Ruins of Fate

by Jamie A. Waters

  Wes was stronger and more powerfully built, but Hobb was desperate. The two of them grappled on the floor, each trying to gain the advantage. Skye couldn’t intervene without risking harming Wes. She started to go after Veridian’s knife, intending to kick it away, but Hobb’s fingers wrapped around it.

  “Wes!” she shouted, sliding her weapon on the ground toward him. He grabbed the hilt of the blade just as Hobb sliced across his forearm.

  Wes roared loudly, lashing out toward Hobb. The pain and fury must have fueled him because Wes fought like a man possessed. He gripped Skye’s knife, slicing outward and cutting Hobb’s throat. Blood spurted out, and Skye grabbed the children, trying to avert their eyes. With a garbled cry, Hobb’s body went limp.

  “Veridian, hurry and grab a couple of old rags from our bag.” Skye rushed over to Wes, dropping to her knees beside him. The wound in his arm was deep, cutting through muscle and tendon.

  “Fuck, that hurts,” Wes muttered.

  “No shit.” She gripped his arm and turned it to the side to better assess his injury. “It’s not pretty either.”

  Wes grunted an affirmative. “The way I see it, you’ll have to join me now. A man takes a hit trying to save you, and the guilt will get you to see reason.”

  She couldn’t help but smile. “You already knew I was probably going to agree.”

  “Yeah, but I figure you must have other options if you didn’t go for it right away. I’ve never been one for playing those odds when I want something.”

  Skye blew out a breath and took the rags from Veridian. “Kayla, bring me the canteen.”

  Kayla picked up the container Skye had dropped when she’d entered the room. She brought it over and asked, “Will he be okay?”

  “We’re going to make sure of it,” Skye said, pouring some of the water over the wound so she could better assess the damage.

  Wes hissed in pain. Between gritted teeth, he said, “Cute kid.”

  Skye made a noise of agreement. “It’s a deep wound. Tell me you have some medical supplies in your stockpile.”

  “No such luck.”

  Skye frowned. She still had the bracelet she’d acquired a few days ago. It had been her hope to wait to trade it when things became dire, but things were looking that way already. The fact Wes had stepped in to help her had established a level of debt between them—Skye always paid her debts.

  “I can wrap it temporarily, but you’re going to need more than what we have here if you want to keep the use of that arm. I may have something to trade for additional supplies, but I’ll need a ride to a trading camp.”

  Wes arched a brow. “Only ten minutes with me and you’ve already changed my luck.”

  Skye smiled. “Kayla, come here and hold the cloth in place. Veridian, grab another cloth. I’ll show you how to field dress a wound.”

  The children gathered beside her as she showed them how to bandage the injury. Veridian had seen it done several times before, but Kayla watched with wide eyes. She asked several questions, displaying an intelligence that was surprisingly adult in nature. When she finished, Skye picked up both knives and handed one of them back to Veridian. She poured some of the water over her hands to clean off the blood and then did the same to Kayla’s hands. “We’re going to have to get you a weapon soon.”

  “Will you show me how to use it?”

  Skye made a noise of agreement. “Sure thing.”

  “Leo showed me how to use mine. I bet he can show you too,” Veridian volunteered, tucking his knife into his waistband.

  A sharp pang of sadness rushed through Skye at the thought of Leo again. Once she left the family camp and accepted Wes's offer, it was unlikely she'd see him again. Ruin rats moved around too much to keep track of each other for long. She could try to get a message to Chance, but if Leo was around to receive it, he would have come for them already.

  A lump formed in her throat. Leo was gone, and the thought of a life without him in it was more painful than she’d ever imagined. She could try to wait another day or two and hope he’d show, but she was responsible for two other lives now. They needed to come first, even if it destroyed part of her to give up on Leo.

  She studied Veridian and Kayla, who looked up at her with eyes full of trust. Regret and grief would need to come later—once she'd ensured their safety. These two children were the future, and she had a responsibility to make sure they survived—even if her heart didn't.

  Leo climbed off the speeder, motioning for Chance to keep an eye on both vehicles. He wouldn’t put it past anyone in the family camp to relieve them of their expensive equipment. While he didn’t begrudge anyone their right to survival, he wasn’t about to relinquish his.

  The familiar sound of the camp’s UV-protective shield was reassuring. Some of the family camps didn’t even have that luxury. His boots crunched over the well-worn path, and he swept his gaze over the area. He was attracting attention, which was what he expected, but no one had yet approached him. Family camps tended to be more welcoming to women and children, which might explain some of their reservations. He only hoped Skye had been greeted more warmly.

  Pausing near one of the small groups of people, he focused on one of the older women. “I'm looking for a woman. Blonde. Blue eyes. She would have arrived last week.”

  “Lots of people come through here,” the woman said, eyeing him up and down as though taking his measure. When she tensed and took a half-step backward, he understood her reservations. She’d either marked him as a member of a scavenging camp or willing to take what he wanted from those who were weaker. Either way, she obviously didn’t trust his intentions.

  He decided to try again. “She goes by the name of Skye. Two kids—a boy and a girl—would have been with her.”

  The woman pursed her lips and shrugged. “Maybe I've seen her. Maybe I haven't. If so, what would you be wanting with her?”

  Leo took a step toward the older woman. “If you’re protecting her, I mean her no harm. She’s mine. I need to get a message to her.”

  Another younger woman standing nearby cocked her head. “What’s your name?”

  “Leo,” he said, hoping these women knew something.

  The two women exchanged a look. He barely resisted the urge to demand they take him to Skye. The only thing that stopped him was the understanding they were trying to protect her.

  Leo looked around at the buildings and at the people lingering nearby. If he even tried to enter or search them one by one, more than a few members of the camp would likely attack him. None of these people knew him or had reason to trust him.

  Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a nutrient bar. He held it out and said, “It's yours if you'll take a message to her and let her know I'm looking for her.”

  The older woman stared at the nutrient bar. After a long moment, she gave him a curt nod and took the food. “Wait here.”

  He watched as the woman motioned to a young man standing close to them. She whispered something in his ear and the boy took off to whereabouts unknown.

  Gryph came running into the room from a back entrance, skidding to an abrupt halt at the sight of Hobb dead on the ground. “You killed him?”

  Skye lifted her head and frowned. “I'm glad you're back, Gryph. We're going to need some help dragging Hobb out of here. Do you know where they dispose of the bodies?”

  Gryph swallowed and nodded. “Yeah. It's just outside of camp. I can round up some people to drag him out of here, but there's a man here to see you. Tali wanted me to let you know. He looks like he's from a scavenging camp.”

  “It's probably Chance,” Veridian said, glancing toward the door. “Want me to bring him here for you, Mom?”

  “Yeah. Chance said he'd drop off supplies in a few days,” she said, turning back to Wes who appeared to be in a significant amount of pain. “Kayla, why don't you go with V? Stay together.”

  Kayla nodded, and the three children ran outside together. At least with Hobb dead, one potential probl
em was resolved. Chance wouldn't let anything happen to them, and it was just a short distance to the outside of the camp.

  “Cute kids,” Wes muttered, studying his bandaged arm. “We can make arrangements to head out of here tonight, if you're up for it. I’ve been scouting some possible locations that might be suitable. We can walk through the night and hole up there during the day until we move on.”

  Skye sat back on her heels. “If Chance is here, he may have brought a transport vehicle. He can take us where we want to go. Do you have a temporary camp set up?”

  “Not yet,” Wes said and then muttered a curse as he moved his injured arm. “Driving may be somewhat challenging right now. I don’t mind taking your friend up on any offer he’s willing to make if it’ll help get us deeper into OmniLab territory.”

  Skye frowned. “Keep that arm still. Once we get to the new camp location, we can look into trading for something to treat that.”

  “You won’t hear me arguing,” Wes muttered. “That new scavenger I mentioned, Mack, is here and eager to get started. I'll have him help move out the body. We can take off right after that. Fuck, this hurts.”

  Skye nodded and walked over to her bag. She started rolling up their sleeping mats and shoved them into the bag. At least with Chance's arrival, she could get a message to Leo about where she'd gone. If she was honest with herself, Leo was the main reason she hadn’t taken Wes up on his offer right away.

  Wes crouched beside her. “You're making the right decision.”

  Skye arched an eyebrow. “Did I give you the impression I had doubts?”

  “No, but you're a little hard to read. You've got guts. Taking on this guy who was threatening your kids shows me I was right about you. I want this to work, Skye. I think you need me just as much as I need you.”

  She made a noncommittal noise and closed the bag. “Then let me start out this relationship by making a few things clear. To begin with, I have no intention of sleeping with you.”

  His mouth curved upward. “Noted, but I'll remain hopeful.”

  She couldn't help but smile. “Second, those two kids come first for me. I won't put them in jeopardy. If I believe there's a danger to them from any source, I'm gone. I know you’re just starting out, but I won’t stay in a camp with anyone who might be a threat to them.”

  Wes studied her for a long time. “I'll make you a deal.”

  “What?”

  He leaned toward her. “You stick with me, and you have final say in who stays and goes. You decide who we recruit and I’ll go along with it.” When she arched her brow, he grinned and added, “I told you, I want this to work.”

  Skye’s smile deepened, and she shook her head in exasperation. “You reek of desperation, Wes. We need to talk about your negotiation skills if you plan on handling traders.”

  He chuckled. “That's exactly why I need you.”

  “Why do I have the feeling you really don't want to run your own camp?”

  “Perceptive too,” he said with a grin.

  She tilted her head. “Then why are you doing this?”

  Wes sighed and ran a hand over his head. “I was honest with you before. I'm tired of bouncing from camp to camp. I want something more permanent. The only way to get that, at least in part, is to run my own crew. A lot of these camps don't seem to last long. They're mismanaged.”

  Skye frowned. “I've never run a camp. I've always worked for other people.”

  He shrugged. “Then we're in the same situation. Between the two of us, maybe we can figure out the rest.”

  Skye lowered her gaze and stared at her packed bag. Leo would know. He had the expertise to start his own camp, but she wasn't sure if he was ready to take that step yet. But first, she needed to find him. Lifting her head, she said, “I'll do what I can for you, but once Chance takes us to a new camp location, I want a favor.”

  “What's that?”

  “I'll need to use your speeder for a day. There's someone who went missing right before I left Daryl's camp. I need to reach out to a couple of nearby scavenging camps to find out if they've seen him.”

  He frowned. “If you find him, will it change your mind about joining me?”

  “It might,” she admitted, not wanting to say anything that might jeopardize his agreement. But she needed to be honest with him.

  “Damn,” he muttered. “I'm guessing he's also the reason you're determined not to sleep with me too.”

  Skye smiled and didn't respond.

  Wes sighed. “Yeah. We can get word to some nearby camps. At least once you reach out to them, I'll know you're committed.”

  “Thanks, Wes,” she said and kissed his cheek. “I'll do whatever I can for you.”

  Footsteps sounded from outside, and she glanced up just as someone entered.

  “Leo,” Skye managed on a whisper and pushed up off the ground. The sight of the man she loved beyond all reason standing in front of her was something she wasn’t sure she’d ever see again. He murmured her name, and she launched herself at him. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she laid her head against his chest. Tears streaked down her cheeks as she held on to him. “You're alive! I can’t believe you’re here. I was so scared I'd lost you.”

  Leo gripped her tightly, burying his face in her hair. “Baby, I’m so sorry. My speeder broke down, and I couldn’t get back to you soon enough. Chance is outside keeping an eye on the kids.”

  She curled her fingers into the material of his jacket, unwilling to let him go. The uncertainty of the last several days crashed into her, and along with it, all the emotions she’d been suppressing. If she was dreaming, she never wanted to wake up.

  Wes cleared his throat. She wiped away her tears and turned to look at him. He grinned and said, “Let me guess… he must be the reason you wanted to use my speeder?”

  She smiled and nodded. Leo wrapped his arm around her waist and frowned at Hobb's dead body on the ground. “What the hell happened? Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

  Skye shook her head. “I'm fine. Promise.” She gestured to Wes. “Leo, this is Wes. We ran into some problems and he helped us. That's how he got hurt.”

  Leo frowned and held out his hand to Wes. “In that case, I owe you a debt.”

  “I'm really glad to hear you say that,” Wes said, reaching out to shake Leo's hand. “I have a proposition for both of you.”

  Leo narrowed his eyes. “What?”

  Skye smiled and leaned against Leo. He was naturally suspicious and rightfully so. Pressing her hand against his chest, she said, “Wes is starting his own camp. He was trying to recruit me.”

  “Skye already has a camp,” Leo said with a frown.

  “From where I'm standing, it doesn't look that way,” Wes reminded him. “Don't know you or your situation, but I know Skye's been here alone with those kids for almost a week. Any loyalty for Daryl died right about the time he dropped her off in this camp.”

  “Daryl made a mistake,” Leo said, his tone a little sharper than necessary. “She's coming back with me.”

  “Is she?” Wes asked, crossing his arms over his chest. “What happens if you're delayed again? You gonna take the chance she ends up back here? I can offer her something more.”

  Leo released her and took a threatening step toward Wes. “If you want to have a problem with me, keep talking. I'm not about to let Skye go with some asshole she met a few days ago.”

  “Leo,” Skye said quietly and put her hand on his arm.

  Leo spun around and glared at her. “You can't be serious. What do you know about this guy? He helps you out and you're ready to walk away? Just like that?”

  Wes cleared his throat. “I'll give you two some time to talk. I'll be right outside.”

  Skye waited until he was gone, and then turned back to Leo.

  “Fuck that, Skye. I'm not letting you go. I don't know what he promised you—”

  “Is that what you think?” she demanded, taking a step toward him. She jabbed her finger against his
chest and added, “Do you really think I would walk away from you? You’re the only man I want—the man I love! I'm not letting you go either, you stubborn idio—”

  Leo hauled her against him and kissed her, silencing her more completely than any argument he could have made. Skye closed her eyes, getting lost in the taste and feeling of him. This was the man who meant everything to her. She’d always struggled with knowing who to trust, but Leo had always been the exception. In every way that counted, he’d always looked out for her. He was her salvation and her hope for the future. The gruff and abrasive exterior was simply a mask designed to protect himself from the harshness of the world. But with her, she saw the real Leo—the man he kept hidden from the rest of the world—and he was more wonderful than anyone she’d ever known.

  He broke their kiss and pressed his forehead against hers. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you, Skye. Sometimes, I think you’re the only thing good in this world. I was ready to kill Daryl when I heard he'd forced you out.”

  Skye swallowed, her earlier irritation evaporating at the vulnerability in his eyes. “Wes isn't wrong, Leo. I can't take Veridian and Kayla back to Daryl's camp. He won't let me keep both of them, and I won't give her up. I can't. I made her a promise.”

  “Shit,” he muttered and then sighed. “I didn’t have any luck finding Kayla’s camp. What do you want to do?”

  Skye lowered her gaze and ran her hands over his jacket. Part of her had known Daryl wouldn’t let her return with Kayla, but it only reaffirmed her decision. “I don’t trust Daryl anymore. I’m not sure I ever did, but coming here made me realize I need to follow a leader I respect.”

  “What are you saying?”

  Skye looked up at him. “I’d follow you, Leo.”

  Leo’s eyes widened. “You want me to take over Daryl’s camp?”