by Ciara Knight
“Yes.”
“In what way?”
He raked his lips across my earlobe and I drew in a long breath. “In every way. I can’t explain it. You have a way of mixing the words up in my head. No one has ever done that.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I want you in a way that’s more than friendly.”
“So this is physical. A chemical response between us, like my mother said. No such thing as love, just hormones and tools.”
“Po ǵavolite,” he rambled. “Tools?”
“Never mind.”
“Don’t know what’s going to happen. I do know I don’t wanna keep fightin’ unless you and my sister are by my side. It’s not just physical or hormones. I’m not sure what it is yet, except that it’s amazing.”
I yawned and nuzzled my face into his neck. “Ryder?”
“Yes?”
“Do you think we stand a chance of making it to the rebels?”
“We will. Somehow, someway, we’ll make it.” Ryder stroked my cheek. “For now we’re safe, so get some sleep.”
My body relaxed. I closed my eyes in hopes the morning would bring new light to our situation.
The mattress bounced as he settled in and I rested my head against his shoulder. Only a thin sheet to pull over us, he pressed me closer into his chest.
I fit perfectly in the crook of his arm, as his free hand caressed my hair.
My breathing slowed to a steady rhythm and happy dreams from the Resort Territory ebbed into my consciousness. I wasn’t sure if it was part of the dream, but I swore I heard the words, “I love you, Princess Semara.”
Sounds of someone stirring in the other room woke me. My muscles were stiff from not moving for what must have been hours, but Ryder didn’t release me when I went to move. Instead, he clutched me to him tighter.
Never had I slept so well. Usually my mind raced the minute my head hit the pillow, but not last night.
“Ya’ll gonna sleep the day away?”
I rubbed the crust from my eyes and pulled my numb arm from around Ryder, careful not to wake him. Our damp skin clung together.
The smell of fresh meat cooking in the other room made my mouth water.
“You need to eat something.” Ryder startled me. “I won’t let you out of bed until you manage to get some food down.”
He jumped from the bed and sauntered out of the room, only to return with two plates in hand.
Maggie peered in through the door. Handing Ryder two glass bottles of water, she glanced at the still-made bed and tsked, “I’ll get your sister up and fed. You two get a move on. First light, we gotta skedaddle.”
“Got it.” Ryder sat by my side and handed me the plate and water.
I sat up and the covers spilled down to my waist.
He pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Oh, how I’d love to crawl back into bed next to you.”
“Did you sleep?”
He sat on the edge of the bed. “Like I haven’t in a long time.” He stabbed the slab of grey meat with his fork and brought it to my lips.
I turned my head away. “I don’t know if I can eat that. Think about it. Not much around here but rats.”
“Then don’t think about it. Eat.”
I opened my mouth reluctantly and took a piece, chewing it slowly. I grabbed the bottle of water from the floor and chugged half of it.
He stood and lit some more candles while I choked the piece down with a loud cough.
“What do you think will happen when we reach the coast?”
Ryder returned to the bed and shoved another bite in my mouth. “We join the rebellion.”
I shielded my full mouth with the back of my hand. “What if we don’t reach them?”
“We have to.”
“Why? What if we went back to the Resort Territory? You, me, and Raeth.”
Ryder shook his head. “Can’t do that. The rebellion needs us.”
“But we could—”
“We’ve got a problem.” The old lady’s words shattered our few minutes of peace.
He shoveled a few bites down and shot up from the bed. “Finish that. You’re not to get up ‘til you have some food in your stomach.”
He followed Maggie out the door.
“Something’s out there.” Concern oozed from her voice.
I bolted from the bed, clutching the sheet to my chest to follow them.
Maggie waved her hand frantically for Ryder to follow.
She raised a panel on the outer wall and rays of light flooded into the room. “Look, down there.”
A shiny object pulsed across the sky then landed at the edge of town. “What is it?”
“Don’t know, but heard it fly over when I cracked the viewer.” Maggie stepped back and Ryder leaned out the small hole.
He pulled back, concern etched on his face. I ran over and looked out.
My pulse raced and I held my breath. A sense of dread crept out from the dark hole I’d pressed it to a few hours ago. Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good out here.
Ryder rubbed his forehead. “Might be a scout or something. We need to take a closer look.”
“Thought you’d say that. Got just the thing.” She shut the view and walked over to an old screen leaning against the wall on a table. “It’s a direct feed.”
“But you don’t have any electricity.”
“Not powered that way. It’s linked through the water factory. After the bombs, there were some strange ships flying in. They must’ve connected these direct views. One of the scientists figured it out before…well, a long time ago.”
“Thought you didn’t know about the flying ships.”
“Well, might not have been completely honest about that. Not sure I should trust you and such.”
What else wasn’t she completely honest about? Of course, we hadn’t been completely honest either. “Could you see us last night when you helped us escape?”
“No, there’s no camera there. Just at the edge of town and at the factory,” Maggie said.
I bit my bottom lip. “Does the queen know about you?”
“Don’t think so.”
“What do you know of the queen and what she’s been doing here?” I asked.
Maggie adjusted the screen for us to see. “Only know she rules with an iron fist, literally. Been here trying to figure out what they left behind. Then people dressed in strange suites took out two-thirds of us when they came after the bombs.” Tears filled her cloudy eyes. “Lined ’em up and shot them all like animals. After that, the rest of us hid whenever something else came to town.”
“Until we arrived.”
“Yeah, ya’ll didn’t look too threatening, and besides, it’s been awhile since I had someone around to talk to.”
A buzzing sound drew our attention to the flickering screen. The feed rolled in rapid white and grey lines until it slowed to a stop.
“Dear all things holy, what the…”
I saw a large creature with pipes twisted around from the back of its head to its chest and around to its spine. It walked slowly but with purpose, dragging its massive legs along the street. A large single barrel gun with two side cylinders was secured to one gloved hand while the other held something out. A green light blinked then he lowered it and continued to shuffle forward.
“It’s an assassin sent by the queen.” My voice quivered despite my best intension of hiding my terror.
“That thing looks similar to the suits the men wore when they came here after the bombs.”
“It’s no man…at least, not anymore.” I wrung my hands. “We need to get out of here.”
“No, should stay here where we’re safe. We’ll have to wait it out,” Ryder said.
“He won’t find us here,” Maggie added.
I clutched my neck. “It already has. That’s a Seeker he’s holding in his hand. It will distinguish us from animals and buildings within a couple kilometers.” Dread snaked through my body.
Ra
eth bolted up from the couch. “W-we need to g-get out of here. N-Now!”
I snatched my clothes off the edge of the couch and bolted for the bedroom, changing clothes and returning seconds later.
I looked between Ryder and Maggie. “That gun will tear us to shreds before we make it to the plant.”
“We’ve got to try.” Ryder grasped my shoulders trying to reassure me that everything would work out. His shaking hands betrayed him.
“Boy, ya’ll sure do bring trouble.” The old woman’s eyes narrowed, etching deeper lines between her brows. “Maybe I ought to stay here and send y’all on your way.”
I stared the old woman down. “That’s not an option. It will still kill you. It only understands basic orders. It’s programmed to take out anything in its path that resembles a human.”
“Well, ain’t this a pickle.” She gave a half-smile and opened a wood cabinet. “There might be a way. Tunnels underground.” She retrieved two large guns with a long, cylindrical object attached on the top of both.
“A scientist retro fit these do-thang-a-ma-bobs on them for light. They’ll shine bright enough for us to find our way.”
My stomach churned the meat in anticipation.
“Don’t know how much longer they’ll work. One went out on me last night when I went to retrieve y’all.”
“Those will never work against the heavy armor of an assassin,” I warned.
“Call me ugly and paint me red, but one thing’s for sure, we’re out gunned. And my momma always said, don’t bring a carving knife to a shooting range. I’m packin’, deary. In the good ol’ days, I was a gun-tottin’ republican.”
I had no idea what she meant by being a republican, but now wasn’t the time to ask. No way would Raeth be able to handle the sight of that creature.
I blocked Raeth’s view of the screen. We wouldn’t stand a chance if she checked out right now.
“I’ll be by your side the whole way. Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.” I gave her a reassuring smile.
Chapter Twenty-Three
We raced through the underground, corrugated pipe way.
Bang. The unmistakable sound of metal feet hitting the corrugated pipe reverberated through the tunnel. We all stopped abruptly, all standing absolutely still as the assassin’s light illuminated the dark underground.
I held my breath.
“Much further?” Ryder asked.
Maggie shook her head. “No, come on.”
We took two more turns and arrived at a ladder, which Maggie climbed nimbly.
Clank. The hatch swung open. Raeth followed, hoisting herself up with two hands and one leg, while her metal one dangled in the air. I climbed the ladder, shielding my eyes, and nearly fell from the disorientation caused by the blinding light.
The assassin clanked closer. Ryder nudged my leg, urging me to move. Raeth already disappeared into the light. The smell of fresh air invited me up. Each step my legs shook.
“Keep moving,” Ryder commanded.
My body followed without protest, propelled by terror. I crawled out onto the road, broken rocks cut at my hands and knees. Ryder reached the top and smiled at me.
He slipped a few rungs down.
Maggie shined her light down past Ryder into the shaft.
The assassin had Ryder by the ankle. I choked out a cry. Maggie aimed her gun and shot twice.
Two more shots. And another.
“No! You can’t have him.” My heart and veins boiled in anger. I harvested the despair and focused on the assassin’s metal tubing. Swirls vibrated my skull and my nails stung, taste of iron and bronze invaded my tongue. Concentrating on the hoses and armor, I burrowed through a fissure in a tube. Visualizing each groove, I wiggled down into the deep, dark crevices. I caught a glimpse of his swollen face, one eye, no teeth.
Hatred ebbed from his soul into mine. I grew stronger, draining him as I tunneled deep inside his armor.
Behind all that heavy outer skin and beyond the anger, he felt fear…pain…longing. He might be horribly disfigured, but he was still a person.
An eruption of hot lava exploded from inside, blowing his armor from his body. Once the tubing was gone, he couldn’t breathe.
Then a surge of frigid air flooded up the tunnel into my face.
“Secure the hatch!” Ryder grabbed my forearm and pulled himself up.
Maggie rolled the cover over and I melted the sides to the ground, sealing it for good.
“It was…human,” I heard my own hollow words. “I murdered—”
Ryder wrapped his arms around me. “You had no choice, Semara.”
Lips pressed to my temple, hands stroked my back, but my gut wrenched with the knowledge of the perverse act I committed using my gift. I just took a life as mercilessly as my mother would have.
“I’m like her,” I choked out.
“Who?” Ryder asked.
My body shook with the memory of invading the metal merged with skin and bone. “My mother…the queen.”
“The Queen?” Maggie shrieked. “She’s your—”
“Not now,” Ryder ordered.
“S-Semara.” Raeth bent down by my side and stroked my face with her delicate hand. “You s-saved my brother, you’re m-mother would’ve d-destroyed a life without p-provocation. T-Trust me when I s-say, you’re n-nothing like her.” Raeth’s words came so clear and calm, yet her pupils constricted and dilated so fast it appeared they were having a seizure.
Sounds of another approaching ship startled us. We all looked to the sky, but couldn’t see what approached on the other side of the ruins.
“We need to get moving,” Maggie barked and walked away.
I pushed to my feet and followed Maggie, Raeth and Ryder at my side as we hurried through the crumbled structures and rocky terrain.
“Good news is the fuel is down there a ways.” Maggie continued down a narrow alley.
“Bad news is we’ll never make it back to the ship,” Ryder added.
“We’ll figure something out,” I reassured him, yet my pulse beat faster than my feet hit the pavement.
“I’ve got another ship. Been working on it awhile. Need Petrol though.” Maggie tilted her head toward a large hill at the edge of the city.
“If you had a ship, why didn’t you leave?” I asked.
“It ain’t exactly a ship. And I didn’t know if I’d make it someplace safe on my own. I’ve never left Chicago before.” Maggie glanced back at the hatch. “No time for a tea party. Get a move on. We need more firepower for the trip. Let’s split up. You three head for the petrol. Three doors south, go through the hall and down the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs you’ll find another door. Inside that door y’all find several containers of petrol. I’ll meet you at the top of the stairs with some extra ammo and a few toys.” Maggie flashed a devious smile and ducked between two buildings.
With no time to protest, we followed her directions and raced through the third door.
The inner door was locked. I wrapped my fingers around the knob and it clicked open. We all took cover below and discovered a room with petrol cans set on shelving.
Outside, something thundered and the building shook. Raeth fell back against the wall. Shelves crashed to the floor.
“Pekolot. What was that?” Ryder lunged for the door and peered up the stairs. “Nothing’s up there.”
“I’ve got a bad feeling.” I helped Raeth stand again and propped her against the shelf that still stood.
I maneuvered around Ryder and stood on the first step, gagging at the smell of oil, I stumbled down into the storage room. “We better get out of here.”
Ryder lowered his head and arched a brow. “What is it?”
“You’ll think I’m insane.”
Raeth laughed, “No m-more than m-me.”
“Do you think the assassin escaped from the hatch?” I asked.
“No way,” Ryder insisted.
I looked away. “You’re right.” What the hell was wrong wit
h me? The implant must have short circuited or something. “There’s more than one. There usually is. They travel in packs.”
Ryder brushed hair from my eyes. “Then we should collect the petrol and get out of here, quick.”
We each grabbed a full plastic container and ran for the stairs. It sloshed by my side as I stayed on Ryder’s heels with Raeth on mine.
Another loud bang shook the ground beneath us. Ryder ran to the corner and peered around. “Prokleta taa žena. She’s gonna get herself killed.”
“What?” I pushed past him. Ryder grabbed my arm and snatched me back behind the wall.
“Now you’re going to get yourself killed!” Ryder’s pupils narrowed. His thumb dug into my upper arm. His fingers pressed so hard I thought they’d meet his thumb through my flesh. I squirmed away from him.
An explosion sent us flying back into Raeth. Rocks tumbled from the building. Sand plumed around us. Coughs echoed in the alley.
Another bolt of fire shot our way.
I grabbed Raeth by her vest and Ryder by his collar. “Run!”
Ryder flipped back onto his feet and swiped Raeth up in his arms as we rushed to the other side of the building. I remembered the petrol and ran back.
Ryder yelled but I couldn’t make out his words over the rapid blood pumping through my ears. Down the alley, I spied a wick sizzling into a glass bottle. The old woman stood a few hundred meters away waving her arms. I slid and grabbed the bottle then tossed it back down the road. It rolled to a stop at two metal feet. I caught a glimpse of tubes and a bronze head before the world lit into a golden sphere. A great boom reverberated through the streets. Then something sucker punched me in the chest and propelled me several meters, slamming me against a hard surface.
Then a white blanket…intense ringing…no breath.
Only gasps I couldn’t hear. Tears stung my cheeks as I clutched my stomach and curled into myself.
The white faded and colors bled into the scene, yet I couldn’t focus on anything. I looked left and right. Each time my eyes changed direction the white light stayed in the way.
The ringing in my ears dulled enough to hear another bang. No, someone yelling, but I couldn’t make out the words.
Sharp pain turned to dull pulses and welcomed breath flooded my lungs. Then more pain. I scrunched my eyes shut, trying to clear the white.