by B. T. Wright
Jess saw through his opening line. “What do you want, Jake? I know you didn’t pull me away from everyone to recap the day. We were both there. No need to discuss it.”
There was a chill in her tone––one Jake hadn’t heard since the day he told her he was leaving to join the Army. She was hurt then, and clearly she was hurting now. It was as if she knew exactly what was coming, so he didn’t delay the inevitable any longer. Beside him the flashlight was on. He had covered it with a thin cloth to dampen the light. The sweat on Jess’s face gave her a glow. She was so beautiful. He loved her beyond the scope of words, and that was why it was killing him to have to hurt her. But she deserved the truth.
“It’s about what Tyler said in the car.”
Jess’s eyes shot up from the floor to his. Even though she knew what he was about to say, it was clear she still needed to hear him say it.
“I’m not going to make excuses, Jess. You deserve better. I slept with Emily once in Syria.”
Jess’s jaw clenched and her eyes narrowed.
“It didn’t mean anything. I know that’s a total cliché, but it’s true. And I told her that it was a mistake. That I love—”
“Just stop, Jake. You’re right . . .” Jess stood. “I do deserve better.”
Jake reached out for her hand, but it was too late. She had already walked away. He wanted to go after her—to make her understand—but he knew she needed her distance from him right now. The hurt on her face was a scar that wouldn’t soon heal. For her, or for him. Tyler must have seen Jess leave the room, because he walked in and sat down next to Jake.
“Listen, I’m really sorry about saying that in the truck earlier. It was a really shitty thing to do.”
Jake nodded. “Yeah, Ty, it really was. But it forced me into doing the right thing—telling her—so at least something good came out of it.”
“Still . . . you’re my best friend. It was bullshit to say something like that, no matter how frustrated I was.”
Jake placed his hand on his friend’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. If he’d said what he said a week ago, Jake probably wouldn’t have been so forgiving. However, there in that abandoned house in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by danger, it was much easier to let petty things go.
“Unfortunately, buddy, we have bigger things to worry about.”
“That’s the other reason I came in here,” Tyler said. “Everyone is wondering what we are going to do next, now that the road is blocked.”
Jake had been pondering that same question since they’d walked away from the SUVs. He opened up his bag and took out the map he’d been using to navigate. He supposed whatever backroad led to the abandoned house they were in probably stretched farther in the valley. The concern was being in the backwoods that entire time, but if it connected to Highway 81 on the other side, it really didn’t matter. That was the road that would take them north to Mount Weather.
Tyler grabbed the flashlight and held it over the map. Jake traced his finger along I-64 until he found Lexington, Virginia. That was where I-64 and Highway 81 merged. He then traced back to what he thought was the bend in the road where the interstate had been impassable earlier. He found the valley, then found the secondary road where they were. He ran his finger along the line on the map and sure enough, it dumped out onto Highway 81. Jake looked up at Tyler and nodded.
“The road leads out to the highway on the other side,” Jake said.
“You think we can all fit in that truck?”
“I think we don’t have a choice.”
Jake and Tyler walked into the living room where everyone was sitting in the floor whispering to each other. Everyone but Jess and Amy. When Jake found Bryan’s eyes, Bryan nodded down the hallway. Jake looked to his left, and through the open door of the bedroom he could see Amy consoling Jess on the bed. Jake felt horrible.
“What’s the plan, Stan?” TW looked up at Jake.
Jake wanted to go get Jess and Amy, but he had done enough to her for the evening. He could at least let her be upset in peace. He would just fill her in as they were leaving.
“The road that leads to this house dumps out onto Highway 81 to the east. 81 will take us in the direction we want to go. It’s going to be a really tight squeeze in the truck, so gather up some blankets to keep the people warm that will be riding in the truck bed.”
“What, right now?” Mark said.
“I don’t think it’s smart to stay here tonight. We have no way of protecting ourselves if they come for us.”
TW stood. “You’re probably right, Jake, but everyone is exhausted. It’s been a hell of a day.”
“That’s no reason to rest on our laurels,” Jake said. “We can rest when we’re safe. Staying here would be a mistake.”
Tyler said, “But Jake—”
“Jake’s right,” Bryan cut Tyler off. “Even if it was daylight and we could see them coming, staying here isn’t smart.”
“We don’t have that far to go,” Jake said.
“Yeah.” TW didn’t back down. “Unless 81 is just as blocked as I-64 is. Then what? We’re stranded again.”
“Doesn’t matter, TW. We can’t stay here.”
“Now I know you’re a big shot soldier and all, but this ain’t a dictatorship here. We are at least gonna put it to a vote.”
Bryan stood next to TW. “No we’re not. Jake’s right. We can’t stay here.”
Mark was next to stand. He held his bitten arm tight against his body. “Now hold on a second guys. Who made you the chief and the warrior?”
“Fine,” Bryan turned toward Mark, towering over him. “You don’t want to leave, stay here. But just remember, stupid is painful.”
Mark bowed up. Jake quickly moved in between them. “Hold on a minute.” Jake looked at TW, then Mark. “Nobody made us anything. We’re just trying to keep everyone safe. I happen to know a little bit about that. What line of work were you in that you learned tactical maneuvering?”
Neither of them said anything. Even if they were about to, they weren’t going to get the chance. The sound of glass breaking in the bedroom startled all of them. But the blood-curdling scream that followed had them scrambling for their guns.
25
Jake rushed for the bedroom where the broken glass and the terrified scream had come from. Though it was only a few steps away, he had plenty of time to imagine the worst. Thoughts of infected pouring into the bedroom overwhelmed his mind as he ran for the open door. His eyes found something unexpected, and it was a hell of a relief.
Jess and Amy were standing by the bed looking down. The shards of a shattered lamp scattered across the floor at their feet.
“We’re okay,” Jess said. “I heard the discussion you all were having and I got up too fast. Lost my balance.”
Jake took a much-needed breath. His heart was racing.
“Sorry I screamed,” Amy said. “I had my back turned and thought something was coming in through the window.”
“It’s okay. Everyone is all right.” Jake gave Amy a hug. It felt a lot more natural to him now to show her affection. To comfort her. “Go ahead to the living room.”
Jake went to hug Jess, but instead, she walked right around him and ushered Amy into the hallway. He deserved the cold shoulder and then some, so he just followed them into the living room where everyone else was gathered.
“I guess we should take this to a vote, then,” Mark said.
“We aren’t voting.” Jake was short. “We’re leaving.” The scare of thinking aliens were entering the house through the window was enough to make him assert what he knew was best.
Jess whirled around, and Jake saw something on her face he’d rarely seen—no emotion at all. “We’re voting, Jake. We are all in this together.”
The circumstances of his conversation with Jess a few moments ago made him tread much more lightly than he normally would. He knew in his gut it was a mistake to stay in that house. But if he took a hard stance against Jess here, it
might send her over the edge. He knew better, but Jake relented anyway.
“Fine,” Jake said. Now it was he who was void of emotion. “Take a vote. But I’m telling you right now that staying here is a huge mistake.”
“I second that,” Bryan said.
“Good, then your votes are already cast,” Jess said. “TW, what do you say?”
“Gotta go with the soldier on this one. He’s knows better than all of us. I vote we leave.”
Jake breathed a momentary sigh of relief.
“Okay,” Jess said. “That’s three votes to stay. Mark?”
“Stay,” Mark said.
Jess turned to Tyler. Tyler looked at Jake. “I’m sorry, man. But I just don’t want to go back out there already. Not tonight. I vote we stay.”
Jake shook his head back and forth, disappointed.
“All right, Amy, what is your vote.”
“Amy doesn’t get a vote,” Bryan said. “She’s just a kid. She doesn’t know what’s good for the group.”
Jess put her hand on Amy’s shoulder. “I beg to differ, Bryan. Can you talk to these aliens? Do you have the ability to know where they are? I could argue she’s more qualified to vote than any of us.”
“You could argue that, but it would be a stupid argument,” Bryan said. “Did she check in to see where the aliens are right now? If she does that, and they aren’t near here, I’m good for staying.”
“Now you know she can’t do that. They’ll know where we are.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s his point, Jess.” Jake wanted to hold his tongue, but he couldn’t. Jess was being ridiculous. “She can’t help with that part, so we have to protect her from the things she doesn’t understand.”
“Oh, and you understand all of this?” Jess’s jaw was clenched. Jake looked down to see her fists were as well.
“No, Jess. But I do understand keeping a group safe from possible attackers. I understand the weaknesses of staying here in the woods out in the open, without the ability to see our enemy. I don’t think you understand that this is exactly what I know how to do, and I am an expert at it for God’s sake. Probably more qualified than anyone else left in the world to keep you all safe. Do you understand that? That is all I’m trying to do is keep you safe!”
“Let the kid vote,” TW said.
“I agree,” Tyler chimed in.
“Jesus,” Bryan huffed and walked a few steps away.
Jess patted Amy on the shoulder. “What do you say, Amy. You want to stay or leave?”
Amy took Jake’s hand. Her eyes were pleading when she looked up at him. “Jake, I know you know better, but I’m scared of going back out there in the dark. Can’t we please stay here tonight?”
“Is that your vote then, little girl?” Bryan stepped back into the circle.
Amy looked down at the flashlight on the floor in the middle of all of them. The only light in the room. Then she nodded her head.
“Okay,” Jess said. “That’s three votes to stay, three votes to leave, so it’s settled. We’re staying. That’s my vote. It is too dangerous to go out in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night. Combat experience or not.”
Jess fired a look at Jake that was cold as ice. Entirely defiant. Then she started to walk away. Jake snatched her by the wrist to try and stop her.
“Why are you doing this, Jess? Just because of what I told you earlier? Just to go against me? You’re going to let something personal between us put everyone here in danger? This isn’t like you at all.”
Jess yanked her arm free. “Yeah? Maybe this is exactly me, Jake. Maybe it’s who I should have always been. Worrying about myself, and not you or what you think.”
“Jess, stop. We’re talking about people’s lives here. Not a mistake I’ve made. Please don’t confuse the two.”
“Oh I’m not confused, Jake. I’m seeing things clearer than ever.”
Jake had never seen Jess like this. She had always been very level headed. He was beginning to regret the timing of having the conversation about Emily tonight. He’d thought it was the right thing to do. But if he’d known it would affect her like it had, he would have waited until they were safe in Mount Weather.
Jess pushed the hair clinging to her face back behind her ear and took a deep breath. “I’ll take the first watch. Everyone get some rest. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day.” She then walked over to the kitchen counter and found a shotgun. She pumped the action and began checking the windows, making sure they were locked, and she proceeded to do the same with the doors.
Everyone else seemed content to let it die, except for Bryan.
“Jake, you know we can’t stay here. We have to make them leave. This is insane.”
Jake had already resigned himself to the fact that he wasn’t going to fight Jess anymore that night. “What do you want me to do, Bryan? Tie the people up that don’t want to go and throw them in the truck?”
Bryan held his arms up out form his sides. “Yeah, Jake. If that’s what it takes . . . yes.”
Jake knew where Bryan was coming from, but after hearing Jess be so adamant against him, he wasn’t willing to take it any further. Against every fiber of his better judgement.
“Get some rest. We’ll keep an eye out and leave at the first sign of light.”
Bryan hung his head, then went to make a place to sleep without saying another word. In fact, no one had another thing to say, and they all went to bed themselves.
Fifteen minutes later, Jake was lying on his back on the floor next to Tyler. Everyone else was already asleep. He could see Jess’s silhouette in front of the window behind the headboard in the bedroom. The moonlight had crept up enough to shower her in a shimmering white glow. Jake didn’t mean to, but a minute later he had fallen asleep.
26
Jake felt a tap on his shoulder. When his eyes shot open, he saw Bryan leaning over him. In the moonlight filtering in through the sheer curtains he could see that Bryan was holding his index finger to his lips. Then he nodded in the direction of the window above the kitchen sink. Jake turned his head just in time to see a shadow pass across the light.
As his heartrate surged, his first thought was of Jess.
Before Jake could jump to his feet, Bryan nodded at the large window off to his left. Two body-shaped shadows were hovering there. Jake slipped his hand to his Beretta and pulled it free of its holster as he rolled up to a knee. Everyone else in the room was sound asleep.
Bryan leaned in. Jake could feel Bryan’s hot breath against his ear when he whispered, “How do you want to handle this?”
Jake hadn’t meant to fall asleep. He’d laid down to think about this very scenario and to come up with a plan in case it happened. Now, they were going to have to improvise. The next thought that entered his mind was one of hope. Right now there were three aliens visible. He hoped that these were just scouts, and they came ahead of the pack to check things out. If this was the case, they had a chance. If it wasn’t the case, they were all dead. The exact scenario which had made Jake so adamant about leaving early was upon them.
Jake leaned around Bryan to look down the hall. The bedroom door was open, but not enough to see the entire bed. Jess wasn’t in his line of sight. That made him nervous.
“Jake?” Bryan prompted.
Jake leaned in. “Let’s wake the others slowly, and quietly. One at a time. Maybe these are the only aliens.”
Bryan looked at the two shadows and watched as they began to move around the perimeter of the house.
“I doubt it is, but I agree. If we make a lot of noise, we are dead for sure.”
Bryan was on the same page. Jake went back over beside Tyler and grabbed his axe. Tyler was snoring—oblivious to the nightmare that surrounded them. The floorboards on the back porch groaned under the weight of the alien that had passed in front of the kitchen window. Fear had no place in a situation like this––the soldier in him wouldn’t allow it. But concern for Jess, who he couldn’t currently see,
was something he couldn’t dismiss.
Then Jake saw Amy asleep on the couch. It was then that the bigger picture forced its way into his growing plan. No matter what happened to any of them there in that house, he knew he couldn’t let the aliens have Amy. She could be the only thing that would one day help them to fight back.
Jake handed Bryan his silenced pistol. Then he showed him his axe, letting him know that was how he would fight. “I will go out the back and come up behind them. You go out the front door and shoot them right between the eyes.”
Bryan nodded.
“But I have to hide Amy first. They can’t find her.”
Bryan nodded again. “I’ll get TW up while you hide her. He can get in the truck and be ready to drive.”
It was Jake’s turn to nod as he handed Bryan the keys to the truck. When Bryan went over to TW, Jake went to Tyler and Mark. The floorboards of the old house, even though they probably weren’t that loud, sounded like fireworks going off to Jake as he tried desperately to be quiet. He tapped both men on the shoulder, and they both had the same startled reaction. The fear on their faces when Jake pointed out the shadows of the aliens brought the danger of the situation home even further. They both gathered their weapons and waited as Jake had instructed them to.
Jake set his axe down on the kitchen table, then crept over to the couch, placed both arms under Amy like a forklift, and began walking her over to the kitchen cabinets. For a moment, he thought about asking her to help get them all out of there. To distract the aliens with her mind until they were on the road in the truck. But he couldn’t. If these were in fact just scouts, he and Bryan could easily handle them. However, if Amy used her ability to communicate with them, then every one of the aliens would know where she was. And no matter what, he couldn’t risk that.
Amy’s eyes shot open.
“It’s okay, I’ve got you,” Jake whispered. Her eyes remained wide as she darted her head around the house. “We’re in trouble here, and I have to hide you, okay? Just for a few minutes.”
