Ravaged Land: Divided Series - A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller Books 1-3

by Kellee L. Greene

  It was a small basement with three doors. The walls were coated with grime and had bits of peeling wallpaper still clinging on in seemingly random places.

  Benny pointed to the first door. “That’s my mom and dad’s room. Then boys sleep to the right and girls to the left.”

  My heart sank into a fluttering frenzy. We couldn’t be separated. I couldn’t be with Charlie, and God knows who else. I hadn’t even been paying attention during the introductions to know who else would be in the room with us.

  Dammit.

  I had to get out of here even if it meant I was on my own. That’s how it was supposed to be anyway.

  Shawn touched my shoulder, and I recoiled. Thankfully, I managed to stop myself before I elbowed him in the face. I closed my eyes and pressed my palm to my forehead as I sucked in a deep breath.

  My anxiety was high, and I felt jumpy. I needed to think. Everything had happened too fast.

  “I need to get some air,” I said backing away from them.

  Shawn reached out to me, but I turned and zipped back up the stairs. Once I was back in the fresh air, I wanted to keep going. Run. Just run.

  “Hello,” a small voice from behind me said.

  I spun so fast I felt dizzy. After I blinked several times, I noticed the girl standing there looking at me with a big, friendly smile on her face.

  “It’s not so bad here,” she said, blinking her wide eyes. “I mean… you know, compared to what’s out there.”

  The girl stuck out her hand, and I took it apprehensively. I stared into her bright green eyes as we shook.

  “I’m Abby, in case you didn’t remember,” she said.

  “Sorry,” I said pushing the breath out of my lungs.

  “I know it’s a bit overwhelming.” Abby tightened her ponytail. “I’m pretty new here myself. Been here for only a couple years. They found me starving to death in an attic. My mom went out, and she never came back. Tina took me in.”

  I bit my lip, so I didn’t frown. “I lost my mom too.”

  “Lots of people do I suppose,” she said with a shrug.

  “I guess so,” I said, noticing Ross looking at us from the outside of the old grocery store.

  “There are a lot more people at the other hideout,” Abby said turning so she was facing me. “I like it there. Lots of food.”

  I nodded.

  “I like that you don’t have any marks,” Abby said, her fingers twitching slightly as if she wanted to touch my unmarked skin.

  “You don’t have many,” I said.

  “It wasn’t that long ago I didn’t have any. They wanted to give me some so no one would think I was a native and kill me.”

  My eyes shifted down to my arms and then over at Ross. He wasn’t watching us any longer, but he was still standing there leaning against the building.

  There was no way I was going to let them do that to me. Seconds later, the others came up from the basement.

  “What are you doing out here, Abby? Aren’t you supposed to be somewhere?” Benny asked, his eyebrows heavy on his forehead.

  “Your dad said it was OK,” Abby said, jerking her thumb toward Ross.

  “My dad’s an idiot. Should have asked mom. She’d put you to work,” Benny said grabbing Abby by the arm. Her feet moved heavy on the ground.

  She looked at me over her shoulder. “That’s the reason I didn’t ask your mom.”

  “Is there a lot to do around here?” Ryder asked.

  “Nah, not really. Not until we pack up. The real work comes in when we have to haul shit for miles and miles,” Benny said.

  I scratched the back of my neck. “Abby and I were just talking.”

  “Yeah, I saw,” Benny said.

  “Is that not allowed? I mean I was talking to her,” I said, even though it wasn’t true. The way he was dragging her along made it seem as though she was in trouble.

  Benny stopped and looked at me. His eyes were scrunched up. “What? No. Of course, it’s OK to talk.”

  “You said you she’s supposed to be somewhere. That your mom would put her to work,” I said.

  “Yeah, I just meant like she could help rather than standing around doing nothing. There’s laundry. Preparing meals. Always something to do,” Benny said letting go of Abby as we got closer to Ross.

  I nodded, but I couldn’t help but feel there was a reason he didn’t want Abby talking to me. But maybe I was just looking for something that wasn’t there.

  “Go on inside,” Ross said when we got closer. “Tina made some… oh shit.”

  “What is it?” Benny said turning.

  Ross gestured for us to go inside. “We got trouble. Go tell your mom.”

  Chapter 14

  Benny pointed to the back of the room. “Abby take them. I gotta tell mom.”

  “OK,” Abby said sounding as if she was out of breath.

  “What’s going on?” Ryder asked.

  Abby opened a glass door. “Go in there. It’s where we hide.”

  “Hide from what?” Logan asked.

  “Natives. Well, or The Evolved, but here, it’s almost always natives,” Abby said flapping her hand.

  I stepped inside the room where several of the others were already sitting down eating. Their smiles vanished when they looked up at us. They must have realized something was happening.

  Abby turned to them. “Natives.”

  “Do they ever come in here?” I asked as the door opened, and Benny and a few others came inside. “Inside the building I mean.”

  “They have,” Abby said. “But not back here.”

  “What about all the stuff downstairs?” I asked.

  Abby shook her head. “They never found it. When they come around, it’s only because they’re passing through.”

  Everyone was inside the little room, with their backs against the far wall. The only ones that weren’t in the room were Tina and Ross.

  “What about Tina and Ross?” Ryder asked noticing their absence at the same time I had.

  “They’ll keep watch. They know where to hide,” Benny said ducking as he tried to look out of the dirty glass. “But if the natives come close enough, they’ll come in here.”

  “We should probably stop talking,” someone whispered, and the room instantly fell silent.

  The only sounds I could hear were the occasional creaks and cracks the building made, and of course my own heartbeat. If the natives came inside, they could easily find the storage room we were hiding inside. It didn’t feel any safer than the basement had… we were sitting ducks.

  My heart was pounding so rapidly, I could feel the pulse in my neck. Sweat dripped down the sides of my face. I hated not knowing what was going on. Not only that, we were putting faith in complete strangers.

  I pulled out my gun. If they got through Ross and Tina, I’d do whatever I had to.

  Ryder tightened his grip on his club as if he’d had the same idea. As far as I was concerned, Tina’s group needed to be better armed. Any weapon at all was better than nothing.

  When the door popped open, I gasped and pointed my gun at the door. My aim was spot on, only it was aimed at Ross’ forehead.

  “Put that down,” Ross grumbled. “You’re going to hurt yourself or someone else by mistake.”

  “I doubt that,” I said as I lowered the gun.

  “They’re gone,” Ross said shaking his head. “Coast is clear.”

  I tucked my gun back into my waistband and followed the others out of the room.

  “Tina’s going dish out some food for everyone,” Ross said, placing his hand on Abby’s shoulder. He jerked his thumb toward the basement. “Why don’t you go on and help.”

  “No problem,” Abby said flashing me a tight-lipped smile.

  “You guys can just make yourselves at home,” Ross said jerking his elbow into Benny and nodding toward the door. “Although, I guess you already have, haven’t you?”

  He smiled at us, but I didn’t smile back. Charlie, however, was beaming
. I couldn’t even guess what she was seeing that I wasn’t.

  We spent the rest of the day alternating rest with eating. It’s what they all did. For the most part, they were a quiet group, but maybe that was because of our presence.

  There was no doubt that Tina was in charge. She did most of the work, and without complaint. It was as though she thought the only way to have things done right was for her to do them herself.

  When the sun started to drop in the sky, I did everything in my power not to freak out. All I had to do was make it one night away from Shawn, Ryder, and Logan. They would only be one room away. It wasn’t like I was going to fall asleep anyway.

  “All right then, let’s all go home,” Tina said brushing her hands together as she entered the room.

  We followed her over to their underground sleeping quarters along with the others. I hesitated as everyone started walking down into the basement.

  Shawn grabbed my arm and pulled me back slightly. “You OK?”

  “Yeah,” I said as I nodded slowly. “I’ll just be one room over. Not that far.”

  “If you need anything—”

  “I know.”

  Shawn quickly kissed my cheek before grabbing my hand to help me have the courage to make my way down the stairs. Or maybe it was because he was worried I’d run off and leave him there. And maybe I would have.

  The girl’s room had six twin beds pressed against the walls, but it was just four of us in the room. Abby lit a candle on the floor in the center of the room before flopping down on the bed. She smiled as she looked up at Charlie and me.

  “This bed is mine, and that one is Gina’s but pick any of the others,” Abby said.

  Charlie picked the one that looked the cleanest. I sat down on the one closest to the door.

  “So, what do you do down here?” Charlie asked, looking around the mostly empty room.

  “Sleep,” the girl I assumed was Gina said.

  “Yeah and Tina doesn’t like much noise so if you gotta say something keep your voice low,” Abby said, her eyes shifting downward.

  I rubbed my elbow. “Why don’t they want talking?”

  “Tina and Ross checked when they first set this up, and it’s not sound proof. Someone passing by might hear noises,” Abby said.

  “No one guards the area?” I asked, heat prickled at the back of my neck.

  Abby tapped her lips with her finger. “The boys alternate sitting in the hall out there, but if someone came down….”

  I nodded.

  “So, she likes it quiet,” Abby said, rolling over onto her back and closing her eyes.

  Charlie and Gina laid down, but I didn’t. I adjusted myself to be a bit more comfortable, but I didn’t want to fall asleep. Just one night. I only had it to make it one night, and then I could be back on my way.

  There were faint mumbles coming through the wall. It sounded like someone was arguing in the other room. When a door slammed, Abby’s body jerked.

  I wanted to ask Abby and Gina what was going on, but something told me they weren’t going to talk. They both wanted it to look like they were asleep, but based on their rapid breaths, they weren’t.

  Our door opened abruptly, and I reached for my gun.

  “Hey girls,” Tina said breathing heavily. “You all settled?”

  “Yeah,” I said. “Thanks.”

  “Good. Go on then, and get some rest,” Tina said pointing at my pillow.

  I smiled. “I will.”

  The door closed, and I heard her make her way down the hall. There were more mumbles which were far calmer than the ones I’d heard minutes ago. She was probably asking Ryder, Shawn, and Logan if they were settled.

  Moments later, there were quick footsteps down the hall, followed by the grinding scratching noises of the sheet of metal being moved. Tina was leaving.

  I drifted off several times. I could only fight off exhaustion for so long. My sleep was light, and when the door creaked as it was opened, I froze.

  “Abby,” a man’s voice whispered. I didn’t dare look.

  She didn’t respond.

  Someone stepped inside the room, and I closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep. The footsteps padded lightly across the floor.

  I opened my eyelids just enough so that I could try to make out what was happening. Ross was inside our room.

  Abby’s bed creaked as he picked her up and carried her out of the room. After he softly closed the door, my heart started to beat again.

  I couldn’t hear anything. Everything was quiet… too quiet. I debated whether or not I should wake up Charlie, but she would probably tell me to go back to sleep.

  But my racing heart wouldn’t let me even close my eyes. Something felt off about the whole thing, not to mention how would I ever know when it was morning? There were no windows which meant there wouldn’t be any light to indicate the time of day. Would someone come get us?

  We couldn’t have been in the basement long. Only a few hours so far. I wasn’t sure how I was going to make it through the night without having a panic attack.

  Maybe I was overreacting. Everyone here seemed to be happy, at least happy enough under the circumstances. They all appeared to trust Tina. She seemed to truly want to do her best and take care of everyone… keep them alive.

  It was probably an hour or so later when the door opened again. Abby made her way across the floor dragging her feet. Her shoulders looked like they were weighted down.

  She laid down on her bed and sniffed loudly. Her eyes met mine for just a second in the darkness before she closed them.

  Chapter 15

  Tina had wanted us to leave that morning and head back to their sister camp with the supplies. Maybe it was the visit from the natives, but she seemed anxious to get moving. Everything had already been packed up and was ready to go.

  There were several carts lined up with boxes piled on top. We’d take turns pulling them until we reached our destination. Simple. At least that’s what Tina had said.

  Tina had been awfully quiet. She’d barely acknowledged our presences other than to give us our directions. There were large, dark circles under her eyes and the skin appeared thin and saggy. There was no doubt in my mind she hadn’t gotten much sleep. If any. She and I had that in common.

  Abby was in line, talking quietly with Charlie. She was wearing a big smile, but it slipped off her face when she caught me watching her.

  “Sleep at all?” Shawn asked, tapping his fingers on the unmarked box as if he was trying to figure out what was inside.

  “Not really. How about you?”

  He shook his head. “Ryder and Logan didn’t have any trouble.”

  “Charlie either.”

  “These are their people. I guess that makes a difference.”

  “If you were in a new camp or base, or whatever you call them with The Evolved, would you have instantly trusted them?” I asked.

  Shawn’s forehead wrinkled. “I suppose I would have. Not anymore though, I can assure you of that.”

  “Right,” I said inching close to Shawn. I lowered my voice. “I think we need to get out of here. Something isn’t right. I’ll go alone if I have to.”

  Shawn cocked his head to the side. “What do you mean by that? What do you think is going on?”

  “I can’t say right now.” My eyes darted around. There were too many people. Too many ears that could be listening. “Maybe it’s more of a feeling.”

  But it wasn’t just a feeling. Ross taking Abby from the room was just too odd.

  “Whatever you want to do, just let me know.” Shawn kept his eyes forward on the others as if he was trying to put puzzle pieces together. But he wouldn’t get far, he’d need more pieces.

  Tina checked over each cart one by one. She stopped at our cart and looked up and me and Shawn before moving on to the next. When she got to the last one, she whistled and pointed both fingers forward.

  “All right let’s get a move on,” she said making her way back to the
front of the group.

  I watched as Ross tried to ask her something, but she ignored him. She kept walking acting as though he didn’t even exist. It seemed as though they hadn’t patched up from the argument I’d heard through the wall. Tina wasn’t going to let it get in the way of her work.

  “Go, go, go!” she shouted when the front of the line wasn’t moving fast enough.

  Shawn was pulling our cart, and Logan was pulling the one in front of us with Ryder at his side. Charlie and Abby walked in front of them, giggling every so often about something I couldn’t quite hear.

  “It’s going to be hard to get her to leave,” Shawn mumbled.

  Tina turned around looking over our heads toward the back of the line. “Remember,” she said cupping her hands around her mouth, “keep all talking to a minimum.”

  “Let’s pick up the pace!” Ross shouted, and I could have sworn Tina rolled her eyes.

  Shawn leaned closer. “They sure are loud for wanting us to be quiet.”

  Ryder turned around and eyed Shawn.

  “Sorry,” Shawn mouthed, not even bothering to hide his smirk.

  The renegades traveled at a much slower pace than what I was used to. Not only did our speed, or lack thereof, make me nervous, but the fact that we were traveling in a much bigger group made me feel like we all had a big target on each of our backs.

  It was about midday when Tina circled her finger over her head and held up her palm. Everyone stopped. Those at the front of the line sat down on the sloppy ground and pulled out a snack.

  “Break time,” I whispered.

  Shawn’s eyes scanned the horizon. “I guess so.”

  “See anything?”

  “Nope,” he said. He turned back and watched as Ryder and Logan sat down on the ground, taking the snack Abby passed back to them. Shawn kicked the wet dirt near Ryder. “How can you do that?”

  Ryder squinted and looked up at Shawn. “Do what?”

  “Just sit down. Trust they’ve checked everything,” Shawn said wiping his brow.

  The sun was warm hanging just above our heads. Hopefully, it was working hard at drying the ground.