At Night's End

by Benham, Tara

  “Fine.” Baxlie spoke up before I had a chance to ask the man if we could talk about it in private. I sent him a look of disbelief, but if he could see it, he was choosing to not pay attention. “Only because either way, once you’re in we have a better chance of getting in too.”

  “I can’t let you go if you don’t tell me your name.”

  “Memphis. I’m Ruthie’s brother. Now enough talking, we’re wasting time.”

  I took my pack off and gave it to Memphis. He told us to give him a full minute before we came into the door. He told us that once through the door we had about fifteen steps before we got to the tank, and the center was approximately three feet away from the edge. Baxlie had placed the mixtures into bags that were dissolvable just in case we had to throw the whole bag into the tank. We nodded in understanding. I wished him luck, to which he grunted something that sounded like a “you too” before going through the doors. There was more yelling, and shot fired. He must be fast even if he was sick because we heard multiple shots in various directions, with one even hitting the door. We waited for a few more seconds, then decided it was now or never.

  Baxlie entered first, slowly opening the door to check out the situation. There were several people running to the other side of the room. He waved me to come through too. There were four steps up to the platform. We climbed quickly and noticing that no one was looking our way we decided without any words that running the last few steps was our best option. I had pulled out my gun since I didn’t have a pack to worry about anymore. I went in front of Baxlie this time to ensure his safety. We had just got the edge of the tank when someone hollered and pointed in our direction. Two turned towards us, both with their guns pointed at us. I drawled mine up and aimed at the one closest.

  “I don’t want to shoot you McCaid. I just want you and that young man to turn around and leave.”

  I looked closer to the shadow speaking and noticed it was Mr. Ralston, Denver’s dad. I gasped. I’m so glad Denver was at the house, it would kill her to know that her dad was against our cause.

  “Then don’t shoot. Let us drop the bags and leave.”

  “I can’t do that.”

  “You’re going to have to, Baxlie throw the bag.” Micah was behind Mr. Ralston and Ever was standing with her weapon pointed towards the other gunman.

  “Baxlie don’t do it, I’ll shoot her. Denver told me you were in love with her when I spoke to her last week.” Ever shot me a quick glance. Great, she’s been talking with her dad, and she has our entire plan. We have no way of contacting Darcy either to let her know.

  “Mr. Ralston, McCaid has a gun towards you and I have one right at your head. I promise you will die before she will.”

  “If you shoot me there are people waiting to tell others, and they will send a message to the people surrounding your house to attack. They will get in with Denver’s help and they will kill everyone at your house. Trust me. Miss Dobbins. Denver has been very helpful. She’s very smart, and a good actress too.” He was proud of her ability to have fooled us.

  “What reason could you possibly have for not wanting to help cure the people of your country?” I heard Baxlie slid his foot a little closer to the tank.

  “I don’t want invalids or sick people living in this country. Besides I’ve been of great use to the official is DC, they’re talking about making me the next President once those infected die off.” Micah scoffed, furthering angering Mr. Ralston. “I don’t know what you think is funny son, but you better believe me when I get out of here, even if you do live you all will be arrested as accomplices to Mr. Dobbins.”

  I heard Baxlie slide again. Mr. Ralston cocked his gun and switched his aim from me to Baxlie. Without thinking I fired, hitting him between the eyes but not before he had the chance to pull the trigger. I looked around. Baxlie was tossing the bag into the tank. Seeing this, I sighed in relief, the bullet must have missed him.

  “BAXLIE!” Ever pointed to me, and I ran up and grabbed him before he fell into the tank. He had been hit in his stomach. He was holding the area with his other hand, blood was seeping out of all sides. Micah had ran over to the other shooter and tied him with rope he must have packed. Ruthie and Johnnie came in through another door. Johnnie ran over to help Micah and Ever came over to where I was with Baxlie. She helped me lower him to the floor.

  “Bax, let me have a look. I need to check it out.” He was pale and clammy feeling, but nodded. She removed his hand, and lifted his shirt. She checked his back and noticed there wasn’t an exit wound. I knew that was not good. Ruthie came over to us too, but got queasy from the blood and stepped back to lean against the door.

  “I’m going to die aren’t I, Ever?” She winced at his question. He took that as his answer. Tears started rolling down his cheeks.

  “No, Baxlie, no. You’re not going to die. We’re going to get you to one of the safe houses. We can do better treatment there. Right Ever?” I quickly glanced at her, and knew instantly what I feared. We couldn’t move him.

  “Caidee, it’s okay. Please tell my mom and dad that I loved them very much. Tell them I died saving everyone. Exaggerate to them about my bravery. Also, I love you. I have always loved you. I’ve only always saw you. I noticed you. Only you. I know you knew that, but I wanted to tell you again. Let Henry love you, he’s a good guy. Be happy.”

  “I love you too, Bax” I sobbed.

  “No you don’t, but thank you for saying it anyways.” He gave a meek grin. I grabbed his hand, and gave him a kiss. The look of shock would have been comical if it were a different situation.

  “No Bax, I do love you. I have loved you too, just not the way you needed me to, but it was love none the less.” I turned to check on Micah and Johnnie’s progress. By the time I turned around again, Ever was closing his eyes. My sobs became heaves of sadness. Ever was crying too, but was able to get her emotions in check a little better than me.

  Johnnie and Micah came over to where we were sitting. Johnnie was saying something that the bag had reached the water, and that the systems were picking up the chemical changes. It was a blur. I heard him but I didn’t really hear what he was saying. I could hear Ever telling him about Denver being in cahoots with her dad too and that we needed to hurry up and get back to the house. I remember them grabbing my arms and pulling me towards the exit. Sometime around the time we entered the woods, I became a little more aware of our surroundings, and was able to actively run without being pulled our guided. I took what Baxlie had taught me, and turned my sadness to anger. I made my way to the front to where Johnnie was and stopped in front of him.

  “McCaid move.”

  “No, wait. Denver was with me in my committee. She has the entire blueprints of our house. She’s been with us long enough to the all the codes. We have to move and fast I agree, but we need to be smart too. I hope that Darcy is quick enough to realize the situation if something happens, and I’m guessing whoever Mr. Ralston’s spy was knows he’s dead which means something will be happening. Soon. We need to have some sort of plan. I have my gun, and the rest of you have weapons too, but we’re still down one man.” I swallowed the bile from having to talk about Baxlie like that, but I hope he’d be proud that I was using it and not letting it control me.

  “Good idea, any suggestions?”

  “Let’s break up in teams again. Two of us to the side of the house, exiting by the well. We can get in that way, activate the moat, which will make it hard to get through because of how fast the water is moving. I have a code Baxlie gave only to me that no one knows so I can activate it without it being able to be deactivated. The remaining three will exit through the back, but instead of through the main door use the one Ever’s teams exited from because it’s been used the least, it’s least likely to be guarded. I’ll take Ruthie with me, and the three of you can enter through the back fields.” He agreed, and we split up. Instead of walking this time we had to travel by running. Ruthie wasn’t as fit as the rest of us due to just recently
getting the inhibitor and steroids, but she was able to hold her own for the most part. I allowed more breaks in order to be able to let her keep her energy up and to catch her breath. We got to the well in about three hours, which was probably an hour behind what the spy would have made it to the house. I indicated to her that she needed to stay hidden behind the tree while I went through the fence. I could turn off the fence once on the inside, long enough for her to get through. I turned off the fence, and just as she was about to step on this side of, it reactivated and shocked her bad enough that she dropped unconscious. I kneeled down and noticed she was breathing and had a pulse still. I drug her over near the well, but didn’t have time to check her out further. I activated the moat, and it filled in the three minutes it was supposed to and the water was circulating quickly. I pulled my weapon back out, and started making my way towards the main house. It was quiet, but I couldn’t decide if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Reaching for the door handle to the front of the house, I saw movement in the reflection of the glass. I turned quickly, and saw Atlas and Adam making their way up the driveway. I ran down to meet them. They were both limping.

  “How did you get through the fence? What happened?”’

  “We were waiting out by the gate, when we noticed the buzzing quit. We ran as quick as we could, but the fence came on too fast. We were out, but not far enough away, it got us. We’ll be okay.” Adam spoke up.

  Atlas wasn’t making eye contact with me.

  “Atlas what’s wrong?”

  “I’m sorry McCaid, I really am”

  “Why are you sorry?” The words had no sooner left my mouth, when both men pulled their weapons on me.

  “Get into the house McCaid.” I shot them a malevolent look. I cannot believe this day. They must have been working with Denver and her dad. I wondered if West was in on it too, and Annabelle and Ruthie?

  “So you’ve been helping this whole time?”

  “No, actually Denver convinced us to switch sides. She does well with making points.” Adam said nonchalantly. “Now move.”

  Anger was building inside of me. “You both would have died if it wasn’t for us. The virus would have killed you. They don’t care about you. You’re expendable to them. How dumb can you be?” I felt the bullet graze my arm before I heard the shot.

  “Don’t call me dumb McCaid.” Adam roared. “I ain’t dumb. I know where I stand, but it’s better to be on the team that is going to win than it is on the team that is going to lose.”

  If anyone heard the shot, they were either too scared to react or couldn’t. I was standing there bleeding, but I wasn’t really registered the pain due the buildup of adrenaline in my body. “Is West apart of this? Annabelle and Ruthie too?”

  “We’re not telling you anything else. NOW MOVE! GET INTO THE HOUSE NOW!” Adam’s eye were crazy with anger and hungry from the power he was feeling. I didn’t want to push it much more. I turned and started stomping my way back to the house. The door was open and Denver was standing there just sneering at me, looking very content with what had just happened.

  “You will pay for this” I muttered to her as I passed.

  “I doubt it.”

  In the living room, I found everyone tied up and gagged. I caught Henry’s eye. He looked relieved to see me, but then the rage quickly returned when he saw Denver again. Denver was strong, but not strong enough to take down Henry alone meaning that Atlas and Adam had come back to help her or there were other people in the house. Annabelle was tied up too, but that could just be a ruse of I knew. Everything was just mixed up. Darcy was glaring at Denver, but was okay. I knew Johnnie, Ever and Micah would be coming soon, I just hoped they didn’t meet anyone else on their way up.

  “Sit on the ground McCaid. I’m going to tie you up. Daddy should be here any minute now to arrest you all.”

  “No he won’t”

  “Oh, and why is that?”

  “Because I killed him.” I gave a slight one shoulder shrug like it was just a regular every day activity.

  “No. You’re lying. You’re trying to psyche me out. Daddy said you would do this.”

  “Okay, don’t believe me. Let’s sit and wait for him.”

  I sat down where she had pointed. She came up behind me, yanking both arms to the back of me to tie them together. The pain in my right arm from where the bullet hit me felt like white hot lava searing through me. I was determined not to let her know though, so I grit my teeth and held my breath. From the corner of my eye, I caught Micah peeking around the corner. He put his fingers too his lip to motion to whoever was looking not to say anything.

  “Adam, Atlas, go outside the others are surely lurking around here somewhere. I know she’s not the only that survived.”

  “I don’t know where they are, I took off running right after I killed your dad. Well right after I realized he had killed Baxlie.” I knew Denver loved Baxlie, so it was just another blow. The heads of everyone in the room were now facing me. She paled.

  “Stop with the lies McCaid. You’re not very good at it.”

  “Unfortunately Denver, Nothing I have said is a lie. I did kill your Dad just as he shot Baxlie. Baxlie died from a gunshot wound to his abdomen. He suffered. You’re dad however, died instantly.”

  She threw her hands up over her ears, and started yelling at me to stop. Micah used this opportunity to grab her. He was able to tackle her to the ground quickly. Darcy had somehow been able to free herself, and handed Micah her rope. She took her gag out, came untied me, and we made quick work of freeing the rest of the group. Henry grabbed me in a bear hug, but I pushed away. Stopping meant thinking, thinking lead to pain. I couldn’t let the pain get me yet.

  “We need to get Adam and Atlas, and do a security sweep of the rest of the house.” I took tape that was hidden on the top shelf and taped Denver’s mouth. I really didn’t think I could tolerate her right now.

  “Unless more people have snuck in recently, I haven’t seen anyone else besides Denver, Atlas and Adam. Those two returned a little while after you left. They had some story about coming across a group of people and having to abort their part of the plan, so we stupidly let them back in.” West said.

  I still wasn’t sure we could trust her a hundred percent, so we decided on sticking with the plan. Micah stated that Ever and Johnnie were downstairs checking and clearing all the rooms down there.

  “I came up when I heard the gun shot. I wasn’t sure what was happening.”

  With the mention of the gun shot, I became quickly aware of the pain in my arm. I sat down quickly, and Darcy came over with the first aid kit. She gave me a pain shot in my arm, and did a quick wrap to stop the bleeding that would have to do until we had more time to do a better job. Remi had made her way over to me.

  “McCaid, is my momma okay?”

  “Oh! Ruthie! Yes, Remi she’s okay. Henry she’s down by the well. Can you go get her please? She may need assistance.” Remi looked at me with worried eyes. As Henry went to help bring her to the house, I explained to Remi about her mom getting shocked, but being fine. She seemed to calm down some after hearing that her mom had made it, and went back to sit beside Sasha. They stayed in the corner of the living room with a blanket over them. More for security reasons I’m sure than for warmth. Ever and Johnnie had finished clearing the basement, when Henry and Micah brought in an unconscious Atlas.

  “We haven’t been able to find Adam anywhere, but Atlas was by the well unconscious. Ruthie met me on the way out there to get her, telling me she had found Atlas.”

  “Tie him up too.” Johnnie said without much emotion.

  “McCaid, are you okay?” He pointed towards my arm.

  “I’ll be okay. Darcy just gave me a shot to help dull the pain. What are we supposed to do now?”

  “I think that once Denver’s dad’s group found out he was dead, most scattered. Denver, Atlas and Adam were working on their own I feel. We’ll keep the house on lock down, watching for Adam. We should h
ear something in the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours if the rest of our plan works the way it’s supposed to work.”

  The shot must have kicked in, because I was feeling drowsy and everything was looking blurry. I heard someone in the distance say the medicine must have kicked it, or the shock one. The next thing I knew I was floating towards the steps, and then towards my bed. I could feel someone pulling my boots off, and pulling the covers over me, but before anything else could happened I was asleep.

  CHAPTER 33

  I was in and out of it for the next two days. I briefly recall having Ever come in to change my bandages, and Darcy bringing me water and pain pills. Henry came by a few times to check on me too. I could hear him talking to Micah outside my door about what had happened at the plant with Baxlie, and with Ruthie’s brother. I wanted to yell at them to stop talking about it, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t say anything. I just wanted to lay there forever, and not move or think or talk. By day three, I was made the decision that I needed to get up, shower and rejoin the group. I couldn’t dwell on anything anymore. Plus, I was curious as to what if any news there was about the inhibitor working. I was just walking out of the shower, still wearing the towel, when Henry walked into my room. He turned around immediately, but not before I saw the rush of red creep across his face, and around the back his neck.

  “Caidee, I am sorry. I should’ve knocked first.”

  “It’s okay Henry. Really. Just give me a minute.” I hurried threw on some sweat and an oversized t-shirt. One of Baxlie’s that Ever had brought to me at some point. I vaguely remember asking for one, but I wasn’t sure if it was a dream or not. “You can turn around now.” I was pulling my fingers through my hair trying to get the knots out.

  “I guess this means you’re feeling better then?” I noticed him eye my shirt, but he didn’t say anything.