Savage: The End

by Snow, Jenika

  “And their part being?” Malachi asked.

  “You try to fit in as much as possible. You work with the community, pitch in, make sure you’re contributing. We know it’s not always easy. In fact, we know it’s incredibly hard. A new life, starting from scratch. It’s never easy.”

  “You do realize by releasing them back into the wild like vicious animals, you’re creating an army. An army of potential rejects that could storm this camp if they got enough men and ammo,” he said.

  “It’s a risk we have to take. We have protection in place and lookouts. We’re ready for any attack. Most people fail to make it here. The trek proves to be too tiring. You’re the first people to seek shelter in months.”

  Malachi stared at him.

  “Are you wondering why you’re in here?” Abel asked.

  “I’m wondering why you’re wasting my time and I want to see the people in my group.”

  “Sasha and Lucy are safe. Millie is as well. They are being kept in a family room waiting for you. Sasha keeps asking about you.”

  “That woman is my life. I vowed to protect her and her sister and you’re not going to make me fail them. They trust me.”

  “Lucy has been asking for you. She wants to know you’re safe.”

  “You’ve not mentioned Tree Man,” Malachi said, suddenly realizing one member of his little clan hadn’t been talked about.

  Abel stared at him this time. “Where did you pick him up?”

  “He found us,” Malachi said. “He’s fine. Rambles on a bit, but he’s a good guy. He helped me to protect these women.”

  Abel opened up the file, spun it around, and pushed it toward him. “Your man is infected with the virus.”

  Malachi stared at the file and slowly shook his head. “No, that can’t be. We’ve been around him.”

  “It’s why we had to increase the health check on all of you. You’ve been exposed to him, but none of you have it.”

  Malachi knew he was looking at medical stuff, but he couldn’t make out what the numbers or graphs meant. “I don’t have a clue what I’m looking at.”

  Abel pointed to the numbers up top. “We don’t have modern equipment for obvious reasons, but we have enough to do blood tests. These levels are raised, which we see in the infected. But he’s not showing any symptoms of having the virus. Well, aside from the clear deterioration of his mental capacity. So that means one thing.”

  “He rambles because this world made him crazy. We’ve had to kill people to get here. It was that or die. Do you even know what the outside is like right now?”

  “I know,” Abel said. “It’s why you and your girls are still here. You brought him here, and well, as a medical subject, he has our team quite excited.”

  “You’re not making any sense to me right now,” Malachi said.

  “Some ramblings are of crazy people but Tree Man is interesting. Listen.” Abel pulled out an old-school tape recorder and pushed a button on the top.

  “It’s coming. It’s going to get big. People will rise up. It’s growing. Has to get stronger. Infect the host. Kill the host. Take over the host. Make an army.”

  Tree Man let out a scream at the end, and the rambling stopped.

  “You think that means something?”

  “His words are rather particular, Malachi. This is important. Where did you find him?”

  “I told you. He found us in the woods,” Malachi said. He shook his head again and pulled at his restraints.

  “He doesn’t look sick because he isn’t. But he is a host. He’s a vessel for the virus, which means if you’re not immune then you’re dead because of him.”

  Malachi’s heart raced. “Take me to the girls. Now.” Malachi didn’t want to think about Tree Man being infected ... being a carrier.

  Tree Man was infected. He didn’t know how that was possible.

  None of this made any real sense to him.

  Before he tried to think of what Tree Man and all that crap meant, he had to see his woman.

  It was all he could think about.

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  The truth is stranger than fiction

  Sasha couldn’t stop bouncing her leg. Lucy had fallen asleep on the cot pushed up against the wall, Millie was leaning against the window, a window that had bars across it, like they were some kind of prisoners, and here Sasha was, sitting behind a long table, not knowing what was going on, or what would happen.

  She hadn’t heard anything about Tree Man or Malachi. Were they okay? Did something happen?

  It had been hours since everyone been taken at the front gate, and after an extensive health check, one which was humiliating given the fact they’d had to undress and be examined like they were cattle, they had all been given a set of clean clothes and placed in this room.

  And it felt like they’d been in here for hours.

  But just then the sound of people approaching came through and she sat up straighter. She looked over at Millie, who was now focused on the door, a worried but expectant look on her face.

  Sasha stood and walked over to where Lucy was, standing in front of her sister. It was a protective measure, one that was automatic.

  The door opened and the air left her when she saw Malachi standing there. When he spotted her, she swore she saw this intense relief cover his face. Without thinking, she launched herself at him, and when her chest slammed into his, he wrapped his arms around her body and lifted her off the ground to embrace her.

  He held her tightly, and she was very aware of everyone watching, but she didn’t care. It seemed like an eternity before they pulled apart. She loved him, that was clear by the way her heart had felt when he’d been taken away. The pain had resonated through every single part of her body.

  When he finally set her back on the ground and she took a step away, she was very aware that he kept his arm wrapped around her waist, keeping her close.

  “You were gone for so long. What happened? Where is Tree Man?” She looked around Malachi’s shoulder, seeing two other men standing behind him, neither of them the man in question.

  She looked back at Malachi and saw a concerned expression on his face. “We need to talk, baby. It’s about Tree Man.” The tension in his expression intensified and she swallowed roughly before nodding and moving away.

  Lucy got up at this point, giving Malachi a hug, telling him how much she’d missed him. After a moment, when they were all seated behind the table, she recognized Trevor, but another man she’d never seen before sat beside him. They had a folder in front of them, and without saying anything, they opened it up and pushed it toward her.

  She looked down at the graph and numbers, things she had no way of deciphering. She looked up at Malachi, then at the other two men, shaking her head. “Is this supposed to mean something to me?” She wasn’t trying to be an asshole, but was just being honest because she had no idea what this meant or why they were showing her.

  “Baby,” Malachi said and she looked over at him, seeing the concern on his face, hearing it in his voice, which in turn made her nervous. “That’s about Tree Man.”

  She swallowed, her throat tight. When she nodded, she looked back at the men, then back at Malachi. “Okay?”

  Malachi exhaled slowly and she saw the way he looked at them before turning his attention back to her.

  “Tree Man is a carrier for the virus.”

  It was as if the world opened up and swallowed her whole, as if she was spinning around and there was no way to stop. “What does that mean?” Although she had a pretty good idea of what it meant, she needed to hear them say it. She needed to know for sure.

  “It means he’s carrying the virus. It means although he’s not sick, he can give it to other people.” The two men looked to each other before glancing back at her. “It means he can’t be with the population.”

  “You’re just going to toss him out?” Sasha felt her anger and panic rise. She was shaking her head. “He’s been with us the whole time. Lo
oked after us. You can’t do that.”

  One of the man held up his hand and shook his head. “Calm down. No one is kicking anyone out. We need him, need to run tests. We just want to try and see about making some kind of vaccine. We’ve been unsuccessful thus far, despite the immunities we’ve found. But we’re hoping his blood, that maybe he’s patient zero, and the fact that he carries it but isn’t sick, can be the key for us and stopping this.”

  Patient Zero?

  Although a slight relief filled Sasha, she was still confused. “What does that mean for the rest of us? Are we at risk for being carriers?” Trevor was shaking his head before she finished.

  “No, that’s not how it works. You’re either a carrier or you’re not. Just like you’re either immune or you’re not.”

  “Does this mean we can’t stay here?” That panic started to rise again and she looked over at Lucy. This place would be perfect for her. “If it means we have to go, I’ll gladly leave as long as my sister can say.” Lucy immediately started protesting and ran up to her, gripping her arm.

  “I’m not staying if you’re not.”

  Trevor held up his hand again. “Calm down. No one is going anywhere. You guys are welcome here. You’re clean, not carriers or infected, and we’re more than happy to welcome you into our community.”

  “What About Tree Man? You’re just gonna poke and prod him? You’re going to keep him prisoner?” Lucy sounded frantic.

  “He’s not a prisoner. In fact, he’s willing to help us, wants to.”

  Sasha held on to Lucy, hearing the fear in her little sister’s voice, feeling it resonate through her body as she became tense.

  “You can see him, but he’s got to be isolated. We can’t have you risking the other people. It’s just safer this way.”

  Sasha understood, although that didn’t mean she liked it. The men talked for long moments, and then they stood.

  “You guys are not prisoners here. You’re welcome to stay as long as you want, make this your home. All we ask is that you contribute, be respectful, and follow the rules in place to keep everyone safe.”

  Sasha looked over at Malachi and reached out to take his hand in hers, giving it a squeeze. This could be their home. No more running, no more worrying about the what-ifs.

  “Let me show you where you guys can stay. We have a vacant house where you can all be together. Because the last thing I want to do is split you up again.”

  And just like that, she felt that worry fade.

  She still wanted to talk to Tree Man, make sure he was okay, but right now, given the information she had, she hoped that this was a place they could call home.

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  Is it really this easy?

  The house, the haven, it was like another world. No, not another world, like the old world. The house was small. It had three bedrooms, a small living room, a kitchen, and dining room. It wasn’t anything fancy if the world hadn’t been fallen, but the truth was right now this was a mansion, a luxury they hadn’t had in seemingly forever.

  There were communal gardens on the other side of the community, and even a playground for the kids.

  Malachi looked out the window and could see them all, playing and laughing. A little boy kicked a small ball around. There was a group of girls playing with some dolls as well.

  “It seems all so.… normal,” he said.

  “It’s how we hoped it would be. We have no wish to create chaos and fear. We’re wanting the old ways. Families, friends, neighbors, a community. We have a library. When we have to go beyond the walls, a small group of people go hunting for us. They bring back food, books, furniture, tools, anything they can find. We’ve got small vegetable farmers and they provide rations, as well as whatever we scavenge. No one can have more than the others. It’s all equal,” Trevor said. “And when someone breaks the rules they spend the night in the box.”

  “The box?”

  “Yeah. It’s a cell. But we haven’t had to go that route for some time. People follow the rules here.”

  “You do know people are aware of this place?” Malachi asked. “They know it exists.”

  “Like I’ve said to you, some don’t make the trek. We’ve got guards and security measures in place. You think we haven’t faced combat before? That we haven’t had groups of men and women hoping to take what we’ve built? To hurt us? We have. We won. We’re bound together by our sense of humanity. We will never bow down to a tyrant. Our way of life will be preserved. Children will run through the streets happy and content. Men and women can live in harmony without a demand of payment. This is the world we want, Malachi. A world you should embrace.”

  Malachi grunted.

  “I know you fear what is beyond those walls. You fear one day this peace will be gone. You’re not the only one to fear that. If you wish to help be a protector, then by all means, you can sign up.”

  “Malachi,” Sasha said. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

  He smiled. “How could protecting you girls be stupid? Look at Lucy with her dog. She’s happy. The kids here are happy.” He turned back to Trevor.

  “All you have to do is train and be prepared for battle. You must be willing to kill.”

  “Then sign me up,” Sasha said.

  Malachi looked at his woman.

  “What? You think because you’re a man and you’ve killed people, you’re the only one qualified to protect it? You’re my family. Lucy is my sister. Millie, she’s my family too and so is Tree Man. I will protect them… you, and you can’t tell me because I’m a woman I can’t do it.”

  “We would accept anyone who is willing to train,” Trevor said.

  “Then count us both in,” Sasha said. “I can protect all of us.”

  “Tonight, we’ll be feasting outside and celebrating your arrival. It’s a big event for all of us. It means there are more people out there needing to be saved and it gives us hope.” Trevor offered them another smile and left. “Then tomorrow we’ll talk about jobs for everyone.”

  “Can I go and play?” Lucy asked.

  “Yes,” Sasha said. “Don’t run though and stay close.”

  “I will.”

  Lucy went straight to the young girls playing.

  Her doll had been lost but Malachi had already made a note to go and find her a new one.

  Entering the house, Millie left them alone to go and find her room.

  “I don’t want you training,” Malachi said as he walked into the kitchen.

  He opened the fridge and was surprised to see some food already there. He turned and looked at the small dining room table off to the side, a crisp looking white note on the top of it. He picked it up and opened it. There was a list and he realized it was the daily rations they were allowed. Each person in the house had been issued one.

  “I know what you don’t want but we’ve already proven so many times that we’re better working together than we ever are working apart. Do you think I’m going to be able to hold back while I know you’re fighting? While I know you’re at risk of being hurt? I know what they face out there and I think we’re underestimating them.”

  He ran a hand down his chin. “You know for a short time I was starting to give up on this place?”

  She chuckled. “Seriously? I thought I was the pessimist of our group.”

  “Not at all. Every single day when we had to keep on walking, I was growing so fucking tired of it all. Each day felt like a million times worse.”

  “You never showed it,” she said. She moved up to him and put her hands on his chest. “You didn’t have to do this for us, you know that?”

  “I did.” He looked toward the window and saw Lucy playing. One of the girls was sharing her doll with her, and together they were both brushing her hair. “Look at her. This is why I didn’t stop. Whenever I was close to saying I’m done, we can’t find this place, it’s a myth, I’d look at you and Lucy and know I couldn’t fail either of you.”

  “Malachi, it’s n
ot possible to fail us. We’re here now but even if we never made it here, I know I would still love you. I’d gladly make a little family with you wherever we are. It’s one of the reasons I want to fight alongside you. With me by your side, I know I’ll keep an eye on your back. I’ve got you, just as you have me and that’s all I have faith in. These people, they don’t know us, not yet. I don’t know what I would do if anything happened to you.”

  He gripped the back of her neck, pulling her close. “I love you, Sasha. More than anything in the world.”

  “Is that a yes? You will let me train with you?”

  “As if I could ever stop you.” He wouldn’t stop his woman from watching his back. She was the only one he trusted. He would fight for the both of them, and succeed. This was going to work. All he had to do was have a little faith.

  Chapter Fifty—Four

  That silver lining

  One month later

  Sasha stood up and lifted her arm to run the back of it across her forehead, feeling sweat coat her skin. It wasn’t hot, not for it being October, but she’d been working all day in the gardens. Besides, the manual labor felt good. It made her feel alive and reminded her that she was safe, that Lucy was safe.

  She had a pair work gloves on, and a small shovel in her hand.

  She looked around the garden at the handful of people working, and couldn’t help but smile. In between working and planting, tending, and harvesting the garden, she’d also been training to be part of the crew that went out and scavenged, but also was training to protect the community.

  Malachi hated that, but he didn’t have a choice in the matter.

  And so far everything had been working well. It was hard to train, there was no doubt about that, but it was rewarding work. Sasha was making sure she protected her family, making sure Lucy was safe. That’s all that she could hope for in this world. That’s all she’d ever wanted.