Dark Inside (26 page)

Nathan looked at her in disbelief. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“I’m not leaving him. He saved my life.”

“It’s not safe.”

“It’s as safe as anywhere else,” Aries said.

“But we need you,” Joy said. “Who’s going to carry your stuff? We promised the others.”

“Look,” Aries said, taking both Joy and Nathan by the arms
and leading them away from the pharmacy. “You can take my bicycle. There’s a whole bunch of them in the sporting-goods section. I can always grab another. We can get one of those baby carriages that attaches to the back of the bike. You guys can carry more stuff that way without being slowed down. And I got some handheld receivers from electronics. We can keep in touch now. You’ll be able to reach me whenever you want. I’ll be back as soon as he’s well enough to travel. One day, two tops.”

“I don’t like it,” Nathan said. “And I don’t think the others will either.”

“I owe him my life,” she said. “I have to return the favor.”

An hour later they were ready to go. Both Joy and Nathan were loaded up with the goods, but not enough to slow them down if they got in trouble. Aries made sure of that. It was still dark outside, but in the east, the sky was beginning to lighten. If they were going to leave, it had to be now.

“We’ll call you when we get back,” Joy said. The handheld receiver was strapped to her backpack, making her look like an overburdened bicycle courier.

“Be careful,” she said.

“You too.”

Joy turned and unlocked the door. She pushed her bicycle through the opening, a tough job considering she now had a baby trailer attached to the back. Aries helped her navigate the stairs. Outside the air was cool and fresh. She could smell the salty scent of the ocean, along with faint traces of smoke. Because of the earthquake, then the looting and killing, a lot of buildings were still on fire. She couldn’t remember the last time the sky didn’t look like a giant smoke screen. Everyone’s clothes constantly smelled acrid.

“Lock the door behind us,” Nathan said. “If they break the window, go into the office. You’ll be safe there.”

While searching the store, they’d found a small office with no windows and a nice lock on the inside. If something were to happen, she’d be able to get Daniel in there without much effort. They’d be trapped, but at least they would be out of harm’s way.

“Will do,” she said.

Joy gave her a quick hug before climbing on her bike. Aries watched them ride off, wondering if she was doing the right thing.

Sighing, she turned and headed back into the building to wait for Daniel’s fever to break.

He hadn’t moved since she’d last seen him. She sat at the edge of the bed for a bit and watched his chest as he breathed. People always looked beautiful when they slept, vulnerable and innocent. She wanted to gather him in her arms and hold him tightly until he woke up. Reaching out carefully, she brushed a bit of hair away from his eyes. He didn’t move. Running her finger along his face, she was amazed at how soft his skin was. Her heart began to beat faster; she could feel it pounding in her chest. His mouth was parted slightly, straight white teeth barely showing. She touched his lips and then drew her hand away quickly.

In his sleep, he mumbled something she couldn’t understand. His lips curved into a slight smile. But at least he didn’t wake up. She wasn’t sure how she could have explained her sudden desire to touch him.

Embarrassed, she got up off the bed and pulled the covers over his chest, tucking him in gently to make sure he stayed comfortable.

Sitting down on the floor next to the bed, she removed her jeans and rubbed the saline solution over her wounds. It stung but not unbearably so. Gravel was stuck to her skin, and she picked out the pieces she couldn’t wash away. The process was painful, and it didn’t help that her muscles ached and trembled every time she jerked back in agony. Eventually she managed to clean herself enough to be satisfied, and she wrapped the gauze around her leg.

She threw her ruined pants aside and picked up the pair of sweatpants she’d found in the clothing aisle and put them on. At least they’d be more comfortable and less clingy than the jeans.

Yawning, she grabbed some pillows and a blanket from the shelf and made herself a little bed on the floor beside Daniel.

What would happen if the medication didn’t work and he got worse? It’s not like she could take him to the hospital. It was such a strange thought. There would be no help in this new world. Even simple things like fevers could kill.

“You’re not going to die,” she whispered in the dark. “I won’t let you.”

Covering herself up, she lay on her back, eyes opened, and waited for morning to come. It took a long time before her brain stopping working overtime with all the what-ifs and her eyelids grew heavy.

She didn’t mean to fall asleep.

She woke, disorientated, not understanding the sharp discomfort in her lower back and why she was lying on the hard floor. Sitting up quickly, heart pounding in her chest, she looked around wildly.

“Good morning.”

“Daniel?”

“Were you expecting someone else?”

Pushing her hair back from her face, she winced. Sleeping on a frozen floor was never a good choice.

“Bad dreams?”

She shook her head. “Nope, just forgot where I was for a second.”

“That happens to me sometimes too.”

“You sound a lot better.” She pulled the blanket aside and climbed to her feet. Stretched. Felt her joints pop in her legs and back.

“I am, thanks to you. I think the fever’s gone.”

“Really? Excellent.”

He did look better. Although his face was still pale, it didn’t look as pasty or sweaty. Last night she’d taken some baby wipes to his forehead and gotten rid of most of the blood. She’d covered the cut with white gauze and used nonstick tape to keep it in place. He looked like a wounded soldier straight off the battlefield. At least his eyes were no longer glassy and he focused on her without difficulty. Such an intense stare, as if he was drilling straight into her brain.

“You still have my flashlight,” she said.

He reached into his pocket and pulled it out. “Of course. I knew if I kept it, you’d find a way to come back to me.”

“Um … I … ah.” Brilliant conversation at its best.

“But now that you know I’m healthy, you need to leave.”

“What?” She glared at him in disbelief. “No. It doesn’t work that way.”

“Yes, it does. I haven’t changed, Aries. I still don’t want to be in a crowd. You’re a nice girl and I like you a lot, but it’s not safe for you to be around me.”

“You said that before. I don’t believe you.”

“You’re still alive, aren’t you? Because of me. Because I took you to the school, even if I did leave you there.”

She couldn’t argue that. It was true. She decided to take a different approach. “Why are you against people? It’s worked for me. We need to stick together if we’re ever going to stand up for ourselves. You’re acting as if you’re one of those monsters.”

“Maybe I am.”

“You’re not. I’d know if you were.”

“Would you?”

“They’re crazy.”

“Not all of them.”

“They kill for no reason. That makes them crazy.”

A water bottle sat on its side where Aries left it last night. Daniel picked it up and took a long drink. “Some of them are crazy. I watched one of them break its own neck the other day. Got its head between two metal railings of all things. It tugged and yanked until the bones cracked. Took a long time to die. So yeah, some of them really are stupid. But not all. That same day, a group of them got together and burned a library to the ground because they knew people were hiding inside. They waited at the exits and pegged their victims off one by one as they tried to run. It was a calculated plan.”

“That doesn’t mean they’re not crazy.”

“Some of them could fool you,” he continued. “Some of them can talk normally. They can trick you into believing they’re innocent. That’s why you can’t trust anyone. Do you really know these friends of yours? Would you trust them fully with your life?”

“Yes.” She didn’t even have to think about the answer. Colin’s face, however, did flash into her thoughts, but only for a moment. He was too much of a coward to be a killer.

“You’re stupid, then.”

“And you’re nothing but an ass.”

“Because I’m trying to help keep you alive?”

“I don’t need your help.”

Daniel chuckled. “You know, I believe you’re right on that one. You’ve managed to do quite well. Very few people have made it this far. I’d ask you where you’re holing up, but I don’t want to know.”

“I want you to come back with me.” There. She said it. She had a million questions to ask him, especially how come he knew so much? But they’d have to wait until she got him somewhere safe.

“No.”

She wanted to grab him by the shirt and slap some sense into him. He infuriated her. What made him this stubborn? “Fine. Have it your way. But don’t expect me to come running the next time you can’t get off the bed.”

“Then you’ll leave?”

“Not until nightfall. It’s not safe to go anywhere during the daytime.”

She was surprised to see him nod. “You’re right. I guess we’ll just have to put up with each other until then.” Getting off the bed, he peeled the dirty shirt off his body and dropped it to the floor.

She blushed and looked away. But not before she caught a glimpse of toned muscles and yellowish bruises on his abdomen.

“I’m going to find a new shirt,” he said, and she could hear the amusement in his voice. “Then I’m going to get something to eat.” He began to walk away, his bare feet slapping on the tiled flooring. “You’re welcome to join me. I promise I’ll wear something a little less revealing.”

A dozen retorts came to her mind, but every single one was too lame to repeat. After he turned the corner, she picked
up her pillow and threw it in his direction. Not exactly the world’s greatest comeback, but it made her feel a little better.

She took the handheld receiver from her bag and turned it on. She put her mouth up to the speaker and then paused. What was she supposed to say? She’d talked to Joy briefly last night once they made it home safe and she’d promised she’d call again in the morning to give an update. Sure, Daniel was feeling better and that was something to report, but she didn’t know where to go from there. It was her responsibility to bring him back, but he seemed intent on staying behind. It was odd.

“Anyone there?” she said into the tiny receiver. She felt stupid. Wasn’t there something else she was supposed to say, like “over” or “ten-four” when talking into these things?

There was a pause and then a click. “Aries?”

“Hey, Jack.”

“Wow, the reception is amazing. No background noise or anything. Are you still at the store?”

“Yep. I’m pretty much here till nightfall. How’s everyone doing? Nothing bad happen?”

“No, things are great here. Everyone changed their clothes and ate some food. They’re all in good spirits. Even Colin. How’s the guy? Better?”

“Yeah. His fever’s gone.”

“Brilliant. I’m looking forward to meeting him. We’ll see you later tonight, right?”

“Yep.” She didn’t exactly know why she lied, mostly because the truth was too complicated to discuss through a little plastic box. They’d just have to get the whole story once she got back.

And who knew? Maybe Daniel would change his mind. It was a long ways till the sun went down.

She went looking for him and found him in the toy department. He’d put on a fresh shirt, a black top that fit snugly. He’d also changed his jeans. His feet were still bare. The makeshift bandage on his head was gone and his hair was wet. He’d taken the time to clean himself up.

“You look good,” she said, immediately regretting the words when he gave her a sideways glance, one eyebrow raised, and a crooked grin. “I mean, even less sick. Better than last night.”

He laughed.

That’s it. She’d had enough. She was done talking. If she kept her mouth shut, she’d stop putting her foot in it.

“You’re looking a little stiff yourself,” he said. “What did you do to your leg? You’re moving as if you’ve forgotten how to use your knees.”

“Just a scrape,” she said. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

Actually her leg hurt even more than it had last night. When she took the tumble she’d somehow managed to pull all the muscles in her inner thigh, and the long wound was making it difficult to walk. Every time her skin stretched she wanted to scream, but there was no way she’d ever admit it. Especially to him.

“You don’t strike me as the princess type.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Daniel smiled. “It means that I’d still go out of my way to rescue you, but you’d probably smack me across the head and try to slay the dragon yourself.”

“Let’s not forget who rescued who last night.”

“If you want to call it that, sure. So as a reward, I’ve got a gift for you,” Daniel said. She realized he was holding something behind his back.

“What?”

“Something that’ll make our day a little more bearable,” he said, bringing the item out for her inspection. Monopoly. World Edition.

She laughed. “I’m gonna kick your ass.”

“You’re on. But I get to be the car.”

Unwrapping the plastic, they spread the game out over one of the display tables back in the housewares department. They played three games, two of which she won. They raided the junk-food aisle and brought back bags of potato chips, cheese-flavored popcorn, and cans of iced tea.

Several times she tried questioning him about whether he knew more about what was happening. He seemed to know so much, but he refused to answer or he quickly changed the topic. Eventually she stopped asking.

“I think I’ve officially had enough Monopoly to last a lifetime,” she said after the last game. She checked her watch. Six thirty. She stood up and walked to the edge of the main aisle. From across the store she could see the large entrance doors. Outside the sky was beginning to darken.

“Days are getting shorter,” Daniel said.

“It’s gonna be a cold winter,” she agreed. “Especially with no heat or power. We should have gone south.”