Chapter 3 - False Alarm

"You could try slowing down, y'know," Charlie said softly, her eyes flicking up to meet Gordon's. "It's not a race."

Gordon swallowed his mouthful, leaning back slightly. "Not tryin' to waste daylight, is all."

"You mean you have things to do," Charlie replied, her tone sharp but not unkind. "You're always rushing off to fix or check something. Maybe take a second to breathe."

"Breathe?" Gordon echoed, his lips tugging into a dry smirk.

Charlie sighed, resting her fork on the edge of her plate. "Gordon, we've been out here for months. The cabin's holding up, the supplies-"

A sudden metallic rattle echoed through the cabin, sharp and jarring in the still morning. Gordon was on his feet in an instant, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. He grabbed his shotgun from its place by the door, checking it. The machete was next, sliding into his hand.

Charlie stood as well, her expression shifting to one of tense concern. "Gordon-"

"Stay here," he said firmly, cutting her off. He moved to the kitchen window, pulling the curtain back just enough to peer outside.

"What is it?" Charlie asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Gordon didn't answer right away. His eyes scanned the tree line, searching for any sign of movement. His grip on the shotgun tightened as he spotted something in the distance, a flicker of white against the shadows. "There," he muttered, more to himself than to Charlie.

Charlie moved closer, her hand brushing lightly against his arm. "What do you see?"

Gordon exhaled, his body relaxing just slightly as the figure in the distance resolved itself.. a wild deer, its slender form bolting through the trees. Its white tail flashed once before it disappeared into the dense underbrush, leaving nothing but silence in its wake.

"It's just a deer," Gordon said, lowering the shotgun.

Charlie let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, her shoulders sagging in relief. "A deer? That's what set off the alarm?"

"Looks like it," Gordon replied, stepping back from the window. His expression remained serious, though the tension in his posture eased. "Still, it could've been worse."

Charlie shook her head, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "You always expect the worst, don't you?"

"Out here?" Gordon said, giving her a pointed look. "Yeah, I do."

Gordon returned to his seat, picking up his fork and scraping the remaining bits of food off his plate. But even as he resumed eating, his gaze wandered to the living room. Kelly sat curled up on the couch, her knees drawn to her chest and the blanket draped over her shoulders. The bowl of food in her lap was barely touched.

Gordon set his fork down with a soft clink, the sound drawing Charlie's attention. She didn't say anything, but her eyes followed him as he stood and pushed his chair back. Crossing the small distance into the living room, Gordon approached slowly, mindful of the way Kelly's body seemed to shrink the closer he got. He stopped a few feet away, crouching slightly to meet her at eye level.

"You all right?" he asked, his tone softer than usual. Kelly didn't respond immediately. She shifted her weight, her fingers tightening around the edge of the blanket. "Did you have another nightmare?"

At first, Kelly didn't move, but then, slowly, she nodded. Her eyes stayed fixed on her lap, avoiding his.

Gordon sighed, lowering himself to sit on the edge of the coffee table across from her. The old wood creaked slightly under his weight. "You know," he said after a moment, "those nightmares don't just go away if you keep 'em bottled up. Sometimes talking about it helps." Kelly's head tilted slightly, as if she were considering his words, but she didn't look up. "You don't have to tell me everything," Gordon added quickly, sensing her hesitation. "But me or Charlie.. we're here if you want to talk."

Kelly's fingers fidgeted with the hem of the blanket, twisting the fabric between them. "I don't want to talk to you."

"Fair enough," Gordon said, leaning back slightly. "But you should talk to someone. Doesn't have to be me."

Kelly hesitated again, her breath shallow. Then, almost imperceptibly, she raised her head just enough to glance toward the kitchen, where Charlie stood by the table, her back turned as she collected the dishes. "I want to talk to Charlie," Kelly whispered, her voice trembling but clear.

Gordon followed her gaze, then nodded slowly. "All right," Gordon said, his tone even. "That's a good call. She's got a way with words I don't." Gordon rose to his feet, giving her a small nod. "I'll let her know."

As he turned to head back to the kitchen, Kelly's gaze lingered on him for a moment before shifting back to her lap. Her hands were still gripping the blanket, but her posture seemed just a fraction less tense.

-_-_-

Charlie entered the living room. Kelly didn't look up as Charlie approached, but the slight shift in her posture suggested she was aware of the presence beside her. Charlie eased herself onto the edge of the couch, keeping a careful distance. She folded her hands in her lap, glancing briefly at Gordon, who stood silently in the doorway, his arms crossed. He nodded once, almost imperceptibly, before retreating into the kitchen to give them space.

"Kelly," Charlie began, her voice warm but tentative. "Gordon said you wanted to talk to me."

The girl nodded without lifting her head. Her fingers clutched the edge of the blanket, twisting it nervously.

"It's okay," Charlie said gently. "Take your time."

Kelly's small frame shuddered as she exhaled shakily. "It was… my mom and dad," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

Charlie leaned forward slightly, keeping her movements slow and unthreatening. "What happened?"

At first, the words came haltingly, like water dripping from a reluctant faucet. "We were… we were running," Kelly whispered. "From men. They.. they were chasing us."

Charlie's chest tightened, but she kept her expression calm, nodding to encourage Kelly to continue.

"They.. they had guns," Kelly stammered, her voice trembling. "We didn't know where else to go, so… we went into the school." Kelly's hands trembled as she spoke, her fingers tightening around the blanket. "My mom," Kelly continued, her voice cracking, "she told me to hide. In a classroom. She said it would be safe there." Tears welled in Kelly's dark green eyes, spilling over as she looked up at Charlie for the first time. "But she didn't come back."

"Oh, sweetheart," Charlie murmured, shifting closer.

"She tried to—" Kelly's voice hitched as fresh tears streamed down her face. "She tried to lead the men away. I heard shouting. I heard-" She clutched her chest, struggling to breathe. "I waited. I waited all night. But she never came back."

"You must have been so scared," Charlie said softly.

"I thought they'd find me," Kelly admitted. "The men. I was so scared to move. I just… I stayed there. Until you and Gordon came."

"You were so brave," Charlie said gently. "Staying quiet, waiting like that… you did everything you could."

Kelly shook her head. "I didn't do anything," she whispered.

"You survived," Charlie said firmly. "And that takes strength, Kelly. Even when it doesn't feel like it." Kelly glanced at her, looking down. "You're safe here, Kelly. No one's going to hurt you."

Kelly bit her lip, shaking her head. "You don't know that," Kelly whispered. "What if they… what if they find me? They could still be looking." Kelly's gaze dropped to the floor, her hands twisting the edge of her blanket. "They found us before," she murmured. "We were so careful, and they still…" Her voice cracked, and tears welled in her eyes. "What if they come here and hurt you? What if it's my fault?"

Charlie reached out, gently taking one of Kelly's hands in hers. "None of this is your fault, sweetheart. Do you hear me? None of it. Those men… they're the ones who made those choices, not you." Charlie squeezed Kelly's hand, her voice softening.

Kelly looked up at her, her tear-streaked face filled with doubt. "But what if you can't stop them?"

The question hung in the air, heavy and unanswerable. Charlie hesitated, her mind flashing to Gordon's machete and the small stash of ammunition they had left. They weren't prepared for something like this.. not fully. Still, she couldn't let Kelly see her fear. "We can," Charlie said firmly, her voice leaving no room for argument. "We've made it this far because we know how to stay safe. And now that you're here, we're going to make sure you're safe too."

Kelly's lips quivered, her eyes searching Charlie's face for reassurance. "Promise?"

Charlie leaned forward, her expression soft but resolute. "I promise," she said, her voice steady despite the unease gnawing at her.

For a moment, Kelly seemed to relax, her tense shoulders easing slightly. But the flicker of relief was fleeting. "They were so mean,"

Charlie nodded slowly, letting Kelly's words sink in. "There are people like that out there," she admitted.

Kelly glanced toward the window again, the unease in her eyes returning. "What if they find us?" she asked, her voice small.

"If they find us, we'll be ready," Charlie said firmly.

"But what if.." Kelly trailed off, her voice breaking. "What if it's not enough?"

Charlie's throat tightened, but she kept her expression calm. "Kelly, I can't promise that nothing bad will ever happen again, but I can promise that we'll do everything we can to protect you."

Kelly nodded faintly, though the fear in her eyes hadn't fully disappeared. She pulled the blanket tighter around herself, curling into the corner of the couch.

-_-_-

Charlie wiped her hands on her jeans, returning to the kitchen. Gordon sat at the kitchen table, his chair tipped back on two legs, his arms crossed over his chest. "I heard enough to piece it together," Gordon began and leaned forward, the front legs of the chair thudding back onto the floor. "I think I know who those men were."

Charlie froze mid-step, her stomach tightening. "What do you mean?"

Gordon stood, his boots scraping against the wooden floor. He moved to the far end of the kitchen and pulled open a cabinet door. After a moment of rummaging, he retrieved an old radio, the faded plastic casing scuffed and chipped from years of use. He placed it on the table with a soft thud, his gaze shifting back to Charlie. "You remember that channel we found a few months ago?" he asked, already twisting the dials. "The one with those bastards calling themselves 'angels'?"

Charlie's brow furrowed. "Yeah, I remember," Charlie said, her voice tight. "What about it?"

Gordon kept his eyes on the radio, his hands deftly fine-tuning the frequency. "Those 'angels' are based not far from here." He paused, his jaw tightening. "What if Kelly's parents weren't killed outright? What if they were taken?"

"You're saying they might still be alive?"

Gordon exhaled sharply, his fingers still working the dials. "I'm saying it's a possibility." The radio crackled to life, a hiss of static filling the room. Gordon adjusted the knob again, his movements precise. "We need to know if they're still out there, what they're up to. If Kelly's right and they're looking for her, we need to be ready."

Charlie crossed her arms, her mind racing. "And what if we do hear something? What then?"

Gordon straightened, finally meeting her gaze. "Then we figure out our next move. But first, you listen." He gestured toward the radio. "I need you to find the channel. I've gotta check the traps before the day gets any later. Can you handle it?"

Charlie hesitated, her eyes flicking to the radio. The idea of tuning into that channel again made her skin crawl, but she nodded. "Yeah, I can handle it."

-_-_-

Kelly sat curled up on the couch, the edges of her blanket clutched tightly in her hands. The cabin felt heavy with quiet, the only sound the soft, rhythmic turning of the radio dial as Charlie fiddled with it at the kitchen table. Kelly's gaze flicked toward the older woman, who sat hunched over, her lips pursed in concentration. The faint hiss of static seemed endless, and Kelly's stomach churned with an unease she couldn't name.

Her empty bowl rested on the couch beside her, and for a long moment, Kelly debated staying where she was. But a nagging voice in her head.. the one that reminded her to stay helpful, to not be a burden.. pushed her to her feet. Hugging the bowl to her chest, she padded softly to the kitchen counter and set it down. She kept her head low, avoiding Charlie's eyes as she turned to retreat back to her spot on the couch.

"Wait," Charlie murmured, her voice tense.

Kelly froze mid-step, her heart skipping. The static from the radio cleared, a faint hum of voices broke through. Charlie leaned forward, gripping the radio tighter, her knuckles white. The voices grew clearer..

"We got delayed," one voice said, his words distorted but discernible. "Storm passed quicker than expected, though. We'll be back at Lockheaven by morning."

"Understood," another voice replied, this one deeper, authoritative. "Don't return empty-handed. We can't afford another waste of time."

Charlie adjusted the dial again, trying to clear the signal further. The voices faded slightly, replaced by faint, muffled sounds. Then, amidst the noise, something cut through the static—a woman's voice, strained and distant.

"Please," the voice gasped, barely audible. "Don't—my daughter-"

"Mom?" Kelly whispered, her voice cracking.

Charlie's head snapped toward her, but she didn't speak. Instead, her fingers twisted the dial frantically, trying to sharpen the transmission.

"Let me go! My-" the voice cried out before being swallowed by static.

Kelly staggered back and Charlie reached out. "Kelly, sit down. Breathe."

Tears welled in Kelly's eyes, spilling over as her emotions tangled into a knot of hope, fear, and disbelief. "She's alive?" she croaked, her small frame trembling. "They... they have her?"

Charlie hesitated, her gaze shifting between the radio and Kelly. "I don't know. But it sounded like her, didn't it? It... it had to be."

Kelly's hands gripped the edge of the counter, her knuckles white. "We have to go," she blurted, her voice rising. "We have to find her!"

"Kelly, we don't know enough yet. We don't know where they are, how many there are—"

"They said Lockheaven!" Kelly interrupted, her desperation spilling out. "You heard them! That's where she is!"

Charlie opened her mouth to respond, but the radio crackled to life again, cutting her off. The same deep voice as before barked out orders, confirming the return of their scouting team and demanding an update on the status of "the new acquisitions.".

The transmission ended abruptly, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. Charlie turned to Kelly, her face a mask of conflict. "Kelly, I know you want to go right now, but this is dangerous. If we're going to do this, we have to be smart about it. Rushing in could get us all killed."

Kelly shook her head, her tears blurring her vision. "I don't care. I just... I want my mom back. Please, Charlie. Please."

Charlie stepped closer, pulling Kelly into a gentle hug despite the girl's stiffness. "I'll talk to Gordon," she promised. "We'll figure something out. But you have to trust me, okay?"

-_-_-

Gordon pushed open the cabin door, the fading light of late afternoon casting long shadows across the room. His boots scraped against the floor as he carried the freshly caught rabbit into the kitchen, its limp body swinging slightly in his grip. Charlie was at the table and she looked up as he entered. "Did you find it?" Gordon asked, setting the rabbit down on the counter with a dull thud.

Charlie nodded, placing the cloth aside. "I did. Lockheaven. I listened for a bit, but I turned it off once I had enough."

"Enough of what?" Gordon grabbed a knife from the drawer and began working on the rabbit.

"They took Kelly's mother."

Gordon paused, glancing over his shoulder at her. He took a deep breath, peeling the fur off the rabbit. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Kelly entering the kitchen, her small figure hesitant and unsure. Her gaze fell on the rabbit in his hands, her curiosity flickered in her wide eyes.

"Is that from today?" she asked softly, her voice almost drowned out by the sound of Gordon's work.

"It is," Gordon replied without looking up. He placed the skinned rabbit into the powerless freezer, wiping his hands on a towel.

Kelly hesitated near the counter, her fingers brushing the edge of the bowl she had just set down. "Can you find the Lockheaven place?"

Gordon turned to face her, his expression neutral but firm. "Truth be told, I don't even know where we'd start looking."

"But you could track them, couldn't you?"

"It's not that simple, kid. Human trails are harder to read, and it's been three days."

Kelly's stomach twisted as if his words had knocked the wind out of her. "But you're good at this," Kelly insisted, her voice rising. "You found me. You could find them."

Charlie stepped in before Gordon could answer, her tone firm but laced with gentleness. "Kelly, think about it. Those scouts just got back to their base about an hour ago, but it's been days since they were near the school. There's no way to pick up their trail now."

Kelly looked between them, searching for some crack in their certainty, some glimmer of hope. Her eyes locked onto Gordon's. "You don't even want to try. You think it's a waste of time."

Gordon's jaw tightened, turning toward the window. He stared out at the darkened forest, his silhouette rigid. "It's not about wanting to try. It's about what's realistic. Even if we had a trail, what then? Walk into their camp blind?"

"It's my mom," she said, her voice cracking.

Charlie glanced at Gordon then back at Kelly. "What if we tried to figure out where they might be, based on what we know?"

Gordon turned from the window, his expression skeptical. "And what exactly do we know, Charlie? That they call themselves 'angels' and took their sweet time getting back to their base? That's not much to go on."

Charlie held his gaze steadily. "It's more than nothing. You're good at putting pieces together. Let's start with their travel time."

Gordon rubbed his hand over his face, exhaling sharply. "Fine. Let's do the math." He grabbed a scrap of paper and a pencil from the counter and returned to the table. "They were at the school three days ago. A full day of walking, give or take, puts their base about seventy to seventy-five miles away. That's assuming they weren't slowed down."

"But they were slowed down," Charlie informed him. "A storm delayed them by a day or two."

"Yeah, I remember the clouds rolling in from the north towards Anderson. If they stayed in Anderson to wait it out, they might've been there for a while."

Charlie leaned over the table, studying the map Gordon had spread out. "So if they started here," she said, pointing to the school, "and ended up heading south to get to Anderson during the storm, their base has to be somewhere in this radius." She circled an farmland area with her finger.

Gordon stared at the map for a long moment, his brow furrowed. "It's a guess," he said finally. "A long shot at best." Gordon met Kelly's gaze, his expression unreadable. For a moment, Kelly thought he would argue again, but instead, he let out a low sigh and nodded.