She shook the thoughts out of her head. Heath was hot, but she couldn’t get distracted. They were here to get her father. Nothing else mattered. Until she could see he was safe, she couldn’t focus on anything else. Not the vibrations of the bike, or the smell of Heath’s sweat, or the hardness of his muscles underneath her hands. Nothing else mattered.
Juniper was ahead of the group, speeding forward without a care for the ruined roads. Lincoln and Arlo took the rear position, with Heath and Annie in the middle. She was sure Heath had arranged this, giving her the most protection. It should rile her that he was so intent on keeping her safe, as if she couldn’t look out for herself, but it only added to the warm swirl of pleasure in her stomach that someone liked her enough to want to protect her.
The terrain they passed was desolate and devoid of human life, and her breath caught in her throat. The hills were stripped of vegetation and sat like lifeless brown lumps. A few bones lay by the side of the dirt road they traveled along. Annie grimaced as she spotted the remains of a half-eaten dog. This was a living nightmare. How could the State show images of prosperity and contentment when this was out here? She swallowed against the dryness in her mouth. Something was horribly, stomach churningly wrong. This couldn’t be real, but she was seeing it with her own eyes. She had been lied to. But why would the State do that?
She shifted in her seat until she could see in the bike’s mirrors. Light bled into the horizon as she watched the sun’s rays appear. They’d gone slower than she’d hoped because of the rough ground, and her nerves hummed as they got closer to the Black Zone.
As Annie peered into the mirrors, she saw a flash of movement. She leaned closer to get a better look, but it was gone.
She turned to look over her shoulder, but couldn’t get a clear view as sandy grit stung her eyes.
Adjusting her grip around Heath’s middle, Annie slid as far forward in the seat as she could and stared into the bike’s mirror again.
“Something wrong?” said Heath.
“Thought I saw something behind us.” Annie felt the bike slow, as Heath eased off the gas. “It was a flash of movement, but it’s gone. Keep going.”
“You sure?”
“Go. We don’t have time to waste.” Annie patted Heath’s shoulder and then clutched his waist as the bike shuddered over a patch of grit and stones.
What looked like heat haze shivered through the gray light of dawn in front of the bikes. Annie didn’t have time to draw in breath before Lincoln and Arlo were slammed off their bike. They rolled as they hit the ground and were on their feet in seconds, weapons drawn and crouching low, scanning the area for whatever hit them.
Annie’s heart pounded, and she drew her gun as Heath skidded the bike to a stop.
“Wait here,” said Heath.
“Not a chance.” Annie was off the bike and keeping pace with Heath as he ran toward his brothers.
“Then stay close,” muttered Heath.
Annie’s gaze scoured the surroundings, looking for the telltale flash of movement that had alerted her they were being pursued.
“Are you guys okay?” asked Heath, as they reached Lincoln and Arlo.
“We’re fine,” said Lincoln, his gaze sweeping the area. “But the bike’s dead.”
Annie looked over to see the twisted front wheel. “I saw what hit you.”
“What was it?” asked Lincoln. “Felt like a brick wall slammed into us.”
“Another rider,” said Annie. “It had to be. They were using camouflage tech, but the outline looked the same size as a bike.”
“Where did they go?” asked Arlo. “I’m going to have a bruise on my back I’d like to chat with them about.”
Annie scanned the area, but couldn’t spot their attacker. “Not sure.”
“Keep a lookout for them returning,” said Heath. “I’ll message Juniper and get her to come and pick one of you up.”
“There’s no need,” said Annie. “She’s heading our way.”
Juniper spun the bike to a stop in a shower of dust. “Thought you boys were big enough to handle these bikes.”
“Someone’s following us,” said Annie. “They knocked Lincoln and Arlo off.”
“Before fleeing like cowards,” growled Arlo.
Juniper looked at the screen on her bike. “I’m not detecting any heat signatures in the area. It’s just us.”
“Maybe an opportunist attack,” said Lincoln. “They saw crazy people out for an early morning bike ride, and wanted to see if we had anything useful in our bags.”
“Know anything about the attack?” Heath asked Juniper, closing the gap between them, his hand on his weapon.
“Why would I?” Juniper’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re the only one who knew we were coming out here,” said Heath. “Might have decided to collect the bounty, rather than help us out.”
“There’s a bounty on your head?” Juniper’s purple eyes widened in mock innocence.
“You know there is,” said Heath. “You’d have been stupid not to do your research before taking on this gig. And I don’t peg you as dumb.”
Juniper raised a hand. “Fine. I do my research. You and your brothers have credits attached to you. Not a small amount, either.”
“And you thought you’d collect?” Arlo scowled at Juniper.
“No, hotshot, I didn’t,” said Juniper. “Most of the people living in the Badlands have a bounty on them, or an unpaid fine the State wants to collect. We look after our own here. No ratting out to those in charge.”
“But we’re not from here,” said Lincoln.
“You’re as close as,” said Juniper. “Word has gotten around about the Ember brothers, and what you’re up to. Some people think you’re heroes.”
“Why are they considered heroes?” Annie looked at Juniper with interest.
“Sounds like you’re the one who needs to do the research.” Juniper smirked. “You’re hanging out with infamous types, and you don’t even know it.”
Annie’s curious gaze landed on Heath, and he shrugged in response.
“You knew who we were when we met in the marketplace?” asked Heath.
“I knew you,” said Juniper. “But not Annie. And I found her first. You boys were the bonus.”
“Over there!” Annie raised her weapon, her blood pounding in her ears. “Something moved.”
Everyone turned in the direction Annie was pointing her gun.
A dull-red, pulsar laser blast shot toward them. Annie gasped as Heath shoved her to the ground, both of them rolling over in the dirt before he pinned her down, shielding her.
“Picking up two heat signatures approaching on our right,” yelled Juniper.
“We’re on it.” Lincoln and Arlo scrambled from the ground and headed toward the new attackers.
“Stay here,” said Heath to Annie, keeping her pinned with one hand.
“I’ve got no choice,” gasped Annie, as the air was crushed from her lungs.
Heath grunted and moved onto his knees, allowing Annie to wriggle out from underneath him. “See any more movement?”
“They were in front of us.” Annie squinted as she studied the surroundings. Everything was still as if waiting to see what would happen next.
“Keep behind me and out of direct fire,” said Heath.
“I’ll circle around the back and see if I can do some damage.” Juniper kicked her bike into action and rode away.
“She’s not involved with this.” Annie kept scanning the area, her fingers tight on her gun. “Juniper wants to help.”
“She wants our coins,” said Heath. “There’s a difference.”
“I trust her,” said Annie.
“We shouldn’t have used an outsider to get into the Black Zone. We could have done this ourselves.”
“Not without extra hassle,” said Annie. “Give Juniper a chance. If she’s involved in this, she would have ridden away and not come back to help.”
“You’re too tru
sting.”
“And you’re too cynical.” Annie ducked as she spotted a blur of movement. “Over there, to the left.”
Heath swiveled in the direction Annie pointed, and a second later they both dropped to the ground, as another laser pulse shot past their heads.
“I saw where that came from.” Annie was on her feet, her gun raised, running toward their attacker.
Heath was by her side in an instant. “Stay behind me.”
Annie dropped back a step, but had to fight the urge to stay next to Heath. As much as he wanted to protect her, she wanted to do the same to him. He might be twice her size, but that didn’t make him indestructible. He was faster than she was, though, pumping his arms smoothly, and barely out of breath as they ran.
“Incoming!” Arlo yelled from behind them.
“Get down.” Heath dragged Annie to the ground. She scraped her cheek on the gravel as an explosion flashed in front of her eyes.
“Fuck!” Heath was on his feet and heading toward Arlo with his fists clenched.
Annie rolled over onto her knees, her ears ringing and vision full of spots of white light.
“Just taking out the enemy,” said Arlo, as he drew nearer. “It worked on the two we discovered. They ran before I even needed to throw a flash bomb.”
“Give us more warning next time,” said Heath, looking back at Annie. “Not everyone is used to you throwing bombs like they’re water balloons.”
“Sorry, Annie.” Arlo hung his head for the briefest of moments. “You’ll get used to my bombs if you stick around for long enough.”
“I’ll look forward to that.” Annie scanned the area for more attackers, but couldn’t see any trouble. Her ears still rang as she joined the others. “Who’s after us?”
Heath touched her arm and his gaze ran over her. “You okay?”
“Fine.” Annie brushed dust off her jumpsuit and ignored the pounding of her heart. “Anyone get a good look at who it was?”
“No. Guys dressed just like us, though,” said Lincoln.
“State militia?” asked Heath.
“Could be,” said Lincoln. “What are they doing so far out here?”
Juniper rode up on her bike and pulled off her helmet. “No sign of them. Must have scared them off.”
“We’re thinking it was State militia,” said Lincoln.
Juniper nodded. “Could be another truckload of people coming through, and they’re checking to make sure the way is clear.”
“Or they’re onto us,” said Heath. “We need to hurry.”
“We’re not leaving without my dad,” said Annie.
“We will if it gets too risky.” Heath raised a hand and touched the graze on Annie’s cheek.
“I’m fine.” Annie pushed his hand away. “We need to get moving.”
Heath nodded. “Juniper, take Arlo on the back of your bike. I’ll take Annie.”
Lincoln sighed. “Let me guess, I’m running the rest of the way?”
“You always say you enjoy a good run.” Heath grinned at his brother. “It’s only another mile. You won’t even break a sweat.”
“You can run it if you like,” said Lincoln. “I’m happy to have Annie as a pillion passenger.” He flashed her a smile.
Annie returned his smile. Lincoln was taller than his other brothers, and had a roguish charm she liked. “I’ll stick with Heath.”
“Wise choice,” said Lincoln. “I’ll contact Hive One. They might have useful intel about who just jumped us, and if there are more incoming.”
“Do it now,” said Juniper. “The closer we get to the center of the Black Zone, the harder it will be to talk to anyone.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Lincoln walked a few steps away as he contacted the remote base.
Annie jumped on the back of Heath’s bike, anticipation clawing at her insides. They had to get to the Black Zone before it was too late and the State realized what they were doing and stopped them. “Let’s go.”
Chapter 9
Heath’s adrenaline-pumped system had him on overdrive, scouting the area for any more attackers as they continued into the Black Zone. Sweat trickled down his back and prickled in his armpits, despite the coolness of the morning. He hated taking Annie into such a dangerous situation. He should have forced her to stay behind where she’d be safe. But she was too stubborn to listen, and he held a grudging admiration toward her because of her lack of fear.
It worried him how quickly Annie had gone on the attack when facing an unknown enemy. He needed to make sure she had better training if she were going to stand any chance of survival.
Heath shook his head, chasing away any ridiculous fantasies. After this, she’d go back to her ordinary life, where she should be, not chasing around in a ruined landscape looking for a man who was most likely dead. Providing the State didn’t pick up on what she was doing, Annie could return to the university and act as if none of this had happened. She would forget their time together. It was stupid of Heath to think she would want to stay with his team after this. She was here for one reason only. He had to remember that.
As daylight seeped into the sky around them, Heath jiggled his legs in anticipation as they rode. He was keen to get off the road, hide the bikes, and look for Dmitri.
Juniper slowed her bike, allowing the others to catch up. She was hell on wheels, leaping over holes and guiding the bike like a pro.
“We take this left fork and go for five hundred yards,” said Juniper. “We can stash the bikes out of the way there.”
“What’s down there?” Heath surveyed the barren, dirt track.
“My contact,” said Juniper. “I told him who we’re looking for. He thinks he can help.”
“Has he seen my father?” asked Annie. Heath felt her hands tighten around his waist.
Juniper nodded. “A guy matching your dad’s description was here a few days ago.”
“He’s still alive.” A smile spread across Annie’s face.
“It’s possible,” said Juniper. “But don’t get your hopes up. Artorius said Dmitri was sick with fever. And he was taking too many chances by asking people about dragon sites in the area. If you don’t keep a low profile around here you get noticed, and that’s when trouble happens.”
“It’s all he cares about,” muttered Annie. She rested her head briefly against Heath’s back.
Heath shifted in his seat. “You know that’s not true.”
Annie shook her head. “Let’s get to Juniper’s contact and see what he knows.”
They traveled along the dirt path until Juniper stopped and hopped off her bike. “Push the bikes into this cave.” She disappeared for a few seconds, and returned with sand-colored, waterproof coverings. “These will stop anyone finding our transport out of here.”
Lincoln caught up with them, panting as he stopped beside Heath.
“Any news from the Hive?” asked Heath.
“They ran a scan of the area,” said Lincoln. “Two hot zones nearby. Lots of activity.”
“Local communities,” said Juniper. “There are two colonies out here, both underground. I’m surprised your crew can detect them.”
“We know what we’re looking for,” said Lincoln. “Good thing the State doesn’t.”
“What about the State bases?” asked Heath.
“There are two buildings, fifteen miles in that direction.” He pointed west. “And lots of activity. The scan detected two vehicles heading toward the buildings.”
“I knew it,” muttered Juniper. “They’ve dragged more people there. I must have missed the transport trucks when I was out on a raid.”
“You would stop them?” asked Arlo.
“I’d do what I could.” Juniper’s lips pinched together. “I’ve disabled a truck before.”
“My dad’s been taken to this base.” Annie walked away from the group, her eyes on the horizon.
“We don’t know that,” said Heath. He took Annie to one side, seeing the worry on her face. “If your fath
er is in there, we’ll get him out. Even if we have to come back.”
“He won’t survive if he’s in a State prison, or whatever this facility is,” said Annie. “And as soon as he talks about dragons, they’ll silence him.”
“It won’t come to that. And we don’t even know if it is a prison,” said Heath. “For all we know, he’s sitting in a local tavern, drinking beer and entertaining everyone with stories of his latest expedition.”
Annie’s bottom lip trembled, but she tilted her chin upward. “I hope you’re right.”
Damn, he wanted to take away her worries, protect her from all this shit and see her happy. “We’ll find him.”
Juniper led them along the dirt track to a single-story, stone building. She rapped on the door. “You know how you were freaked out by my dragon scales?” Juniper looked at Heath and Annie.
“We weren’t freaked out,” said Annie. “But they are unusual. I think they’re beautiful.”
“You’ve got dragon scales?” Arlo stared at Juniper. “Are you for real?”
“I am. Now, prepare to be even more freaked out.” Juniper grinned at the group.
The door cracked open, and an eye appeared in the gap. “Is that you, Juniper?”
“I said I’d be here,” said Juniper. “These are my friends. They’re looking for that missing person I asked about.”
“Can we trust them?”
“I trust them well enough,” said Juniper. “And they’ve got coins, which they’re happy to share.” She flashed a smug grin at Heath.
“We’ll share if we get something useful,” said Heath.
The eye disappeared, and the door opened wider. Heath’s jaw dropped as he got a proper look at the man in front of him. He wore a beige, floor-length kaftan, which covered most of his body. But the skin left bare was covered in mottled, dull-green scales. They covered the man’s neck, and the whole of his head, which was hairless. He had a humanoid face, but a flattened nose which looked more like a lizard’s snout.
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