by E. R. Arroyo
I nod, less than confident. Flex disappears into the darkness and minutes later I hear hoots and scuffles. Before I even process where the noise is coming from—a small pack of animals rushes out of the dark, headed in my direction.
In that instant I realize I’m not ready, but I lower my stance trying to get a jump on one of the creatures. Four pass before I spot one coming right for me as if I’m not in its way at all. It only stands three feet tall on its four legs, so I crouch even lower.
As it lumbers toward me I begin to move and at the last moment, it jerks left and I heave myself after it latching onto only air and landing on my shoulder, the jagged pavement scraping the skin on my arm. By the time I’m up, it’s too late. The creatures have all scattered.
Something whines and I jerk my head to see a boy retracting his knife from the belly of a small beast, the beast that escaped me. My shoulders slump as hushed laughter seems to echo through the alley.
Flex jogs to catch up to me and he pats my shoulder, his own face stretched with a grin. “Next time.”
The other boy ties up his kill and carries it off while other boys come into view behind Flex. I can’t make out what they’re saying from across the street, so I stand here until Flex acknowledges me again.
“Let’s go.” He tilts his head for me to follow, so I do. I keep my knife out just in case. Sure enough, we split from the group yet again, and Flex begins the same routine, drawing out wildlife for me to kill. Only I don’t kill a single thing. And there’s always someone nearby ready to snatch what gets by me.
After five attempts, the boys have killed eight wolves, one deer, and some small furry thing. Then Flex decides to call it a night. I can tell they’re winding down, but I’m desperate to know if we’re about to part ways or if there’s any chance I’ll be eating tonight. I can do better at this hunting thing once I’m fed—I’m sure of it.
I watch the boys anxiously. Squeezing my fists, I await Flex’s decision. With a hand on his hip, Flex cocks his head again. With a sigh of relief, I follow him and the other boys toward wherever it is that they’re staying. A small but satisfying victory.
Chapter Six
The building is dark, decrepit, and for the most part unassuming. Yet this is where Flex led me and we enter through a door in the alley instead of the front. At first I struggle to see but Flex navigates the place not only like he can see perfectly but also like he has memorized the building.
We move through a long hallway and around a corner, then up a shaky flight of stairs. Just to the left there’s a sliver of light from under a door—a door that opens as soon as Flex taps on it. Flex’s boys brush past me because I’m frozen in place.
Hesitant to approach, I stand at the entrance a moment taking in the sight. About fifteen by twenty feet with no visible windows, the room is dim and free of furniture save two tables along the wall across from the door.
A few boys cook meat over a makeshift stove and pass the food around once it’s done. The boys that were hunting with Flex lay their kills with the other dead animals next to a scrawny old savage. In the candle light I notice his skin has a slightly purple hue. He stiffens as soon as he lays eyes on me and promptly snaps his leather muzzle closed.
I’m caught in his gaze trying to make sense of it when Flex leans toward me. “Helps block the smell.”
“The smell of what?”
“You.” Flex winks, grabs a piece of meat and bites into it, letting the juice trail down his chin. “They’re used to us.” Grinning even wider at what must be a dumbfounded expression on my face, he wipes the grease away with the back of his hand. “We ain’t got all night, precious. Dig in.”
He reminds me so much of Tyce when he’s not snarling. It’s difficult for me to reconcile the kid who had been so cold the first time we met with this boy, grinning and laughing with his friends. Perhaps he just loves hunting that much—enough to make him seem like two different people.
The kid handing out meat extends a piece, grunting for me to take it.
“Thank you,” I mumble as I grab the food and pull it close to my mouth.
“Noah,” he tells me. He’s even paler than Tyce, with curly brown hair and a wide nose. I wouldn’t call him friendly but at least he introduced himself.
“Cori,” I say. I hold up the meat and thank him again.
Not much I can do in the way of inspection without making a spectacle of myself, so I take a deep breath and a small bite. I literally have no idea what I’m eating, other than it used to be alive. I find myself grateful that only the old savages eat the meat raw, as one of them is doing now, threatening to churn my stomach.
The meat is chewy and I’m not sure how to describe the flavor. It’s not juicy like whatever Flex is eating. As I ponder what it may be, it’s snatched from my grip.
Flex glares at me, holding the scrap. “Don’t just stare at it.” He chomps into my meat and hands me his half-eaten piece. I wanted them to take me in, didn’t I?
I take a bite and the juice drips down my face just like it had his. And this one is good. I wipe my chin before taking another bite and Flex hands me another piece as soon as I’ve finished.
Within fifteen minutes the food is gone. They all mill around, some relaxing, some goofing off, and some of them even pick fights and wrestle each other to the ground. An hour later everyone is flat on his back, the group spread out across the room lounging. Surprisingly, no one seems to be making a fuss of my presence. I’m obviously not one of them, not to mention I’m the only female in probably this entire city block. They always keep the women guarded somewhere. I’m assuming someone else took food to them.
I look around the room, wide-eyed, propped against the wall, feeling pretty good about my first glimpse into everyday life with the savages—no, not savages. There’s nothing savage about them. They are violent, yes, and territorial, but they are also protective and sincere. No, I don’t want to think of them as savages. They are just City boys and old men, plain and simple. Despite the old men’s mutated appearances, they’re not animals. They’re human beings.
I glance over as one of the older ones stretches his limbs before lying on the floor. And that’s all they are—older. They’re The City’s elders.
Many are already sleeping and I’m liable to fall asleep too. Regardless of their perceived hospitality tonight I don’t want to overstay my welcome, so I offer to head back to the apartment with the blue door.
“We’ll take you,” Flex offers, wiping his blade on his pants before heading to the door. He pauses there until I follow. On the walk back he saunters alongside me while two boys trail us a few yards back.
“You sticking around or just runnin’ away from home ‘til your temper cools off?” Flex cracks his neck, keeping his leisurely pace.
“Who says I have a temper?”
“Funny.” He stuffs his hands in his pockets.
“Why are you being nice to me? The last time I was here you weren’t.”
Flex glances over his shoulder at his comrades. “Guess I’m in a better mood tonight. No promises for tomorrow though.” He shrugs and clears his throat. “I know how Tyce feels about you. If you insist on being here, I’m gonna look out for you. I have to.”
“Thanks,” I mutter as we round the corner onto my street.
When we reach the blue door Flex stretches and yawns and I find myself doing the same. “If you’re out tomorrow, try not to make so much racket. We like it quiet here. And stay in this area. I’ll come ‘round to get you.”
“Goodnight,” I whisper, shutting the door between us and collecting my bag at the base of the stairs.
* * *
A scream draws me from my late morning stupor and it takes a minute or two to realize the sound was actually real and not something from a dream. I pop out of bed and peek through the cracks in the boarded up window, not seeing any commotion or crisis. Then the scream comes again.
In seconds my boots are on and I’m out the door. Pausing on t
he sidewalk, I wait for the next wail to direct me and when it comes I run toward what sounds like a crying woman. Sore from last night’s exertion I faintly register an ache in my leg but push through it toward sounds of agony and fear.
I lose count of how many turns I take but the next corner leads me directly to the crisis. A very pregnant, petite girl is face to face with the sharp, bloody teeth of a creature half her size—some kind of dog with wet, matted fur the color of ash. Blood trails down the girl’s bare leg, the hem of her black skirt shredded. Her round face is filled with utter terror.
The beast makes another move toward her and I call out to draw its attention but it isn’t distracted, continuing to snarl intently at the young woman. Running toward it I realize I’m not armed—I left in a hurry.
The girl whimpers and crawls away from the animal as I tackle it, struggling to get a hold of its thick torso. As I lock my arms around it, I heave backward attempting to pull it off its feet. Something clinks and I look up in time to see the girl’s knife skid across the pavement.
I can barely control the animal with both arms—there’s no way I can reach for the weapon. I release the creature and roll toward the knife. I snatch the knife up and get back to my feet. But I’m too slow—the dog latches onto my arm. Wrenching free, I wrap my arm around its torso. I take a moment to line up my aim, then I stab its neck. The beast quivers in my arms, gurgling on the blood that spills from its throat and oozes down my arms. I squeeze tighter as it tenses. I grit my teeth and drive the blade once more through its head from the underneath. When the trembling finally ceases the creature falls limp in my arms.
I ease the body onto the ground, panting and looking back and forth between the blood on my skin, the dog’s fur, and the pavement. Both relieved and stunned, I take a step back from the slain beast. Seeing it in a heap I realize it was larger than I’d first assessed. Stronger too. Could’ve killed me if the girl hadn’t tossed me her knife.
“You okay?” the girl asks as I make my way to her. She nods toward the bite marks on my arm—simple flesh wounds. I’ve survived far worse.
“I’m fine.” I kneel to check her out, see how badly she’s injured. It’s easy to imagine she’s Alyssa with her dark hair and small frame. “You?”
Her hand drifts to her pregnant belly. “Just my leg.”
“Are you out here alone?” I look around for someone, anyone, but see no signs of anyone.
“I am now.”
Not sure what to make of her answer, I wrap her arm over my shoulder and guide her in the direction I hope will lead to Flex, but honestly, I’m lost. “Where can I take you to get help? Do you know the way?”
“Yes.” She points to a street just ahead and we turn down it.
To distract her I tell her my name and she tells me hers is Nat. She thinks her baby is due any day now. All the more reason to find help. Right now all the buildings look unfamiliar to me, blending into a soot-covered landscape.
“Nat!” someone shouts. I look as Flex and two other boys run toward us, their boots slamming hard against the street. Flex reaches us first, snatching her from my arms. Hoisting her up, he carries her away without even acknowledging me. “Nat,” he breathes, squeezing her close to his chest and kissing her forehead. I can’t help my own surprise at the tender gesture of such a surly and hostile boy.
I only follow because I don’t know what else to do. And I don’t know how to get back to my apartment or anywhere else for that matter.
Flex marches on, swift and determined. “What happened?” he demands of the girl in his arms.
“Animal attack. Cori must’ve heard me shoutin’.” Her voice is soft and weak. Scared. The two boys look back at me, expressionless, just for a moment before turning their attention back to Nat.
“What were you doing out here?” Flex demands. “We told you to stay away from her.” Meaning me. My cheeks get hot and my chest tightens as I try my best not to be offended.
“Maya was with me. I just needed to walk. We got separated.”
“How?” Flex takes another sharp right.
Nat begins to sob and it’s all I can do not to tell the boy to back off and question her later when she’s not so shaken up. But it isn’t my business, so I bite my tongue.
“I felt liable to pass out—had to sit down. She went to refill my water at the rain buckets on Denny and she just … didn’t come back.”
Flex stops in his tracks and turns to his crew. “Find her,” he growls at them.
The boys break away and head back in the direction we just came from.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” I hustle to keep up with Flex.
“Stay away from our girls and tots,” he snaps. He says more but his voice seems to trail off because I’ve stopped moving, my pride effectively singed. He has every right to protect his people but I’m insulted nonetheless.
I watch Flex put more distance between us. I’m stunned, finally realizing just how hard it will be to earn his trust. Maybe I was stupid to think I could ever fit in here at all. Tyce almost had me convinced….
It takes me nearly an hour to find something I recognize enough to figure out how to get back to my place. When I’m ready to turn the corner to my street I find myself face to face with the guys Flex sent after the missing girl. I’m so startled it takes a beat too long for me to realize one of them is holding a limp female body in his arms. His fierce gaze burns into me and I feel an accusation boiling just beneath the surface. But he doesn’t say it despite his flaring nostrils and quivering arms.
I edge to the side to let him pass and his comrade jumps at me but pulls back at the last second, a simple attempt to intimidate or frighten me. Luckily, I don’t jump. I square my shoulders and accept the fact that I’m not wanted here. They’re only tolerating me out of respect for Tyce. Even I don’t know what that’s about, yet whatever it was, he must have made himself pretty clear about it after Dylan and I departed The City just weeks ago.
Part of me wishes Dylan were here. He was always the one I could cling to when no one else mattered. Again I’m reminded how alone I am. And how very much I miss what Dylan and I had so briefly after fleeing our former colony. It fills me with sorrow, a weight in the pit of my stomach to know that what we had before … is gone for good.
* * *
The scores of trinkets and personal effects in my new home have become too intriguing to ignore. That or I’m finally bored enough to rifle through someone else’s belongings. I’ve just strewn the contents of the large suitcase across the kitchen floor when someone knocks on my door. I pause. A knock comes again right as my stomach growls.
Hand on my belly I traipse down the stairs to find the olive-skinned kid who promised to give my message to Tyce. He flashes a warm smile and hands me a piece of dried meat.
“Thank you…” I raise my brows, hoping he’ll finish my sentence with his name.
“Eli.” He beams.
I hold up the meat in gratitude. “Thanks, Eli.” His smile is infectious as we both bite into meat without any explanation as to why he’s here. I notice the fading sunlight behind the boy and invite him to sit down next to me on the staircase behind my blue door.
“Could use a huntin’ partner tonight,” he finally says. I wonder how old he is. Probably not even fifteen.
“Sure.” I had kind of assumed that if someone came knocking today it’d be to tell me to leave. I’m glad it’s not that kind of visit.
With the door open, Eli and I sit on the stairs until the sun finishes setting. He’s not a talkative kid, which doesn’t bother me much. We end up eating a few more pieces of meat—jerky he calls it.
“Are you sure the guys want me out hunting tonight? Everyone seemed pretty mad earlier.”
“Nah, they’re just sensitive about the girls,” he says.
“I was just trying to help. I heard her scream—”
“I know you didn’t hurt her. Like I said, they just get touchy.” He shrugs.
&nbs
p; “I see.”
“Sad, too,” he mumbles, casting his eyes downward, his happy smile fading. His voice falls to almost a whisper. “About Maya I mean.” He shakes his head.
I could tell from the quick glimpse I got that she had died, so I don’t bother asking for confirmation from Eli.
After a few minutes in silence Eli’s demeanor seems to shift again, getting back to how he was upon arrival.
He pops up, wiping his hands on his pants. “Let’s go, partner.”
I can’t help but smile at that.
Eli ends up taking me to a part of The City I haven’t been to yet, and it’s just the two of us, which takes a little pressure off. I haven’t hunted successfully yet, but I have to admit my encounter this morning has given me a little confidence that maybe I can get the hang of it. Still, I would hate to jeopardize Eli’s hunt tonight if I’m wrong.
Thankfully, he tells me we’re hunting small game and organizes a simpler version of what Flex did last night. First he shows me where to dive in to stir up game. After I get them moving, he catches them. After he’s caught several rabbits we switch places and I actually kill a rabbit and a squirrel.
“Why do we scare them out? Why don’t we just go in where they’re hiding.”
“Not safe,” he says. “Dunno what’s hidin’ in there. We only hunt the game that startles easy. There’s things down there that don’t move till it’s too late—you’re too close to get away.”
I thank him for teaching me as we head to meet up with the other hunters. Everything is different when we walk into the room this time. Every single person is on edge, including the elders, a clue that even they understand the tragic loss of Maya’s life this morning. Nearly everyone’s eyes are downcast, focused on their tasks or focused on waiting.
I overhear some boys talking about the wolf that came out in the day, which is unusual. Supposedly the animals are sensitive to sunlight, possibly something to do with their eyes, but no one knows for sure. When the boys notice me they stop talking, indifferent looks on their faces. Word must’ve gotten around that I was involved with today’s attack.
