Ethan grinned. “No one has ever used that word to describe me.”
“Smart?”
“Yeah. Not teachers, or friends and family, not even my parents. In high school, everything was about how good at football I was, and then when I didn’t go to college, it was how I was wasting my life. And when I started getting into some trouble, no one wanted to have anything to do with me.”
Kate what to ask what kind of trouble, but it didn’t really matter to her. If Ethan wanted to tell her he could. It wasn’t like anyone who survived the disease was anything like the person they were before. Kate wasn’t anything like she’d been.
She hadn’t liked receptionist Kate, and she didn’t really care for the current Kate much either. Even though she was good at taking out The Unholy, for the most part, she considered herself weak.
Kate stayed inside the fence, doing everything she was told. She didn’t fight back. She didn’t ask questions. And worst of all, she didn’t leave.
Those around town thought she was tough, but they were all wrong. Kate knew it. Simon probably knew it too. She was weak. Quite possibly the weakest in the entire town because she saw it for what it was, yet she didn’t do a damn thing about it.
Ethan cleared his throat. “So, when?”
His eyes were wide, filled with something that resembled hope. It looked as though he wanted to leave at that very moment.
“I don’t know,” Kate said chewing on her lip. “What about Tommy and Wayne?”
“I think they’ll come.”
“How can you be sure?” Kate’s brow furrowed as her nerves started to tingle.
Ethan shook his head. “Things they’ve said, but I’ll find out for sure.”
“Think that’s a good idea?” Kate asked rubbing her palms on the sides of her thighs.
“I’ll leave you out of the equation if that’s what you’re worried about.”
That was exactly what Kate was worried about. Of course, she didn’t want anything to happen to Ethan either. It would have been far easier to leave if it were just her, but there was always the possibility if it were just her that she’d always find an excuse not to leave.
“Okay,” Ethan said scratching his head while wearing an excited smile. “We’re doing this then?”
Kate swallowed down the lump at the back of her throat. She should be happy. She should be just as excited as Ethan was, after all, it was what she’d wanted since the day she’d arrived. But it was too hard for Kate to feel anything.
She wanted to blame it on Simon, but she wasn’t sure if it was his fault. There was a good chance her fears of taking her life into her own hands had been a problem even before the disease.
Kate’s thoughts were interrupted when there was a loud crashing noise in the hallway. Both Ethan and Kate turned to face the door.
Kate grabbed her gun, afraid someone had been listening. In their haste to go tell Simon what they’d heard, whoever was out there stumbled.
“Someone’s listening?” Kate said just as there were more scuffles.
Ethan nodded. “We have to stop them.”
Kate moved toward the door. She wasn’t going to let whoever it was report back to Simon even if it meant she’d have to kill them.
15
Kate opened the door, but there wasn’t anyone in the hall. She pointed at Ethan and then to the right. He nodded, and Kate started off to the left stopping when someone down the hall screamed.
“Let her go!” a woman said as another crashing noise similar to the last filled the air.
Ethan and Kate locked eyes, and without saying anything, they both crept towards the noises. As they drew closer, they could hear a girl whimpering.
“Mom, please,” the girl sobbed, her voice softer than cotton. “Help me. Don’t let him take me.”
“I won’t, baby,” the girl's mom said causing a man to break out into a fit of laughter.
Kate easily determined the room they were occupying, but she had no idea who was inside. She took a breath and started to lean toward the open doorway, but Ethan pulled her back.
He shook his head and moved her behind him. Kate rolled her eyes but didn’t argue because for all she knew there wasn’t time. She readied her gun as Ethan slowly peeked around the corner.
He held up his fingers to indicate there were four people inside the room. Kate’s nose scrunched up. She knew there were at least a mother and daughter in the room, did that mean the other two were trying to take the girl?
Kate tried to focus on the noises inside. Feet shuffled against the floor.
“Stay back, or I’ll kill her,” the man said.
“I’m not going to let you take my daughter!” the woman said.
“Lady there isn’t a damn thing you can do about it. You ain’t going to let me kill her. Pretty sure you ain’t that dumb.” The man laughed again.
Ethan turned to Kate. “He has a knife. He’s backing toward the door. Be ready.”
Kate could hear shoes tapping and scratching against the floor.
“Mom, please!” the daughter begged.
“Enough!” the mother said, as the sounds of shoes moving on the floor quickened. The daughter let out a cry.
The man growled. “Take another step bitch, and I pull the knife all the way across her pretty little throat.”
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry! You’re hurting her!” the mother wailed.
Ethan exhaled heavily and stepped into the room. Kate quickly followed just as she saw Ethan grab the man and push the girl away.
The man and Kate locked eyes as Ethan dragged him out of the room. Ethan was struggling a bit to keep the man from getting away.
“Check the girl,” Ethan said grunting. “I’ll take care of this piece of shit.”
“Come on Ethan!” the man said with a nervous laugh. “You know me, man!”
“Apparently, I don’t. What kind of scum of the earth goes after a kid?”
The man’s voice got quieter as Ethan turned down the hall. “It’s not what you think!”
Kate looked at the mother and then at the girl. She wiped her hand at her throat and stared at her fingers. There was a small cut on her neck, but nothing serious.
“Oh, my God I have no idea how to thank you and your friend,” the mother said wrapping her arms around her daughter.
“No problem… are you both okay?” Kate asked just as a boy stepped out and ran over to them. He wrapped his arms around his mom and looked at Kate with wide fear-filled eyes.
“We’re fine,” the woman said looking over her daughter, “I think. The door doesn’t lock. He followed us.”
Kate nodded. “Yeah, a lot of the doors in this place are broken. Are you guys new here?”
“We are… um, we just arrived. They won’t,” the woman lowered her voice, “let us leave yet.”
Kate’s stomach clenched. She couldn’t tell them everything she wanted to.
“I’m Kate,” she said, and instead of stretching out her hand, she crossed her arms.
“I’m Laura, this is my daughter Alice and my son Micky,” she said in a shaky voice as she stepped closer to Kate. “They won’t listen to me. We need to get out. My husband is out there looking for us.”
Kate looked over her shoulder nervously. “I’m sorry… I—”
“Please,” the woman begged. “Is there anything I can do?”
“I wish I could help,” Kate said biting her cheek. She heard footsteps coming down the hall and felt relieved when Ethan stepped into the room. Kate rubbed her elbow nervously. “They’re okay.”
“Good,” Ethan stepped forward and looked them all up and down. “He won’t be bothering you anymore.” Kate noticed the fresh drops of blood on his boots. “I’m Ethan.”
The woman looked at her daughter, son, and then back at Ethan. “I was just telling your friend Kate that we need to get out of here, to find my husband.”
“Shh,” Ethan said his eyes shifting toward the door. He would have seen anyone i
n the hall, but still, he was cautious. “Probably shouldn’t say that.”
“Why not?” the woman asked.
“I’m really sorry, but once you’re here, you’re here.”
Kate let out a sharp breath that pinched her chest. “They just arrived.”
“Mmm-hmm,” Ethan said.
“I just want to go back to my husband,” Laura said.
“Where is he?” Kate asked.
Laura looked at her kids as then gestured at the far bed. They both climbed on top and hugged one another. Laura pointed toward the door.
“We didn’t live that far off. He was out gathering water when these men showed up at our home. They brought us here,” Laura said. “They had guns… threatened us. I didn’t know what to do. Joel is still out there.”
A sour taste filled Kate’s mouth. She winced as she tried to swallow it down. Ethan looked at Kate.
“You know something,” Laura said eyeing Kate. “What’s going on? Please, you have to tell me!”
Kate didn’t know what to tell her. She wasn’t even sure what had happened to Joel, and what she did know about him was the last thing she wanted to tell the woman. Laura never needed to know what Joel had done.
“Is he here?” Laura said grabbing Kate’s arm. Her eyes were wide with desperation. She glanced over her shoulder at her children and lowered her voice even softer. “You don’t understand. I need him.”
“How long did you live out there?” Kate asked.
“What?” Laura asked not following the shift in conversation.
Kate narrowed her eyes. “Were you alone out there?”
“It was the four of us,” Laura said shaking her head.
“Where did you live?” Kate asked.
Ethan cocked his head to the side and squinted slightly at Kate. He didn’t know how badly Kate wanted to hear about the outside world. Laura could have information that could help them.
“We had a house. Supplies.” Laura crossed her arms. “I’d like to go back. We’d seen others, but people are mostly afraid of one another. Those we’ve seen, while few, all keep to themselves. Why do you ask?”
“Just curious,” Kate said shaking her head.
“You’ve been here since the beginning?” Laura asked.
Ethan nodded.
“Yes,” Kate lied, although it hadn’t felt like a lie because to Kate it had felt like she’d been there longer than forever.
Laura hugged herself as she leaned closer. “It’s hard to keep them safe on my own. You saw what happened, what will stop the next guy from trying the same?”
“Most people here are good,” Ethan said.
“Most people,” Laura chuckled. “I need to find my husband. He’s the reason we made it this long.”
“You could take my room,” Kate said, feeling Ethan’s body stiffen next to her. “The door locks.”
Laura glanced at her kids and shook her head. “I couldn’t do that to you.”
“It’s okay. I don’t mind.” Kate gestured for them to follow.
“Well,” Laura said rubbing her arms with her palms, “maybe just for tonight. You know, to help settle our nerves.”
“Sure,” Kate said, even though she knew she wouldn’t ever feel comfortable kicking the kids out of the safe room. “Follow me, I’ll show you.”
Laura called for her kids to follow. The three of them huddled together as they walked the short distance down the hall to Kate’s room.
“This one,” Kate said, and Laura looked in skeptically. “You’re sure?”
“Positive.”
Laura nodded and followed Kate into the room. She showed her the candle and a half-used pack of matches. Kate told her how she positioned the chair in front of the door for extra protection and then advised her not to open the door for anyone. Especially during the night.
Kate and Ethan turned to leave, but Laura grabbed Kate’s arm before she could leave. The wetness in Laura’s eyes made them look glassy in the dim lighting.
“If you find out anything about Joel… anything you can tell me, you will, won’t you?” Laura asked.
Kate blinked slowly trying to find the words. “If I can. Goodnight.”
Laura gave a single understanding nod and let go of Kate’s arm. When the door locked, they turned and started down the hallway.
“My door locks,” Ethan said holding up his palm. “Before you say no, I’ll tell you there are two beds and that I am a gentleman.”
Kate snorted and looked down at Ethan’s boots. “Didn’t you just drag a guy down the hall and end his reign of terror?”
“I was a gentleman the whole time.” Ethan smiled, and it was like it was the first time that Kate had really seen him. She’d been so withdrawn from the world around her, that she hadn’t taken time to learn names, and those names she did know barely had a face. It was like at that moment she connected Ethan with his name, face and the type of man he was. “Maybe just until you get your room back?”
Kate’s palms began to sweat. She never liked the idea of a roommate. Kate had always liked her alone time, but soon, if they really escaped and ventured out beyond the fence, she’d be giving that up. She’d be with Ethan and whoever else until they found whatever it was they were hoping for.
“I don’t bite,” Ethan said, his eyebrows arching innocently.
“Maybe just for the night,” Kate said.
Ethan smiled again, and Kate was unable to ignore the fact that he was down right good looking. Before everything happened, he must have had women knocking down his door left and right.
His height was a bit intimidating, but there was a softness in his deep brown eyes that warmed her insides. She believed for a moment that if there were one person she could trust inside the town, it was most definitely Ethan.
But could he really be trusted? He’d helped the woman and her kids. He hadn’t run off to tell Simon the things she’d said during their talk. Kate had known him for quite some time, and she couldn’t remember a single time she’d heard him utter a kind or supportive thing about Simon or The Way. Perhaps he was just going through the motions too.
They had food, water, and warm places to sleep. Life inside the fence was easy, maybe that’s why no one complained or tried to leave.
And since no one had really tried to leave, maybe that would be what would make it easier for Kate and Ethan to escape. No one would expect it.
If Tommy and Wayne were in, leaving would be simple. And they’d be able to take a truck with them.
Kate started to smile at the thought of getting far, far away, but then she quickly covered her mouth before Ethan noticed her sheepish grin.
16
Ethan had fallen asleep rather quickly, but Kate tossed and turned most of the night. She hadn’t been used to the lumpy bed, or maybe she had been too busy thinking about what the world might be like outside the fence.
Kate would have loved to talk more to Laura about the world outside, but she couldn’t. It wouldn’t be safe for her, Laura or her kids. Kate noticed how badly Laura wanted to get back to what was outside the fence. If it really were terrible out there, she wouldn’t be so anxious to leave. Then again, she also was desperate to find her husband.
If only Kate could tell Laura about Joel, maybe it would help, but the problem was she didn’t know exactly what had happened to Joel. Kate didn’t want to get Laura’s hopes up only for her to find out that Joel was dead.
“Morning,” Ethan said stretching his arms over his head. His shirt rose up exposing his hard, muscular stomach. Kate looked down at her fingers.
“Morning,” she said, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.
“Sleep well?”
Kate shook her head.
“Sorry,” Ethan said, combing his hands through his wild hair. “Next time you can try this bed.”
“Next time?” Kate said cocking her head to the side.
“Er, well, as long as you let Laura and her kids stay in your room, you’re welcome
to stay here. If you’d like, of course,” Ethan stammered.
Kate pressed her lips together in a thankful smile. “I appreciate the offer.”
“No problem. If you need more rest, I can make an excuse for you to the others,” Ethan offered.
Kate’s eyes shifted up to meet Ethan’s. “It’s not the bed’s fault I couldn’t sleep.”
“Yeah,” Ethan said walking over to the window. His eyes were focused on something on the road below. “Simon and his guards are headed toward the parking lot.” Ethan jerked his head toward the door. “We should go.”
Kate stood and followed him out of the room. Most days when they went to work Simon didn’t bother to come out, the only time he did was when he had a specific task for them.
They moved quickly down the hall and through the mostly empty street. Simon couldn’t have been there more than a few minutes before they arrived but he stood there with his arms crossed, tapping his foot as though he’d been waiting hours.
Tommy and Wayne were already there as were the other eradication teams.
“Glad you could make it,” Simon said without a smile. “Are you two always this late? And arriving together… hmm, isn’t that peculiar?”
“We’re not late,” Ethan said with a smile.
“We ran into each other on the way,” Kate said. She’d sounded too defensive even to herself.
“Interesting.” Simon ran his thumb across his lower lip as he stared at Kate. “Anyway, you’re here now, and that’s what matters.”
Simon’s guards held their guns up over their shoulders as they stared into the distance. They stood tall and ready, but Kate had no doubt, she could take them both out before they could even aim their guns.
“There is a change in plans for today,” Simon said as he started to pace. He took an agonizing second between each step. “I need you all to stay here and help with fence repairs. Something far more secure than the hastily put together job of yesterday. Each team will work on a different section of the fence, make sure it’s secure.”
“No problem,” Ethan said with a cocky smirk.
Falling Darkness Series - A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller - Books 1-3 Page 10
