Chapter Twenty-Two

Cold Shoulder

 

 

 

 

1

“We’ve got snow,” Marc said, ducking into the warm canvas. He quickly secured the flap, wondering how healthy it was for Angela to be sleeping in a tent during this kind of weather while she was pregnant.

“Women have been doing it for a long time,” Angela reminded him, stretching out on the bedroll. She’d just woken. Marc had felt her sight go over the camp and linger on him. She still had over an hour before her shift began.

“Has Samantha sent a weather warning?” Angela asked, slowly sitting up.

“Not yet,” Marc answered, handing her a lit smoke and a bottle of water. “She’s still in the medical bay.”

“I’ll handle that soon,” Angela promised.

“We got about an inch. It came in after midnight, stayed light. I opened the trucks and outfitted the night shift.”

“Good,” she praised, yawning. “Have Greg cover it for everyone else. People will want to play in it and they’ll need good coats. Pass out the Gore-Tex bibs and parkas for those working.”

“No sweat. Billy’s group brought trucks of winter stuff,” Marc observed. “Almost all of our crews are home now. Did you already know we’d get snow early?”

“Of course,” she replied, yawing again. “I look as far ahead as I can. So will you.”

Implying he would run Safe Haven at some point. Marc frowned. He’d thought of that over the last couple of months and it had even been mentioned, but he hadn’t honestly thought she meant it.

“You’ll have to be in charge when I get further along,” she informed him, slowly standing up as her stomach insisted she was hungry. “And for at least the month after, but I’ll be there to help. It should be fun.”

Unlikely, Marc thought. He said, “Okay.”

He held her coat and then her arm as she slid shoes on. “Size seven snow boots?”

“Yes,” she answered, smiling a bit at his accuracy. “Thanks.”

Marc escorted her to the restroom and waited, scanning the snowy landscape. Most of the camp was sleeping soundly belowground, with security being rotated every half hour to help them adjust to the cold. Tomorrow, he would make it an hour. After that, he would add an hour a night until they were able to handle a full shift in this weather without frostbite. The gear he’d passed out would help. The Eagles would patrol in the extreme winter gear kits from the bases that Adrian had been scouring along their trek.

Marc saw the usual early morning crews–mess, medical, and security–groggily coming from tents and the cave to discover the snow. Many of them went to layer on more clothes, but some people immediately began to play with snowballs and slides. Marc let them go, despite the noise. Laughter was fine to be woken by in most cases. They were on normal schedules now that the cave was habitable. The rest of the work would happen while they were inside. Marc discerned more shadows coming through the snowy topside from the cave and wondered how many members were already awake. This was the first large test of their bathroom setup and mess down there, as well as the power, water, and security.

Marc keyed his mike. “Update in ten minutes. I’ll come to you.”

Marc felt the wave of nervous activity following his call. It meant he would be inspecting areas to be confident security was handling things correctly. He’d been down in the cave once tonight to check in with each Eagle on duty, and he’d found a tranquil herd that was grateful to be in a warmer environment. For the evenings, he’d put Kyle in charge of cave security and kept Zack topside. Both men were good and Marc had spent the evening planning defenses between handling the new arrivals.

“Many of those?” Angela asked, joining him.

“Two groups. One went into Zone A for you to sort through. The other had slaves. I said no.”

“And sent the message?” Angela asked.

“Yes,” Marc confirmed tonelessly. “I expect a response shortly.”

“Good,” Angela said. “We can’t let them go, no matter what the camp thinks.”

“I agree. We do it now, so we don’t have to do it later.”

Angela knew he considered it to be like the sniper work he’d done before the war, but Marc had chosen the targets and sent out their killer himself this time. Was that bothering him? Angela didn’t want him to be ruined the way that she was.

“You’re not ruined,” Marc stated quickly. “Unless you do it again.”

Before she could respond, Marc said, “I don’t feel guilty over the call. They had slaves on actual chains. America doesn’t need that in any form.”

Angela winced. Hilda and Peggy were currently alone in the medical supply truck discussing that very possibility.

“Angie?”

She looked at him regretfully. “I’m sorry. I am, but it may go that way and I’m not going to interfere if it does. Women deserve the same chance that men have squandered.”

“Do you blame men for the war?” he asked suddenly, still not sure how he felt about that.

“For all wars,” Angela’s witch intoned. “Battles over women were fought by the men who wanted them. Women would choose to have multiple partners, were they given the choice that men flaunt. Men are driven to claim, to own, and it has destroyed society time after time, throughout history. Man cannot change.”

“I don’t believe that!” Angela snapped, angry that the witch would interrupt her answer. “All men are not evil. Go away!”

Marc was more concerned than he let on as he asked, “Rough night?”

“She’s bitter over being fooled by Adrian.”

“Aren’t we all?” Marc muttered, thinking of his own short-lived fondness for the leader. It did make him feel a little better that the witch had missed it completely. Angie’s demon had fallen hard.

“More new arrivals,” radios crackled with Kenn’s tired voice.

Marc keyed his to show that he had heard, and then kissed Angie’s cold cheek. “Call if you need me.”

Her shadows (it was still dark) stayed close as Angela went to the mess truck that was now so deserted it appeared to be just another relic of the war. Angela was a little sad when she compared it to her memories of first joining Safe Haven. The well-lit mess, with great smells and strong company, had been one of the best areas.

Angela entered the truck, latching the door, and found Li Sing and Doug playing Hob Jong.

She grinned at the men. “Good morning so far?”

“Not until I get my knife back,” Doug grumbled, laying down a faded card.

Angela helped herself to one of the plates marked for leadership, enjoying the biscuits and gravy while watching them play. The plate was quickly emptied.

“Have more.” Li gestured without glancing away from the cards. “We had flour come in. I made extra.”

Angela happily took a second plate and a mug of coffee, starting to feel awake. Her stomach was settled now and she finished the meal in peace, staying until the hand was over. She finally left when Doug’s grumbles became shouts and Li’s cute laughter echoed. The two men were becoming fast friends. Angela was glad Doug had initiated it. “Wish he’d do that with Peggy,” she muttered.

Angela pulled her coat tighter, buttoning the top one as she went to the gate to determine which refugees would be allowed in today. They would have to rotate the zones. All medical people would pull doubles. And it still won’t be enough. Angela sighed, shutting down her grumpy morning side. They would do the best they could. Fate would cover the rest.

She joined Marc at the gate and they stared together in surprise at the sight of two Amish buggies struggling through the snow toward them.

The buggies were overloaded with people in long plain coats and plain hats. They waved frantically at the guards when the gate spotlight flashed on from Marc’s motion sensors being activated.

The small buggies slipped and slid on the icy hill. Lanterns guided the straining horses and Angela studied families deeply. It only took a moment to discern that they were simply desperate. She signaled for the guards to put them in the empty Zone B that Brittani’s people would occupy later.

“Wake everyone up.”

The call would get the rest of their medical people going early, hopefully resulting in the Amish group being cleared for the inside zone by the time Brittani’s group got here. If not, Shane would explain why they had to wait for an hour or two. Angela didn’t think it would be an issue. Marc already liked Brittani and Angela was looking forward to actually meeting her.

“Come along?” Marc inquired, holding an arm out.

“You know it,” she gushed, sending a lusty leer his way.

Marc snickered.

Angela slid under his arm as they went to the widened cave entrance that had been temporarily covered with multiple layers of thick plastic. Crates sat outside, holding down the ends while a tarp protected the piles of gear in the center. Before they could go inside, fast steps crunched in the snow, drawing attention from those already coming and going.

Samantha stopped in front of Angela and leaned in to whisper. Around them, cold people went still and quiet–instantly worried.

“We’re ready,” Angela told her calmly. “Have Kenn announce it as soon as you’re certain of the time.”

“Four days,” Sam blurted. “I’m positive of it.”

Angela patted Samantha’s arm soothingly. “We’re ready. Go to sleep now.”

Samantha scowled at her and stormed to the medical bay, not sure why she was angry at Angela. She did need to rest, but each time she let the darkness pull her under, David’s screams were waiting. The guilt over his injury was devastating.

“Is she okay?” Marc asked, waving curious people along, including Tara. The new man–Jayson–coughed and followed her.

Angela sighed. “She will be, in time.”

“Hormones making things worse?” Marc guessed.

“Oh, yeah,” Angela confirmed, entering the cave that still had a slight odor of bleach. “She’s coming out of it, though.”

Marc held the plastic covers aside layer by layer, hoping that was true. They needed all the warning systems they could get, but Samantha was also a strong fighter and a good hunter. All of her skills would be missed if she flipped out. Not to mention what it would do to the Eagles, through Neil and Jeremy and her team.

Nearby, the parking area was already alive with activity. Marc didn’t scan it, positive that Angela had. He didn’t need to see Kendle mooning over him.

Kendle now has more important things on her mind, Angela thought happily. She snuggled closer to Marc as he got started on rounds.

 

2

Bundled against the cold wind, Kendle skimmed the list again.

 

Two vehicles will be delivered.

Collect:

2 weeks rations.

1500 rounds mixed ammunition.

A winter gear crate.

 

There was more, but Kendle was still on the first few items. The tired parking lot sentry–Logan–had directed her to the assigned vehicles and she was very happy with the identical, gray Tahoes. Now, she needed to find out how much room the crate would take. She already had a list of her own to gather along the way, including sailing manuals. She had no idea how to captain a ship and she doubted any of these people did either. Paddling a canoe down a river wasn’t the same as taking a ship across an ocean.

Assuming she should go to the supply trucks to gather the rations, Kendle trotted there briskly, trying to keep warm. The covering of snow was already sinking into her boots as the icy wind chilled her exposed skin. This environment was the exact opposite of Pitcairn.

“Hi!”

Tommy was already at the trucks, along with a small group of people who all waved, smiled, or echoed his greeting.

Kendle stopped, not expecting the friendliness. Even the camp members had learned to avoid her. “Uh, hi.”

He came forward with his hand out. “I’m Tommy. The boss said you’re my XO.”

Kendle shook hands in surprise. She hadn’t expected Angela to give her authority of any kind.

“I was told to keep you busy,” Tommy stated. “Do you mind?”

“No, I like that.”

“Good,” Tommy praised cheerfully. He intended to follow Angela’s orders to the letter. If there was a person worth saving inside all those scars, he would find it. “I have a list for you.”

Kendle took the sheet and got on it before her bad side could come forward. She didn’t make eye contact with the rest of the people gathered by the trucks. It looked like there were a dozen coming, counting her and Tommy. It gave Kendle hope. Twelve was ten more than she had guessed would show up for a trip like this.

Kendle spotted Kenn and Tonya switching shifts on radio duty, kissing and joking cheerfully. It was sickeningly sweet. Kendle kept track of the Marine and noticed the anger of the gate guards when Kenn pointed to the latch. He exited without insults, but the disapproval was clear.

Adrian won’t have anyone left soon, Kendle thought. That should make Marc happy, but I wonder how Angela will counteract it.

Tommy watched her march away, wondering if Angela was reading it right. Kendle was supposed to be a killer if it was needed, but she wasn’t very threatening. Her scars made her seem vulnerable, instead of like a monster.

Hope we don’t need to test her, he thought, turning to the others. “Okay. Let’s get rolling on those lists!”

Next to the parking area, other crews were also preparing for their trips out. One large team was going down to strip the mall Samantha had tried to explore. Another crew was going north for more rock salt. A third team was set to finish collecting the gasoline from the refinery.

“This is Safe Haven refugee camp,” the radios crackled with Tonya’s calm voice. “Good morning! We have a weather alert for everyone in the eastern half of the United States. There is a massive snowstorm coming. Take precautions now. Moving southeast, the storm will hit Georgia in four days. I repeat. This is a winter weather alert. A massive…”

Kendle tuned it out, instead watching the days’ first fuel load come through the gate near the cave entrance. Kendle shuddered. She had carried updates to the guards there, but she hadn’t gone inside and she wouldn’t. Ethan had convinced her that hell was indeed belowground.

According to the mess board, the workers would be filling equipment and devices today, meaning bathrooms would have full water, as would the mess and animal areas. Generators would also be stocked, stoves and all the hanging lamps could be used, and the fire team would act like cats in a room full of rocking chairs as they waited for something to spark or overheat. Kendle approved of having a fire team and she liked Ray, the team leader. She suspected that Teddy, another member of the fire crew, had left the bouquet of wildflowers in her tent yesterday. She remembered him being on duty at that time. The way these people patrolled this place, there was no way anyone had been able to sneak by security. She’d thought about asking if he had, but hadn’t followed through. She didn’t care about gifts, flowers, romance. If she couldn’t have Luke or Marc, Adrian’s roughly knowing hands would fill the void until she could go home.

Crash!

Bang! Bang!

Kendle spun toward the main entrance as the Eagles there opened fire. The sound of a vehicle coming echoed and then the ground shuddered as something big crashed into the gate.

Kendle was knocked to the slushy ground and she watched in blurry pain as men flew from the rafters and landed around her, screaming. The gate held–barely–and Eagles rushed toward them from every direction as the occupants of the truck began to climb the gate. The barbed wire wasn’t a deterrent and the small group dropped into Safe Haven with grins and guns. The six men were from Zone C. They’d gone out last night to find a ramming device, and now they admired the inside of the camp eagerly, running off in different directions.

“Breach!” radios blared. “We have a breach at the front gate!”

The nearest sentries were dazed, injured, or dead. Only the lack of speed had prevented a complete slaughter. Debris and bloody snow sprinkled the ground as Kendle ran forward.

More refugees from Zone C followed the men from the truck, climbing over the semi’s smoking cab. Some of those from B also entered illegally, hoping to be overlooked as one of previous day’s cleared new arrivals.

Kendle ducked behind one of Marc’s new bunkers, where she knew there was ammunition. She took aim on the men who had made it furthest inside their perimeter. If she ran out of bullets, she would use her knife. Moments like this were what she lived for now.

 

3

“Kill them all!” Adrian roared across the chaos.

Every Eagle who heard the command obeyed. Refugees streamed over the idling, smoking semi, but few of them fired weapons. Until the order came, the Eagles had been reluctant to shoot. Two weeks of relative peace had re-sensitized them.

Kenn and Adrian stayed in the tree line, with Conner in the branch between them. The trio aimed for those by the gate, but the tide of determined people never looked their way. Adrian wasn’t certain they even realized someone else was shooting at them. Thanks to the timing of the attack, the Zone C gates had been wide open.

In the other zones, refugees stayed still and low, hoping not to be confused for the enemy.

More gunfire came from inside Safe Haven, along with a fresh scream–this one female. Adrian grimaced, but didn’t fly toward her. He’d been banished and it would take more than Kendle to get him to break that.

Kenn kept firing and so did Conner. The wave of invading refugees slowly diminished as the stacks of bodies grew. Down the hill a bit, the ants came to the entrance of their cavern and observed eagerly.

“Behind the medical bay!” an Eagle shouted.

“Over here!” another man called.

Fresh gunfire swept across the mountain, loud enough to finally get the attention of the dozen or so remaining people climbing over the semi. As the shots continued and more screams echoed, many of those chose to drop from the smoking cab and flee.

Kenn and Adrian didn’t let them escape, hitting retreating forms. These threats wouldn’t be left to haunt them later and the two men didn’t need to speak it, to agree on it. That was how Adrian had taught his army to handle moments like this. Untrained, Conner did what the mentors on either side of him did, enjoying every second of killing.

Adrian lowered to reload, letting Kenn and Conner finish the chore. His gaze went to the small parts of the camp that he could discern through the damaged gate, staring in longing. It appeared that Angela had implemented all of his suggestions and quite a few more. It was devastating that he would never actually get to walk this new Safe Haven on rounds.

“She wants the bugout plans,” Kenn muttered without knowing he was going to.

Adrian wasn’t surprised and didn’t respond.

“We really can’t stay here?” Kenn asked disappointedly. “We can’t make it work?”

“I’d like to keep lying, Marine, but I don’t have the strength,” Adrian responded. “Safe Haven’s time here will be brief and harsh.”

Hating fate, Kenn reloaded his gun. “Figures.”

Kenn trotted to the gate, where the harsh smoke made his nose burn. He climbed into the cab of the truck and got it far enough from the damage that they would be able to work, but he didn’t take the truck any further. It would provide a bit of cover while they repaired the gate, and then Angela would want the fuel it was hauling. Kenn wondered where the fuel team was.

He hit his radio in the brief instant it cleared from orders and requests for help. “Front gate is clear!”

The radio returned to silence for an instant and Kenn hit it again. “All teams report in person. Send a man to the front gate!”

Clicks came in response and the radio stayed clearer as order was slowly restored. Kenn remained on the outside, keeping watch until Angela sent relief. They were very vulnerable to another attack.

In the tree line, Adrian and Conner did the same. The soldiers with them were still staring in shock at witnessing Kenn and Adrian in action together. For these drafted men, their heroes had just become legends.

 

4

“Please follow the Eagles,” Jennifer directed loudly over the hammering and other noises. She pointed. “They will take you to a larger tent and you will be given full access to the supply trucks and the mess for food. Come along.”

Jennifer led the twitchy group toward their waiting den mother escorts, glad when Cynthia took over bringing the quiet Amish group inside. The repair on the gate was ongoing, as was the QZ rotation that Angela had insisted on after the attack. Outside the gate, three full teams of Eagles now stood watch. After three of their men being killed, everyone was tense. Jennifer hadn’t known any of them personally, but she still felt their loss.

Jennifer waited until her entire group had been herded away from the inside zone, and for Cynthia’s clan to be brought into that area. Then, she went outside to Zone A, where the dozen refugees coming in were lined up with possessions and nervous expressions. The rest had been told it was Zone C or nothing. They were currently walking down the cold hill, shouting curses.

“Your turn, folks! Come on now.”

It was a cold, long afternoon for everyone laboring. Jennifer kept the zone rotation going, aware of Kyle tiredly trailing her as he’d insisted on doing until the gate was fixed. It gave her an extra boost of confidence and she was pleased with herself when the chore was finished. Zone C was also being repaired while it was empty, and a roof was being added. The chicken wire would only slow determined people, but it was a resource that Safe Haven had an abundance of, with little use due to the weakness. There was also a second gun tower going up and Jennifer hoped it didn’t have to be used like she’d dreamed about. Kyle had been merciless, but the flood had been unstoppable.

Jennifer signaled to Shane as he helped the new group settle into Zone B, where they were next in line for testing and admittance. She estimated there were three more group in trucks and cars still waiting to be evaluated. She beckoned Greg over. “I don’t know where she wants the rest put.”

Greg handed her a note, profile uneasy.

 

After Shane’s group, tell everyone else there’s a two-day wait. They can camp outside Zone A.

 

Jennifer didn’t argue. The people had to be tested, observed, and then questioned. That took time.

Jennifer gave the message to Morgan, who had taken over as Point man on the gate for this shift. “Keep repeating it until everyone out there gets the message. Then send it over the air.”

Morgan recognized Angela’s handwriting and did as he was instructed.

“There is now a two-day wait to be evaluated for entry to Safe Haven. Please camp around the gates marked with the letter A,” speakers blared.

In front of the gate, three teams of Eagles retreated and raised their guns. The shouts and curses that came from the announcement were intimidating after the calm behavior of their own people.

Jennifer waited with the rest of the Eagles to discover if there would be a fresh attack, but the shouts quickly faded to mutters. Jennifer honed in on some of these.

 

“They’re gonna stop takin’ people in!”

“Yes. Not enough room.”

“Or food.”

“We got here just in time.”

“You think so?”

“Yes. Survivors have been thinking about coming here, but everyone has to come now or risk not making it in before winter sets. This place is going to crawl with desperate survivors.”

“Will we be inside before then?”

“I hope so. Camping out in the open like this won’t be safe.”

 

Jennifer marked the people who had been talking. They were in a small blue truck and had a small child. She saw Kendle still standing nearby, also guarding the gate while covered in blood. If not for her own foray into the gruesome, Jennifer wouldn’t have understood the pain the woman was feeling. It was never easy to face what lurked inside.

Jennifer scanned the pile of bodies around Kendle and then the crew coming to carry them outside. Her gaze went to the line of ants already dragging off the corpses there. Feeding them such an awful diet wouldn’t result in anything good and Jennifer was hoping that Angela had a solution planned. The ants were still getting larger and each batch of hatchlings that emerged was smarter than their parents. It was terrifying, but also fascinating. The earth was undergoing a massive change because of the war. Species were evolving at rates that people rarely witnessed, let alone experienced. Jennifer knew of a few insects that would spontaneously mutate during a scarcity of food, but it was unheard of in humans. She didn’t think the chemicals released in the war could have produced such extreme reactions. Even the instincts of the animals were changing.

Jennifer kept tugging at those mental threads while she patrolled the area. Marc and Angela were in the medical bay now that order had been restored, and Jennifer didn’t want to be there. It still reminded her of giving birth to two babies, but only having one to hold.

 

5

“Samantha, you’re being suspended from Eagle duties for a week as a punishment for your lack of caution, which resulted in the injury of a teammate. Do you accept this decision?”

Samantha nodded stiffly, cheeks bright red. She was standing next to David’s cot, fists clenched in her pockets.

Around them, injured men stared in surprise at the punishment. David had refused to tell anyone exactly what had happened to cause his injury, which usually meant the infraction wasn’t officially handled.

Angela knew that and she didn’t like it. She never had. “Is there anything you’d like to say?”

Samantha shook her head as tears welled.

“So be it.” Angela didn’t let herself soften the blow. Samantha had to learn to follow the rules, but she really had paid enough without the suspension. Sam was being used as an example to their new recruits.

Angela regarded David, tone not softening. “You’ve been cleared to remain in Safe Haven. If you go back to Adrian, you’ll have to stay there.”

David patted Samantha’s arm as he carefully stood up on the crutches the doctor had reluctantly given him a few minutes ago. “I’m leaving as soon as I’m cleared here.”

“You’re cleared,” the doctor stated curtly at Angela’s nod. “Take the medicine, change the dressing, let it heal.”

Samantha helped David out, torn between him and her duty to Safe Haven. Maybe Conner could help him too, but she doubted David would ask. The former soldier was more stubborn than even she was.

Angela gestured to Marc and followed him to the brig, where they were holding the man he had rescued from the house of horror. The man wasn’t locked up, but there were two guards inside the shelter with him.

Their brig was a long hallway with a row of cells welded and nailed to a wooden frame. It was drafty and uninviting, which was perfect for its purpose.

Angela let Marc go in first and he sat down on the small stool in the corner of the middle cell. If the stranger tried to hurt her, Marc would handle it.

“Who are you?” Angela asked as she swept his recovering pallor and empty food dishes. Though he’d been held hostage, he wasn’t really injured. With Marc’s stories of lurkers, she’d expected much worse.

The man slowly sat up on the cot, very aware of Marc’s big body in the space with him. He pushed up against the wall and kept the blanket around as much of his thin frame as he could. “Who do you want me to be?”

Angela had no door into his mind.

Marc gave a shake to indicate that he didn’t either.

“Not being trouble for me would be a great start.”

The man smiled regretfully, stroking his long beard. “I’m afraid I bring that to everyone. It’s just your turn.”

“Turn for what?” Marc demanded. “Who are you?”

“I’m the Keeper,” he replied, holding out a hand. “My name’s Chauncey.”

Angela knew Marc wouldn’t like it, but she still leaned forward and placed her hand in the stranger’s chilly grip.

“Ah…” Chauncey shut his bright green eyes and smiled wider. “I didn’t know that power was female. I sensed you months ago.”

Angela pulled her hand away, worrying over the black void that came up when she tried to penetrate his mind. “Angela.”

Chauncey looked over at Marc. “Then you have to be the Ghost. I wasn’t completely sure. You do an excellent job of dimming yourself, even during sleep.”

Marc grunted, studying and evaluating.

“What is a Keeper?” Angela asked. “We’re new.”

“That, you are,” Chauncey agreed, chuckling. “A Keeper does exactly that–keeps things. Myself, I track descendants.”

“How?” she asked, settling onto the stool outside the open cell door. Marc didn’t want her inside. She could feel that.

“I scan vast distances and determine where descendants are. In the old world, I kept track of the little red dots on my radar.”

“And now?” Marc asked coolly.

“Now, I search them out and place a name to that red dot,” Chauncey informed them. “It’s your turn to be…recorded, if you will, in the official registry.”

“The what?” Marc and Angela echoed together.

Chauncey chuckled again. “Someone has to keep track of things, you know. That’s my purpose.”

“Who gets the information?” Angela asked before Marc could threaten or demand.

“Why, the highest bidder, of course,” Chauncey answered, tone switching to that of a slick salesman. “If you pay the price, the information is nice.”

“How about I kill you instead?” Angela asked softly. “And any others like you.”

Chauncey tiredly leaned against the wall. “I wish someone would. I’m sick of bringing death.”

“How long until it arrives this time?” Angela demanded, using the man’s power as she motioned Marc out of the cell.

“Mere days, lady,” Chauncey responded gravely. “Four days and your soul. I’m also here to record that in the official registry.”

Angela gasped, filled with sudden dread.

Marc locked the cell door this time, scowling. “What?”

“That Maker Call put you on every radar in the world,” Chauncey told Angela gleefully. “I’m here to witness your fall from grace.”

“Witness for who?” she forced out, needing to hear it.

“The Creator. My dreams insisted that I get to Safe Haven and deliver his message. I didn’t expect to be giving it to a woman.”

Angela braced as Marc listened in disbelief.

Chauncey’s face became alive with fury as he shouted, “Murderers will never be forgiven!”

Angela laughed.

The harsh, bitter sound rang through the small jail and chilled even those outside who heard it.

Chauncey and Marc stared uneasily, uncertain what was going through her mind.

Angela slowly calmed down, wiping away tears. “I’m…sorry, but…it’s so funny!”

Marc realized the hormones were helping and waited patiently for it to pass as Chauncey began to glare.

“It’s just that, I was expecting a real threat, like my son or Marc,” she explained, still chuckling. “My soul is already damned!”

“What of your unborn child?” the Keeper asked slyly.

Angela lunged toward the bars, letting her rage be seen. She had just lost three rookies–three fine men–who hadn’t deserved their fate. “Be very careful.”

Chauncey flinched away from the menace and she sent a scornful gaze over him. “I’ll kill you before I let you sell your gifts to even one more person. Pick a side or die. You hold no power here.”

“You’ll never know,” Chauncey taunted arrogantly as he kept his distance. He had already figure out that Marc wouldn’t attack unless he threatened Angela. “You can’t get into my head.”

“Well, I can.”

Jennifer was in the doorway, personal shield glowing pale red.

The sight of her sent Chauncey into an immediate panic. “That’s not possible! There are none left!”

He scurried away from the bars and into the corner, but his eyes never left Jennifer. “There are no enforcers left!”

Surprised by the reaction, Angela called her witch forward. Enforcer?

The witch began to cackle. That explains it! Enforcers ensure that the Keepers stay in line. She’s an enforcer!

Angela smiled a bit at the new information and she swung toward Chauncey with it playing on her lips. “Would you like to change your answers?”

Trapped, Chauncey quickly nodded.

“New arrivals!” the radios crackled again.

“I’ll want a full report,” Angela told Jennifer as she left.

“You’ll get it,” the teenager promised, still staring at Chauncey. “He’ll talk or I’ll gut him like a fish,”

Following Angela, Marc smiled proudly. She got that from me. Safe Haven’s women were not to be trifled with and it was something all of the males here enjoyed. It let them sleep without worrying that their heart would ripped out, like Jeff’s had been.

 

6

“Got a minute?”

Shane spun to find Brittani behind him and he stumbled around the tent peg, tripping in the slush.

Brittani laughed, but quietly, so he wasn’t as embarrassed. She was trying to get her people settled into the fenced zone as quickly as she could so the tests could be handled.

Shane flushed and quickly picked himself up. “I do.”

“The doctor is coming for tests. What happens if he finds something?”

“Depends on how bad it is,” Shane answered honestly. “If you’re worried about Gus, don’t be. We only screen for stuff that can spread.”

The woman gave a relieved smile and returned to her assigned tent. Shane had told her to skip unpacking, that Angela had already approved them, but they still needed to stay at least one night and it would be cold. The light flurries currently splattering them said it would stay below freezing.

“Comin’ in, base,” the radio crackled with Ryan’s voice. He was leader of the missing crew.

Shane turned with everyone else as engines sounded and five bikes carrying the crew drew cheers. They no longer had anyone unaccounted for.

The gate guards were ecstatic. Safe Haven still had roughly a hundred refugees waiting. They needed their men–all of them–to provide defenses if things went crazy again. They couldn’t afford to keep sending them out on rescue parties, or worse, to lose them.

Kenn came to Angela’s side and extended a small notebook.

Angela placed it in her coat pocket and Kenn slipped away to join the group of rookie Eagles carrying supplies to the men repairing the gate. When the others saw him, they would work harder.

“Something good?” Marc asked, already positive the book wasn’t.

Before Angela could answer, Shawn walked by, with Tara and Missy on his heels. Their quiet conversation drew her attention.

“If it had been going faster, that truck would have made it through!” Shawn exclaimed excitedly. “Being at the top of a hill has advantages.”

“But isn’t the den vulnerable to things like explosions and cave-ins?”

“Sure, but we have escape tunnels. I’m sure you’ve seen the guards on them.”

“Yes, I have.”

The trio left earshot, with Missy kicking dust against Shawn’s boots.

“I love you,” Angela said suddenly.

Marc caught the tone and grimaced.

Angela took his arm and led them to a secluded corner of the chaos, but before she could explain anything, another voice broke the cold air.

“I want justice!”

Darian came stomping up to them. “I demand to know the result of the moral board’s vote on the charges!”

“There was no vote,” Marc faced the man coldly. “Your sister was going to create a world of human slaves. We stopped her.”

“You had no right to make the choice!” Darian fumed. “You killed her before she even committed a crime!”

“Did I?” Angela asked icily. “Had she never taken an innocent life?”

Trapped, Darian glared. “Murderer.”

Around them, Eagles and camp members had stopped to gawk in surprise and disapproval.

“I think it’s time you left our hospitality,” Marc stated. He regarded Angela. “Yes?”

“Yes,” she agreed slowly. “I had hoped he would realize it’s wrong to enslave people.”

“Humans are inferior!” Darian snapped, revealing his true nature. “You’re a traitor to your own kind!”

“That’s enough!” Marc growled, moving forward. “Be out of Safe Haven by morning or I’ll make you go.”

Darian wasn’t intimidated by Marc. He didn’t know that he should be.

“Traitors!” he accused scornfully. “Both of you.”

He stomped toward his tent.

“He feels the way his sister did,” Angela confirmed unhappily.

“Will he come back to haunt us?” Marc asked.

She sighed. “Don’t they always?”

“Do you want me to–”

“Yes.”

Marc still loathed using Adrian for anything, but being the executioner was what he deserved. Angela saw Cynthia staring toward Adrian’s site and said, “Have her deliver it. She’s going there as soon as we’re finished with the repairs on the gate.”

Cynthia needed to do the next interview for her paper and she’d requested that anyone but Daryl accompany her. Marc wondered about the conversations that wouldn’t go on the record, but he wasn’t overly concerned. Nothing Adrian did would earn him forgiveness. If they did leave this country, regardless of the situation, Marc wasn’t going to let the former leader on the boat. Adrian might make it to the island anyway, but it wouldn’t be on free ride. Those days were over.

 

7

More refugees came in overnight, but there was no room in the zones. Brittani’s group was inside the gate, and the Amish people had been released into the population with settling partners, but the outer zones had filled up as fast as they’d emptied them.

Marc and Zack got the new arrivals settled as quickly as they could in the blowing snow. Most of the other refugees were asleep as the new group came in and Marc was glad when respectful people emerged from their vehicles and asked for sanctuary. He put them outside Zone B after a scan with his demon and came into the main camp to warm up. The flurries had stayed through the night, as had the stiff wind and Marc recorded the temperature at 27°.

He and Charlie had also done a workout together where the boy hadn’t had much to say. Neither had Marc. They were both too cold and tired for personal drama, so the hour had been peaceful. Tracy had even joined them for the last few minutes and Marc had spent the time studying them. Other than anger over Tracy’s injuries, they were okay and Marc had left them alone in the tent without a chaperone. They didn’t need one.

Marc swept the tent area, nodding to Howard, who had Point over that location. Since Safe Haven was so big, there were three supervisors for each shift and one boss.

That’s me, Marc thought. He hadn’t wanted the job when it was given to him, and he certainly hadn’t been trying to earn it, but he doubted he’d be satisfied any other way now. He was good at this. To do less would be wasting his skills.

The hours before dawn came slowly. By the time the sun started to lighten the sky, another inch of snow had fallen and Marc hoped some rock salt came in today. A few more inches and they would truly be dug-in for the winter with no way down the mountain unless they wanted to go by foot or ski. The salt was going to mean the difference between mobility and death. If they couldn’t get up or down the main road for a year, they would starve.

Marc spotted movement from his perch on the front gate’s top rafter and groaned, “Great. Just what we need.”

In the distance, a line of vehicles was coming. There were at least fifteen cars and trucks, and Marc could already hear the horns faintly echoing up here. In a few more minutes, it would be loud enough to wake the entire camp–hours early. Which meant surly attitudes all day.

“Fucking great,” Marc complained angrily, beckoning Zack over. “Come on. We’re gonna meet some assholes at the bottom of the hill.”

Zack saw the coming people and also groaned, “More?”

Marc didn’t tell him this was just the tip of the iceberg. Safe Haven’s population was about to triple and they weren’t even close to ready for it.