Darkness Rising: Chapter 4

Chapter 4 1

“Not all emotions are discovered.” 2

Eddie didn’t return to the unit until late the next morning, four hours before they were supposed to arrive at District 12. He’d spent most of his time terrorizing assholes along the south border.3

When he strolled in, he crept along quietly, knowing Lena was going to be in bed for another hour. Every day, without fail, she rose at 5AM, started breakfast, and took a quick shower. On Sundays, the only day she didn’t go to the lab, she still followed the same routine. He admired her for it because he was completely different.4

He stood at the doorway of their bedroom and watched her by the pale light streaming through the window. It was the same electric light he’d kissed her under almost a year ago, when she’d agreed to be his wife. He knew it hadn’t been the perfect marriage. Hell, they had almost killed each other emotionally more times than he cared to count! Eddie knew she’d been the one who did most of the compromising, which made him feel like an ass, but he would return the favor. He would…one day…when they were aboveground.5

Lena stirred and saw Eddie standing at the doorway. He was barely standing, and she knew he’d been drinking. For a second, she wondered what was going through his head, then sadly realized he wouldn’t answer if she asked. When she was having the injection late yesterday afternoon, Richard had explained to her that he hadn’t been happy that she was coming.6

“Why can’t we have the injection tomorrow before we go?” Paula had asked, watching Danny clear away a spot on her arm. Lena stood with her arms crossed, feeling queasy at the thought of a needle in her arm.7

“The reason you have to do it now, Paula, is because it needs at least six hours to work and we also need to check you for any adverse side effects before you go above.”8

“Sounds like I’m going to heaven,” Paula said with a grin at Lena. She had a large, expressive smile that couldn’t help but make Lena smile. Paula’s hair was up in a ponytail that accentuated her high cheekbones and swayed as she turned from Lena to Danny.9

Lena watched Danny press the needle to Paula’s arm, and gulped when the clear liquid entered the spritely redhead’s arm. Paula observed it as a scientist, wondering what the side effects would be, but hoping that she wasn’t playing the role of a guinea pig. She realized she didn’t know what a guinea pig was, except by pictures, but she loved the expression.10

Paula turned to Lena and almost started laughing because she was so afraid. Instead, she spoke reassuringly, “It’s not so bad, Lena. It’s pretty easy. If you need to, count backwards from a hundred. That never fails.” She turned to Danny. “I’m sorry about Odd earlier, Danny, but you know how he is. Thanks for the shot. I’ll catch you later.”11

Paula grabbed her coat and left the room, leaving Danny and Lena alone. Lena was sitting in a chair against the wall near the door, and smiled when Paula winked at her. She realized that no amount of reassuring would ever make her like needles.12

“You ready, or are you going to get up and leave like Odd?” Danny asked as he watched her.13

She turned to the other three seats beside her, remembering Richard choosing to take Eddie’s place. He had looked dejected, far older than fifty, but he had rolled up his sleeve and taken the injection. As he was doing so, Lena couldn’t help but feel that Eddie had let down all of civilization…what was left of it, anyway. 14

As he stared at her with his drunken eyes, Lena realized she still felt the same. He furrowed his brow when she turned from him, sadness drenching her face.15

“What is it?” he asked, slinging his holster on top of the bureau. He turned on the lamp that was there and opened the top drawer where his shirts were kept. He only wore black, even though Lena had attempted to have him wear something that wasn’t so ‘dreary.’ He’d argued about that, sure enough, and she no longer concerned herself about his clothes.16

Lena looked at him, her eyes filled with fury, but he was busy taking off his shirt and didn’t notice her expression. She let herself relax, got out of bed, and straightened the sheet. She hadn’t slept as well as he assumed. She’d waited for him until almost midnight, but getting up at 5AM had finally caught up to her. Although she’d wanted to change for bed, she hadn’t been able to, but of course Eddie didn’t care!17

“Nothing.”18

He looked at her as she stood beside the bed, her arms crossed. “What the fuck did I do?” As soon as he spoke, he regretted it. She looked at him, shook her head, then threw her head back and laughed.19

“What did you do? What did you do? Oh, nothing. That’s just it…you never do anything wrong. It’s always me, me, me who’s wrong. Me! You’re so…damned perfect! When I was getting ready for today’s walk into hell, where were you? Huh? Where were you? Getting drunk and acting like some irresponsible jerk, no doubt! I know you let me down all the time, but when it came to the rest of civilization…I thought it would be different…”20

Eddie grabbed hold of Lena’s arms, wanting to understand what the hell she was raving on about, but she started sobbing and he didn’t know what to do but let her go. He watched her walk from the bedroom, through the kitchen, and found the unit hollow as she slammed the door behind her.21

***22

To the public, District 12 was a large set of double doors that was under twenty-four hour surveillance by two sets of guards. The only people who had seen it in the past few decades were the principal officials of Area X. Although Danny’s father had been the key person involved those years ago, he hadn’t seen the inside of the place either. “I live by caution,” he said, “and caution never killed a cat.” When he’d found out about the mission aboveground, he’d gotten interested and employed his own personal electronics and technological services.23

They first went to a room that was in the vicinity of District 12, where they were given the possible equipment needed. Danny insisted on camera equipment for each helmet, while Richard instructed everyone on the importance of a firearm.24

The room was filled with rows of computers that were positioned so that they looked up at a large screen at the front of the room. After all the camera equipment was arranged, Danny stood in the center of the room, switching from channel to channel, calling out which camera belonged to whom for future reference. There was a computer for each camera, and there was audio equipment placed in each person’s ear.25

“Looky there, Lena, you’re lucky number seven,” Paula pointed out, sipping her coffee. She had recently given her helmet to Odd since she had number three. She was now number four.26

“You didn’t have to give him your helmet, Paula,” Lena had said, finding Odd exactly as his name implied.27

“Don’t you know? I have a thing against odd numbers,” Paula had answered with a wink. When she’d said it, though, she felt butterflies swarm in her stomach as she stared at Odd.28

Lena felt out of place. The weight of the firearm made her feel as if she wasn’t a scientist; she felt as if she were dressed for war. The helmet made her feel uncomfortable, almost like her head was caving in, but she adapted quicker than Odd. He was still fumbling around with his helmet, all the while grumbling about being poisoned.29

“You look terrible, Lena,” Danny said and came up to her, checking to make sure she wasn’t having any side effects. “Did you sleep at all?”30

He shined a light in her eyes, checking her pupils. She blinked when he was through, staring across the room at Odd. “I don’t really want to talk about it.” She realized he’d stopped and turned to him. “Danny, why do you always look at me like that?”31

“It’s because I love you,” he wanted to say. Instead, he continued examining her and answered, “I’m concerned, that’s all. Did you have the nightmare again?”32

“No. I didn’t get much sleep at all. He, that is, Eddie, didn’t show up until about four. I didn’t get to sleep until midnight, so now I’m all nerves.”33

“Why? There’s nothing to worry about. You’re just going to go up, get some samples, and be home in time to watch me kick your husband’s ass,” he joked.34

“I’d like to see you take him on,” she answered with a smile.35

“There. There’s that smile I’ve been digging for. I really bet I wouldn’t last a round with him. He’s like a bolt of lightning; I’m just rain.”36

“I’ve never heard of anyone being hurt by rain,” Lena answered too sincerely. She found a blush rising on her cheeks. She cleared her throat. “Am I good?”37

He nodded and walked away, feeling as if he were leaving his heart with her.