Break Free The Night (Book 2): Loss of Light (8 page)

              "Hey!" Jack yelled, racing back towards Danny and the closed door. The bolt that snapped shut caused even Anna to jerk her head up.

              "Sorry, boy." It was Marsden's voice that rang through the door, Kaylee thought a little smugly. She hadn't even known he was out there. He must have followed them up. "No one comes through my door without my okay. And you don't have my okay just yet."

              "We were offered electricity, safety," Kaylee returned quietly, watching Jack's jaw clamp in irritation, his jaw muscles twitching. It was better if someone else spoke, she thought. Jack looked like he wanted to exploded and that certainly wouldn't help.

              "So you were and you have it," Marsden answered, a slight wheeze to his voice. "Electricity, running water, a bathroom. I'll even feed 'ya. But no one walks in off these streets, guns in their pockets, and has the run of my place without my say so."

              "We have a friend-" Emma started but she was cut off.

              "Danny mentioned that," Marsden interrupted. "I'll send him back out for him." Kaylee could hear Danny sniff in irritation at that.

              "But..." Kaylee trailed off because she could hear two sets of footsteps moving away. The conversation was over.

              "Get back here!" Jack shouted, pounding the door with both fists.

              "Don't," Kaylee whispered. She came behind him and placed both hands on his back, surprised when she felt him shudder under her palms. He calmed immediately, though he kept his face to the closed metal door. It clanked softly when he leant his forehead against it.

              "Why stop him?" Emma asked, her voice harsh and angry. "We shouldn't be locked up! We're not criminals. What the hell is that old man thinking?"

              "He's thinking he doesn't know us and he doesn't trust us," her father answered. "Be calm, Emma. There's water and heat and thick walls and soon there'll be food. We're a lot better off than we were a few hours ago."

              "Some of us are," Jack muttered and Kaylee knew he was thinking of Quinton. But her eyes drifted to Bill as well. Anna was back to ignoring her surroundings, her eyes raking over her patient again. He seemed normal, like he was just asleep. Kaylee hoped that's all it was, just unconsciousness, just a blackout while his body and mind dealt with the electric blow.

              "They'll get Quinton," she whispered soothingly to Jack. But he shook his head against the cold metal of the door.

              "He won't come with them," he said back softly. "He won't leave either, but he won't walk in here if he thinks we might be in trouble. He won't even get close enough to let them see him."

              Kaylee didn't know what to say to that, but she was sure that Jack was right. This was something they planned for. She hoped Quinton would be alright, and she knew that was what worried Jack. It wasn't easy to be on your own, watching for infected with no one to watch your back for you. But Quinton had done it before; he could do it again. And it did make her feel a bit more secure, knowing they weren't just stuck in here alone with no one else to watch out for them. Quinton wouldn't abandon them.

              "Em, go plug this in." Anna was holding a case out towards her sister. Emma's eyebrows rose.

              "You think?" she asked, gesturing to the outlet on the wall next to Bill. Anna shrugged and Emma took the defibrillator case, Kaylee heard the zipper being pulled.

              "Are you going to need it again?" Andrew asked, his voice was strained and despite being locked in and despite the surging electricity, his eyes hadn't yet left his father. He was kneeling by his bed, his hands wrapped around his father's limp hand. His fingers were pressing tightly, a little higher up on his wrist. Kaylee guessed he was feeling for the pulse, the soft thud that proved Bill was still there.

              "I don't know, Andrew," Anna answered, her voice soft yet reassuring. "His vital signs are strong though and that's a good sign. We got to him with the defibrillator pretty quick, had the right drugs and all."

              "What about an I.V. or more medicine? Isn't there anything else you can do?"

              Anna was shaking her head. "We did everything we can. He just needs some time now."

              Andrew nodded. Kaylee watched his eyes close and his head droop until his forehead hit the mattress his father lay on. His shoulders hunched in on themselves and Kaylee wouldn't be surprised if he had started crying, just softly so no one would notice. Her heart broke for him. Anna eyed him sadly from across the cot. Nick did the same from where he stood by the window.

              Emma cursed as she untangled the wires from the case Anna had given her. But she must have found the right ones because moments later Kaylee heard a beep and saw a green light blink on. The outlet was working and the defibrillator was charging. As soon as she was done, Emma was on her feet and next to Andrew, hands rubbing circles up and down his back. She was whispering to him and Kaylee couldn't hear what she said, but one of Andrew's hands left his father's and wrapped around Emma's, anchoring her to him. She didn't seem to mind, just let her free hand run the length of his back while he kept his vigil.

              "There was another person down there, did you see her?" Kaylee asked. She turned to her father, who alone in the group seemed relaxed. He was staring out the window, intent.

              "I'm not surprised," he said, his eyes still out the window, "Marsden said someone would bring food. Check this out, honey." He was pointing, leaning close to the glass window. Kaylee came to stand behind him, feeling her eyes widen as she followed his line of sight.

              They were on a dam. Not a huge one, but large. The building they were in perched above it, no more than thirty yards from the back of the building to the edge of the water. It explained why Kaylee had
n’
t seen any surroundings, the slope of the ground leading away from the building pitched down, the water meeting the earth with gentle lapping motions. There were buildings on the other side of the water, fenced in with chain link. Kaylee could just make them out in the darkness. But none looked as large as the brick building. The dam itself was one long, narrow strip through the body of water. On one side, the water was high, nearly level with their building. On the other side of the dam, the water level fell sharply, like one, giant, liquid step. The reservoir stretched out behind and below them, dark purple in the moonlight. It sparkled in the low light as the breeze kicked up crests of water.

              So, it was a hydroelectric plant. Andrew had always dreamed of finding one. He read every book he could find about them and how they worked. Kaylee knew next to nothing about it, just that it was water powered, generators pushed into motion by water rushing by. Like a...

              She stopped mid thought and grinned.

              Like a mill.

              "Dad!" Kaylee turned quickly at Andrew's declaration. He was up on his knees, staring down at his father. Bill was stirring.

              "My head hurts," Bill mumbled, his eyes scrunched shut. Andrew laughed and sat back on his heels. Anna was pumping up her blood pressure cuff, her ears back in her stethoscope.

              The cuff deflated and Anna moved to listen to his chest. "All sounds good," she said, just as Bill spoke again.

              "What happened?"

              "Leave it to you to find an electric fence, Bill," Nick said, smiling at his friend. Bill grunted in response, his eyes still closed tightly.

              There was a sharp knock on the door, followed by a clipped female voice.

              "Is anyone injured? I heard someone was carried in." There was a distinct tone that accompanied this voice, brusque and to the point, all business.

              "Someone was," Jack answered. "He's coming around. Who are you? Can you open the door?"

              "I can," she answered, again in clipped tones, like she was annoyed. "Move back from the door."

              Kaylee watched as Jack's lips twist in irritation, but he did as she asked, moving Kaylee back with him so that his body was blocking hers. When the bolt slid and the door swung open, they were greeted with the shiny end of a double barrel shotgun.

              "Geez, lady!" Andrew shouted. "What the hell!"

              "It's okay, Andrew," Nick murmured, gesturing for him to stay back as he moved forward. "She doesn't know us."

              "And you won't be fooling me either," the stranger with the shotgun spoke. She was a short, dumpy sort of woman, her hair a dull brown that she kept cut close to her scalp. She was older than the rest of them, maybe Quinton excluded, but she hadn't aged well. Behind a set of glasses her eyes were watery looking, her skin was sallow and the faint lines that were beginning to show on her face spoke of a lifetime of scowling. However, at the moment, she was smirking at the group. Now Kaylee was irritated too.

              "No one's trying to fool you," she said, her tone just as clipped as the stranger's was before. "Your fence electrocuted our friend and Danny offered us safety and shelter."

              "And food," Emma added. "Are you Cynthia?"

              The woman sniffed. "It's not my job to bring you food. Maggie is down collecting it. Just 'cause that old fool-"

              "Now you wouldn't mean me, would you Cyn?" Marsden was leaning in the doorway, watching the scene with interest.

              "You know exactly who I mean," she shot back. "Why don't you make yourself useful and keep them all in your sights so I can check out this one." She gestured to Bill with the tip of her shotgun.

              "He's fine," Andrew said roughly, coming to stand between Cynthia and his father.

              "He don't look fine."

              "I am, I'm fine," Bill rasped. His eyes were still closed but it was clear he was listening.

              "I'm a nurse," Cynthia pressed, "I can help." Kaylee watched Anna perk up but Jack interjected quickly.

              "Like the man said," Jack spoke, "he's fine." Cynthia sniffed and backed away, gun still firmly in her grasp and pointed towards the group.

              "Any bites?" Cynthia asked, but she directed this question to Marsden. "Did you even ask?"

              The muscle in Marsden's jaw jumped. He did not like being second guessed. "I don't see any infection in them. Want me to strip them naked to check for scratches?" Cynthia flushed but didn't answer. She turned back, making a show of walking off. Kaylee could hear her feet stomping down the metal stairs.

              "Well, don't blame me if one of them bites you in your sleep!" she called out, her voice echoing up the stairs.

              Marsden ignored her, turning back to the group. "I say anyone who walks in here infected is pretty damn stupid. None of you are stupid, are you?"

              It was Emma of all people who answered. "Of course not," she bit out scathingly. Marsden nodded.

              "How long are you going to keep us locked up?" Jack asked. He looked impatient, his jaw clenching as he waited for Marsden's answer.

              Marsden took his time answering, keeping his steely gaze on Jack. Kaylee could see his fingers stroking the handle of the gun he had tucked in his waistband. Before he could answer, the raven haired women Kaylee noticed behind the pinball machine was at his elbow, carrying a large tray of food. Kaylee's mouth started to water. In the center of the tray was a casserole dish, steaming and smelling of meat and potatoes. It was Shepard's Pie, she could tell from here, though she wasn't sure she wanted to know the replacement for the traditional beef.

              "Put it here, Maggie, on the floor." Marsden used his toe to indicate where to drop the food. Maggie did, offering a slight smile to the group before turning and leaving. "Now I'd say," Marsden began as all eyes were trained on the tempting food, "that the fact that you still have your weapons on you and this venison pie here are two damn fine gestures of good faith. You all behave in here and cause no trouble and I see no signs of infection from the lot of you and tomorrow you'll all be free as birds to wander around in here. One night, you have my word."