Uprising by Shelly Crane Page B

behind us and around us. I ask Merrick what’s going on and he explains that a Lighter can only be killed by being completely run through. Light releasing on both sides from inside his body. So the ones we shot, didn’t die and are now back for more.
    A chill runs through me thinking about the Lighters running off to tell the others where we are. But they seem to be hanging around to finish the job instead.
    Merrick feels me shivering.
    “I’m trying, honey. I’m trying. Almost there,” he whispers in my hair.
    We reach the middle ground between the cave and the store. And then further still in a blur until I feel a slow descent of movement as Merrick pulls us to a stop but doesn’t release me.
    I hear more gunshots and Pap near us, yelling and shouting about ‘gettin him some’. Actually sounds like he’s enjoying himself, which grates on my nerves.
    I can also hear and make out Aaron and Miguel yelling and grunting.
    I open my eyes and see Merrick’s warm and blood shot green eyes watching me wearily. Then I find myself looking into a another pair of worried and relief filled eyes.
    Jeff’s.
    “One of these days, Sherry, you’re gonna give us a heart attack.” His words were firm and reprimanding but his eyes nor his words could lie to me.
    He squeezes my hand before glancing back behind us and ordering Merrick to take me inside. They will finish this he said. I try to glance back too but Merrick says no.
    “Don’t look, Sherry. You don’t need to see this.”
    I close my eyes and press my head down but then I realize that I do want to look. In fact, I need to look, because I caused this. If I hadn’t ran out in the dark after a voice instead of waking someone who could better handle the situation, this wouldn’t have happened. Cain could’ve ran faster without having to carry me to safety.
    The thought brings tears to my eyes and my throat locks down in a knot of overwhelming regret. I clench my fists and prepare myself for a vision of slaughter and blood. Whoever is hurt, whoever is dead, whoever is still out there fighting - it’s my fault.
    I gasp and clench my eyes shut in shame. That quick look over Merrick’s shoulder told me more than I never wanted to know. There are bodies on the ground. Who’s? Theirs or ours? The fighting is still going on. Blurring figures and then hard slams. Fist and legs. Swinging makeshift weapons. Gunshots.
    I can’t help but heave and sob. My body refusing to cooperate with my silent internal plea to stop. Merrick doesn’t speak, just squeezes me tighter. Must assume I’m crying because I’m afraid and in pain. He can’t know my shame. My embarrassment and guilt for being so stupid and reckless. My conscience is beaten and affecting my coherency.
    I know we are inside now but I can’t move, can’t speak. I feel the bounce of the stairs. Then the worse thing that could possibly happen, happened.
    I hear Merrick’s swift intake of breath and halt in steps. I look up, then down, following his gaze and see Mrs. Trudy, Lana and Marissa lying on the floor, all three of their faces spotted with blood.
    Then the world goes black.

 
    Merrick - The Blame Game

Chapter 3
    No! They set us up. This was all a set up, a game. They knew someone would hear them and come outside to help. They knew we’d go after them. They knew we’d go after Sherry. They knew we’d take the strong and leave the weaker ones here.
    I lay Sherry on the couch, she passed out after seeing Trudy, Lana and Marissa on the floor. I throw an afghan on her and then check her and the others pulses. Oh, thank you! They’re alive. Where is all this blood coming from?
    Immediately I remember why they had been left down here. To guard Calvin and Lily. I run to Lily’s room. Not there. I blur across the bunker to Trudy’s room. No one.
    I glance in Paul and Kate’s room, Trudy’s old room. Somehow, they both and the baby are asleep on the bed still. Must not have been much of a commotion. A quick