What did he think that would make me feel, better? “He’s dead now, so it makes no difference,” I replied, turning and handing him my bag before going back to the table to eat. Ignoring everyone, I sat there and slowly ate, nursing my hate deep where no one could see while bringing to the surface the face I would need to make the traitors trust me. Slowly the mask of the old Misty began to rise, the one that had cared for her sisters, no matter what they did. Once I was sure that it was firmly in place, I talked to the others around the table to judge its effect. Their smiles and laughter told me that it worked, only Johnathon and Michael looked at me strangely, not trusting it. Thankfully they weren’t the ones I was looking to convince.
It was now light and Johnathon was long gone to take care of his mission. Changing into clothing to blend in, we went out and made our way to the fair. The images that Johnathon showed us of the Prey and our escape routes were burned into my mind. With a carefree, excited air we made our way through the streets, blending seamlessly with the others around us. The fair was amazing––sights, smells, colors surrounded us and the old Misty loved it. With smiles and giggles, she touched and tasted all that the vendors showed her, while the new Misty kept a sharp lookout for what she had come for.
We found the first one quickly after arriving, a timid, mousy woman moving through the crowd, her dark hair hanging over her face. Making my way toward her, I joined her, looking at fabrics––the conversation was one-sided until I finally lured her into feeling comfortable. Keeping up a steady chatter, I moved with her booth by booth as the men followed discreetly behind. After buying her a sweet treat, we laughed together. I got her to follow me down a side alley, saying that I knew of a vendor at the end. It wasn’t until we reached the end and she saw there was no exit that she began to get nervous. Turning back, her fears were confirmed as the men blocked the only exit.
Defeat was heavy in her eyes when she looked at me. “Please make it quick,” she said.
As if I would give her a quick death after what she did, but I knew that that Misty couldn’t come out. Keeping my mask in place, I said, moving closer, “We’re not here to hurt you, we’re here to save you.” Disbelief flashed in her eyes as she looked at me, glancing fearfully back at the others keeping their distance, trying not to frighten her more than she already was. Knowing that I had to hurry, I kept going, taking her hand to bring her attention back to me. “You know that if the Loyalist city had sent us for you, we wouldn’t be speaking. These people are part of a resistance and they need your help. We need you to come with us so that we can save our people in the caverns and make sure that they can never again do what they have done to our people to the people on the surface.” Thinking of my sisters to put feeling in my voice, I said, “We need to help them. When you escaped our government, you thought you would be free, but you’re not. You’re still their slave. Come with us, help us, and be truly free.”
“You’re from the caverns?” she whispered.
Smiling with tears in my eyes, I said, “Yes, will you come with us and take a chance to truly be free and help free those still trapped below?”
Hope shone in her eyes as if I was her salvation. “What do I have to do?”
Got her. Waving the men toward us, they quickly told her what to do. To remain as she was, shopping until it was time to leave, while we searched for others. She quickly told us that she could help us. She knew where the others would be and she would help us gather them. It was better than we could hope for. With her help, what would have taken most of the day only took a few hours. Knowing which to approach and which were too broken to help, we gathered a total of twelve, more than we dared believe that we could. It wasn’t even noon yet when we made our way into the forest. No one spoke as we avoided the sentries and raced for the bridge. I couldn’t believe how close we were to it––what had taken Tristian and I days took only hours with the path Michael lead us on. That is where our problem would come from––there was no way of crossing the river without being seen.
Finding our supplies, we were told to stay as Michael broke away from us. Changing into the clothing left for us, we waited for Michael. Returning fifteen minutes later and motioning for us to cross, the blood on his knife told the story. Quickly we moved, terror giving us speed as the sun sank lower into the sky. Tired and winded, no one complained or asked for a break, and when the weaker ones fell, others gathered them up, pulling them along. The sun had long ago set and night was deep upon us when Michael found a spot where he said we could rest. Falling to the ground, the Prey laid there as we handed out food and water, forcing them to partake before an exhausted sleep took them. No fire was lit that night; it was warm enough that it wasn’t worth the risk for a hot meal. Going to the men, I told them that I would take the first watch, the look on my face stopping them from arguing. For hours I looked out into the night, ignoring my thoughts until it was time to wake the next watch. After I was sure that he would stay awake, I went to where Michael lay and quietly put my back to his, careful not to touch, letting my exhausted body claim the sleep it needed.
The sun was just touching the sky when I was shaken awake. Feeling as if I hadn’t slept a wink, I rose without complaint, knowing sleep was a luxury that we couldn’t afford. Coming to sit next to me, Michael brought me food and water, and silently we sat eating our meager meal. A shadow fell upon me, causing me to look up at the first woman we found. Hesitantly she sat in front of me. Others, seeing her approach me, became bolder and moved to sit behind her. “My name is Tara,” she said, holding her hand out to me.
Staring at it a moment, I swallowed my bile before reaching out and taking it. “I’m Misty.”
“We”––she started, waving to the group behind her––“wanted to thank you for taking us from there. I don’t know how much longer they were going to let us live.”
Pretending that I had no idea, I asked, “What changed?”
Sadness and shame washed through her face before she lowered it to look at the ground. “It was just becoming too dangerous to allow us to live.”
LIAR! I wanted to scream as she sat there, but I held it back, instead saying, “This may not be much of a better chance, but at least it will be a chance.” Standing up, I made a show of gathering my stuff, trying to ignore them as they smiled at me in gratitude. Finally unable to take it anymore, I said, “We’ll be leaving soon, why don’t you all go and help the others pack.” Nodding their heads like children, they stood and scurried away.
Mumbling to Michael that I’d be right back, I rushed into the woods, needing a moment to collect myself. Going as far as I dared, I slammed my hands into a tree, leaning in. I let my head hang down as I tried to reign in the darkness coursing through me. I knew that no matter how much I wanted to, I couldn’t act on those feelings yet, I had a debt to pay to the lifeless bodies in the field. What was owed to me would have to wait.
I was so wrapped up in the noises buzzing through my head that I didn’t hear Michael’s approach. “The life that you and those people have been forced to live is one that I can never imagine,” he said as he moved behind me. “Each one of you have a common core of pain before it branches out and your individual pain starts.” Reaching out and gathering me into his arms, he pulled me back until our bodies were flush and his lips were to my ears. “At that point, you don’t know their suffering any more than they know yours.” Touching his lips to the shell of my ear, he said, “You would have died for your loved ones. You would kill for your loved ones. These people lived in spite of their loved ones. Blocking the truth out so they could find the courage to face the next day. There are many forms of courage, but sometimes surviving when there is nothing left to live for is its own form of courage.” Releasing me, he stepped back and turned, walking away. “It’s time to leave.”
Turning, I followed him, staring unseeing at his back as the true meaning of his words swished around in my head. He knew. He knew that I but bided my time waiting. Pushing the thoughts away as
we made it back to camp, I collected my bag and silently followed for another grueling trek through the woods. For three days we kept up the pace until what we feared would happen did. It was midafternoon when we heard the air vehicle moving our way. Scattering, we hid as it passed over us, searching. We stayed hidden like that for well over an hour before we dared to move. After that, it was decided that moving during the day had become too much of a risk. We found a place to make camp that hid us from view both around and above. Doubling the watch, we gathered to pore over the map, trying to find the safest way to approach the village. It would take us another four days moving in the dark rather than the two that it would have been if we could still move during the light. Silence was the key if we wanted to make it there alive. We were sure that they were moving in from the other direction, trying to find us and those that fled, leaving the village empty. It would be a close call to make the place that we marked to make camp before the sun rose, but it was a risk that we would have to take. Joining the others who were already asleep I laid down until the darkness came.
The soldiers were everywhere during the day; we listened as they thrashed through the woods, moving too close for comfort at times to our hiding spot. We were on the last night of our journey and discovery was more of a reality than ever. Guns and knives clutched in our hands at all times, sleep was impossible a small doze all that most of us were able to get. The bunker was a day’s journey from the village and with how close we were, we figured that the soldiers must have set their base of operations within the village itself. Our only saving grace was that they didn’t search in the night. We were right not to move during the day; if we had, we would have been caught long ago. Darkness was approaching; the day’s light moved down the small cave’s wall that we were crammed into, basically sitting on top of one another. We could hear the soldiers coming back in our direction to make their way back to camp. As they moved past, we all gave a sigh of relief thinking ourselves safe from discovery.
It was well into the dark when we left our little hideaway. Moving silently, we hurried as quickly as we dared, careful not to make a sound. The ones at the rear of our party disguised our trail as we pushed forward. It was close to dawn when we heard something that made my heart stop. A twig snapped and voices grumbled in the dark as two soldiers stepped right into our path, not five feet from me. Instinct to survive rushed through me as the soldier closest to me opened his mouth, I lunged, fear giving me strength and surprise the advantage––I brought us to the ground, driving my knife deep into his throat. With dispassionate eyes, I watched as life left his. Uncaring that I had just taken a life, it was but the first of many I was sure I would have to take in this new world. The part of me that would have cared was long since buried deep within me. Unfortunately, the others weren’t as quick. The sound of a gunshot echoed around us the other soldier got off a round before they were able to silence him. We were out of time, stealth was no longer an option, they were coming, and if we did not reach the bunker before they found us, we never would.
Racing, we heard their approach moving quicker than I would have thought possible; they made their way unerringly in our direction. Our capture would have been assured if two member of our party had not moved away from us, racing in another direction. The sound of their firing guns echoed in the distance, drawing the soldiers to them. Dawn had come, the entrance to our haven stood before us, risen from the ground as its keepers waved at us to hurry. Grabbing my arm, Michael pulled me forward. He and I were the last to enter as the lift descended into the ground, hiding us from those that would see us dead. Two lonely shots sounded, echoing through the forest. Their sound as clear as a bell for those who understood the soldiers would not capture any of us this day.
Chapter 16
Twenty-four hours had passed since we arrived. The council had given us this long to recover before calling us to them, unable and unwilling to wait any longer. My sleep was plagued with nightmares as I slept alone in my room. Standing before the mirror, I threw cold water on my face, wiping the remnants of what little sleep I had gotten from it. Going to the door when the knock sounded through the empty room, I opened it and followed the man on the other side to the meeting hall in the center of the complex. The halls themselves were crowded with people the closer we came, overflowing from the meeting hall that was unable to hold them all. Parting for us, they whispered as we passed, touching my arm and smiling as if they were happy that I returned to them alive. Entering the hall, the crowd parted to let us pass, allowing us clear access to the front before moving back, closing the path behind me.
Seated high up, the council waited, watching me. Bowing my head to them, I went to where Michael and the others of our group were seated and took the empty seat next to him.
Looking out into the crowd, the Councilman Samson said, “We call this meeting of the council to order.” The silence was instantaneous. No one wanted to miss a word of what was to come. “We are pleased to see that so many of those who accepted the mission have made it back to us and grieve with the families of those who did not. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten.” Turning to look at Michael, Councilman Samson said, “Commander, the council has some questions for you that we will speak of later. For now though, we need to speak with the fruit of your mission––those you brought back with you.”
Standing, Michael motioned the first woman we found to step forward, looking back at the council. “This is Tara,” he said, as the terrified woman stepped forward. “She was instrumental in helping us gather the others quickly,” he said, stepping back, motioning her forward.
Smiling kindly at the frightened woman, the council said, “Child, you have nothing to fear from us, we will not harm you. We have brought you and the others here to answer questions no one else has the answers to anymore. We will not judge you on anything you say, so please be honest with us.” At her timid nod, he continued, “How long ago did you escape the city?”
“Four years ago,” she whispered.
“Louder, please, my dear, some of us aren’t as young as we used to be and our hearing is not as it once was.”
In a louder voice, she said, “Four years ago, sir.”
Nodding his head approvingly, he said, “And how did you escape the city?”
Looking with wide eyes back at the other Prey before she caught herself and turned quickly back to answer the floor in front of her, she said, “We didn’t escape the city.”
Murmurs moved through the crowd, so the councilman raised his hand to silence them “Then how did you get to Twin Rivers?”
“We are Prey, sir,” she said, as if that made all the sense in the world.
Seeing that this was going to take forever with this line of questioning, I stood. “Victor, members of the council, may I ask her a few questions?”
After some quiet words among them, they told me to proceed, and I turned to Tara. “Look at me,” I said harshly, forcing her to raise her frightened eyes to mine. “What is Prey?”
Seeming to be able to function better with my harshness, like any good slave, she stood a little straighter as she began to speak. “Prey are those that have displeased their masters or are too old to be of use and are let loose from the city to be hunted by the Hunters for sport.”
Seeing me smiling my approval at her words, she seemed to relax a little. “So you and the others escaped the Hunters?” I asked.
“Yes, we escaped and the townspeople found us and took us in.”
“Why did you not tell them about the City to the West, or what they had done to you?”
“At first we were afraid that they would give us back, then later, when we realized that they weren’t like those that we escaped, others came to see us. They said that if we ever told anyone about what goes on at the city, we would be returned there.”
“Were you born above ground or below it?”
“I was born below, but there are many born above also that serve the masters.”
“Loyalists!�
� I spit out, uncaring that I was scaring her enough to step back. “They are not your masters, they are Loyalist scum and you, being born in the caverns, should know that.” Her cowardness at those words, even when she was safe, was too much for me to bear. Realizing that my mask was slipping, I worked it back in place. “Forgive me, Tara,” I continued, at her uncertain nod, “How did they take you from the caverns?”
Still afraid to meet me eye, she said, “At the lottery. We entered the Cavern of Death––it was dark, so dark. We stood in silence, waiting when a bright light came on blinding us. High above, they stood looking down at us. Soldiers moved through the crowd, pulling those of us out that the ones above pointed to. Gathering us, they herded us to a room to the side and sealed us in. I can still hear the screams of those that were left in there, even through the thick wall we heard, as the soldiers standing with us laughed at the fear that it caused within us. A few moments after the last shrieks echoed and died, the door was opened and we were pushed back in with them. The ground was littered with their dead bodies. However they were killed was beyond painful, as those last moments were etched into their now-frozen faces. A single man now stood above, looking down at us and told us that if we did not do as we were told that what happened to them would be mercy compared to our fate. Leaving us without another word, the doors on the other side of the cavern opened, showing us the truth of the Cavern of Death”––Tara stopped, and looked around wild-eyed as if she was seeing the images again––“We were forced to drag the bodies out and clean the room, so many bodies, the smell causing us to retch and gag. When we were finished, we were taken by transport in a closed truck to the surface. My first look at the world above burned my eyes, but kicking us forward, the soldiers laughed at our pain. We were brought to a building. For weeks we stayed there as we were cleaned and our new duties explained to us through beatings and pain. One by one, we were brought to a block in the large courtyard in front of the building as the Loyalists examined us before we were sold to a new form of hell.”
In The Shadows of the Cavern of Death (Shadows of Death Book 1) Page 14