Page 26 of Outbreak (Revolution X #1)
CHAPTER 25
Ghost
I almost lost her last night. Again . I can’t describe the terror that shredded my insides when I couldn’t find her. Then I heard her screaming— for me. She was calling out to me, and that feeling is just as indescribable. When she jumped into my arms, I almost broke. All I’ve ever wanted was for her to want me—to need me. And when given the chance to run and escape, she chose to stay and look for me.
We’ve been on the road since we escaped that herd? I’m not sure what to call it. Whole families ripped apart in the blink of an eye. When we made it back to the road, others had already fled, the military nowhere in sight—or the minivan with the little girls. I can only hope they made it out, because the alternative makes me sick to my stomach. The gruesome scene of those woods will stay with me for a long, long fucking time.
The missing cars left an opening for us in the road, so we jumped in the truck, jumped the median, and backtracked to the exit I should have stayed on to start with.
We’ve made it into Alabama now, one state closer to where we’re heading. Rue is sleeping in the backseat. She hasn’t said much about what happened last night, retreating into her head to overanalyze everything. I’ll let her sit in her ‘numb’ place for a while longer. Then I’ll force her out to deal with it.
The rhythmic dinging on my dash lets me know we’re going to be fucked pretty soon. Low fuel. I’ve already used the five gallons I had in the back of the truck. We’re going to have to stop soon to sleep and try to find gas in the morning. I don’t want to risk being caught outside at night again.
As if a sign from above, my headlights hit a big green sign that reads Jasper, Alabama, next right. I don’t know if it's good luck or bad; this might be the worst idea yet. Mav is unpredictable—a loose cannon in a minefield. I don’t want to bring Rue around him, but he might be the safer option for us right now. Let’s just hope domestic life has softened his rough edges a bit.
He owes me anyway. When he decided to get out of this life, I helped him bring his girl home. She was purchased by some real sick people, and Mav was hired to ‘dispose’ of her once they were done with her. He decided to keep her instead. I helped him get set up at this place, and I’m probably the only person from his old life that even knows where he is now. He went completely off the grid once we stole his girl—well, his wife now.
Twenty minutes later, we’re parked outside his house. There’s no lights on, at his place or anywhere else that I can see. The power grid must have failed, as that emergency message predicted.
Getting out, I carefully close my door and open the back one. Rue’s still sleeping, completely drained from the nightmare we experienced last night. Gently, I brush the hair from her face and savor the calming peace I see. Cradling her face in my hand, she nuzzles into it and sighs as her eyes slowly flutter open.
“H-hey,” her voice cracks with sleep as she stretches like a cat.
“Hey. So we’re stopped for the night. I know a guy in this area… He’s, uh, he owes me a favor. We can crash here tonight.”
“Okay?” She says doubtfully, sitting up and scooting to the doorway. I don’t know how much I should tell her without freaking her out more than she already is.
“Listen, Mav is different. If he is at home, I need you to be really good. Don’t stare at him. Don’t speak to him unless he speaks to you. And don’t speak to his wife without permission. And for the love of God, don’t be a smartass.”
“Okay, you’re going to have to give me a minute to wake the fuck up before you start barking new rules at me,” she says, shoving me back and letting herself slide out of my truck. She stretches and yawns, working all of her kinks out before she finally looks up at me. “So let me get this straight. I can’t speak unless spoken to; no eye contact, no talking to his wife. Anything else? Would you like me to polish his shoes and fold his laundry, too?”
“There she is,” I mumble, wiping my hands down my masked face. This is a terrible idea. “Rue! I’m serious. Maverick is not someone to fuck with, and I’d really prefer not to have to kill him and his little wife. I just want to clean up and get some sleep. Can you please behave? I’m sure Maverick won’t mind lending me his wife’s cage if you think that’s too difficult.”
“His wife’s what!?” she shrieks.
“Let’s go,” I sigh, ignoring her question and gaping mouth. She’ll figure it out once we get inside. I grab our duffle bags out of the back and lock the truck.