The Survivors
Examination

1

They continued down the left side of the rectangle shaped camp; Adrian explained the areas as they walked by them. “The two big tents are separated by gender. They’re for anyone who can’t, or won’t, put up their own canvas and break it down each time we move.”

Angela thought community tents were very considerate. It kept people off the ground and protected them from chemical rain. “How often do you travel?”

“It depends on what’s around us. Usually we’ll be on the road three or four days, from about 9am to 7pm, but in bad areas, we keep going. If it’s good, like here in the Black Hills, or there are a lot of supplies around that we need, we’ll stay an extra day or two.”

“Where are you headed?”

“Southeast, for now. We pick places to search at each meeting.”

Angela didn’t ask what he was hunting for while trekking across the country. She already sensed it was connected to magic and she didn’t want to have that conversation now that people were all around them.

Angela followed him to join a lengthy line of people waiting under a dark green canopy attached to the rear of a flatbed semi. On one wooden wall, an American flag flew over a chalkboard that read Adrian’s Mess.

Angela noticed nearly everyone called a greeting to the blond leader, and stared at her. She gave the buffet style meal of pancakes and powdered eggs an approving glance while Adrian talked to the elderly people who had surrounded them. She noticed his refusal of offers to skip to the front, and that he didn’t pull away from the needy, arthritic fingers of the seniors.

Adrian placed a hand on her arm as he introduced them. “This is Angela. She’s an MD.”

Angela jumped at the sweet curl of lust produced by his fingers on her bare skin. His hand tensed on her for a brief second before letting go, telling her he’d felt it too.

The seven men and women turned to her with grotesquely swollen hands, assailing her with questions and complaints. They scared her a little.

Adrian saw her fingers flinch down, then go out to shake the nearest hand instead.

“Are you a real doctor?”

“Will you check my rash?”

“Who’d you come in with?”

The queries came fast. For Angela, who’d been alone for months, it was hard to smile and keep her gift under control. It was crying for hunger that food couldn’t quench. I’m not ready for this yet.

“Nice hair. You dye it?”

“Are you staying here with that wolfman?”

“It itches all the time.”

“Because we have laws…”

“Do you play…?”

They jostled each other, trying to get her attention.

Angela’s thumb slipped, letting a bolt of frustration escape. Enough!

The mental shout stung them all like the small, sharp bite of an insect.

Adrian’s heart thumped as silence fell among the older people who were usually never quiet. Will she fail the first test?

Angela’s eyes lit up in regret, even as a satisfied gleam flickered in her blue depths. She took a gnarled hand. “That was rude.” She connected to the miner. “Please. Forgive me?”

Another second or two of tense silence held, then Ralph bellowed, “Will you come read to us geezers sometime?!”

Adrian relaxed as the older people lost their confused, hurt expressions, adding their support. Did she know Ralph is the unofficial senior, senior? Adrian hadn’t seen them take to anyone so fast, not even little Becky.

Angela smiled at the group. “I’d love to.”

Adrian felt the magic again, that spark of flint on flint, and he wasn’t the only one. Men across the mess were turning her way.

Angela knew. She slid between the older people so she was mostly out of view. “Tell me about this rash.”

The seniors converged on her again, more gently this time. The rest of the twenty-five or so people in line and already at the tables went back to what they were doing, not sure if they had missed something. Adrian knew how they felt since he’d been studying her the whole time and he knew he’d missed something.

They got their cups and walked up the other side of the neat camp. Adrian stopped. He didn’t speak right away.

Angela could feel her gift wanting to taste him. His energy, willingly given, might be as refreshing as Marc’s. He was like her but different. Together, they could–

“What did you say to them?”

Angela fell back into covering like she’d been doing all her life. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t do that!” Adrian’s voice blazed with emotion. “If we’re going to build something, honesty between us matters!”

The old Angela was saying she could trust him, but she based her choice on that first sharp connection. For too brief a second, she had known she was exactly where fate meant her to be. The feeling was gone now, but she sensed this man could help her replace it again. “I told them I’m young, that I don’t have enough control over my emotions. I asked them to be patient, quiet, while I learn.”

“Mental conversations.” Adrian cleared his throat. “You can do that whenever you want?”

Angela nodded nervously, missing his happy greed as she reaffirmed the plan. She would be herself here–the newer, stronger woman–or she would take her son and go somewhere else. “Usually.”

Adrian struggled not to ask her for more proof. He got them moving.

Angela was relieved, surprised, and suspicious. Shouldn’t he call me a liar, or at least ask questions?

He knows you for what you are. The witch’s tone was ominous. More so than Kenny ever did. Be very careful.

Safe Haven was awake now; people were everywhere, gawking at the new arrivals. Angela could hear them wondering who she was and when she’d come in, but it was clearest in the expressions of the guards. Most of the security was inside the tape. The black clad men were patrolling set areas. They looked like old SWAT officers. They wore the exact clothes and gear from what she could see, but the difference was in their gazes. They were more aware, more alert, than the cops of the old world had been.

She and Adrian walked by a taped off area, stopping in front of a large grassy field holding three enormous tents set in a half moon. The center shelter was a double-sided circus tent with an eighteen-wheeler backed in on each side. Angela saw a smaller tent in the far corner. She concentrated. “You have a veterinarian?”

Adrian smiled. Despite all the trouble he already foresaw, he was thrilled. His witch had come. “Yes. We’ve gathered him a small herd. The goal is to produce our own food. We try to be careful.” He led her through a maze of chest high, portable, wooden stalls smelling of fresh straw. “We even keep them away from the gun area. Chris says it might make the meat sour if we upset them.”

Adrian gestured at a tall, harried man of about forty, who was kneeling in one of the straw covered pens.

Angela watched his gentle hands push a big pill down a tiny mouth before putting the rabbit into a cage by itself.

“I’ve heard something like that.” Angela kept the safe conversation going. “Farmers used to say their livestock wouldn’t produce as well if they weren’t kept in the right surroundings.”

The vet finally noticed them. He raked Angela in contempt. “Who’s the Barbie?”

The man’s voice put off equal waves of impatience and dislike.

Adrian gave him a warning look. “This is Angela. She treats people. This is Chris. He treats animals.”

Angela automatically held out a hand, forcing the vet to wipe his on his filthy white coat.

The second they touched, she caught flashes of the future. Some of them disturbed her. She quickly let go. “It’s pregnant.”

Before he could respond, Adrian moved forward. “You do this week’s tests yet?”

Angela realized she had overstepped. The leader might think he was ready, but he knew his people weren’t. Should have known it was too good to be true that someone like me had built a haven for our kind.

The vet’s gaze lingered on Angela as she wandered the cluttered aisles. “No. Tomorrow. I need…”

Angela swept the area as the men talked, admiring cats, chickens, a goat, and other animals that each had their own neat cage or pen. It impressed her to see extinguishers and fire alarms hanging from tent poles.

Adrian gestured.

Angela took his right, positive that’s where he wanted her. She looked at Chris.

The vet returned her stare with no change in annoyed expression.

Knowing she shouldn’t, Angela slipped into his thoughts. She was surprised to replace a thin wall.

He’s blocking me! She could be through it in seconds. He was waiting for her to try, but she didn’t. What would I gain? Proving I can, just to confirm he dislikes me because of it? I stopped playing those games a long time ago. Angela let out a sigh and caught up with Adrian.

Next to the animal area, a large tow truck with a tarp awning sat off to itself. Adrian talked to the man behind the wheel.

Angela understood this was Safe Haven’s communication center. The man standing just under the cover of the camouflage canopy was a guard, though he wasn’t dressed like one.

Her brow creased. Anyone this organized and careful had to be able to recognize Kenny for what he was. Had Adrian ignored it? He didn’t seem the type, but time would tell. Time that she and Marc would spend apart. She missed him already.

Angela turned her back to Adrian so she could scan the QZ. It held one less tent now.

Marc appeared in the doorway of the vinyl shelter farthest from everything. You okay?

Angela was able to feel how upset he was. Had he been in another fight? I’m fine. Good place so far.

Marc shrugged, eyes going to Adrian as he came up behind her. We’ll see, won’t we? Marc let the flap fall over the doorway.

Adrian didn’t want her to be upset. “He’ll be out of there by morning. I skipped it with you because you’re a doctor.”

Angela spun on him at the evasion. “Don’t do that! If we’re trying to build something, honesty matters.”

Adrian reddened a little at having his own words used against him. The people here never did that to him. He was surprised to replace his soul needed to be held accountable. Needed it, and wanted it. “I skipped it because I didn’t want to wait while you were quarantined.”

Angela didn’t rise to the bait. The moment with the vet had reminded her that normal people didn’t like magic.

Adrian knew she was right. His camp needed time to adjust, but he hated it that she was so aloof. He’d only spent half an hour with her and he’d already discovered things that shouldn’t be there, even for a war survivor. Unless she was mistreated before.

Steady eye contact, mild reactions to gunfire, and curiosity were things most of his refugees had arrived with. These refugees had been fresh out of basements and cellars, or recovering from shock. They were too numb to be scared anymore. Angela carried a deep, wild fear that kept his mind on her arrival. Adrian was almost positive the sore on her lip had come from several backhanded slaps, but it hadn’t been Marc. Their stares were too intense, too familiar. She wasn’t afraid of him. If it had been Rick, Kenn would have left his body by the side of whatever road he’d found them on. That only left one possibility.

Adrian felt something shift in his heart as he stole a glance at the quiet woman walking on his right. I’ll protect her. No man will ever hit her again in anger, not while she’s under my protection.

Angela hid a yawn. It already felt as if she’d been traveling the camp for hours, but most people were still eating breakfast. She drew in a steadying breath as more trucks and people came into view.

Around the perimeter, Eagles watched Angela. Inside the camp, refugees did the same.

Angela wondered if Adrian had a woman here who would be jealous of him showing her around. A hollow ache pinged deep in her stomach. She blinked away a red haze of blood.

Adrian stopped before they reached the row of trucks and people. “We have a thief.”

Angela’s brows drew up. “Why share that with me?”

“So you’ll look and tell me who it is.”

Angela hesitated to say yes or no. She wanted to help, and she longed to be free to use her gifts for the greater good, but if she searched those doors for him now, she wouldn’t be able to refuse later. Still, the thought of earning her place here based on what she could do was appealing, as Adrian had known it would be. Who could resist being used for what they were good at?

Besides, the witch seduced, he’s the best ally to have here. Give him what he wants. Build a debt.

Four of the five men sitting on crates by open semi doors called greetings as they were spotted. Adrian stepped over to the largest of them. “Hey, Doug. How’s the count?”

Angela hung back, observing, fighting with herself over the choice.

Doug frowned, grinding out a cigar in the dry earth at his boots. When he stood, he towered over them all by inches. “Light in every truck. Same as last week.”

The man’s Irish lilt was barely noticeable in his frustration. When he caught her stare and winked at her, Angela couldn’t help smiling back. She was amused and intimidated by all the interest from everyone. Kenn had ignored her unless he was in the mood for sex or she pissed him off. At the hospital, people weren’t aware of their surroundings enough to notice something as unimportant as looks. Until her trip with Marc, she hadn’t felt pretty in a long time.

“They didn’t break in. The locks are fine.” Doug scanned Adrian’s guest again. “They must have a key.”

Adrian stared into the nearly empty truck.

Doug waited for the new solution he knew was coming, but his mind stayed on the woman, recognizing the way she carried herself. Did she serve?

“Okay. Post new rules. Fuel and water trucks are now shut from 11pm to 6am. Only Eagles will have access after those hours. Put a red collar dog out.”

Doug nodded. As soon as he finished writing, his eyes went back to Angela.

The other men hadn’t looked away from her yet.

Angela’s cheeks were bright red as Adrian motioned her forward.

“This is Angela. She’s Charlie’s mom, and hopefully, our second doctor. This is Doug, Daryl, Chris, Tony, and Danny. These guys are useful, so you’ll remember their names after a while.” Adrian didn’t say Danny and Tony couldn’t really be included. Those two were mostly useless.

Angela exchanged polite glances, and avoided leers.

Doug limped forward to shake. His massive hand swallowed hers.

Angela’s gift surged forward at the contact, pulling violently.

The sky darkened to charcoal; thunder crashed, shaking the ground they stood on.

A surge of protectiveness flashed across Doug’s face, an involuntary reaction to her kind. Angela slid her hand free. “Nice to meet so many good men.”

Excluding Adrian, no one else had seen or felt anything. They’d only heard her words.

Adrian snickered at Doug’s confusion, eyes ordering the man to let it go even as his mouth distracted the others. “She must want extra shampoo or something.”

The men snickered.

Doug kept staring. “You’re Kenn’s lady.”

Angela scowled. “Not anymore.”

Her quick denial was noticed by all of them.

Doug gave her a friendly grin, finally getting the hint to cover the moment. “I’d be honored to take his place.”

Angela blushed. The others laughed again.

She joined in, embarrassed. “Thanks, but I’m not searching for a replacement.”

Doug wondered how much the new man had to do with that. Their arrival story was racing through the waking people. “Well, you say the word, lass, and I’m all yours. I’ll even take off me vest if ya want.”

Even Angela laughed this time.

Have you found my thief? Adrian drew the attention back to himself. “Did anyone report anything in this area?”

Angela realized she had made up her mind. She’d hoped for this a long time ago, a world where she could be accepted because of her gift instead of in spite of it. Safe Haven could give that to her if she could help people accept magic. To do that, she had to let Adrian place her where he wanted. Once things settled down, maybe she and Marc could–

Angela stopped herself, not wanting to search her future again and replace only darkness. She knew what that meant now. She would do these things for the right reasons, and never take another life. That was a guilt she didn’t think she was strong enough to survive again.

Angela knelt down to tie her shoe as she slipped into their minds, hard and quick. The dark glow of thievery lit up around one of them. It had been common at the inner city hospital where many of the patients were strung out addicts trying to steal drugs.

When Adrian lifted a brow amid the conversation, she gestured at Danny, the only one pretending to belong, then turned her back to all of them. She was unable to look at the man now that she had condemned him.

Adrian was floored, not sure if he believed her, yet sure he did. Danny was arrogant, lazy, disrespectful to women. Adrian hadn’t cared for the handyman when he’d come to them in Utah; the feeling had grown in the weeks since then. Especially when they had realized there wasn’t anything the man was actually handy at.

“I’ll be around.” Adrian led them away.

Angela exchanged a friendly glance with Doug as they left.

He nodded back, expression telling her he knew something special had happened.

They passed a group of men playing soccer on one side of the camp, then a circle of men and teenage boys learning to handle dirt bikes. It was impressive. Such neat organization amid so much destruction and chaos eased some of her fears. Maybe these people were different. Adrian certainly was.

They hadn’t gone far when Angela noticed a group of five people following them.

Adrian felt her nervousness. Normally, people waited until he was ready, but the leader wanted her to relax. He stopped, waving one of them over. “What’s up, Matt?”

The gawky teenager flushed in pleasure at being chosen first. “Dad said to ask you if I can relieve him for an hour.”

Adrian pretended to be studying the teen in suspicion. “You passed Kenn’s new radio test?”

The pimple-spotted boy stood straighter. “Yes, sir! Yesterday.”

Adrian grinned. “Great. Tell Mitch I said to take two hours.”

Matt’s face lit up. He was gone a second later.

“He seems like a nice kid.”

Adrian nodded at Angela’ comment. “He is.” It may change Matt forever when the moral board votes for his dad’s death.

Angela frowned at Adrian’s thought, not asking what the father had done to earn that judgement. The fact that he would get a trial was enough for her.

Adrian recognized the moment. She just gave me trust. The biggest obstacle has been cleared. A thick shield slid over Adrian’s mind as he turned to the next waiting camp member.