Denton is trying to remain calm while still speaking loudly so everyone in the clearing can hear. “We’ve wasted enough time and resources on this revenge trip of yours. You wouldn’t allow Walt the medicine he needed—”
“Because Walt was a dead man walking. We know exactly where these bums are and you’re wasting time jaw-flappin’ at me!”
“We’re done, Danny! You may be head selectman, but you won’tbe if you waste all our ammo, food, and fuel on this rampage. You need to get your head right.”
Rosewood looks around at the other men. All of them seem to be very interested in the rocks making up the gravel lot.
“Is that what you all think?” Rosewood shouts at them.
Of course they do, you crazy bastard.
One of them actually speaks up. “It’s just... We’re worried about everyone back home. Half our security is scattered on the road. It leaves Fort Caroline vulnerable.”
Denton jumps on the support. “We’ll figure something else out, Danny. The world’s a small place now. We’ll put word out to the settlements we know of and get more eyes to help.”
Danny Rosewood spins around and kicks the small fire, sparks and embers flying into the night as he screams in fury. He takes two shaky breaths, then turns back to Denton.
“Fine,” he growls. “But I think we might need to do a little rethinkin’ on our law enforcement when we get home.”
“If you say so, Danny.” Grover Denton turns away, walking back to the trucks parked along the street.
“Pack it in, all of you!” Rosewood pushes past everyone and climbs into a truck. Everyone follows, none of them speaking. The trucks start up and pull out, one by one, into the darkness as their red taillights disappear onto the ramp to the highway.
It seems too good to be true. Why come all this way to leave us? Unless Grover Denton is actually a lot smarter than Danny Rosewood. He knows everyone’s survival depends on what decisions are made.
And judging by what I overheard, they let Walt die. They didn’t even try to help him because he was a drain on their resources. But they came all this way. Of course. That’s Fort Caroline for you. You don’t matter unless you matter to someone in power.
I crouch in the darkness for as long as I can before I move out to the gravel lot. Slowly. I expect the trucks to come roaring back down the street, their headlights turning on as they spin into the farm stand lot.
But no one comes. It’s silent. They really did go back.
I move quickly to what’s left of the fire.
“Andrew.” Cara’s voice makes me jump and I shriek. I spin around to find her right there behind me.
“Jesus Christ, Cara. Sorry, I didn’t hear you.”
In the darkness she looks fine.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
She nods and holds out the gun to me like it’s a dead rat.
“Thank you. You saved our...” Jamie is still in the woods. I have to get back to him. “Jamie. They got him.” She looks up at me, and I can almost see the fear in her eyes.
“Is he...?”
“He’s bleeding badly. I don’t know what to do, but... I know we can’t do it without some supplies.”
“I’ll go.” She doesn’t even wait for me to tell her what to do. She takes the first aid kit from her pack, handing it over to me along with a few of her T-shirts and pairs of pants. Then she gets on her bike. “I’ll come back here. Leave a trail of clothes and I’ll follow it to you.”
Cara doesn’t wait for me to say anything before pushing off fromthe gravel. She flicks on the flashlight and pedals off into the darkness.
I do as she asks, walking in a straight line and dropping a shirt every couple hundred paces. I find the hill we slid down and hang a pair of jeans there for her as a warning to watch her step.
I stare down at Jamie. I’m scared to touch him. Scared that he’ll be dead, and if that happens I don’t know what I’ll do. I crouch next to him and place a hand on his chest.
For a second it doesn’t move, and my own chest tightens with horror and tears burn my eyes. But then he takes a shallow, shaky breath. I gasp and lie next to him, kissing his shoulder.
