Into the Roar (The Roar Series Book 2)

by A. M. White

  “This is overwhelming.” I confessed and held up my hands.

  “Let me know if there are any more instances. I truly can’t provide you with any answers until I have more pieces of the puzzle to put together.” The doctor turned his back to us and began to decode again.

  Timothy exhaled loudly and put his arm around my shoulders. “And that’s our cue to leave.”

  Timothy and I left. I hobbled along next to him. His brow was creased in thought.

  “Can we go to the beach?” I proposed.

  “Sure.” He responded.

  We walked away from the village. The dirt turned to sand beneath our feet. I had learned that sand was mostly silica, which is why the Roars couldn’t reach some of the humans during the early larger Roars. Chemically, the sand didn’t allow for the same frequency to travel through it as well as dirt or topsoil. Common dirt had properties that allowed it to pass as a conductive material. Maybe that was partially why I felt so safe here.

  Once we found a nice spot, Timothy held out his hands for support while I lowered myself. I immediately pulled the boots from my feet and dug my toes into the cool grains of sand.

  Timothy joined me on the sand. He pulled his shirt off over his head. For a moment, I just admired that view. His muscles flexed and released with movement. He was extremely attractive. His biceps curled as he rested his elbows on his knees. His strong jaw tensed.

  The sun was behind us. The ocean sparkled in a fine display of beauty. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the blue of the ocean ran into the canvas above.

  I could relax here. The knots in my shoulders unraveled. I closed my eyes and breathed the salty air. I rested my head on my knees and looked at Timothy. I could imagine that all was right in the world with him by my side.

  “I love you.” He said with a smile.

  “I love you, too.” I answered. A warm flush filled my cheeks

  “Whatever this means, we will get through it.” He spoke smoothly.

  “I know. I’m just afraid that there might be more to my story than I am aware of.” I concluded.

  He nodded, because he understood. We sat in silence. He lounged back in the sand.

  “How many have you recruited for our next adventure?” I teased.

  “You mean the ever-growing number of trainees; thanks to you and Cara.” Timothy joked.

  “Yeah, that adventure.” I poked him in the leg and giggled.

  “I’ve got three solid guys that want to come. Then you two girls, it seems. We have one more man that might come.” He squinted at me.

  I did the math. “So six- maybe seven people. That’s a good number; right? Too many more and it will be hard to travel.”

  Cara trudged over the sand dune behind us. She plopped on the beach next to me.

  “I just spoke to Dr. Jameson.” She let out a puff of air.

  “Yeah, we don’t know what to make of it yet.” Timothy responded for me.

  “The plot thickens.” She whistled.

  Chapter Three

  The afternoon passed quickly. Cara had some errands to run for the doctor. This gave Timothy and me a little down time to just be normal people.

  We walked through the village and looked to barter some wooden utensils Timothy made in exchange for dinner. Some of the villagers cooked in the open. That meant they were willing to trade for items they wanted. Many of the cooks were women; their small children played underfoot.

  Timothy and I couldn’t help, but smile at the little ones that played with handmade dolls or wooden animals. It was hard to fathom that some of them were born after the Roars. They would never know what life had been like before. The stories of the past would just be odd bedtime stories they told their own children one day.

  Soon, we came upon an older woman with dark wrinkled skin. She roasted venison on a spit.

  “That smells amazing.” I steered Timothy to her fire.

  “Ma’am, would you be willing to trade two meals for these?” Timothy held out the utensils for her inspection.

  The woman looked Timothy up and down. I wasn’t sure if she considered the utensils or Timothy. The look in her eyes was one of admiration. I held my breath. My mouth watered for the meat.

  Her lips curled into a strange toothless smile. “You got a deal son.” She snatched the forks and spoons from his hand. Timothy jumped. He didn’t expect her to move that quickly.

  The old woman readied the meat. “You know, I just said the other day, we need some civilization when we eat ‘round here.”

  I awkwardly giggled. “I know things like forks are a luxury.”

  “I thank you Ma’am.” Timothy ran his hand through his hair, it exposed his eyes.

  The woman gasped. “You one of the ones brought back the contraption to the doctor?”

  “Yes Ma’am,” Timothy answered. He nodded to me. “She did most of the hard work though.”

  Her eyes looked me up and down. I felt myself blush.

  “I hear you two have big plans.” She squinted as she handed over the meat wrapped in sea grape leaves.

  “Well, we hope we do.” Timothy took the food.

  “If you two stop all this, I will cook for you the rest of my life.” She wiped her hands on her apron, which left behind greasy smudges.

  “Be careful offering him food. I am a terrible cook and he might hold you to your word.” I joked.

  The old woman laughed.

  “Girl, you better figure out how to feed yourself and this man.” She smirked and poked at Timothy’s midsection.

  He flinched, but smiled broadly. It was glorious to see an uninhibited smile from him.

  “When we get back, how about I get some lessons from you?” I felt at ease with her grandmotherly ways.

  “You better honey, a fine man like this? You better keep him! If I was forty years younger, I’d give you a run for your money!” She made a whistling noise between the few teeth she had left. “Now, go enjoy your dinner.” She swatted us away.

  We thanked her again and went to find a place we could sit and eat in the open. I wasn’t ready to go back home. As soon as we were out of ear shot, I couldn’t help myself, but to tease Timothy. The grin on his face still lingered from the woman’s remarks.

  “Should I be concerned?” I nudged him with my elbow.

  “What?” He chuckled and eyed me with a raised eyebrow.

  The man chuckled. I loved it. It was so out of character for him. Maybe he withholds mysterious normalcies I have yet to unlock. It felt my heart grew two sizes bigger in my chest.

  “You know exactly what.” I mirrored his raised eyebrow look and spotted a big oak tree. I led us to the mangled roots for a picnic.

  Timothy puffed out his chest. “Well, since I am so popular with the ladies, I guess you better step it up.” He over exaggerated his gait which caused several of the people that passed us to give him a second glance.

  The oddity of his playfulness caused me to snicker and resulted in a very unladylike snort. I stopped abruptly and covered my mouth. We were both in hysterics at our silliness.

  We continued to find ourselves funny as we sat among the twisted roots and unwrapped our food. I took a deep breath before I dug into the succulent meat, so that I wouldn’t choke. Timothy leaned back against the trunk and took his first bite.

  A blanket of safety and freedom covered me at that moment. There was nothing in the world I would rather do than stay there forever. The thought that it would end soon made my stomach clench.

  Chapter Four

  Sleep was still something I feared. Mostly because of the dreams I couldn’t control.

  I stared at the ceiling and listened to Timothy as he snored lightly. Every noise outside drew my attention.

  Sometimes, I couldn’t believe my luck. I am alive, I am in love with someone that loves me back, and I found a new family. Maybe too much luck made me paranoid.

  Timothy was everything I could ever want in this new world. He was strong beyond belief; bot
h physically and mentally. He knew this world better than I did. His protectiveness, although sometimes annoying, was because he cared. Timothy wanted to keep me safe. That was a good thing considering I was good at putting myself in dangerous situations.

  I loved the way he held my hand when I needed it most. The way he looked through me with those dark eyes would never get old. My skin prickled at the thought.

  I was glad that Timothy didn’t push our physical relationship. In the whirlwind of our circumstances, I wasn’t ready for more physically. He had been a gentleman, but wanted me close, in case of emergency.

  I shifted onto my side. The movement jostled Timothy awake. His eyes blinked and focused on me. “Can’t sleep?”

  “No, but what’s new?” I sighed.

  He slipped his hand into mine. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.” I smiled. “You do know that we have never talked about where you really come from?”

  “You know I come from them.” He scratched at the stubble on his face.

  I rolled my eyes.

  “I take it that’s not what you mean then?” He scooted closer.

  “No. I am asking you where your people are from? It makes no difference, but I’m curious. I am in love with someone that I know very little about.” I shrugged.

  “I only know what they told us in propagandas.” He admitted.

  “So, tell me the story they fed you. Stop avoiding it.” I grew impatient and rolled onto my stomach so that I could look him square in the face.

  “We were always told that we separated from humans during the plagues and natural disasters of your biblical times. Groups of people in the era of the Romans believed that the plagues, as well as volcano eruptions, floods, and droughts were going to cause the end of the world. They recruited people that feared the impending apocalypse.”

  I listened intently, even though I had many questions. I knew that Timothy wouldn’t have an extensive knowledge; they were told what to believe. He hadn’t been allowed to ask questions.

  “That was thousands of years ago. Who knows? It is hard for me to comprehend that my people created an underground system that linked the world, but that is what they told us.” Timothy curled around me. “Not much of a bedtime story, huh?”

  I laughed. “No, it’s not. It doesn’t seem possible.” I yawned.

  “I know, but in all lies, lie some truth.” He quoted.

  He nuzzled into my shoulder. Soon, his rhythmic breath lulled me to sleep.

  I blinked back into reality. There was a loud crack outside the hut. I sat upright. I put my hand on Timothy’s side. Another rustle caused me to shake him awake. He mumbled and grabbed my hand. I shook him off.

  I quietly rose from the bed and padded my way over to the table. Timothy kept his pistol there. I took it in my hand and backed against the wall. I swiftly laced up my boots. A twig broke outside.

  A scream broke through the night. Timothy sat up and rolled onto the floor. I crouched low. Timothy’s head appeared at the end of the bed.

  The village erupted in a chorus of screams and yells. The red flicker of fire consumed the thatches of the hut above. The night contrasted the light with its darkness. The roof was on fire. I knew our hut was one of many, due to the commotion outside.

  Timothy crawled over to me. He took the gun from me. “Grab everything you can. This place is going to go up fast.” He whispered in a panic.

  I sprang into motion. A bag hung on the back of the chair. I used it to store everything I could lay my hands on. I made sure to grab a few clothes, some dried food, and medicine bottles. I shoved the extra gun into the back of my pants. We both ran around the room and gathered anything of value.

  Finally, I held a knife at my side. Timothy threw on his boots.

  “We have to go.” He pulled me toward the door. Timothy swung a sack over his shoulder, too. “Stay behind me. When I open the door, they will be waiting. I’ll cover you. Run to the beach. Hide in the grass. I’ll be right behind you.”

  I nodded and clutched the back of his jacket. The fire had spread to most of the roof. Embers drifted from above. A spark ignited one of the sheets on the bed.

  Timothy stepped to the side of the door. He cocked the gun. In one motion, he cracked the door and shot through. He shoved the door open. A soldier lay bloodied on the ground. Timothy quickly shot another that ran in as back up.

  At first glance, I saw that many of the huts had been set ablaze. People ran from their homes and were met by soldiers. The unmistakable sound of gunfire was mixed with pleas.

  Timothy pushed me ahead of him. “Go!” He yelled at me.

  I hobbled into a sprint. I could hear Timothy’s footsteps behind me. We fled by a shack that was not on fire.

  I ran directly into a soldier. The impact knocked both of us apart. Timothy shot him before he had a chance to raise his gun. I jumped up and over the soldier. I pumped my legs as fast as possible. I cursed the stiffness in my leg; it slowed me down.

  At the edge of the beach, tall sea grass grew in large clumps. I continued along the sharp edges, away from the village. Once I was a safe distance from the trail, I threw myself in the middle of a sizable patch of sea oats.

  Timothy plowed in behind me. He turned to face me and pulled me into his chest.

  “Now we stay quiet.” He whispered urgently.

  The noise from the village echoed over the dunes. Sometimes a distinct voice was hushed by a gun shot. I tried my best to not jump when I heard shots fire. Timothy held onto my shoulders to try and keep me still.

  Shadows ran by us. Other villagers escaped in our direction. I was glad that there were survivors, but with them, they might draw the attention of soldiers.

  “Whatever happens, stay still.” Timothy spoke into my ear.

  It was difficult to make out his facial expression in the darkness. I hated that I was unable to see him. The same darkness might save us, though. If I couldn’t see his face, a passerby wouldn’t be able to see us either.

  A few other people ran past our hiding spot. One of them muffled cries and fell to the sand a few times, only to rise and fall again. These people didn’t stop to hide. They fled down the beach to escape.

  Eventually, the screams and gunfire stopped. We waited for time to pass. Timothy wasn’t going to move until he was sure it was over.

  I could barely breathe with my head pressed into Timothy’s chest. I let my head roll back so I could see the sky.

  There was no moon tonight. That proved to be in our favor, also. Stars littered the black night. There were more stars than I ever imagined. I started to count them to keep my wits about me. It was best to keep my mind busy with menial tasks like that. The unknown crushed me. Hours passed this way.

  The sun crept over the ocean’s horizon and the stars disappeared. No one had come this way in hours. Timothy leaned closer to me.

  “We will stay until the sun has fully risen. This was a night raid. The soldiers will be expected back soon.” He rubbed my arms.

  Chapter Five

  Timothy pulled me out of the weeds. Then he retrieved the packs and guns. He handed one to me. My back ached from lying motionless all night. I stretched and plucked a few sand spurs from my pants.

  Timothy wasn’t as concerned about his aches and pains. He surveyed the beach. He looked for other survivors. He walked further, toward the water to have better visibility. I watched him as he scanned the horizon in both directions for movement.

  Many things ran through my mind during the eternal night. I wanted to find Cara immediately. I worried that she had been captured or worse.

  Secondly, I was concerned about what had happened to the doctor and his notes. I trembled with the thought that all our struggles had been for naught.

  Timothy came back to me. He looked tired and ragged from the night. I took his hand in mine. He squeezed my fingers and let out a sigh that made me believe he had held his breath.

  “I don’t see anything on the beach.” He
mumbled.

  I nodded. “We are going back, aren’t we?”

  “We have to. I need to see what is left of the doctor’s lab and check to see if anything was spared. I’m scared Alex.” He shivered.

  I could tell he had many of the same thoughts that weighed me down, but I’d never heard him admit fear. It was unsettling. I knew he needed me to be strong for him.

  “I am too, but we will figure it out. We always do.” I reassured him.

  “I think it would be a good idea to hide the packs before we get to the village.” Timothy suggested and gestured toward the path.

  “You don’t think Cara would’ve come back when she heard the raid?” I had to ask. I had spent most of the night in fear that one of the gunshots may have been meant for her.

  He shook his head thoughtfully. “She was away on errands. That’s probably a good thing. I’d be more afraid if she was here. She would’ve tried to take them all on if she was around last night. I just don’t know if she would come back this morning to look for us.”

  We loaded up and started to make our way back. Our guns were drawn and ready. We walked side by side, slowly, to keep an ear and eye out for anyone we might come across.

  I was apprehensive about the scene that lay in wait for us. The village was badly burned. Smoke still rose from that direction. There would be bodies of those that resisted the soldiers. I feared the thought of charred bodies. I was afraid that they would bring back memories of my own family, that fell to the same fate.

  At the break in the dunes, Timothy motioned me to the side. There was a bush of sea grapes. Our packs would be well hidden among the base. He took the pack from my shoulder, along with his and pushed them into the root system. Timothy stepped back to make sure they were out of sight.

  Our guns lifted, we trudged forward. At the crest of the dunes, we ducked low and looked through the sea grass to survey the open areas at the edge of the village. I spied a body upon the path ahead. The smoke hovered and it veiled the rest of the village.

  Timothy and I made eye contact. He looked for reassurance in my eyes that I could handle this. I wore my most convincing stare as a response and nodded. We stood and walked hunched over to stay small. I followed Timothy’s lead and ducked behind anything that could screen us from eyesight.