Siege (As the World Dies 3)

“Told you!” Calhoun whooped. “I told you!”

Travis ran across the lobby as the small group of people began to applaud.

Curtis threw them a nasty look, then followed Travis into the communication center.

* * * * * Katie sat down next to Juan’s bed and gave him a smile. In her hand she had a bowl of grits, hot and buttery, for him. He had awakened early in the morning and it was her first chance to see him.

“Katie,” he whispered in a dry voice. “Anything yet?”

Katie shook her head and stirred the grits slowly. “Not yet. But you know Jenni. She’s okay. ”

Juan looked better than he had, though a bit pale. He sighed and ran a hand over his curls. “I wanted to wake up and see her beside me. I was hoping the stupid shit with that puta shooting me was just a nightmare. ”

“Blanche was a total bitch,” Katie agreed. “And according to Calhoun, a dead stupid bitch. ”

Juan slightly smiled. “Can’t say I feel bad about that. ”

“Me neither. ”

“I miss Loca, Katie. I just want her home. ”

“We’re working on that,” Katie answered softly. “I miss her, too. I want her back here with us. ”

“If she doesn’t come back, I don’t think I can take that,” Juan said after a beat.

Katie set the bowl down and took his hand between hers. “Juan, there is one thing I know about Jenni. She will do everything in her power to get home to you. She loves you. ”

Juan exhaled slowly. “I know. I know. She’s just so loca. ”

“You need to get better so when she does get home she can jump your bones at will,” Katie added with a grin.

“She is a horny little loca bitch,” Juan conceded with a smile.

Katie grinned and picked up the grits, stirring them again. “So, are ya hungry?”

* * * * * Jenni watched the handsome black soldier leave with a small entourage.

She could see the tension in their faces and suspected they were leaving for the fort. Within minutes she heard one of the helicopters lift off. She sighed, running her hands through her long dark hair.

The people of the mall had definitely seized upon the idea of the fort and their excitement was growing. Jenni couldn’t blame them as she heard about the horrors they had endured. All she wanted was to get back to Juan and get back to her life. Sadly, she realized these people had no life since that first terrible day.

Being in the mall was beginning to affect her. She remembered all too vividly the first days she had experienced with Katie. Even worse, she was remembering those first moments on that horrible day.

The horrible gurgling, slurping noises had drawn her to Benji’s room after she had wakened Mikey. She had stood in the doorway, horrified at the sight of her husband eating her precious baby boy. Then he had looked up at her, growled, and she had run. She remembered Mikey shouting, “Mom, Mom, Mom!” as she had grabbed his hand and dragged him down the hall with her. She remembered the sound of her husband’s feet against the floor behind them.

When had she let go of Mikey’s hand?

She wasn’t sure.

She remembered vividly the flight down the stairs to the front hall, fumbling with the lock to the front door.

Mikey had still been with her. Hadn’t he? Or had he turned back on the stairs?

And then… She had been on the steps staring down at those tiny fingers under the door… Jenni pushed her hands through her hair slowly. She couldn’t go back and change that horrible morning, but she could do her best to help these people.

But how?

She sighed and sat back to watch some kids running around the chairs, playing games, oblivious to the deadly world beyond the mall.