Many a night, he’d lie curled up in his blankets listening to the sounds of slaughter. The primal shrieks of a dying creature would fill his ears and reverberate down his spine. The roars of predators with long teeth and sharp claws would fill his dreams with blood and carnage.
A lesser man would’ve cowered before it. A weaker man would’ve died. But he was neither weak nor willing to die. He was prepared to fight to his last breath, to search for Rogue until they were reunited at last.
When Bones closed his eyes, he could almost see the scene unfold within his mind. He’d swoop in and save the day. She’d finally realize how much he loved her and welcome him with open arms. He’d be her hero, her knight in shining armor.
Only, it hadn’t happened like that. None of it did. Instead, he followed her trail, surprised when it merged with that of another. A stranger. An unknown quantity. A man he’d never seen before and never imagined existed outside the walls of Prime City.
Even worse, it was the stranger that swooped in and saved her. The stranger who nursed her back to health in his shipwreck of a home. The stranger who now led her through the jungle to a place only he knew of.
Bones gritted his teeth, struggling to control the rage that threatened to consume him. He wanted to kill the stranger. He wanted to squeeze the breath from his lungs with his bare hands. How dare the man look at Rogue? How dare he touch her skin, or gaze into her eyes? She didn’t belong to him. She belonged to Bones.
“She is mine,” Bones hissed, his teeth bared in a hateful grin.
It wasn’t Rogue’s fault, of course. He didn’t blame her for sticking with the stranger. She was bound to feel obligated to the man after he’d saved her life—a situation he no doubt took full advantage of.
No matter. Bones would take care of him in due time, and he’d be sorry he ever laid eyes on Rogue. I’ll make him pay, but not yet.
He crouched behind a fern, following his quarry’s progress through narrowed eyes. As much as he wanted to confront them and take his revenge, he couldn’t. Not yet. His curiosity outweighed his anger, and he needed to find out where they were going first. It has to be somewhere important.
And so, he stuck to their heels like a ghost. The sun passed overhead, and the humidity grew until sticky sweat poured from his skin. Insects buzzed past his face while unknown creatures flitted overhead and rustled through the bushes.
Bones saw no predators throughout their journey and assumed that their winding path avoided such dangerous territory. That spoke of intimate knowledge of the terrain, and his estimation of the stranger rose a notch. Whoever he might be, he knew his way around the jungle.
Twice, the couple stopped for a brief rest before forging ahead. Despite the breaks, the pace was punishing, and even Bones began to feel the strain. Clearly, they wanted to get where they were going before nightfall. Even so, the sun hung low in the sky by the time they reached an open clearing.
Bones remained hidden within the treeline while Rogue and the stranger crossed the open field. Nestled within the ample space lay a settlement, but not just any place. It was built upon the old Portland Zoo, and he studied it with an air of astonishment. “Holy hell, who’d have thought it? More survivors.”
Suddenly, his mission took on a whole different dimension. As he watched Rogue and the stranger disappear through the gates, a plan began to form inside his head. No doubt, Senator Douglas and General Sikes would be grateful for the knowledge of another settlement. A place filled with people, supplies, and resources. Who knew what riches lurked within?
A vision of the future filled Bones’ mind. In exchange for his knowledge, Senator Douglas would award him with a position of importance within Prime City. A job accompanied with all the associated perks and privileges. He’d live out the remainder of his days in ease and luxury, and Rogue would be right there beside him throughout it all. Won’t you, my love?
Chapter 24
“Ready for a short break?” Seth asked.
“Uh-huh,” Rogue managed to reply, the breath wheezing in and out of her lungs.
She slumped to the ground and leaned against the trunk of a tree. One hand rubbed across her calf, massaging the ache from the still-healing wound. When Seth had said it was a long walk, he’d meant it. They’d struck out at dawn, setting a punishing pace. It was now late afternoon, and the settlement was nowhere in sight.
“How far is it?” Rogue asked.
“We’re almost there,” Seth said, handing her fresh water.
“That’s what you said an hour ago.”
She grabbed the bottle and gulped the liquid down. Walking all day in the primordial forest was not kind to the human body. The heat and humidity caused her to break out in a sweat at the slightest movement. Mosquitoes and gnats feasted on her exposed skin until it was raw to the touch, and her leg was killing her.
“Hungry?” Seth asked.
“No, I’m just thirsty,” Rogue said, handing back the empty container of water.
“Still?” Seth asked, giving her another bottle. “Sip on that while you walk. I don’t want you to get dehydrated.”
“Thanks,” Rogue said, plucking at the sturdy material of her pants.
It felt good to wear clothes that didn’t have holes in them, and Seth even found a new pair of hiking boots for her in his stash. She’d tossed out her old outfit, keeping only the undies. They were still in reasonable condition. Dressed in the black tights, red shirt, light canvas jacket, and boots, she felt like a new woman.
She’d also used the time at the boat to sharpen her machete. It now sported a fine cutting edge. With her leg on the mend and a weapon at her side, she felt ready to face the world. She knew that much of her confidence lay in Seth, though. He knew the jungle like the back of his hand.
A thought occurred to her, and she asked, “How come we haven’t seen anything with sharp teeth yet?”
Seth eyed her. “I’ve spent a considerable amount of time mapping out the various territories that belong to predators. We’re currently moving through a corridor between them.”
“Territories?”
“Yup. Predators form hunting grounds, and they rarely deviate from them,” Seth replied.
“Huh. Who’d have thought?” she mused.
“They’re just animals, Rogue. Like lions, tigers, and so on. They’ve got habits. You simply need to know them.”
“Okay, I’ll take your word for it.”
“You know quite a bit about them too. Their names and what they look like,” Seth said.
“That’s because Moran paid for a tutor when I was young,” Rogue said.
“Moran? I thought you grew up on the streets?”
“I did. We both did, but she took me under her wing,” Rogue explained. “She’s like a mother to me, and she’s also the leader of the Rebel Faction.”
“That explains a lot.” Seth stood up, shouldering his backpack. “Come on. We need to hurry if we want to make it before nightfall.”
“Fine,” Rogue said, getting up. She didn’t carry a pack. Seth had deemed her too weak still from her wound.
As they walked, she studied the forest. It felt like she was on a different planet. Earlier, they’d snuck past a herd of Triceratops. She’d been fascinated by their beaked mouths and horned heads. Learning about them from books and pictures was one thing, but seeing their majestic features in real life was another.
Small feathered creatures flitted through the canopy, their calls almost birdlike. Moss grew thick on the trunks, and vines trailed from the branches. The vegetation was alien to her, but beautiful too. A plant with crimson flowers caught her attention, and she reached out to touch one.
“Don’t do that. It’s poisonous,” Seth warned.
Rogue yanked her hand back, feeling like a kid again. “Thanks for the warning.”
“Don’t mention it.”
An hour passed as they marched, and Rogue despaired of ever finding the settlement. Her muscles ached, and her head throbbed. Sh
e was tired enough to catch a nap right there on the forest floor.
Finally, Seth lifted a hand. “We’re here.”
“We are?” Excitement flushed her veins, and she pushed toward the edge of the clearing. In front of her astonished gaze lay a large village, sprawling across an open clearing. “What is that?”
“That’s the old Zoo, repurposed by the survivors into their new home,” Seth said.
Rogue eyed the brick walls surrounded by a fence of sharpened staves laid at an angle. Guards patrolled the wall, and watchtowers dotted every corner. A reinforced gate was operated by more guards, all armed with spears, bows, and arrows.
Rogue swallowed, suddenly nervous. “You don’t have to come with me. If they’re as hostile as you say, I’ll go alone.”
“Don’t be stupid. I’m coming with you, and that’s final,” Seth said with a brisk shake of the head. “Come on.”
Together, they crossed the clearing and headed for the gate. It wasn’t long before their presence became known, and a couple of guards rushed forward. “Stop right there. Who are you, and what do you want?”
Rogue raised her hands to shoulder height. “We don’t want any trouble. We just want to speak to the person in charge.”
The guard ignored her words, leveling his spear at her chest. “Who are you?”
“I’m Rogue, and I’m from Prime City. I’ve come with an offer to—”
The guard sucked in a sharp breath. “Primes. They’re Primes.”
The other guard shouted, “Hands on your head. Now.”
Rogue obeyed, gulping on the knot in her throat. “Please, we mean no harm, I swear it.”
Seth stepped forward. “She’s telling the truth. It’s me, from the boat. I’ve never bothered you before, you know that.”
“Don’t move!” the first guard cried.
More guards stormed out, and they were surrounded within seconds. Rough hands removed their weapons and Seth’s backpack. Stripped of their belongings, they were pushed back and forth while angry voices screamed questions at them.
“I’m not the enemy,” she cried in answer. “We just want to talk.”
“Shut up, you filthy Prime spy,” a guard said, jabbing her in the back. “Where are the rest of you?”
“There are no others. It’s just us.”
“Liar.”
The guard spat on her, his expression furious. She couldn’t comprehend the sheer hatred in his manner. When Seth had warned her on the boat, she hadn’t believed him. Not really. Surely, these people had to listen to her? They had to have some humanity left in them?
“Please,” Rogue repeated as despair settled over her shoulders.
Ignoring her pleas, the guards forced them through the gates, the sharp tips of their spears prodding her forward. Seth stumbled along beside her, blood trickling from a cut on his arm.
“Please, listen to me. We mean no—” A sharp blow to the head had her seeing stars, and she collapsed to the ground. Someone kicked her in the ribs, and she sucked in a pained breath.
Rogue moaned, her eyes fixed on Seth’s hunched figure. Two men were pummeling him with their fists. His gaze fixed on hers, and he shook his head. “Don’t fight.”
Before she could utter a reply, he was dragged away and out of her sight. “Seth! Come back. Bring him back.”
Another blow to the head dunked her into darkness, and blood filled her mouth. As Rogue’s consciousness dipped in and out, hands dragged her to a nearby building. She was tossed inside without ceremony, the room bare and made of concrete.
The door slammed shut, and a lock clicked into place. As she huddled on the cold floor, Rogue had one final thought. We should never have come here. I’ve doomed us both. Seth…
Chapter 25
Lillian stirred the pot of gruel on the stove while Kat set the table. Corinne bustled about, tidying their small living space. They’d been given one room to share between the three of them, and they were crammed inside like sardines.
Their meager weekly rations filled the single cupboard they had, and a wood stove was their only method of cooking. Deemed too young to work, Lillian nevertheless had her fair share of chores to perform. Each day, she had to fetch water from the well and wood from the stores. At night, she helped to cook their single daily meal, while Kat and Corinne slaved away in Prime Hotel’s kitchens.
They were all exhausted, their eyes shadowed and their morale low. Their only reprieve came late at night when they sat down to eat. Lillian couldn’t believe that a year had passed already. A year of suffering beyond anything she’d ever imagined. Her dreams of finding her parents were long gone. They were dead, she knew it.
In the background, Corinne continued to cough. Over the past three days, the phlegmy coughing had become a constant. It blended with the other sounds that filled the night, and Lillian had ceased to ask about it.
Every time she did, Corinne would say, “It’s just a little chest infection, sweetie. It will go away in time.”
Lillian chose to believe her.
“Supper’s ready,” she called, spooning the soupy mess into three bowls.
They sat down around the table, and Corinne said grace. She insisted upon it every night despite Kat’s eyerolls and obvious disdain. Lillian didn’t know why she had to be so difficult. They were all trying their best to make it through the day.
“I’ve got a surprise for you two,” Corinne said after they’d finished their meal.
Lillian raised eager eyes to her face. Sometimes, Corinne was able to sneak out food from the kitchens, little treats to brighten their day. “What?”
Corinne fished two red apples from her pocket. “Surprise! Happy birthday, Kat. You’re seventeen today, right?”
Kat stared at the apple, taking it with reluctance. “I guess so.”
Lillian bit into the sweet fruit, her senses popping with delight. She was about to take another bite when she wondered, “Where’s yours, Aunt Corinne?”
“I already had mine,” Corinne said.
The obvious lie fell into the sudden silence. It was broken when Kat jumped up with a scrape of her chair. She tossed her apple into Corinne’s lap. “This is stupid. I don’t need your charity.”
Shocked, Corinne said, “It’s not charity. It’s a gift.”
“I don’t need it. I don’t need any of this,” Kat said, storming toward the door.
“Kat, please,” Corinne cried. “Come back.”
“We should never have come here!” Kat said, storming out into the night. “It’s all your fault.” The door slammed shut, shaking in the frame.
Corinne jumped up, but a sudden coughing fit sent her tumbling to the floor. She hacked and sputtered while Lillian hovered above her, feeling helpless.
“What’s wrong, Aunt Corinne?” she asked, wringing her hands. “What can I do?”
Corinne shook her head. “Get me to the bed.”
Lillian helped the woman onto her cot with its lumpy mattress and rough blankets. She tucked Corinne in and watched as the woman continued to cough. Blood speckled her lips, and her face grew pale. Soon, sweat poured from her forehead and her skin burned like fire. Her lips cracked and bled as the fever raged through her system.
Throughout the night, Lillian sat by Corinne’s side, wiping her face with a damp cloth and giving her sips of water. She even fed her slivers of Kat’s apple. The girl didn’t want it anyway.
Corinne was sick, and Lillian didn’t know what to do. Kat never returned, and Lillian despaired of Corinne ever getting better.
The next morning, she ran out, pleading with strangers to help. One woman consented to take a look, but quickly shook her head. “She’s got pneumonia, little one. It won’t be long now.”
“You have to help her. Please,” Lillian pleaded.
The woman shook her head. “I can’t, little one. No one can.”
She left, and Lillian slumped to the floor. She cried as if her heart was breaking until Corinne called her over in a hoarse
voice. “Come here, sweetie.”
Lillian hurried to her side. “Yes, Aunt Corinne?”
“Stop crying, my sweet. You have to be strong now. Soon, I’ll be gone, and you’ll have to look after yourself.”
“No!” Lillian cried, refusing to accept the words. “You can’t leave me. Not you too.”
Corinne shook her head. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I can’t help it, but I’ll always be with you.”
“How?” Lillian asked with a frown.
“I’ll be in heaven watching over you, I promise,” Corinne said.
Lillian’s heart sank. “That’s not the same.”
“I know, and I’m sorry, sweetie.” Corinne descended into another fit of coughing, this one worse than all the others. Afterward, she gripped Rogue’s hand. “Promise me you won’t give up, sweetie. Promise me you’ll survive.”
“I…I promise,” Lillian said, hardly knowing what the promise meant.
“I love you, my sweetie. You were everything to me this past year. Everything,” Corinne whispered.
“I love you too, Auntie.”
Suddenly, Corinne convulsed, her entire body shaking like a leaf in the wind. When she grew still at last, her eyes were blank and unseeing.
“Auntie? Aunt Corinne? Come back. You have to come back,” Lillian cried, shaking the woman’s shoulders. “Please, come back.”
It was useless.
Corinne was gone.
Lillian sat next to her for hours, holding Corinne’s hand. She didn’t want to accept that the woman was gone. She couldn’t be. It wasn’t possible.
Late that afternoon, the door opened, and Kat entered. She froze when she saw Corinne’s cooling corpse, and her face grew blank. “What happened?”
“I don’t know. She kept coughing and coughing until blood came out,” Lillian said, tears running down her cheeks. “I tried to help her, but I couldn’t.”
“People die around you all the time, don’t they?” Kat said, her eyes accusing.
“What?” Lillian asked, confused.
“Pack your things. We’re leaving,” Kat said, ignoring her question.
The Extinction Series | Book 1 | Primordial Earth Page 12