by Cameo Renae
Once inside, the guys worked on securing the door, along with the rest of the house, while Cindy and I prepared a meal. We all decided we’d try and get a day’s rest before moving on. Finn suggested traveling at night, which worked for me. I wasn’t looking forward to getting sunburned or dehydrated from the heat.
At the table, Marco was the first to speak. “So, are you guys from a private or government bunker?”
“Private,” Finn answered. “Abi’s father was the owner and leader of our hive.”
I was wondering how detailed Finn would go. I didn’t want anyone to know about my curse, or that we were running from the government. It could very well mean more enemies we’d have to worry about.
Finn did go into detail about how we lived, how we trained, our departure, Manics, the Arvies, and government bunkers, but didn’t say anything about my gifts.
I should have known he wouldn't tell. His whole reason for coming after me was keeping me safe, and I knew he wouldn’t risk it.
While he spoke about our old hive, I realized how good we’d had it. For thirteen years, we were sheltered with everything we needed. Everything, except the sun and fresh air. But even now, the sun was overrated. Yes, it was wonderful in so many ways, but it was also on the topside, and everything on the topside wanted to enslave or kill me. What I wouldn’t give to be back in our old bunker, away from danger. But that wouldn’t have lasted either. Our supplies had been dwindling, and we would’ve had to leave, eventually.
Marco and Cindy gave us some quick background about their bunker. It was much smaller than ours but had everything they needed for the three of them to live comfortably. As comfortable as anyone can get in an underground shelter. They spared no expense and were avid preppers before the apocalypse.
Marco was in the military for over twenty years. When he retired, he poured all his free time into prepping. Cindy, a teacher, had also helped him prep as a hobby, and it eventually paid off. Parker, who’d gone into the military because of his father, was on the quiet side. His parents did most of the talking, but he smiled and agreed most of the time, tossing in a few words here and there.
“Abi and Finn are headed toward Colorado,” Marco said to his family. “They have family who is living in another safe community.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful,” Cindy said, turning to Marco. “Maybe we should all travel together until we get to the safe zone we were heading to? It’s on the way, and you could probably get some much-needed food and water for your travels.”
Marco nodded, then looked between me and Finn. “Do either of you mind?”
“Of course not,” I said, liking the idea of having others with us, especially a sniper. Parker could prove himself useful if we ran into trouble. Besides, they were also survivors who were looking for a better life.
“The safe zone we are traveling to should only be about fifty miles from here.”
We could probably do that in a night.
The problem was, we had one motorcycle, a sidecar full of gasoline, and three extra travelers. Finn and I could have easily gotten to the safe zone in one night. But now we had them to consider.
After a meal of canned beans and vegetables, followed by canned peaches, we were stuffed and satisfied, but still had a lot to do.
WITH A FEW HOURS OF daylight left, we decided to finish checking the other homes as a group and gather as many usable supplies as possible. Cindy and Parker had already cleared one of the dilapidated homes that were open to the elements. Everything inside was trashed, and nothing was salvageable.
The rest of the houses also contained nothing of use or value. Windows had been cracked, and the insides had multiple feet of sand and dust inside. The shelves and rooms were mostly empty, and the few cans left behind were badly rusted and deteriorated. We found a few useful tools and kitchen utensils, but none were necessities we felt were needed to take with us.
I was glad the home we’d found had everything to make our stay comfortable. It seemed to have been secured well enough to withstand the past thirteen years. But it also made me wonder. Was another survivor using this place? It appeared to be a little too clean, especially seeing the condition of the homes right around it. We had to make sure it was tightly secured. I didn’t want any angry survivors returning and shooting down the door, and then us.
Hopefully, if someone was living here, they had moved on and wouldn’t be back. Maybe they’d heard the transmission about the safe zone. I didn’t want to deal with death anytime soon. I was all death’d out and wasn’t looking forward to killing anything or anyone else in the near future.
But, of course, if it came down to it, I would do it in a heartbeat. It was part of the new post-apocalyptic world theme and somehow embedded inside my genetic makeup. And it sucked.
“Abi, you should go rest,” Finn urged. “You’ll need your strength for the journey. I’ll keep watch.”
“You should rest too, my dear,” Marco said to his wife. “Parker and I will stay with Finn. We can rotate the watch, but I doubt too many will be out wandering in the desert in this hot sun.”
“There are a couple rooms on the right which have beds,” Finn added. “You’ll just have to pull off the top cover.”
“Thank you,” Cindy said, tiredly. She didn’t argue, and I could tell she was aching, just by the way she moved, hunched over with her hand rubbing her hip, every now and again. Before she entered one of the rooms, I stopped her.
“Cindy, if you need something to help the pain, we have it. It’ll take the edge off. I know how sore the body can get, hiking miles in the heat and especially in the sand.”
I was sure not to mention her age, but I knew that was a huge factor.
She stalled, her eyes revealing her consideration of the offer.
“Wait here, I’ll be right back,” I said, heading into my room. I rummaged through the bag on the table and found the small bottle of pills Dr. Banks had given Finn for pain. There were a few left.
She was still waiting in the hall when I returned.
“Here,” I said, placing a pill in the palm of her hand. “This will help you get some needed rest.”
“Thank you,” she said with a smile. “How did you come by pain medication?”
“The doctor from our old hive worked in a medical facility in the government bunker, and was given some medical supplies before we left.” I didn’t want to go into much more detail than that.
“Oh, that’s nice,” she said, her hand rubbing the small of her back. “Thank you for this. I hope it helps.” She popped the tiny white pill into her mouth and swallowed, then took a step backward into her bedroom, ending our conversation.
I was glad she was as anxious as I was to rest.
“You’re welcome.”
I retreated to my room and closed the door before cuddling up on the bed. The thought of strange men walking by my room and seeing me sleep was a bit unnerving.
“Abi,” a familiar voice called out as soon as I shut my eyes. “Abi, are you there?”
“Dr. Simon?” I could sense the urgency in his voice, but I was in complete darkness, and no matter how hard I tried, the darkness lingered.
“Abi, dear God.” A deep sigh followed. “I’ve been so worried. When I couldn’t make contact with you, I thought you were…”
I forgot the last time Dr. Simon saw me, I’d been by myself, with hundreds of Arvies headed toward me.
“I’m not dead, yet.” I sighed then giggled. “But I thought I was going to be.”
“How did you do it? I wish I could have been there to witness such an epic event.”
“Believe me, I had a front row seat, and it wasn’t anything I would ever want to experience again. The monster inside me is so much stronger than it was in the bunker. It’s beyond anything I could have ever imagined. The mutants were dropping in front of me, and all I did was look at them, I didn’t even have to think about it. It’s powerful, Dr. Simon. I’m afraid. Not only for those around me but that it
will kill me if I set it free again.”
“You killed all of them?”
“I did.”
Saying it out loud, and thinking back to the moment was surreal. It didn’t feel real, but it was horrifyingly true.
“I couldn’t stop it. It was like the power had a will of its own.”
“I can’t imagine how afraid you must have been.” He sighed. “How on earth did you survive?”
“Finn,” I said his name as if it were magical. It was to me. “He came for me. He somehow found and rescued me, just in time. He’s my hero.”
“God has indeed looked down upon you, my child,” he replied. “Where are you now?”
“In some desolate area. We’re holed up here until nightfall, then we’ll be traveling to a safe-zone.”
“It’s so refreshing to hear your voice. Chase and Danielle will be thrilled to know you’re okay.”
“How are they? How are they treating Danielle?”
“They’re fine, just fine. I’ve been allowed to see Danielle, although she’s in another section. They are treating her well, making sure she is adequately nourished. If her blood can help to create a cure, it is vital she remains in good health. It’s been their top priority, and she has been getting excellent care.”
“I’m so glad,” I exhaled, relieved she was getting the care she needed.
“So where is this place you’re staying? Is it close to where we left you?”
“No, it’s a ways away,” I replied.
“Where is this safe zone you’re headed to?”
“I’m not sure. We met a few survivors who told us about it.”
It was then, I began wondering why he was asking so many questions about my location.
As soon as the thought left my mind, I gasped and felt sick to my stomach. He was in the government bunker. They were forcing him to bait me for information. As I replayed our conversation, I noticed his words were a bit methodical.
Knowing the way they worked, I quickly backpedaled. “Actually, now that I think about it, they said the safe zone was northwest. A bunker that is taking in survivors saying they have food, water, and shelter.”
I hoped if the government was using him for information, that they would buy it. They would be looking in the totally opposite direction.
There was a brief pause. “That’s nice. I have to leave now, Abi. I’m so glad I was able to confirm you are safe and well. I’ll be sure to let the others know you’re fine. Please take care of yourself. Be vigilant. Be safe.”
“I will,” I said. “You be safe as well, Dr. Simon.”
“I’ll certainly try.”
By the tone of his voice, I knew the government was somehow in on our brain transmission. Bastards. I just hoped they weren’t hurting Dr. Simon in the process—or Chase, or even Danielle for that matter. For all I knew, everything he told me could have been a lie. He’d sounded a little rehearsed, like he was coerced into playing the game of trying to get information out of me.
Little did they know, I wasn’t a brainless girl. I knew what they were up to, and what they were capable of. They wanted me to destroy the Arvies, and they could give a damn if I died in the process. I was disposable, as long as I got the job done.
The next time my eyes opened, the room was dim. With the sunlight fading, I wondered how long I’d been asleep.
The door opened, and Finn stepped inside, the sunset illuminating his handsome face. He’d lost weight, leaving his profile even more chiseled, and the stubble on his jaw made butterflies dance inside me.
Finn had gone from a boy to a man, in a matter of months. His six-foot frame was solid muscle, and his dimpled smile caused my heart to palpitate.
“Hey, you,” he whispered.
“Hey,” I said, stretching.
He walked to the side of the bed and sat next to me. “How are you feeling?”
“Better. Thanks for letting me rest,” I smiled. “Did you get to rest?”
“Yeah. I took a power nap. It was enough.”
“What’s our plan to leave? They have no transportation.”
“Marco and Parker came up with a genius idea, and while you ladies were sleeping, we created a modified sled. We should be able to pull them on the back of the bike. We can’t go as fast, but it will save our legs.”
“Will we have enough gas to get us to the location?”
“We should, unless we get a leak in the gas tank. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.”
I nodded and knew I had to tell him about my latest chat.
“I talked to Dr. Simon.”
It took him a few moments to figure out what I was saying, then his eyes widened.
“Really? What did he say?”
“They made it to the bunker safely.”
He looked into my eyes, and I could tell he was reading me.
“So what’s the negative that came from that discussion?”
I told him about how Dr. Simon didn’t seem himself during the conversation.
“It sounds like he could have been coerced. We’ll have to keep our eyes and ears open. I could tell you were concerned about something.”
I shook my head. “You always seem to know things before I tell you. Are you sure you aren’t hiding some hidden power inside of you?”
“Nah, you’re eyes give away your secrets to me. And the only power I possess comes from years of hard work and genetics.” He flexed his impressive bicep, the fabric of his sleeve straining.
“You’re perfect,” I muttered, wanting to touch his soft skin.
“No, you’re perfect.”
He leaned closer, his fingers traced the side of my jaw, stopping at my chin and gently raising my head as he brought his lips to mine. Passion oozed from him as his tongue slid inside, delving deeper, lighting my insides on fire.
Every time he kissed me, it became harder and harder to restrain myself. God, I wanted him. Every single, sexy part of him.
I ran my hands over the taut muscles of his back, and he smiled against my mouth.
“We’ll have to pick this up at a later time. I actually came in here to let you know we need to pack up and get ready to head out.”
I answered with a dramatic sigh. “I can’t wait until we can be alone, when I am fully coherent, and not drugged.”
His lips pressed against mine again, his hands reaching around and grabbing my backside. “You have no idea how hard it is to restrain myself right now. I’m aching to rip your damn clothes off and feel you against my skin.”
I laughed. Finn had never talked to me like that before, but I loved it. It turned me on even more, to know he wanted me as much as I wanted him. Thirteen years of friendship had molded us, and constructed a relationship that was unbreakable. It was the greatest feeling I’d ever known.
After packing, we all met at the back door. Finn and Parker scanned the outside to make sure it was safe and free from anything living and dangerous, while the rest of us loaded up the bike. The make-shift sled on the back looked like it was sturdy enough to hold our new traveling buddies. And it was low to the ground, so if they fell off, they’d most likely not get hurt.
When they came back with an all-clear, we jumped on, and Finn started it up. The sun was setting, and everything around us was quiet. We rode for a few hours, then stopped. Finn made sure to stop every so often along the way, so we could stretch and add gas as we needed. It was depleting faster than we’d anticipated. The bike was under obvious strain from the extra weight, but as Finn said, it was much better than walking.
As the night dragged on, and my eyes were becoming heavy, I spotted something ahead.
“Look!” I pointed to the white sign sticking out from the ground. “Two miles until safe zone,” I read out loud. There was an arrow pointing us in the right direction.
Hours of riding through hellish terrain were taking its toll on everyone. The sled was working, but it was a really bumpy ride. Yet, our spirits lifted after seeing the sign. Renewed with hope, our eye
s were peeled open, searching for the safe zone.
After another mile, dim lights were illuminating the darkness in the distance.
“There!” Parker hollered.
“I see it,” Finn replied, steering the bike in the direction of the lights.
As we got closer, I noticed a large, metal fence, at least ten feet high, lined with tons of barbwire. Along the inside of the fence—every twenty yards or so—were guards with guns.
When we were about fifty yards from the gate, we passed a dwindling bonfire of bodies. Charred remains of at least a dozen Arvies, discarded crudely into a pile. I covered my nose and mouth as we passed through the smoke. I even closed my eyes and held my breath, not wanting to inhale the stench of burning flesh. The thought made me sick.
“Stop!” A deep voice hollered inside the gate. His voice was loud, and amplified.
Finn stopped the bike, and we all got off and stood side by side. Marco stepped forward with his hands in the air.
“We heard about your sanctuary, and traveled many miles from our bunker to seek shelter.”
“Do you have any weapons?” the man asked.
“Yes, a few,” Marco replied.
I turned to Finn and slowly shook my head. There was no way I was giving up Hellfire again. No freaking way.
“Take three steps forward, place your weapons on the ground, then step back,” the voice ordered.
Marco and Parker stepped forward, discarding their guns and knives on the ground.
“You two,” his finger aimed at Finn and me, “put your weapons on the ground.”
“Abi, we should stop here and rest,” Finn said, turning toward me. “We both need it, and I’d like to speak to their leader. Besides, the sun will be up in a few hours, and we don’t know how much further it will be until the next resting spot. This place is well secured. We won’t have to worry about our safety while we sleep.”
“I don’t trust anyone,” I said looking at him.
“Then trust me.” Finn stepped forward, placed his shotgun on the ground, and stepped back.
Hellfire was on my right leg, hidden under my jacket. No one would be able to see her unless they were close enough. Making my decision, I stepped forward, pulling a knife from my boot and placing it on the ground. Then I stood and stepped back.