“Yeah, a building Urthmen occupy for sure, and one we should get as far away from before something terrible happens,” Will says and places a hand on my shoulder.
I turn and face him. His features transform instantly. He drops his hand.
“What is it, Avery?” he searches my face as if he is seeing my mind piece together the puzzle.
“This wall, this place, I don’t know. Something about it is familiar to me,” I say. I look to the wall again and allow my eyes to travel along its perimeter. I strain them to see a chain-link gate with a giant padlock securing it shut. I lick my lips and my heart rate accelerates. Then recognition lands like a blow to my chest and nearly stops it from beating altogether. I place my hand over my heart and I know. I know exactly where I am. “Oh my gosh,” I breathe.
“What’s going on?” Will asks worriedly.
“This place,” I say breathlessly. “I know this place. This is where I used to live before the Urthmen stormed it and killed my mother and everyone else who lived here.”
Images flicker through my mind’s eye. Fragmented flashes and disjointed images streak by in a dizzying whirl. I see my mother, pregnant and beautiful, sitting with my father. Then I see chaos, and blood, so much blood. Clips of utter darkness follow, then a burst of light, and after that a club striking my mother again and again. I squeeze my eyes shut and rub my temples. I try to consciously purge my mind of the memories blinking in my brain. But the building, the stone wall and the locked gate bombard my senses. Even the odd scent of musty leaves remains.
I feel Will’s hand on my shoulder again. He gives it a gentle squeeze. Reflexively, I reach over and place my hand atop his, just as I would do with June. But the sensation of June’s skin never causes me to feel as if a miniature bolt of lightning has passed between us as Will’s touch does.
“We need to get out of here,” Will says. “We need to get far away from this place.”
“I agree with Will,” June says. I hear her approaching. I drop my hand from where it rested on top of Will’s hand. “The building, the wall, the whole layout creeps me out.” Will drops his hand and I turn to face June. Her arms are wrapped around her waist again. She is hugging them to her body. “I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to be near the place mom died.”
Her fear is evident. I am about to speak when Oliver chimes in.
“Yeah, I’m with June. Stumbling on a small fortress loaded with Urthmen is not somewhere any of us should be,” Oliver says. There is hardness in his voice, an edge that borders rage and fear. I understand it. I feel it too. But a thought occurs to me.
“Urthmen aren’t here,” I say.
I feel four sets of eyes on me instantly. I look at each of them then Will’s voice captures my attention.
“Urthmen stormed this place. Why would you think they would leave?” he asks.
“What reason would they have to stay?” I counter quietly.
The muscles around Will’s jaw are flexing. “I don’t follow,” he arches a dark eyebrow and says.
“Think about it,” I say. “There’s nothing for them here in the forest.” I search Riley and Oliver’s faces then look at June. “Unless you count Lurkers hunting you every day from sunset to sunrise,” I add sarcastically. But no one finds my sarcasm amusing in the least, not even Will. His arms are folded across his chest and his features are gathered. He looks serious.
“What about the gate?” he asks.
“What about it?” I shrug and do not quite get where he is going with his question.
“It’s locked. If Urthmen don’t live there, why is it locked?”
I hold his gaze briefly. He has made a decent point. But I’m still unconvinced that Urthmen live within the walls of the stronghold. “I’m going to see why it’s locked. I’m going to take a closer look,” I say impulsively. My statement draws gasps and grumbles.
“No! Avery, you can’t,” June cries out, her voice a hoarse whisper. “Please, don’t go. It’s too dangerous.”
“So is staying out here,” I say and cringe at the expression on her face after the words leave my lips. I soften my tone. “It will be dark soon,” I remind her. “And we don’t have a place to stay for the night yet.”
“We can find another tree,” she says and tries to persuade me to stay.
“You and I both know I can’t spend another night in a tree, not if I want to live until morning, at least,” I admit truthfully.
“Then it doesn’t have to be a tree. We can come up with something else, anything. Just don’t go near that place,” she pleads.
I want to shout at her Look around June! Do you see anything remotely resembling a safe place to spend the night? But I don’t. I know my short temper is just fatigue getting the better of me. So I say nothing. I turn and start walking toward the gate before the stone wall. I ignore the whispered attempts to call me back, even Will.
I streak through the tall grasses and weeds and remain low, crouched. I hide in bushes when I am close. I look back, over my shoulder and see that both June and Will wear similar expressions. They both look furious. Their brows are furrowed and their lips are pursed. June’s hands are on her hips and Will’s arms are folded tightly across his chest with his fists balled. His is pacing back and forth, shaking his head slowly. When June sees that I am watching her, she gestures for me to come back before tapping Will’s shoulder and alerting him to my position. He begins gesturing animatedly as well. I do not heed their calls. Instead, I turn away and dash toward the wall. I press my back to the cool, rough stone and inch my way closer to the gate.
When I am right beside it, I steal a glance and chance being seen. My head darts out then back quickly. But I am able to make out an empty space. No one is milling about, none that I saw, that is. I wait a few seconds and am about to return to Will, June, Oliver and Riley and endure stern lectures when the faint sound of footsteps is accompanied by a shape flashing in my periphery.
I spin and see what appears to be a man. I retreat and pull back, but curiosity nags at my brain. I need to know whether my eyes deceived me, whether I did, indeed, see a human. I poke my head out and look again, only this time I focus on the being’s head. I see that it is shaped properly. It is oval in appearance and has hair therefore it is a human being, not an Urthman.
I tuck my head and body back behind the concealment of the wall. My breath catches in my chest. A human is living at the compound I used to call home before Urthmen seized it. I begin to fantasize that Urthmen left immediately after storming the village and that humans happened upon it and repopulated. I know it is a farfetched dream, but it gives me hope in an otherwise hopeless world.
My heart rattles loudly in my chest. I cannot resist looking again. I thrust my head out a second time and am shocked to see two more humans. I can tell both are male thanks to the long shaggy beards they wear. The men are armed and appear to be patrolling the wall. I realize I must make my presence known. If there are more like them, the children and I, along with Will, could align ourselves with them. The prospect energizes me. But before I call them over and share with them my plan, I gesture to Will to stay where he is, to wait and remain hidden. I need to make sure it is safe to proceed. I need to get a sense of how these humans operate without putting my sister and friends at risk.
I take a deep breath and step away from the wall. I place myself directly in front of the gate and say, “Hello!” in a loud clear voice.
The three men startle then freeze in their tracks and turn to face me. They stare, still motionless, looking completely shocked for several beats until one of them makes his way to the gate followed by the others.
The closer they come, the better able I am to see their faces. I immediately notice that they look much older than I do. Their skin is weathered looking and ashen in color. Teeth are missing and their clothing is filthy.
A tall, meaty man with frizzy hair the color of rust smiles broadly at me and reveals his front tooth is missing. “Oh gosh! Wow! Where
’d you come from?” he says and does not hide the surprise and excitement in his voice. He does not wait for me to speak either, and continues to rattle on.
“Sorry to react as I did a second ago. It’s just that we don’t see many other humans around here,” he says.
“Oh, yeah, I guess not,” is all I can think of to say.
“I’m Ross, by the way. And this is Tal,” he says and points to a lanky man with small eyes and a prominent nose, “and this is Jay,” he says and points to a shorter, sturdier looking man with stringy hair that falls to the middle of his back and has several teeth missing on the bottom who looks a good fifteen years older than I am. They all appear to be at least fifteen years older than I am. And while they look creepy and in desperate need of a soak in the nearest river, their greeting is warm and welcoming.
“Hi Ross, Tal and Jay, I’m Avery,” I introduce myself.
“We’re very happy to meet you, Avery,” Ross says. He exchanges a sidelong glance with Jay, and a distinct uneasiness scurries across my skin that I cannot quite explain. “It’s always good to find another survivor,” he continues. “How did you manage to survive out here all by yourself?” he asks.
His question is one I would ask as well, and a harmless one at that, still I can’t shake the suspicious feeling scuttling about when I hear his voice and watch the three men interact wordlessly with one another. They seem friendly enough on the surface. And they are humans. The experience of living among humans when I was young has taught me that humans are not out to hurt other humans. We stick together when we find one another. We have shared interests; we all share common enemies: Urthmen and Lurkers. I have no reason not to trust them.
“I am not alone,” I say and watch as one of Tal’s brows tics slightly.
“You’re not?” Ross asks and looks past me.
“The others, the people I’m with, they’re hidden,” I say.
Ross and Tal’s eyes scan the landscape.
Ross’ features gather. His concern seems genuine when he says, “I suggest you get them in here before something happens to them. These woods aren’t safe. Those hideous creatures prowl these woods at night, and we saw Urthmen not far from here scouting. Out in the open is no place to be if you want to live.” He clutches his weapon and his eyes look off into the distance.
His words chill me to my core. They ring with hard truth.
“No, I guess they’re not,” I agree with a shiver. “I’ll get my friends,” I tell them.
I step back and check the cluster of bushes Will, June, Oliver and Riley are hiding behind then whistle once, a flat, monotone sound. June’s head sticks out first. I catch her eye and her face brightens. I wave my arms and gesture for her and the others to join me. She hesitates at first, but eventually grabs hold of Will’s arm and leads him toward me with Riley and Oliver in tow.
Everyone appears skeptical as they draw near. June’s eyes round when she sees how unkempt Ross, Tal and Jay look and Riley recoils when they greet her. Their reactions do not go unnoticed by the men. I cringe inwardly when Ross’ expression withers and he looks down at his clothes self-consciously. Will nudges me lightly. I am sure there is something we should say at this point, some excuse that justifies the children’s reactions. But both of us come up empty. I shift my weight from one leg to the next and consider grabbing the kids and venturing out again when Ross’ gravelly voice rumbles.
“You’ll have to excuse my appearance, kids. If I’d known I was going to have guests today, I would have cleaned up a bit,” Ross says. “We don’t have a river nearby so we don’t get to wash as often as we should. Just know that Jay smells the worst. I’d be sure to steer clear of him if I were you,” he says and bobs his eyebrows before grinning.
Oliver laughs while June and Riley giggle nervously. Hearing their laughter eases my nerves somewhat. The ice has been broken.
“How’d you lose them?” Oliver surprises all of us by asking Ross.
Will flinches and opens his lips to undoubtedly reprimand his younger brother, but Ross speaks first.
“Lose what?” Ross asks with a puzzled look on his face.
An uncomfortable silence hangs in the air and pressure begins to build at my temples. The moment is so awkward I could scream.
“Your teeth,” Oliver finally says in a small voice.
Will shoots him a stern look and starts to interject when Ross says, “What? My teeth! I lost teeth? Oh no!” Ross runs his hands through his wiry, shoulder-length hair and frets exaggeratedly. The children look stunned until Ross throws them a sly smile filled with mischief. “Gotcha!” he says and points both index fingers at Oliver then Riley and lastly June.
Tension seeps from my body and I exhale the breath I’d been holding. Will’s shoulders lower, and the strain in his posture relaxes visibly. I feel his fingers grip my wrist and give it a gentle squeeze. I take his gesture as a signal of his approval.
“So,” Ross claps his hands together. “Who’s hungry here?” he asks us.
The children’s hands rocket into the air as they mutter that they are starving.
“We haven’t eaten since this morning,” Oliver says, but Ross does not look at him. His eyes are on June. A small frown drags the corners of his mouth downward. She is thin, painfully so. Our continual hiking and meager food supply has taken a toll on her. She looks frail. Ross reaches out a hand toward her and reflexively my hand flies behind me to the hilt of my sword. It is unsheathed before his fingertips graze her shoulders.
“Whoa, whoa,” Ross says and splays his hands out in front of his body in surrender. “I don’t intend to hurt the girl,” he says and steps away from June with the same caution a person moves away from a wild animal. “Please, put your weapon away. We can’t have visitors with weapons within the walls of this compound. We are a peaceful people, and we intend to keep it that way.”
My cheeks blaze and beads of sweat dot my brow. Slowly, I lower my sword and watch as the men around me relax then exchange furtive glances. “Sorry,” I say halfheartedly. “We haven’t come across humans in quite some time,” I lie and neglect to share that Will, Oliver and Riley are new to June and I. “June is my sister and it is my job to protect her,” I say flatly.
“I understand,” Ross says. “But we are humans, just as all of you are. We’re not the enemy. We’re not who you have to worry about.”
His words make sense. I know they are true, but when it comes to June, logic ceases to exist.
“Fair enough,” I say and sheathe my sword at the scabbard on my back. Ross watches me do so then his eyes roam my body and rest on the dagger at my thigh. My lips press to a hard line and my eyes are narrow when his gaze returns to them.
“It’s just about time for dinner,” Ross directs his attention to the children once again. “You are all welcome to join us.”
“Thank you. That would be great,” I say.
“Yeah, thanks a lot,” Will says appreciatively.
“But there’s only one problem,” Ross says.
“Problem?” Will asks.
“Well, not a problem really,” Tal chimes in. “More of a rule we have.”
I watch as all three men move in closer. I suddenly feel as if the air around me has thickened, that the temperature has jumped suddenly.
“You see,” Ross begins. “We do not allow weapons beyond this point. No strangers are allowed to set foot inside if they have a knife, bow and arrow, sword or any other kind of weapon on them,” he says and gestures over his shoulder toward the building.
My stomach bottoms out. I have never willingly parted with my weapons. This would be the first time ever.
“I don’t know,” I think out loud. “I’m not sure how I feel about that,” I say and hear the steely suspicion in my voice.
“I don’t know how to say this politely so I’m going to just lay it on the line here,” Ross says and smiles almost apologetically. “I have no intention of harming you or any of your friends or kin. I am not a threat. Bu
t if you step inside the walls of our compound armed, you are a threat, and I cannot allow it.” Ross rubs his hand over his face as if he is truly troubled by what he has said or what he plans to say next. “It’s your choice. You can either give me your weapons, or leave.”
His words are like a blow to my gut. My eyes immediately go to Will. His expression is unreadable. In my periphery, I see that the sun is about to set and the sky is dimming fast. Ross has not offered us much of a choice at all. He has essentially told us that we can give up our weapons and enjoy food and shelter or keep our weapons and take our chances at twilight with Lurkers waking from their daytime slumber.
“Considering that evening is just about here, I don’t have much if a decision to make,” I say levelly. “We will be torn to pieces by Lurkers, uh, I mean the creatures that come out when the sun sets, before we’re able to find shelter for the night.”
“That is true,” Ross says with regret lacing his words.
When Will hands over the club he took from the Urthmen who stormed his cave by the lake, I am shocked. He turns to me as soon as it is out of his hands.
“I don’t want to die tonight, Avery,” he whispers.
Ross hands the club to Tal and Tal leads us to a metal cabinet. Using a key attached to a thin chain on his belt he unlocks the cabinet and places the club on an empty shelf.
“See,” Tal says. “All of our weapons are here. Every person who stays here has surrendered his blade, spear or stick.”
I scan the shelves and see that knives and bludgeons of every size and shape are arranged neatly on the top shelves. Daggers, spears and swords occupy the lower shelves.
“Come on, Avery,” Will’s hot breath fans across my neck when he leans in to whisper to me. “I’m not happy about it either, but think about June and Riley, about Oliver and me, about you,” he tries to convince me.
Reluctantly, I pull my dagger from the case on my thigh, and with a hesitant hand, I turn it over to Ross. A grin stretches across his face and crinkles the skin around his eyes. Next, I surrender my spear then last, my sword. I feel naked, stripped of any means of protecting June and I.
Planet Urth: The Savage Lands (Book 2) Page 4
