by Summer Lane
He flashed a dull smile.
Elle knelt at the brook, testing the water. She cupped her hands and drank from the cool stream. It wasn’t sanitary – she knew that. But she was weak from thirst, and dehydration could be just as deadly as a bullet. Bravo loped over, testing the water with his nose. He didn’t find anything offensive, so he dove in snout first.
More silence.
They were all thinking about the mass graveyard they had left behind. The hundreds of innocents who had died in the smoldering remains of a military base that had dedicated the entirety of its existence to helping survivors.
“Why would Omega kill them?” Elle said at last. “It was a refugee camp! We weren’t hurting anybody. Why couldn’t they just leave one thing alone?”
Cheng’s lips tightened.
“Omega is like a viral infection,” he remarked, flat. “It wants to devour everything in its path. There’s no stopping it.”
That wasn’t an adequate explanation, and they all knew it. But it would have to work for the moment. Right now they had to focus on staying alive, and on reaching the place that Cheng called Falcon Point.
“If it’s the black market,” Elle said, “then it can’t be a safe place, necessarily.”
Cheng stood.
“That’s what makes it fun, Elle,” he replied, but there was no real joy in his words. “The most interesting part about Falcon Point is also its most attractive attribute: anonymity. We can slip in and out of town relatively unnoticed.”
“How far is it from here?” Elle asked.
“No more than one day,” he answered.
“What will we do once we get there?”
“Lay low for a while.”
“Omega doesn’t know we’re alive,” Elle pointed out, “so I don’t think they’re tracking us.”
Cheng didn’t falter.
“We’ll still lay low,” he insisted. “We have to, if we’re going to survive.”
Luli seemed to agree, and Elle didn’t want to cause an argument, so she said nothing. Inwardly she wondered what Falcon Point would be like, and how they would fit in there. Three teenagers and one dog. In her experience, any large gathering of people in the apocalypse was a red flag. She didn’t trust Falcon Point, but she trusted Cheng…to an extent. She would follow him into the settlement and see what it was like. If she smelled danger, she would leave, and Cheng and Luli could survive together.
Without her and Bravo.
After they rested, they slowly began moving again. She walked in the back of the group, keeping her eye on Cheng, who was in the lead, and Luli, who trudged behind him with a veiled expression on her face.
Elle looked at Bravo. He trotted ahead, sniffing trees and shrubbery as they walked, breaking out of the forest, into the open spaces of the foothills. He was alert, making sure the environment was safe. This was his element, and his senses were working overtime. Elle smiled. It was nice to see Bravo working, especially after the grisly events of the previous night.
The open spaces disturbed her. Ever since she had left the city, she feared exposure. The close, puzzle-like layout of Los Angeles had provided shelter and thousands of hiding places. Out here, the only option for hiding was the tall grass.
It unsettled Elle. She checked constantly over her shoulder to make sure no one saw them, dark specks moving across a yellow canvas. Cheng sensed her unease, but he said nothing. The hours dragged by, cool and slow, none of them talking.
They climbed higher into the foothills, taking a small dirt path up the mountainside, creeping into trees and shrubs again. It was dark and quiet here. Cheng wove the small group through dozens of twists and turns until their feet ached. Bravo never lost his enthusiasm, though. He still sniffed everything in sight, trotting ahead on the trail to make sure the path was clear and safe.
At last, they emerged onto a dirt road crisscrossed with tire tracks and footprints. Bravo sniffed the road, looking up and gazing at Elle.
People. Horses. Smoke.
The dog sniffed again.
Guns. Lots of guns.
“Bravo’s concerned,” Elle said. “He smells weapons and animals.”
They followed the road, and as they moved, Bravo became quieter and quieter, settled into stalking mode, his trot more predatory and his mood careful. Bravo’s reactions to his environment would tell her what she needed to do.
The road widened a bit, the trees thickened, and then Elle saw it. Buildings, dust and people. She could hear the murmur of their voices, and she could smell the sweat. The mud. The diesel.
A multi-level fence made of twisted barbed wire surrounded the edge of the town. A crude sign was staked into the ground. The sign read:
FALCON POINT
ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK
“Well, that’s real cheery,” Luli commented.
Guards stood watch at the front gates. They were obviously not militia – just civilians with weapons. As they approached the front gate, Elle felt herself wind tighter and tighter. If anything happened, she would go left, into the forest, and she and Bravo would escape…
“Stop where you are!” the first guard said. “State your intentions!”
He was young. Not much older than Elle.
“Business,” Cheng replied, flashing a charming smile.
“We don’t allow dogs.”
Elle raised her eyebrows. Bravo huffed.
“Like hell you don’t,” Cheng said. And then he threw his head back and laughed, and he and the guard exchanged handshakes and pats on the back. Elle rolled her eyes, releasing a tense breath. Bravo looked annoyed.
“What, did you go to kindergarten together?” Luli said.
“This is Leif,” Cheng said, grasping the boy’s shoulder. “He is a good friend of mine.”
Leif was tall and lean, with bright, luminous green eyes. His face was dotted with red freckles. “Hello,” Leif said. “Welcome to Falcon Point.”
The other guard could have cared less about the reunion. He walked away and stood several yards off, staring at the road.
“Leif,” Cheng said, “this is Luli, Elle, and our stalwart, fearless companion Bravo.”
Hearing his name, Bravo’s tail began bobbing back and forth, a smile on his face. He sniffed Leif’s outstretched hand and dipped his head, approving.
“What brings you to Falcon Point this time, Cheng?” Leif asked.
He cradled a rifle in his arms, and Elle didn’t take her eyes off it.
“Again?” Elle whispered.
Cheng didn’t hear her.
“Bear Mountain,” Cheng replied. “It’s gone.”
Leif stared at him.
“Are you…serious?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Omega. Used a cruise missile. Killed everyone.”
Leif licked his lips.
“Except for you three, am I right?” he asked.
Bravo barked low.
“I mean, four,” Leif corrected, amused. “But, Cheng…even the children?”
Cheng’s silence confirmed the tragic news.
Leif closed his eyes.
“God, that’s horrible,” he said. “How did they find the base?”
Cheng swallowed, looking stricken for a moment.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t care. It’s over.”
Elle got the feeling that he did care, though. Very much.
“Come on, I’ll set you up in town,” Leif said suddenly. “All of you.”
He rolled the gate backward and Cheng followed him in. Elle stood at the fence for a moment, hesitating. This was a sketchy situation, but she didn’t have much of a choice. Luli passed her, and Elle took one step, then two. And she was walking, Bravo trotting beside her.
Inside.
Elle’s heart raced in her chest. Falcon Point looked like a western town, with small, squat buildings lined up in a neat row on each side of the road. They were clapboard and makeshift. The streets were covered with muddy pebbles
and potholes. Horses were tied to posts in front of stores.
People walked about, openly armed. She saw families. A mother, a father and a young girl. The horses whinnied, the adults talked, and they all stared as the newcomers strolled through the front gates with Leif.
Elle kept her head high and her face steely. She would not be intimidated.
She would not.
Leif led them to the end of the strip of buildings. Here there were corrals and animals. Sheep, chickens, cows and more horses. It smelled of feed and wet straw. It was a comforting scent. To Bravo, is was a smorgasbord of smells, and the animals in the corrals presented tasty snacks.
“Don’t get any ideas,” Elle said under her breath, a half-smile on her face.
Wouldn’t dream of it.
They walked on a path that threaded through the corrals, down a hill. A large cabin was nestled here. Terrifyingly huge, gray mastiff dogs prowled around the property. They were at least twice the size of Bravo, with massive, intimidating snouts and white fangs. Bravo’s fur stood on end and Elle placed her hand on his leather collar.
“Don’t worry,” Leif said, “they know me. They won’t hurt us.”
Yeah, right. Elle kept a firm grip on Bravo’s collar.
“Be quiet,” Elle said firmly. “Just keep walking.”
Bravo kept his eyes on the mastiffs, but he did not growl or bark. The canines silently trotted alongside the group, boxing them in – escorting them, so to speak. Cheng and Luli were just as tense as Elle, although Leif seemed to be oblivious to it.
They rounded the front of the cabin, climbed its massive wooden steps, walked onto a porch, and stood before a huge door. Their footsteps echoed on the deck.
“The Lodge,” Leif said. “There’s a room for you, Cheng.”
Cheng nodded.
“Have you been here often?” Elle asked.
“More than I’d like to admit,” Cheng replied, cocking his eyebrow.
She didn’t like his answer. It was vague, and vagueness could kill them. This place was too open – too friendly. Leif opened the front door to the lodge. Inside, there was a huge lobby and a crackling fireplace. There were people sitting on every couch, every spare area of floor. It smelled of burning wood and coffee.
Leif closed the door, and the great mastiffs were locked outside.
“You know where it is,” Leif said. “But I wanted to warn you…” he lowered his voice, leaning forward, saying something quietly into Cheng’s ear.
Cheng nodded again.
“I will see you soon, I’m sure.” Leif tipped his head. “Nice meeting you, Elle. Bravo.”
He left the lodge.
“Oh, nice. He didn’t even say goodbye to me,” Luli complained.
“It’s nothing personal,” Cheng replied. “Leif is a good guy. We go back a long way.”
The lodge was obviously a shelter for civilians. Not unlike the Civilian Ward at Bear Mountain. But this was different. This was unorganized. Everyone was armed. There were stores and animals. It seemed okay. For now.
Elle kept her hand on Bravo’s collar. It was comforting. As long as he didn’t sense any real threats, they were safe.
“I’ll show you to our room, ladies,” Cheng said, mock-bowing, sweeping his hand through the air. “Follow me.”
Elle and Luli followed Cheng through the lobby and up a flight of wide, wooden steps that creaked with their weight. Elle and Bravo were the last ones up the stairs, stopping on the second floor. Cheng walked to the end of a long, carpeted hallway, pausing at the last door on the left. He slid a key into the hole, turned the knob, and pushed the door open. The room was small, with two beds and a dresser. Elle walked through the room, pulling open the dusty curtains, shedding light into the space. It was woodsy and cloistered, but it was nicer than sleeping outside.
Elle leaned against the windowsill and peered outside, over the trails and trees, watching the busy strip of Falcon Point.
“This is the nicest black market I’ve ever seen,” Elle muttered.
“Oh, have you seen many?” Cheng sat on the edge of the bed, grinning.
“You know what I mean.”
“I know.” He laughed. “Yes, Falcon Point is more of an escape from Omega than anything else. We certainly have our share of unsavory individuals here, but still – we all have one thing in common. We hate Omega, and we work together to stay off their radar.”
Luli sat on the second bed and sighed.
“Now what?” she said.
“We rest,” Cheng replied. “We’ll need our strength.”
“How long are we going to stay here?” Luli asked.
“As long as we need to.” Cheng shrugged. “Falcon Point has always provided me with shelter and security when I’ve been here before.”
“And why have you been here before?” Elle demanded. “What are you not telling us?”
Elle couldn’t explain why, but she got the sudden, desperate urge to choke the truth out of him. He was keeping secrets. Secrets had the power to kill or save – she knew that. It angered her.
A heavy, awkward silence fell over the room.
Cheng slowly stood up, looking down on Elle, his expression serious.
“You don’t want to know about me,” he said at last. “I’m nothing to brag about.”
He absently touched the handles of the two swords strapped to his back. He looked out the window, and Elle knew that she would get nothing out of him.
“Come on, Bravo,” she said.
Bravo snapped to attention. She walked through the room and threw open the door. “Where are you going?” Luli said, annoyed.
“Out,” Elle answered.
Cheng made no move to stop her as she left the room with Bravo.
She didn’t want him to.
Chapter Five
Elle stared at the open door of the Trading Post. People flowed in and out of the entrance, hauling goods. She could smell the food from within the building. It was rich and enticing.
Let’s go inside! Bravo jumped up and wagged his tail. Come on!
Elle swallowed a nervous lump in her throat.
“Okay,” she whispered. “Let’s do it.”
She walked over the threshold and took a deep breath. The interior of the building was simple. Four walls, shelves and piles of goods. There were boxes of jeans and button-up shirts, crates of boots and tennis shoes. There were shelves of canned goods and cabinets filled to the bursting point with first-aid supplies like bandages, gauze and rubbing alcohol. People stood in a long line, their arms full of items to trade with. Some of them gave Elle and Bravo long, suspicious glares as they walked by, but most were too preoccupied with the task of bartering to notice their presence.
Elle ran her hand over the jeans, feeling the rough, new material on her calloused fingers. It would be so nice to have new clothes! The militia at Bear Mountain had provided her with boots, but new pants and a heavier jacket would be great. Sadly, she didn’t have anything to trade with so she just admired the goods from a distance.
“What do you want?” Cheng asked.
Startled, Elle met his twinkling gaze. He was standing beside her, seemingly having appeared out of nowhere.
It was becoming a habit with him.
“I thought you were resting with Luli,” she snorted.
“Resting with Luli is an oxymoron,” Cheng replied. “Now please. What is it you’d like in this store?”
“New clothes,” Elle said. “But I don’t have anything to trade with.”
“You do now.”
Cheng raised his hand, waving to the clerk behind the counter. He was a tall, portly man with thinning hair and a thickset, sweaty face.
“Cheng,” the man said, breathing hard. “You’re back.”
“Indeed I am. I’m here to cash in on that favor you owe me.” Cheng winked. “My friend here needs supplies.”
The clerk nodded slowly.
“Yes, of course, Cheng.” He looked back toward the lin
e of people, impatiently waiting for him to return. “Anything you like, anything at all.” He paused. “Are you back to stay, Cheng?”
Cheng put his arm around the clerk’s shoulders.
“Now, Mr. Halverson,” he said gaily. “What fun would my visits be if you knew everything about them? Surprises are good for you– they keep you young.” He patted him on the back. “Go on, back to work. Your customers are waiting. Thank you for your generosity.”
The clerk nodded feverishly and returned to the counter.
“The store is yours, fair lady,” Cheng said, bowing his head.
Elle raised an eyebrow.
“He seemed overjoyed to see you,” she stated, deadpan.
“He was. He loves me like his own son.” Cheng picked up a pair of jeans and tossed them to Elle. “Pick out what you need, little ninja.”
Elle sighed. She wanted to ask him what favor Cheng was cashing in with the store clerk. “Why are you helping me?” Elle asked.
Cheng didn’t reply.
“Here, this would look remarkable with your hair, don’t you think?” Cheng laughed uproariously at his own comment and tossed a black flannel shirt into Elle’s arms. Elle and Bravo trailed behind Cheng as he strolled through the store, grabbing items and piling them on Elle’s clothes.
They were nearing the door when something caught Elle’s eye.
“Wait,” she said.
She shoved the supplies into Cheng’s arms. She walked to the corner of the store and picked up a crisp leather collar that had been shoved aside. She slipped it inside her jacket pocket, smiling slightly.
“Okay,” she told him. “Let’s go.”
They left the Trading Post with countless items, hauling the supplies back to the lodge and into their room. When they walked inside, Luli was gone.
“She probably went to get some fresh air,” Cheng said.
But he didn’t seem so sure.
Cheng dropped the stuff on the bed. There was a pair of new jeans, two thick shirts, wool socks, underwear, a green knit cap, leather gloves and a brand new backpack. Elle pulled some clothes from the pile and went into the bathroom. There was light from a window above the small toilet. She pulled her old clothes off and dressed in the new ones, feeling crisp, clean and warm. The socks felt incredible against her sore, blistered and calloused feet. She picked up a hairbrush sitting on the counter and tried to comb her short hair, but it did nothing to make it look neater. It was still short and boyish.