“Now I get it.” Corey said, looking from Jessica to her men, to everyone else. “Now I understand what she did to you.” He said to the men. “It’s nothing you can help.” He said to Jessica when she started to look panicked and as if she desperately wanted to defend herself but couldn’t find a way. “Nothing that should be helped either. There’s nothing to forgive Jessica. Just keep doing what you’re doing. I’ve gotta go home to get my favorite shirt. Just remember that you told me to wear it.” He said pointing at Jessica. “Anyone else need to go home too?”
Everyone who lived at Sean’s place had to go.
“We’ll be back in a couple of hours.” Leah said kissing Jessica on the head.
“Hey, before you go.” Riley said, “I think the fact that the SWAT team isn’t all over us tells me what I need to know, but things went okay with the neighbors?”
“Yeah. No issues. We told them that some teenagers snuck on your land and set off firecrackers.” Sean said.
“Your closest neighbor here …” Corey said tilting his head to the south, “had like twenty cars in front of the house, dark as night, and some little old lady opens the door a crack and looks at me like I’m the devil. You have weird neighbors.” He added, shaking his head while he followed the others out the front door.
“Rick and I’ll have to go to town.” Abe said, brushing Jessica’s hair out of her eyes when she looked up at him. “I think we may push our luck if we show up at Paul’s today. “
“And,” Rick said, “you’ll be happy to know that Hawaiian shirts have never been my thing …”
“Yeah, I can’t see you in a Hawaiian shirt.” Jessica said, “neither of you. And um, Abe, I know you went to the trouble of making this but I can’t eat anymore. I’ll save it for later, ‘k?”
“I’ll put it in the fridge.” Abe said and took the plate. A few minutes later Rick and Abe were gone. Jessica and the men sat around the table in silence, observing one another.
“Corey said I did something to you. Did I?” Jessica asked, wondering if Corey’s statement was in reference to the reason that the men kept looking at her in odd ways.
“Made us into human beings.” Riley said, “No biggy.” Riley got up and went to squat next to Jessica. “Jess you haven’t done anything wrong. Don’t worry, okay?”
“If I haven’t done anything wrong, why do you keep looking at me in a weird way? You look … angry. Or disappointed …”
“Maybe we are angry and disappointed.” Jim said, taking Jessica’s hand, “But trust me, it’s not with you.”
“But nothing about last night is your fault!” Jessica stammered.
“It’s just a feeling Jess.” Josh said, “It’ll pass.”
“I’ve gotta feed the dogs, wanna come?” Riley asked Jessica. Jessica’s face brightened, successfully distracted, as was hoped.
Hours later the men stood in the suits they’d worn for the first date night, facing Jessica in the dress from the first date night. Everything about the moment seemed to Jessica to be beyond perfect. It was sunny and beautiful. Her men looked beyond handsome, and incredibly happy. Even the looks of complete and utter devotion on their faces, that had used to concern Jessica, now made Jessica melt inside. They had their family with them … seated on chairs in front of the pool house and Jessica and her men stood facing them. Sean stood between Jessica and the men in a ridiculous Hawaiian shirt. And Jessica had to giggle when she looked out over the audience and saw them wearing a mishmash of clothing. From baggy track pants and torn shirts on the men to colorful spring dresses on the women. They seemed relaxed, and as excited about the wedding as she and her men were.

“Before we read the oath, we’ve each prepared something we want to say to you.” Scott said to Jessica, indicating the other men with a nod of his head. “We drew straws to determine the order we go in, and I got first.” Sean moved back so the men and Jessica could move closer to one another. Dropping to one knee Scott took Jessica’s hands in his and looked up at her with so much love she thought she was going to melt. “Jess. You changed everything in my life. I used to live life from one day to the next thinking I was happy. But I never knew what real happiness was until you came along. I never knew what being in love was. I’ve never been in love before. Not only are you my perfect sexual match, but you are also my life match. I’ve never felt as close to anyone as I feel to you. You’re my lover and my friend and I can’t imagine life without you. I will cherish and belong to you forever. I’m in love with you Jess … Are you crying?”

Jessica nodded and threw her arms around Scott’s neck, burying her face in the top of this head.

“That’s so sweet.” She sniffed between sobs. She lifted her head and looked down at Scott.

He cupped her face and used his thumbs to wipe the tears from her eyes. “I really didn’t mean to make you cry …”

“I’m crying because I’m happy.” Jessica sniffed. “I love you too Scott. You’ve brought a lot of joy into my life. You’ve awaken me to the sexual part of me that I never would have known without you, and it’s helped lead us here. But there’s so much more to us than sex. You taught me intimacy, and how a man and women should be together. Trusting, experimenting, playing. You were willing to include me in the realization of your horseback riding dream, you have no idea how much that means to me. And in addition to the sex and the intimacy, you’ve been my friend. I’ll be yours forever.” She kissed his lips tenderly and when she pulled back to look at Scott her knees went weak. His brown eyes were moist and so filled with want for her, need for her, love for her that Jessica melted inside. She lent in to him and kissed him more fully, with all of her emotion and Scott responded in kind. And for once they were both left breathless, not from the lust of the kiss but from the emotion of it.

“You’ve made me the happiest man alive.” Scott whispered against her lips. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. And I intend to use that time proving to you how much I love you.” Scott kissed her again and then righted her on her feet, nodding to Angus who was waiting next to Scott. Sniffling, Jessica turned to Angus.

“Jess.” Angus said, holding his hand out to her. Jessica took it and Angus lowered onto his knee. “I have been the biggest asshole. No one here has hurt you, as much as I have. But still, you’ve forgotten all of that. You’ve done the bravest thing I’ve ever heard of and risked more abuse in order to try and make things work between us. You gave me my humanity back Jess … words can never express how much that means to me. I’ll always be grateful for that. I’m in love with you Jess, no words can express how much. I promise to love you, cherish you, honor you, for the rest of my life. I’ll never be that asshole again.” Angus looked up at Jessica as he spoke, with an expression that melted her heart. He reminded her of a little boy. So vulnerable, so repentant, and so afraid that he wouldn’t be loved. Tears ran down her cheeks again.

“Angus,” she sniffled. “The way we came to know one another and everything that happened then is in our past and the only reason I ever think about it is to be thankful that as awful as things were then, at least it brought us together. Ever since then Angus you’ve made me so happy. I love you. I promise to honor and cherish you forever.”

Angus lent in and kissed her belly. Jessica felt like a blanket of love had settle over her as she ran her fingers through his hair. A minute later Angus got to his feet and towered over her, pulling her in for a long and deep kiss. He’d never kissed her so tenderly before. Never. And Jessica kissed back. Putting all the love she could into it for the little boy in Angus. By the time they’d parted, they clung to one another, knees weak. Angus brought his lips to her ear and whispered, “Riley is waiting.” Jessica nodded and giving Angus a final kiss she turned to Riley.

“Jessica.” He began, his voice cracking with emotion. The look on Riley’s face right then … the rawness of his emotions, the struggle he made to maintain control of himself, made Jessica feel a clenching deep within her. Deep in the pit of her stomach, there was an emotion so strong and all consuming Jessica didn’t know what to do with it. It felt like it would tear her apart. She wanted nothing more than to let Riley know that she felt the same way but she was speechless and her body was failing her. So when Riley sank to his knee, Jessica went with him. Leaning in to him. He tilted her face up. “You’ve brought joy into my life. I didn’t even know it was possible to feel like this. I feel ten years younger, and so eager to live. Jess, I’ve never wanted to experience life as much as I do now, with you. I hope I can return the favor and make your life everything you could possibly want, and more. I love you so much. I need you so much. I promise to take care of you. To love you. To cherish and protect you. Forever.” Riley managed the last word and got choked up again.

“Riley. I love you too.” Jessica gave up on trying to dry the tears that ran down her face in a steady stream. She balanced on his bent knee and ran the fingers of both hands through his hair caressing him. “I don’t think you could ever really know how much. I want you to be happy and you make me so happy. I am in love with you. I will honor , love, and cherish you for the rest of our lives.” Riley smiled and kissed her cheek, his thumbs stroking both her cheeks in a bid to stem the flow of tears. He continued with small kisses, his hot breath tickling her skin, as he kissed his way along her jaw line to her mouth. Slipping his tongue into her mouth, slowly, deeply, caressing her tongue as he pulled her in, tight against him, Riley poured all of this feelings, hopes, dreams, love, into the kiss Jessica felt all the way to her toes. Neither one could talk when they finally pulled away, Jessica resting her forehead against Riley’s panting. It took all of Riley’s wherewithal to manage a nod toward Josh.

Jessica tried to get up but she couldn’t. Josh had sunk to his knee next to Riley and recognizing Jessica’s struggle, Josh shifted her from Riley’s bent knee to his saying, “Don’t get up Jess, it’s good like this.” They kissed. Soft little kisses, foreheads pressed together. “Jess …” Josh said, looking up at her. Jessica felt her heart squeeze. Josh looked like a devoted puppy who wanted nothing more than to please.

Jessica slid her fingers into his hair on either side of his head.

“My Prince aushoJ, “ Jessica said and leaned in to him.

“My Princess acisseJ.” He murmured against her mouth. They hugged for a long time without saying anything. “I love you Jess.” Josh finally said.

“I know you do.” She said quietly. “And though I’m glad that I’m not digitally challenged … everything else in the story, every feeling that Princess acisse… that I have in that story, is true. I’ve fallen in love with you … we come from the same world now.”

A whispered, “Prince and Princess who?” By one of the girls was the only indication that they had an audience. They had been so quiet in fact that Jessica had forgotten that they weren’t alone. She was so full of love for Josh right then that even the prospect of the others reading the comic and seeing some of their most intimate moments, didn’t faze her.

“Thank you. Thank you for giving me a chance after what I did to you. Both when I was awake, and when I wasn’t. You’ve made me so happy. I never thought life could be like this.” Josh whispered. “I love you Jessica, with all of my heart. Thanks for bringing happiness to my life. I will never hurt you again. I just want your life to be as happy as mine has become. I promise to love, cherish and honor you always.”

“Josh. I love you too. My life is happy and so much of it is because of you. I love how romantic you are. From early on you expressed your feelings for me through the comic and that has made me feel special and loved. I will love, cherish and honor you forever.” Jessica wiped the tears from her eyes as she leaned even harder against Josh and kissed him. Josh ran his hands down her back and pulled her closer as their kiss deepened. Their tongues entwined and caressed and stroked one another. By the time Josh pulled back to give Jim his turn Jessica was rendered senseless. It wasn’t until she saw Jim, standing quietly, looking so sexy in his suit, observing her with pure love and devotion radiating from his blue eyes and lopsided grin, that she had the wherewithal to feel her heart squeeze hard. She struggled to breath as tears flowed down her cheeks.

Jim held his hand out to her and Jessica took it. Josh helped her stand and move into Jim’s arms. “Jessica.” Jim said, his voice was full of emotion, and he couldn’t go on.

They clutched one another, faces pressed together and it was easy to tell that Jessica sobs weren’t Jessica’s alone.

“Jessica,” Jim said again, “you are my life. You’re my best friend, my true soul mate. I will love you forever. And as long as you are by my side, my life will be complete. Thank you for making my life so full of happiness and love.”

“J..J…Jimmy,” Jessica finally managed between gasps for breath, “I love you. Thank you for getting us here. For never giving up, for enduring so much to make our marriage happen. I will love, cherish, and honor you forever.” She managed before another round of sobs shook her. Quiet minutes passed as Jessica and Jim clung to one another. When the sobbing subsided Jim tilted Jessica’s face up and they kissed. Slow and deep they explored one another with their tongues. Jim sliding his fingers in Jessica’s hair and gently but firmly holding her in place, Jessica wrapping her arms around his neck and melting her body against him. When Jim finally pulled back Jessica was overwhelmed by the depth of the love and devotion reflected in his deep blue eyes as they held hers. “Let’s make it officially baby.” He finally said. The other men moved closer, each finding a part of Jessica to lay a hand on and as she gazed across the faces of each one of them, she thought she was going to explode with emotion.

She blinked up at the men … her eyes wet. She’d never seen them so overcome by emotion before. Her melted a thousand times over. She tried to speak but no words would come out.

“It’s okay Jess.” Jim said when it was clear she was completely overwhelmed. “You don’t have to say anything, we know how you feel. You show us every day.”

Josh nodded, “And our mission is to show you every day, just how much we love you.”

“Both inside and outside of the bedroom.” Scott said. Jessica expected his eyes to twinkle with mischief as his sexy mouth twisted into a lopsided grin before he leered provocatively at her, but they didn’t. His eyes were brown pools of emotion, and his face very serious when he added, “We want you to know just how much we love you with our hearts, not just our bodies. If your heart isn’t bursting with love each and every day, we’re not doing our jobs.”

“And Jess, we vow that you will never hurt again.” Riley said, “We will do whatever it takes to keep you happy.”

“No one will ever hurt you again Jess.” Angus added, “I … we … will do whatever … whatever … it takes to ensure that. I swear to you on my life.”

Jessica nodded, sniffling. “I promise the same to you.

“We’re the luckiest men on the face of the planet.” Riley said, his voice choked with emotion.

“I’m the luckiest woman on the face of the planet.” Jessica managed to say before renewed sobs of joy stole her voice again. The men moved in closer hugging her between them.

After a few minutes Riley said, “Let’s say our oath baby. I don’t want to wait another minute for our friends to witness the confirmation of our marriage.”

The men moved back into a semi-circle around Jessica facing the seated audience.

“I made copies of the oath.” Sean said extending a paper to Jessica and five to the men.

“Thank you Sean, but I know it by heart.” Jessica said, smiling at the men.

“So do we.” Jim said, smiling back so much his face hurt.

“Please recite your oath.” Sean said, shuffling the papers into a neat pile. Jessica and the men began the oath. They said it slowly, clearly, and with so much emotion that Leah, Sara, Amanda and Justine had to dab their eyes with tissues.

“Please exchange the rings.” Sean directed when the oath was completed. Riley pulled the rings out of his suit pocket. Jessica held her hand out and the men each took a turn sliding her wedding band onto her shaking finger.

“This is forever Jess.” Josh said, being the last one to slip it on her finger and grasping her trembling hand in his two strong hands. Jessica nodded, her eyes locked on his.
“Forever.” She agreed. And then it was her turn to slip Josh’s wedding band on his finger, then Jim’s, Scott’s, Angus’ and Riley’s.
“I now confirm that you are men and wife.” Sean said and the men swarmed Jessica for a kiss. Jessica was radiant, despite the lack of sleep. Leah had brought a camera and pictures were taken. And it didn’t take long before the bathing suits were donned and the swimming and partying began.
“Rum and coke?” Quinn asked when Jessica was momentarily alone on a lawn chair.
Jessica looked at him in surprise as he took a seat on the lawn chair next to her.
“Thanks … how’d you know?”
“I asked Riley.” Quinn said and lifted his glass to hers in a salute. “Congratulations on the official wedding.”
“Thanks.”
“You look really happy.” He said observing her.
“I am. How are you?”
“Me? Fine.” Quinn said clearly pleased by Jessica’s interest.
“Um, Quinn. I think you need to be careful. I’ve seen Stan giving you looks. Not nice ones either.”
Quinn nodded. “I have too. Don and Caleb mentioned it too. I think the only person who hasn’t noticed is Amanda …”
“She doesn’t believe you?”
“She doesn’t want to believe any of us. This treating us equally thing seems a lot more complicated than I thought it would be.”
“My men had an advantage over you Stan, Don and Caleb.” Jessica said, “They had a history. A common history. They were family. It’ll take longer for you four to feel that way and until you do, it’ll always feel like Amanda favors one of you over the other. But that’s not your biggest problem.”
“It’s not?”
“No. Stan obviously isn’t committed to this. You’re going to have to deal with that.”
Quinn nodded and got to his feet. “When you’ve got a wrap or some kind of clothing on, save a dance for me, okay?” he looked her up and down in the bikini, winked and walked over to Amanda.
“Rum and coke?” Stan asked. Jessica looked up at him with surprise. She looked at her half full glass from Quinn, but took Stan’s in her other hand.
“Thanks.”
“Pretty boy’s been over here complaining to you …” Stan stated as he sat where Quinn had been.
“Why don’t you like him?” Jessica asked.
“I don’t know. I want to … it’s too complicated otherwise, but I just can’t.”
“You know, you could have an arrangement like Justine, Chris and Mark … have specific days together.” She added when Stan looked clueless. “We did that for a long time.” She added when he’d started to shake his head.
“You did?” he asked in surprise.
“The current arrangement is quite recent. Since we took the oath. Before that I had a specific night with each of the men. I think that was an advantage. Everyone had guaranteed one on one time. No sharing.”
“Really …” Stan said, seeming to consider it.
“Do you want some of this rum and coke?” Jessica asked him, “I don’t think I can drink it all.”
“Sure …” he said and reached for the glass he’d given her but Jessica pulled it away and handed him the glass Quinn had given her. She took a long sip from the glass she’d kept.
“This is really good, thanks.”
Stan stared at her for a minute before smiling. “You’re really a natural at this fairness thing. You’re welcome … and thank you.” He said raising the half empty glass and then tossing it back in one gulp. “You planning on motorbiking later?” he asked, standing.
Jessica nodded.
“Save a race for me.” He said before stalking away.
Jessica lay back on the lawn chair, closed her eyes and enjoyed the sun until something blocked it. Opening her eyes she squinted at the shapes before her. Caleb and Don.
“We thought you might want a water and juice.” Don said.
“If you drink a rum and coke every time one of us comes to complain to you, you’ll have alcohol poisoning.” Caleb added when Jessica looked confused.
“Thanks.” Jessica said taking the bottle of water and glass of juice from Don.
“So, we take it that you’re fully aware of the situation?” Don asked while he and Caleb sat.
“I think so.” Jessica said.
“And?” Caleb asked.
“And I suggested to both Quinn and Stan that you change the agreement of your relationship. Go to specific one on one nights with Amanda. It guarantees everyone attention. I think it’s the best move at this point.”
They nodded their heads, “Hadn’t thought of that.” Don said.
“Now for something fun.” Don said, “I think you’ve spent far too much time and energy working on world peace … we brought some guitars.” He said reaching behind him and lifting two guitars, handing one to Jessica. Caleb produced one too. “Want to jam a bit?”
“Do I ever.” Jessica said. Pretty soon everyone had migrated over and sang along. It was great fun except her men were still looking at her with that expression. She didn’t understand how all five of them could look at her in exactly the same way. And somehow the look had intensified. At least now she could recognize love and devotion in it. She realized that Jim was right. The anger and disappointment she saw in their faces was self-directed. She had to change that. She would change that.
And later that night she made her first full blown step in that direction. As a wedding gift she’d asked the men to let her pleasure them on their wedding night. It was clear they weren’t thrilled about it, but they didn’t argue. And that scared her. They tried a few times to take over but Jessica just had to remind them about the agreement and they all but tied their hands behind their backs.
She worked like a demon. And hours later they passed out from sheer exhaustion. But despite her own fatigue, nightmares plagued Jessica. After the third one, Jessica let the men hold her until they fell to sleep. Then she carefully extricated herself from their limbs, put on a house coat and went out to the living room. No one was going to get any sleep if she kept trying to sleep… she pulled out her calculus and started studying.
“Jess?”
Jessica turned to the hallway and found the men, half asleep and completely disheveled making their way into the living room.
“I can’t sleep.” She said, “Go back to bed …”
“You can’t sleep so you came out here? Like this will help somehow?” Angus asked.
“Calculus.” Jim said from behind the sofa, looking over her shoulder, “Well, that might work.”
“You should go back to bed, get some sleep.” She said looking at Angus and Scott while each sat on either side of her. Jim came around to sit beside Scott. Riley fell into the armchair and Josh dragged a kitchen chair to the sofa. “I’m just going to keep you awake.”
“You obviously have no idea how often we wake up during the night.” Josh said, “Practically every hour. Just to check on you, pull you closer … there’s no way we weren’t going to notice that you were gone Jess. We can’t sleep without you there.”
“I can’t sleep without you either.” Jessica said, “Though now it seems like I can’t sleep at all. And I don’t understand why. I didn’t have these problems after Daryl.”
“You were drugged up after Daryl.” Riley said, “You probably slept through it all.”
Jessica shook her head. “It doesn’t feel any different. I honestly believe that both situations were self-defense. I shouldn’t be having nightmares.”
“Maybe the other night reminds you of what happened to your family.” Jim said. “There are a lot of similarities.”
“And, you flashed back for a moment …” Scott said, dread evident in his tone.
“I did?” Jessica asked. Suddenly all that guilt the men were feeling made sense.
Josh nodded, “On stage, with Paul. You said you had to find your family.”
“Yes, I did.” Jessica said, “But I meant you … and the others. I don’t know that I really like calling us a … clan. But family is better. It’s what you are to me.”
“Us. You called us your family …” Angus said.
Jessica nodded. “I mean, doesn’t it feel like that to you? Obviously we,” she swept her hand to indicate herself and the men, “are a family. We’re married. But Sean, Corey, Caleb, Mark, Don, Stan, Chris, Quinn, Leah, Justine, Amanda, Sara, Rick and Abe feel like family. We’ve been through a lot together.”
“So, you weren’t wigging out? On stage?” Riley asked.
“Oh I was wigging out because I wanted to find you. All of you. Oh!” Jessica suddenly realized that the men and the others lost real family members to her biological family. Maybe calling them a family was painful in some way. “If you think the term family might upset someone we can stick with clan.”
“I suspect ‘family’ will more than do.” Riley said, intertwining his feet with hers.
“So something else has to be causing your nightmares.” Jim said.
“What do you dream about, exactly?” Scott asked.
“I don’t know.” Jessica said, “I don’t remember. I just know that I have this awful feeling that you’ll all be dead. You … and the others, and Stasia. Everyone will be gone and I’ll be alone. I just feel so, powerless.”
“You know, I’ve been having nightmares too.” Riley said.
“You have?” Jessica asked.
Riley nodded. “I keep remembering when I saw you chase Paul out of the pool house. When you blocked him … I thought he was going to kill you. No matter how fast I tried to move I couldn’t seem to get to you. Both last night, and in my dreams. We were all trying to get to you.” He looked at the other men, “I keep dreaming about everything that could have gone wrong. You end up dead in a million different ways … and none of us could help you. I think the dreams will have to fade with our fears. It’ll just take time.”
Jessica nodded.
“Maybe … just to take the edge off, Jess should have a drink … or some of the pills from Doc.” Josh suggested.
“Before we get ahead of ourselves and raid the medicine cabinet, I can think of way better ways to tire Jess out.” Scott said. “Jess, I know sex marathons may be getting a little old. But we can help in different ways too. Massages are great for relaxing. Warm baths, lullabies, bed time stories …”
“Scott, sex marathons will never get old. They’re my favorite things … ever. But, um, are you sure you’re up for it?” Jessica asked, smiling at the men, proud of her double entendre. “It’s been a long day … and night already …”
“Oh, we’re up for it little girl.” Angus said, trying to sound insulted as he ran his hand from Jessica’s knee to her crotch, “But your wedding gift is over. This time it’s all us fucking you. Got it? These …” he said reaching for her wrists, “and this …” he said kissing her, “stay out of the way. Got it?”
“Yes master.” Jessica said. And that was the last straw. Angus scooped Jessica up and took her to their room. The men following. Jessica’s screams of pleasure were followed hours later by Jessica’s screams of terror as Jessica had nightmare after nightmare. Again.
The next morning the men dragged themselves into the living room while Jessica showered.
“Is she okay?” Amanda asked. She sat slouched on the sofa between Quinn and Caleb. Everyone was scattered around the living room, and they all looked as tired as the men felt.
“I don’t think so.” Jim said and nodded his appreciation when Rick handed him a coffee.
“We’ll have to get meds from doc tonight.” Riley said.
Everyone nodded in silent agreement.
“That non-violence thing was for real.” Quinn said looking around the room, “She couldn’t have forgiven us if we’d killed anyone and now she can’t forgive herself.”
“Shit, shit, shit.” Angus said, and kicked an empty chair.
“One things for sure.” Sean said, “We can’t kill anyone else. She can’t kill anyone else. The violence ends now, for real. Or she’ll never recover.”
“She needs a distraction.” Leah said.
Jim nodded. “She should go to the bar. I’ve been texting with some of the band and they said Beth hasn’t been around in a while. I don’t think she’ll run into her there, and it’ll get her mind off of things.”
“Good idea.” Angus agreed just as Jessica appeared.
“I’m so sorry …” she said, scanning the room and seeing so many exhausted faces.
“Sorry!” Leah bellowed, ran to Jessica and pulled her into her arms, “For what? Come on you crazy girl, let’s get some breakfast into you.” And she started pulling Jessica to the kitchen.
“We should get started on the chores.” Corey said heading for the door when suddenly a barrage of bullets chewed through the door, the walls, the window. Everyone dropped to the floor. Leah, on top of Jessica.
“Are you okay?” Abe asked as he and Josh converged on Leah and Jessica.
“Yes, what about Corey?” Jessica asked, lifting her head to see bullets ripping the furniture to shreds, the TV shattered everywhere. Everyone was crawling to the gun rack on the wall.
“I’m fine.” Corey called out, “Grazed my head.”
Don reached the gun rack, tossed a gun to Corey, and then began handing them back. Eventually Abe, Josh, Leah and Jessica had guns too.
“Take this you lying sacks of shit!” a voice yelled from outside and another volley of gunfire sprayed the house.
“It’s Tom!” Abe hissed.
“And we’re surrounded.” Angus said coming back down the hall.
“Jess, we’re going to have to fire back … defend ourselves.” Riley yelled over the noise of the bullets chewing up the furniture.
“I know.” Jessica said, but she felt despair seize her. More blood. But then she had an idea. “Hold on, hold on.” She said and crawled to the basement door. “Shoot back but try not to kill anyone. Just for a few minutes. Leah, Justine, Sara, Amanda, come with me.”
“What’s she doing?” Caleb demanded as he watched the girls disappear downstairs. He fired a few burst of gun fire through the window. “It won’t be long before they come in here.”
“It’s probably safer for them down there anyway.” Stan said.
“The fucking window!” Angus shouted and crawled for the basement door.
“Shit!” Riley hissed and followed him.