Chapter 40
Nick entered Kate’s cell, sweat from the fire trickling down his temples. Kate’s body was pressed against the wall. Upon Nick’s entry, Kate stood with a smile that faded when she examined Nick. His chest heaved, and his eyes sagged with fatigue as he pulled off his helmet.
Kate approached him, placing her hands on his chest.
“I’m sorry.” Kate pushed a strand of sweaty hair off of Nick’s forehead.
“For what, Kate?” In Nick’s attempt to sound as though everything was okay, his voice came out strained and weary.
“I’m sorry I put you through all of this and ask so much of you. You should rest for a while.” Kate tried to pull his head onto her shoulder in the hopes he would let some of the emotional burdens fall on her. He pulled away, taking her hand in his.
“You don’t have anything to be sorry for,” Nick said, kissing the back of her hand. “You’re not responsible for the evil other people choose to do. But I can’t rest. Not here.”
Tears stung Kate’s eyes as she gazed at the strongest person she had ever known cracking at the seams. She wondered if he knew she was going to ask something of him that would test his fortitude and may break him completely.
“Luke will be back soon. I need to work out the details of my plan,” Nick said.
Kate nodded.
“Not much longer, babe. We’ll be out of here soon.” Nick pulled Kate into a hug.
When they parted, Nick pulled on his helmet, pulled on his disguise both externally and within. When he closed and locked her cell door, Kate fell to the floor and wept. Nick would have to stay intact for a while longer because there was still work to do.
Nighttime settled in. Nick performed one last round to check on the prisoners. He brought them food and water and ensured all locks were secured. Derek settled into a chair in the hall to begin the first stretch of watch. Halfway through the night, he would switch out with another guard.
The remainder of the guards retired to a room filled with cots where they would listen to music and play cards until turning out the lights and going to sleep.
Luke always spent several hours into the night on the roof, keeping an eye on the area around the building, then swapping out with another guard in the middle of the night.
Whoever was assigned to the roof would climb a ladder attached to the outside of the building and sit between the solar panels in a patio chair, staying alert and watching for signs of danger.
Nick had taken to accepting first watch in order to avoid removing his helmet before the other men went to bed.
When his watch was over, he would spend a few hours under the covers.
Some nights, Nick could manage an hour or two of sleep until his watch buzzed that it was time to wake up.
Other nights, he tossed and turned, restlessly navigating plans for Kate’s rescue.
When his watch alarm went off, it was at least an hour before the other men would open their eyes. Nick started each day by pulling on his helmet, doing some push-ups or crunches to prepare his body for the day, then beginning his rounds with the captives.
“Goodnight, Alex,” Derek called as Nick moved down the hallway toward the front door.
“Night, man. See you in the morning,” Nick replied. He exited the warehouse and climbed the ladder to the roof. Luke was already set up, scanning the landscape around them.
“Welcome to the night shift,” Luke laughed, kicking his feet out and settling into the patio chair.
“It’s a dream come true.” Nick walked the perimeter of the roof, looking down at the entrances for Infected or other enemies.
“You can take that damn helmet off sometimes, you know. That thing must get so hot inside.” Luke pulled a cigarette pack from his breast pocket, shook one out, and placed it between his lips. He slipped the pack into the pocket of his shirt and retrieved a lighter.
“It’s got night vision. Makes this shift a lot easier,” Nick explained.
Luke lit the cigarette and took a long drag, letting the smoke billow from his nostrils.
“You like doing this?” Nick asked. Luke sat with his palms on his knees, the cigarette wedged between two fingers.
Luke shrugged. “Keeps me busy. I get a good amount of supplies. Things are starting to get scarce, but Margot seems to have a never-ending supply.”
“Margot must have some pretty steady clientele,” Nick remarked.
“I don’t ask. I just deliver,” Luke said, taking another drag of his cigarette.
It was all business to Luke. There was no point in Nick trying to speak about morals to this man. He had a smooth operation going. Luke received the things that kept him and his men thriving during the end of the world. Margot found her own way to be successful. And Nick’s opinion meant nothing.
“Speaking of delivering, we’ll be making our drop to Margot the day after tomorrow,” Luke added.
“Sounds good,” Nick replied and walked to the edge of the roof furthest from Luke. A distraught tightness formed in his chest.
Day after tomorrow. Less than forty-eight hours. Two of Luke’s commodities to relocate without detection. Sure, no problem.
After a few hours of silence had passed, Luke bid Nick goodnight and climbed the ladder back down to the ground floor.
Nick walked a few more rounds around the roof, and when it was time, he left.
Nick crept into the woods until he found the rotting, abandoned building. Two forms sat on the ground next to the wooden structure. When they heard his footsteps approach, they stood.
Phoenix came into sight first, followed by Ryan.
“Where’s Grace?” Nick asked, gazing at Ryan.
“Back at the fort with Tate. She and Grace have really hit it off. I didn’t want to drag Tate out here, and I didn’t want to separate them,” Ryan answered.
“Makes sense. They’re settling in okay?”
“Yeah, everyone’s really nice and helpful. There’s a little girl that lives in the bunker next to us. I don’t know if it’s a good idea to push Tate to make friends. I worry that Tate is too… abrupt for kids her age. It’s nice that it’s an option, though.”
“How’s Kate?” Phoenix asked.
“She’s staying strong. It’s not an ideal living situation, but I make sure she eats enough and keep the other guards away from her.
” Nick thought about discussing Avery. Kate made it pretty clear that she was a part of their rescue plan now.
Getting Kate out was proving to be easier with Nick on the inside, accustomed to the way the warehouse group functioned.
Getting two people or more out would require a bit more finesse.
“You got a plan, right, boss?” Phoenix asked.
“Almost. There are more things to consider than I initially thought. Other innocent people. I need a little more time, but we will meet again soon.”
“I don’t know Marcus very well, but he seems to be pretty fond of you. I told him you were spending some time with your friend back in Aqua City, but I could let him know what’s going on. Maybe he could help?” Ryan suggested.
Nick pondered this for a moment. If he thought it would be the difference between Kate getting out alive or losing her entirely, Marcus’s help would be accepted in a heartbeat. Yet, he would be risking lives for Kate’s sake. Nick tried to pretend that mattered to him.
“I think we can do this clean and quiet. No use bothering Marcus, for now.”
“Sounds good, brother,” Ryan agreed.
“We’ll meet again tomorrow night. I should have more details worked out. Give Grace and Tate my best.” The men parted, and Nick began the walk back to the warehouse.
The next few days would be trying, to say the least. Unpredictable events cartwheeled toward Nick.
He hoped he and Kate would come out unscathed on the other side of them.
Unscathed was subjective, though. While they might be alive and breathing, Nick wondered how this would change them and if the detriment to their psyches would be their end.