The Virus Within: Third Wave (Book 2)

Chapter 19

My instincts roused me from my rest as the sun neared the horizon. I felt much better after several hours of sleep. Nothing had woken me up. In fact, the Stronghold had been oddly quiet. I paused but didn't hear the usual conversations or laughter that normally occurred during the leisure hours.

I put on my sunglasses and went to the window. The silence reigned as I lifted the blinds and blinked at the sudden increase in light. Despite my half-formed worries, there were some people in sight, although not nearly as many as usual. Nothing seemed out of place, although I didn't see Jess or Nicky at the archery range. With a faint frown, I grabbed my backpack and went to see where they were.

As I descended the stairs, I noticed no new scent trails went onto the second floor, although several went up to the third floor or along the main hallway, all of which belonged to residents who lived in this building. To make things even stranger, Nina and Daniel hadn't come inside yet.

I went outside and tested the air; all four of the scents I was tracking were coming from the same direction. As I approached the garage, the smell of paint grew stronger. All three garage doors were open with a few fans trying to disperse the fumes within.

Quiet laughter and bantering came from within as I got closer. How are Daniel and Nicky possibly occupying the same space peacefully? Walking slowly to avoid being noticed immediately, I peered inside an open door.

Daniel, Nina, and Jess sat on one side of the garage while Nicky's gloved hands somehow held eight paint-soaked sponges at once. Drops of browns, greys, and greens shone on the tarp spread out beneath the side-by-side.

Daniel noticed me and turned his head, which also prompted Jess to look this way and say, "Oh, Trinity's awake."

With my cover blown, I came inside while cautiously examining the paint-wielding redhead. "Considering how much paint is on the floor, how did you not get any on your pants?"

Nicky shrugged as she turned around with a grin. "No idea, but I got paint on the ceiling, on the truck over there, and even a drop of green on Daniel's shoe!"

"Why am I less surprised than I should be?" No paint-laden tracks left the tarp, so she had managed all of that without moving away from the side-by-side.

"Because if it comes to the improbable or the impossible, I can usually manage it?" she asked rhetorically, still dabbing light buffets on the side of the vehicle.

"Probably. That's one hell of a paint job though."

As much as Nicky complained about "mud colors", she certainly knew how to blend and dapple them. The numerous colors and layers made for a stunning camouflage paint job that would easily disappear in the forest and many other places.

"Thanks. Believe it or not, it started out neon blue-"

"Then I pointed out that blue is more for boys," Jess interjected, a corner of her mouth lifting as she fought against a grin.

"I wasn't really fond of the shade, so we went back to the paint shed for ideas. We found a lot of normal colors, and since you were so insistent on blending in, I thought I'd be adventurous. By the way, if we lose it in a field and can't find it, I'm blaming you."

It may have been well painted, but that wasn't one of my worries. "Even if someone borrows it, I'll probably be able to track the paint fumes," I muttered. "How many coats of paint are on that thing, anyway?"

"Fifty? Eighty?" Nicky shrugged. "No idea. I lost count hours ago. It kept my hands busy and gave me something to do."

Jess added, "Even Nina and Daniel heeded Nicky's earlier comments. They figured if Nicky refused to potentially disturb you, it was probably a wise decision to keep quiet elsewhere."