Sunlight

by Gwen Cole

  I immediately picked up a holster for my pistol which was back at the hospital. It even had a strap to go around my leg to keep it from jostling. Next thing I did was go looking for a shotgun—something I could use in case things got to close. There were so many to choose from, I couldn’t decide. After a while of me staring, Cruz walked over and grabbed one without a second thought and dropped it into my hands.

  “Thanks,” I mumbled.

  “No problem. You gonna get a gun to go along with that holster or are you just planning on pretending you have one? I promise to try not to pick on you if you decide to go down that road—the one of crazy.” His head was still turned on me but his eyes were wide and staring of in the other direction.

  I narrowed my eyes. “No, I have one back at the hospital.”

  “If you say so, little one. I’ll be right outside if you need anything, and just come out when you’re finished.”

  I watched him leave and noticed a few people stealing glances in my direction. I try to ignore them and go back to focusing on the weapons before me, but it was hard. I finished as fast as I could then left without looking up at anyone. Cruz was near his Hummer talking to another soldier as I walked up and placed my duffel bag in the backseat.

  “Reese, this is Calvin,” he said. “He’ll be with us tonight, too.”

  I nodded my head to him. “Nice to meet you.”

  “You too,” Calvin said. “I actually got the chance to meet West about twenty minutes ago.”

  “Where was he?” I never did find out.

  “At the hospital.”

  Cruz took in my facial expression and asked, “Do you wanna go back?”

  I did, but I wasn’t sure if I should or not. I knew Cruz wanted to check on a few things while I was with him and it wouldn’t be right to leave him just to see West again. Even though I wanted to. More than anything.

  “No, it’s fine,” I said against my own will. “We can do whatever you had planned. I’ll see him later.”

  “Okay then, it won’t take long, so load up.”

  Calvin jumped into the back, giving me the front seat, and Cruz pulled away. We rolled down the road towards the outskirts of the city. We came to a stop at a large road block made up of old cars and rubble. People were working on piling chunks of cement blocks, and anything else they could find, to make small walls and barriers to take shelter behind for when the bullets would start flying.

  Cruz got out for a moment and talked to the commanding officer—just a few words and that was it. We did this every block; wherever there was another barricade. There were so many I had lost count but it seemed to be only on half of the city, just the side pointing east, where our enemies would be coming from.

  Their system reminded me of an onion. If, and when, the first layer of road blocks get over run, they would pull back to the next set and try to stop them all over again. There were four layers, with the last one coming to about three blocks from the hospital. But they were sure they would never get that far into the city, or at least hoped.

  It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when the Hummer pulled up to the hospital again, but the day only seemed to be beginning.

  “I’ll be back at seven to pick you up,” Cruz said, “and make sure West is ready by then, too.”

  I nodded as I jumped out, grabbing my heavy duffel bag from the back. He drove away and I was left standing there, shocked at the fact I had only hours left before the United army would come. The nerves in my stomach was started to rise again.

  I looked up to see West striding towards me, this time wearing his sweatshirt against the brisk air. My heart thumped heavily. I dropped my duffel bag at my feet as he pulled me into a long hug. He was so warm that I never wanted to let go. I tried not to make it obvious as I inhaled his scent; something that I could never put words to.

  “Come on.” West picked up my duffel bag, my hand in his other, and started walking in the other direction.

  “We’re not going back—” I started.

  “Nope. You can see him later before Cruz picks you up.”

  “How did you know—”

  “I asked.”

  I smiled at him knowing everything I was about to ask. We walked across the street and entered a four story building that was no longer being used. The lobby was dark with no lights on, but West never hesitated and walked straight for the stairs on the opposite side. The stairway dim with a faint light came from somewhere above, which made it possible to see.

  “Where are we going? To file for a checking account?”

  He laughed as he started to climb. “No.”

  When we arrived at the top, I was finally able to see that the light was coming from a door that had been propped open, letting the late afternoon sun drift in. I followed West out onto the roof and around the other side of the brick barrier.

  He dropped the duffel bag and stood smiling in front of an old red couch. It was torn and probably pooped on by birds but it was one of those couches you just know is comfortable. West dropped down onto the cushions and I lowered myself beside him, sinking down until my knees were almost above me. And it was comfortable. I had no clue on how he got it up here, and I didn’t care.

  West pulled me closer so there wasn’t even an inch between us. I closed my eyes and tried to remember this moment, so I could have it forever. The late afternoon sun was warm on my skin and having West next to me was like a dream. One I never wanted to wake up from.

  “That day we first met seems so long ago,” he murmured.

  I turned to look at him, starring into the eyes that I had lost myself in too many times to count.

  “I missed you when you were gone. I never told you that,” I admitted.

  “Missed wouldn’t be the word to describe how I felt when I was away,” he said softly.

  “Sorry, I never carry a thesaurus around with me.”

  “What about a dictionary?”

  “Hmmm . . . no.”

  He smiled before acting serious again. “Well, it was horrible.”

  The city looked so peaceful and quiet from this high up, making it possible to forget about everything that was happening around us, just absorbing our time together. Because in a couple of hours, he would be away from me again, and there was no way of knowing when the next time we would see each other. I shivered thinking of it. West held me tighter, almost as if he was feeling the same.

  “It’s going to be all right.” He almost sounded sure. Almost.

  “You can’t possibly know that, even though I want to believe it too.”

  “Then believe it. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know, just believe it will be.”

  “Is that what you do?”

  “Yes . . . well, except two days ago, when I thought we had finally been beaten. I even did on that day when I thought I was going to die.”

  I remembered that day so clearly, probably because that was the day that had changed everything for me.

  “I know.”

  “What?”

  “I saw it in your eyes. I think that’s why I decided to help you. I saw something in them that I had never seen before.”

  He fell silent again and gave a small sigh. West opened his mouth to say something but no words came out so he closed it again.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Then why did you open your mouth?”

  He thought about it. “I thought I had to yawn.”

  That was a lame excuse but I let it go. After a while he leaned his head on mine and I was almost sure he was going to fall asleep. I was tired too; it had already been a long day and was about to become even longer. But I wasn’t going to be able to sleep, not when my mind wouldn’t shut off. West didn’t fall asleep either, probably having the same problem.

  So, we just sat there quietly, enjoying the diminishing time we had together.

  Because tonight would be the beginning or the end of everything.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

>   I stared into the night and tried to distinguish the shapes that my eyes couldn’t quite see. But they were out there—waiting for the right time to show themselves. Like pumas, patiently waiting for their prey to drop their guard and drink from the last stream they would ever drink from. But luckily for us, we already knew they were there.

  Our first line of defense was waiting on the outskirts of a long park that separated the residential houses from the tall buildings of the city. Behind each road block and barrier there were people ready to start firing when the signal came. The streets were dark, save the few lamps that were still working, and the park was almost immersed in complete blackness. The full moon gave off a pale light that reflected off the trees and sparse rocks that were scattered across the ground.

  The night was still.

  I was crouched behind a cement barrier with one knee to the ground as I gazed over it, barely exposing any of my head. My battle rifle sat loosely in my hands and I could feel my shotgun lying flat against my back, ready to be used. I’d been in this position for awhile but my adrenaline had kept my muscles from cramping up or becoming tired. It fueled me continuously.

  Everyone had been silent for a half hour now. General Martin ordered everyone to wait for his signal and stay motionless until then. Straight across from me, Cruz waited behind his own barrier, a large knife strapped across his chest, glinting in the moonlight. His deadly posture made me thankful that he was on our side. He noticed me looking over and gave me a grin, but I was barely able to return it.

  An hour ago I left Ethan with Seth at the hospital, and it wasn’t easy. He was determined to come with us but I was never going to let that happen. I couldn’t let that happen. I could still picture his displeased face when I’d told him.

  “Ethan, you have to stay here,” I repeated firmly.

  “I told you, I’m coming with you. You can’t stop me!” His face was getting red and I could tell he was trying to hold back his tears. I shifted my eyes over to Seth and he took my signal without a second thought.

  “Ethan,” he said, “I know you want to go with her but to be honest, she wants you to stay here because of me.”

  “Why do I have to stay here because of you?” he answered impatiently, his foot threatening to start tapping.

  “Because if, and when, the lines are broken, I need someone here that can hold a gun and actually stand up. I won’t be able to defend myself if that happens and need someone here to do it for me. But . . .” he shrugged, “you can go if you really want to.”

  Thankfully Ethan was no longer looking at me when I made my ‘what the heck?’ face, but I had a feeling Seth knew what he was doing, so I played along. He would never put Ethan in danger like that, so I had to trust him.

  Ethan turned towards me and I just gave a small shrug along with a nod; trying to act like it was true. He absorbed both of our faces, then he finally turned towards West who was standing off to the side.

  “Are they telling the truth?”

  West didn’t want to lie to Ethan’s face but he also was against him coming.

  “Seth does need someone here with him if they come.” True, but also not answering his direct question.

  Ethan stayed quiet for moment, debating the situation. Finally he straightened his back and sat down in the chair next to his bed, crossing his arms over his chest.

  “Okay, fine.”

  My breath came out like smoke in the cold air as I watched the tree line. I was so happy that Ethan wasn’t here with me, but I also knew I would have tied him up if I had to to keep him away.

  Cruz pressed his fingers to his ear piece, listening to something I couldn’t hear. He turned and nodded to everyone, telling us it was time.

  I didn’t think it was possible, but my heart started to beat even faster. Like a galloping horse trying to pound out of my chest.

  Then the signal came.

  Thunderous blasts erupted from both sides of us from the few tanks we still had. Our line was stretched on for about a half, and the big machines fired simultaneously into the wooded area. The ammunition pounded into forest, hitting trees and everything around them, blowing them away like dust. Fires flared up among the trees and trucks exploded off the ground as men ran for cover.

  The firing subsided, and for a whole three-seconds everything was quiet.

  Then everything came back tenfold.

  Both sides started pounding each other with everything they had. Bullets whizzed past my head, hitting everything around us and going through anything too weak to stop them. Loud blasts from the trees were followed by mortars, making my ears ring and almost rendering me deaf. Chunks of debris rained down upon us as we bent our hands until it was clear again.

  It was chaos.

  I figured I was in shock. I was unable to move, and my breathing was coming out in shallow gasps. My eyes were able to flicker up to Cruz. The man was in a half-crouch and firing his gun over the barrier, his mouth moving, issuing words that I would never again repeat.

  I looked behind me at the people who were fighting back as well; soldiers and locals, working together to fight for their lives. I had to stop being such a wimp. Yes, I might be in shock, but I couldn’t let that get in my way of doing what I had to.

  Tightening my grip on the weapon in my hands, I rose from my crouched position and swung around to face the people that had ruined everything. It was easier to see now, thanks to the fires that were blazing all around. The army was trying the advance, but they were being pounded down upon. I looked down my sight and took a deep breath.

  A man was coming from behind a truck, positioning himself with an RPG on his shoulder, ready to shoot our line. If I didn’t pull the trigger now, people would die. It was either us or him, because if I didn’t shoot, he would. So I pulled the trigger.

  I watched him go down through my sight, and it didn’t feel real. Like I was in another movie, watching through my television screen. Another man behind him tried to take his place but he also dropped when I kept pulling the trigger. I felt sick to my stomach, but I tried to ignore it. I had to ignore it.

  I ducked behind the barrier again to reload, and I was surprised to find my hands not shaking anymore. I dropped my clip and pulled out another, clicking it in place as Cruz dropped down again. He gave me another crooked grin along with a nod.

  “You’re doin’ all right, little one!” he shouted. “Keep it up and maybe you can join the big boys later!”

  I shook my head but smiled.

  Then everything around us exploded. The last thing I saw was everything crumbling, but my last thoughts were on West.

  He stood there when the Hummer came to pick me up. His eyes were hard and the muscles were working in his jaw. He already promised he wasn’t going even utter the word goodbye, so I wasn’t sure what he was going to say.

  If it wasn’t for the uncommon self-control I was having, I would have been shaking from head to toe from what was about to happen soon. Again, something I wasn’t cut out for.

  West kept opening his mouth to stay something but nothing ever came out. So, I finally did it for him.

  “You don’t have to say anything you know.”

  He gave me a smile. “I don’t know what to say, other than—.

  “West, you—”

  “I love you, Reese.”

  It was the second time he said it, but it still made just as much impact.

  My heart stopped when he stepped closer and gave me one of his brilliant smiles. Something inside me sparked and I knew that I felt the same way. Probably since that day we had first met, but I had never accepted it for some odd reason, or maybe I just never realized it. I had never met anyone like West before, and I had no idea what love had felt like. It felt like my heart was floating through the clear blue sky when our eyes met. It always had.

  “I love you, too,” I whispered, unmoving. It felt so right to say. He wrapped his arms around me, immersing me with his warmth and smell. I listened to his heart beat and
promised myself that I would hear it again after this night was over, no matter what.

  And he had kept his promise; he never said goodbye. But the kiss he had given me had made up for the words he never spoke.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  When I woke, my world was without sound. Like an ocean without waves.

  I looked through blurry eyes without moving, afraid that I wouldn’t be able to and not sure if I could. My body had fallen into an awkward position, and I was covered in a thick layer of dust. With my arm was wedged underneath me, I’d lost feeling to it. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been out, but not long enough for my skin to grow cold.

  Debris littered the ground everywhere, including some sort of wooden door that happened to be on top of me. It pressed against my chest, making my breathing hard.

  I pushed against the ground with my free arm but the door wouldn’t give—it was too heavy and too thick. I pulled my limp arm out from under me so I could have both to push with, and gave everything ounce of strength I had to do it, practically straining the muscles in my arms. I was barely able to do it. As I crawled out from under the door, I wasn’t able to hear it fall to its side—just my own breathing and heart beat, everything else deadly silent. I propped myself up against a large block of cement and took a deep breath. My limbs were cold and stiff from staying still for so long in the cold night.

  Everything around me was abandoned. The woods were dark and the streets were lifeless of people; so different from when I had blacked out, when everything was exploding. The air was heavy with the stench of blood and burnt wood, causing my senses to instinctively cringe. My eyes didn’t linger long on the bodies laying around me, and in the grass near the woods. I was afraid of what I would see. Of who I would see.

  I glanced up at the moon and realized it was higher in the sky, basically right over me, so I pushed back my sleeve to look at my watch, and saw that it was past midnight. I had been out for hours. Where was the army? Had they been overrun? All I knew was that I was behind enemy lines, a place I had no desire to be.