The Extinction Series | Book 4 | Primordial Earth 4

by Higgins, Baileigh

  Rogue tried to dodge his attack, but her injured body betrayed her. The rampaging captain hit her with the force of a freight train, and she plowed to the ground with him on top. Immediately, his fingers closed around her throat and began to squeeze.

  Rogue slashed at his face with the knife, but he knocked it from her grip with negligent ease. His lips twisted into a sneer as she gasped for air, her eyes bulging from their sockets. It felt as if her head would explode as the pressure grew, and her lungs screamed for oxygen. Black spots danced across her vision, her frantic blows weaker than those of a kitten’s.

  Her eyes rolled back, and she stared up at the forest canopy. A bird flitted through the green foliage, its plumage as yellow as the sun. Then a shadow loomed above her, blocking her view. With one swift move, the stranger drew his knife across the captain’s throat. The skin parted with ease, and hot blood splashed across her face.

  Released from the death grip on her neck, Rogue gagged and spluttered. She was both desperate for air and repulsed by the blood in her mouth. The metallic taste of copper pennies coated her tongue, and she retched into the carpet of moss until her stomach was empty.

  Her mind cleared as her starved brain cells soaked up precious oxygen, and she used her sleeve to wipe the worst of the blood from her face. Curious, she looked up into the face of her rescuer, but his features were cast in shadow. Still, there was something familiar about him, and her fear abated somewhat.

  With a hiss of pain, she allowed him to help her to her feet. A spell of dizziness hit her, and she closed her eyes. “Hold on. Give me a moment.”

  The stranger didn’t reply. Instead, he steadied her with one hand on her elbow, offering silent support. Finally, the dizziness passed, and she was able to open her eyes. “Thank you, whoever you—”

  Rogue broke off mid-sentence and yanked her arm from her rescuer’s grip. With a gasp of horror, she stumbled away from him on legs turned to jelly. When he didn’t move, she pointed one trembling finger at his face. “You. You’re back. You found me.”

  Bones nodded. His face was impassive, but his tight mouth betrayed the tension that lay beneath the surface. “I will always find you, Rogue. No matter where you go, I’ll always be there.”

  Chapter 10

  “This can’t be happening. Not again,” Rogue said, casting her eyes around the clearing. She spotted the knife Joe had given her and scooped it up. “Stay away from me, you monster. Do you hear me? Stay away, or I’ll gut you like a fish.”

  Bones raised his hands, palms outward. “I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to talk to you. I need to explain.”

  “Explain? Let me guess. You love me, and you want us to live happily ever after in that dream world your sick mind has created,” Rogue said, a sneer twisting her lips.

  “I do love you, Rogue, and I always will,” Bones said. “You know that.”

  Rogue shook her head and backed away. “This is like a living nightmare that I just can’t wake up from. No matter what I do or how far I run, you’re always there. Why won’t you leave me alone?”

  Her stomach twisted into knots, the sight of his face enough to make her sick. It brought back in vivid detail every indignity she’d suffered at his hands: The sensation of utter helplessness. Being tied down and unable to move or fight back. The awful concoction he’d forced into her body and the hallucinations that followed. Even worse, the moment he handed her over to Sikes and Douglas, trading her life for his. Coward.

  “It’s not like that. I had to make sure you were safe. I needed to know,” Bones protested. “Then I saw you with these strangers, a prisoner, and I had to rescue you.”

  “So, I’m supposed to thank you?” Rogue asked. With the knife pointed at Bones, she edged toward Joe’s body. “After what you did to me?”

  Bones winced. “I was wrong. I see that now. I shouldn’t have forced you to go back. You warned me, and I didn’t listen.”

  “Listen? Of course not. You never listen to anything I say. All you care about is what you want. You don’t give a damn about what I want.”

  “Please, try to understand. I thought I was doing the right thing,” Bones protested. “You mean everything to me.”

  “And you mean nothing to me,” Rogue spat. “Nothing.”

  Bones’ expression paled. “I know I hurt you, and I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry isn’t good enough. I will never forgive you for what you did. Never,” Rogue said.

  Bones sighed. “I know.”

  Without taking her eyes from Bones, Rogue dropped to her knees next to Joe’s unmoving form. Hoping against all odds, she searched for a pulse with her free hand. At first, there was nothing, then she felt it. A heartbeat. Faint, but strong. He’s still alive!

  But her joy was short-lived. Joe needed her help, but what about Bones? She dared not take her eyes off him for a single second.

  “Is he still alive?” Bones asked.

  “Why do you care?” Rogue said, casting around for a solution to her predicament.

  “Because I saw him try to help you.”

  “Yeah, well. If he doesn’t get medical attention soon, he won’t live for much longer,” Rogue said with a bitter note in her voice.

  “I can help him,” Bones said, taking a step closer.

  Rogue jumped up, brandishing the knife. “Don’t you dare! Take one more step, and I’ll kill you.”

  Bones studied her face. “You really don’t trust me, do you?”

  “Of course not.”

  “And you’ll never feel what I feel for you.”

  “No, I won’t, and I’ll tell you something else for free. I’d rather die than be with you,” Rogue said. “I hate you, and that will never, ever change.”

  “Then there’s only one thing left to do,” Bones said, backing away.

  “What’s that?” Rogue asked, the question laced with suspicion.

  “You’ll see. Help him, I won’t stop you,” he said, pointing at Joe. The next moment he was gone, melting into the forest like a ghost.

  Rogue whirled about, alarmed. “Where did you go?”

  Silence.

  “Don’t try anything, do you hear me?”

  Still nothing.

  She waited for several minutes before she allowed herself to believe that Bones was gone. Even then, she never let her guard down, and her eyes roved around the clearing. If he came back, she’d be ready for him.

  A quick examination proved that the knife had gone into Joe’s side. She had no way of knowing whether the blade had struck any vital organs or what kind of damage it had done. All she could do was try to stop the bleeding.

  Joe’s backpack lay nearby, and she dragged it closer. Inside, she found his canteen of water and a spare shirt. She cut the shirt into bandages and turned the sleeves into a pad. Hopefully, it would be enough to staunch the bleeding once she removed the knife. Steeling herself, she gripped the handle. “On three. One, two—“

  “Don’t,” Bones said from behind her. “He might be bleeding internally, and if you remove it, he’ll bleed to death within seconds.”

  Rogue jumped to her feet, her heart banging in her chest. “You again.”

  Her eyes jumped from him to the horse behind him, and her brow knitted in confusion. “Where did you get the horse?”

  “General Sikes gave her to me when I got promoted to Captain,” Bones said.

  “I see,” Rogue said. “A fitting gift for a traitor.”

  “Her name is Violet, and she’s quite special,” Bones continued, ignoring her barbs.

  Rogue eyed the horse, uncertain where he was heading with his comments. “She’s a beauty, I’ll give you that, but I don’t see the relevance.”

  “She’s yours,” Bones said.

  Rogue’s mouth dropped open. “What?”

  “You can use her to get your friend the medical attention he needs,” Bones added.

  “Why would you do that? What’s the catch?” Rogue asked.

  “No catch. Co
nsider it payment for the wrong I did to you,” Bones said, handing her the reins.

  Rogue hesitated. She didn’t trust Bones one bit. “What about you? What will you do once I’m gone?”

  Bones shrugged. “Don’t worry about me. I have my own scores to settle.”

  “How do I know you won’t simply follow me back to my home?” Rogue said. “How do I know this isn’t a trap?”

  “You don’t, but if you don’t hurry up, your friend will die. Besides, this isn’t the kind of place to linger. The scent of blood will draw predators.”

  Rogue glanced at Joe. Bones was right. She needed to hurry.

  “In any case, I don’t need you to show me where the Exiles are hiding. I was already on the trail when I spotted you and your new friends,” Bones said. Once more, he offered her the reins.

  Rogue studied his face, a face she’d hoped never to see again in her lifetime. Yet, here he was, saving her from the bad guys and giving her a horse. I must’ve hit my head harder than I thought. This can’t be real.

  “Take her and go home. Live your life and be happy. You deserve that much,” Bones prompted.

  Rogue reached out and took the reins. The leather felt warm to the touch. The horse stepped closer, and Bones backed away. “I’ll help you load your friend in the saddle, and then I’m gone.”

  “For real this time?” Rogue asked, eyeing him through narrowed eyes.

  “You won’t see me again,” Bones said. “That’s a promise.”

  Rogue watched as he wrapped up Joe’s injury with the bandages she’d made from the shirt. He was careful to leave the knife in place, wrapping the pad around the blade instead. Afterward, he loaded Joe onto Violet’s back, acting like the man weighed no more than a child.

  While Rogue was grateful for his help, it reminded her of how strong he was and how dangerous. The cadaverous appearance which earned him the nickname Bones was an illusion. It deceived the mind and caused people to underestimate him. With that thought in mind, Rogue kept the knife in her hand and the horse between them.

  “It’s done. You can go now, but be careful,” Bones said, stepping away from Joe and the horse.

  “I will,” Rogue said with a curt nod.

  “This is the last time you’ll ever see me, and I just want you to know, I really am sorry,” Bones said, his expression one of regret. “I never meant to hurt you.”

  Rogue stared at him, her throat thick with emotion. She didn’t want to believe him, didn’t want to feel anything for him at all, but he seemed sincere. “Thank you.”

  “I guess…I guess in the end I loved you too much,” he added.

  “I guess so.”

  Bones turned away and walked toward the edge of the clearing while Rogue watched him go. There, he paused. “One more thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Take care of Violet. She’s a good horse, and she saved my life more than once. Maybe one day, she can do the same for you.”

  “I’ll take care of her,” Rogue said, reaching up to stroke Violet’s velvety nose. “I promise.”

  Without another word, Bones disappeared into the forest, and Rogue turned her attention to Joe. “I’d better get you to a doctor, my friend. It’s not far, but I’d better move my ass. The last thing we need is for something else to befall us, especially if that something else has teeth.”

  Leading Violet by the reins, she set off for the Shanghai tunnels at a swift pace. Bolstered by the thought of being reunited with her friends and family, she hardly felt the pain of her injuries. It would be a different story in the morning, but she’d be home, and that’s all that mattered.

  ***

  As silently as a ghost, Bones followed Rogue through the forest. He had no intention of breaking his promise to her. She would never see him again. Still, he needed to know she was safe. For that reason, he snuck along, his crossbow held ready to defend her.

  Once she reached the tunnel’s entrance, he watched as she pulled aside the camouflaged tarp that covered the opening. A steel door barred the way, but after a couple of knocks, two armed guards appeared.

  They looked hostile, and for a breathless moment, he was prepared to intervene. But after a brief verbal exchange, they dropped their weapons and allowed her to enter. Violet balked at first, and Rogue had to coax her along with gentle encouragement. Finally, the mare stepped into the dark unknown, trusting in her new owner to know what was best.

  The tarp was pulled back into place, and the door locked shut against the outside world. It was a clever ruse, and Bones admired the Exile’s ingenuity. He hoped Rogue would be safe with them. Free to live her life to the fullest. He wanted that for her, even though she’d rejected him.

  Maybe, things could’ve been different if he’d had the chance to show her, really show her how he felt. Perhaps then, she would’ve given him a chance. But that was in the past. He’d squandered his opportunities, choosing to force and bully his way into her heart. Now, he had to live with the consequences of his actions.

  With barely a whisper of sound, Bones turned back to the river. He had one last task to complete. One last gift for his love, even though she’d never know about it. He had to kill the general, for as long as Sikes drew breath, neither Rogue nor anyone else would be safe.

  Chapter 11

  Rogue sat at the table with her shoulders hunched against the verbal blows coming her way. She picked at her food with little enthusiasm, her hunger a thing of the past. Olivia and Moran paced around the tiny kitchen that formed their home and took turns to berate her for her stupidity.

  “What were you thinking, Lilian?” Olivia asked for the hundredth time. “You can’t run off on your own every time you feel like it.”

  “She’s right, Rogue,” Moran chimed in. “This isn’t the streets of Prime, and you’re not a kid anymore. Things are different now. It’s a matter of life and death.”

  “You have to use your head,” Olivia said, wringing her hands together. “What if we lost you out there? What then?”

  “We were scared out of our wits,” Moran cried, flinging her arms in the air.

  “And poor Seth! You should’ve seen the man. He was going mad with worry,” Olivia said.

  Rogue winced. As much as she disliked being scolded by the two women she loved, Seth’s reaction was the worst. He still hadn’t spoken to her, storming off the moment he saw that she was alive and well.

  Finding the Shanghai tunnels was easy. Convincing the guards to let her in with a wounded stranger was harder. But reuniting with her friends and family was proving to be almost impossible. Sure, she’d made a mistake. It was only human, right?

  Not according to them.

  The guards made her wait at the entrance while they fetched Ric and Olivia. It was a tense time for her. Not only was Joe seriously injured, but she had her own wounds to contend with as well.

  When Ric and Olivia finally arrived, she was rushed to the infirmary along with Joe. A nurse treated her wounds, strapped up her ribs and finger, and examined her head. It was too late for stitches, though, and the cut on her scalp was disinfected and bandaged.

  Joe was wheeled away for treatment, and she was not allowed to see him. As a member of the Watch from Prime, he was considered high risk. A guard was assigned to watch him, and his fate remained undecided. The only thing besides helping Rogue that counted in his favor was the fact that he was unconscious when he arrived at the tunnels.

  As for Violet, she was stabled with the other horses. Horses were valuable animals, and Rogue was assured she’d be well looked after.

  A lecture from Ric followed. It drove home the perils she faced if she refused to obey their laws. Chief among them was banishment or even death, especially if her actions placed them all in danger of discovery by the enemy.

  Afterward, they led her to her new home, cramped quarters shared between Olivia, Moran, Jamie, Brittany, and herself. It consisted of a single bedroom and a living room with a built-in kitchenette.

&nbs
p; The bedroom contained bunk beds, footlockers, and a mounted mirror. The living area boasted a fold-up table with plastic chairs, a rickety couch, a kitchen counter with built-in cupboards, and a rocket stove.

  “Eat your food, Lillian,” Olivia said. “You must be hungry, and we can’t afford to waste.”

  “Yes, Olivia,” Rogue answered in a monotone, slurping up a spoonful of the tasteless gruel.

  “That’s right. I didn’t spend a whole hour cooking it just so you can waste it,” Moran admonished.

  “No wonder it tastes like crap,” Rogue mumbled beneath her breath. “You’ve never cooked a meal in your life.”

  “Excuse me? Did I hear that right?” Moran said, her face turning crimson.

  “Er, I said it tastes just fine. Like you’ve been cooking your whole life,” Rogue amended.

  Moran stared at her with narrowed eyes. “You know what? I give up. Do what you want from now on.”

  She flopped down on the couch with her arms folded, and Rogue shot her a sideways glance. She wasn’t fooled. Moran was far from finished. Olivia opened her mouth then closed it again, and Rogue hoped she’d run out of steam. Anything to get past this miserable lunch.

  In silence, she finished the rest of her food. With muttered thanks, she rinsed the bowl in a plastic container filled with a bit of lukewarm water and soap. Afterward, she dried it with a cloth and placed it back into the cupboard.

  The entire time, she was aware of Olivia and Moran’s unhappy stares as she moved about the kitchen. It was awkward at best, and she longed to run away screaming at the top of her lungs. “Um, where are the stables?”

  “Why?” Olivia demanded.

  “Because I’d like to check on Violet,” Rogue said.

  “The horse that awful man gave to you?” Olivia said.

  “Yes, the horse Bones gave me after he saved my life,” Rogue answered with the tiniest amount of rebellion.

  Olivia sighed. “Fine, I’ll show you.”

  Rogue backed away. “Never mind. I’ll figure it out myself.”