The sound of the gunshot must have scared Edward because he started fussing and making that horrible newborn scream the moment we closed the door and locked down. I worried, I didn’t want to attract Vee or any people, but he was out of control, just like in the barn.
With a wiggle of her fingers, Hannah said, “Give him here. I’ll take care of him.”
I was grateful and I handed him over. She took him in a back bedroom to feed and change him while I double-checked the doors and windows and brought in the red wagon. The place would have been nice, but it was a mess. Using bed sheets, I covered the blood in the living room and sprinkled carpet deodorizer around for the smell. My wounds needed attention and there was plenty of water in the house to clean up. I wanted a good night’s sleep and looked forward to it. Both Hannah and I were exhausted and I felt safe in the house.
We didn’t need to touch our supplies. I found a can of beef stew in the cupboard and fixed that with crackers.
“You aren’t taking their stuff, are you?” Hannah asked. “We have enough. You should leave it for the next people.”
“I’m not taking it. And there won’t be next people.”
“How do you know?”
“I do.” I set the bowl in front of her and lifted Edward from her arms.
“You ain’t leaving that, are you?”
I wondered what she was talking about and then I saw she looked at the gun on the counter by the refrigerator.
“No, I just don’t need it right now.” I sat down and sighed out in pain. It took stopping to show me how horrible I felt.
“You okay?”
“I’ll get there. Eat.”
“We should stay here a couple days. Let you heal.”
“I’ll be fine. Besides, they’re wiping out this town soon and this house is too close to it.”
“And the longer we stay, the more chance Leah will find us.”
“Unless she was following and we didn’t see, she’s gone.”
“That make you sad?” she asked.
“A little. I wish I was hungry though.” I lifted the spoon, brought some to my mouth, but didn’t feel like eating it. I replaced the spoon in the bowl and looked down to Edward. He cuddled up against me. “Boy, I have to tell you, Hannah, you have the magic touch with him.”
“I know what I’m doing. I was waiting another year and I was gonna be the best babysitter around. I was just eight when my sister was born and my mom used to let me feed her ’cause she’d eat for me. Mom said it takes patience to feed a baby right and know what it wants.”
“You have that. I just wasn’t ready for it.”
“I’ll help as much as I can. He’s quiet now.”
“Just let me know if you don’t feel like it. I don’t want you to get tired of helping me with him. He’s not your responsibility.”
“It’s okay. I don’t mind.” She lifted the spoon to her mouth, shoveled a heap into her mouth and then another.
“You must be really…” I paused when I noticed the white bandage on her forearm. “What happened to your arm?”
“Nothing. I got scratched on the barn door.”
“Were you bit?”
“No!” she answered quickly. “It was dark, I got cut on the barn door. Honest.”
“Hannah, if you’re bit, you need to tell me.”
“I ain’t bit or scratched. Okay?” She shook her head. “If I was you’d know soon enough anyhow. But I’m not. If you wanna see, I’ll show you.”
“No. That’s fine.”
“See?” she pulled the bandage exposing a gash.
“It doesn’t look infected, that’s a good thing.”
“Because I didn’t wash it in the creek,” she said seriously then smiled. She finished off her bowl. “Is there more?”
“Take mine. I’m not really hungry.” I pushed my bowl to her. She put it inside her empty one. “If you want—”
We both jumped when there was a pounding at the door.
“Hey! Open up! Help!” the male voice shouted. “I know someone’s in there. I see the light.”
My eyes widened. What light? I knew we had lanterns but the shutters were closed. I stood up and looked around. “How does he know? All the windows are sealed and the door…” I cringed. Daniel and Jennifer sealed the house for safety, not to block out the light and they never covered the tiny window on the front door.
“You letting him in?” Hannah asked.
“Please help us. There’s these things out here and…”
I heard the scream coming from outside. A bloodcurdling scream.
“Help!” The man pounded harder.
I handed Edward to Hannah. “Take him in the back room, lock the door.”
“But…”
“Go.” I walked to the living room and reached for the door. After undoing the lock, I barely opened it and the man barged in.
He slammed the door shut with his body, then hurried and locked it. I could hear a Vee, trying to get in. The stranger leaned forward to the door, head against it. His dirty and longer dark hair dangled in his face. “Thanks.”
“Are you okay?” I asked.
He nodded. “They got my friend.”
“I’m sorry. How many are out there? It doesn’t sound like much.”
“Five. Four. I don’t know.”
I stepped back when he spoke and I caught a good whiff of him. He was a mixture of odors that I didn’t want to imagine what they were. “Why are you out there at night?”
“Because there’s very little shelter out there on this stretch of road or haven’t you noticed?” He breathed heavily and turned around, removing the hair for his face. “Not expecting company, I see.”
“What?”
It was odd and he chuckled, swinging his hand around, pointing at the sheets.
“This isn’t my house. This was all there was.”
“I hear you brother.” He extended his hand. “Curt.”
I apprehensively shook it. “Calvin.”
“Cal. I smell food. Tell me you have food. I have eaten in two days.”
“Yeah, I do. This way.”
“Sorry if I track up your carpet, I stepped on something out there.”
Jennifer’s remains were what came to my mind. I led him to the kitchen. I wanted to get to know him, gauge him before I let Hannah and the baby out. There was something off about him. Then again it could have been my imagination.
“Looks like I’m just in time for supper.” He sat down in Hannah’s seat.
“Go on. I’m not hungry. Eat.” I sat as well. “You headed to Sanctuary Sixteen?”
“From.” He answered. “Water? Do you have water?”
“Um sure.” I stood and grabbed a bottle from the counter. “You were at Sixteen?”
“Yep. I left. Not for me. Everywhere are tents. Living with people you don’t know. Soldiers with guns everywhere.’
“Aren’t they there to keep people safe?”
“Yeah, but it feels like a prison. What happened to you?”
“I was jumped.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Happens all the time down there. That’s why I wanted out. They take your stuff when you get there. Community share thing. Problem was, when I left, things were picked clean. You got supplies?”
“Some.”
“I spotted the wagon in the living room. You have more than some.”
He raised an eyebrow as he hoovered the food. There was something creepy about his look.
“There’s plenty here in this house. So you can take what you need.”
“I’ll do that. Not much out there. I’m gonna take all I can. I have to plan for the future.”
“You didn’t mention where you’re headed,” I said.
“You alone?” he asked without answering me.
“Yes.”
Just then Edward made some noise.
Curt’s head shot to the left and he stood. “Doesn’t sound like alone. Man, you are full of untruths.” He stood.