Inside and Out
July 25th
Double Springs, Alabama
1
Angela opened her lids well before the alarm went off, furious. In her dreams, she couldn’t find Marc, only Adrian. It was a crappy start to the day and she rolled from the bed with a low curse as she stubbed her toe on her BOB.
“Everything okay in there?” Shawn called from the flap.
“Fine!” Angela snapped, testing her weight on it through the tears. “Buzz off.”
The surprised Eagle moved back a bit, stung.
Angela regretted her rudeness, but these men had no idea what a strain she was under. The weight of this plan was almost too much for any one person to carry, let alone her.
“Damn you,” she muttered. “Damn you straight to hell.”
Angela pulled her boots and bra on, in that order, and she noticed it.
“Becoming a soldier finally,” she grumbled, tucking her shirt in. “When I couldn’t care less about being one. Lovely.”
By the time she finished dressing and made it to the flap, Angela had cooled herself off with a mini-rant, but the anger and frustration was still there, boiling under the surface. It wouldn’t take much to set it free.
You need a release, the witch stated tersely. We both do.
Angela sent a mental curse to the witch, feeling the loneliness rise at the thought of Marc.
“Go do something useful!” Angela spat.
The witch withdrew angrily as Angela turned to Kevin.
“Where the hell do you have me today?” Angela snapped.
He held out a slip of paper. “Team leader for the supply run.”
Angela broke into a reluctant grin. “Really?”
Kevin was now very glad they’d done it. “Yes. It has to be undercover, though.”
Angela was torn. She didn’t want to leave the herd unattended, but she did want out for a while.
“Adrian will care for them,” Kevin soothed, also glad that Zack had told him she would need to hear those words. He wouldn’t have known on his own.
“Okay. Now?”
He waved toward the busy QZ. “Slip into the clothes laying on your cot and get there without being noticed. Easy for an Eagle of your level.”
Angela laughed and the shield above them roiled with calming blue.
Adrian observed her happiness in secret, sure she wasn’t aware he’d set it up. When he got as frustrated as she appeared to be, going on a run always helped. It didn’t erase the nerves, but it definitely helped keep them under control.
“Should she be leaving camp?”
Adrian shook his head, unable to speak, needing the air. The sight of her happy was so rare that it was enough to distract him from everything else.
“Do you want me to go along, too?”
Adrian nodded gratefully. It was something he couldn’t order or ask for openly. It was another one of those things the Marine needed to give willingly and he had.
Adrian smiled this time, shocking Kenn with the wave of happiness and he left the Marine standing there, trying not to draw the notice of the woman going to the mess. She would get updates, get changed, and then get gone. The only thing better than making her happy for a couple hours like this would have been going with her.
Adrian waved at the parade of children going by. Field trip day had finally come around for them and they were clearly as ready for it as Angela was. They were jumping, skipping, chattering excitedly on their way to the training tent and he chose to go with them instead of keeping to the solitude of rounds. He didn’t have to worry about it until she left. That wouldn’t be for at least fifteen minutes. He would spend it with his kids.
2
Emptying the waste tanks on the campers had become an FND job under Angela’s reign. She wasn’t quick to hand out hard duty and those slots were no longer filled with grumbling troublemakers. Eagles now did that nasty work.
Jeff wasn’t trying to score points with the bosses by taking a turn on camper work. He was simply tired of the smell and the gauges always sitting at full. A man never knew what camper would be open for his morning business and that was dangerous with the coffee Li Sing served.
Jeff began refilling the tanks with clean water and carefully rinsed the sewer hose that he’d used to empty the tanks. He then went to the rear of the cart to get the chemicals, feeling content with the work he was doing. He was leading most of the prepping classes that Angela had rolling and he’d helped with a number of others, as well. He was also running the Kai lessons for Neil, doing a steady job of shoving the rookies through so they could start training. All the camp members who were staying were taking the classes unless they had a medical reason not to. Angela wanted them to be able to fight at least a little and buy themselves time to make a run for it.
It occurred to Jeff that nearly every class she had going on was for personal or group survival, not battling the coming government. It didn’t make him feel any better, though he respected her for trying to make sure some of their people would survive. If she was only preparing them for flight, then she hadn’t seen them winning.
“Just the opposite, probably,” he told himself, emptying the tanks again to complete the rinse, then adding fresh chemicals. “If that happens, they’ll split up and I need to pick who to go with.”
Thus, another reason for the FND work. Jeff didn’t have a very high opinion of his worth despite the steady accomplishments. He’d been beaten down during his life too many times to think he’d be chosen to stay with Adrian or Angela unless he was one of those people who could do any chore they needed handled.
Jeff stripped his gloves and told the duty guard that the camper was now open for business.
“Looks like you missed something,” Alex said, pointing to a long hose in the grass.
“Damn,” Jeff swore. “Thought I put that up.”
A bit embarrassed, he headed for the hose. As he neared it, Jeff realized it was too long to be the sewer hose. He drew his gun.
Crista was working out with the team near the creek and she stumbled when she spotted Jeff with his gun out. She caught herself before she hit the ground, then took off running toward him. With her gun in hand.
The other rookies understood there was a problem and hurried to back her up. Also with their guns in hand.
When Jeff began firing, they followed his lead, never questioning what they were killing.
Adrian watched it happen with pride–in his own achievements–but also in Angela’s. These females never would have come forward and done so well without her rising to the challenge first.
Adrian went to the mess, where lunch was being cooked. The kids were getting samples from Li. The smells of fresh corn and cabbage were enough to make everyone drool.
“Look out!”
Adrian spun in time to see Tracy being dragged into the creek by a long arm that wasn’t human.
He rushed to help, but was easily beaten by the two teenage boys that flew by him and dove into the creek without any thought of their own lives.
“Get them out of there!” Angela shouted, running full out from the mess.
There was no doubt that she would be the next one in the water.
Adrian motioned to Jeff and Alex, then tackled her.
“Get off of me!”
Adrian yanked her up and shoved her into the arms of the waiting Eagles. “Stay on land! That’s an order!”
Angela was still struggling to get free when Adrian dove into the water.
3
Charlie gasped air in and returned to the bottom of the creek, where the snake had Tracy wrapped up. He shoved his mouth to hers, sending his thought. Breathe slower. Eagles are here.
Tracy was in panic, thrashing wildly, and Charlie held her still so that he could force the air into her. As soon as she took it in, he lunged for the surface, lungs on fire.
“There he is! Grab him!”
With no time to explain, Charlie dove back under to avoid the hands and swam down to find Adrian with his mouth to Tracy’s.
Grateful, Charlie treaded the bottom and waited until Adrian had to go up for air.
Around them, the Eagles were hacking at the huge snake with their knives, but doing little damage. When the python began to roll, Tracy was ripped from Adrian’s arms.
Magic burst out in a blaze of heat that seared the water.
The snake recoiled, loosening its grip, and Charlie tugged Tracy’s limp body from its reach. He shoved his mouth to hers as he propelled them to the surface.
Not about to let go of her, Charlie shoved her against the bank and began doing CPR.
On his right, Adrian popped up and took over the chest pumps while Conner came to their left to help hold her up.
Tracy coughed violently and sucked air into a burning set of lungs, and Charlie leaned back.
Not sure what was going on, Tracy clutched at his arm. The teenager slid an arm around her waist as they carried her onto land.
Charlie sank down next to her as she went to her knees, taking ragged breaths. He didn’t feel the entire camp’s attention on them as he leaned his head against hers.
Tracy felt his magic warming her, easing the panic. “Thank you.”
Charlie shuddered with the adrenaline rush and the terror that was slowly subsiding. “I almost lost you.”
Charlie’s words caused approval and surprise in equal measure.
Embarrassed and cold, Tracy tried to make light of it. “One less rookie to care for, right?”
“Don’t do that!” Charlie growled, sounding so much like his father that all of those listening realized he’d grown up again.
Tracy sighed, shivering. “Ok-kay.”
Charlie took the blanket from Adrian and wrapped it around her shoulders, then stood them up. “Come on. I want you checked out.”
Still appearing unaware of his audience, Charlie didn’t look at anyone else, only the woman shivering against his hip as he led her away.
Angela watched, resigned. Charlie and Tracy were a match. He’d chosen his first mate, too young or not, and there was nothing she could do to stop it that wouldn’t destroy her own relationship with him.
“It could be worse,” Adrian stated, also watching the couple talk quietly as they entered the medical tent.
Angela shrugged. “It’s not her I mind, you know? He’s just not supposed to be ready for this yet.”
“You’re the one who isn’t ready.”
She snorted. “You can say that again.”
Adrian waited for her to blast him about being tackled, but Angela only returned to the mess for updates before she left camp. She’d been about to sit down when the panic wave from Charlie had hit her. Adrian had been right to hold her. She hadn’t been able to stop herself.
Relieved, Adrian motioned to the dripping men and women to get changed, and the crowd slowly dispersed.
Left alone to clean up, Jeff and Crista examined the thing that had started all the trouble.
The item wasn’t a hose or a snake, but a long worm. Jeff intended to ask Samantha if it could be used for the garden or if it would ruin the plants. He knew most worms could be cut and they would regenerate.
Crista held the bag for him to put it in, hating the way it still twitched even after taking quite a few slugs.
“There’s another one,” she pointed out.
Jeff peered at the bank, where a smaller worm was wriggling over the carcass of the snake that the camp would assume the Eagles had killed with their knives. Only those who had been in the water and felt that anger knew differently. Marc’s son was incredibly powerful.
“Carnivores. Dump it in the fire,” he instructed. “Were not contaminating our food source.”
“Surprised you thought about it at all considering how rough you are on using only natural supplies in the lessons.”
Jeff took a minute to explain, “Sometimes things happen for bad reasons, but still give you something you can use. It was just a thought.”
“A good one.”
Jeff heard the invitation and sighed tiredly. “I can’t spend time with you anymore, not if you’re going to date Zack at the same time.”
Crista stayed calm. “Okay.”
When she turned toward the camp, his frustration level hit the bar and Jeff opened his mouth without knowing what he was going to hit her with.
“I want you.”
Crista turned as if in a daze, showered in his heat. “What did you say?”
Jeff flushed, and didn’t repeat it. That wasn’t what he’d meant to say. Was it?
Crista came to him, hands on her hips. “And that’s how you decided to tell me? What the fuck?”
Jeff was startled into a cackle at her words. “Wow. That mouth, lady…”
Crista smiled. “Does that mean we can have a couple’s tent? I get lonely at night.”
Jeff drew in air, body reminding him how long it had been since he’d gone to sleep with someone breathing against him. “Uh, yeah…but Zack…”
“Is a friend. Nothing more.”
Jeff tried to think. “You’re not dating him?”
“Did it look that way?” she teased, snickering. “Oh I’m sorry.”
Jeff laughed as he realized she’d goaded him into the breakfast offer and the attention. “Wait until I get you alone!”
“Why wait?” Crista asked, leaning close. “You can yell at me while I change clothes. I’m all wet.”
Jeff stiffened, gasping at the feel, and then he swept her into his arms and over his shoulder.
Crista’s delighted giggle echoed across the camp.
4
Cynthia slung her gear into the front seat of her assigned truck for the run and found herself searching Kevin’s surprised face.
“What are you doing here?”
They asked the question at the same time.
Cynthia recovered first. “I told you I’m her XO.”
Kevin recalled the conversation as she climbed inside, still wondering about the other things she’d mentioned.
Kevin wondered if Angela had put them together intentionally. He wasn’t sure if she’d done the schedules herself or if this was one of the senior Eagles trying to help.
Cynthia hated the tension, but couldn’t find a way around it. They’d all killed Matt. It wasn’t something she could just forgive and forget.
Kevin left her alone as she checked gear and fidgeted, waiting for Angela’s updates to be over so they could go. But he watched her.
Cynthia huffed in annoyance. “Stop staring.”
Kevin leered. “I’m smelling, too. You did your hair. Nice.”
Cynthia smoothed her newly shagged locks down self-consciously and returned to randomly pulling things from her kit and searching them over. She’d covered this last night, but she had to do something to fill the space where the eager conversation should have been. She still wanted Kevin. She just couldn’t have him.
Kevin picked up the mic, feeling her need for him to be busy, but he didn’t look away. It was the closest they’d been since the 4th of July and he wasn’t missing any of it.
“Do we have everyone?”
“Roger that. Five minutes.”
Kevin got the map out and pretended to survey the area they were going into. It was a short run to a nearby warehouse that housed a maintenance department. They were hoping to find a stock of jet fuel to add to the reserves and for use in battle plans. Some of Angela’s outlines called for a lot of firepower and they were pulling it from any source they could think of.
“At some point, I need you to show me how to use this,” Cynthia informed him, holding up a taser. “Do I just aim and fire?”
“It’s a little more complicated, but that’s the basics,” Kevin stated neutrally.
Cynthia instantly became sarcastic. “Well, that cleared it all up.”
Kevin’s face tightened. “It shoots out darts that send a current. It’s not rocket science.”
Cynthia’s face turned red.
“If it was, you’d be the last one to give instructions for it,” she fired back. “It’s a little more complicated, but that’s the basics,” she mocked, missing his hands tightening on the wheel. “Never mind. I’ll ask someone else.”
“Might as well date someone else, too,” Kevin drawled bitterly. “I don’t think I could have stood the attitude.”
Cynthia gasped in hurt anger and snapped her mouth shut. Fuck you!
Kevin glared. “Right back at ya, toots.”
Cynthia and Kevin both caught it at the same time and gaped. He’d read her thought!
5
“That might not have been a great idea,”
Angela turned to find Kevin and Cynthia trading what she assumed were harsh blows by the way they were wincing and scowling. Their mouths stayed closed though, and Angela shrugged. “We’ll find out.”
Adrian didn’t say anything else. She was following the notebooks to the letter when it came to training and preparations, but everything else was her own.
“Some of the personal things came from your notes,” Angela reluctantly confided, not wanting to talk about love or lust with him.
Adrian knew she meant the way to help match make, but her methods were more obvious than his.
“I can get away with it. I’m a woman. It’s expected, up to a point.”
“Fair enough, but there are other things they expect, too, that you aren’t doing.”
Angela waved Zack over as he came through the camp with an open notebook, jotting ideas down.
“Like what?”
“Hope.”
Angela was instantly flashed to her problem of bringing them together. Instead of the anger spewing forth, she tried something new. “What would you do bring them together, that I haven’t already done or read?”
“Give them a cause, something…someone, to care about.”
“They have you.”
“No!” Adrian’s sharp tone drew attention and made the nearby Eagles tense. “They have to have a common cause. The freedom of everyone is not enough to hold them. It has to be personal.” Adrian pushed out energy, was strong enough to force it over her. “Tell me what we need. Do it now.”
There was no refusing such a command from the Alpha. The witch opened the farthest door in the halls of their manipulations.
Inside the door was a beach of golden sands and tall, green cliffs. Playing in the surf, was a small child with violet eyes and black hair.
Angela whimpered, filled with the urge to touch her daughter, the one who was yet to come.
Adrian stared not at the child, but at the happy couple watching the toddler play. It wasn’t Marc standing by Angela’s side, though that was clearly his daughter.
The door slammed shut.
Angela’s happiness over the run was destroyed and she ripped them both apart with her pain as she repeated, “That won’t happen!”
It was what Adrian’s heart had been saying all along, but he’d seen the vision. The future wasn’t always set, but that moment in time was.
Adrian got up from the table with one parting piece of advice. “They love him. He’s the camp’s martyr. Use it or lose them.”
Angela didn’t want to use Marc’s absence and possible death in any way, but she couldn’t deny that it was the answer she needed. If the camp knew what Marc and his team were doing, if they were getting updates instead of cold silence, they might have hope. It was easier for the Eagles to have faith–they’d witnessed Marc in action–but the camp had been extremely sheltered under Adrian’s rule.
“And there’s no need for it anymore,” she realized. “Even me, and the others. We can be ourselves now. There’s no longer a threat of them leaving because they already are anyway.”
Angela viewed Kyle. “I’ll have some things for you to do later. Stop by my tent after the camp’s settled down.”
The mobster wrote it in his book. “You got it. Updates now or wait until you get back?”
Angela sighed resignedly. Shirking duty wasn’t allowed. “Now.”
“We have you set up to work with your team tonight during evening mess, and with the Jr. Eagles tomorrow night. Zack’s boys have asked to do third shift coffee duty for the next week–Zack’s working them hard now–and we got a great new supply idea from the woman Kenn brought from the medical center. Docks. Many boats run on gasoline. We might find some stocks of it or diesel.”
“That is a great idea. What’s the story on her and the boy?”
Kyle’s tone hardened. “She isn’t talking much yet. Says she wants the boss.”
“She’ll get me,” Angela muttered. “When will she be out of the QZ?”
The mobster’s face darkened. “I don’t think the doctor wants her out in the general population. She can’t stop her eyes from flashing.”
Angela thought of her newest addition to the plan and got it rolling. “Let her out and tell the Eagles to leave her alone unless she’s breaking a rule. I want the camp to know that she’s different.”
“What about Ty?”
“They’ll know he’s different. Don’t worry over it. He has his mother and the Eagles will be watching,” Angela assured.
“You don’t think the camp will run harder?” Kyle had to ask.
“Just the opposite,” Angela stated. “I’ve been hiding long enough and so has everyone else. If they won’t accept our magic by now, they’re not going to and we’ll fight alone.”
Like their leaders, it bothered Kyle to hear they were short people every morning, but he was often the one to tell them, as well, and the frustration and personal agony on their faces was nearly intolerable. How had Kenn stood this job?
“You said you guys would split up,” he reminded.
“Some of them will, but not me, not Samantha or Kenn,” Angela answered angrily. “We’re in this until we’re dead.”
Filled with new ideas, Angela slid into the rear of Kevin’s ride, and caught the end of their conversation.
Stop now. She can hear us.
Later?
Cynthia glanced over at Kevin, wanting to keep the hate and misery alive, but the thrill of their new discovery won.
Yes.
Angela dug out her notebook and began working on the newest plans. When she didn’t say anything, their mental conversation slowly resumed. She tried not to pay them too much attention as she worked, but she needed the distraction from the pain of what she was about to put herself through daily.
…not sure.
Never?
No, but I wondered about a few things.
Me, too.
For the herd, right?
Yes. Everything is for them.
It should be, right?
Cynthia sighed, looking out the window as they were cleared and began rolling through the gates. Maybe. Right now, I’d say yes. Later, when there are more of us, maybe not. I’m not sure that type of leadership will work.
“It won’t in a large population,” Angela stated, unable to keep quiet. “If you base even a single part of a new society on lies, the future is doomed to repeat our mistakes.”
It was a comfort to know that their leaders had been thinking on it, and they both studied her for the solution.
Angela turned the page. “We’re working on it. He has been all along and I’m adding to it. We need time.”
Angela held her notebook out toward the reporter. “I want you two on this project together.”
Cynthia only needed a quick minute to skim. She held it toward Kevin excitedly. “She has thought about it–just the way you described, but oh, man the details she added!”
Angela was satisfied. The Runners that Adrian had collected were unmatched in history. Angela suddenly hoped that other countries now had the same hope growing inside their destruction. All it took was survivors. Most of those grieved for the families and lives, but how could they not also mourn the loss of those they’d depended on? Not having a doctor or police when you needed it changed everything. It had touched parts of the world they might never have contact with again.
Angela didn’t think that was good, either. Despite the years of peace they might have, it would also give those countries time to do the same building and growing. As long as those people didn’t plan to recreate evil around the world, she wanted to stay out of it.
And if there’s an invasion? the witch asked.
Angela snorted, making her companions jump. There already was. Several, in fact, and we’ve won them all. The only way to exterminate Americans is to breed us out and with no contact between nations, that can’t happen.
But you have plans for contact, the witch pointed out. Won’t that show them how weak we are?
Angela noted the use of the word ‘we’. It was likely the first time the witch had ever felt like she belonged somewhere. Centuries of hosts and being reborn with only the basic knowledge of your past life had to be lonely.
They’ve known how weak we are for a long time. The same way we know how weak they are. We have to reach out to the descendants in other nations. As long as each country has their own guardians, we’ll have peace.
There was no argument from the witch, but Angela couldn’t afford to assume. Tell me what you see.
The witch slowly padded to a door that Angela had wondered about, but not enough to ask over. The amount of exits in her brain was endless. She could get lost for years.
The letters on the door, ICD, meant nothing to Angela.
The International Council of Descendants, the witch explained. This is what you will help bring to the world by your sacrifices and belief.
The door swung open.
Angela stared in delight at a huge, round table filled with more descendants than she could quickly count. The red orbs as they debated were unmistakable, but the protective shield over them rippling with green and gold told her they had someone controlling, making sure things didn’t get out of hand.
The room is silent, she realized. Mental meetings!
Angela wasn’t evolved enough to tap into the future conversations, but she scanned the sheets of parchment in front of them, wondering where the technology was.
Russian League of Descendants. Australian League of Descendants. American. China. Mexico. As she went around the long, oval table, it appeared all the countries that’d had survivors were represented.
In the front of this room, was a single flag. It was solid white, with one red word: Truth.
Angela was distracted briefly by the representatives themselves. Their clothes and gear was so much alike that it was startling. It was almost as if every country had adopted the same basic foundations. How would that be possible?
Her heart sank. Had one of her generations invaded another country? That wasn’t what their new world was supposed to become.
Angela went to the windows, no longer as eager to view what she’d asked for.
The first sight convinced her she was mistaken. That calm blue bubble over the city was a relief. No violent society could create such a strong barrier together. Before the war, those shields had been full of holes, but this dome vibrated happily over its hosts. Something that size would take millions of happy people. They’d recovered, rebuilt.
Angela picked out the flags along the fence in front of the building, and saw they were the same as the one inside–that red and white demand for honesty–but under that, was each country’s old flag. United in common goals, and still true to their origins, there was no sense of oppression or greed from the city. It was stunning.
Angela stared at the symbols of hope. She wanted this future. Could she create it?
You already are, the witch soothed, gently closing the door. Things will get harder now. Hold onto that knowledge.
6
“Shoot it with your thoughts,” Angela instructed the straining women hours later. She’d enjoyed being out of camp, but hadn’t left the vehicle, too busy writing down notes. Cynthia had enjoyed leading the other Eagles.
“Envision it, and then fire.”
The tent came alive with grunts of effort.
Angela gave her approval. “Good. We’ll do it again in a few minutes. Let yourself rest between attempts. This is stressful work and it takes a lot of energy. Make sure you have a snack before you hit your tents tonight.”
Angela waited patiently for the images to leave the front of her mind. Her team was improving on mental skills faster than physical ones. The pictures they covered her with were vivid. The ones of Marc especially and Angela held onto each of them like she was drowning.
“This time, you keep your wall up while I shoot.”
Each of their faces tightened in concentration as Angela blasted them with the horrid nightmare of Safe Haven in flames. It was one she’d seen too many nights now.
Their gasps and moans were ignored.
“This is the future as it stands right now.” Angela let the image fade, but only after each woman had time to find her loved ones in the chaos. Most were dead. “You’re rookies, we all are, but we are also the most powerful people in this camp. Not because of what we can do, but because we’ll do it together. During the chaos, you’ll be able to feed me and I’ll do the same for you. The others will help us, but it will be mostly information. We’ll be the eyes and ears. We’ll coordinate, deliver order changes, and monitor every member of our front line.”
Angela went to the board and removed the sheet over it. “This is where each of you will go when it starts. I had to account for your men grabbing you, so be sure that you do, as well. They don’t know what we’re doing. They’ll want to protect us.” Angela pierced the room with her command. “You get to your place! In any way that you have to.”
Outside the tent, Eagles strained to hear details as they walked their posts, but could only make out a few occasional words. All the men were nervous about what Angela had planned for her team. A few of them had asked and been rebuffed with the usual answer of: “Our duty.” It wasn’t enough to calm fears, only increase them.
Even Charlie had tried to find out and Angela had gently locked the door between them. Until the battle, he had to be in the dark. He was the most likely to interfere with her plan and it could cost them everything.
“You get anything?” Jake asked. He was only Level One, but he took his duties seriously and wanted the Level Three man on duty with him to know it.
“Just something about finding their post when it starts,” Alex answered with a slight edge to his voice. “You?”
“Nothing from that side.”
The forest around them groaned and popped with the sounds of growth and destruction. The thick trees swayed against each other, weakened from the war, and the noise of falling limbs had continued through the time they’d spent camped here. The rushing falls were quiet most of the time, but like with the reservoirs they’d passed that were still working, when they ran heavy, the camp knew.
Jake turned to sweep the landscape outside the fence, and felt the cool blade of a knife go around his throat and jerk.
He slid to the ground without calling an alert, softly gasping for air.
Alex wiped his knife on his Eagle jacket and went to the shadows waiting on the other side of the double fence. He worked on the inside layer with a pair of wire cutters, while his partners cut from the outside, darting quick looks over his shoulder for death. He could feel it coming for him. He’d just betrayed a brother.
Intruders slipped into Safe Haven a minute later.
7
Lee pulled up to the QZ gate and rolled down his window to clear the branch hanging over the security camera that they’d hooked up this afternoon. He leaned out to grab it.
Pain lanced into his throat and he began choking, hand coming up for protection.
The blade sliced a second time, deeper, and blood splattered the inside of the truck.
Lee slumped over as a second group of men climbed into the cab and bed. They drove straight to the gate that Lee had already checked in with over the radio. The men in the rear pulled their cloaks over themselves while the driver quickly donned Lee’s wristwatch and glasses. As he rolled by the guards, he waved, making sure the clock face flashed in the firelight.
The Eagles saw it and motioned him in. The man looked a lot like his victim. It was the reason he’d been chosen to get them inside.
The impostor pulled toward the clearly marked parking area and then swerved to the left and hit the gas, aiming for the main camp.
“Breach! We have a breach at the main gate!”
Radios blared in alarm.
The sound was echoed by gunfire as the men in the rear of the truck rose.
In the main camp, lights flashed on and the louder alarms began to wail.
Eagles returned fire more accurately than they received it, killing the imposter. The truck crashed into a water hauler before it could ram the main camp.
Taking a page from Marc’s book, Zack grabbed the grenade from his belt and made sure there were no survivors to come out of the rear.
The explosion rocked the camp. The area filled with sheep and shepherds flying toward the QZ.
8
Seth stopped suddenly, as if jerked backward by an invisible hand. The voice in his mind was drowning out everything else.
You’ve seen this ploy, before the war. It’s a trick to lure us away.
Seth slowly rotated to determine which area was the exact opposite of the QZ. He saw the tent where Angela and her team were supposed to be working out and his heart thumped. Not one of them was moving, even though he could see their kneeling shadows. There was no way they hadn’t heard the camp alarms or Zack’s solution for the truck. That only meant one thing. They couldn’t come.
Seth grabbed the nearest man’s arm, shaking him to be sure he got through. “Make Adrian and Kenn come to the training tent. We’ve got trouble.”
Shawn paled as he realized Angela was under attack again. He took off to get help.
Seth ran for the training tent, narrowing in on how many larger, taller shadows there were, and where they were standing.
As he got closer, his skin crawled and then began to heat up as if he was touching the bonfire. How dare anyone do that to her again!
9
“Do it.”
Becky struggled harder, trying to get the man’s hands off her shirt, her exposed skin. “No!”
Angela rose off her knees and the first man who’d come into the tent slapped her across the neck, knocking her to the floor.
“Stay down,” Alex ordered tonelessly. “We only need one for bait. She’ll do.”
Meaning he would let Becky be raped and then toss her out of the tent to show their seriousness. When the Eagles stormed in, all of them would go up in a blaze by the device in his hand.
Angela glared at Becky’s crying face. “You are the only one who can do this.”
Becky cringed as the man began jerked her bra down. “I don’t...I can’t.”
The man yanked Becky close as he stood up and drew his knife. He’d ripped most of her shirt off in the first struggle and the tip of his blade went straight for her nearly exposed nipple.
“Take it now!” Angela shouted, understanding the man meant to make Becky scream.
Becky couldn’t refuse the order. She wanted to it too much to keep fighting. She stilled, clenching her lids shut. She hadn’t been fighting her attacker, only the idea of killing him this way, but the temptation was too much to resist.
The man jerked, face draining of color. Blood began to trickle from his mouth and he fell to his knees, pulling her down with him.
Becky rolled out of his grip with her gun her hand and opened fire while on her back. Her aim was incredible.
“Stop or I’ll...Ugg!”
Alex hit the button as he slid to his knees. Becky fired again, popping him an artistically sloppy hole in his forehead.
The small box broke apart a bit as it bounced against a chair.
Angela rolled on top of the device, trying to hit the switch to disarm the homemade trigger with her elbow.
Becky had no time for that, firing repeatedly, screaming her hatred as she unloaded her gun. Hired killers ducked behind the cover of the bound females, but she knew how to get around that.
“Left!”
All of the women rolled as she reloaded, creating the perfect cover. Becky opened fire again.
“Right!”
Eight darkly dressed men had come into the tent when the decoy noises had started. Seven bodies were on the floor when Seth burst inside.
“Stop!”
Angela’s shout was the only thing that kept Seth from killing the last man standing.
“We need information, Rebecca,” Angela directed, rising awkwardly to her knees. “Make sure he’ll tell me anything I want to know.”
Becky smirked eagerly, walking forward. “You got it, Boss.”
She fired twice more, emptying her gun into the man’s knees.
She reloaded a second time without any change in expression as the man shouted in agony and clutched his wounded legs.
The screams were satisfying to the female, though they worried Seth. He didn’t like the image of Becky as a killer, had been blocking it out, but this wouldn’t be forgotten and he doubted it would fade much. She was nearly as lethal as he was. What would she be like fully trained?
Angela waited impatiently while Shawn untied her, the tent now filling with Eagles tending their women. Even Charlie had come, though Tracy was already free. He lovingly took the wad of duct tape from her mouth and led her from the tent with a glare at his mom.
“What were you waiting for? Why the bait?”
The sobbing man didn’t answer, and Becky lunged forward, her gun against his groin. “Answer!”
The man couldn’t get away due to the Eagles surrounding him, and it was clear that Becky wasn’t bluffing. He opened his mouth and started telling them everything they didn’t want to hear. They’d come for Jennifer, Angela, Charlie, and all the other descendants. Their orders were to kill.
When he stopped talking, Angela waved all but the top people from the tent and then faced the man without sympathy.
“You didn’t make sure I was dead before you ordered your sleaze to start touching her. Mistake.”
Starving, Angela let the witch take what she needed.
The Eagles knew to stay back, but none of them were revolted or scared. They were awed by her abilities, her determination to turn these people into fighters, and of course, they liked justice being served. It was a bonding moment that helped strengthen their loyalty to her and the others who were different. If there had been more of this type of justice before the war, there might not have been one at all.
10
“Stay close to her for a bit.”
Seth agreed with the instruction. “I plan to.”
“Good. I’ll be around.”
Seth waited for Angela to leave, then went to Becky. The teenager was digging through her kit as if she’d lost something. He wanted to help with that and the almost haunted eyes that wouldn’t meet his for more than a second or two at a time.
“You feel like doing a workout? We’ll run the gate course.”
Becky made sure she sounded normal. “Nope. I want to go on the next supply run and I haven’t passed my next Kai lesson yet. I’ll be practicing after I shower.”
Seth didn’t argue. She sounded okay and appeared steady enough, but there was a sense that things weren’t fine. “I have to go switch shifts. I’ll be right back.”
That got a cheerful, “I’ll be the one searching for a toe warmer.”
Seth only searched her face before leaving. Something wasn’t right and it was more than the new bruises or torn clothes.
Becky shoved the bags and pouches into the bag and took the Advil without bothering to go for a drink. Her head was throbbing.
Compared to Rick, this hadn’t been anything, but the flashes it had given her were awful. She could hear the gunshot, could almost smell his breath on her. Rick was a ghost that wasn’t going to leave.
Becky searched in her kit for a tissue, feeling the tears coming, and found something hard and round. She withdrew it slowly, mind making the connection.
The small vial still held the powder Rick had given her. Becky stared at it for a long time, lost in her nightmares. Only Seth’s cheerful voice outside the tent woke her. She quickly stuffed the vial into her kit and donned a smile as he came inside. “Want to wash my hair for me again?”
Seth immediately turned for the showers. As they walked, he could feel her drifting and was suddenly sure it would be a rough night. “Would you like a pill?”
He’s so perceptive it’s scary, she thought.
“Not yet. I may not need it.”
Seth tugged her closer for a quick hug. “I’m proud of you.”
Becky didn’t ask what for. It didn’t matter. Until she was proud of herself, no one else’s opinion did, and her mind said she still had a long way to go to make up for what she’d done. Rick and the slavers had been the perfect distraction to keep Adrian from discovering all the spies that the government had sent into this camp. More than half of their assassins had been here since South Dakota or before, and that was dangerous. No one knew who to trust, who might turn out to be a traitor. Tempers and suspicions were running at peak. Angela would have to do something to settle them down.
11
Angela went to the mess, where most of the camp was still gathered, talking and observing the cleanup. When she started speaking, they all stopped to listen.
“One of the intruders gave us information–good news, for a change. Marc and his team are alive and doing damage. They’ve started fighting. He’s gathered over three hundred men.”
There was a loud cheer, both for the wait being over and for hearing from Marc.
“It looks like we’ll have another two weeks at least before either group gets here.” Angela waved off the questions, too upset to continue lying. “I don’t have anything else. The man died before he could tell us more. Becky’s shot was nice.”
She left the crowd at the mess with something they hadn’t had since learning the government was coming.
“If he’s doing damage, maybe we do have a chance…”
“He’s a badass. I knew it the minute I saw him.”
“Brady will cut them in half. We’ll be able to handle the rest.”
“And he’ll be here by then, to help.”
“Yeah!”
Angela waved Kevin over. “I want you to start doing the Ghost broadcasts tonight, giving open updates on anything we learn about Marc’s team.”
Kevin approved of what his mind came up with. “You’re gonna pull some people back in.”
“Maybe,” she answered. “But if it only keeps these here from leaving, that’ll be enough.”
Kevin went straight to the com truck to broadcast what they’d learned, going over the right words to use. He could whip them into a frenzy if he had the right information to feed and it wouldn’t be just this camp. The other survivors out there listening, waiting to find out who won, would tune in regularly for news.
“Maybe we can pull in some more fighters,” Kevin mused, sliding into the cool truck. “God knows we need them.”
12
Unable to calm down enough to sleep, Angela gathered the men she thought best suited and closed the flap on the training tent.
“I’m going to teach you to listen.”
There were confused looks as Angela settled herself, and she let them stew as she got comfortable.
“Just like a gun, your mind shoots,” she began, opening her case. “Some people can’t send or receive, we’ve learned that together. What one of you can do, not all of you can.”
She paused to light a fat joint. “But I’m confident that everyone in this tent is capable.”
She inhaled deeply and blew the smoke toward the east. She quickly inhaled again and blew it toward the west this time. Twice more for the remaining directions, then she tossed it to Kyle.
“Do what I do.”
She took a second joint out and did the same thing before passing it to him again. “It’s a type of magic we do, be it in here with our minds or out there with our guns.”
She got a third rolled smoke going and her eyes took on that high glow they’d all come to associate with someone being very stoned. Except she didn’t stumble or slur, and it added to the respect these twenty men held for her. Two full teams, plus Adrian, were here.
“We all feel it and we love it. With my help, maybe we can share something more from it.”
Angela’s face tightened suddenly and she took a fourth joint from the pack and lit it in the same manner as the others. She pitched it toward the nervous man lurking restlessly near the door.
“Get stoned, will ya? You’re wrecking our vibes.”
The men laughed when Adrian grinned at the scold. “Yes, ma’am.”
Another round of amusement came as he sat down and fired it up.
“You keep that one. Everyone else; hit and pass. When those are gone, we’ll find out if we can reach a new level of teamwork.”
There was a companionable quiet broken by an occasional voice or movement. Angela took a moment to try and make herself fully relax. She was determined that this lesson would be successful.
“We are a team. We eat, breathe, and live together, and yet, we don’t know our fellow men. The war caused people to erect barriers of many types, but fear is always the hardest to get through. For us to conquer that last wall, we have to be open with each other. To do that, we’ll spend one minute talking to the Eagle on our right and the same for the left. I want you to tell them a secret, something you can’t talk about with the camp.”
Angela glanced at her watch. “Start now.”
She turned to Kyle, brow raised and he smirked. “Ladies, first.”
Angela was ready for him. “Everyone one of us who’ve been cursed this way has been outcasts. Being here with Adrian makes some of that pain go away, but I wish I’d never had to hide who…what I am.”
Kyle’s voice was sympathetic. “Adrian knew.”
“Yes, and I still trust him as much as you do. That gives us another common ground, yes?”
Kyle grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”
She gestured. “Your turn.”
The mobster hesitated. “I...want to make Jenny my legal mate and give her a son to replace the one she lost.”
“How does she feel about that?”
Kyle grunted. “She’s still planning on leaving, I think. Doesn’t say much, but she stares at the mountains.”
“She doesn’t want to go.”
“No,” Kyle confirmed. “She wants to be able to stay in camp, but the memories are hurting her.”
“And you think if she had a son, it would ease that.”
Kyle sighed heavily. “I don’t know. She’s in pain and I have no idea how else to comfort her.”
“Have you...offered?”
Kyle snorted. “No.”
“Why not? It’s been long enough medically, and there’s no camp trouble in your way now. Why delay?”
Kyle’s face was twisted with hunger and control. “She’s not ready for that side of me.”
Angela picked up the images, but didn’t scold him like her first instinct said to. “Maybe you should talk to her about it, find out where she stands on things. If you two are going to be alone together, that’s good information to have.
Kyle agreed. He just didn’t know how to bring it up.”
“Time. Switch sides if you haven’t already.”
The air inside the tent was thick with hope and smoke as Adrian watched her methods work. He wasn’t allowed to use this light touch on them, but she could. When she called time again, he saw many conversations he suspected would be continued later. She was bringing them together in ways he had no access to and he would show his gratitude.
“Start listening for me. When I give you a number, remember it.”
Her lack of action after those words confused them until they heard her voice in their minds and realized she was already working.
“Okay, everyone got a number?” she asked a few minutes later.
“I don’t,” Adrian stated.
“Eagles, tell Adrian what his number is,” Angela instructed.
“One!”
It was a loud chorus and she went on. “Last number was twenty. Stand up in reverse order and pay attention. I’m the only one allowed to talk.”
She observed them with a bit of pride and a lot of warmth. She could feel many of them wanting her to stand up for the number two spot. She placed Kyle there instead and stayed sitting.
As Adrian stood, she looked up at them.
“Imagine this type of communication during an attack or mission. It’s an advantage that no other army has ever had. We are the first.” She gave them a moment to consider and then waved a hand. “You’re determination will decide if you can do this without my help. I can show you how to do it, but that won’t be enough. You have to want it.”
She checked her watch, and then gestured at the floor. “Get comfortable, gentlemen. We’re going to make some more magic.”