But for Kat, it was all gray. She didn’t care about the rules. What she needed was love and understanding. Instead, she got gun lessons, boot camp, curfews, and sermons. The anger and resentment grew until she could no longer contain it. She became bitter and rebellious and ran with the wrong crowd.
Her uncle responded the only he knew how: With an iron fist. He became the rock that she smashed herself against until they were both battered and bloody. What would have happened next was anyone’s guess.
But the Shift came, and in the blink of an eye, her world changed again. Kat lost her uncle, her friends, and her home in one fell swoop. Instead, she found herself trapped inside a cutthroat city in the middle of a savage world filled with savage creatures.
Angry and embittered, she cared nothing for the people around her. Not even the kind Corinne or young Lillian. She resented them all, and the moment she had the chance, she ran. From that moment on, she became the master of her fate and made her own decisions, many of which she would live to regret.
But there was no turning back. What was done was done. I made my mistakes, and I paid for them. Surely, I’ve done enough and deserve the chance to be free.
Free.
Kat imagined that must be what it felt like to die. A blessed reprieve from all the pain and suffering on earth. The void beckoned to her, and she inched ever closer, drawn to the darkness within her soul.
Suddenly, a voice broke through the fog that surrounded her. A voice she hadn’t heard in a long time. It was achingly familiar, and her heart blossomed within her chest. It lured her away from the pit and tugged her toward the light. Callum? Is that you, my love?
“I’m here, lass, and I’m sorry. I should never have left ye. Not you or the child. Yer everything to me. My heart and soul. Please, come back to me. Come back,” the same voice said.
Elation flooded Kat’s veins, and she knew that it was him. It had to be. She knew every cadence, every note… the very timbre of his voice. It was Callum. He came back!
His words penetrated her brain, and she realized she had to fight. She had to beat the kanker that burned within her body. Not just for him, or even for herself, but for the child that grew within her womb.
Kat’s eyes fluttered open, and she blinked up at the ceiling. Her vision was hazy, but she recognized Callum’s face instantly. The red hair, the fierce scowl, the dusting of freckles across his nose, and his eyes. They drew her like a moth to a flame, and she let herself drown within their depths. “Callum, is it you?”
Her voice was scarce a whisper, and her throat was as dry as sandpaper. Her full lips bled from the slightest movement, but she didn’t care. All she cared about was him.
“Tis me, lass. I’m here now, and I’ll never leave ye again. I swear it,” Callum said.
“Callum,” she cried, reaching out to him.
He gathered her into his arms and held her close against his chest. His warmth surrounded her, and his scent filled her nostrils. It was the smell of sweat, leather, tobacco, and spice. A scent unique to him, and it tore something loose inside her brain.
Tears pricked at the corners of Kat’s eyes, and her face crumpled. Wracking sobs shook her frame while she clung to his jacket like a bawling babe. Now that he was there, she no longer needed to be strong. She could allow herself to be weak and vulnerable, and in that surrender, she found her true strength.
It was a revelation. The kind that changed lives and fates. Within her veins, the tide of battle turned. Her defenses rallied, and her immune system fought against the infection that contaminated her blood. Soon, the sickness would be no more while her baby lay sheltered within her womb. Cradled in the warmth of a mother’s love.
“Not today,” Kat whispered, holding onto hope.
“Not today, lass,” Callum replied, his voice choked with emotion. “Not today.”
Chapter 17
They traveled throughout the day, and for the most part, the journey was uneventful. The area north of the wall was sparse, both in vegetation and animal life. The climate was colder and the terrain more rugged. This was a plus in some ways. The vehicles were able to navigate better without the endless thick forests that stretched to the south, and they made better time.
But, the ride was uncomfortable, and by noon, Rogue was praying for a break. The Jeep had zero shock absorbers to speak of, and driving over the rough road became a painful endeavor for its occupants.
Rogue clung to the plastic handle above the door, holding on for dear life, while Seth abused every swear word in his vocabulary. They shook, shuddered, bumped, and jolted over bleak empty fields, stony patches of barren land, and across a series of low hills.
From the looks of it, the transport truck fared little better. Bear looked like he was about to explode, and Jessica lay splayed across the seat and dashboard like a starfish.
On the other hand, the two pick-ups appeared to have an easier time of it judging by the breakneck speed they maintained.
“I swear, if we don’t stop soon, I’m going to break Ronan’s neck,” Rogue said, wincing when they bounced over a rock.
Her joints ached, her muscles burned, her head pounded, and her teeth were ground to dust between her clenched jaws. And she needed to pee.
“I can’t just stop,” Seth said, though he looked ready to explode as well. “We might lose them.”
“Tough shit. They can come back for us,” Rogue said. “My bladder’s about to burst.”
“Let me look for a good spot,” Seth said.
“What would that entail?”Rogue asked with growing desperation.
“An open clearing with some brush and zero predators would be nice,” Seth said with just a hint of sarcasm.
“Whatever,” Rogue mumbled, staring at their surroundings and praying for a suitable stopping point. Anything to relieve her of her misery. Once this is over, I’m never leaving the house again.
Seth carried on driving for a few more minutes, his gaze stony.
“Look, I’m sorry. My full bladder is making me irritable,” Rogue said.
“It’s okay,” he said, his jaws unclenching. Finally, he pointed at a spot ahead. “Over there.”
“Ah, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you,” she cried, tossing him a grateful smile.
“Don’t mention it. I think we could all use a break anyway,” Seth said. He flashed his lights at the pick-up truck in front and slowed to a halt. Behind them, Bear followed suit and pulled over next to them.
Rogue heaved a sigh of relief when the Jeep’s engine sputtered into silence and unclenched her hands from the plastic handle. Her fingers were red and swollen, and she flexed her hands to restore circulation. The moment sensation returned, she opened her door and jumped out of the truck.
“Man, that feels good,” she said, stomping across the stony ground to work the kinks out of her body. She followed up with a couple of jumping jacks and a few stretches. Finally, she rubbed her sore ass with both hands until the ache receded.
A low whistle caused her to whirl around, and she spotted Daniel leaning against his vehicle. He sported a huge grin and had his arms folded across his chest. “Looking good.”
A hot flush crept up her neck and into her cheeks. Her brows furrowed into a frown, and she opened her mouth with an angry retort but thought better of it. There was no point in drawing attention to herself this early in the game.
Instead, she turned away with a muttered, “Asshole.”
Whether it was intentional or not, such careless actions were bound to piss off Seth. Besides, it was obnoxious. The guy knew she was in a relationship, and he was making it obvious that he didn’t care. I’ll have to be careful around him. He’s got no boundaries.
“What’s wrong?” Seth asked, pulling her out of her thoughts.
“Huh? Oh, nothing,” she said, plastering on a fake smile.
“Are you sure?” he asked, his eyes narrowing. “I can see something’s bothering you.”
“It’s nothing for you
to worry about, I promise,” Rogue said. In a bid to distract him, she waved at Jessica and Bear. “And? How do you feel?”
“Like I’ve gone through a dozen spin cycles,” Jessica said with a groan.
She and Bear joined Rogue and Seth beside the Jeep, exchanging horror stories with ghoulish relish.
“Oh, come on. It can’t be that bad,” Ronan exclaimed, ambling over. “Is that why you stopped?”
“We needed a break, Ronan,” Jessica said, glowering at him. “You try driving in a rust bucket with no shocks over this terrain. Especially at the speed, you’re going.”
Ronan raised both hands in the air. “Sorry, sorry. I had no idea. The pick-ups aren’t a soft ride either, but they’re not quite as bad as yours by the sound of it.”
“I bet they’re not,” Jessica grumbled.
At that moment, Lila walked over followed by the rest of Ronan’s crew. Everyone except Spook who elected to stay inside the truck. The only glimpse they got of him was his pale face in the window.
“Hey, guys. I’m Lila. Sorry about the commotion back here. I ran into some trouble and almost missed you,” Lila said, waving a hand.
Bear, Jessica, and Seth each greeted her and introduced themselves.
“Hi, I’m Rogue,” Rogue added, shaking hands.
“Pleased to meet you,” Lila said. “Is anyone thirsty? Or hungry?”
A few nods did the rounds, and Lila nodded. “Let’s take a quick lunch break. Ronan?”
“Alright, but keep it short,” Ronan said. “We still have a long way to go.”
“I’ll break open the supplies,” Lila said.
“We’ll help you,” Jessica said. “Right Bear?”
“Right,” Bear said with marked reluctance.
Together, the trio ambled toward the nearest pick-up truck and opened the back. They fished out several bottles of water, a few packets of trail mix, oatmeal biscuits, and strips of dried, salted meat. They handed the food and drink around and everyone helped themselves to a snack.
Rogue took hers but placed the items in the Jeep for later. After a quick look around, she ducked behind the nearest bush and relieved her overly full bladder. It was a huge relief, and she felt ten pounds lighter afterward.
“Better now?” Seth asked with a hint of amusement.
“Much better,” she replied. “Now, if only I didn’t have to get back into the death mobile.”
Seth snorted. “Good luck with that. We’re leaving in about five minutes.”
“I know,” Rogue said with an exaggerated groan.
“It’ll be okay. Ronan promised to slow it down a little.”
“Yeah? What are the chances?” she asked, heavy with doubt.
Ronan did not strike her as the type to take it easy. Neither did Nigel or Daniel. Spook was a different matter. He’d do whatever his teammates told him to do, secure in the knowledge that they’d protect him.
“Anyway, it’s my turn to visit the bushes,” Seth said. “Why don’t you look for a pillow or something to sit on? There should be something in the back of the truck. Even a folded blanket would do, I’m sure.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Rogue said, perking up. “I’ll have a look.”
“And I’ll be right back,” Seth said, walking toward the strip of nearby bushes.
Rogue made her way toward the transport truck and worked on the knotted rope that tied the canvas flap down. While she was busy, she studied Lila who stood surrounded by a captive audience.
The woman took to the center stage like she was born to it, talking and laughing with casual grace. It wasn’t hard to see why. She was tall and slender with legs for days. Her short hair suited her fine features, and her smile was dazzling.
Still, there was something about her that caused Rogue to pause. It took a while to figure out what it was, the flaw hidden beneath Lila’s absolute charm. Finally, she spotted it, revealed in a hint here and a token there, the malice that churned beneath the surface. Her eyes… Her eyes are dead.
That information boded ill for their mission, and for them. With her mind racing, Rogue rummaged about for a pillow or blanket.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over her and a deep voice spoke in her ear. “Can I help you with something?”
“What the hell?” Rogue cried, whirling around.
Daniel stood behind her, his eyes sparkling with amusement. At her cry, he said, “Whoa there. Relax. It’s just me.”
Unable to contain herself, Rogue punched him on the shoulder. “You scared the shit out of me. Don’t ever do that again, okay?”
“Sorry, but that’s not a promise I can make,” Daniel said with a laugh.
“Why not?” Rogue asked with what she thought was a ferocious scowl.
“Because you look so cute when you’re angry,” he said, chucking her on the chin.
“Don’t do that,” Rogue said, pulling away. The place where he’d touched her burned, and she wanted nothing more than to run away.
“Why not? Will your boyfriend… sorry, fiance, get jealous?” Daniel said with a snort. He reached past her and pulled a blanket out of the back of the truck. Thrusting the bundle into her arms, he said, “You can relax. I was just trying to help. Nothing more.”
Dumbfounded, Rogue watched as he marched away, the blanket still in her arms. Her mind whirled with the details of their encounter, and confusion set in. Had she been too quick to judge? Maybe he was only trying to help.
But her instincts told her otherwise, and she watched him walk away with a mixture of anger and fear. Fear because he was now part of their group, and that wasn’t about to change. This whole thing feels like a mistake. A big fat mistake.
Chapter 18
After a brief break, they continued on their way and made good time considering the obstacles they encountered. The sun passed overhead until it hovered above the treetops, a benign presence that shed warmth, not heat. The weather remained mild, and the clouds looked like cotton wool against the clear blue skies.
The second half of the trip was a lot more comfortable with the folded-up blanket to sit on, and Rogue paged through the old travel magazine in the cubby hole. There were a lot of pictures of sandy white beaches with turquoise waters and umbrella drinks, but what really drew her attention was the historical cities and landmarks.
That necessitated a whole list of questions regarding the things she saw between the covers: The Colosseum, the Sphinx, the leaning tower of Pisa, the Great Wall of China, and the statues on Easter Island.
A lot of it she already knew, thanks to Moran’s tutoring, but not everything was familiar. Seth answered as well as he was able to, but he also lacked knowledge in certain areas. Finally, she put the book back where it belonged and focused on the road ahead. “Any idea where we are?”
“No, but I’m making damn sure I know how to get back,” Seth said.
“How?” Rogue asked, curious.
“I pick out landmarks as we go and map out a route according to that,” he explained.
“Clever.”
“My dad taught me how to do that. I can read the stars too,” Seth said, flashing her a smile. “These stars are different, though. It took a while and the help of an astronomer for me to figure them out.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Probably because of the time difference. These stars are a few million years younger than the ones I learned about.”
“Oh, I hadn’t thought of that,” Rogue exclaimed.
“Few people do.”
“I wonder if those scientists ever tried to get us back after the Shift?” Rogue muttered.
“I hope not. If they did, they might have screwed things up even worse,” Seth replied.
“You’re right, but it sucks for us.”
“I don’t know. If it weren’t for the Shift, I’d never have met you.”
“Aw, you always know just what to say,” Rogue said, slapping him on the arm.
“It’s good to know I can still charm my way into
your good graces,” Seth said.
“Oh, you can charm your way into much more than that,” Rogue replied with a wink.
“You don’t say,” Seth said, acting all amazed. “If only we had a place to call home instead of being out here with a bunch of other people.”
Rogue sighed. “I know. Hopefully, we can relax and live like normal people after this. For a while, at least.”
“I don’t think the odds are in our favor,” Seth said. “We do seem to attract a lot of trouble.”
“We sure do.” It was a morbid thought, and she pushed it away to focus on more fun stuff. Leaning back in her seat, she propped her feet up on the dashboard. A few swigs of water sated her thirst, and she gazed around with interest. “It’s a pretty world out here.”
“That it is,” Seth said with a smile.
Despite their concerns about Ronan and his team, they were able to relax and enjoy each other’s company for a while. As they drove, she pointed out small features to Seth: Flowers, trees, birds, and tiny creatures. Seth knew just as much, if not more, than she did. Soon, a competition developed between them. Thankfully, they didn’t see anything large or dangerous, but that would likely change as they went further north.
They were running neck and neck when Ronan stopped his truck next to a small river. He got out to examine the water, and the rest followed his example. The river was little more than a babbling brook. It bubbled over rocks and washed downstream in a series of mini-waterfalls. Emerald green dragonflies flitted above the surface, and fish swam in the clear stream.
“Is anyone up for a quick break?” Ronan asked.
“Isn’t it a bit early? Seth asked. “We still have a few hours left before nightfall.”
“I know, but I’d like to top up our water supplies and try to catch a few fish for dinner,” Ronan said. “Plus, I’m sure we’d all enjoy something fresh to eat.”
“Alright,” Seth conceded. “If it doesn’t take too long.”
“Give me twenty minutes,” Ronan said, running toward his vehicle. He returned with a fishing rod and waded into the river with a fat smile on his face. Within minutes, he had his first catch, a plump silver specimen, and dropped it into a bucket of water with a lid.
The Extinction Series | Book 8 | Primordial Earth 8 Page 10