Broken World (Book 6): Forgotten World (3 page)

Hadley shakes her head, but Jon nods and says, “They’re right. We’ll give him the details, but ultimately it’s up to him.”

Axl nods, looking slightly satisfied, but he doesn’t ease his grip on the steering wheel.

We lapse into silence as Axl drives. The landscape we passed just a short time ago now seems different, less depressing somehow. Maybe it’s the realization that Ginny and Jon made it or the fact that the hope we’ve been searching for is real. I’m not sure which one, but whatever it is, I can’t help smiling when I look Hadley’s way.

“You look happy,” I say after a few minutes of silence.

“I am.”

She takes Jon’s hand, giving it a squeeze, and he smiles too. They seem so different from the last time we saw them, and it’s hard to believe that so much could have changed in such a short time. Then again, Axl and I went from being strangers to something more profound than husband and wife in the matter of weeks. The end of the world will do that to you.

When our little community comes into view, Hadley sits forward, straining her neck to get a look out the window as Axl slows to a stop in front of the gate.

“Wow,” she says. “You guys were this close all these months and we had no idea. I can’t believe it, but I’m glad you found somewhere safe. I worried about you over the winter.”

“We had our rough moments,” I say as Joshua hops out to unlock the gate. “But we worked together and made it through. Most of us, anyway.”

I sigh, thinking about Winston once again. If he had held on just a little bit longer, this might have made the difference for him. He might have heard about the CDC and the possible vaccine and seen a light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe.

Hadley shakes her head, wiping her eyes when they fill with tears. “I can’t believe Jess and Winston are gone.”

“I think Winston was the hardest one,” I murmur, causing Axl to glance back at me. Our eyes meet, and it feels almost like he’s trying to give me a hug. I wish he were sitting next to me so I could lean on him.

He drives through, and Joshua locks the gate behind us, then hops back into the passenger seat. Axl starts driving again, passing Al and Lila, who wave and head after us, probably anxious to find out what happened with Sophia. Boy are they going to be in for a couple big surprises.

I throw the door open the second the car comes to a stop, hopping out. Al and Lila are still a good distance away when Hadley steps out behind me, followed by Jon, and the second the teens see our long-lost friends they start to cheer.

“Hadley! Jon!” Lila screams, jumping up and down before running faster.

“Holy shit!” Al says, shaking his head. Laughing.

We’re all going to have a tough time getting used to calling her Ginny.

Brady’s front door opens, and people come pouring out. Anne and the kids, Parvarti. Everyone is talking at once, asking Jon and Hadley questions while they hug and cry. Brady is the only one who doesn’t come over to greet the two, but even he smiles.

Angus is the last one out of the house, spitting as he heads down the steps. “What’s all the racket out here?” he shouts.

“Angus!” Hadley calls, smiling.

“Holy shit. Didn’t think I’d ever see you again, Hollywood,” Angus says, shaking his head as he heads over to meet her. His eyes move over her, and he swears. “I was pretty sure you two had turned into popsicles by now, but it looks like you found a way to keep warm out there.”

Hadley rolls her eyes as she throws her arms around Angus. “I’m stronger than that, and you know it!”

“Sure do.” Angus pulls back and grins, but there’s a softness in his eyes. Even though it’s made an appearance more and more lately, it’s still hard to get used to. “Even the strong fall these days.”

“Not all of them,” Hadley says. “I hear you’ve proven it’s possible to be stronger than even this damn virus.”

“Don’t wanna brag,” Angus says, pulling the collar of his shirt aside to reveal the healed bite. “But them zombies shoulda known they couldn’t take Angus James down.”

Hadley stares at the bite, shaking her head, and when she looks up to meet Angus’s grin with one of her own, she says, “Do you even know how important you are to the world?”

3

ANGUS’S EYES ARE focused on the floor, and he doesn’t move, but he isn’t alone. No one has made a sound since Hadley—Ginny—told them about Atlanta and Key West and how they’re looking for a way to create a vaccine. I can’t really blame everyone, but I also can’t take my eyes off Angus, so I have no clue what they’re all thinking.

“Angus?” Hadley says after a few seconds of silence.

He pulls his gaze away from the floor and looks up, meeting Hadley’s green eyes with his gray ones. “They’re makin’ a cure.”

“Well, a vaccine,” Jon says. “I don’t think there’s any hope of a cure for what those poor bastards out there have, but a vaccine could mean there’s hope for us.”

“They want you to go to Atlanta,” I say. “The people of Hope Springs are already getting a group together so you have plenty of protection. It’s like an armed escort.”

Angus nods slowly as his gaze moves across the room, stopping for a few seconds on each one of us before finally coming to rest on his brother. Something flashes in Axl’s eyes, and without thinking, I reach out and slip my hand into his.

“Guess that means I’m pretty important,” Angus finally says, flashing a half-grin that reminds me of a lost little boy trying to make a joke despite how terrified he is. “Never thought I’d be nobody important.”

“You don’t gotta go,” Axl says. “You don’t gotta do nothin’ you don’t wanna do.”

“What do you mean he doesn’t have to go?” Lila says, getting to her feet. “Of course he has to go! He could be the only person left who’s immune. His blood could save the human race!”

“It could also make him a prisoner,” Joshua points out. He swipes his hand through his hair as he lets out a deep breath. “Axl’s right. Angus should have a say in this, because once we get there, I have a good feeling he’ll be under lock and key. Probably for the rest of his life, but at the very least until they create a working vaccine.”

“He’ll be little more than a science experiment,” Brady mutters.

“It ain’t like they’re gonna do experiments on me or nothin’,” Angus snaps.

“We don’t know what they have in store for you.” Joshua’s voice is firm. “One thing is for certain, though, you need to be damn sure you understand what you’re getting yourself into.”

Hadley exhales and gets to her feet. She walks to the other side of the kitchen, then huffs again before coming back and throwing her hands into the air. “Fine!”

“Fine what?” I ask, eyeing her.

“We find out what they have planned and make sure he stays safe. We make a deal with Atlanta before we go out there. Hope Springs has resources and men who will be willing to sacrifice themselves to get you there safely.”

“That don’t guarantee he’s gonna be okay once we’re there!” Axl voice booms through the kitchen.

Hadley winces, and I don’t miss that she refuses to look his way. Once again, that last day at the hot springs comes to mind. What kind of disagreement or argument did they have that they can’t let go of even after all these months?

“We’ll make sure he’s okay,” she says, quieter this time.

“He has the final say,” Brady says from the corner.

“And if he says no?” Al asks. “What then? Will the men from Hope Springs knock our gates down and drag him to Atlanta?”

“We’ll duck outta here before they know we’re gone,” Axl says, glancing toward Hadley like he’s afraid she might be a spy. “You all can stay, but Angus and me’ll high tail it outta here. Find a new place where nobody wants to cut him up.”

My heart stutters like it’s threatening to stop. He can’t seriously think I wouldn’t go with him.

“You’re not leaving me,” I say firmly.

Axl slips his arm around my shoulder, and I move closer to him.

“If it comes to that,” Joshua says, “I think it would best if all of us to head out. We’re a family.”

Al and Lila nod, along with Parvarti. Anne, however, remains quiet. She’d want to go with Joshua, though. Right? After all the time they’ve spent together, I can’t believe something romantic hasn’t developed there. Still, I have a sneaking suspicion we’d be saying goodbye to Sophia. Probably Brady, too. This is his home. Where his wife is buried. I don’t really see him ever leaving this place.

Angus snorts and gets to his feet, and the legs of his chair scrape against the ground so loud that my heart starts pounding faster. “No need to worry ‘bout all that. I’ll go to Atlanta.”

“You don’t have to,” I say.

Angus lifts his head, and his mouth scrunches up when his eyes meet mine. “It’s the right thing to do, ain’t it?” I shrug, unable to answer, but no one else does, either. “‘Sides, I’ll be savin’ the world. That’ll pretty much make me a hero.”

“It will make you a superhero,” I whisper.

Angus a hero. Who would have thought?

“When will he go?” Anne says, her voice even quieter than mine was a second ago.

Joshua’s eyes are on her, but Anne’s head is down. Almost like she doesn’t want to look his way. For the first time since Jake died, she seems to be shying away from Joshua. They’ve gotten so close over the last few months that I didn’t expect this, and judging by the expression on the doctor’s face, neither did he.

“We’ll head on back to Hope Springs in the mornin’,” Axl says. “Sophia’s anxious to get Ava back anyway.” He frowns and shakes his head. “She’s decided they’re gonna live there from here on out.”

Lila lets out a disappointed noise that reminds me of a hurt kitten, and Al puts his arm around her.

“I guess it would make sense that she wouldn’t want to go to Atlanta,” she says. “Not with a kid.”

“They will let us all go, right?” Al says.

“They don’t gotta choice.” Angus gets to his feet.

“How soon do you think they’ll be ready to head out?” I ask Jon and Hadley. They know more about the way Hope Springs works than any of us do.

“As soon as possible,” Jon says. “But I’m assuming it will be a week at least. We need time to get people together and figure out what supplies to take and how many trucks. So the sooner we get back and let everyone know they’re going to have nine extra people to plan for, the better.”

“Not nine,” Anne says, speaking up but keeping her head down. “I’ll be staying in Hope Springs with Sophia and Ava and Max.”

“No,” Lila says, stepping toward her.

Joshua frowns, but he doesn’t argue, and I can’t help wondering what that means. Even though they never show any signs of affection, I thought they were a couple. I just figured they preferred to keep it private.

“I’m sorry,” Anne says, shaking her head. “I’m going to miss all of you, but I just can’t do it anymore. Weeks on the road with no end in sight. I just don’t have it in me. Not now.”

“It wouldn’t be weeks,” Jon says. “A couple days max, depending on how clear the roads are.”

“We don’t know that for sure,” Anne says, looking up finally. “Anything can happen, and we all know that from firsthand experience.”

Jon nods, and so does Hadley, and I have to admit Anne has a point. We’ve been surprised more than once.

“I’m afraid that I, too, will be staying behind,” Brady says, clearing his throat.

“You don’t have to be alone anymore,” I say even though I know any argument I could throw his way would be wasted. He won’t leave this house.

“I’m afraid I just can’t stomach the idea of leaving Kristine behind.” Brady gives me a tight smile that doesn’t reach his eyes, and I think back to the time I saw him talking to his wife’s grave. It’s possible her death left him a little unhinged. Maybe staying here is just about comfort, but maybe not.

“You’ll be missed,” Joshua says, and I get the feeling his words are meant more for Anne.

Brady nods but doesn’t respond, seeming to think the same thing. Anne still doesn’t look Joshua’s way.

“Guess we oughta get packed up,” Angus says, stretching. “We gotta get movin’ in the mornin’. Don’t want them folks comin’ out here after us ‘cause they think we’re tryin’ to skip town.”

“They wouldn’t do that,” Hadley says, shaking her head.

I arch my eyebrows, and she sighs. That’s what I thought.

Morning comes, and we’re all up early, squeezing into Brady’s kitchen for what will probably be the last time. He splurged, preparing the last muffin mix we have and making extra coffee. The air is thick with the scent of blueberries, and the mood is a mixture of excitement and sadness. Brady especially seems to not be himself. Even if he’s careful to keep the smile plastered on his face. It also doesn’t escape my notice that Joshua and Anne are keeping their distance from each other. Whatever they talked about last night, it must have been serious.

Before I know it, breakfast is done and everyone is heading out. Ready to load the cars and get a move on. Instead of following, though, I head to the sink with a stack of dirty dishes. I know that the longer it takes for us to make it back to Hope Springs, the jumpier Dax and his men will become—something about the big man makes me uneasy, and the last thing I want is for him to show up at our gate—but I’m reluctant to leave.

“You don’t need to do that,” Brady says, carrying a second stack of dishes over to me.

“It’s fine,” I say, smiling even though a part of me wants to cry. “It’s the least I can do after running out on you.”

“You don’t need to feel bad about leaving,” Brady replies, giving me a sad smile. “We both know I could go if I really want to. I just…” He shrugs as he hands me a plate.

I get to work rinsing the leftover scraps of food off, too choked up to say anything to him. I keep my focus on the crumbs as they swirl around the porcelain sink and disappear down the drain. I may have only known Brady for a few months, but we’ve been through a lot together. We saved his life when we found him in the woods, and he in turn saved ours when he let us inside this fence. I can’t help thinking that leaving him alone like this is a death sentence. True, Hope Springs isn’t too far away, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be around to save him if he gets in trouble. Who knows what the future will bring his way?

“I wish you’d reconsider and come with us,” I say, still not looking at Brady.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see him smile, but even without looking right at him, the sadness in his expression is obvious. It goes so deep that it physically hurts me.

“I don’t think I’m meant to leave this place, to be honest. I feel a bit like I’m tethered to it, and a part of me thinks that if I tried to leave it would pull me back. It’s good to know that Hope Springs is out there and that they’re friendly. Sophia and Anne won’t be too far off, and if I get lonely it will be just a short drive down the street and I can sit and talk with old friends.”

“Very true,” I say, but the words come out as little more than a whisper. My throat is too clogged with tears for anything more.

Brady nods, and we finish the dishes in silence. When they’re done, we head outside together. The others are just finishing loading the cars. Meaning soon we’ll be driving away, saying goodbye to the home that kept us safe through the longest winter of our lives.

It’s warmer this morning than it has been in months, and the sun is so bright that I’m forced to squint. For some reason, despite the pain clouding my brain, the day makes me hopeful. Like the first ray of sunshine after a storm or a rainbow after the rain. My eyes meet Hadley’s, and I smile.

When she returns it, I say, “We aren’t through the worst of things, but I can’t help feeling like we’re nearing the finish line for good this time.”

“I know. It’s strange, don’t you think? After all the people we saw die and all the times we worried that we would be next, there’s now a chance to erase all that.”

“I really didn’t think it was possible.”

Hadley smiles. “Me neither.”

“You ready?” Axl asks, not even looking my way as he tosses the last bag into the back of the SUV.

“I am,” I say. It isn’t a lie, even if saying goodbye is tough.

I stand back while everyone takes turns telling the man who took us in goodbye. For Anne it’s easier because she knows she’ll see him again. For the rest of us, this could be the last time we ever see Brady.