The Last Struggle - A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller (Ravaged Land: Divided Book 3) Read online

  “Let’s go tell the others,” Shawn said taking my hand into his. “And get you some breakfast.”

  I sat at the cleaned table with a bowl of rice in front of me, listening as Shawn told the others what he’d seen. At first they’d been just as panicked as I had been that he’d come back, but it hadn’t taken long for Shawn to calm them.

  Charlie hugged herself looking smaller than she had the last time I’d seen her only hours ago.

  “We’ll just keep watching. If he comes back, we’ll take care of it,” Shawn said rubbing his hands together. “Now that we know he’s a native there should be no qualms about doing what needs to be done.”

  Ryder and Logan both nodded.

  “Good.” Shawn walked over to the window at the front of the house and peeked out. I could tell by the lack of expression on his face that nothing had changed. The man hadn’t come back. And hopefully, he never would. “Looks like the rain is letting up. Anyone up for some fishing?”

  Logan clapped his hands together. “Sounds good to me. I’m pretty sure I felt a bite last time.”

  “Yeah, right,” Charlie muttered with a smile on her face.

  Shawn opened the door, and everyone followed him outside, everyone except for Ryder and me. “You two coming?”

  Ryder looked at me and then over at the sofa. “Why don’t you go on ahead.”

  “OK,” I said tempted to ask him why he didn’t want to come along, but it felt weird prying with Shawn watching us. Maybe Ryder was just tired, but either way, I hated leaving him alone inside the house.

  By the time Shawn and I stepped off of the porch, Logan was already out of the storage building carrying the fishing poles. Charlie and Abby were tagging along just behind him whispering back and forth.

  I knew Shawn had suggested the whole fishing thing because he wanted to keep a three hundred and sixty degree view of our surroundings. Well, it would mostly be a full view except for where the few trees would block the way.

  “Are you worried he’s going to run off?” Shawn asked with a slight curl to his lips.

  “No,” I said narrowing my eyes at him. “At least I hadn’t been until now.”

  “He won’t leave. He’s exhausted. Just like you were yesterday.” Shawn put his hand around my shoulders. “No one can run on empty for long, not even Ryder.”

  I blew out a puff of air remembering how we’d found Shawn. He’d been knocking at death’s door. That was what I called running on empty, not what I’d experienced.

  “He’s not going to leave,” Shawn said, but he could tell I didn’t fully believe him. “Think about it. He’d never go without telling Logan and Charlie. Never.”

  He was absolutely right. After everything, that was one thing that I could believe. Ryder wouldn’t ever do that to them.

  “OK maybe he won’t leave, but what if that guy comes back, and this time he goes into the house instead?” I asked.

  “As long as he doesn’t bring back an army, I’d put my money on Ryder.” Shawn rubbed his hand up and down on my shoulder. “And if the drunk does bring an army, we’ll see them coming.”

  I hugged myself trying to shake away the chill in the air. The days had been warm, but the rain and storms had cooled everything down. Once the gray clouds moved out of the way, the sun would warm everything up again, I was sure of it.

  When we reached the lake, Logan was showing Charlie how to fish, while Abby walked back and forth on a narrow wooden pier I hadn’t noticed the last time I’d been at the lake.

  “Catch anything yet?” Shawn asked, and Logan waved away his words before showing Charlie how to cast.

  A worm wiggled by on the ground near one of the puddles, and I wondered if Logan had picked up one of its friends to use as bait.

  “That thing doesn’t look very sturdy,” Shawn said nodding toward Abby.

  I watched as she walked out further away from the shore. At the end of the pier, she looked down into the water.

  “Hey!” she turned around waving her arms wildly. “I see one!”

  “Abby,” Shawn said, his shoulders stiffened. “Come on back.”

  “Did you hear me?” she said turning her body sharply. The excited expression slipped off her face when the board beneath her cracked, dropping her into the murky water.

  She sank like a rock. Logan dropped the fishing pole and started walking into the lake.

  “Abby!” he shouted and just as her head popped up.

  Abby gasped for air. She wasn’t swimming. Her arms were flapping around in every direction, and she slowly sank back down.

  “She can’t swim,” I said moving forward. Logan was already moving quickly as he splashed deeper into the water. He’d only taken about five steps before the bottoms seemed to drop out from under him.

  6

  The surface of the water rippled aggressively after Logan dove in the same spot Abby had sunk. It felt like too much time had gone by since Logan went under. They both should have been back to the surface by now.

  I rubbed my hands together and took another step toward the water. Charlie was sobbing quietly next to me, but all I could think about was whether or not I should go in after them.

  I was about to say something when Logan broke through the surface gasping hungrily for air. He didn’t have Abby with him.

  “Oh, God!” Charlie moaned.

  Logan filled his lungs with air and went back under. I started to walk into the water, but I hadn’t made it more than a half of a step before Shawn pulled me back.

  “Not going to happen,” Shawn said, between quick breaths.

  “He needs help,” I said unable to take my eyes off of the surface of the water.

  “Then I’ll go. You stay with Charlie,” Shawn said ripping off his shirt.

  My heart clenched at the idea of him going into the dark water. Just when he unbuttoned his pants, Logan broke through the surface again, this time he wasn’t alone. He was holding what looked like an under-stuffed doll in his arms.

  “Abby!” Charlie said.

  Shawn stepped into the water carefully as if he was afraid of being sucked under. He reached out to help Logan and Abby out of the lake. Logan and Shawn eased Abby’s limp body down onto the muddy ground inches away from a puddle.

  “She’s not breathing,” Charlie screeched, as she dropped down to her knees next to Abby’s unmoving body.

  Logan was down on one knee working to bring back enough oxygen into his lungs. Shawn placed his palms over one another and rapidly pumped Abby’s chest.

  She didn’t move.

  Shawn tilted her head back and took in a deep breath before blowing the air into Abby’s mouth. He paused to suck in more oxygen before blowing a second time.

  Still, nothing happened.

  “Oh my God!” Charlie said covering her mouth with her shaking hands as Shawn started pumping Abby’s chest again.

  Logan was at my side when Abby suddenly coughed up a mouth full of water and gurgled it in the back of her throat. Shawn rolled her onto her side, and murky water poured out of her mouth onto the ground. She was choking and struggling to get air, but she was moving.

  “Help!” she said with panicked eyes. Abby started moving her body as if she was trying to get away.

  “I’m trying,” Shawn said as he patted her back gently. Logan moved closer and help Shawn hold her in place. It was like her body was still trying to swim to the surface, and that she hadn’t fully grasped the fact that she was out of the water.

  When the water stopped leaking out of the corner of her mouth, she sucked in several sharp breaths that looked as though they were causing her immense pain.

  “You’re going to be OK,” Shawn murmured several times before sucking a deep breath to refill his own lungs.

  Beads of sweat dripped down from the sides of Shawn’s face while tears streamed down Charlie’s cheeks. I stared at them on the ground not knowing exactly how to process the events.

  “I can’t,” Abby said gasping for air
, “swim.”

  “You’re on land, now,” Logan said brushing several loose strands of hair out of her face. “We should get her inside.”

  Logan scooped her up and carried her toward the house. Charlie followed along, clasping her hands tightly in front of her chest.

  I stretched out my hand for Shawn to help him up, but he shook his head. He was still working to calm himself.

  “Are you OK?” I asked.

  “Yes,” he said tilting his head down as he ran his hand through his hair slowly.

  “Where did you learn how to do that?” I asked. If Shawn hadn’t been at the lake, Abby would have probably died. I wouldn’t have known the first thing about how to save her, and I was pretty sure by the looks they’d worn on their faces that neither had Logan nor Charlie.

  “The Evolved.” He held up his palm as he stood, placing his hands on his hips. “I saw someone do it one time. I honestly can’t believe it worked.”

  “You saved her life,” I said, looking at him. It didn’t seem as though he had fully grasped what he’d done.

  He let out a heavy breath only to take in one that was even bigger. Shawn was struggling to catch his breath. “I saved her and now she has to live another day in this world.”

  “I’m sure she’s thankful that you did.”

  “Let’s get back,” Shawn said walking toward the house. It was obvious that he didn’t want to talk about it any longer.

  I was sure he was glad he’d saved her too, but I could understand where he was coming from. It wasn’t like we had an easy life. Death perhaps would have been easier.

  When we got back to the house, Logan and Ryder were making sure Abby was comfortable in the bedroom that was next to the master bedroom. Shawn sat down in the living room chair, resting his head on his palms as he slowly rocked back and forth.

  Ryder was asking if there was anything he could get for Abby while Logan fussed over the blanket. Apparently, he just couldn’t get it straight enough. Charlie stood there holding Abby’s wet clothes staring at Logan.

  “Um, I’m going to go hang these out to dry,” Charlie said, and quickly backed out of the room.

  “Let me come with you,” I said, but Ryder was shaking his head.

  “Stay. I’ll go with her,” Ryder said glancing back at Abby. “Keep an eye on her.”

  Abby looked tired, pale, and cold, but she seemed to think all the fussing and worrying was a bit much. It also looked as though she may have been enjoying some of it.

  “Look at what they found for me to wear,” Abby said pulling the blanket back slightly. It was a faded lavender colored nightgown that was about three sizes too big for her.

  “It’s lovely,” I said flashing her a big grin.

  “It’s dry,” Abby said smiling back.

  Logan moved the blankets around again into the exact position they’d been in before Abby had moved them. “It looks nice on you. It’s big but nice.”

  Abby’s eyelids fluttered. “Thank you, Logan. That’s sweet of you to say.”

  It struck me at that moment something about Logan had changed. I don’t know if it had been Abby’s near-fatal drowning or if it was something I was only first noticing, but around her, he was softer. There was a tiny twinkle in his eye, and I was pretty sure she had it in her eyes too when she looked up at him and smiled.

  “Hungry?” I asked suddenly feeling like a third wheel. “I could make you some rice.”

  “No,” she said patting her stomach. “My stomach doesn’t feel quite right. Maybe later?”

  “Sure,” I said looking into the hallway. “I’ll just go check on Shawn.”

  “Tell him thanks,” Abby called out as I walked out of the room. It was loud enough that I was sure Shawn had heard her.

  Shawn had calmed and was lounging back in the chair, still rocking back and forth, but at a slow, steady pace. His hands were folded in his lap and his eyes focused on the window.

  I walked over to the window to make sure everything was as it should be. When I turned to him his eyes were glued to me.

  “No one’s out there,” I said, and his head bobbed up and down a single time. “Can I get you anything?”

  “I think I just need to rest.” Shawn looked down the hallway.

  “Why not sleep in the master bedroom? The bed is comfortable. It’s a little musty smelling, but it’s better than the chair,” I said, and Shawn scooted forward. “You sure?”

  I smiled. “Yeah of course. I’ll keep watch.”

  He stood up and walked down the hall. I listened to his slow footsteps fade as he made his way to the master bedroom.

  Shawn probably needed rest more than any of us. He always seemed to be the one keeping watch. Last one to bed and first one up in the morning. I was pretty sure that even when he slept, it was with one eye open.

  I looked back out the window and watched as Ryder and Charlie made their way back to the house. Charlie was talking, and Ryder kept nodding along. She was probably filling him in on what had happened at the lake.

  When they got back inside, Ryder and Charlie both walked right past me without a word and headed into the kitchen. They spoke so softly that I couldn’t make out their words, but after a moment, Charlie was making her way into the basement.

  Ryder came into the living room and got the fire going. He was probably going to work on making more rice.

  “Want to go fishing with me?” he asked over his shoulder.

  “Me?” I asked wondering why he hadn’t asked Charlie. I was almost tempted to ask, but afraid how it might sound.

  He looked at me over his shoulder wearing a smile. “Yeah, why not? I guess Abby saw a fish right before she fell in. It’s worth a shot isn’t it?”

  “Sure,” I said wondering if I should let Shawn know where I was going, but I didn’t want to wake him. He’d probably be asleep for a while. “What’s Charlie doing?”

  “She’s going to make some rice. Ready?” Ryder asked standing at the door. “If you don’t want to, I can go alone.”

  “No, it’s fine, I’ll join you. I don’t have anything else to do. It has to be better than staring at the wall.”

  Ryder smiled. “Probably not by much.”

  I followed him out of the house, back to the lake. We didn’t have to stop for the fishing poles because they’d been left at the lake after the Abby incident.

  “Have you fished before?” Ryder asked when we got to the lake. He dug around in some of the loose mud and quickly found a thick, dirt-covered worm.

  “With my dad,” I said as he folded the worm onto my hook.

  He smiled and nodded at the lake. “Go on then, let’s see what you got.”

  I chuckled as launched the hook out as far into the lake as I could.

  “Nice,” Ryder said as he released his line, going only about half the distance I had. “This one is in worse condition.”

  I laughed.

  Ryder pointed to the rust and grime near the reel. “See?”

  We sat there in silence for quite a while, with nothing happening. Perhaps what Abby had seen had been a reflection of a cloud or some random debris floating through the water.

  The world around us was quiet. There was a gentle sloshing of the water as it touched the muddy shore, but that was the only sound. The gray clouds that still covered the sky looked as though they could drop water down on us at any moment.

  “This is useless,” I said as I considered reeling in my line.

  “Shh,” Ryder said, looking down at his line. The tip of his rod bent down ever so slightly, and Ryder jerked the pole back to hook the fish. “I got one!”

  “It’s probably a muddy stick,” I muttered, but when whatever was on the other end seemed to be fighting back, I was pretty sure it wasn’t a muddy stick.

  The pole squeaked as Ryder continued to reel it in. I hoped that the line would hold long enough for us to at least see what was on the other end of his line.

  After another minute or so, the flopping fis
h was out of the water. It was a dark brown shade, different from what my dad used to catch, but there was no doubt that it was in fact, a fish.

  “Ah-ha!” Ryder said once he got it onto the muddy ground. The fish’s tail flipped around desperately trying to get itself back into the water. “Sorry little guy.”

  Ryder looked up at me, his eyes glimmering with pride. The fish was about the size of my foot, but he couldn’t have looked more excited about the catch.

  “Where there’s one, there’s more, right?” Ryder said raising his brow.

  “Let’s hope.”

  He took the fish off of the hook and dropped it in a bucket Logan must have brought out earlier. “Try for more?”

  I grinned and nodded eagerly. I wanted to catch one too.

  7

  That night after our rice and fish dinner we sat around in the living room. Shawn had rested, but he still looked tired.

  I sat by the window looking out into the darkness watching the shadows dance around in the strong winds. The rain had started again and deepened the puddles that had been there from the last rainfall.

  Abby was resting on the sofa, and she was looking toward the hallway. The events of the day had probably worn her out, and she wanted to get more rest in the bed.

  Logan’s eyes were on Abby, worry all but leaked out of them. He must have sensed me watching him because his eyes shifted over to meet mine for a split second.

  “I can’t believe you were right about the fish,” Ryder said rubbing his palm on his thigh as he rocked back and forth in the chair.

  Shawn looked at me from across the room and based on his expression it almost seemed as if he could read my thoughts. I was worried that having fish in the pond was only going to make everyone want to stay in the farmhouse longer. And the worst part of it was that I wasn’t sure that we shouldn’t.

  The man that had stumbled his way into the storage shed had perhaps been a random occurrence. Maybe it was just where he had decided to pass out. He hadn’t come back, and he hadn’t brought anyone back, but of course, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t. Maybe the rest of his people were far, far away from the farm. It could take days for them to travel back.