Red Sky - A Post-Apocalyptic Novel Read online

  I wrapped my arms around my middle as I made my way out of my room. A cold shiver ran down my spine not because I was frightened but because my body still hadn’t warmed from when I’d been soaked.

  Bronx was wearing only his boxers as he stood at the counter with his back to me. I could see the box of instant potatoes on the counter next to him. He turned sharply when the floorboard squeaked under my step.

  “Oh,” he said relaxing his broad, muscular shoulders, “did I wake you?”

  “No, not really,” I said glancing toward the sofa. Jamie appeared to be in a deep sleep.

  “Good,” Bronx said stirring the white slop vigorously. “I was trying to be quiet.”

  I pressed my lips together forming a tight curious smile. “I don’t think that’s going to work.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Your cold mashed potatoes.”

  Bronx shrugged. “I’ve had worse. Ever have pasta sauce made from ketchup?”

  “I love ketchup.”

  Bronx chuckled softly and glanced over at the sofa before making eye contact with me. “So, I heard you were pretty worried about me?”

  I blinked hard and then rolled my eyes. “Oh my God, what did he say?”

  “Nothing much,” Bronx said grinning so wide there were little wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. “Just that you couldn’t sleep.”

  Bronx dipped the spoon into the bowl and raised the soupy potatoes to his lips. He held out the spoon and arched an eyebrow.

  “No thanks,” I said.

  Bronx shrugged and slurped the mixture down. He cocked his head to the side, and continued to eat.

  “I added too much water,” Bronx said as he walked around the counter and sat down at the table. “We’re not going to be able to use the candles tonight. They’d be able to see the light through the curtains.”

  I nodded already assuming as much. Bronx moved the chair next to him out with his foot.

  “Sit with me,” he said softly.

  I glanced over my shoulder at Jamie before sitting down. Bronx eyed me before shifting his gaze back to his bowl.

  “My clothes are still wet,” Bronx said jerking his chin toward his jeans. “Suppose you don’t have spare clothes in my size, do you?”

  I shook my head. “You’re welcome to a pair of yoga pants if you’d like.”

  “They don’t hug my curves right,” Bronx said.

  “Mine either,” I said raising my brows quickly.

  “I disagree.” He set the spoon down in the bowl and leaned back in his chair. Bronx looked directly into my eyes. “I’m fairly certain you’d look good in anything.”

  Heat rose to my cheeks, and I hoped it was dark enough in the room that he hadn’t noticed.

  Bronx leaned forward, sliding his hand across the top of the table toward me. My heart started to pump heated blood through my veins quicker.

  “All I could think about when I was out there, was coming back to you,” Bronx said, his voice soft. “It killed me to walk away from you.”

  My voice seemed stuck in my throat. I pressed my fingertips to the center of my chest. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

  “Done what?” Bronx asked cocking his head to the side.

  “Asked you to stay like that.”

  He leaned forward again and took my hand into his. “I shouldn’t have left… at least not like that.” He shook his head and looked down at his feet. “I feel terrible about it. I don’t want you to hate me.”

  “I don’t hate you.” I barely managed to get the words out. The air around us bubbled with an intensity I hadn’t felt in a long time, if ever, and it made it hard for me to breathe. I was used to people leaving me, it wasn’t like I should have expected any different from a man I barely knew.

  Bronx slid forward to the edge of his chair. Our knees touched as he leaned in even closer.

  My body shivered as he glided his hand up my arm, over my shoulder, and around my neck. Every nerve-ending tingled.

  Bronx stared hungrily into my eyes as the light started to vanish from the room. He reached forward wrapping his hand around my waist and pulled me closer.

  My breath hitched. Our faces were only inches apart. Looking into his dark eyes felt too intimate.

  When my eyes moved down to his mouth, he moved quickly, as if he couldn’t stand it any longer. He brushed his warm lips against mine and every muscle in my body tensed.

  I felt weightless as our mouths danced together. Bronx’s hand moved down my back, sliding me closer to him. I pressed my palm to his solid chest, and for a minute I forgot where I was.

  Bronx’s lips moved over my chin and down my neck. My head tipped back, and I had to bite back the moan that tried to escape between my slightly parted lips.

  The sofa creaked, and my body stiffened. Bronx pulled back but didn’t let go when Jamie let out a groan.

  Bronx looked at me with a fire burning deep in his eyes. I let my hand fall away from his bare chest and forced myself to take a step away from him.

  Jamie sat up, his back to us, as he stretched his arms over his head. He leaned forward and pressed his palms to his eyes.

  “I don’t want this to stop,” Bronx whispered, his breath touching my cheek. “I’m not sure I can walk away from you right now.”

  My heart pounded at his words. Maybe things were going too fast. I didn’t want to walk away from him either, but I wasn’t exactly sure how we ended up where we were.

  Jamie turned around and peered at us through the darkness of the room. I could see that his eyes were narrowed as he looked at us.

  “Is everything okay?” Jamie said, his voice scratchy.

  “Yeah,” Bronx said. “Everything is fine.”

  “Thank God.” Jamie sighed. “It was just a bad dream.”

  Neither Bronx nor I asked what the dream had been about, and Jamie didn’t tell us. I didn’t even want to know.

  I could still feel the heat radiating out of Bronx. Were we standing too close? I walked over to the window, and my body temperature seemed to drop by ten degrees.

  “Well now that you’re up, I suppose this is as good of a time as any,” Bronx said.

  “For?” Jamie asked.

  Bronx let out a heavy breath. “To come up with our plan.”

  Twenty-Six

  Jamie grabbed some snacks from the kitchen and sat down on the sofa. Bronx stepped up beside me. It felt like he was too close as he looked down into my eyes.

  “Have a seat,” he said gesturing to the chair.

  I blinked, unable to stop thinking about what it had felt like to have his lips on mine. He lightly placed his hand on my lower back and guided me toward the chair near the window. The chair Nick had frequently sat in.

  Nick.

  Dammit.

  I sat down, my back achingly stiff. My body wouldn’t allow me to relax.

  I swallowed as I turned to look at Bronx, waiting for him to start the conversation. His eyes were narrowed as he looked out of the window, but then his head dropped before turning to face us.

  Bronx slowly crossed his arms. “Well,” he said rubbing his hands together, “the first thing we know is that we have to go at night. We’re going to at least need the element of surprise.”

  “That’s the first thing you want to do, surprise people that have assault rifles,” Jamie said, sarcasm dripping from his tone.

  “Do you have a better idea?” Bronx asked sharply.

  Jamie was still for a long moment before looking away. “I guess I don’t.”

  I sighed as I combed my fingers through my hair. My body relaxed only slightly as I drew in a deep breath.

  There was a flash of light on the wall at the corner of the room, and I stood abruptly.

  “Gwen?” Bronx said. I could feel his eyes on me.

  My breaths quickened, and I started to feel light-headed. I blinked several times staring at the wall as if I expected to see the light again and have an explanation for it.

  “
Are you okay?” Jamie said as he stood.

  “There was a light,” I said pointing a shaky finger at the wall.

  Bronx turned, his wide eyes staring out of the small space at the window. “Dammit!”

  He dashed to the table and started to pull on his clothing. I stepped over and looked down at the yard. The light from their flashlights sparkled on the rippling water as they walked toward the apartment building.

  “What are we going to do?” I said, my heart racing. There was only one way in and one way out… our options were limited.

  “We could try hiding in another apartment,” Jamie suggested.

  Bronx shook his head. “That will only work for so long. Plus, it’s too dark out there, and we don’t know the condition of the other rooms, someone could get hurt. Shit!” he said between his teeth. “They’re already inside.”

  “How much time do we have?” I asked as Bronx stepped away and started stuffing the backpacks into the already full closet.

  “Not enough.” Bronx grabbed me by the shoulders and looked into my eyes. “Put your shoes on and go hide at the back of your closet.” His gaze hardened. “Do not come out no matter what. Promise?”

  “No, of course not,” I said my eyebrows squeezed together.

  Bronx groaned and gave me a light push toward my room.

  “What are you going to do?” I asked holding my breath when I thought I heard a noise. It sounded like they were in the stairwell, but I was only guessing.

  Bronx patted his knife and raised a brow. “I’ll be waiting for them.”

  “That isn’t going to help you,” I said feeling the moisture leave my mouth.

  Bronx placed his hand on Jamie’s shoulder. “Find somewhere to hide.”

  Jamie nodded and grabbed the blanket he’d been using. He curled up behind the chair pulling the blanket over himself. In the darkness, he practically disappeared.

  Bronx grabbed my hand and dragged me through the apartment, picking up my shoes that were still probably wet as we walked by.

  “The candles!” I said. Even though they weren’t lit, having them out was a big neon sign.

  “I’ll take care of it,” Bronx said opening the closet door in my bedroom. He kissed me hard, but it only lasted a second. “Do not come out.”

  Bronx soundlessly closed the closet door and walked away. I heard a few noises like he was moving things… hiding things… and then complete silence. All I could hear was the sounds of my breathing and my quickened heartbeat.

  Random thoughts zipped through my head. Maybe it was my life flashing before my eyes. A memory of Nick and I playing with play-doh as kids popped in with a blink. My mom smiling at me as she rocked in her chair during her soap opera. But all the memories poofed away when I heard the men at the door.

  They were here.

  We were screwed.

  Twenty-Seven

  The knob squeaked and rattled as they tried to get in. There were a few mumbles before something slammed hard into the door. I shuddered and covered my mouth.

  My closet was pitch black. I couldn’t see anything, but I could feel my clothing hanging all around me.

  Shivers ran through my body. Even though I knew I was alone in the closet, it didn’t feel that way. It felt like there were hands inches from touching me. Eyes that I knew were really there stared at me… mouths of the invisible hanging agape.

  It took the men several tries, but it wasn’t long before I heard the cheap wooden door crack. They were talking to one another, but their voices were muffled by what I could only assume was their masks… and of course my closet door.

  “This is the one,” one of the men said, at least that’s what I thought he said.

  I could hear them moving around my apartment, not even trying to be quiet. They’d come right to my room. Had they known we were here?

  “Looks like they’re gone,” a different man said. He was close. And when his light flashed under the closet door, I knew he was really close. “Bedroom’s empty.”

  “They’re not gone,” the first man said. My blood ran cold as something slammed down hard. “Trash is full.”

  “That don’t mean anything,” the third man said.

  The first man chuckled. “Maybe not but I don’t think they would have left all this water behind, do you?” He slammed the refrigerator door closed, and for a second I thought my heart had stopped. “Not to mention their fear smells stronger than the trash. They want to play hide and seek with us.”

  “Come out, come out wherever you are,” one of the men said, and the other two laughed.

  There was a scuffle nearby… the bathroom? Then a stream of curses.

  “Here’s one, dad,” one of the men said.

  “Told you not to call me that.”

  “Shit sorry, boss,” the man said. “This one was doing a shitty job hiding in the bathroom.”

  Bronx. It had to be Bronx. My stomach started to swirl so wildly I was afraid something was going to come up.

  “Tie him up,” the one I now knew was the dad said. “How many more of you are there in here?”

  “It’s just me,” Bronx said, the tone of his voice rough and filled with anger.

  “That’s not what she said,” one of the men said.

  There was a loud slapping noise… it sounded as if something had been hit. My eyes widened as I placed my hand over my mouth.

  “Relax your muscles,” the one they’d called dad shouted.

  “They are,” Bronx spat.

  The floorboards in my room started to squeak, and I froze. If the other two men were talking to Bronx, I couldn’t hear it. The only thing I could hear was the noises of a stranger walking through my room.

  From time to time the light touched the cracks of the door. I wasn’t sure if the clothing and random items in front of me hid me well enough from view.

  “Ah ha!” the man said, but when the door didn’t open, and my bed springs squeaked, I realized he was looking under the blankets. “Oooookay,” he sang, his voice was low but squeaking with excitement, “I know you’re in here.”

  The closet door jerked open and the light shined into the closet. I caught a glimpse of the round clear lenses of his gas mask that mostly hid his eyes. It didn’t seem as though he saw me.

  I pressed my hand down harder against my mouth when he shifted the clothing to my left to the side.

  “Boo!” he said, but clearly, he hadn’t found me. The light from his flashlight lit up his dripping-wet, mud-covered shoes. The man took a step back leaving a footprint on the carpet. He started to close the door, but before it clicked closed, he abruptly pulled it open wider and pushed the clothing in front of my face to the side. “Peek-a-boo!”

  “No!” I said taking a step back, but the wall stopped me from escaping. The barrel of his gun was pointed at my nose from just inches away.

  “Out!” he said, but when I didn’t move, he raised his voice. “Get! Out!”

  I stepped out, wrapping my arms around myself. Every inch of my body trembled, and I wasn’t sure if I was hiding it.

  “Found another,” the guy behind me said poking the gun in my back.

  “Well tie her up,” the one they called dad said.

  The third guy grabbed a chair from the table and set it next to where Bronx was. Every so often the light from their flashlights skimmed across his face. I could see the worry in his eyes, but his face was filled with anger.

  “If you hurt her,” Bronx growled.

  “Shut up,” the dad said raising his gun. He flashed his light at Bronx and then at me just as his sons finished tying me to my chair. “Any more of you hiding in here?”

  I shook my head. “It’s just us.”

  He studied my face. I did everything I could to hold it in place because I knew that Jamie was still hiding under the blanket behind the chair. And he might be our only chance at making it out alive.

  “I thought she said there were three?” one of the men said.

  “He left,�
�� Bronx said. “He went out looking for our friends and never came back.”

  “We looked everywhere, boss. I think he’s telling the truth,” the taller of the two men said.

  The dad cocked his head to the side. “Let’s be safe. Check everything again.”

  The dad pulled up a chair and sat several feet in front of Bronx and me. He crossed his legs and rested his gun across his lap.

  “So, we’re going to have a little chat before I drag your asses out of here.” There was enough light that I could see the man pull out a pack of cigarettes from the front pocket of his coat. He tapped one out and placed the tip just inside his mouth. He clicked the lighter, and the end glowed in the darkness, lighting his face when he inhaled. “Tell me what you know about the red sky.”

  Bronx looked over at me and our eyes locked. His eyes were about as wide as mine felt.

  “You tell us,” Bronx said shaking his head.

  The man chuckled as his sons walked around and stood behind him holding their guns across their chest. He pointed to his gas mask.

  “We have to wear these, you don’t. I think you know more than you’re letting on,” the man said. “It took a while to get your friends to talk, and now one of them is dead. Hopefully, you two won’t be as difficult.”

  Dead? Nick?

  “We aren’t going to be difficult,” Bronx said his shoulders rising up toward his ears. “We don’t know anything.”

  “Your friend told us about you, and about this place. They withstood a lot before she broke down,” the man said uncrossing his legs and leaning forward. “I should warn you, it’s been a rough few days, and I’m not feeling very kind tonight.”

  I swallowed hard. Had Blair talked? Maggie?

  “What did she tell you?” I said softly.

  “You tell me first what you know.”

  I bit my lip. “I woke up, and the sky was red, that’s all I know.”

  “Bull shit.” The man stood and took two steps until he was standing directly in front of Bronx. “How are you able to breathe the air? Everyone else got sick. Did they give you a shot? Some kind of vaccine?”