Sudden Independents

The winter snowstorms were unusually harsh, so they waited them out in Independents before beginning their rescue mission. When they found Molly after that first snowstorm died down, they jailed her with Raven, but the two quickly rehabilitated in each other’s company. Catherine did something to Molly, healing her in some way that made everyone more than a little thankful; they didn’t have a single clue what to do with her before the dramatic change.

Raven healed on her own with time away from Chase’s influence, insisting he’s the devil. Jimmy guessed that would explain a lot if it didn’t sound crazy. Chase was evil; there was no doubting that.

After she left jail, Molly focused on psychology and therapy. Hunter found her all kinds of books on subjects like positive thinking, self-esteem and anger management. Jimmy didn’t understand most of it. Molly bugged him to talk about his fear of death. He told her he was dealing with the issue and suggested she work on Samuel’s need for attention, instead.

Raven and Scout started a thing together almost the moment she was released from jail. He just needed to quit calling her by her first name before she would commit to a relationship. Raven offered up the information about Denver without a fight.

Downtown Denver was an upturned graveyard, filled with decayed bones and probably rampant with disease. The skyscrapers were imposing mausoleums. Nobody went downtown.

Most of the kids lived on the northeastern outskirts that stretched along the Platte River, doing different jobs to earn their food. Their farms were supposedly getting better at producing crops, but they didn’t possess the variety Jimmy offered. Eggplant was definitely not on their menu. Mainly corn and potatoes, although their corn was weak compared to Jimmy’s; Independents was in Husker country, after all. The Denver kids’ main sources for protein were chickens, hogs and the occasional wandering elk herd.

Jimmy stood from his chair at the window and stretched as daytime ended with the sunlight drifting from the house like smoke, leaving the in-between shadows of twilight. Scout lit a candle behind him. He and Raven sat with a deck of cards, playing a game that Scout kept winning. Raven kept complaining. Jimmy stared out the window, waiting for the two most important people in his life to return with news of their day. The waiting was killing him.

“You shouldn’t stand directly in front of the window,” Scout said. It was the sixth time they told Jimmy that day and about the twentieth over the past three days.

He stepped sideways. He knew he shouldn’t be there, but he kept finding himself in that spot without realizing it. He scanned the street one more time and sat in the chair that Molly placed as a reminder of where he ought to be. It was usually the pacing that did it. After a moment or two of pacing, Jimmy was there again, back in front of the window.

“They should be back any time now,” Scout said. “Relax.”

Jimmy’s shoulders tightened from the suggestion, but he released his negativity with a slow exhale. Molly would be pleased.

“This has been the longest three days of my life,” he said. “I hope they found something. I can’t take another day of this staring out the window.”

“We can’t either,” Scout said.

Jimmy caught a glimpse of Scout’s poorly concealed smile behind his hand of cards.

“Be nice,” Raven said. She inspected Scout’s last discard and drew two fresh ones from a pile. “Like I keep saying, Jimmy, Denver’s a big place. Just because Chase wasn’t at the old house doesn’t mean they left town.”

Jimmy pressed his hands into his face, very aware of the impression he’d make if he were to scream. Molly would come at him with one of her books, for sure.

“I’m running out of time,” he said.

“What?” Raven asked.

Outside, two dark forms detached from the deeper shadows and closed on the house. Jimmy peered from behind the curtain, his skin tingling with relief when he recognized Ginger and Hunter. Four long strides carried him to the door; he swung it wide open, ready to smother them both with hugs regardless of what they’d discovered through their investigations.

Ginger jumped, confusing Jimmy with her startled expression. Hunter seemed angry.

“What’s wrong?” Jimmy asked.

Ginger buried her face in his chest and her tears bled through his sweater instantly. Her body trembled; he held her tight and frowned at Hunter.

“Inside,” Hunter said. He closed the door, locked it, and looked out the peephole. Then he pulled the cord, closing the curtains for security or privacy, Jimmy wasn’t quite sure which one was more important at the moment.

More candles were lit on the table and the corners of the room darkened. Scout and Raven packed away the cards. Jimmy guided Ginger to the table and pulled out a chair for her.

Molly appeared with two steaming cups in her hands. “Here guys, have some apple cider.” She placed the cups down, gave Hunter a kiss on the head, sat and held his hand.