Gideon’s pride was written on his face.
“But there is something else you need to know.” Bryan paused. “A development that might solidify our victory.”
This time, Gideon was surprised.
“I just learned something else of great importance,” Bryan told him.
With a confident tilt of his chin, Bryan relayed the details of his conversation with Raj. Gideon listened with renewed wonder. When Bryan finished telling his story, Gideon leaned back in his bed, appraising him. He lifted a weak hand, scratching his face. If Bryan didn’t know better, he might’ve swore he had a tear in his eye.
“Unbelievable,” Gideon whispered. “You will collect the weapon before you go?”
“Yes. I will test it beforehand, so I can be assured it works as Raj says,” Bryan said.
“You know where it is?”
“Yes, Raj has instructed me where Darius has hidden it.”
Gideon shook his head in disbelief. “It is almost as if our ancestors have guided us.”
“I think they must have,” Bryan said.
Gideon shook his head, reflecting for a moment. “Too much horror has befallen our people. Too much death has scarred Red Rock. But now it seems the heavens have blessed us. Between our peoples’ determination, and this weapon, we will win.”
“The next time we speak, we will be in the Comm Building, just like we promised,” Bryan swore.
Bryan stood tall. He felt as if his body and mind worked in tandem, as if the heavens had created him for this purpose.
He’d never forget the crowd of his people, hanging on his every word, or their grunts and cries, as they threw their spears.
The colonists had experienced too much tragedy.
But soon, they’d make memories of triumph.
He was the new Thorne—the bringer of freedom, who would lead them to the monster’s defeat and return them to their homes. Looking around the cove, he felt as if his ancestors were here with him, empowering him to a victory.
“I suppose this will be the last time I see you, until the deed is done,” Gideon said.
“Yes,” Bryan said. “We will leave at first light.”
“May the oaths of our forefathers guide you,” Gideon said.
“Their hearts make us strong,” Bryan answered reflexively.
A lump filled Bryan’s throat. All at once, he felt as he had in that first meeting with Gideon, swearing his oaths alongside his brothers. That memory reinforced his determination.
“No matter how difficult things become, you must account for those who do not have your faith,” Gideon said. “You must march them forward, and not let them stop, until they succeed.”
Bryan nodded. He knew.
“I will do my best to lead them,” he promised.
“Are you the only one of your men awake?” Gideon asked.
“Most of my men are getting a last night’s rest,” Bryan answered. “Those few who are up are watching from the cliffs, preparing last provisions, or verifying our spears are ready. All except for one.”
A noise drew Gideon’s attention to the cove entrance, where a familiar person stepped out from the shadows. Raj waved nervously, revealing the horn in his hand.
“Raj has expressed his desire to help us, so we are taking him with us.” Bryan smiled.
“Bryan has given me a part in the march. He said I’ll help lure the monster, so we can kill it.” Raj smiled innocently.
Satisfaction took root in Bryan’s stomach as he saw the gleam in Gideon’s eye.
“Good luck to you both.” A smile stretched Gideon’s scarred face. “I know you will not fail.”
Chapter 63: Bryan
Shadows enveloped Bryan as he paced the dark tunnel, running checklists. He thought of his men, making their preparations, under his direction to Louie. He thought of the supplies they’d packed. More importantly, he thought of the end result of their plan, when they’d liberate themselves from lives of darkness and misery.
Things would be better soon.
He was surprised, but probably shouldn’t have been, to find Sherry approaching him, finding him in one of the secluded areas of the cave, where they held their trysts.
“Bryan!” she exclaimed, making her way over and wrapping her arms around his neck. Her lips were warm and soft against his, as she pushed him into the shadows. “I wish you weren’t leaving.”
“I’ll be back soon,” Bryan reassured her. “And then everything will be different. Once we kill the monster, things will take a different turn for our people. You’ll see.”
Impatience flickered in Sherry’s eyes. Tracing circles around her stomach, she said, “I wish we’d already defeated the monster, so we could discuss other things.”
Bryan didn’t need for her to spell out what she meant. She wanted vengeance.
“I’ll make sure Gary’s death was not in vain. You will have your revenge. Don’t worry.”
“When?” Sherry’s face was filled with doubt.
“Soon,” Bryan promised. His assurances felt inadequate. Or maybe it was the look in her eyes, which made him feel like less of a man. “I promise.”
Sherry broke his gaze. “It just feels like they’ve gotten away with what they did to Gary. What they did to all those people in Red Rock.”
Anger swelled in Bryan’s stomach. “They will not get away with it forever,” he swore. “Once we have our victory, we’ll return to find justice for our fallen brothers and sisters. For Gary.”
Sherry backed away slowly.
Before she could get farther, he reached out and took her hands, pulling her back toward him. “They will get what they deserve.”
“They’d better,” she whispered.
Without another word, Sherry pressed her lips against his. Her warm mouth reminded him of the victory he would taste when this was over, and the promises they’d whispered in the dark. They kissed for several moments, holding one another, before falling back into the shadows.
Chapter 64: Neena
Bones.
Teeth.
Blood.
Neena rolled underneath her blanket, protecting her face from a faceless monster that threatened to chew her flesh, spill her blood, and spit out her bones. The creature hovered over her—not a living thing, but a carcass—a skeletal creature with no eyes, yellowed bones, and hundreds of sharp, spear-like objects sticking from the inside of its hollow body.
Almost everyone she knew had perished.
And she was next.
Uncovering her face, she reared back her spear and aimed at the nightmarish beast. Its massive body blocked out most of the sun. Before she could release her weapon, something struck her.
Neena screamed as gray, sticky bile rained over her. She held up her hands, but the thick substance was inescapable, seeping inside her orifices, suffocating her. She cleared enough of the thick goop away to see the creature again.
It rose from shadow, opened its enormous mouth, and exposed its teeth. Inside its blood-drenched maw, a slew of familiar people screamed.
Samara. Roberto. Salvador. Raj.
“No!” she shouted.
More bile washed over her, finding its way down her throat, choking her. Before she drowned, she let out a gurgling scream, so long and so loud that it robbed her of breath.
Neena opened her eyes to find Amos standing over her worriedly. “Neena, wake up! Something’s happening!”
She sat up and looked around, shaking off her nightmare. All around her, people fled their bedrolls and ran toward the cave entrance. Others sat up, grabbed their children, or woke their relatives. She looked quickly to her right, locating her brothers’ sleeping forms under their bedrolls.
“What’s going on?” she asked Amos.
To her left, two other bedrolls sat empty.
“Where are Kai and Darius?” she asked frantically.
“I don’t know that, either. I’m sorry.” Amos looked as fearful as she felt. “I’ve been trying to wake you for a while.”
“Stay here with my brothers!” she cried.
Amos hastily agreed.
Still groggy, Neena grabbed her spear and ran toward the mouth of the cave, heart hammering. Several panicked people knocked into her, flowing in the same direction. She readied her spear, certain that they were under attack, but she saw no one fighting.
What was this?
People gathered their children in their arms, speaking hurriedly. Others pointed to the mouth of the cave, where half the people in the Right Cave had already woken and gathered.
What was happening?
It felt as if the entire cave had gone mad. Maybe the entire planet. Neena raced through the cave, bumping into people who fought to get around her, finally reaching the entrance.
A cluster of her people stood at the cave’s mouth, blocking her view and her path.
“Excuse me!” she yelled, working her way through them.
With effort, she made it to the edge of the growing crowd. All around her, people occupied the space closest to the rock wall, keeping away from the drop-off, while pointing and staring. She found a spot on the crowded ledge, her eyes flying to the source of their attention.
Far down the ledge, past the mouth of the Center and Left Caves, a massive line of people marched two by two from the wide precipice at the end of the cliffs. Farther down the cliff, she caught sight of other marchers, appearing and disappearing between pieces of jutting rock, assumedly heading to Red Rock. The line must contain two hundred people.
The people in the Left and Center Caves! she guessed.
Catching the attention of a skinny, dirty woman next to her, Neena asked, “What’s happening?”
The woman turned toward her, wild-eyed. “I’m not sure, but my husband thinks they’re going to fight the monster!”
Neena’s eyes shot back to the precipice. She couldn’t see every detail from a distance, but she saw enough. She recognized the posture of some of the men at the tail of the line. Watchers. Long spears bobbed at their sides; bags jostled on their backs. They marched with a rigidity she’d only seen at the most important processions. She looked for Bryan, but couldn’t find him. Perhaps he was at the head of the line.
Two at a time, The Watchers in the line’s rear paired off and joined the others, lessening the number of people on the precipice. Her eyes riveted on two people leaving the rest of the crowd, taking their turn, merging into formation.
Neena jumped.
Fear thrust like a javelin through her stomach.
It couldn’t be.
Starting on his march, holding a spear and what looked like a horn, was a small, unmistakable figure. Raj. Raj held his head high, his curly hair blowing behind him, joining another man and leaving the cliffs.
Confusion mixed with her alarm. How could he be there, when he was inside, asleep? The world felt like a spiraling hole in the desert, churning deeper.
“Raj!” she screamed, to no effect.
Of course, he couldn’t hear her.
Her heart felt as if it might explode with panic.
This couldn’t be happening. She must’ve awoken to some new nightmare. Her only thought was to prove it wrong.
In a panicked spin, Neena pushed her way through the crowd, racing back into the cave. She blinked as her eyes adjusted from the morning light back to darkness. Stumbling past some others who ran in the opposite direction, pushing past a few more, she finally made it back to where Amos stood by their bedrolls. A panicked expression lit his face, as he pointed to the ground.
Neena’s heart dropped as she saw Raj’s empty bedroll, filled with rocks.
Tears spilled down Samel’s face as he stood next to it, saying, “Raj is missing, Neena! He snuck out!”
No. This couldn’t be happening.
“I’m sorry, Neena!” Amos cried. “I tried looking for him! He must’ve snuck away!”
Neena spun again, looking back toward the entrance. For some strange, inexplicable reason, Raj was really outside. He was leaving with The Watchers and the others.
This wasn’t a nightmare—it was an awful reality.
She had to get to him. She had to bring him back. Somehow, she had to stop Raj and—
“Neena!”
She spun, barely maintaining her balance as someone crashed into her.
Kai!
“Kai!” she shouted, clutching him back. “Where were you?”
“In Darius’s cove!”
Emotion bubbled in Neena’s throat. She opened her mouth to explain what was happening—to tell Kai everything—but he cut her off.
“I don’t know how to say this, Neena,” Kai said, horror on his face. “But Darius is dead! Someone killed him!”
SANDSTORM BOOK 4 COMING SOON!
Afterword
As I write this, it is a beautiful June morning here in (semi-rural) New England. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and everything is green. I’m looking out the window with my dog, hoping we might spy a black bear roaming through the yard, or a family of wild turkeys. If we’re lucky, we’ll avoid the gnats and the ticks when we head outside.
It’s a much different scene than the one to which Neena and Kai awoke.
Will Neena and Kai figure out what’s going on before it’s too late? Or will their enemies—and the Abomination—lead to the death of them all? Book 4 will be out later this year (2019)!
In the meantime, if I’ve managed to surprise or entertain you, please leave a review. It means more than you know! Talk soon!
Tyler Piperbrook
June 2019
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Other Things To Read
Since Book 4 of SANDSTORM isn’t out yet…
THE LAST SURVIVORS might tide you over. It’s a sci-fi series that explores what happens 300 years in the future after the apocalypse, where man has rebuilt and gone back to a medieval society. You can start with Book 1 here.
Dustborn: Sandstorm Book 3
Text copyright © 2019 T.W. Piperbrook
First Edition: June 2019
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author/publisher.
This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, places, or events is purely coincidental.
Dustborn Page 20
