Page 80 of Beyond Redemption

Olive nodded immediately. “I won’t. I promise.”

“If Thomas and I don’t make it back, there is a signed document in the top dresser drawer in our quarters. Don’t lose it.”

Olive’s mouth pressed into a hard line, but then she nodded. “Just… come back, okay?”

I held her gaze another second, then forced myself to step back. There was more I wanted to say, none of it beneficial, so I turned and left before my heart forced me to stay.

The corridor was already clearing as I made my way to the blast door, the siren still pulsing, a constant reminder that whatever this was had already started. I stepped into the common area to find those going topside gathered, the energy tight, contained, but ready to spill over. Soon, Bodhi passed us to stand near the blast door with Ellison.

Tyler walked over to silence the alarm as Abby passed out bags. Thomas stopped, standing ten feet from the blast door, shoulders squared, eyes ahead. He glanced at me once as I stepped in, a quick check, then back to the door.

“We wait,” he said. “Instructions will come from topside. It’ll be any second.”

No one argued. We held there, listening to the faint siren above and the silence between its pulses, anticipating whatever came next.

Abby shot a look my way. I wasn’t sure what expression I sent back, but I hoped it was reassuring.

“Babe?” I whispered.

Thomas leaned his ear toward me.

“I love you.”

He reached his hand to mine, squeezing it. “Stick to the plan. We’re going to be okay,” he said, sure.

I nodded, staring at the huge slab of steel before us.

The outer corridor door opened, slamming against the concrete wall loud enough for us to hear below. Boots clanged against the metal stairs, prompting us to trade glances.

Metal groaned and pressure hissed, then Zeke slipped through, breathing hard. For five days that door had meant separation, shelter, and constraint. This time it sounded like exposure.

Zeke approached Thomas without hesitation or pleasantries. His face was set, his clothes marked with dust higher up the legs of his cargo pants.

Thomas took a step forward. “I thought you didn’t come down here.”

“I do today,” Zeke said, trying to catch his breath. “Only one reason I would.”

“Bring me up to speed,” Thomas said, unconcerned with further small talk.

Zeke’s expression sharpened, then his eyes looked beyond him to the other brothers. “Naomi said the brothers and Liis should come now. There’s been an incident.”

There was no cushioning around the word. No effort to dress it up or buy time. Just that one term, flat and alarming enough on its own.

Thomas didn’t waste a second. “Travis. Trent. Taylor. Tyler.” He looked to Abby, and then me. “Let’s move.”

In the next moment, we were climbing the stairs, but by the time we hit the upper landing, I could hear it. Not one sound, but many. Voices layered over each other, orders, movement. And then, distant gun fire and explosions.

The outer door opened to a clear night sky. Red lighting washed the compound in low contrast, preserving the dark while keeping just enough visibility to move. What I saw in the first sweep was enough to confirm what the sound had already told me: this wasn’t a drill. We were on the verge of war.

Militia men and women crossed the yard at a jog, rifles up, radios pressed to shoulders, calling to one another in hushed voices. Families were moving in the other direction, hurrying toward the bunker entrance in clusters, some carrying bags, some carrying children, some carrying nothing because there hadn’t been time to think beyond go. A woman stumbled in the dirt and was yanked upright by the man behind her without either of them breaking stride. Somewhere to the left, an engine revved, then cut out. Near the perimeter, a spotlight jerked across the fence line before settling on nothing I could see from our position.

Thomas slowed just enough to take in the scene, his focus flipping from one target to the next, sorting priorities, threats, routes. “Ellie? Bodhi? You two are posted here. Ellie, go underground if the perimeter is breached.”

“But…” she began.

“Underground. Bodhi stays topside.”

“Okay,” she said, noticeably in disagreement.