Sunshine (6 page)

Chapter 12

Paradise

             
The next week was very enjoyable and actually a little fun. This place felt more like home than anywhere else. I was warming up to Marcus, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t a jerk at times. Sunny was really happy and safe, which was all that mattered.

             
The house really was the perfect place to be right now. There was a boy’s nursery up stairs full of infant toys and supplies. He was having a blast. I had already read him all of the children’s books and he wore a new outfit every day.

             
We had yet to see a Jack. Marcus went out everyday hunting for them, but only ever came back with wild animals. He was an odd character. I hadn’t yet gotten his story and he always avoided my question. There was an extreme amount of mystery surrounding him and being one inclined to gossip I was very enticed. I knew it would be a good story; definitely would be worth the wait.

             
Today I planned on exploring the house a bit more, while Marcus was out hunting. He didn’t want me to go out. Not because he worried, but he said he didn’t want me getting any kills. It would ruin his fun.

             
There was a huge library on the third floor that I had yet explored. The house had obviously been decorated by a woman, because the main theme of the house was flowers. Every knock and cranny was covered with them not to mention the wallpaper, but I liked it.

There were pictures of relatives everywhere, but I didn’t want to find out the story of the people that had owned this house. It seemed too personal and they would be dead. No point in getting attached to a family if it wasn’t necessary. I especially didn’t want to know what had happened to the boy who should have been sleeping in the nursery.

              I had found a walker for Sunny so I set him in it and let him attempt to walk in it. He was just happy to stretch out his legs. There were so many books to choose from in here. I could travel to so many places from this room. But I wasn’t looking for leisurely reading. I wanted information.

             
I found the atlases and world travel books. Most of the books had writing in them and it was evident these people had seen the world. I knew that someday we would have to leave this happy home, so I needed to find out what was next. Marcus didn’t think living on a boat was a horrible idea, but he also thought it would be a last resort option. I figured I would just learn as much as I could, while I had so many books at my fingers.

             
With Marcus travel would be quicker, so we could still head along the coast looking for a boat. He hadn’t yet agreed to coming with us when we leave, but I’m hopeful. I also had a new plan, mountains. If we could find a secluded area up high in the mountains like the Andes in South America, then maybe we would be safe from the Jacks. I know there were large protests from the natives in that area, so most didn’t get the implants. Marcus hated this idea. To him the others were just as dangerous as the Jacks and they were to be avoided.

             
“Emma, Emma.” I heard him scream from downstairs.

             
“Emma, where are you?”

             
I ran out to the stairs with Sunny. “I’m on the third floor with Sunny. What’s wrong? Do you want me to come down?”

             
“No, stay where you are. I’m coming up we need to get in the attic. I’ll bring up your gun.”

             
I wondered what was going on and why I needed a gun. I couldn’t see anything out the windows. He was at my side before I knew it.

             
“Will you please tell me what’s going on?”

             
“There’s a Jack. I think it’s only one. I could hear him just as I was coming in. He should be getting close now. We can hopefully shot him from the attic. The windows up there have some good sight lines.”

             
“Ok how do we get up there?”

             
“Follow me.”

             
He led me into the one of the spare bedrooms and up the ladder. The attic was full of antique furniture. But I could see the windows he was talking about. They were beautiful stain glass. Each one was a different flower design. He opened them all and peered out. Sunny was anxious in my arms.

             
“Come here. There it is.”

             
“Oh yes, I see it.” It was coming down the driveway running at full pace. It looked terrifying. If it got into this house he would destroy it. We were nowhere near the panic room so it was useless to us.

             
Marcus was sighting in on it.

             
There’s no way he was going to make the shot he was still a good 600 meters away and increasing his speed. I would never have been able to make the shot. I was good enough to stay alive, but I didn’t see this as a sport like Marcus did.

             
He took in a deep breath and pulled the trigger. The Jack stood there for a few seconds. I thought he had missed and then it toppled over.

Over an hour later Marcus came back and got us from the panic room. We both wanted to be sure the danger was gone.

“It’s safe now. He was alone. I buried him and covered him with some bleach. It helps cover the smell. Actually th
e weather is gonna help us the most. There’s a big storm brewing out there. It will wash away any evidence of it.”

“That’s good news. You’re a pretty good shot. I would have missed horribly. Where did you learn to shoot like that?”

“Thank you. I’m ok.  I used to be in the Army, but it was short lived. I showed potential so they trained me to be a sniper. I didn’t make it through much training though. I got kicked out, because I have problems with authority. Namely I’m a jerk.”

“Oh
, well, I guess you learned enough.” Sunny was sitting in my lap and reaching for him.

“I think Sunny wants to
come visit. Would that be ok?”

“Sure. Come here little monster.” I handed him over.

“I’m gonna go grab some food. I’ll be back.”

I was starving. I really wanted something warm and home cooked, but I didn’t dare start a fire
now. So I grabbed some of the jerky and canned pineapple. I also made a bottle up for Sunny.

“Do you want anything to eat?”

“Naw, but pipsqueak does.”

“I’ve got him a bottle.
Here.”

Man he was hungry. The bottle was half gone in less than 30 seconds.

“So are you ever gonna tell me your story, Marcus?”

“You share first
, then maybe I will.”

“
My father was a dentist and my mother was a lawyer. I’m an only child and good thing, because they never had time for me. We had money though so I was a spoiled brat. I had just graduated from college and had an internship training elephants when the devices went wrong. I have an implant, but mine’s defective.

I lived by myself for a long time.
I went to look for my parents but their house was empty. I don’t know what happened to them. I think the only reason I survived was luck. Being a spoiled brat doesn’t prepare you very well for life on the run.

I meet Rosa, Sunshine’s mom, when she was about seven months
pregnant. She became like my sister. We hoped to become a sort of family. She died giving birth though. Since then I’ve just been trying to keep the both of us alive.”

“What happened to the
kiddo’s dad?”

“Rosa was raped.”

“Oh. Well he certainly is a cute kid. He’s a pain in the ass and I still say we should dump him to lighten the load, but he is cute.”

“That’s not very funny. Now what’s your story?”

“It’s not that important.”

“Please I’m intrigued.”

“Fine. I grew up with alcoholic parents who were on welfare. My dad was abusive and my mom didn’t give a shit about me. I grew up how I wanted to. I didn’t care about the law. I stole old women’s purses and I robbed the rich houses in my town. I even sold drugs for a while. I never got caught. I learned how to manipulate people. Finally when I was older I discovered I could get whatever I wanted from women. So I preyed on a few cougars. They gave me everything I asked for.

One day I decided I wanted to change. I joined the army, but like I said that didn’t work out. When I got home I again went back into the same life.
I never got any implants didn’t care enough about myself to. Once the Jacks took over I taught myself how to survive. I was use to taking care of myself. There ya go, that’s it for my story. Here take your kid. I’m going to go up in the attic.”

“Wait. Don’t you want to talk a little more?
” I wanted him to tell me more, his favorite color and does he like to take long walks on the beach?

“No I don’t. I shouldn’t have told you that. I can see you pity me. Don’t p
ity me. I don’t need your pity.

He handed over a very sleepy baby and vanished. I
had imagined he was an ex spy or assassin, but no he was just a kid that had had a shitty childhood and did everything he had to survive. I now had a new found respect for the mystery man.

Chapter 13

Silent Treatment

             
Marcus avoided me for the next week. He was now sleeping in the attic. I didn’t know why he was so mad. I didn’t pity him. He had a shitty childhood so what. Sunny was having a worse one than he had. The person he was now was the only thing that mattered and he seemed fine to me.

             
The house was starting to feel like a prison in the silence. I didn’t want to ask Marcus to watch Sunny, so I never went outside. I couldn’t risk his safety. Sunny didn’t seem to mind the house. He was really starting to grow. He could now sit up by himself and he was eating like a horse.

             
I really wondered how long we could stay here. Marcus hunted so we always had fresh meat and he came back with canned goods and other supplies. I had no idea where he got them and when I asked he acted as if I wasn’t there.

Our biggest problem was gasoline
, though. I really didn’t know how much we had to keep the generator going. Plus we needed a stockpile for the truck. I wish this place had solar power. Then I wouldn’t have to worry.

“Sunny, it’s so nice out. I wish we could go outside.”

The sky was a perfect blue, no clouds in sight. There wouldn’t be many of them left. I could see the trees starting to turn red, orange, and yellow. I looked out the window and realized there was still one place I hadn’t explored. There was a very large greenhouse just off the sunroom.

“Let’s go explore. Doesn’t that sound like fun? We need some fresh air.”
He perked right up and smiled at me with excitement.

I grabbed a bag and packed it with some of Sunny’s toys and tucked a rifle into my waistband. I sure hoped there were some flowers alive in the greenhouse. I could only see green from the window.

Marcus had left this morning and I had no clue when he would return. This was really getting old, he needed to get over himself soon and talk to us.

The door to the greenhouse was locked so I had to set down Sunny and break in using a rock. The inside was absolutely amazing. It reminded me of the Secret Garden, it had been aband
oned for many a moons yet it still thrived with life. I could see many of my favorite flowers; pink azaleas, yellow roses, and lavender. The flowers had lost their pruners so they had grown wild. There were vines weaving in and out of the rows. I decided it would be smart to check the area for danger first. It had been so long since I’d done this.

I pulled out my rifle and with Sunny on my hip we explored the greenhouse. The coast was clear. So I headed for the gazebo in the center. It was absolutely beautiful. There were flowers of all kind carved into the wood and painted over by a very talented artist.
I ran my hand over it feeling every stroke of the chisel. I could live in this little slice of heaven forever.