“Okay, guys, it’s time for the fun part,” Bill says.
I raise an eyebrow in his direction. “Which is?”
“Stocking the weapons. But I have to clean all the ammo first to ensure our guns don’t jam, because a jammed gun isn’t gonna do us any good.” He swigs his bottle and tries to shove it back in his pants. He misses three times before getting it in.
“When will you sleep?” Grace asks.
“Sleep is so overrated,” he says. “I prefer catnaps.” He shrugs and walks toward the closet where the weapons are stored.
“I’ll stock the food and water,” Grace says.
“Want me to come with you?” I ask.
“No, sweetie,” she says and then winks. “Bill needs your help, not me.”
I know what it’s like inside the hospital. Aside from being on top of the most heavily armed training center, it’s probably going to be dark, and those long hallways and patient rooms could hold anything. So I hope the weapons we have are sufficient for the task.
When Bill enters the weapons closet, he sits down and begins cleaning guns. The potent smell of lubricant fills my nostrils. I join him, watching as he carefully wipes each part down and then, when satisfied, puts them all back together. The entire time, he’s quiet. His eyes focus on his work.
My hands are greasy and black by the time we finish. We set the guns to the side and then begin cleaning rounds of ammunition. The copper tone gleams in the light as I rotate it between my fingers. I don’t usually carry an M4, but Cole seemed pleased to find one here, so I want to make sure it works. My mind wanders aimlessly while wiping down each one.
Keegan probably sat in this very same room and divvied out weapons before the first revolt. He might’ve cleaned his gun. He might’ve said some prayers. He might’ve felt Dad’s presence, guiding him through each step of the planning. I’ll never forget his green eyes greeting mine the morning of the main assault. I imagine him with me now. I need his strength.
I can’t go without you, Keegan.
But you can, and you will, Lexi.
Would Dad want us both to die for this?
Our destinies were decided long before we were able to choose. I think, even if you knew you’d die tomorrow, you’d still fight. Because your conscience, like Dad’s, would never allow you to be at peace if you didn’t.
But what if my courage fails? What if Sutton doesn’t make it? I feel like we’re wasting precious time.
You won’t fail because you’re my sister. And our blood runs the same … vulnerable but steady, not fearless, but courageous under fire despite our fears. Sutton has already made his choice. He’s courageous enough to die. That, alone, should be your inspiration.
I can’t bear the thought of losing my friends.
You’ve got to let that go. Our lives are grains of salt filtered by one large hand. Who we love and what we do doesn’t matter if we forget why we’re here in the first place.
Bill snorts, wrenching me from my thoughts. I jerk upward, dropping the ammo in my hands. It clatters to the floor. Bill gives me a weird look.
“Lusty, you all right?”
“Yeah … ” I wrinkle my forehead and gather up the ammo. My hands shake, and my heart beats fast.
I know Keegan’s right. I’ve got to let it all go—the painful losses of my family, Alyssa’s death from the virus, Sutton’s capture, Grace’s pregnancy, Cole lying about his past, and shooting Amber. All of these things battle for my energy, my attention. But I can’t let them have it. I can’t let the past cloud the task ahead of me.
“No you’re not. I can see it in your eyes.”
“Then why’d you ask?”
“Because I care about you. Not in the way you would hope though.”
“Ha! Thanks, Bill,” I say, giving him a warm smile. “I care about you as well, so please don’t get yourself killed out there, all right?”
“Aw, Lusty, I told you, I wanna be a hero … I’ll die with honor to get this done, if it’s what I need to do.”
“Me too. And by the way … I’m glad you’re here with us.”
“Thank ya. That means a lot to hear you say that. And you know, I might fight you for Zeus when we get out of here.”
“Not a chance in hell, Bill. But we can find you a dog of your own.”
“Now that right there sounds good to me. I’ve always wanted a companion that would put up with my craziness.” He rubs his hands together and then picks up a gun. “Now we’ve got to load these in.”
I place the magazine charger onto the magazine, and with my other hand, I pick up a ten-round clip. Using some force, I push the rounds into place, until the magazine is full. Then I take the extra clips and push them into a belt with seven pockets, each pouch holding two clips. Bill and I fill four belts.
When I’m finished, I whistle through my teeth. “That’s a lot of ammo.”
“And we’re not done yet,” Bill says. He goes to the wall and picks out grenades. We put them on the table, dividing them up for each person.
I grab some magazines for Cole’s handgun and fill them up, just in case he has space to store them in his pants. I pack myself some too. It looks like there are only two pairs of night-vision goggles, so I pull them off the shelf. I’m sure Bruno and Cole will want them for inside.
“How in the world will you be able to run, carrying all this?” I ask.
“Not too worried about the running part.” His admission takes me by surprise, and I step back, surveying the weapons. “The surviving part, now that’s a tad worrisome,” Bill says. I snort.
The door swings open, and Grace enters in a rush. Her forehead glistens with sweat, and her eyes turn to saucers as she lays her gaze on the weaponry we’ve stacked and loaded. She stops and holds out her arms.
“What you got there?” Bill asks.
“I know I said I’d pack food, and I was, but then I found these and thought they’d be helpful … just in case.” She puts three kits on the floor and then kneels and opens one up for us to see inside. “See? They’re blow-out kits … in case someone’s injured.”
“Wonderful,” Bill says.
“What’s in them?” I ask.
“Bandages, one tourniquet each, Quick Clot for helping blood clot faster, gauze … ” she says as she shows me each one. I pick up one package and turn it over in my hands.
“The label says it’s a chest decompression needle,” I say. “I don’t even know what you do with it.”
“Me either, but hey, we at least we have one,” she says. I put the needle back in the sack and see shears, a glow stick, and exam gloves. Afterward, she puts it all back inside the brown pouch and gives it to me.
She stands up and brushes off her pants. “Taking them leaves less room for food and water, but weapons and medical kits are more important.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Bill comes around me and gives her a hard look. “We’ll even out the weight between the five of us. We’ll each have enough to snack on and drink.”
“Hey, Lexi?” Grace says. “C. Hamilton, that’s your father right?”
“Yeah, why?”
“The message on the wall, I read it on my way over, and I didn’t want to just assume it was him.”
“It’s my dad.”
“What’s his first name? If you don’t mind me asking.”
“Of course not. It was Christopher.”
“I’ve always loved that name; it’s strong.”
“Thanks. Me too.”
“Well, if you guys are all right here, I’ll be on my way,” she says. “See you in a bit.” She glances at me, then leaves as fast as she entered.
“Brain break time,” Bill says.
“What?”
“I’m going to take fifteen.”
“Okay.”
Bill slumps against the wall and closes his eyes. Next thing I know, he’s snoring and smacking his lips in his sleep.
I put the medical kits beside the stacks of weapons. My eyes bur
n, and I feel zapped of all my energy. I flick the light off and am about to head into the training room, when I see Bruno and Cole, quietly going over plans for the hospital. I decide to stop next to the doorway and listen.
They sit on the floor, papers laid out between them. Their hushed voices bounce off the low ceiling. Zeus sits loyally at Cole’s side, and Roméo sleeps under a sweatshirt against the wall. The blinking overhead light shows dark hollows beneath Cole’s eyes. Yet, he’s still awake.
“I guess that’s it.” Cole sighs. He folds up a paper. “Our fate rests on tomorrow.”
They gather the remaining papers and tuck them into their clothes. When only one’s left lying between them, Bruno clears his throat. I watch as Cole’s head snaps up.
“Listen, man,” Bruno says, “all joking aside, if something happens to me—”
“Stop. Nothing’s going to happen, all right?” Cole says.
“But if it does, promise me you’ll get Grace the hell out of here. I came into this mess willingly, but her … she’s here because of me. So please … don’t let them … ” Bruno can’t even finish.
I twist the ring around my finger and feel my heart catching in my throat. I’ve never heard Bruno’s voice sound so broken and vulnerable before. And he doesn’t even know the worst part. Cole leans over and puts a hand on Bruno’s shoulder.
“You’re the best damn combat fighter I know. We’re smarter than them,” Cole says. He pulls his hand back, and they lock eyes for a moment. “We are all getting out of here alive.”
I think about their friendship. I can’t even imagine the fire that’s tested it so many times before this. They know each other’s moves, and effortlessly work in small spaces together. They trust each other with their families and lives, like brothers.
“Okay, no more mushy crap,” Bruno says. He laughs and punches Cole in the shoulder, breaking the tension. Zeus’s head perks up.
I laugh to myself until a clatter outside the training room drives my attention away. Grace cusses. She carries a huge backpack and a box of canned goods. I rush out of the weapons room to help her.
“Grace, you’re holding too much weight,” I say, as I pick a few cans off the floor.
“Shhhh,” she says. She rests the box on one knee while reorganizing the cans to balance better. “Don’t baby me in front of him.”
“You really should tell him.”
“No way, not now,” she says.
“Grace, he has a right to know, even if it’s painful.”
“You’re right. He does, and once we’re done with this, I’ll tell him. Timing’s everything with Bruno.”
“By coming with us, you’re putting you and your baby at risk.”
Cole’s jaw drops open, and I realize he must have followed us out, and obviously overheard some things. I put a finger to my lips, telling him to keep his mouth shut. “Please … stay here,” I say to Grace.
“No. I’m coming with you.” Grace’s face dissolves into a perfect smile as Bruno arrives and takes the box from her. “Thank you, darling. There’s no room in my backpack.”
“Looks like we’re set,” he says in his booming voice. “When wifey brings food, I know it’s game time.” He puts his arm around her and pulls her in for a kiss on the head.
I give a strained smile before taking a seat next to Zeus. He rolls over, all paws and fur, almost scratching me in the face with his nails. His tongue hangs out sideways, and I run my fingers over his belly.
After a while, I lie down on the floor and stare at the ceiling. Once, I trained in here. I even danced in here. And now, I wonder if I might die in here. I close my eyes and picture Alyssa in her last hours of life.
I feel Cole’s presence. I open my eyes and then turn to face him, even though I don’t have the energy to talk.
“How long have you known?” Cole asks in a whisper.
“A few days.”
“And she hasn’t told Bruno?”
“No, and it’s not our place to tell him.”
“He has a right to know.”
“Dammit, Cole. I had a right to know. Don’t be a hypocrite.”
“So it’s okay for her to keep a secret from her husband?”
“It’s between them. We should stay out of it. And no, I don’t agree with what she’s doing, but it’s none of our business.”
“His wife’s pregnant. If it were you, and you told others before me, that’d destroy me.” He sounds wounded, lost.
I find myself scooting away from him.
“You’re right. Secrets have a way of destroying relationships.”
He sucks in air and swallows hard. “You’re right. I was wrong for not telling you.” He pauses. “I made a huge mistake, and I’d do anything to go back and make the right choice, but I can’t.”
“Cole, I love you. That hasn’t changed.” Someone hits the lights, and the room goes completely black. “But I won’t be able to forgive you just like that, just overnight.”
“I hope you do,” he whispers, “before it’s too late.”
Zeus paces back and forth. I throw a blanket at him, trying to distract him from whatever got him worked up. He lets out a low, gruff growl. Finally, I push myself up on my elbows.
“What’s wrong?”
He woofs and then nudges my hand. “Grrrrrrrrrrr.” He lets out a very unpleasant noise.
I sit up completely, tossing my thin cover. Reaching over, I shake Cole’s shoulder. He moans as I tug him awake. His covers rustle as he sits up and flicks on a small flashlight.
“What time is it?” he asks. He rubs his eyes with one hand and squints at me.
“I don’t know. Look.” I point to Zeus.
“How long has he been doing that?”
“A couple minutes, at least,” I say.
Zeus’s hair stands straight up the entire way down his spine. He’s fixated on the entrance to the training room, and his eyes glow green against the flashlight. He bares his teeth and keeps woofing. It sends all my senses into overdrive. My body tingles the way it does when something’s awry, and my heart picks up pace.
“I’ll wake Bruno,” Cole says in a tight voice.
But everyone is already awake.
Grace immediately makes for the restroom, but Bruno grabs her elbow. “Something’s happening. You can’t go out there right now.” He pulls out and turns on his flashlight, checking the room for signs of an intruder.
Roméo stares, bewildered by the bright lights flashing in his face. He struggles to his feet.
“What’s going on?” he asks.
“Where’s Bill?” Bruno asks, putting his boots on and gathering his belongings. “Stay here,” he says to Grace. She looks over at me, then Cole, and then takes a seated position against the wall.
A crashing sound reverberates throughout the training room. Cole’s light flicks in the direction of the entrance. We see Bill on all fours, wading through trash. Crazy drunk.
“Here,” Bill says.
My eyes quickly focus on the hallway behind him as Zeus’s woofs grow ever louder. His ears point in the direction of the hallway, his tail stands up, moving back and forth in a rigid motion.
I pull on my boots, hastily lacing them together over my sweaty socks and barely keeping my fingers steady enough to pull the final knot tight. I can’t seem to clamp down on the fluttering sensation going on in my stomach.
“Everyone to the weapons closet. Run!” Bruno says while practically shoving us toward it.
Cole flicks his flashlight onto a lower setting as we scamper across the training room floor toward the weapons closet. Once inside, he shuts the door and stands in front of it. He then instructs Zeus to block it with his massive body.
Something is definitely wrong.
“Load ’em up!” Bruno says.
“Everything?” Grace asks. A quizzical expression crosses her face.
“All of it,” he says. “And do it fast.”
He begins pulling on a vest and shoving grenad
es inside. Every pocket, every possible inch of his clothing is filled with something lethal. He has to be carrying close to one hundred pounds, if not more, by the time he’s done. And that’s before he picks up an M4 and two knives from the table.
After Bruno gets his gear on, he takes Cole’s place, and they rotate getting ready, arming themselves and packing medical supplies and food.
I pack extra magazines for the new handgun I choose and shove them into my pockets and then throw on a vest. It’s a little too big, but it makes it easier to carry everything I need. My hands shake as I shove as much in as possible. This is it. Finally, I push the medical kit into my backpack along with extra food, hoping it doesn’t burst.
When I finish, sweat drips down my nose. I pull at the collar of my t-shirt, but the vest and backpack hold in the heat like a sauna. I examine Cole. He wears a helmet strapped under his chin with night-vision goggles mounted on top. His biceps pop out as he handles his M4, sweat rolling in slick paths down his forearms. He catches me staring at him. I see his Adam’s apple bob for a slight second before he turns his head away, sealing his lips.
My attention’s drawn back to Zeus as his ears shift directions. Cole cracks the door open barely an inch, and then we hear it. Quick thuds move in our direction, so Cole flips the lights off.
“Oh, shit,” he says. “They’ve found us.”
“Let them come,” I say, mostly to myself.
The darkness makes me feel like I’m staring into a black hole. I can’t see any shadows. I clench my gun, but I’ve got no line of sight, just darkness. My mind forms a mental checklist of everything I packed. I’m ready.
More thumping.
Zeus’s growling is constant now. He’s also pacing, ready to attack whatever is out there. But his steps are quiet, like a predator stalking prey, sneaking about undetected.
Cautious whispers echo in my ears. My feet freeze in place. I roll my stiff neck and take deep breaths. If they were friendlies, I imagine they’d want us to know who they are, and they’d be introducing themselves loudly instead of sneaking around in the darkness.
“Move out,” Cole says. “Now.”