The Safe Zone (The Dead Zone Book Two)

Chapter 8

Victor Waldorf was an intriguing man, to say the least. He had this air of dignity around him, confidence oozing from his personality. Paige could see why the people would so easily follow his lead in a situation like this. He reminded her of a politician, charismatic and convincing. Hopefully he had everyone's best interest at heart; she didn't know the man well enough to know his true intentions.

She always had to find a downside to everything, something she cursed herself for. Maybe instead of reading into things, she should just be grateful they had allowed her entrance into the safety of their community.

"So, tell me how things work around here." She says politely, declining when Victor offers her some of the hot tea he was pouring himself. He had invited her to brunch on his back porch, so the two of them could go over a few things. She wasn't sure if she should be nervous or not.

"Well," He begins, crossing his hands in front of him. He had several dark spots from age on them. "Everyone helps out around here. We have our lookout team, up in the watch posts. We have our kitchen team, who are responsible for cooking meals for the community. We meet in the mess hall for breakfast, lunch, and dinner." She already knew this much from Elle."We have our runners, who go out for supplies and clear the nearby cities. And we have Doc, and now you, to help take care of sick or hurt people."

"Sounds like you've got everything figured out."

"For the most part, yes." He agrees.

"I'd like to go out on supply runs." Victor studies her for a moment, as if trying to figure her out.

"Why's that?"

Because it's exactly what Bryson wouldn't want me to do.

She gives him a shrug. "I just feel like I'd be more useful that way. I feel like there's not much I can do from behind these fences."

He's thoughtful for a moment. "Well, I'll see what I can do. But with your skills, I feel like you're better here. Helping the people. If something happens to Doc, you're all we have. That makes you a very important person to us."

She tried not to be disappointed at his words. "Okay, then maybe I could be part of the lookout team. When Doc doesn't need me."

Victor gives her a warm smile. "Now that, we can do."

"Great. I look forward to it." He looks at his watch, giving her an apologetic look. "I'm sorry I have to cut our brunch short. There's some things I need to attend to. Do you know your way home from here?"

She nods, rising from her seat, glad for the reprieve. She only stayed a few blocks down the street; why wouldn't she be able to find her way home?

Jeez, he's just being polite, Paige.

She's surprised Jason is nowhere to be found as she leaves Victor's house. Jason has been stuck to her side since she got here; a fact she hadn't missed. He popped up at the most random places. He was everywhere.

Shoving her hands deep into her pockets, she marches home, desperately wanting to be free of the bite of winter. Dark clouds covered the skies, and she knew the first snowfall was right around the corner. Hopefully, wherever Bryson was, he was safe and warm. Her eyes prickled just thinking about him.

Footsteps approached quickly behind her, and she turns, taking up a defensive stance, relaxing when she see's it's only Doc, jogging down the street to catch up with her. He doesn't miss her reaction, putting his hands up to signal he's no threat. She smiles apologetically.

"Sorry. I'm just too used to being on the outside."

"It's alright, no offense taken." He stops a few feet away from her, but doesn't say anything else. She looks around, a little confused by his behavior.

"What's up?" She asks. He looks nervous, to say the least, his eyes darting around as if he thought someone were watching them.

"I need to talk to you. What did Victor say to you? About your friend Bryson?"

She wrinkles her eyebrows together in confusion. "He didn't say anything. Why? What's going on?" Her heart rate had picked up considerably. What was Doc getting at? He's about to say something else as another voice joins their conversation.

"Paige! There you are." Jason heads toward them, looking curiously at Doc as he joins the group."What's going on here?"

"I was just telling Paige she should stop by the office tomorrow afternoon. I have a few more slide samples I'd like to show her."

She nods, hoping it was believable. Whatever Doc was trying to tell her, he obviously didn't want to say it in front of Jason. Somethings not right here.

"I'll be there, Doc. I think I'm going to go check on Zach. I haven't talked to him at all today."

She left the two men standing in the road, all the while feeling their lingering stares on her until she disappeared into the strange house that didn't quite feel like home. Zach is waiting for her, tossing a few logs in their fireplace.

"You seem a lot better today." She doesn't say anything as she plops down on the couch.

"I feel a lot better now that some of the shock has worn off." She didn't have to say that she wasn't alright; he already knew that much.

"Thanks for letting Jason in this morning. I think it did me some good to get out of the house for a while."

Zach pauses, turning on her. "I never let anyone in the house this morning."

She sits up straighter.

"Really? Do you think Evie did?" He shakes his head. "No. She left early to help Elle out in the gardens."

"So you're saying he... just let himself in?"

"Something's not right with that guy. You should see the way he looks at you. It's creepy."

She felt a blush creep across her face at Zach's accusing stare. Sure, she'd noticed he seemed... interested. But that was the extent of it. She loved Bryson, plain and simple.

"I don't know why he's so interested. I just met the guy."

Zach rolls his eyes. "Isn't he kind of old for you, anyways?"

She barks out a laugh. "I'm not interested in Jason. Besides... I still think Bryson's coming back." And deep down, she did. They had a bond between them, something that didn't happen everyday. Bryson would do whatever it was that had drove him away, and then he'd come back for them. That thought alone was the only thing keeping her sane."I think he is too."