"How do you know I'm smiling?"
"Because I can feel it," she said and smiled. She was right, I could feel hers, too.
"I'm smiling because the most beautiful creature in the universe lets me-"
"Keep it PG, Keeper," she laughed.
"Now who's the perv?" I joked and laughed when she elbowed my ribs. "I was going to say the most beautiful creature lets me try to make her happy."
"You don't try," she whispered. "You do make me happy."
I let my fingers tangle in her hair. "And you make me happy." I pulled on her arm. "Come here."
She came willingly and settled her chin on my chest as she looked up at me. I rubbed her arms and began slowly and with the deep breath that I needed, "When the war comes, and it will, I won't stop you from being a part of it if that's what you want."
Her jaw dropped as much as it could with her chin resting on me. "What? Why?"
"You want me to change my mind?"
"No…" she shook her head, "I'm just confused."
"You've shown me over and over that you're capable. You're amazing and as much as it pains me to say, and frankly, pisses me off, I know that you're here with us for a reason other than to just be with me." Her smile was tentative. "So…if it comes down to it and we have to fight, I'll stand by your side the whole way."
She reached up and caressed my cheek and the stubble on my chin. "I love you, Merrick. And I appreciate that."
I gulped and nodded. "I love you, baby."
"I know," she said and hoisted herself to sit on my stomach. "Whatever happens, Merrick, it was worth it. All of this was worth it."
I sat up to meet her. Even with her straddling me on my lap, her head was still lower than mine. I lifted her chin with my fingers and waited. Her face as she waited for me to devour her in the dark was priceless. I leaned forward and nipped her chin. She gasped the smallest amount, but it was still adorable.
She wrapped her arms around my neck and I knew what was coming. I kissed her with intent. We had all night and if this was truly our last night on Earth, I was about to make it count.
The Day The World Ended
Chapter 29
Sherry
We all gathered around. It was time. Morning had come and we'd all sogged through breakfast and paced and waited. Miguel clicked on the TV as we all stood or sat in huddles. Everyone was present and eager.
This was it. It was almost the time we marked for the broadcast. We would see if everything was for nothing.
Lillian sat beside me and told me she was going to look for Cain, but when I told her what had happened and what we were waiting for, she sat down just as eager to watch our little nine inch TV.
Right then was the normal broadcast that they played on a loop. They mentioned the reward, the rebels, the Keepers as they always did. The time we set came and Miguel pointed at the clock to tell everyone to wait. The minute ticked by slowly, a watched pot that refused to boil, and then it passed. I felt so deflated, I could barely breathe. Lily was in my lap and I was in Merrick's, and if it hadn't been for his presence pressing behind me, I'd have fallen over with disappointment.
I felt his arms encircled us both and he whispered, "It's ok," but before he could finish the picture changed and there I was, clearing my throat and beginning with, "You don't know me…"
The silence of the room was everywhere, as loud as a roar, as everyone waited. When the tape kept playing, Miguel let out a "Whoop!" and that started the cheers. No one even heard what the rest of the tape said, but it didn't matter. The point was that they heard it. All those people glued to the TV at every opportunity so the Lighters could keep poisoning them with their compulsion. Merrick squeezed me and kissed my hair and neck. Lily jumped up and down, though she didn't really understand what it was for. But hey, it was a party, right?
Miguel came and stole me from Merrick's lap and hugged me with my feet in the air. "You brilliant girl!"
"They made me do it," I defended.
"No one could have done it but you." He let me down and looked me in the eye. "You deserved to be the one set these people free. They'll thank you one day."
"Aahhh," I groaned. "They do all know what I look like now, don't they?" I hadn't thought of that. I peeked back at Merrick who was coming to the same conclusion I was.
I was now a target.
Then the last sentence played, "We are the revolution. Join us and take back what was yours in-"
They cut me off. So they finally found it and stopped it, but it was way too late. The news had gotten out, the word received, the message out to the masses. I could have kissed someone! So I did.
Merrick's warm arm held me captive and I relished it. I knew he now had a new thing to worry about, but this was our small victory, our rebellion, and we needed to take them as they came. Jeff soon joined our hug and the whooping and hollering continued for a long while.
Calvin and Frank stopped their victory jig long enough to talk to me. Calvin said, "Sherry, you were great! How does it feel to be a celebrity?"
"I'm not a-"
"Shyeah, you are!" Frank cut in. "Everyone is going to know about that hot chick who stopped the Lighters!"
"Dude!" Calvin hissed.
"What? She's hot. What?" he yelled when Calvin punched his shoulder.
"Don't talk about her like that!" I wanted to giggle. Even Calvin was in for the Sherry Protection Detail. I smiled at them both.
"It's all right. Thanks, Frank…I think. And thanks, Calvin." I slung my arms over their shoulders. "What do you say you help me make some lunch?"
"That's chick's work," Frank complained.
"Oh, really?" I scoffed. "Just for that, you can do the dishes, too."
"Oh, come on! I take it back!"
"Too late," I drawled and dragged them to the kitchen with me. "Open these cans and then I'll show you what to do next."
"You and your big mouth!" Calvin hissed. "I swear, you're not gonna make it in the real world."
"Uhuh!"
I tuned them out and started the noodles. Things were looking up and the bunker was alive with excitement and happiness.
Though I knew it wasn't going to last, I was surprised by how quickly things went downhill.
The TV had been left on and the fuzzy screen played for hours before their regular program finally turned back on. But it wasn't the regular program. One of the reporters was in the streets and zooming the camera right and then left to show all the chaos.
People weren't looting like Miguel had expected, but they were fighting. You could see the people fighting each other, but you could also see a few cornering an invisible body. Finally, finally, people were realizing that things were different about the Lighters. They didn't know how to fight him properly, but there were so many of them that the Lighter eventually went down I guessed, though the Lighter was invisible to their cameras, because they stopped fighting him and moved on.
Once again we sat stunned and I realized then why Merrick had told me that no matter what happened, that it was worth it. Things had to get worse before they got better. I tried to remember that as I ached for all those people who had just learned the awful truth.
Merrick and Jeff stood at the same time. We knew it was time to go. We couldn't let those people just run around like chickens with their heads cut off. We'd said the rebels would be there for them and we needed to be.
Everyone that was going started getting ready to go. Some of us needed to stay. I wondered about that.
But as everyone was running around we began to hear this loud noise. It sounded like footsteps. Big ones. Kay and Max were in the kitchen with me when the first one struck and both looked at each other. I waved my hand at them. "No. No Keeper talk. What's going on?"
"Don't know," Max said and turned his ear toward the ceiling. "A helicopter maybe?"
"That's a big helicopter," Kay mused. "It's moving too slow to be that."
Merrick blurred in and looked around. "What was that?"
<
br /> "That's what we're trying to figure out," Max told him.
Miguel walked in ready for a fight, all tensed and muscles rolling.
"What's the matter?" Merrick asked.
"That's the Graphter," Miguel said and Key gasped. Max nodded and Merrick's eyes got wide. "I'd remember that big boy from anywhere."
"Then they're here," Merrick said solemnly. He looked at me for just a second before kissing the corner of my mouth. He whispered, "Remember what I said." Then he yelled, "They're here! Let's go, people!"
Everyone scrambled around to arm themselves. Pap was handing out the few rifles we had, while everyone else took the guns from the crates. Guns were useless against their kind, but it felt like you were actually doing something to have a weapon in your hands. Miguel was loading every limb of his with straps and stakes and Rylee was helping him, strapping some to the holster for his back. He looked like Van Helsing by the time they were done.
Merrick was loading up his weapons, too. He kept looking up at me, trying to see what my decision was going to be. Lily shook in my arms as she watched everything happen around us. I shook my head at him. I wasn't going…this time. He looked relieved and came to us. He hugged us both and smiled at Lily. "Mommy's going to stay with you this time, but I've got to go."
She pouted, but nodded. "I know. Mommy has to stay anyway."
I frowned. "Why's that, bug?"
"To stay with me, of course!"
I smiled. "Ok. Glad we got that straight." I looked up to Merrick. "You better go," I commented, noting that half the others were already loading up in the elevator.
"I know." He leaned forward and captured my lips, holding my chin. "I love you."
"Love you," I tried not to croak, but did.
"Take care of Mommy, Lily."
"Ok. Bye, Daddy," she spouted easily. "See you soon."
"See you soon," he repeated and walked backwards to the elevator. He mouthed 'Always' to me and I tried to smile for him. He hopped on with the others. Danny came and gave us both swift kisses on the cheek before he, too, was gone. So were Miguel, Jeff, and Ryan. We watched as the men in our lives left for war.
Lily was calm and serene. It was a little eerie. She helped me with the dishes.
Dishes. That seemed so stupid and mundane after what had happened and what they were doing out there now. I felt torn in every way. But then Lily looked up at me from out of nowhere. "Mrs. Trudy says it's time to go now."
I felt all the breath leave me in a rush. "What?"
"Mommy, let's go!" she urged and pulled me toward the elevator.
"What's going on, Lily?" I said harder so she'd stop.
"Ellie's already out there! Now it's my turn. We have to go."
"Lily, stop," I told her and grabbed her upper arms. "Tell me what you're talking about."
"I'm the key," she said softly. "Mrs. Trudy told me. I have to go out there and be with Daddy."
"No," I said and shook my head. "No, Lily."
"Mommy-"
"You're not going out there!" I huffed. "I stayed behind to keep you safe, so why would I-"
She touched my cheek with her little hand and there she was. Mrs. Trudy was there and she was smiling the smile I remembered. I felt a tear escape me. All those dreams…all those visions… "It was real?" I asked.
"Honey child, I can't leave the kitchen until the casserole's done." She smirked. "This casserole is almost cooked."
"You mean-"
"This is going to work? I sure do. But you have to have some faith. Faith that's the hardest kind to have."
"And what's that?" I asked, but knew.
"The kind where you take your little girl up topside and let her finish her task."
"No," I told her, just like I told Lily. "No."
"It's time for the Specials to do what they were made to do."
My lips parted, but no words came. I couldn't…could I?
"She's only four," I argued.
"And you were only four the first time you saved Danny's life, remember?"
I thought back to what she was talking about. "He fell in the pool and I grabbed a hold of his diaper. Not the same thing."
"It is exactly the same thing," she said haughtily back. "You were where you were supposed to be when you were supposed to be. So is Lily. So is Calvin. So is Danny."
I thought about Calvin and Danny outside right now. It didn't seem right, but…it also did. I was torn again and it was beginning to hurt in my chest from all the ripping. "But…"
She hugged me hard. It was her and she was real. She smelled the same, that scent carrying me to a better time and place. "It's time, mamma. It's time you let her finish this thing for us. What we've done and who we've lost," she gave me a pointed look at she leaned back, "won't be in vain." I felt my lips purse to hold in my scream. I wanted to scream for everything that had been done to me and mine. And now they were taking my little girl from me?
She wiped my tear away and smiled through her own. "Sometimes, we have to let go when that's the last thing we want to do."
Then she was gone and I was left looking at my little girl and knowing I was about to take her up the elevator. Merrick would never forgive me for what I was about to do.
I took her fingers in mine and I walked toward the elevator. She hummed as I pressed the button. It was something soft, something sweet. It didn't fit and the eerie feeling I had from before came back tenfold.
I was taking my daughter to the Lighters because my dead friend had told me to. I shook my head. Not only would Merrick never forgive me, but neither would Danny nor Miguel nor Calvin. But I had to.
I had to trust my gut as I always had. Because that whole time that Mrs. Trudy and Lily had been trying to convince me, I hadn't heard one lie come out of their mouths.
Crashing
Chapter 30
Merrick
When we emerged from the elevator, we knew we were in for a big fight. All the Specials and gifted ones had come along with all the Keepers and all the guys who could hold a stake.
We ascended to the roof and looked out. My breaths accelerated into overdrive. I knew they'd come for us eventually. The Lighters weren't known for their mercy or forgiveness, but this was swift punishment. As we looked out at the line of evil coming our way, I knew we'd never make it. Markers lined the sky, Lighters blurred, and Graphters…there were at least five of them.
Miguel hissed and grabbed his scarred leg as he glared up at the Markers so close.
I took a deep breath and started the descent of the ladder. I led with my head high. We had to do this. At least my girls were safe inside and hopefully, the Lighters wouldn't go poking around for more once they were through with us.
The Graphters steps were shaking the building as we made our way down. I looked down the line of my people and then the other way. Everyone was solemn. It must have hit them like it hit me. This was the end, but we were going out swinging as Cain always would say. Too bad my friend wasn't here to see this; all of our family so brave and ready for whatever came their way.
All that was missing was war paint.
Danny stood beside me. He bumped my shoulder with his. I looked at him and he smiled tightly and nodded. "Thanks, man."
"What for, Special?"
"For coming and making my sister so happy, Keeper." He gripped my shoulder. "You're a good man." He emphasized the man and I got a little choked up. I gripped his shoulder, too.
"Danny…you're a good man, too. I've always thought so."
He nodded. "Let's do this."
I glanced down the line again. Miguel and Rylee were gripping each other's hand. Celeste and Danny were doing the same thing. Marissa was crying soundlessly and Jeff was worried about the baby as he pulled her close and kissed her temple. When I thought I'd given everybody enough time to say their goodbyes, I started toward the fray.
They were just past the trees and were just as ready for us and we were for them. I could take it no longer. I looked over at Mig
uel, my partner in butt-kicking. He shrugged and said, "I've been waiting to have another blue with these buggers. Look," he pointed to his pants, "I've even got on my fighting daks."
I laughed, even if this situation. I shook my head. "You know I never know what you're saying."
"I know." He grinned. "Let's give this mongrel mob what for, eh?"
"That I understand." He hugged me halfway and pounded my back. "Good to know you, man."
"Pig's arse!" he argued. "Don’t act like we ain't coming back. It'll all be apples, mate."
I patted him on the back, too. We turned to the war and ran. Miguel's battle cry was a starting point for them all and we ran and yelled. They thought we were an easy target, but we weren't going out without a fight, no matter how bleak.
Some time later, we had compelled them, staked them, been slammed into trees, been slammed into each other, Marissa had them staking themselves and each other, Calvin was flaming them as Ryan protected his back, Rylee was using the balloon bombs and Miguel was stabbing them with his iron rod while shooting at the Markers in the sky. The explosives we had had been dispatched and every bullet fired.
But it wasn't enough.
We’d taken a beating. Everyone was spent and wounded somewhere. I'd been shot in the foot by a Lighter who'd stolen Danny's gun. Danny got a tire iron into the Lighter's back for it, but it made it almost impossible to keep going. Though I tried, it wasn't just me that was barely hanging on.
They corralled us, a bloody beaten mess, into a tight circle and what was left of them stood around us. All the Graphters had survived and there was enough of the others left to make me know what fate was coming.
One Graphter in particular seemed to be the silent leader of the rest. He walked back and forth and repeated the process several times before he spoke. "I can imagine you know why we're here."
"I'm so hot you can't stay away?" Miguel goaded. That earned him a kick in the gut. Rylee glared at the thing and helped Miguel sit up.
"Your little stunt with the video tape." He laughed as if he were aggravated. "We worked really hard to make sure everything was right and all lined up. And in one fell swoop, you destroyed all the compulsion to an entire state and started a riot that will only destroy the people and the town. You shot yourselves in the foot, it would seem." He grinned at me, his black teeth shining. "No pun intended, Keeper."