Free Uprising by Shelly Crane

need her to answer me, in useless protest of it all. So I call the others.
     
    Sorry to wake everyone but Sherry is missing and yes, I’ve already looked in the normal places. I’ve called to her with no answer. Can I get you to come and help me look for her? Please, ask your charges if anyone has seen her.
     
    I walk back into the commons room and Max is already up and moving, heading upstairs to the store to check, though I know Sherry would not be sitting up in the store. Then Simon comes through the hall with others behind him.
    “Cain is missing too,” Simon says and looks about as irritated and distressed as I feel. “I don’t know where they are but we’ve got to go look for them. The only place we haven’t looked is...outside. There’s got to be a reason for this. Cain wouldn’t put Sherry in danger. We need to head up and look around. See if we can find something.”
    “Agreed,” I say gruffly and quickly relay to Sherry.
     
    Sherry, please. I’m dying here. Gah, I wish I knew where you were! I assume that Cain is with you. I hope he is... Unless he’s the one who... I’d kill him. I have no idea what happened but don’t be scared, honey. If nothing else just hear my voice and know I’m coming for you. We’re heading out right now to come look for you two. I love you. Stay out of danger. I’ll find you. I promise.
     
    I have no idea the where or why of the situation. Why is Cain not here? Where would they have gone? If I were a human man, would I think they’d run off together? But these aren’t exactly circumstances to run away together during. He hasn’t made any passes at her that I’m aware of. But every man does fall in love with her to some extent. Heck even Miguel and Jeff love her. Gah! This is making me crazy.
    “Ok. Let’s-” I start but am interrupted.
    “Merrick!” Max intruded, blurring down the stairs. “Markers. Everywhere.”
    I run, I don’t care who’s behind me but I feel the bodies blur with mine. When I reach the back door I see them in the dark. Oh God in heaven! They are at least...fifty, maybe more. Never in my entire existence have I seen such a thing. There is no way we’d make it. Oh no! No!
    “Sherry!” I yelled but hear only beating wings and screeches.
    “Merrick, come on. We can’t. You know we can’t!” Jeff says pulling me back in the door and slamming it behind us. I feel numb. I let him push me back and I fall into the wall. “Merrick. Snap out of it!” He kneels in front of me. “Brother?”
    He gets up and leaves. I sit there in my trance. I can’t believe it. She could be out there right now and I’d never reach her. She could be dead already if she went out there. I want to move but my body, this human body just shuts down.
    Danny comes to kneel in front of me in the stock room on the floor where Jeff left me. I barely notice him. I can still hear them screeching outside, laughing at me and my weakness.
    “Merrick,” he starts. “Sherry needs you, man. You’ve got to get up. We’ve got to get ready.” I don’t move. He pushes my chest forcefully and grabs my shirt front. “Merrick. I know, ok! I know how it is. It’s Sherry. She’s fragile. I get it. I’m worried too. Worried sick but we aren’t going to get her back by sulking on the floor. Get up,” he growled and when I pushed his hands away he continued. “You’ve been talking to her, I know you have. Tell her. Tell her you’re coming to get her as soon as we can.”
    I look up to him and see the determination on his face. He’s right. What am I doing? This isn’t like me. I’m letting my human grief override my sense. Sitting here will do no good. I nod and grab his shoulder.
    “Thanks, Danny. Ok. Ok,” I answer quickly and close my eyes for one more try to Sherry.
     
    Sherry, if you can still hear me, listen. We can’t come look for you yet. There are Markers everywhere, I’ve never seen so many in all my years. At least fifty, all in one place. That’s