***
The night came and went much too quickly. Taylor was woken from a dream where Cidney stood in front of a giant wall, some kind of ticking robot like creatures on the opposite end.
“How’d you sleep?” the captain asked as he rose from his own blanket on the cave floor. The older man looked tired. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes but no amount of rubbing would remove his obvious weariness.
“I was out like a light,” Taylor said. The fire inside the cave had died down. All around, children and the survivors from the Ark were stirring from the sleep. “Are we missing Frank and Lu?”
“Nope,” the captain said. “Lu took the last watch and Frank wanted the opportunity to corner the guy and find out all he could on his species. I almost feel sorry for Lu. Almost.”
“Oh, watches,” Taylor said, feeling twinge of regret race down her spine. “I missed mine last night. Why didn’t you wake me?”
“You needed the rest,” the captain said with a shrug. “We have a long road ahead of us to the Vault. Don’t worry, we managed fine. Speaking of the Vault, what are we going to do about our hosts?”
“I wish I knew,” Taylor said. “I hoped a night of sleeping on it would bring a better answer than what I’ve got. I don’t see too much of a choice here. How much longer till we reach the Vault?”
“Jason estimates we’ve got about another thirty hours of driving. That’s if the vehicles hold up, we don’t get slowed down by road debris, or something worse. Figure two days with stops to resupply and piss breaks. We can alternate drivers as needed.”
“Two more days,” Taylor said out loud. She looked at the pile of foodstuffs still packaged and ready to be eaten. The kids could make it last if they used it in conjunction with whatever they had been living off before Taylor’s team’s arrival. “They can make it for a few days without us. We can’t take them, it’s too dangerous. We don’t know what we’re going to find at the Vault. Once we’ve settled in there, if there is anything to settle into, we’ll send someone for them.”
“I agree,” Captain Martin said. “We could be walking into something much worse than what they’ve got going on here. But I think you’re going to have a harder time convincing some of the team to leave the kids behind than others.”
Taylor followed the captain’s gaze to where Melissa was crouched down smiling and talking with a girl that couldn’t be more than eight years old. She thought back to how Melissa had had to watch her boyfriend be twisted into a monster by the Dread then killed. She would latch onto these children now because that’s the type of person she was. Not weak, not naïve, she cared. In a way that made her a stronger person than even Taylor.
“Tell Jason and Cidney it’s time to go,” Taylor said to the captain. “I’ll talk to Melissa and PJ and let them know what’s going on.”
“Roger,” the captain said.
Taylor crossed the cave chamber, catching PJ’s eye and motioning the young man over. If she had to do this it would be better to do it only once. She tried to ignore the eyes of the children when she passed them. Eyes full of hope and joy at seeing her, smiles and waves coming from a few of them.
When did you become so soft, Hart? Taylor asked herself, doing her best to push back feelings and failing horribly.
“What’s up?” PJ asked when they reached Melissa at the same time.
“I just wanted to let you two know what’s going on.”
“Oh great.” Melissa rose to her feet and dusted herself off. “I was thinking about how we’d have room for all the kids. I’d be willing to sit in the back of the truck. If we pack in tight into the SUV and get rid of all the extra gear in the bed of the truck I think…” Melissa’s words trailed off as her look of excitement turned to realization. “But you’re not taking them with us are you?”
Taylor ignored the shock in PJ’s eyes and focused on Melissa first. “We don’t know what we are going to find at the Vault.”
“What?” Melissa’s voice rose. The underground structure caught her words and echoed them through the cave so all could hear. “You think we’re going to find something worse than this? These are kids, alone, nearly starving.”
“There could be an army of Dread waiting for us,” Taylor said. She could practically feel all the young eyes looking at her, disappointed, afraid. “Don’t you remember what the leader of the Reckoners said when she died? They sold their slaves to the Dread there. They’re building something, and I promise it isn’t a mansion to welcome us. I can’t lead these kids into that. We’ll leave our food with them and come back as soon as we know it’s safe.”
Tears filled Melissa’s eyes. She was struggling to find the words when PJ spoke, his voice was calm and even. “I understand, why you think you have to leave us. You don’t have to, we can help, we can fight.”
His words cut Taylor in a way an outburst never could. PJ didn’t even know what living life meant. He was too young to have fallen in love, too busy caring for others to look after himself. Here he was again, shoulders back, chin high, ready to give everything he had.
“Yes,” Susan said, running forward, dragging her assault rifle across the rocky ground behind her. “We’re good fighters. We can help you.”
For all the reasons Taylor was ready to give in to their pleas, one held her back. She refused to lead these children to their deaths. “I know you’re all great fighters,” she said, taking time to look PJ and Susan in the eyes. “You captured us, after all. And as much as I hate to admit it, you probably will need to fight at some point if we are going to beat back the Dread. But that day is not today. Stay here. We’ll be at the Vault in two days, and as soon as we see everything is clear we’ll send someone for all of you. I promise.”
“We can’t leave them by themselves,” Melissa said in a defeated voice. “I understand we can’t take them, we can’t leave them either. What if the Dread come through again and this time they aren’t so lucky?”
This was why Taylor hated taking the lead on anything. This was why she chose to be a Cleaner when the world still ran on wifi and caffeine. She was better off on her own. She could make the hard choices for herself but it was something entirely different to decide the fate of others.
“I can stay back with them,” Melissa volunteered. “I’ll stay with them until you find out what’s going on at the Vault.”
“No,” someone said from across the cave. “I’ll stay.” Captain Martin walked, forward nodding to Taylor.
Melissa shook her head. “I can—”
“What are you going to do when your weapon jams?” the captain asked, not in an unfriendly tone. “What survival tactics do you know if these kids need to abandon the cave and flee deeper into the woods? How many ways do you know how to kill a man?”
Melissa stood quiet.
Taylor closed her eyes for a moment. She hated having to sacrifice her greatest asset but it was clear this is what had to be done. It was the right thing to do. In the days to come she would look back and regret her decision of leaving the captain behind.
Chapter 9
“So there are five families that all have different eye colors when they’re human. When their Elite gene kicks in each families’ eyes turn a different hue?” Frank asked Lu.
“That’s right,” Lu said, glaring at Frank as if he were going to rip out his throat. Sarcasm dripped from his next words, “Anything else you want to know? You’ve only been asking questions for the last two hours.”
“Yes, thank you for asking. So your eyes change from green to yellow, and your canines extend when you tap into this extra gene, is that all that changes?”
Lu looked at Taylor and the others exiting the cave with relief. “Guess we’re going. Have to pause the interrogation for next time, Super Kid.”
Frank looked from Jason to Cidney thenfrom Melissa to Taylor. “No Captain Martin? What about the rest of the youngsters?”
“We can’t take them with us,” Cidney said. “We have to make sure the Vault i
s clear, then we’ll send someone back for them.”
Lu fell in step with the rest of the group as they left the clearing outside the cave and headed for the vehicles.
“You sure you want to take Cidney into what comes next?” Lu asked Taylor. “If you’re trying to keep her safe, this is as good an opportunity as any.”
Taylor had considered the idea before, though as fast as the possibility posed a question she disregarded it. Cidney was going with them, because Taylor had made her father a guarantee before he died. She intended to keep her promise. “Cidney comes with us.”
“Whatever you say, Glow.” Lu shrugged and quickened his stride to take the lead. “It’s your show.”
“Do you think we can trust him?” Frank asked. “I mean, he’s been fine so far, but, well, he’s kind of a crazy dude.”
“I don’t think he’s going to harm us,” Taylor said. “I don’t know if he’ll stay once we reach the Vault.”
“You’re not answering my question,” Frank said, adjusting his glasses that were sliding down the bridge of his nose. “Do you trust him?”
“No,” Taylor said. “No I don’t.”
“Yeah, me neither,” Frank said. “Hey, did you figure out what’s going on with your powers?”
“It looks like I’m evolving, maybe changing out abilities for ones more suited to the fight ahead,” Taylor said.
“Interesting.” Frank brought out a small notebook and a pencil from a pocket and began writing. “With Dr. Spear all vampired out now that leaves me to try and document what’s going on with you. If there is a chance at recreating that serum—”
“What?” Taylor was examining their surroundings making sure they were headed in the right direction when Frank’s words caught her by surprise. “No, no more serum. You saw what it did to Melissa’s boyfriend.”
“Yeah, that’s because he had more darkness than light in him when he took it. There has to be others out there like you that could benefit from the serum. We can’t just give up on it.”
The terrain around them had changed from lush green back to charred and bleak. Taylor’s boots crunched blackened tree limbs. “We can agree to disagree on this one for now, Frank,” she said. “I can’t be responsible for turning someone into the very thing we’re trying to destroy. I’d have to see irrefutable proof that it would work before we inject someone with it again. I don’t know how we’d be able to gather that data.”
“We’ll find a way,” Frank said. “There has to be a way.”
The rest of the hike back to the vehicles, Taylor brought up the rear of the group. She needed time to think. Soon they would be at the Vault. Depending on what they found she might have to part with Lu, there and then. He wasn’t just a wild card, he wanted to kill anyone that stood with the Dread.
Taylor had killed her fare share of those infected with the darkness but they were all something other than homo sapiens. With the Dread’s new tactic of recruiting humans to their side, she knew she couldn’t blatantly kill humans with the ferocity she had the Dread. She had taken a handful of lives before the world took its doomsday course, and she remembered each one of them.
They were people who had been given every opportunity to stand down. They were warped maniacs. Were people working for the Dread, enslaving other humans, that much different?
Saved by the appearance of the vehicles, Taylor was able to let the lingering question lie. “All right,” she said, moving towered the SUV, “let’s burn some rubber.”
***
“Are you sure you don’t want to know how the solar power cells fueling the vehicles work?” Frank asked. “It’s actually pretty cool. It’ll help pass the time.”
When Taylor saw Lu’s hand reaching for the hilt of his saber, she said, “No, Lu, you aren’t going to kill him.”
“I was stretching,” Lu lied, rolling his shoulders.
“For the hundredth time,” Taylor said, readjusting her tired grip on the steering wheel. “I understand the concept. The sun powers up the panels on the roof, the power is stored and used as fuel.”
Frank’s face contorted in a grimace. “Well sure, if you want to take all the fun out of science,” he said under his breath.
“Are we driving through the night?” Cidney asked. “Will the batteries on the power cells let us go that far?”
Taylor realized she didn’t have an answer.
“Oh, no,” Lu said, hunching lower in his seat.
“I’m not sure,” Taylor said with a sigh. “Maybe we should ask Frank.”
“Well, well, well,” Frank said with a grin. “When the cat’s away the mice will play.”
“You’re not using that saying correctly,” Taylor said. She leaned forward and glanced at the sky. They had been driving all day, and twilight was approaching.
“Let’s agree to disagree,” Frank said. “But now to Cidney’s question. It depends on a number of factors, like how new the batteries are and how fast we travel. Hypothetically, we should be able to run on stored power all night and recharge with the morning sun. Hypothetically.”
“Interesting,” Cidney said.
“Is it?” Lu asked. “Is it really?”
Cidney handed Lu a can of peaches. “No I only wanted him to feel important about what he knows. He wants to contribute too. Here, have some peaches.”
To Taylor’s amusement Lu accepted the can with a grin.
“Thanks,” he said, wasting no time in twisting the can open with his bare hands. “How much food do we have left?”
“Enough for two days,” Cidney said. “We left the rest behind with Captain Martin and the rest of the kids at the cave.”
“Want a break from driving?” Lu asked Taylor. “Or should I even offer since you don’t trust me?”
“Eavesdropping?” Taylor asked, not missing a beat. There was no denying she was tired but she was planning on giving the wheel to Frank.
“I don’t have to listen into anyone’s conversation to connect the dots,” Lu replied. “It’s almost dark now. Wake me if you need me.”
Like he could flip a switch and choose when to fall asleep, Lu closed his eyes and was out in a minute.
“Do you want to switch now?” Frank asked.
“I’ll drive for as long as I can,” Taylor said. “You should get some sleep like the Iron Wolf here. I’ll wake you around two or three AM to change.”
“Roger,” Frank said. He climbed over the middle seat in the SUV to reach the back. “I’m going to pass out here until then.”
The hours went by without any sign of life. The headlights in the SUV were strong and lit up the road in front of them like spotlights. They passed signs marking cities that used to be; Lake Williams, Treeville, Carson. Each city name had a population number under it that no longer held any relevance.
The highway was clear for the most part. Although at times Taylor would have to slow down to maneuver around an abandoned vehicle or pull off the road completely to make her way around a collision, so far there was always a way through.
A thought did cross her mind that their journey had been easy thus far, perhaps too easy. Shouldn’t they have run into someone else by now? Sure, there were PJ and the kids in the cave, still, shouldn’t there be other people out here?
***
Valery Spear reached Olympia, Washington and the Vault far ahead of her own contingent of Dread and the surviving Reckoners. Her powers as a lieutenant in the Dread army seemed unparalleled. Not only was she able to run all day and night, but a comfortable pace of travel was now an all out sprint for her.
When she reached the outskirts of the city of Olympia that night it was clear something was different about this city. All the towns she had passed on her way were abandoned or home to pitiful handfuls of roaming gangs and those struggling to find order in the chaos.
Olympia was so much more. It was beautiful. The use of slaves had made what could have been another abandoned city sparkle with light and hope.
Valer
y entered the city limits, aware she was being watched. The outskirts were what she expected: broken windows, abandoned vehicles, shadows shuffling in the darkness.
The real change didn’t come until she was in the heart of Olympia. A plot of ground four square blocks by four square blocks had been sectioned off from the rest. A wall made of cars and sheet metal had been erected to ward off intruders. Watchtowers rose every hundred yards with working lights.
A smile played across her lips as she walked to the gates without fear. As she approached, spotlights shone on her from the two towers on either side of the gate.
“Stop where you are,” a raspy male voice challenged her. “Who are you and what do you want?”
Valery ran a tongue across her new set of sharpened teeth. “My name is Valery Spear. I was sent by Liberty Echo with an army of Dread to swell your ranks. Who is in charge here?”
There was a hushed conversation between the guards.
“I’m going to be patient for, oh, another minute or so,” Valery said amiably. “Then I’m going to come over your wall, rip out your throats, and pluck your eyeballs from their sockets.”
“We’re getting Cole for you now,” a halting voice said from somewhere behind the bright lights.
Valery lifted a hand to shade her view to see who was speaking to her. It was no use. “Turn off your lights, idiot.”
Immediately the two spotlights shining on her went off.
Valery blinked, readjusting her vision, and saw a pair of guards in each tower looking at her with a mixture of trepidation and uncertainty. They were all human, mercenaries working for the Dread lieutenant that commanded here in Olympia, this Cole, apparently.
She examined the wall and the outlying landscape. Cole had leveled the buildings surrounding his fortress in order to see anyone approaching his walls. The walls themselves were four stories tall, and although constructed with a mismatched assortment of materials, looked solid enough.
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