Dust: Before and After

by S.E. Smith

  “Why didn’t the government warn everybody about the comet ahead of time?” Sammy asked in a husky voice.

  Beau turned as he reached the end of the corridor and gazed down at Sammy. A bitter smile curved his lips. Dust watched as Beau pulled on a cord that ran through the wall and paused before he pulled it again.

  “What good would it have done?” Beau asked in a soft voice. “All the governments of the world thought the world was about to end. They were too busy trying to save their own asses to give a damn about ours. Besides, it wouldn’t have done anything but cause mass chaos. What is more humane? Telling people that they are going to die or letting them continue on with their daily lives, oblivious to what tomorrow will bring?”

  “But, we didn’t all die?” Todd murmured, staring up at Beau. “We’re alive.”

  “Yeah, we are,” Beau replied with a smile. “But there are a lot fewer of us than there used to be.”

  “Some are different, too,” Randolph muttered behind them.

  “That’s enough, Rand,” Beau snapped, turning when the door opened. “Two rings, pause, two rings and someone will open the door.”

  Dust nodded, glancing over his shoulder at Rand before he started after Beau. A frown creased his brow as he tried to decipher what Rand was talking about. Did he know about other people like him? If he did, neither he nor Beau looked too happy about it.

  The next hour was spent moving from section to section of the old silo. Dust made a mental note in case they needed to find a way out. Unfortunately, it looked like there were only two ways; through the seventy ton doors covering the launch bay or through the door they came through.

  “You’ll each be given chores to do,” Beau said as he finally stopped along one section near the bottom. “This floor and the one below it are for sleeping. We’ve put up walls between to give people a bit of privacy. The men sleep here and the women and kids on the section below.”

  “Women? Kids? There are more here?” Sammy asked in surprise.

  Beau nodded. “Yes, there’s two women and three kids; two boys and a girl,” he explained.

  Dust frowned and looked around. “I thought you said there were ten people here,” he said. “That makes nine, counting you, Howard, Alex, and Randolph.”

  Beau’s mouth tightened into a flat, hard line. “The other one isn’t any concern of yours. Just stay out of the last area. It is off limits. I’ve got to make sure that Howard and Alex get everything out of the trucks. The cover we’ve built does a good job of protecting them, but the storms can be unpredictable. I want to get as many supplies as we can down below,” he replied. “You can spend today getting familiar with the silo. I’ll have jobs assigned to you starting tomorrow. I’ll send one of the women around to show you to your room, Sammy. Todd, you can stay with Dust.”

  Dust moved so that he was standing in front of Sammy. “Sammy should stay with me as well,” he said, staring back at Beau with a frown.

  Beau returned his gaze, not saying anything for a moment before he shook his head. “I’m sorry, son, Sammy will have to stay with the other women. It’s the law,” he said with a slight edge to his tone that told Dust he wouldn’t change his mind.

  “Whose law?” Dust asked, clenching his right hand by his side.

  Beau’s eyes narrowed on Dust’s face. “Mine,” he finally said. “You don’t follow the laws, you are out of here.”

  Dust didn’t respond. He could tell the man standing in front of him was serious. Yet, there was a quiet warning in his tone as well.

  “Rand will show you where you can get some clothes and bedding and give you a run down on how we do things,” Beau stated, turning away.

  Dust watched as Beau disappeared back the way they came. He glanced around the large circular room. It was partitioned into sections with the center set up as a common seating area while the outer parts were sectioned off into rooms.

  “You and the boy can use that one,” Rand said stiffly. “It is a little bigger and we can fit another cot into it. Once he gets used to things, he can move into his own room. Alex is on your right and Howard is on the left. I’m next, followed by Beau’s room here on the end.”

  Dust nodded, glancing at the second door across the room. It was about as far from the entrance as they could put him. He turned when Rand started to walk by him.

  “I’ll show you where the supplies are again,” Rand said. “Then, I’ve got work to do. Dinner is in two hours.”

  “Dust has to…,” Todd started to say before he clamped his mouth closed when Dust sharply shook his head in warning.

  Rand’s eyes narrowed suspiciously on Dust before he turned that same sharp, intense look on Todd. Dust bit his lip. Something warned him that he shouldn’t say anything about needing to frequently eat.

  “Dust has to… what?” Rand asked Todd, turning until he stood facing the boy.

  Todd swallowed and looked nervously at Dust. Clenching his hand at his side again, Dust thought about what he could do if the situation became dangerous. If he needed to, he could knock Rand out, grab Todd and Sammy and head back up through the silo. He started when he felt Sammy’s hand on his lower back. For a minute, he had forgotten she was there. She had become very quiet after Beau explained she wouldn’t be allowed to stay with him and her brother.

  “Dust has to make sure he stays away from peanuts,” Sammy interjected. “He has an allergy to them.”

  “Yeah, he’s allergic to peanuts,” Todd agreed with a nervous grin. “Isn’t that right, Dust?”

  Dust relaxed and nodded. “I break out,” he said.

  Rand stared back and forth between the three of them before he shrugged his shoulders and turned away again. Dust relaxed his fingers when Sammy slid her hand into his. He’d have to remember not to eat anything with peanuts in it even though he loved peanut butter. With a sigh, he started forward.

  “As soon as we can, I want to get out of here,” Sammy whispered in his ear. “This place doesn’t feel right.”

  A relieved smile curved Dust’s lips and he gave a brief nod. Sammy released his hand when a woman stepped into the room and gave her a nervous smile. It took everything inside Dust not to protest when the woman who said her name was Maria led Sammy away.

  His gaze followed her until Rand started to explain what he was allowed to get out of the supply room. Nodding, Dust decided that tonight, he was going to have to do a little exploring after the others were asleep. He’d start with the very bottom floor.

  Chapter 12

  A Dark Foe:

  Dust lay in the dark listening to Todd’s soft snores. They had eaten with the rest of the group before retiring to their room. Sammy had been quiet, but she gave him a small nod to let him know that she was alright. She had also given him a roughly drawn map to the lower section where she was staying.

  Rolling onto his side, he pulled the penlight out of his pocket and flicked it on. She was almost directly below him. He turned the light off and put the penlight back in his pocket before he focused. He felt the odd tingle in his body just before he faded.

  Rising from the bed, he glanced down at Todd’s peaceful form once more before he passed through the thin door of their room. He continued across the open common area until he reached the outer section. Turning right, he quickly made his way down the stairwell to the lower section where Sammy and the other women and children stayed.

  Pulling the image of the map up in his head, he walked over to the third door from the entrance. He paused to look around. Stella, one of the other women that he had met earlier, was sitting by a small lamp. She was patching clothing. Dust froze when she paused and looked around with a frown before she returned her attention to the shirt she was working on.

  He passed through the door to Sammy’s room and scanned it to make sure she was alone before he solidified. A grin curved his lips when Sammy covered her mouth to smother the squeak when he suddenly appeared. She scowled at him before she waved him closer.

  “He
re,” she whispered, holding out several candy bars. “I had these in my bag. I couldn’t take anything from the supply room. Maria and Stella count everything.”

  “I’ll get more from the car later,” Dust whispered with a smile of thanks as he ripped one of the chocolate bars open and devoured it. “They don’t feed us much, that’s for sure.”

  “I noticed that,” Sammy replied with a grim look. “How is Todd?”

  “He’s asleep,” Dust assured her. “I’m going to go take a look around. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

  Sammy nodded and scooted back on the bed. She drew her knees up to her chin and stared at him. He could see that she was scared, but she was trying to hide it.

  “Where are you going?” She asked in a husky voice.

  Dust reached out and touched her cheek with his fingers. “Just to look around,” he whispered. “It will be alright. We’ll leave tomorrow if you want.”

  Sammy nodded and leaned her cheek into his hand. “I’m scared, Dust. What if they don’t let us go? What if they try to stop us?” She asked.

  “They won’t,” Dust assured her. “Beau said we could leave if we wanted.”

  Sammy swallowed and nodded. “Just… be careful,” she said.

  “I will. I promise,” he replied, standing up and winking at her before he focused and faded from sight.

  He passed through the door again. This time, the room was empty. The shirt that Stella had been working on was lying neatly folded on top of a basket of other clothing. He walked out of the circular room and turned toward the stairwell leading down to the last level. Swallowing, he glanced over his shoulder before he started down the steps.

  *.*.*

  Thirty miles away, ten dark shadows paused. The one in the front stepped forward onto the rise and stared down along the narrow, two-lane road. She could feel the other creature, the one she hunted. It was a faint pull, but she could feel him calling to her.

  Turning, she snarled at one of the other devil dogs. It was her beta. It would support her to the death.

  Storm.

  It’s thoughts washed through her mind like a fuzzy picture, but she knew what it was saying. Her gaze turned back to the massive storm that was churning in the distance. It was slowly moving away, but it was still too dangerous for them to approach. Without cover, her pack would be defenseless.

  Search, she ordered.

  Her Beta turned and growled to several of the black shapes lying behind her before taking off at a run. She watched as they disappeared over the rise and down along the road. Hunger pulled at her.

  There had not been much to eat at the rubble of the buildings they had left miles behind. She had finished eating the flesh that had been in the bags, but it had not been enough to build her strength. The storm and the necessity for them to hunt had also slowed down her ability to track the vehicle. The second storm in the distance was worse than the first one. This one was more dangerous, but it would also force the ones she hunted to seek shelter as well. She could feel it.

  A low whine from one of the dogs behind her drew her attention. It was hungry. Her eyes blazed as they ran over the beast. Turning, she trotted back to where it was lying. The dog immediately dropped its head down and tucked its tail between its legs before offering its throat in submission.

  A primitive urge swept through her and she wanted to rip into the vulnerable tissue. It was the new, cognizant part of her that cautioned her to wait. She would need numbers when she confronted the two-legged creatures again. Once they were eliminated, she could kill this one. Until then, she would have to wait.

  A low snarl of disapproval filled the air before she focused on the cringing beast. A low yelp escaped it, but it didn’t move as she bent closer. Her mouth watered at the thought of burying it into the soft flesh. She almost ignored her need for numbers verses her need for sustenance. Her mouth opened to reveal razor-sharp teeth. Her head started downward before it jerked up at the faint sound of her Beta’s howl. It had found the trail.

  *.*.*

  Dust paused outside of another massive red door. He frowned as he stared at it. Solidifying, he placed a hand against it and thought for a moment. He was about to open it when he heard the faint sound of footsteps and a flicker of light coming down the stairs.

  Stepping back, he faded again and waited. A minute later, Beau and Alex came into view. He was carrying a small tray in one hand and a flashlight in the other. Alex was carrying a shotgun.

  “I don’t know why we don’t just kill it,” Alex grumbled. “It’s just eating food that could be for the rest of us.”

  “Shut up, Alex,” Beau growled. “Open the door.”

  “What if it got loose again?” Alex asked, setting his shotgun down next to the door.

  “Then, you can kill it,” Beau replied in exasperation. “I warned it that if it tried to escape again, that there wouldn’t be a second chance.”

  “The only reason you haven’t is because…,” Alex started to say before he snapped his mouth shut. “Sorry, Beau.”

  “Just shut up, Alex, and stay focused,” Beau ordered, again. “I’ll go in, you stay by the door like you normally do. If it tries to get out, close the door and seal it.”

  “I know. I know,” Alex grumbled, grabbing his gun and pulling the door open.

  Dust curiously listened as the two talked back and forth with each other. He moved silently past Alex and followed Beau into the area. This one was different from the others. It had been left unfinished. Cold, gray concrete covered the walls, floor, and ceiling. In the center was a thick support column. Wrapped around it was a heavy chain. The entire room was illuminated by three bright shop lights mounted to the ceiling.

  Dust slid back along the wall just inside the door and waited. He watched as Beau cautiously stepped into the room and looked around. A movement out of the corner of his eye drew his attention back to the solid beam in the center of the room.

  “Josie, I’ve brought you some food,” Beau called out, setting the tray down on the ground and sliding it toward the beam.

  A slender hand slid along the concrete post before a tangle of red hair appeared. Dust drew in a swift breath of air when a pair of vivid green eyes stared back at Beau. The body of a young girl, slightly older than him and Sammy, stepped out from around the pillar. Her eyes narrowed on where Alex stood at the door with his shotgun aimed at her.

  “I thought you forgot about me,” she whispered in a husky voice.

  Dust frowned when he saw the thick chains around both of her wrists. His hands curled at the sight of the thin body. He wondered what she had done to deserve being chained like an animal.

  “Just eat, girl, so I can take the tray back,” Beau ordered.

  Josie slowly sank to her knees and picked up the food. It didn’t take her long to devour the meager offering. She stood up and kicked the tray across the floor, ignoring Alex when he stepped forward in warning. A menacing smile curved her lips as she tilted her head and looked over Beau’s shoulder.

  “What’s the matter, Alex? Feeling a little hot under the collar?” Josie asked with a soft laugh. “I can make you hotter if you like.”

  “Josie,” Beau growled in warning.

  Josie’s gaze swept along the wall where Dust was standing. He saw her frown for a second before her gaze locked on Beau’s face. The tension in the air grew the longer they stared at each other.

  “Go away,” she finally muttered, looking away. “You don’t give me enough food to fight.”

  “If I did, you’d kill us all,” Beau retorted in a soft tone.

  Josie gave him a malicious grin before she stepped back to the center pillar where the chains were attached. She ran her hand along it, pausing before she disappeared again. Dust watched as Beau bent and picked up the tray before he started to turn back toward the door.

  “Wouldn’t you?” Josie’s whispered question resonated through the room.

  Beau paused and turned back to her. Dust waited, start
ing to feel the drain from being in his current form pulling on him. He clenched his fist, focusing to keep the form.

  “Wouldn’t I what?” Beau asked in a harsh voice.

  Josie glanced over her shoulder and stared at Beau. “Wouldn’t you kill all of us if we starved you and treated you like some unnatural beast? Wouldn’t you, dad?”

  Beau’s face stiffened and he turned on his heel. Dust released a deep breath when the door closed behind them. He rested his head against the wall and closed his eyes, debating if he should solidify and eat a candy bar now, or after he got out of the room.

  “Don’t let them know what you are,” Josie’s voice echoed in the room. “They won’t chain you up. They’ll kill you, like they did the others.”

  Dust was so shocked when Josie reappeared around the pillar that he lost his hold on his form and reappeared. He stared at Josie. With shaky fingers, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the other two candy bars that Sammy had given him. Tearing one open, he quickly ate it. He started to unwrap the other one, but something stopped him. Glancing up, he saw Josie’s gaze locked on the precious energy in his hand.

  He took a step forward, pausing for a moment before he pushed his reservations away. He wanted, needed, answers. Why was she chained up down here? What did she mean when she said they had killed the others? Was she like him? And most important, was Beau really her father?

  “I’m Dust,” he said, holding out the candy bar as he came to a stop in front of her.

  She hesitated a moment before she reached out and took the chocolate out of his hand. Ripping it open, she quickly devoured the sweet treat. He watched as she licked her fingers even as she kept her gaze on him.

  “I’m Josie,” she finally responded. “How long have you been here?”