Page 58 of Claimed By Ruin

Too fucking quiet.

I fought to keep my unease at bay, but it crept up my spine with every second that ticked by. A half hour into my search, and I didn’t see a single soul. When I made it to the end of Main Street, I headed towards the water tower. There was a modular office out front. It was probably a construction office before, but now, located next to the best vantage point, it made a perfect guard station.

Bingo.

Having finally spotted someone, I slowly approached the office and had my gun at the man’s head before he woke up from his nap. He sat in a foldable camp chair, with three other chairs flanking him.

Those chairs were empty, but someone was here. There was an opened can of potted meat that was half-eaten, two crumpled plastic water bottles, a shot glass.

“Take me to Christopher,” I said to the man.

“I—”

I pressed the gun to his head harder. “No bullshit. Take me to him.”

The man hit my forearms, struggling to break my hold. “He’s gone,” the man said.

“What do you mean he’s gone?”

“He’s not here. He’s⁠—”

I jammed my knife into the man’s temple. He dropped in an ignominious heap when I let him go.

I paid him no attention and moved before I wiped the blood off my knife.

Christopher wasn’t here.

But I knew where he was.

I set off in a dead sprint.

EIGHTEEN

Asia

“You should be resting, sweetheart,” Uncle Levi said when I yawned.

“Now I know what you would say to me if I said that to you, so same rules apply,” I said.

He laughed. “Yeah, you never did listen to your elders.”

I patted his hand, then frowned as I stared at him. “What is it?” I said, knowing he had something on his mind.

“How long you and Jack gonna keep this up?”

“Oh my God,” I responded, rolling my eyes.

Uncle Levi did not look impressed. “Your theatrics and whatnot have no effect on me, girl. You should know that by now.”

“Uncle Levi…”

“Uncle Levi nothing. You know I need to make sure you’re taken care of, you and that baby, once I’m gone.”

“Don’t say that!” I stared at him with pleading eyes. He just shooed me away.

“I’m old and feeble, but I ain’t crazy. Clock’s ticking, and we both know it.”

“Seriously, Uncle Levi…”