Align Ourselves
Adrianna Schuh
Copyright © 2021 Adrianna Schuh
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
Cover design by: Marilia Marino
Printed in the United States of America
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Epigraph
Align Ourselves
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
About The Author
Books By This Author
To all the romance authors. You inspire me.
“One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.”
- Sophocles
Align Ourselves
Chapter 1
Aria blinked into the bright light of day and stared into the face of a man she assumed was the leader of these people. His face was harsh, his eyes dark and cold. She knew she would find no sympathy with him.
“Are you the leader?" he asked. His face had a hard look to it. Like he had seen one too many difficult things in life.
Aria nodded, almost afraid to admit it. At only 18 years old, so much responsibility had been placed on her shoulders.
Twenty-five of them came up together. Up from their home underground, where their people had lived for 100 years. War, devastation, and radiation. This is why they’d fled. This is what they had prepared for, a safe home underground. With all the technology, they could manage to save. But now, they were running out of food, no longer able to sustain their life underground. So her people sent them. A group of young adults, kids really Because they were “non-essential.”
In an area of what used to be the Midwestern United States, they ventured out to see what was left of the Earth. And they found people. They found people that had somehow survived and were not receptive to strangers showing up on their land.
The Terra they called themselves, people of the Earth. And they did not want to listen. They didn’t let Aria explain the history of her people, that they had survived below the ground, and that she and the 24 others were forced to go up, explore, and report back. There was little time to marvel over being above the ground for the first time. Little time to admire the clear blue sky and the beautiful trees. Little time to relish the sun on their faces and the wind in their hair.
Instead, the Terra captured them, holding them prisoner for what seemed like an endless amount of time. All 25 of them were forced into a small dirty room. They were given only bread and water to subsist on while the Terra decided what to do with them. Aria tried to keep track of the days by marking the walls; by the time the Terra had decided, 14 days had come and gone.
She wasn’t sure how it happened, but over time the other 24 people began looking to her when trying to figure out what to do. Maybe because she was always trying to make sure everyone else was OK. Perhaps it was because of who she used to be below the ground. She’d been a teacher’s assistant, so many people knew her face. They trusted her.
"And what is your name,” the man asked, sounding bored.
“Aria.”
The man nodded in acknowledgment.
"What will you do with us," she asked. If they were going to kill them, she’d rather they just get it over with.
“I, along with my people, have made a deal with the leader of another group far from here. You are part of that deal.”
Relief washed over Aria. And she could sense some of the tension, leaving her friends. But she noted that the Terra looked smug. As if they were playing some cruel joke. And perhaps they were, But Aria had no way of knowing for sure.
"Do not look so relieved, Aria," the man said, narrowing his eyes. "The way you have been treated here will seem like paradise compared to where you are going."
Aria felt her stomach drop. Her friends murmured in confusion.
"You and your people are going to wish that we had killed you, here and now. That we had taken pity on you. You and your friends are being taken to Pembera."
With that, the man signaled some of his people to grab Aria and her friends. Their hands are bound in front of their bodies, but they are otherwise unrestricted.
That is when they begin to walk.
They walk and walk until their bodies ache and their feet bleed. But at least they are given food and water, allowed to rest. But Aria and her friends weren't used to this much physical exertion. That, combined with the small amount of food and water they had received on a daily basis, wore them down—even the strongest among them.
They had spent their life underground, with no natural light and minimal physical activity. They weren't hardened criminals, just petty thieves and rule breakers, young kids wanting to have a little fun. Nothing could have prepared them for this.
They'd sleep outside, no matter the weather. Some nights were even peaceful. But that peace would be washed away at daybreak when they started walking again.
As they walked, the forest became sparse, the heat unbearable. And the Terra, they became less forgiving the slower Aria and her people moved. The food ran low, as did the water. Aria hoped, prayed they were almost there, wherever there was.
Where she'd once felt strong and brave, even amidst fear, she now felt hollow. They were all filthy. Their skin was sallow, and they were all far too thin.
After a few days and nights of wonder, of fear, she'd given up. She didn't care. There was nothing they could do. They'd left the only home they'd ever known. Maybe they'd never see that home again. In fact, she was sure they wouldn’t. They were supposed to go above the ground and then report back. Their people needed to know that the Earth was safe. They were almost out of food. They had known it would happen eventually, but not so soon. Aria and her friends were their only hope. But Aria knew it didn’t matter now. She had no idea where they were anymore. Any hope her people had of surviving was in their own hands now.
Eventually, they reached their destination, or so she
assumed because the person in front of her was slowing their steps. And though it had only been a handful of days (she’d tried to keep track with the sun), time had felt endless. She was so exhausted both physically and mentally, it felt as if she was moving through molasses. Her brain trying to tell her body that it could finally stop moving, but her body was reluctant to stop lest she draw the wrath of their captors.
Being at the front of the group, Aria ran right into the leader who had stopped at the edge of the forest. She couldn't believe her eyes.
Chapter 2
They had reached a large open plain. It went on and on as far as she could see. Aria and the others were so busy looking at the horizon that, at first, they didn't notice the small group of people on their left.
Someone in their own group pointed them out, and everyone else turned to look, finally noticing them.
The group who had been waiting there started to make their way towards them, slowly. Behind them, Aria saw horses. A few dozen horses.
The little part of her that was still curious studied the horses. They were big and beautiful. She'd only ever seen them in pictures. This must be how they were getting to their final destination.
There were only a few people in the group that came to meet them. Still, Aria could see another group of people waiting farther out, all atop horses. A part of her actually felt relieved. No matter where they were going, at least they wouldn't have to walk there.
"What the hell kept you? You were supposed to have been here days ago," a girl from the waiting group snapped.
Aria felt taken aback. The girl couldn't have been any older than she was. In fact, she looked even younger than Aria. But she spoke with a tone of authority in her voice.
"Well, as you can see, this group isn't in the best shape. They slowed us down," the leader’s voice was clipped and irritated.
The group was close enough to study now. They didn't look that different from the other people around them. However, these new people looked more put together. Their clothes were nicer, made of a material that Aria was more familiar with. Like cotton instead of the tougher fabrics, the Terra seemed to favor.
They each had knives in their belts, swords, or bows across their backs.
"These people look pathetic," the girl exclaimed, studying Aria and her friends. "Your letter claimed they were strong. That they were dangerous people. They don't look dangerous at all."
"They had weapons with which we were not familiar. And they could have brought serious harm to our people,” he snapped, his patience clearly wearing thin. “But we did keep them detained for quite some time, and the journey here was tough for them."
The girl laughed, and a few of her companions joined her.
Aria watched the exchange with interest. It was true that she and her friends had guns when they first arrived above ground, in case they needed to protect themselves. But they had never fired those weapons at the Terra, though they’d used them for hunting the first few days. Right up until they were captured.
Aria wondered now if they would have been captured at all had it not been for those guns. Would the Terra still have seen them as a threat? Or just left them alone?
"Our job is done. They were delivered, as promised. They are your problem now," he hissed.
"Well, I don't really know what to say. I mean, just look at them," the girl said, looking to her group and back at Aria's people.
Aria kept her mouth shut. She didn't like being talked about like she wasn't there. But there wasn't much she could do at this point. And the others seemed to feel the same because though they looked angry, they remained silent.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Untie them," the girl said, looking at the man. "Unless you're afraid of them or something," she asked, smirking.
Slowly Aria and her friends were freed from their bindings.
Who is this girl? Aria wondered. How is she brave enough to speak to this man that way?
After she was untied, Aria rubbed her wrists. She was sure that she'd have scars. She was grateful that the cuts made by the restraints weren't too deep. Scarring, she could deal with.
"Let's go," the girl said, nodding towards the horses.
A few of Aria's friends looked at her, waiting for her to make the first move.
"You're the leader," the girl asked, looking at Aria.
Aria nodded.
"Well, after you," the girl said, smirking at her.
Aria glared at the man who had been their captor for a few seconds before taking a few steps in the direction of the plain. As soon as she did, the others followed.
When they got to where most of the horses were, they were told by the girl to pick one and get on. Aria debated whether or not to mention that no one knew how to ride, but she knew it didn't matter. They had to get to where they were going.
Some barely had enough strength to get onto their horse. But the group who had come for them was waiting and helped them.
Once they were all on their horses, they clustered together as best they could, and they were off.
A few people started chatting, but Aria remained silent, watching the others with interest.
Mara and Ben joined her at the front of the group. The two of them had known each other back home. And according to Mara had been together once upon a time. It was Ben that had taken an interest in Aria, and Mara had seemed to follow his lead. Aria had come to depend on them to help make decisions for the group.
Mara had worked with computers back home. And she’d gotten in trouble for hacking some secure files. Ben was good with weapons. And he was quick and light on his feet; he’d trained as an officer before being jailed for stealing said weapons.
"What is your name," the girl from before asked, pulling her horse up to them.
"Aria.”
The girl nodded. "And these two?"
"This is Mara, and this is Ben," Aria nodded at the two of them.
"My name is Grace," the girl said. "For the time being, you will be taking your orders from me." She looked behind Aria, to the rest of the group, raising her voice. "Do not question my command, and do not do anything stupid. Do as you are told. We will be traveling for only a few days," she said before turning back to Aria. "Since you are their leader, I can assume they will listen to you. And you will listen to me. Do as you are told, and we won't have any problems. I won't have to leave anyone behind. Got that," the girl asked.
Aria nodded.
"We will be traveling all day with few breaks. If you need anything, food, water, don't be afraid to ask. Try to relax. We don't mean you any harm," Grace said.
She trotted away to ride near what must have been guards, and Aria was left a little dumbfounded. She wasn't sure what she expected, but it definitely wasn't this. She didn't expect to be given food and water, to be told to relax. But she didn't question it.
She turned to the group and ushered them forward. They rode in silence for a while, not knowing if they should trust what they were told by Grace. Since coming above the ground, they hadn't known much besides fear and hostility.
Aria kept looking around as they rode, waiting for something terrible to happen. Eventually, Mara spoke up.
"What the hell is going on? Why are they being so nice to us," she asked.
"I don't know," Aria answered. She expected them to do just the opposite, maybe even treat them worse than the other group had.
"What should we do," Ben asked.
"What do you mean," Peter asked. Aria had seen him before they’d all ended up here together. He’d worked in the cafeteria; she’d seen him cleaning tables and emptying trash cans. She didn’t know what kind of trouble he’d gotten into to wind up here. But he was kind and always had a smile for her.
"Well, I mean, they must be acting this way for a reason. Probably just trying to trick us. What if this is our chance to get away,” Ben asked.
"Get away? How would we even do that? And do we even want to," Isla asked. So far, she had been a voice of rea
son to the group. Always trying to keep everyone calm.
They were all talking in hushed voices, afraid that someone would hear.
"I do," Ben snapped. "We can't trust these people no matter how nice they are. We should leave."
"And how the Hell would we survive on our own," Adrian asked. Aria cringed at the sound of his voice. He made her nervous, if she was honest. He always seemed like he was up to something, always had a sneer on his face.
"I don't know, but we have to try. Right Aria," Ben said, looking at her.
"No, Ben. There isn't anything we can do. And like Isla said, do we even want to?"
"So, we just give up," Ben asked incredulously.
"We're not giving up," Aria said. "We're trying to survive, and right now, this is our best chance. With these people."
They rode in silence after that.
When the sun began to set, the group stopped altogether. Aria wasn't sure how far they'd gone, but she was glad to finally be resting. Her whole body ached.
Grace gave instructions for her soldiers to set up camp and to bed down for the night. And then turned to address Aria and her friends.
“You are to stay in this area of the clearing. Latrines are being dug just over there, she said, pointing behind her. "Just ask any of the guards, and they can take you to them. But only one at a time. I expect a few of you, the stronger ones, to follow me and help out with chores around the camp," she finished, not waiting for anyone to respond before making her way towards a large group of guards a few feet away.
Aria addressed the group as a whole.
"Take turns going to the restroom," she began, "Mara, Ben, Martinez, and I will be over there with them. The rest of you, see what else you can do to help. Those of you who are too tired to work, stay here and rest and ask the guards if you need to talk to one of us," she said.
The four of them made their way to find Grace while the others stayed behind. Aria didn't want them to be separated, but she figured that she didn't really have a choice.
They spent some time helping out around the campsite, doing whatever they were told.
Align Ourselves Page 1