Come Into The Light Read Free Page B

you like me at all.”
    “I do.” He said, blushing, though the words faltered in his mouth.
    Sara crossed her arms and directed her eyes away from him, “Okay, okay, I’ll give you your privacy if you want it so badly.”
    “Oh, come on, don’t be mad.”
    “I’ll be whatever I want to be.”
    She stormed out closing the door hard behind her but Harold couldn’t say that it bothered him. In fact he was glad that she gave him the opportunity to dress. He would have to talk to her, smooth things over. She was in a different place than him in the relationship. He thought he made it clear he liked to take things slowly, but he wondered if there was something more to it. Girls continued to frighten him in that way. He has never gone all the way with any girl. He wasn’t even sure of his emotions. Maybe there was something wrong with him. He should know what he feels. It was all so confusing. He was afraid he was only going to hurt Sara or she hurt him. He liked her as a friend and he didn’t want to lose the friendship. Oh what the hell, why can’t it be simple.
    ***
    John was back and Rosa was all over him with worry and relief. She had hugged him so hard he was out of breath. He apologized saying they broke off into two groups and lost track of each other. He had Amanda, Circe, and Adam with him and they were tired. Adam was Seth’s teenaged son and Amanda and Circe were tough women with short haircuts who served in the military for nearly twenty years. They were part of John’s scouting team. There were a number of scouting teams and everyone took turns doing reconnaissance and scouting for supplies.
    “I’m afraid there isn’t much left we could find.” John said, looking shy and somewhat guilty. Rosa held his face in her hands and gave him a hard kiss on the lips.
    The four slipped off their backpacks and laid them on the dining room table for everyone to scrounge through.
    “The lab didn’t have any chemical inhibitors for the brain but there were some pain killers, antiseptic medicines, bandages, gauzes, tranquilizers at the hospital, although this is the last of them. I don’t think we’re going to find anymore unless there’s a gas station in operation somewhere and we can steal a set of wheels.”
    “You know what happened the last time we tried to get out of the city, John.”
    John nodded. He was all too aware of what happened but they had few choices left, “If only I had those inhibitors, Seth. I believe that thing couldn’t get inside our heads and control us then, or at least not to the extent of preventing us from leaving.”
    “We’ll get them somehow.”
    “What’s this? Is this the best you could do?” Jacob asked, holding up cans of kidney and wax beans and directing most of his anger at John even as his team defended him.
    “All the food shelves are empty. We had to dig those out. They were stuck underneath the shelves. Must have rolled under-
    “Just watch what my team can do. This is pitiful.” Jacob threw the cans down making a crash on the table like he was using his fists.
    “Well, I’m sorry Jacob but-
    “Never mind. You did what you could.”
    Jacob made it clear that he meant it as an insult as he distributed the cans and the group dispersed saying their goodbyes before going out the door heading to their individual shelters.
    When they were outside and away from busy eyes, Amanda and Circe had pulled in close to Jacob to give him their report. They told him they were able to hook up with the supplier. He and his group had an impressive arsenal of weapons and the supplier was willing to work with them. Jacob asked if John and Adam were suspicious of the delay. Amanda said that John had accepted their explanation but she wasn’t sure Adam did. Circe confirmed Amanda’s assessment.
    “I could give a rat’s ass about that brat. Did you store the weapons where I told you to?”
    They confirmed that they did.
    “When do we move?”
    “I’m still fleshing out a