Fireworks, Anyone?
1
“She’s getting worse.”
Neil rolled over to look. Samantha had begun shivering around dawn. Jeremy was taking the first shift holding her as she groaned and thrashed.
“The sedative’s wearing off.”
Jeremy smoothed her hair from her brow. “What else can we do for her?”
Neil watched her shiver, wondering if she even knew they were there. “I’ll go find out.”
Jeremy settled back as Samantha appeared to calm, eager to catch a few minutes of snoozing.
Neil quickly pulled on his boots, and went out into bright sunlight and activity everywhere. Games and booths were being set up by the lower level Eagles, fireworks were being wired, and Li Sing had all the smells of a great celebration floating through the camp. It was such a difference from what he was used to that Neil stopped to gape.
“It’s something, huh?”
Neil nodded at the friendly female voice, a bit dazed.
“Are we still on for tonight, Neil?”
The trooper glanced down to find Bridget at his side, smiling generously.
“No, I can’t. Sam’s sick.”
Bridget frowned. “Jeremy’s with her, right? You could sneak away for a little while.”
Saying Samantha’s name reminded Neil that he needed to hurry. He shrugged, moving on. “We’ll see.”
“That’s not a no,” Bridget whispered, leering as if Neil had said something sexy to her. These Safe Haven women just had to know how to set things up. Then, they could have whatever they wanted.
Neil found Adrian alone and drilled through his new shield to get some answers.
Adrian, in pain and worried, didn’t want to cooperate. He repeatedly insisted that Angela had those answers, but Neil refused to leave emptyhanded.
“I don’t care that you’ve given up,” he stated firmly. “I only care about helping Sam. What should we do?”
Adrian sighed. “You have to distract her. I told you that.”
Neil scowled. “How? She’s in too much pain for talking, let alone games or books.”
Adrian grimaced, but stuck to the plan. “Give her a shower, feed her, smoke one with her. Take her by the booths if she has the energy. She’ll absorb the happiness of the camp and it will help.”
Neil didn’t think that was nearly enough. “What else?”
Adrian didn’t have much else to say. “Keep her sedated.”
“We tried that. She’s already coming up from the full dose John gave us.”
Adrian relaxed. “It’ll be over soon then, within the next day. Get her out in the sunlight. It’ll speed it up.”
“What happens then?”
“She’ll have a new gift to master. Has she said anything about what it might be?”
“No.”
“When she does, make sure you tell Angela.”
Neil scowled and left the tent without promising that he would. What was Adrian’s problem?
Neil made it to the tent to find Jeremy and Samantha sleeping. He quietly lay down on his bedroll and let himself drift off. He would take Adrian’s advice, but when they woke up, not now. All three of them needed more rest. Two hours wasn’t enough to get through much without showing signs of stress and there was a thick sense of bad times coming.
2
Kenn spotted the tripwire and deftly avoided it.
“Missed me, you little shit,” he boasted, still not sure who his tormentor was.
“Maybe next time,” Kenn bragged, ripping the line away from his tent flap as he ducked inside.
Wooshhh!
Kenn shivered as the icy bucket of water splashed over his shoulders and down into his jeans like a small waterfall. “Son of a…”
Kenn stormed from the tent, fists clenched. “I am gonna find out. When I do, payback will be swift and merciless.”
Those close enough to hear him didn’t doubt the threat even as they snickered. More than one of them made a mental note to talk to the person they thought was responsible.
Kenn stomped by the group standing outside the medical tent, and their unsuccessfully hidden smirks and snickers.
“Someone’s going to be in big trouble when he catches them,” Angela commented, turning away to hide her own cackle of vindication. Every time Kenn got hit with something, the past faded a bit more for her.
“As long as they keep being careful, they’ll be all right,” Conner stated, keeping his gaze away from the angry man.
“You sound like you know something…” Adrian’s low words made Conner inspect Angela warily.
Angela sighed. “I’ll talk to Charlie about it later.”
Conner was now slightly worried. “He’s not gonna get in trouble is he?”
Angela chuckled. “No. At least not until he’s been rewarded.”
“What about Tracy?”
Angela stared in surprise. “She’s in on it?”
Conner realized he’d told too much and stopped talking.
Angela picked out that female going into the hair tent and moved her way.
Behind her, Conner and Adrian exchanged glances, but didn’t interfere. She was Charlie’s parent. She had every right.
“If my mom had been more like her, would she have walked out of the Major’s compound?”
Adrian gave a short nod. “I believe so.”
Conner waited for something more. When there was only silence, he glared. “What’s wrong with you?”
Adrian remained silent.
Conner grew frustrated. “You’ve quit. You can’t do that, not now. They need you.”
“No, they don’t.”
Conner stared for a long minute, searching, and then turned away. “Maybe you were right to pass it on, then. At least she still has some hope.”
Adrian had never felt more alone.
3
Angela ducked into the hair tent without triggering any alarms, but when she motioned Candy out, the female in the chair knew there was a problem.
Angela slid into the second seat and swiveled it around. She leaned back and folded her hands across her lap.
“Let’s you and I have a talk.”
Tracy slowly took the hair cover from around her neck. “Okay.”
Angela studied her, openly scanning for the information she wanted.
Tracy brought up the wall that Charlie had taught her, but wasn’t sure how much of it she’d covered.
“Interesting.”
Tracy flushed at the sarcastic tone. “It isn’t what it looks like.”
“It looks like you two have been sneaking around and enjoying it. Making Kenn pay has grown into something else.”
Tracy was quick to deny. “That was all me. Charlie doesn’t know I’ve still been doing it.”
“Why would you?”
Tracy looked away. “For what he’s done. He deserves to pay more than what he got.”
Now knowing how Charlie had convinced her, Angela continued, “What are your intentions toward my son? Is he an easy way into the chain of command?”
Tracy was horrified. “No! We’re friends!”
“And when he pushes you for more?”
“He won’t do that,” Tracy lied.
“He is below the age limit for another four months,” Angela stated coolly. “I will not be lenient.”
Tracy realized she wasn’t being told to stay away, that she wasn’t good enough, and took hope. But she needed to hear it and forced herself to ask, “What about when he reaches the age limit?”
Angela swallowed the disgusted motherly anger. “It has to be his choice, his idea. Otherwise, everyone will assume you’re with him for the chance at power.”
“But you’d know differently, wouldn’t you?”
Angela didn’t like to admit that the start of a real bond was already glowing brightly in Tracy’s heart. “Yes, but if you break the rules, that won’t matter. Unlike Jennifer and Becky, my son hasn’t been abused that way. If you want him, you’ll wait for him. When it comes to Charlie, you only get one mistake.”
“And then you have me banished,” Tracy guessed quietly.
“No,” Angela corrected. “Charlie will. You’ve already figured out how determined he is, and he promised you things that only he can deliver, right?”
Tracy didn’t answer–didn’t need to.
“Once you hurt him, he’ll bring down a wall and never let you in again. Be sure, Tracy. Friendship might be better for both of you.”
Instead of continuing to deny it, Tracy chose to offer what so few would-be daughter-in-laws refused to give, the truth.
“I don’t want to feel anything for him. I don’t understand it. I have access to power in a lot of ways, but your son is the only one who doesn’t make me feel dirty.” Tracy made a face absently. “If I could be sure it’ll stay that way, I’d already have asked for your permission to date him come October.”
Angela liked the courage it took to admit that, but didn’t let Tracy off the hook. “Don’t use him as a test dummy, either. He’ll be willing, but I’ll shut it down. You make that choice long before it ever goes past friendship.”
“I will,” Tracy agreed. “After the way he’s stalking Kenn, I refuse to get on that side of him.”
Wise, Angela thought. Charlie would be more ruthless than Marc in time. She hated that, but this new world would demand it in exchange for survival.
“I can stay away until he’s legal...if you’d rather.”
Angela didn’t hesitate. She could only interfere so much and then she would have problems with Charlie. “He’ll make his own choices on who he wants to spend time with. You just be sure those moments don’t cross a line and I won’t stand in his way.”
“Thank...”
Charlie ducked into the tent, face angry, and both females braced for his reaction.
“Matt’s cornered near the supply trucks. It’s Timmy and Mike again.”
Angela left the tent at a fast clip, keying her mic. “Cynthia to the supply trucks.”
Charlie quickly caught up. “What can I do?”
Angela sighed. “Go lie to Tracy–tell her you didn’t overhear any of that so she’ll quit stressing about you having the upper hand. I need her mind in the plans our team is working on.”
Charlie grinned, running back the way they’d come.
Angela sighed in resignation. What would those family gatherings be like? She snorted at herself and waved Kevin over. They had to live until then to worry about it.
It’s under control, Marc sent. Matt ran off.
Angela didn’t change her direction. The plans she’d made for Zack’s future criminals would start now.
Before Angela got to the supply trucks, the fog bank reached the tents and enveloped her in feathery gray wisps.
Her protection stayed close.
Angela felt them on her heels, but the presence in front of her made her pause. She didn’t know them… “Who is that?”
“It’s Chris. We’ve got more trouble with the animals.”
Almost instantly, Angela felt the familiar vibe of the vet and followed him to the animal area, spotting the issues. Cages were empty, feathers and blood littered the grass, and the wolf was standing protectively in front of the remaining pens.
“Someone or something broke in and took the animals we’ve been using for food. Even the cows were turned out.”
Angela frowned. “Someone or something?”
The vet studied their perimeter, where the ant colony was beginning to pour from their hills. “We were raided.”
Angela took stock again, trying to view it the way Marc and Adrian would.
The cages weren’t turned over, implying a person. The wolf wasn’t glaring at their perimeter. He was observing the vet.
“What happened here?” Kyle asked, coming to her side.
Angela saw the vet flinch and revised her suspicions. The vet was too timid to be a part of this. “We don’t know. He thinks it was the ants. I think someone in camp is a serious vegetarian.”
“Where’d all the blood come from?” Shawn asked.
“Open cages don’t mean all the animals fled,” Angela pointed out. “We had a predator come in after they were opened.”
“Some PETA plan, there,” Marc scoffed, gesturing to the nearest Eagle. “Call in a crew and clean it up. We’ll secure new animals while we’re here.”
Angela glanced at Dog. Is there something I need to know about the vet?
The wolf stared at her in concern. His mind is closed to me.
Angela sighed. Same here. I’ll put him under watch after this is settled and we’re back to normal.
You mean when Adrian once again runs the herd?
Yes, Angela answered his doubt firmly, heading into the main camp. I don’t want this job. It’s too heavy for my shoulders.
Dog stared as she faded into the fog. But you’re their last line now. He’ll never fit that role alone again.
4
“Why are my boys in a QZ tent with their shit?”
Zack’s question was upset enough to bring guards closer.
“Because I want them to think they’re being sent out of Safe Heaven,” Angela answered matter-of-factly.
Zack did what few of them had expected. He admitted his shame. “I ain’t done right by them.”
Angela wasn’t able to have mercy. “We’ve let them off the hook too many times. Matt’s violent reactions have endangered the camp, and your boys are responsible for a good portion of his misery.”
“They miss their mom,” Zack tried to explain.
Angela cut him off. “If you can’t change their behavior, they can’t stay. It’s that simple.”
“I’ll get them in line,” Zack vowed. “Quickly.”
Angela studied him as if she didn’t have much faith. “Not yet. I get them first.”
Zack swallowed a protest. Angela wouldn’t hurt his sons. “Whatever it takes to clean this up. They need to be here.”
“I agree,” Angela said, waving a hand toward the flap. “Make them think they’re leaving–without you. We’ll start there.”
Zack didn’t want to grin, but couldn’t help it. That threat alone would keep them in line for a while. Controlling his sons had never been a priority, but Zack now realized what they did would also change his place here, not just his own actions.
“It’ll work. I’ll make it happen.”
Angela didn’t doubt it. Zack was part of their core team now. He wouldn’t give that up lightly.
5
“It’s windy,” Samantha muttered, not opening her eyes. “Someone close the flap.”
Neil forced himself into alertness first, looking at the doorway.
“It is closed,” he grumbled, yawning. He turned his head to check on Samantha and began kicking Jeremy, unable to speak.
“What?” Jeremy grudgingly rose up to find out why he was being abused
“Must be a hole,” Samantha complained. She stretched gingerly. It was too bright to even consider peeking.
“Sam!”
Neil slid back and Jeremy followed his lead, both keeping their hands up in defense.
Samantha stared in amazement at the tent, at the dozen objects whirling around in the air. Pencils, a notebook, her knife, all spun by in a blur of activity as Sam realized where it was coming from.
“I’m doing this,” she said in wonder.
Neil ducked the notebook and knocked the sheathed knife out of the air before it hit his face. “We noticed.”
The pages fluttered, some ripping as the notebook picked up that blurry spin and began flying again.
The pencil smacked against Jeremy’s wrist as he blocked. “Can you shut it down?”
Neil grunted, “Close the flap!”
Samantha concentrated and the objects stopped spinning all at once. They thumped to the canvas.
Samantha giggled happily as the men relaxed from their defensive positions.
Neil studied her warily. “You’re better?”
Samantha did a fast evaluation of herself. “Other than the headache.”
She grimaced. “There’s still some burning, too. It must not be over yet.”
Both men scowled, exchanging glances as they stood up and began gathering the fallen objects.
Samantha raised her hand and a sharp blast of wind ripped the notebook from Neil’s hand. Papers floated over the floor as Samantha’s laughter rang out.
“This is great!”
Her men couldn’t resist her happiness, smiling.
Samantha began blasting things around and Neil ducked again, going for the flap. “I’ll stand a post.”
Jeremy dodged the knife and took a hairbrush to the hip. “Wait, I’ll help.”
Behind them, Samantha let herself go. The tent came alive with spinning, whirling objects that slammed against the canvas walls.
Neil gave a polite nod to the camp members who were being drawn, and took up a place near the flap.
“She’s having a rough afternoon,” Jeremy explained to the group of women going by.
Sam’s cackle echoed from the tent.
The women all raised a brow, mouths opening, and Neil scrambled for an excuse. “It’s PMS.”
Hilda motioned for the females to keep going. “That’s not how I remember it.”
The thumps continued, getting harder and louder, and it was impossible to not to feel content as they listened to her explore the new gift.
6
Samantha came from the tent a bit later. “I’m hitting the shower. You think there’s anyone there now?”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
Samantha ignored their simultaneous, concerned answers. “Good. I’ll be recharged by the time we make it through the line.”
“Recharged?” Neil asked, taking her right side.
“I ran out,” Samantha confessed, enjoying the sunlight even as it made the headache worse. “It appears to be refilling on its own.”
Neil instructed Jeremy to make a report.
Sam barely noticed when he left. She now had the power of wind. That would be a tremendous help when the government came.
“Samantha Moore?”
Time once again slowed as Samantha placed the voice and fate began laughing.
Shellie Mathews. Fellow Predictor. Also had a pass. Was out sick on D-day.
“Is that you, Sam?”
People stopped to observe the expected happy reunion as Sam clutched at Neil’s wrist in a vise-like grip. She’d thought she was safe! She was supposed to be safe now!
“What?” Neil demanded lowly. Her face and body language was complete panic.
“It is you. Sam!”
Shellie enveloped Samantha in a vigorous hug that ripped Neil from her grip.
“It’s so good to see you!”
Neil tried to get back to Samantha’s side before she bolted–he read it on her face–but the new woman hadn’t stopped the running diatribe of surprised recognition.
“I thought I saw you. You can’t imagine my shock. I mean, no one else made it from our office in Seattle…”
Sam started to turn away from the crowd, self-preservation screaming run, now!
“I came in late and saw you get on the chopper, and thought you’d never come up. How are you here with everyone else, when you had a pass?”
“….had a pass.”
Voices blurred into chaos that she had no idea how to control.
“Sam had a pass!”
“She was government.”
“She’ll bring them here. We know they survived.”
“She’s a spy!”
“Kill her!”
7
“Get in there!” Marc ordered, shoving people aside to reach them.
“She’s government!”
“Get her!”
Neil fired into the air, taking blows to keep them from Sam, but he was ignored. They knew he wouldn’t shoot unarmed camp members.
Marc’s Colt crashed and the mob paused. A few even fled, sure of the retribution that was coming, and Marc instantly understood why Angela had let Kenn push him into killing the snake women.
The Eagles hurried in to form a tight circle around Neil and Samantha, who was cowering behind him. This was her nightmare come true.
Marc faced the mob, as angry as they were. “She escaped the draft, just like many of you!”
“She’s government!”
“So am I! So is Adrian, and Kenn! We all had passes to NOARD and chose to be here instead.”
That wasn’t true, but few of them would be able to disprove it.
“Tell them, Sam!” Neil hissed. “Let them in or they’ll kill us.”
Samantha met Angela’s stern gaze over the mob that had grown to include half the camp. In that one look, Sam read no surprise and no mercy.
“The chopper went down after they forced me on at gunpoint. It went down in Wyoming and I was…captured by two brothers. I killed them to get away.” Sam’s voice lowered. “I didn’t want to, but they had me chained…”
She stopped, tears falling thickly, and Neil hid her in his arms.
“I’m sorry,” Sam sobbed.
“For what?” Marc demanded, following Angela’s silent instructions.
“For surviving.”
“Don’t regret that,” Marc ordered. “You’ve saved this camp with your skills. We would have all died in Nebraska if not for you.”
“Because of Adrian,” Sam stated, sniffing. “He knew I wanted to help my country, not her killers.”
Marc glared at the mob that had calmed enough to almost be considered just an angry group now. “We’ve always trusted her and she’s always helped us. Adrian brought her in. He’s not wrong.”
“But she hid it!”
“Where is Adrian?”
“Why isn’t Adrian running this camp?”
“Yeah! Why hasn’t he taken back over?”
“Where is he?!”
Marc waved a hand. “Behind you, of course. Where he always is.”
The crowd parted to let Adrian’s wheelchair through. More of the anger was diffused by the way he eagerly greeted and shook hands with people, pushing out happiness the entire time. It wasn’t what they’d come to expect from their leader when they broke the rules.
Adrian peered over his shoulder, finding Angela. When she silently ordered it, he began to speak, “We have a problem, a serious one.”
“She aint hurt!” someone pointed out.
“Samantha is not the problem,” Adrian snorted.
He immediately grimaced at the pain.
“You okay?”
“What is it?”
Adrian slowly lifted his shirt to reveal the wound. “No, I’m not all right.”
They gasped and groaned at the sight of the ugly wound that appeared worse than it was due to not changing the bandage for a full day.
“I’m not fit for duty, of any kind, until this heals.” Adrian lowered his shirt, voice grave. “But that isn’t our problem, either.”
Adrian again looked over his shoulder, terrified of spooking the herd.
She’s ready, Marc sent. Do it now.
Adrian instinctively brought up the shield in his mind at the evidence of Marc’s growing power.
“The government did survive, at least one bunker that we know of.” His voice rose over the instant shock. “They’re coming for me.”
Chaos took over, people shouting and shoving. Angela quickly brought the shield up. The bubble becoming visible made most of the mob start searching for the trouble.
Angela flanked Adrian, listening hard. “Everyone hit the ground!”
The Eagles, who knew better than to doubt her by now, fell to the grass, pulling those closest with them. Some of the camp followed, but most of them stared without comprehension.
“Get down, you idiots!” Angela snapped to those closest and the people slowly began lying on the ground.
Angela held up a hand. “Now wait.”
It was a long moment where all the magic users pushed calm over the prone camp.
Angela slowly lowered the shield. “It’s ours, stand down.”
Radios crackled an instant later. “The last team is back with bodies. Someone killed Tucker and Anderson.”
The crowd gasped, and immediately assumed the worst.
“It was Kyle!”
“Yeah, we saw them fighting.”
“No, it’s the soldiers!”
“They are coming!”
“We’ve got to hide!”
“I’m going to the mountains!”
“I’m staying!”
“So am I. Let them come!”
“We can’t fight the government!”
“Yes, we can!” Angela sent it loudly, in both oral and mental waves that stunned the crowd.
She stared at them, searching without moving. This was the worst time, when they might stampede and catch all of the descendants in the panic.
“I helped John. I helped my Brady. And I’ve helped you.” She began picking them out visually and mentally.
Peggy stood up. “She was sent to protect Safe Haven. I’ve told you that. So has Hilda.”
Anne added her voice. “With her help, we can fight.”
“Don’t forget us,” Theo spoke from the rear of the rear of the crowd that was slowly getting to their feet.
“We’ve been working on some things, under Samantha and Angela’s direction.” Theo waved at the other four to come forward. “This runs on solar power. It doesn’t fire rapidly, but it uses the heat it absorbs to emit a larger charge.”
Two of the weapons men hefted the big device onto a nearby can, while the other two cleared a line of fire.
Curious, the rest of the crowd got to its feet and everyone moved back a little, allowing Theo and his team to show them what they’d made.
“You aim here, fire, and duck the debris. Simple.” He waved at Angela. “You try it.”
Angela leered like no one was staring at her as if she were from another planet. “Cool, new toys!”
A small titter ran through the crowd and she subtly shook her head at Marc when he would have come to her side.
Angela aimed the small rod at a far tree and hit the red switch. Nothing, for a second or two, and then the top branches of the moldy tree exploded into wooden shrapnel that showered over the camp.
“Damn!” she complained and admired at the same time. “Someone grab the medical kits so I tend those injuries while we keep talking.”
To many people’s surprise, she was obeyed without argument.
Angela waved at Marc. “Give them an idea of some of the things we’ve come up with. When we’re done, if they still want to run and hide, they can. Tell them all of it.”
Marc frowned, but did as he was told.
The list of weapons Marc rolled out was extensive, and Theo and his team added a few that they were still working on. It was impressive, but not enough.
Angela found Sam in the crowd, some of the people apologizing, some staring.
“Samantha’s like me.”
The crowd around Sam split up, faded into the larger group.
Samantha’s face broke at the betrayal and Angela made sure everyone heard her.
“That’s why the government is coming. They’ve found out we’re here and they want us under their control. It’s not for you. Each person here can flee and leave us to face them alone. That’s your choice.” She stared around pointedly. “Though, we would never do such to you.”
“What do you mean, she’s like you?” Jerry Jones asked. Since Roger’s death, the former Marine had become the leading voice of opposition.
“Exactly what I said, though she and I aren’t the only ones. There are more of us.” Her eyes glowed, but only enough to lighten them, not to let the red bleed through. “A lot of us, even.”
That sent fear running through the more timid, but the aggressive survivors that had managed to make it to Safe Haven also saw the opportunity.
“We are going to fight them when they come for Adrian. I won’t let him be taken. I’ll die first.”
There was no doubting her claim and no one was foolish enough to think that Marc would be able to change her mind.
“What if we…broke into smaller camps, hid from them?” someone asked.
“Until when?” Angela asked, perching on the edge of a table that had been cleaned. “And where will you go? We’ve seen the camps others form. There is no place like our Safe Haven.”
She glanced around. “You are the chosen people, and we are your Defenders. It’s up to you to accept that gift. If not, go. There are other groups out there who can come together and do what has to be done.”
Adrian’s voice came, “We’ve always put the herd first. We would never lead you into a slaughter.”
“We’ll have plans in place to evacuate if the tide turns against us, but I don’t think we’ll need them,” Marc led. “If we win one big battle, I believe we’ll be free.”
“How do you figure that?” Jones demanded, but even his voice held more interest than scorn.
“There’s only one bunker, only so many men. If we win one, we might weaken them so badly that they can’t come up and be a problem.”
“After one battle, we might outnumber them,” Angela finished harshly. “And then we make the rules.”
“And what will those rules be?” Hilda asked. “We don’t like the ends that were used to achieve this.”
Angela didn’t back off. “I’ll do whatever it takes to keep us alive and if that doesn’t work for you or anyone else, I wish you luck as you leave. We’ll send you out with a few days’ supplies if you choose to run, but that’s it. We’ll need it to care for the people who stay and fight with us.”
Angela motioned Kenn forward. “We printed ballots for this. It was too big of a choice to make alone. We’d planned to handle it at the monthly meeting tonight, but now works just as well.”
Kenn started passing around the slips of paper and small pencils.
Angela kept working on them while the other descendants pushed out calm obedience in mental waves that should have drowned them all.
“Before we vote, I want you to hear the plan. Nearly every member of Adrian’s army helped with it.” Angela settled on the ground, showing that she didn’t fear them, though they clearly did her. The hints had been enough. They’d observed too much over the last months to misunderstand.
She used her knife to draw in the dirt and as the crowd passed the details to those who were further away, the bubble glowing around them became a soothing blue.
Angela pointed at a place on her wide diagram. “We left a fake body for them here. They should find it in the next five days. They won’t know that it isn’t Adrian until they get it back to their bunker for testing. That’s another two weeks. Then, they have to get troops together and make it here from Utah. Another two or three weeks,” Angela stated firmly.
She looked round at the relaxing faces, the scared and defiant murmurers. “We’ll have a month, bare minimum, before they get here.”
“What then?” Zack asked, starting to get excited. Fear of the government returning and taking control of them had been on everyone’s mind this week, thanks to camp gossip.
Angela marked an area on her map and then slammed the blade into it. “That’s where we need to be when they come. We’ll start preparing over the next few days, stock up on food, water, and fuel, then get to those mountains and set the biggest ambush the new world has seen.” She pointed to an area far away from the battle zone. “This is where we’ll start hitting them. Teams will go out to pick them off, so that by the time they make it to our chosen place, there will be less than half of whatever they originally send out.”
Angela looked up at them, no longer pushing anything but the truth. “They want us because they know you guys are also survivors. Survivors who loathe them. They want our protection–from you, and our gifts, to control you. We chose to stand with the people they betrayed, the citizens they gunned down, the families of the draft. With you.”
Samantha reluctantly accepted her new role in the camp, moving to her team leader’s side. “We were born this way. We didn’t know why until we came to Safe Haven.”
Angela accepted the hand up from the ground, and gave Samantha a nod to continue.
“We don’t like being different, but at least now we know why we are. We were born into this time and place to protect you, to make sure America survives.”
“Not only survives,” Angela added, sheathing her knife. “We have to change it. The old world can never be allowed to restart. All the killing and greed, the ignorance of the government to the plight of the people. We have to stand against them. If we don’t, no one else will.”
“They’ll run this country again if we don’t fight,” Marc stated. “And that means they’ll take you for the draft, for experimentation and studies, and for labor.”
“As long as you remain with us, we’ll defend you,” Angela promised. “But you have to fight for yourselves, as well. We can’t do it alone.”
She gave them a minute to think, judging the mood, deciding how much more they needed.
A little push, Adrian advised. Careful, but hard.
Angela gestured to one of the Eagles, and he quickly escorted someone to her side.
“This is Adrian’s son.”
Angela put her hand on his wrist in comfort. “They had him and a group of kids locked up in Arkansas, kids like him and Charlie. One of them got a call out and Adrian went in. It was a trap, as you’ve heard. What you weren’t told is that the Major and his men killed the other kids–slit their throats. The government hasn’t changed.”
“...we have.”
Angela smiled gently at Becky, thinking she appeared happy on Seth’s arm. “Yes, we have. We no longer live by their rules. We honor Adrian’s dreams for the future.”
Feeling time slow, Angela took a breath and spoke the words from her dream, the ones that would trigger the final scene. “The only thing that can sink us is a traitor contacting them. If that happens, we’re all dead. Please, if you leave, hold our secrets.”
Angela could feel the anger coming, the sense of togetherness that a rebellion instills, and then the radio crackled right on schedule.
“Too late, witch! I already called!”
Matt’s horrible laughter floated over every active radio in menacing taunts. “They know it’s a fake body. They turned the team around. Safe Haven won’t exist in a month.”
“Find him!” Marc’s growl of rage triggered the camp into a panicked frenzy of searching that began ripping down tents, scattering supplies, and turning out vehicles.
Angela let them go, sure Matt wasn’t in camp anymore. He’d made his own plans. Angela hoped some of them included future survival for him and his father. Mitch wouldn’t know how to provide food if a deer came and sat in his lap.
“Pass the word. It doesn’t change anything. We still have four weeks.”
“They’re pissed. If they find Matt, they’ll kill him,” Kevin stated.
Angela didn’t feel the need to act as if she was as shocked and angry as they were. “Traitors get what they deserve in this camp. Sometimes it just takes a while.”
“What if he was lying, trying to...”
Kevin knew by her look that it wasn’t the case. Matt had called the government. In roughly four weeks, the battle would start.
8
“Raven! QZ!”
Angela responded to that panicked call the same way Adrian would have.
“Lock us down, check-in, full team to the QZ,” Angela ordered to the men running alongside her.
The men on the QZ directed her to the medical camper, where John had been working on a batch of relief drinks for their cancer patients.
Angela climbed tiredly into the tin can to find Millie on the floor between two bloody bodies.
The girl glanced up in panic. “He fell and she tried to help… What do I do?!”
Angela noted John’s breathing was steady and went to Jennifer. Blood was pooled around her legs and the amount was too much to hope that it could be stopped.
“Get Kyle. She’s having them now.”
“Now?”
“Get going!” Angela barked, sliding over to allow Marc room to help.
“Put her in the recliner.”
They got Jennifer into the plush chair as she began to moan.
“Jennifer? Wake up, honey. You have to help.”
Jennifer’s lids opened and her face clenched in pain.
“It hurts!”
“I know,” Angela soothed, removing clothing as Eagles closed the door behind Anne.
It opened a few seconds later and Kyle flew inside. “Jenny?”
His voice was panicked and Angela grabbed his arm. Keep her calm or get out!
Kyle nodded curtly and took the stool on Jennifer’s left.
“Here we go again,” Jennifer complained, hands cradling her enormous belly. “Stop and start. These kids are gonna be…Ahh!”
Angela injected Jennifer’s arm, not responding to Kyle’s concern. She had her hands full with the girl and there was still the unconscious man on the floor behind her.