Year One (Chronicles of The One #1)(68)

“Sure, babe.” Eric’s eyes held Max’s, gleaming with rage, even as he let Allegra pull him away. “Let’s get the hell out of here. Bunch of losers.”

Allegra threw an apologetic look over her shoulder, and walked Eric into the mudroom.

“Dude’s on something.” Eddie blew out a breath. “Wish I had some.”

“My parents wouldn’t have drugs in the house. We didn’t bring any.”

“Shaun’s right. I’m going to make some tea, okay?” Kim waited for Lana’s nod. “Poe’s body’s a temple, and we’d have known if Eric had anything. We were on the road for days.”

“It’s not drugs, not like you mean. It’s the power,” Max said. “He’s drunk on it. None of that was like him.”

“Maybe, maybe not. Sorry,” Kim added. “He’s your brother. But the fact is, Shaun screwed up, and he’s sorry.”

“I get scared at night. I hear things at night. And I stress eat. I didn’t mean to screw it up.”

“Well, you did,” Kim said flatly, “and you’ll have to make up for it. Eric screwed up—and if he did, Allegra knew and was probably part of it. But he doesn’t give a shit. That’s going to be a problem.”

“I’ll talk to Allegra.” Lana rubbed at her forehead. “I think I can talk to her. She seems to be able to calm him down, and he needs calming down.”

“He’s not handling the power,” Max said quietly. “He doesn’t know how, and that’s another problem. I’ll deal with it. But for now, we’ll deal with the immediate and go try to get the propane truck. And we’ll try to scavenge more supplies.”

“Just let me grab a shower—I’ve got it down to ninety seconds,” Poe added.

“We could use you,” Max admitted. “But … I think I’d feel easier if you were here while we’re gone.”

On a nod, Poe glanced toward the window. “I’ve got it.”

“I’ve got a wish list started upstairs.” Lana signaled Eddie before she slipped out of the room. She waited until she’d reached her bedroom, then eased the door shut.

“Something up?” Eddie asked her.

“Yes, actually. Would you do me a favor? If you see a drugstore, a pharmacy, we can always use more first-aid or medical supplies.”

“No sweat.”

“And I need … I need a pregnancy test.”

He did a comical hands-up, step-back. “Whoa.”

“Please don’t say anything to Max. I don’t want to say anything until I’m sure one way or the other.”

“Wow. Major. You feeling okay? You, like, ah, booting in the mornings?”

“No, it’s other things. I didn’t think about being late with everything going on. It just slipped by me until a couple days ago.” She picked up the list, handed it to him. “Once it did, other things occurred to me. But a test would really help, if you find one.”

“You got it. Ah, stick close to Poe and Kim, okay? They’re solid. You can tell. Shaun, he’s kind of a jerk, kind of a screwup. I’ve been one enough to know. But … I know Eric’s like your brother-in-law, but something’s just not right there.”

“Don’t worry. Just come back safe, both of you.”

As she walked back down to see them off, Eddie’s words echoed back to her. Just not right.

He’d said the same about the black circle in the forest.





CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The trip down the winding mountain road proved hairy in spots, and had Eddie wishing for the days of snowplows and road salt. Better, for the days of sitting out a couple feet of snow in his crap apartment listening to some Kid Cudi, maybe some Pink Floyd while he toked his brains out and munched on Cheetos.

But all in all, he preferred the slipping, sliding trip down to creeping past a few dead-looking houses before what he guessed served as the supply center for hikers, vacationers, and maybe a couple scoops of locals.

He spotted a pretty good-size grocery store with a sign showing a bear on one side, a big-ass buck on the other, with STANLEY’S PRODUCE AND PHARMACY in between.

The pharmacy part meant maybe he could do Lana that favor, help her find out if she had a bun in the oven.

Big wow if she did. He cast a sidelong look at Max before scoping out the rest of the half-assed town.

A log-cabin type of place stood directly across the two-lane road. Stanley’s Outfitters, and beside that a skinny, glass-fronted place. Stanley’s Liquors.

Beer, baby! Please let there be beer!

“I guess this Stanley dude’s the big man around here. Gonna run over to the liquor store before we head back, see if there’s any beer left.”

“Wouldn’t hurt my feelings.”

“Pop the top of a cold one thanks to good old Stanley. But hey, there’s something different. Ma Bea’s Burgers and More. Maybe she’s Stanley’s ma.”

Max eased to a stop in front of the market. Sat a moment, studied the lay of the land.

“We’re the first tire tracks through since the last storm, but I see some footprints, so somebody’s here, or somebody’s been here in the last couple days.”