“No, he wouldn’t because he did everything he could to prevent us from going,” Leah said. “The bag is ready. What should we do?”
“I don’t know,” I said.
Leah chewed her fingernails. “We could eat and get some sleep and leave in the morning if we need to. Everyone will be at the town center. If we have to, we can run.”
“Maybe,” I said. We’d have the energy to escape, unlike now.
I was drained. My thoughts were a jumbled mess. And for all I knew, Eva was just messing with me. Maybe she was just trying to trick me into running.
I sat down on the sofa and buried my face into my hands. Leah sat down next to me and wrapped her arm around my shoulders, resting her head on my shoulder.
“Your dad wouldn’t let anything happen to you,” Leah said. “She was probably just trying to freak you out.”
“It worked,” I said.
“She implied something happened to me and look, I’m fine,” Leah said. “She’s awful, I know that, but she was probably just trying to get rid of you.”
My head bobbed. “I hope you’re right. I’d hate to have to leave here without telling my dad good bye. He’d never understand it.”
“I know,” Leah said. “But you know what it’s like out there. Our chances aren’t good out there.”
“They don’t seem that great here either. And I’d really hate that she’d win.”
We ate nearly everything in the cabin that wasn’t packed. It was hard to eat with my stomach spinning but I forced every bite down just in case I needed it there.
Leah fell asleep easier than I had but once my eyes closed, they didn’t open again for several hours. I could tell morning wasn’t far off. If I closed my eyes, I was almost sure I could hear voices.
The voice became louder. Loud enough that I knew they weren’t in my imagination.
I went to the front window, my fingers shaking as I lifted them to slightly pull back the curtain. The people weren’t noticeable but the lights they carried were.
They were coming.
24
Stevie
I didn’t know how far away from the compound we were but it wasn’t like we could go back and get everyone to safety. We didn’t have anywhere else to go.
We should have been working on our backup plan instead of running around chasing a fantasy. If we would have stayed back, we could have hidden more supplies in the basement like we’d discussed. Gage could have searched for a new place far away from the compound.
“All I have is my gun and the shirt on my back,” Jake Quinn grumbled. “I had to run. Leave everything behind. There were so many of them I couldn’t stay and go down with my ship, although maybe I should have.”
“Maybe we can figure out a way to get it back,” I said.
Jake huffed. “There were at least fifteen of them. All dressed the same. Each one of them assholes wearing a bulletproof vest. What the hell could I have done differently?”
“You did the smart thing,” I said.
“I should keep going,” Jake said. “Can’t believe I’m even walking back in this direction at all. If he weren’t bleeding, I probably would just keep going because I am a damned coward.”
“No, you’re not,” I said. “You just saved our lives. Cowards don’t save lives.”
Jake flapped his hand at me as he grunted. He let out a long, heavy sigh.
“I’m pretty sure each and everyone one of the men were armed,” Jake said. “I don’t see we have much of a choice but to go on the run. Maybe that’s just delaying the inevitable. They’ll catch up with us sooner or later.”
“We should be careful,” Shawn said. “Not just now but as we get closer to the compound.”
I nodded. My stomach twisted with worry. If anything happened to Gage, I wouldn’t ever forgive myself for leaving.
“You probably hate me for leaving without warning you,” Jake said.
“Not even a little,” I said.
“They could have been following me,” Jake said flicking me a glance. “I didn’t want to lead them right to you.”
I nodded. “I know. That was good thinking. I wish there was something we could do to get your things back.”
“Bah,” Jake said. “It’s probably all gone by now anyway. Honestly, I knew it was just a matter of time.”
“I wonder if we’ll have time to set up the basement,” I said.
“They’ll look in a basement,” Jake said.
I shook my head. “Not this one.”
“We’ll want to run,” Jake said shaking his head. “Hiding isn’t going to work.”
Lightning flashed as brightly as the night everything changed. I crouched and covered my head as if I were afraid the sky would fall.
Shawn wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “Just the storm.”
“And we should get a move on before it gets worse,” Jake said.
“We’re not going to be able to outrun it,” Shawn said.
“Maybe we should find a place to wait it out,” I said.
Jake grumbled something I couldn’t make out. He covered his mouth with his hand and let out a rumbled cough.
“We can’t waste time,” Jake said.
“Do you think they’d travel in the storm?” I asked.
“Hmm,” Jake said. “I don’t know but if they don’t and we do, that’ll give us more time.”
He was right. The quicker we traveled, the sooner we’d get there and Shawn could get help.
“Never mind,” I said. “Let’s keep moving.”
The rain poured down. I ignored as much of the thunder and lightning that I could. I also ignored the fact that it was nearly impossible to walk through the storm with everything I was carrying.
Shawn, though, he had it worse.
