On the walls, string lights have been hung from small nails. They’re off, but there’s enough light coming through the windows for now.
“Electricity comes from the solar panels on the back of the roof. It’s only enough to keep the lights going for a few hours after sunset. But tonight it may not last as long because of this.” She pushes open the double doors to the right of the grandfather clock and we follow her into what looks like the common room.
On the far wall, next to several sliding glass doors that lead out to a deck, is a Christmas tree, decorated with ornaments and unlit string lights, the star at the top just touching the fifteen-foot ceiling.
Cara gasps and covers her mouth.
“Shit,” says Rocky Horror. “I’m not a Christmas gay, but that’s a great Christmas tree.”
Hannah nods, looking proud. “Alex saw you with the kids and thought they might like a little normalcy. Oh, and if any of you are Jewish, we also have a menorah. Tonight is the first night of Hannukah.” She pauses. “We think. Without a calendar it’s hard to be certain, but the Jewish folks who did the math say they’re ninety-nine percent sure it’s tonight.”
I never thought to ask the kids their religions and I feel bad. It seems like something Daphne would have done. I’ll have to ask Andrew if he knows.
“Hey, Hannah,” a voice calls from the doorway. It gives me a chill, and I don’t know why. “Do you have the key to the root cellar?”
I turn and my stomach drops, every hair on my body standing on end.
“Chef needs some potat—” The man’s voice falls off as he locks eyes with me. At first, it looks like he doesn’t recognize me—like he’s wondering why I’m staring at him—then his face drops, and I know he knows who I am.
I saw him look at me the same way five months ago, right before he shot me. His name is Grover Denton.
The sheriff of Fort Caroline.
The Nomads knew about the wanted posters all along. They werebringingus here to hand me over.
Andrew
WE’RE DIRECTED TO PULL OVER ON THEside of the road instead of going up the driveway. The other truck is there already, with the rest of the caravan somewhere farther up the road.
We get out, and the men at the entrance usher us up the drive. It looks like the place used to be a campground resort and someone decided to turn it into a settlement. At the end of the drive is an empty parking lot area in front of a lodge. The kids are immediately buzzing with excitement because to our right, past a map of the resort, is a playground where there are plenty of other kids.
“Oh boy,” Kelly whispers. “I better get them over there. You all go ahead.” She turns to the kids and asks if they want to go play. Most don’t answer and instead just run for the playground.
Taylor sighs and turns to Jamar. “Come on.” She drags him away and I hear Niki tell him, sarcastically, to have fun. Taylor calls for the Kid, who gives me a wary glance before following her.
I should go with them, but I want to find Jamie first. I walk up to a woman who’s passing by with a box of canned food. She tells us shesaw a group go into the lodge about five minutes ago. Amy, Niki, and I head for the lodge, too.
I can hear Jamie yelling as soon as I open the door.
I bolt toward his voice, and the voices of several others. Including Cara.
“Jamie, stop!” she yells. I push past a doorway into a dining hall area. There’s a man with his back to us and Jamie is pointing a gun at him. Behind him, Cal and the rest of the Nomads have their guns out, but they aren’t pointing them at anyone yet. Cara is standing between Jamie and the man, her hands out toward Jamie, while Hannah has her gun trained on him.
“Hang on!” the man says. His voice is familiar.
“Jamie, what’s going on?” I ask.
Hannah points her gun at me in an instant and the man turns to look in my direction. My blood runs cold but somehow my face burns. The sounds around me get very quiet and my head feels buzzy. This is a nightmare. I’m asleep and this is a nightmare and I’m going to wake up any second. But the steady throb of pain in my arm tells me that’s not true.
Grover Denton holds out his hands and backs away as though he’s trying to soothe a cornered animal.
“Hold up!” Denton shouts. “Everyone just calm down!”
“Jamie, put down the gun!” says Cara.
“What’s happening here?” Amy asks. She’s turned Henri-Two away from everything and wrapped her arms around her, trying to protect her.
“Han, holster the gun!” Denton tells Hannah.
