Page 17 of Dyana
Jack? Memories of the previous day returned to me and quickly reminded me that I wasn’t alone. “Let me go.”
“As soon as you drop that knife, Doll,” Jack promised. His voice was calm and soothing, a steadying strength that was all too familiar.
I dropped the knife, and the men quickly released me and gave me some room, though not nearly as much as I preferred. I scooted away so that my back was against the wall and closed myeyes to breathe through the residual effects of my panic attack. I hated that they were seeing me like this. A hand cupped my cheek, his thumb tenderly brushing away tears I hadn’t realized were falling. When I opened my eyes again, I stared straight into Jack’s.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked softly.
I shook my head. No, I didn’t. Not even a little.
“When you’re ready to talk, I’m here.”
“We all are,” Bryce added.
“Do you want us to stay with you a little longer until you fall back asleep?” Evan asked.
I snorted but shook my head. I wouldn’t be sleeping anymore tonight. If I were alone, I’d get up for the day, read a book, and wait for the sun to rise, but I wasn’t alone. I didn’t want to disturb their sleep, so I scooted back under my blanket. “I’m good. Go back to sleep.”
Jack looked like he didn’t believe me, but didn’t press the issue as they returned to their beds. Once they were settled, I turned my lamp off, letting the darkness back into the tower. Of course, the truth was that the darkness was already there.
Within me.
Past
My time with Sheriff Finley was the lesson I never wanted, but I learned a lot relatively quickly. Number one was not to trustanyone, ever. The second was never to let myself be in a position of weakness again. I wouldn’t let anyone think they had the right to tell me what to do again. Fuck that. I headed toward Wyoming again, but didn’t get far when I passed a child in a tree on the side of the road with a zombie beneath it. I passed by, determined not to stop. That was another new rule. No more fucking heroics. I wouldn’t have gotten into that mess if I hadn’t been looking for Kelly. But even as I reminded myself why I wouldn’t stop, my eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, and I cursed as I slammed on the brakes. I reversed the truck down the road until I was beside the tree and climbed out of my window with my crossbow. I shot the zombie in the head and then looked at the kid.
“Grab my arrow and get in. I’ll take you home.”
The kid, a little girl around ten, quickly scurried down the tree, yanked the arrow from the zombie’s head, and jumped into the truck.
I started driving and glanced at the kid expectantly. “Where to, kid?”
“My name is Amber, not kid,” she replied.
Someone didn’t like being referred to as a kid. I could understand and respect that. “Sorry. Where do you want me to take you, Amber?”
“We live at the church. Make a right at the next street,” she replied. “Thank you for coming back for me. I wasn’t supposed to go off alone, but my stupid brother, Danny, was taking too long to get ready.”
“Happy to help,” I replied.
I followed her directions to the church, and as I pulled up, several men with makeshift weapons, followed by women, poured through the doors. “End of the line, Amber.”
She looked through the windshield apprehensively. “Oh, Mama looks mad,” she stated. With a labored sigh, Amberdropped the arrow she clutched to the floor and climbed out of the truck.
“Amber Renee Carter!” A woman shrieked as she ran up to Amber and grabbed her. She shook her gently before embracing her tightly. “I was worried sick about you! SICK! What in the devil were you thinking, going off on your own like that? You know what could have happened to you! You know it isn’t safe!”
“I’m sorry, Mama,” Amber whined. “I just wanted to help pick berries, and Danny was taking forever.”
“I don’t care if it takes him all day, you do not leave the church without him. Ever,” Amber’s mother scolded. She looked at me through the open door. “Thank you for bringing my girl back safely. Where did you find her?” Amber looked at me with wide eyes, and if I hadn’t been watching her so closely, I would have missed the imperceptible shake of her head.
“I found her a couple of turns back, walking along the side of the road,” I replied. I’d keep Amber’s secret for now. I was pretty sure she had learned her lesson.
“Can I offer you lunch for your troubles?” Amber’s mom asked.
I wanted to say no, but my stomach made itself known and growled. “Lunch would be lovely,” I replied. I turned the truck off, grabbed a handgun, my bow, and a knife, and exited the truck. It chirped as I locked the doors and glared at the people around me. My message was clear: touch my truck and die.
Amber ran around the truck and grabbed my hand to pull me inside the church. I kept my hand on my gun in case the entire thing was an elaborate ruse as I entered the church. We entered a small foyer with one hallway leading to the right. The sanctuary was ahead of me to the left, and another hallway ran the length of the church in both directions past the sanctuary doors.
“Come on, the kitchen is this way,” Amber said excitedly as she dragged me down the first hallway behind her. She led me into a room beside the kitchen, where tables were set up and about ten more people sat. The group consisted of about twenty men, women, and children. A couple about ten years older than me approached with welcoming smiles.
