Mercy (The Last Army Book 1) (19 page)

Crickets chirped all around us from the spacious lawns in the town’s western residential streets. I bit the inside of my mouth as I trailed behind Silvia, eyeing her gun all the way to Karla’s place. Most of the families living in the area had moved out after the demonic attack—at least those who had survived it. I only hoped that enough refugees had moved into the abandoned houses to dissuade Silvia—who obviously knew Tommy quite well—from gunning me down in a reckless act of vengeance.

“Okay, this is it,” I said, looking at the two-story house before me, its white wooden boards glowing in the moonlight.

“Your friend’s very lucky,” Silvia said, facing the house but looking at me from the corner of her eye. “The Colombos used to live here. They had a lovely home.”

“Yeah, it’s a nice place.” I resisted the temptation to ask how she’d known the house’s former occupants. “Anyway, thank you for walking me here.” I stepped toward her, ready to shake her hand.

“Oh, I can’t just drop you off like that. This place is practically deserted. You go inside and do what you have to do, Rebecca. I’ll wait for you here.”

“Okay. Thanks.” I realized there was no point in arguing. I wished I’d have more time to convince Karla to leave with me, but with the guard waiting outside, I’d have to rush things a bit and then sneak out the back.

I marched to the front door and found it unlocked. It creaked as I opened it, the sound amplified by the deathly silence inside. Moonlight poured through the windows, casting soft shadows as it struck the elegant furniture in the living room.

“Hello?” I took a few steps inside.

No one answered. I locked the door behind me, sighing with relief, and tiptoed across the hardwood floor to keep the boards’ groaning to a minimum. The last thing I needed was for Karla’s roommates to wake up, messing up my chances to speak with her alone. I climbed the carpeted stairs to the second floor, sliding my hand over the smooth, wooden handrail. Conspicuously clean spaces along the wall marked where photographs had been, probably family pictures. I briefly wondered what the Colombo family looked like.

Once upstairs, I gently twisted the doorknob to Karla’s room—a child’s bedroom, barely large enough to fit a single-sized bed—and pushed the door open. Karla knelt by the window, her long black hair loose, thumbing a string of plastic beads as she prayed in a hushed voice.

I choked up a little and smiled, a deep sense of sorrow growing inside me. Although my parents and I were technically Catholic, we'd never really prayed at home. The only time in which I heard others praying the rosary was at wakes. I remembered trying to mumble along as a child while the adults prayed in unison. I kept my eyes fixed on the pretty flowers or the long white candles that melted away little by little—anything to avert my gaze from the big wooden box. Grandma, grandpa, auntie, uncle…

Hearing my name escape Karla’s lips a few times as she prayed filled me with discomfort and dread.

She finally noticed me and flinched as if she’d seen a ghost.

“Becca—oh, thank God.” Her lips trembled as her eyes filled with tears. She ran up to me and held me tight against her chest. It was all it took for me not to break down and start crying, as well.

“Listen, Lala, we have to—”

Karla pushed me away. She swung her hand at me, slapping me in the face. I shoved her onto the bed.

“What the hell?” I asked, rubbing my stinging cheek. Drowsy voices came from the other rooms, so I closed the door and locked us inside the cramped bedroom.

“You lied to me.” Karla got up from the bed. “You promised me you wouldn’t go on with your stupid plan, but no! You just had to sneak off with some guys and have some fun, right?” She pushed me against the door.

“It wasn’t like that, Lala,” I said, swatting her hands away. “Listen, that doesn’t matter anymore, okay?”

“It doesn’t matter? You killed someone, Becca!” She grabbed my hands as if they were stained with Tommy’s blood. “The town’s security went looking for me at the hospital, asking if I knew you. When they told me you’d run off with some guys, I thought… I thought something had happened to you.” Karla covered her mouth to suppress a whimper. “Then it turns out you shot someone! They brought me here and asked me a bunch of questions while they searched everywhere, and of course they found your stupid bullets and then asked even more questions.” She pointed her trembling hand at the small night table next to the bed. The drawer had been pried open, splintering it.

“I’m sorry, Lala, but I didn’t—”

One of the medical assistants knocked on the door. “What’s going on, Karlita? Are you all right in there?”

Karla sat on the bed, sobbing.

“Everything’s fine, Karla and I are just—”

“Rebecca, is that you?” the girl asked. I'd probably met her that morning, but her voice didn’t seem familiar.

“I’m sorry, Jessica, we’ll quiet down.” Karla wiped away her tears. “I’ll explain in the morning.”

“Don’t worry about it; I’m just checking,” Jessica said. Whispering came from the other side of the door. The rest of the girls were probably gathered outside.

I sat in the bed, right next to Karla. “I’m really sorry, Karla,” I whispered, looking into her teary eyes. “I screwed up. Believe me, I know that. Even though I shot that boy in self-defense, he’s still dead, and I know it’s my fault. To be honest, I wasn’t even coming back, but—”

“I thought you
weren’t
coming back.” Karla returned my stare. “I’ve been praying for you, wondering if those guys you went with had shot you and lied about you running away. Maybe they’d tried to hurt you, and… oh, Becca, why do you have to be so stupid?”

I burst out in spontaneous laughter, and Karla soon joined in. We shared another hug. It didn’t end in a slap this time.

“You’re right, Lala. I’m stupid. I’m stupid and reckless, and I wouldn’t stay alive for long without your help.” I took a deep breath. “So I guess you’ll have to come with me.”

Karla’s smile dissolved. “What do you mean go with you?” She slid along the bed, away from me.

“We’ve got to get out of this town,” I whispered, sliding toward her. “There’s a safe place a couple of hours from here where we can rest up for a while and then look for somewhere else to stay, as far away from New Jerusalem as possible.”

“No, Becca. Please, just… just give yourself up. I think the mayor wanted to talk to you; we can go to town hall first thing in the morning if you want.” Karla took my hand. “Thank God you didn’t get hurt today, but it’s not safe out there, you know? Dr. Johnson told us that since New Jerusalem was attacked, the army is now focusing on defending the rest of the island from the monsters in the city. It’s pretty much the law of the jungle everywhere else.”

“This town is the only settlement for miles around, Lala,” I said, standing up. “If those things break through the military perimeter again, there won’t be anyone around to help. Besides, when food starts running out, they’re just going to kick us out anyway. There’s not a lot left out there to scavenge, you know? Don’t worry about the mayor, though. I’ve spoken with him and cleared everything up, so…”

I got a sinking feeling in my stomach as I remembered how I’d “cleared everything up” by selling out Mr. Forcellati. I closed my eyes and brushed my sweaty hair back, struggling not to think of what that meant for him.

“Come on, Lala. Let’s just go, all right?” I grabbed her shoulder.

“You say you’re sorry, that you know you screwed up, but you’re still acting like nothing happened.” Karla shook her head. “Why can’t you just—”

A loud series of knocks came from the front door.

“What was that?” Karla asked, getting off the bed.

“It’s probably Silvia, the security guard who walked me here from town hall.” I unlocked the bedroom door. “She’s supposed to take me to Brother Tim’s harem.”

“Wait—what?” Karla grabbed my arm.

“It’s a long story. Let’s just say that I
really
can’t stay in town.” I peeked out the door. The girls had gone back to bed. “Let’s take the back door. I’ve seen the number of guards they’ve got out there, and I’m pretty sure we can slip out of here.”

“I’m not letting you do this.” Karla rushed past me.

“Karla, wait!” I ran after her, but she practically leapt down the stairs. By the time I caught up with her, she’d unlocked the front door.

Karla shrieked, staggering back as the door swung open and slammed against the wall. Silvia stood at the threshold, but she wasn’t alone. She stepped aside, letting Danny through. Three other guys marched in after him; all of them dressed for a wake but carrying guns. I strode toward them and pulled Karla behind me.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, straightening up and scowling even as the warmth drained from my body. “Listen, I’ve talked to the mayor, and—”

“You killed my brother.” Danny grabbed my collar. He yanked me closer to him, close enough for me to smell the alcohol on his breath.

“Wait, Danny, I… I’m sorry for what happened to you brother, but you were there, and you know I didn’t want to do it. You know he was going to kill me. It wasn’t my fault.” I lifted my pale, shaking hands.

Danny trembled with anger, his face flushing blood red. “It wasn’t your fault?” he screamed and jabbed his gun on my side. I gasped in pain and doubled over, but Danny pulled me back up. “You shot my brother! He bled to death in my arms, you bitch!”

“I didn’t mean to,” I said, unable to hold back my tears. “I… I didn’t want to kill him. I thought shooting him in the leg would be okay!”

Two of Karla’s roommates rushed down the stairs, and one of Danny’s friends staggered forward to meet them. They shrieked, covering their faces with their arms.

“Don’t move, or I’ll kill you!” he shouted, aiming a handgun at the cowering girls.

Karla inched toward Danny, her hands in the air. “Listen, you’re making a big mistake here. Please leave before you do something you’ll regret.”

“Karla, get back! They’re not here for you guys,” I said, looking over my shoulder.

Danny cracked a smile, studying Karla from head to toe. “Is this bitch your friend?” He licked his lips as he gave me a sideways glance. Karla swallowed hard and squeezed her fists at her sides. “You know, Becky, now that I think about it, you didn’t hurt me—just a person I loved. Maybe I should pay you in kind. Maybe an accident should happen to your dear friend, just like with my brother.”

Silvia went outside with one of Danny’s friends while the other marched toward Karla. Tears spilled from Karla’s eyes as she backed against the wall. I cried even harder—not out of fear or pain but because I wanted to kill all of those bastards, and I couldn’t.

“If you want revenge so badly, then be a man and kill me, you fucking coward!” I screamed, pulling on Danny’s loose black tie. “These girls have done nothing to you, so leave them alone!”

Danny stared at me, his bloodshot eyes wide open. He let go of my collar but swiftly tightened his fingers around my throat. I clawed at his grasp with both hands, fighting for air. The guys behind him looked at each other nervously, while Karla just stood there in shock. I buried my nails into Danny’s fingers, my gaze fixed on his crazed eyes. Thin streams of blood poured from Danny’s pierced skin, and he finally let go. He closed his eyes and gasped for air, but his face flushed even further.

“Fuck it,” he whispered, and pressed his gun to my head.

The gun’s barrel felt cold against my forehead. Danny’s friends swore and tried to persuade him not to shoot as Karla whimpered against the wall. One of her roommates screamed from the stairs. Tears welled in Danny’s eyes. He gritted his teeth and scowled, gathering courage to pull the trigger. The gun rattled in his hand. I slowly raised my hand to his gun and pushed it aside with my fingertips.

“Danny… I know you don’t want to—”

A shot rang out.

Danny’s gun clattered onto the hardwood floor. Karla shrieked, and I felt her arms wrap around my tightening chest.

“Don’t shoot!” Silvia shouted from outside.

“Oh shit, how did they know we’re here?” one of Danny’s friends yelled, staggering away from the door. Danny didn’t even look back at him but kept his gaze fixed on me as tears streamed down his cheeks. Six men armed with military-style rifles rushed inside the house, all of them wearing white armbands.

“Drop your weapons, and put your hands where I can see them!” one of them shouted.

Danny’s friends tossed their guns and raised their hands, but Danny kept staring at me. Two guards shouted at him to put his hands in the air, aiming their rifles at his chest, but he remained deaf to their commands. In the end they had to drag him outside and then lead his buddies after him in a single file, hands over their heads, like prisoners of war.

I stumbled to the living-room couch and slumped down on it. My body trembled, adrenaline still rushing through it. I breathed in short gasps, massaging my bruised neck. Karla sat beside me, whimpering, and hugged me tightly. I wrapped my arms around her waist, her warmth soothing my wrecked nerves. One of the medical volunteers offered me a glass of water. I tried to smile as I took it but only managed to purse my lips. I took a sip to relieve my dry mouth but spilled most of it all over myself. I dried my chin with my sleeve and noticed how the water in the glass swung back and forth along with my shaking hand.

The two remaining guardsmen swept through the house, looking for more of Danny’s buddies, and then left. Brother Tim arrived once they were gone. He crouched beside me, his brow creased with worry. “Are you all right, Rebecca? You’re not hurt, are you?”

I shook my head.

“I hope you can forgive me. This is all my fault. I didn’t know that Silvia was a close friend of Tommy’s mother. I just found out from one of my people, and… well, praise the Lord we made it in time.” Brother Tim sighed and placed a hand on my knee. I got up from the couch.

“That’s all right, Pastor; everything’s fine, so—”

“No it’s not, Becca,” Karla cut in and wiped her tears before glaring at the pastor from the couch. “Those men almost killed us tonight, and they’ll… they’ll try again unless you lock them up.”

“You must be Miss Lagos.” Brother Tim sat next to Karla with a coy smile on his face. “I promise I’ll make sure that no harm comes to Rebecca, nor to you and your friends.” He rubbed Karla’s back, and she got up from the couch with a muted gasp.

“Yes… thank you, Pastor.” I placed a hand on Karla’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, but we’re still pretty shaken from all this. Do you think it’d be all right if Karla and I went outside for a minute to get some air before discussing what happened?” I pointed to the back door.

“Of course.” Brother Tim got up from the couch. “I’ll check in on the other girls until you’re ready.” His smile broadened as he looked from me to Karla.

This guy is relentless…

“Okay. Thank you, Pastor.” I dragged Karla outside, making sure to close the door behind us.

“I think I’m beginning to understand the whole
harem
situation,” Karla whispered, rubbing her arms as a cold draft whistled by.

“No kidding. He’s actually got Amy on his
team
already.” I looked around for the guards. They were chatting over by the front of the house—well out of sight.

“Jesus. Well, she’s not stupid.” Karla gave me an insulting glance. “But… she did look pretty vulnerable after the monsters' attack on the town.”

“Yeah, and it seems like the good pastor’s got his sights on
us
now.” I grabbed her hand. “This is probably the last chance we’ll get to leave this town, Lala. We’ve got to take it before the pastor or the guards decide to check in on us.” Karla swallowed a knot in her throat.

“I… I can’t, Becca. We’re short staffed in the hospital as it is, and—”

“I promise you there’ll be lots of sick people wherever we go. Don’t be stupid, Lala,” I said and smiled at paying back her insult. “You know leaving’s the right thing to do.”

“Maybe you’re right. Maybe leaving is the best choice, but… at least there’s some sense of order here,” Karla said. “I’m actually sort of happy here, you know? I’m sure we can deal with the pastor if he really steps out of line, Becca.” She bit her lip, looking back at the house.

I embraced her tightly and actually gave her a kiss on the cheek as she turned her face to me.

“I promise I’ll come back for you if things are better away from here, all right?” I said, tears rolling down my face.

“Becca, wait…”

I let go of her and rushed into the neighbor’s backyard. I glanced over my shoulder and found Karla staring at me, hugging herself. No one else seemed to have noticed my escape.

Bye, Lala.

I couldn’t hold back the tears streaming down my cheeks as I ran across the moonlit backyards in the direction of Martin’s cabin. I prayed that I’d be able to keep my promise and meet my friend again in happier circumstances.