Mason continues to be an ever annoying and painful presence. It hurts even more that I’ve come to think of him this way. Not so long ago he was all that I longed for and one of the few things that get me by. A nauseous wave passes over me whenever we make eye contact. Will that ever stop? Will this pain in my chest give me peace? There’s this gaping all-consuming black hole of hurt where my heart should be. It doesn’t seem to be letting up, that’s for sure.
The reason I beg the Captain to call Mason off of our last mission stands true for why I don’t want him here now. It’s the same reason I tell him a few nights ago. Neither my heart nor my head is able to deal with him. My heart is spiteful and betrays me. I still love him—how can I not? You don’t just stop caring for someone. There’s no switch. The hurt and the trust that’s been lost refuse to be ignored.
The mental images and tricks that my own tormenting imagination plays on me is by far the worst of it all. I don’t have any real-life experience to base my dark fantasies on. They’re free to flitter about and depict distorted versions of media images into the worst possible scenarios starring Mason and his faceless harlot. Just how can I move forward with him here, with his face reminding me at every turn? Why won’t he just go?
Fed up with the whole situation I eagerly embrace the idea to go with Lucas and a small team to clear a place for us to rest tonight. We pile into the truck and head northeast towards the nearest town. It’s not until we stop at the edge that I realize there are no headlights behind us. The knot between my shoulders loosens slightly and everything seems a little brighter.
Lucas notices right away and doesn’t say anything. In fact it’s Lou who states the obvious. “Don't worry, we tricked stalker boy into helping the techs so you could have a break.”
Everyone tenses around me and before I can help myself I’m laughing so hard that tears are streaming down my face. When my breathing returns to something resembling normal I answer. “Thanks, guys. I really did need a break.”
“I can shoot him for you.” Mike offers.
“Nah, she doesn’t want to hurt him,” Lucas tells him. “But if that changes I get first dibs.”
We share another hearty laugh before we begin to move through the town. Once we’re sure it’s clear we take the long way home so I can handle the perimeter. It’s not wise to leave a huge energy signature where we plan to sleep with Carch still out there. It’s bad enough to leave one at all, but we’re deeper into the infected area now. It’s too risky not to take precautions. I move through this ghost town and my memories remind me that the infection and Carch aren’t the only threats out there. I push everything else out of my mind and force myself to focus on our surroundings.
All of these small American towns now devoid of life begin to meld together after a while. It makes it hard to depict one from another. The main street sits empty. No birds chirp, no small animals skitter about. Not even a bug (though it’s not quite spring) and we are further south saving the worst of the infection for the last part of our mission.
To call it eerie is a gross understatement. In the movies when the world ends everything is always the picture of destruction: windows shatter, chunks of buildings gone and left smoldering from the fire now raging a block away. The Northeast where we came from is a picture of such chaos when it first begins. That first half hour it is hell. Not the rest of these towns though. Everything outside of the Northeast is picture perfect…and completely empty.
It’s worse (I think) to have everything look so normal. Some kid’s bike sits waits on the lawn for its owner to return. The stoop it leans against attaches to an intact house. Nothing is out of place. A silent memorial to those who once were and are now lost to the unknown. At least in the chaos you know where you stand.
Once we declare the town officially empty and fit for use the real work begins. Mike and Lou nod to Lucas who gives me a grin. The other two walk back towards the truck. “What’s going on?” I ask. I know a scheme when I see one.
“We figured we’d try to prolong your break for as long as possible.” He spins away and takes off so I have to follow. “The guys are going to drop your bag back here before they go get the others. They’ll take their time getting them all back, by which time you’ll hopefully be refreshed and ready to take on the perimeter.”
When the smile bursts across my face I finally acknowledge how much I’m dreading seeing him again. This is a very welcomed plan that these fine soldiers execute. “You guys rock.” Lucas laughs now. “I’m serious. It was…stifling.”
Lucas’ smile changes to a knowing look and he answers softly, “Everyone deserves a bit of space when they need it.”
Neither of us says anything. Soon the rumble of the truck grows louder. Lou tosses my bag out to Lucas and gives him a mock salute before they turn the monstrosity around and leave. Since this is Lucas’ plan I wait for his cue.
He slings my bag over his shoulder and grabs my hand. “Come on. Let’s go find a place to claim for the night.”
For the first time in days my steps feel lighter. It’s seemingly natural to let Lucas lead me towards out little break in civilization. I can almost pretend we’re still making our way to camp, before my world comes crashing down.
Hot water is the surprise that kicks my happy gland in the ass (for the moment at least.) The first real shower in days is too sumptuous to allow even an iota of grouchiness or sadness. The water pulsates into my hair and I indulge in some fancy shampoo the previous owner has left. It smells nice and the matching conditioner actually untangles the massive rat’s nest that my hair has become—its protest to its recent lack of care.
I wish I can spend the entire night in this shower, but if the “plan” is going to work properly I’m on the clock. Ordinarily this may upset me until I consider the alternative. I quickly shut off the water and towel off, hanging my just hand washed clothes over the shower curtain rod. I don my last clean clothes until the others dry.
The only thing that’s kind of a bummer is the lack of electricity. Apparently the house we picked has some pilot light that gives us hot water. Lucas explains it earlier and maybe I don’t listen like I should. The allure of the hot water is too strong.
I pull on my boots and comb through my hair. I braid it in an attempt to keep it from getting all knotty again. A rap sounds on the door as I fasten the band in place.
“You can come in,” I call.
The door cracks open and Lucas appears. “We should get moving soon. Mike and Lou are already back with our Humvee.”
Like one of our older adventures Lucas does his exaggerated ninja moves through the surrounding backyards. It causes me to laugh and completely defeat his stealthy purposes. Turns out they (well he) isn’t here yet so our horseplay is of no consequence. We’re nothing but a dusty trail before any other headlights hit the town.
Radioactive
It takes an entire day (with the team effort) before I’m forced to notice Mason’s presence again. The short moments before we set off for today’s destination impede with perfectly timed distractions keeping him from getting too close. Besides the team’s obvious feelings on the entire situation it seems to evolve into a new pastime among our group. A level playing field for techs and soldiers alike.
We arrive at the next power plant and the new game continues. The teeniest bit of my hurt flips over to amusement as I watch it all unfold.
The techs do their part and pile Mason’s arms full of tools and other important looking devices. The bulk of our soldiers surrounds them and forces their advance into the building. After a few minutes the doors bang shut and the air is silent.
Lucas unhinges the back gate of the truck. I sit facing him so we can keep watch in both directions. We pass the time with foolish games of I Spy until all of the possibilities are defunct. The sun’s getting warmer—a nice sign of impending spring even though it leaves me thirsty. I stand to go to our cooler. I stretch my limbs before I hop down to wake up the muscles that have fallen a
sleep against the hard metal of the truck. It’s when I hop down that I see it.
The proximity is what scares me the most. I’m no expert, but I imagine that things shouldn’t go boom by a nuclear power plant. Call me crazy.
“Go and get the others out, now!” My voice’s sharper than I mean for it to be, but it’s not time to worry about it.
I run full speed towards the metallic fog. Just this once I will my feet to be trustworthy and not trip over themselves. The most unnerving thing of all: we still don’t know the severity of the situation. Is this the infection or Carch?
The difference may seem minor however the difference in outcome can be huge. The infection’s only a small problem in comparison to Carch’s men and their weapons. Add in the nuclear aspect and we’re all screwed.
The distinction is made a few feet before the fog embraces me and fear quickens my movements. The infection (the real one not made by Carch’s unethical weapons) fears me. It avoids my energy. This one does not. Just like the attack on our first camp.
My panic becomes overwhelming for a split second and I squelch it down. Warning the others may be impossible, but there’ve been some changes since I last met this fog. My power has more control and more of a punch. Plus this time I’m uber-pissed.
In the thick of the fog I let loose. My energy reaches a level of wanton release that I have yet to venture into. It feels good—and it melts the fog around me faster than it can dissipate. For the first time since the beginning of everything I want to see how far I can go. It’s consuming and I let the energy devour me.
It propels me off my feet so that the energy keeps me hovered just above the ground. The fog clears further and something else catches my eye. I push with all my might and blast the energy towards the group of men causing all the mayhem. Their black uniforms mark them like targets and the force of my energy obliterates them. Only it’s not before one of them launches something fiery at the large concrete cylinder behind me.
I move quickly and it’s no use. There’s no way I can win a race against something so fast. My legs give out when it makes contact and I stumble to my knees. The threat has been destroyed, but at what cost. My concern with destroying Carch’s men causes me to neglect to keep my own team safe.
It’s then I hear the frantic voice shouting my name. I see Lucas approaching in a solid run. He moves to pick me up but I hug him hard instead. “You got them out?” My voice is frantic.
“Yes, everyone’s out, but we have to move.” To confirm his words a large rumble comes from the structure next to us. “The techs say the worst is yet to come. The further away we can get away the better. We don’t have a lot of time.”
Instead of wasting time answering him I grab Lucas by the hand and together we run towards the army vehicles. The team already has the engines rumbling. Halfway there the ground quakes again. I don’t have to look back to know. The look on our tech Jase’s face tells me all that I need to know. With the next earth-cracking shudder I shove Lucas in front of me with a strength that surprises me.
There’s only one thing I can think to do. I’ve never tried it before so I hope like hell that it works. The look on everyone’s face before me is pure horror. It has to work. With that thought in the center of my mind I unleash my energy again: slowly this time until I’m certain of my control over it. Once it’s completely pliable I weave it quickly around the people in front of me, under their vehicles and over their heads—a bubble of electricity and hopefully a bubble of protection.
In my haste I forget to include myself in this bubble. I see the flash of light behind me. It’s brighter than my own energy and I feel it penetrate my back. It’s warm, sticky and gross. The energy behind me battles with the shield in front of me until it ultimately holds. The last bit of energy behind me drains and so does the rest of mine.
Consciousness looms near yet just out of reach. The sensations are there. My skin feels like it’s crawling, but no part of me will listen when I will it to move or work. Voices garble and drift in and out. There’s no denying something very bad is happening. The question is, how bad?
There’s that split second when I first wake up—that wonderful moment of ignorant bliss in which time I remember nothing of previous horrific events and heartbreaking regrets. It all comes rushing back with the force of massive wave and it jostles me from head to toe. My last memories sink into place and I shoot up, wary of the unfamiliar surroundings.
The room is dark besides the pathetic amount of light that leaks from a lamp on the bedside table to the left. Next to that table Lucas snores lightly in a chair next to the bed. The body in the chair to my right belongs to Mason. Good Lord. I think I prefer the nuclear explosion.
I give my arms and legs a wiggle. The same for my fingers and toes. I take stock. It doesn’t feel like anything’s out of place. Surely being exposed to something like that can’t be good. Although (if we’re being technical) neither is getting tens of thousands of volts of electricity pumped through you. Hmm.
Regardless of any possible detrimental side effects the problem at hand still remains. My reprieve ends when Lucas stirs and opens his eyes.
“Kat!” He says this loudly (of course) and wakes Mason in the process. I slink back under the covers slightly. “You’re okay!” He grabs my left hand in his.
“Kat…” Mason’s voice is quiet before it trails off. He gives my right hand a squeeze but releases it when he catches the look on Lucas’ face.
“Um, yeah…at least I feel fine. Where are we? How long was I out?” My curiosity overpowers awkwardness every time.
“You were out for two days.” Lucas says and gauges my reaction. “We’re in the town next to the power plant—“
My head snaps towards him and I cut him off. “How is that safe? Shouldn’t we be as far away as possible?”
“We should be.” Mason quietly reminds me that he’s there.
“What happened?” I ask in confusion.
“You,” Lucas pauses and searches for the right words. He looks uncomfortable. “You threw out some kind of electric bubble. It protected all of us—everything inside of it. The rest…from what the techs can tell disappeared.”
“Disappeared? How does it just disappear? I thought that a nuclear explosion like that was supposed to be like the worst thing ever.” At this point I’m baffled.
“You sucked it up, Kat. You absorbed all of it. It was pretty amazing.” Lucas doesn’t look at me while he says it. We both look as Mason launches out of his chair and stalks out of the room instead.
I look at Lucas in astonishment. “Sorry,” he explains. “He doesn’t think we should mention that part. He doesn’t want to worry you. I think that you should know…I’d want to know.”
Okay, what happens when electricity meets radiation? It’s not a subject I’ve ever given any thought about before. Of course it seems that there’s never anything normal about the way anything reacts to me. Even if there is an answer it probably won’t do much good.
“Kat?” Lucas still patiently waits for a reply. I hold up a finger, still processing.
The words make sense. It’s certainly not for lack of understanding that they’re so unbelievable. It’s how good I feel—although that can be the two days of sleep talking. There’s no reason to freak out when I feel fine. Which has to mean I’m good…unless, “Am I dangerous for you and the others to be around now?” I ask the thought out loud.
Lucas shakes his head. “The techs are amazed. They’ve exhausted every battery in every piece of their equipment twice before they believe it. It’s a miracle.”
Relief washes over me. “Everyone else’s asleep?”
Lucas shakes his head. “Half the team and the techs are resting. The rest of them are out on patrol. With you unconscious…”
That makes sense. I stretch now and swing my feet to the floor. “We should go and tell them to come back so they’ll be rested for tomorrow.”
Lucas looks at me in shock. “Kat, tomorrow we�
��re going back. Captain Jennings and Dr. Ford have aborted the rest of the mission. They’ll send out another team or something. When they heard what happened they told us to bring you back as soon as it was safe.”
“That’s absurd!” Whoops! That came out a little too loudly. I lower my voice to a tense whisper. “We’re already here. Why waste all that time? What if another one goes?”
“The only reason that one had problems is because of Carch’s men. The mission is important, but I think they made it seem slightly more ominous than it actually is.”
“It doesn’t matter.” I shove my feet into my boots and stand. “There’s no way they’re going to make it into the North without me.”
Lucas steps in front of me. “Kat, we thought…after what happened. Then you didn’t wake up.” For the first time I see the relief in his eyes.
“Lucas,” I soften and place my hand on his shoulder. “I’m alright, really.”
“I know.” He pulls me into a rather tight hug.
“How nice,” Mason’s voice comes from behind Lucas. The door slams as Lucas releases me.
“Sorry,” Lucas says.
“Not your fault.” I reassure him. “I need to speak with the Captain.”
Lucas nods. “Follow me.”
The satellite phone offers gritty sound quality, but it’s better than nothing. Captain Jennings is full of relief to hear that I’m okay. It takes twenty plus minutes of Q & A with Dr. Ford convince them both enough to agree to let us continue on (for now.) The stipulation is a recurring phone call every three days to the good doctor for a check in. It’s probably a good idea so I don’t argue.
Captain Jennings explains the new plan to Lucas while I toe at the dirt on the ground with my boot. I glance around and there’s no sign of any imminent threat. It’s almost disappointing considering all of the energy I’ve built up ‘sleeping’ these last couple of days.
Shocked (Electric Series) Page 11
