Uprising: A Collide Novel Part 5

The cave was total darkness. No sound. I couldn't even hear Cain anymore. The utter silence and darkness was unnerving and everywhere. I tried to keep it together but it was unraveling my self control. I could feel the shaking starting again, and not just from being cold with Cain's body heat being gone.

Then my angel.

Sherry, if you can still hear me, listen. We can't come look for you yet. There are Markers everywhere, I've never seen so many in all my years. At least fifty, all in one place. That's just...unheard of. It's still dark. But first thing in the morning, we're coming. It's right at 5:00 so about an hour and a half. Hang on, baby, I'm coming. G.o.d I hope you can hear me. I love you.

Miraculously as soon as Merrick finished, Cain's footsteps sound in my ear and relief sweeps over me. They both save me from my panic attack and don't even know it.

"Still dark," he said gloomily.

"I know. Merrick. He said they'll be leaving in an hour and a half. It's about 5:00 am."

"Ok. Well we'll leave the second the suns. .h.i.ts the horizon and try to catch them," he said, seeming reluctant to sit back down.

I feel around and my hand catches the cave wall above my head. I slide myself up towards it, wanting to sit up and lean. Cain hears me shuffling around and flashes me with his light.

"Wait. Let me help you," he said lifting me under my arms and settling me back against the wall. "How's the leg?" he asked, bending on his haunches down to inspect it.

"I can feel it some now. Even though it's still freezing in here."

"You want me to sit with you?" he asked tentatively.

"Please."

He flicked off his light and settled down beside me pulling me under his arm. He was warm but no where near the warmth of Merrick. He didn't seem to be struggling with the cold as much as me anymore. I wonder if it's because I'd lost so much blood from my leg.

Both of our knees were drawn up, with me extending my bad leg and leaning my good leg on his, we huddled there and talked about nothing and everything. Families, famous people we'd met, past girlfriends or boyfriends. Anything to keep our minds busy.

He explained that Pap and Maggie were not his real grandparents but since his parents were gone and he had no other family, he took in his neighbors, them, as his own. He also told me that the Lighter he'd seen outside had been Josh's father. He said he was twenty six years old, which surprised me, he didn't look that old. He'd been engaged once but she'd cheated on him, with her boss. The old lawyer and his secretary travesty.

Then I told him about Merrick and me, he especially found it fascinating that Merrick had somehow haphazardly chosen Matt's, my ex's, body. I told him I'd met Arnold Schwarzenegger on an a.s.signment for the paper one time. He was an incredibly nice guy but scarily huge. He thought my childhood and parents were by far the most hilarious thing. Hippies.

We sat there pa.s.sing the time as my teeth started to chatter again, Cain pulling me to him tighter, waiting for dawn to make an appearance.

When we think enough time has past, he helps me up and I hobble while he guides me with his arm. I have heard Merrick a few more times since and he still seems angry and worried but always rea.s.suring that he's coming for me.

We make our way through the darkness to the entrance. I can barely see the glow of morning settling in as we peek out and survey the area. Sky is clear of flying menace and the freezing air carries no sounds.

I immediately start to shiver and my hair is blown erratically from the high winds. We can't see anything near the store. Too far, so we decide to go ahead and head that way and hope we can make it to them.

After a few yards I see the gun that Cain must have dropped in our escape last night. He picks it up throwing it over his shoulder by the strap and then readjusts me to further lean on his arm, mumbling about how there's only two shots left.

All right, Sherry. We're coming. Tell Cain if he's there with you. You two hold tight wherever you are. Love you, honey.

I feel relief course through me. My leg is killing me though. Throbbing and I can feel and see blood oozing out of the makeshift bandage with every step. Must not be broken after all since I can hobble on it but the pain is nothing to snoot about. Before I even think about complaining I hear a gunshot. I jump and glance at Cain. He looks around to see where it could have come from.

I'm trying to focus on Merrick but also look for a shooter and listen to Cain for instructions and deal with the pain in my leg. I see nothing. We hear another shot. Since I'm paying attention it sounds far away.

"Oh no. It's them. They must be already outside looking for us. What the heck are they shooting at?" Cain says getting agitated and we begin to walk again.

Then a black blur whips out from behind us to stop about ten feet in our path. Dang it! Can we get a friggin' break. At this point a Lighter is a Lighter is a Lighter. I'm just sick of them and their horrible timing.

Then a thought. Merrick and them must have seen a Lighter too, maybe this one, or they wouldn't be shooting.

Cain pulls me behind him and I have to grab the back of his shirt to keep from falling over. I'm so weak and tired. If I have to physically fight, I know I'm done for. Even though Miguel's cla.s.ses seem to have been helping.

"So. You think you can keep your little mate away from Crandle?" The Lighter smirks at us. "Oh, wait. You're not the Keeper. Hmmm. I wonder does your Keeper know you are out canoodling with a mere human, Sherry?"

The sound of my name of the Lighters tongue brings bile to my mouth. I hold it down but say nothing. No point in provoking, especially when I can't back it up physically. Cain on the other hand...

"Shut it Lighter. Move it or lose it," he c.o.c.ks the gun as he barks the order.

"Oh human. You won't kill me with your blast stick. But even if you could, what I do is for the good of my people, my species. Whether you kill me or not is of no consequence. There will always be another one to take my place, always one to come after you until you surrender. Just give me the girl and I'll let you die quickly instead of slowly."

"Not likely."

"Shame to hear that. For you. For me, I think I'll rather enjoy this." And he smiled wickedly as he said it but I thought Merrick and Jeff said only the Taker could show emotion.

Another gunshot rings out and then in a blur the Lighter is gone. I see a line of movement and glance over Cain's shoulder to see my family. Almost all of them. The ungifted, the Keepers and the Specials alike all marching to our rescue. Guns, baseball bats, sticks and golf clubs in hands. It's the most beautiful sight I've ever seen!

Sherry!

Still a football field away, I see Merrick start to dart in a blur towards us, stops short.

And then all h.e.l.l breaks loose.

Merrick - On The Edge

Chapter 4.

I woke that morning to find Sherry gone from the pallet. It wasn't really even morning yet. My watch said 4:30. I wondered what she was doing up. I remembered our long nap and thought maybe she just couldn't sleep. I was tempted to just let myself fall back asleep but something made me need to get up to check on her.

So I got up, throwing on my discarded jeans but I couldn't find my t-shirt anywhere so I went without. I walked bare foot into the commons room to find it dark and empty except for Max. He was reading a book in the corner under the overhead lamp. I nodded to him and walked into the dark kitchen. I saw two gla.s.ses on the counter. Hmm. Sherry would never leave dishes for someone else to do like that.

I check the bathroom. Empty. Stairs and second room. Empty. Laundry room. Empty. Now I'm getting worried.

Sherry?

No answer. No adorable woman running around the corner to answer my call. I blur to Danny's room. She must be there. I open the door to find Danny. And Celeste, asleep. At first I think Celeste is naked and start to turn away but I realize her sleep shorts are just that short. She must have given Sherry her 'modest' ones.

"Danny," I bend down and whisper, not wanting to disturb Celeste but I remember what a ch.o.r.e it is to wake this kid up.

Celeste wakes first.

"Merrick? Everything ok?" she creaks, sitting up and looking around.

"Celeste, I can't find Sherry. I thought she might be in here with Danny but..."

She cleared her throat.

"Well, we're just sleeping," she said defensively. "I just sleep in here with him, ok?"

"Celeste, really, it's none of my business."

"But you're his Keeper and I know you try to stop worrying about him but you still do. I know you do. Kay is still a freak about so many things with me." She looked uncomfortable. "Ok, I may not just sleep in here but I just wanted you to know, I'm not gonna do anything to hurt him, ok? I would marry him if I could! I love him."

Wow. What a time for a confession.

"Celeste. I appreciate it. Really. And I'm happy that you and Danny are making it work, but Sherry is missing."

"What?!"

"Sherry is-"

"I heard you! Why didn't you say so in the first place?" she asked in a high peeved voice.

"I did," I said exasperatingly and silently cursed sleepy people. "Why else would I come in here?"

"I- whatever," she says and turns to Danny.

I'm dreading the long process of waking Danny. Sherry has to punch and yell and practically abuse him to get him to cooperate. But...as I watch Celeste, I am fascinated. She leans over him and whispers his name in his ear. Then rubs the back of his neck with her palm in a small ma.s.sage.

He rouses almost instantly.

My mouth gapes open in surprise. And then turns into a scowl as Danny doesn't realize I'm here and thinks Celeste is trying wake him up for...other activities.

She pries his hands from her head and leg and pushes him back gently.

"Danny. Baby, Merrick is here," she said and looked at me with a grin of embarra.s.sment.

"Merrick?" Danny says squinting and sits up with his hair spiked in every direction, rubbing his eyes.

"Sherry's missing. Have you seen her?" I ask getting more impatient by the second.

"What? No. What do you mean missing? There's not a lot of places down here she could go, man."

"I know that. But I've checked every place I can think of to look and she's not here," I say standing up and turning to leave.

If he doesn't know where she is, then I have to find someone who does.

"Wait. Merrick, where are you going?" Danny yelled to me.

"To find your sister, Danny," I yell back and try to call her again in her mind.

Sherry? Sherry?! Come on, honey. I'm getting worried.

No answer.

Just as I'm about to grab Jeff's door k.n.o.b, I hesitate and knock instead. I would want the same courtesy for myself and wouldn't want to find another Danny and Celeste situation. Then I remember who I'm talking about and snort. Jeff, in bed with someone. A human. Yeah right.

I knock again and he comes and looks surprised to see me.

"Merrick?" he says, coming from his room quickly into the hall and shutting the door with no shirt or shoes on.

"I can't find Sherry."

"What do you-"

"Enough of this. Would I really wake you if she were just in the bathroom? I've looked everywhere and called her. I'm telling you, she's not here."

"Call them. I'll be right back," he says quickly and slips back into his room, shutting the door behind him.

I know who he means by 'them'. He wants me to call all the other Keepers and get them to look where they are for her. All I can think about is her in one of the tons of rooms we have, how many men are present in this bunker and the Phillip incident. My anger growls in my throat just thinking about it. But I can't think of anyone here who would hurt her.

Sherry. I know you can't answer me, but if can hear me, send me a signal of some kind if you can. What happened? What- I can't help but curse and growl, at the irony of only being able to talk one way when I so need her to answer me, in useless protest of it all. So I call the others.

Sorry to wake everyone but Sherry is missing and yes, I've already looked in the normal places. I've called to her with no answer. Can I get you to come and help me look for her? Please, ask your charges if anyone has seen her.

I walk back into the commons room and Max is already up and moving, heading upstairs to the store to check, though I know Sherry would not be sitting up in the store. Then Simon comes through the hall with others behind him.

"Cain is missing too," Simon says and looks about as irritated and distressed as I feel. "I don't know where they are but we've got to go look for them. The only place we haven't looked is...outside. There's got to be a reason for this. Cain wouldn't put Sherry in danger. We need to head up and look around. See if we can find something."

"Agreed," I say gruffly and quickly relay to Sherry.

Sherry, please. I'm dying here. Gah, I wish I knew where you were! I a.s.sume that Cain is with you. I hope he is... Unless he's the one who... I'd kill him. I have no idea what happened but don't be scared, honey. If nothing else just hear my voice and know I'm coming for you. We're heading out right now to come look for you two. I love you. Stay out of danger. I'll find you. I promise.

I have no idea the where or why of the situation. Why is Cain not here? Where would they have gone? If I were a human man, would I think they'd run off together? But these aren't exactly circ.u.mstances to run away together during. He hasn't made any pa.s.ses at her that I'm aware of. But every man does fall in love with her to some extent. Heck even Miguel and Jeff love her. Gah! This is making me crazy.

"Ok. Let's-" I start but am interrupted.

"Merrick!" Max intruded, blurring down the stairs. "Markers. Everywhere."

I run, I don't care who's behind me but I feel the bodies blur with mine. When I reach the back door I see them in the dark. Oh G.o.d in heaven! They are at least...fifty, maybe more. Never in my entire existence have I seen such a thing. There is no way we'd make it. Oh no! No!

"Sherry!" I yelled but hear only beating wings and screeches.

"Merrick, come on. We can't. You know we can't!" Jeff says pulling me back in the door and slamming it behind us. I feel numb. I let him push me back and I fall into the wall. "Merrick. Snap out of it!" He kneels in front of me. "Brother?"

He gets up and leaves. I sit there in my trance. I can't believe it. She could be out there right now and I'd never reach her. She could be dead already if she went out there. I want to move but my body, this human body just shuts down.

Danny comes to kneel in front of me in the stock room on the floor where Jeff left me. I barely notice him. I can still hear them screeching outside, laughing at me and my weakness.

"Merrick," he starts. "Sherry needs you, man. You've got to get up. We've got to get ready." I don't move. He pushes my chest forcefully and grabs my shirt front. "Merrick. I know, ok! I know how it is. It's Sherry. She's fragile. I get it. I'm worried too. Worried sick but we aren't going to get her back by sulking on the floor. Get up," he growled and when I pushed his hands away he continued. "You've been talking to her, I know you have. Tell her. Tell her you're coming to get her as soon as we can."