Awaken the Elements (Elemental Trilogy) (22 page)

             
“Don’t worry, Cuz. You worry too much.”

              They set about figuring out a relatively easy plan which involved people on the second floor distracting the infected while Moss and Richard went for the crates. The people on the roof would help out with the rifles. That meant Autumn and Anatha were on the roof. While a lot of the others were sent down, they decided the guys could get into the maintenance stairs of the parking garage. It would take them out by the crates and far enough away from the exits where the infected were.

             
The guys started down. The group on the roof watched them disappear into the parking garage. The guys came out, and so far, everything looked okay from up above.

****

             
“I see them,” Ivy Lee said.

             
“Look at me, stupid zombie!” Envy yelled, flipping them off.

             
“They are not zombies,” Linden said.

             
“They sure act like them,” Envy replied tartly.

             
“But their body is still considered alive in a way,” he said.

             
“Shut up,” she finally said, glaring at him.

             
“Look, are you hungry?” River pressed his face against the glass. Drake smacked him in the head, and his face hit the glass with a thud. “Ouch, fuck, my head!” He twirled around.

             
“You’re an idiot. How are you supposed to make noise with your head stuck to the glass?”

             
Stefan was tapping on the glass, when Rowan elbowed him. He was making funny faces and noises at the infected. “Stop it, both of you!” Stefan ordered. “Get back to making noises.”

             
They turned in time to see one of the newly infected take notice of Moss and Richard. “Shit,” someone said and started making more noise. But the damage was already done. Like the first, others started to notice. The guys were on the second crate when they saw the infected themselves. Both grabbed the crate quickly, which was way heavier than the first.

             
The infected came after them quickly, trampling the weaker ones, hungry from the virus. Richard tripped on his own feet, and the crate slipped out of his hands. He got up, grabbed the box, and the two worked their way to the stairs. Bullets whizzed close by as the box slipped out of Moss’s hands this time. Soon there were too many infected, and from there, everything happened quickly.

             
They tried to grab the crate again but decided not to take the chance, dropping it. It broke open, spilling the supplies. The infected were so close they could smell the infection burning the bodies. The shooters on the roof couldn’t get to all of them, and no one could see exactly what was happening down below.

             
“There are too many!” Bud shouted.

             
“Where is Richard?” Autumn asked, using her scope. But when she finally spotted him, it was too late. Hands grabbed him, pulling him into the hungry crowd. They watched as he disappeared. His hand reached up towards the air like a drowning swimmer trying to break loose of the violent tides.

             
“No!! Richard!” She screamed, barely feeling the hands grabbing her as she tried to run to the ladder.

             
“It’s too late, Autumn,” her dad said.

             
“No. I’m going to help him,” she struggled.

             
“Even if you did go down there, he’s infected, Autumn. This virus will change him and make him part of it. You know this.”

             
“No! I have to save him!” but she slumped down, knowing her dad was right. Tears burned her eyes. Richard, her cousin, her best friend, was gone.

****

             
“No!” Envy and Frank cried as they watched Richard disappear. No tears left her eyes, but Drake pulled her away from the window, hugging her to him as Ivy Lee held her hand.

As the others watched
, Rowan and River took off running up the stairs. They had one thought:  get to Autumn. They continued running through the fourth floor which felt like it took hours, and ran out to the roof, breathing hard. They saw Autumn on the ground crying and went to her, falling to their knees and wrapping her in their arms. She didn’t look at them but cried harder.

             
“I told him not to go,” she whispered. “I knew something bad was going to happen. I should have forced him to stay with us.”

             
“Autumn?” Rowan whispered. She didn’t answer. He let go of her and gently grabbed her chin, making her look at him. “Autumn.” She didn’t answer as she stared blankly at him, crying.

             
The incident replayed over and over again, and she tried to think of ways she could have saved him. Infection ate my cousin, swirled around and around in her mind. They ate Richard. Her nightmares were coming true.

             
A while later she found herself in her bed. The tears were gone, but the puffiness was there. A cup of tea sat on the little night stand by her pillow bed, and it smelled good. Chamomile she thought as she stuck her finger in it. She pulled it out quickly with a small hiss; it was fresh. She thought about sitting up and drinking it, but as she did, her stomach felt queasy. She lied back down and fell asleep. The sleep did not last long.

              The nightmare left her screaming and crying. It tore her out of her shock. She got out of bed, still crying, and went outside. Hoping Rowan and River were in, she walked over to the music store. She stood before them sitting on a couch. She felt shaky and scared.

             
They watched her walk over to them. Her eyes were glassy from the tears, and there was need in them. River stood up, but she motioned for him to sit back down. He did. She came over and sat between them. Her face glistened with tears. River reached over and held her as she cried, pressing her head into his chest, rocking her.

             
“Nightmare?” Rowan whispered as he rubbed her back. She nodded. She held River tighter. Between them, for now at least, she felt safe.

             
They continued to soothe her throughout the night. Neither minded. She was no longer in shock, and that was good enough for them. After a while, she stopped crying. River stopped rocking her and pulled away, but she didn’t want him to. Her arms tightened around him. He looked at her, moving her tear soaked curls out of her face again.

             
“Better?” He asked. She shook her head. This time Rowan held her against him. At that moment, she needed their warmth. She felt so cold. They all fell asleep holding each other. No nightmares, just them sharing each other’s warmth.

             
When she awoke they were still sleeping. Rowan had one arm wrapped around her waist. She was using River as a pillow, but he had his arm wrapped around her arm. She moved just a little and woke River. He looked at her, moving his hand down, trying to tame her hair so he could see her better.

             
“How are you feeling?” He asked sleepily.

             
“A little better,” she said.

             
“Are you comfortable?” He got ready to move if she wasn’t.

             
“Not really,” She said, rubbing her cheek on his chest.

              “Then let’s fix that,” Rowan murmured, “I am all cramped up.”

             
They untangled themselves, and River went over and pushed the two twin beds together. They all lay down with Autumn between them. They warmed her. She felt so safe between the two bodies pressed against her. Arms and hands touched her, and it felt comforting and right she thought as she fell back to sleep.

             
Winter went by, and spring pushed the death months away, until they were just a memory. Summer warmed everything with sunny kisses, and fall slid right back in with its colored leaves. Winter, year two, came upon them like a sneaky lover leaving the rooftop and infected bodies icy. Because of that bad drop, the safe houses now had the helicopters land. No more ideas of leaving the safety of the mall were brought up again.                                                                                                         

Chapter 11

              It was their second Christmas together at the mall. Cabin fever had hit, and everyone tried even harder to keep themselves busy. It rarely snowed in the valley, but it rained, frosting over everything they could see. People talked about the snow, the ones who actually liked the snow. Some talked about how they would like to go out and play in it or maybe visit the beach instead. Go where the weather was warm.  Autumn wanted to see the beach; she wasn’t a snow person. Once people were stuck in an area for a long time, they didn’t care where they went as long as they went somewhere else.

             
This year was no different than last Christmas. Autumn watched the kids decorate the huge fake Christmas tree. She wanted a real one. She loved the smell of real pine trees. Lily looked at her, and she flipped her thumbs up.

             
She was so bored she offered to watch the children for a while. She sat on the cold, blue tiled floor Indian style, wearing navy blue sweatpants, and an oversized black T-shirt. With her elbows on her legs, she rested her chin in her hands, letting her mind wander away from all this. She pictured herself walking barefoot along the beach. The cold water rolling over her feet as the wet sand squished between her toes. She let out a small sigh as she imagined the sound of the waves and the taste of the salty air.

             
The mall wasn’t as quiet as most days. Music drifted from everywhere, and the noise of drunken fools filtered down from the fourth floor. She thought about escaping out the maintenance stairway and hanging out in the orchard on the other side of the parking lot. There was something out there drawing her attention. She was sure she could do it and get back in one piece. The idea of just being outside made her smile. The sounds, the smells, the nature. She frowned. How she missed it.

              One of the older adults came over to watch the children. Autumn gave a slight wave, getting up off the floor. She walked over to the elevator, debating what to do. She pressed the call button.  What’s taking so long?  Fucking thing was taking forever. She kicked at the elevator doors. As they opened, her foot did not hit steel but someone’s leg.

             
“Ouch!” Linden said, crying out. He reached down, rubbing the spot she had kicked.

             
“Sorry,”

             
“Going down?” he asked. She nodded. “What’s got you?”

             
“Stuff,” She said absentmindedly.

             
“Everything just seems to get to you, huh? Just when you think everything is okay. Something else happens to annoy you. I feel so restless lately.”

             
“Yeah.”

             
“It’s happening to everyone.”

              Envy and Ivy Lee were skating, while Marie laced up her ice skates. Frank, Hazel, and Windle watched them.  Autumn looked at Windle. She hated him, and it showed in her eyes as she walked by them. When she broke up with him, Windle got a little freaky and started stalking her. Even after he married Marie, he still bothered her. One morning, back in Winton, she woke up to him using her toothbrush. She was also sure he had gone into her room one day while she was away at college and took some private things from her dresser. Not only were some of her panties missing but her small journal too.

             
“So what’s the deal?” Linden asked. He watched her as she glared at Windle.

             
“Huh?” She had forgotten he was still there as she thought about forcing Windle over the roof ledge.

             
“About
   
” He motioned to Windle.

             
“Ex-boyfriend.” She said bitterly.

             
“I know. The fact you are stuck with him
   
” he didn’t finish and shook his head.

             
“I know.” Somehow the realization of what Linden said made her angrier.

She went over to the games and eyed them. Which should I play? NYPD Shoot-out? Whack-a-Weasel? The last sounded good. She pressed the start button and grabbed the black rubber mallet off its hook. The weasels popped up, and she
started whacking. Let it all out her subconscious told her.

             
“One for the infected, one for this mall, another for the person who created the virus, one for Windle, infected, Janice with her eyes on Rowan, infected, nosy Anatha,” She said under her breath every time she whacked a weasel.

             
Rowan tapped her shoulder. She swung around with the mallet, ready to whack. His eyes got wide, as he put his hands up to fend off the blow. She looked at him and let the mallet drop out of her hands. “Sorry,” she said, her heart racing as if she had been running.

             
“Damn, girl, I hope none of those weasels had my name on it.” He looked at the swinging mallet, thinking how close he had come to being hit.

              She grinned, “Maybe.” She heard what his mind said. Adair was helping her become more in tune with the world around her. She could now hear snippets of people’s thoughts when she was overstimulated. She and Anatha could hold conversations with one another and not say a word. It was very annoying and pissed them off. She accused Autumn of keeping her away from River. It was hard work keeping their relationship a secret.

             
He rolled his eyes, grabbing her around the waist. “I found something,” He whispered in her ear. His breath was warm on her skin. She closed her eyes, feeling his stubble on her neck.

             
“What?”

             
“Laser tag?” He made it more of a question. He pulled away, watching her.

             
Her eyes lit up. “Something new?”

             
He nodded, letting her go. “Want to be my partner?”

             
An evil grin spread over her face. “Are you sure you can keep up with me?”

             
“I think so, but I likely won’t get a shot off. Everyone knows how good you are.”

             
“It’s true,” she said, batting her lashes at him.

             
A scream of pain sounded from behind them. They turned around to the ice rink. Marie was face down on the ice. Autumn watched as her sister skated over to the edge, Ivy Lee following her closely. 

             
Envy undid her skates. She looked up at Marie as Windle helped her to her feet.

Marie held her
bloody nose. She brought her hand away from her face, looking at the red mess. Glaring at Envy, she screeched, “You bitch! You broke my nose!”

              “Good!” Envy said, shouting back. She kicked off the last skate and walked over to Autumn and Rowan.

             
“Get off the ice, the blood will soak in!” Linden said.

             
“You’re going to regret this, Envy!” Marie warned.

             
“Shut up, ‘cause I’ll get your little dog, Windle, next!” Ivy Lee shouted.

             
“What do you plan to do, Marie, sleep with my man, Drake?” After the words escaped her lips, she wished she could take them back. She looked at Autumn and Rowan, and they looked at her. “I shouldn’t have said that so loud.”

             
“Told you,” Autumn said, elbowing him in the ribs.

             
“Damn,” he said. “How do you know this stuff?” She just smiled before turning to look at her sister.

             
Marie left Playland with the aid of her dog as Ivy Lee made crybaby noises until they were out of sight. “So what do we have planned?” Envy asked.

             
“Laser tag,” Autumn said.

             
“Yeah.” Ivy Lee jumped around. “I’m so stoked! I so want to kill a few people.”

             
“I guess we should let the others know,” Rowan said.

             
“The more the merrier,” Autumn said.             

             
“I want Autumn!” Envy, Ivy Lee and Linden all called out simultaneously.

             
“Sorry, already taken,” Rowan said, grabbing her arm. “She’s mine, and I ain’t sharing.”

             
“Well fine then. Watch your back.” Envy threatened, pointing at him.

              “I’m so scared,” he said, scooting behind Autumn.

             
“Oh, great,” she said. “Put me between you two.”

             
“Well, then,” Linden started to say.

             
Envy looked at him wild eyed. She grabbed Ivy Lee to her. “She’s mine, buddy.”

             
Autumn laughed. Envy turned to her sister. “Are you making fun of me?”

             
“Rowan, I think we should leave very, very, slowly,” she said, walking backwards.

             
“I’m right behind you.”

             
“You better run!” She looked at Linden who was looking at her. “What?”

             
He looked away, “Nothing. Just leaving too.”

****

             
They set up Toy World as a giant laser tag room. Setting some black lights around finished the game area. The cluttered stuffed animal tables and huge toy stacked shelves made the perfect maze. Those who had played laser tag knew the secret rules. The biggest rule of all was to wear black and other dark clothes, no white.

             
They let Joe, Brittany, Janice, and, surprisingly, Windle and Marie play. They couldn’t wait to shoot them. Marie thought her invitation was an apology, although Envy had other plans.  The only problem she had was Windle. He was a good shot. Envy remembered how Autumn and he used to have fun shooting targets in the backyard when they were still going out. She would have to find a way to get past him. She strapped on her laser tag pack and aimed the laser gun.
I will,
she thought, sported and evil grin, and pulled the trigger.

****

              Linden ended up with Drake; they were going to die quickly, River, after a lengthy argument, ended up teamed with Anatha. The other teams were Moss with Stefan, Jaime with Janice, Frank with Hazel, and Joe with Brittany.

The
lights were darkened, and the game began. Autumn grabbed Rowan after they got away from the others, and sat down in a huge pile of stuffed animals.

             
“We’re going to camp?” he whispered.

             
“Yes,” she whispered back.

             
Anatha dragged River along and started looking for Autumn and Rowan.

             
“There are other people to look for,” he whispered.

             
“But I would win the game if I got Autumn,” she whispered back. He just shrugged and followed her.

             
Stefan and Moss sought out anyone they could find. Hazel and Frank bumped into Drake and Linden, automatically ending their game. Laughter erupted everywhere.

             
“Who was that?” Rowan said.

             
“I don’t know,” Autumn said, looking out into the dark.

             
“You know, this is sort of nice,” he said, lying back in the stuffed animals. “Want to join me?”

             
“It sounds great, but we have business at hand.”

             
“I thought I heard talking over here,” Moss said as he and Stefan turned the corner. Autumn put her left hand over Rowan’s mouth. She didn’t want him to talk. He removed her hand and laid a quick kiss on it before releasing it. She shook her head.

             
She watched them walk over to them. “I was sure I heard something,” Moss said.

             
“You make too much noise,” she said in a whisper. Before they could turn around, Autumn and Rowan shot them.

             
“Damn,” Stefan said.

             
“I’ll get you next time,” Moss said, laughing. They moved to the front of the toy store.

             
“Come on,” she said, grabbing his hand in the dark. “We go hunt.” They entered the dark, leaving their fort.

****

             
“Who was that?” Ivy Lee asked, hiding behind Envy.

             
“I think Moss and Stefan,” Envy said.

             
“Let’s go this way then,” she walked over to the end of the aisle. “Back me up.”