{"id":1002,"date":"2012-01-06T00:00:55","date_gmt":"2012-01-06T05:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1002"},"modified":"2012-01-04T09:23:20","modified_gmt":"2012-01-04T14:23:20","slug":"autumn-chapter-1-02","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1002","title":{"rendered":"Autumn – Chapter 1 – 02"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom\u2019s cursing had tapered\u00a0down to nothing by the time Matt and Phelan joined him under the pop-up tent at the center of the settlement\u2019s construction zone.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He\u2019d slumped into the folding chair near a makeshift desk and was scowling at the papers strewn across it, a pencil over his ear and another drumming irritably against the desktop.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan didn\u2019t seem to notice the other man\u2019s foul mood.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHey, Thom?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You guys drew a map of the proposed layout of the place, right?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt tried to smother a grimace as Thom looked sharply up at Phelan.<\/span>\u00a0 Here comes the wrath.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cRory\u2019s got it right now,\u201d Thom said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His eyes narrowed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan jerked a thumb toward Matt, who crossed his arms.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe\u2019re trying to find a spot to set up a forge for Matt.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cA forge?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom glanced at Matt, sour expression melting into a quizzical look.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cLike you made noises about a few weeks ago?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I did mention something about that a few weeks ago, didn\u2019t I?\u00a0 <\/span>When I had them haul the anvil back.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah, something like that.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan\u2019s going to help me get my shit together.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom\u2019s\u00a0gaze flicked to Phelan.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt rocked back against his heels as\u00a0the ghost of a smile flitted across Thom\u2019s expression.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Shit.\u00a0 <\/span>Does he actually <\/span><\/em>like<\/span> Phelan?<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>That was unexpected.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt was fairly sure that the two men wouldn\u2019t get along, given everything that Phelan claimed, everything that he represented\u2014for Thom, for all of them.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Then again, Thom seemed <\/span>different<\/span><\/em> since Phelan had come, but Matt had chalked that up to the engagement.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Now he stood there, staring at his brother-to-be, and felt confusion bubbling up from somewhere deep in his belly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnyway,\u201d Matt said, breaking the awkward momentary silence, \u201cdo you have any suggestions?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>About where we should maybe grid out a space?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>There\u2019s room, right?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOh, yeah.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Of course there\u2019s room.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom pushed himself upright with a wince and reached for his crutches.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCome on, I\u2019ll show you a spot I think might work out.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Pretty close to one of the dorms, so we\u2019ll be able to salvage some bricks, too.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His brows knit and he paused in the process of getting his crutches under his arms.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTala said something about maybe putting together a brick oven later, but I\u2019m not sure if she was talking about one to bake bricks or bread.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Maybe I should\u2019ve asked her.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He shrugged slightly and waved a dismissive hand before he started to limp out from the small tent and into the autumn sunshine.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Weeks of rain had left the ground sodden, though it was slowly starting to dry out as days passed, sunny and breezy.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWell, that\u2019s a relief,\u201d Matt said.<\/span>\u00a0 At least I think it is.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>Neither he nor Phelan had to hurry to keep up with Thom\u2019s limping gait as he led them toward the rear of the gridded-out settlement, past the makeshift shelters of storage sheds salvaged from the local home improvement warehouse.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They were still laying additional roofing over the clusters of those and debating how to insulate them against the coming Michigan winter\u2014no one knew how much time they\u2019d have before <\/span>that<\/span><\/em> hit.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Beyond where Thom had made noises about building the bathhouse, a few dozen yards from the well, Thom stopped walking.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He turned back to the other two and leaned against one crutch, a trace of pain crossing through his expression as his ribs probably protested against the shifting of his weight.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat about right here?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan immediately began to pace the area, muttering to himself under his breath.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He crouched, checking the grade, touched the ground to check the drainage, then bounced back to his feet and apparently began doing mental calculations, gesturing mostly to himself as he seemed to map out the forge they were thinking about building.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt just watched him, dumbfounded.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Either he knows what he\u2019s about, or he\u2019s completely out of his mind, and so am I for asking his advice in the first place.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>The fact that Phelan has mostly volunteered his supposed expertise momentarily escaped Matt\u2019s notice as Thom edged closer, watching Phelan with as much morbid fascination as Matt.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSo what brought up the whole forge issue?\u201d Thom murmured, still leaning more on one crutch than the other, probably to make it easier to keep weight off his bad ankle.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt frowned for a moment. <\/span>Bah. He\u2019s not going to get upset over wanting to defend ourselves against whatever\u2019s out there. We both know it.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0<\/span>Still, he said, \u201cAre you sure you want to know?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom smiled ruefully. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cMaybe not, but I\u2019m asking anyway. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Out with it.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>After another moment of silent indecision, Matt just shook his head. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cWeapons.\u00a0 God knows we need them for when those things come back for another stab at us.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom\u2019s lips thinned. \u201cBecause we know they\u2019ll come,\u201d he murmured, shivering slightly. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Matt put a hand on his arm.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou okay?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah,\u201d Thom said quietly, his eyes on Phelan. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cJust thinking. The damned things talked to me, Matt. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>That day your sister almost died? <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>It talked to me and then it <\/span>laughed<\/span><\/em> at me. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>That\u2019s not going to happen again.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Shivers shot down Matt\u2019s spine. <\/span>Shit and goddamn.<\/span><\/em> \u201cDoes Marin know?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Just Jay and Phelan.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Now you. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>It stays that way until I say otherwise.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cRight,\u201d Matt said quietly, marveling at how much his relationship with Thom had changed in a matter of days since the end of the world they\u2019d known. Matt had to admit that it was easier on all of them when he and Thom were getting along instead of fighting about stupid, petty things like whether or not Matt thought Thom was good enough for his big sister, or what aspects of said equation were his business.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>No, being friends with Thom was better, even if it wasn\u2019t always easier.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWeapons are a good idea,\u201d Thom said quietly, still watching Phelan.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAny advantage we can get over anyone and any<\/span>thing<\/span><\/em> else is good for the long run in my book.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His gaze flicked away momentarily, toward where some of the others were working on laying additional roofing over their shelters.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe\u2019ve still got a lot of work to do, and fewer hands to do it than before.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019ll get done,\u201d Matt said, trying to inject as much confidence as possible into his voice.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s got to if we\u2019re going to live long enough for everything you and Marin have seen to come true.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He regretted the words as soon as they came out of his mouth, and winced as Thom winced.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWell,\u201d Thom said quietly, \u201cmost of them, anyway.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe won\u2019t let anything happen to her, Thom.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Not everything has to be, right?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah,\u201d Thom said, then shook himself, looking at Phelan.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWell?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Will it work or won\u2019t it?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan looked up from gesturing to himself and pacing.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHuh?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Oh, yeah.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I think it will.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We\u2019ll just have to do a little work on it, that\u2019s all.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We\u2019ll have to build up a little mound and lay some foundation work and\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cFine,\u201d Thom said, turning to go.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe\u2019ll discuss the particulars after dinner.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019ve got some stuff I have to check on.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>As Thom limped away, Phelan dusted his hands off on the seat of his jeans and shot Matt a quizzical look.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with him?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cJust something I said,\u201d Matt muttered, damning himself for a fool.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>One step forward, two steps back.\u00a0 <\/span>If Marin finds out, she\u2019ll take a piece out of my hide for it.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Of course, his sister would never find out, because that was the one secret that Thom didn\u2019t have the guts to tell her. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>No matter how much he loved her\u2014no matter how much anyone loved another person\u2014it was a terrifying thing to tell them that you had trouble believing in your own visions because you saw <\/span>their<\/span><\/em> death and couldn\u2019t bear it.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt sighed and shook his head, then started following in Thom\u2019s wake, Phelan on his heels.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom\u2019s cursing had tapered\u00a0down to nothing by the time Matt and Phelan joined him under the pop-up tent at the center of the settlement\u2019s construction zone.\u00a0 He\u2019d slumped into the folding chair near a makeshift desk and was scowling … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,35,37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1002","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autumn","category-book-2","category-book-2-chapter-01"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-ga","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1002","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1002"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1002\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1004,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1002\/revisions\/1004"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1002"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1002"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}