by Snow, Jenika
Savage
The End
Jenika Snow
Sam Crescent
Contents
Synopsis
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter Fifty-Three
Chapter Fifty—Four
Chapter Fifty—Five
Chapter Fifty-Six
About the Authors
SAVAGE (The End, 1)
Sam Crescent and Jenika Snow
http://www.SamCrescent.wordpress.com
[email protected]
www.JenikaSnow.com
[email protected]
Published by Sam Crescent and Jenika Snow
Copyright © September 2019 by Sam Crescent and Jenika Snow
First E-book Publication: September 2019
Photographer: Wander Aguiar
Cover Models: Victorio Piva & Andrea
Image provided by: Wander Book Club
Cover Designer: Designs by Dana
Edited by Kasi Alexander
Proofer: Read by Rose
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: The unauthorized reproduction, transmission, or distribution of any part of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
This literary work is fiction. Any name, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.
Please respect the author and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials that would violate the author’s rights.
The Virus.
That’s what they called it, the lone thing that had the ability to wipe out mankind—the lone thing that did just that. Those who survived were immune, but death might have been a better outcome than the world they now lived in.
Sasha and her younger sister Lucy were trying to survive this new, desolate existence. They’re on their own, savaging this now ruined world. Those who survived might be friends but more than likely they’re enemies.
Then they learned about a safe community up north, and although they should try for it, fear keeps them rooted. But movement is life and staying in one place too long would mean death.
Then fate made that decision for them, one that forces their hand and makes them flee the new place they called home.
They have nothing else to lose, even if it turns out to be a dead end.
The road is a lonely place when it’s only two, and hunger is a nasty villain.
There’s violence and degradation. There’s anger and immoral needs.
And then there’s Malachi.
He came into their lives at the perfect time, saving them, protecting them. And Sasha felt desire for the first time in her life. She also felt fear.
He’s barbaric and ruthless, with wild eyes and a cunning gaze. He’s a criminal with a tattooed body, his former life now a distant memory. This new existence had changed everyone and everything, and all who now lived within it were warped, twisted.
It was kill or be killed.
But Sasha would do anything to keep her and Lucy safe, and so she strikes up a deal with the savage, knowing she could use her one currency to get them out of this.
Her body.
She’ll stay with him, be whatever he needs, whatever he wants as long as he helps them get up north so her sister has a chance to survive, to be part of a community again.
She’ll do whatever he wants so long as he kept them safe.
And he agrees.
She’s now his… the property of a savage who will use her because he now owned her.
Chapter One
And the world crumbles.
“What should I take?” Lucy yelled from down the hall.
Sasha opened up her drawer and started tossing clothes over her shoulder and onto the bed. Her heart was racing, a frantic, painful beating against her ribs. They were alone in the house, directed by their parents to stay put and not to let anyone in. They’d left several hours ago to go to the grocery store and stock up on supplies, leaving Sasha to care for Lucy, her ten-year-old sister. They’d told them to pack a bag, only enough that they could carry on their back. She had no idea where they were going or what was going to happen, but fear had a tight hold on her. It was sheer determination to be strong for Lucy that let Sasha keep her shit together.
The radio emergency broadcast was on repeat, the announcer’s voice grim, yet frighteningly calm. At only eighteen years old Sasha knew this was bad. She could hear yells from the neighbors right outside her bedroom window, and the sound of tires squealing on pavement.
Officials have confirmed a terrorist attack, biochemical warfare across the United States of America. It is advised to stay in your home, lock your doors, and wait for officials to give further information and direction. This is not a drill. Although we don’t know the extent of the situation, it is confirmed that respiratory distress is the first symptom of infection. Be vigilant and aware of your surroundings, keep doors locked and windows shut. Fatality rates for those infected is currently at one hundred percent.
Sasha stood and curled her hands around the edge of the dresser, that broadcast repeating over and over, consuming her, causing her fear to go even higher. She was young, but old enough to know what this all meant. They were under attack, and whatever was being used was killing everyone who was infected. She shut the radio off, not able to listen to it another minute.
“Can I bring my dolls and blankets?”
Sasha opened her eyes and exhaled slowly before looking at Lucy. Her little sister stood in the doorway, three blankets hanging over her shoulder and a handful of dolls under her arm. Her dark hair was a wild mess around her head, her once high ponytail now hanging off to the side.
Sasha was trying to stay calm in the face of all of this for Lucy’s sake. But she was about to lose it, to break down and give in to everything that was going on around her.
“Can I, Sasha?”
Despite all of this Sasha smi
led for Lucy’s sake. “You probably only have enough room for one of your little blankets and a doll. We need to make sure you have clothes packed.”
Lucy pouted but nodded. “Where are we going? I don’t understand why we have to be in such a hurry. And why aren’t Mom and Dad back? They left a long time ago. I’m starting to get hungry and the only thing we have is gross stuff. They said they’d buy a box of cookies just for me.” She rattled off her questions, something she did when she was frightened.
Sasha wanted to make her feel better but she didn't know how to. She was scared as well and barely hanging on.
“They’ll be back soon,” Sasha replied but she had this horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach, one that had her heart racing and her nerves increasing. Her parents had been gone far too long, but she tried to tell herself that maybe everyone was having the same thoughts, needing to get to the store and gather supplies.
That made sense, was logical. But it did nothing to help ease her fears and worries.
“Let’s just do what Mom and Dad told us, okay?” She stared at Lucy, trying to appear like she was in control and not freaking out. But the truth was not something she could’ve ever envisioned. It was a nightmare. Could the world really be ending?
Once her bag was packed she set it by the door. She also packed a bag for her mother and father, not sure what they needed but she supposed anything was better than nothing. If they had to leave quickly at least they’d be somewhat prepared.
Grabbing the remote and turning on the TV, she sat down and started bouncing her leg as she listened to the broadcaster. The only thing on was news channel after news channel, breaking headlines that told of the terrorist attack, the virus, and the mortality rate. Her heart was beating far too fast and she placed a hand over her chest, the pain taking her breath away.
“What does that mean?” Lucy asked softly from behind her and Sasha quickly turned off the TV and stood, turning around to face her younger sister. She didn’t know what to say, how to respond. Lucy was only ten, maybe too young to fully understand the scope of what was happening. Hell, Sasha felt like she was too young at eighteen. But it was just as if something snapped inside of her when all of this went down, as if her survival instinct had taken over.
“It just means we have to do what Mom and Dad say and wait for them to come back, okay?”
Lucy nodded. Sasha wouldn’t cry, at least not in front of Lucy. When she was alone and her parents were back safe then she’d break down. Until then she had to be strong.
And just as that fear started to creep up and threaten to take her down, the sound of a car pulling into the driveway had everything in her relaxing. Her parents were home. She rushed toward the front door and pulled it open, watching as her mother and father climbed out of the car, bags already in hand, their expression frightened. They didn’t say anything to her as they rushed in.
After three trips to and from the house and car, throwing stuff in the back of it, her father shut the door and locked it, leaning against it and resting his head back. He closed his eyes and breathed in and out harshly. Sasha didn’t know how long they stood there, no one speaking, the tension in the room so thick a knife could’ve cut through it.
“What’s going on out there?” Sasha asked, staring at first her mother and then her father. “I heard on the radio, watched some of the news. Is what they’re saying true? A virus is wiping out everybody?”
Her father opened his eyes and looked at her, the concern and worry a tangible feeling that moved over Sasha.
“You guys were gone a long time,” Lucy said, breaking up the sudden thickness that surrounded them.
Her mother rushed over and pulled Lucy into a tight hug, kissing the top of her head. Sasha could tell her mother tried to hold back the tears but failed, as big fat droplets slid down her cheeks. Sasha knew better than to ask anything else in front of Lucy. The last thing they needed was the ten-year-old knowing the grizzly details, which Sasha was sure would come. It had been that look her father gave her that told her as much. He didn’t have to tell her any of this was true. She knew it was, felt it.
“Are we going somewhere?” Lucy asked and their mother straightened, shaking her head.
“No, sweetheart. We’re going to stay in here, but we won’t let anyone in. Not your friends, not the neighbors, no one. Do you understand?” Sasha could hear the frantic rise of pitch in her mother’s voice as she spoke to Lucy.
“Everything will be fine,” their father said, but Sasha could hear in his voice that he wasn’t sure about that.
Nobody was sure about anything anymore.
* * *
Several days later
“The coughing is getting worse,” Lucy said softly beside Sasha.
She looked over at her younger sister and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her in close. They were in Sasha’s bedroom, the door shut but the sound of their parents wheezing and coughing coming through like a hammer on wood, threatening to break it down.
Their mother and father had been like this for the last few days, and Sasha knew what that meant.
She knew the end was coming.
After the countless news broadcasts, listening to the radio, and putting everything together it was clear what had happened.
Her parents were infected.
“Everything will be okay,” she said, remembering those words her father had spoken just days ago. Sasha had wanted to believe them, had wanted to trust that everything would be fine, that things would work out on their own, but now it was just a waiting game.
There was no medicine to help her family, no cure that would make them better. They would die, without a doubt, and the very real possibility that they were going to be alone sooner rather than later scared the hell out of Sasha.
Or maybe they’d get infected as well and none of this would even matter.
“Nothing will ever be okay again,” Lucy said softly and Sasha closed her eyes.
It was true. Everything had changed. The world was ending, this plague sweeping through and destroying everything in its path. It was only a matter time before Sasha and her sister succumbed to it as well.
The coughing sounded more violent, fluid-filled. “I’m gonna go check on them,” Sasha said. Lucy looked frightened but nodded, pushing herself back on the bed so she was now sitting in the corner. “We have to be strong, okay?” Sasha reached out and pushed a strand of hair away from Lucy’s face. “We have to be strong for each other.” Lucy nodded and gave a smile but it looked forced.
She left the bedroom, shutting the door behind her and making her way down the hallway. Glancing at the front door, Sasha still saw the bags packed and ready to go at a moment’s notice. She faced her parents’ closed bedroom door again and brought her arm up, bringing her knuckles down on the wood.
“Mom? Dad?” She waited a handful of seconds before knocking again.
“Don’t come in here, sweetheart.” Her dad’s voice sounded strained, guttural.
Standing there, her heart racing, her pulse beating in her throat, Sasha contemplated listening to him. In the end that didn’t matter. If they were going to get infected there would have been ample time for that already. They’d been together before the symptoms had started, still close together even after the fact. It was only when her parents started coughing up blood and ran a fever that they’d quarantined themselves in the room.
She gripped the doorknob and turned it, pushing the door open a couple of inches. The lights were off, the blinds slightly open. Light filtered in through the cracks, causing streaks of muted yellow to fill the room.
Her father sat on the edge of the bed furthest away from her. He had his head lowered, his white shirt stained with sweat and splashes of what she could only assume was blood.
He turned and looked at her, her mother coughing from the other side of the bed, her back to Sasha. Tears threatened to fall, but Sasha reigned them in, refusing to show weakness.
“Sasha, sweetheart,”
her father wheezed out. He shifted on the bed and a slash of light went across his face. He winced and moved back toward the shadows. Sensitivity to light. That was one of the first symptoms. Before he’d retreated she’d seen his face.
Ashen complexation.
Sunken eyes with dark circles.
Red tinged mouth because of the blood he coughed up.
And the look of death covering his expression.
She placed a hand on her chest, her heart hurting.
“Sweetheart, we need you to listen very carefully.”
She took a stuttering breath in.
“Your mother and I won’t sugarcoat things. You’re old enough to know how life works, what reality is now.”
She nodded, swallowing past the lump in her throat.
“You need to leave with Lucy. You need to take the supplies and bags and head up to your uncle’s cabin.”
She was shaking her head before he even finished speaking.
“Listen to us, sweetheart.” He leaned forward, the light moving across his face again, the look of pain on his expression clear. But he didn’t move back into the shadows, and instead stared her right in the eyes. “It’s not safe here. Not in this house, in this neighborhood … in this city.” He coughed, turning his head for a few seconds until it passed. He looked at her again and she saw tears in his eyes.