Page 4 of Whispers and Warriors (After #2)

FOUR

William sat in the back of the truck, his arm wrapped protectively around Emma’s slender shoulders. She’d moved to sit by him a few moments ago, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she was less okay than she was outwardly expressing. Tension radiated from her body, and even from the gentle touch he couldn’t miss the way her muscles coiled tight beneath his hand. It was a feeling he knew all too well, a constant companion in this world of chaos and uncertainty, but one he’d hoped she’d never feel again after saving her.

His mind raced, strategies and contingencies whirling through his thoughts like leaves caught in a storm. It seemed that was going to be the status quo again, questioning everything, doing jobs no one else wanted to do to save people. He didn’t want to be bitter, but at the end of the day, he was. William was sick of running into danger to help people who didn’t want help. Sick of scavenging for supplies for the government now that he believed the organization did not use them for the right reasons. Sick of living day after day knowing that the best he could do to honor his parents was survive and he was struggling to do that well.

He wasn’t depressed—he wasn’t even sad. He was just annoyed. Hope was right there waiting to help them all start over, and it had been a lie.

You know what Dad would say, stop being so hard on yourself.

The vehicle rumbled onward, outside world offering far and few people compared to the thriving base. William struggled to quiet the weight of responsibility resting on him. He knew that their safety, their very survival, hinged on his ability to see what wasn’t obvious on the treacherous path ahead. Liam and Alex bore the responsibility of getting them to the next spot before the U.S. Military found them, but they were going to rely on his ability to see what’s hidden, both literally and figuratively, to determine if this new place, these new people, could be trusted.

It was a burden he carried willingly, a duty he had sworn to uphold from the moment he’d joined the team. With Emma present, it was more important than ever he saw what wasn’t there, to protect her. She was his light in the darkness, the one shining beacon of hope in a world gone mad. And he would do whatever it took to keep her safe, to shield her from the horrors that lurked around every corner.

But even as he held her close, even as he whispered words of reassurance and comfort, William couldn’t shake the feeling that he should be doing more. Emma was the heart of their group, the emotional anchor that kept them all tethered to their humanity. And right now, she needed them more than ever and they couldn’t promise her anything other than that they had food and water for the time being.

She deserved better. More. Possibly even more than when she’d opened that damn radio tower door and exposed herself to danger.

He leaned in close, his lips brushing against her ear as he spoke. “We’re almost there, Em,” he murmured, his voice low and soothing. “Just a little longer, and we’ll be safe.” He wanted to promise her that, but he refused to ever lie to her.

Emma turned to face him, her hazel eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “I know,” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. “I just...I can’t help but feel like every step we take is one step closer to losing everything we’ve fought so hard for. You’ve all done all you can to reassure me, but it still feels like the world exploded for a second time.”

William’s heart clenched at her words, at the raw vulnerability that lay beneath them. He knew all too well the fear that gnawed at her soul, the constant dread of losing someone she loved. It was a fear that had become all too real in this shattered world, a reality they had been forced to confront time and time again. No one in this vehicle hadn’t lost someone the day of the bombs, maybe no one in the entire world.

But even in the face of such overwhelming odds, even in the midst of such unimaginable darkness, William refused to give in to despair. He had to be strong, for Emma, for his team, and for the fragile hope that still flickered even if it was just slightly dashed away.

“We’re not going to lose anything,” he said fiercely, his tone far darker than normal as he made that promise out loud. “We’ve come too far, fought too hard, to let them take it all away from us now. And when we get to the meeting spot, when we’re finally safe, I’m going to make sure you know just how much you mean to me, to all of us.”

Emma’s lips curved into a soft smile, a glimmer of light amidst the shadows. She leaned into his touch, her body molding against his in a way that was both natural and electrifying every damn time she did it.

“I know.”

“I love you, Em,” he said, his voice raw and honest. “I know I don’t say it enough, but I need you to know that. You’re everything to me. You’re my reason for fighting, for surviving. And I promise you, no matter what happens, I will always be here for you.”

“We all do. Love you,” Bash spoke up from the corner unapologetically. “We’ll get through this just like we got through the last hurdle.”

“Guys,” Alex’s voice drew William’s attention through the small window of the truck up to the front. “We’re almost there.”

A tension settled over William, like a weighted blanket only instead of grounding him, it set his nerves on edge. The air was somehow thicker, heavier with the weight of their collective fears and fragile hopes. It pressed down on him, threatening to crush the breath from his lungs.

He focused on the feel of Emma in his arms, on her slender body molded against him, and used her presence as an anchor against the rising tide of anxiety. But even that small comfort couldn’t fully ease the sense of warning that crept along his spine like icy tendrils.

He couldn’t see much through the small window that let him see through the windshield. Not that it would have mattered much. The world outside the truck’s windows offered no respite, an endless expanse of barren earth and skeletal trees that stood like silent sentinels, bearing witness to the ravages of the toxin. It was a harsh reminder of all they had lost, of the world that had been stolen from them in the blink of an eye.

William’s gaze drifted to the others, taking in the tense set of their shoulders and the grim determination etched onto their faces. They had all seen too much, endured too much, to be anything but wary. Trust was a luxury they could ill afford in this shattered world.

William forced himself to take a deep breath, to push down the fear that threatened to choke him. He had to be strong now, had to be the member his team needed him to be. With a final squeeze of Emma’s shoulder, he disentangled himself from her embrace and waited for the truck to stop.

It was a slow roll before Alex parked the damn thing, the engine falling silent as if holding its breath. Chris’s voice cut through the stillness, with a command laced with authority. “Everyone out, except Emma and Bash. You two stay put, keep an eye on our surroundings.”

“Understood,” they replied damn near in unison.

With a deep breath, William reached for the door handle, his fingers curling around the cool metal. He glanced back at Emma, drinking in the sight of her, committing every detail to memory. Her eyes shone with a fierce determination, a silent promise that she would be waiting for him, no matter what.

The hinges creaked as he pushed it open, the sound unnaturally loud in the oppressive stillness. He stepped out into the wan light, his boots crunching on the sun-baked earth. The others followed suit, fanning out behind him in a defensive formation.

William scanned the area with a critical eye, searching for any sign of danger lurking in the shadows. But there was nothing, only the eerie silence and the faint whisper of the wind through the branches. And there were branches. It seemed the entire world didn’t have toxic soil, because even though many trees were dead, many more boasted bright green needles and leaves.

He exchanged a loaded glance with Liam, wondering if Liam was concerned that the ground here somehow didn’t die like everywhere else. They had to be cautious and had to approach this meeting with the utmost care. Too much was riding on its success.

William’s heart hammered against his ribs, adrenaline coursing through his veins.

For a moment, hesitation hung in the air, a palpable weight that pressed against his chest. The unknown stretched before all of them, a yawning abyss that threatened to swallow them whole. But they had come too far to falter now, and like William, their resolve had been forged in the fires of the dangers they’d all faced survived. This would simply to another to add the lists.

As the men stepped out of the vehicle, the sticky warmth of humid air enveloped them. William’s senses were on high alert, his body coiled like a spring, ready to react at the slightest provocation.

From the shadows, a figure emerged, his movements measured and cautious. William’s hand instinctively reached for his weapon, his fingers hovering over the trigger. The newcomer was tall, almost as tall as Bash’s six-foot-two but not quiet. It seemed to be a man’s build, but a bandana covered from the nose down and a beanie hid any hair that might have given gender away. Still, he moved with the heaviness of a man.

The man’s gaze swept over the group, assessing them with a mix of curiosity and wariness. William could feel the weight of his scrutiny, the unspoken questions that hung between them. But there was something else there too, a glimmer of hope, a recognition of kindred spirits in a world gone mad.

“You heard it, then?” A man’s voice almost seemed to croak out, reminding William of a parched throat.

“And if we did?” Chris moved to the front now, but William didn’t take his hand off his weapon.

“No other reason to be out this way. People abandoned the mountains years ago.” He gave a small hand gesture for them to follow. “Come on then, we don’t want to talk out in the open and I imagine the woman you’ve got locked away is on edge.”

None of the men responded that there was a woman, and not one spoke of Bash being in the truck. If this man was out to traffic women, they weren’t going to give him additional intel.

William exchanged a glance with Chris, giving him a small nod. The soil at their feet was undisturbed, there wasn’t any one else out here and no reason not to go forward and find out the truth. They knew the risks, the potential for betrayal, but they also knew that trust was a precious commodity in this new reality.

Taking a deep breath, William fell into step behind the stranger, his senses on high alert. The darkness of a setting sun closed in around them, a cloak of uncertainty that shrouded their every move. But as they pressed forward, a flicker of hope ignited in William’s chest, a whisper of possibility that perhaps, just perhaps, they had found an ally they could actually trust.

As they followed the stranger farther from the car than he liked, the barren landscape began to shift, giving way to something entirely unexpected. Amidst the desolation and decay, a warm glow emanated from a small, makeshift shelter, and an actual set of trees with birds chirping.

William’s eyes widened as they approached, his gaze drawn to the figures huddled around a flickering fire. A woman, her face etched with lines of weariness and determination, cradled a small child in her arms, while two slightly older girls sat close by, their eyes wide with a mix of fear and curiosity.

“My family,” the stranger said, his voice rough with emotion. “They’re all I have left in this world, and I take a great risk in bringing others here. So, trust me when I say, the woman you are hiding is safe here. Not forever, but at least for a few days before you’re on your way.”

A lump formed in his throat, and a surge of empathy welled up within him. He knew all too well the pain of loss, the aching void that could never be filled. He’d lost it all until he found the others. He believed this man as much as he had when he’d heard the transmission details from Chris.

Who isn’t saying if this voice is a match for the voice he heard.

As they drew closer, the woman looked up, her eyes meeting William’s with a flicker of recognition. In that moment, he saw a reflection of his own pain, a shared understanding of the sacrifices they had all made to survive.

Without hesitation, he lowered his gun, but didn’t holster it. Not yet.

“Welcome,” she said softly, her voice almost soothing in its softness. “We don’t have much, but what we have is yours while you wait for the next step.”

A wave of gratitude washed over him. He was surprised it was so profound that it nearly brought tears to his eyes. In a world where trust was a scarce commodity, these strangers had opened their hearts and their home to them, offering them protection at their own risk.

If this isn’t a trap.

William watched the children huddle closer to their mother, their faces shining with an innocence that had long since been lost to the world, William wanted to do nothing more than protect them. To ensure they grew up in a world that wasn’t full of danger. That had been rebuilt. He knew, in that moment, that when they had a child, regardless of who is genetically belonged to, he would do whatever it took to keep them safe, to shield them from the horrors that lurked beyond the boundaries of this small oasis.

“Thank you,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. He wanted to believe it was exactly how it appeared, but after the safe haven fooled him, he was torn.

William took a moment to block everything out and focus on the world in front of him. Were there any signs that this man lied?

His eyes went toward the small house taking in how many trails of shoe prints there were.

Not enough for a struggle if they forced anyone captive and there’s no shot they brushed over it, no brush lines in the dirt.

He moved to the trees and bush around them, looking for any sign the leaves moved or they’d been stepped on or squatted in. There was nothing.

The stranger spoke louder, interrupting William’s assessment. “We’re all in this together,” he said quietly. “In a world like this, we have to hold on to whatever hope we can find.”

Chris’s gaze trained on the other man as the stranger leaned forward, his weathered hands clasped tightly before him. The flickering light of the fire cast shadows across the man’s face, accentuating the lines of worry and determination etched into his skin.

“As I said, you are safe for a time. Let me tell you what I know, and you can decide to trust me or not.”

He wanted to believe this man was legit, but unlike his men, he didn’t lower his gun. If the man did as he claimed, then it was likely his family had a fair share pointed in their faces. He did his best to ensure it didn’t move to hover over the woman or her kids, keeping it trained on the man.

“There’s a ferry,” the stranger began, his voice low and urgent. “It leaves from the old port, just a few miles from the base of this mountain. It’s not much, but it’s a way out, a chance at a new life. It’ll take you to another ship. A ship that’s bound for the island I spoke of in the transmission.”

Chris listened intently, calculating the pitfalls of getting on not one, but two ships, lead by people he didn’t know. Everything the man said aligned with the transmission note, he’d either sent it, or overheard it himself.

But Will gave his nod, he thinks it’s what it appears, at least this stop.

Chris learned long ago that hope was a dangerous thing in this world, a siren song that could lure even the most cautious traveler to their doom. Yet, as he studied the stranger’s face, taking in the earnest intensity of his gaze, Chris found himself wanting to believe. There was something about this man, a quiet strength that spoke of a life lived on the edge of survival, a kindred spirit in a world gone mad, that spoke of truth.

He wasn’t William, in fact, he was a terrible judge of character, but who would throw up a false home to steal women?

“When does it leave? The ferry” Chris asked, leaning forward to mirror the stranger’s posture. “How many people can it take?”

The stranger’s eyes glinted with a fierce determination as he spoke, his words precise and measured. “It leaves in three days, in the dead of night. The captain, he’s a friend of mine, owes me a favor. He can take up to twenty people, but it won’t be easy. The port is heavily guarded during the day, and the journey itself is treacherous for the small ferry. Once the ferry arrives, the captain of the other ship determines when it’s full enough to leave.”

Chris nodded, his brow furrowed in concentration. The weight of responsibility settled heavily upon his shoulders, the lives of his team and the woman they had sworn to protect hung in the balance.

Again.

“This has to be the last time,” he murmured, more to himself than to the stranger. “We’ll need to be careful. Plan every step, account for every variable. It’s a risk, but it’s one we’ve already committed to taking.”

The man reached out, clasping Chris’s forearm in a gesture of solidarity. “I’ll help in any way I can,” he promised, his voice fierce with conviction. “My family, we thrive on helping others because we’ve always been isolated and safe. What we do, giving people a chance to start over, to build a new life somewhere far from here, it’s been what keeps us happy. Sorry we don’t do names, but I assume you’ll understand.”

Chris returned the gesture, his grip firm and unyielding. He’d found a connection with this man, a shared understanding of the sacrifices they had made and the battles they had fought just to survive.

“We’ll make it happen,” Chris vowed, his eyes blazing with a determination that matched the stranger’s own. “Together, we’ll find a way to make it to that ferry, to freedom.”

He glanced around the small picnic area, taking in the faces of his team, the people he had sworn to protect at all costs. Their eyes were filled with a mix of apprehension and anticipation, a reflection of the conflicting emotions that warred within his heart.

“Chris, can I talk to you for a sec?” William didn’t seem nervous, but if the younger man was asking to talk, there’s a chance he spotted something. Something Chris missed.

“Sure, what’s up?” he asked once they’d moved a decent distance away, his eyes on the group rather than William.

“We should stay here, with this family, until the ferry departs,” he suggested, his blue eyes intense with conviction. “It’s our best chance at keeping everyone safe, at giving Emma a moment to breathe before we make our move. Everything looks legit. There’s no indication of multiple people coming and going—barely any footsteps leading to or from the house and most of them are kid sized.”

Chris considered William’s words, his brow furrowed in thought. He knew the younger man was right, that staying put offered a measure of stability. But the tactical part of his brain, the part that had kept them alive through countless battles and close calls, screamed at him to keep moving, to never stay in one place for too long and to find a waiting spot wherever the ferry pulled in. Three days was a long time to be sitting ducks.

“I don’t know, Will,” he murmured, his voice heavy with the weight of leadership. “Every minute we stay here is another minute we risk being discovered, another minute we put this family in danger.”

William’s gaze never wavered, his determination unwavering. “They’re already in danger, Chris. We all are. But this? This is a chance to rest, to regroup, to plan our next move without constantly looking over our shoulders.”

Chris sighed, running a hand through his short, dark hair. He knew William was right, knew that the benefits of staying outweighed the risks. But the decision still weighed heavily upon him, the responsibility of keeping his team safe and a constant presence in his mind.

“Alright,” he agreed at last, his voice low and gruff. “We’ll stay. But we stay alert, we stay vigilant. And the moment anything feels off, we move. No hesitation, no second-guessing. Understood?”

William nodded, relief and gratitude flashing briefly across his face. “Understood.”

Chris knew that starting off safe and with their heads screwed on right would give them all a better chance.

“Medic,” he called out instead of using Alex’s name. “Let’s go get some things from the truck.” He trusted William and Liam would be fine on their own, and the hair on his arms didn’t stand on edge. Chris had no reason to believe there was any danger.

“You got it, boss.”

Chris approached the vehicle, his steps purposeful and measured. Alex walked beside him, oddly silent. Alex was never silent, and one of the reason’s Chris took him to the truck. If there was something to say, Alex would’ve said it.

“Stand in the front, just keep watch. I know we feel safe, but I’m not risking it.”

Alex merely nodded and turned to face the way they’d come as Chris moved to the back with the key he’d gotten while they walked.

He opened the door, the metal creaking quietly as it swung in to reveal Bash and Emma side-by-side. Now wasn’t the time to make a joke about Bash not taking advantage of alone time, but he would later.

“We’ve got a plan,” Chris said, his voice steady and assured. “It’s a risk, but there’s a real ferry that will take us to the next step in our journey. I don’t know if it’s the next step, or the last step, but they appear trustworthy. The man, he’s offered us a place to stay until the ferry departs. It’s not much, but it’s safe, and it’ll give us a chance to rest and regroup.”

Emma’s eyes widened, a flicker of relief passing over her features. “Really? That’s... that’s incredible.”

“Yes, and the longer we’re here the less time we’re getting information about what comes next,” Chris replied, extending a hand to help her from the vehicle. “We don’t have much time, and we need to make the most of it, gather as much information about what comes next as this man may know.”

As Emma stepped out of the truck into the now fading light, Chris couldn’t help but the surge of protectiveness that rocked through him—the fierce desire to shield her from the horrors of this broken world. She had already endured so much, had already lost more than any one person should have to bear.

“Let’s go,” he said, his voice ringing out clear and strong. “It’s about a ten-minute walk. Alex, Bash, lock up the truck and cover our six.”

“You got it,” Bash jumped out the back of the truck. “Shame, I kinda wanted an excuse to shoot somebody.”

Chris chuckled in spite of himself. “Next time. I think you’ll be interested to see this group of people.”

“Come on then, Ranger.” Emma called out, which was followed by the sound of scratching and a thump as Ranger jumped out of the truck and rushed to her side with his leash in his mouth.

“Well, one of us is ready for the next step.” Emma said with a laugh as she took the leash in one hand and Chris’s hand in the other.