Charged~ Electric Book One
Chapter Seven~ Plan

The Jeep bounces alongthe old dirt road. Mason tries to avoid the bumps the best that he can. Iglance in between us at the center console that holds the small revolver andextra rounds Jack insisted we take. I really hope we don’t have a chance to useit.

We compare the maps wehave with the most up-to-date parameters of the uninfected area we’re in. Weestimate having about six hours or so before being forced to cross the lineinto those infected areas, or cross the Great Lakes. We don’t have a boat, sowe have to go with option one. Quite frankly this doesn’t thrill me. Outvotingoccurs when I propose the attempted boat acquisition. They have validarguments: the lack of sailing expertise and the uncertainty when arriving onthe other side.

The problem that I have(but they don’t realize) is that it’s my responsibility to keep themuninfected. Not that I’d ever tell them that. As it appears, I’m maybe the onlything that can stop these creepy little nano-monsters. That automatically putsme between them and the infection. Thinking otherwise isn’t even an option forme.

And boy, was Jack rightabout responsibility. It’s a heavy burden. I know they’d argue with me aboutit, but it doesn’t change how I feel or what is.

As the road starts toclimb, I turn to Mason. “Let’s stop when we get to the top. See if we can seeanything.” We’ve been driving for a few hours, and I’d like to avoid anyunnecessary surprises.

We reach the crest ofthe incline and Mason cuts the engine. We all get out and stretch. Jared tossesus each a sandwich that Mariette made. Baby bear takes the opportunity to usethe little bear’s room under a bush before digging into his own sandwich. Inotice he’s a little bigger than he was a few days ago and wish I would’velooked up some more information on bears when I had the chance.

Mason and I hike ashort way up a large boulder to get a better look around. I feel the change inthe air before I see it. Sure enough, to our right a few miles away, I can seea metallic looking fog. I tell Mason to alert the others to brace themselves.He knows what I’m about to do, so he doesn’t even ask. I position myself on theboulder and take aim. It seems the more I make these energy spheres, the easierit has become. Good to know, if I’m ever in a sticky situation.

I throw the largest oneI can make as far as I can to the south. The aftershock of it knocks me off theboulder. Mason catches me when I fall back. “You should have waited backthere.” I scold him.

“But then I wouldn’tget to catch you.” He smiles and plants a kiss on my lips. He knows he’sforgiven. “I think we should stop at that town we saw just northwest of here,try to refuel before we cross over.”

“That’s if it evenworks.” I grumble.

“It’ll work, you’ll see.But I still think we should stop while we can.”

I nod. “Let’s see whatBrie and Jared think.”

We get back to theJeep. Jared and Brie agree that we should stop while we can. Mason checks thegun before we set off again. Our plan is to drive to the edge of the smalltown, where Brie and I will wait with the Jeep while the guys look for gas. Itry to ignore the bad feeling in my gut as we approach.

Though no metallic hazeis visible over the small town, it remains shrouded with an eerie feel. It’squiet, which we expected and even hoped for, but I can’t help but notice thatit’s far too quiet. No birds chirp, and no squirrels scamper about in anattempt to gather their last nuts before winter. Between the silence and thedesertedness, the place tops the creepy charts.

Mason parks the Jeepunder the cover of some large evergreen trees. He tosses the keys to me, whichI then hand to Brie because I don’t know how to drive a stick yet. Mason checksthe gun again and tucks it into the back of his jeans before covering it withhis shirt. Jared grabs the empty gas can we brought along and the two of thembegin a slow sweep of the town.

Brie and I don’t talk.It’s not just that we don’t want to draw attention to ourselves; we also worryabout the guys, and want to hear if anything happens. We glance at each other,then worriedly out the window and back again. We look at each other when I heara noise that makes my blood run cold.

“Was that a gunshot?”Brie asks with wide eyes.

“I think so.” I say,trying not to panic. “Brie, I need you to stay here. Watch for us to come back,and be ready to start this up at a moment’s notice.”

Brie nods and pullsBaby bear into her lap. I climb out of the Jeep and shut the door quietlybehind me.

I don’t like the ideaof leaving Brie alone, “although the Jeep being completely hidden by the largeevergreen mollifies me somewhat. I move quickly towards the town and where Ithink the gunshot originates.

I approach the firstbuilding I see and hear yelling in the distance. I dart across the parking lot,closer to the commotion. My body presses up against the asbestos siding of thebuilding. No one is seen when I crane my neck around the corner. Afterapproaching that side, the process is repeated for the next corner.

Crap. Six rather burlymen are surrounding them. They each hold a gun that puts Mason’s to shame.Mason and Jared are severely outnumbered. Even adding Brie and me, the burlymen still are at an advantage.

I try to formulate aplan while ducking my head back around the corner. I remember seeing a ladderon the back of the building that leads to the roof. That will give me a bettervantage point. I go for the ladder and it’s a little high out of my reach.After a jump or two, I manage to grab onto the bottom rung and quietly pullmyself up.

Once on the roof, Iduck down. I reach the front of the building and concentrate on theconversation below while peering over the ledge.

“You’re sure you guysare all alone?” One of the men asks gruffly.

“Yeah, we’ve got enoughguys. Now if you have any girls, we’ll be happy to take them off of your handsfor you.” Another rasps out and they all laugh. My stomach turns.

“Nope, just us.” Masonsays. His gun is a few feet in front of him lying on the ground.

He and Jared exchange alook. “That’s too bad.” The first guy says while raising his gun.

The others follow suit,and I raise my hands. I’m not sure if I can hit them all without hurting Masonand Jared, stuck in the center of them. Just as I’m about to try, another gruffvoice call out mockingly.

“Well, look at what Ifound wandering around over there.” To my horror, he roughly tosses Brie on theground in front of him. Things just went from bad to worse.

I crouch out of sight,and work on revising a plan. I really only have one method of attack, but mydilemma is still how to only hit the armed men.

When I peek back over,all the men hungrily eye Brie and crowd around her in a half circle. This is asgood a chance as I’m going to get. I focus all of my energy before I stand.“Brie get down!” I scream loudly as the glowing sphere lobs at the mensurrounding her. She dive towards Mason and Jared before the light explodesbehind her and I stumble back.

I crawl to the edge ofthe building. Using the energy earlier and just now has exhausted me. All themen lay in a twisted circle of body parts. Unable to look at what I just did,and I quickly turn my attention over to Brie, Mason and Jared.

Brie is standing. Jaredsupports her with one of her arms wrapped over his shoulder. Mason stares up atme. They’re all okay.

Not having the energyto do anything else, I lay on my back and stare up at the sky. My emotions areon the fritz. I’m overjoyed that Brie, Mason and Jared are alright, but feelsubsequent horror with what I’ve just done. The image of the twisted mass ofbodies dances through my mind and my stomach rolls. I’m barely able to turnover, but manage to just in time as my lunch expels on the rooftop next to me.

As I finish, gentlehands pull my hair back out of my face. I lean back into Mason’s familiar armsand begin to cry. All the pent up emotions for the last few days pours out. Itfeels like I cry forever, yet it’s only for a few minutes. Once done, I’m evenmore exhausted.

I can barely stand, letalone walk, so it takes even longer to descend the roof. We’ve already spentmore time in this forsaken town than we planned to. Much to my embarrassment,Mason scoops me up when we finally make it down the ladder.

“You’re okay?” Brieasks me, looking concerned.

“Just drained,” I tellher. “How about you?”

“Just a couple of bumpsand bruises.” She looks shaken.

“Thanks, Kat.” Jaredsays quietly. I see the look in his eyes, and know he means saving Brie fromwhat those guys had planned.

“Anytime.” Even myvoice is getting weak.

“Hey,” Mason bounces megently in his arms. “No sleeping.” I feel him turn, my eyes closed now. “Whatdo we do?”

“I have an idea.” Briesounds far away, like she is talking through a pipe.

It’s the tingling Ifeel first. It starts in my hand and travels down my arm. It doesn’t bother meanymore. In fact, the sensation is welcoming. I open my eyes, unsurprised tosee the energy coursing from an oddly mounted wall socket into my hand.

I see Brie holding myarm up. A pair of large rubber gloves cover her hands. A sheepish and singedMason sits on my other side. My guess is they learned about the gloves the hardway.

I feel much better as Isit up. The Jeep’s engine runs outside.I face Brie. “Thanks. I think I’m ready to get the hell out of here.”

She nods. “Me, too.”

Mason stands and hiseyes never leave mine. “Jared found some gas, and some water. He loaded up theJeep. We’re ready to go when you are.”

“Let’s hit it.” I sayas he grabs my hand. He leads me out to the street.

“Are you feelingbetter?” He asks. Oh, no. I must havereally worried him.

I stop and give him aquick kiss. “Much better, sorry about before.”

“Nothing to apologizefor…” He mumbles, opening the back door of the Jeep for me.

Baby bear plastershimself to me, obviously unhappy with being left alone earlier. I snuggle himhappily. Mason climbs into the back with me. I’m no longer tired, but I don’thave the usual nervous energy I usually have after I meet an electrical outleteither. Vaguely, I wonder if I’ve found some sort of balance.

Mason begins snoring lightly;Jared and Brie talk quietly in the front seats. I bury my nose in bear fur andtry hard not to face the demons I created in myself earlier. I had no choice.They left me no choice. They would have killed Mason and Jared, and done onlyGod knows what to Brie or me when they found me.

It still doesn’t changethe heavy feeling in my chest, though. Six (no, seven) uninfected dangerous menhave been killed. I swallow hard because I am responsible for taking all theirlives.

“Here,” Brie hands me awater bottle. I take it and thank her, both for the water and breaking my trainof thought. I begin to focus on other things.

“Do we know if thatblast earlier from the hill pushed back the infection at all?” I ask whilenoticing the road is beginning to head more south than west.

Jared nods. “So far, wehaven’t seen anything to indicate otherwise.”

“Good.” I go back tostaring out the window and trying to ignore my conscience.