Sann reached for her hand to help her up into the back of the van. The inside was lined with seats on the outer walls, all of them facing in towards the middle. Great, she thought as she walked towards the furthest seat resting against the driver cabin wall, turning to face it.
“You know we aren’t going to bite,” Sann said walking up and crouched down in front of her. He pulled the straps of the seat harness on her shoulders and fastened it around her waist. Once finished he took a few steps back, sitting down in the seat in front of her. He grinned at her before turning to talk with one of the other members of the group.
Gemi kept her eyes locked on his face. He had sandy brown hair that hung wild past his eyebrows. His eyes were a warm inviting chocolate brown without the hint of anger in them. None of that compared to his smile, it always touched his eyes, making little wrinkles spread from the corners and making them shine even brighter. He made her feel safe. If she was to be stuck with this group, at least he was there with her.
“I’m sorry for earlier.”
Gemi pulled herself from Sann to turn to the speaker. It was Jaxton.
“Ok.”
“I didn’t mean to scare you. I know this must be a lot.”
“It’s fine.” Gemi turned away from him glancing down at her lap. He didn’t speak to her again.
After a few beats she glanced up through her lashes to look at him. He sat facing forward, face stone still with no readable expression. He was the exact opposite of Sann. His black hair was brushed neatly in place; his gray eyes seemed dulled, weighed down by something. And in the time she had known him, he had never worn a smile on his face. She stared at him a few moments longer, and that’s when she realized it. He was sad. What about she was not sure, but she could see it pulling at the corners of his eyes.
In a moment of spontaneity she reached over and grabbed his hand, squeezing it in response to his flinching.
“Really it’s ok. You’re right this has been a lot. Thank you for getting me out of there.” She squeezed his hand again and beamed at him. A tiny smile tugged at the corners of his mouth in response. It was not much, hardly noticeable, but it was a start.
CHAPTER THREE
They drove for what seemed like an eternity. She deeply wished the van had windows to give her some aspect of time and to quell the motion sickness that was building. Was it still daylight? Where they in the mountains or the dry lands outside of the city? The drive had gone from smooth to rocky making her grateful for the harness. That didn’t stop her anxiety however.
The van had fallen silent some time ago. Some of the group slept; how they could through all the thrashing she wasn’t sure. She didn’t know how they dealt so well with the horrors they all just witnessed and were a part of. The horrors that sat waiting in her brain to be unleashed when she tried to close her eyes. Others sat quiet, staring. Maybe they were like her, maybe they were the sane ones who death took a toll on.
Jaxton was one of those. He just stared right in front of him eerily quiet. He hadn’t said a word since their hushed conversation earlier. It began to drive her insane with curiosity, wondering what was going on inside his head. His face sure wasn’t giving anything away.
As Gemi sat staring at him, she traced the features on his face. His eyelashes fanned out farther than any natural ones she had ever seen. He had deep lines that jutted out from his eyes, a telltale sign that the man at least knew how to smile and might have done it often at some point. His lips, although obviously full were always pulled into a tight line. She would be lying to herself if she said he wasn’t handsome, he was stunning, but something about him breathed danger.
He hadn’t noticed her staring at him, or at least hadn’t called her out on it yet, giving her ample time to define the little changes his face made. The one that stood out to her the most was when the van hit a particularly large bump in the road he would wince. His wound from earlier must be bothering him more than he let on.
“I am sorry about that,” Gemi whispered, “I hope it is not bothering you too much.”
“It’s fine.” He did not even turn to face her.
“Oh good,” she said and bit on her lip. “I just can’t help feeling like it was my fault you know. Evidently I am not so coordinated in distress. If there is anything I can do for you –”
“I don’t need coddling, thank you,” he snapped cutting her off short.
“I didn’t… I didn’t mean you did. I just meant –”
The sliding window between the cab and back of the van slid open with a loud bang drawing her attention. “We’re here! Wake up you bums!”
The car glided to a stop prompting everyone to scramble to unhook their harnesses and gather their gear. Gemi turned back towards Jaxton, but he was already out of his seat and walking to the back of the van.
“Let me help you with that little bird.” Sann was kneeling in front of her reaching for her harness.
“Why do you call me that?”
“What? Little bird?” he said, tilting his head to one side.
“Yes. You called me that earlier in the alley.”
His grin grew, more mischievous this time. “It’s because you frighten like a little bird. You have to be gentle you know?”
“Well that’s rude.” Despite herself, Gemi felt herself smiling back. He had that affect.
Sann grabbed her hand, helping her up. He didn’t drop it once she was standing, instead lead her to the exit only letting it go to grab her by the waist and place her on the ground.
“Come on.” He took her by the hand again and led her up a hill.
Once at the top she was able to see where they were and their camp. They had traveled to the nearby mountains, a place she visited once as a young girl. It was as beautiful as she remembered. From this vantage point you could see the snow top peaks that reached almost all the way to the clouds. The trees already turned to wonderful shades of orange and yellow this time of year, making them as if they were on fire when the wind swayed them to and fro. It brought back fond memories of her mother and the trip they took here in the fall. She recalled a photo of them taken together in these mountains. She had given it to her mother as a birthday present the year she passed away.
Sadness suddenly gripped her chest. Taking a deep breath, she pushed it down with the rest of the nightmares, instead focusing on the camp right below them.
The camp was rather small, seven to eight tents stood in a semi-circle ending with two larger half-tent structures, Massive redwoods towered above them, providing shade and some cover.
Sann followed her gaze. “The two larger ones are the kitchen and the medical tent. There isn’t too much room, but a few of us can shuffle around to give you your own, if you would like the privacy.”
“No, I’ll be fine wherever. No worries.”
“As long as it’s not with Kai right?” He winked at her.
“That may be for the best.”
“Are you ready for the hike down? It’s not too bad, but after the day we have had it’s going to feel like miles.”
“I think I can manage. There are no gun slinging maniacs chasing us this time.”
“Good. Let’s go then little bird.”
Sann led the way still clutching Gemi’s hand. He was gentle and patient, waiting for her when she needed it. Not at all like Jaxton had been earlier. It was as if they had known each other for ages. Sann was kind, like everyone else had been a day prior. Only one day. She thought to herself.
Everyone was hustling around when they reached the bottom. Half the group was already set up at their make shift kitchen eating and conversing, the rest unpacking their belongings at their tents. It confused her how they could act like this morning’s events had never transpired. Then again maybe that is how they dealt with things, who was she to judge.
Sann and Gemi began to walk to the kitchen, still hand in hand and when someone grasped her other arm and yanked them to a stop.
“There you are!” Jaxton snappe
d. “You need to get to the medical tent. Come on I am headed there now.”
“OK…” Gemi let go of Sann’s hand and turned to face Jaxton fully. His jaw was clenched and irritation radiated off of him. She in no way wanted to anger him further.
“Cool it Jax. I think it can wait until she has had some food. I mean she has not bled to death yet.” Sann reached out and grabbed her hand again pulling her gently back towards him.
Jaxton looked from Sann’s face to their intertwined fingers and backed up, releasing Gemi’s arm from his own grip. His brows furrowed, his eyes burning like embers. He looked as if he wanted to say something else, but changed his mind. All three stood motionless as the seconds ticked on. Both men held each other’s gaze neither willing to break. Gemi’s hands got clammy, she wanted to go hide in a dark corner rather than be in the middle of whatever power struggle was going on. Especially since it seemed to center around her.
“Jax! The doctor says get to his tent pronto!” Kai called from the crowd.
Jaxton stared for a beat longer before turning away. “Yeah ok I’m coming.” He turned back to Gemi, locking his eyes on hers. “Food and then doctor. You got it?” She nodded in response, knowing it wasn’t really a question.
Jaxton stalked away his shoulders hanging in a defeated posture. Gemi glanced up at Sann who rolled his eyes and shrugged in response.
“Come on, let’s get some grub.”
The rest of the group had migrated over from their tents; they all sat talking and laughing until Gemi came into view. The encampment fell quiet, all eyes following her. Kai starred her down hard, face showing clear disapproval of her being there. Gemi dropped her eyes to the ground, hanging her head and cutting off any visibility of the rest of the group. She couldn’t handle seeing the same look on anyone else’s face.
“You’re unbelievable,” Kai called to Sann. “How dare you bring her here. She should be locked up for everyone’s safety.”
“Enough Kai. She is harmless. Honestly, find something else to harp on.” Sann turned to Gemi, placing his finger under her chin to lift her face to his. “What would you like to eat?”
“I’m… not too hungry actually. I think I will just go see the doctor.” A snort from the crowed had her glancing over her shoulder. Everyone was still staring.
“Don’t be ridiculous. We can go eat somewhere else away from this lot.”
“She too good for our food now?” Kai called to them.
“No really.” Gemi dropped his hand and stepped away. “My neck is starting to bother me, I think it’s best to have it looked at.”
“Ok. Well I will save you some.”
“Thank you.” She turned and walked fast to the doctor’s tent, keeping her eyes fixed on the ground even as whispers rumbled through the crowd followed by the distinct sound of laughter.
Gemi slipped through the opening of the tent and glanced around. It was empty.
“Hello?”
No response.
She was just about to turn around and leave when she heard hushed voices coming from the back of the tent in an area blocked off by curtains.
“It’s so much worse than that. It is not just one batch; it’s all of them. And for you to bring her here is endangering everyone.”
“She’s fine. You should see her she goes pale when anyone even raises their voice. I don’t think she is capable of murdering us all.”
“She is fine now. All the rest were fine too until they weren’t.”
“What are they doing about all this?”
“I don’t know. I don’t even think they know. They are running tests on a few they could capture, but they haven’t seemed to come up with a solution as to why, or what for that matter is causing the malfunction.”
“If it is all of them why hasn’t everyone up and gone crazy at once?”
“Why where there serial killers in the past? Some people are pre disposed to violence, this is just seems to up the intensity of that. Who knows what genetic dispositions these chips have been hiding. Imagine never experiencing anger and then all at once it rushes in. You would go crazy too.”
“Yeah…”
“Oh, I’m sorry Jaxton. I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“We have to hand her over, you know that right?”
“That is not happening. I didn’t pull her out of that mess just to have her locked up to be poked and prodded.”
“You won’t have a choice once they find out. I’m surprised they haven’t yet with Kai around.”
“She is a bit more conniving than that.”
“Hmm… In any case, I wouldn’t go get too attached to her. Best to keep a distance in our field. All they need to do is have a valid reason to pull you right out of here and throw you out with the rest. Then where would you be?”
Gemi took a step back she shouldn’t be here hearing their conversation. But it was too late to make her presence known. One more step and she collided with a metal tray, its contents clattering to the floor despite her attempts to stop them. The curtain flung open, an older man she had never seen stepped out followed by Jaxton. He was pulling his shirt on, a large bandage wrapping his shoulder and chest still partially visible.
“Ah, you must be our guest. Welcome.” The man reached out to shake her hand. “I’m Doctor Askel. It’s nice to meet you, Gemi was it?”
Gemi dropped the items in her hand and reached out tentatively taking his hand in hers.
“Yes… I’m sorry to interrupt.”
“No worries my dear. Jaxton and I were finishing up anyways. Now come, let’s have a look at your neck.”
He escorted her back through the same curtain to a portable exam table. Once seated a heavy wave of vulnerability washed over her, she didn’t know these people. She had however seen what they were capable of when someone was perceived to be in their way, a thought that was not at all reassuring.
Jaxton hung back by the edge of the curtain staring in her direction but not straight at her. His was fully dressed in his uniform again, everything perfectly in place, his face stoic as ever.
“I assure you she will be safe in my hands,” the doctor said, stepping up to Gemi.
“That’s good to hear Doc, but I would rather stay.”
“Stubborn as ever isn’t he?” He smiled at her, giving a little wink. “Now let’s take a look.”
The doctor turned her head to the side to get a better view of the wound. He made little noises under his breath, almost talking to himself as he worked. He applied healing and disinfecting ointments to it, muttering to himself how lucky she was that it was not a few inches to the side. At last he applied a small bandage, taping it in place.
“Well my dear, I do believe you will be just fine. I would suggest not playing with knives in the future. Now can you explain what happened here?” He grabbed her hand and lifted it to her face. The bandage she had thrown on at her office now soiled and beginning to peel off.
Gemi laughed despite the situation. “A knife.”
“Well aren’t you just the lucky one? Perhaps we should find you a rabbit’s foot or something hmm.” He unwrapped the bandage and applied step two to her now closed wound. “Anything else I need to know about?”
Gemi bit at a nail on her free hand.
“Well?”
“I may have another knife wound on my arm.”
“So first step is keeping you away from sharp objects.” He finished re-wrapping her hand. “Well let’s see it then.”
Gemi hesitated, glancing in Jaxton’s direction before unbuttoning her shirt. The doctor reached over and closed the curtain farther blocking her off from Jaxton’s view. He quickly cleaned and redressed her arm then handed her a fresh shirt, the same khaki one that everyone was wearing.
“Your hand won’t need step three, but come see me in a few days for your neck and arm.”
With that he slid out of the way, moving to the nearby desk where he wrote in a folder.
<
br /> Gemi pulled on the new shirt and turned to see that Jaxton had moved back into view and was still staring at her. “Are you ok?” he said, moving towards her, reaching a hand out to help her off of the table.
She jumped down without taking it. “I’m fine, thank you.” He dropped his hand back to his side, a crease growing in between his eyebrows.
“Good. Well we can set you up a place to sleep in my tent. Did you get food?”
“Actually we already have that worked out,” said Sann entering the tent. “People agreed to move around. She will have her own tent. As for food I saved her some, you as well.”
“Fine,” he said through clenched teeth. “Keep her away from Kai.” He brushed past Sann without another word.
“Well then little bird,” he said turning back to Gemi. “Will you live another day?”
“Yes I will.” She grinned at him. She found that she grew fonder of him each time they spoke; he was the only one who seemed genuinely happy to see her. The only one who seemed familiar, part of her world before everything.
“Well good. Let me show you to your tent. I left food for you in there.”
They made their way through the camp. It had already quieted down. Most of the occupants already in their tents, soft light glowing through the fabric. Gem’s tent was in the very back of the encampment, secluded from the rest. Sann quickly read the expression on her face.
“Ah, yes well it was part of the bargain to get you your own tent. Don’t worry they will warm up soon and see you are not a threat. In the meantime there is a change of clothes if you need it as well as food in there. Unfortunately we have to head out to one of the other nearby cities, we should be back by daybreak, but you should get some peace and quiet.”
“I’ll be here alone?” Gemi gasped.
“No of course not,” he said through laughter. “The Doc will be here, and Jaxton has been found unfit for duty for the rest of the day so that his arm will start to heal.”
“Ok. Well please be careful.”
“Always little bird.” He tussled her hair before walking away.
Paroxysm Effect Page 4
