From The Ashes (Life After War) (25 page)

Seth let her go for a minute, and then whistled lowly.

Becky's head snapped up at the noise. “What?”

Seth motioned toward the wheel. “Let's go–forward or back, but one of the two.”

Snarling, Becky hit the gas and forced them back into the line of vehicles.

Seth figured if she were already angry, a little truth might not hurt as much. “It's time to rejoin life, Rebecca–to start talking to people again.”

She didn't answer, and Seth didn't push yet. Right now he was the only one she was letting stay close. The other guards and observers were often shouted at, sometimes even used for target practice–the ammunition whatever she found in reach. When Becky said leave me alone, the area cleared.

“
I'll think on it.”

“
Good.” Seth gave the teenager an approving smile and directed them back to the oral lesson they'd begun yesterday. “Eagles rejoice in life. The best moments are to be clung to as a shield against the ugliness that comes with this job.”

Seth paused, “Do you understand what that means?”

Becky shrugged stiffly, following Kyle's truck and ignoring the mobster's glare in the mirror at her driving. “It's how I felt when I s-saw you over Rick's shoulder.”

Seth watched a tear trail down her cheek and his heart shuddered.

Becky turned her head. John and Angela said so much crying was good–a release–but it felt awfully heavy to be healthy. Some nights the sobs were so hard that her stomach hurt the next day.

“
That's not exactly what it means,” Seth stated neutrally, trying not to absorb any more of her pain. It was making him worry over her too much, distracting him from his duties and drawing fire. People were starting to think he was doing what Kyle was. Very few people knew of Becky's rape, and it was easy to misunderstand the assistance Seth felt compelled to give. He wasn't like Neil or Kyle.

“
What did you mean?”

That's why she responds to me
, Seth thought.
Because I let her lead
.

“
I mean good moments that are not a result of something bad. Watching kids play, petting animals, or even enjoying Kenn and Brady doing challenges at the shooting contest. Good things rarely happen outside our borders–you know that. Hold onto the light, and it will ease the hell inside your mind.

“
You really think so?” Becky asked coolly.

Seth didn't back down “Yes. I have my own horrors to handle. All of us do. I've just told you how we survive it, and I think it will help you. Especially if you want to be an Eagle.

Becky scoffed. “After all this, I'd never go beyond Level One, and that won't be enough.”

She's growing up
, Seth observed, hating Rick even more than he already had. “Not if you convince Adrian.”

Silence.

“
Do you want to be an Eagle?”

“
Yes.” Becky sighed unhappily. “And yes, I know he'll give it to me for killing Rick, but I don't want it that way.”

Becky dug through her pockets to find a tissue, taking her attention and both hands away from the road–completely.

Seth hurriedly grabbed the wheel and straightened the truck, heart pounding. John was right to still have her under suicide watch.

“
Did you take the pills John gave you?”

Silence.

“
Be... Rebecca, you need to take the meds until you feel better.”

Becky glanced over at him with fury. “Pills won't fix me. My life is over now.”

Instantly furious, Seth yanked the wheel and sent the truck into the muddy cornfield next to them. They hit a rut and flew up into the air, tilting dangerously.

Becky jerked the wheel from his hand, tugging lightly, and easily regained control. “What the hell, Seth?”

Seth leaned back in satisfaction. When he wanted to play with fire, he knew how to light a tightly twisted fuse. “Why stop us from rolling if your life's over?”

Becky glared, jarred from her depression by panic and anger. “Why are you even with me? Don't you have other duties?!” she snapped.

“
You are my duty!” he sent right back. “And I'm telling you it's time to step up or Adrian really will overlook you.”

Silence... and then, “Angela.”

Seth frowned, eyes going to Marc's Blazer far ahead of them in the line. “What about her?”

“
It's Angela's team–she'll pick it.”

“
And you want a slot?”

“
Oh, yeah, just any slot.” Becky's snort was derisive.

Seth grinned, vaguely aware of how many vehicles had moved closer. Their driving incident hadn't gone unnoticed. “Well, you just showed 'em you can handle an out-of-control vehicle. What would you like her to see next?”

Becky didn't think she had much of a chance at getting the slot, but it was all she had to hope for now. The bright dreams she'd had for the future were gone, left on a charred mattress stained with her blood. She was rolling through the motions as best she could, but there was only pain in her heart. She didn't feel anything else.

5

“
That’s where we’re going,” Charlie muttered, feeling eyes on the convoy as they rolled. He sent the information of the spies directly to Adrian and was shocked when his mom didn't react. Had he slipped that by without her noticing?

“
No, boy.”

Charlie grinned, but just as fast as she sometimes did, fell into that hazy place between then and now.

Angela closed her journal, staring at the battered billboard.

The island paradise being advertised was one that Marc had heard of, but only distantly. “Pitcairn… That’s thousands of miles south,” Marc commented.

Driving, a quick glance told him that Angela wasn’t surprised, and Marc swallowed the denial that wanted to fly out. Where she went, he did.

“
Are there other people there?”

“
A few. One is a woman with scars all over her body. She’s the one he needs.”

Angela frowned, trying to decipher. Charlie had her glazed eyes–that precognitive trance that she was so familiar with–and it felt odd to be on this side of it “Who needs her?”

“
Adrian,” Charlie answered slowly.

“
Is she from the dream you told me about?” Marc asked.

“
Yes. She will come to mean a great deal to all of us.”

“
But especially Adrian?” Marc reinforced.

“
Yes. He needs her more than he knows.”

Angela smothered her unwanted flare of heat. “Are we supposed to go find her?”

Charlie shook his head, laying it back against the seat. “No. She’ll save
us
.”

Marc and Angela exchanged worried looks. To need saving meant that danger was coming, and they’d already had more than their share.

“
Do you know when?”

Charlie’s pitch returned to normal, breathing evening out. “As we recover. With her comes salvation and blood.”

There was silence as they pulled into the parking area of their camp site and waited for the Eagles to secure the area. Marc's eyes never stopped roaming the cloudy, corn-littered farmland around them.

“
All clear, folks,” Mitch gave the okay, after Adrian gave it to him.

“
Charlie to the livestock truck.”

Billy's voice didn't sound encouraging, and Charlie sighed, hitting the button on his new rookie belt. “Copy.”

Charlie liked how the guards were eyeing him closer, paying more attention to his moods, and even calling on him for things. It was what they did with his mom, and the feeling was outstanding.

Marc was aware of Angela’s worry as they climbed from their vehicle, stretching and watching Charlie head off into the lengthening shadows with the wolf at his heels. Marc wanted to offer comfort, but wasn’t sure how.

Angela placed a light hand on his arm. “Together, right?”

Marc nodded, trying not to worry over her hiding how much she was really picking up from everyone. When she'd said her gifts were growing, she hadn't exaggerated.

“
I turned in my tent.”

Marc grinned, leaning forward to press a gentle kiss to her mouth. “I'll get a larger one and set it up.”

Angela nodded against his lips and reluctantly moved away.

The setting sun glinted off her long braid, sending a jolt through Marc's body, and he forced it down. He’d always been attracted to Angie, even when it was forbidden, but he didn’t think he’d ever wanted her more than now.

Marc slowly moved toward the perimeter. At some point, he would get to help her conquer
those
fears, not Adrian.

6

As he got to the livestock truck, Charlie saw Matt in the shadows of the moldy trees. He motioned for him to come along, ignoring the nearby guard.

Charlie grunted unhappily. When would Matt shape up? “Where’d you get the bottle?”

Matt was drunk enough to not care who got in trouble. “Paid Zack’s boy to lift it from the supply truck. Said it was for his old man.”

Matt pulled the bottle out, and Charlie snatched it.

Matt laughed. “Knew you were ready for one!”

Charlie's arm drew back. “I should hit you with this!”

Matt flinched backward and fell clumsily in the dirt.

Charlie tossed the mostly empty bottle to the concerned guard. “Tell Adrian where it came from.”

Billy pocketed it with an approving nod.

Charlie looked at the confused boy on the ground. “If I catch you with a drink, Matt, or even smell it on you, I’ll never speak to you again.”

Matt watched him go through hurt, blurry eyes. He couldn’t do anything right these days. His dad was talking to him again now, but it was only in short scolds and the words were always the same.

“
Why don’t you try out for the Eagles, like Charlie?”

“
Why can’t you be more like Charlie?”

“
Charlie’s parents don’t go through this shit with him.”

The tears started, and Matt ducked away from the hard-faced guard now hitting the button on his mic. They could all go to hell. What did he care?

Charlie stomped toward the shower campers and headed for the area behind them. He ignored the other teenagers that were always trying to get his attention now. There were thick trees here and the privacy to think. There had to be some way to reach Matt and…

Charlie stopped at the waves of fear and anger coming from the small group of women standing behind the campers. Six of them were surrounding one, all former slaves from Cesar’s camp, and Charlie inched closer, wondering who he should call. When he recognized the girl in the center of the little mob, Charlie reached out to the one who would care the most.

Kyle’s response was tormented
. “New group arriving. Can’t get away. Do what I would.”

7

Jennifer kept an arm around her stomach as she faced her attackers, cursing herself for not bringing the gun. These females had been a small threat in the Mexican camp, but here, where women were allowed to come and go as they pleased, they were a serious danger.

“
You didn’t think we’d let you off the hook, did you?”

Jennifer trembled angrily. “None of what he did was my fault. I wasn’t willing.”

Lilly, who had cigar burns dotting her exposed skin, leaned closer. “I told you no magic, and you went and claimed that Italian man anyway! He’s in the chain of command. Ain’t that a surprise?”

Jennifer was aware of their loathing, but also their jealousy. “It’s not my fault they're avoiding you. I didn’t force anyone. In fact, you begged me to do it because you didn’t have the guts!”

Knowing they couldn’t have children had caused Safe Haven’s males to exclude the women as their future mates, due to the need to repopulate. Cesar had cursed them beyond death.

“
I told you no magic!”

Jennifer's own weak control flared angrily. “You think I can't do anything because we're outside, but keep in mind that I'm being fed regularly now. I'm stronger than I've ever been.”

Lilly, once a children’s therapist who’d lost two sons in the War, slapped Jennifer across the mouth. “Not if you're having a miscarriage!”

Jennifer was ready to fight as she was shoved down at Lilly's feet, but the shadow in the grass behind her attackers had another plan forming.

“
Don't hurt my baby!” she shouted.

Lilly hadn't noticed the witness and drew back to punch. “Knew you were too weak right now!”

“
If you do that, I’ll have you thrown out of Safe Haven.”

The male voice made all the women turn, but they snorted, not intimidated by the sight of Charlie or his crossed arms.

Lilly approached him with her hand on her hip. “I know who you are, and you won’t do anything, boy, or I’ll slip inside your mom’s tent while she’s still off-duty and…”

Grrrr....

“
Oh, now you’ve done it!” Charlie warned happily as the bushes parted by his side.