I know I have him by the balls. Ruaridh said he’s all about ego, he doesn’t think situations through. Right now I am dangling Ruaridh on a stick ready for him to have. And I can tell by the hungry look in his eye, he wants Ru way more than he cares about anything I need.
Malcolm grunts, inclining his head for me to follow, and barks for his minion to come too. I feel his glare on my back, the anger radiating off of him but the thing about growing up in the apocalypse is that I’ve seen just about it all now and some Chihuahua yapping at my heels is more entertaining than concerning.
As we walk through the carriages I become more and more impressed. Somehow, they have connected up each of the subways, ripped out the interior and replaced it with different sections.
There is no way either of these idiots managed to organise any of this and by the way they carelessly stomp through each carriage, it’s obvious they don’t care for any of it.
But I can’t help but be intrigued. Not only do they have electricity, but they also have a spotless space. It even smells clean.
Well, apart from the two accompanying me. They look like slimy bastards. Old sweat darkens Malcolm's shirt, the blue a darker shade in certain areas. Looks like he doesn’t wash his clothes either.
‘Kate,’ he shouts out as he takes a sharp turn out of one of the sliding doors.
We hop down onto gravelled flooring and into an open space littered with different subway carts. Some are noticeably older than the others, those ones are less lit and some windows have coverings concealing whatever is inside. The newer white ones are bright with white light illuminating the immaculate insides.
‘Where the fuck is the useless bitch. Kate!’
I have never taken kindly to men speaking poorly of women. Even when I was a kid, I’d get myself into all sorts of fights with the other lads over name-calling.
If Malcolm’s not careful, he’ll experience the same treatment.
A small head peaks up in one of the brightly lit carts. Her features strained as she searches for the man shouting. Then her gaze lands on Malcolm and I watch as her eyes hone in on him, narrowing as something passes over her face before she shakes it off and softens her features.
Hmm, strange creatures these subway people.
‘Here. Now.’ He barks and I really don’t like his tone.
Kate scrambles out of the cart and I don’t miss the way her hands tremble a little as she approaches us. Jaded eyes flick my way, taking in my masked appearance and no doubt the meaning behind it all.
The Skulls have a bad reputation around the city. There's no two ways about it. But we did what we had to do to survive, especially back a few years ago when the city was nothing but a hunting ground to destroy the weak.
I still remember the screams we would hear echoing through the night. Every now and then, there are random sounds in the night that cause me to wake. The noise often reminds me of their fear. I’ve gotten up to find at least one of the others suffering the same way I was.
But ever since Isla I’ve not had that. I've not heard them. I’ve only heard her, only thought of her and what could make her smile.
I wonder if she’s noticed my absence yet? Is it selfish of me to hope she has?
I never want her to suffer, not ever again. Even if she has noticed me not being there I hope she’s keeping herself occupied, like I know she will.
Fuck that woman’s amazing. And she doesn’t stop for a second. Her drive is admirable and her strength and courage are nothing short of an inspiration. I’ve seen her struggle, so anything I can do to help alleviate that, I have done it, just like I will continue to do until I die.
‘Yes?’ Kate asks her voice louder than I expected.
‘He wants…’ Malcolm trails off. ‘What do ye want?’
I eye him, weighing up whether I want this asshole to know my weakness.
Fuck it. I can always kill him anyway.
‘Equipment to help give birth.’ I state, watching for their reaction.
Kate surprisingly doesn’t give anything away. Schooling her features into utter blankness.
Malcolm, on the other hand, is not so secretive in his thoughts, preferring to come straight out with his useless questions.
‘What you need that for?’
‘We need to repopulate the city don’t we.’
