by Angela White
Activity around the station resumed slowly, but the whispers grew louder. Some of it was muttered orders to get packed, but some of it was about how healthy, how hard, her men were. The slaves being guarded nearby in comparison were pale, fragile creatures that squinted and had little grace. Alexa’s men were the opposite of that and more. They were clearly unbroken. The rest of the talk was excitement about being in the same camp as the legend herself when she faced down the soldiers here. It was something that had to happen.
Alexa used their hand code to pass an order, and Edward fell in next to Paul. “She wants you to be silent. If you talk at all, she says I’m to knock you out.”
Paul paled and stumbled, and Edward jerked him along. He wasn’t sure what Alexa was worried about Paul saying, but he had no doubt the clumsy scientist would spill his guts if he were left unsupervised.
“Wait here,” Alexa ordered as they came to the ramp that led to the main door of the warehouse.
The soldier on duty there lowered his rifle and then let it hang by the strap after he caught sight of Alexa and her group.
The rest of her group stayed by the ramp as Mark went with Alexa. No one else would go up until she was done here. As for whoever might already be inside, Mark and Alexa were a dangerous pair all by themselves.
Paul’s gaze followed them through the door that was plastered on the inside with wanted posters, and opened his mouth as he recognized one of the wrinkled faces.
Watching and hoping it would happen, Edward raised his big arm, and Paul snapped his mouth shut so fast that his teeth clicked together like a firecracker.
Edward lowered his arm, shrugging. “I have faith.”
5
Alexa stepped by the man on duty at the door with his rifle, giving him only a disinterested glance. She opened the inner door before anyone spoke and ignored the words and mutters of the dozens of people already gathered at this station.
“She can’t go in there.”
“Doesn’t she know they’re looking for her?”
“Look at those males!”
Alexa went to the rear of the wide warehouse, admiring the small cluster of horses in the corner. She called softly to them as she passed by.
Mark followed Alexa alertly, aware of soldiers coming from the far rooms and the loft above them.
The warehouse was stacked with crates and boxes that appeared to have been there since the war. The layers of dust and prints in said grit said this was more of a drop off than a pickup area. There was little the military liked more than storing supplies and then denying everyone their use.
Alexa glanced toward a small trap door in the floor, much like the one they’d ripped up in the giant’s home.
Mark caught the hint and listened for the female captives they assumed were down there, but he didn’t hear anything.
Alexa stopped at a long row of counters, choosing the one that was labeled for sales. The clerk behind the counter gaped in surprised curiosity at the sight so many obviously free men in one group. The posters of people the government was offering rewards for stood out glaringly behind the kid.
Alexa scanned his wrinkled uniform and thin frame, trying to judge how long this group had been here. “I need tickets to cross the state.”
The Private swallowed, hand reaching for the radio. “I have to clear that. Hey, you look familiar. Been through here before?”
Alexa shrugged as the young clerk radioed to someone named Zale for permission.
“Uh, I got a big group asking for a ticket.”
The voice that came sounded annoyed and tired. “Damn it, Brian! Sell ‘em what they want and leave me alone.”
Brian flushed and responded, “You got it.”
He sat the radio down and began gathering the papers. Pale and pimply, the young, fatigue-wearing blond clerk didn’t exude confidence, but there was something about him…
The radio lit up. “Ask if they have any tobacco for trade.”
Brian glanced at Alexa, who shook her head. She was buy digging into Brian’s thoughts and finding interesting tidbits.
“We’re not selling or buying.”
Brian stared at her, mesmerized at the sound of her voice as she leaned in.
“We’re going in at dawn. Spread the word.”
Brian nodded, heart thumping. She was here! “Sure. That’s what a lot of people…”
Alexa turned, waving at Mark to gather their tickets. The clerk reeked of death and betrayal. She couldn’t stand to stay near him.
Mark felt wrongness invade the air and hurried the transaction, but he wasn’t sure what had given them pause, only that something had. He would keep an eye on the boy.
Mark scanned the notice board with the faded, stained images of people wanted by the government and his own face glared at him from two of the chipped corners. He was glad of Alexa’s whistle when she called him to her side.
As the door closed behind them, the Private peered at the board for a final confirmation of what he already knew. Brian, who had escaped from a bunker and been recaptured by Merrik’s patrol, reluctantly called his boss again. He didn’t want Alexa arrested. He wanted to go with her to Safe Haven.
Mark had to confirm his suspicion. “He’s calling for help with us, right?”
“Yes.”
“Should we get set to go on?”
Alexa was in the middle of changing their plans. “Not without what I came here for. We’ll wait for our chance.”
Alexa met Mark’s eyes for a brief, intense look that said he knew what she wanted. When he spent a moment considering it, he realized it could only be one thing. She hadn’t shown a real interest in anything else since they’d hit these fields.
“I’ll watch for an opening. Anything I need to be careful of?”
“Fire,” Alexa replied promptly. “It’s a common issue.”
Mark groaned inwardly. “I’ll handle it with care.”
“Good. Let’s settle in.”
6
“We’re drawing a lot of attention,” Billy observed. The slavers and their protectors were staring at them with need and greed, ignoring the meal that was now burning in the pan over their fire. Thick smoke rolled upward, but none of the scantily-clad females noticed.
Jacob glared at the big women ogling him as if he were chocolate. “Let ‘em try.”
“They like your scars,” David spoke up. “They already plan to ask Alexa if she’ll sell you.”
Jacob glanced at the blacksmith, a little embarrassed. “How would you know? We can’t hear them from here.”
“I read lips,” David answered, grinning at the shorter powder protector. She didn’t have as much blush and lipstick on, and had drawn his attention. “Wanna know what the biggest one said?”
Jacob noted the leer on David’s face. “No, probably not, but tell me anyway.”
“She thinks you’ll be rougher in bed because you’re obviously wild. They can charge a higher price to rent you out.”
The other males snickered as Jacob’s face went red.
“No thanks,” Jacob stated firmly. “Even if that is true.”
His joke startled real amusement from all the males, and Alexa found them that way as she came outside.
Alexa soaked up their moment of happiness as if she was drowning. Beside her, Mark did the same, only it was her joy he absorbed. The pleasure flowing from her was enough to make him dizzy.
Edward felt it a second later, the same feeling of perfection that had Mark frozen right outside the door. Farther away, the horseman was able to pull himself free and speak.
“We’re all set.”
The hard voice helped Mark regain control, but Alexa stayed still for another moment, letting their emotions refill her heart. Some days, hope was hard to come by.
Alexa slowly came down the ramp, hearing sharpening, drawing out small conversations and reactions as she led them toward an empty fire ring at the far end of the waiting station. “Set us up.”
; Her men did as they were told and those around them relaxed a bit upon finding out she didn’t plan to stride instantly into hell. It gave them time to prepare, but it would also provide time to talk to each other and make deals for protection. Until they’d been ready to go, there hadn’t been much of a reason to do so. More than half of the people who showed up at these places ended up leaving to take a longer, safer route.
Walking by the other camps to reach Alexa’s chosen place allowed them to hear bits and pieces of what the other travelers were saying, thinking.
“Alone, with all those, she’s hard.”
“Healthy. Must be eating well. She’s strong.”
“Nice guns. Bet they ain’t empty.”
“They’ll make it through, I’d wager.”
“So would I.”
It proved the theories that Alexa’s group had come up with. People gathered at a station and waited until enough protection came through to make the worst of the trip together. Strength in numbers was a way to survive this new life, and apparently, Alexa exuded enough of that to trigger the trek. It made her men proud and Alexa aware that her gifts were still growing. Years ago, she could pass through crowds and stay undetected by most, but now her light was a beacon in the apocalypse.
As they began to set things up, Alexa’s men fell into their usual routines, not realizing their quiet, helpful organization would come as a surprise to the others around them. It drew even more attention and made Alexa’s men briefly wish for the isolation again. Being stared at wasn’t much fun.
Alexa and Mark swept the roaming people as much as the corn around the station, repeatedly going to the family behind the main building. There was one old woman with two unruly children, in a small shed with a tiny fire and a rocking chair in front of it. Beside the shed was a tan mule and a small cart that they obviously rode in. What was curious about the trio was their lack of protection.
“How do you think they’re getting by?” Mark asked lowly.
“That is a fine question,” Alexa murmured. “We shall see.”
Alexa had chosen to make their camp next to the main warehouse, where the corn met the cleared dirt. She had them set for the evening before the sun sank, leaving free time to observe the people around them while they ate.
David’s salted bacon and beans was good enough that each of the group had seconds, including Alexa. Tomorrow’s meals wouldn’t be as generous.
The other people watched them eat, but didn’t come near. Only the gunfighters and the soldiers stood a chance of challenging Alexa’s team, but both those had their own distractions. The gunfighters played cards, cleaned their guns, and held lowly whispered conversations. The soldiers ran their patrols and kept watch over five heavily loaded wagons on the opposite side of the warehouse from Alexa. The former searched Alexa with a curious boredom and the latter avoided her gaze all together.
Alexa felt a shift in atmosphere, and stretched out on her bedroll. “Don’t shoot. We’ll need them later.”
Her fighters tensed, searching for the threat, and found it coming through the corn on the opposite side of the clearing. It was a group of ten soldiers carrying guns and eager faces.
“Hello in the camp!” the new group announced their arrival, but only after they realized Alexa had noticed them coming.
The soldiers stomped straight to Alexa, surrounding her fighters as best they could with only two more in number. Alexa didn’t move from her bedroll.
One of the men came forward, gun on Alexa. “You’re under arrest. Get your hands up.”
Alexa shut her eyes. “I just had a big meal, Captain Zale. Talk to me in the morning and maybe we’ll make a deal.”
The Captain racked the slide on the 9mm in his hand. “Get up.”
Alexa’s voice was a cold chill that carried to everyone around them. “I’m the only one who can get you through the killin’ fields. Be nice or you won’t like my price.”
Zale considered his options only briefly. The pride quickly overrode the common sense. He knelt down to grab Alexa’s arm.
Edward viciously kicked the Captain in the face and then stood between her and the other armed men.
Zale stayed down, cradling his mouth and nose.
“What the hell is going on here?”
The cold voice barking at them had soldiers snapping to attention for the boss man approaching from the jungle of corn. He had no men with him. Also a Captain, Merrik wore a slick black leather jacket over his fatigue shirt and pants, and the mirrored sunglasses twinkled as they caught the light. The scar running down his jawline added to the impression that he was a hard-ass. He was dark, dirty, and dangerous. It was in his step as he padded toward them from the opposite side of the cleared area that Zale had come from, in his scarred jaw, and in his twitching hands. This man liked being mean and he wasn’t stable.
“I bought a ticket and they tried to arrest me,” Alexa stated when none of the soldiers spoke up.
“My orders,” the man stated arrogantly. “I’m Captain Merrik. You’re Alexa Mitchel. You killed three of my hunters today.”
Alexa chuckled softly. “Darius Merrik. I heard they let you out. Nice post they gave you.”
Merrik didn’t care about her attempt to embarrass him. “Get up.”
“Did you know the rains come through here only once a year now?”
Merrik hesitated. “Yes, we’ve been briefed.”
That told Alexa he hadn’t been out here long enough to have experienced the new weather. Good. “You should be covered then.”
Merrik didn’t like not knowing. “What happens when the rain comes?”
Alexa slowly stood up and her men closed in tighter around her.
“Blood spills.”
“Ghost stories,” Merrik refuted, gesturing toward the warehouse. “Let’s go. Your men can stay here. We don’t need them.”
Paul started to come forward in her defense, and Mark neatly tripped him.
“Aww!”
Edward looked toward Alexa, and she denied him. “Remember what I said.”
No shooting. We’ll need them later.
Edward got it and stood down, but he didn’t like just letting them take her.
“Shall we go on?” Edward asked, using the code for breaking her out.
“No. Dawn will bring changes,” Alexa answered.
Merrik shoved her to end the talking, reconsidering leaving her men out here to plan.
Alexa shoved Merrik just as hard as he had her. “Don’t touch me!”
The distraction worked and he pushed her again. “Go on!”
Alexa disappeared into the warehouse and the soldiers returned to their work with snickers. Alexa Mitchel captured without a single shot fired. It was almost disappointing.
7
Merrik escorted Alexa to the cell in the rear of the warehouse, the one they’d only recently built, but didn’t disarm her. He knew she didn’t need the gun to be deadly. In fact, on that level, he might have a chance. He was the best shot of all the men here.
“Why are you here?”
“You need me,” she stated as she settled onto the narrow cot.
“For what?” he demanded in confusion.
“There’s a shipment about to come through. You’ll be told to get it to the destination no matter what, even if it means letting me go.”
“I won’t do that!”
“Your choice,” she warned.
Merrik scowled and left the cell, locking it. He then told a man to radio base and find out what was coming his way. He didn’t suspect Alexa of bluffing. She had no reason to and Merrik had no intentions of challenging her unless he had the advantage. It was how he’d survived since the war and he saw no reason to be reckless now. He didn’t know why the government wanted her alive, but he would hold her here until someone else came for her, and until then, she would be fed and left alone.
Alexa glanced toward the front of the warehouse. A second later, Zane came in, holding out a paper. His
face was bruising and the wound on his lips oozed red.
“Brian says the message is still repeating if you want to listen. Was coming in before I could tell him to call base.”
Merrik crumbled the note and tossed it into the corner of Alexa’s cell. “Shit!’
He glowered at Alexa. “We’re being sent on. Are your men going to be trouble when we leave?”
Alexa snorted. “Long before that.”
Merrik frowned deeper. “I can’t get the wagons and you across the Killin’ fields at the same time. Why don’t they know that?”
“What makes you think your boss doesn’t know it?” Alexa asked slyly. “Perhaps you’ve heard or done too much?”
Merrik grunted. “I’ve only been topside for 6 months. Got sent to quell an uprising in the swamps and then they put me here.”
“Guess they weren’t happy with the job you did,” Alexa commented.
“Not really, no,” Merrik confided. “But I could make up for it by bringing you and the wagons in.”
“And how do you expect to accomplish that?” she asked tonelessly, implying it would be a hard sell.
“I’ll make a deal with you,” Merrik offered suddenly. “Help me and we’ll fight it out after all of us get through.”
Alexa actually laughed aloud. “What would force me to do that?”
“I’ll kill your men if you refuse.”
Alexa’s eyes blazed and Merrik took an involuntary step back.
“Even if you could, you still wouldn’t gain my help getting these sheep through the slaughter house,” she pointed out coldly.
“You will if I threaten to kill these people,” the Captain guessed. “You’re known for helping the weak. Can you be responsible for their deaths?”
“They must give instructions for how to handle us now,” Alexa observed, falling into a tone of submission.
“Yeah, here and there, and we picked things up from fighting your kind before the war,” Merrik agreed arrogantly.
Alexa laughed again and the sound of it was chilling. The Captain turned to leave without securing the agreement he needed. Once the screams started, she would bend.
