Welcome to Mayhem - Updated Often

Chapter 5

While lending her support and help whenever and to whomever required it, Emersyn began to make plans. She knew she would have to gather as many supplies as possible. The caches Jackson and her Pawpaw Frank had set up would do quite nicely without taking any supplies from the townsfolk. She would leave first thing in the morning to recover the goods and then move on.

She had felt Garrett's eyes on her throughout the day. She had seen the compassion and empathy, but she also saw something else: circumspection. He suspected she would not let things lie. She knew she would need to use caution around him if she was going to make a clean get away. She had a feeling Garrett would not let her go without a fight.

When the sun set, the bunker became very dark. To prevent wasting resources unnecessarily and due to the overwhelming exhaustion of most of the townsfolks, the candles and flashlights were extinguished quickly. Emersyn sat in nearly the exact same spot she had the night before. Too many more nights sleeping upright were going to take a toll on her body. Luckily one of the caches had camping supplies including a sleeping bag and pad. To quiet the unrest in her mind, Emersyn began to mentally pack all her provisions until she fell asleep.

By the time the sun began to bathe Lake Texoma in yellows and oranges, Emersyn was already awake and ready to begin her journey. Stepping behind a makeshift barrier, she performed her ablutions with icy water someone was kind enough to provide and then changed her clothes. Re-emerging, she repacked her clothes from the day before. She would have to find some way to wash them while traveling or people would be able to smell her long before they saw her.

"Do you think you're leaving?" a deep voice enquired behind her.

Emersyn turned towards Garrett, "No, I don't 'think' I'm leaving; I am leaving. I have plans and there is nothing keeping me here now."

"What about protection, Emersyn? You won't find it out there."

Angry, Emersyn poked him in the chest hard, "Where was Jackson's protection? Where was my Pawpaw Frank's? Nowhere is safe now. I am not going to stay hidden down here hoping no one discovers us. I'm going find the bastards that killed the last of my family and I'm going to end them," she stated as she pushed past him.

Garrett was hard on her heels, "No, you're not. You're going to take a few days to get your bearings and then you're going to rationally decide what to do with your future that doesn't include mass murder."

"Just who the hell do you think you are? I'm not your responsibility. Stop talking to me like I'm a disobedient child. I have already decided what I am going to do with my future and it's not up for debate," she said in a voice full of steel.

"I'll stop treating you like a child when you stop acting like one. This is stupid and rash. Killing those men isn't going to change anything, other than make you a killer," Garrett responded in a cold fury.

"I'm already a killer, or did you forget that I saved your ass when that guy was trying to sneak up on you?" Emersyn responded with equal ferocity.

They both stood their ground, neither giving an inch, until they heard Mrs. Kingston clear her throat, "Maybe we can discover a compromise that would satisfy the both of you."

Reluctantly, they both trained their eyes on the kind, but no nonsense woman, "What kind of compromise?" Emersyn asked warily.

"Well, my dear, I have known you for your whole life so I realize there is no talking you out of an idea once you latch onto it. What if Garrett comes with you to teach you how to survive out there and offer his protection? You can watch each other's backs."

"I can't leave the town unguarded. What if they come back or someone else just as bad, if not worse, does?" Garrett proclaimed, "No! Emersyn will just have to see reason and stay here. I am not about to let another person run off on a fool-hardy escapade to get themselves killed."