“Miguel?” Sherry asked playfully.
“Girl talk comes out, I hit the road. I can’t deal with tears. Literally. I’m allergic.”
“Well then you’d better run-”
He took off running and then turned at the door to wink at us before walking out.
“He’s crazy.”
“He’s sweet.”
“That too,” Sherry said laughing then sobered. “So, how’s Cain?”
I stiffened and immediately felt guilty. He’d assured me he was over her. I shouldn’t react this way. They were friends long before I came along. We all live together. I gotta get over this.
“He’s ok. I’m letting him sleep. He’s just tired.”
“Speak for yourself, cutie.” Cain walked in behind us and didn’t stop until he was flush in front of me, our toes touching. “I don’t know about you, but I feel great.”
He reached for me, his arm going around my waist, his hand to the back of my neck. He smiled and bent his head down to mine. His lips pressed gently. It was an easy kiss, I think that’s what he meant for it to be. But I felt him hesitate. Then he pressed harder, then his lips parted.
I felt all restraint drain from me like water through my fingers. My hands squeezed his shirt hem in my hands and he kept kissing me. Sherry and I had been in the kitchen alone and I distantly heard a little giggle and a girly cleared throat before footsteps retreating.
Cain had somehow walked us back to the wall. I hadn’t felt myself move but I felt the wall stop me. Once again, I could tell he was being tentative with me. Gentle. I could also tell this wasn’t the end of his list of wants, but he was attempting to reign it in. I remembered we hadn’t had any kisses since we’d been home. Not any ‘we’re safe, we made it home, I’m so glad’ kisses. That must be what this is.
I moved my hand to his chin, his cheek, then around to the back of his head to rub and scratch his barely there hair and he groaned and pressed me further into the wall.
Hmm. I think he likes it.
I do it again and he groans- half growls- again then breaks off and looks at me, touching his tongue to his lip like he needs to figure something out.
“What?” I ask breathlessly and thoroughly amused.
“You’re not gonna make this whole ‘being a gentleman thing’ easy on me, are you?”
“I thought you didn’t want to pollute my ears with filth talk? That’s practically an innuendo, mister.”
He laughed and nuzzled my nose with his.
“You are just so amazing. I hope you know that,” he said softly, his blue green gaze on my blues.
I just smiled.
Then Danny walks in.
“Oh, for Pete’s sake! Can I go in any room in the place and not see the Nature Channel?” Danny said with his hands on his head like he was in pain.
“Please! You and Celeste are twice as bad as anybody in here,” Cain said through a laugh.
“Not the point. It’s like the Love Boat up in-” Danny was cut off as he turned back around to head in to the commons room.
We burst out laughing. Once we settled, Cain smoothed my hair back, tucking it behind my ear.
“If Danny’s complaining, it must be bad.”
“Terribly bad. Aren’t you concerned?” I said mockingly.
“Not a bit.”
He kissed me once more before licking his lips and grinning then he sniffed.
“Is that spaghetti I smell?”
Sherry. Sherry, Baby.
Chapter 38 - Sherry
“Ok. Um, that’s fine, I guess. I’ve just never worked the store before,” I answered Margo not really understanding why she was insisting I learn to operate the store.
“I know. That’s why I think it’s important for you to learn.” Something was definitely going on. She hadn’t looked me in the eye since we’d been talking. “I know there’s a lot of people here but, what if something happened to all of us who do know how to work it? I think everyone should take a crash course, at least one night, just in case.”
Her words were on the verge of a lie. It was the truth but not all of it. I couldn’t really figure it out but...
“Well, you have a point. But you know Merrick. He’s not gonna like this and he’ll probably insist on helping me.”
“Uh..” She looked unsure. What is with her? “That’s ok. He can stay with you if he wants.”
She seemed to be wording things carefully.
“Ok. Well, Lillian, Danny and Celeste have kitchen duty tonight. So I’m free. This afternoon then?”
“Yes. Great. Meet me up there in an hour and we’ll get started.”
“Ok.”
She walked away stiffly. Margo hadn’t been the same since that day she was tricked by the Lighters to ring the bell, causing us to investigate outside and some of us died. I understand her guilt but I wish she’d ease up a little. It’s depressing to watch her be so depressed.
I march out of the kitchen to the commons room to find Merrick sitting with Lily on his lap in the corner. They looked conspiring. I quirked my brow and watched them with intense fascination. I heard Merrick humming and saw him swaying.
Merrick? Humming?
Then I heard his voice stretch together in long baritone notes that sounded strangely like singing.
Merrick? Singing?
I inched closer, trying to look inconspicuous but failing miserably as I stubbed my toe on the record player console.
“Hi!” Lily said cheerily.
“Hi,” I answered and took a seat beside them on the floor. “You two look busy.”
“We are. Daddy’s teaching me a song.”
Daddy... Ahh...
“Really? What song?” I asked then looked at Merrick. “I wasn’t aware you knew any songs.”
“Well, Cain kinda taught me one, on one of our trips to town.”
He cleared his throat, like he was uncomfortable.
“Uhuh. And what song is that?”
Lily took over and belted out the lyrics sweetly, and I was pleasantly surprised. The kid could actually stay on key.
Sherry, Sherry baby. Sherry, Sherry baby.
Sherry baby. Sherry baby! Sherry won’t you come out tonight.
Come out tonight! Sherry baby.
Sherry baby! Sherry won’t you come out tonight.
“Aww. Lily. Thank you,” I could hear the tears choking me response but I held back. “That was so great.”
“I wuv that song! I can’t believe you have a song with youw name in it!” she said amazed.
“I know,” I said, tweaking her nose. “Pretty neat, huh.”
“Do I have a song with my name in it?”
“Well,” I thought racking my brain. “There is a song by the Pink Martinis called Lily, but I’m not sure it’s age appropriate.”
“What’s age appwopwiate?”
Merrick and I laughed.
“It means not for you. You want a snack?”
“Yes, pwease.”
“I see Marissa in the kitchen. Why don’t you run and ask her for some crackers.”
“Ok.”
She skipped away. We need to change her nickname from Bug to Skippy.
I turned to Merrick.
“Margo wants me to work the store tonight. Thinks we should all learn to run it, just in case.”
“Hmm. Well...I see her point. I’ll come with you.”
I laughed, knowing he would.
“I figured. We’ve got about forty five minutes until we need to head up. Got any ideas of what we could do?”
I bit my lip and he smiled.
“Oh I have ideas. But they aren’t what you’re thinking.”
“Are you sure? I’m pretty sure it’s the same.”
I climbed onto his lap.
“Mine involves you lying on your back.”
I felt my eyes bulge.
“Merrick!” I chided.
“In the practice room.”
“What? I don’t think we should-”<
br />
“You’d be on your back because that’s where I’d put you. After I kicked your cute butt.”
“What-” It dawned on me and I looked up to see his teasing smile. “You want to practice. Like, for real practice. My idea was way better,” I grumbled.
“Well, we gotta get some training in some time. And with us in the store tonight, we may as well use this time for it.”
“Ok.” I conceded grudgingly. “Fine. But if anybody is lying on their back, it’s gonna be you, pal.” I poked his chest as we stood up together.
“Says the girl who won’t even take a swing.”
“Ah! Well, I may have to change that rule. Like, right now.”
“Bring it, gorgeous. I’m ready.”
“Ok. Just don’t use your alien mojo on me,” I said backing up like I was scared.
He grinned widely.
“Oooh. You are in so much trouble now,” he rumbled and made an advance towards me.
I took off running. He could have beat me and overtook me in a second, but he didn’t. We ran all the way, him on my heels to the practice room, or old stock room, in the back and then he grabbed me, turning me towards him. He planted a quick kiss on my lips then knocked my feet out from under me, catching me under my back and legs before I hit the ground. Then he laid me gently to the floor.
“You were saying,” he taunted before pulling me up to my feet.
We practiced the holds. The breaking maneuvers. I still refused to punch him, until we were using the practice pillows. I kicked and punched and blocked and felt pretty good when we were done. But sweaty, as predicted.
We took a quick shower and I pulled my wet hair up into a loose bun to keep from having to fix it. I followed Merrick upstairs. I hardly recognized the place.
For one, most of the shelves were empty. We hadn’t been able to get deliveries for a long time. The Taker knew people would avoid going to the store and just do that so he kyboshed the whole thing. So we had been adding items for the store to our normal shopping trips but it’s hard to stock a store that way.
We found Margo behind the counter, wiping. I envisioned her up here, hour after hour, wiping. She didn’t seem like the type to just sit and relax.
She looked up and saw us, he gaze focused on Merrick and not me. Again, she looked uneasy, she swallowed and put on a fake smile.
“Great, you’re both here. Let’s get started.”
She showed us how to work the cash register, an older one. I got it in no time but Merrick was another story. She walked us through and told us what all the switches and buttons were for. How to lock and unlock the doors. Emergency procedures for gas pump issues. Gas being the only thing that can be delivered, she also showed us the paper and procedure for that.
After an hour, my brain was exhausted and I felt like a gooey overfull sponge.
“Ok, Margo. I’m not sure I can remember much more, tonight. We’re here. Let us run things while you go take it easy.”
She still refused to look at me so I thought maybe she just needed a break.
“Uh, well. If you’re sure.”
I looked around at the store. Dead and not a single customer had come in the whole time I’d been up here.
“I’m sure.”
“Ok. Well, be careful.” She hugged me. It felt awkward and desperate. I was starting to think something was wrong that she wasn’t telling us about. “I’ll leave you to it then.”
She left and Merrick looked at me questioningly.
“You noticed that, too?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
“She’s still freaked. I’m sure it’s fine. Ok, what to do now?”
“Shelve chips?”
“Sure. Sounds exciting,” I said with mock enthusiasm.
We shelved chip bags for a few minutes, then Margo stuck her head around the corner.
“Merrick? Can you come downstairs for a minute?”
“Sure. What do you need?”
“I- Can you just come down. Hurry.”
She took off the other way. Merrick followed her quickly, thinking the worst I’m sure. He turned to me before reaching the corner.
“Stay inside, ok? Be right back.”
I nodded.
Not a minute later I heard the door ding to alert me that a customer had entered the store. I shot up from where I was and smoothed the dirt from my pant legs for the floor, making my way to the counter.
“Can I help you?” I asked.
I looked up half way to the counter to see three Lighters standing there watching me. They didn’t look like they were there to buy anything. The last traces of the sun were disappearing behind the afternoon horizon and it cast an eerie glow over the three like angles. But they were anything but angels.
I tried to slow my pulse that had shot up to loud levels in my ears. I smiled and cocked my head slightly when they didn’t answer me. I tried to be flirty or ditsy or something. Anything but myself so they wouldn’t suspect anything.
“Looking for anything specific?”
“Yes. And we’ve found it.” The middle one blurred to me and grabbed me my upper arm. “You. Let’s go.”
He started to tug me away. I wondered if they still had memories of me from the previous Taker. They didn’t say my name. Was the new Taker after me? Was that what they were doing?
“I can’t just leave. I’m working,” I tried to reason.
“Not anymore you’re not.”
He stopped me and looked me dead in the eye. His black eyes widened, focused and darkened even more, if possible.
“You will come with us and there will be no fussing. Understand?”
I realized he was trying to compel me. Well, Lighters don’t really compel but persuade with their Lighter speak. Merrick had explained it all. Taker’s compel. But it was apparent I was still supposed to feel some kinda pull and do what he said. He sat there looking at me close and expectantly. It was then I got it. They had no idea who I was or they’d know I was a rebel and immune to the Lighter speak. They didn’t remember me.
So what were they doing with me?
I did the only thing I could think of. Pretend. If I didn’t go along with them. If I tried to run, they would catch me and they’d find the others. It’d be an ambush, surprise attack. And they’ll know we’re here if they got away and could come back to finish the job.
I begged silently for Merrick to come back. But I could stall no longer. There was no way to alert Merrick without letting the Lighters know others were here.
“Ok. Yes, I understand. I’ll come with you. Can I leave my boss a note?”
“No. Move.”
I moved, his freezing hand still on my arm as he lead me out of the store front. I tried to keep my face impassive and blank. I wanted to scream. Every vein and muscle in my body rebelled, making me shake but the Lighter didn’t seem to notice. The other two Lighters flanked us as we headed to a small black BMW. It was ironic, my only chance to ever ride in a BMW was with Lighters and I couldn’t even enjoy it.
“In,” the Lighter commanded tersely and pushed my head to get me inside quickly and not gently. “Seat belt. Wouldn’t want anything to happen to you. Yet.”
I put it on as the other two Lighters sat with me in the back and the other one started the car. I looked back at the store once, searching for Merrick’s face in the window, looking for me. Nothing. We drove away and I could hear the gravel crunching under the tires. It was the saddest sound I’d ever heard.
I knew they’d have no way to find me. No way of knowing where I was. And I also knew, they’d never stop looking. Merrick would never stop. Even if it killed him.
We drove for a while, the only light around us were the cars headlights on the road in front of us. No one said a word and the radio wasn’t on. Silence. I was getting antsy, I could see we were heading to town. But other than that, I hadn’t been here enough to remember anything significant about the place. Once I saw lights up ahead, street lights, I leaned forward to see bet
ter. The Lighter beside me pushed me back into my seat and then spoke.
“Now?” he asked.
The one driving met my eyes in the mirror.
“Now.”
I saw the elbow coming from my right before I felt it, but it was too late to do anything about it. My head and face smashed into the window on my left.
And then nothing.
I woke with a gasp and felt a burning sensation on my face. That’s wasn’t all I felt. My eye was swollen and my ear and temple hurt. I blinked hard in the too bright harsh light. I finally focused and saw I was lying on a rough concrete floor. White floor, white walls, white ceiling and nothing else.
I was alone as I looked around. I tried to sit up, but immediately regretted that. My stomach heaved and wretched but nothing came up. I wondered how many times I’d thrown up already to have an empty stomach. I could see stars dancing in front of my eyes and my head pounded like someone was squeezing it between their hands to the tune of my heartbeat.
It was so hot. I was sweating and my shirt was stuck to my body. I pushed back against the wall, as far from the door as I could get. It took me a minute to understand the gravity of the situation. My vision blurred. My stomach still felt queasy. I had a concussion. I knew that much. I remembered the Lighter hitting me, I remembered leaving the store. I remembered everything.
Well, I think I remembered everything. Up until he hit me. Who knows what’s happened since then. How long had I been here?
I wrapped my arms around my knees to press on my stomach. Anything to make the nausea go away. I leaned my head back against the wall, taking deep breaths and tried desperately not to think about Merrick. Danny. Lily.
I felt tears come just thinking their names and the very idea of never seeing them again.
Oh God. Merrick has to know I’m gone by now. Had to. He would be frantic, setting up a search party as we speak. I hope not. Maybe Jeff can talk him down. Talk him into sense. They don’t have a chance in finding me. They’ll just risk everyone else. I hope Merrick realizes that.
What am I doing here? Why hasn’t someone come in yet?
I suddenly realize something and push all thoughts away. Can they read my thoughts through the door? If so, I wasn’t going to just keep feeding them information. Instead, I ran through all the words to every Beatles song I knew.