And that the old 'Vider hadn't tied her too tightly.
Although she had an inkling that was part of some master bad-guy plan. That, and using Harlan to do their dirty work. She only hoped he stayed alive until she brought help. Her legs trembled when she rose on tiptoe and worked at untying the bonds on her left wrist.
They wouldn't use her against Harlan. No way.
But she would use their plan against them. With one last yank, the leather strap slipped free, and she pulled her hand out. Record time. Hopefully, she'd have a good twenty minutes to get out of town.
She glanced at the doorway. Everyone seemed to have gathered for the show. Stay safe, Harlan.
Crossing the floor, she scooped up her pack and drifted across the room. First, she had to get out of here. Just as she reached the door, another woman filled it.
Sera stumbled back. Dammit. She should have known it had been too easy. Those loose bonds should have clued her in. The 'Viders wanted her to try to escape. She balanced her weight on the balls of her feet, raised her hands and prepared to fight.
Bright eyes glanced at her from under a handkerchief stuffed with matted hair and straw. She balanced two shiny stun-guns in her palm. "Which Tesla Stun-Gun model is this?"
Sera's shoulders drooped. Since she had hair, she obviously wasn't a 'Vider. The council had been right–the stun guns were headed for Sanctuary and Gavin Neville's descendants. Well, shit. She hated being wrong.
Uncle Joseph would hate it even more.
And it would set back this inevitable war between Dark Hope and the 'Viders.
The woman's mouth thinned. "You're losing your opportunity to escape."
The crowd started chanting names.
Sera sighed. What did it matter if she told the TSG's model? "Twenty-seven."
The woman shook her head. Clumps of matted hair fell around her shoulders. "They were working on the prototype of fifteen when I set out for the Great American Desert." She stroked her dirty fingers over the gleaming sides. "Does it have a failsafe built-in?"
Sera stepped back. This woman was from Dark Hope. "How... Why... Who are you?"
"Natasha Wilson." Tugging off the handkerchief, Natasha's dreadlocks slapped her shoulders and back. She wrapped up the weapons, tucked them under her arm, then stuck her hand down her blouse. A moment later, she handed a card to Sera.
Sera read the card, once, twice. Holy crap! The woman before her had disappeared twenty-seven years ago.
"Natasha Wilson. The author of Human Evolution in Dark Hope and her sister cities?" The woman who claimed the Redaction and Meltdown had split humanity into two distinct races——one evolved, the other still savage. Sera pinched the worn and crumpled identification card. The picture was the same as on the text-books, but the youthful face didn't match the woman standing before her.
Even the eyes seemed different.
Harder.
Natasha smiled, flashing rotting teeth. "Unlike fine wine, I didn't age well. Now your turn."
Sera opened her pack and rooted around inside. "I don't have my ID as I'm undercover, but I’m Sera Tahoma." She tugged out her pouch of jewelry and dumped the contents onto her palm. Shoving aside a brooch, she pulled out her new communicator. The black mic dangled from the molded plastic earpiece. "Do you know what this is?"
"Do you?"
"My com." Geez, she was suspicious. Sera wiggled the communicator into her ear and adjusted the mic near her mouth. She tapped the tech and static crackled in her ear. "I need higher ground to call for reinforcements."
Natasha squeezed her eyes closed. "After all this time... I knew I was close... I was planning to leave, prepared to leave without fearing they'd follow...
Obviously Natasha was walking the line between nuts and crazy while intoxicated. Then again, after nearly three decades with the 'Viders, maybe that was to be expected.
"I can get you home, Natasha, but I need to get out of here." Sera tugged a necklace from under her shirt and switched off the jamming signal.
With luck Uncle Joseph and his crew in the war room would pick it up, maybe meet her halfway.
Natasha grabbed Sera's hair and dragged her out the door by it. "Now come with me and act like you don't want to."
Pain burned along Sera's scalp, she grabbed her hair to stop the other woman from snatching her bald. Stumbling down the stairs, she stuffed her make-up into her pocket. The pouch was shoved into the swinging pack before working it onto her back. Geez, she didn't have to act like she didn't want to go with the other woman. She really didn't want to go.
Natasha hummed as she steered around the crowds.
Bent over, Sera scanned the people. Harlan and Belle were nowhere to be seen. But 'Viders were. They gathered in clumps——talking, sharpening their weapons, and debating the merits of the men in the pen.
Women with unbound hair around their shoulders hacked limbs off bodies and divvied them up. Some wearing blood mitts stopped to watch her being dragged by.
No one intervened.
The crone who'd taken Wayne and his men's gold scuttled out of an alley. She fanned herself with the ragged ends of her long gray hair. "Nattie! Oh, Nattie."
Natasha slowed. "What?"
The crone brushed her scarred cheek with her hair. A bruise peeked out from under her torn collar. "I haven't gotten my share of today's bounty. You don't mind me taking the tribute's gold, do you? 'Viders don't have much use for it, and I——I'll put a good word in with my daughter."
Natasha spat at the woman's feet. "I don't care about your daughter. Touch my possession and I'll take your fingers, one at a time, then your hands, then your arms up to the elbows, then up to your shoulders. You'll still be alive when I start on your toes."
Blanching, the crone shrunk back into the shadowed alley.
Bent over, Sera stumbled along the rutted road behind her keeper. She hoped Natasha's crazy was an act. The crowd thinned and soon it was just the two of them. "I can walk faster if I'm not bent over."
"The guards are watching."
What guards? Sera faced left then right. Well crap. Two 'Viders stood at the end of the street; each carried a shiny axe and watched her and Natasha's approach. "I can take them out with my stun-gun."
Hint, hint.
Natasha kept them tucked in her armpit. "I'll take care of them."
"How many are guarding the way out?"
Natasha turned into a yard. Chickens scattered as she approached. She released her grip and leapt onto the porch. "You won't be going through the canyon."
"I won't?" Sera rubbed her abused scalp. "I've memorized the topographical maps, the only way in or out is through the canyon."
Natasha opened the crooked screen door and waved her inside. "Book learning doesn't work well out here. Neither does observation. God, I can't believe I was ever that naive."
Sera clenched her jaw. She knew book learning didn't account for much. Stepping into the dilapidated living area, she scanned for exits and weapons——a small hall, doorway to another room, worn furniture, floors and faded art decorated the place.
"This is Neville's town." Natasha angled down the hall and stopped near a bedroom. "They knew about the radiation and lived in an old railway tunnel outside of town. Belle's tribute will show you the way, but be careful. The 'Viders will be patrolling all around the village. Kill them before they can catch you, or you'll regret it."
"I won't be caught." Sera glanced inside a nearby bedroom.
A baby slept in a drawer. Three young girls played house with a smattering of miniature furniture and rag dolls. An older girl sat with her back against the wall, watching them.
"Tribute." Natasha barked.
The girl slouched down further and didn't look up. "Yes, 'Vider."
Natasha patted the girl's head awkwardly. "You have done well, child, but I haven't another 'Vider with me, so you may relax."
The girl looked up, hope in her blue eyes. The light faded when she saw Sera. "My mother?"
&nbs
p; "Is still alive." Natasha wiped her hand on her shirt. "I gave the hardboiled eggs to your parents and sister."
The girl's fists tightened. "My brother?"
"He was trying to get water for them." Natasha studied a water stain on the far wall.
Sera held her breath. Food and water. Such basics and yet the 'Viders deprived their prisoners of that. "Animals."
"Worse than that." Natasha nodded. "But we'll fix that. Dark Hope will wipe them off the planet."
"Well..." Sera wouldn't lie. "The cabinet doesn't exactly see it that way."
"The cabinet!" Natasha pulled on her hair. "Those fools. Are they blind?" Her chest heaved before she shook herself. "That's okay, I planned for this. I can handle this."
Cheering rose outside the window.
"You must leave, while the others are occupied with the combat." Natasha pointed to the exit. "Girls," she addressed the ones playing house. "Behave while I step out for a minute, and don't go outside."
"Okay, Aun' Nattie." The oldest, a five or six year old missing her two front teeth, dropped her ragdoll over her shoulder and patted its back.
Natasha led Sera out the back door and across the yard. She looked around then nodded. "Go."
The girl sprinted across the green sprouts rising from the field and headed for a sheer rock face. Cracks carved out huge boulders but not an opening.
Sera chased the girl. Climbing it would leave them exposed to the 'Viders' view. She hogtied her doubts. This was their world, not hers. Still... How had it come to this? Her life was in the hands of a girl and a mentally unstable prisoner.
The girl disappeared behind the mountain. "It's me."
Her voice was a moan of wind.
Sera drew up short. Holy crap. A giant boulder was strategically positioned to disguise a partially collapsed tunnel.
The girl stood at the entrance. "My ancestor was a set designer. He made this, so if any of the bad guys from Dark Hope came looking for us, we could hide."
"Nice work." Sera swallowed her defense of her ancestors. People in Dark Hope weren't the bad guys. Not that she would share that tidbit, she needed the girl's help.
Darkness swallowed the girl. "The 'Viders were upon us before we could hide. But I managed to get most people out of the cellar and led them here before I was caught."
Fabric rustled in the inky blackness.
"I'm sure you did a fantastic job." Sera's hand dropped to her waistband. Damn, she forgot to get her weapon from Natasha. Before stepping inside, she watched the older woman head toward town.
"It's a little dark, but I know the way through. Just set your hand on my shoulder."
Sera pulled out the tube of lipstick from her pocket. Popping the cap and twisting the barrel, she turned on the flashlight.
Small bodies pressed against the light.
She arched the beam around the room. There must be twenty of them, from toddlers to near adults.
"Did you bring some food, Ester?" A naked preschooler wiped at the snot dripping from his nose.
Others, in similar state of undress, shivered.
"Not this time, Zac." Ester the tribute tussled his dirty hair.
Sera picked at her cuticles. That little girl had been taking care of all these children, while being held prisoner. She shrugged off her pack and handed it to a tall girl with frizzy red hair and a milky eye. "There's food, some clothes and a little bit of water inside. Enough for all of you to have a little something to eat."
The girl snatched it out of her hand and ripped it open. Clothes and food tumbled out. Instead of grabbing whatever was closest, the kids sorted the items in piles.
Red selected a shirt and shook it out. "Zac, wear this and try not to pee in it this time."
The group giggled and Zac slipped it over his head.
Sera offered her flashlight to a nearby boy.
He poked it twice before picking it up and shining it at the supplies. "It's not hot."
"No, but if you hear someone outside, turn it off right away by twisting it." Sera then set her hand on Ester's shoulder. "Let's go."
Glass crunched underfoot as Ester led her deeper into the tunnel. Water dripped around her. Rats rustled.
"Will your people really help us?"
"Yes." And Sera knew just the lie to ensure it. Following her around a curve, she saw light in the distance. They were almost out.
The girl tensed under Sera's hand. "Why?"
Geez, did all Outlanders question everything? "Because it's the right thing to do."
"People don't always do the right thing, do they?"
"They should, but no, they don't." Not even in Dark Hope. Sera dug into her pocket for her eye shadow case. With one hand she activated the concussion grenade. Anyone outside would get a nasty surprise.
If anyone was out there.
But using it would betray their position and jeopardize the children's safety. She tucked it into her pants then pulled a stick of gum out of the hidden pocket on her waistband. The peppermint stick had been infused with a special blend of caffeine, adrenaline and epinephrine. If it didn't cause a heart attack, they should be able to run for a few hours without tiring.
Of course, she'd never actually tested it, and it was illegal in Dark Hope. Tearing off a quarter, she held it out to Ester. "Chew this, but whatever you do don't swallow it. Got it?"
Ester picked up the small piece and popped it into her mouth. Chewing, she wrinkled her nose. "It tastes nasty."
Sera bit her piece. Bitterness flooded her mouth. "I hadn't been going for taste when I made it."
Obviously, she should have paid more attention to that fact. The girl rushed forward. "Wait!"
"I know the way." Ester slipped outside and gasped.
Shit! Rushing out, Sera pushed her to the ground.
A 'Vider stood ten feet away, taking a leak. "Tribute."
Stepping away from the cliff face, Sera bounced on her feet. She could take him out, had to take him out. "You want me, come and get me."
Without pulling weapon, he stalked closer.
Sera kicked him in the temple with a roundhouse.
He blinked, shook his head.
Damn, these guys were too stupid to fall down. Spinning, she delivered another kick.
His eyes rolled back and he fell to his knees.
Branches shook in the trees nearby.
Did the bastards come in sets? She grabbed onto Ester's wrist and tugged. "Run!"
As the tallest, Sera took the lead. Branches slapped her, raked at her hair and clothes. Higher ground. She needed higher ground. She scrambled up the incline, loose rock tumbling in her wake.
Ester whimpered but kept up.
A roar sounded behind them. Branches snapped. They were big and closing fast.
Sera switched her com to talk. "This is Officer Serendipity Tahoma requesting back-up. I have hostiles closing fast on my six."
"We read you, Tahoma. Stand by for exfiltration point."
She choked on a cry. They heard her. They were coming. She topped the ridge and ran along its length. Damn. She'd have to drop into the valley; there was no cover here.
"Negative on exfil site." She had no means to defend a position——this was a straight fox and hound hunt, and she had no intention of being ripped limb from limb for some 'Vider's amusement. "Mark position and current trajectory."
"Sera." Uncle Joseph barked into her ear. "Get your ass to safety."
Damn it. They were so interested in saving her they didn't see the bigger picture. She plunged down the side of the ravine.
Ester panted at her side.
Sera headed for the stand of trees. Time to play her last card. One that would guarantee Dark Hope brought out the big toys. "TSG-17s are confirmed in Sanctuary. I repeat, TSG-17s are confirmed. It’s just a question of who uses them first."
Uncle Joseph chuckled. "You make me proud, Sera. Real proud. Arm up, boys, time to shoot some ducks in a barrel."
Ester surged ahead, tugging Sera al
ong the sandy bank. "There's a break ahead."
Rocks clattered behind her.
Christ, the 'Viders moved fast. At this rate, the asshat might actually catch them. "ETA?"
"Ten minutes." Her uncle spat. "We moved as soon as you stopped blocking your damn signal but we got baddies closing on our position."
"Roger that." Ten minutes. She hoped it wasn't the rest of her life. Sera plunged through the trees and into a clearing.
Shadows shifted ahead of her and three men charged through.
Chapter 39
Harlan swallowed the vomit in his mouth. He'd just killed a man. In cold blood. He'd killed before. But that was different. That had been a fair fight and his opponent had been armed. With shaking hands, he loaded another bolt into the crossbow before handing the prepped weapon to the female juror at his elbow.
The crowd closed in on the clearing, reducing the space to a goat path. Shaved heads bobbed among the youngsters who still sported hair. Weapons were raised high when the victim was tied up, when Harlan had shot, when the man had died.
Leaning against his arm, Belle rubbed his back. "You okay?"
He nodded. He would be. Murder was round one, a fight to the death was round two.
There wouldn't be a round three.
Not for the loser of the death match anyway.
"You did him a favor." Belle squeezed his arm. "I've seen folks die by baking in the sun before. It isn't pleasant and it's very, very slow."
That and an ocean might wipe the blood off his hands. He nodded. She had changed in the years they'd been apart. The girl that couldn't kill a chicken had become a woman accustomed to violence.
Scars on her face and wrists wrote the tale on her flesh.
But she had survived.
And they were together.
Across the clearing, Titan ran his blade over his shaved head. He grabbed his crotch and pumped his hips in Belle's direction.
Harlan's sister gasped and shifted behind him.
The bastard was going down; he just didn't know it yet.
'Vider Brolyn strutted down the path between Harlan and the corpse. Grabbing his hair, she yanked back the dead man's head and stared at the arrow.
"You think your wife Sera was right? That the arrow went through?"
Conceived in Blood, A Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian Novel Page 26
