Endless Winter (Book 2): Rain & Ruin (3 page)

“I’m sorry Rex, we don’t have a choice. We can’t stay here anymore. We didn’t find anything out there today and the little bit of food and water left will be needed to travel into Banff. I know you hoped that your friend would change her mind but it’s been three days and we have to go.”

Lance squeezes my shoulder to try and lessen the impact of his words but I had already resigned myself to Skylar not changing her mind so I give him an understanding nod. He pulls out the tattered map and starts to spread it out on the tent floor when a gunshot blasts out in the camp.

We all freeze for a moment before lunging for our meager weapons and out the flap of the tent. I scan around looking for the threat and freeze again when I look in the direction everyone else is. My face cracks into a smile so big my cheeks hurt. There she is, my girl, standing on a stump. I knew she wouldn’t let me down! Our eyes meet for a brief moment before she turns away and starts speaking. My smile slowly melts away at her words. Our people will be safe now but what about us? How can she not feel the same way I do about her?

I can tell she’s done her speech and I’m about to race through the crowd towards her when her alarm goes off and AIRIA’s words boom out of the speaker at her waist. I see her flinch. She raises her hand up and then finches again before her eyes go huge and she looks right at me. Her eyes are filled with wonder for a brief moment before they fill with fear and then people are screaming and shoving each other.

I don’t know what’s happening until I start to feel stings on my face that turn to burns. I rub at my face but it feels like acid is being dripped on me one drop at a time. I scream her name but it’s lost in the other screams filling the camp. Marsh shoves me under the tarp and then takes off into the crowd. I search frantically for Matty and see him through one of the tents open flaps. He’s crying in Belle’s arms but I lose sight of them when more people push into the safety of the tent. I look up at the tarp above me and my mouth drops open when I see holes develop in the plastic. What the hell is going on?

I shove away a few people crowding under the tarp as I try and get back out to the camp. I have to find Sky. We need to get these people into the barracks. The flimsy tarps and tents we have won’t last very long. Just as I reach the edge of the tarp and push through more people trying to find shelter, another gunshot booms out. The crowd freezes and screams stop just long enough for me to hear Sky yelling.

“Go north! The doors are open!”

The surge of people I was fighting through turns and heads away from the tarp in the direction she’s pointing to. I get swept up in the crowd but manage to break free before I lose sight of Skylar. I stagger in her direction while trying to look every which way for Matty and Belle. I finally see Sasha’s red hair in the crowd and then Lance with Matty over his shoulder. They’re headed north in the direction Skylar had pointed to and I know Lance will make sure the rest of our group makes it to safety as soon as he can.

I spin back around and run towards where I last saw Sky and see her and Marsh scooping up two small kids each before they start running towards me. Sky’s face is whiter than snow and her eyes are filled with panic and fear. Marsh is beside her, trying to hold on to the struggling toddler in his arms. The toddler is trying to reach his mom, who staggers along behind them. The woman is falling behind as she tries to carry two suitcases and run at the same time. I dodge around Marsh and Sky and grab the suitcases from the woman and scream at her to run.

My face, head and hands burn with every drop of acid rain that lands on them and all I can think about is getting us all under cover. The four of us start to catch up to the main group and my belly lurches as I realize that they’ve all come to a stop except for the pushing. I don’t understand what the delay is. The doors into the barracks are big enough to drive a truck through, there shouldn’t be a bottle neck causing this back up. I look over to Sky but her eyes are shut tight against the rain and red welts are starting to form on her beautiful face.

“SKY! Sky, what’s happening? Are the doors not open?”

Her head swings my way and she opens her eyes to slits to see what’s happening. She shakes her head and then jostles the child in her arms to a better position so she can grab the communicator on her belt.

“AIRA, are the doors open? Why aren’t these people moving?” She screams into the box to be heard over all the noise of over a hundred frantic people.

“Skylar Ross, airlock decontamination procedures cannot commence until the outer doors are closed. Maximum occupancy of airlock is forty people at one time.”

Skylar screeches in frustration causing the kid in her arms to let out a matching wail of fear. She shouts over the screaming kid.

“AIRIA, override the decontamination process and open the inner doors! We’re getting burned out here!”

“Skylar Ross, override accepted.”

We stand with our heads down as bigger drops of the acid rain start to fall faster. It feels like forever until the crowd ahead of us starts to move but I know it’s only a few moments. Both Marsh and Skylar are hunched over the small children in their arms, trying to protect them from the rain as they stagger forward. When the ground under our feet changes from dead grass to concrete, I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. I let the two heavy suitcases drop from my hands and quickly spin around and look back out into the dead forest to make sure there is no one left outside.

Skylar’s heavy breathing is almost gasps as she moves up beside me and does her own scan before turning away.

“AIRIA, scan perimeter for life signs. If nobody’s out there then shut the outer doors!”

There’s no response from the computer but the doors start closing so everyone must have made it in.

The soft sobs of the children’s mother are muffled as she pulls the little boy from Marsh’s arms and buries her face against his neck. We all just stand there catching our breath until Lance runs through the inner door and snatches Marsh into a fierce hug before his arm shoots out and pulls me into it.

“Thank God! I couldn’t find you. I thought you were still out there!”

He moves us back a step and looks us over to make sure we aren’t too damaged by the deadly rain and then nods with relief. His gaze swings over to Skylar who’s still standing in shock with a squirming toddler in her arms. Lance takes two steps towards her and plucks the kid away from her and set’s the kid on its feet before pulling her into his arms for her own hug. I can see her flinch but she just stands there with her arms at her side and her face pale and blank until he backs away.

“Skylar, my name is Lance. I’m Marsh and Rex’s dad. I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for my family. First rescuing Rex and Matty and then allowing us into your home. You’ve most likely saved all our lives.” When she makes no reply, Lance frowns and continues. “I also want to apologise for what helping us has cost you and your little brother. Rex has told me what you went through and I wish I could have stopped it. I’m sorry Skylar and thank you for all that you’ve done.”

I watch Sky’s face but it stays in a blank state. Only her eyes show just how much pain and turmoil she’s feeling. Her eyes dart my way before looking back at Lance and she nods.

“I have to go.”

Wait, that’s it? She’s just going to disappear again? No, no way. I won’t lose her again.

My heart’s banging in my chest from the chaos that just happened. What was supposed to be a “here, take it” moment turned into a flight from danger. I can still feel the heat from the small girl I had grabbed when her mother stumbled. She had felt like a small furnace in my arms as we rushed to get in the doors of the barracks. I can hear her sobbing coughs even muffled as she pushes her face against her mom’s leg.

Lance seems like a nice enough guy but his words don’t change what happened or what’s going to happen. Rex is looking at me with these hopeful puppy dog eyes that I can’t bear so I just nod to Lance and say,

“I have to go.”

Lance nods back in understanding but as I go to step around him, Rex grabs my arm and swings me to face him.

“Sky, please, don’t go. We need to talk about what happens now. We need to…talk.”

His voice has so much hope in it that I have to look away before replying.

“There’s nothing to talk about Rex. You know where everything is in the storage rooms. It’s all yours. I need to get back to Ben and you need to get your people organised.”

I won’t look at him but he lets go of my arm so I slide around Lance and into the barracks. There are so many people in here milling around. More people than I’ve seen in seven years and even though the cavern is huge, I start to feel claustrophobic. My stomach is filled with nausea and a clammy sweat covers my skin. I try and keep my head down but it’s hard to maneuver through the crowd that’s bunched up at this end while looking at my feet. It’s also hard not to look when I hear crying and moans of pain.

I can’t help but look at the faces and hands that are covered with angry red burn welts. I know I have a few of my own that I’ve been trying to ignore until I can get back to the other side and a first aid kit. I’m distracted by a sobbing woman who’s being tended by a man. One of her eyes is flaming red and swollen almost closed. She must have had some of the acid rain go in to it. The man looks up from the damp rag he’s using to dab at her eye in frustration and meets my look. Recognition fills his face and he takes a step towards me.

“Skylar? You’re Rex’s friend, right? I need clean water to help these people with their burns and any first aid kits you might have to spare.”

Here’s another person I don’t know. My throat closes with more panic and I look around for a safe way through the crowd. It feels like they’re pressing against me even though no one is. The man must see the panic in my eyes because he steps right up to me and takes me by both arms.

“Whoa! Take a breath, it’s ok. Just breathe. My name is Ethan and I’m a doctor. I’m also Marsh’s Dad. It’s ok Skylar, you’re safe.”

I’m looking into his eyes and the kindness and compassion there calms me enough to take a steadying breath. The panic is still there but I’m getting control of it. He rubs my arms and nods encouragingly.

“Ok, can you tell me where I can find supplies to help all these people? Even clean water will help flush some of the chemicals off that caused the burns.”

I swallow down the lump in my throat but my voice still comes out a croak.

“There’s a fully stocked infirmary. It should have anything you need. It’s over…”

I go to point the direction, but there’s too many people between us and the direction he needs to go so I just shake my head.

“Follow me. I’ll take you there.”

I don’t check to see if he’s following, I just wind my way through the crowd until I break free of it and finally can take a deep breath. The infirmary is at the far end of the cavern down by the offices and the door to get me out of the barracks. I’ll be able to just show him the way and then slip away to the tunnel. I need to get out of here and back to my own side before Rex tries to convince me to stay.

Ethan catches up to me and matches me stride for stride as I cross out of the cots and closer to the far wall. I can tell he’s looking at me but I keep my gaze straight ahead, even when he starts talking to me.

“I really can’t tell you how grateful we all are that you opened up your home to us. I know things were bad with Ted and that Sasha had a hand in that but I hope you can forgive us. None of us would have deliberately caused you or your brother harm or pain. We’ve all seen enough misery to last a lifetime since the bombs dropped. We just want a chance to be safe and survive as best we can. You’ve given us all an incredible gift, Skylar.”

I still have nothing to say. I hear his words and understand where both him and Lance are coming from but it’ll be a long time before I get the image of a gun pressing into my baby brother’s neck out of my mind. I’m glad these people will be safe now, especially after the acid rain hit but I still don’t want anything to do with them. I’ve done all I’m willing to do, Ben has to come first.

We walk a few more paces in silence until Ethan realises I’m not going to reply and he lets out a sigh before changing the subject.

“So, this A.I.? It’s a computer that runs the place? Is there anything we should know about it or how to use it?”

I feel my shoulders slump slightly as I realise that I’m not going to get away as quick as I had thought I would. When I furrow my brow in a frown, there’s a burning pain on my forehead that makes me wince and raise my hand up to gently press my fingers against where the pain is. I keep walking as I move my fingers lightly over my whole face and take a count of all the small burns on it. I count six spots by the time we reach the infirmary doors. There goes my chance at winning any beauty pageants.

I palm open the double doors and use my boot to knock down the stoppers to keep them open. The lights come on the minute I open the doors. As I turn to address Ethan, I see him standing there with this look of amazed hope in his eyes that are welling up with tears. He blinks them back and looks at me with a sheepish grin.

“Sorry, I just never thought I would be in a real functioning medical unit again. You have no idea how hard and frustrating it is to be a doctor and not be able to help people properly when all you have is make shift medicine and rags to work with. Coming in here is like waking up from a medical nightmare!”

I turn and look into the room and see it with new eyes. I feel a wash of shame as I think of all the people this room could have helped instead of staying dark and empty. I shake my head and push the shame away. There’s no changing the past. We just need to make the best of what we have today. I look at Ethan again and square my shoulders.

“AIRIA, the computers name is AIRIA. She controls all the functions in here and will keep everything running. Would you say you and Lance will be taking control and organising your group?”

Ethan glances back over his shoulder to where the group is still milling about in the far end of the cavern before looking back and answering me.

“Well, we have since we left the hotel so probably.”

“Ok, I’m going to give you, Lance and Rex a yellow authorization. That means you can ask AIRIA questions and for help and she will talk to you. You will be able to control the locks on the storage room doors as well but you won’t be able to open the door between the barracks and my living area. If you need to get out the exterior doors you can open them too. If you really need help she can’t provide, you can have AIRIA send me a message, but I’d rather your group keeps to itself.” I rub at one of the worst burns on my forehead before continuing. “Rex knows where most everything is but I’ve locked the armory down completely. I’m not comfortable letting your group have the weapons stored in here.”

As I’m talking, Ethan is nodding as he walks further into the infirmary and starts opening cabinet doors. I’m ready to just take off when he turns with a tube in his hand and beckons me forward. I look at him warily but he just laughs.

“It’s just some burn cream. It’ll help sooth those welts and help them heal.” When I still just stand there his smile turns sad. “When was the last time someone took care of you, Skylar?”

His tone is so sympathetic that I feel tears spring up but quickly blink them away. It’s my job to take care of Ben and that’s all that matters. I shake my head at him.

“Yeah, um, thanks but I have my own medical supplies. You should get your own people looked after. I’ve got to get back to my brother so, um, good luck.”

I spin away and out the door before he has a chance to say anything else and make for the offices. It’s hard for me to keep my resolve strong when Ethan, Lance and Rex are all being so nice. I know in my heart that most of these people would be kind to Ben and me but it’s just the possibility that one of them won’t that means it’s not a chance I’m willing to take. I took a chance before and it almost got us killed. I’m almost at the doors to the office when a small voice stops me in my tracks and I squeeze my eyes shut in frustration before turning around.

“Skylar?”

I look into his sweet green eyes and see how happy he is to see me and want to cry but instead just say,

“Hi, Matty. You doing ok?”

The kid is just too cute when his grin broadens, causing his dimples to be on full display and I have no choice but to catch him when he throws himself at me for a hug. I have to keep reminding myself that Ben’s safety comes before his happiness because I know what’s coming next.

“Can I come with you to see Ben? Or can he come over here so he can meet the rest of my family?”

My mouth goes dry and my throat closes as I try and think of a way to explain to this little angel why that will never happen again. He’s looking up at me with all the trust I can’t give back when I’m saved from answering.

“Matty-man! Rex is looking for you. Scamper pest, big bro’s getting worried!”

Matty nods at Marsh but throws his small arms around me one more time before running back towards the crowd with a yell over his shoulder.

“Tell Ben I’ll see him later!”

I just stand there with my shoulders slumped watching as he’s swallowed up by the crowd. Marsh’s words jolt me out of my funk.

“Don’t sweat it Sky. You did a huge thing by letting us all in here. Now you gotta do what you think is best for you and your little man. Sometimes the best thing to do hurts the most. Just know that Rex, and me, well, we’d both lay down our lives for you and Ben. You saved us and Rex and Matty more than once now so we’ve got your back. No matter what you decide.”

The deep breath I try and take hitches in my chest so I turn away from him so he can’t see the pain I know is all over my face.

“Thanks Marsh. That means a lot but I just…”

I feel his hand on my shoulder and it gives a brief squeeze before dropping away.

“I get it, its ok. Go on back to Benny-boy. You did good today.”

The tears are starting to fall down my face and there’s no way to stop them so I bolt to the doors and just keep going.