“Hopefully, our task will be much easier now. Good job, Minji.”
While Minji took a moment to kiss Bailey goodbye, Alec heaved the diaper bag with water and protein bars over his shoulder. Minji had earlier emptied it of Bailey’s things then repacked it for their journey. Though it hurt to be apart from Bailey, Minji knew it was for the best. She didn’t dare take Bailey with them for fear of something dire happening. It was already dismaying to take Ava into a potentially dangerous situation.
Simone patted Minji’s shoulder, but didn’t offer a hug. Maybe she’d detected Minji’s aversion. It wasn’t that Minji didn’t like embracing people; it was just that she needed to contain her emotions until things were resolved. She feared that if she allowed herself a moment of comfort, all the feelings she so carefully contained would come flooding out.
“Thank you for taking care of Bailey, Simone.”
“She’s a good baby. It’s no trouble. Besides, you two have a much bigger job to do. I’m just doing my small part.”
“Wish us luck.”
“I’m already praying.”
After kissing Jake gently on the lips and whispering her love to him, Minji mentally switched her focus from her family to her mission with Alec. The two adults claimed the flashlights Alec had placed on the driver’s seat earlier when they’d been preparing for the possibility of finishing their journey on foot. When Alec opened the door, Minji lifted Ava onto her hip and carried her down the steps.
The walk ahead was going to be long, but Minji was energized with the thought of bringing the event to a final end. Hope took hold as the burden of the last few days gradually diminished. The earlier violence of the mesmerized had frightened her, but she understood a mother’s need to protect her young. If the child entity understood that Alec and Minji meant no harm, then maybe it could relay that information to its mother.
The beams from their flashlights illuminated the cracked asphalt and puffs of dirt shifting over the surface. Minji lowered Ava to the ground and firmly wrapped the leash around her own wrist a few times before taking Ava’s hand. Her hands were still sore from the beating she’d inflicted on Arthur, but her grip was strong and sure.
The mesmerized continued along their set path. Fifty yards ahead of the trio, the crowd marched out of the desert and onto the road. There was no way around them. Alec and Minji had to venture into the crowd.
“Try not to get pinned in,” Alec said in warning. “Keep away from the tighter clumps.”
Up close, the mesmerized appeared more zombie-like than the day before. Filthy, injured, dehydrated, and wide-eyed, they eerily resembled the walking dead. The only sound from the throng was the slap of their feet against the pavement.
Approaching the long line of mesmerized staggering onto the highway from the desert, Minji steadied her nerves. Even if they looked inhuman, the mesmerized were victims of the event. Yes, some had attacked the soldiers, but Minji hoped that
occurrence had been an anomaly.
The three people were almost to the throng when the mesmerized among the fringes started to crane their necks in the direction of Minji, Ava, and Alec. The countless staring eyes glinted in the brilliance cast by the flashlights.
“Hold up,” Alec ordered under his breath.
Minji obeyed, squeezing Ava’s hand.
“Just wait for a second.”
The mesmerized trekked onward, but the ones among the edge of the crowd continued to rake their empty gazes over the trio before traveling on. None made a move toward them.
“Okay, let’s try to enter the crowd.”
Minji started forward again.
As the man, woman, and child approached the perimeter of the multitude, more and more of the mesmerized appeared to take interest in their approach. Minji was about to halt their progress again when to her astonishment the mesmerized shuffled out of their way, forming a perfect path in their midst.
“Okay,” Alec gulped. “I wasn’t expecting that.”
“I think that’s the welcoming mat.” A smirk played along her lips.
“Me, too.”
Together, they walked on.
Headlights caught the mesmerized in a blinding white glare and the sound of a car engine filled the night. Whipping about, Minji saw a large SUV pull up alongside the bus.
“What the hell?” Alec shielded his eyes with his hand.
The doors of the idling SUV opened.