Beautiful Death (Bella Morté Trilogy Book 1) (9 page)

Candice nodded, slapping Zach in the arm. “See! I told you! There’s nothing
safe
about this truck!”

Shaking his head, Zach looked at Erica and back to Candice. “You think
her
word is going to mean a damn thing to me?” He turned back to Erica. “You’re just full of sunshine and rainbows, aren’t you? If all your girls were like you, that must have been one irritating sorority. If you want to run around on the ground then be my guest. I’m sticking it out in this truck.”

Montana sighed. “I know it doesn’t seem like much, but everyone will be safer. Trevor an’ Brandon’ll watch out, just listen to them. Don’t leave it unless ya
have
to. They have guns. If you’re here,” he beat on the inside of the bed, “they have a smaller area to guard.” He looked at the two men. “Keep watch.”

Brandon saluted. “Ya got it, boss. We’ll keep ‘em safe.”

Trevor turned, watching the woods around them. “Nothin’ will get by us.”

Turning, Montana and Justice went into the building.

Erica smirked, rolling her eyes. “Oh, I feel so much safer knowing,” she nodded to the two guards, “Itchy and Scratchy are watching out.”

Brandon looked at her. “Negativity like that’ll get you,” he chomped his teeth, “everywhere.”

“Well, don’t I feel lucky.”

“At least we agree on that.”

Zach concentrated on a patch of bushes, pointing at them. “Look,” he whispered to Candice.

Turning, she looked where he pointed, peering carefully. “What is it?”

He pointed again. “There! Did you see it?”

She studied the area like cramming for a test, looking for the slightest movement. “Where?” Her eyes darted from the left to the right. “Do you see it now? What did it look like?”

“I don’t know!”

“You don’t know what it looked like?” She groaned, shaking her head. “Was it big, small, the trees blowing, or something coming to eat us?”

“I don’t know! I can’t be sure what I’m looking at. The trees are blowing and all those shadows move.”

“Okay, you’re not making any sense. Did you see something or not?”

One of the women in the back, Sophia, listened to the two of them and moved closer. She searched the area, looking for something that may or may not be moving. “Do ya see it now?”

Candice scoffed. “That seems to be the question of the hour.”

“I heard something in that,” Zach pointed to one section, “direction and thought I saw something too.”

“Are you sure? I don’t see anything. Everything’s moving because of the wind.” Candice rolled her eyes before looking back at him. “Maybe it was an animal?”

“An animal?”

Erica looked over, rolling her eyes. “What else could it be?”

Shaking her head, Sophia sighed. “Don’t ask ‘at question. I don’t want the answer.”

Brandon turned, looking out. At this point, everyone in the truck was tuned in and trying to find something moving on the horizon. “I don’t see anythin’.”

Trevor squinted, ducking down, looking off in all directions. “Yeah, all I see are bushes an’ trees, but it’s dark, so maybe it’s just shadows.”

Zach shook his head. “Everyone be quiet and listen.”

“Okay, this is like freaky. Like what’s taking so long?” Rachel whispered frantically.

Brandon motioned to them with his hands. “Quiet! Let’s see if we can hear anythin’.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yes, but like he said he
saw
something move, not that he like
heard
something.”

“Everyone look at the bush.”

“Like what are we looking for?”

“If anythin’ moves tell us. We’ll shoot it.”

Turning, she stared at the bush. “Like great plan.”

The bushes and trees swayed from the cold breeze. Shadows from the moon joined in dancing to a magical beat. Each of them took on a life of their own, moving across the ground, playing hide and seek with the light. It was silent, other than the breeze making the leaves sound like nature’s very own wind chimes. It was hypnotizing. Everyone in the truck stared at the bushes, straining to hear the slightest sound, squinting to see anything out of place.

It was quiet. Too quiet.

Justice walked out after they secured the building. Luckily, they didn’t run across any resistance. Walking towards the truck, he furrowed his brows as he watched them. They looked like frozen statues. He looked around curiously if anything was about to attack them. Seeing nothing, he continued walking a little closer, peering at each of them, waiting for any sign of movement. “What,” his voice was loud in the silence and everyone in the truck screamed, “are y’all lookin’ at?”

Brandon, frightened by the sudden noise behind him, shot at the trees, which ricocheted: making everyone duck, screaming in fear, climbing over each other to get away from the sides.

Breathing deeply, Trevor turned, calming the group as he shook his head, glaring at Justice. “That’s a good fuckin’ way to get your ass wasted. Jesus!”

Justice looked around confused. “What? What the hell is wrong with you guys?”

“You scared the hell outta us!”

“I came back to tell ya guys the coast is clear. Ya can go in.”

“Okay, settle down.” Brandon tried calming the frightened campers. “It was just a false alarm. Let’s get inside.”

“Yeah, we heard. We’re not deaf,” Erica said, rolling her eyes, pushing people away. “Get the fuck off!”

Justice turned, helping people over the tailgate. “It’s dark, but we’re gonna start the generators.” He pointed to the staircase. “Go up the stairs an’ get inside where it’s safe.”

Candice hopped over the tailgate, heading for the stairs. “Best advice yet.”

One by one, everyone made their way up the stairs and into the building. No one said anything and fell into a single file line.

Once inside the building, Candice looked around the room. She took a seat at one of the tables. “I remember this.”

Zach nodded. “Tubing video.”

“Yep, I had to watch one on zip lining. Does this mean we get to watch movies?”

Justice chuckled. “No.”

“Bummer.”

“We have to save the electricity for other things.”

Each of them sat down. It didn’t take long before light flooded the area and everyone clapped. It took some magical kicking, but finally Montana got them working. “I turned ‘em on so everyone can get a shower an’ go to the bathroom. We have food an’ snacks if you’re hungry. After tonight, we’ll store the rest for rationin’.”

Zach nodded, still disgusted that he was literally wearing another person. In the darkness, it wasn’t as noticeable. However, in the light, it looked like he stood at the bottom of a chipper while someone fell in. “Makes sense, but for how long?”

“We figured a few hours a day.”

Sophia sat down. “So we’re campin’ inside now?”

“Yes. It’ll be easier on the generators. We don’t wanna attract a lot of attention. We have plenty of lanterns an’ oil lamps. For those of you who smoke, we have some in stock. If ya need a pack, just let us know. I can’t guarantee we have yours, but we do have the most standard brands.”

“It’s a good thing you guys had a store.”

He nodded. “True.”

“Smokers without cigarettes,” she winced. “Talk about unbearable.”

“Besides, we don’t know how long this is gonna last.”

One of the men, Howard, shook his head. “Hold up a minute! What makes you the leader?”

“We work here an’ know where everythin’ is an’ how they run. Besides, it’s our,” Justice pointed to the rescuers, “job to make sure everyone is safe.”

“That was fine and dandy before this shit happened.”

“It doesn’t change the fact ‘at someone needs to take point.”

“Yes, but what makes that person you? Maybe someone else is--”

“
Seriously
dude,” Candice groaned. “We’re
all
okay with them being in charge.” She looked around the group. “Am I right?” Everyone nodded. Turning back, she glared at the man. “So do us a favor and shut the fuck up.” He grumbled in answer. She turned back to Justice. “As you were saying?”

Zach looked at Candice, back to Justice, glowering silently.

Justice snickered, winking at Candice. “While the generators are off, we need to use mellow yellow. It’s gross, but we don’t have a choice.”

The woman, Rachel, who thought
‘like’
wasn’t used enough in conversation looked over, curiously. “Wait. Like what the hell’s that?”

Brandon laughed. “It’s somethin’ we had in school. If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down. I thought everyone knew that?”

Howard grimaced. “I’m glad I didn’t go to
your
school.”

Ian, one of the other men in the room, cringed. “Yeah, me too.”

Candice rolled her eyes. “You’ve never heard of it? I have.”

“
Your
school too? Wow, I guess the school systems have gotten horrible over the years.”

“No.” She rolled her eyes. “Sometimes when your toilet stops working… well, you don’t flush unless you have to.”

Rachel cringed. “Oh like that’s disgusting. Like, gross!”

Erica nodded. “I’m with you, sister. They graded my sorority on cleanliness. We didn’t leave any…
thing
… in our toilets.”

Brandon shrugged. “Yeah, well while we’re in
this
situation, we need to conserve
more
than just food an’ electricity.”

Sophia exhaled. “He’s got a point. We don’t know how long or even
if
we’re gonna be rescued.”

“Well, now you get to experience the fabulous yellow mellow. Think of it this way,” he winked. “It’s a good story to tell your grandkids.”

She shook her head. “It doesn’t sound
that
enjoyable.”

“Most stories ya tell your grandkids aren’t.”

“We’ll make sure to leave a bucket near the toilet just in case,” Trevor paused, “the generator’s not on an’ ya… make a brownie, so to speak. Just take the bucket, fill it full of water, pour it in, an’ it’ll automatically flush.”

Justice sneered. “If you’re hungry, we have brownies an’ snacks.”

Zach murmured. “I lost my appetite.”

Laughing, Brandon walked behind the counter. “Not me. I’m starvin’!” He grabbed one of the packages of chocolate covered donuts.

Howard cringed. “How can you eat that?”

Opening the wrapper, grinning, he shoved one in his mouth. “Mm… there’s nothin’ like a chocolate covered donut.”

Shaking his head, Trevor grabbed a bag of chips. “Chocolate, after that speech, that’s okay. I’ll take chips.”

Brandon smiled. “What? It’s a known fact; chocolate makes ya feel better.”

“I think it’s going to take a lot more than a few donuts,” Erica cried.

“Ya never know until ya try.”

“Nothing’s going to make up losing my entire sorority.”

Zach winced. “Ouch. Sorry to hear about your loss. Were you close to them?”

“We were sisters. Now, when I get back, I have to do all the recruiting.”

Shaking her head, Candice grunted. “Yeah, well that’s a shocker. I pity you.”

“I know! I have to send out a ton of invitations. Usually, I have help, but not anymore.”

“Pity.”

Sophia studied Erica. “Are ya feelin’ okay?”

She shrugged. “I’m just upset.”

“Ya don’t look good; a little green around the gills.”

“Well, there’s been a lot going on. You guys look like shit too.”

Sophia laughed. “Thanks!”

Grabbing a piece of the white coconut cake from the pan, Candice took it and a cup of coffee back to her seat. Things wrapped were easier to store for rations, but cake wasn’t. “I’m glad I didn’t go to college.”

Sophia arched a brow. “Why?”

“It sounds like it wasn’t as much fun as they let on.”

Erica shook her head. “Oh no. It was a blast! We had parties, events, and lots of boyfriends.”

“Oh yeah?” Brandon smiled with chocolate covered teeth. “Can ya elaborate on the boyfriends?”

“Perv.”

“Oh,
you
have all the boyfriends, but
I’m
the perv?”

Sophia grabbed a piece of cake and coffee, joining Candice at the table. “I went to college to learn, so I didn’t experience it quite like that.”

Montana pointed to the coolers. “There are beverages, but no beer. Everyone needs to keep a clear head.”

Opening her bag of chips, Rachel grumbled. “Some of us need to like get fucked up.”

Trevor sighed. “I agree. Montana, you’re like a party pooper.”

He winked. “You’ll thank me when you live to drink another day.”