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

  “OK,” Ryder said, staring at me for a moment before turning to walk back toward Charlie.

  I made up my mind that when I brought up the rice, I’d make sure he got some sleep. He’d probably also be happy to hear about the small improvements Logan had made.

  I turned back toward the window, but Shawn must have still been at the lake. Soft words that I couldn’t make out drifted toward my ears from down the hall. It wasn’t just one voice, it was two. Logan was awake again.

  I moved the curtain out of the way unable to take the smile off of my face. I was excited to share the news with Shawn, but he still wasn’t on his way back. What was taking him so long?

  Just as I was about to open the door to go out to the lake, something outside caught my eye. There was movement.

  It was the man. He was back, and he wasn’t alone.

  14

  I hoped that Shawn had spotted the native man and was staying out of view. Maybe that’s why he wasn’t coming back, maybe he’d seen them coming long before I had.

  The man was dragging along another man who had a ripped piece of dirty fabric tied over his eyes. His hands were bound in front of his body, and it was more than obvious he wasn’t tagging along with the native by choice. The blindfolded man was his captive.

  He turned his head around frantically as if trying to figure out where he was, but since he couldn’t see he was in a state of panic. The markings on the sides of his face were bold, and he had far more of them than Shawn did. There was no doubt in my mind that he was one of The Evolved.

  “What’s going on?” I whispered to myself. Maybe I should have gone up the stairs to inform Ryder, or down the hall to warn Abby, but I kept my feet firmly planted in place. I didn't want to look away, not even for a second.

  The man walked straight toward the storage building just as he had when he’d had the bottle hostage. This time the man hadn’t looked drunk. His face was puffy, but for the most part, he walked a straight line.

  He glanced toward the house but seemed uninterested. I pulled out my gun just in case he decided to change his direction.

  It wouldn’t be hard to take him out. In fact, I may not even need my gun, unless of course he was carrying a weapon and I just wasn’t seeing it.

  Once the man was inside the building, I saw Shawn sneaking up on the other side. He was moving slowly, carefully looking around for the man. I waved at him to come to the house, but I wasn’t even sure if he could see me.

  He looked around the corner of the storage building, and when he didn’t see the man he ran toward the house, but he didn’t come for the front door. It took me a second to realize he was running toward the back of the house.

  I took one quick look at the storage building before darting through the house to the back door. Shawn was already standing there before I pulled back the curtain to make sure he was alone.

  I opened the door, and Shawn stepped inside, soundlessly closing the door behind himself. He bent in half at his middle, placing his hands on his knees as he held himself up. Each breath he took in was quick. Shawn straightened himself, stepped around me, and walked back into the living room.

  I checked the lock on the backdoor before following him into the other room.

  “Have you told the others?” Shawn said still working to catch his breath.

  “No. Not yet.”

  “Maybe you should.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t need to bother them. If he comes to the house,” I said holding up my gun, “I’ll take care of it.”

  Shawn looked at me and then up the stairs. His eyebrows squeezed together for a moment before the wrinkles in his forehead relaxed, and he nodded.

  “OK,” Shawn said turning his focus back to what was going on outside the window. “Be ready.”

  I was ready, but I also didn’t think that the man was going to come to the house. For whatever reason, the only thing he cared about seemed to be that storage building.

  The minutes ticked by turning into hours, and nothing seemed to be happening. We’d spent most of the day taking turns staring out the window.

  Shawn couldn’t make any rice because we were out of water. The small amount of water we had left had gone into Logan’s glass. He would have split it between Charlie and Logan, but Charlie’s glass was still full from the last refill. She’d stopped drinking.

  I’d updated Abby and Ryder, but neither of them seemed to care. Ryder was completely on board with shooting him if he came near the house, in fact, he’d even suggested going out there and taking care of it, so we didn’t have to worry about whatever he was doing.

  But I didn’t want to use the bullet if I didn’t have to.

  Beads of sweat dripped down the sides of my face. The house was warm even though the fire had gone out at some point earlier in the day. I hoped that once the rain stopped, the humidity would disappear. The cold winter had been terrible, but this wasn’t any better.

  “Any movement?” I asked for probably the thirtieth time. I rested my head back for a moment before uncrossing and re-crossing my legs.

  “No,” Shawn said in the exact same way he’d answered the last time. He was about to tell me he’d let me know if there were any changes like he had the twenty-nine times before. “I’ll le—”

  “I know,” I said holding up my palm. “You’ll keep me informed.”

  Shawn’s head moved up and down slowly. “That’s right.”

  I could hear Abby whispering in the other room. When Logan answered, I stood up. “I’ll go check on Logan.”

  I stood up and walked into the hallway, but I didn’t walk into the room. Instead, I did what I shouldn’t have done. I eavesdropped.

  “She said he’s hiding in the storage building,” Abby said.

  “They should take him out,” Logan said, his voice seemed to be filled with more life, although it did seem as though he was limiting his words. “If I was better, I would do it.”

  “I know you would,” Abby said, I could tell by her tone she was smiling. “You have no idea how happy I am right now.”

  Logan released a loose, but small cough. “Why?”

  “Because you’re getting better.”

  “I shouldn’t have done it. I deserve to be the one up there struggling.”

  Abby clicked her tongue. “Don’t talk that way. It wasn’t your idea.”

  “I knew better. And I didn't stop her, I joined in. I'm so fucking stupid.”

  “You wouldn't have been able to stop her anyway.” Abby sniffed. “She'd already devoured half the can before you came down.”

  There was a long silence. I peeked around the corner and saw them hugging. Instead of intruding, I slowly backed away, trying my hardest not to make a sound.

  If Shawn noticed me flopping back down on the sofa, he didn’t say anything. I opened my mouth to ask if there had been any changes but quickly snapped it shut.

  Shawn and I spent the rest of the day taking turns at the window. Once the sun went down, and darkness enveloped the yard, I had to call Shawn over to see.

  “What is it?” Shawn asked peering out of the window. I knew he’d already spotted it.

  “A lantern?” I asked. There was an orange glow coming from the small window that faced the house.

  “Seems like it.”

  I chewed my lip for a moment. “What if he’s been staring at the house all day through that window?”

  “I guess he could have been.” Shawn rubbed his thumb on against his chin. “But he’s not now, or we’d see a shadow.”

  “Does that mean he can see our shadows?”

  “I sure as hell hope not.” Shawn glanced back at the candle on the table. “Probably shouldn’t light it tonight. Think Abby and Logan have enough light?”

  I shook my head. The rain had yet to stop, and there was little light from the outside environment.

  “Could bring it into their room. Make sure the curtains are closed,” Shawn said looking into my eyes. I swallowed as I felt the m
agic from his gaze, but I quickly pushed away the power they held over me.

  I grabbed the candle off of the table and carried it to their room, but I stopped just outside the doorway. There was enough light for me to see that Abby was curled up in Logan’s outstretched arm, and they were both sleeping.

  Rather than disturb them, I brought the candle back. If I heard them wake, I’d bring it in for them.

  Ryder hadn’t come downstairs for more than a few minutes all day. I was terribly worried about Charlie, but I was almost just as worried about Ryder, only for him, I was worried in a different way.

  I stood next to Shawn and wrapped my arm around his waist. He smoothly slipped his around my back, so his hand was resting on my hip.

  “Maybe I should go out there?” Shawn said breaking the silence.

  “What? Are you crazy?”

  “To get the water.” Shawn looked at me, and I could tell he was seriously considering it. “We need it. And we need food.”

  I stepped away from him. “No way. No freaking way!”

  “Are you really that worried about me?” Shawn said flashing me a smirk. “You don’t need to be. I was trained by The Evolved remember?”

  “So?” I said with a shrug. “That guy he has with him was too.”

  Shawn raised his eyebrow. “Perhaps, but he might not have been trained in the same things as I was.”

  “I’m not sure I want to know what that means.”

  “You probably don’t, but I can take him out, and I wouldn’t need your gun.” Shawn rubbed his palms together and couldn’t hide the excitement that filled his eyes. “I’m going to do it.”

  “No, you’re not.” I put my hands on my hips and shifted my weight to the side.

  His head was bobbing up and down quickly. He’d made up his mind, and there probably wasn’t much I could do to stop him. Maybe I could beg him, get down on my knees, and that would be enough. But I didn’t do it.

  “Shawn, I just don’t know. I think this is a terrible idea.”

  His smile seemed to imply he’d sensed that I wasn’t fully determined to stop him.

  “I’ll slip out the back door, go around back, just like I did when he first arrived here.” Shawn was already walking to the back door. “I can do this.”

  “Let the record show, I was against this.”

  “What’s the worst that could happen? That I have to kill the man who brought a hostage into our building?”

  I shifted my weight to the other side. “Our building?”

  “Yeah! Our building,” Shawn said, his nose wrinkling with his smile.

  “I’ll tell you the worst thing that could happen.” I took several steps in his direction and wrapped my arms around his neck. I looked up into his glowing eyes. “The worst that could happen is that I lose you.”

  I stood on my toes and pressed my lips to his. Shawn wrapped his arms around my body, pulling me close. His hand slowly glided down my back, hesitating only slightly before curving over my butt.

  “Mmm,” he whispered as he pulled away from me slightly shifting his hips forward ever so slightly. I could tell he didn’t want to stop. “I know what you’re trying to do.”

  “Oh?” I said playfully. “What am I trying to do?”

  He kissed my forehead before forcing himself to take a step away from me. “You’re trying to make me forget what I was about to do. It was a valiant attempt, but alas my queen you have failed.”

  I scrunched up my face. “Whatever,” I said walking over to the window. “Do whatever you want to do.”

  “It’ll be fine,” Shawn said, and for the most part, I believed it would be. Otherwise, I would have done more to stop him.

  After the back door closed, I sucked in a deep breath and pulled out my gun. I wanted to be ready in case Shawn was wrong about his abilities to take care of thing should they go wrong.

  If he couldn’t pull it off, I would have to.

  15

  I caught glimpses of Shawn’s shadow, but once he was closer to the storage building, he quickly disappeared into the darkness. All I could do was hope he was stealthy and would be able to sneak by without making a sound.

  It felt as though hours had passed before the back door opened. I hadn’t seen Shawn moving through the darkness, so I turned, aiming my gun at the person walking into the back of the house.

  “How many times has that thing been pointed at me now?” Shawn asked locking the door.

  A breath escaped from between my lips, and I lowered the gun. “I lost count.”

  “I haven’t,” Shawn muttered with a smile on his face.

  He set the pot down on the counter and gripped the edges of the table tightly as he lowered his shaking head.

  “What is it?” I asked.

  “I’m an idiot.”

  My eyes were narrowed slits as I shook my head.

  “I can’t get a fire going because the guy will see the smoke.” Shawn groaned as he slapped his palms against the top of the table. “It was easy as pie, but it was all for nothing.”

  He stomped past me and walked back to the front window. I stepped up next to him and looked out over his shoulder. The orange glow still brightened the window.

  “He didn’t stay long last time,” I offered.

  “If he stays too long, we’ll die because we won’t have food or water. It’s funny how we have shelter, but it’s almost like we’re prisoners in here.”

  I frowned. “That’s not even a little funny.” I placed my hand on his shoulder. “We’ll figure it out.”

  My tone displayed far more confidence than what I actually felt. Of course, we’d do something rather than die inside the house, but I’d rather the guy would just leave on his own accord. If he did, he probably would come back.

  The rain picked up slightly and tapped gently at the window pane. “Who’s staying up?”

  “I’ll stay up,” Shawn said. “It’s your turn for some sleep anyway.”

  I didn’t argue. I was tired as hell, but it felt as though my insides were trying to devour themselves. With how hungry I felt, I wasn’t sure I’d actually be able to get any rest.

  My head rested on the armrest of the sofa, but my eyes didn’t want to close. It felt as though they were glued to Shawn’s profile waiting for his expression to change, alerting me that something was wrong.

  I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to force myself to sleep. It took a while, but eventually it found me, and thankfully the dreams stayed away.

  I couldn’t have been asleep for very long when I was awoken by Shawn’s pacing. He stepped up to the window and ran his hand through his hair.

  My clothes were clinging to me. I wasn’t sure how it could be so warm in the middle of the night.

  I rubbed my cheeks, pausing when I heard a strange, painful howl. It hadn’t been loud, just loud enough to make its way to my ears.

  “What was that?” I said my voice softer than a whisper.

  “That’s like the fourth time now,” Shawn said moving his palms up and down his hips.

  I waited to see if it happened again but there weren’t any sounds except for the random taps of rain against the window.

  I stood up and made my way over to the window. The light was still glowing, and every so often I could see a dark shadow moving around the room.

  “Why are they awake?” I asked.

  “No idea,” Shawn said.

  The floor creaked behind us, and for a second, I was worried Shawn had forgotten to lock the back door.

  “What’s going on?” Abby asked, hugging herself. “I thought I heard someone crying.”

  Abby looked at me and tilted her head to the side. She must have thought it was me that had been upset. When she realized it wasn’t me, she looked at the staircase.

  “It was the guys outside,” I said before she could get her hopes up that Charlie had turned a corner. Or maybe she was afraid things had gotten worse.

  Abby pushed her way between Shawn and me and looked out
of the window. She shook her head and quickly stepped away. “I don’t like them out there.”

  “Me either,” I agreed.

  “What are we going to do about it?” she asked crossing her arms. I hadn’t missed her eyes darting to my gun. “This is our place. We should show them what we do to intruders.”

  It sounded as if she was repeating something she’d heard, probably from her last group.

  “A gunshot could draw more unwanted attention,” I said.

  Abby pressed her lips together and scrunched up her nose. “Probably wouldn’t even need to use your gun.”

  “Abby!” I said surprised at her seemingly breezy attitude toward violence.

  “Sorry,” she said shrugging. “I just want to keep us safe.”

  My body stiffened and I cocked my head to the side. “I want everyone safe too.”

  “I didn’t mean to imply you didn’t. It’s just that, we should do something before it becomes a problem, right?” Abby asked with a frown. “Maybe I should just keep my opinions to myself.”

  “It’s fine, Abby,” Shawn said taking his eyes off of the storage building for a split-second. “Your opinion matters too, and trust me, we’ll — I’ll do something before it becomes a problem.”

  Abby didn’t leave. She stood there staring at the window. It almost looked as if she wanted to go out there and take care of it herself, but when another cry drifted through the air, she shuddered.

  “I don’t like it,” Abby said turning on her heel and heading back into the bedroom.

  “Me… either,” Shawn said pausing between his words. “It’s the same man crying. The native is doing something to him.”

  “But what? And why?” I asked.

  Both Shawn and I froze when the light went out. The shadow of a man stepped out of the building and then slumped down to the ground. I could see the silhouette of his feet where they stuck out.

  The man was getting rained on, but it didn’t seem as if he cared. After a few moments, the shadow what appeared to be a bottle moved up to his lips. He held it up and then lowered it back down before tossing it into the yard. I could hear a faint clink as it hit a stone in the yard.