“He didn’t even say goodbye.” She held the glass to her mouth and sipped. She turned red eyes to Vicky. “I know it’s stupid of me. He just showed up, warned us about his group, and then—”
“Then he left to lead them away.” Vicky sipped at her own drink. “Sounds pretty honorable to me.”
Candy sniffed back a tear and threw back her drink. She swallowed hard and set the glass down on the desk. “I told him to just…” She turned watering eyes to Vicky. “I didn’t think he’d actually leave.”
Vicky set her drink down and took Candy’s hand. “I’d bet money he’ll be back.”
Candy shook her head. “Not without tipping his hand to them.” She looked away. “He should have stayed. We could have fought them off and…” her voice trailed off.
“And our people would have been put at risk.” Vicky patted her hand. “Like you said, he’s a cop. He wasn’t going to allow that to happen. He figured it was better to go back to them, pretend he never met us and do his damnedest to keep them away.”
Candy turned back to face her and shook her head slowly. “I barely know this guy.”
Vicky gave her a broad smile. “But he was definitely yummy.” She laughed and Candy let a snort slip.
“Yes, he was yummy.” She spun the empty glass on the table, her thoughts turning to how he made those leather pants look. “I can’t help but wonder if maybe I’d been more accepting of him when he first got here? Maybe…we would have had a little more time together.”
“You were being cautious.” Vicky threw back what was left of her drink and blew her breath out hard. “That stuff is stout. How do you handle it?”
Candy smiled. “I ignore the pain.” She turned a tight-lipped smile to Vicky. “Just like I’ll ignore this pain that I feel.”
“He really got to you, didn’t he?”
Candy shrugged. “I feel like I threw him to the wolves.” She leaned back in the chair and stared up at the skylight. “I’ll admit he is attractive…in a rough and scrubby way.”
“You like rough and scrubby.” Vicky smiled at her.
Candy chuckled, still staring upward. “What woman doesn’t?” She finally leaned forward and had to take a moment as her head spun. “I’m sure he was just flirting so that I’d let him loose.”
“Really.” Vicky wasn’t convinced.
Candy nodded. “If he was really interested, he would have stayed.”
Vicky squeezed her hand, then stood and reached for the door. “It’s because he cared that he left.” She opened the door and stepped out. “He had to keep you safe from the marauders.” She pulled the door shut quietly and left Candy to her thoughts.
Vicky could have sworn she heard a short sob as she turned and walked away.
Chapter 5
Hatcher stood on the porch and watched as the sun slowly sank on the horizon. At this exact moment in time, he found it difficult to believe that the world had gone to shit. For the briefest of moments, he could almost believe the world had survived the viral outbreak.
He stared at the view and sighed.
The world had gone to shit, and the universe didn’t care. The sun still set, and it would rise again in the morning. The moon would come out and slip across the night sky and the stars would continue to twinkle regardless of what had happened on this insignificant blue dot.
Dinosaurs had ruled the planet for millions of years and nobody batted an eye when they were wiped out. Humans had only been on this planet for a moment compared to the grand scheme of things, and what seemed so significant, so important, so earth shatteringly imperative, were really just man’s attempt at feeling empowered in an otherwise uncaring world.
He leaned against the railing of the porch and tried to make out the shadows below. They stretched out until they faded from view, and in his mind, the dark spots were moving. The dark blobs that were trees when the sun was still shining were now infected Zulus working their way up the mountain toward them.
He had to step away and stop staring to clear the thoughts from his mind. He glanced over his shoulder and could just make out the soldiers inside the house. Some were moving about, others were busy checking their gear or cleaning their weapons.
He looked up and wondered if the rooftop guards were still searching the western horizon for aircraft or if they had drifted off to sleep from the boredom. He was about to climb up and check on them when Hollis stepped out to the porch.
“I got a chili mac MRE if you want to trade.” He shot Hatcher a shitty grin that was lost in the darkness.
“I think I’ll pass, thanks.”
“Smart man.” Hollis ripped open the pack and settled next to him along the rail.
“Wouldn’t want to be caught on the toilet when the Zulus attack,” Hatcher joked.
“Copy that.”
Hatcher watched as the man dug through the contents. “You’re far braver than I am.”
Hollis chuckled. “I think your system gets used to them after a while.”
The pair stood on the porch, their eyes adjusting to the deepening darkness, neither speaking while the world went about its business. Soft sounds of movement could be heard behind them inside the house, but both knew their backs were covered by the men at their posts.
Buck appeared behind them, his eyes wide in the moonlight. “I can’t believe I slept so long.”
Hatcher’s brows knit as he considered what the boy said. “You were only out for a couple of hours.”
“Exactly.” Buck seemed worried and disappointed. “I never sleep more than a few minutes at a time.”
Hollis stopped chewing
