Simone has a plan to draw the Strangers out. She wants to ambush them and steal their car. I think she's fucking nuts. Maybe she really has been stuck in that bunker for six years, that's the only way anyone would want to get the Stranger's attention on purpose. She's going to get us all killed but Martin can't see past her doe eyes long enough to realize it.
The plan goes like this; First, me, Lea, Jean, Patrick, and Martin sneak through the trees and under the bridge and in to the tower. Then, Simone then runs in plain sight over the bridge and through the city which will lead the Strangers to the tower that we're hiding in. Then, I guess we ambush them? I don't know. That's about the point where I stopped listening and started flicking Patrick in the ear until Martin yelled at me.
It doesn't take long for the Strangers to spot Simone and follow her straight into our trap. Three of them come storming out of their SUV, guns drawn. Simone puts her hands up in surrender and they force her further into the tower. Martin shoots their drone out of the air, startling them. Jean, Lea, and Patrick use the distraction to sneak out of the shadows, knock them out, and take their weapons.
"Jean, tie them up." Martin instructs.
"Let's just whack them." Patrick suggests.
"That wasn't the deal. We just want their car." Simone protests. I roll my eyes at her naivety.
"It's like you live in a fucking cartoon." Patrick chastises her.
"Yeah, okay. Sometimes you're a total asshole." Simone bites back.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Patrick walks towards her menacingly.
"Patrick, we'll question them first." Martin says, interrupting Patrick and Simone.
"About what? Where they buy their clothes? What they had for breakfast?"
"Just go start the car." Martin tells him and Patrick throws his weapon on the ground and storms off. "Good job, Simone."
Jean and Lea finish tying up the Strangers and we sit them up against the wall. It doesn't take long for them to wake up and when they do Martin doesn't waste any time before questioning them. He sets up the map in front of the men and speaks to them in English. I really should have paid more attention in school because I only understand a few words. One of the men speaks. He must have said something annoying because Martin kicks the guy next to him in the face. It startles me and I clench the gun in my hand tightly and ball my other hand into a fist.
"Answer it." Martin tells them.
"I don't think kicking them will help." Simone points out snidely. Martin scoffs at her.
"Fine. You do it, but don't remove their masks. It will only make it harder to kill them." Martin tells her, annoyed. He leaves to talk to Patrick and Simone squats in front of the Strangers. She speaks to them in English like Martin. They don't respond to her and Simone reaches forward to remove their masks.
"What are you doing, Simone?" Jean asks nervously.
Simone ignores him, asking the men her question again. He laughs in her face and says something to her.
"Don't tell that bitch anything." One of the other men says, reaching for his mask with his bound hands. Jean steps backwards, keeping his wide eyes on the Stranger. He grabs my arm roughly and calls out for Martin and Patrick.
"We have to kill them." He insists. Martin and Patrick walk back over to us calmly.
"Did they talk yet?" Martin asks Simone.
"No. They haven't."
"Hey." Jean hits me with his stick to get my attention and points to one of the Strangers. "Do him first. The tattooed guy."
"Why?" I ask, confused by Jean's out of character blood lust.
"Just because."
"Whatever. We'll kill all three of them." I tell Jean, hoping to calm him a bit. I flip the safety off my gun
"Everyone go to the car." Martin commands.
"Seriously?" He nods at me.
"You promised not to kill them." Simone reminds us.
"Martin promised. Not me." I point out. It's better if we kill them. They would do the same to us and if we don't they'll just follow us wherever we go and kill us later.
"Celine, no." Martin pushes me back. "I'll do it. Go to the car."
"Why? It's not the first time and it won't be the last."
"Just go."
"Why are you being weird?" He gives me a 'do what I say or regret it' glare and I roll my eyes at him. Whatever. He needs to get laid so he can stop being so fricken crabby. I follow Simone out of the tower. Three gunshots ring out, making everyone pause before piling into the SUV. Jean starts sniffling and rubbing at his eyes.
"Are you okay, Jean?" Lea asks him. He nods and she scoots closer to him. Martin comes stomping over to the SUV.
"Get in. Let's get the others." I climb into the backseat.
After driving across the bridge we pick up Beatrice and Rasmus and I'm forced to sit in the front seat, squished between Patrick and Martin. The drive is almost nice. It's quiet and the fog is really pretty. I would sleep if it weren't for Martin's bony legs taking up all my space and Patrick's elbow digging into my arm while he drives.
"Where are we going?" Patrick asks, breaking the silence.
"Lilla Bijärred." Martin answers.
"What the fuck is that?"
"A town." Martin tells him shortly.
"Lilla Bijärred." Patrick repeats, testing the name of it for himself. "Sounds like something you do on the can. I'm gonna go dump a little Bijärred." Jean laughs at Patrick joke but drops his smile when he sees that no one else is laughing. Patrick nudges me with his elbow when I don't laugh at his joke. I roll my eyes but give him an amused smile.
"What?" Martin demands suddenly, eyeing Simone in the rear view mirror.
"They didn't have to die." She explains.
"No. But we can't be on our best behavior if it ends up killing us, can we?"
"No, but you've gotta start somewhere."
"They deserved to die, Simone." Patrick says, ending the conversation. The mood in the car is tense. But at least we're dry.
Simone bangs on the door of the barn. I definitely believe that she was locked in that bunker for six years. Either that, or she's just really fucking stupid and wants to get us all killed. Martin trusts her enough to follow her around the barn like a puppy, but he doesn't ease his grip on his gun. Everyone else wanders, except Beatrice who's worrying over Rasmus in the SUV until we find the doctor.
"Hello? Anyone there?" Simone calls out again. She sighs and drops her hand, walking back towards the SUV. A door swings open and a woman jumps out, pointing a shotgun in Simone and Jean's face.
"Stop!" She shouts. "Go away!" She walks towards them, forcing them back towards the SUV.
"Please… it's my brother." Simone begs. "You're a doctor, right?"
"Who sent you?" The doctor asks, not lowering her gun.
"A man-"
"Where'd you get that?" She cuts Simone off and points at the drone in Jean's hand with her gun. Jean hides it behind his back.
"We found it." Simone explains.
"Who are you?" The doctor asks, swinging her gun towards us wildly. I keep my gun at my side, so she doesn't start shooting at us, but keep my finger on the trigger.
"We just need help. You can help us." Simone tries to explain.
"I don't know what you're talking about." The doctor denies. "Go!"
"We're not leaving." Martin says, stepping forward and dragging Rasmus by his side. "If you can, you'll help."
"What happened?" The doctors asks hesitantly.
"He got stabbed in the stomach. He needs a surgeon or he'll die." The doctor steps aside and nods her head towards the door.
"Go ahead." She keeps her gun aimed on Martin and Rasmus but lets them into her barn. Simone follows them in and the doctor swings her gun towards us. "The rest of you, stay out here." She backs into the barn and slams the door behind her.
Lea, Jean, Beatrice, Patrick, and I all lounge around outside the barn. It's cloudy but not rain cloudy and the flowers around here are beautiful. I lie on the ground with my head in the grass and look up at the clouds, soaking up the silence until it becomes overwhelming.
"I don't trust her." I start, sitting up so I can talk.
"Who?" Jean asks.
"The doctor."
"You don't trust anyone, Celine." Lea reminds me. I glare at her playfully.
"Whatever. Just making conversation." Lea laughs and I lay back in the grass.
Not long after, Rasmus comes out of the barn, followed by his sister and the doctor. He's got a big smile on his face, a huge improvement from before when he looked like a zombie.
"You're whole again?" Beatrice asks with a smile.
"I'm all stitched up." He agrees.
"Let's get going then."
"Rasmus needs a shot." Simone explains. I shoot Lea an 'I told you so' look and she rolls her eyes at me.
"Just stay here. Have some tea." The doctor tells us. She leads Rasmus away but Martin stops Simone.
"Do you want me to go with you?"
"No, we'll be right back." He nods and she follows after her brother. Martin turns back towards us and meets Beatrice's annoyed gaze.
"You'd rather go with her?" She asks.
"Oh, cut it out. Go have some tea." He dismisses her and she glares. Everyone sits quietly, not willing to make a move and be snapped at by Beatrice or Martin. It lasts a total of five minutes before Patrick gets pissed and bored.
"What's taking them so long?" Jean asks.
"All we ever fucking do is wait for them." Patrick complains.
"They'll be here, okay?" Lea tries to calm him down.
"Let's see what she's got." Patrick suggests, throwing his bag over his shoulders.
"You're going to rob her?" Beatrice asks him.
"Why not?"
"Because she helped us." Beatrice explains.
"Let's just take a look around." Patrick suggests.
"I've had it." Beatrice complains, standing up and grabbing her things. "Let's go."
"Where?" Jean asks.
"To find the others."
"No." Martin stops her. "You're staying here."
"Grab Simone's backpack." Lea instructs Jean, ignoring Martin.
"Beatrice, you're staying." Martin tries.
"Let's go." Beatrice tells Jean. Jean looks torn between Beatrice and Martin.
"Come, Jean."
"Jean, come here."
"Come. Jean, come."
"Jean, come on."
"Jean, now."
"I'm gonna find some food." Jean stands up and rushes into the barn, avoiding Lea and Beatrice.
"We'll meet back in ten." Martin tells Beatrice.
"I haven't got a watch." Beatrice says before storming off, Lea at her side. Martin looks down at me expectantly and I raise an eyebrow.
"If you tell me to come, I'll shoot you in the foot." I warn. He holds a hand out for me and I use it to stand. "I'm gonna look in the other building."
"Why?"
"Cause I can." Martin glares at me but gives in.
"Fine. Gun?"
"Yes, Martin." He has a knack for making me feel like a kid going off to school and forgetting their lunch. Except their lunch is a gun, and their school is an apocalypse or something. I don't know. It's not a very good analogy.
I go into the smaller building. This must be where she sleeps, cause it's filled with blankets and supplies. I drop to my knees and start stuffing some of her gauze and bandages into my backpack when I hear more noises outside. I assume it's just the boys until I hear voices I don't recognize. I sneak over to the window just in time to see Jean running at one of the Strangers with a gun.
"Hey!" The Stranger turns around and shoots him in the face. I slap my hand over my mouth to keep from making any noise and duck out of the window. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I look back out the window and Jean is still standing there with the gun. He has his arms up in surrender and the Strangers run towards him. One of them knocks Jean onto the ground and the three Strangers drag him into their SUV. I want to make a run for it but I won't make it. Two Strangers are coming towards the building I'm in. I shove my bag into the corner and duck into the other side of the room, pulling a pile of blankets over me and hoping they don't want them.
I can hear his footsteps creak over the old wooden floors. He walks into the room, slowly casing the place. He walks towards me and I squeeze my eyes shut and digging my nails into my hand so I'll stay quiet. I don't move until his footsteps pass me and go back outside the building. Then I stay under the blankets for a few more seconds, just to be safe. I peek my eyes out. The guards are heading back to their SUVs and I slip out of the blankets, trying not to let them see me through the windows. Once I get untangled, I grab my bag and slide it over my shoulders, sneaking out the back door and sprinting across the field behind the barn. If they left me I'm going to be so fucking pissed.
"Celine!" I can see them now, six little black dots on the other side of the field. I don't stop running until I collide with Patrick.
"Patrick!" He cups my face with his hands and looks me over quickly.
"You're alive."
"Yeah but-" He passes me over to Martin, who steadies me, before going into another bunker. A few seconds later, a gunshot echoes out of the bunker. Martin squeezes my arm and doesn't let go until Patrick comes back out with Simone and Rasmus trailing behind him. Beatrice and Lea come running over to us.
"Are you okay?" Lea asks, helping Simone out.
"What's going on? What the fuck happened?" Martin worries.
"The doctor stays here." Patrick tells him. "Let's get out of here." Patrick runs to thee front of the group and leads everyone into the woods. We all follow but I lag in the back and Martin stays in the back with me.
"Martin, Jean… he-" I can't speak above a whisper.
"I know, Celine." He whispers back.
"He-"
"Yeah."
"And Lieke…" Martin stops walking and I smack into his back. Everyone else keeps walking. He turns around, grabbing my shoulders and leans down so our faces are inches apart.
"Jean is not Lieke. Move on." Tears burn at my eyes and Martin is holding my shoulders too tightly for me to wipe them away. "There's nothing we can do. You have to move on. Okay?"
"Hey!" Patrick calls from the front of the group. Everyone turns to look back at us. Martin turns back to me and presses a kiss to my forehead before going to the front of the group. I rub the tears out of my eyes harshly and everyone keeps walking.
He's right. I mean, he sounds like a total dick, but he's right. I can't do anything for them. I can't bring them back from the dead. And I can't cry over them forever. I need to move on. Literally and figuratively. Everyone is far ahead of me now and I have to rush to catch up with them.
It was a bad day. And now it's the kind of night where the rain matches everyone's mood. Lea's hushed crying echoes through the barn and shoots directly into my heart. I had gotten all of my tears out on the walk here. Lingering in the back of the group, silently crying and hoping no one turned around. I started a small fire, with the help of Rasmus. And Beatrice sat Lea down in front of it, letting her cry on her shoulder. Rasmus sat next to Lea, trying to comfort her the way a little kid would and his sister sat a bit away. Martin comes into the barn with a sullen expression that only gets worse when he sees Lea.
"Where's Patrick?"
"He's fine." Martin brushes past me and sits behind Lea. Patrick comes in a few seconds later and sits on the opposite side of Lea. Then, Martin gets up and storms over to the door. Boys. I sit next to Patrick, ignoring how he turns away from me the second I sit down. Slowly, as people start to fall asleep, Patrick sits closer to me. The fire is down to one log before Patrick leans his head in my lap. I sink my nails into his hair, brushing it away from his face. His body shakes slightly and I pretend I don't notice.
"Goodnight, Patrick."