The Life After War Collection

by Angela White

  9

  “It’s time for bed, children,” Hilda called two hours later. She waved at Billy to shut off the second video that the girls had slipped in when the first ended.

  Billy did as instructed, but he hated to end their time together. He didn’t know when he would get to see Leeann again.

  Leeann glowered at Hilda, bringing the German woman to a halt.

  Hilda frowned, hands going to her hips.

  Leeann began to pout, bottom lip quivering.

  Billy started to step between them and froze when Leeann gave Hilda a pointed glare of triumph.

  “What’s going on?”

  “She says you won’t protect me,” Leeann told him, making Hilda wince. “You just proved you would.”

  Beaten, Hilda jerked a hand at Billy. “You have ten minutes and then you bring her straight to her cot! I will be waiting.”

  “Don’t you need help getting them all down there?” Billy offered quickly.

  Hilda happily seized on that. “Ya. You come along now.”

  Leeann pouted, but Billy was relieved and told her so silently. After he explained how much trouble them being alone could cause, Leeann marched up to him and took his hand.

  Billy froze at the touch, the fire, the bond now running up his arm and into his mind. “What did you do?”

  Leeann let go of him. “We won’t see each other again for a long time,” she stated worriedly. “I had to make sure you don’t forget me too.”

  Billy paused in fear and confusion. “What?”

  Leeann skipped ahead to avoid the question, leaving Billy to round up the slower kids. Her words had rang with a certainty that was horrifying.

  In the movie room, Ray was closing it all up and putting things away. As he knelt down to retrieve a hair barrette from under the edge of a chair, two people walked by. Ray glanced over, recognizing the shoes. They were Dale’s sneakers.

  “In here!”

  Ray stayed down as the couple came in, laughing and hugging. When they began to kiss, Ray cleared his throat.

  “This chamber is off limits. If you get lost now, I won’t report it.”

  Dale and Dennis found him on the floor, and their reactions were the complete opposite. Dale was humiliated, crushed. Dennis was ecstatic.

  Ray stiffly stood up, eyes locked onto Dale in fury. He wanted to hit his partner for the first time ever in their relationship. Ray’s fist clenched.

  Dennis immediately cowered, pushing Dale aside to get out of the way.

  “We’re through.” Ray left the room. Then he left the floor. If he could have left the cave, he would have kept going until this fire, this lethal hatred, had burned itself out. As it was, he was locked in here with them.

  Ray’s gut boiled as he marched straight to the blanket-covered corner he shared with Dale. His mind flashed to waking this morning, to Dale’s soft kiss on his cheek, to their words of never fighting again. He ripped the blankets down, not caring who fled or who watched.

  When Ray was finished, all of his things were in two duffle bags and Dale’s were untouched. The Eagle stuck his chin in the air and left under the knowing gazes of the members who had witnessed Dennis and Dale but hadn’t told him. The two weren’t being subtle about their attraction whenever Ray wasn’t around.

  Ray went to the other end of the corridor, to the singles’ area. He paused in the entryway, cheeks scarlet with embarrassment.

  “Over here,” Daryl invited. He recognized the expression since he’d just been wearing it himself.

  Ray took the empty cot by Daryl in relief. “Thanks.”

  “Sure.” Daryl grunted, “Bitches, man.”

  Ray paused, almost smiling. “Yeah. That’s exactly it. Bitches.”

  The two new bachelors shared a bitter laugh as they got settled into their new roles as single men. Daryl hadn’t been out of it for long, but Ray had been with Dale for a long time. When tears threatened, he sat on the edge of the cot and began to converse with Daryl about whatever topic came to mind.

  After a bit, Daryl realized what Ray was doing and understood that he would be able to do the same when things got rough. Daryl allowed Ray to use him for support. Why not? he contemplated bitterly. I’ve got no one else in this tomb who understands how much I already miss her.

  10

  “I can’t find Cody.”

  Marc didn’t glance up from his paperwork, but he did send out his grid to scan for the child.

  Julia leaned on the table. “Where is my son?”

  Marc pushed deeper. “Bottom level.” He scowled at her. “Why is our son in the bottom level alone? Are you trying to get him killed? There are gaps and holes down there, not to mention bugs and the occasional angry ant.”

  Julia flushed, arms crossing defensively. “He had to use the bathroom. He didn’t return.”

  “You let him go alone?” Marc asked. “Without worrying over the strangers he might run into or the dangers he might face? Some mother.”

  Julia stuck her nose in the air. “I was told we were safe here. Is that not true?”

  Marc sighed, trapped. “Yes, it’s true, but I can’t control bad people and you should know that since you are one yourself!”

  Julia realized Marc had gotten too angry for conversation. She turned to go.

  “Leave them alone,” Marc ordered as he recognized the other hot spot on his grid. “He’s with Angie. She’ll look after him.”

  Julia’s face flooded with anger and Marc shrugged. “When they find your body, that’ll make things easier for me.”

  She left the mess, ignoring the frowns and grumbling at the way she was treating their leader. She didn’t care about any of them, Marc included. She cared about Cody. That was it.

  “She’s a strange one,” Doug commented as he went by the table with Roy and Romeo.

  Marc nodded in agreement, smiling at the boys who stared at him wide-eyed. He didn’t know why, but he doubted it was anything to worry over. “Want to join me?”

  Doug grinned happily. “That’d be great.”

  Doug settled the boys with their trays and went for his own, leaving Marc with the shy kids. He smiled again. “You boys okay now?”

  “We’re good,” Roy answered.

  “Are you gonna kill uncle Mikel?” Romeo asked abruptly, bringing the noise of the mess down several notches. Marc thought of Cynthia’s paper, the accusations, and then the future. He nodded. “Yes.”

  “Good,” Roy declared angrily. “He farts a lot.”

  Laughter rolled across the mess, allowing Marc to relax. He liked telling the truth. It always worked out better than a lie.

  If only that were true, Kenn contemplated from a few tables over. If only that were true.

  11

  “Boss wants to know if you’re done with the evaluation of the cave,” Kenn stated, joining Adrian and David on the second level. The two men both had clipboards and were scribbling notes as they studied the new lighting system. Once he’d taken Angela to the training space, Adrian had returned to his other duties to show people he wasn’t going to try riding her coattails into forgiveness. He wasn’t positive where she was right now, but he hoped it was with Tracy in the mess, having a public evening meal.

  “Shortly,” Adrian answered. “He’ll have it before I sleep.”

  “Good enough,” Kenn allowed. Marc had asked for it by morning. “Need any help tonight?”

  Adrian grinned, getting a flicker of their old connection. “That would be great.”

  Kenn nodded to David and left, unable to deny the need to serve Adrian that still existed. The Marine went toward the lab to check on Tonya, not worrying over it. There was nothing wrong with him still helping Adrian as long as his goals were the same as Marc’s goals.

  Adrian caught the thought and lost his good mood. He motioned toward the lights. “Tell me.”

  David frowned at the coldness Adrian was using to hide his hurt feelings. “You don’t need them anymore.”

  Adrian
sighed. “Yes, I do. Tell me what these lights mean.”

  “Red is a fire,” David recited in boredom. “Green is all clear. Orange is an unknown problem.”

  “And blue?”

  “Total alert for the entire camp.”

  “Good. We’ll be posting notes and signs around these so citizens know which button to hit.”

  “Does it connect to all the floors?”

  “It does now,” Adrian answered, taking them to the top level. “Theo’s crew finished it up this afternoon. Since we don’t have radios right now, this will help us keep track of issues.”

  “Can’t we use a short-wave frequency?”

  “Not yet,” Adrian told him, climbing the ladder. “The Mexicans are close enough to pick it up.”

  David followed his mentor tiredly to the top level. They had been touring all day, fighting off both hostility and silverfish in the dark, damp corners. David was ready to be done.

  “I’ve got that class in a few minutes anyway,” Adrian reminded. “I want to hit the lockers and then you can take the notes to Marc.”

  David was relieved it was about over. He forced an eager attitude. “Can do, Boss.”

  Adrian tried to hurry in the training space. The few fighters in here right now were putting off violent waves that forced him to skip evaluating the rear wash area and the storage crevice where they were keeping the gear. He didn’t believe it would matter much. He’d noted what was important.

  “I’m headed to the mess for a mug and then I’ll be up here for a couple hours,” Adrian told David as they walked to the ladder. “Deliver those to the big chief and then you’re off duty.”

  David yawned, taking Adrian’s clipboard. “You’ll find me in my cot, snoring, unless they’ve smothered me.”

  Adrian doubted sleep would be happening anytime soon, but didn’t say so. After a long day of labor, Eagles felt like they could drop off the instant their heads touched their pillows, but that wasn’t usually the case. Even mundane work had to be gone over mentally and the brain enjoyed doing it while the rest of the body was stationary. He’d often found Eagles up in the wee hours, sorting through paperwork for a form they’d forgotten a question on. Adrian had encouraged that. After a while, people did it automatically and the good ones corrected their future behavior.

  Adrian yawned. The class might be a good place to catch a nap if no one showed up. He hadn’t returned to collect the clipboards so he didn’t know if anyone had signed up. It might be a very boring night.

  Adrian shrugged. I don’t care if it is. I’m with my herd. The rest is secondary. I’m home.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Laughter

  1

  “This is boring.”

  Charlie looked over to find Tracy staring toward the hallway steps to topside. The exit was patrolled by three rookie Eagles. Thanks to the avalanche and sentries blowing the tunnels, this top entrance was finally the only one open. Safe Haven would be trapped in here if anything happened to this level.

  Charlie checked his watch. It was evening snack time for most of the camp, but some members had activities or training lessons on this top floor. One of them was Adrian.

  “Three more minutes?” Charlie begged. He’d brought her up here on the pretense of helping with his shooting, but she’d quickly discovered that he didn’t need it. After half an hour of practicing on wall targets in the farthest training chamber from the stairs, she had lost interest. But Charlie hadn’t. He’d felt her restlessness days ago. When he’d spotted the name on the class roster, he’d begun gathering gear.

  Tracy sighed. “Okay.” She didn’t ask why he was here or why she was along. She was busy trying not to let her mind get the best of her. When things got dark and quiet, she got scared. Charlie usually kept her occupied, but tonight he’d insisted that they gear up for paintball so that he could practice without having to register for the big training room.

  “How many signed up?”

  “Almost a dozen. Marc sent three others. He wants them calmed down or sent out.”

  “You got it.”

  Tracy and Charlie went still and silent as voices came down the hall. Kenn and Adrian were the first people to arrive for the kai class that was in the center impression along this corridor. Neither of them noticed the couple.

  “Okay.” Adrian scanned the training sheet, hiding his pleasure at being here. “We’ll get his picks out of the way and then do an eval. Angela wants to know where the Eagles are.”

  “All of them?” Kenn asked. “That’s a tall order.”

  “Yep. Should keep me busy for a while.”

  Kenn nodded, but didn’t say if he liked that or not. He was still playing it cool with his former idol. Kenn suspected Marc had put them together to test his new loyalty and he didn’t like it.

  The two men stopped at the entrance to the large training area that was one door up from Tracy and Charlie.

  “Any notes or messages?” Adrian asked.

  “One from each.”

  “Give me his first. Might be the easiest.”

  “No fraternizing during the class or sucking up to get in anyone’s good graces.”

  “Never did that before and it wouldn’t work for me now,” Adrian snorted. “Hers?”

  “You leave the door open tonight.”

  “That’s it?”

  “That’s it.” Kenn hesitated, and then said, “I think she wants them all to know you’re here, doing FND for the leader.”

  “Easy enough.”

  Kenn and Adrian paused to let Shawn and Missy by. The little girl was still having trouble sleeping in the common chamber. Shawn had gotten into the habit of bringing her up here in the evenings to settle her down with cartoons or reading. Kenn liked the kid. She refused to lie to anyone. That was so hard to do in any environment that Kenn was impressed the child was sticking to it.

  “Good night,” Kenn called when the girl gave Adrian an ugly glare and then turned it on him.

  Missy rolled her eyes. “You’ll see.”

  Kenn frowned. I don’t like the sound of that.

  Shawn led Missy into the reading area without acknowledging either man. Missy had her favorite blanket and her bunny slippers, but her pink pjs set it off for Shawn. She was a baby. She needed to be protected.

  “You got it all set up or should I?” Adrian asked, sensing Shawn’s coldness. Missy, he didn’t know, but the power she held was being used on all of them. He could feel the peeks into his mind and into Kenn’s. She was strong.

  Kenn flipped on the power, being careful with the wires connected to the switch. They didn’t have covers over most things yet. “Mats are down and chairs have been stacked.”

  Adrian admired the lighting and equipment. “We’re all set then.”

  “Just need students,” Kenn pointed out.

  Adrian was more nervous about his reception from the Eagles than he was willing to show, but the thrill of being with his herd was the strongest emotion right now. Later, if no one showed up for this class, he would be crushed in a way that even Angela’s brutal rejections hadn’t been able to accomplish.

  “Might be a boring hour,” Adrian stated, trying to prepare himself.

  Not even close, Charlie thought, gesturing for Tracy to follow him further into the dark room that was being used for overflow training or those who wanted to exercise.

  “What are you doing?” Tracy asked quietly, kneeling down next to Charlie when he stopped to dig through his kit.

  “I have fifty paint balls. You?”

  Tracy counted, frowning. Charlie’s excitement was clear. “Thirty. Why?”

  Charlie sent her the image that had brought him up here when he really preferred to have nothing to do with either of the men talking in the tunnel.

  Tracy shook her head, mouth opening…

  Charlie didn’t give her a chance to protest. He checked his gun as he walked toward the doorway. “He’ll take me down quick,” the boy commented too casuall
y. “Unless I have a partner.”

  Tracy stood there, unable to deny the excitement. Since the attack, she hadn’t done anything Eagle related or even much physical activity. She hadn’t cared that her skills were rusting or that other people were getting ahead of her.

  I’ve been blaming my job, Tracy realized.

  She looked toward the doorway, where Charlie had paused in the shadows to wait for her. His expression said he understood, but she was wrong and he was going to prove that to her.

  Do I want him to? she asked herself quickly, before she could avoid the question again. Do I still want to do this?

  Tracy sighed. Maybe. I need to know how it feels now. If it hurts too much, I’ll officially resign.

  If she could handle it, she would think about staying in. He must know me pretty well to be able to predict my reaction to this.

  Tracy gave Charlie a small smile that he returned in relief. There was also a bit of arrogance that he had been able to guess what she would choose. It was sexy without trying.

  “That’s dirty,” Tracy swore, hurrying to catch up.

  “Yeah.” Charlie agreed shamelessly. “You ready?”

  “What happens after you do it?” Tracy whispered.

  “We run to the mess, dropping gear as we go, and try to blend in. When people see who it was, I think they’ll hide us.”

  Tracy tried not to giggle. “Okay.”

  Charlie knelt down, aiming for Adrian. Kenn was still next to him and there were students coming now, making it a challenge. The teenager waited patiently for the right moment.

  Adrian was surprised at the polite nods from some of the senior men who had signed up for his class. He’d expected lower level members with bad attitudes. Adrian didn’t speak to any of them, feeling things out first. The mood was tense but not ugly. He was taking hope from that. He’d been anticipating this moment since learning that Angela had plans to bring him back into the camp. Once he was useful again, the hatred would stop and his light could once again shine and protect them.