Buttons to Push
Page 1
Refugee Crisis Hits Safe Haven Refuge!
by Reporter Cynthia Quest
September 24th, 2013
There are hundreds of them. We can’t sleep without hearing the shouts and fights, the gunfire. The flood of refugees we all expected after the war has finally arrived and if not for these mountain walls, we would have already been overrun.
There are too many for our Eagles to go out and gain control, and more people are on the way–hundreds or maybe even thousands. Think about that. Daily assaults are already taking place and we can’t stop them. Someone has died out there every day this week. Women are being hurt, supplies are being stolen, wolves are trying to sneak in with the sheep, and more is on the way. What are we supposed to do? I agree that we have a duty to our fellow man, but we don’t to killers or anyone who will destroy what we’ve built. Most of those people can never be allowed in here. Let me explain why.
Reason One: We don’t have the room for that many people. Look around these caves and tell me we can fit thousands down here? We’re already cramped and our new numbers of official members are only at four hundred and ten. Why haven’t they set up their own settlement? We did. Why can’t they go do that now? There are simply too many of them. We will run out of everything and none of us will survive. The majority of these people are scavengers. They have nothing except needs.
Reason Two: Their lack of morals and ethics will bleed into our camp. We will have a crime rate for the first time. There are thieves, rapists, murders, pedophiles, and even cannibals in these groups. That came straight from the boss, folks. Evil is on our doorstep. Do we really want to welcome it with open arms? We’re almost safe down here. These strangers will change that.
On a side note, not following rules, hurting, killing, and betraying has resulted in people being barred from our peaceful settlement before now, including Adrian. If we allow these killers in, why did we bother to banish our former leader? If we do this, I say Adrian has to be given the same chance to reform. I also think there’s as much chance of that, as there is of these strangers obeying our laws.
Reason Three: Many of them are ill. We haven’t experienced the outbreaks that most people have because we’re careful about who joins and because we’ve been lucky, frankly. With so many people coming in, the odds of missing something deadly are huge. And what about the people who refuse to be tested? We don’t have any laws that force them to. We could all die of the measles or even the plague. It could happen. We only have two actual doctors. Imagine thousands of refugees. There’s no way we can keep up with that many people at once. We’ll be out of medical supplies within a month. When we can’t help them anymore, our doctors and nurses will be assaulted or even killed. We’ll have to run constant foraging trips, even during the winter weather, and it still won’t be enough. We’ll kill ours to save them, but many of these coming refugees won’t survive anyway because they’ve been breathing in the ash. We can’t help them.
Reason Four: There is no way that Safe Haven can rehabilitate that many people at once. We don’t have the guards or the resources to patrol them. People have been caught trying to sneak in here by cutting holes in the fences. You know of the attempts to get through, the semi that was used to ram the gates. These people are desperate and bad things always come from that. Some of them are innocent and need our help, but how do we tell the difference?
In my opinion, we can’t.
I want the gates shut to refugees until spring. We’ve fought hard to get where we are. I say we let them do the same.
What do you think?
Page 2
Are We Ready?
Winter is coming, and with it–a whole host of new problems. Are we ready? I’ve talked to our XO, Marcus Brady, about that very subject. Here’s what he had to say.
Cynthia: Are we ready for winter?
Marcus: No, but we have a little more time to gather what we need. We have to keep working.
Cynthia: Won’t that be hard with all those refugees at the gates?
Marcus: Yes, but we have more than one way off the mountain. In fact, we have several.
Cynthia: That’s good to know. How far behind are we on gathering?
Marcus: Only a couple of weeks. The coming storm might add to that.
Cynthia: Are we expecting a lot of snow?
Marcus: Yes, but the wind and cold will be the real issue. We’re prepping the cave for it.
Cynthia: Are you confident we can make this work?
Marcus: Honestly? No, not as much as I was when we got here. There are too many people waiting to get in.
Cynthia: So you agree we shouldn’t let any more people in here with us?
Marcus: I think we have to be very careful about how many come in, but the boss wants our people and some of them are that.
Cynthia: Is it worth the risk?
Marcus: Life is always worth the risk.
Cynthia: That’s very true. Do you have any advice for people concerning the weather?
Marcus: Keep your feet and hands warm and dry. Frostbite is not your friend. Stay inside as much as you can. We have plenty of work in the caves that needs to be done, including installing the showers and helping monitor the animals that have been brought down.
Cynthia: The animals we’re leaving topside because of their size, will they survive the winter?
Marcus: Yes. We’ll be building a large barn that will shelter them, along with the supplies and food they need. We’ll be melting snow for them to drink, like we’ll be doing for ourselves at some point.
Cynthia: Filtered and treated?
Marcus: You know it.
Cynthia: Do you think the cold weather will convince some of the refugees to leave?
Marcus: It might make them more desperate.
Cynthia: Are there extra guards on the gate?
Marcus: Yes. It’ll stay that way.
Cynthia: What about the rumor that this winter could last twice as long as what we’re used to?
Marcus: Yes, that’s been confirmed now. All of our weather trackers agree that this will be the longest winter any of us has ever experienced.
Cynthia: Are we ready for that?
Marcus: Not as much as I’d like to be, but once we’re in the cave, we just have to tough it out.
Cynthia: That brings me to the final questions. Is this mountain settlement a mistake? Should we have gone south? Is Kendle searching for a boat for us, despite what we were told about making a stand here?
Marcus: Wow. Let’s see. No, it’s not a mistake. We have to try this. No one wants to leave our country…except Kendle. Yes, she is searching for a ship, but for herself and the few people who’ve chosen to go with her. When she returns, we’ll have an idea of what things are like along the coast. Eventually, we’ll have to go there to gather supplies. It’ll be nice to have a first-hand account.
Cynthia: That’s all I have for you at the moment. Is there anything you’d like to say?
Marcus: Don’t get rowdy at the party. We’ve put the brig on the bottom floor with the ghost.
Cynthia: Cute. Thank you for the interview.
Marcus: My pleasure.
Reporter’s final thought
I feel snowed. We all know Marc can be charming and that he uses it to distract people. We usually approve, but in this case, it could cost our lives. Personally, I trust Marc. I also believe Angela wants us what’s best for us. But the reality is this: The long winter, combined with all those refugees, could kill us. Safe Haven might no longer exist. Is that worth the risk for a few more good people? We already have enough men and women here to rebuild our lives. Let the rest of the refugees do the same–somewhere else.
Page 3
Pick up a potted vegetable plant or two!
Food could become scarce if this winter gets as bad as people are worried over. Do your part and grow a vegetable! Pick up a potted plant at the topside garden area and take it to your bunk. The pots are bio domes that you close in the evening to provide protection and hold in warmth. These plants require little light and only a little water, so it will be easy for everyone here to grow their own favorite vegetables. Stop by and get yours today!
*Area will be open from 9am to dusk.
Get your winter gear!
All supply trucks now have winter gear. They will be open from 7am until dusk. Don’t take chances with your health. Get set for the storms before they arrive.
Contest Reward Party!
48 hours from now, we are having a party to celebrate moving into the cave. Details will be posted on the boards in all mess areas. This is a housewarming party, so bring a treat and join your fellow survivors in triumph. We made it. We’re here. Let’s party!
Page 4
Safe Haven Code of Conduct
1.) Abuse (Mental, physical, and verbal) is forbidden.
2.) Fighting, property damage, and violence for any reason but self-defense is not allowed.
3.) Sexual Assault is a capital offense! Punishable by death, or branding and banishment
4.) Killing for any reason other than self-defense is a capital offense! Punishable by death.
5.) Child abuse is a capital offense! Jury vote. Guardian will overrule any decision but death.
6.) Rape is a death sentence.
7.) Treason/ Mutiny is also a death sentence. Leadership will only change by camp vote. When more than half of the camp agrees, a new leader will be voted in.
Crime Reports
To report a crime, simply tell any Eagle. They will handle things from there.
1
“She’s still letting people in!”
“Yes,” Adrian confirmed Justin’s observation. With David recovering in a guarded hammock behind them, Justin had stepped up to be XO. He and two of the others would remain here to watch over David. They had orders to bugout if the refugees came up.
“Is she crazy? Listen to them!” Justin demanded, concerned. “Look at it. Those are bodies!”
“Yes,” Adrian confirmed again, heart breaking for what Angela had to be feeling. “She’ll keep taking them in until the camp or Marc puts a stop to it.”
“Why would she take that risk?” Justin was getting angrier as bottles and debris were thrown toward the main gates and the more docile zones. “I’d use Ma Deuce in that tower and kill them all.”
“Those are Americans, soldier!” Adrian snapped at the suggestions of using the .50 caliber that Marc had installed on top of the tower. “She’ll never throw them away lightly.”
“They don’t have the room or the supplies for that many people,” Justin continued to argue. “There has to be five hundred refugees down there!”
“Easy,” Adrian cautioned. The masses were staying by the gates right now, but as they got more desperate, Adrian expected them to spread out. He didn’t want their conversation to be what triggered that behavior.
“Does she at least have a way out of there?”
“I would imagine that she has several,” Adrian answered, narrowing in on a fight at the entry to the evaluation area. Most of the scavengers here were still armed, but the physical fights were common, whereas the gunfire had been light. Even in the starting frenzy, the mob was saving their bullets for the guards inside the gate.
“What are we supposed to be doing right now?” Justin asked, calming. He’d needed to vent his frustrations. He was an Adrian supporter, but he was also fond of Safe Haven. He wanted both to do well.
“We have to finish clearing that road.”
“That’ll take months,” Justin pointed out. “And it’s making it easier for people to reach us.”
“No,” Adrian corrected. “None of these people came from the south.”
“How do you know that?”
“When winter blows in, you migrate,” Adrian explained. “But when you’re already south, you stay put.”
Female screams echoed and then gunfire came as the men guarding Safe Haven’s gate began shooting into the fighting men by the evaluation area. The fight had broken through the first gate and caught a woman in the chaos. Once she was down, the fight had shifted to a gang rape, but they’d forgotten they were in range of the Eagles.
Adrian was proud of himself, proud of Angela, and yet, terrified for both of them. Safe Haven would leave after this, he hoped, and their sacrifices would finally be proven worthy. The flood of misery surrounding his former camp was going to be more than they could handle. Angela would make sure they got to witness the worst of it, to convince them that leaving was the right thing to do. It was likely the hardest thing she’d ever done. Adrian mourned and celebrated for her, at the same time. He understood what it was like to fight this hard, to never relax your strict plans. Because she had the strength to follow through, their country would survive. In time, the ripples would spread out and relight this dark land with fierce hope and pride.
“We’ll go down the rear path,” Adrian stated, going toward the site that had been camouflaged. David had two sentries. Adrian headed for the road that had now been cleared for five miles. That was only far enough to get them trapped.
2
“We have a tail,” Tommy stated, staring in the mirror as Kendle drove.
“It’s Conner.”
Tommy frowned at her calm reply. “He’s been banished!”
“We’re not in camp, are we?” Kendle pointed out. “Angela owes him for helping a member.”
“Conner was in camp to help someone?”
“No.”
Tommy considered what that meant. Conner was doing good work, probably for the boss. Before it all went to hell with Adrian, that had meant the person was trying to earn forgiveness.
“Does he deserve it?” Tommy demanded as he steered around a garbage truck that appeared to have been loaded with furniture when the war came. The mold on the truck was defying the cold to remain alive. “Can he be trusted?”
“For this run, he’ll shine like a new penny,” Kendle predicted. “In Safe Haven, around Candy? Hard to guess at.”
Tommy wondered what would happen if he said no to the boy joining them. If Conner was here, he would have some proof that Angela had approved it. Tommy decided that if he did, he would accept the boss’s wishes for now and complain upon his return.
“That’s what I chose to do,” Kendle confided. “This is important. I won’t let Adrian’s son interfere in our mission.”
That was what Tommy liked to hear from his teammates and he gradually slowed to a stop. The vehicle behind them also pulled over, driver and six passengers staring curiously until they saw Conner. Then the stares became scowls and mutters floated through cracked windows.
“What is he doing here?”
“Get rid of him while you can!”
Tommy didn’t scold his team. The boy had a right to know how people felt.
Conner flushed under his helmet and chose to leave it on. He didn’t talk, just handed Tommy a note. He’d read it before leaving his father’s site.
“Says it’s up to us,’” Tommy informed them. “If we can’t use him, he’ll be assigned to Zone C.”
“Wow.” Kendle was speechless. She couldn’t believe Angela would do that.
“Guess she always knows what buttons to push,” Tommy commented thoughtfully, wondering how best to tell the people behind them. His own passengers were remaining silent out of respect, but Tommy could feel their disapproval.
“Take the note to the driver behind us. Tell them I said to vote. Then come to me and wait.”
Conner went quickly and Tommy twisted around to scan those in his vehicle. “Keep him or send him to his death in Zone C?”
It was a tense ten minutes for Conner. Tommy’s vehicle had all agreed to let him come along, but the other seven people were still arguing it out. If all of them said no, the vote would be theirs and he would be sent to live in the zone for bad people. It meant this was his forgiveness vote, and Angela had done it in such a way that no one had known it coming. There was also no one here on his side to speak for him, which kept Conner a nervous wreck while he waited silently by Tommy’s open window.
Whitney flashed lights to let Tommy know they were ready.
“Go find out,” Tommy ordered. This was another part of atoning–facing the people. The way Conner was handling himself so far was good.
Everyone turned around or observed in mirrors, curious as to Conner’s final fate. It could all end here.
Whitney glared at the boy. “Take off that helmet.”
Conner removed it to reveal a pale skin under scarlet cheeks. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think anyone wanted to see me since I look like my dad.”
It was a reminder that he wasn’t Adrian, but Whitney didn’t need it. “We voted to let you come along, but you’ll be watched until we know if we can trust you.”
“Thank you,” Conner said quickly. “I’ll be helpful. I promise.”
“That’s why we agreed, so be sure that you are,” Whitney warned. “But as far as we’re concerned, your banishment has been lifted, with conditions. This trip is the first step in your probation. The next part comes when you’re in camp and Candy walks by. If we witness one leer, we’ll shoot you and pike your skull on the front gate like Marc did that woman killer. Watch your six, rookie.”
3
“Have you found out anything about her?”
“No, and I’ve tried. She’s great at deflecting questions.”
“I noticed that. Other than Shawn, does she have any friends here yet?”
“She’s had lunch twice with that new guy–Jayson, but that’s it. Even the den mothers have given up.”
Angela was outside the door to the main medical bay. They now had three wide canvas shelters connected for their medical needs. Hilda oversaw one, Dr. Reynolds supervised one, and Millie and Mandy were occupying the third. Those two females had chosen to work together and the doctor was staying busy moving between the three areas.
“It’s a chore to keep watching her. I’m always so tired!”
“I wondered if she should be roaming free. I’m glad she isn’t, but there are a lot of new people. I don’t recognize enough faces at meals.”
In the wing nearest to the main flap, Theo and Candy were talking. Theo’s leg had been casted, but there was no sign of life in it. Dr. Reynolds had declared it paralyzed and Candy had come as soon as Theo was allowed visitors. Candy was keeping him busy with chatter and questions, trying to prevent him from dwelling on his injury, but Angela expected that to fail soon. Theo wasn’t the type to be distracted from the future, no matter how grim.
“Any idea how to keep all those assholes outside the gate?”
“Angela and Jennifer are picking through them. It takes time. How are your shifts with Conner around?”
“Awkward, but getting better. I heard he went with Kendle, so I won’t have to worry about it for a while, I guess.”
“The boss will feel better when the rest of the teams return.”
“They all copied Marc’s order.”
“Yeah, he still sounded pissed. I can’t believe Shawn did that.”
“And in the kids’ camper. Peggy was furious.”
“I heard Angela laughed.”
“Well, didn’t you?”
Angela resumed walking. She’d gotten an update on a few things and she was confident that Candy would keep Theo occupied for at least another day or two. After that, life would distract him. As it was, the crowds outside the gate were making Safe Haven people extremely uneasy. Several of them had come to her this morning to express their concern. Angela had explained about the reinforced gates and the patrol that was staying tripled in that area, but her camp wasn’t stupid. If she kept pushing them to take the refugees, they would rebel with an emergency vote, which was the goal. This was how their future would be for years if they remained in these mountains. Some of the people had even suggested she get rid of the refugees through magic, giving her the sign she’d had to wait for. Her camp was turning away from the idea that Safe Haven could shelter everyone, concluding that there wasn’t enough food and water for that many people, let alone enough Eagles to provide security. Cynthia’s paper had brought the topic front and center. Angela had gone over it last night. Right now, she had to supervise the gate while Marc tried to sleep through the noise. Knowing she would be out here with the Eagles would prevent him from really resting. He would be up long before he should be, to verify that she was okay.
Angela waved off her shadows in favor of both Special Forces teams. This was the first active duty she’d scheduled them for and all fourteen men were lethal. Even the rookies she’d assigned to their teams would shoot first and talk later–exactly what this situation called for. If the mob chose to attack while she was outside, people would die.
Angela waited for Ray, who had Point over the gate, to unlock it, not reacting to his frowns or mutters. She could hear the wildness out there and understood his concern, but this was her job.
Angela entered the first gate and waited to hear the lock click before she entered the reception area. The crowd around this fence was patiently waiting to be evaluated, but the groups behind them were loud and angry that they had to wait in the cold. There were no less than six hundred people here. When Angela scanned them with the witch, she was disappointed to discover that more than half couldn’t be allowed to join them and that was just from obvious problems. The bright glow of thievery, abuse, and corruption was unmistakable–especially in the group that had moved up during the night.
Angela read the sentry notes on them, frowning as she found out they’d taken over two smaller camps and forced them to give up the location by Safe Haven’s gate. The women in the captive clan had been abused before the Eagles could interfere. The offenders in the large group had been grabbed, shot, and added to Marc’s gruesome display, but the notes said he wouldn’t do it again. Sending men outside at night was a big mistake.
Angela sat down between four Eagles with rifles in hand, glad of the fencing between her and the mob. As she regarded the next notes, the noise pushed in on her. This crowd was dangerous. She couldn’t let her medical personnel come outside today. It wasn’t safe, even with the patrols and fences. As it was, Angela wanted to go back in now, but knew it might trigger a negative reaction. She needed to appear in control and she signaled the next group of refugees forward through the cold wind.
“No, you won’t be able to carry a gun unless you’re an Eagle.”
“Then I want to be an Eagle!”
“That’ll be a while. We have to make sure we can trust you.”
In the next little cage over, Jennifer sounded like she’d almost had enough of repeating the same answers. Angela understood.
Jennifer sighed, pushing a paper under the small gap between the fence and table. “Fill this out.”
She placed a yellow card on the table as well. “You’re being assigned to Zone A. If you can follow the rules and prove you’re a good person, you’ll get into a better zone and maybe make it inside.”
Jennifer’s words told Angela the man probably wasn’t capable of being reformed, but it was clear that the teenager was tired of sending people to Zone C.
“Take a break,” Angela ordered.
“Thank you.” Jennifer rose right away. The tension out here, combined with the noise, had given her a nasty headache that interfered with reading people’s thoughts. She also kept getting snatches of a conversation happening inside Safe Haven, but the words about C-4 made no sense to her. They couldn’t blow up six hundred people.
Angela studied the man in front of her without any change in expression at the burn marks and bruises. The wild expression and knife clutched in his grip said whoever had done it to him was still a threat, and Angela dug deeper to be certain of the choice. She found no issues with the man that Safe Haven couldn’t help and passed him an orange card. Earl would become an Eagle and then he’d never have to feel this way again. She would see to it. “Zone B. Fill this out.”
The noise increased as Angela processed people at a faster rate than Jennifer. Refugee groups moved up as she kept sorting, but the line behind them kept coming. It stretched down the hill and out of sight. As the groups rotated, fights broke out between those moving too slowly and those who were in a hurry. Vehicles were damaged as inexperienced drivers tried to navigate the small spaces, hitting tents as well as people. It was chaos.
Angela felt the tension increase among her guards as the next group came through the steady wind to be evaluated. The ten men were quiet and alert, heavily armed with smirks that warned of bad intentions. They strolled toward her in a line that cleared a quick path through the refugees.
Angela’s Eagles stood up, glowering.
Angela didn’t need to scan the men, but she did anyway to be positive later. Without someone to beat her plans off, she was having doubts in a few areas and the refugees were a part of that–mostly because of the women and kids. Behind the men, but still a part of that smirking group, were four females that Angela hated to assign to the same zone, but she had no choice. The women appeared to be just as corrupt as their men, and no amount of survival skills or pregnancies were worth letting that type of evil into her peaceful herd.
“You’ll all be in Zone C or you can leave,” Angela stated coldly, ready to dive for cover if it was needed. Since being shot, she could no longer depend on her own gun to save her life. The arm worked, but not always the way she needed it to.
“Wait.”
The leader of the men, tall and lean, stepped forward with a pathetic grin. His long coat was tacky with dried fluids that Angela didn’t want to identify.
“Are you sure? We’re good at what we do.”
Angela shook her head, denying him. “Zone C or go. We have no room for you.”
The man scanned Zone C, where an unruly mob was lining the fences to observe the guards instead of going out to scavenge for their needs like Angela and Jennifer had advised everyone to do. “Maybe we’ll stay a bit. See if you change your mind.”
The group left slowly, arrogantly. Refugees scrambled out of their way before the fourteen killers reached them, but Angela didn’t notice. A blond man with furious blue eyes had just appeared in the tree line across the mob of refugees and she couldn’t look away.
4
Adrian stared in shock at the scene. The noise and cold weather had brought him in early, and now he wished he hadn’t left at all. Angela was outside the gate, without Marc. There were hundreds of possible threats here and all that stood between her and them was a few dozen Eagles and some flimsy fencing.
Furious, Adrian whistled. Around him, the remaining soldiers came from the trees to take his flank. Glowering, Adrian marched his men through the mob toward Angela.
Angela tried to look away then, realizing what Adrian meant to do. She couldn’t and she swept him miserably instead. She didn’t reach out or even smile, fighting to control herself. She’d missed him in so many ways over the last month.
Adrian knew. It was the mirror of his soul, the other half that was almost close enough to complete him. The struggle she was going through was only easier for Adrian because of his fury at her being out here.
“You don’t belong here!” Morgan growled from his place by Angela as Adrian approached the gate.
“Neither does she,” Adrian replied firmly.
“We don’t need you!” Kyle insisted from her other side, though he certainly didn’t feel that way.
“I’ll go when she does!” Adrian barked, stopping in front of Angela. He wanted to say a hundred things, to touch her hand and tell her not to blame herself for the coming unhappiness. Instead, he took a sentry position between her and the crowd. His men lined up on either side of them, and Angela immediately felt better. So did the Eagles, though they wouldn’t have admitted it. Traitor or not, Adrian was a force that commanded respect. When he only stood with his back to them, the Eagles stopped protesting.
Angela beckoned the next group forward, heart thumping. She was outside the gate. The bubble wasn’t between them out here. If she wanted to talk with him, she could.
Adrian felt it. He wanted to lock gazes and fall in love all over again, but he resisted those urges. She was in danger. He had to stay alert.
Angela felt his attention shift from her and return to evaluating the new arrivals. She understood this wasn’t a good time, but as the afternoon wore on, she began to sting a bit from his lack of communication attempts. If he doesn’t care anymore, it’s for the best. I’ll walk this line forever before I betray Marc. I’m not bad.
Adrian winced at that blow, stomach churning. As soon as he’d seen her outside the gate, he’d shoved into her mind. Hearing her doubt his need actually hurt.
Adrian swept the remaining people, not liking many of them. He listened to their stories and picked out the details they hadn’t wanted to speak, but so far, there were few good apples here. It was exactly as he’d suspected it would be after the war, when he’d started keeping notebooks. The worst of humanity was tough–enough to survive for almost a year now, and most of it had come upon the backs of others. Adrian was certain there were good people left all over the country, but they weren’t going to come here yet. Safe Haven had defeated the government, but they had also replaced them in ways. Patriots were leery of that type of control. In time, they might realize that Safe Haven was good, but for now, only those who were either desperate or hoping for a free ride would continue to flock. Adrian knew Angela wouldn’t let many of the bad apples in, but he had no idea what she planned to do about the others. He hadn’t covered this in his notebooks because he didn’t have a solution. Truly bad people didn’t leave because you told them to, but Safe Haven wasn’t ready to see their army gunning down hundreds of survivors. Nor was Angela, though he assumed he would be busy later. None of those she’d assigned to Zone C had chosen to leave and there were several ongoing fights there now for control. There was no way he could pick them all off, but he would try to get the worst of the lot.
No.
She must have a plan, he thought. Good! Adrian’s pulse leapt as he realized she was also in his mind, listening. Okay.
Angela didn’t send more.
Neither did Adrian. It was enough that they knew they were connected. The feeling was as incredible as they remembered.
Angela winced at fresh screams from Zone C, but she didn’t order her army to interfere. Only the worst of the worst were being sent there. Even slightly innocent people were being loaded into and around Zone A. Those Angela wanted were going into Zone B, which was next to the main gate. The mob had noticed the placement quickly. It was clear by examining the zones what type of people were in them. Zone B was quiet and happy, cleared for entry. Zone A was nervous, but also quiet, hoping to be found worthy. Zone C was chaos as those who’d been denied refused to leave. Angela had only mentioned the chance of reform to a few of those rough souls and Adrian approved. None of them deserved to enter.
Gunshots rang out from Zone C.
Adrian retreated a bit, providing a better shield for the cage. He gave Kyle a harsh glare that the Eagle responded to with a curt nod. It was time to go in.
When Kyle sent a signal to the men on the rafters, Angela didn’t interfere. The sun was setting, which meant she would have only had time for a few more evaluations anyway. Once the crowd realized the day’s assigning was over, it would get unruly–more so than what it already had been. Angela made a note for the Eagles to remind people over the speakers to lock their gates and doors, and to post patrols against the crowd of men and women in and around Zone C. Eagles were not coming back out here. Neither was she.
Another gunshot echoed, drawing attention and fear.
Adrian raised his rifle and took aim. He no longer had to worry over his herd’s approval or wait for orders. He opened fire at the group charging toward the gate and the soldiers around him did the same.
The Eagles followed Marc’s strict instructions for a possible moment like this. They tackled the boss and waited for him to arrive.
Angela was yanked from the cage and shoved down, then covered with heavy bodies. As they piled on top of her, all the vests provided layers of protection that she accepted gratefully as more gunfire echoed. Even muffled, she recognized the sound and stayed still under her guards, as that distinctive noise grew louder. Her arm was curled over her stomach bump and she smiled. Daddy’s coming.
5
“Leave it open and watch your line of fire!” Marc ordered as he and Kenn hurried through the gate.
Marc did a fast scan and found a body-pile of firing Eagles, with Adrian and his men surrounding them. Marc went that way, shooting at the advancing group of refugees he assumed had been refused entry. He shot the closest man and then did the same to the woman behind him. The bodies fell together as Marc aimed for another charging, shooting, screaming target.
“Get inside!” Kenn shouted, and fired at two women aiming for Adrian. He got them both, but missed the man behind them who fired. The bullet tore into Daryl’s shoulder and punched through to slam into the gate.
“Son of a bitch!” Marc’s face was splattered with Daryl’s blood and he shot the offender in the throat as the man charged forward.
“Get inside!” Kenn and the Eagles on the gate shouted.
Their outside team did as they were told, rising from the body pile as Eagles on the inside helped Daryl down from the rafters.
Angela was yanked up and shoved into arms she had never thought to feel again. Even in the din, her skin came to life at the contact, trying to draw from him.
Adrian held her tightly, spinning so that he was between her and the gunfire that continued to blast across the area. Another large group that she’d denied had chosen to join the battle and more were doing the same. The other two zones had locked their gates, but tents were little protection from bullets.
Adrian stepped inside the gates and put Angela on her feet. His hand clutched hers in a jolt of energy that soaked in for a brief second and then he was gone.
“Hey! He can’t go back out–”
Adrian slid out as the gate was slamming shut, ending Kenn’s protest.
Gunfire continued to echo as Angela hurried Daryl toward the medical bay. She hadn’t expected things to go so crazy so quickly. She was very glad Jennifer had already been inside.
“Nice!” Kenn exclaimed, watching from the rafters. “They’re leaving!”
The Eagles cheered as Adrian and his men continued to pick off the people who had started the fight. Others who had considered joining the fray now cowered at Adrian’s fury. He was astounded that Marc had let her outside the gate and he took his anger out on anyone he considered a threat, ‘accidentally’ firing into Zone C to lessen that remaining population as well. He wasn’t a member of Safe Haven. He didn’t have to play by the rules.
The Eagles observed the slaughter in admiration that would have bothered Adrian and Angela had they been aware of it. The war had changed everything.
Angela led Daryl to an empty cot to sit down while she and the doctor worked on his arm, expecting Marc’s reprimand at any point. He’d been on her heels since Adrian set her down in the bloody slush. She could have let one of their medical supervisors handle Daryl, but her guilt wouldn’t allow that. She’d known having people outside the gate wasn’t a good idea, but she couldn’t refuse everyone who came. Some of those sheep are mine!
“Angie.”
Marc’s tone said he was livid. She lowered her head as she cleaned Daryl’s wound. “I’m sorry.”
“You told me you wouldn’t be out there long. You said the Eagles would keep everyone away. You said you’d viewed the entire day and nothing happened.” He glared. “So what happened?”
“I needed a good reason to bar our doors to new people for a little while,” she confessed. “I didn’t see the shootout, though. I also didn’t see him coming back early. Darian must have been an easy target.”
A few cots over, Chauncey began laughing. He had been brought here, under guard, until Angela decided what to do with him. She hadn’t had time to go over Jennifer’s report–she was dreading it– but spending time in the drafty brig wasn’t healthy. She hadn’t decided what would happen to him yet.
“What’s so funny?” Marc demanded of the Keeper, noting the books near his side. The man liked to read about the ocean or he’d heard of Angela’s plans and assumed he would be along.
“It’s amusing that she trusts the one who is out there killing so many, but not the one he was assigned.”
“Are you saying Darian isn’t dead?” Marc demanded when Angela froze.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Chauncey taunted, chuckling. “I have him on my radar, bright and hot.”
Angela’s rage swarmed over the man, effectively shutting down his mirth. He went still and quiet as she pinned him with a harsh glare.
Where are they? Tell me right now! she demanded silently, needing the confirmation of Darian’s location.
Suddenly terrified that he wasn’t going to survive this captivity, Chauncey spilled his guts without more prompting. Safe Haven people were truly ruthless. It was too bad they insisted on being the good guys. They excelled at many of the skills the other side required.