She heard a slight ruffling and then the sounds of a big hug between Alex and Hannah. She wished she was part of that hug.
Her wish was soon granted when Hannah crawled back over to her. She lifted her arm, and wrapped it around the girl’s tiny frame once again. As Kaitlyn relaxed back into the hug, into the warmth that the little girl—her new little sister—was giving off, she heard a whisper once again.
“It’ll be okay,” Hannah said, though this time Hannah was speaking to her. “My daddy will be okay. And so will your mom. And so will we. Alex said so.”
Kaitlyn squeezed the girl tighter, and Hannah squeezed right back. “Thanks. I needed that.” She said it loud enough to hope that Hannah wasn’t the only one to hear it.
DAY 10
ALEX
For a while the next day, Alex thought things might have gone back to normal. Jared no longer lurked behind every corner, waiting to tell him how thankful he was, which was a relief. He didn’t know how to handle that version of the kid he’d thought he knew better than anyone else living in the community centre.
Also, enough time had passed since the near-fatal attack outside, that Jared and David had begun telling slightly exaggerated versions of the events to anyone who would listen. Nicole was the most annoyed: mainly at David and Jared for being stupid and not watching out for themselves—an opinion she vocalized quite clearly. Alex thought she was also annoyed with herself for being completely oblivious to the whole situation, but she was much less vocal with that opinion.
The day was looking about the same as it had been: mostly overcast, with little bits of sun coming through every once in awhile, so Alex decided to take Shadow outside again—making sure David was with him to keep watch. Avoiding the parking lot entirely, they went to the side of the building and played there. David stayed at the corner where he could see both Alex and the door. After a few minutes, they switched so David could have a chance to run with the dog.
“Can we ... um ... can we talk?”
Alex looked to the door. Jared stood just outside the safety of the building; his eyes shifting between Alex and the parking lot.
“Uh, yeah,” Alex said. He had become considerably less defensive with Jared in just a day. He tried to hide that fact. “What do you want?”
Jared swallowed as he took a step forward. “I want to make this up to you.”
“Make what up to me?”
“Everything!” Jared burst out. “Treating you like shit—for years! And then ... then yesterday. I owe—”
“You owe me, yeah,” Alex said, cutting him off. “It’s okay. Really.”
For a moment, the two boys stood in silence. When David came back with Shadow, he said nothing. Alex knew he could just go back inside, but it seemed like Jared had more to say.
“I’m going to make a food run,” Jared said.
“What?” Alex certainly hadn’t expected that. “Why?”
“We have plenty of food here,” David said.
“For now,” Jared said. “But I know where there’s a lot more. Good stuff, too! I ... I just need to feel like I’m helping. I need to add to the group, you know?”
Alex sighed. “Fine. Whatever. Go.” This could still all end up okay for him.
“Do you trust me?” Jared asked.
“Not really.” Alex shrugged.
“I want you to come with me!” Jared said in a rush.
Alex let out a loud laugh that he quickly stifled. “You want me to go with you?” He laughed again. “Why?”
“Because I know you don’t trust me,” Jared said. “And you shouldn’t. I treated you like shit. Worse than shit. I was fucking awful.” He paused and took a deep breath before continuing. “You need to come to, you know, keep me on the up and up. Plus ...”
The silence hung heavily between them.
“Plus what?” David asked.
“Plus I’d feel safer if Alex was with me!” He blurted, almost angrily at David.
An uncomfortable, awkward silence followed. Alex had turned red, but not nearly as red as Jared. Oh my God, Alex thought. Jared needs me. Jared! I always knew he was all talk, but … wow. I never knew he was this weak! Now … I’m in charge.
“Can I come?” David asked.
More silence filled the air.
“No,” Alex finally answered with a forced sigh. This would be his chance to prove himself. I’m in charge of him. He’ll do whatever I say. I can prove to everyone that I’m a good leader. That I can do what’s necessary, even if it was Jared’s idea. No one else has to know that. “I’ll go with Jared. I need you to take Shadow upstairs for me, okay?”
“I can do that and then come right—”
“David,” Jared said. “Next time, all right? If I’m right,” he quickly looked at Alex, pleading, “and I know that I am, then this will be a regular thing, okay?” He flashed them both a smile.
Alex nodded to David as he handed him the leash. “Thanks.” When David said nothing, Alex felt another surge of confidence: he could command gently, but efficiently. He left David standing in the dark doorway.
Though Jared led the way, Alex knew he was in control.
“I gotta apologize about Kyle,” Jared said. It was the first thing he had said since they left the community centre. “I guess I got angry and stuff because I was scared out here, you know, all by myself? It’s awful out here. I saw all kinds of those—you call them mudmen, right? That makes sense, ‘cause they’re horrible, gross things, right? Anyway, I saw all kinds of them. A lot of them were little kids. Just like that Kyle kid. He just scared me. That’s all.
“I wouldn’t actually hurt him, by the way. I wouldn’t hurt a little kid. That’s awful. We gotta stick together. That’s how we gotta survive.
