by Lisa Acerbo
Mack, Jim, and Lilly didn’t complain, worked hard, and became more social. Yet, Jenna worried. One day when Mack took off his coat, his shirt rose high, and Jenna couldn’t help but notice bite marks. It incensed her no one else shared her concerns, but she felt like a hypocrite being involved with Caleb. Similar marks appeared on Quentin too. New Racers feeding on humans had become normalized. While Caleb had discussed the issue, it might not be voluntary with Peter, he hadn’t heard anything and was reluctant to go to Tundra. No one had a problem with the new arrivals, except for Jenna.
Jenna kept her angst about the new arrivals at bay but wanted to understand what was happening on a rational, scientific level. As her relationship with Caleb deepened, she decided to trust him. If he needed to share her blood to make him stronger and healthier, she’d let him.
Maybe there was something sensual to the experience, and that’s why the newbies let it continue.? She was curious, but curiosity kills the cat.
If she went through with it, she’d understand what Lilly had to endure.
Don’t lie. Beyond the experiment and the curiosity, there’s a desire to do it. A need to share every part of herself with the man she loved.
She wanted him to know all of her and trusted him with her life.
When he knocked, she let him in and pushed against him the moment the door clicked shut, pressing her arms around his back.
Don’t back out.
She raised her chin so her lips could meet his and melted into their kiss.
“I missed you too, but what’s going on?”
“I’m ready,” Jenna said.
“Ready for what?”
“To let you share my blood.”
“I’m fine with the hunt.”
“I want you to know all of me.” She felt the wealth of muscles under his brown shirt.
When his tongue challenged hers, she melted. His hands worked her curves, teasing. They caressed her arms and then dropped down to her thighs. He kissed her neck and unbuttoned her blouse in a deft movement. When he finally released her, it took a moment for the world to steady.
He smiled wickedly. “I really missed you.” His fingers returned to her shoulders, gently massaging the tired muscles, until he pushed her shirt to the floor. Taking her by the hand, he led her to the bed.
“What are you doing?” Her heartbeat exploded in her chest.
He nibbled her ear lobe. “Exactly what you want.”
His fingers ran down her neck. She trembled in anticipation.
Jenna was ready. One part of her couldn’t believe she’d only met Caleb after the end of the world. It seemed unfair. But a voice in her head screamed it didn’t matter. “I want you to.”
She didn’t want his hands to ever stop caressing her. As much as he wanted to know her, she wanted all of him. His finger traced the pulse on her neck, and then his lips were there.
Whispered words kissed her skin, but she lost herself in the sensation.
A pent-up moan escaped her lips. There was a moment of pain, and then a tingle of pleasure built into a tidal wave. She wrestled for control, but rode the sensations, losing herself in them. Unable to hold back, she blissfully went over the edge.
Days later, on a crisp day when autumn had nearly fled, Lilly asked Jenna if they could go riding. They met at the barn after breakfast. Cat kept them company. The air was cool, but the sun still warm enough for only a heavy sweater. Jenna showed Lilly how to groom and tack the horse, and they mounted using a block she had created with Caleb’s help.
She brought a gun though Streakers had been scarce.
The two set off, enjoying the peace of the forest even with most of the trees now bare. Lilly showed no desire to turn around, and the two ventured farther from the inn than Jenna had been in a long time, but the woman remained quiet. Jenna didn’t pressure her.
“We’re friends, right?” Lilly asked.
“Absolutely.”
“I need to tell you something, but nervous.”
“I guarantee I’ve witnessed a lot worse in the past. It can’t be that bad.”
“It is.”
“We’ll deal with it.”
“Mack, Jim and I love it here, and Tundra’s been good since we arrived. She’s told Gunnar and David to lay off the whole power trip thing, but she has a plan.”
“Like a master plan of death and destruction?” Jenna joked.
“I’m serious. Tundra’s been working hard to get close to certain people here. She started with Aiko, Victor, and Bethany.”
“What do you mean?”
“She wanted to persuade the New Racers humans are beneath them and take control. Tundra wants the power to take what she wants whenever. Do you understand?”
“I think so.”
“If someone of the New Race wants human blood, Tundra believes they should take it. They don’t ask for it.”
“We’re a close-knit community, no matter what problems and disagreements arise. I can’t see anyone from here agreeing with Tundra. Aiko wouldn’t turn on us. She’s with Quentin. They care for each other.”
“Think about it. If someone called you the most powerful creatures alive, and you should be able to do what you wanted when you wanted, you’d buy into that logic. Tundra’s extremely persuasive.”
“Sounds far-fetched.”
“Why would Mack, Jim, and I have stayed with her if it was unbearable? She used me like a snack. But she’s smart. She knows how to get into your mind. She’d remind us how awful it was on our own and explain how they needed to feed to stay strong and protect us. Tundra would tell us to go because there were Streakers at every turn, and we’d be dead in hours. She is a great manipulator, and we all bought into it because it was easier than fighting. There was nothing to fight for, but now there is.”
“You think Tundra wants our friends at the inn to do the same thing. Make humans food and slaves? That’s what it sounds like you were when traveling with her.”
“Tundra needs to be in control, and she’s strong and powerful. I hate to admit it, but on the road, she was our best chance for survival.” Lilly paused. “There’s more. You’re a threat.”
“Why?”
“You’re in a relationship with Caleb. It goes against everything she is saying because Caleb treats you like an equal. She hates it. It doesn’t help Tundra has grown bored of David and Gunnar and now wants him for herself.”
“You can’t be serious.” She drew back on the reins and forced her horse to stop. It pawed the ground restless and waiting. It pranced and snorted, excited to continue.
“Why would I tell you all this otherwise.”
“This sounds like something out of a bad pulp fiction novel. Tundra’s plotting to turn my friends against me and use me like a food source. She also has a personal vendetta against me. She’s jealous and wants my boyfriend.”
“It sounds crazy when you put it that way, but every word is true. Why would I lie?”
Jenna turned her horse around, motioning for Lilly to do the same. “We should get back.”
She and Lilly began the trek back.
“What should I do?” Jenna asked, realizing she believed Lilly.
“I have no idea. If I could have thought of a solution, I would have tried to handle it. That’s why I’m telling you about it. I’m afraid to go to Mack or Jim.”
“Why?”
“I’m not really sure where their alliances are. They’ve been with Tundra for longer than I have, and she’s been trying to make them believe things will change now.”
“Will things change?”
“I don’t know. Not the way they hoped for. Tundra tells them life will be different from when she used their blood to stay strong and healthy to fight Streakers, but Tundra still visits them from time to time even with the evening hunts. I think she’s forbidden the other two to do anything. At least with me.”
“I noticed the marks. Maybe Jim and Mack like it. Could they be doing it without being forced into it?
”
She rather enjoyed it.
“I wouldn’t say they’re forced. More so coerced these days. Tundra claims sharing our blood allows her to do more for us. To be the leader she needs to be. By supplying the New Race, we better our lives.” Lilly’s voice dropped into a whisper. “It was always awful, especially with Gunnar. He thought his liberties extended farther than they did.”
Jenna paled. “What should we do?”
“I don’t want to leave. They told me if I don’t share blood with them again and soon, they will find a way to get the group to kick me out of the inn.”
“It would never happen.” Jenna shook her head.
“You don’t know how convincing Tundra can be. Be careful. Tundra has developed a close relationship with Aiko, Bethany, and Victor. I’ve seen her hanging out with John, too.”
“I’ll watch my back, but I’m sure nothing will come of this. Peter has a sway with the New Race here, and Caleb would never do anything to hurt me.”
“You don’t know how devious Tundra is. She’ll get to Peter and Caleb, give her time.”
“You make Tundra sound like pure evil.”
“She wants power.”
Jenna had reached the large meadows that ran parallel to the inn. The horses pawed and pranced, wanting to show their speed.
“Do you want to let them lope?” Jenna asked.
“Sounds fun.” Off they went, Clydesdales galloping through the meadow, hooves beating steadily on the ground.
For the moment, she forgot the plot Tundra spawned. The wind rushed against Jenna’s face and the horses’ muscles danced under her. She and Lilly raced across the open field, enjoying the moment.
22
Perfect moments don’t last, she thought after tucking all the animals away in the barn for the night. Cat twined his way between her feet, preferring the hay loft to the indoors. The air was brisk when the sun sank behind the horizon, and she wished for a jacket.
She went to the kitchen, grabbed a battered, chipped bowl and headed back outside to collect what little remained of the vegetables. Jackie could add them to the salad planned for dinner or use them tomorrow. While easy to gather, the vegetables were fewer in number. The group would soon have to start using the canned and preserved ones, but at least now, they had a large food supply. What a change from the previous year, scavenging along the roadsides, living day by day.
Jenna glanced at her feet and realized she needed to scavenge some new socks unless they found sheep and a loom. With cold weather, they needed to stockpile many items besides food. While plans were in place to plant wheat, soybeans, and corn in the spring, this winter might be a lean one for the group in many ways, especially if more people appeared at their door. They had survived worse times, but winter was all about death and destruction.
Footsteps approached from behind. They’d been so quiet, Jenna didn’t even have a chance to turn before the bowl with vegetables hit the ground and shattered. The rough sack thrown over her head scratched her cheeks. A powerful blow rendered her unconscious.
When she emerged from the blackness, waves of nausea rolled through her.
“We’ve got the bitch where we want her. No escape from the dump we’re going to drop her at.”
Jenna’s head pounded, her tongue stuck like glue to the inside of her teeth, sealed by the metallic taste of blood. The words she heard made spiders crawl under her skin.
“What are we going to do with her?”
“We’ll have some fun, and then make sure no one ever finds her. Without this one in the way, the New Racers at the inn will be easy to convince, even do-gooder Caleb.”
She dry-heaved behind the sack, lurching side to side.
They were on the move in a car. Jenna recognized Tundra’s voice in front of her.
“Do we really need to get rid of her? She was causing problems, but there has to be other ways to make our point?” Gunnar’s words were deferential.
“I’ve explained this to you before. I’ll try and make it simple. We’re superior, and the little bitch will never buy into that. Always causing problems. New Racers are the future of the world. Humans serve us. Humans are not equal, and we need to demand their blood. They have a sweet setup at the inn, and I’m going to claim it. I will lead the new world. If you are of a different opinion, tell me.”
“No,” Gunnar said, but he sounded unsure. “You’re right. I just hate to waste perfectly good food.”
“We don’t need to get rid of her quickly. She’ll be around for your use for a while. Take what you want when you want. Have some fun for once,” Tundra said.
Jenna’s skin crawled when she listened to the conversation, but the lull of the ride made her slip in and out of consciousness.
“Wake up sleepyhead,” Tundra’s voice rung in her ear.
Jenna couldn’t imagine where she was, or how long she had been unconscious during transport. She had no memory of being hauled from the car.
Wrists tied, she couldn’t move her hands, and when dumped onto a bed, she couldn’t cushion her fall and landed heavily.
“Are you awake?” Tundra slapped her.
Jenna couldn’t hold back the gasping cry.
“There’s nowhere to go. She’ll never find her way back to the inn from this shack,” another male voice, this one belonging to David, said. He was much too close.
Cold fingers caressed her neck and arms like worms across a corpse.
“I can’t wait to have a taste. What I could do to you.” He bent and sniffed her skin and her hair. His mouth traveled to her ear. “Human fear smells so yummy.”
Jenna screamed into the void only to choke back her fear.
“Get ready for your worst nightmares to come true.” He moved away, laughing.
Her mind worked feverishly. She’d have to find a way out or be dead soon. She might be able to wrestle free from the ropes that bound her arms, but she couldn’t defeat the three New Racers, especially without a weapon. Even with a weapon, it was doubtful.
Her only hope would be to find a time when they all went back to the inn and run. Or pray Caleb would search for her. Time moved in and out of nightmares. When she heard voices once again, Jenna could not tell if minutes or hours had passed. She balled herself into a fetal position, the cold consuming her.
“Glad you’re finally awake.” Tundra yanked the sack off and met Jenna’s eyes. “You thought you could stop me. You and your cute boyfriend. I’ll be getting me some.”
Jenna remained mute.
“I can’t wait to suck you dry,” Tundra continued. “You’ll be as withered as an old hag. I’ll drink the last drop of your blood and let Gunnar and David bury you somewhere in the woods where even Streakers can’t find the body, but first, Gunnar and David will have some fun with you. I’ll be back for the final drink.”
Jenna stared.
“Nothing to say for once.” Tundra laughed. “Maybe we’ll keep you for a day, maybe a month. Depends how cooperative you are, and how much you scream. Do be careful about screaming too much, you don’t want to attract Streakers when you can’t fight them off. Though, I think David likes to make his humans scream. You’ll tell me all his dirty little secrets, won’t you?”
Tundra placed a gag in her mouth, patted her head, and left. Thirst began to override her thoughts. David’s laughter filtering in from the other room.
How long have I been here?
“She’s mine first,” David said. “I’ll come get you when I’ve had my fill.”
David entered the bedroom and removed the gag.
Jenna sucked in air, at the same time, choking back sobs. She kicked out, but her bound legs merely grazed David’s thighs.
For the first time, the nondescript bedroom in the dilapidated house, registered.
When her eyes met David’s, his glare was hard and cruel. Despair settled in, rooting deep within her.
“Humans,” David said. “You all believe you’re tough. But wait until I start this littl
e party. I’ve had to be gentle with our three companions to make them last, but Tundra doesn’t care about you so much. She hasn’t set any limits on what I’m allowed to do with you. Your friend Lilly was so hard to resist. I just wanted to chew on her flesh so bad. With you, I don’t need to resist, do I? As long as I don’t kill you, anything is fine.”
Jenna swept the dark, dank room with her eyes for a weapon. Trash, an empty pack of cigarettes, a book of matches, discarded magazines, a chair, and the rickety bed. Her mind raced searching for ideas. The surrounding houses around the inn were few and far between, with thick forests sheltering each from the neighboring homes. The dejected, deserted house met her equally despondent mood. No one would rescue her.
“People will notice I’m gone,” Jenna spat. “You shouldn’t do this. They’ll find me and kill you.”
David grabbed her arm, dragging her into a sitting position close to him. Reeking of tobacco and evil, he pawed her. “Screw them all. You’re mine, bitch.”
“Let me go. I’m sure if you change your mind now, everyone will forgive you. We could go back to the way things were. It would all be fine.”
David ignored her. Instead, he flicked a strand of Jenna’s dark hair behind her ear. His hand pressed against her face, and she shuddered. Fury caused her vision to blur and then clear.
“Where to start?” David asked. He bent and dragged Jenna’s legs closer to him. “Much better.” He cackled and unknotted the ropes securing them.
“You could start with a nice cup of coffee, maybe three eggs scrambled.” She kicked out with her free leg.
He grabbed it, painfully tightening his hand around her ankle. “You’re the only food here.”
“You’d be surprised what I can do with limited ingredients. Maybe you want to let me free and show me what’s in the pantry.”
“I’ll show you something alright.”
“Just be prepared for me to bite it. I’m that hungry. No. I’m that angry.”
Pandemonium erupted in the next room. David planted his hands on her calves, confining her more tightly than the ropes had.