Outer Banks (9 page)

“You
are
a person, Emery.”

She rolled her eyes. “Says you! You don't live with this condition.”

“Says me,” I mumbled more to myself.

“So how did you get in my room?” she asked.

“One of the guards gave me a key card.”

“My father arranged that?”

“Yes. The guard said he'd tried to tell you, but you attacked him.” She frowned. “But he understood why,” I covered quickly, not wanting her to feel bad about her actions.

“Your face doesn't look like Swiss cheese. How did you get past the darts?”

“I'd broken into your room while you were outside, figured out the layout.”

“The boy who was asking me about the rash he had on his…?”

I sniffed a laugh. “That's Corey. Turns out he's a distant relative, but we only found out after I'd taken him in. I had him distract you.”

“Well, I'm glad you weren't hurt,” she said not looking at me.

“Thanks. I'm glad the guard gave me the heads up or I might have been. You're quite clever.”

“Isn't that why you broke me out?”

“I guess it is.” I paused. “Do you really think you can fix this?” I asked, thinking of Corey again.

“I'm sure as hell going to give it my best try.”

We talked about easier subjects the rest of the night, but soon it was close to morning.

I wasn't going to give her the option to stay in the hotel room with me. I knew she wouldn't agree, and besides, I wasn't completely convinced she wouldn't try something.

“How long are you awake?”

“Almost the full twelve hours.”

“Can you feel yourself winding down?”

She nodded, then frowned as I pulled over along the road. “It's time for me to get in the box?”

“It's the safest place. No one can get to you.”

“Except you.”

“Well, yes. But remember we talked about trust?”

“I don't know you.” She was getting anxious as I glanced at my watch.

“No. You don't. So ask me something. Anything, so you'll feel better.”

She twisted her lips while she thought it over.

“Hurry up or it's not going to matter.” Twilight was fast approaching.

“Do you have any siblings?”

“No.”

“Any kids?”

“No.”

“Parents?”

“No.” I looked at my watch again, tapping it to make the point.

“Girlfriend? Fiancée? Wife?”

“No.” I guessed she wanted me to swear on someone's life that I wouldn't hurt her.

She gave up with a sigh. “Why should I trust you, Dillon?”

“Because I was raised to be a man of my word and I give you my word on this.”

She sighed again and reluctantly crawled into the back and into box. She seemed to be getting even more anxious.

“Are you claustrophobic?”

She bit her lip. “Yeah.”

“Okay.” I sighed, hating that I had to lock her in a box at all, let alone when she was afraid. “I'll close the lid after you go to sleep and I'll open it before you wake once we're safely back on the road. Sound good?”

She nodded right away. “I trust you. Thank you.”

I wasn't really sure if she was telling the truth about trusting me, but her fear of enclosed spaces seemed to overrule her fear of strange men.

She relaxed a little and then she just closed her eyes and fell silent.

“Sleep well, Emery. See you soon.” I closed the lid and locked it before crawling up to the front of the van. I drove for a while before I started to get hungry.

I found a motel and got a room on the first floor so I could park outside the door. Just a precaution.

After an omelet at the diner across the street, I watched some TV and went right to sleep once I both set the alarm and requested a wakeup call.

I didn't sleep well. I kept waking up with visions of Emery in danger. Her body in the grips of a huge Bug. Being controlled and forced to bite me. I went outside around noon and checked, just to make sure she was okay.

I slept only slightly better after that. It must have been all the pressure to get her to California safely.

I woke before the alarm or the wake-up call.

After my workout, I showered. This had been my normal morning routine for years, but lately I'd been slipping.

I was still in pretty good shape considering I didn't sleep or eat right with this job. I pretended I wasn't doing the exercises in an effort to impress Emery, but the timing was too much of a coincidence.

“She's pretty,” I said to myself while I shaved. “Anyone else would do the same thing if they were traveling across the country with a pretty girl. It's not weird,” I continued the debate with my reflection. “Not weird at all.”

After I was dressed and fed I went to wait in the van for Emery to wake up. I didn't check out yet since she was going to need privacy to clean up and change.

I opened the box and sat next to her, watching her sleep. Part of me thought I should have done a few more sit ups. Like she'd notice.

Her eyes began to flutter and then opened. She blinked and looked right at me.

“Did you want to use the room to change? I packed your things. Though
packed
might not be the right word. More like I threw everything in the bag and got the hell out.” I laughed.

“Thanks for thinking of it.” She opened the bag and looked at the mess. “You're going to let me go in the room alone?”

“You're not a prisoner, Emery.”

“Right. I know. It just seems strange to me.”

I grinned. “Do you want to take a jui…some food with you?” I offered and she nodded.

“Thanks.” She picked up the bag and walked towards the door.

As I packed my things I could hear her humming
Bad Moon Rising
. Nice taste in music. It made me feel good.

Half an hour later she came out in different jeans and a clean T-shirt. Her hair was still damp.

I went to check out and found out a long distance call had been made. Since I was using the credit card Mitchell Pharmaceuticals issued me, I didn't really care, though I did wonder who she might have called.

When I went to the van she was sitting in the driver's seat.

“Were you serious about letting me drive? Because I would really like to. I haven't driven in so long.”

“How long is
so long
?” I asked warily.

“A few years. Please? It's the highway. It's straight.”

“You're not going to run into a tree?”

“Trust?” she reminded me with that one word.

“Fine. I trust you.” I handed her the keys after I got in the passenger's side.

She grinned when she stepped on the accelerator for the first time. “I should say I won't
try
to run into a tree. I'm a bit rusty with a stick shift.” She made an evil giggle that made me laugh.

“This is really fast!” she said once we were on the road.

“Yes. I built it that way.”

“You built this van?”

“Well, I
re
built it. It didn't come with the suped-up engine or the containment box from the factory.”

“That's what you did, before this?”

“Yes.” I nodded.

“Where are you from?”

“Originally or most recently?”

“Both.” She shrugged. It was going to be a long journey. We had time to talk.

“I grew up in Texas. Near Houston. Now I live in Kentucky.”

“I bet you're glad about that. If you still lived in Houston you might be like me now.”

I nodded. We talked about how some of the other cities had fared and how the rebuilding was going.

“Did you see they're scrapping the Empire State Building?” she said sadly.

“No. I hadn't heard.”

“Too much structural damage. It's a shame.”

“It is.”

“So you have no family other than your long lost cousin? What happened to your parents?” She changed the subject after a while.

“Is it my turn to drive yet?” I redirected the conversation. Even though we had days, I didn't want to talk about this and she'd been driving for two hours.

“Oh. Sure.” She pulled over along the side of the road. “Do you mind if I call my dad?” she asked as she got out.

“Didn't you already call him from the hotel room?”

“No.” Her tone indicated it wasn't any of my business. Since it
wasn't
any of my business I passed her my phone and tried to butt out.

She walked about ten feet away, and began kicking stones around in a small circle while she waited for her father to pick up.

Her conversation started out at a normal volume, but quickly grew louder with agitation.

“Did you put him on that job, or did he volunteer?” she demanded. “Because, he told me he was going to be working on a cure, that's why! He promised me he was going to work night and day to get me out of there, and now he's working on systemic anti-fungal!” She was pacing furiously while she spoke, and I was sure glad she wasn't talking to me.

“I can't believe I was so stupid!” She was still angry, but now she was crying.

“I'll be fine. I'm sorry, I don't know where we are.” She looked around for a sign. “I have to go.” She started walking toward me. “Yes, he's right here.”

She held out the phone for me without saying another word. She got in the van, closing the door with more force than necessary.

“Hello?” I said.

“Is she okay?” Mr. Mitchell asked.

“She seems to be okay. I mean she's upset right now but before that she was fine.”

“Where are you?”

“We just passed Nashville. We should be there on schedule.”

“She's going to be fine. She's mad, she probably won't feel like talking.”

“That's okay.” I wasn't going to make her. Not that I had a chance of making her do anything she didn't want to.

“Thank you, Dillon.”

I hung up and got in the driver's side. She was looking out the window with her feet pulled up on her seat. She wasn't buckled, but I decided not to mention it.

Anything to prolong the peace.

Chapter Nine

After an hour of painful silence she asked. “Was it sunny today?” I knew she was still upset, but I didn't want to push her to talk about it. I always hated when people did that to me.

“Uh. Yeah. The parts I saw. I sleep during the day too. Part of the job.”

“I miss being out in the sun. I never realized how much I took it for granted. It was nothing for me to work inside for days and not give it a thought. Even when it wasn't sunny, you still knew it was there. You could see that brightness behind the clouds. A gray glow.”

I nodded. “I try not to take it for granted anymore. It could have easily been me.”

I could feel her eyes on me, but I didn't return the look.

“When I bring someone in I usually get the chance to sit out on the beach and watch the sunrise. I appreciate how beautiful it is even more now because I know so many people who can't see it.”

She nodded sadly. We were definitely in need of something to lighten the mood.

“So…twenty questions?” I suggested to pass the time. “About each other, I mean.”

She tilted her head. “Can I ask about your parents?”

“Not unless I can ask about your phone call,” I countered.

“All right, those two things are off limits. Everything else is open.”

I reluctantly agreed as I began to regret this idea.

“Who goes first?” she asked.

“You can.”

“Okay.” She rubbed her hands together. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-eight.” I didn't need to reciprocate the question since her father had enlightened me about that already. “Do you still think my smile is weird?” I smiled so she could decide.

“I told you, it wasn't your smile that was weird. It was weird that you were smiling.” I nodded. In her own cute way I think she was trying to apologize. “Have you ever killed someone you were transporting?”

So much for this being fun. I frowned at her question.

“Not on purpose. I've had two people die while I was transporting them. I don't like to think I killed them.” I glanced over at her and then back to the road. “I guess maybe I'm responsible, though.”

I didn't ask another question. I suddenly wasn't in the mood anymore. It was quiet in the van for a long minute.

“I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked that. I just wondered if you would tell me the truth. If you really were a good person like you said.”

“I guess I'm not as good as I thought,” I mumbled.

“But they were accidents, right?” She attempted to let me off the hook.

“When I have to lock someone up and their heart can't take it, aren't I responsible?”

She sighed and looked out at the road.

“You're doing your job. When I was testing a new drug I had developed, we went through all the proper procedures before testing it on newborns. But still, a patient had a reaction and died. It bothered me to the point I didn't want to work anymore. But I did. I found the problem and came up with a medicine that saves lives every day.”

“My job will never save anyone, Em.”

She smiled slightly at her nickname. “Are you sure? Wouldn't some of the people you bring in get killed if you had left them alone? And if I find a cure wouldn't you be directly responsible for letting that happen?”

“I never majored in philosophy.”

“Well, I've decided you are a good person. You told me the truth and you have a conscience. That makes me feel better.”

“Good.” As long as
she
felt better.

“It's still your turn.”

“What's your favorite color?” I asked, hoping she would follow my lead down less serious topics.

“Blue. What's yours?”

“Green,” I tried not to think of her green eyes in that photo.

“Huh.”

“What? Is that wrong?”

“No.” She shrugged. “It's your turn again.”

“What was your favorite food before?”

“Ooh. Anything Italian. Preferably with lots of sauce.” Her eyes widened. I opened my mouth to ask another question, but stopped. It wasn't my turn. “What?” She'd noticed my eagerness.

“I'm sorry. I'm cheating but I just wondered, do you still have cravings for real food or does it repulse you now?”

“No, I still want real food, but when it's in front of me I have no desire to eat it. It's not that I'm repulsed. I can't even respond enough to be repulsed. It's strange. I remember what it tastes like and I still think it's good from my memories, but I can't…make myself eat food.” She opened her mouth like she wanted to say something but then shook her head and sighed.

“Now you get two,” I said.

“Okay, what's your favorite food?”

“Emery, that's not a real question.”

“Why not?”

“Uh, because I'm a man, I'm a bachelor and I'm a mechanic. What do you think it is?”

“Pizza?” I nodded. “When was the last time you had any?”

“Been a while. Maybe a few months.”

“Why?”

“I'm up strange hours. I normally eat breakfast for dinner and I've never cared for pizza for breakfast.”

She looked at the clock on the dash. “Wouldn't it be your lunch now?” she asked. It was closing in on midnight.

“I usually skip lunch.”

“Let's stop and get pizza,” she suggested with a grin. Her black eyes almost lit up.

“Emery…”

“We have time. I'm not going to save the world tonight. Let's stop. I'll sit with you while you eat.”

“That would be a bit rude. You can't eat with me.”

“I don't care.”

“I would,” I wanted her to see I wasn't going to do this.

“Fine. Maybe tomorrow.”

I asked her my next question. “What did you want to be when you grew up?”

Her answer was a violinist and we continued on for hours from there.

By the time we stopped before daybreak, she probably knew me better than any living person. Some of her questions—like when I had lost my virginity—were quite unpleasant to admit to. Especially when she pushed for details. I should have challenged her to Truth or Dare instead.

“So will you stay with me like you did yesterday?”

“Sure.” I looked back to my room. “I…” No. I couldn't.

“What?” She must have seen the pained look on my face.

“Well, I was going to offer the other bed in my room. I do that sometimes when I know the person isn't going to try anything. But, you probably—”

“Yes! That would be great.”

I laughed. “You must really hate that box.”

“Claustrophobia like you wouldn't believe. You're sure you don't mind?”

“It's no problem. I don't like locking people up in that box anyway. Just unavoidable sometimes, you know?”

“Right.” She frowned.

I followed her into the room, locking the door behind me before I tossed her bag on the bed she'd be using.

“Thanks again for packing my stuff. You're a very thoughtful kidnapper,” she joked.

“I aim to please.” I claimed the bed closest to the bathroom and sat on the edge, watching her.

She checked over the curtains thoroughly and then sat on the other bed. She seemed very nervous so I decided to give her a minute.

“You sure you're okay with this?” I asked when I came out of the bathroom. She still looked uneasy as she twisted her fingers together. “I can sleep in the van.”

“You're not going to touch me or anything?”

It saddened me that this was a legitimate concern of hers. I thought back to that guard at OBX and wondered how many people took him up on his offer, or if anyone had ever reported him. “No. I'm not. But can I point out if I were that kind of person I probably wouldn't tell you anyway.”

I tried to make it sound lighthearted. She didn't laugh.

“Emery, I'm not going to mess with you. Just rest.” I rolled my eyes, a bit annoyed that she still thought me capable of such a thing. After all those hours of bonding in the van, you'd think she'd trust me a little more.

“The windows are secure?” she asked.

“Yes. I checked. I even put towels in the cracks just to be safe. You don't have much time. Got anything you want to do?”

She nodded and rooted through her bag before going in the bathroom to get ready for bed.

Her nervousness wasn't any better when she came out. She looked at the curtains again and then paced.

“You better get in bed. Trust me, Em. I promise you'll be safe.”

“Okay. Thank you.” She got in bed and pulled the blanket up under her chin. “Thank you for everything. I'm sorry I'm such a pain.”

“I get it. It's scary. I'm a stranger. I'm not offended. Well, except about the part when you said my smile was weird.”

“You weren't even supposed to hear that.”

I pouted and pretended to wipe a tear away. “Whatever.” She laughed at my performance.

“Actually, your smile isn't weird. It's nice.” She looked at me, inspecting my smile.

“Well, thanks for clearing that up. Good night. Sleep tight. Don't let the—uh, never mind that last part.”

She drifted off to sleep a few minutes later. She looked peaceful enough. Not scared or suspicious. I knew it was difficult for her to be there sleeping in a room with me. Completely vulnerable with a stranger.

I checked the curtains again and set the alarm on the nightstand for noon. No need to bother with a wakeup call. I looked over at her once more before I clicked off the light and went to sleep myself.

I was confused when the alarm went off. It was daylight and I rarely saw it so bright. The curtains were lit up, but no direct light was coming through. Then I remembered what I'd planned to do.

I got up and threw on a shirt, picking up my phone on the way to the door. Emery hadn't seen the sunshine for months. I wanted to take some video for her so she could see what it looked like today.

I stepped outside. I snapped a few photos from the parking lot, shot some video and went back to bed. I fell asleep quickly, pleased with myself.

When the phone alarm rang again, I flipped on the light by my bed and checked on Emery.

She was still sleeping. Obviously. Nothing could wake her up before it was time.

I got up and exercised, shaved, showered and dressed, then ran across the street for a breakfast burger. I checked my phone for the time again when I came back in the room. Probably any minute now.

I walked closer and sat on the edge of the bed, looking at her. Her dull blonde hair stretched out over her pillow like golden waves.

Absently, I picked up her hand and began stroking her cold, pale skin as I waited. I'd hoped it would be a more comforting way to wake up.

Her eyes didn't flutter when she woke this time. They flew open and she instantly turned to the source of the heat against her hand.

“What are you doing?”

“I didn't touch you,” I said.

“What do you call that?” She looked down at her hand resting in mine.

“I didn't mean…” I shook my head. “Just your hand.”

“Why are you sitting on my bed? What did you do?” she accused as she tugged at her shirt.

“Seriously? I didn't do
anything
, Emery. I swear.” I glared and got up. So much for trust.

“But, if you were the kind of person who
would
, you wouldn't have a problem lying about it, right?”

I was really regretting having made that point earlier. “I thought you believed I wasn't that kind of person?”

She seemed to calm down. Whatever fear was driving her reaction, it had burrowed right into her basic instincts. “You're right. I'm sorry. I'm cranky in the morning without coffee. And you know how long I've been without that.” She smiled at me, and watched me closely to see if I'd forgiven her.

“Look, I just sat there for a few minutes before you woke. I didn't really realize I was holding your hand. I just thought you might find it more comforting. Besides, you looked like a princess waiting for the prince to come break the evil spell,” I said with a laugh. She looked at me skeptically.

I decided I should explain. “My babysitter's daughter used to make me watch Sleeping Beauty every day for like three months. At least it had a cool fight with a dragon in it.” She laughed and looked down at her arm, holding it up to the light and twisting it to inspect the black veins trailing under her skin.

“So you didn't kiss me then?” she joked. “Since the evil spell is still intact.”

“I didn't think the experiment would hold up to your rigorous scientific standards.” I shrugged. “Also, I'm not a prince.”

“And I'm no princess, so I guess I'm screwed.”

I would have liked to test the theory anyway, but I didn't mention that. I didn't want to have to start from scratch with the trust issues.

“Well, I guess I'll get cleaned up and we can leave?” she asked to break the awkward moment.

“Yes. I'll bring some food for you.”

“Thanks.” She looked down at the floor. I guess she felt embarrassed about needing to eat.

When she came out of the bathroom, I held out the blood bag while I opened up a Danish from the snack machine.

She snatched the blood from me, and went over to face the wall before she started to drink it. She was a little feisty, but at least she hadn't snapped or bitten me.

“It doesn't bother me, you know,” I told her as I sat at the tiny table for two by the door.

She looked over at me but didn't move.

“You can sit at the table and eat with me if you'd like.” I pushed out her chair with my foot. “It's fine. It's most likely better for you than this pastry from the vending machine.”

She seemed to war a bit with the part of her that wanted to just tear in and drink, but her better half won out. She smiled and came over, sitting in the chair across from me. She still seemed a little self-conscious and protective when she took a sip, but eventually she finished the bag.