The Extinction Series | Book 3 | Primordial Earth 3 Page 5

  She’d also found a sizable amount of medical supplies. Something she had a feeling they’d need before the night was out. With that thought in mind, she set up a hasty corner in the living room for possible injuries. And Bruce, if I can convince him to let me take a look at his wound.

  Finally, she turned her attention to a mystery box she’d found buried beneath a mound of books. It was made of iron, rusted through in places, but sturdy. It was heavy, and something rattled around inside when she shook it. Much to her chagrin, it was locked, and she couldn’t find the keys. I’ll let Bear deal with it for me.

  Setting it aside for later, Rogue prepared a quick supper of rice, dehydrated onions, salted dino meat, and chopped tubers. Seth had collected these from water plants, and they had a sweet, starchy taste. With the addition of curry powder, wild garlic, and herbs, the stew turned out to be quite tasty. She was busy setting out plates and cutlery when the others stormed inside.

  Moran was first, her face pale. “Shit, that was close.”

  “What was?” Rogue asked, her stomach churning with dread. “Is everyone okay?”

  “We’re fine,” Steven said, dropping into a nearby chair. “But Moran’s right. That was too close for comfort.”

  “Those things are a lot smarter than I thought,” Bruce added, limping to the dining room table. He sat down with care, pain written across his features.

  Rogue flashed him a look, but he forestalled her concern with a raised hand. “Not now, Rogue. All I want is a strong cup of coffee.”

  Rogue forced herself to smile, but inside, her fear for him raged unchecked. He didn’t look well. His skin was gray, and purple shadows underlined his eyes. She exchanged a long look with Moran, who shrugged. The older woman was as worried as she was and equally as helpless. Bruce was nothing if not stubborn, and he had his heels dug in deep. He can’t keep going like this. He’ll kill himself.

  With a sigh, she picked up the coffee pot. “One cup of Joe, coming right up.”

  Bear tossed aside his hammer with a thud. “I’d like some too, please.”

  “Yeah, yeah. I’ll pour the coffee, but someone tell me what happened, please,” Rogue begged. “I’m dying here.”

  “Two of the raptors snuck up on us,” Bear said. “They came at the boat sideways, hidden by a bunch of bushes.”

  “All while the rest of them distracted us from the front,” Moran cried, throwing her hands in the air. “They pranced around, hissing, and clicking to get our attention.”

  “It almost worked,” Seth said, shaking his head. “If it wasn’t for Bruce spotting the other two, we’d be dead now.”

  “Something didn’t look right. Those things weren’t behaving like normal,” Bruce said, slumped on the table.

  “Well, thanks for saving our lives,” Seth said, taking a seat.

  “What about the defenses?” Rogue asked.

  “We did what we could. Now it’s up to fate,” Seth said.

  “Fate and our ability to fight,” Moran said.

  “Screw fate. I’ll rely on my weapon,” Bear said, hefting his gigantic hammer. The movement caused his muscles to flex, always an impressive sight.

  “Maybe we should leave all the raptors to you,” Steven quipped.

  Bear smiled. “Scared, little man?”

  “Little man? I’ll show you what little can do,” Steven replied.

  Bear snorted. “Not much, in my experience.”

  “We’ll see,” Steven said. “I bet I can kill more raptors than you can.”

  “Oh, please,” Bear replied with a chuckle.

  Steven’s face flushed, and Rogue stepped in. “Is anyone hungry?”

  “I can eat,” Bear said.

  “No surprise there,” Rogue said.

  “I think we should all eat and rest while we can,” Seth said. “It won’t be long now. The sun is almost down.”

  A shiver ran down Rogue’s spine. That wasn’t what she’d hoped to hear. Swallowing hard on the knot in her throat, she busied herself with supper—anything to keep busy.

  She passed around plates loaded high with food, and silence descended while everyone ate. She wasn’t hungry, though, and picked at her stew with little enthusiasm. A rock sat in the pit of her stomach, and she felt like throwing up.

  “Are you okay?” Seth asked in a low voice once he was done eating.

  “Not really,” Rogue said. “I just wish it was all over. I can’t stand waiting around like this.”

  “I know what you mean,” Seth said. “It’s like the calm before the storm.”

  “Exactly,” Rogue said, staring at her feet until she remembered the mystery box. “Wait a minute. I found something in your storage room, but it’s locked.”

  “What is it?” Seth asked.

  “It’s a metal box,” she said.

  “Oh, yeah. I remember finding that thing years ago. I meant to open it, but never got around to it,” Seth said. “I guess I clean forgot about it.”

  “Can we open it now?” Rogue asked.

  “What for?”

  “I don’t know. There could be something useful inside. There’s an old army sticker on it. Maybe it’s a gun,” Rogue said, getting up. “Let me fetch it.”

  She picked up the rusted container. With one hand, she wiped away the dust on top and showed it to Seth. “Do you have a key?”

  He shook his head. “I never found it.”

  “Damn,” Rogue said. “We could force it open.”

  “Yeah, I suppose we could,” Seth replied, examining the lock.

  “Bear, could you help us open this?” Rogue asked.

  Bear stared at it for a while. “Is it…hammer time?”

  “You did not just say that,” Steven said with a groan.

  “Why not? It’s funny,” Bear said.

  “What’s funny?” Rogue asked, earning her shocked looks.

  “MC Hammer?” Bear said, lifting his eyebrows. “You know. Hammer time!”

  Rogue gave him a blank look.

  “You don’t know who MC Hammer is? Or will it be in the future?” Steve asked. “Or maybe because we knew him, he’s in our past. Like past and future at once.”

  “Don’t do that,” Bear said. “It’s confusing.”

  “And anyway, I don’t know who MC Hammer is,” Rogue said.

  “How’s she supposed to know?” Moran pointed out. “She’s too young.”

  “Or too old in the future,” Steven said.

  “Stop that!” Bear said.

  “Both of you stop. You’re giving me a migraine,” Rogue said. She massaged her temples with her fingertips.

  “I agree. Stop it, you two,” Moran said with a stern look at each of them.

  “Alright, fine. Give me the box,” Bear said, relenting.

  Rogue stood up, only to drop the container when a terrific bang reverberated throughout the boat. The box crashed to the floor, but she stood frozen as a screech cut through the air. It sounded like nails on a chalkboard. Or, raptor claws on metal.

  Another bang sounded further up the boat, followed soon after by a third. Shrill cries echoed above their heads, and the blood ran cold in her veins. They were under attack.

  Seth stood up, his face impassive. He reached for his crossbow with one hand while the other rested on the hilt of his knife. “They’re here. Let’s go.”

  Rogue mentally shook herself free of the terror that had her in its grip, and she pulled out her machete. “I’m ready.”

  Seth shook his head. “No, not yet.”

  “What? Why?” she asked.

  “Stay here and wait,” Seth said.

  “Wait for what?” she asked, more than a little upset.

  “Wait for him,” Seth said in a low whisper. He nodded at Bruce, and she noticed how the man swayed on his feet.

  “What’s he doing? He can barely stand,” she said, horrified.

  “Exactly. I give him five minutes tops before he falls flat on his face,” Seth said. “That’s when he’ll nee
d you.”

  Bang.

  Thump.

  Thump, thump.

  Screech.

  “We’d better go,” Moran yelled. “Before they break through our defenses.”

  “Stay here,” Seth said. “I mean it, Rogue.”

  She sighed. “Fine. But only for a little while.”

  “Deal.” Seth planted a kiss on her lips. “Be careful.”

  “You too.”

  Chapter 8

  Seth and the rest ran out, leaving Rogue alone in the common room. She stood frozen for several seconds, listening to the raptors as they attacked the boat. Her heart thumped in her chest, a frightened rabbit running from the hungry fox.

  She could hear the group’s distant cries as they coordinated their defense, but in the room, all was still. Too nervous to sit down, she began to pace. Up and down, up and down until she couldn’t take it anymore. I can’t just stand here. I have to do something.

  Rogue ran out of the room and down the passage with her machete clutched in her right hand. She headed toward the nearest ruckus, hoping to arrive in time. There, she found Moran and Steven with their backs pressed to a hatch. It shook and shivered beneath the onslaught of a raptor.

  To Rogue, it sounded as if the creature was ramming it with its body, throwing itself at the barrier with sheer brute force. Somehow, it knew the square piece of metal was an opening or a weakness of some sort. Clever, indeed. “Shit. Are you okay?”

  Moran and Steven’s expressions were pale, and sweat poured down their faces. They were braced with their feet against a metal bar, wedged into the steps for precisely that purpose.

  “Rogue, what are you doing here?” Moran cried.

  “I came to help,” Rogue replied.

  “There’s nothing much you can do here,” Moran. “The door will hold for now.”

  “But—”

  “Check on Bruce,” Moran said, jerking her head to the right.

  “Are you sure?” Rogue asked, torn.

  “We’ve got this,” Steven said.

  Rogue sprinted in the direction Moran had indicated. It wasn’t long before she found Bruce and Steven. To her horror, one of the Utahraptors had broken through a window. The creature was wedged inside, its jaws snapping at Bruce who tried to hold it back with a piece of steel mesh.

  Seth had his crossbow at the ready, but the angle was too poor for a clear shot. He twisted and turned, attempting to find an opening. In the meantime, Bruce was weakening. His movements were slow and sluggish. Even as Rogue watched, his one hand slipped, and the mesh went with it.

  The raptor lunged forward but came up short. Its hindquarters were too big for the small opening. That didn’t deter it, however, and its long neck snaked outward. Dagger-like teeth the length of Rogue’s hand snapped at Bruce’s face. They clipped shut a millimeter away from his fragile flesh, a near miss. The beast shrieked in frustration, and it reared back for a second attempt.

  “Bruce, watch out,” Seth shouted.

  Bruce tried to get both hands up again, but he was too slow. This time, the raptor would get him.

  “No,” Rogue screamed. With a fierce war cry, she ran forward, the machete lifted above her head. She slashed at the creature’s neck and opened a deep cut. Blood sprayed from the wound and splashed her face.

  Rogue didn’t stop but kept hacking. Fear and anger drove her onward, and her arm rose and fell until she was coated in crimson. Bits of meat and skin flew through the air, and her hands grew slick with fluid. Finally, the machete slipped from her grasp and clattered to the ground.

  Heaving for breath, Rogue stared at the corpse in front of her. The raptor’s neck looked like raw hamburger meat, a mess of torn muscle, tendon, and hide. Its head drooped to the floor, its yellow eyes glazed over in death. Beneath it, a growing pool of blood spread across the floor, matching the splashes that covered the bulkhead and overhead.

  Rogue stooped to pick up her weapon. As she straightened up, she spat at the creature wedged inside the window. “Take that, you vicious beast.”

  “Rogue, what are you doing here?” Seth demanded. “I told you to stay put.”

  “I couldn’t,” Rogue said, wiping her eyes free of dino blood with the tail end of her shirt. “I’m not like that, Seth. The sooner you deal with that, the better.”

  That was the first time she acknowledged her discontent. Each time Seth tried to shield her from harm, she understood. But she also knew it couldn’t carry on for much longer. I’m a fighter, not a damsel in distress. I don’t belong in fairy tales.

  His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t reply. Instead, he pointed at Bruce. “Help me carry him to the common room. He’s done.”

  “I can hear you, you know,” Bruce mumbled, hunched over on one knee.

  A patch of fresh blood marred the back of his shirt, and Rogue hurried to his side. “You’re bleeding.”

  “How can you tell?” he asked with a low chuckle. “Just look at you. You look like you fell into a vat of the stuff.”

  “This is no time for jokes,” Rogue said with a frown. “You can’t even stand on your own two feet.”

  “I’m fine,” Bruce said. “I can still fight. Just give me my weapon.”

  “Stop saying that,” Rogue cried out, grinding her teeth in frustration. “You’re not fine. You’re anything but fine.”

  “Not true,” Bruce said, his mouth set in a stubborn line. With a grunt, he attempted to get to his feet, but his legs gave way. With a muttered curse, he crashed to the floor. “Help me up, damn it.”

  “No, that’s enough,” Seth said, his expression grim. “I’m taking you back, and Rogue will have a look at that wound. End of story.”

  “You can’t tell me what to do,” Bruce muttered.

  “Yes, I can. This is my boat, and Rogue is my girlfriend. I take full responsibility for her life, and right now, you’re putting her in danger.”

  “I’d never do that,” Bruce protested.

  “Listen to what’s happening around you,” Seth thundered, and they became aware of the bangs, shrieks, and crashes that seemed to come from everywhere at once. “We’re under attack. Moran, Bear, and Steven are doing the best they can while we’re stuck babysitting you.”

  “Seth, please…” Rogue began. “That’s a bit harsh.”

  “Is it?” Seth asked. “At this point, he’s nothing but a liability.”

  “I’m sure he doesn’t mean it like that,” Rogue said. “He’s trying to help. He’s being an ass about it, but he means well.”

  “Whatever,” Seth said, shaking his head. “I don’t have time for this. I have a boat to save.”

  Bruce sighed. “He’s right, Rogue. You both are. Take me to the common room, and I’ll behave.”

  “Finally,” Seth said. “Let’s move.”

  “What about that…thing?” Rogue asked, pointing at the dead raptor.

  “Leave it. As long as it’s blocking the hole, nothing’s getting in that way,” Seth replied.

  “Right,” Rogue said, putting away her machete.

  Seth crouched down and slid one arm underneath Bruce’s shoulder. As he lifted the man up, Bruce cried out in pain.

  “Watch out for his wound,” Rogue said, pointing at Bruce’s back.

  “Sorry,” Seth muttered.

  Rogue followed, wondering just how badly off Bruce was. She guessed it was severe, judging by how hard he’d tried to keep up appearances. He was every bit as stubborn as the rest of them, and she wondered if that meant they were all courageous or just plain stupid. My money’s on stupid.

  Once they reached the common room, Seth deposited Bruce on a chair. With Bruce lying on the table, Rogue would have clear access to the injury on his back.

  As he stepped back, Seth frowned. “You might want to restrain him. Tie him to the chair or something.”

  “Why?” Rogue asked.

  “So he’ll hold still while you treat him. It’s bound to hurt,” Seth said.

  “I don’t need to b
e tied down,” Bruce said with a hint of his old vigor. “Just give me some booze, and I’m good to go.”

  Seth pointed at the kitchen. “Pantry, top rack, left corner.”

  “Thanks,” Rogue said. A screech cut through the air, followed by a cry from someone in the group. Probably Moran. “You’d better go. It sounds like they need you.”

  Seth nodded. “If they get in, we’ll fall back to this position. Be ready.”

  Rogue nodded. “I will be.”

  He swooped in for a brief kiss before heading to the exit. As he ran, she said, “Don’t you dare die on me, Seth Waddell. You hear me?”

  He flashed her a grin across his shoulder. “Loud and clear.”

  Then he was gone, and Rogue turned her attention to the situation on hand: Bruce.

  Chapter 9

  Rogue eyed Bruce’s slumped form, worry churning in her gut. He was hurt badly, and she hoped she had what it took to fix him. Her experience with injuries was limited. Most of what she knew had been learned on the fly, but failure was not an option. This was Bruce’s life hanging on the line, and she couldn’t let him down.

  She’d known him since she was a child, barely ten years old. He’d joined the Rebel Faction before it was even a real movement. In no time at all, he’d become indispensable, both to them and the Faction itself.

  He was strong, brave, intelligent, and humble. An excellent fighter, he was an example to all around him. In short, he was everything a leader should be, and yet, he’d never tried to take over from Moran. Had never attempted to make her seem unworthy for the role or as if she was just a woman. Instead, he’d backed her all the way, even when times were tough, and the odds were stacked against them. In many ways, he was like a father to Rogue. I have to save him.

  Smoothing her bloodied hands across her even bloodier shirt, Rogue headed toward the pantry. She located the bottle of whiskey within seconds and unscrewed the top. Squeezing her eyes shut, she took a deep swallow.

  “Hey, that’s supposed to be mine,” Bruce protested.