The Wasteland: Their Champion Book One

by K. A Knight

  “The others?” I ask curiously, unsure what to say.

  “Maxen shows you it’s ok to lean on someone; he’s your rock. Thorn is your softness, the stuff you hide away. He brings it out in you and shows you it’s ok to feel. Drax teases you, pushes you, and makes you play for what I’m guessing is the first time in your life.”

  “You might not understand why you're drawn to all of us, but you need us as much as we need you. Don’t question it, just go with it.” With that bombshell, he walks away, leaving me flustered.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Close Call

  The first couple of hours are uneventful. We are on a stretch of road that used to be a motorway, with cars, buses, and trucks abandoned everywhere. Their insides burnt out or covered in spray paint. Dust covered land stretches as far as the eye can see on each side, and the only noise is the sound of our bikes. We pass a shell of a fuel station, among other destroyed buildings. The whole drive I see my men looking at me every now and again, only for them to smile when I notice. I’m debating stopping for a break, as we have to slow down to manoeuvre between the cars when I spot something on the road ahead of us.

  A bridge over the old road, with a darkened pass underneath. The barriers that used to be on either side of the bridge. Are crumbling with the stone falling to the road below. One side of the bride is collapsed, with it laying on the road in rubble. The sun doesn’t penetrate its shadowed interior and my gut clenches.

  Slowing down, I squint into the awaiting darkness. Pulling behind an old sports car, I wait for the others while not taking my eyes off it. My instincts are screaming at me, and they are never wrong. We could go around but it would take us an extra day, an extra day of us being hunted by Berserkers in the Wastes. Plus, if I’m late back I have no doubt that Dray will storm to The Worshippers and slaughter them all to find me.

  “What’s up, babe?” Drax asks as he pulls next to me. He has a crossbow strapped to his leg and crisscrossing blades on his chest. His green eyes peer at me with caring as he waits patiently. I can feel the others behind me, waiting for my lead.

  “There’s something or someone in there,” I say, looking back to the pass.

  Drax blinks at me then looks to the darkened stretch of road.

  “How do you know?” Maxen calls at a low volume.

  “I just do.” Stroking my blade attached to my left leg, I debate our options.

  “So, what are we doing?” Drax asks again, his eyes still peering into the darkness. Even now, my heart clenches at their trust. I shake away the warm feeling and gesture at his crossbow.

  “I know you hit that guy the other day, but are you any good with that?”

  He grins at me blindingly.

  “Babe, I’m good with my hands, don’t worry.”

  I snort and turn back to the road. Straightening my back, I grab one of the swords crossing my back. It just so happens to be the one Dray gave me.

  “Get ready to fight. If it's feral dogs we are better trying to outride them but keep them off you if you can. Their bites carry infection. If it's cannibals don’t get surrounded, they work together to bring a person down and they will eat you then and there. Cover each other’s back and let’s get this shit done. You ready?”

  Drax nods while the others mutter agreements. No one questions me going first and the warm feeling starts again. Fucking feelings. It was so much easier when I pushed all that behind the wall. Cracking my neck, I hold my sword in one hand it resting loosely on the handle, while my other grips tightly to the gas.

  “Shout if you get overwhelmed.”

  “Wait, what if it’s Berserkers?” Thorn asks softly.

  “Then you fight like the devil itself is trying to get you and pray it’s enough.” I don’t think about what will happen if we lose, I can’t or I’ll be tempted to turn them around. Not for me. I can handle what they throw at me, but I couldn’t stand them hurting my men. Somewhere over the last twenty-four hours, my priorities have shifted from staying alive to keeping the parts of my scattered heart around me alive. Let’s hope they are as good of fighters as I think.

  Revving the bike, I slowly crawl towards the pass. Just when I think I might have been wrong, an arrow whizzes through the air, grazing my cheek. Pain explodes in my face but I use to it sharpen my senses. Ignoring the blood trickling, I shout to Drax.

  “On the bridge above, two men!” I don’t wait for him to answer. I kick off my bike and draw my other sword. Crouching, I wait for the shadows moving in the pass.

  I hear a shout and then a cry of pain before a man tumbles down from the bridge and splatters before me on the asphalt, a bolt through his left eye. Another scream soon echoes. It’s silent for a moment before a war cry sounds and men charge from the darkness, their weapons gleaming in the light. Their mouths open with their battle cry and death gleaming in their eyes. Their dirty odour hits me as my focus narrows on the approaching gang. At least fifteen men, all armed, all clearly know how to use their weapons. Gripping both swords tightly, I swing them in an arc. Grinning as I wait.

  My sword clashes with the first man, blocking the mace being swung towards my head. I grin from where our faces are inches apart and head-butt him. He stumbles back with a cry, and I don’t waste any time slitting his throat, twirling with the movement to meet the swing of another man. On and on, I swing and parry as we dance back and forth, the sounds of dying men and pain our music. This man is more cautious than the first and clearly knows how to use his weapon.

  Eventually, he falters and I move behind him and cut the tendons behind both knees. He falls to the floor and I sheath one sword before pulling his neck back and slicing.

  “Taz, behind you!” Drax screams from where he is fighting back to back with his brother. I duck, narrowly avoiding a knife which clatters to the floor. Spinning low, I roll until I'm at the man's feet. He fumbles for his sword at his waist, but he's too slow and I gut him before he can raise it.

  Pain explodes in my shoulder, forcing a grunt from me as I tumble forward. Catching myself on the floor, I roll to avoid the blade arcing down where I just was. Ignoring the burning in my shoulder, I snap my sword up to meet his. My attacker snarls down at me, his face wild and covered in sweat. I kick out, forcing him back and flip to my feet. I raise my sword, ready to jump at him when he screams and twists around, showing me the bolt in his back. Silently thanking Drax, I use his distraction to hack at his neck. Blood sprays as he falls to his knees, more blood bubbling at his mouth. The poor bastard is still alive. I keep hacking, ignoring the screams and squelching, my whole world narrowing to killing him. Blood splatters on me from my desperate swings, his head almost removed from his neck. His axe lays on the ground next to him.

  Stopping, my chest heaving from my short sharp breaths, my cheek stinging and my shoulder burning, I turn with wide eyes to check everyone else. I can't see Drax and Jax, but Thorn is holding his own against two big men. His face is fierce and darkened by anger, his moves precise with his long sword. He spins, parries and cuts, his feet fast for such a big man. I tighten my hold on my sword to help, not that he needs it, when a noise drags my gaze to the open area near the bikes. Something large hits my back, causing me to fall to my knees and then tumble onto my side. Pain races through me from hitting my injured shoulder.

  A man stumbles towards me, roaring as he does. My eyes spot Maxen over his shoulder. He comes striding through the fray like the devil, blood and bodies painting the ground in his wake. I watch from the ground as he hacks at a man's neck who stumbles into his path. With a roar, he rips the man's head off. A grin splits my face as it flies through the air and into the man above me. Using the momentary distraction, I heave myself up, spinning and impaling him on my blade as I go. Blood gurgles from his lips as I slide my blade out. I turn my back on him as he falls to the floor, dead. I make my way through the fray to Maxen, striking anything that gets in my path. Without words, we turn back to back. Only four men remain that I can see. Two charge at us as
Maxen takes one and I face the other. I block his swing and then stumble, my wounds weakening me as my shoulder screams.

  Maxen blocks my weak side and with a shout kicks out with all his might, sending the man attacking me tumbling into Thorn’s waiting sword. Thorn offers me a smile before moving to my other side. The three of us slowly push back, our attention on striking and covering each other until we stand in a circle of bodies. My chest heaves and my arm drops limply with exhaustion. My eyes search for more targets but I spot the twins first.

  Drax and Jax stride towards us, blood and dirt covering their faces, their eyes alight with the thrill and adrenaline of their kills. Side by side the sight floors me, my warriors walk towards me, their eyes meeting mine with our shared fear, triumphant and caring.

  “Well, that was fun,” I say humourlessly. We all laugh before looking around at the carnage.

  “Check for anything useful and see if any are alive, they were too organised to be a random attack.” They all nod and we separate in our search, me favouring my bad arm.

  A weedy scream sounds from behind the car Maxen is approaching and a body flies at him. He slides, avoiding it, and spins. Maxen leans back, his back leg bent and his front out straight so he is almost touching the floor. He twirls his sword with a feral grin, his bare chest gleaming with his sweat. He gestures for the guy to come to him. I grip my sword, ready to help if need be. The man hesitates before rushing in.

  Maxen twirls and dances around the man, his blade flashing in the light, an extension of his arm. His movements are fluid and brutal as he plays with his kill. Maxen opens small cuts on the man as he goes until the man eventually drops to the floor, either from pain or blood loss. The man’s fingers grasp at the gravel and sand as he tries to drag his body away. Maxen watches me as he skewers the man trying to crawl away, his eyes locked on mine as he twists his sword into the flesh beneath him. The man's death cries fill the air as does the scent of piss and shit. Maxen’s hair streams past him and in this moment, I lose myself to the warrior that is Maxen.

  When I offer no judgement or protest, just simple acceptance, his stance loosens and he prowls towards me. Blood smatters one cheek and a cut weeps on his pec. His hair curls around his shoulders, darkened with his sweat from battle. His obsidian eyes darken with need as I stay rooted to the spot. I've never seen anything so glorious, so formidable and he's all mine.

  When he reaches me, he grabs my waist, and uncaring about the blood, smashes his lips to mine ferociously. I wrap my legs around his waist and grab his hair, pushing my fingers through the long locks as I give as good as I get. My cheek huts as our faces hit together, the pain and pleasure mixing together as he grips my ass and massages. His shoves his tongue in my mouth as we duel for control. Pulling back, he nips at my lip and lowers his head to mine, leaving our swollen lips inches apart. His wild eyes watching me.

  “Fuck, if I had less control I would throw you to the ground and fuck you right now.”

  My pussy clenches and I’m tempted to dare him to do it but Thorn’s yell interrupts. I sigh and unwrap my legs. He lets go, letting me slide down his body to the floor, his hard, slick muscles sliding seductively against me.

  “Later,” I promise.

  “Later.”

  We both turn to the others to see Thorn yank the arm of a boy no older than eighteen from inside the darkened pass. He throws him on the ground in disgust in front of me.

  “The rest are dead, I found this one hiding like a coward in the tunnel.”

  The boy cries, snot and tears mixing on his pale face. Ruby red hair sticks up in a small mohawk and he has both eyebrows pierced. His green eyes meet mine in desperation as his bottom lip trembles. Sighing, I crouch in front of him. He flinches back, watching me like an executioner.

  “Why did you attack us?” I ask gently. Killing men who attack me is one thing, but I can't kill a scared boy just because he was part of it. Especially when he is offering me no violence.

  “S-sor-ry.” He cries before scrubbing at his red puffy eyes. He’s shirtless and I can see the ‘R’ carved above his heart. Fucking Reeves.

  “Why are the Reeves after me?” I add a threat to my voice, hoping I don’t have to carry through.

  “Tt-hey aren’t.”

  Getting annoyed, I snarl. He jumps back and lets out a cry.

  “Fuck kid, I'm not going to hurt you ok? I just need to know why you attacked us.” I scrub my head before sitting down, crossed legged in front of him.

  “You-u won’t h-hurt me?” He asks.

  “No.”

  “Why?” I sigh. Why indeed.

  “Because you’re a kid. Because I'm betting this wasn't your idea. Because you could have tried to kill my man there but you didn’t.”

  “There's a bounty on your head.” His words rush out and then he waits like a slave waits for the whip to crack.

  “Shit. The Reeves took the bounty?”

  He shakes his head and watches me, calming slightly when I don’t move.

  “No. T-Man said Reeves wouldn’t find out about it. We were warned not to fuck with you or with Berserkers, but Reeves is on his way to The Ring and T-Man wanted to make some money.” I’m guessing T-Man was the leader of this little group.

  “So Reeves has nothing to do with this?“ He nods as I gesture round at the bodies. And these are the only ones who took the bounty?” He nods again.

  “The rest are loyal to Reeves or you. T-Man always wanted more yanoe.” He rubs his fingers together, not bothering to finish his sentence.

  “Ok kid, anything else?” He thinks about it, his eyes clouding in concentration before shaking his head.

  “Ok, head to the Ring and tell Reeves what happened. Tell him to clean his clan up before I get back or I will.” He jumps up, nodding as he goes, his lanky body swaying.

  “No problem.” He scuttles away before stopping. “Oh, erm I wasn't supposed to hear but the Berserkers are heading to Seekers territory looking for you so you should be ok this way.” I smile at him before he sprints to the closest bike and speeds away.

  “Well, at least one thing is going our way.” I heave myself up and turn to my men. “We grab anything we can use and keep going. We aren’t stopping until the sun sets.” Drax groans, but winks at me. Jax walks towards me as the other’s pack up some food and weapons and load our bikes. He slides his finger along the cut on my cheek gently.

  “Too close, way too close, little warrior.” He says softly.

  I place my hand over his, making him hold my face. I nod, shaken now that the adrenaline has left my body. He’s right, it was too close and this was supposed to be the easy bit of the mission.

  ◆◆◆

  We’re all wound tight the rest of the journey, the landscape changing as we ride cautiously. The kid might have lied to us or maybe he was telling the truth, either way, I'm not taking the chance. We ride past buildings, destroyed bridges, even what once was a loch. Exhaustion courses through my body, but I push on until the sun dies and the moon and stars shine. The temperature cools enough to be comfortable and with a grumble, I pull up next to a broken building. From what I can see, the roof is completely gone and one of the outer walls has a huge hole in it, but it’s better than sleeping outside. We park our bikes out back and silently unload, all of us lost in our thoughts. I slide inside, the moon allowing me to see. Rubble and debris fill the floor apart from one sheltered corner. I drop my bags there and lean against the wall.

  “Ok, I want two on watch at all times. One at the hole, one at the door. We can have a quick meal. No fire to cook anything, as we don’t want to draw attention, then we bed down, switching every three. Get as much sleep as you can. We leave at first sun's rays.” With that, I drop to my ass and pull the food from my bag. We sit in a circle and share it between us, the glances heating and the touches prolonged until my body screams at me to rest. Thorn must sense it as he smiles gently at me.