Page 29 of Hero

So I spend a couple of hours with them, telling them about what happened in this region after Impact and then hearing about the area of south-central Kentucky where they live.

There are several established communities there. Fortified towns and a farm and an underground bunker. They’ve got food. Medical resources. They’ve even started schools for the kids in the area.

It sounds like a dream. A fantasy.

Maybe instead of moving west, Zed, Rina, and I should go east. It wouldn’t be as long a journey, and we’d have a worthwhile destination in mind.

I get more and more excited as I listen, and I ask dozens of questions. Anna pulls out a piece of paper and a pencil, and she and Mack work on drawing me a map.

It’s not bad, as handmade maps go, and at least it would be something to start with if Zed and I decide to make the trip.

The sun is about halfway down in the western sky when I finally shake myself off, give Buddy a quick pet to wake him up from his nap, and then stand up. “I better get started back home. They’ll be expecting me about now.”

“Sure thing,” Mack says. “I’ll run you back no problem.” He’s a big, handsome man with a broad face and an authentic smile. He laughs easily and listens to what I say and genuinely makes me feel safe, which I wouldn’t have thought a stranger could do anymore.

They had bread in their supplies. Actual bread, which I haven’t had in years. We had a snack of jelly sandwiches which was the best thing I can remember. I also drank a lot of water, so I figure I better pee before we start off. “I’m going to run out real quick to go to the bathroom, but I’ll be just a minute.”

“No problem.”

With Buddy at my heels, I slip out the back door of the building and pee as quick as I can behind a few trees in what used to be the town park.

When I return to the building, something has changed. I feel the tension before I hear the voices.

“Where the hell is she?” I recognize the voice, although not the ferocity of the tone. Zed never sounds like that. At least, I’ve never heard him speak that way. “Tell me right the fuck now. Those are her bags in the corner, so don’t try to act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. Tell me where she is!”

It’s so out of place—so incongruous—I can barely process what’s occurring right now. It feels like my heart is lodged in my throat, cutting off my air, as I push back into the room where we were all gathered.

It is Zed. I wasn’t imagining his voice. And he’s standing in the front doorway with a shotgun and a glare as cold as ice.

He must have somehow managed to catch the others by surprise, which couldn’t be any small feat considering Cal seems to be always on guard. Zed is moving the barrel from one to the other, and the others all have their hands out in the universal gesture of nonaggression.

Zed snarls. “If anything happened to her, I’ll kill every one of you where you’re sitting.”

“Zed, no.” I step all the way into the room, drawing his notice for the first time. “I’m fine. They haven’t done anything. Put down the gun.”

“What the hell is happening here?” Zed grits out. He doesn’t lower his weapon although his eyes make a quick scan of my face and body, like he’s checking my condition.

“They’re traveling through. I think they can help us. So stop waving the gun around and act like a civilized person so I can introduce you.”

“Why the hell should we trust them?”

“Because there are four of them and one of me. They could have killed me ten times and been miles away already if they wanted to.” He’s so tense it’s worrying me. He’s not normally a violent-minded person, but he’s got to edge to him now that I’m not used to seeing in him. I step over and put a hand on his arm, gently trying to easy it and the gun downward. Buddy has come over too and is nuzzling at Zed’s ankles. “Zed, don’t. I’m telling you it’s fine.”

“How is it fine? You’re supposed to be home by now.” He’s lowered the gun and is evidently diverted by other grievances. “What the hell have you been doing all this time?”

“I told you. I was talking to them. I was just on my way back. Mack was going to drive me.”

Zed looks at Cal and then Mack, evidently not knowing which one I’m talking about and not happy about either choice.

My crisis reaction is fading now that he’s mostly backed down. I can take a full breath.

Then I suddenly remember something. “Wait! What are you even doing here? Did you take the truck? Where the fuck is Rina?”

“She’s safe.”

“What do you mean, she’s safe? You didn’t leave her by herself, did you?”

“I said she’s fine,” Zed mutters, glancing over my shoulder briefly before he frowns at me some more. “We can discuss it later.”

---