by Bale, Sarah
I said, “Maybe you can talk to her.”
He nodded. “I will. Hopefully, she’ll have news about Amos.”
I cringed. Cooper still didn’t believe that Amos was dead. Maybe he wasn’t the right person to talk to Daisy…
I said, “I’ll let you know when it’s a good time.”
Cooper smiled and I stood, needing to do something with my hands. We hadn’t learned anything from Air’s men while questioning them. The last location they knew of was the one where we had found Daisy. I made my way to one of the empty rooms that we were using as a conference room. Dave, Jeff, and Rocco were inside, looking at a map.
“What’s going on?”
Dave glanced up. “Harper’s out at the barn getting more answers. One of the prisoners said something that stood out.” He pointed to the map. “If Air doesn’t have any places scoped out in the area, who’s to say he won’t go back to one of the old spots?”
Jeff said, “We know of three other locations not including the mall. Harper thinks he can get the men to talk.”
“Does he need any help?”
Dave nodded. “Just waiting for you.”
We left the room, making our way outside. It was still cold out, but there were hints of spring in the air. As we got up to the old barn, screams filled the air. I smiled, going inside. Harper had one man tied to a chair. Blood trickled from the man’s mouth and a freshly pulled tooth sat on the table next to Harper.
The man whimpered when Harper picked up the pliers, handing them to me.
I asked, “Are you ready to talk now?”
The man nodded. “Please, don’t hurt me. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know!”
I said, “Good. But just to be sure…”
Harper and Dave held the man down as I shoved the pliers into his mouth, pulling another tooth. He whimpered, tears pouring down his cheeks.
I sat across from him. “Let’s talk, buddy.”
10
Daisy
I was getting pretty good at avoiding people. Elijah would walk into a room and I’d make an excuse to leave. Kat and Jo would try to talk to me, but I’d say I was tired and go take a nap. But I couldn’t control the way people looked at me, with pity in their eyes. I was the one who had stupidly been taken. Now, I was the one who didn’t fit in. Nighttime was worse, though. Elijah would climb in bed next to me, wanting to hold me. But I couldn’t let that happen. I had to be ready. Air was coming and I knew it was going to be sooner than later.
It had already been ten days since I’d been back.
I knew my luck here wasn’t going to last.
I had to be ready.
I had to.
Because I wasn’t going to be the victim again.
The next morning, I woke up to an empty bed. I felt relief and fear at the same time. What if something had happened overnight? I knew Elijah wouldn’t wake me. Dressing, I left my room. My stomach rumbled and I knew I needed to eat before I did anything. When I got to the cafeteria, Elijah was sitting at a table, writing in a notebook. I was surprised that no one was sitting with him since the room was fairly full. He smiled when I sat next to him, but put the notebook in his pocket.
“Sleep well?”
I hadn’t had any nightmares that woke me up, screaming and fighting for my life, so I guess that was considered a good night’s sleep these days.
I nodded. “You?”
His cheeks darkened. “I actually slept in one of the empty rooms last night. Figured you might sleep better if you had the whole bed to yourself.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. The only time I could think of that he’d slept in another room was when we first met and he was thinking of breaking up with me. But, he was right. I had slept better alone.
I said, “I’m going to grab something to eat.”
He nodded and pulled the notebook back out, looking down at it. Cooper wasn’t in the kitchen, so I grabbed some bacon and bread. That was the only thing that didn’t turn my stomach. Elijah was still in the cafeteria when I came out. He watched me with a slight smile as I poured honey over the bread and bacon, making a gooey, but delicious mess. I took a bite and moaned. This was exactly what I had been craving.
Shit! I glanced at Elijah. He was a doctor, a surgeon. Would he recognize this as a pregnancy craving?
I said, “What do you have planned today?”
Anything to take his attention off me eating.
His expression became neutral, which put me on alert. When he put the notebook back in his pocket I became downright suspicious.
“Not much. Just going to check some fences.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
“I can help. I used to do that all the time growing up.”
Elijah shook his head. “You’re still healing.”
And he was lying. I didn’t point that bit out.
Before I could reply, Grey entered the cafeteria. He was zoned in on Elijah, going right to his side. He whispered something in Elijah’s ear before leaving. My temper rose and I resisted screaming. They had to stop treating me like I was a fucking doll. Like I would fucking break.
“What was that about?”
Elijah turned to me. “Grey’s men picked up chatter on the radio. Someone is headed this way and we aren’t sure who. They’re wearing some sort of disguise.”
The hairs on the back of my neck rose. “Is it him?”
There was no need to say who I meant. Air’s name hung between us like an ax about to drop.
“I’m about to find out.”
My breath seemed to solidify in my throat.
“No! You can’t!”
He stood, looking away. “If it’s him, I have to be the one to kill him.”
I grabbed his arm, pulling with all my strength. “You can’t!”
Because, if it was Air, this was a trap. And Elijah would die, just like Air had promised. And then Air would come for me. I swallowed the thick bile threating to creep up my throat.
“Daisy, I’ll be fine,” he said in a soothing tone as he pried my hand from his arm.
My panic turned into annoyance. “Fine. Go.”
He blinked at me before nodding once. When he was gone, I stood. The room had gone silent, the people around us hearing our exchange. Holding my head high, I left the cafeteria before vomiting in a trashcan. Elijah would never rest until Air was dead. I could see that now. Which meant I was going to have to look out for myself from now on.
Wiping my mouth, I made my way to our room. Air had said he was going to kill Elijah, so that meant he was planning something. Since it had been nearly two weeks I felt like whatever he was going to do would be soon. But, if I got to Air first-
“I know you’re not doing what I think you’re doing!”
Spinning, I found Kat standing with her arms crossed over her chest. She glared daggers at me, which made me feel angry and guilty.
“Have you lost your fucking mind?”
I bristled at her tone. “Fuck you.”
“No, fuck you, Daisy!” She stepped into the room, closing the door. “Do you have any idea what we went through to get you back?”
An actual laugh left my lips. “What you went through? Kat, I can assure you that whatever you went through was nothing compared to what happened to me.”
Her eyes softened. “So tell me about it, Daisy. Because it looks like you’re about to take off again.”
I rubbed my temples, trying to east the ache I felt. “I didn’t take off the first time. I was ready to die to end this, but Air had other plans.”
“What were about to do just then?”
I replied, “You’re right, I was going to leave, but only to kill Air.”
“Honey, you need to rest. You’ve only been back a few weeks-”
“And that’s too long!” My chest rose and fell as I tried to rein in my emotions. “Kat, he fucking let me go. They didn’t rescue me and I didn’t escape! He let me walk awa
y, but not before giving me a warning.”
She shook her head. “Grey said-”
“Grey was wrong. They’re all acting like they saved me, when the truth is Air let me go because this is all part of his game.” I wiped my eyes. “Do you know what he said to me when he freed me? He said that Elijah would be the first to die and then he would come for me. To make me one of them.”
Saying the words out loud made it feel even more real.
“Did you tell Boss?”
I let out a curse. “Kat, I know you’re not blind. You see how he’s treating me. He’s not going to hear what I say. The only thing he can even think about is killing Air, which is what Air wants.”
I could see the debate in her eyes.
“I’m not asking for you to come with me or even help, Kat. I just need to get out there and do something before he strikes first.”
“I’m not going to let you go out there again, Daisy.”
Before I could reply, Grey came to the door. “You aren’t going to believe who’s here!”
Judging by his expression, I knew it wasn’t Air.
I followed him to the main lobby, trying to forget my exchange with Kat. She might think this was over, but it wasn’t. I was going to be the one who killed Air.
When we reached the lobby, I stopped in my tracks.
Theo grinned. “There’s a sight for sore eyes!”
Theo was my childhood best friend. We grew up together and even in the apocalypse he had stayed true to my family by staying at the ranch, helping. When I had went back and found the state of my childhood home, I begged Theo to leave with us. But he said he couldn’t do that, not with my cousin being in charge and terrorizing the people who worked for her. No, he needed to make sure everyone was safe. And now he was here.
I ran into his open arms, crying. “What took you so long?”
“Got tied up in Fort Worth.” He leaned back. “Hey now, what’s all this?”
Our reunion was short lived as Cooper came running into the lobby.
“Theo?”
“Coop!”
I moved aside so they could reunite. Cooper threw himself in Theo’s arms, sobbing. Theo held him, his own eyes watering.
He said, “Coop, I’ve missed you so damn much.”
“I’ve missed you, too. There’s so much we need to catch up on.” His eyes widened. “Oh no! I left the rolls in the oven!”
He took off toward the kitchen leaving Theo with a puzzled expression on his face.
I said, “Coop cooks for everyone.”
“I bet he loves that.” Theo looked down at me. “Shit, Daisy. What happened to your hair?”
Most of my bruises were gone now, so my hair was probably the only thing that stood out to him.
I glanced at Elijah before saying to Theo, “Let’s go talk. There’s a lot that’s been happening around here.”
I led Theo to my room, not caring that Elijah looked hurt as we left.
Theo must have noticed, because he asked, “Trouble in paradise?”
“We’ve been fighting with another group. They took me and I’ve only been back for a few weeks now.” I let out a small laugh. “Their leader is a real piece of work.”
“I’m guessing that’s why I was met with ten guns pointed in my face?” He eyed me. “What else aren’t you saying?”
“Things have been bad here, since I got back. People are treating me differently.”
He sat in one of the chairs. “That’s understandable, Daisy. They’re probably making sure you’re okay.”
“I get that. I do. But, I need to be out there, doing something, instead of sitting in here, waiting for trouble to find me.”
He nodded. “When I came through Newcastle, it looked like there had been a fight. Was that the other group?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t even know where they found me, to be honest.”
I’d never thought to ask and Elijah didn’t offer any details. When I looked back on it, it all felt like one huge blur. Maybe it was my way of coping.
“Some of the biters looked fresh. I’d guess that’s where something went down recently.” He paused. “How has Coop been since you left Texas? I should’ve left with him, but I couldn’t leave everyone behind.”
I cringed, not wanting to hurt Theo. But he deserved to know.
“Coop was sad for a long time.”
“But?”
“But then he met someone.”
“Oh.”
I shook my head. “Amos, the man he was seeing, was killed recently, but Cooper doesn’t seem to believe it. He even saw Amos’ head on a pike, but still keeps hope that he’ll come back.”
Theo let out a sigh. “Maybe I shouldn’t have come here. It might be too much for him.”
“Or it might be exactly what he needs. And what I need.”
He smiled at me. “I’ve missed you, Daisy. If anything, it’s nice to see a familiar face.”
“I’ve missed you, too.” I paused. “Did you come alone from Texas?”
He flinched before saying, “There was a fire. Everyone died.”
“Everyone?”
He nodded. “I was able to bury your mom under the pecan tree. Lilly is next to her.”
That was somehow fitting.
I felt dizzy. “How did the fire start?”
“A horde came through. Broke through a fence. They brought the fire with them. Kind of wonder if someone didn’t set it, though.” He shook his head. “I tried to get everyone out, but it spread so fast with all that dry brush around and the cedar trees.”
I took his hand. “You did what you could, Theo.”
“Things were different after you left, Daisy. I know that’s hard to believe, but it’s true. Lilly was different. She even talked about coming to Oklahoma, but never got the chance.”
I didn’t know how to feel about that. The last time I’d seen her, she had plotted to kill Elijah and turn me over to another group. Not exactly the family reunion I’d dreamed of.
I said, “Well, I’m glad things were better, for the sake of everyone who stayed.”
He didn’t reply.
Cooper came back and said, “I’ve decided to make something special for dinner, since you’re back.”
Theo smiled. “Can I help?”
“Of course. No one peels potatoes like you, Theo.”
They left hand in hand. I really did hope that Theo could help Coop understand that Amos was gone. I didn’t know what we’d do if Coop wouldn’t accept it.
There was a knock on the door. I glanced up to find Elijah watching me with a frown on his face.
“Where’s Theo?”
“He’s with Cooper.”
“Did he say if he came alone?”
I let out a snort. “What? Afraid my fucked-up family is here to make things even worse?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Whatever, Elijah. To answer your question, no one came with him because they’re all dead.” I stood. “So, you can rest easy tonight.”
“Daisy-”
I kept walking until I reached the doors going outside. I didn’t even have a coat, but I went out, nonetheless. Grey and Norman were standing to the side of the hospital smoking and looked surprised to see me. I inhaled, catching a whiff of weed. Guess Grey had grown some while I was gone or maybe they found some. Yet another thing I’d missed.
Grey asked, “Is everything okay?”
“Just needed some fucking air.”
Grey nodded. “I get that. Come on.”
He led me toward the main barn, our shoes crunching against the dead grass.
“What’s in here?”
“You’ll see.”
He opened the door and I let out a laugh that held no humor.
“You built a boxing gym while I was missing? No wonder if took forty days to get me back.”
His eyes narrowed. “People were so wound up when coming off shifts from looking for you. They needed a way to burn off steam.
Jeff and Harper built it after Noah died.” He paused. “I don’t know what you went through out there and it’s not my place to say whether you should talk about it or not.”
“But?”
“But this right here is something you can do to burn off your anger. Maybe stop snapping at people who care about you and start punching the shit out of the punching bag we found.”
I didn’t deny it. He was right. I had been snapping, but it was because I was hurt and scared.
I nodded. “Are there gloves?”
“Of course.”
“I don’t want to punch a bag, but I’d love to brawl.”
I could see the conflict in his eyes. But he didn’t know I was pregnant, and I really needed this. More than he knew.
“I trust you, Grey. You’re not going to hurt me.”
He nodded. “Let’s do this.”
I lifted my hands, ready to strike. I was tired of being weak. Now, I was ready to take back what Air had stolen from me. Starting now.
By the time we finished, I was exhausted. I left the barn, heading to my room. I had worked up a sweat and needed a shower. As I walked down the hallway, I laughed, remembering how shocked Grey had looked after I decked him in the face. He hadn’t held back after that.
“It’s good to see you smiling.”
Turning, I found Elijah standing outside of our room, watching me. For a moment, I wanted to throw myself into his arms and let him hold me. Maybe I had been doing this all wrong. Maybe, if he knew everything, we could work together and figure this out.
I replied, “I feel better after burning off some steam.”
“I was against the guys building the boxing ring, but people really seem to enjoy it.”
“Not going to lie – I was a little pissed when Grey showed me. It felt like that was more important than finding me.”
His lips parted, but I shook my head.
“I get it Elijah. I really do.”
He didn’t reply, but went into our room, going to the bed. For the first time since I’d been back I looked him over. There were dark smudges beneath his eyes and his cheeks were hollow, as if he hadn’t been eating. My chest ached and I crossed the room, sitting next to him. His eyes widened.
