Uprising: A Collide Novel Part 16

They are out back past the store, on the other side of the shed near the tree line. n.o.body will see them back there but we all know where they are.

Shockingly, no one has mentioned on the news about Crandle's death. They are still business as usual. Keepers are evil, Crandle is a G.o.d. Blah blah. Jeff and Merrick believe that's because they want to wait until the new Taker comes. They don't want to seem leaderless and weak.

We all watch the news now. For one reason or another we've discovered that we are all immune to the Lighter speak. Which is great. No more worrying about that when we go on food runs. Merrick and Jeff speculate it's because we've been aware of them too fully and too long so they can no longer control us like they could before. Maybe up close but not over the T.V.

The need warehouses are still going up as planned. Only a few weeks before they take effect. Things are gonna get rough around here but we've got some ideas. And some good minds and bodies behind those ideas. I have faith in this group. We'll be ok. We have to be.

And Miguel. He has to be the fastest healing man ever. He only wore the makes.h.i.+ft arm sling Kay made him for a week. Within another half week, he was right back to normal. Teaching his karate lessons and on me about resting my leg constantly.

He's a freak of nature.

Lost in thought I hear someone saying my name. I snap out of it and giggle a little in embarra.s.sment. Cain is knelt down in front of me, his hands on my knees for support with an amused face.

"Sherry?" he says smiling at my daydreaming stupor.

"Sorry." I laugh. "What's up, Cain?"

"I just wanted to tell you guys about the store trip in the morning. Explain how it was going to go down and make sure everyone is ok with that. Miguel, Jeff and I have got it all planned out but I need a list of things from you since...you know, Trudy's not here."

Yes. I know.

"Ok. No problem. I'll get on it."

"Are you doing alright? How's the leg?"

"Lot's better. It actually doesn't hurt at all anymore but Miguel insist I wear this stupid thing for a few more weeks," I say the last line loudly so Miguel will hear.

He does. He looks over and rolls his eyes, laughing.

"Well good. Someone needs to make you listen around here." He laughs squeezing my good knee. "How's Lily today? Been busy and haven't seen her much lately."

"Perfect," I say and I can't keep the smile from my face.

"Wow. It's funny, ya know. How so much bad can happen to us and yet people still find some good. If you look hard enough...you can always find the good. It's just amazing to watch the human condition take a hold of people and wrestle us to the ground in submission of it. All of us, from all walks of life. Some not even from this world. You can't fight it, but...even if you could, why would you want to?"

I just stare at him in utter disbelief and awe. I just love him. I love these people. And he's utterly and incomprehensively correct. Why fight it?

He continues and I listen.

"Lily has a better life than she ever did. And Jeff and Marissa, Danny and Celeste...you and Merrick. You all found each other, despite all this," he says opening his arms to prove his point.

All this, is everything. Cain's sincerity is breathtaking. I'll cry if I don't start the jokes. So I do.

"Well...we'll find you a good resistance girl soon enough Cain. Don't worry. It's my next mission." I smile as I say it but the wheels start turning in my head.

"Oh no!" He waves his hands. "If Sherry puts her mind to it, that's it! I'm thinking I should probably be worried. Kidnapping a girl for me is still against the law. You do know that, right?" He smiles and quirks and eyebrow.

"I know...but what's a little jail time compared to true love, huh? Don't worry about it. I've got you covered, Cainy boy."

"Now I am worried. And you know, you are the only one I will ever let call me 'Cainy boy', right?" he said smiling and squeezed my knee.

"Yeah. I know," I say with satisfaction.

He laughed, shaking his head as he chucked my chin softly and retreats to the kitchen.

Merrick has completely grown into the father role for Lily. Whole heartedly and willingly. She loves him with a fierceness only rivaled by my own. They do everything together and he spoils her like any human father would but better. Of course, we still have to fight for her attention. Though Mrs. Trudy is gone, there are still plenty of people to divide her time between.

She started Karate lessons with Miguel. He loves it even more than she does I think. His face when he watches her mimic him is priceless, you just can't look at her without awe and protectiveness.

And Marissa reads to her a lot. Even taught her to read a few words by herself, pretty good for a kid who's never even been read a book to until now.

And Cain, Jeff and Danny all act like uncles in the truest since of the word. They play and chase and give piggyback rides and color and watch the same old cartoon movie over and over with her. She squeals with satisfaction and glee as though she has no idea what to do with herself. Like she doesn't know what this feels like.

Being loved.

And me. I cook with her, bathe her, put her down for her naps, brush and braid her hair, let her sweet talk me into just about anything. Everything a mother would do.

Because that's what I am.

She may not call me mommy and I would never ask her to, but it's how I feel. Everyone even asks me for permission before doing anything with her or giving her snacks and such. The first few times I cracked up thinking why on earth they thought I had more rights than them to make a decision about her.

However, everyone started doing it. Everyone considers Merrick and I her guardians. I mean, I guess it was no secret we wanted the job. And Lily certainly isn't complaining.

And Calvin. Oh Calvin.

He is just a handsome, healthy, happy young guy. He is growing and becoming a little man, taking care of business. He has taken an extra interest in his mother since she rescued him. His love and affection for her grew that day as well as his respect.

He makes sure to include her in his conversations and relays what our meetings are about. He is a sweet perfect son who is growing up way too fast. It happens. Adversity waits for no man...or child. He had to grow up. His youth has been beguiled from him, but what other choice do you have in this situations?

He isn't bitter one bit though. Maybe he just hasn't figured out that he has a right to be yet. I hope that day never comes. I hope he continues to think that this is just what is and some things you can't change. But that's ok. Some things aren't meant to be changed. All things happen for a reason. One reason or another.

The past three weeks have been peaceful. Calm. Quiet. Blissfully danger free. Both children survived and have suffered no nightmares or trauma remarkably.

Not only Lily's parental figure but also another role has been handed to me, against my will in more ways than one but, you have to do what you have to do.

Trudy. I'm the new Trudy.

I make all the kitchen shopping list and dinner menus. I do a fair amount of the cooking though we still rotate with the other ladies.

Everyone just kinda started asking me things and making me responsible for Trudy type situations. At first I completely rebelled in body and spirit. I was grieving and it just made it harder but so was everyone else. So I took the job and have handled things every since. It's kinda funny considering I'm one of the youngest in the bunch and I have been hefted such responsibility in such a trustworthy fas.h.i.+on over so many people.

In a way, I'm flattered. My crew of misfits trust me fully to do it and do it well. And I will.

As for Merrick and I, things couldn't be better. After a few days of resting and recouping things pretty much got back to normal. Except for the fact that Merrick was even more determined now to watch me closer than ever.

His whole 'you are not safe without me' theory had panned out more than once, so I let him do what he feels like he needs to without giving him any flack. If it makes him happy to watch me like a hawk every minute of every day, so be it. My personal secret service. A gorgeous and persistent secret service who forbids me to leave the bunker under any circ.u.mstances.

He constantly asks me if I need help with anything, how is my leg, can he do some laundry since it's hard for me with crutches. And do I complain? No! What other guy in my life has done these things for me? Zero!

And Lily only makes things better. We spend our time with our new family during the day, play with our new charge as I affectionately call her.

Then the nights are just for Merrick and I and things just get better and better once we enter that little room and close the door.

Even with all the bad stuff that's happened, I still consider myself the luckiest girl this side of the hemisphere.

Amazing guy, amazing family, amazing love.

It's a Tuesday...I think. We are hanging around the commons room after a dinner of Mrs. Trudy's famous pancake recipe that I made from memory. Miguel finally informed me I could use a walking brace now. Yeah! So I am, and making the most of it.

It's been 6 weeks since that day. Trudy's death and the children's kidnapping. Not much has changed, and I like it that way.

Marissa and I dole out coffee. I see her out of the corner of my eye as she bends down to kiss Jeff quickly before giving him his usual, six sugars and lots of cream. It still makes me smile to see them and know that, these days, just about anything is possible.

Merrick takes his coffee cup from my grasp, letting our fingers slide slowly against each other as he always does, giving me that I-can't-wait-til-tonight look which still sends chills down my spine. I smile knowingly and bite my lip.

How does he still have the ability to drive me so crazy after all this time? It feels like it did we just met. b.u.t.terflies and tingles haven't relented.

After our coffee and chat I put myself down on Merrick's lap, exhausted from pancake flipping. Can you guess how many pancakes have to be cooked for a crew this size? Yeah...

"You look tired," Merrick says sympathetically.

"I am tired," I whisper, putting my head on his warm chest.

"Ready for bed?"

"No. Can't make it. Too tired. Must sleep," I mutter with my eyes closed.

He leans down and nuzzles my neck whispering.

"I could carry you, if it wouldn't hurt your pride."

"Are you in a some hurry to get into that room, mister?" I say playfully, popping open my eyes and lifting an eyebrow.

"Oh, yeah," he breathes, his breath blowing the curls around my neck, making me s.h.i.+ver.

I gaze into his green eyes, utterly baffled by his love for me. Maybe one day I'll accept it completely, but today...still baffled. His slow spreading knowing smile brightens the room like he knows what I'm thinking, something he's always wanted to do. Then he asked me his usual fatherly line of questioning.

"Did Lily go down for bed ok?"

"Yep. She didn't even ask for a song tonight. She was pretty tired. I think Uncle Danny chased her over every inch of this bunker today."

"He is so great with her. I always knew he would be good with kids but..."

"Never have any of his own? Yeah, I know. He makes a great uncle. Wind them up, spoil them rotten then send them back to mommy and daddy," I said laughing and Merrick laughed too.

It was true. I doubt that Danny will have kids of his own, or that he would've even without the end of the world. He just never seemed interested but now... I don't know.

Him and Celeste are probably the most blatant couple in the bunker. They make out in every corner, they hug in every hallway. They follow each other absolutely everywhere. They can't seem to not be touching each other.

It's wonderful! I'm so happy for them and glad they found other. There is not a smidge left of my original wariness.

Granted, Marissa and Jeff have been known to smooch in the public eye as do Merrick and I but, some things are better left in private. But right now, with Merrick's lips mere inches from mine, his fingers rubbing the ring on my finger and his soapy clean smell in my nose all I want to do is kiss him.

And I do.

Pulling him to me, he resists like a toddler resists a tootsie roll. He chuckles under his breath as I capture his lips with mine. One arm goes around my back and the other is rubbing in the hair on my neck. I hear murmurs and the radio and a card game around us but I could care less as I run my hand through his hair.

You're making me insane.

I gasp inwardly at his groaned words. I've never heard him speak to me in my mind while we were kissing before. It's strange...and oddly enjoyable. My Merrick has my full attention and right now, all I can think about is how I'm now suddenly very ready for bed. I whisper something along those lines in his ear, feeling his grin on my cheek.

"It's about time, woman. You can't just strut around in that ap.r.o.n, flipping your pancakes. You know what it does to me," he whispers jokingly.

I giggle and bite my lip but before I can respond we all hear something that silences us all.

"h.e.l.lo? Everyone awake?" a voice yells from the stairwell.

Margo.

She was supposed to be closing up the store.

We all turn and watch the stairs to see what she is yelling about, fearing the worst. Things have been good for too long.

I hear a lot more footsteps than Margo could produce by herself. Then my breath catches as I lift myself from Merrick's arms and hobble to the entrance way of the commons room. Chills run over my arms as I see a flood of faces I thought I'd never see again come down into our safe haven with weary and antic.i.p.atory expressions.

One face in particular out in front, I'm more than happy to see.

"Lillian!"

Part 2.

Dawn Of A New Day.

The New Kid In Town.

Chapter 1 - The Taker.

I wake up with a rag in my mouth. A moist rag from my heavy breathing and saliva and what tastes metallic, like blood as well. Human blood. My human blood.