19
The world waited till I breathed before drowning me again.
“Wake up, Khalani!”
She groaned into the pillow. Khalani’s body sagged on the mattress, her limbs refusing to move after a week of nonstop travel.
She wasn’t getting up unless someone was dying.
“The day is here, and it’s time for you to rise!”
The sheets were suddenly ripped away from the bed. She desperately reached out, eyes still closed, and grabbed nothing but air.
“Winnie,” she grumbled. “We finally have beds. Can’t we sleep in just a little longer?”
“No. No. No.”
Each word was emphasized by a pillow smacking her head.
“Okay, okay! I’m up.” Khalani swung her legs over as Winnie danced around the room.
“The sun is shining. It’s a beautiful day and the birds are singing.”
“There are no birds left, Winnie.” Khalani rubbed her eyes.
“Not yet! But there will be one day.”
She didn’t know how, since all the animals went extinct three hundred years ago.
Winnie clapped her hands together, all business.
“Let’s get a move on, dear. Winnie’s already washed up and found this lovely purple dress in the dresser.”
Winnie twirled in display, the flowery dress floating gently above her ankles. Khalani couldn’t help but smile before heading to the shower.
No one stood guard outside her door.
When she passed through the living room, she found Takeshi and Brock sitting on opposite ends of the sofa. They weren’t speaking, but they didn’t appear tense either.
It almost looked like they were…enjoying each other’s company?
No. That was impossible.
But when they turned in her direction, both of their eyes were bloodshot, like they hadn’t slept all night.
“At ease.” She saluted and kept walking, ignoring the rising swell in her chest when her gaze met Takeshi’s for a heartbeat.
She was running out of ideas to revive his memory. Talking to him didn’t work. Kissing him definitely didn’t work.
The only option left was patience.
Khalani could be patient.
…
…
…
On second thought, maybe it was time for a new plan.
She quickly scrubbed herself clean and changed into clothes she found in the dresser.
Tight beige spandex shorts and a blue tank top that hugged her chest. Taking a deep breath, she studied herself in the mirror.
The muscles in her arms and legs had become more defined, and her curves had filled out since imprisonment.
Maybe there was another way to get his attention and make him remember.
She reentered the living room, and as she walked, Khalani casually arched her back and stuck her butt out.
Takeshi’s shadowy gaze slid over her thin frame. He didn’t blink. He sat motionless on the couch. But every inch of his thick muscles tensed up. Like he wanted to tear his eyes away but couldn’t.
But Khalani lifted her chin as she strolled by, pretending like she hardly noticed. Brock’s low chuckle didn’t help.
“Why are you walking like you need to take a massive shit?”
Serene emerged from the bedroom, and Khalani spun around.
“I was…uh…nothing,” she stammered, blood rushing to her cheeks. “How did you sleep?”
“Like a rock. I was having a good dream, but I guess I’ll sleep more when I’m dead.” Serene shrugged and plopped between Takeshi and Brock.
Brock subtly inched as far from her as possible, practically leaning over the armrest. He gave Takeshi a mysterious look, but Takeshi just shook his head.
Khalani frowned at the bizarre interaction.
Once everyone was awake and washed up, Ferren stepped through the doorway with his head held high, clutching his spear like he was ready for battle.
“The Chief requests your presence at the training grounds.”
They exchanged uneasy glances. The plan was to leave that morning, but Desert Spring had kept Derek safe in their absence and had given them no reason to distrust them.
They silently agreed that one last talk couldn’t hurt.
As they walked along Pleasant Avenue, the sound of children’s laughter followed them.
Kids played outside the pretty houses, kicking a white ball back and forth.
A few couples held hands as they strolled down the street.
Khalani spotted a few women hanging up wet clothes on a line in their backyards.
But the peace shattered as a distant clatter of gunshots rang out.
She jumped, her wild gaze darting to Ferren, expecting him to raise his spear and charge toward the fight. But his expression remained conspicuously blank as he continued walking forward.
Takeshi shifted closer to her, his hand slipping into his pocket, palming his gun. But when they marched up the hill and entered the open dirt clearing, they found the source of the commotion.
Recruits in black robes stood in three separate lines, the ones in front squinting as they fired at white targets a hundred feet away.
From Patreus’s murderous glare, the Chief’s exhausted posture, and the targets still perfectly intact, it didn’t seem to be going too well.
“No. No. NO!” Patreus stormed forward, and the recruits shrank back. “You all know you’re supposed to shoot the target, right? I’m not supposed to be grateful you’re all firing in the same direction!”
“Yes, sir,” they muttered.
“The next group up, and I swear on the moon goddess, we will be out here all night if your sorry asses don’t start showing some improvement.”
Patreus stomped back. “They’re hopeless, Chief. We don’t have enough manpower for the raid tonight. We’ll have to postpone it until they get better with the guns.”
“We can go with spears,” the Chief mused, but her tone betrayed her uncertainty.
“The last raid group barely made it out alive,” he reminded her. “The Sinners have been fortifying their manpower, and Ansel has been upping his attack on our supplies.”
The Chief pursed her lips, staring at the ground in deep thought. When Ferren cleared his throat, she looked up and forced a smile, the warmth never reaching her eyes.
“Welcome back. I hope sleep found you all well.”
“It did,” Khalani answered matter-of-factly. “Thank you for sticking to your word and keeping Derek safe.”
“It was our pleasure. He’s been a real help to us,” the Chief said, her shoulders tensing.
“What’s wrong?” Derek asked.
“We need to raid the nearest city for supplies.” She glanced at him apprehensively. “How long until the car can handle a long-distance trip?”
“I’d probably need a couple more days to get the proper amount of ethanol.”
The Chief cursed and drew a hand through her messy red hair. “We need to restock soon, or we’ll run through the rest of our crops. The winds are picking up, and if we wait to do a raid, the sandstorms could completely kneecap us. But unfortunately, we have a bigger problem.”
She turned her attention to the recruits, who were shooting at the targets but still managing to miss.
“It’s actually impressive how bad they are,” Brock commented.
The Chief and Patreus shot him dirty looks, but their situation was so dire that even they couldn’t argue with the truth.
“Ansel and his Sinners have attacked our last two raids. We lost strong men and women.” Patreus fisted his palms. “We can’t afford to lose any more, and we need to have warriors protecting Desert Spring. But the recruits are more likely to shoot each other if they go out on the raid alone.”
The ensuing quiet was disrupted with scattered gunshots as the recruits continued to grumble in frustration.
“Unless”—the Chief lifted her gaze—“a few of you are willing to help?”
“No,” Brock instantly replied. “We’re leaving today.”
“But if you don’t help, our people will starve! We only need about three of you, that’s it.”
“And we’re very sorry to hear that, but we’ve done our part.”
“Derek.” The Chief turned to him, pleading with her eyes. “You know what our community has to offer. We’re good people. Are you really going to let us suffer? We can still use your help.”
“Don’t do that,” Brock snapped. “You can’t manipulate him with guilt.”
Derek’s expression was torn. Khalani knew he wanted to leave with them, but he clearly struggled with abandoning the people who’d sheltered him for the past month.
More voices rose in argument, but Khalani wasn’t listening anymore.
Her gaze drifted to Pleasant Avenue. She watched the kids playing without fear, smiling at their families who managed to create something worth fighting for on the surface.
No matter what secrets Desert Spring may have held, a light persisted within those walls. A spark that hadn’t been lit since before the Great Collapse.
And if Khalani walked away to let them suffer, she’d be no better than the Governor.
“I’ll help you,” she stated, cutting through the chatter.
Wide stares pivoted to her.
“No, Khalani. We have somewhere we need to be in a week and a half.” Brock shook his head.
“How long will the raid last?” she asked the Chief.
“No more than two days. We leave at night to reduce the risk of detection. If all goes well, you’ll return tomorrow.”
She turned to Brock. “That should give us plenty of time to get back on the road.”
“No,” he hissed. “This isn’t a good idea,”
“What do you think, Derek?” Khalani ignored him, looking at the one person who’d spent the most time in Desert Spring and was a better judge than the rest of them.
“I…I think a couple more days to help wouldn’t hurt. I could finish the ethanol before we leave,” Derek hedged, daring to let himself hope that staying longer was possible.
“Then I’m going.” Khalani looked at the Chief. “That gives you one more person on the raid.”
“Can you even shoot a gun?” Patreus scoffed, crossing his arms.
Some choice words bubbled in her throat, but she had a better way to communicate.
Khalani marched toward the recruits and snatched a gun from one of the men. She aimed the deadly weapon at the target, her hands squeezing slightly, slowing her breathing. She focused on one small spot—like Takeshi had told her a long time ago—and pulled the trigger.
Her bullet didn’t hit the center of the target, but it struck the edge. Wordlessly, she handed the gun to the open-mouthed recruit.
Patreus’s expression was dumbfounded. Brock muttered a curse, while the corner of the Chief’s mouth lifted.
Takeshi cocked his head as he studied her, no longer feigning boredom.
“Welcome to the team.” The Chief nodded, turning to the others. “We need two more. Anyone else that’s good with a gun?”
Barely a half second passed before Takeshi made his way from the back of the group to stand beside her. He didn’t let their arms brush, but heat rolled off him in waves.
Khalani sucked in a deep breath, wondering if he was aware of every square inch separating them, just like her.
“Anyone else?” the Chief asked.
Serene stepped forward.
“Abso-fucking-lutely not,” Brock said. He moved to haul her back into line, but Serene shook him off.
“Get off me.”
“You’re not going.”
“Oh, yes, I am.”
Brock’s face turned an unhealthy shade of red. “You have three seconds to step back, or I’ll carry you to the house and tie you to the bed.”
“Kinky.”
“One,” he warned.
No one moved a muscle, and Brock cracked his neck.
“Two.”
Serene gulped.
“Three—”
“Okay! I’ll make you a deal.”
Brock paused, his fingers twitching.
“I’ll stay behind and not cause any trouble.” Serene lifted her head. “But you have to go with Khalani.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re the second-best person with a gun.”
“Second?” He reared back in offense. “Who the fuck is first?”
Serene didn’t say anything, just pointed at Takeshi, who had the nerve to grin devilishly.
“There’s also one more reason I want you to go,” Serene added quietly.
“What else could there possibly be?” Brock threw up his hands.
“Because I trust you. And I’m asking nicely. Please?”
His mouth parted, clearly the last thing he was expecting her to say. Maybe only a few seconds had passed, but it felt like a lifetime as he pondered Serene’s words.
“Fine,” he sighed. “I’ll go.”
A true smile lit up Serene’s face before she embraced Khalani.
“You better stay safe,” she whispered, kissing her cheek. She gave Takeshi a single nod and turned to give Brock a pat on the back, but he pulled her in for a tight hug.
Serene gasped, her arms instinctively wrapping around his shoulders. But they broke apart immediately—the fastest hug in existence.
“Is this acceptable to you?” The Chief turned to Patreus, and even though his face was still pulled down in a tight grimace, he gave a reluctant sigh.
“They’ll do.”
“Then we’re all set,” the Chief said, her tense frame relaxing ever so slightly. “Ferren will lead the raid with a few others. He’ll go over everything you need to know. Get some food and rest. Once the sun sets, you’ll be leaving our walls.”
“We understand,” Khalani said, gearing her body for the journey.
“Good.” The Chief gave each of them a serious look. “Make sure you return alive.”