Free Uprising by Shelly Crane Page B

lips.
    I start to shake, breathing heavy and close my eyes,
    trying to block the pictures from my mind. I can actually feel his hot sticky breath on my neck. The pain in my shoulders from my arms being over extended by his hard grasp. The jolt of flaming nerves in my back from being pushed into the counter edge. His hard, uncaring hands wrapped around my arms, bruising me. Kissing me, punishing.
    It takes me a minute of near hyperventilation to regain my composure and to even realize that Phillip’s body is really out there - with them. The Lighters. No longer one of us...and we are going to have to kill him.
    I glance up to look for Mrs. Trudy but she isn’t there and I send up a silent ‘thank you’ that she won’t have to witness the death of her son.
    Cain has looked back over his shoulder to check on me several times but hasn’t spoken. Probably just thinks I’m scared of the massive Lighter Battle Royale that is about to ensue, and I am. Scared out of my wits.
    Cain has no idea about Phillip, who he was or what he did and I’d prefer to keep it that way so I don’t explain. I just let him assume away.
    I push all that old crap aside, all the uncomfortable feelings and images and put the present right in front of me.
     
    Sherry? You ok, honey? Wave to me if you’re ok.
     
    I lift my arm in a couple long swoops in the air and see him return it.
     
    This is about to get really bad. I want you to listen. I need you to run like you’ve never ran before when the fighting starts. Do you hear me? And I mean it, Sherry. No playing hero. Wave if you hear me.

    He commands firmly and I wave but I know I’m lying. There will be no running on this leg but there’s no way to explain that to him so I lie with a wave and hope I get the chance to explain later. I hope I live long enough to get yelled at and berated for being so stupid as to come out here in the first place. I hope Cain doesn’t die for it. I hope no one dies.
    I hope.
    I hope.
    I glance at Cain and he has a furrowed brow and squinted eyes. I realize, someone is talking to him in his mind too. He looks frustrated.
    “What is it?” I ask anxiously.
    “Your hubby and Jeff won’t stop talking to me at the same time. They are trying to tell me what they got planned. It’s a lot of info, especially with Merrick threatening body parts if I don’t get you back to him safely.” He smiles at me sideways, obviously hoping to help calm me down with his joke.
    Surprisingly it works. I smile despite our current condition. He continues on to tell me that they are gonna let the Keepers go first and in a fast, furious wave. Then the rest can come in all at once after a half minute to allow for time of surprise. Hopefully they’ll all be engaged and won’t be paying attention to the lowly humans.
    “I’m gonna leave you here, Sherry, when I take off. You just stay here and stay low. I’ll be watching to see if anyone comes close to you.” He hands me the shotgun and says he’ll grab another weapon from one of the others.
    I don’t like this idea one bit, especially Cain leaving me with his only weapon. But, I’m not in any position or mood to argue. I nod to suggest I understand and he waits for Merrick’s signal. Then I hear someone else, someone not wanted. And though he’s all the way across the field, I can hear him, just like he’s standing next to me.
    “ Hello, Sherry. Might I say you are looking ravishing.”
    The Lighter formerly known as Phillip. I realize that Phillip no longer resides in that body, but it’s still too much to have that face staring at me.
    “Who is that?” Cain asked turning a circle to look all around us.
    “Lighter,” I answer.
    “We didn’t come here for you but here you are. What a nice surprise. Come on out and meet us in the middle and we’ll spare your little friends from a very painful and long death.”
    Oh, God, help me. He knows me somehow. He knows I’ll do it even if I know I can’t trust him. I