Page 96 of Into the Mist

“Well, good.” Karen’s face looked pinched as she refused to meet Mercury’s gaze.

“Okay, so, that’s settled,” said Mercury. “Let’s tell the kids and Gemma.”

They rejoined the four young people, and Stella smiled at the children. “Change of plans. We decided it would be best for the kids to stay with the truck while just a few of us check out Madras.”

“You’re leaving us?” Georgie clutched her brothers’ narrow shoulders.

“No!” Mercury quickly explained. “Or at least not for more than—” she glanced at Stella.

“Two nights,” Stella said. “No matter what, we’ll be back to check in no later than the next morning.”

Mercury nodded. “Yeah, and if we decide to leave, we’ll leave then. Together.”

Imani put her arm around Georgie’s shoulders. “I’m going to stay here with you.”

“So will I,” said Gemma.

“When are we leaving?” Karen asked as she picked at the hem of her cardigan.

“Now.” Stella spoke firmly. “Or as soon as we put on coats and get our backpacks together.”

The group worked silently and quickly. Even the children helped, though as they struggled to pull Ford’s heavy backpack from the bed of the truck, Gemma stepped in.

“Hey, Ford can’t carry this.” The teenager fisted her hands on her hips as she faced Stella and Mercury, who were slipping on their ownbackpacks. “I don’t even like the fact that he’s up and walking around. Are you sure he needs to go with you?”

Ford opened his mouth to respond, but Stella beat him to it. “Yes. Ford must come with us.”

“I’ll carry his pack,” said Mercury. “And he can carry mine.”

“Are you sure?” Ford eyed her. “It’s fifty pounds.”

Mercury raised a brow. “Remember the bridge? I’m pretty sure I can manage.”

Ford dipped his head to her. “Then I bow to the lady’s superior strength—with gratitude.”

Mercury sloughed off her backpack and handed it to Ford and then reached past the kids into the bed and, like it weighed five pounds instead of fifty, she pulled it out and slid her arms through the straps. Then she went to the cab and returned to the group with the Winchester and the .38.

“You look like something out ofMad Max: Fury Road,” said Ford. “And I mean that as a compliment.”

“Thanks. Charlize Theron is a badass.” Mercury turned to Stella. “I think I should take the revolver with us and leave the rifle, but I want to know how you feel about that.”

Stella tilted her head to the side. “Yep. Take the pistol. Leave the rifle.”

“Would you show me how to shoot it?” Imani asked. “I hope I don’t have to use it, but I’m not going to let anyone hurt these kids.”

Mercury nodded and gave Imani a quick lesson in how to fire the Winchester. “Basically, don’t aim for the head or legs. Just point it at the biggest target you have—the center of the body. Squeeze, don’t jerk the trigger, and hold it snug against your shoulder, like this.” She demonstrated. “It’ll kick, but if it’s firmly against you, it won’t be bad.”

“Got it.” Imani handled the rifle carefully, respectfully, and slid it back behind the bucket seat of the truck. When she returned to the group, she asked, “What should we do if the green fog rolls in under the bridge?”

“Drive that truck out of there,” said Stella.

“Sis, I can’t drive a damn stick,” said Imani.

“I’ll drive it,” said Gemma. “I can do it.”

“Okay, Gemma can do it,” said Imani. “Where do we go? You’ll need to find us on your way out.”

“Go back to the cemetery up the street,” said Ford. “It’s on higher ground than this part of the road, and you should be able to find a place to hide in the middle of the graves.”