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Cole asked.
    “I think we’re
going home,” Turner said, a smile slowly spreading across his face.

 
    Chapter
7
     
     
     
    “You know you can
stay here, Shane; there’s plenty of room,” Chelsea said. She watched as Shane
knelt down to Ella’s level, kissing her forehead. His usual ritual before
returning to his own quarters.
    He turned and
looked up toward Chelsea, catching her concerned look. He sighed, taking a long
pause and using the time to sweep his eyes over the small housing unit. It was
a quaint space with an open floor plan, wood floors, and white painted walls. From
his position, Shane could see through the small house into the kitchen, where
he was just able to catch a glimpse of the back door.
    Chelsea and Ella
were assigned to one of the many vacant houses located inside the safety of the
camp’s perimeter. Ella was willingly placed in Chelsea’s care. Shane had his
own place just down the street. Because of his injuries, he wasn’t given a job
assignment on the camp, and technically being a civilian, was kept out of the
barracks and instead placed into a private housing unit far away from the
enlisted soldiers. “No, it’s okay; they gave me a nice spot. I like it there,
it’s close and quiet,” he said. “And besides, I don’t think your friend would
appreciate me staying here.” Shane stood and turned to the door, gripping the
handle. He stopped at the sound of her voice.
    “What? Why would
you even say that?” Chelsea asked. “Don’t even try using him as an excuse.”
    Shane shrugged his
shoulders and looked away. “Just saying it wouldn’t be appropriate, is all.”
    “You can’t hide
your worry, Shane. It’s okay—just stay with us,” she said. “We would both feel
safer with you in the house.”
    Ella reached out
and grabbed his free hand. “Stay, Shane.”
    He looked down at
the girl and smiled. As he began to speak, the sounds of automatic weapons fire
erupted from far away. He easily recognized the sounds. Shane’s muscles flexed
and he turned back to the door, opening it and stepping out into the front
yard, using his body to prevent Ella and Chelsea from following him outside.
    To the west, high
in the clouds, he could see plumes of smoke. Shane knew a fire was burning west
of the camp. More gunfire focused his attention—heavy weapons, fifty caliber,
and the distinctive report of a 30mm cannon. He felt the door push up behind
him as Chelsea forced her way into the yard.
    “Primals?” she
asked.
    He shook his head.
“Not sure; those are heavy weapons… fifty cal, and the other sounds like the
main gun on a Bradley. If it’s Primals, there must be a lot of them,” Shane
said, his voice changing to all business.
    “Think the fire
brought them in?” Chelsea asked.
    “No, it’s from too
far out… way beyond the walls.”
    The sound of motors
buzzing moved Shane’s attention to the main road in front of the small house. Vehicles
turned a corner and raced by just in front of them. As they passed, Shane could
see the trucks were filled with armed soldiers. More gunfire filled the air,
followed quickly by the sounds of the camp’s artillery battery.
    Shane swiveled his
head and focused his eyes on the dark clouds of smoke, his ears focusing on the
distant sounds of combat. “Something bad is happening out there,” Shane said.
    “Maybe we should
find Brad; he’ll know,” Chelsea said.
    Shane’s hand
dropped to his hip; he felt the standard-issue Berretta M9 pistol. He took a
step further into the yard, the tension in his body rising as the artillery
fire increased.
    “No,” he said. “I
want you to stay put for now.” Shane turned back, looking at Chelsea seriously.
“Get your rifle, and keep Ella inside. You’re right—I’ll stay here tonight. I
just need to grab some things.”
    “What is it, Shane?
What do you think it is?” she asked.
    He turned, headed
toward his house, and yelled over his shoulder, “Just stay inside!”  
    Shane ran to