Clear Water, Hidden Danger

Chapter 40 – Eaves Dropping

The infirmary was dim, quiet, and too cold for comfort. Cruz stood by Fatima’s bedside, adjusting an IV line with steady hands. Fatima’s breathing had evened out, shallow but no longer ragged. When I stepped in, her eyelids fluttered open just enough.

“…RJ…”

Her voice was barely a breath. I squeezed her hand. She tried to squeeze back.

Cruz spoke low so she wouldn’t startle her.
“Vitals are holding. She’s stable enough for now. But she needs this run, RJ. We all do.”

“I know,” I said. “We’ll bring back everything.”

One last look at the small, fragile shape under the blanket… then I stepped out.

Mateo Sr. sat alone on a cot in the corner of the corridor, elbows on his knees, eyes hollow but dry. He looked up when I stopped in front of him.

“Just wanted to check on you,” I said.

He nodded once — slow, heavy. His voice was gravel.

“Bring back enough so no one else… has to bury a child.”

I clasped his shoulder. He didn’t move. I left him with his grief and kept moving.

The next doorway held the people I couldn’t leave without seeing — Gabriel, Marie, and Cami. They barreled into me the second I stepped inside. I crouched to wrap all three at once, breathing them in like oxygen.

“I’ll be back before lunch hits the table,” I told them.
Cami clung tighter.
Marie wiped her eyes.
Gabriel nodded hard like he believed me even if he didn’t.

Alex came up last, placing her hands on my chest.

“You be careful,” she whispered.
“And you come back to me, Pa.”

“Always,” I said, kissing her forehead.

Down the hall, Alaina and Cruz walked past carrying equipment. I tossed a quick wave as I headed for the door.

“Alright, I’m off. Chao Cruz. Bye Alaina.”

They both nodded without breaking stride.

And then I was outside.

The yard was alive long before dawn — not loud, not frantic, just steady with motion and purpose. Gear crates snapped shut. Ammo belts clacked into rifles. Boots pounded gravel as the convoy lined up into a tight formation.

Neal’s semi took point.
Two MCUs rolled into position behind her.
Hawk and I climbed into the lead unit — the one that would drive one to two miles ahead of everyone else.

“Neal knows the route,” Hawk said, slamming the door. “Lin’s synced the comms. Everybody’s ready.”

“Then we roll,” I answered.

Lin’s voice crackled over the radio.
“Lead unit, you’re clear. Convoy is on your vector.”

I lifted the mic.
“Copy. Starting the pull.”

Hawk smirked. “Time to wake the neighborhood.”

Except the neighborhood was already awake.

I called it out as we drove.

“Lin, you still got me on comms?”

“Yeah. Loud and clear.”

“Opening the north gate now. I see a few up ahead. Let’s see if they bounce off the field.”

Zerkers snapped backward as if hitting invisible glass. Shoulders jerked, feet skidding across gravel. One twisted sideways like something unseen shoved it hard.

The Zerkers hit the edge of my resonance and staggered sideways like someone yanking at their spines. A second ricocheted backward. A third stopped dead, snarled, and then followed.

Within minutes, the swarm built behind us — a few dozen — kept at bay by the distance they couldn’t cross.

“Shield holding. They’re following. As expected.”

“Copy.”

“Seventeen more up ahead… standing still… waiting.”

“…Cap, you hearing this?”

a chair scraped the floor

“Did he say what I think he said?”

“It’s live.”

“Nearing the end of La Platte now… eleven… twelve… thirteen spreading as we pass.”

“Lin, they’re peeling off the road like it’s choreographed.”

“Left on 36th. Fourteen more joining. They’re keeping pace.”

“He’s counting them like he’s doing inventory.” The voice said.

“Nobody talks about Freaks like that.”

“Or makes them move like that.”

“Twenty more closing fast on 36th.”

“Copy. Still clear behind the convoy area.”

“Listen to him. They’re not attacking. They’re… following.”

“That’s impossible.”

“You hearing this. They’re matching his speed.”

“Thirty-nine more. Still rolling 36th.”

“I hear you. They’re stacking up behind you?”

“Yep, ten more. Another thirteen. Approaching forty on this stretch.”

Zerkers flinched aside every time the resonance brushed them, as if shoved by a sudden burst of wind they couldn’t see.

“That number’s climbing. Fast.”

“…he’s dragging half the damn street behind him.”

“What the hell is he?”

“Still on 36th. About one-fifty now. Steady.”

“…this is real.” The voice said.

“He’s guiding them.”

“Not guiding. Leading.”

“…keep listening.”

“Crossing Blackhawk soon. Lane is clear. Not a single Zerker near the convoy.”

“Copy. Semi rolling. Both MCUs tight. You’re good.” Neal said.

“He’s clearing the whole damn corridor.”

“We’d be dead if we tried that.”

“…if he can do this… we need to think bigger.”

“…not yet. Keep listening.”

“Update. Total behind me now… pushing two-twenty. All locked on. All moving.”

“Copy all. Convoy ready to roll when you call it.”

“Then let’s go wake up Bellevue.”

========================================
ANONYMOUS FIELD LOG — ENTRY ALPHA
CLASSIFIED — PROJECT ECHO CLEARANCE REQUIRED:
Anchor conducted final pre-departure checks across CWP. Emotional stabilization phase completed with priority individuals (family cohort and high-risk morale cases). Subject Fatima remains fragile but viable; Cruz projects limited survival window pending medical retrieval. Anchor and secondary guard (Hawk) initiated forward-run protocol at dawn. Immediate effect: regional Phase III clusters collapsed inward toward Anchor’s resonance field and formed sustained pursuit vector. Anchor’s movement cleared entire road lattice behind him, producing safe corridor for convoy. Internal chatter across CWP confirmed live observation of unprecedented influence over Phase III. Continued covert monitoring required; sublevel hum remained reactive throughout.
========================================
ANONYMOUS FIELD LOG — ENTRY BRAVO
CLASSIFIED — PROJECT ECHO CLEARANCE REQUIRED:
NLC monitored CWP convoy activation via unsecured civilian bands. Staff shock escalated after confirming Anchor’s ability to shift Phase III trajectories across multiple city blocks. Several personnel openly questioned continued independence of NLC given Anchor’s demonstrated range. Leadership fractured: Maj. Jackson advocates controlled alliance, Capt. Baker urges immediate relocation, Dr. Mercer prioritizes retention of sublevel data over evacuation readiness. Civilian populations preparing for rapid departure pending Anchor arrival. Infiltration cover secure; resonance telemetry from Anchor’s forward run matching predicted oscillation patterns for long-range field dominance.