Chapter 26
“So, you are a superhero,” Tatum commented as she trailed Nick and Kate through the woods. Evie dragged her feet beside her sister, her cheeks streaked with tears. She choked on sobs with every step.
The group left the girls’ home shortly after Nick pulled the trigger on their father, hoping to put distance between them and the trauma they had endured.
“Uhh, maybe like a Batman type,” Nick responded.
“A dark superhero, a super cool vigilante,” Tatum mused. Evie broke out in a series of cries, and Tatum let out an exasperated sigh. “Evie, stop. Daddy was a piece of shit.”
“Tate,” Kate scolded.
“What? You think someone’s gonna hear me say shit? They’re gonna be super fucking offended!” Tatum mocked.
“It’s not the language, Tate. Be gentler with your sister. She’s little. She doesn’t understand the world the way you do, yet.” Kate turned and offered Tatum a stern, understanding glance. Kate looked back at Evie, whose lower lip was quivering as she attempted to stifle tears.
Kate held Evie for a long time as she sobbed into her shoulder. Tatum walked shyly to Nick and placed her hand in his. He smiled down at her, and the two waited until Evie’s sorrow abated.
They continued traipsing through the bare woods. A strong wind picked up, lashing against their faces. Dark storm clouds overhead smothered the afternoon sky. Nick directed the group with purpose, picking up the pace and ushering the others to follow.
The gale carried an earthy scent along with the familiar odor of rain.
As they made it to the edge of the woods, droplets pelted them like bullets, slapping their faces as they exited the treeline and moved into a field.
Nick spotted a two-story farmhouse at the far side of the clearing and felt a bit of relief.
If he could just get the group to the home, they could weather the storm.
The rain picked up until it fell in sheets. Gusts of wind pushed against their bodies as they walked with labored steps through the tall grass, the blades whipping against their pant legs. Kate took Evie’s hand in hers, and Nick held steady to Tatum.
Something hit Nick’s ear, sending pain rippling through the side of his head.
Confused, he stopped and glanced around.
The torrential rain cut off his visibility other than what was directly in front of him.
Another jolt lanced his neck, and he realized it was hailing.
Ice the size of golf balls fell from the sky, pounding the group.
“Run!” Nick yelled, pulling Tatum through the precipitation.
Nick tugged the small girl through the storm with such effort he thought her arm might break away from her torso. He looked over his shoulder every few feet to ensure Kate was still behind him. A few times, he lost sight and paused until she came into view again.
A gust of wind knocked Tatum to the ground, nearly pulling Nick with her. He lifted her to her feet and continued fleeing the weather.
Another glance over his shoulder, and Nick thought Kate was yelling something but there was no time. They had to get out of this. Hail smacked against his head and body, like someone dropping a box of paper weights onto him.
Tatum screamed out as the ice hit her over and over. Nick picked her up and covered her head with one forearm. Then, continued his sprint across the field.
The view ahead of Nick was only gray water fiercely rushing from the sky.
It was not until the white, wooden panels of the home appeared next to him that he discovered he had ended up off course.
He swerved to his left, casing the porch railing until it opened up.
He dove beneath the awning and set Tatum on the ground, falling to his knees.
His lungs were threatening to burst from his chest, and he heaved in gasping breaths.
“Are you okay?” Nick asked, finding composure and inspecting Tatum’s body.
“I’m okay. Where’s Kate?” Tatum asked, peering through the wall of rain. Nick rose and stood beside her, straining his eyes as though he could pierce the downpour with laser vision.
Kate burst through the rain so suddenly that her appearance startled Nick. She fell into his arms, and he held her while she caught her breath.
“Where’s Evie?” Nick shouted, his eyes darting from side to side.
“That’s what…I was trying…to tell you. You just kept running,” Kate said with exasperated breaths. “She was holding my hand. Then, she was gone.”
“What do you mean ‘gone’?” Nick asked. “Why would you let go?!”
“Nick, I didn’t purposely let her go. Her tiny hand slipped right out of mine, and I tried to look for her, but I didn’t want to lose you, and I couldn’t stay out there in that stuff.” Kate was crying now, holding her head in her hands.
“We have to go look for her.” Nick started toward the steps. Kate grabbed his hand, halting his descent.
“We can’t go out there,” Kate said.
“She’s probably dead,” Tatum stated.
“Tate, not now,” Kate scolded.
“That’s what happens!” Tatum shouted. “The monsters came and ate all the mommies, and daddies became shitheads, and everyone dies!”
“Tate, it’s—”
Nick stepped in between Kate and Tatum, taking the little girl’s hand in his.
“I won’t make promises about Evie, but as soon as the storm dies down, I will be the first one out here looking for her.”
Tatum met Nick’s eyes and nodded. Nick studied her expression. There was strength. Fear. Anger. There was no sorrow. There was no worry. And Nick wondered just how ruptured Tatum’s innocence was.
The group moved to the inside of the home. Nick instructed Kate and Tatum to stay put as he cleared it. He moved from room to room with his handgun drawn until he was certain no survivors were hiding there.
Kate searched the rooms for dry clothes, coming up with outfits that matched everyone’s size as closely as she could manage. They took turns changing in the bathroom until they were sitting on the couch, wrapped in dry clothes and tense silence.
Hail battered the roof, and the window panes shook from the force of the wind.
The house seemed near to disintegrating from the powerful storm.
Nick walked to the kitchen and rummaged around until he returned with a lighter and scented jar candles.
He lit each one and placed them in the corners of the room, offering a small, golden glow.
Nick sat beside Kate and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. He leaned into her and kissed her temple.
“Are you okay?” Nick asked.
“Not really,” Kate admitted.
“You two should get some rest. Take one of the bedrooms. I’ll stay down here and wait the storm out.”
“You need to sleep, too,” Kate said.
“Since the…change, I don’t need as much as I used to.
I’ll be okay. Here, I’ll walk you both up.
” Nick stood and pulled Kate up by her hand.
He gestured for Tatum to lead the way. The three walked up the stairs, and Tatum headed toward the master bedroom.
She and Kate crawled into the sprawling bed, pulling the covers over themselves.
Nick kissed Kate, smiling down at her. Kate did not miss the worry creasing his forehead, but she smiled back and hoped it was reassuring.
“Goodnight, ladies. Sleep tight,” Nick said as he left the room. Kate and Tatum listened to his footsteps retreat down the stairs.
“You guys met after the world fell,” Tatum said. It was a statement. She was looking for confirmation and not asking a question.
“Yes, we did,” Kate answered. “There was a bad man. He was trying to hurt me, but Nick, he saved me.”
“Just like Batman,” Tatum whispered. Her eyes were closed, and her lips turned upward in a pleasant smile. Kate smiled back, though Tatum could not see. Within minutes, Tatum’s breathing deepened, and she was fast asleep.