He pulled back from her and wiped at his face, trying his best to sniff back the tears. “You know I love you, right, Punkin?”
She nodded and reached up to wipe at his eyes. “It’s going to be okay now.”
Donna slid sideways in the passenger seat and took Brandy’s hand. “What did you mean it was safe to go back?”
She shook her head slightly. “I can’t explain it.” She took a deep breath, her child-mind trying to put into words what she was feeling. “It’s not that I can see what they are doing.” She continued to shake her head. “And I can’t think what they think.” Trevor stared at her, confused. “I can feel what they feel.”
“You can feel what others like you feel?” Donna asked.
“Sometimes.”
“Like the mad guy with the pipe?”
“He wasn’t mad.” She turned and gave him a blank stare. “He was in pain. And scared.”
“Who is she talking about?” Donna asked. Trevor gave her a look she couldn’t read.
“The leader of the Ragers. He carried a piece of pipe with him. He was going to beat me to death but Patricia stepped—”
“Brandy, daddy.”
He gave her a surprised look then smiled. “That’s right. Brandy here stepped between us. She challenged him to protect me.”
Donna stared at the little girl with wide eyes. “You challenged a grown man with a weapon?”
“He was in pain. And he was really scared.”
Trevor interrupted. “She stepped between us and she defended me.” He turned to Donna and gave her a proud smile. “It was the first time that she called me daddy. The first word she spoke since I found her.”
Brandy nodded and slid over to sit on his knee. “He was my new daddy. I had to protect him.”
Donna fought back the flood of emotions she was feeling. “But you say it’s safe to go back now?”
“They’re not scared now.” She looked to Trevor. “The pain is going away.”
“The cure?” He wiped at his eyes again. “Is that why you’re such a little chatterbox now?”
She shrugged. “My head doesn’t hurt as bad now.”
Donna gave him a broad smile. “The cure works.”
“Thank god,” Trevor sighed as he leaned back in his seat. He turned to stare at Brandy. “And you want to go back now?”
She peered through the windshield for a moment then smiled. “Yes please.” She slipped off of his lap and pointed. “The kids are that way.”
Trevor nodded enthusiastically. “Well then, let’s not keep them waiting.” He put the RV in drive again and turned back toward the compound.
Buck pulled into the driveway of the desert-tan house. He noticed right away that the door was navy blue. “I guess this is the place you were thinking of, isn’t it?” He put the truck in park and killed the engine.
Nick sat in the passenger seat and stared at the house that he’d called home for nearly three decades. He slowly shook his head. “I don’t think I can do this.”
Hatcher leaned forward and spoke softly. “What’s wrong?”
Nick sniffed back unshed tears and stared at the front door. “I’m pretty sure my wife is in there.”
“I thought you said your wife didn’t make it?” Buck asked, not putting the two things together.
Nick slowly nodded. “She didn’t.” He swallowed hard and turned his face away.
Hatcher laid a hand on Nick’s shoulder. “Want me to go in and get you a change of clothes? We can take you back to our place, get you a hot shower and a good meal.”
Buck nodded. “You don’t have to stay here.”
Nick fought the urge to break down. He choked back a sob then reached for the door handle. “This was my home for thirty years.” He opened the door and stepped out on shaky legs. “I’m not going any place new.”
Hatcher jumped out of the back seat and met him halfway to the door. “If you want, I can go in first.” He searched the old man’s face. “If she’s in there, I can…” He glanced at Buck. “I don’t know. Cover her body with a blanket or something.”
Nick nodded slowly. “I’d appreciate that.” He looked over Hatcher’s shoulder to the front door. “Check in the kitchen.”
“Wait here with him.” Hatcher turned and went to the front door. He checked the handle and the door pushed open with ease. He glanced over his shoulder at the two men before slipping inside.
Just as Nick had said, there were remains in the kitchen. And in the dining room. And perhaps some in the living room. He swallowed hard as he searched the house. He found a spare room and stripped the sheets and blankets from the mattress. He went room by room, covering the desiccated remains.
He thought about opening the shades to allow light in but fought the urge. Nick didn’t need to see any more than he had to.
He reappeared at the door. “Just gather some things from your bedroom. Probably best we take you to our place for the time being.”
Nick squared his shoulders and stepped over the threshold. As soon as he entered the house, a flood of memories hit him like a brick.
He felt his legs go weak and he steadied himself in the foyer. “I got ya, Nick.” Buck said as he gripped the old man’s arms. “Which way?”
Nick waved him off. “I’m okay.” He stood erect and cleared his throat. “I just…remember.” He glanced to Hatcher and gave him a melancholy smile. “A lot of good memories in this old house.”
The two watched him stagger back to the left and along the hallway that led to the bedrooms. Hatcher looked to Buck. “There’s going to be a lot of people just like him out there.”
Buck gave him a surprised look. “I didn’t even think about the others.” He blew his breath out hard. “What can we do about them?”
Hatcher shrugged. “I honestly don’t know.” He leaned against the hallway wall
