The Extinction Series | Book 3 | Primordial Earth 3 Page 12

  The crowd shifted, and a low murmur broke out. Whispered apologies did the rounds. Children were soothed, and clothes dusted off as people helped each other up, friends once again.

  “Don’t listen to her,” Robert said, enraged at the sight. When nobody paid him any attention, he stormed toward Moran. “She’s lying to you, can’t you see?”

  He came to an abrupt stop when she pointed the gun at his face. “Stop right there, asshole. I’ve had just about enough of you.”

  “Ric, arrest her. I’m a member of the council. She can’t do this to me,” Robert said, his eyes fixed on the barrel of the gun.

  “I think we can all agree that you should no longer serve on the council, Robert. You’ve become an embarrassment to us all,” Natalie Amberg said, her voice cold. “What say you, Ric?”

  “I agree,” Ric said,

  The rest of the council cast their votes, and Robert was removed from his position.

  “Guards, take him away and confine him to his home until further notice,” Natalie ordered. “The same goes for anyone who stands with him.”

  Bit by bit, order was restored with Ric and Jamie at the helm. Chairs were righted, and the townspeople resumed their seats. Throughout it all, Moran stood guard on the stage, never letting go of Ric’s gun.

  Finally, she handed the weapon to him, quirking an eyebrow. “You really should be more careful. Taking this from you was way too easy.”

  Ric tucked it back into his belt. “I’ll remember that. Now, are we ready to resume the meeting?”

  Moran looked at Rogue. “Should we tell him?”

  “Tell me what?”

  “We have to,” Rogue said.

  “Tell me what?” Ric insisted.

  “Robert was right about one thing,” Moran said.

  “What’s that?” Ric asked with a worried frown.

  “We’re fairly certain that an army from Prime is on its way. Bones told them all about you, and they’d never let such an opportunity pass them by.”

  Ric paled. “How many?”

  “Thousands,” Moran said.

  “And a bunch of them have guns,” Rogue added.

  “I can’t believe this,” Ric said, raking a hand through his hair. “How long until they get here?”

  “We don’t know,” Moran said. “We left before the army did.”

  “So, this is all speculation,” Ric said, a hopeful note creeping into his voice.

  “Yes, we could be wrong, but I wouldn’t count on it,” Moran said.

  “If there’s one thing you can count on, it’s Douglas’ greed,” Rogue said.

  Ric sighed. “I think it would be best if you all left. This is a matter for the townspeople. You can wait in Olivia’s home while we make a decision.”

  “But, we came here to help you,” Moran protested.

  “Help us how? We cannot withstand an attack by such a large army. We’re both outnumbered and outgunned,” Ric said. “No, we have protocols in place for this kind of event, but they’re not for your ears.”

  Moran’s shoulders sagged. “Alright, I understand.”

  “Come on, guys,” Rogue said. “I know the way.”

  “I’ll send over a guard with your weapons shortly,” Ric said. “Just in case.”

  “Thanks,” Rogue said, leading Moran, Bruce, Bear, Steven, and Seth out of the hall.

  As much as she didn’t like being left out of the loop, Ric was right. This was a matter for the town to decide on. It was their lives and their homes that were at stake. At least, we got to warn them in time.

  Chapter 19

  “This sucks,” Moran said for the tenth time. “How much longer must we wait?”

  Rogue tipped back her head and groaned. “As long as it takes.”

  “Does anyone want more coffee?” Seth asked, pushing back his chair.

  “Yes, please,” Rogue said.

  “No, I want to know what’s going on,” Moran said. She jumped up and paced the length of Olivia’s kitchen.

  Bruce watched her from his position on the couch with lazy eyes. “Stop that. You’re making me tired just by looking at you.”

  “Honestly, how much longer can they talk about it?” Moran said, ignoring him. “It’s been hours.”

  Rogue slumped across the table, her eyes fixed on the kitchen window. Outside, darkness had fallen, and the nocturnal creatures were stirring. “Maybe we should go to bed. I’m sure I could scrounge up enough blankets and stuff for us all.”

  “Sleep? I can’t sleep,” Moran said.

  “I can,” Bruce replied.

  “Me too,” Bear said.

  “And me,” Steven added.

  “What about food? I’m hungry?” Bear said.

  “Argh, I can’t do this anymore,” Moran said, storming out onto the porch. There she resumed her restless pacing while Rogue scavenged for blankets and Seth prepared a light supper.

  They had barely finished their meal when Ric and Olivia showed up, their faces grim. Rogue looked at them, afraid to ask, but Moran had no such compunctions.

  “What did you decide?” she asked, pouncing on them.

  Ric shook his head and waved a hand at Olivia. “She can tell you. I’m off to bed. This has been the longest day of my life.”

  With a muttered goodbye, he left, and Rogue turned expectant eyes on her mother. “Well?”

  “We’re evacuating the town,” Olivia said, dropping into the nearest chair.

  “What?” Rogue cried. “How’s that even possible? There are so many of you, and what about the animals and all of your possessions?”

  “We’ll take as much as we can,” Olivia said. “We have plans set in place for such an event.”

  Moran looked impressed. “Wow, really?”

  “Yes, we’ve always known this day could come, and it has,” Olivia said.

  “Where will you go?” Moran asked.

  “You mean, where will we go,” Olivia said. “The townspeople have agreed to let you stay. It was almost unanimous. Plus, Seth and Rogue have been absolved of all crimes.”

  “Finally,” Rogue muttered.

  “Don’t be rude,” Moran admonished. “Thank you, Olivia. That’s very kind of you.”

  “Don’t thank me. It was you who convinced the townspeople with your speech,” Olivia said. “You have quite the presence. I can see why my daughter admires you so much.”

  “It was nothing,” Moran said, waving it off.

  “So? Where are we going?” Rogue said.

  “I am not allowed to tell you. The less, you know, the better,” Olivia said.

  “Don’t you trust us?” Rogue asked, hurt welling up in her chest.

  “I do, and I wish I could tell you, but it’s the rules. As simple as that,” Olivia explained.

  “Okay,” Rogue said. “When do we leave?”

  “If we leave,” Olivia said. “Ric sent out scouts to confirm your story. If you are right, we’ll evacuate as soon as possible. If not, we’ll have to rethink our strategy.”

  “Oh, they’re coming alright,” Moran said. “General Sikes and his army. I’m willing to bet my life on it.”

  “Well, let’s hope you’re wrong,” Olivia said. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m exhausted and would like to go to bed.”

  “Of course,” Moran said. “We’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Do you have everything you need for the night?” Olivia asked.

  “Yes, we’re all set, Mom. Off to bed with you,” Rogue said, not missing the way Moran’s face tightened at the word Mom. Inwardly, she sighed. Getting them used to each other was not going to be as easy as she’d hoped.

  ***

  The next morning, preparations for the coming evacuation began. While it wasn’t yet confirmed, there was too much to do to leave it until the last moment. Nothing would be left to chance or the clutches of General Sikes.

  Over the next two days, the settlement buzzed with frantic activity. People scurried about loading anything and everyt
hing of value onto the waiting wagons. Medical teams in vans would transport the very sick and old while the rest would hoof it to their new home. A place that remained a mystery despite Moran’s intensive questioning of everyone she met, much to Rogue’s annoyance. “Stop asking questions. It’s starting to raise suspicion.”

  “Oh, please,” Moran said, waving her off. “I’m just curious, that’s all.”

  “Whatever,” Rogue grumbled, sidestepping as a herd of cows trundled past.

  Those animals deemed too old or weak were slaughtered, their meat and hides processed for transportation. The rest were herded into pens, and minders were chosen to care for them. The smaller livestock such as the chickens and rabbits were loaded onto carts in specially prepared cages.

  Throughout the day, armed guards patrolled the area while others left to prepare the evacuation route. That which couldn’t be taken with them was hidden in secret underground cellars, much like buried treasure.

  Rogue helped where she could, packing Olivia’s things into crates and boxes. So did the others. They were all keen to show their worth, and each of them did the work of three people or more.

  By the second night, Rogue was beyond exhausted. She crawled into bed next to Seth and fell asleep within moments. A rough hand on her shoulder tore her from slumber, and she looked up at the looming figure of Olivia. “Mom? What time is it?”

  “It’s just before midnight. Get up; it’s time to leave,” Olivia said, her voice urgent.

  “What? Now?” Rogue asked, sitting upright.

  “Yes, now. Hurry up,” Olivia said, placing a lit lamp on the bedside table. “The scouts returned an hour ago. You were right, of course. There’s an army headed this way. A big one. They took down a T-rex recently.”

  “A T-rex?” Rogue repeated, her brain slow to catch up.

  “That’s right. They’ll arrive sometime tomorrow. There’s no time to waste.”

  “Are we leaving together?” Seth asked, pulling on his pants.

  “No, we’ve been divided into groups. Moran, Bruce, Bear, and Steven have already gone,” Olivia said.

  “What? They left without us?” Rogue cried.

  “The first group is the riskiest. If anything is out there, they’ll get it first,” Olivia explained. “That’s why they volunteered to go first and make sure it’s safe.”

  “They didn’t say anything to me about it,” Rogue said.

  “Of course not. That’s the whole point,” Olivia said. “They want to keep you safe.”

  “What about you and Ric?”

  “We’ll be in the group behind you.”

  “But I want us to be together,” Rogue said. “What if something happens to you.”

  “Nothing will happen. This is how it’s been decided,” Olivia replied. “Now stop whining and get dressed.”

  Before Rogue could say another word, Olivia stormed out.

  A stunned Rogue sat frozen for several seconds. “I can’t believe it’s happening.”

  “Come on, love. Get it together. We need to hurry,” Seth prompted.

  “Okay, okay, I’m up,” Rogue grumbled, reaching for her clothes. As she pulled on her boots, her brain finally clicked the pieces of the puzzle together. This was it. The evacuation. It really was happening, and it was happening now.

  Chapter 20 - Kat

  Kat felt weightless, her body swaying to and fro in the air. It reminded her of sitting on a swing as a little girl. Her uncle Mike would push the seat from behind, higher and higher, until she thought she could fly. As free as a bird soaring through the endless blue skies. A smile curled her lips, but it hurt. It hurt so much that she stopped. Why did it hurt?

  “Dump her over there by the rubbish,” a voice said. It was a familiar voice, but she struggled to put a name to it. “Let the rats have what’s left of her.”

  Dorian!

  That’s who the voice belonged to, but why would he dump her like trash? He loved her, didn’t he? They were going to be a family. She tried to touch her stomach, but her hands couldn’t move, and then she remembered. He doesn’t love me. He hates me. He killed our baby, our child, and now he’s going to kill me.

  Suddenly, she was falling, only to hit the ground with an agonizing thump. Before she could utter a cry, the pointed toe of a leather boot hit her in the ribs. This time, she screamed, a gurgling cry of torment and suffering.

  “Not so pretty now, are we?” Dorian said in a mocking voice. “Even if you survive, no one will ever want you again. Least of all the general.”

  Kat curled into a little ball, anticipating more blows, but they never came. Instead, she heard the sound of retreating footsteps accompanied by laughter.

  “What a shame,” a rough voice said, the words carrying to her on the cold evening breeze. “She was a real beauty once.”

  Tears welled to the surface, and her body shook with sobbing heaves. With it came wave after wave of agonizing pain. She couldn’t tell where it originated from. It came from everywhere and nowhere at once.

  Flashes of memory from the past few hours shocked her into a state of frozen numbness. As much as she wanted to forget, it was all there. Every second, seared into her soul, forever. Against her will, she remembered. She remembered it all.

  After she met with Patti, she waited for Dorian. He never showed up. Instead, a brute of a man arrived to escort her to a different place. It was the kind of place she’d never have equated with the stylish Dorian.

  A house of blood and pain. A realm where you could let your most wicked desires have free reign. The walls echoed with screams, and she caught glimpses of scenes that would haunt her forever.

  In that place of horror, she found Dorian. He waited for her on a filthy bed stained with the blood of those who came before her. She tried to run, of course, but there was nowhere to go. Next, she tried to kill him but failed to land the blade.

  That’s when it began.

  The torture.

  Her wrists were swollen and bruised, her arms sore from being strung up like a carcass waiting to be butchered. Her broken bones grated against each other with the slightest movement, and blood covered her skin like crimson paint. Her blood. Her life. A life she was about to lose unless she could find help.

  Biting down on her bottom lip, Kat lifted her head. For a moment, she thought she’d pass out, the pain too great for her mind to handle. But she forced away the darkness, for there lay nothing but death.

  Cracking open her swollen eyes, she saw a pool of light. With every ounce of strength she possessed, Kat crawled toward it. It took an eternity. She’d start only to stop, sucking in precious lungfuls of air. At times, she wanted to give up, but her mind wouldn’t let her. It told her to keep fighting, to keep pushing, no matter what.

  Inch by inch, her fingers reached for the light, and she dragged her broken body into its golden embrace. That was as far as she could go. Gazing up at the moon, Kat smiled. “This is it. I can do no more.”

  A shadow crossed the moon, and a horrified cry rent the night. It was a woman’s cries and a woman’s touch that traced the cuts on her face. “Over here. I found her!”

  Kat blinked, too weak to be surprised. “Patti?”

  “It’s me, sweetheart. Don’t speak. Save your strength,” Patti said, her warm arms cradling Kat’s head. “Oh, you poor thing. What did that monster do to you?”

  “Ev…everything,” Kat whispered.

  Another shadow fell across her face, this one much larger. Strong arms lifted her into the air, reigniting the pain in her body. The last thing she saw before darkness claimed her was a flash of red—bright copper-red.

  ***

  Kat rose slowly to consciousness. Her brain was filled with cotton wool, and her vision blurred. She fought to gain control of her faculties, and slowly, her mind cleared. With the brutal force of a lightning strike, it all rushed back.

  Dorian.

  Torture.

  Blood and pain.

  She opened her mouth and gasp
ed, a mewling cry of distress. In an instant, Callum was there, and she blinked. His was the last face she’d expected to see, but it was also the only one she wanted to see.

  “Ca…Callum?” her voice was rough. It felt like her vocal cords were being dragged across a metal file.

  “Dinna try to speak. Stay still,” Callum said, touching her brow with a gentle touch.

  Kat ignored him, for when had she ever listened to anyone? “Yo… you’re here? How?”

  “Patti called me. She told me about yer deal with Dorian,” Callum said, shaking his head. “Why did ye do it? Ye should’ve come to me first.”

  “The…the general.”

  “Sikes is no more my master than he is yers. I’m an informant for the rebels. I have been fer years,” Callum explained. “When Patti heard what ye were planning to do, she rushed straight to me.”

  Kat frowned even though it hurt. She slowly connected the dots. “You… Moran’s informant?”

  “That’s right,” Callum said.

  “Why didn’t…tell me?” Kat asked with a sudden spark of anger.

  “I was goin’ to. That’s why I asked ye to dinner.”

  Kat choked on a laugh. It quickly turned into a hacking cough, and she almost passed out again.

  “Take it easy, love. You’ve been through hell and back again,” Callum said.

  “How did you find me?” Kat asked once she could breathe.

  “I almost didn’t. I went to the Crimson Door and ransacked the place, but ye weren’t there. In the end, one of the servants squealed, and I rushed to that other place. It was Patty that spotted you in the alley behind it,” Callum said, his expression thunderous. “Ye’ll be happy to know I burned it to the ground along with all of its patrons. I saved only the girls and the servants.”

  “Good,” Kat said, reaching out to him with trembling fingers. He took her hand and enveloped it in his, infusing his warmth into her skin.