Sanctum (The After Light Saga) (22 page)

“Finn,” Pike breathed.

“I
’m here, buddy.” Finn knelt next to him.

“
Kick ass for me, bro. No wussing out. If you do, I will haunt your ass.”

“Never,”
Finn said, forcing a smile as a tear slid down his cheek. He laid a hand on his shoulder.

“Abi,” Pike said, glancing at me.

“Yes?” I breathed.

“Please
, promise me.” His breaths became more labored, his eyes were bloodshot and glossy.

“Anything,” I sobbed
.

“Get Tina
to the bunker safely,” he coughed. Blood stained his lips. Tina gasped, fresh tears streamed from her already soaked face.

I nodd
ed. “I promise.”

“
Please
. Can’t you save him, doctor?” she begged, looking at Dr. Banks.

“I’m sorry,” Dr. Banks answered, slowly shaking his head with a pained look on his face.

“Pike, you have to live,” Tina curled up next to him, sobbing. H
e loosely wrapped his arm around her and kissed the top of her head. It shattered my heart all over again.

“I don’t feel pain. It feels peaceful,” he breathed. A single tear escaped his eye and trailed into his hair.

“G
ood,” Finn said, laying his hand on Pike’s head. I could tell Finn was struggling. Pike had become a close friend to both of us.

“Take care of her
.”

“We will,” Finn breathed.

His voice was almost nonexistent. “I love you,” he breathed, “Tina.”

“I love you, too,” she sobbed, clenching his shirt in her hands.

He took in two sharp breaths, and choked on blood filling his mouth. We watched, horrified, as the light extinguished from his eyes.

“No
!” Tina anguished. “Pike, don’t leave me. You can’t leave me!”

Dr. Banks gently
brushed his fingers over Pike’s eyes, shutting them forever. He then pulled Tina away and wrapped her in his arms.

“Shhhh,” he cooed, stroking her hair
. “He’s at peace now, and he’ll always be with you.” He tried to comfort her, but she was inconsolable.

I couldn’t explain the pain I felt in my
heart, feeling somewhat responsible. It was my blade which killed him.

Finn and I
held tightly to each other, realizing how fragile life really was. Watching Tina’s reaction, I knew it would be impossible to cope if I ever lost him. The thought sent fresh tears down my face.

I always believed I was strong,
but since we crawled out from our bunker, pieces of me were being chipped away, disintegrating with all the pain and sorrow. I felt as if I was crumbling, like a sand castle that didn’t have enough water to hold it together.

I
needed Finn. He strengthened me, and was the glue which held the pieces of me together.

Internally, I was still wrestling with the decision of
moving to the next bunker, knowing we would almost certainly be separated. We didn’t know the rules, but I knew it would be strict. I feared we weren’t going to be able to see each other again, at least for however long it took us to defeat the Arvies. This thought terrified me, just as much as death.

But
then there were the positives. We would have the protection of the military, access to the best weapons, and the rest of our hive family would be there. The final decision was an internal tug-of-war.

As Dr. Banks led Tina away,
Dr. Fox came over and removed the blade from Pike’s chest. I turned my head, not able to watch. Finn and Tim lifted his body, carried him into the sanctuary, and placed him on one of the pews. Peggy Sue brought a sheet to drape over him.

Rhett stepped forward,
“Finn, you’ll need to get your group ready to leave. The truck is almost ready. I’ve had someone working on it through the night, so it should be ready within the next few hours.”

“
Before we leave, I wanted to ask if it is alright for us to perform a burial ceremony for Pike, and all those whose lives have been taken these past few days.”

“We would appreciate that
very much. Thank you,” Finn said, shaking his hand.

Dr. Banks cradle
d Tina’s weak, frail body in his arms and carried her back down into Sanctum. She was weeping uncontrollably and unaware of what was going on around her. I couldn’t imagine her heartbreak. I was having a hard time coping with my own pain. Finn had his arm wrapped around me the whole way back down into Sanctum.

Would
there ever come a day when we would find peace?

We
packed our bags, and helped the doctors get their supplies in order. The only ones left were me, Finn, Tina, Tim, the three doctors, and the two patients. We’d lost so many, but the memories of Steven and Pike would forever be embedded in my memory.

Tina packed hers
and Pike’s things and placed them in a corner. Wrapping his camouflage jacket around her, she sat with her face hidden between her folded arms. Dr. Lee walked over to her with a cup of water and a bottle of medicine. Kneeling down beside her, he gently touched her back. When she looked up, he handed them to her. I was glad to see she took them, hoping it would help dull some of the pain. He then patted her on the back, trying to console her. He wasn’t a man of many words, but he was very kind.

I sighed
, leaning into Finn. He pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around me.

The room felt overwhelmingly sorrowful
. We’d lost five of the fourteen members we started out with, and yet, had only one body to bury. Five people, who had dreams of a brighter future. They each had family members and loved ones, unaware of their deaths, who would be waiting for them at the next bunker.

The pain and heartache would come from those still living,
who had to deal with their loss. I wondered if anyone knew our chopper went down, and if they did, how many thought we were all dead. My thoughts trailed to my parents, hoping they didn’t know we went down. I couldn’t bear to think about them worrying about me.

A
few minutes later, one of Rhett’s men walked into the room. “The truck is ready, and Rhett has asked for everyone to meet outside.”

“Thank you,” Dr. Banks
said. The man nodded and exited the room.

Dr. Banks then walked over to me and Finn.
“Dr. Lee will be staying here with Rhett’s group. They are in need of a doctor, and he volunteered. His patient also wants to stay. Neither have family, and want to remain free. We are leaving them well stocked with medicine.

“
Is everyone else okay?” I asked.

“T
he other night, when they called me to check on Jamie, I discovered something. It appears Reed left her with a precious gift; a part of him to live on, and hopefully help her through the grieving process.”

“A baby?”
I gasped.

He nodded with a slight grin.
“Yes, they’ll need a doctor to help care for her and the baby, once it’s born.”

“That’s wonderful
news,” I said.

“Yes, and Dr. Lee has had lots of experience with child birthing and pediatrics. He said he’d like to stay and help, and spend the rest
of his days on the outside, not confined to walls.”

“I don’t blame him,” I said. “We were also debating
the same thing, but we have so many loved ones waiting for us.”

“Indeed we do,” he nodded and smiled.

I was happy for all of them, but a little sad this baby wouldn’t have the chance to know its father. But this hive was close, and the baby would have multiple men who would step up and become father figures. I doubted it would lack any love.

I was also happy for Jamie. She was devastated by her husband’s death, and maybe, this child would
help her broken heart to mend. Part of me wished I could stay to witness it.

Finn tightened his hug around me.

“Hopefully one day, the world will be filled with children, laughing and playing like we used to,” he whispered in my ear.

“I hope so,” I said.

We grabbed our things and headed outside. The people of Sanctum were now free, and hopefully wouldn’t have any problems in the future with the Arvies. I doubted they would, knowing this place was out in the middle of nowhere. It was a miracle we’d found it.

Fate, I guess.

Everyone stood just outside of the Sanctum, in a small cemetery. There were a few dozen headstones scattered about, each deteriorating from years of chemical weathering. But there was one fresh grave, adorned with an ornate wooden cross, about four feet tall.
Reed Miller
was neatly carved into it, with the date of his birth and death. He had been thirty-two years old. A beautiful hand-crocheted blanket of colorful flowers was laying over the top of his grave.

Rhett’s men continued t
o dig Pike’s final resting place, but seeing his lifeless form, lying off to the side, released another wave of heartache. His body was wrapped in a sheet; blood from his wound had seeped through, creating what almost resembled a butterfly. At least, it looked like a butterfly to me, and it made me hope he got his wings. If anyone deserved heaven, it was Pike.

We
quietly waited and watched the men. The only sounds were those of the shovels hitting the dirt, and Tina’s deep sobs.

Dr. Lee stood next to
Tina, still trying to console her. I knew she would never be the same. Her smile, her wit, and her charm would be lost for a while. I just hoped one day she would be able to find that part of herself again.

When
the grave had finally been dug, we all stood around it in a half-circle. Finn and Tim carried Pike’s body over, and gently laid it to rest. Rhett took out an old, tattered Bible and began reading. It was a simple, yet powerful message of the fragility of life, along with the hope and rebirth of new life and new land.

At the end, he closed with a prayer for all those who had lost their lives, and those who remained
. He turned to his men with a slight nod, and they began shoveling the earth back into the grave, covering Pike’s body.

Tina
howled and ran forward, dropping herself on the side of his grave. I ran over and knelt next to her, gently rubbing her back. She was my friend. Her world was falling apart, and I didn’t know how to comfort her. There was no way I could.

She turned and wrapped her arms around m
e. I hugged and cried with her. I didn’t know how she would get through this, but I knew somehow, she would. She was strong. She would find a way. And I repeated those words to her, over and over, hoping it would offer some reassurance.

When his grave
was finally filled, Tina stood. Staring blankly, she swayed, and then collapsed.

“Dr. Banks!” I screamed. He
ran over and checked her.

“She’s fine,
just sleeping. Dr. Lee gave her some pills to help her rest,” he said.

“Oh, g
ood,” I breathed out in relief. “I think sleep would be the best thing for her right now.”

Finn
lifted her, carrying her to a blanket and pillow Peggy Sue had lain out for her.

“Thank you
,” I said to her.

“I
t’s no problem,” she answered.

“No,
not only for that, but thank you for everything you’ve done for us. You and your group have been very hospitable. You didn’t have to take us in and feed us, but you did. You shared what little you had, and for that, we thank you.”

She smiled and nodded, and
I saw a brief look of guilt on her face.

“I’
m really glad you came,” Shelley said, coming over and giving me a hug.

“Thank you,” I said. “I’m glad I had the chance to meet you. You remind me of my little cousin
, who is waiting for me at the next bunker.”

“Really?” she squeaked, her eyes smiled.

“Really. I’ll have to tell her all about you. Maybe one day you’ll get to meet her.”

“I would like that,” she said.

“I’m glad you came too,” Jamie said, coming forward. Her eyes were puffy and red from her own grieving. “You really helped us, and now, our town is free from those monsters. We will be able to start again. It will be hard without Reed, but I know he’d want me to go on, especially with his child.” She gently rubbed her belly.

“I’m really sorry about your husband, but I’m happy that you will be having a baby
,” I smiled. “It would have been awesome to have watched the birth.”

“
You are welcome to stay,” she said.

“Thank you,” I returned, “but we have family waiting for us. They will need our help to rebuild
, once we are free.”

“I understand,” she smiled,
and then gave me a hug.

Nely stepped
forward and wrapped me in her arms.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “You are a very strong girl. You wi
ll make a difference in this world. I can feel it.”

“Thank
you,” I smiled.

Laura stepped up next and gave me a hug. “You didn’t have to stay
and help us, but you did. It’s nice to know that there are still good people out there.”

I smiled and my h
eart swelled. “Thank you all. We really do wish you all the best and hope that one day, our paths will cross again. And, please do not worry… we won’t tell anyone about this place. It’s yours, unless they discover it on their own, and hopefully they’ll just let you keep it. There is more than enough usable land for the few thousand which survived. I doubt you will see anyone for a very long time. And by then, everyone should be settled and won’t care.”

“Hopefully,” Peggy Sue said.

“Yes, hopefully,” I agreed.

Rhett and his men disappeared and all of a sudden we heard a loud rumble. It was the truck engine starting up.

Finn immediately turned to me with a smile. Seeing him smile brought one to my face.

I wiped my face dry, as the truck
pulled around to the front. It was a rusted old heap with wheels, but it was rolling, and that’s all that mattered.

“Now that is one
awesome
ride,” Finn said.

“Yep, she’s an old battle axe,” Rhett said, slapping the side of his door
. “Alright everyone, load up!”

We loaded the injured
into the back first, while Tim escorted Tina to the front. He sat with her since he was the navigator, and held the map and the compass. The rest of us sat in the bed of the truck, wherever there was an open spot, and not completely rusted through.

I sat in between Finn’s legs
, up against the back of the cab, happy for his closeness and support.

Dr. Banks and Dr. Fox sat on either side of the
patient; each had a duffle next to them filled with medicine.

“You all ready?” Rhett asked.

“Yes,” we answered.

As he turned the key and the truck roared to life, my stomach twisted
with both excitement and apprehension. As we started to move, Finn held me.

“You ready for this?”
he whispered.

“No.
”

A
s Rhett turned the truck around, we faced a row of melancholy faces, along with the fresh graves of our friends we were leaving behind. We didn’t know when, or if, we would ever see them again, so the parting was bittersweet.

Nely, Peggy
Sue, Jamie, Laura, and Shelley were all huddled together, waving goodbye. At least they had each other. I was optimistic about their future, and could only hope our happy story would start soon.

Dr. Lee,
Revek, Billy, and the rest of the men also waved us farewell, until we couldn’t see them anymore. We would always share a common bond with the families of Sanctum. Together, we defeated the Arvies.

“Are we making the right decision?” I asked Finn.

“No matter where we go, or what we do—as long as I have you by my side—the answer is yes.”

His answer didn’t help. Actually, it made it even worse
because we weren’t going to be allowed to be together at the next bunker.

“Abi,” he chuckled in my ear. “Don’t worry. I told you, one way or another I will find a way for us to be together. You just have to trust me.”

“I do trust you. With my whole heart,” I answered.

“Then we are exactly where we need to be. Fate is guiding us now,” he whispered, kissing my cheek.