quiet. He didn’t want to startle the baby in his arms. “He nearly killed you.” It didn't matter what he knew about Ellie. Shane Vetler had always had a protective streak a mile wide when it came to her. He couldn't let them take her with them. It was suicide.

  “He's my brother. I will end him,” she told him. Ellie tried to pull away from Vincent. He frowned, instantly moving, trying to help her. Her arm hurt, a lot. A throbbing ache, the wound in her throat burned like it was on fire. She could feel heat. It spread all throughout her body. She was pretty sure that at least one of her ribs was broken. But that she had dealt with before. She’d dealt with a lot worse before. The drugs Charlie pumped her full of made her a tad woozy. They made her entire body feel heavy. But it helped with the pain. The room swam a little when she came to her feet.

  “You have someone else to think of besides yourself, Ellie,” Shane argued.

  Ellie’s eyes fell onto the baby. Misery shot through her. The idea of what she was about to do hung around her neck with an earth dragging weight. Her face broke, crumpling under her emotions. She recovered quickly, taking in a deep breath that seared her. Ellie shook her head. “No, Shane, you and Charlie do,” she whispered.

  He blinked at her, his gold eyes shining. Shane couldn't breathe. He stared at her for a few moments, before he looked up at Charlie. She sobbed. “Are you sure, Ellie?” Charlie cried reaching out to lay her hand on Shane's shoulder.

  Ellie nodded at her, plastering her lips together in a long thin line. “I know that you will love Lucky more than anyone else in this whole world. You can take care of him. I can't.” She sniffed. Birdie whined. Ellie looked down at him. She swallowed past the tightness in her throat. “He and Birdie are a package deal.” The dog stood up, walking over to Vetler. He sat back down next to his knee, protectively. “That dog will protect Lucky with his life, just like he did his mother.”

  “How are you even going to find him?” Charlie asked, breathlessly. “I thought you said you couldn't smell him?” She looked down at Lucky. Charlie pulled out a new flannel receiving blanket with little cartoon motorcycles printed across it. She took him gingerly from Shane pulling the bloodstained pillowcase away. Charlie wrapped him in the softness of it. Then in the thick blue blanket, she’d crocheted for him.

  “I don't need his scent. I made him. I know exactly how to find him,” Vincent told her.

  Chapter 51

  Charlie sat next to Ellie on the couch. She held that baby lovingly to her chest. Ellie stared at him, at his ice blue eyes. She would not touch him. What she was going to do, she couldn't bear to love him. This was right. This is what Anna would have wanted. Both Charlie and Vetler wanted to be parents so badly. They had fallen in love with that baby while he was still in Anna's womb. Ellie knew that. She knew it down to her bones.

  Vetler, Reese, and Vincent packed up the Liberty, food, clothes, as much of her medical equipment as it would hold. Everything they would need to start over. Ellie sniffed. She stared at the wall but did not see it. “I won't let him hurt you, Charlie,” she said.

  “Oh, honey, this is as much my fault as anyone else. I knew it was a risk. I should have talked Vincent out of it. I just, I couldn't save him any other way.”

  Ellie took in a deep breath. She concentrated on the pain it caused her. Let it remind her that it was Edward who had done this to her. “I want you to know, Verens, Edward, I will keep you safe from them. Take Lucky. Give him a life. This is your second chance, you and Vetler. I promise you. I will make sure you get to keep it, I swear,” Ellie said.

  Charlie opened her mouth to tell her that she didn't have to do this. That this wasn't her fight. That it shouldn't be her fight. But she knew Ellie. Charlie knew what she was. Who she was. Charlie licked her lips and heaved a heavy sigh. “Thank you.” Ellie pushed up off the couch. Vincent came into the kitchen. His gaze fell on them.

  Ellie crossed the floor to him with only the hint of a limp. Vincent couldn't stop the flutter of his heart. When he saw her lying forlorn on the floor he was sure she was hurt so much worse. Ellie seemed fine. Getting better with every minute that passed and he was more than grateful for it. He’d also never seen her shine so bright. Colored strobes exploded inside of her. She let Charlie tape her shoulder but refused a sling. Vincent heaved a heavy breath. He’d put on a pair of jeans, but he was still covered in blood, a lot of it hers. Her shoulder holster hanging from his right hand, he had the machine pistol that Reese had given her in his left.

  “El,” he began.

  “Save it,” she told him. “I'm going with you.” Ellie reached for the gun. She had Reese fish her Heckler out of the bedroom earlier. That was at home in her inner-pants holster. She took the holster from him. Ellie slipped it over her left shoulder with a wince, fighting with the thing. Vincent reached around her. He slipped it into place for her.

  “I almost lost you, Ellie.” He folded her into his arms.

  She smiled. It was sad. It had none of the fire she usually did. “You can't get rid of me that easy,” Ellie said simply. He leaned forward, kissing her head. She turned in his arms. Ellie stared at him. Her eyebrows knit together. “I don't blame you for this.”

  Vincent’s eyes danced over her face. “You said you would never give up on me, Ellie. Tell me this isn't you giving up.” His bloodstained face broke under the emotions running through him. Tears glittered in his cashmere-gray eyes.

  She reached up with her right hand and touched the side of his face. “I don't want to die,” Ellie assured him. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Vincent. But you of all people know this is my responsibility. Anna is dead, because of me. Because I didn't listen to you. Because I couldn't believe that Edward could do this. I have to fix it. I have to protect them,” she said, her gaze falling on Charlie holding onto Lucky.

  Vincent took in a deep breath and let it out slow. He nodded, rolling his bottom lip, his tongue darting out. He swallowed, his mouth open. Vincent stared down at her. “You will stay behind me. You will not be dumb enough to think you have to save me, or Reese. If he stops one of us, you run. Swear it to me, Ellie. Swear to me that you will let me do, what I have to do,” he said, a tear rolling down his cheek. “And... swear to me you won't hate me when it’s done.”

  Ellie closed her eyes, her hand sliding around the back of his neck. She pulled him in, pressing his forehead to hers. “I love you, Vincent. I always have. I always will. I could never hate you. Nothing you do or say will ever change that.”

  Reese walked past them, a duffel bag full of clothes, and pillows for Ellie in his hand. While he helped Vetler pack the Liberty, he also prepared for them to finally leave this place. He made sure to grab Vincent's sketchpads, his case of pencils. Every sketch of her Vince
did from Ellie's bedroom walls. He stopped behind Ellie. For just an instant, before he decided he couldn't ruin that moment.

  He headed through the door. Vetler stood in front of the Liberty's open hatchback. Reese set the duffel bag in the bed of the Dodge. He walked the smaller bag over to Vetler. Reese stood behind him, silent, lost in his own forest of dark thoughts. Shane turned to look at him. The expression on Reese's face didn't help his mood. Shane was on edge, afraid Edward would appear at any moment to claim what was his. To murder them, the way he had Anna. Shane was prepared to do anything he could to protect his new family.

  “You're really going to let that little girl in there go try to fight that thing?” Shane asked, his eyes red.

  Reese smiled at him. It was such an odd sight to see. He had put on a plain red, V-neck t-shirt, and a pair of jeans. But his face, his arms were still covered in blood. It had even dried into his hair. “Are ya still really calling her a little girl?” Reese asked.

  Shane sighed. “Make her come with us. You can come find her later, you can-” He stopped, his anger rising the more he spoke. Shane realized he was begging. He blew out another breath. “This life is eating her alive, Reese. I know the signs. Ellie is cracking under the pressure of this shit. She’s just a kid. You love her. I can see it. Do what is right for her,” Shane pleaded.

  Reese shook his head. “She’s stronger than ya give her credit for, Shane.” He looked up at the house. “I could knock her out, duct tape her to the seat, and I'm telling ya. She will find a way to be part of this.”

  Shane had tried hard to trust the monsters. Charlie loved Vincent like he was her brother. He watched them with Ellie, how gentle, and loving both of them were toward her. He stopped fighting the beginning friendship he had even started to let blossom. It had been slow going, but it was getting there.

  The one he couldn't trust was Edward. Shane liked him. He felt bad for him. But, no one, not even Vincent knew what fully infecting him would do. Shane felt it in his gut something was wrong. Shane always listened to his instincts. He had a feeling something like this was going to happen. He should have done something. But just like the rest of them, he ignored the signs. He wanted desperately to be able to bring something good out of it. He wanted to save that girl from the pain of what they were about to do.

  Reese held out the small black bag. Shane frowned. “What is it?”

  “This is what‘s going to let ya take care of your family.” Reese smiled. “I like ya, Shane. You're a good man. The fact that ya want to protect her, it tickles me. I get it. But she don't want to be protected. So instead of trying to keep her away, and failing, I’m going to walk in right by her side. And we are going to rip Edward apart for what he did. Take care of that little boy. That’s all ya can do.”

  Shane sighed. He took the bag. Shane held out his right hand. Reese took it, giving it a firm shake. It was the first time Shane had let any of the monsters touch him. “I'll take care of him. You take care of her.”

  “Ya got my word,” Reese said. “If we need ya, we'll find ya.” Shane nodded. Reese gave him a nod. “A few more boxes and ya can get on your way.”

  “You're sure he won't come after us?” Shane asked, his worry threatened to swallow him whole.

  “Vince can feel him. He knows where Edward is, and I can sense him if he gets close. Ya guys are going to be all right. As for Ellie, she saved us. She’s the only hope for us. My brother loves her more than his own life.” Reese paused, licking his lips. “I love her,” Reese admitted. “We’ll keep her safe.”

  What Reese said was true. Shane even understood why Ellie had to do this. If she were a man, he wouldn't have a problem with it. But she wasn't. He couldn’t think of her as anything, but a little girl. That was his own issue. Shane saw what she went through to get her brother out of Verens in the first place. He knew the awful things she’d done. He cataloged the bullet casings himself. Reese was absolutely right. Ellie didn't want to be protected.

  Shane watched him walk back to the house. His curiosity getting the better of him, he unzipped the bag. Shane’s eyes went wide at the several stacks of cash inside it. He shook his head. A second chance. The dog barked at him, wagging his tail. Shane jerked his head toward the open door of the back seat. Birdie jumped in happily.

  Vincent and Reese helped Shane put the final few boxes into the Liberty, slowly packing the back of the Dodge as well. Vetler tried one last time to convince Ellie to come with them. She would have none of it. She smiled at him. “You take care of my nephew.” Ellie stepped into him, and Shane wrapped his arms around her gently.

  “You take care of yourself, Princess.” Shane tried smirking down at her. It melted, leaving his expression more than just a little sad. “Anytime you need us,” Shane told her.

  “Same goes for us.” Ellie nodded.

  Charlie was sobbing again. Vincent held her. Hugging her, he leaned down to kiss her on the top of her head. “This isn't goodbye. You know that, right?” Vincent flashed her a tight-lipped smile.

  She nodded. “Yeah, baby, I know. I just- Safe! Please, be careful.”

  Vincent brushed the side of Lucky's face with his fingertip. The baby opened those eyes and stared up at him. Vincent smiled. “You are going to be an amazing mother, Charlie.”

  She smiled through her tears. “I love you,” Charlie whispered.

  “I love you, too, Charles. When this is all over, we are going to celebrate his birthday. You are going to bake a cake. Chocolate, if you don't mind,” he said, flashing her that sexy devilish grin. Vincent pulled her in for another hug. “We're going to be alright, Charles. Everything is going to be alright,” he assured her. Vincent took in a breath and his eyes fell on Vetler. “You are a lucky man. Charles is a singular woman. I know you’ll take care of her.”

  “I will.” Shane nodded pulling Charlie into his arms.

  The three of them followed Charlie, Vetler, and the baby out to the Liberty. Watched them climb inside. Ellie gave Birdie one last rub between his ears. “You take care of them, mutt.” He gave her a bark that told her he would. Shane turned the key in the ignition, and Charlie waved until she could no longer see them.

  Ellie took in a deep breath. “They are safe, right?” she asked. Vincent nodded.

  “He is over three hundred miles to the east of where they’re going,” he told her.

  “Good.” Ellie nodded her head.

  The three of them spent the next hour carrying in the stuff from the shed. Neither of them let her carry anything that weighed more than a few pounds. They had Vetler take the twelve gauge and all the cartridges. The pipe bombs, C4, flares, and thermate were all laid out on the living room floor. Reese stood tensely near the empty fireplace. That was a lot of fire. Vincent sat cross-legged on the floor to her left. Ellie sat on the couch. Slowly, carefully she filled all of her extra clips. She tested her left arm and cried out, cursing emphatically.

  “Do you need another shot?” Vincent asked, looking up at her.

  Ellie shook her head. “No. The pain is good.”

  “No pain is good,” Reese told her. “It slows you're thinking. It slows your body.”

  “And the drugs won't?” Ellie argued.

  “Not in the right doses, El. I need to know that you are going to be okay. That you can handle this,” Vincent said. The look in his eyes softened her resolve. Yes, Vincent had seen her do more hurt a lot worse. He just hated watching her suffer, especially when he could do something about it. Vincent had to be able to alleviate this pain. Because he knew he was about to cause her a hell of a lot more.

  “I don't want to be out. I need to be able to think,” she told him. Vincent nodded, pulling the small kit of medical supplies that Charlie left behind. He pulled out a syringe and filled it with morphine. Only thirty lines, she could function at that dose. Vincent came to his feet. Ellie frowned at the needle.

  “Roll over,” Vincent directed.

  She unbuttoned her jeans. Vincent pulled them and her
red underwear down the curve of her ass. “This is so humiliating. I hate shots,” Ellie grumbled.

  “Well don't get hurt, and you won't need shots,” Vincent told her. She gave Reese a look that made him laugh at her.

  “It burns,” she complained.

  Vincent rubbed the place he gave her the shot, massaging it into her skin. He slipped the top back on the syringe and tossed it into the trash. “So, what exactly is the plan?” Ellie asked buttoning her pants back up.

  “We find him. Me and Vince beat him to death, then we set him on fire,” Reese told her.

  Ellie took in a deep breath. “Sounds fairly straightforward,” she said. Her voice vibrated with the tone she used. It wasn’t hard to tell she wasn't happy about this. She stared down at the pipe bombs. Ellie picked up the Glock 18. She pushed one of the clips into it. Slapping the bottom, she pulled back on the slide. Ellie checked the safety, slipping it into her shoulder holster. The Heckler was full, already in its place at the small of her back.

  Ellie had the automatic rifle she’d taken from the merc who attacked Bennet's house. The problem was she couldn't hit the broad side of the world with it. It was too big for her, too heavy to keep it steady. Ellie planned to take it anyway, just in case. The Boy Scout motto says be prepared. Ellie began stuffing the pipe bombs into her backpack. She packed all of the C4 they made as well.

  “Where is he?” she asked Vincent.

  “It's going to be a drive,” Vincent answered. “He's in the woods to the north. Lots of two tracking.” He watched her grab a handful of detonators. Ellie put them in the smaller front pocket. The backpack she used to carry all of this was the torn and bloody one that was her constant companion when they were on the road together. He hadn't seen it in a while. Vincent thought she’d thrown it away. Memories of those months flooded over him. Vincent knew even then that this day would come. He knew then, that if they rescued Edward eventually they would have to hunt him down and kill him.