by J. P. Castle
Ledger noticed Bastian’s face. The troubled expression confirmed what he’d already suspected. He didn’t want to upset the situation for his friend, especially since they’d recently cleared the air about, Mary Beth. Ledger put his hand on Bastian’s chest. He could feel Bastian’s heart racing.
“Calm down. Don’t look at me like that, man. Rani kicked them out last night, while you were sick, that’s all this is. I only tried to keep them warm.”
“Rani did what?” said Bastian in a tone beyond aggravation, only shifting his attention when Troian spoke.
“Bastian, you were calling out my name and mentioned a kiss in your feverish stupor last night. You held my hand when I touched your face to check your fever. Bryce was in there, too. Rani got really upset, which I understand. She asked if anything had ever happened between us—wanted to know why you were calling out my name over and over. When I briefly hesitated to answer, her radar went haywire.
“One thing led to another with her questions, and before you said anything else, I told her about the fake kiss we’d shared when the police approached us. I explained that it kept you from going to jail, or worse. I told her I was sorry, and it meant nothing, but it didn’t calm her rage. She went outside briefly to cool off, I guess, then came back in and told the kids and me to get out. Ledger built us a fire and tried to keep us warm,” said Troian.
Troian didn’t want Bastian to get the wrong idea about the situation laid out before him. She also didn’t want him to think she’d meddled to screw up his relationship with Rani.
“Bastian,” said Ledger, “when she came outside, she paraded over and kissed me. I was standing beside Caleb, ask him if that’s not exactly how it happened. She didn’t speak; just kissed me. Said it was for revenge, told me sorry for using me, then stormed off. I guess that’s how she reasoned it all out in her head. I mean, this is Rani we’re talking about,” he half-laughed, but quickly stopped when Bastian didn’t share in the humor.
“Wow . . . I’m speechless, just wow. Okay, let me go deal with this,” said Bastian.
“Bastian, I’m so sorry. I never meant to cause you any trouble. I’m not that kind of person,” said Troian, standing up. She took Bastian by the arm and stepped him over a few feet further where Ledger couldn’t hear. “I mentioned you might have a kidney infection because I saw you holding your lower back before you got sick. Bryce ended up telling Rani about your other problem, too, just so you’re fully prepared. And I understand if you’re mad at me. I’m truly sorry. I never would’ve said a word, if you hadn’t . . .”
“No need to apologize, Troian. I know you’re not a meddler. I should’ve told her already like I said I would. There’s plenty of reasons why I’ve kept things from her. It’s not fair to her, and that’s not who I am. Is that all you told her? I need to know what I’m stepping into here.”
“Yes, nothing else. I told you I’d never betray your trust. The only reason I did what I did last night was to lessen your troubles from calling out my name. I’m sure you didn’t realize what you were saying. I told her, when you wouldn’t let go of my hand, that you thought it was her.”
Bastian said no more, simply turned and walked away, pausing at the R.V. door. What do I want to happen here? Do I even want to make up with her? Should I try? Is it wrong of me to break up with someone in the middle of a global meltdown? This was so easy when we were in school, and she went back home every night.
Bastian stepped inside the R.V.
“Leave,” he said.
Caleb and Bryce didn’t say a word and exited outside, comprehending in short order that Bastian was about to explode. Rani straightened the bed in the back, yanking the covers around. Bastian didn’t beat around the bush.
“Seems you had a pretty interesting night,” he said.
“Yep,” said Rani, tossing the pillows back into place.
“I apologize for the kiss thing. I should’ve told you when it happened. You never should’ve found out that way. You have every right to be upset.”
“Yeah, darn right you should’ve told me, and I’m not so sure how innocent it was either. And what about your kidney tumor . . . forget to tell me that, too.”
“It’s something personal, I didn’t want to talk about. Only my immediate family knows,” said Bastian in a sincere manner.
“You mean with me, right. Didn’t want to talk about it with me, but Troian was fine to tell, right?”
“You don’t understand the context of the moment that Troian and I were in. I got hurt on . . . it was a difficult night. We barely escaped the cops then, too. On another note, I’m told you got even with me by kissing Ledger before you even allowed me a chance to explain myself.”
“Hahaha, yeah Ledger has really soft lips, but you know what . . . I thought kissing him would help make me feel better—since it was fake ‘n all, too, but it didn’t. I still can’t erase the images of you and her from my mind.
“And even though you surmise in your little brain that I’m an airhead, there’s a connection between you and her. I’m not stupid. The change in your touch when she’s around; the distance growing between us. You don’t even treat me the same.
“I’m not the sharing kind, Bastian—period. You sit around and play da-da with her ‘n those kids, which makes me sick every single night. I’m not a kid person. Do you know you called out her name last night when you had a fever—more than once, too.”
Bastian placed both hands on the edge of the sink counter. “They are not sleeping outside in the cold; I can tell you that much. She didn’t ask to have two kids thrust into her care. Neither did I, but we had to do the right thing. They’re out there freezing, and when this conversation’s finished, I’m telling them to come in here.”
“Ledger’s watching over them. He’ll keep her all warm ‘n cozy like he did my lips for about sixty seconds. They aren’t coming back in here.” She stood there with her hand on her hip.
“Rani, please don’t fight me on this,” he said, peering down into the sink.
“You mean you’d choose them over me?”
Her eyes had sliced his body into a million pieces.
“Are you really that shallow?” he said, staring at her.
“SHALLOW? How would you feel if I showed this much attention to another guy? You can’t have us BOTH. I’m not gonna be part of a harem,” she said, breaking a cup on the counter accidentally.
“A harem, hahaha, I don’t have no harem. These aren’t normal circumstances, Rani. There are two little kids involved. Okay, what if I only bring the kids in here? Are you going to take care of them by yourself? Are you gonna get up with ‘em in the middle of the night, feed them, bathe them, change diapers . . .?”
“Do you have your fever—again? Seriously, come here and let me check your head. NO, I’M NOT.”
“I’m going out there right now and bringing them in here. If you don’t agree with it, get out,” said Bastian, closing the door so hard the R.V. shook.
Young love, thought Mr. McCrady, oh, I remember the pain of you well.
Others nearby heard the raised voices; out of respect, they pretended not to notice.
Rani stood there—alone. I don’t do kids, and I don’t do ultimatums. I wanna scream. Maybe I should give in. But giving in won’t make him NOT care about her, though, and I’m not ready to play the role of a mother yet. Whatever we had over the summer has faded in this catastrophe, and especially after he spent time with Troian.
Moments later, a freezing Troian entered the R.V. with the two children.
“Rani, can we please talk?” she said.
“There isn’t anything to say. I know him. He’s into you, for some reason. I still haven’t figured that one out yet, but since you came along, things haven’t been the same between us at all. He can’t have us both. I’m not the sharing type.
“Then there are these darling children. Deep down, I understand it’s not their fault, but I can’t stand watching him play goo-goo ga-ga every
night with you. I’m not mother material . . . at least not right now in my life. I can hardly process what happened to all of us, losing our parents, running for our lives every five minutes, and trying to watch out for Ollie. You stay in here; I’ll go outside to the tent. I can’t do this shit anymore.”
“Rani, wait,” pleaded Troian.
Rani hauled it out the door. She went to the tent Troian had slept in the night before. No one dared to ask about the personal drama within the group.
Rani sat down beside Ledger over by the second fire.
“You okay?” he said in a genuine caring tone.
“Yep. If he can’t make a decision, I’ll make it for him. You can keep me warm now instead of Troian unless you’re all about Troian, too. Oh, Troian, you’re so good with the kids. Oh, Troian, this food is so good. Oh, Troian, that’s a great idea. She makes me sick. He didn’t even know her name in school,” said Rani, flipping her hair to her back.
“I was never about Troian, merely doing the right thing last night, so they didn’t freeze. I don’t mind keeping you warm either,” said Ledger, “but don’t use me again to make him jealous.”
Rani glanced up at him with sad eyes.
“Look,” he said, “back in school, it made sense for you two to be together . . . you being top cheerleader, him being football king—next to me that is—but things are way different out here in the real world. Things changed overnight; high school ended for us all. Popularity games are over.
“We’re all orphaned, fighting daily for our lives, food, ‘n seeing what we’re really made of. I witnessed the real you the other day when you blew up that truck with the grenade, and how could I forget the car. Then again when you rescued me—as much as I hate to admit that. He doesn’t know that side of you, nor do I believe he’d ever accept it.”
“What’s that crazy dog barking at?” said Rani.
“Don’t know, but he’s been barking all morning,” said Ledger.
“Do you smell smoke?”
“Well, we are in front of a fire,” said Ledger.
“No, it’s not that, it’s in the air,” said Rani.
BASTIAN FINISHED TALKING to Dodi and Hank about the night watch schedule. Afterward, he stepped into the R.V.
“Little warmer in here, isn’t it?” he said.
“Yeah it is, um, Bastian, Rani left out of here. I tried to talk to her,” said Troian, bouncing baby Ezra on one knee.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said, sitting down to play with Liam for a minute.
“Do you feel okay?” said Troian.
“Who’s got time to be sick around here,” said Bastian. “I’ll be okay. I’ve gotta go check our food supplies, which are getting low. I’ll be back later.” Bastian rubbed the sweat from his brow and went outside for some fresh air.
He was 100 percent done with woman problems for the day, and his head ached. He wasn’t in the mood to discuss feelings or anything else. The only thing on his mind . . . resting his back.
Liam played cards at the table with Ollie, his new best friend. Troian faded into oblivion for a moment as baby Ezra nodded off for a nap. Her frayed nerves could use a break of their own.
What does all of this mean for me? Does he really like me, or was Rani reading into the situation too much? Maybe, he’s simply had it with her demanding nature. Sure, we’ve shared a couple small moments, nothing heavy . . . a pity kiss, a hug . . . big deal. And he does come to visit baby Ezra each night, and now Liam too, but that’s for the kid’s sake . . . not mine.
Before Troian could continue diving into her thoughts, Bryce came in.
“Wow, things change fast around here,” she said. “Now you’re back, and Rani’s gone.
“I know she’s your friend, Bryce, and I didn’t mean to cause a stir.”
“It’s more than a stir. My brother can deal with the mess he’s created. I have no idea where his mind’s at. I’ve been too busy taking care of Caleb.”
“Caleb likes you, you know,” said Troian.
“Um, no, no he doesn’t. I mean, I do care about him a lot. He’s a second brother to me. He only loves to torment me.”
“Is that why you glare at him every night when he lays over here with me?”
“You must be seeing things,” said Bryce in denial.
“Yes, I see it very clearly, every single night,” said Troian. “I want you to know, I’m not a threat to you or Rani. I don’t want to be hated around here.”
“I never regarded you as a threat ‘n whatever my brother does is his business with Rani.” Caleb and I can’t be together. He doesn’t seriously like me like that . . . does he? He only wants to mess with me, tease me, and annoy me. I mean, he has been acting super weird, but that’s just how guys are, right?
“What’s that noise?” said Troian.
Bryce stuck her head out the door.
Bastian, Caleb, Hank, and Dodi sped off in the SUV throwing dust in every direction.
“Uh, not sure, but the guys just peeled out of here, and the sky has changed to a really . . . strange red color.”
Troian got up from the couch. She joined Bryce at the door. “Oh no, please don’t let it be . . . I figured I was smelling bodies burning as usual, but the sky’s turning deep orange. Fire. It has to be a fire.”
TRAPPED
TROIAN WHISKED BABY Ezra off the couch and hurried outside. Liam ‘n Ollie followed. A haze of apricot and crimson hues covered the soft blue clouds in the sky. Thick smoke levitated in the distance.
Bastian pulled the SUV back in, kicking up dust as he slid to a stop. Liam tugged at Troian’s shirt. “Not now, Liam, hang on a second,” she said.
Bastian and the guys jumped from the vehicle. “AMIR,” hailed Bastian. “Find out what’s going on with this fire. It’s heading straight for us from what we spotted on top of those bluffs over there. It’s coming straight down the valley.”
“Bastian, we have no Internet. Youlie and I have been unable to secure an online connection for over an hour now,” said Amir.
“What? Okay, we need to pack it up, people. There’s a fire heading our way. I have no idea how long it will take to get here,” said Bastian.
Rani glimpsed over at Ledger, “I told you I smelled smoke earlier.”
“Must be what Martin’s barking at,” said Ledger.
Smoke drifted into the camp, enough to irritate the membranes of the eyes and nostrils. Liam tugged at Troian’s shirt, again.
“What Liam, what is it?”
Liam raised his finger to the right, Troian followed with her eyes. A finger lay in the dirt—an entire human finger. Troian didn’t know which way to turn.
Bastian came over, “Get them inside where the air might be cleaner for a few more minutes.”
“Bastian . . .”
“I’ll be right back,” he said.
“NO!” Her demanding response startled him. “Bastian look,” she said, pointing to the finger.
“Oh, hell no.” Bastian cut out around the backside of the R.V. for a fast visual. Even though a reasonable distance off, he saw coyotes had dug open the grave where they’d buried Tank and his thieving buddy.
He ran back over to Troian.
“Sorry, I wasn’t trying to ignore you,” he said, wiping sweat from his forehead, again. “Things are gonna go south here really quick. We’ve gotta find somewhere to go.” Without hesitation, he reached down, snatched the finger up, and threw it as hard as he could out toward the grave. “No time for body parts right now.”
Troian couldn’t believe her eyes. He seriously didn’t just do that. She’d never seen Bastian this unsettled before. Others began coughing as the smoke rolled in. Troian set the kids inside and went back out to help. Everyone in camp stopped to watch a herd of antelope barrel out of the north woods. Two moose trailed behind them, and birds followed above in large flocks.
“It’s bad,” said Dodi. “People can be trained to be tough, but we’re no match for that monster.”
&nbs
p; “Can we beat it?” said Hank.
“I’m not sure, but we have to try.”
Everyone tore down the tents at top speed. Normally, they’d abandoned it, leave it all behind, and buy more equipment later. But who knew where they would find more shelter and supplies again—all they had left in the world now lay right here.
Couldn’t traipse into any store and buy more, not as wanted men. Nor did they have an endless bounty of cash. And for those that did, most store shelves had been emptied weeks ago. If they pulled through the fire, they’d need these items to survive afterward.
Bastian’s wrist-unit vibrated. He read the message:
Bastian’s face turned ghostly white. He closed his eyes and dropped his head.
“BASTIAN,” Troian gasped. “Bastian, talk to me. What was that message.”
Everyone stopped, troubled by their leader’s distressed state, believing the smoke had overcome him.
“Bastian,” said Caleb, grabbing his friend by the shoulder.
“It’s Girard, he’s gonna be here to kill us in less than ten minutes. Atticus is on the way, but I doubt he knows about this fire. He may not be able to get to us. And coyotes have dug up the grave back there in the field.”
“Okay, heck with the grave right now. Everything’s loaded, can we outrun Girard?” said Caleb.
People needed answers from Bastian.
“We can’t peel out of here,” he said with flushed red cheeks, “we have no idea which direction they’re coming from. For all we know, Girard set fire to the forest to force our exit toward him. We definitely can’t go back that way toward the rear exit. Get the guns, we gotta bring everything we got to this fight. It’s our only shot.” Trying to ignore his throbbing headache, he picked up the rocket launcher, and grabbed the cash from the cargo hold on the R.V.
