They fluttered open. “Why’d she hit me?”
“A failed attempt at suicide, I think.” Seeing that the woman would be fine, I pressed the button on the radio to call Sharon.
“So soon, Miss Dayholt?”
I explained what had happened. “She’s a nuisance to us.”
“Have you handled the situation? As leader, it’s up to you to reprimand.”
“The chip?” I arched a brow.
“You know as well as I do that isn’t possible.” The screen went black.
“All these years it was nothing but a lie?” Ezra’s face darkened. “A ploy to manipulate us?”
“I’m surprised no one thought to test it before now.” I resumed my seat against the wall and watched as Kira gave Lotus an extra ration of water.
“What made you suspect?” Dante asked.
“I read everything I can get my hands on. It didn’t make sense that they’d kill off someone who most likely wouldn’t make it to their ten years out here. We aren’t as expendable as they’d like us to think.” I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, night had fallen and the area silent.
Kira handed me a strip of dried meat. “It’s not much.”
“It’ll be enough. Thank you.” I got to my feet and glanced around at Lara who sat a few feet away from the rest of us with her husband. “We’re moving out. Get her up. Keep her in the center of the circle if we have to fight.” A fool or not, we couldn’t lose anyone.
“I’ll fight,” Lara muttered. “I said I didn’t want to get torn to pieces.”
After scouring our camp to make sure we didn’t leave anything behind, I donned my rubber suit and led the others from our safe place. Fawke stepped to my side, taking the lead.
“Forget about your special assignment,” I ordered. “If something happens to me, you’ll have to lead these people. You’re more valuable than I am.”
“No way am I going to jeopardize not getting released on time.” He shot me a glance. “Get used to it.”
I squared my shoulders. “Are you disobeying a direct order?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He gave me a sarcastic salute, then put his finger to his lips.
The rattling of wheels over stone and concrete the only sound as we traveled. When we reached the pass through, we spent too much time clearing the way to make room for the wagons. By the time we’d finished, sweat poured down my back inside the suit.
“A fifteen-minute break,” I said, collapsing on a cement block tossed to the side. It could be the end of my ten years before we reached the far away mountain.
After ten minutes, I motioned for Fawke to come with me and marched to where our latest arrival had been attacked. Thankfully, the light from my headlight kept the carnage from being as stark as it would have been in the light of day.
Shreds of clothing and a few bones were all that was left of the poor girl. Her backpack yielded another long-range rifle and some food we could add to our stores. Her inexperience showed in the fact she’d chosen perishable items. Still, the couple pieces of fruit and the loaf of bread would be enjoyed by all, even if we only got a bite each.
“Nice score,” Fawke said. “My mouth is watering in anticipation of those apples.”
“I’d hoped for weapons.” Knowing he’d take the pack anyway, I handed it to him.
He slung it over his shoulder and gave a shrill whistle, calling the others to join us with the wagons. While we waited, he cut the two apples into the right amount of slices. “We’ll hold the bread to dunk into our soupy breakfast.”
“Sounds fine to me.” I accepted my slice, savoring the juicy sweetness on my tongue. Surprise that Soriah would offer such a luxury in the supply room rose. Yes, they’d sent chocolate once, and a pear, but it still seemed out of character. Unless they knew we’d derive strength from the gesture.
Moans arose from the others as they savored their treat, smiles gracing their faces. I’d like to see more happiness, something in very short supply in our dark and dangerous world. When they’d finished, I urged them on. We had a lot of ground to cover before morning and needed to find a place to hole up once the Malignants started to stir.
A stiff breeze kicked up dry grass, swirling it around us. A few times, they’d blow on one of the fires, then lift, burning orange, into the night sky, the only hint of color other than black and gray and the oranges and yellows of the gas fires.
Lara tripped and yelped before being helped by Shane. I rolled my eyes and shook my head. At least she could cook the unappetizing gruel that filled our bellies.
“Careful about showing your feelings for Lara on your face,” Fawke said. “She’s insecure as it is.”
Remorse slumped my shoulders. “I know. I try, but she’s more of a hindrance than a help. Even I did better when I arrived.”
“Because you’re one in a million.” He bumped me playfully. “The others have started taking their cues from your behavior. I overheard Gage berating her for using too much water in the gruel.”
“We shouldn’t waste water.”
“That’s not my point, Crynn.”
I sighed. “I know, and you’re right. I’ll do better. I promise.” We were all in this together, able to fight or not. It would do me well to remember that fact.
16
It took two days to pull the wagons down the street. Two days full of fighting, bone-numbing exhaustion, and bloody hands as we continued to move obstacles out of our way.
At least traveling at night kept the numbers of Malignants to a minimum but the further we traveled, the more we started to see. We couldn’t go more than a couple of blocks before being attacked by at least five of the beasts.
“This is going to take a very long time.” Kira leaned heavily on the wagon. “We don’t make five miles a day.”
I agreed. The mountain seemed to get farther away instead of closer. “Today’s Sunday. We’ll wait for the drop here.” I stared down a cracked street full of abandoned vehicles. A few buildings had toppled adding to the piles of stuff to be cleared. I grew more tired thinking of the work.
The rasp of stone against metal mingled with the groans of our weary group as Fawke sharpened his sword. He motioned for me to lay my sword next to him. Too tired to tell him I could do it myself, I set it on the ground then pulled my container of black paint from my bag.
“Since we now know the chips won’t kill us, why don’t you wipe those black stripes off your face instead of reapplying them?” Ezra asked, headed for the sleeping wagon.
I shrugged. “I’ve gotten used to them.” They’d actually become a sort of badge to me to remind me of who I am now. The old Crynn seemed like a stranger.
“He’s right,” Fawke said. “We wouldn’t have to wear the scarves if you didn’t paint the stripes.”
“I like the scarf. It cuts down on the stench.” Not to mention the odor of the constantly burning gas fires.
“Hides part of your pretty face.” He grinned and continued sharpening.
He thought I was pretty? I ducked my head so he wouldn’t see the blush I knew colored my face. I’d never cared what a man thought about me before. It didn’t do anyone any good to form romantic relationships until they knew what fate the wheel decided for them. Now, here I was, with a job that didn’t invite romance. At least not in my near future.
I bent my knees and wrapped my arms around them. What I wanted was sleep, but there’d be little of that. We’d need more than two people to fetch the crate when it arrived. Would another unlucky eighteen-year-old arrive with it?
Seeing the chopper in the distance, I got to my feet. At least we wouldn’t have to travel far. The road in front of us provided the perfect drop.
A few buildings down, three men stepped from a building. “We have company.”
Fawke stood. “They’re after the drop. Up everyone. Weapons in hand. We can’t let them beat us to it.” He tossed me my sword.
I caught it. “Shane and Lara stay behind and guard the supplies.�
�
Without waiting for confirmation, I led the group at a run to where the crate started to fall. The strangers also sprinted toward the supplies. I raised my gun and fired a few feet in front of them.
They faltered but kept going as if they knew I didn’t want to shoot them.
“I don’t have a problem with it.” Ezra took aim, shooting one of them in the leg.
His comrades took the screaming man by the arm and tried to drag him away. I shot again. “Drop him.” I had some questions to ask the man. “Ezra, Dante, get the crate.”
The two men ran in the opposite direction as Malignants raced toward us. Fawke and I raced to reach the fallen man before the creatures did. When we reached him, we hoisted him on our shoulders and half-ran, half-dragged him back to the others.
“Stop screaming or I’ll finish the job.” I pushed his arm off my shoulders and pulled my sword.
The others formed a fighting circle around the crate, except for Kira, who bound the man’s leg. It didn’t take us long to finish off the small group of Malignants.
“Thanks for not shooting to kill,” I told Ezra.
“Figured you wanted to know more about this group we’re after.” He tossed the man over his shoulder, leaving Jolt to take his place in carrying the crate, and jogged back to the wagons.
By the time the rest of us joined them, he had the man tied to the wheel and Lara worked on cleaning his wound. “It’s only a graze,” she said. “He’ll live.”
“Of course, he will.” Ezra scowled. “If I wanted him dead, he would be.” He grabbed a crowbar and pried open the crate. “More oats, more water purification pills, a few medical supplies, no luxury items.” He spit. “Not even a weapon or extra blankets. Soriah is getting stingy.”
I still had the pack I wanted to barter with, but wanted to hold onto it until we needed something very badly. “We’ve survived this long. Maybe we’ll run across another scavenger.” I turned to our prisoner.
“Who are you?”
“I’m not talking.”
I put the tip of my sword to his throat. “Then we have no reason to keep you alive.”
“Fine. I’m a scout. Name is Rob.”
“From the mountain?” I pressed the tip a tad tighter against his skin.
“Yes. My buddies will come for me.”
“I doubt it. They ran off pretty fast to be loyal to you.”
“That’s because of those things. Not you.” He pit at my feet.
Ezra kicked him. “Don’t talk to our leader that way.”
The man’s eyes widened. “Leader? You’re barely out of diapers.”
“She’s mean enough to end your miserable life.”
I put up a hand to stop Ezra from kicking Rob again. “How many of you are there?”
“In the city?”
“No. On the mountain.”
He shrugged. “Never counted, but there’s a lot. Women, children, fighters. If that’s where you’re headed, you’ll never make it. You’ll be picked off before you get close.”
I glanced at Fawke. Was it possible a large group of people could thrive outside of Soriah? Was that the threat to our president? I motioned for Fawke to join me off to the side.
“What does President Cane expect us to do against an entire community?”
“Maybe we’re only to locate them. Confirm they exist.”
“Then what?” I frowned. “Continue the wasteful job of fighting Malignants? That’s a battle we’ll win. We’ll never rid the world of those things.” It didn’t make sense. “What if we’re disposable after finding this group of survivors?”
A stricken look crossed his face. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“So, it’s a possibility?”
“With Soriah, anything is possible.”
I glanced at the rest of my group. All people unlucky enough to be sent here. Until we’d started seeing other people, I really did think our job was to fight Malignants until the end of our time here. Now, I wasn’t so sure. Neither was I in a hurry to reach the mountain anymore.
I stepped away from the others and stared at the mountain rising in the distance. Trees dotted the landscape. Not as thick as I’d seen in some pictures, but some variant had struggled and survived. What other resources were there?
Was my life back in Soriah, on the mountain, or would I die in this city? Forbidden tears blurred my vision as confusion and fear clouded my mind. I swiped the back of my hand across my face and turned back to the prisoner.
“Where’s you camp?”
“I can’t tell you that. You’ll attack.”
“What are you doing in the city?”
“Looking for supplies.”
“After all these years?” I frowned.
He shrugged. “The scavengers for that city you’re from finds things.”
“What do you need with luxuries?”
“We can use them to trade when Soriah comes.”
I stared down at him. His community knew President Cane was searching for them. Would the president eradicate them all? Something about this man’s people frightened those on the hill. I needed to find out what that fear was. It could be the leverage we needed in order not to be expendable.
“Everyone get some rest. We move out at dark.” As usual, I took first watch, not caring who joined me. Of course, it was Fawke since he refused to relinquish his role as my protector. “Who’s going to watch over me when you’re gone?” I tilted my head.
“I’m sure Sharon will appoint someone else.”
“What makes me so special?”
“Every group of people needs a leader.” He gave a crooked smile. “Otherwise, chaos reigns.”
I snorted. “I could have been the world’s worst choice for a leader.”
“We got lucky.”
We laughed and sat on some cement blocks, watching for signs of Malignants or humans. “What do we do with Rob?” I asked. “With a thriving community free from Soriah’s eye, I doubt he’ll want to join us.”
“He won’t be chipped, most likely.”
I glanced at my right forearm. What would happen if I were to cut the chip out? Would Sharon think me dead? Did I want that? Without it, no supplies would be dropped. I doubted I’d survive the city without Soriah’s help. I sighed and lowered my arm.
“What Rob has sounds enticing, doesn’t it?”
I nodded. “I’ve never questioned the way the president ran things until now. It’s the way it’s been for a hundred years. Now, I question everything.”
“That’s because you have a good head on your shoulders.” He put his arm around me, pulling me close.
Strange how right the gesture felt. His presence made me feel safe like nothing else could. I relaxed and leaned my head against him, giving into the pleasure of his touch for a moment.
“Hey, boss.” Jolt joined us. “Rob is gone.”
I bolted to my feet. “How is that possible? Was no one watching him?”
“Lara was supposed to be. She left him alone to go fix dinner. He rubbed his bindings against the wagon wheel.” He held up the tattered remnants of a rope.
“Someone should have relieved Lara.” I gritted my teeth and glanced at the wagon.
Rob could only have ducked into the nearest building. He wouldn’t still be there. Now, we might not ever find his camp.
“What’s the plan now?” Ezra crossed his arms. “We still heading to the mountain?”
“What choice do we have? If we don’t do what we’re told, there’ll be no more supplies.” I slumped against the wagon.
“What you’re saying is that we keep on with this ridiculous quest.” Gage smirked. “Endlessly walking and fighting until Rob’s people, or the Malignants, kill us off.”
“We’ll come up with a plan.” Fawke’s tone left no room for argument. “For now, we keep moving forward.”
Gage’s face darkened. Scowling, she marched to the sleeping wagon and climbed into the tent.
“I’m with her
,” Dante said. “This aimless wandering is driving me nuts.”
“It wasn’t aimless until now,” I said.
“Our mission was to find out if there were survivors. We’ve done that.” His brow furrowed. “Why not inform Sharon? Maybe they’ll let us all go home.”
“Idiot.” Ezra bopped him in the back of the head. “Do you really think they will? Not a chance. When we’re no longer needed, Soriah will execute us all. I say we keep our mouth shut for now.”
“I agree.” The less those on the hill know, the better it is for us.
17
One of the wagon wheels started shaking halfway through the night. I found a cleared path between two buildings and told the others we’d camp there long enough to fix the wheel. I stepped through first, before Fawke could stop me and stopped short.
In front of me lay the smoldering remains of a campfire and a man curled up in a blanket fast asleep. A pile of supplies lay a few feet away. I pulled my sword and tapped him with it as Fawke joined me. “Looks like we found the scouts’ camp.”
“Yep.” Fawke kicked the man’s foot. “He isn’t much of a guard.”
The man’s eyes sprang open, and he fought to untangle himself from his bedding. “What?” Once free, he sprang to his feet and reached for a dagger.
“Hold it right there.” I kept my sword at the ready. “That little thing is no match for my sword. Where are your comrades?”
“Out scouting. You must be the people that shot Rob.” He paled and held up his hands. “I don’t want any trouble.”
“What are you scouting for?” Fawke asked, his eyes narrowing.
“Threats and supplies.” He stepped in front of what he should have been guarding. “Don’t take this. It’s ours.”
By now the others had joined us. With curious glances at the stranger, Dante and Jolt set to work fixing the wagon wheel.
“You folks seemed headed somewhere,” the man said. “Mind telling me where?”
“Out of the city.” He didn’t need to know more than that.
He nodded. “Wanting to get away from those things, I guess.” He sat on a pack lying on the ground. “Fix your wagon and get out of here before my friends return.”
The Wheel: A Young Adult Dystopian Novel (Nightfall Book 1) Page 10
