Chapter 64 Trigger and the baby pt 2

Chapter 64 Trigger and the baby pt 2
“You wouldn’t believe the atrocities we faced,” Trigger said. “We did what we had to do.”

“I understand, I do…” Ortega let her voice trail off. “Unfortunately, no one here is going to feel safe knowing you can collapse societies just by feeling threatened.”

“Then don’t threaten us,” Shepherd warned coldly.

“This is exactly my point,” Ortega said, pointing at Shepherd. “I’m afraid you just can’t stay here. I can’t in good conscience let you be around my people knowing at any second you could try and tear us down.”

“We only ever tried to escape those colonies!” Cue cried out, standing up off the bed and holding Trigger’s hand. “Do you have any idea what they we’re trying to do to us?”

“You can’t dangle safety in front of our eyes and then tell us we can’t stay,” Trigger added. “I just had a baby, please!”

“I do know what those colonies are capable of; that's why we are all here instead of on the mainland. Many people here, many women, escaped from their clutches and left them still standing. I’m offering you the ability to leave without a fight. I suggest you take it.”

“Humans are cruel,” Gunner said quietly, stroking Trigger’s head and looking down at her newborn baby. “We haven’t even named the child, and they tell us to leave.”

“Don’t think I don’t feel for you people, I do, but to keep stability here, I have to protect my people from what they are afraid of. We won't send you off empty-handed. We will give you a boat full of supplies, but you must leave today.”

“While she still bleeds, you send her to a boat on shark-infested waters,” Shepherd growled, stepping toward Ortega menacingly. “Maybe we should do what we did to them, except you leave and we keep the safe haven.”

Ortega stiffened her back and looked Shepherd square in the face. “I know what you are, Cretin, and I know what you bring with you. I will not stand idly when threatened. This is your last warning.” 

Behind her, men with guns raised them every so slightly towards the group, their faces torn between fear and the desire to be merciful.

“Regardless of how I feel, a woman who can produce heirs won't be safe anywhere.
The men will come for you, and we cannot stand up to a direct assault. You must leave, and keep traveling, so they do not find you and use you.” Ortega said, with true sadness in her eyes. “You may be the last woman capable of bearing children; they will never stop hunting you.”

Ortega looked at them all seriously, sadness behind her stern eyes, and then turned away. “You have until morning to ready yourselves to leave. I will give you some time to rest before then.” She reached the elevator and, with a wave of her hand, took the guards with her.

There were still people in the head of the statue that moved around doing their various jobs, but for the most part, the four of them were alone. The storm crashed outside, deafening in the silence, as they all stared at each other in sorrow.

“Where will we go now?” Cue asked, her voice small.

“We will find somewhere to settle. Somewhere outside of the cities.” Trigger said, her face serious, determined. She looked down at her baby and stroked the little tuft of hair on top of her head, spiking it. “Stormy deserves somewhere safe to grow up.”

“Stormy?” Shepherd asked. “I like it.”

Gunner grunted in agreement and bent to kiss Stormy on the forehead.

“Stormy…” Cue said wistfully, looking down at the baby with misty, sad eyes. “We will protect you, Stormy.”

Someone came to change the sheets and help Trigger get cleaned up, leaving her with cotton pads for her bleeding and a waterproof pad for the bed. They brought hot water for everyone to wash up, a change of clothes, and a hot meal as well. 

The three of them sat around or on the bed with their food and ate in silence.

It was different to see Shepherd in a black knit sweater and jeans after seeing him in nothing but tattered shorts for so long. He looked uncomfortable even though the clothes were loose on him.

“Where do we go then?” he asked impatiently, tugging on his collar.

“South, I think,” Trigger said. “Somewhere where it doesn’t get too cold in the winter.”

“We’ll go back for the tank and head south from there.” Gunner agreed.

“At least we don't have to worry about the zombies anymore,” Cue said, trying to laugh.

Trigger chuckled quietly, but the joke fell on mostly deaf ears as Shepherd ate his food and Gunner brushed and braided Trigger’s hair.

The baby was suckling quietly in Trigger’s arms.

Cue sighed. “I miss Rat. Do you think he made it?” she had tears in her eyes. It was the first time she brought him up since falling to the sharks, but seeing Trigger hold her baby made her homesick for her little buddy.

“I’m sure he’s fine,” Trigger said softly, although her face looked haunted.

Cue nodded, biting her bottom lip. Chances are, Rat didn’t make it, and Cue knew that.

Shepherd put his arm over her shoulder and pulled her to his side to hug her. 

The next morning, they were ready at the top of the statue before anyone in the colony woke. Trigger had herself bandaged well so no blood would seep out, and they gave her a black peasant dress to wear for recovery rather than a hospital gown own restricting jeans. She had baby Stormy in a sling around her shoulder and waist, swaddled warmly in a tightly knit wool blanket.

Cue was wearing a red spaghetti strap shirt, black shorts, and her combat boots. She also had Shepherd’s sweater wrapped around her waist, as he decided shirts just weren't for him.

Ortega arrived with five armed guards behind her and escorted the group out of the statue. There was a boat with a motor waiting for them on the shore. It was packed with spare clothes and baby items, as well as fresh food and water. It was bittersweet of them to send the group off with supplies while refusing them shelter.

They loaded onto the boat without a word, Gunner taking control of the boat while Shepherd sat with Cue and Trigger on either side of him. They left the island in silence, each of them thinking about the future and where they might end up.

In a motorboat, it didn’t take them long to get back to where they had left the tank.

Cue jumped out of the boat and cupped her face. “Rat?” she called, running to the tank and climbing it to get a better view. “Rat, come here, boy!”

The silence stretched on between her calls with no sight of the rat.

“It’s gonna be okay, Cue,” Trigger said, coming up beside the tank and looking at her sadly.

“He's out here, I know it.” Cue said stubbornly, calling out to him again.

When she was about to give up hope, the rat came rolling out of a nearby bush and yawned widely. 

“Rat!” She cried, jumping off the tank and taking the cat-sized creature in her arms and hugging him tightly.