by S. E. Smith
Until next time – human, the female’s voice hissed.
Chapter 17
The Change:
"Thank you again for everything," Maria murmured in a quiet voice.
"If you see any of the others again, you won't tell them anything, will you?" Josie asked, moving from one foot to the other and staring intently at Alex more than she was Maria.
"No, we won't," Alex said with a grimace. "I doubt that they survived. That one creature...." He shook his head and looked uneasily at Josie before glancing at Dust. "I doubt we'll ever see any of them again."
Dust glanced at Maria and Alex with a frown. "Are you sure you want to split up? You could travel with us," he said in a quiet voice. "What do you plan to do?"
Alex glanced at Maria before he spoke. "We are going to head east. I had some family in North Carolina. I'm hoping some of them may have survived. I... I owe you an apology, Dust. Maria, the kids, and I would all be dead now if not for you. Beau said...."
"Dad said a lot of crap," Josie interrupted in a hard voice.
Dust glanced at Josie. She had the flames glowing in her eyes again. She tended to do that whenever Alex opened his mouth. It had been a battle the last three days to keep her from torching Alex. If the other man owed anyone an apology, it was Josie.
Alex and Maria had decided it was better for them to go off on their own. Neither one of them felt comfortable around him or Josie. While Dust was concerned about their safety, he also knew it was their choice. It was the three small children with Alex and Maria that he was concerned about. Still, they were all probably better off as far away from him as possible. The haunting threat of the female devil dog was burned into his memory.
"Stay together," Dust said, nodding to Alex. "I wish I could give you some advice on how to know if there are any more of those creatures around, but I can't. Just keep your eyes open and try not to move around too much at night if you are out in the open."
"We won't," Alex replied with a stiff nod. "We've got to get going before it gets too much later."
Dust's eyes widened in surprise when Maria stepped forward and gave him a hug. He stood stiffly, not sure of what to do. She quickly released him and stepped back again with a murmur of thanks before she turned and walked to the waiting truck that he had taken from the silo. Several minutes later, only the faint outline of the truck could be seen in the distance.
Dust turned and looked around the small town that they had taken refuge in several days ago. He didn't remember much of the first day. It had taken every ounce of his strength to get to the culvert. His chest had been ripped open by the she-devil's claws.
"How are you feeling?" Sammy asked, staring at him in concern. "You still look pale."
"I'm good," Dust replied with a crooked grin. "Although, I wouldn't object to another bag of marshmallows if we have any."
Sammy shook her head. "We don't," she said with a sigh of regret. "I do have some soda and chips."
Dust nodded. "I'll take the soda," he said, taking a step closer to Sammy when she turned to walk back to the car where Todd was waiting for them. "Did you or any of the others find anything worth salvaging?"
Sammy shook her head. "No," she replied.
"This was one of the towns my dad and brother hit," Josie said with a shrug. "I was with them when they came the first couple of times. They must have come back for more. I don't remember it being this empty when I was here before."
"I think it would be best to head out," Dust suggested. "There were several more towns and we might find some houses along the way that they missed."
"Good luck with that," Josie replied with a snort. "My dad was pretty good about finding stuff."
"How far out did they go, Josie?" Sammy asked, frowning.
Josie shrugged. "I don't know," she said. "Not far at first, but I was locked up the last six months, so who knows. I just know that I am NEVER going underground again!"
Dust watched as Josie raised her face to the sky. Since the fragments of the comet hit the earth, there were never any real sunny days. A layer of clouds covered the sky. The weather was cooler than it had been before. What should be the hottest part of the summer felt more like the beginnings of winter.
"Here you go, Dust," Sammy said, holding out a can of soda.
"Thanks," Dust replied, taking the soda from her. He looked at her when she didn't let go of the can at first. She was studying him with a worried expression. He reached up with his other hand, smoothing back a strand of her dark hair when it blew across her face. "I'm glad you and Todd made it out safely," he said in a husky voice.
"Are you okay? I mean, really," Sammy murmured in a soft voice. "The few times I've seen you hurt, you seemed to heal faster after you ate something. This time it took longer."
Dust glanced down at the soda in his hand. She was right, it had taken longer. Of course, some of the wounds to his chest had been deeper than the other wounds he had suffered. He had also lost a lot of blood.
"I'm fine," he finally said, looking up at her again with a slight smile.
"Can we leave, already?" Josie snapped, glaring back and forth between Sammy and Dust. "I'll drive."
Dust didn't miss the way Sammy's lips tightened into a straight line or the flash of annoyance in her eyes. He heard Todd mumble that it was about time as he crawled across the back seat. Deciding that it would probably be best if he sat next to Todd, he climbed in the back seat and pulled the door closed.
"So, which way do we head?" Josie asked as she climbed into the driver's seat.
"North," Sammy and Dust said at the same time.
"Can I ask why? It seems like it will only be colder up there," Josie asked, glancing over her shoulder at Dust.
"I have family in Portland," Dust said. "I don't know if they are still alive, but I want to find out."
Josie raised an eyebrow before she turned and looked at Sammy. "What about you?" She asked.
Sammy started and half turned in her seat so she could look back at him. Dust could feel her surprise at his admission. He had never told her about his aunt and uncle that lived in Portland. His mom's brother lived there. They had actually visited him and his aunt just the Christmas before the comet struck.
"It's just Todd and me," Sammy finally replied, turning back in her seat. "We have a little over half a tank of gas and two gas cans that are filled. We'll need to keep an eye out for any gas stations we can find. We'll also need more food. At the rate you and Dust are eating, what we have now won't last very long if we don't."
Josie flashed a grin. "I won't need quite as much as I was eating. I'm feeling the energy inside me. Still, you'll appreciate my appetite if we meet any more of those devil dog creatures. I'll be able to roast the lot of them!"
"I just hope we find more marshmallows. They were good the way you toasted them, Josie," Todd commented from the back seat.
"Thanks, Todd," Josie chuckled. "I love being free!"
Dust laughed and tiredly laid his head back against the seat. Lifting the can to his lips, he sipped on the sugary mixture. He could feel the energy slowly coursing through him.
Turning his head, he watched as the landscape flashed by. His mind played back over the battle with the devil dog. Worry tugged at him. Deep down, he knew that he had not seen the last of that creature.
His gaze turned to the back of Sammy's head. He hadn't told her about the strange sensations that had been running through his body since the day of the fight. At first, he had thought it was because of his injuries, but now he wasn't so sure. It felt like his skin was crawling.
There was also the uncontrollable hunger. He had eaten through a third of what had been stored in the car over the last three days. Sammy hadn't tried to stop him, but she had watched him with growing alarm. Josie on the other hand, had been rather blunt when she told him that he needed to slow down until they had a chance to find another town.
The last thing he noticed was it felt like he was still running a fever. By the tim
e he reached Sammy, Todd, and Josie the other night, his skin had felt like he was on fire. He had fallen into the back of the car while Josie drove. Todd had sat in the front seat while Sammy had stayed in the back with him, constantly running a damp cloth over his fevered skin. Alex, Maria, and the kids had followed in the large truck Dust had taken. His fever finally broke late yesterday afternoon. When it did, that was when his appetite had gone crazy.
Now, he was just tired. All he wanted to do was sleep. Turning his head, he rested his forehead against the cool glass and closed his eyes. It felt so good, both the cool glass against his skin and the closing of his eyes. They had a long road ahead of them before they would stop for the night. He would sleep until then, or at least for just a little while, he thought as Sammy and Josie's soft voices washed over him.
*.*.*
Kill one, the female devil dog ordered, glaring up at her Beta with eyes glazed with pain and rage.
The Beta didn't question her order. She would have killed him if he had. Instead, she watched the large male trot over to where the remainder of her pack lay resting. This would be the second one that he would kill for her in the past day. Her hunger was eating at her with an intensity so strong that she was amazed she hadn't killed the rest of the pack.
The sound of fighting drew her attention back to the group. The Beta had picked the weakest of the survivors, but it was still strong. The fight to live was strong inside the devil dog, but it was no match for the larger Beta. Several minutes later, the Beta returned, dragging a limp body clutched between its thick, powerful jaws.
Yes, the She-devil groaned, rising up with difficulty.
She stumbled toward the warm remains of the devil dog. With a ferociousness that belied her feelings of weakness, she fell to the ground and ripped into the flesh of the dead beast. As she ate, she thought of the human who had almost killed her. The pain of the knife wound in her side still throbbed. It had been deep, barely missing her heart.
She snarled when the Beta stepped too close. Snapping her jaws, her eyes blazed a dark, blood-red. She could feel the power coursing through her, as well as something else. Her body felt stiff and achy.
Rising to her feet, she stumbled for a moment before an intense pain swept through her. This was far worse than when she woke that first time. A loud, piercing howl shattered the night air. Twisting, she fell to the ground. Her back and shoulders felt like they were on fire.
The Beta jerked back as she jerked in uncontrollable spasms. In the back of her mind, she could feel his fear. She watched helplessly as he turned and disappeared into the darkness, the remaining devil dogs following him. Her jaws opened and she fought to snarl an order for him to return, but her throat was suddenly paralyzed.
Hot pants escaped her as the skin along her shoulders split open. Her paws curled into the dirt as she desperately tried to hold onto consciousness as waves of pain exploded through her. A low, moan finally broke through the agonizing pain when the pressure inside her finally spilled out onto the ground.
Lifting her head several long minutes later, she tiredly glanced over her shoulder. A sense of triumph and a momentary flash of power swept through her before she laid her head back down. Unable to resist, she wiggled her shoulders. The unfamiliar weight pulled at her.
I am changed, she thought with contentment. I am stronger. The human cannot escape me now.
Chapter 18
Rising from the Dust:
"Dust, wake up," a voice said urgently.
A shiver ran through him. He ached all over. He tried to open his eyes, but they felt weighted down. Another shiver shook his body and the sound of someone moaning pulled at him. Was Sammy or Todd hurt? It took several tries before he could get his tired brain to send the right message to his eyelids. He blinked groggily. Bright light streamed through the window of the car. Instead of sitting, he was lying across the back seat of the car. There was a pile of blankets on top of him, but he was still cold.
"Sam... Sammy," he choked out, his throat rough and dry.
"I'm here," Sammy said, leaning over him from where she was kneeling on the floorboard in the back.
"What... Where are we?" He asked, weakly clutching at the blankets. "Why am I so cold?"
Sammy brushed a hand over his forehead. He closed his eyes at the soothing caress of her fingers. His eyelashes lifted when he heard her shift.
"Try to drink this," she said, lifting his head up a little so that she could rest the can against his lips.
The sugary taste of the soda washed over his tongue and down his throat. He fought the urge to sneeze as the fizz tickled his nose. After several sips, she pulled the can away from his lips and gently rested his head back down on the jacket she was using as a pillow.
"What is going on?" He asked.
"You're sick," Josie said, bluntly from the front seat.
"You've been sick for two days," Todd added, looking over the front driver's seat at him. "Sammy said we needed to find a place to stay until you got better."
Dust's gaze moved back to lock with Sammy's worried one. He tried to smile, but it took too much effort. With a sigh, he shifted uncomfortably on the seat. His back felt like it was on fire. He would have understood if it had been his chest, though that still hurt as well.
"Where are we?" He asked faintly.
Sammy looked up to stare out of the door. With a sigh, she glanced back down at Dust. An uncertain smile curved her lips.
"I think we are in Kansas, but I'm not really sure," she admitted.
"How are you feeling?" Josie asked.
Dust turned his head to stare at Josie. "Cold, achy," he mumbled. "I'm not sure what's wrong. My back... It hurts... Burns."
"It could be an infection or something. The devil dogs cut you up pretty bad," Sammy said, biting her lip.
"I told Sammy I could seal the wounds with just a touch, but she wouldn't let me," Josie responded, raising her hand up and focusing until small flames danced on the tips of her fingers.
Dust released a faint chuckle. His fevered gaze glittered with tired amusement. He pulled his hand free of the covers and reached for Sammy's hand.
"Thank you," he said with a small smile. "Something tells me I'd be in a lot worse shape if you hadn't been here."
"She's all talk," Sammy whispered.
"Josie made me some more marshmallows last night," Todd informed him.
Dust's eyes moved back to Josie and he raised an eyebrow at her. Her cheeks flushed and she glanced away. Her lips twisted into a sardonic curve.
"There was only two left. It wasn't like it would have done either one of us much good," Josie retorted, turning back around in her seat and pushing out the passenger side door and sliding out.
He watched as Josie disappeared. Releasing a tired sigh, he looked back at Sammy. Todd had decided to join Josie, so they were alone.
"We found a house," Sammy said. "It was empty. There wasn't any food left, so we think that whoever had lived here might have survived. Josie doesn't think her dad would have made it this far. We're out of gas in the car, too."
Dust tried to push up, wincing when he felt his muscles protest. He gripped the back of the front seat to steady himself when the world spun at a crazy angle. Drawing in deep breaths, he waited until things stood still once more before he spoke.
"Are there any other cars here?" He asked in a husky voice.
Sammy scooted up to sit near his feet. She shook her head. He didn't miss the slight look of worry that crossed her face.
"Don't worry, we'll find a way to move on," he muttered. "Can I have more of the soda?"
"Oh, yeah, here," Sammy said, reaching for the can she had placed on the floorboard. "How are you feeling?"
"A little better," he admitted, taking the can of soda from her and draining it. Almost immediately, he could feel the energy sweeping through him. The cold soda also soothed the soreness in his throat. He leaned back against the seat and gave her a lopsided smile. "That tastes good."
Dust shook his head. "Not right now," he said, turning his head to look at the small blue and white boarded house.
"We were afraid to move you," Sammy explained, glancing at the house where Josie and Todd were sitting on the front porch talking. "Every time we touched you, you would cry out in pain. Josie and I took turns staying out here with you at night."
Dust reached out and touched Sammy's cheek. A soft flush rose in them and her expression softened. He gently ran his thumb across her skin before his hand dropped back to his lap.
"Do we have any more fruit?" He asked. "I think if I can eat a little bit, I'll be able to move on my own."
Sammy nodded and twisted to grab a couple of cans out of the back. He watched as she removed the lid of the first can and held it out to him. With each bite, he felt stronger.
*.*.*
Five days later, Dust wiped the sweat from his brow. Even though it was growing colder out, he felt warm. He wasn't running a fever like before, he decided it must be because he was jogging. He glanced over his shoulder at the makeshift cart he had constructed. It had four, five gallon gas cans filled to the top. He was pretty proud of his explorations today. It had taken him a bit longer and he had to go a lot farther than he anticipated to find the items, but the journey had been a success.
Turning back around, he gripped the straps and began moving again. He had another four miles to go before he got back to the house where Josie, Sammy, and Todd were waiting for him. They had wanted to go with him, but he was concerned that he might not make it back home before dark. The long, flat road was straight before him and he found it was easier to pull the cart.
His gaze narrowed on a thin wisp of black smoke rising in the distance. Picking up speed, his heart pounded when he realized that the smoke was thicker than he first thought. Panic hit him hard and he moved to the side of the road, releasing the straps of the cart. Running as fast as he could, his eyes remained glued to the thickening blackness.