Dread sent rivulets of ice down my back. The very place I’d wanted to go might be the exact opposite of what I’d hoped. I wanted a peaceful place to live out my life, maybe have a family someday. Instead, I’d be used as entertainment. It didn’t sound as if it would bode well for my group.
“I suppose you can’t give me more information on these tests?”
“Nope. I’d rather it be a surprise.” He laughed again and ordered me back to the group.
“What?” Fawke asked when I fell back into step next to him.
“We’re going to be forced to some sort of test to determine our fate. Lloyd wouldn’t tell me more than that.”
Fawke frowned and stared at the back of Lloyd’s head. “A fight?”
I shrugged. “Maybe a series of questions? We can speculate all we want, but until we arrive, we won’t know anything.”
“I don’t like it.”
Neither did I.
I moved to Lars and Dayton. “Have you had any experience with these people?”
“No. Scavengers stay in the city,” Dayton said. “Maybe these people will send us back to scavenge for them. Or let us be scouts. We know the place really well.”
Lars’s eyes widened. “You’d be willing to go back where those things are?”
“If it meant staying alive and well in this so-called community. If we can’t prove we have value to them, they’ll get rid of us.”
“No use speculating,” Ezra said. “What will be will be. If they can’t see the value in a group of trained fighters, then they can all kiss a Malignant’s rear end.”
Despite the seriousness of our situation, I couldn’t hold in my laugh. “I’d like to see that.”
He grinned. “It’s only a matter of time before Soriah sends an army to our last known location. They’ll find this mountain community. Lloyd’s people will need fighters.”
I now had the proposition I’d give the leader. Our skills for our lives.
By late afternoon, we left the openness of the fields and entered blackened pine trees. Somehow, the trees managed to survive the harshness of our world. No longer green like I’d seen in books, they still reached for the sky and littered the ground with needles. The further we went, the thicker they were.
I smiled and lifted my face heavenward. If only the sun would shine. Instead, clouds thickened, promising rain. I hoped we’d arrive at our destination before the poison fell from the sky.
Catching a glimpse of one of the scouts ogling Lotus, I moved to her side and sent him a warning glance. He chuckled. “You’re just as pretty in my eyes. It’s nice to have new blood arrive in female form.”
“Keep your eyes and hands where they belong or you’ll be missing one or two.”
“I like my women feisty.”
Fawke joined us, adding his glare to mine. “This one belongs to me.”
The man shrugged. “There are others.” He stepped a few feet away.
“I can handle myself,” I said.
“I know, but as our leader…”
“Still keeping with your assignment?” I arched a brow.
“Hard habit to break.”
“You’re her bodyguard?” Lloyd glanced back. “Never heard of such a thing out here.”
“He isn’t.” I shook my head. Fawke needed to stop putting himself between me and trouble. Doing so could have severe consequences to him. “Stop. You might be putting a target on your back.”
“We’re here.” Lloyd led us into a large clearing full of wood houses similar to what I’d lived in with my mother.
A worn dirt path cut the community in two. At the end sat a house twice the size of the others.
“Wait here.” Lloyd left us under the curious gazes of a large number of men, women, and children.
I glanced around not seeing any expressions on their faces to alarm me. They merely stared, no doubt waiting to see what their leader would do.
A few minutes later, a man around Ezra’s age, with gray hair and broad shoulders, approached us. He smiled. “I’m Jenkins, the leader of this group.”
I stepped forward. “Crynn Dayholt, leader of this group.”
Surprise flickered across his face. “Bad turn of the wheel, huh? Welcome to Rebel Village.”
“Are we welcome here? It doesn’t look that way to me, since our hands have been tied since we were captured.” I lifted my chin to meet his gaze.
“Of course. Please untie her and the others. Provide them with food and water. We aren’t barbarians. If you’d come with me Miss Dayholt.” He turned and entered the house he’d exited.
I motioned for Fawke to come with me, only to have him stopped by Lloyd.
“The boss will see you alone.”
I took a deep breath and entered the building. A fire burned in a rock fireplace. On a small table sat a loaf of bread and a dented metal pitcher. A mouth-watering aroma came from a covered dish.
“Please, have something to eat.” He handed me a bowl and lifted the lid.
“You have vegetables?” I widened my eyes. “I haven’t seen any for a long time.”
“I’ll show you around. You’ll be quite surprised by what we’ve accomplished away from Soriah.” He filled the bowl with stew and handed it to me.
I almost moaned in ecstasy at the rich taste. “What kind of meat is this?” It didn’t look like the manufactured stuff we got back home.
“Venison.” He grinned. “Those monsters in the city would have a field day if they learned deer still roamed this mountain. We eat wild birds, rodents if we have to. The forest is coming back to life, Miss Dayholt.”
“If Soriah finds out…” I dipped a piece of bread into my soup.
“We can’t let that happen. That’s why Lloyd cut the chips from your arms.”
“I planned on it anyway.” I glanced up from my meal. “I’d given my people the choice. Cut out their chips and come with me here or stay behind. Lloyd made that decision for all of us.”
“Why did you want to come here?” He crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.
“Same reason you’re here. Freedom. Is this part of my test?”
“A small part.” Something in his eyes made me squirm. “I see you have several young women of child-bearing years. I sincerely hope everyone passes the test.”
“What is it?”
“Let’s not talk of such things today. It will keep until tomorrow. Are you an educated woman?”
I nodded. “I read everything I can.”
“Then you’ll be even more surprised by what we’ve accomplished here.” He stood as I finished eating. “Let’s take that tour and have the cut on your arm cleaned.”
“Our member, Kira, has some medical knowledge if she can be of help.”
“We’ll see.”
A look of relief crossed Fawke’s face as I stepped outside. I nodded to let him know I was fine.
Jenkins led me to a corral of deer. I’d seen something similar for cows and horses. A covered pen held pigeons, the only thing I’d actually seen in Soriah that wasn’t a picture. Another building with slats for the roof held a garden.
“I am impressed. What about the rain?”
“The trees filter out the poison. Nature adapts, Miss Dayholt, much as humans can.”
“You don’t need to protect your skin?”
“Not here. I’m sure you saw how we’re thriving, the amount of children we have. Rebel City is as close to paradise as one can find on this earth.” His chest swelled.
“How did you do this?”
“Fifty years ago, my father and mother escaped Soriah. They were scavengers. They cut the chips from their arms and came to the mountain. Over time, they brought others here, same as Lloyd brought you. He had them pass a series of tests to prove their worthiness. You’ll rarely find a scar now where a chip once was.”
“What if a person doesn’t pass the test?”
He shrugged. “We can’t let them go back.”
So, failure meant dea
th.
21
After sleeping on a mattress stuffed with dry grass and eating more for breakfast than I normally ate in a full day, I stepped from the shack I shared with the other women in my group. In the center of the community, men erected what looked like an arena of some kind. Part of the testing, no doubt.
Jenkins strolled toward me, a smile on his face. “I trust you slept well.”
“Better than I have in a long time.”
“Wonderful. Please bring all members of your group here and have them line up. Your testing will begin.”
“Before breakfast?” I tilted my head and smirked.
He gave a loud, bold laugh. “Cheeky one. I’ll have something brought out to you. Today will be tiring. You’ll need your strength.”
Great. I stuck my head back in the shack and told the other women to meet me outside, then headed to the one next door and knocked. A shirtless Fawke answered. My mouth dried up at the sight of muscles and a wide array of scars across his chest.
“No sense sleeping fully clothed with no threat of Malignants.” He grinned.
“Right. Uh. Our testing is about to begin. You and the others are to line up outside the shack next door.” I whirled and rushed away before I made a fool of myself.
Breakfast was bread smeared with a tasty nut butter similar to our treat dropped by Soriah. I narrowed my eyes, wondering whether this had come from the supplies Jenkins had confiscated. I shrugged. Food was food.
When we’d finished, Jenkins, flanked by Lloyd and another man I didn’t know, stood in front of us. “Ready, Miss Dayholt?”
I glanced at my group. “I guess so.” Hard to answer when I didn’t know what would be required of us.”
“As your group’s leader, the questions will be asked of you. It is up to you to determine the fate of your people.” Instead of the friendly demeanor of this morning, Jenkins’s face now looked carved from stone. “The others will not answer. They will not speak. If they do, they are forfeited. Understand?”
Everyone nodded. A muscle ticked in Fawke’s jaw signaling his displeasure.
“We understand.” I stood as straight as I could and met his gaze.
“How many under your command have you lost?”
“Two. To Malignants.”
“Have you allowed others into your group that were not sent by Soriah?”
“Yes. Two scavengers we captured.” I motioned to Lars and Dayton. “We don’t kill valuable people.”
His eyes flashed. “Go down the line and tell me the value of each of your people and why I should allow them to stay.”
Questions weren’t so bad. I could do this all day. “Fawke is our best fighter and calm during a battle. Plus, he’s young. Dante is strong as an ox and good at repairs. Gage is of breeding age and a good fighter. Moses is a good fighter with a good head on his shoulders. A sharp wit. Ezra has been here for a very long time and knows how to survive, not to mention his skill with a sword. Kira is young enough to bear children and is handy with injuries. Jolt is young and strong, getting better at fighting every day. Lars and Dayton, former scavengers, know the city inside and out. Riva, Samson, Jep, Lotus, and Zed are all survivors, strong, quick thinkers, and obedient. Ted and Ned are the newest members of our group, but learning fast.”
“And you, Miss Dayholt? What is your worth?”
I swallowed against the boulder building in my throat. “I’ve kept these people alive long enough to find you.”
His features relaxed as he laughed. “Not to mention humorous, beautiful, of child-bearing age, and I would guess you’re rather tough for such a small girl.”
“Stronger than I look. Anything else?”
“Each of you will have to fight to the death. I’ve brought my best fighters.”
I blinked, trying desperately to find a way to keep people from dying. “No.”
His brows rose. “Excuse me?”
Fawke elbowed me and hissed.
Ignoring him, I stepped out of line. “Give me my sword and a knife. I’ll get into that ring with your best fighter. Win or lose, my people are free to stay here or return to the city.” I thrust out my hand. “Why lose lives?”
His smile faded, her expression stern again. After staring at my hand for several tense seconds, he gave it a shake. “I’ll miss you, little one. You have five minutes to say goodbye to your people.”
Nodding, I turned and met the startled faces of my friends. “Well.”
“What are you doing?” Fawke grabbed me by the shoulders. “You know I’m the best fighter we have. Why?”
“Because I’m the leader. Don’t assume I’ll lose, Fawke. You know I’m good and fast with my sword. My size can be an advantage.”
“Like I always said, balls as big as buildings, this one.” Ezra clapped me on the back. “If you die, I’ll kill the one you fought. That’s a promise.”
“Then I won’t lose, because that would mean your death.” My chin quivered. “All of you mean too much to me for me to let any of you do this.” My gaze locked back on Fawke. “Especially you. Don’t you see why I’m doing this?”
“Let me go. Please.” His voice shook.
“The deal has been made. Any tips are welcome.” I forced a smile.
“Stay low,” Ezra said. “Distract with the sword, but jab with the knife.”
“Run circles around the guy,” Jolt suggested. “Tire him out.”
“Don’t die.” Fawke grabbed me in a hug. “You don’t need our ridiculous tips. You need the grace of the Supreme Being.”
I couldn’t breathe, he held me so tight. My arms snaked around his waist. I took a deep breath of his scent and stepped back. “I can do this.” I gave a definitive nod and headed for the arena.
Lloyd held out a sword.
“I want my sword and Fawke’s knife.” I needed a weapon my hands knew and having something of Fawke’s with me would give me strength.
He marched off, scowling, and returned with the items I requested. “Good luck.” He stepped into the ring.
I grinned, stopping at a patch of mud. I dipped my fingers in and smeared the mud on my cheeks before climbing under the ropes. The stripes were my badge of leadership. I wouldn’t fight without them. “This is fitting. I look forward to killing the one who faked friendship only to kidnap.”
“Do your best, little girl.” He picked up a sword from the ground. “I’ll try to make your death fast.”
My heart threatened to beat free as we circled each other. I watched his face, ready for him to make the first move.
He lunged with a yell that raised the hair on my arms. His weapon whooshed through the air.
I ducked and jabbed at his gut, missing, then dropped and rolled out of the way. Leaping to my feet, I swung my sword.
Cheers rose from one side of the ring, cries of encouragement from the other.
“You go, Crynn!” Jolt yelled.
Not wanting to be distracted, I blocked out all sound other than my breathing and the clanking of our swords as they collided. The contact vibrated up my arms.
Lloyd stood a full head taller and weighed at least eighty pounds more. Survival would be a miracle for me.
His sword skimmed across my mid-section. I hissed and jabbed with my knife, catching him in the upper thigh. Surprise flickered across his face.
“Didn’t expect me to draw blood, did you?” I swung my sword over my head.
“Not really.” He blocked my swing.
I shot out my leg, tripping him.
He stumbled, but stayed on his feet. His next swing grazed deeper across my ribcage.
I dropped to my knees, striking upward with my sword and slicing through his bicep. He dropped his sword.
Cursing, he moved a few feet away from me, a murderous look in his eyes. He roared and charged.
I rolled out of the way, coming to my feet in one smooth move, sweeping his leg.
He dropped.
I straddled him, my sword at his throat. “It’s done
.” My breath came in gasps.
“Finish him, Miss Dayholt,” Jenkins ordered.
I met the resigned gaze of Lloyd, then stepped back, lowering my weapon. “I will not kill him. If we are to fight Soriah, we need every fighter we have.” I held out my hand to the fallen man. Blood dripped from my fingers from a cut on my arm I hadn’t realized I’d gotten.
Lloyd nodded and accepted my help. “You are a worthy opponent, Miss Dayholt.” He bowed.
Together, we faced Jenkins. I prayed my refusing to kill Lloyd wouldn’t have dire consequences for my group who now joined us in the ring.
Jenkins shook his head. “You have a point, Little One. I welcome you and yours into our community. Seek medical attention. Tomorrow, you’ll all be assigned tasks. No one gets a free ride in Rebel City.” He turned and marched away.
“You’ve got guts,” Lloyd said. “Refusing to follow a direct order usually results in death.”
“Until he welcomed us in, we weren’t citizens. We didn’t have to follow his orders.”
“Come on.” Kira took me by the arm. “I know where the medical building is.”
“One minute.” I turned to face Fawke, handing him his knife.
He grinned. “You never cease to amaze me.” His gaze caressed my face. “You were wonderful.”
Now that the adrenaline started to wear off, my limbs trembled, and my cuts felt on fire. “I wasn’t so sure a few times.” I swayed.
Fawke scooped me into his arms. “Lead the way, Kira. Our little bird needs tending to.”
She took my sword from my hand and headed to a small building at the end of the path. Inside, an older woman rolled bandages. Lloyd received treatment opposite the door from another woman.
“Put her here.” She motioned to a wooden table. “We’ll have her back to normal in no time.” She pulled a curtain hung from the ceiling across, blocking me from the others, then started to remove my clothing. “These things have seen better days, young lady. We’ll get you something clean to wear and have these washed and repaired.”
“Thank you. These rags are a part of me. I don’t want to let them go.” I sucked in a deep breath as she poured something foul over the cut on my arm.
“This will need stitching. Same with one of the cuts on your mid-section. You’re a lucky young lady. The man you fought will require more stitches.” She smiled.
The Wheel: A Young Adult Dystopian Novel (Nightfall Book 1) Page 13
