SurvivorZ: Grave Harbor

43

JUDITH

Judith wondered if Noah felt as abandoned and ridiculed while building his ark as she did right now. After losing her temper with Maureen and her blasé attitude towards Lee's grandparents, she almost lost it again when Drew also didn't see the point of confronting them about the boy's welfare. She supposed she was a fool to expect otherwise, what with Drew being single and childless and Maureen being an unfit parent. Neither of them appreciated the harm they put Lee in by placing him under the protection of defenseless senior citizens.

They may be willing to throw the child to the wolves, but she wasn't. Her duty was clear from the moment God sent the boy to save her eternal soul during her crisis of faith. The Lord placed her on this path to shepherd the little children. She'd take her role seriously, no matter how many unbelievers the Devil set against her.

Lee's grandparents were both slow and frail. They weren't only unfit to care for their grandson, but their advanced years put everyone around them at risk. They were an even greater threat than the students and teachers she barricaded in that elementary school weeks ago.

She served God's purpose then by sealing away those who'd never last the day, before they turned and violently passed along their curse to future victims. The Almighty would want her to protect Lee and Emily from the menace posed by this similarly hopeless couple.

Not even the curious glances she received from passersby could shake her resolve to carry out the Lord's design. She remained vigilant, watching the tent Lee shared with his grandparents for the slightest sign of trouble. God would forgive her mortal limitations. If she couldn't manage to have both her charges by her side, she'd at least keep an eye on the one in greater peril.

Her free hand plunged into her coat pocket to play with the razor blade tucked inside. It did this almost reflexively now, no matter her mood. The touch of the cold metal shard soothed her. It was almost like carrying around a splinter of wood from Christ's cross.

The sound of raised voices called from inside. Judith ducked out of sight as the tent flap opened. Lee emerged, waving back to his relatives.

"Don't worry," he called out to them. "I'll be back shortly. I'm just going over to visit with Emily and Robin."

"Have fun, dear," his grandmother replied.

"Be back for dinner," his grandfather added. "I hear they're making stew. Or at least something that resembles it."

"I will."

Judith shifted her weight, preparing to follow him back to Maureen's tent. Lee's excited cry forced her back into hiding on the double, suddenly afraid that he might have spotted her.

"Hey!" he shouted. "Danielle!"

Judith poked her head around the tent providing her with cover. She caught Lee trotting out of sight and scampered across to a neighboring row of tents for a closer peek. Her charge met up with Danielle and some strange boy walking together. They were both carrying bags of clothing. She couldn't hear what they were saying over the din of other voices surrounding her, but from their happy faces, it didn't look like anything important.

The longer they spoke, the more Judith's gaze kept returning to the stranger in their midst. It wasn't surprising that bitch Maureen didn't say anything about Danielle making a new friend during their time in Hanscom, but she found it a little peculiar that nobody else mentioned it.

The girl was old enough to fare for herself, so any trouble she wanted to get into with a strange boy was on her. As long as he didn't pose a threat to her wards. Emily and Lee had enough danger surrounding them already.