The female guards positioned Kate against the wall while the male guards guided Nick to the one opposite her. The staff involved in the search faced the wall toward whom they were inspecting. The men would not be able to see Kate, and the female guards would not be viewing Nick.
As he undressed, Nick kept his eyes to the floor while the guards scanned his body for bite marks or scratches.
The women gazed at Kate expectantly, and Kate peeled her shirt over her head. She tossed it to the ground and then unclasped her bra. With trembling hands, she removed it, exposing her breasts to the cold air of the building. Kate’s hands shook with the departure of each item.
She dipped her thumbs into the waistband of her pants and slid them off one leg at a time. When she removed her underwear, one of the females gasped aloud. She had caught sight of the jagged divots in Kate’s skin where she suffered torture and abuse. Discolored ribbons snaked up her thighs, ending in Kate’s mutilated genitalia. Instinctively, Kate moved her hands to cover herself as tears hung heavy at the corners of her eyes.
The woman’s sharp intake of breath was deafening; surely the whole room heard it. Without thinking, Kate’s eyes darted to Nick, fearful that the sound drew his attention to her. He never faltered; his eyes were still focused on the floor.
And now, Kate was looking at Nick. She did not intend to stare, but she could not wrench her eyes away from the sight of him. Tattoos snaked across every inch of his body except the most sensitive parts—his groin and his waist surrounding it. The muscles in his broad shoulders bulged as he held his arms tight, covering his lap with his hands. A lock of brown hair fell across his forehead as he cast his eyes to the floor. Nick’s quadriceps were like concrete blocks holding up his tall body.
Kate’s breath quickened, and she realized she was biting her lower lip. An ache ran rampant through her body, and she forced her eyes away. When Kate’s gaze returned to the women surveying her, she remembered the shock and disgust aimed at her appearance. Compared to Nick’s smooth skin, sculpted muscles, and impeccable body, Kate felt inadequate.
The blemishes and disfigurements between Kate’s legs heated as inferiority conquered her. The female guards had moved on to view other areas of her body. Kate assumed they were purposely avoiding the tainted sections so as not to convey how uncomfortable the sight made them.
With the inspection completed and the pair deemed satisfactory, they adorned their clothing once more. Nick went to Kate and took her hand.
When her expression appeared rattled, Nick opened his mouth to speak before Marcus invaded the moment.
“Everything checks out. I can show you some of the quarters we have available if you’d like.”
Nick’s eyes lingered on Kate a moment longer before turning to him and accepting the offer.
The three walked across a large, open courtyard. Tables and chairs took up space in the middle, where people were sitting and eating meals. On the outer edges, booths were set up offering clothing or fresh-cooked food. Kate could feel eyes piercing her as she accompanied Nick and Marcus across the sunny area.
Kate’s attention snagged on one of the tables furthest from them. Just as her gaze landed on the man sitting in a chair before a plate of food, he turned his face away from her, but not before presenting her with a devilish smirk. The man’s features were familiar, and his identity traipsed along the outskirts of her mind.
An arm wrapping around Kate’s shoulder pulled her away from the strain of remembrance. She looked up to see Nick with a concerned smile.
“You okay?” he asked.
Kate slid an arm around his waist and leaned into his comfort. “I’m okay.”
Marcus led the pair to a room within a well-kept barracks. The room was modestly furnished, with twin-sized beds pushed against either side of the walls. Each cot was fixed up with sheets and pillowcases. The bathroom contained simple toiletries.
“It isn’t much, but it’s what we can offer for now. If you all need anything else, just head out to the square. We have looting parties that bring things back and give away what they don’t need,” Marcus said.
“Thanks, man. We really appreciate it,” Nick replied. Marcus gave a quick nod and left.
“It’s better than a tent,” Kate commented.
“Or a hospital bed.” Nick grinned.
“Only one thing can make this even better,” Kate said.
Nick scrunched his eyebrows in question.
“The beds.” Kate pointed from one bed to the other. “Can you move them together?”
Nick grinned. “Absolutely.” He pulled the bed on the right side away from the window and moved it across the floor until it butted up against the other, giving the appearance of a full-size bed.
“Perfect,” Kate said with a smile.
Chapter 11
After a hot meal, Nick stepped into Marcus’ office. The fort’s leader was pouring over a map and held up a finger to Nick, implying he would be with him in a moment. Nick sat in one of the cracked pleather seats, put a hand to his belly full of food, and looked around the office. The room was a sight to behold, as was most of Fort Vanguard. The tidy decor, the furniture arrayed in a usable fashion, and the appearance of occupancy contrasted from the vacuous world Nick knew.
A few days had passed since Nick and Kate gained residency at the fort. Nick sought out what he assumed would be found. A dark spot. A stain. Some underlying evil that would either need to be exterminated or cause the couple to meet their end.
