Both idiots stop bickering and turn their attention to me. All the annoyance and humour from their argument is gone from their faces, replaced by determination. We’ve all been out in this world long enough to know when to take shit seriously.
“Since we’re coming up to a small town, about two hundred metres ahead, I’m thinking we keep to the outskirts and find a house that’s a little separated from the rest. Maybe one that’s on the edge of this green belt, in case we need to bug out.”
Both men nod.
“I’ll take point. Alex, you stay in the middle and Theo, you take up the rear.”
Alex’s jaw tightens, and his blue eyes flash with anger. “Theo took rear last time and the time before that. Don’t you trust me to watch out backs?”
I bite back a sigh. “I do, but I like having you directly behind me, just in case.”
He grinds his teeth but stays silent.
I understand Alex feels like I baby him and maybe, to a certain degree, I do. As a former rugby player, he’s never had to make decisions in a life or death situation like I have during my service, or like Theo has as a paramedic. I trust him with my life, but I don’t want him to have to make the hard choices. At least one person in this shitty world should keep their humanity, and that person is Alex.
“Let’s move. I want to be bedded down by the time the sun sets.” I estimate we have roughly forty-five minutes to locate and clear a suitable shelter. More than enough time as long as we don’t run into trouble.
I unhook my CQB Carbine rifle from where it hangs on my hip and do my final checks on the weapon. Alex and Theo follow suit, taking out the Glock 19s we scavenged from an air base a few months after the world went to shit. Ready, they nod to me and I move, taking point as we head toward the town.
We only just reach the road that leads through the housing estate at the edge of the town when a low growl followed by a feminine scream echoes down the street. Before I can react, Alex—the big, stupid brute—charges forward like he’s in the middle of a fucking rugby match. I curse andchase after him with Theo hot on my heels just as Alex darts down an alleyway that cuts between two houses.
We follow, only for my steps to slow as I take in the chaotic scene on the road in front of us.
Six men are converging on a woman struggling beneath a man who’s having a tough time trying to keep her restrained. One man is trying and failing to defend himself against what looks to be a blue Merle Australian Sheppard while two others are warily advancing toward a black and white horse that’s charging and striking out at them. The fifth guy is being attacked by a squawking magpie and the sixth is rushing over to help the man restrain the woman.
What. The. Actual. Fuck.
Alex holsters his handgun and barrels toward the man failing to restrain the woman, just as she unsheathes a wicked-looking knife and stabs her attacker in the leg. The man howls in pain as she yanks the knife out of his thigh.
“How’s that for using the correct weapon!” she snarls as she tries to stab him again. He grabs her wrist before she can and slams her hand into the tarmac. The woman cries out in pain and drops the knife just as Alex reaches them and hauls the guy off her.
This causes the man hurrying over to help his buddy to change tactics and instead race toward Alex. I put a bullet in his head before he can get close.
That catches the attention of the two men who were approaching the horse. They change tactics, using abandoned cars as cover against the rampaging horse to rush toward Alex, who’s now in a fistfight with the first guy. I aim and squeeze out two shots, one for each man. The bullets hit their targets and the two collapse to the ground, dead. A shot ringsout from Theo and the guy getting attacked by the magpie screams as he drops to the ground. He fires another round, and the guy falls silent.
The woman scrambles to her feet, a bow in hand with an arrow ready to fire. “Harlow! Heel!”
The dog—who’s ripping at the guy’s leg as he bellows—drops its prey and races toward the woman. I’m impressed by the control she has over it as the dog stands next to her legs, snarling. A shot rings out from Theo and the man the dog attacked collapses to the ground, dead. The only man left alive is the one getting pummelled by Alex.
“Alex, move,” I bark out.
He shoots me a glare but does as I say, giving me the perfect shot. I take it and the last guy falls dead. With the threats neutralised, we all lower our weapons and turn toward the woman. She’s backed up to stand next to the horse, bow drawn, and the snarling dog at her feet. I barely pay attention to it because I’m completely captivated by the woman.
She appears to be in good condition, her body well-fed but lean with muscle that comes from hard work. She’s wearing a pair of jeans smeared with blood and dirt and an oversized grey hoodie that’s in similar condition. The hoodie makes her look tiny, fragile, and her delicate facial features only add to that. But the hard look of determination in her green eyes highlight an inner strength, one that’s probably kept her alive in this brutal world.
Strands of her chestnut hair have escaped from the braid and brush against her fine cheekbones. For some odd reason, I have an overwhelming urge to tuck those strands behind her ears and stroke her cheeks. My hands flex on my weapon as I banish the thought from my mind.
“Stay back,” the woman demands, aiming her bow toward us, or rather me.
At least she’s intelligent enough to know who’s the biggest threat out of all of us. Or maybe it’s because I’m the one holding the biggest gun.
Alex holds his hands up in surrender and takes a step toward her. “We’re not here to hurt you,” he says in a low, calm voice.
Her eyes widen, and she jerks her aim toward him. “I said, stay back!” Her hands tremble, her knuckles torn and bloody, and there’s a slight grimace on her face that tells me she’s in pain. She’s minutes from crashing and I’d rather she did that somewhere softer and not on the tarmac.
“Come on, sweetheart, we just saved your life. We’re not out here to hurt you, I promise,” Alex says, trying again, but she’s not listening to him. All she’s seeing is a huge brute who’s just beaten the shit out of another guy.
She just shakes her head and takes a step back. “Just go back the way you came and keep your distance.”
