Free Away From the Sun by Jason D. Morrow

others made it out alive either.”
    Ethan shakes his head and looks at the table. It’s hard for me to hear such a thing from my little sister. The thought of her being in a situation where she had to kill someone is hard. But it’s stupid of me to think this way. Of course she’s had to kill. All of us in this room are killers in some way or another.
    “We weren’t followed,” Waverly continues. “I think the people in this room are the only ones that know I’m here with the blood.”
    “That’s not necessarily true,” I blurt out. All eyes dart to me and I swallow hard. My eyes travel to Stephen. “When we were in the meeting with one of Shadowface’s men, we had a radio.” I look at Lydia. I don’t want to accuse her, but I have to say it. “Lydia mentioned Gabe, Ethan, and Waverly over the radio. I can only assume that those in the room with us would tell Shadowface.”
    Lydia looks away from me and stares at the table. I didn’t want to embarrass her, but if it can help…
    “Who was in the room with you?” Jeremiah asks.  
    “A man named Samuel,” Stephen says.
    “And there was a woman,” I say. “Kind of tall. Straight, blonde hair cut off at the cheeks.”
    Jeremiah straightens in his chair, his face a little paler than a moment before.  
    “But that doesn’t mean Shadowface knows anything,” I add.  
    Jeremiah shakes his head. “It most certainly does mean it.” All of us wait for him to continue, but he seems lost in thought for a moment. It makes me think that he knows Shadowface. That he knows who he is. Or she. The moment Samuel and the blonde-headed woman were mentioned, Jeremiah froze up.  
    “I’m sorry,” I say, “but do you know who Shadowface is? If so, it would take a load off our minds, I think.”
    “No,” Jeremiah says. “It wouldn’t take a load off anyone’s mind. It makes little difference who Shadowface is. Shadowface is Shadowface. Dangerous and evil. And he’s coming here.”
    “How do you know that?” Stephen demands.  
    “Because he knows that Waverly is here,” Jeremiah says. He places the glass vial into the metal cylinder and slides it across the table to Waverly. “We might not know what kind of blood this is, but it is important enough for Shadowface to employ raiders to take it back.” He eyes everyone at the table. “Shadowface will come here to get it.” His eyes cross to Stephen at the head of the table. “By force, if necessary.”
    Waverly shakes her head. “Why don’t we just destroy it? Smash it on the ground or something?”
    “Then you lose whatever bargaining chip you had,” he answers. “Shadowface will come after you anyway. Once you’ve crossed him, he will eliminate you. He doesn’t want any potential enemies out there.” He looks to Stephen. “How are you on weapons?”
    Stephen snorts. “You really expect us to be able to put up a fight? Abysmal is your answer. I’ve probably got a rifle to every five people. Most of them aren’t trained to fight.” He shakes his head vigorously. “It’s not a fight we can win if Shadowface is as powerful as you say he is.”
    Jeremiah looks at Mitch and Ashley. “We can supply you with weapons, but we’re going to need more manpower if you want to take on Shadowface when he gets here.”
    “Forget it,” Stephen says. “I don’t even know why I’m entertaining the thought. I didn’t want to get my people involved in any of this. I don’t know who you people are, but this isn’t Elkhorn’s problem. I never wanted a fight.”
    “That’s not your decision,” Jeremiah says. “The fight has come to you.”
    “Besides,” I say, “we didn’t get you involved with Shadowface, Stephen. Your men were captured by him. You had the meeting. You made contact with him before talks of a fight ever came up.”
    Jeremiah grits his teeth. “When you let someone like Shadowface in, he never lets go. He latches on to you until you’re the very extension of him or you’re