by M. L. Cook
Seth gripped her elbow, then stepped forward. “First we need to gather as many supplies as we can. If you have weapons, or know where to find them, now is the time to get them. We’ll need to gather essential supplies as well.”
Ashely raised her hand, “I’ll be happy to organize the groups, as well as give them lists of what will be needed. Some may not consider such simple things as,” she grinned, “toilet paper, formula, first aid supplies, and more. I can help with that. I may not be an actual survivalist, but I do know what we’ll need.”
Seth nodded, while Aubree simmered. A shiver ran down her body when she felt his breath against her ear.
“Do not be jealous. She is a natural leader, and we need her help. There is nothing between us.”
She looked into his golden gaze, unable to do more than nod.
“Now come, little warrior. There are weapons on the Terrapian vessel.” He tilted his face, squinting, he stared into her eyes. “Your eyes…” He concentrated, what was different. Then it hit him, “Do your eyes change color?”
Aubree blushed, thinking about the many different kinds of contacts she had back at her house. She didn’t need them, she just liked to be different. Giggling, she wished she had them now, imagining Seth’s reaction to her cat eye contacts.
He arched a brow, “What’s funny?”
“They’re contacts. I have every color in the book back at my apartment.” Her smile faded when she realized that her apartment was most likely nothing but a large pile of rubble now.
Fifteen minutes later, they’d retrieved the weapons and now Seth was explaining the differences to a small group. A few yards away, Aubree was recruiting a few women. “You don’t have to feel helpless anymore. No matter where you point this thing, it’ll do the job. The good news is, as long as you hold the button down, it continues to shoot. So, even if you shoot them in the foot, you can pretty much cut them in half with a few minor corrections.”
“Not a selling point, Bree.” Aquino laughed. “Just remember, wherever you shoot, it’s going to incapacitate them, at least briefly. Use that time to get out. If you encounter a Terrapian warrior, they will not miss, nor will they hesitate to kill you. Always remember, they have no mercy.”
One of the women from the ship raised a fist, “For Bea!”
Bea’s story had made its rounds shortly after joining the factory workers. Answering cheers thundered through the field. Any who had second thoughts or misgivings were won over in that moment. The group was energized.
Just as the sun was setting, the last of the scavengers returned. Trucks and cars were loaded and the caravan made its way to the main highway.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Seth and Aubree were riding in the front vehicle, an oversized pick-up with tires that dwarfed most of the other cars. Phil assured them this would get them anywhere they needed to go, plus there wouldn’t be an obstacle this truck couldn’t drive over, including other cars. Seth’s main concern wasn’t the ability to continue their journey, but the importance of insuring everyone else was able to complete the trek.
A voice came over the radio, “Slow down, we’re almost to the turn off. The road is hidden behind a bunch of trees, so it’s easy to miss.”
Aubree let up on the accelerator, allowing the truck to coast for a few minutes. When they got closer to the trees, she slammed on the breaks. Grabbing the radio, she steered off the road. “Stop! Everybody stop! There’s—”
At the sound of bullets pinging against steel, followed by the side view mirror exploding, had her jerking on the hand break. Ducking below the windshield, she pressed the button, “Under attack. I repeat, we’re under attack.”
Cars lined the road as the occupants got out, ducked for cover, then returned fire. A mixture of bullets and laser beams lit the front of the old church.
Aubree’s radio crackled to life, “Identify yourselves.”
Aubree stared down at the radio, cocked her head and listened.
The voice repeated the order with a bit more vehemence, “I repeat. Identify yourselves or we’re going to blow you off the fucking map.”
Grinning she spoke into the radio, “We don’t need to identify ourselves to no hillbilly terrorist.”
After a moment of silence, the radio crackled to life, “Bree?”
“In the flesh! Brooke with you?” She blinked at the silent radio, “Jannette? Where’s my sister?” The panic began to rise. Her legs were shaking as she stumbled toward the road. “Jannette. Where is my sister?” Shaking off Seth’s attempt to keep her behind the barrier, she staggered across the road.
A moment later the small figure of a woman with blazing red hair stepped from behind a truck nearly as big as the one they’d ridden in. Aubree watched her hesitate for only a moment before she sprinted across the highway, nearly knocking the younger woman off her feet.
Stunned, Aubree couldn’t move. The radio dropped to the pavement with a dull thud the same time her knees gave out. The world around her took on a fuzzy surreal quality, while the edges of her vision began to blur. She could hear voices, but none of it made any sense. In her mind’s eye all she could see was the face of her older sister. Brooke laughing at something silly Aubree had said. Brooke’s blazing eyes when she caught Aubree sneaking out in the middle of the night. Brooke’s enduring strength, shoulders squared, jaw set, bearing the load that Aubree couldn’t, as they lowered the caskets containing their parents into the ground.
Hands gripped her cheeks, an unfocused face inches from her own was shouting words that only now began to penetrate. “Aubree! Can you hear me? She’s alright. Brooke is alright!”
Aubree blinked, her gaze focused on the full lips of the tiny woman with the big personality. She didn’t know how long Jannette had been speaking when the words finally sank in. “She’s not dead?”
“No, my sweet baby girl, she’s fine. She stayed in town, determined to find you.” Jannette’s own teary eyes stared back at her. “We didn’t know…they said,” She looked toward the heavens. “They said Dante’s brother blew up the ship where they’d been held captive. When we found him, but not another ship…” She pulled Aubree into her arms. “Oh, Bree! I’m so glad you’re alright. We were so…we were afraid you were dead. Brooke never doubted.”
“Dante’s alive?” Aubree turned toward Seth’s voice. He’d followed her across the street.
Pushing against Jannette, she stepped back, “This is Seth, he’s—”
“I know who he is,” Jannette looked behind her, “but who’s that?” She spat the words, then raised her pistol, centering it on Aquino’s forehead.
Aubree was on full alert now, backing across the road, she spread her arms out. “No! Jannette, don’t shoot him! Please! He’s my friend.” She glanced behind her, noticing Quin’s expression. She knew by the grim look on his face, he didn’t like the idea of her putting herself between him and a bullet. “She won’t shoot me, Quin. She’s my sister’s best friend. You’re mine. I’m not going to allow her to hurt you.”
“What? Your what?” Jannette lowered her weapon then took several steps closer. “Your best friend? Him? He’s one of them.”
Aubree crossed her arms and glared past Jannette, “Really? And who’s that?”
Jannette glanced back at what had captured Aubree’s attention, then rolled her eyes. “They wouldn’t let me shoot her. Something about her being pregnant.”
“You do know, that’s a good thing, right? Not shooting a pregnant woman?” Aubree felt Aquino come up behind her. Taking his hand, she backed into his embrace.
“You do know they shot our pregnant women?” Jannette narrowed her gaze.
Before Aubree could answer, Aquino stepped in front of her. “They’ve done a lot of horrible things. Some of us are trying to change that. I met a male who hated a female because her skin was a different color. Yet I don’t judge you by his actions.”
Jannette holstered her weapon, “Touché.” She turned and walked back toward the
church, waving for the others to follow.
The small group behind her parted to allow the others to pass. Pushing through the church doors, Jannette led them down a dark hall toward a small office in the back. Standing in front of the door, she looked past the group, “Travis, can you get them some refreshments, then join us?”
Aubree watched as most of her group turned to follow the tall man, Travis, past the door. When Aquino moved to follow, she grabbed his shirt and yanked him back, “Not you. You stay with me.”
Jannette narrowed her gaze, looking from one to the other, “They won’t hurt him. They’ve accepted Tiana as one of us, I’m sure they’ll accept him as well.”
Seth pushed past Jannette, “He has useful information…” He reached out and grabbed James before he could follow the others. “You too. You’ll need to tell this one what you’ve told me.”
Closing the door, Jannette stepped behind a large desk that had been cleared of everything but a map. “Okay, I’ll tell you what I know first.” She nodded to a few chairs before sitting down.
“Have you been to Anderson yet?” She looked directly at Aubree.
“No. I was getting ready to head that way, but we had a bit of snow…” She smiled.
“Yeah. Crazy, right? Seventy-eight the next day. Winter coats to shirt sleeves,” she snorted.
“Well, anyway, it’s gone. Most of the bridges are down. The streets are rubble. Downtown is in ruins. The roads, after you get out of town, are mostly passable. When you get to Alex, you would need to do quite a bit of off-roading, but not as bad. We got stuck here, when scouts radioed back about a camp set up between here and my house. There’s a lot more of them, then there are of us. Thing is, Jay said they’re human.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Seth knew what she was saying was true, James had told him as much. Still he had trouble accepting humans turning on their own people. “James,” he nodded to the quiet man leaning against the wall in the corner.
Standing, James walked to the desk, leaned over and studied the map, then reached for a black marker. “According to my sources, the traitors have set up camp here,” he began drawing small circles on the highways that connected both large cities and small towns.
Jannette staggarded back, dropping into her seat, “So many…but why?”
Seth sat forward, “They believe if they aid the Terrapians they will be safe from the slaughter.”
“Will they? I mean, the whole idea of betraying their people is abhorrent, but will they be spared?” Jannette inquired.
Aquino spoke up, “No. I’m sorry to say, but most of my people have no honor. They’ll gladly accept help from these humans. But in the end, they’ll all be killed. They won’t stop until this planet is drained of all its resources. Then leaving it void of human life. Your world will be left for the beasts of the world. Even then, it will be a struggle for them to survive. I’ve seen it too many times.”
Jannette reached for her gun again, only to have James rip it away. Glaring up at the man who’d been unable to do what most have done, then smiled. Running a finger up his thigh, she watched his face. Fast as lightning, he gripped her hand in an iron hold, then threw it away. Her head twisted in Seth’s direction when she heard his words.
“I don’t think you’re his type.”
James grinned, then raked his gaze down Seth’s powerful body, “Not even a little.”
Aubree leaned across Seth, “Um…taken?” She glanced back at Seth who was glowing over the attention. She blanched when she saw his expression. Had he changed his mind?
Seth gripped her hand, “Yes. I am hers, and she is mine.”
Aquino cleared his throat, “Back to the business at hand.”
Aubree sat forward, “I’m going for my sister.”
A dark green hand closed around her wrist. “No. It’s not safe.”
Seth threw Aquino’s hand off Aubree’s arm, shooting a glare at the Terrapian. He opened his mouth to speak, but Jannette beat him to it.
“He’s right. The roads are all but impassable. I’ve been trying to reach her on the radio. I’ll keep trying, especially now that you’re here.”
Aubree’s gaze pinged between Jannette, Aquino, and Seth, knowing what they said was true. In her heart though, she knew what she had to do. Brooke would never leave until she found her. Just as Aubree wouldn’t rest until she was reunited with her sister. Years of her own selfishness, coupled with her refusal to let anybody close, had driven a wedge between them. Brooke never gave up, she’d taken responsibility for Aubree further than any other would have. For that, Aubree owed her. She knew what she had to do.
She decided she would wait until everyone was asleep, then she would go for her sister. Alone. All her life she’d only thought of herself. Now that would change. From now on, she refused to put any lives in danger.
Jannette’s words filtered through, “Anybody hungry?”
Thoughts of anything other than vending machine fare caused Aubree’s stomach to rumble in anticipation. Blushing, she looked at the shocked faces around her.
“I take that as a yes.” Jannette pushed away from the desk. “Tonight we’ll get some rest, then tomorrow we’ll begin the last leg of our journey.”
Aquino grinned, “Will we be having the infamous grease noodles?”
Aubree rolled her eyes, “You and your grease noodles! I seriously doubt it. But anything besides chocolate donuts works for me.”
Jannette stared at her young friend, “I don’t know why you suddenly don’t want your favorite food, nor do I know what grease noodles is. I raided the freezer here. Tons of beef. Since there’s so many people, I decided to stretch the meat I would make beef and noodles.”
Aubree waved a hand, “Grease noodles it is.”
Aquino fist pumped the air, as he’d seen his human friend do, “Yes!”
Jannette led them to the large basement room. A half dozen tables were nearly filled with people enjoying something that smelled heavenly. If there was one thing she could count on, it was Jannette’s cooking. That woman could take anything and throw it together, coming up with the most amazing dishes. When asked what it was, she always shrugged and simply said, “I made it up.” Which translated into, you’ll never have the same thing again.
***
After dinner, they met in the parking lot, where a large bonfire was blazing into the night. Sticks were passed around, along with a bag of marshmallows. For Jannette, it just wouldn’t be a campfire without smores.
“Aren’t you afraid they’ll see the fire and attack?” Aubree passed both stick and bag, shuddering in revulsion. When Aquino stared down at her empty hand, she explained, “Not a fan of gooey marshmallows on a stick.”
Jannette’s eyes sparkled, patting the rifle by her side, “Let them come.”
The October chill was chased away by the warmth of the fire. Stars sprinkled across the clear sky, with a thin sliver of a moon.
A voice spoke out of the darkness, “Halloween.”
A haunting stillness settled over the group. Hordes of children should be filling the streets, dressed in ghoulish costumes, carrying bags filled with sweets. Instead, the streets were void of life. Houses darkened, most emptied of their occupants. Thoughts of the lives lost over the past few days hushed conversation, as each paid their own silent tribute.
The solitude was broken by the voice of a young woman, “They will pay for what they’ve done.”
Shouts of agreement echoed through the night. Conversation resumed, as once again the bag was passed around the circle and more wood was tossed onto the fire.
As the flames died down, one by one they made their way back into the church. Stepping into the nave, she saw that the pews had been pushed together, covered with anything they could find. Quiet conversations were interspersed with soft snores of those already sleeping.
Aubree picked up a blanket and crawled into a corner not far from the door. Leaning against the wall, she waited.
; Once the room stilled, she crawled toward the door. Ducking around the corner, she waited to ensure she was alone. Pushing her way through the door, she searched the darkness, straining to hear any sounds. Sentries had been posted hours ago. Staying against the building, she made her way toward the road. She stood, hands pressed against the warm building, staring into the night. Several minutes later, two dark figures passed each other. She counted off thirty seconds before dashing across the damp grass to the road beyond.
Cringing against the soft patter of her boots on asphalt, she ran from the church back toward the factory they’d left hours before.
She figured it to be only a few miles, so she should be able to make it long before dawn. If her luck held, she would be able to take a different vehicle from the parking lot, then drive as long as the roads held out. By morning, she would be in Anderson.
Deciding she was far enough away from the church, she slowed her pace. Panting frosty breaths, she cursed herself for not following Brooke’s strict regimen of exercise.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am that you stopped running.”
Aubree couldn’t keep the startled yelp from escaping as a dark figure came alongside her. Staring up at the large man, she held one hand over her heart, “Phil you nearly gave me a heart attack. You could have made a little noise, you know.”
Stopping, he bent with hands on knees gulping breaths of air, “You…you made,” He shook his head, then stood back up, “You made enough noise for the both of us. Stealth isn’t your thing, is it?”
She glared at the older man, “I’m not going back. I need to find Brooke. I know her. She won’t leave until she finds me.”
Phil laid a beefy hand on her shoulder, “I understand. Trust me. If my brother…God rest his soul,” he choked on the words. “If he were still alive, I would move Heaven and Earth to get to him. But I also know he would want me to be safe. Don’t you think your sister would feel the same way?”
Aubree watched him a minute, then cursed, “Shit. Fine.” A thought occurred, “Hey. You can come with me, help keep me safe…”
