Dark Days: The Long Road Home, a post apocalyptic novel (6 page)

6

Christopher scrambled to gather his wits. The weight of the dark was thick and oppressive, making it hard to think.

He had no idea what he'd done with Gemma's key-light and searching for it wasn't exactly a viable option.

With one arm circled around Megan to steady her, he slowly tilted his head, afraid of making any sudden movements.

His senses had kicked into overdrive. He could smell a musty oil odor mingling with the flowery scent of Megan's shampoo.

“Hang on,” Robert shouted.

A miniature flame flared, then the second, smaller torch was burning. It wouldn't last long.

“Where's Gemma?” Christopher asked.

Donavon's head appeared. “She went with Anne to try and put another torch together.”

Christopher heard the warning in Donavon's voice.

“Megan?” Christopher said softly.

Megan looked up, bumping his chin, her eyes wide and scared.

Hating what he felt he had to do, Christopher made his voice firm. “You need to go up the ladder. Now.”

Grabbing her by the shoulders, he turned her so she was facing the ladder.

“You go first.” Megan stared into the darkness beside them.

“Megan, you can't let your fear overtake you,” Christopher said gently.

“No. It's not that. I – I'm worried I'll fall.”

“You're as good as dead if you stay here.”

“I know. But you need to go first. If – if I fall – I might knock you both off. Please. Go. Before I change my mind. The idea of getting on that ladder on my own...” she broke off, taking a deep breath as she picked up her purse.

She pulled something out, and thrust it at Christopher.

It was her driver's license.

“It has my address on it. Just in case. Becky's dad ... just go. Please.”

“I'll see you at the top,” Christopher said.

“Okay.” Megan managed a wavery smile, then holding her nose to her daughter's head, she breathed in the smell of her. “Mommy loves you baby girl.”

Megan lifted her head. “Go,” she mouthed.

Turning his back on Megan was one of the hardest things Christopher had ever done.

But he also knew there was no way Megan would change her mind. Besides, she had a point. And if she froze, he'd be trapped below her, unable to do a thing about it.

Stepping onto the ladder, he absently kissed the top of Becky's head, before turning to Megan. “Just don't look down.”

Christopher's chest shuddered as he breathed in deeply, and grabbed hold of the ladder. He looked up.

Gemma was back. Her dark hair and sweater faded into the inky surroundings so that her face seemed to float above him.

She looked like an angel.

*
 
*
 
*

Gemma found it hard to watch as Christopher moved slowly and deliberately up the ladder, his body angled to compensate for the child.

So many things could go wrong.

All she could see was the top of his dark head, contrasting with the small patch of Becky's hair in the gloomy light.

“Megan? You with me?” Christopher asked.

“Yep. Don't worry about me,” Megan said. “Just keep going.”

“Nothing in the world can stop me now,” Christopher grunted.

“I'm counting on it.”

The long shadow of Christopher's body blocked Megan's view of the ladder, and Gemma leaned out further, the edges of the jagged wall pressing into her hips.

A sharp twinge stabbed the muscles between her thumb and first finger, and she adjusted her hand.

“I can't hear you,” Christopher said.

“I'm right behind you.”

Christopher looked up, the planes of his tense face distorted by the shadows of the torch. The whites of his eyes flared as he widened them questioningly at Gemma.

Torn – not wanting to put any extra pressure on him – Gemma hesitated.

“No you're not,” Christopher said.

“But I will be. I just – I just want to make sure Becky's safe first.”

Christopher locked eyes with Gemma, tension oozing from his pores. His face was clouded with worry for the young mother.

It was a look she'd seen often when they were together, and guilt flared as the adult in her acknowledged what she'd put him through as a teen.

For the first time, she saw their relationship in a different light, and she felt her heart softening.

If she wasn't careful she'd become a gooey mess and fall for him all over again.

Christopher looped his elbow through the ladder, and twisted his body so he could look down.

“Megan,” his voice was gentle but firm. “It's time.”

“I'm scared,” Megan's voice trembled.

“You can't let your fear beat you,” Christopher said gruffly. “Your daughter needs you.”

Gemma stared at the torch with horror as the light suddenly dimmed, the fear in Christopher's face mirroring her own as his head snapped back.

“How's that torch going?” Gemma hissed.

Robert was holding a thin metal pole steady while Anne and Donavon tied scraps of material to it, their hands bumping together.

“Almost done.” Anne looked a little frazzled as she swiped her brow, the neat knot of her silvery ash-gray hair sitting slightly askew.

Donavon’s large hand closed over Anne’s, squeezing tightly.

“That will have to do–"

In the shaft there was a dull thud, and Christopher cursed. Then suddenly Becky started screaming.

Anne's hand went to her chest. Donavon pulled Anne into his arms, resting his chin on her head.

“Becky?”

Megan's terrified cry tore through Gemma as she spun back to the shaft. This time the cramp that seized her muscles didn't let up. Her arm twisted.

She could only watch with horror as the torch smashed against the shaft wall. Small flecks of material broke away, flaring briefly as they floated down.

“She's fine,” Christopher grunted over Becky's screams. “Your daughter's head is hard as a rock. She clocked me good and proper.”

Wincing, Gemma grabbed the torch with her other hand, alarmed to see that the fragments were barely holding together.

The last threads burned away. The scraps of bandage flared bright red as they fell past Christopher and Becky. Then the shaft was plunged into darkness again.

“Gemma?” Christopher roared.

Gemma's heart contracted. “Quick. The other torch.” She pulled in the metal handle, the tip glowing bright red.

Donavon flicked the lighter several times.

It was dead.

“Shit. What are we going to do?” Gemma could feel panic rising.

“Gemma. Get some light down here,” Christopher shouted as Becky's screams grew louder.

“Becky. Becky?”

The terror in Megan's voice cut through Gemma as she stared at the useless torch.

Anne touched the tip of it to the red ends of the metal handle Gemma was still holding. The bandage smoldered. A small black hole formed.

Then miraculously a bright flame was ripping across it as it consumed the oil.

“Out of the way,” Robert grunted.

Gemma moved aside as Robert poked the torch into the shaft.

Megan – her maternal instincts far stronger than her fear – was half a dozen rungs below Christopher, her voice a soft murmur as she tried to soothe her daughter.

Megan's face looked strangely contorted as she clung to the ladder. Her shoulders shook as she made a strange sort of choking sound.

“What?” Christopher's voice was urgent.

“Nothing,” Megan choked back.

“You're laughing?”

“Would you prefer it if I started screaming?” Megan asked, the fear creeping back into her voice. “Because that could easily be arranged.”

“No,” Christopher said carefully. “I'm just having trouble seeing the funny side to this.”

“It's just,” Megan paused. “I – I think I preferred it when I couldn't see.”

“That has got to be the craziest thing I've ever heard,” Christopher said.

“Well – you've lived a pretty sheltered life then,” Megan responded. “Now move that cute tush of yours before I remember how scared I am.”

“That's the girl,” Robert said.

“You have to admit,” Anne said demurely, “he does have the most delectable rear end.”

“Anne!” Donavon was shocked, but Gemma couldn't wipe the grin off her face.

Anne winked at Gemma. “What – it's the end of the world and I can't speak my mind?”

“Since when have you
not
spoken your mind,” Donavon said, but there was a smile on his face.

“I
can
hear you, you know,” Christopher growled, which only set Megan off again.

“How's Becky?” Gemma squeezed in beside Robert, realizing how quiet the child suddenly was. What if she had a concussion? She'd hit Christopher's head pretty hard by the sound of it.

Gemma immediately regretted her words, but to her relief, it was Megan who responded.

“She screamed herself to sleep. Happens all the time when she's teething.”

It was another ten painful minutes before Christopher's sweat covered face was level with Gemma's, his dark gaze never leaving hers after a terrifying moment when Megan lost her footing.

The shadows in the building had grown so deep that the light cast strange, eerie shadows on the walls behind them.

Robert pulled the torch out, and the walls nearest them absorbed its orange glow.

Gemma normally liked the soft light of fire. But with Megan shaking in the dark below Christopher, it held an ominous quality to it.

“Did I say I liked it better when it was dark?” Megan asked shakily.

“Chin up,” Robert said. “You'll be out before you know it.”

His eyes still boring into Gemma's, Christopher moved to the edge of the ladder.

He was so close. She wanted to reach out and touch him. She squeezed her fists so hard her nails bit her palms. He wasn't out of danger yet.

Christopher's body tensed as Becky stirred. Fear clouded his face.

Becky sighed loudly, and drew her thumb deeper into her mouth. Her rosy cheek mashed against Christopher's chest as she burrowed into him.

“Donavon? I'm going to need your help,” Christopher said, and Gemma started to move out of the way.

“Don't,” Christopher growled. “I need to be able to see you. You're the only thing grounding me right now.”

Gemma nodded, and curled herself around the side of the shaft opening, making herself as small as possible.

Donavon's shoulder brushed against her as he stuck his head in, and somehow Robert squeezed in on the far side, giving them some light as he cast a worried look down at Megan.

The ladder was only about four feet from the opening, but with the open space below him, and nothing to grab onto, it couldn't have been more dangerous if it was a mile. One wrong move and both Christopher and Becky would go plunging into the dark depths below them, collecting Megan on the way.

7

Gemma couldn't imagine a world without Christopher in it. He'd taught her what love was, but in truth he'd done so much more than that. He'd persisted despite her many rejections, slowly cracking away at the hard shell of protection she'd built.

He taught her how to trust – then he took it all away again.

It was a long time before Gemma opened her heart to anyone else, but the walls never quite came back down again.

She'd convinced herself she didn't need anyone. That she didn't need a man to make her whole. That she wasn't weak like her mother.

The funny thing was Christopher hadn't been much older than her hormone-crazed students when he betrayed her.

She began seeing his betrayal in a different light. Especially considering the pressure he'd been under at the time, and the terrible burden of the secret that was the beginning of what tore them apart.

“What do you want me to do?” Donavon asked Christopher, rubbing his chin as he took in the situation.

Gemma gave Christopher an encouraging smile. When he managed a small smile in return it was as though something had lifted away from her, and she felt lighter somehow.

She never realized before how much of himself he'd left with her. She was a stronger person because of him. He'd taught her that letting others in was a strength. Not a weakness.

But the matter of CJ was in a whole other category and something she couldn't think about right now.

Christopher's face was strained. The arm closest to her was shaking.

The canvas strap had fallen over his shoulder. It was only the awkward way he was holding himself that was stopping it from sliding further. His neck was cocked at an odd angle, his shoulder jutting upwards. The tightening of the strap against his bone was cutting off his circulation.

Christopher's voice was low as he answered Donavon, and the light of the fire dancing in his eyes was mingled with pain.

“I'm going to have to cut Becky free.” Christopher paused as his shoulder started shaking uncontrollably. “I'll need you to grab her.”

What they were considering was crazy – risky as hell – and Gemma's brain scrambled for another answer.

“What's going on?” Megan sounded alarmed.

Robert stiffened, leaning out to reassure her. “Just hang tight–”

“Hang tight? You seriously just said that?” Megan snorted, but her voice was thick with fear.

“Bad choice of words,” Robert agreed lightly. “It won't be long now.”

“Don't mind me – I'll just be
hanging
around,” Megan said.

“A comedian, too,” Robert said.

“Yup – that's me,” Megan shot back. “Always the life of the party.”

Meanwhile Christopher and Donavon were still talking, their voices low and urgent.

“Can you reach the belt buckle?” Christopher asked. “I can fasten Becky to the ladder while I cut her free.”

“Not without coming in there.” Donavon's face was grave. “There's just not enough room for us both on the ladder.”

“I could do it,” Gemma said.

Christopher immediately shook his head. “No.”

“I'm smaller than Donavon,” Gemma hissed, her grip tightening on the wall as she studied the ladder. “Robert. I need more light.”

“I said no,” Christopher growled as Robert maneuvered the flame over Gemma's head.

“What? Because I'm a girl?” Gemma voiced her frustration, giving Christopher a pointed look.

“No. Because...” Christopher broke off, pain twisting his features as he moved his shoulder.

“There's a support brace for the ladder just below you,” Gemma said quickly. “If you put your foot on that and shift across I can come down on this side.”

Christopher shook his head.

“You won't be able to cut her free by yourself.”

“What if I do it?” Megan asked.

“No, it would be safer if I do it.” Gemma looked down at the girl.

“It would? Why?”

“Because I didn't just climb five stories up a vertical ladder,” Gemma said as she swung her leg into the shaft.

“Now just hold on a minute,” Robert said, causing another snort from Megan as he pulled Gemma back. “There's got to be another way.”

“Pun intended, right?” Megan said, a definite note of hysteria creeping into her voice.

Robert looked alarmed. But his voice was soft, almost teasing, as he continued his rapport with the teen. “Every pun intended my dear. I had a teenage daughter once, you know.”

“You did?” Megan said.

Gemma glanced at Robert, and though the deep rumble of his voice didn't give him away, something in his face told her this was the cause of the sadness he seemed to carry with him.

“She was a lot like you,” Robert said as he knocked on the wall with his knuckles.

“What? A scaredy-cat?”

“No.” Robert stretched around Gemma, his arm pressing against her as he studied the shaft wall. “She was the bravest person I ever knew.”

“What happened to her?”

“That, my dear, is a story I'll share when we get you out.”

“I'm going to
hold
you to that.”

Robert chuckled. “I'm sure you will. Now – if you'll excuse my pathetic attempt –
I'll be back.”
Robert's impersonation left a lot to be desired, but the groan the young mother let out was an encouraging sign.

Robert quickly explained his plan to Gemma, Donavon and Anne. Inside the shaft all was silent as Christopher and Megan listened.

“There's a support beam here.” Robert knocked at the edge of the shaft opening. “If we smash through the wall, they'll have something to grab onto. Now down here,” he kicked the base of the wall, “we can give them something to stand on.”

“You're going to smash the wall in?” Megan sounded doubtful, but Gemma had seen one of her mother's boyfriends punch his fist through a wall. Hope bloomed.

“You better believe it,” Robert said. “My trusty crowbar is going to make short work of this wall. Now keep your heads turned the other way.”

Donavon handed Robert the crowbar, and Robert slammed it into the wall with great enthusiasm. Then he wedged it under the plaster.

Gemma held the chunks steady as Robert carefully pried them away, and before long the beam was fully exposed.

Robert stopped to catch his breath. Sweat poured down his brow and he panted heavily.

“Doctor's been at me to lose weight,” Robert shrugged in apology. “Reckons I'm a heart attack waiting to happen.”

“Here, let me.” Donavon took the crowbar, and set to work at the base of the wall.

Gemma got down on her hands and knees to help pull the plaster away.

“Gemma?”

Gemma looked up at Anne's soft tone. Anne's worried eyes were on Christopher.

Handing Gemma the torch as she got to her feet, Anne nodded at the wall. “I'll do that. Christopher needs you.”

Anne lowered her voice. “I don't know how much longer he can hold on.”

Christopher's jaw was firmly gritted. The side of his head rested on the rung in front of him. Even in the soft light Gemma could see that his arm had gone a strange color, rendering it almost useless.

“Hey you,” Gemma said softly.

Christopher looked up, the pain in his eyes cutting into her. “Hey yourself,” he grunted.

Gemma searched for words of reassurance, but quickly realized that wasn't what he needed. Keeping her eyes firmly locked on his, she smiled, and was encouraged when he offered her a shaky smile in return.

“Just so you know,” Christopher growled. “I'm going to kiss those beautiful lips senseless when I'm back on firm ground.”

Gemma didn't quite know what to say to that, and despite the situation – or perhaps because of it – she felt something stir deep inside her. She'd never been so afraid for anyone in her life.

“The good ones are always taken,” Megan said.

Gemma glanced down at the terrified teen, recognizing her attempt at humor for what it was. Megan's body was pressed close to the ladder, her arms twisted tightly around the rungs.

“You better believe it,” Christopher said softly.

Gemma looked back up to find his eyes burning into hers.

Her face flushed. She was confused by his words. The look in his eye told her he was talking about her, but the idea he was seeing someone was a far more likely possibility. And one she found she didn't like at all.

Below her, Gemma could feel the dark open space of the shaft. As much as she wished she could lower the torch to give Megan more light, Donavon and Anne needed it more.

“That should do it,” Donavon said when he got to his feet, absently dusting at the thighs of his black pants.

Gemma immediately shoved the torch in the shaft, its flames flickering in Christopher's glassy eyes. He was in a lot more pain than he was letting on.

“What are you waiting for?” Megan sounded worried when Christopher didn't move.

Christopher grounded his teeth loudly as he flexed his shoulder, trying to manipulate the strap back into place without success.

Gemma could feel Donavon breathing heavily as he came to her side. Before she even thought about what she was doing, Gemma shoved the torch into Donavon's hand and wrapped her arm tightly around the exposed beam. Swinging her leg over, she put her foot into the hole they'd just created.

“Damn it, Gemma,” Christopher said. “Get back in there.”

Gemma ignored him as she leaned across, reaching for his shoulder.

Seeing the grim determination in her eyes, Christopher gave up his protests as Gemma tugged at the strap.

“Sit Becky on the rung,” Gemma said. “It'll take the weight off.”

Christopher rested Becky's bottom on the ladder, and Gemma gently manipulated the strap. “Drop your shoulder.”

“God – that feels good.” Christopher stared at Gemma's mouth as the strap slid over his shoulder, his hand pumping quick fists to restore the circulation. “Now get the hell out of here.”

Gemma pulled herself out, and Christopher jammed his foot through the hole in the wall. Hooking one elbow around the ladder, he leaned sideways until he reached the beam, wrapping his arm tightly around it. The color looked somewhat healthier as he arched his body around the space that was Becky.

Gemma stepped back to give him room. Inside she was jumping up and down and shouting with glee.

Christopher carefully lowered his head and young Becky through, his eyes devouring Gemma. “I meant what I said,” he stated.

Gemma's heart fluttered and she found herself staring at his full lips.

“Do you think you could get me out of here first?” Megan called as Donavon steadied Christopher.

Gemma shook her head, surprised by the direction her thoughts took as Christopher stood there looking weak and vulnerable and sexy as hell in his white trunks.

As Robert encouraged Megan up the ladder, Christopher's gaze locked on Gemma. He moved straight for her, the long, lean muscles of his thighs flexing.

She could smell the sharp tang of sweat and fear as he pulled her to him. Becky squirmed against their chests.

“I've never been so scared in my life.” Christopher's hands shook as he rubbed the sides of Gemma's arms.

Gemma's hands took on a life of their own, reaching up to push the thick, dark hair back from his sweaty brow. Christopher buried his face in her hair. “God – you smell so good.”

They stood like that for what seemed an eternity. Listening as Megan slowly but surely made her way up the ladder under Robert's gentle encouragement.

Christopher's grip tightened at the unmistakable sound of metal vibrating as Megan lost her footing.

“Megan?” Robert's voice was forced.

“Still here,” Megan said.

Gemma let out her breath. She pulled away to look up at Christopher. His pupils were dilated, making his eyes look black. Then his hands were cupping her face, his head lowering toward hers.

“My impressionable young daughter
is
watching, you know,” Megan announced herself.

Startled, Gemma automatically looked down. Becky was staring up at them through thick lashes, her eyes heavy with sleep.

There was a big grin on Megan's face as she clambered into the corridor. “But don't let that stop you.”

Megan threw her thin arms around Robert, her narrow shoulders trembling. “Thank you.”

“I didn't do anything,” Robert flushed, his ruddy cheeks turning red.

“You stayed when the others left...” Megan broke off, a single tear trailing down her pale face. “Besides, Christopher's a little
tied up
right now.”

Robert chuckled, one hand coming up to pat at her back awkwardly. Then he was returning the girl's fierce hug with one of his own.

Becky reached for her mother, and Megan finally let Robert go. Her legs were unsteady as she moved toward her daughter, a smile so full of love on her face it made Gemma's heart lurch, and her thoughts were suddenly consumed with CJ.