Days Since...: Jenny: Day 986

Chapter Two

“Pickup truck coming,” Danny said, his chest still heaving. “Lots of guys. Every last one armed to the teeth.”

“Who?” Jenny asked, eyes wide with fear. “Black uniforms? Any kind of banner?”

“I don’t know.”

“They haven’t made it this far yet.” Matt said, stealing an occasional peek from his position at the window.

Jenny stormed off toward Matt, almost knocking a floor lamp to the ground in her haste. Is it them? A vision of Second Alliance Soldiers haunted her. It can’t be them, right? There’s no way they’re up this way.

“You think it’s the S.A.?” Matt whispered.

“I hope not…”

Mindful of being discovered, she peeled a sliver of the curtain away from the window, allowing her just enough space to catch a glimpse of the pickup truck chugging through the street—four men in the bed, a rifle poking out the passenger side window. Crack! Crack! Immediately, Matt threw Jenny to the ground, falling with her, shielding her from the unexpected gunfire. His chest pressed against hers, his breaths in her ear. Close. Safe. Crack! Crack! A breath trembled from Jenny’s lips. Matt squeezed her tight, comforting her through the chaos. Crack! Crack! Crack!

“Stay down!” From across the room, Danny low crawled toward them, dragging his rifle by its sling. He kept his eyes fixed on theirs.

Another volley of gunfire broke out. To Jenny’s horror, Sherman started toward them from the kitchen, out of view of Danny. “Platz!” she shouted. He lay, his ears twitching from the gunfire, confused, but stationary.

“You two okay?!” Danny shouted.

“Yeah!”

“Is Sherman?!”

“Yeah!”

A few more shots rang out, closer than before. “Hang in there!” Danny shrank into the floor as low as he could while the barrage continued. In a brief reprieve, he skittered within inches of the windowsill, settling into the wall next to Matt and Jenny’s feet. “Hier!” Sherman broke for Danny.

“What the hell they shooting at?!” Jenny called out.

Danny braved a look, but another shot convinced him to put his face to the floor. All four of them forced to wait. Catching a stray was the last thing they needed.

Two more shots echoed down the street, then a long howl of laughter faded into the distance. Silence followed. Then more. Jenny remained still, unsure of how much faith to place in the lull. Danny said nothing. Matt, the same. At some point, someone would have to confirm they were indeed clear of any threat. But with Matt still on top of her, Jenny being the one seemed unlikely.

Finally, Danny crept to his feet then helped Matt and Jenny to theirs. “Looks like they’re gone,” he said, pulling the curtain clear for Jenny too, both of them now studying the street for any signs of life. Or death.

“Any idea who they were?” Jenny asked, relieved she hadn’t seen the black uniforms, the flag, any sign of the Second Alliance.

“Never seen them or… shit, anyone like them since the early days. You’d think the novelty would’ve worn off by now. Reckless morons. Pretty sure they’re not from around here. Loud idiots like that don’t go unnoticed. We definitely would’ve run into them before. Everyone else out this way has moved on or joined up with us at the Depot.” He leaned into the bay window, double-checking the far end of the neighborhood. “Pretty sure we’re good now.”

Jenny looked too. The erratic strangers were long gone, not even the truck’s tail lights were visible. “Still can’t tell what they were shooting at,” she said. A window across the street appeared to be the only casualty from the strangers’ assault on the neighborhood. “By the look of things, probably nothing.”

Danny let out a weak chuckle. “Never could fix stupid.”

“Whether they were shooting for the hell of it or not, we’re lucky,” Matt said, coming shoulder to shoulder with Jenny at the window after Danny had walked off. “A couple extra minutes in that house down the street and we would’ve been caught out in the open with those maniacs. There’s no telling how that would’ve gone.”

“Not good,” Danny said, seemingly bewildered by the naive statement. “We’re not invincible. That’s why we train. That’s why we take everything seriously. You never know what’s around the next corner. With those guys, they wouldn’t have asked any questions. Nothing! They would’ve gunned us down in the street as soon as they saw us. Not a doubt in my mind.”

“You’re right…” Matt agreed before wrapping his hand around Jenny’s and whispering to her, “Nothing’s going to happen to you. We’ll make sure of it.”

Closing her eyes, she leaned her head against his shoulder, her veins still flooded with adrenaline, her breathing still rushed. Thanks. Although she wouldn’t allow it to seep through, an apology bubbled toward the surface. Only hours ago, she had chided him for being overprotective. Unselfishly, he took to her, guarded her without thinking of himself. How close had they come to death? Merely feeling him beside her meant everything in that moment. “I knew you had it in you,” Jenny murmured. “See? You’re good at this.”

He smiled.

“Alright you two,” Danny said, his back hunched, gripping the far end of the living room couch, waiting. “Enough of that. Get over here, lover boy, and help me with this thing.”

Matt gave her hand a parting squeeze before taking the opposite end of the couch.

Jenny remained at the window. Even though the vision of the Second Alliance had passed, a feeling of dread now lingered. If it had been them, what… what would that mean? Deep down, I know they’re still looking for us. But would they come all the way up here to do it?

From behind her came a—“1… 2… 3”—followed by a collective grunt. Jenny peeled her eyes from the window to watch them carry the couch to the front door, doing what they could to secure their camp for the night. Apparently satisfied, Danny dusted the remaining snow from his pants and stomped out his boots.

“Man, Danny, you kicked that door in like it was nothing!” Matt said, running his hand along the fractured jamb—the deadbolt busted, protruding from the wood. “Aren’t those supposed to be pretty tough?”

“Just have to hit the sweet spot.”

“When we get a chance, you’ll have to teach me. I’d like to—”

“Danny…” Jenny backed from the window, intruding on their conversation. “I…” She started again, but had difficulty forming her thoughts. Grant had made them swear not to reveal too much of their past. Friends came and went. Trust was hard to come by. The knowledge that they might possibly be wanted by an organization as large as the Second Alliance seemed too dangerous to share with anyone. It could be used against them if the situation dictated it.

Be careful with what you say. “Awhile ago we saw this group of people. Me and Matt and Grant did. They wore all black, organized, like an army or something, but—” She stopped. Just ask him if he knows. Keep it simple. “Have you seen them? A group in black up this way?”

“We’re the biggest group in this area, sorry to disappoint you if you’re looking to trade up.”

“You know that’s not why I’m asking.”

“I don’t.” He lowered an eyebrow. “Why do you want to know? What’d they do to you?”

Jenny simply stared at him.

“Or… is it that you guys did something to them?”

Danny looked to Matt, but he offered up even less than she did on the topic.

“Okay.” He wiped from the corners of his mouth. “I get it. Obviously, there are things that we don’t share. Things we keep bottled up. But I can’t help you if you don’t open up. No one can.”

“We don’t need your help with them. We just need to know they aren’t up here.”

“They aren’t. You don’t need to worry about it.” Danny traipsed over to a recliner and plonked down—Sherman close behind, taking to the floor beside him. Both Jenny’s and Matt’s eyes were still locked on Danny. Still searching for certainty in his answer. “I’m serious. I’m not the one trying to hide anything about your soldiers in black.”

“Why’d you say it like that?” Jenny took offense. “You don’t tell us everything. You barely talk about your police work. I know practically nothing about your family. Never even seen a picture of them.”

“We don’t need to tell everything, right Jenny?” Grinning, he closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair. “Not sure you’ll ever know,” he teased.

“You’ll tell me someday.”

“Not today.”

“What would it take?”

“Take the hint,” Matt whispered. “Let him sleep for a bit. We’ll keep watch.” He tapped the grip of the pistol resting in its holster and strutted over to the bay window.

“No offense, but it’ll take a bit more than your mighty pistol there.” She eyed Danny’s rifle leaning against the recliner’s arm. “Danny, let me take your rifle.”

“No.”

“Seriously? What good is it sitting there?”

“It’ll wake up when I do.” He couldn’t help but let a tiny snicker loose. “That’s what taking watch is. It’s simple. You watch. Something happens. You wake the others. If not, you just sit there until your turn’s up.”

“Why the hell do we train if you aren’t gonna give us the chance to use it?”

Jenny saw his mouth curl into a smile, but he said nothing. Danny knew it drove her crazy to stop mid-conversation. She knew he liked to do that—to tease. You’re just like my dad. But it wasn’t just his teasing or his little quirks that revived the memories of her father. It was everything. The brown hair. The hazel eyes. Even their build was similar, though Danny was slightly taller. But what brought it all together was the laugh. That’s why she gravitated toward him almost immediately. When she could break through Danny’s toughness and get him to laugh, she could be with her dad again. Even if for only a few bits of laughter.

“Quit looking at me.” Danny shook the blanket loose from the back of the recliner, shifted to his side, and pulled the blanket across himself. “Doesn’t take both of you to keep watch,” he yawned. “Sounds like Matt volunteered to go first. I’ll take second watch. Jenny, if we need you, then you can have third. We leave in the morning.”

“I’ll take second watch.” She looked to Danny, her face serious, unwavering, but Danny had buried himself in the recliner unable to see her determination. “I’ll take second watch!”

“We’ll see.”

“Dan—”

“Go rest!” He tossed onto his other side. “Or do something else. I don’t care.”

“Hey Matt, why don’t you let me—”

“Don’t even try it, Jenny,” Danny groaned from underneath the blanket.

It’s never personal with him. “You need anything before I head off to the back?” Jenny gave Matt a peck on the cheek.

“No, I’m good.” His gaze returned to the street, but she remained at his ear.

“Let him sleep. Wake me up for second watch,” she whispered. Matt snapped his attention back toward her. “Please…”

“You know I can’t do that.” His voice was torn. “The last thing I want to do is piss him off. You know neither of us want that.”

She dropped her eyes, disappointed. “I know… At some point he needs to let go of some things.”

“It’s gotten better.”

“True…” But not fast enough. “Just think on it.”

Cautiously, Jenny padded down the hallway to the back of the house. I know Danny cleared it, but vigilance equals survival. Keep it on your mind. Nothing wrong with staying in that mindset.

Only four doors lined the hall, and she opened each one, holding her arms up and out as if she were holding a rifle. She pied off each room—systematic, efficient in the manner Danny had taught her. Although she felt slightly foolish, if Danny wouldn’t provide the opportunity for training, she’d have to create her own. She cleared an office, a small bedroom, and a bathroom. One left, the master bedroom, last door on the right.

It appeared unspoiled like the rest of the house. The bed was tucked in. A laundry basket toward its edge—stacks of folded clothing. Over the closet door, a woman’s lace nightgown hung. She couldn’t resist running her fingers down its front. Satin. Someone had something planned. Then she remembered. Shit! In the excitement of earlier, she had forgotten the one thing she personally required from this endeavor.

Jenny took to the bathroom as she had in the house before. Peering around the corner, a draft of air chilled her face. Clack. Clack. Clack. Above the toilet, a set of blinds drawn closed smacked against an open window. She jerked it shut and adjusted the blinds to allow more light into the room before turning toward the mirrored vanity. A scented candle tin sat on top. She opened it, and inside was a book of matches she used to light the wick.

She searched through the vanity, the medicine cabinet, the linen closet, taking the improvised torch with her. Things she may have set aside to keep were tossed about, ignored. Only one thing on her mind, but again, no such luck.

Finished with the search, she practically slammed the candle against the vanity’s marble top in frustration. Gripping the counter’s edge, she fumed at her reflection in the mirror. How the hell is it none of these women have any? I thought everyone kept these close by. She took a deep breath. Take a step back, Jenny. You don’t have to know right now. There’s still time.

Jenny slipped the knit cap from her head and undid her hair bun. She leaned forward, examining the bags under her eyes. I look old. How the hell did this happen? Dirt under her fingernails. Face splotched with grime. When’s the last time you took a bath? Baby wipes don’t count. A tear ran down her cheek. Neither do tears. She took her knit cap across her face. How are you going to take care of anyone else? Why’d you do this to me? Asshole! She broke down. Gasping between breaths and tears, she began ripping through the lower cabinets again. I just know it’s got to be here! How the hell is it so hard to find?! Come on!

A loud crash came from the front of the house. She froze, but eventually tiptoed back through the master bedroom, wiping the tears from her face, trying to get her breathing under control in case one of her companions was coming to check on her. Carefully, she drew the door inward only an inch or two. Through the gap, a tirade of cursing came from the living room—Danny laying into Matt. She bent her head through door, looking down the hallway toward the commotion. Her breaths continued to flutter—her nerves still worked up. I’ll let that go. She closed the door and flipped the lock. Get it together, damn it!

Pressing her back to the wall, she absorbed the room, every detail, picturing those that lived here before—the dad at the bed folding laundry—the wife toweling herself dry after a hot shower, about to drape herself in the seductive nightgown—then, one of the kids pounding on the door, trying to escape the other from down the hall. Family… A concept that had forever changed. Evolved into something different, but just as important as before. To her, those details mattered. They calmed her, refreshed her memories, taking her back to life before Almawt. She knew it wasn’t real, but the idea, the hope that someday what she imagined could once again become commonplace, drove her to continue. Someday everything will be better. The tears stopped. Her breathing steadied. You’re right. It will. You got this.

Jenny dropped the blinds and pulled the curtains to the bedroom windows. It darkened the room considerably, making sleep that much more enticing. But before dragging herself into bed, she made sure to grab the candle from the bathroom. Its small flame flickered against her face as she lay there, tossing. The outburst from Danny and Matt had dulled to a low grumble but remained loud enough to keep her from sleep. Come on! I thought Danny was tired. This is ridiculous.

Unable to sleep, she stacked the pillows against the headboard and shifted into a seated position. “This sucks,” she groaned. Looking for anything to occupy her time, she pulled open the drawer to the nightstand. A few books neatly arranged inside. She sorted through them a bit, finding one that piqued her interest—a diary. Should I? Well, you are already laying in their bed. And, they do say people who write diaries secretly want them read anyways. She broke the locked clasp to the book and flipped toward the back.

She skipped a few entries.

Jenny flipped a few pages further into the diary.

Jenny set the book down on her lap and looked at the framed photos on the nightstand. Oh, the secrets we keep from each other. This is getting good.

Bingo! Jenny slid from the bed and tiptoed across the room, mindful of any noise. Holding her ear steadily against the door, she listened, suppressing her anxious breaths. Nothing. No signs of life from the hallway or living area. Danny must have finally fallen asleep. Okay. Easing the door open, she stole a glimpse. Only darkness, barely any light coming from the front room. She crept to the kids’ bedroom. A low creak from the door. She flinched, then swiftly opened it, stepping inside and easing the door closed behind her. “Up high, hidden,” she reminded herself.

There were a few shelves beyond the reach of small children—only toys and books sat upon them. She shrugged off the bunk bed. Not even worth a glance. Earlier, while clearing the room, she had left the closet partially open, but without finding anyone inside, the rest of its contents went unnoticed. This time, however, her attention was on the smaller details.

Atop the shelf, in a plastic grocery bag, she finally found what she had been looking for all this time. Without hesitating, she stuffed the box into her pants pocket and exited the room. Whoa! She startled—a cold, wet nose jammed itself into her hand. A sigh of relief. “Sherman,” she whispered. “Come on pup, get back in there.” She angled him toward the living room and patted him on the butt. “Go, boy!” He traipsed away, and she broke for the master bedroom.

With mixed emotions, she rushed into the bathroom and stripped the box from its contents. A deep breath. This is it… She cringed onto the toilet seat, freezing cold against her skin, and administered the test. Please, please nothing. Please nothing! The trickle stopped. She eyed the stick as her legs carried her off into the master bedroom where she paced uncontrollably. How long does this damn thing take?

She set the stick down on the nightstand and walked off, forcing herself to ignore it. How am I going to do this? Her breathing began to elevate, and she could feel the tears swelling in her eyes. Do I tell Matt if I am? But I can’t… I can’t tell him. This can’t be real. “What the hell do I do?” Forcing herself back to the nightstand, she angled the test’s small window into the candlelight. A plus sign. Shit!

“What the hell do I do?!” To hide the results from anyone else, she forced the bathroom window open and flung the test into the backyard. “How the hell am I going to do this? I—I can’t do this.” Incomplete thoughts rambled on between her crying and gasps for air. “What if—What if I…” Her face crashed into her hands, unable to bear the weight of the tears any longer. “What if the baby gets Almawt?” She collapsed to her knees. “I can’t do this alone…”

Minutes later, still a mess, eyes puffy, sniffling, she foolishly found herself in the front room.

“You alright?” Matt asked.

Jenny didn’t say anything.

“Jenny?”

She nudged him over to make room for her in the bay window. He wrapped his arms around her.

“You okay?”

“Shush. Hold me.” Trembling, she stared out the window with him. “I just need you to hold me.”