Prologue
“When enough people come together, then change will come and we can achieve almost anything. So instead of looking for hope—start creating it.”
—Greta Thunberg
Freedom City, Zenith
June 2093
Rage
I turned in a full circle, almost completely unaware of the crowd roaring in appreciation of the event about to unfold. The people living in the domed city hadn’t been allowed to choose whether to be in attendance. Being here had been mandated as was every other aspect of their worthless lives.
They were no more free than anyone living outside the protected walls made of steel and heat-resistant armored glass shielding the inhabitants from nuclear rain and vicious predators knocking on their doors.
At least I had the freedom to choose who and what I believed in. That didn’t include a brutal king using violence and threats to keep his flock under control.
I took a deep breath, eyeing the master of ceremonies, the king himself. Along with his wife, the queen and his children. They had the best seat in the house. Although I had to believe the prisoners peering down from the hundreds of glass-fronted cells in the round colosseum would argue theirs was even better.
They had a front row seat to every bloody battle held under the guise of gifting freedom, the games their only real entertainment allowed during their incarceration. But soon, if they were lucky, they’d be invited to participate in the highly coveted game called Exile.
A battle to the death, winner takes all. That was if you believed being tossed beyond the gates of protection, forced to fend for your life against radiation-damaged humans and genetically altered beasts was winning.
While I hadn’t become a prisoner by choice but by demand, I had no intention of losing nor did I care about what occurred after the battle was won.
The only thing that mattered was getting close to the king, his nod of approval in personally releasing the thick steel collar around the winner’s neck legendary.
It was as close to being alone with the man as anyone other than those closest to him would ever achieve.
The inmates were already pounding on the glass, the noise level in the arena creating an intense environment.
Mine was merely the first fight of the day, the two men captured with me waiting for their turn in the hallowed light. My soldiers, men I could trust implicitly. Men who would never consider betraying one of their own. Their appearance would come into play only minutes from now.
I took another turn riling the audience, coming to a halt directly in front of the king’s royal throne. With a nod of respect that wasn’t real, I threw up my arms to entice the crowd while staring the man in the eyes. In my hands were weapons: one sword, one club. They were the all the weapons I needed.
He was heartless, cold and cruel, enjoying the act of torture more than that of death itself. While he was indeed powerful, the years of building an army of monstrous men keeping him and his family completely protected, I was a dangerous killer disguised as nothing but a soulless beggar.
The king’s eyes lit up and he stood, taking a deep breath while scanning the crowd. So pleased with himself and the kingdom he’d created on the backs of those before him, their blood a river of deceit.
With a single nod, the two barbarians chosen for exterminating me advanced. They were true Savages, their DNA altered to make them killing machines.
However, I knew their weaknesses.
The fuckers didn’t stand a chance.
I waited where I was, staring into the eyes of the king until very slowly, the corners of my lip upturned in defiance. His stare was equally harsh and when I stood much taller than his five-foot ten-inch frame, I could see the first glint of fear in his black eyes.
Good. He should fear me and all those who stood in opposition of his tyranny.
The Savages were only feet away when I finally turned, wasting no time swinging both weapons. Swing after swing, I purposely barely nicked either one, offering them comfort they were about to win.
I did wonder what their prize would be should they best one of their own. But did they know I’d been created in their likeness, only more capable than they could understand?
“Ooohhh!” the crowd jeered when I was knocked down, some on their feet so they wouldn’t miss the crowning blows.
Only I had no intention of staying down long. As soon as they were close, I struck both, spearing the gut of one while bashing the head of the other. Blood splattered across my face, warm and inviting, the stench of copper igniting the fire deep within.
The game was all but over. I yanked out the sword, the Savage stumbling backward as the other struggled to his feet. I lifted the blade high in the air, taking another few seconds to enjoy the view of the monsters clawing at the glass. Then I brought the sword down, chopping off an arm. Then a leg.
All while smashing the club against the other Savage’s face and shoulders, enjoying how he dropped to his knees, hovering as if between life and death.
The crowd was suddenly silent, every person on their feet. I wiped blood and brains from my face before lifting my weapons toward the open arena once again. Neither were dead as was the requirement, but there was nothing wrong with obtaining crowd interaction.
With a heavy stomp of their boots, the storm of anger and joy flowed through the arena, thousands cheering while others were uncertain how to react.
Even King Washburn was on his feet, gripping the railing before him. He didn’t quite know what to make of me.
He’d learn soon enough.
As I turned, I did so with all the pomp and circumstance due the moment. After that, I issued the killing blows.
And the crowd went wild.
A victory lap was deserved, which I did with a smile on my face. When I passed the open doorway, I glanced at the two contestants waiting their turn.
The smile remained, their nods in approval as well as acknowledgment they were ready.
Another game, only one in which we controlled the rules.
I returned to the spot in front of the king, waiting for his pardon, granting me life. As he sauntered forward, I sensed the queen looking on with curiosity. Perhaps she was wondering where she’d seen me before. Well, I did have that kind of face.
As the king approached, I gave into the protocol, lowering my head as if I gave a damn about him or his stolen kingdom.
“You did very well,” he stated, studying me as one would do a bothersome rat. When I said nothing, he moved behind me, unlocking the shock collar. “You are well liked, an asset. What say you that instead of exiling you from my kingdom, I provide you with an opportunity to serve me.”
“Doing what?” I gritted out, keeping my voice low.
“Protection detail. I could use a man with cunning and brains instead of the mindless twits serving me now. You would be provided with your own quarters, and an occasional concubine for your loyalty.”
Concubine.
Women were nothing but objects in his kingdom, shiny possessions that had value because of their beauty and nothing else. The man was a true pig. I curtailed a smile from the thought.
Once the collar was free, I took a deep breath and waited until the great monarch returned to standing in front of me. As I lifted my head once again, I finally allowed a smile. This was the moment I’d been waiting for, the gravitational pull that had filled my nightmares, fueled my need for revenge.
The moment when the past and the future collided, presenting a reminder that with all acts of treachery, there were consequences. No matter how long I had to wait.
In locking eyes with his, in sharing with him a closer look at the man I’d become, I could slowly see the conflict of recognition.
A perfect invitation for what was about to occur. “Liberty is never more than one generation away from extinction.”
A private thought shared between friends, a private moment of discussion between colleagues, and a memory that would only be known by a single surviving member of a family thought dead and buried.
As hoped, his reaction was slow.
Mine wasn’t.
With a single step backward, I raised my sword.
“For my father.”
[divider]Chapter One
City of Lights, formerly New York
Months later…
Star
We’d learned to ignore the dead.
At first because despair was dangerous, even the quietest articulation of fear or sadness beckoning predators, Savages, and Freedom Hunters. There were also wild animals no longer remotely like their original DNA.
All bloodthirsty. All primal killers.
But they weren’t the worst or the most heinous of those savoring the taste of blood, creatures devoid of humanity. Night Dwellers held the title without question. Devoid of souls, the beasts had a voracious appetite for human flesh.
Even after exhaustive hunts during the last several years, the number of them had expanded, making venturing out at night a fool’s game. That was why I planned my trips to the City of Lights accordingly, never leaving room for error.
There were also more dead and dying, so many succumbing to airborne illnesses, horrific famine, and the effects of radiation poisoning that we still couldn’t cure. That was why I was here, risking additional exposure to death and disease. If one life was saved, the forage would be well worth whatever sacrifice or agony was endured.
Plus, if I managed to slaughter a few motherfucking Savages, criminals, or Night Dwellers on my adventure, all the better.
In this case, daylight provided limited protection, the hazy and often dense fog surrounding the once great city allowing some comfort while hunting for food and supplies.
Yet as I stepped over rancid bodies, many already partially dismembered from attacks of wolves, their bodies picked clean by thunderbirds, I felt a strange sense of despondency I rarely experienced. Even worse.
Loneliness.
Being a hunter was a lonely business.
However, as I took a few seconds to mourn a loss of something I barely understood, a shrill whistle coming from the darkest bowels of the buildings was a reminder that I wasn’t alone in the rubble. There were others, humans who considered themselves rulers of the entire territory.
They were equally treacherous, only trading jowls of steel and sharp teeth for weapons much like I carried.
The air was frigid, the October day soon to give way to horrid weather patterns, all changed by a nuclear winter than had lasted much longer than a decade. At least I believed it was October, calendars holding little meaning in a world where all time and activities had switched to nothing more than fights for survival.
While I’d been born after the great conflict, there were those who remembered the months of terror providing stories rich in detail. One country had struck another, setting off a horrific chain of events including the use of nuclear warfare. The strikes had been targeted, not every city leveled in the wake of the disaster, yet leaving the earth scorched and the country’s water supplies toxic.
Everything had changed, only a select few survivors to continue the fight for freedom. The war hadn’t been the only toll suffered, disease wiping out millions, including animals, altering others into grotesque species no longer considered friendly. Some called humans a dying race, punished to live in the Graveyard, while other flourished in domed cities, protected and offering those of certain connections a life of luxury.
Just thinking about the quality of life was depressing enough. Living it daily was miraculous.
Moving quickly toward the building that was my target, I scanned the pathways leading from the piles of debris, my hand already reaching for one of many knives. Each was special to me, stripped from monsters and men attempting to lay claim to my body, and every one of them had their purpose including eliminating those who were intent on doing harm.
The approaching soldiers’ stench gave them away, the stifling heat accentuating the pungent odors. Sharp and acidic with hints of ammonia gave way to the sticky sweetness of spoiled meat. I yanked the scarf hanging around my neck, covering my mouth and nose. I could almost clock how many paces away they were given the wretched smell.
The Borgata and its brutal leader kept soldiers searching the streets, knowing the allure of the thousands of lights cleverly created by calcite and strontium aluminate lured in creatures great and small. Given the army’s strength in numbers, they were a force to be reckoned with, but very few within the organization had brains. Yet the one thing I could count on were their schedules.
They’d never win in battle given every act was highly predictable.
Even the Freedom Hunters, soldiers trained by the king didn’t bother chasing or killing the Borgata, certain the criminals would eventually turn on each other.
Their predictability allowed me to come and go without detection, stealing from under their noses. Not that anyone should lay claim to what was left of what had once been.
I rubbed my hand across a plaque still secured to the exterior surface of the several-story-high facility. I was surprised the dirt and dried blood came off easily without wasting any of my special solution I carried with me. All supplies were in limited source, so I took this as a win, especially since I’d been right about the location. With any luck, I’d be in and out in thirty minutes, leaving me plenty of time to head to the underground compound where I’d lived for years.
In most abandoned dwellings, there was no such things as locks. What hadn’t been destroyed by the great war or subsequent plagues and famines leading to chaos and hysteria had been looted long ago. Well, not everything.
My knowledge of where to find the goods had taken me years to achieve and I used it wisely. I moved to the side of the building and to the panel suggesting an entrance I’d seen once before. The metal piece was heavy, but with no muscular men in tow, I’d learned to do everything myself. Another whistle sparking the frigid air meant the bastards were getting closer.
Beads of sweat tickled my brow, sliding into my eyes, but I had no time to worry about the prickling stings. I shouldn’t be here today, the chance of being caught much greater, but I’d had no choice. We were out of all medications, and I refused to allow my mother to suffer.
A man’s laugh filtered down the alleyway just as I slipped inside. Now I’d need to wait until the ugly bastards passed before daring to move further into the building. Any misstep and I’d find it difficult to outrun them. They always traveled in packs of six or eight, too many even for my favorite sword to handle. I crowded the interior wall by the opening, maintaining utter silence.
As soon as their laughter faded, I studied the area in front of me. From what I’d learned from the few maps of the city found in collapsed bunkers, this used to be a public space. I’d allowed my natural curiosity to build knowledge, details I’d become grateful for. It beat wallowing in self-pity as so many others did, hopelessness exactly what the king and his corrupt court feasted on.
There were reports that the bastard had been injured. Too bad the monster hadn’t been slaughtered in his sleep. In my mind, he was the greatest enemy of all.
I moved through the large space that had been picked clean by various vultures. I’d learned of a room with limited access and hopefully, what I hoped to find still existed. While I had purpose in my step, for some reason I was caught in another even more sudden swell of emotions.
Perhaps because it was obvious there’d been many a battle in the one pristine space. Regardless, being frozen, incapable of moving or calculating through a plan wasn’t like me.
Breathe, Star. This will pass.
The ugly truth was that I’d experienced several of these episodes as of late. They’d started when the nights had grown interminably long, the limited daylight not nearly enough to thwart the terror.
They’d been nightmares at first, faces haunting me that never took full shape. Whispered words indicating danger, but with no context as to why. Yet I could feel something was coming, someone searching for me or intent on me remembering details I’d long since forgotten. Then I’d begun to experience them when fully awake, along with seeing images of a huge man.
Also faceless but very… very dangerous.
Shake it off.
I could feel the increasing pulse in my neck and placed my fingers against my throat. Shadows caught my eye, images my mind created to tear me asunder. They always came during the most intolerable periods, leaving a dull ache that took hours to dissipate.
Breathe, I told myself.
The visions were bolder than before, grotesque creatures writhing in impossible ways. The backdrop of crimson-splattered walls was nothing in comparison to the pools of coagulated blood from a recent kill staining the chipped tile floors.
Breathe.
My chest ached, every shadow becoming a demon. Only they weren’t real. At least in the way of captured normalcy. Yet they were my greatest fear.
That of losing my mind.
Sudden movement broke the horrific spell, the raspy growl like the edge of a dull serrated knife providing a clear indication of what I was facing.
I lifted my arms, bending my elbows and grasping the worn leather-clad hilt as I turned to face the monster. Noticing the mindless, repetitive twitching, I took a deep breath as it staggered forward. While there was a chance a colony of them had taken residence in the building, I doubted more existed or they would have surrounded me by now.
Killing one of the Night Dwellers wasn’t a challenge, merely a required chore to keep moving forward. For whatever reason, I looked the creature directly in the eyes. They weren’t nearly as milky as those affected long term. That meant the disease was still present, claiming new victims.
Always the weakest of our species.
No chances could be taken, the contained movements much like every other monstrous being created in the throes of nuclear waste. I could sense the thing’s bloodlust. I’d studied their behavior. This one was very hungry, the light streaming in through the holes in the brick and mortar enough to damage skin and organs.
Yet this one didn’t care, indicating desperation.
With a single long stride taken, I swept the blade across his neck, no real precision needed. Yet I’d used more force than normal, its head popping off, pitched against the very blood and gore-stained wall I’d fixated on moments before.
A second appeared in my periphery of vision. A cocky son of a bitch. While the grotesque gargoyle-like creature lumbered closer, I reached into my pocket retrieving one of two shuriken throwing stars, a perfect weapon for this very special occasion.
The throw was as accurate as usual, two-pronged points driving directly into the creature’s one good eyeball. If I was truly a demon as the Borgata liked to think of me, I’d claim the damaged orifice as a souvenir. But even I wasn’t that crass.
With the bastards hungrier than usual, I’d need to be extra cautious.
I waited just long enough for its carcass to hit the floor, yanking the star from the creature’s eye and wiping the gore on my pants. Killing them usually didn’t bother me. They were barely human if at all. Yet for some reason, doing so today gave me pause.
Maybe a moment of weakness, but I wondered what his life had been like before succumbing to the horrible disease. The fact so many had remained alive over a decade after their exposure had proven an odd miracle.
After shoving the shuriken into my pocket, I moved around the thing in a wide arc. The momentary spell had made me lose precious time.
While walking deeper into the building’s shadowed terrain, I returned the sword to my sheath and moved more quickly until I found the stairs. Fortunately, the debris was easily maneuverable, and I made it to the fourth floor within seconds. Noise was an enemy, silence providing momentary peace.
The office itself had been destroyed, but as I tossed items aside, desks and chairs that had once been a beacon of life, my hopes were high that I’d find what I’d come for. In many of the old buildings, there were hidden storage rooms thought to once house illegal substances, as many still hidden behind rubble had been discovered. I’d learned that from an old man who’d taught me many things about the past how medical professionals sought buildings with the spaces in mind.
Even prior to the destruction, crime and corruption were prevalent.
I’d read enough and had been taught history by my mentor to realize why the powerful country had fallen prey to others. Greed and the hunger for power. Was there any difference today?
Stay on course.
Healing drugs had replaced those considered recreational. I was beginning to lose hope when a latch caught my eye, the metal plate easily missed by those who didn’t know what they were looking for. With both hands on the gnarled surface, I planted my boots far apart, using my weight as leverage.
Shock tore through me as the door was pulled easily, the surprise so significant a short laugh escaped my throat. Shit. A mistake I couldn’t afford. With my breath catching in my throat, I moved against the wall to ensure I was out of view of anyone who’d been stationed in one of several buildings across the street. Damn it. What was wrong with me? Silence was as important a weapon as the sharpest blade.
The eerie quiet was terrifying.
With no noise after a few minutes, I returned to my task.
Very few things brought happiness any longer, but seeing the number of bottles of pills and clear liquids was astounding, even creating a giddy feeling. The celebration had to be short lived. The light was waning, the horrors of darkness and shadows soon to unfold in the most heinous of ways.
A thrill tore through me even as my system embodied the nagging sense of dread that always came when ending a hunt. Opening my bag, I risked all that I had, certain death by allowing a limited light source from something called a glow in the dark stick. The luminescent light was just enough to provide illumination of the dusty bottles holding court on several shelves.
But I had to hurry. The clock was ticking.
I knew what I was looking for. Too much and I’d be weighed down. Too little and I’d need to repeat the mission. But there were so many sick, so many in anguish that I spent far too much time searching through the labels, picking and choosing until my bag was filled.
A burst of happiness fueled my actions. There were many more to be taken, which was why I spend additional time protecting my private stash.
When I was finally finished, a quick look out the gaping hole into the sky brought a twisted reminder of how dangerous the world was.
I rushed downstairs, feeling eyes on me. Younger dwellers, though only recently succumbing to the damning condition were still frozen in darkness.
But they would be coming.
With just enough time to make it to the exit point, not one slipup would be allowed.
As soon as I exited the building and scanned the alley, I hoisted my bag higher on my shoulder. I could feel the fuckers all around me.
A strange sound caught my attention from behind. Immediately, I reached for my knife while holding my breath. Deciphering what I’d heard was more difficult than usual. I knew every grunt and snarl, every labored breathing sound strangulated by the Night Dwellers. And the soldiers had no belief in the need to be cagey in their captures. However, Savages were unpredictable, like rabid dogs eager to rip an enemy to pieces. They were cunning and intelligent, and I’d been warned about their filthy proclivities.
And I was ripe for the picking.
Very slowly, I began to turn around, any sudden movement begging for an attack.
Another sound and I was so startled that momentarily I couldn’t breathe.
There was no way what I’d believed I’d heard was accurate. Even so, I should ignore it and evacuate.
Yet my curiosity, the very one I’d often been told would be the reason for my demise refused to allow me to leave. At least until I knew if I was right. With cautious steps, I moved closer, feeling instead of hearing the brutal thump of my heart in my chest.
My body’s reaction wasn’t from fear but excitement.
Another noise, a thump.
And another, a sound I’d heard far too many times. A shush.
Not from a man fighting to live, facing imminent death.
Not from a woman ravaged by disease, her body used by men so cruel they’d left permanent marks on her body.
The sound was coming from something that was so rare, so beautiful and pure that the chance of me being correct was astronomically impossible.
I moved toward the pile of rubble, carefully crouching down.
Another sound, one I couldn’t recognize. A growl? Low and slow, fearful and almost as if a whine.
Confusion threatened to drive me away, but I persisted, pulling stones away until I realized a makeshift hiding place had been created. Exasperated, I ripped down the mask, squinting to try to ascertain the shapes I was seeing.
With one more dare in my repertoire of taking significant risks, I curled my fingers around the light source, easing my hand into the opening. Every action methodical, I turned my hand over and allowed the bright neon stream to shimmer within the darkened space with light.
Staring back at me were eyes so bright, so full of terror that I could feel the rush of anxiety and could smell her fear. Immediately, she shifted, wrapping her arm around her companion and dragging the creature even closer while her small body shook violently.
The gorgeous ice blue eyes never left mine.
They were child’s eyes and that wasn’t the only surprise and complication of the day.
Her companion, a creature with a long fluffy tail and the most soulful expression I’d ever seen on a beast was a dog.
[divider]Chapter Two
Star
Giggles, sheer joy in running across a bright green path of earth.
The wind blowing.
Laughter behind me.
And I was tackled from behind, immediately falling to the ground. Something heavy and soft jumped on me.
A big furry and amazing puppy.
The memory faded as quickly as it had arrived, leaving me in the same moment of despondency as before.
For precious seconds the odd group of three stared at each other, momentary shock lasting far too long. While there were stories, fairytales about the existence of children and creatures once labeled man’s best friend, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen either.
Women were mostly barren, children from before the war now adults. And so many breeds of pets had turned violent.
It was a sign of hope considered significant, a sign so many prayed for on long, cold, and very fearful nights.
But to others both child and dog would be considered yet another trap by those embracing evil to lure those in the Resistance to our capture and ultimately our deaths. We were the people fighting tyranny, eager and willing to do what it took to restore true freedoms. At least that’s what everyone spoke of. I’d even heard there were Resistance leaders sequestered in a safe location, planning some coup against the king.
I would eagerly volunteer for the battle if allowed.
Blinking, my reaction was involuntary, reaching toward her just to ensure she was real and not a vision sent by the demons.
The girl reared back, her tiny gasp just loud enough and shuddering with such raw fear that the dog became protective, baring his teeth. I’d read about animals that didn’t carry poison in their sharp canines, beautiful little beings that offered comfort and love, but had never seen one up close. He was just a puppy, maybe a couple of months old, but big enough already to appear formidable. The only saving grace was that he hadn’t offered a bigger sound.
A different noise from behind captured my attention and I was once again pushed into the present. Additional risks needed to be taken. I could not and would not leave her here. Perhaps I was a fool, but I had a code of honor I would follow until the day the last breath was driven from me.
“You’re not safe here. Dwellers will soon be hunting.”
The blank look in her eyes was horrifying. Whoever had dumped her had undoubtedly expected she’d perish. Thoughts of disemboweling the wretched bastard flashed in my mind.
At least I knew she’d heard and possibly understood me, pulling back further into the shadows.
“Girl. Come with me. I cannot leave you here.”
She shook her head.
I glanced over my shoulder, fighting frustration. The girl had no idea who I was.
“Please,” I told her. “I need to get you to safety.” Her lips were parched, cracked, and bleeding and just watching the tip of her small tongue drag across her bottom lip was painful. The dog peered at me with more hope. I could almost feel the creature’s desperation. Both were far too skinny, ribs showing beneath the dog’s golden fur.
Damn it. This was the last thing I needed, but in order to take her with me, I’d need to earn her trust. I yanked out my container of clear, distilled water, a substance as precious if not more than ammunition.
“Here. For you.”
As her eyes fell to the bottle, I sensed acknowledgement by a flicker in her eyes. With her arm shaking, she reached for the bottle. I shrank back a few inches to allow her space while counting down the minutes in my mind.
I expected her to gulp the liquid, which was why the shock of her actions was so powerful.
She offered the pup the water stream first. As soon as the dog began to drink, I noticed a tiny curve of her upper lip, the slight moment of joy stilling. Very little affected me any longer.
Through the years, I’d watched those I dared care about surrender to one darkness or another. I’d borne witness to the aftermath of slaughters so heinous even today images lingered in the darkest recesses of my mind. And I’d been forced on three occasions to end the lives of those I’d thought I could trust.
Yet this sweet, innocent moment activated something I’d locked away since I was a child.
An entirely different level of anger and despair that vibrated against my skin, awakening a darkness that seemed uncontrollable. Suddenly, I was burning up, sweat beading across my forehead. I’d worry about a deadly illness except I’d experienced the physical abnormalities once before.
When my father had almost been killed. I’d gone off the deep end, or so I’d been told, unconsolable as I sought revenge. I barely remembered the experience, but it taught me to be careful with my emotions.
When the child gently placed the bottle into my fingers, I noticed she hadn’t consumed every last drop. Who didn’t when they had the chance? At least we’d have some in the case of an emergency. I shoved it into my bag while my mind spun with thoughts of how to handle her appearance. I also wondered if there was a bounty on her head. Maybe that’s why the Borgata were roaming the streets. No, she had to come with me.
I pulled the only food allotted to me for the day, offering the thick granola bar as well. The girl’s only thank you was a single blink, but that was enough to nearly break my heart. When had she ever experienced kindness? Likely never. To her, the food was meant to be revered.
While the two enjoyed some nourishment, I scanned the area once again, ending with staring up at the sky. I’d run out of time, twilight already settling in. Now there were only minutes left to spare, not nearly enough time to make it to the safest exit. If there were any hopes of survival, it was to hide in the old subway cars located beneath the earth.
“I need you to listen to me. You must place your trust in me. If you don’t, you will not survive the night. My appearance has drawn the attention of the Dwellers. Do you understand me?”
Very slowly, she nodded, allowing me to breathe a sigh of relief.
“I will keep you safe, but you need to remain close and do as I say. The puppy will be fine on his own.”
I’d seen bonded pairs before, even with the horrible Nemean Lions, once majestic creatures who’d succumbed to DNA poisoning, now merely disfigured beasts. The moment she pulled the puppy close once again, I knew instinctively she would remain here with him even if it meant facing death.
“Come on. The dog can come with us, but we must hurry.” I offered my hand, nodding when she didn’t move for several seconds. Thankfully, she grasped my fingers and in doing so, I felt an intense heat coming from within the child.
While I couldn’t quite comprehend why touching her felt so different, I was aware she could be experiencing a fever. An even more dangerous situation to find myself in. Too late now. The child was maybe four or five, but being skin and bones, long stringy hair plastered to her filthy face, it was impossible to know for certain.
I placed my finger across my lips as my last instruction, accepting her single nod once again. While she was obviously not inclined to make any noise, the puppy could ruin us within seconds. We had several blocks to navigate to the entrance to the subway. I’d used the cars twice before when I’d been stupid enough to lose my sense of time.
At least the still intact cars offered some sense of refuge.
We’d made it two blocks without incident by remaining in dead center of the road, doing so allowing me to continually scan the dark entrances. We had just enough light to make it, but only if there were no issues.
The pup’s growl seconds later was the first indication we were being followed. The second were the prickles dancing across my skin. As soon as I stopped moving, the child’s breath hitched and she crowded close, hoping if not praying for protection.
In the moments that followed, I retrieved my sword, realizing the girl was mesmerized. There was no sign of Dwellers, no typical sounds such as the scraping of limbs against pavement, brick, and stone indicating their location.
But there was no doubt we were being watched.
Stalked.
Puppy growls filled the dense space and suddenly, the creature jumped from the child’s arms. Horror struck the girl before an understanding of how much danger we were in, especially given the dog had lost control, barking at the intruders.
“Stay here,” I told her, as if anywhere out in the middle of the City of Lights was safe. “Dog. No. Stop,” I hissed, moving toward him and away from the girl. I swung the sword from side to side, hoping the sight would drive blinding fear into whoever was following us.
The dog ignored me, barking more incessantly. He was certain to be the death of us. Even as I moved closer to grab him by the scruff of the neck, the girl flew past me.
“Puppy, no.” Her tiny voice was raspy, strangled from lack of nourishment, but at least I knew she spoke. She managed to calm the animal, gathering him into her arms once again. However, as soon as she did, creatures came from nowhere, their actions surprisingly agile. Was it possible the Borgata were experimenting on them as I’d heard in the village?
Not that it mattered. All that did was to kill as many as necessary. The creatures lunged from all sides, snarling and charging. I swung the sword from one side to the other, the razor-sharp blade slicing through chunks of skin, removing arms and legs. I spun in a circle, eliminating another three or four without hesitation.
The stench was ungodly, the Dwellers’ rotten flesh once exposed keeping bile in my throat. Shadows swirled violently as demons attempted to win the battle, forms undulating while closing in.
Fear threatened to rush just below the surface, but I refused to back down, sweeping the blade back and forth.
Until every last one of the bastards was cut down to size. I stood even taller than before, turning in a full circle while daring mentally for another creature to challenge the huntress.
None did.
After taking gulping breaths, I raked my arm across my face. The vibrations had returned, heat so extreme sweat rolled down my back. For the first time, my vision was different, foggy and the barometric pressure had dropped significantly. It took a few seconds before I calmed down, the air less stagnant.
I wiped my forearm across my face again, gathering blood and brains before finding the girl and her dog crumpled in a ball on the ground. Crouching, I brushed hair from her face, stroking her soft cheek as I realized her skin was wet.
She’d been crying.
Another reminder life was so unfair.
The prickly sensations from before returned. Eyes were watching us. I’d need to take an alternate route to the Safe Zone.
“Come. We don’t have far to go and we’ll be safe.” But for how long? Leaning in, I whispered so only she could hear, “We’re being followed. Don’t look around. Just make sure and follow me.”
The same eyes as before were opened wide and even though I couldn’t see their beautiful color, just looking into them provided some sense of peace. How strange and amazing that a child could do that.
The girl clung to my leg with one hand as we walked, keeping her face mostly buried in the puppy’s fur. While taking the alternate route had risks in of itself, it had to be done.
Another pile of debris was the perfect camouflage. As soon as we were safely protected behind the mound, I switched directions, moving toward a building on the opposite side of the street. From there I moved around a group of buildings, paying careful attention to every sound.
Thankfully, we made it to the subway’s entrance without further incident. While most would consider being underground unsafe, the subway cars were all protected with unbreakable glass, a requirement by the former government in the months prior to the collapse.
While cracked and fogged from years of heavy abuse and neglect, they also offered a strange window of carnage to all those hoping for protection inside. Including a woman, a child, and a dog.
Along with the doors being incapable of being opened by Dwellers, the cars provided safety from the heinous beasts roaming the corridors. In the morning, we’d have a clear dash to the stairs. There was also an eerie light in the cavernous area and had been for years. Some believed the Borgata were responsible, wild tales of using dead bodies as fuel offering amusement.
The truth was more scientific in nature, a long-lasting battery that would eventually disappear. At least I didn’t need to tell the girl to hold tight, her patience proving helpful. Being abandoned either destroyed someone or brought out hidden strengths. As soon as I pried open the doors, a single look down into her sweet face and she stepped inside.
At least the cars were basically soundproof, unless screaming was involved. I pulled us away from the doors, easing onto the metal bottom between two seats. As soon as I placed my arm around her, the heavy sigh she allowed was as if she’d been holding her breath for several minutes.
I listened intently for any sounds, refusing to fall prey to the stalking vultures determined to capture a prized possession. Her thin fingers clung to my shirt the entire time with her face nuzzled against me. She didn’t care that her face would be stained with Dwellers’ blood; the comfort of another human being the only thing that mattered to her.
How could I dare consider sending her away? She would come with me to the village, the elders accepting her whether they thought my decision madness or not. The beacon of hope was too powerful a draw to resist.
“What is your name?” I asked after feeling certain we were alone in this part of the cavern.
She tensed but said nothing. The girl didn’t know. She’d never been given a proper name. The thought that she’d been forsaken infuriated me.
“Wren. I shall call you Wren.”
Her head moved and in the strange orange glow sweeping in through the windows, I noticed her increasing curiosity. In a way, she reminded me of the little girl who’d survived the nightmare all those years ago.
“A wren is a bird, a creature with wings but nothing like the terrifying thunderbirds. They were about this big.” I opened my fingers the width of two old coins. “Even though they were tiny, they were said to have bold personalities, starkly defending their territories. Their feathers were umber in color so they could hide in underbrush. Do you know what the wren symbolizes?”
She shook her head.
“Resilience. The triumph of the small and clever over the large and dangerous predators.” When I offered a smile as she thought about the name chosen, she offered me one as well.
In a strange way, it was a beautiful win in a competition that shouldn’t be forced to exist.
As she pressed her face into me once again, I stroked her hair while also running my fingers through the pup’s fur. I finally leaned my head against the cool metal, feeling the effects of the cold as my adrenaline began to fail me. I longed for the warmth of a fire, another luxury until our wood gatherers returned to the village.
They’d been required to go farther and farther to find a source to keep the people warm.
Her breathing remained shallow, the beat almost matching the rapid thud of my heart. I could feel something happening, as if the world was about to go crazy again.
My mentor had said I was special. That I was the future. I’d laughed but Peter had always been so insistent. Whatever was happening, I’d always known one day our safety would be challenged again. There were rumors, our limited ability to communicate with other communities providing information as well as hope. But without a solid plan of eliminating the king and his court, hope had begun to fade.
“Where did you come from, Wren? Why are you all alone?” I knew she couldn’t answer me yet, her distrust likely taught to her by whoever had pushed her away. Maybe to keep her safe and alive.
Something I understood more than I could explain, only my memories didn’t serve me to paint a picture of a selfless act, instead an attempt at erasing history. It was just a feeling of course, a twisted knowing that had lingered in my mind for the entirety of my life. Black spaces lived where images and stories should flourish. Whether from tragedy or something even more extreme, I’d been told my mind had learned to protect itself.
“Don’t worry,” I told her. “Where we’re going is safe.” But was I merely telling her a lie? How many times had we been forced to move, traveling the countrysides, picked off one by one leaving our numbers dwindling. With no children born and most in their later years of life, we would soon fade into extinction. I’d often wondered if that was the case for every group of survivors.
There was some communication between members of the Resistance, but the fear of being caught kept conversations to a minimum. Details about upcoming battles involving Freedom Seekers were always more important. They were the people who’d started a formal movement of survival. But quickly it had become clear they had their own agendas and couldn’t care less about protecting the survivors.
Exhaustion plagued me, more so than usual and I closed my eyes. However, the last thing I wanted was to fall asleep. Doing so was far too dangerous. “What’s the pup’s name?”
Wren shook her head against me.
I lolled my head to the side, surprised when another memory of long ago appeared in a hazy series of mental photographs. On this night, I had a more difficult time accepting them. A puppy and a little girl. The visions were personal, haunting because I couldn’t be certain they were real or accurate. My throat tightened as a soft voice spiraled through my mind.
“My beautiful star, time to come inside with Jake.”
A single tear slipped past my lashes, rolling haphazardly down my cheek. With no one to see my weakness, I didn’t bother wiping it away. The memory was one of the few that created comfort.
“How about calling the dog Jake?”
When her little head lifted, her eyes brighter than before, I sensed she approved the choice.
“Jake it is. Try and get some sleep. I’ll be right here when you wake up. I promise.” At least it was one promise I could keep. Anything else at this point and I would simply be lying.
The girl was still shaking, every tug on my shirt a telling of how terrified she was. I couldn’t blame her, the anxiety I usually could push aside more prominent than I could remember. Maybe the undeniable sense that something was about to happen was the reason.
With her breathing labored, the only other comfort I could offer her was from a task taught by someone whose face I could not see. Maybe I was fooling myself, but the song would forever be ingrained in my mind.
Humming wasn’t a task performed by anyone, another sound often considered dangerous. What did I care if anyone could hear me? Maybe I was more despondent than usual. I had no idea if I was remembering the song correctly, but being able to offer music of any kind was a gift and the only one I had for her.
She was fitful for a little while, but I knew the moment she slipped into a deep sleep when her hand fell away.
Jake was also asleep, his body trembling and his paws twitching as if…
I lifted my head from another memory. As if he was chasing rabbits. I’d never seen a rabbit, the species likely extinct like so many others from the toxic fallout. I’d seen pictures, books saved and protected by the chosen whose sole job had been to protect history.
What I wouldn’t give to see one in person. That wasn’t the only thing I wished for, even if wishing was as painful as being deprived of anything other than necessities.
It was a rare and painful moment such as this in which I had to remind myself I was part of the Resistance, those determined to fight the enemy, only in doing so, we were just fighting ourselves.
Once upon a time, knowing the enemy had seemed easy, anger and uncertainty fueled by those claiming they had the best interest of our country in their hearts. Then those before me had learned the true enemy had been born and bred within. By then, it had been too late to alter the course of history.
Only now did it feel as if we might have a fighting chance. But only if our numbers remained strong, which was why safety was of the utmost importance.
A yawn surprised me, the cold, damp environment certainly not conducive to relaxation. Neither was being in a city after dark. Fatigue had a way of speaking its mind.
Once again, I closed my eyes, telling myself I was only resting them. Every muscle ached, my body becoming chilled to the bone.
Ping.
The sound was minuscule, nothing that should draw my attention, but it did. I lifted my head, not one hundred percent certain I hadn’t been dreaming. Remaining completely still, all I could do was to try to ascertain where I’d thought the noise had come from.
There was nothing for several seconds, then what I could only describe as a whooshing sound, a low thrum that seemed to rumble from nowhere. But I wasn’t about to take any chances. I very carefully disengaged myself from Wren and the pup, even leaving the bag with them. I needed to be as unhindered as possible in case an attack was imminent.
Keeping lower, I moved toward the other side of the car and onto a seat while remaining under the ledge of the window. A single look was usually all I needed. Only in doing so, another strange set of sensations quickly shifted into a low, dull hum of vibrations.
Someone was coming.
No, more than one creature, their combined weight in their heavy footsteps sending a wave of tremors down the metal platform and into the subway car. There was only one entity whose weight was heavy enough to cause such a physical reaction.
Savages.
Our only hope was that they were hunting for soldiers, perhaps after one of their caves had been attacked. Even with their distaste of the humans, the Borgata were often hired as mercenaries by the Freedom Hunters, rewarded handsomely for proof of a Savage’s slaughter.
I remained where I was, terrified to move until I witnessed the approach of four huge Savages. I’d been attacked by a group before, but at that time, I hadn’t been alone, others from the village foraging with me for food that day. The only reason we’d managed to survive was a trap we’d set for them, the monsters falling to their deaths.
Very little killed them, their genetically altered DNA leaving them mostly human in appearance while every attribute had been reengineered. They were taller, faster, stronger. I’d been taught the reason for their creation had been an attempt to build an army impervious to nuclear fallout and the aftermath, the ultimate warriors.
Their bones were reinforced, as if made from a composite material, muscles dense and able to create extreme power. Even wounds seemed to heal at a faster rate. Fights were handled with mathematical efficiency, prioritizing surgical strikes over volatile aggression.
In a way, they were beautiful in their predatory actions, dangerous yet creatures to be admired. From what I’d been told, the men had volunteered to be a part of the program. I wondered if they’d been told the truth about how significantly the drugs would change them.
Standing well over six and a half feet tall, they were formidable even to the most treacherous of beasts.
They were definitely hunting, stopping only three car lengths away. The flickering light was just powerful enough to see their expressions. Which was why I knew the moment they’d locked onto my existence.
If I wanted the girl and her dog to live, I’d need to leave them alone. I rushed by her side, awakening her with a jolt.
“Listen to me. Stay right here. No matter what happens, I will return, but it might take me a little while. Okay?”
Her eyes were wide from fear, but she nodded, immediately reaching for the pup. I had to get the hell out before they came in.
I couldn’t risk escaping this car, instead rushing forward to the one ahead, flying past the windows but looking back every so often. I made it to the next car, hitting the closed door and struggling to open it. The hinges had rusted.
Sweat was already rolling down my face. I couldn’t be caught inside as they’d come from both angles and there was no way I’d survive. What did they want with me? I wasn’t their usual prey. The had to smell that I was human.
Worrying about the reasons couldn’t matter. My teeth gritted together to keep from swearing, I used every bit of muscle strength, finally opening the door and rushing forward. That’s when I noticed the car had been damaged, with no way of continuing on the same path. I’d need to go outside and risk being captured by a Dweller.
There was no other choice.
The moment I stepped off, I realized the area ahead was almost completely pitch black, a single light working somewhere down along the rail tracks. I’d managed to box myself in.
Thunderous booms echoed in my ears as the Savages ran after me. If there was one weakness in their repertoire, it was their method of cornering victims. I could easily outmaneuver them any day.
Yet the darkness was oppressive, leaving me more cautious than I would usually be. Every step taken brought an entirely different wave of angst and worry about the girl. The responsibility was a heavy burden to bear and one I wasn’t used to.
My death meant nothing, but I refused to allow Wren to be captured or worse.
As the condition of the tunnel worsened, the area almost completely caved in, I had to change tactics.
There was no other choice but to stand and fight.
I spun on my heel, facing the monsters. In my pocket were a few of my favorite weapons, especially my shurikens. I pulled out two, waiting until the bastards came closer. As soon as I let go of the first throwing star, I held my breath. Yes. I’d caught the bastard by surprise, the steel point driven into his chest. He’d be out of action for a while.
The next throw wasn’t as successful, the Savage anticipating the action.
My other weapons would require me to get up close and personal. I backed up, careful to keep from tripping. A slight glint caught my eye. A larger space between cars. It was my only change of getting away from them. I jumped off the platform, hitting an area where the track had been destroyed and almost falling.
But I caught myself, racing forward, knowing the huge men were trying to get through the space. At least my size and agility bought me a little time. I rushed down the tracks a little farther before finding an area where I could hoist myself back to the main platform. As soon as I climbed onto the unsteady rock, I swung my head over my shoulder, horrified to see they were following closely behind.
After taking a deep breath, I made the jump, stumbling forward and hitting something rock-hard solid only a couple of feet away.
Instead of steel or a block wall pushing a sweep of frigid cold through my body, warmth spread into every muscle, carving its way into my bones.
A horrible knowing settled in as I slowly lifted my head to stare into the eyes of another monster, one so handsome my breath was stripped away.
He was tall, dark, and muscular. I was struck by a level of searing heat that didn’t make any sense.
My breath hitched before I could stop it, a dull ache already forming deep in my core. An unwanted desire that was unlike anything I’d experienced, sharp and intrusive.
My mouth was suddenly dry and try as I might, I couldn’t strip my gaze away from his massive body. Underneath my shirt, my nipples had hardened and I didn’t like the sensations sweeping through me. Why was I reacting in such a horrible way? Unacceptable. He was a monster, a brutal creature intent on harm. That’s what I needed to concentrate on, not how wet my pussy had become or how many throbbing vibrations there’d been.
Sickness and anger flooded my system. Misery and terror, both of which I’d learned to shove aside. And fury, rage unlike anything I’d ever known hit me so hard I could no longer catch my breath. This wasn’t how my life was supposed to go. I was supposed to be enjoying being young, an adult who could make her own decisions.
An entire life ahead of me. Free to enjoy and make friends, not wallow in despair with no one to talk to, no one to share dreams and aspirations with. Free to find a perfect job and a house, a little house with a picket fence, flowering shrubs to come home to every day.
And free to fall in love with a special man and make babies. A family to make memories with, to share in joy and sadness.
My life wasn’t supposed to be digging through rubble, pretending the dead didn’t have ghosts. Searching for what I would never have.
What everything had been before and everyone had taken it for granted.
It had all come done to this moment, a shattering of safety that I’d thought I’d controlled.
He was another Savage and he wasn’t alone.
There was something different about them, an order I hadn’t seen in a couple of years. Savages had been stripped of their military positions by the Freedom Hunters, labeled traitors to their country. Fear had driven many into hiding where they’d tried to blend in with found survivors. Few celebrated their altered DNA, still fighting for a cause that had been all but crushed.
A rush of wind penetrated the tunnel, white hot in nature and a few seconds later, a small fire developed. Smoke rose in plumes, swirling while the pile of rubble burned. How was that possible? Did they carry a corrosive agent with them?
Panic was right under the surface, but I took several deep breaths while contemplating what I could do. Being boxed in was the worst position I could be in.
The lab creations standing in front of me were dressed similarly to the clothing I’d chosen to wear. Only their attire held an aura of organization, the black-on-black offering anonymity.
The one who appeared to be their leader, the creature holding my strange attraction knelt by the fire, doing nothing more than studying the flames as they slowly began to fade.
When he rose to his height again, he glanced at the Savages with him. I sensed communication.
An interesting aspect was that I wasn’t frightened. I should be. They were born to kill predators. However, now that the shock had worn off, I felt a strange sense of calm. Plus, I’d been taught never to show any sign of weakness, for doing so created blood lust in beasts relying on brawn instead of brains.
“Stay back,” I stated, firmly and with no emotion.
The one in front, his eyes penetrating mine, cocked his head before taking a deep breath. And his one-word response pissed me off.
“No.”
The sound, deep and husky, also created a chain reaction that I couldn’t comprehend and damn well wouldn’t accept.
Even stronger desire.
The mixture of emotions, the lingering effect of the roughness in his tone and the way he was searching as if trying to remember an event that didn’t exist brought a flash of unwanted memories of my own.
Bright images. Fleeting. One coming after another.
Yet as brightly lit as they were in the beginning, none were in focus and all vanished without a trace within seconds. As soon as they’d disappeared, I was left with an ache deeper than the cavernous emptiness I’d experienced before.
He took a step closer and all thoughts of a past I shouldn’t remember and damn well couldn’t want were shoved aside.
Sadly, my luck had run out, my vulnerability exposed.
Now I was going to die.
But not without a fight.
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