After the Ending (11 page)

His blue eyes were sympathetic as he nodded in
understanding.

“We know that now,” Sanchez whispered.

A deafening silence filled the room. The memory of fallen
friends and lost loved ones colored everyone’s faces—dark circles, worry lines,
and creased foreheads created a painting of grief. The sorrow-laden air was
overwhelming. The others’ raging turmoil swelled inside me, fighting for
control. Tears crept into my eyes, but I forced them to retreat.

While everyone’s thoughts lingered in the past, something
pricked my senses, and I suddenly felt self-conscious. I looked over to see
Sanchez’s eyes transfixed on me. Their intensity was disconcerting, and she
wouldn’t look away.
She couldn’t possibly know there’s something wrong with
me
, I tried to rationalize, but I wasn’t sure of anything anymore.

Refocusing on the crackling fire, I cleared my throat to
speak. “Well, I’m glad you’re all here.”
Except for Sanchez, maybe.
“We
weren’t sure what to do next.”

Sarah nodded, absentmindedly stroking the scratches on
the back of her wrist that she’d received while trying to save Sammy.

I suppressed a smile and chose my next words carefully.
“Sarah, you keep touching the scrapes on your arm. Are they bothering you? I
thought I saw blood…” Feigning concern, I looked at her barely marred skin.
Sell
it
, I coached myself, knowing that if I could get Biggs’s attention, he’d
take the bait.

“I’m fine, Zoe.” Sarah’s eyes were wide with confusion,
and her ears were red with embarrassment. “It’s just a small scratch.” But
before she could say another word, Biggs appeared behind her.

Victory
! I smiled proudly and leaned back to
observe the fruits of my labor.

“Can I take a look?” Biggs pointed to her right arm.

Cranking her head to the left, Sarah ended up with her
face mere inches from his olive-colored belt. She looked up at him. “Oh, sure,
but it’s nothing, really.”

Happy my scheme was working perfectly, I watched Sarah’s
gaze lock with the blonde soldier’s. The attraction between them was obvious. I
could practically feel the butterflies in their stomachs, elated and flighty,
as they stared at each other.

Sarah’s curls bounced about as she stood and followed
Biggs over to the bag of medical supplies.
She reminds me of Dani.
But,
unlike Sarah, Dani would’ve jumped at the chance to flirt with a handsome man
in uniform. Still, Sarah’s curls, recoiling up and down as she walked, mimicked
the way Dani’s fiery red locks always jostled and drew the boys’ attention.

I heard a throat clear and looked over to find Harper
watching me intently. He had one eyebrow arched. Smiling guiltily, I shrugged.
“I couldn’t help it. Thank God for you and your medical supplies. Perhaps she
won’t lose her arm after all.”

“We wouldn’t want that.” Harper grinned and stood to stretch.
“I guess I should check on our patient.”

As he walked away, I felt Sanchez’s eyes on me again. “Is
something wrong?” I lashed out anxiously, not sure I wanted to know the answer.
I slowly turned toward her.

Standing, Sanchez shook her head. “You remind me of
someone,” she said as she walked away.

“
You look so much like him
,” I heard and hoped I’d
only imagined the woman’s voice in my head.

Date: December 18, 9:00 PM

From: Zoe Cartwright

To: Danielle O’Connor

Subject: Houseguests

Hey D,

Sorry you’re having such horrible nightmares. Other than
drinking copious amounts of wine (which you already seem to be doing), I’m not
sure I have any ideas to help you sleep better. You can always kick it up a
notch and drink the hard stuff. You guys got any booze lying around? I can’t
imagine seeing Cam in that state. I suppose this is how your mind is dealing
with everything, but it still seems a bit morbid, especially for you. Are the
dreams getting any better?

As for Cece, everything about her screams “BITCH.” I can’t
believe you had to see Jason with her.
Eww
…GROSS! And
I can’t get over the fact that she’s blaming everything that happened with her
family on you. It’s not like you have any control over other people’s actions.
She’s the one who has a fascination with Jason. So, just remind yourself that
she made the choice to stay behind with him. Don’t let her take her anger out
on you. None of that is your fault, D. Someone needs to slap her around a
little bit.

I’m sorry your day’s been so shitty. Too bad we can’t finish
that bottle of wine together—a nice fire, a blanket, Jack curled up at our
feet...sigh. The truth is, I’m in a weird spot too, so I could really use a
drink. Dave and I still aren’t speaking to each other, so I haven’t had a
chance to tell him about my...well, superpowers. I’m planning on telling him,
but so much has happened with our new houseguests showing up unexpectedly that
there hasn’t really been time.

Yes, I said houseguests. They’re a military outfit from the
East Coast. I think they’re Army Rangers. They’re under the leadership of a
tight-lipped woman named Lieutenant Carmen Sanchez. She looks like a Latina
pinup girl more than anything, but she’s really serious and seems pretty
badass. There are two other soldiers with her. Sergeant Dustin Harper is a
medic. He’s an island boy—super fit and hot, and he knows it. He’s already
propositioned me for sex. No, seriously, he did. I said no, but probably only
because everyone was waiting for my answer. If we’d been alone I might’ve considered
it more thoroughly. Either way, it’s flattering, and he makes me laugh. I think
I’m gonna like having him around. I also feel much better knowing that Dave’s
legs aren’t going to fall off. Then there’s Sergeant Riley Biggs. He’s the tech
guy and also seems nice. He’s youngish, has a baby face, and very pretty blue
eyes. He’s already smitten with Sarah. Their flirting is definitely
entertaining and is keeping me occupied for the time being.

Our new friends couldn’t have come at a better time. There
are no working phones, the snowstorms haven’t really let up, and Dave and I
obviously aren’t communicating well. With their skills and knowledge we can
finally get out of here. Thank God for generators, Internet, fire, and sporadic
radio signals. I’m sure there’s plenty more to be thankful for, but you get the
idea.

Everything seems to be winding down here. Sanchez is camping
out in the room with Sarah and me. She looks at me weird though, and it’s sort
of unsettling. Apparently I remind her of someone…but still. I want to scream
“do you mind?” whenever I catch her staring at me, but the gun strapped to her
thigh tends to sway me into silence. Until I figure out what’s wrong with me, I
just want to stay under the radar.

Please be strong, D, and don’t let Cece get under your skin.
You’re better than her. You’re stronger, and she’ll come to her senses. If she
doesn’t, you better kick her ass. I’ll write more tomorrow. I’m gonna put my
tunes on and try to get some sleep. Hopefully your wine kicks in soon. Have
sweet dreams, and give Jack a squeeze for me, or a pat…whatever he prefers.

Hasta,

Zoe

Dani

Cam kissed me
excitedly.

I couldn’t wait to
be with him again. I trailed my fingers through his hair, over his shoulders, down
his chest—I was not to be denied. Still locked to his lips, I began removing
his t-shirt. Some of his skin followed.

I screamed.

Grasping my
shoulders, he rasped, “I tried, D! I really tried to hold it together!” His
arms tightened around me like a vice, squeezing the air out of my lungs. “Won’t
I ever be enough for you? Why’d you leave me, D? You’re tearing me apart!” For
emphasis, he ripped a fist-sized chunk of flesh from his chest.

“No, no, NOOOO!” I
cried out in horror.

His weeping,
decaying figure withered before me.

“You’re dead, Cam!
You left me! This isn’t my fault! I wish…I wish so much that you were still
here. But you’re not…you died!” I turned abruptly and ran—straight into a tall,
blonde, mysterious man. When I glanced behind me, Cam was gone.

The mystery guy,
who I somehow knew was the hidden man from the previous night’s dream, raised
his hands to my face. His thumbs grazed my cheeks and wiped away my desperate
tears. His light skin and chin-length blonde hair made him seem almost angelic,
though the effect was offset by his roguish five o’clock shadow.

The rest of his
fingers moved from my face until his gentle hands tangled in my hair. Compared
to Cam’s melting grasp, his touch was comforting…his touch was alive.

Before I knew what
was happening, he was kissing me. The soft pressure of his lips against mine.
The tightening of his hand behind my neck. The whisper of tangled breath.

Hesitantly, he
pulled away. “Hmmm…I think you’re ready,” he told me with a triumphant smile.
“Oh, I’m definitely going to—”

Abruptly, I woke to Jack’s low growl. When I opened my
eyes, I realized he was standing over me—guarding me. My heart pounded, and I
tried to control my sudden need to pant.
Someone must be behind me…

As Jack’s warning sounds grew louder and more menacing, I
slowly turned over. I kept my breathing even and opened my eyes the smallest
possible amount, trying to maintain the impression that I was simply moving in
my sleep.

Jack crouched closer over me, his growl vibrating against
my torso and long strings of saliva falling from his retracted lips.

In the darkness a few feet away, a shadowy form coalesced
into someone recognizable: Cece.

What the hell?
Where’s Chris?

Slowly, the unwelcome woman inched forward. Completely
focused on staying clear of my dog, Cece was utterly unaware of my wakeful
state.

Confused and afraid, I remained still in the heavy
darkness.

Cece neared until she was only a foot away, and the
tension in Jack’s body increased, making the bed quiver. Wildly, I thought,
Why
is she in here? Is she going to hurt me? A plan…I need a freaking plan!

Before I could think of something, of anything, Cece’s
concealed hand came into view, and my eyes burst open. Moonlight glinted dully
off a combat knife clutched in her grasp, and time seemed to stand still…

Jack’s body coiled like a spring.

Cece held the knife up like a surgeon.

My breath caught, and I thought,
I’m going to die.

…and then it was like the world pressed PLAY. Simultaneously,
Jack lunged for Cece’s knife hand, and I lashed out. My nails caught the flesh
on the right side of her face, gouging a trail from eyebrow to jaw. Using the
momentary advantage, I scrambled backward across the bed and fell off the
opposite side. I was perfectly happy to huddle on the hardwood floor, peeking
over the edge of the mattress.

Still on the bed with Cece’s wrist in his mouth, Jack
shook his head, and the knife clattered to the floor. I couldn’t believe Cece
wasn’t screaming, considering the massive German Shepherd with his fangs sunk
into her flesh. Instead, she started to cry.

Taking momentary pity on the woman, I commanded, “Drop
it, Jack.” It felt exceptionally odd telling my dog to drop a person’s wrist.

He obeyed, though he retained his aggressive stance.

“Come here, Jack,” I said weakly. I had to repeat the
command twice before he would listen.

Finally, with the bed between my attacker and me, and
with my dog by my side, I cautiously stood.

Minutes passed before Cece was able to do anything but
weep. Looking through me, she mumbled, “I just wanted to see…to know…why he
would…why you’re…” Her pitiful attempt at an explanation faltered as her eyes
focused on me.

Her expression soured, turning ripe with hatred. “You’re
done,
murdering bitch
. And you’ll never have him!” she hissed. Pivoting
unstably, she stalked from the room.

The whole confrontation had been so quick and quiet that
it almost felt like it had been a second nightmare. Except, Cece’s knife was
still on the floor where she’d dropped it, the only evidence of what had just
transpired…besides her wounds.
Bitch deserved it,
I thought nastily.

What’d she say? I’ll never have Jason?
I
could’ve told her that
. I sat heavily on the end of the bed after shutting
the door. Unexpected laughter bubbled out of my mouth, and I could feel myself
teetering on the edge of hysteria. The whole situation was unbelievably
ridiculous.
Just my luck—the psycho skank wants to kill me, not because of
her sister, but because she wants to keep me away from Jason.

A deep, angry resentment simmered in my veins, and my
laughter turned bitter. I’d been enamored of Jason, my best friend’s older
brother, pretty much since the first second I’d laid eyes on him as a little
girl. But he’d never shown the least bit of genuine interest. Sure he’d
flirted, stringing me along affectionately, but we both knew there was nothing
behind it.
How dare he?! It’s his fault Cece has it in for me!

As my laughter died down, my thoughts turned morose.
Cam would be so pissed if I got killed
because of Jason…

Unconsciously, I wrapped my right hand around my opposite
wrist. My thumb pressed into the familiar Celtic knot tattooed there,
immediately evoking thoughts of Zoe. Clear reason washed over me; thinking of
Zoe usually had that effect on me.

What should I do,
Zo?

You get your little
butt over to Jason’s room and tell him what happened, that’s what you do! Now!
I
decided that listening to my best friend, imaginary or not, was probably the
wisest plan.

Tiptoeing slowly down the hallway, I wondered what I’d
find in Jason’s room. Would Cece already be there, weaving lies into a tangled
web? Would they be locked in a passionate, nauseating embrace?

I reached the door and knocked quietly. Chris’s voice,
talking and laughing, was audible through the wood. “Do you think she’s come
back to try again?”

Jason scoffed loudly. “I doubt it—I
couldn’t’ve
been any damn clearer.”

The door opened, and I just stood in the hallway, staring
at Chris. My lips parted in an attempt to form words, but all I could do was
take jerky breaths. For some reason, seeing Chris’s earnest blue eyes brought
me close to tears.

“Dani?” Her jovial tone instantly melted into motherly
concern. “What’s wrong?” She hustled me into the room, shutting the door
quietly behind her. “You must be freezing! Why aren’t you wearing something
warmer?”

Jason, sitting at the small table across the room,
straightened. He seemed to be studying every inch of me. His eyes scanned up
and down my body, never resting on one part for too long.

Numbly, I examined my state of attire. I had on my
skimpiest set of post-apocalyptic sleepwear: tiny purple cotton shorts and a
pale green tank top. The sudden realization that I was standing in front of
Jason, barely covered, transformed the touch of his eyes. They singed trails of
fire along my skin.

Before I could die of embarrassment, Chris wrapped a
fuzzy, caramel-brown blanket around my shoulders. She sat with me on the foot
of the full-size bed while Jack settled at our feet.

“Thank you,” I said, surprised by the calm in my voice.
It’s
Zo
, I realized,
giving me strength.

Still grasping my tattooed wrist, I recounted my recent
confrontation with Cece. As soon as I finished talking, Chris rose and began
pacing. Jason, however, remained seated at the small table, keeping his eyes
locked on mine. After several long deep breaths, he opened his mouth to speak.

And the door burst open.

John and Hunter marched into the room with Cece trailing
close behind. She hung back in the doorway watching me like a cat with a
cornered mouse. Slowly, the corners of her mouth twisted into a self-satisfied
smirk.

Hunter, however, being entirely focused on Jason, hadn’t
noticed me perched on the bed. “Sir, I know Cece was pretty cruel earlier, but
that’s no reason for Dani to attack her…with her dog! I mean, look at what
they…,” he said, trailing off when he finally noticed me.

“We had good reason,” I said in chorus with a growl from
Jack. Cece flinched at the sound of my dog’s low rumble, making me smile
inside.

“
Puh
-lease,” Cece whined, her
voice dripping with self-pity. A huge fake tear rolled down her cheek, and she
winced when it crossed the angry red scratches that had been gouged by my
nails. “She
attacked
me! So did her stupid mutt! Look!” She motioned to
her face with her swollen, bleeding wrist, drawing attention to both of her
injuries.

I rolled my eyes at the ridiculous show and embraced the
cold anger crackling within me. “I defended myself, you psycho! Maybe if you
hadn’t been in my room
with
a knife
, I never would have scratched
your pretty face.”

Hunter looked confused, but disbelief clouded John’s
expression.

Cece took a bold step into the room, and Jason exploded
from his chair. In four furious strides he was in front of her, appearing
larger and more dangerous than I’d ever seen him. “You are never to go near
Dani again. I’m watching you. If you touch her, you’re gone.” I wasn’t sure if
‘gone’ meant expelled from the group or implied a more permanent solution.

Cece cried genuinely and reached out to touch Jason’s
hand. “But
Jase
, I—”

“GET OUT!” he roared.

She did.

In the ringing silence, John surprised everyone by
saying, “You can watch Cece all you want, but I’ll be watching that one.” His
finger pointed straight to my heart. He walked out of the room, pausing in the
doorway to gloat. “I hope you enjoy looking at what you can’t have anymore.
Cece’s with me now. She
chose
me.” And then he was gone.

Hunter took a single step toward the exit to follow his
friend but didn’t complete the action. He turned to meet Jason’s eyes and then
mine. “I…I’m sorry,” he apologized weakly. “She lied. Said you attacked her for
no reason. I don’t know you very well, but I do know her—I should’ve known
better. I assumed the worst of you, and I’m sorry. I…I hope someday you can
forgive me.” He hurried out of the room.

Shutting the door, Chris said conversationally, “Well, I
thought that might actually end in a fight. Can you imagine? Our merry little
band of travelers would completely collapse…there’d be blood…probably some of us
would die…”

Ignoring her, Jason squatted down in front of me. “Why
don’t you lay down in here and try to get some sleep? It’s just after midnight,
and Chris and I still have some work to do, so
…,”…we’ll be here…we’ll look
out for you,
hung unsaid.

In the background, Chris continued talking to herself.
“…At least four of the
men’ve
had their eyes on
Cece…I wonder how many she’ll have believing her by morning…could be difficult
though…divide us further…”

“Really? I mean, um…okay,” I said, accepting Jason’s
offer with relief. I really didn’t want to be alone.

As Jason and Chris resettled at the little table in the
far corner, I curled up on top of the bed’s quilt, dangling my hand over the
edge to rub Jack’s scruff.

An hour later I was still awake, silent tears sliding
across my face. I’d been crying long enough for my pillow to grow noticeably
damp.
What would I do if our roles were reversed? What if Cece had caused a
delay that kept me from getting to Zoe in time? What if Zoe had been murdered?

I’d blame her.
I knew it for truth the second I
thought it. Guilt seemed to wrap around me, heavy and constrictive.
It’s my
fault.

I tried to remain quiet, but the tears grew more
insistent, demanding the participation of my whole body.

A chair creaked in the opposite corner of the room. “No,”
I heard Jason murmur. “I got it. Let’s call it a night.”

There was the scratch of chair legs on the floor, a dozen
muffled steps, and the groan of the mattress depressing behind me. Remotely, I
registered the sound of the door and figured Chris had left the room.

Softly, Jason touched my arm. “You okay?”

I could feel his heat radiating near my back. With only
the thin blanket as cover, I was cold. It had taken the suggestion of Jason’s
warmth for me to notice.

I shook my head and managed to croak, “It’s my fault
Kasey’s dead,” before silent, convulsive sobs overtook me completely.

“It’s
not
your fault,” Jason whispered fiercely.
“Cece should blame herself. She could’ve gone straight to Portland, but she
chose
to follow me. I’d decided to go after you hours before we left, and she knew
it…and
dammit
, Dani, I’d make the same decision every time if it meant
you’d survive.”

I cried harder.