Fighting to Survive (37 page)

“
Nothing
yet. Need to get the story down and process it. Then we
’
ll
decide,
”
Bill answered.

“
Throw
them over the wall,
”
someone shouted from the back of the crowd.

There were murmurs
of agreement.

“
I
think the clones would enjoy playing with them,
”
Calhoun said from somewhere in the crowd.
“
Obviously,
those two men have no protection against the alien overlords and are
controlled by evil forces.
”

Bill
walked up to Katie and Travis and said softly,
“
Katie,
want to sit down with me and give a short statement.
”

She
nodded and pulled Nerit
’
s
sweater tighter around her shoulders.
“
Yeah.
I would.
”
She seemed to be gathering her strength and her jaw was set
determinedly.

Bill
motioned to those standing around.
“
Go
back into the party now. Clear this area out. There
’
s
been enough drama.
”

People
began to slowly walk away, talking to each other in hushed voices.
Juan had pulled Jenni aside and was talking to her softly in Spanish,
obviously trying to calm her down. Nerit stood stoically next to
Travis and Katie.

At
last, Bill guided Katie into the elevator, Travis right beside her.
Nerit, Juan, and Jenni followed along with Peggy. They all rode down
in silence to the lobby, where Bill sat Katie down in one of the
comfortable chairs and very gently questioned her on all that had
happened.

When
the statement was finished, Bill pulled Travis aside and whispered,
“
I
’
m
going to get the Mayor down here and we
’
ll
need to have a meeting about this.
”

Travis
nodded, his jaw set grimly.

“
I
need you to be calm though,
”
Bill added.

Travis
sighed then said,
“
I
know. But she
’
s…she
’
s…my
everything…”

“
I
know. But still, we need to decide what is best for all of us.
”

Travis
rubbed his brow then nodded again.
“
Okay.
I
’
ll
be back down in an hour. I want to get her settled.
”

“
Okay,
then we
’
ll
meet at midnight in the hotel manager
’
s
office.
”

“
I
’
ll
be there, Bill.
”
Travis moved toward Katie. It hurt him to see her looking so
traumatized. He could see how hard she was trying to not give into
her emotions. He felt proud of her for that.

How this was all
going to end was beyond him, but it felt as if they were quickly
descending into chaos.

4. The Casting of
Lots

Katie
could hear Juan and Jenni talking swiftly in Spanish in her bedroom
as she gently eased her way out of her once sexy purple dress, that
was now only tatters, as she stood in the bathroom. Jenni was still
in full-blown
“
Shane
must die
”
mode and Juan was trying to get her calmed down.

“
Let
me help.
”
He sat on the counter watching her with the saddest eyes.

She
was hurting. She was sure the bruises would be showing up soon to add
to all her other bruises. Shane had not actually hit her, but he had
wrestled her with brutal intensity.

“
My
arm hurts where he twisted it,
”
she admitted.

Travis
sighed and fought down his anger. He drew her close and gently helped
her out of the rest of her clothes. The water was already running hot
in the shower. He stood up and pulled the curtain aside.

Stepping
into the shower, Katie looked back at his battered face. Reaching
out, she touched it lightly.
“
Come
in with me?
”

“
If
it won't upset you,
”
he answered.

She
shook her head.
“
No.
It won't. You make me feel safe.
”

He smiled and
undressed. Stepping in behind her, he tenderly rubbed her back. They
silently helped each other wash away the blood and grime from their
battle. It hurt Katie to see Travis' bruises, but at the same time,
it made her feel protected. She knew he would defend her with his
life if he had to. Finally, she just rested in his arms until the
water ran cold and they were forced to get out.

Travis
helped Katie into her pajamas and dressed himself in his old clothes.
They hadn't discussed it yet, but Katie was sure he would be moving
in with her soon. Before they stepped back into her bedroom, she drew
him close. They shared several soft, tender kisses. He held her
gently against him for a few precious seconds.

Jenni
looked less agitated when they finally emerged from the bathroom.

“
How
are you feeling?
”
Juan asked.

“
Okay,
I think,
”
Katie answered, and crawled onto the bed and lay down.

Travis
hovered over her, gently stroking her hair.
“
She's
a fighter.
”

Jenni
sighed and moved to sit with Katie.
“
Yeah,
but that puto should never have been released after the first time he
beat up on her.
”

Travis
nodded.
“
Can't
say I don't agree with that.
”
Leaning over, he kissed Katie's cheek.

“
What
do you think will happen next?
”
Katie reached out to hold Travis' battered hand.

“
Not
sure. I'm sure something has to be done, but we don't really have
anything in place to deal with this. It's not like any of us are
elected officials.
”
Travis rubbed his brow.
“
There
is no easy way to deal with this. And I better get down stairs and
see what's up.
”

Juan
stood up as well.
“
I'm
going with you. Shane's had run-ins with Jenni. It could have easily
have been her in there with him, or any woman, really.
”

Travis
nodded.
“
He's
dangerous. And we have to accept that.
”

Katie
pulled lightly on his battered and bruised hand. He leaned over and
kissed her.
“
I
trust you to do what is right.
”

Travis
smiled.
“
I
wish I trusted myself.
”

Katie
reluctantly let go. Jenni snuggled up next to her, spooning her, her
body a comforting presence. The men shut the door behind them and
left them in the comforting glow of a lamp.

“
I
punched him pretty hard,
”
Jenni said after a long pause.

Katie
couldn't help, but laugh.
“
I
noticed. Thank you.
”
She turned and kissed Jenni
’
s
cheek.
“
You
’
re
a very good friend.
”

“
The
absolute best,
”
Jenni said with a wink.

Snuggling
back down, Katie pushed thoughts of Shane out of her mind and slowly
relaxed in Jenni
’
s
arms until she finally found sleep.

***

The elevator doors
opened onto a lobby full of people. None of them were speaking in
anything close to calm tones. Voices ricocheted off the marble floor
and pink granite columns to fill the room with chaos.

As
Travis and Juan stepped into the chaos, Rosie grabbed onto Juan
’
s
arm. His mother
’
s
brow was furrowed with worry and her lips were tight with agitation.
“
Is
she okay?
”

“
Yeah,
resting,
”
Travis answered in a low, terse voice.

“
What
’
s
up with all this, Mama?
”
Juan looked around in confusion.

“
People
are very upset,
”
Rosie answered. Her expression was just as strained as those
gathered in the lobby.
“
About
what happened…”

Juan heard Travis
let out a low sigh and understood his agitation. He could feel the
tension in the lobby building around them. Everyone was voicing his
or her own vehement opinion about the events of the night.

Bill
stood in the middle of the chaos looking amazingly calm. Curtis, on
the other hand, looked overwhelmed. Juan couldn
’
t
blame him. The rookie cop was the only survivor of the small police
department that had once patrolled the small town that now was a
wasteland surrounding the fort. It was a good thing Bill was able to
keep an unruffled, steady demeanor. Juan wasn
’
t
so composed. He wanted to go drag Shane and Philip out of the fort
and feed them to the zombies.

“
This
is ridiculous,
”
Travis muttered.
“
This
a mob.
”

“
You
cannot allow him to stay in the fort. He is a danger,
”
Eric said to Bill in a loud voice. He shoved his glasses further up
his nose and gave Bill the sternest look he could muster. Stacey
stood at his side clutching his arm as their small dog, Pepe,
tap-danced around their feet, excited by all the noise.

“
You
just can
’
t
turn him out,
”
Steven Mann protested nearby. He was dressed in his very expensive
clothes and standing apart with his wife away from the rest of the
people in the lobby.

“
Why
not? He is a danger to the women of this fort.
”
Stacey put her hands on her slim hips and glared at Steven.
“
You
should worry about your wife.
”

Blanche
Mann rolled her eyes.
“
Please.
I wouldn
’
t
lead him on like that blond slut did.
”