August Burning (Book 2): Survival (19 page)

“Honey. How old are you?”

“What? Me? Twenty six miss,” the girl said sheepishly.

Adira looked around blatantly, behind her and to the sides. The pair stood alone in the glow of fragile white moonlight that shone though the sole un-blocked piece of heavy glass.

“Don’t call me miss. We’re practically the same age, too. Call me Adira.”

“Ok, Adira. I’m sorry but we can’t have anyone outside at night.”

Adira sighed again, and looked with longing into the darkness. “Hun, listen. I’m going to go outside, but before I do I’m going to explain myself. Then you can do whatever you want.”

The girl placed one hand on her hip, but her eyes softened a little.

“I’ve been cooped up in this building for three weeks straight now, most of it in a single room. I was attacked, you see, by a man, and he broke my ribs. Then I had to kill him
. And I love my best friend to death but I need to get out- breathe that air, that crisp, clean, cold air that I can see right now, through that glass. I need to feel it in my lungs, and I need to take it in. I need to do that, do you understand?  I need to do that.”
Adira exhaled deeply, and slowly, a whistling accompaniment to the officer’s contemplative silence. Adira began moving the wooden beams that acted as locked for the doors out of the way by herself.

After a moment, the officer helped her. “I’ll have to watch you. Don’t go far,” she whispered.

Adira touched the woman’s hand in thanks, and emerged into the early December night. The moonlight was bright, so bright it cast shadows on the frigid ground beneath her feet. Adira took a few steps out, to the middle of the driveway, and raised her hands. She stood in a haze of little snowflakes, which landed in her hair affectionately. She took a deep breath, and the air rushed into her body like in a frigid knife. But it felt good.

There was a single torch moving towards her in the night. A stocky man with a great black beard held it in one hand, and a pistol in the other. He had a great big furry brown hat on atop his shaggy head, and a baby deer with white spots slung over his shoulder, next to a sniper rifle.

Adira shot a glance back to the doors, where the female officer was watching calmly. Adira turned back to the approaching character.

He spoke first, as little snowflakes sizzled out in the yellow flames. “Evenin.”

He didn’t feel threatening. “Good evening,” she responded in a frank tone.

“You from the north? Canada, like.”

She frowned and smiled. “No…. why would that be?”

He pointed at her torso with his pistol. “Well, cuz it’s freezing out here. And you’re wearin’ a funny lookin’ pair of flannel pants, and a t-shirt, with some slippers.”

Adira found herself laughing. “I guess I am. Who are you?”

“Friends call me Billy.” His drawl was thick, and he had to be near sixty years old, despite the stocky frame.

“Did you kill that baby dear, Billy?”

“I sure did. Not too proud of myself, neither. Shoulda let it grow up and then take her down next year. But I couldn’t tell, the sun was setting.”

“You were hunting tonight?”

“Earlier, yes miss. Lieutenant’s got me in charge of the hunting seein’ as I’ve got some real experience on the matter…and I have to produce. Up to me, you see.”

Adira mused, looking at the falling snow. “So you arrived with him. What kind of man is he?”

The stout man was suddenly flustered. She caught him sneaking a glance towards the female officer, who stood just out of earshot. He gestured broadly. “Lieutenant’s a mighty fine man, I think. Strong man. Can be a bit, demanding, I guess you might say, at times. He’s gotten me here today. Alive and breathin’, which is more than all those poor ones out there, stumblin’ round in the dark, can say. Lieutenant’s a fine man.”

Adira narrowed her eyes, “Yes, you already mentioned that.”

Billy huffed.

“I hear he took the guns,” she ventured.

The cheeks puffed up, and he pushed the air out with a wheezing sound. “Yup. Yup he did.”

“Some of us aren’t too keen on that idea.”

Billy shrugged elaborately. “I…I don’t know. Who’s to say, if it’s a good idea or a bad one?”

Adira stared him down. “We are.”

Billy said nothing.

“I don’t know how I feel about it yet, honestly. I just wanted to see what you thought,” she said honestly. “If he means well, it’s probably a sound move.”

“Sound move?”

“A sound move. A good move. Means a good move.”

Billy nodded and stroked his beard. “A good move.” His brow furrowed. “What exactly are you doin’ out here? You alright?”

“No, not really.” Adira kicked some snow.

“Hmmm. Wanna talk about it?”

She looked at him. “No, not really.”

Billy nodded, frowning. “Well, alright. Perhaps I’ll be goin’ then.”

“I have a problem, Billy.”

“Alright what’s on your mind, I’m good at these sorta things.”

“A problem. My problem, is that I’m very…mistrustful of men, in a way.” She had no idea why she was speaking like this; she had refused to talk to the doctor Annabelle, or any of her friends. Even with Jax she was silent. But the kettle was boiling; something had to change. “Let me lay it all out for you, Billy, because for some reason I trust you, and if you don’t mind my saying, you’re a totally ridiculous human being. And I like that.” Billy shrugged with his bushy eyebrows raised.

She continued. “As I was saying, I have a…mistrust of men. All men. It’s like a hatred, almost, but its something else. I hate them, and I hate that they make me feel that way, do you follow? Anyways, I can’t get rid of my hate…and I’m in love with a man. A man who I don’t want to let down. He’s all I have, you see, and I can’t lose him. But a part of me, a part of me I despise, hates him. Do you understand?”

Billy was still frowning, and showed no sign of recognition. Adira continued, “I don’t know how to get over this. How to remove these feelings. If it can even be done. I don’t know.”

Billy said nothing for several long seconds, and Adira was starting to feel like a fool in the snow. But then he spoke. “I don’t know much specific like what you was sayin’. But I do know…I know what you might expect me to say. You might expect me to tell you all bout love, and maybe a lil’ bit on human goodness. And how if you love the man, anything is possible. Let me tell you, miss, ill tell you that’s not how things are. I can’t tell you what you need to do, I wouldn’t know anything about that, but I can tell you that here, and now, and especially in a time like this, these relationships are blurry. Nothin’ but grey, not sharp, black and white like. And love, if I might say, ain’t never black and white. Y’all are young. There are no rules. There’s a bunch of other women in there, some good lookin’ ones too. There come a time when, despite himself, this man you love will start to resent you, even though he knows you can’t help it.” He sighed. “Guess what I’m tryin’ to say is….you needa do whatever you can, to get back to him. Don’t make any excuses. Be stronger than him. He won’t understand, maybe.”

Adira suddenly realized she was holding her breath, and she exhaled. She didn’t know what to say; she was stunned.

Billy held up his hand. “Look miss, don’t say nothing. Lets just go inside, and you go back to him now, for starters. How bout that.”

She shook her head and smiled. “Ok. We’ll do that.”

They took a few steps together, listening to the crunch of snow under their feet.

He stopped her a few yards away from the officer, who was now growing visibly impatient.

He leaned closer. “Miss, you trusted me. Will you trust me again? Don’t give up all the weapons to Lieutenant Agis.” He whispered harshly, staring at her intently. “Listen to me. Do not give up all your weapons to him.” His voice was raw, and it was pleading.

Chapter Thirteen

It wasn’t a very pretty gun. The stock was loose and shook, the pump needed to be greased, and the black paint on the handle was fading. But it had been his for the last four months. He had found it stashed in a closet, hidden among old sheets that reeked of mothballs.

Liam set it down once more, sighing in frustration. He had no problem turning in the weapon; Agis’s idea made sense. His problem was with his brothers, who had now become the banner carriers for all the holdouts who refused to surrender their arms.

They were a motley crew of perhaps twenty, a mix of rednecks that had been duck hunting since they could walk, and men and women who had lost lovers and friends to the infection, or to other humans. Their reasons differed, yet they shared a unique zeal and rallied around Jaxton. He among them was willing and able to stand for their cause. Jaxton, though, had changed in recent months- he was more cautious, with a measured approach, and perhaps even…. anxious.

Liam looked to the cot beside him, lit by streaks of white moonlight that trickled in the windows. He shivered, alone and cold.

He thought it might be December already. Groups of people had already begun abandoning the outer classrooms, which faced windows, for the relative warmth of the inner rooms, with no windows. Even that policy wouldn’t keep them warm for long. The hallways of the school were likely to get almost as cold as outside, on the open ground. The survivors would have to sleep together, in groups, to generate enough heat to keep the rooms warm. There was even talk of people spreading out, occupying the rickety old houses with their plush, musty furniture and wrap-around porches. At least those would have chimneys.

He looked at the weapon again. Such was the success they had had at driving the infection out. The valley acted as a natural stronghold, and few stumbled over the ridges or through the ravines. Was there a real need to keep his gun? Agis’s war parties had swept through all the little winding roads of the central town, and much of the woodland suburbs.

But his friends expected his support. What would Harley expect of him? She had given up her own rifle, though Liam knew she served as a lookout and received another for that duty. He touched the empty space beside him, cool to the touch. He saw her less and less, these days. It wasn’t over though. He wasn’t afraid to defy his friends.

Liam snatched the rifle and tugged his furry construction jacket tight. Agis might still be awake.

He trudged through the empty halls, heading north to the library, where Agis lived in a little annex. A female guard at the lobby doors nodded to him in a stiff greeting. He saw movement across the way in the darkness, a woman with long black hair. Then she was gone.

Liam ascended and emerged into a vast high-ceilinged space on the second story, filled with stale, towering bookshelves. He had been here several times, trying to learn what he could from various tomes on medicine, survival skills, and the like. There, in the back, there was a little trough of yellow light escaping from a door, slightly ajar.

Liam grinned. He would hand over his rifle, and gain Agis’s respect. Then he would apply for one of his units, and make a name for himself. Harley would find her way back to him.

As he neared the door, he heard more than one voice. Drawing close, he knew it was a woman. He tiptoed closer and peered in the door, through a crack.

Under a fiery glow, he recognized that auburn hair. It was being pulled from behind, as Agis sweated and grunted, moving his hips.

Liam didn’t move for several seconds, enraptured by the affront to his senses. His feet were stuck, as were his eyes, which fixated upon her face, upon which was etched a mask of greedy ecstasy. The spell was snapped, and he felt himself trembling.

The gun felt good in his hands. He thought there were at least two shells in it.

No, no. Liam turned on his heel and stalked out between the towers of moldy paper.

He would keep the gun.

…

Adira prodded her ribs with her fingers, and winced.

“Still hurts then.”

She nodded. “Still.”

Jaxton’s brow furrowed deeply, and Adira knew his mind was churning through the anxiety he felt for her well-being.

The corners of her lips turned up at the sign of this shaggy, bearded man fretting away. She would be ok. She kissed him. “I’m going to be fine, Jax.”

He scowled slightly, which she found even more charming.

“I’ll get us lunch, how about that?” She asked softly.

He nodded absent-mindedly and muttered. “Sure, lunch.”

Adira rose carefully and snuggled up in her sweatshirt. She could see her breath, even inside.

Two armed men she had never met passed her in the hall and smiled broadly. Adira shivered, stone faced and disgusted. Don’t look at me, she wanted to whisper. And suddenly she wasn’t feeling very good any more. As she entered the cafeteria, she prayed no one spoke to her. The gods were not kind.

“Adira!”

She kept walking, hoping whoever it was would give up. But he didn’t.

Bennett touched her lightly on the arm and she jumped. “Don’t touch me.”

He held up his hands in surprise. “Whoa. Sorry I didn’t think you heard me.”