Page 120 of Born Savage

Star flanked my side. “What if we’re finally on the right path?”

“Don’t get your hopes up.”

Her fingertips were magic. When she placed them on my chest, a calm swept over me. “Have faith.”

I gripped her hand, squeezing those magical fingers. She offered a smile, although when I looked into her eyes, I could see such pain, fighting the very fear I knew she loathed. Her smile faded and I could feel a shift. Now her fingers were freezing cold, shaking even while in my hold. “What’s wrong?”

Beads of perspiration had formed over her upper lip. “Nothing’s wrong. Just tired. That’s all.”

“Yep, this was a road. I’m surprised it’s in such good condition,” Wrath called, interrupting.

She pulled away, taking a single stumbling step. Now her focus was on Wren.

Wren nodded. The two of them had grown very close, able to communicate without speaking.

“How can you tell?” Vicious croaked.

“Don’t you see the asphalt? This used to be a road.” Wrath seemed thoroughly convinced.

I moved closer, bending down and scraping some snow but mostly dirt away from the spot in front of me. “He’s right.” I peered ahead, taking a deep whiff. There was a strange combination of moss and mold.

“What is that sound?” Vicious craned his neck.

With another few steps, I heard a distinctive sound. “A body of water.”

Woof. Woof. Woof.

Suddenly, Jake started barking.

“Stay here,” I told Star and jogged through an open field, shielding my eyes.

“What is he barking at?” Blade asked and we all turned around.

“Do you hear that?” Rock moved toward the sound. “What the fuck?”

There were Dwellers heading in our direction. “Back up now.”

“How the fuck are they moving in the light?” Wizard hissed.

Vicious growled. “They’ve evolved.”

Jake kept barking, but he wasn’t interested in attacking the creatures following us. He was more interested in us following him. He darted onto the very road where we’d been standing moments before.

“Jake. What is it?”

“We need to follow.” Wren’s small voice cut through the moment. “It’s time.”

Time. Time for what? To face death? Even after the dream from the night before, believing in the shadowed memories remained difficult. However, with another group of Dwellers approaching, we had no other choice.

I glanced at Star who nodded. “Let’s go. We don’t have anything to lose.”

“Jake,” Wren said, her voice much louder than any of us had heard before. “Find home.”

Star and I looked at each other, the corners of her mouth upturning. Jake responded to her command instantly, rushing down the very path Wrath had discovered.

After I scooped Wren into my arms, we followed, running to try to get some distance between us and the Dwellers. It wasn’t long before the smell shifted in the light breeze. While the scent of the water lingered, there was also a stench of death. I had no clue how, but the Dwellers were gaining on us.

“Faster,” Vicious said after looking toward where we’d come from.