Once they were all up the ladder, we thundered through the building and outside. Keeping to the growing afternoon shadows, we made it to our safe place and dropped in exhausted heaps.
“That was too close,” Kira said. “We need a new plan.”
“The old one always worked. In and out quietly with each taking turns retrieving the crate.” Ezra pried open the lid and frowned. “No more chocolate.”
“We need a way to keep our supplies safe in case Ezra is right about other survivors.” I propped up on one elbow, too tired to worry about washing off the stench of blood yet. “A hiding place not easily found if someone stumbles across this place.”
“We could dig a pit,” Moses suggested. “Cover it with something no one would think to move. Something that looks permanent.”
I glanced around the room for something to fit his idea. A pit could be easily dug, but finding something to disguise the trap door would be harder.
Concrete blocks, rocks, rusty furniture for decades past. “Dig the pit at the entrance where we keep dead Malignants. No one would dream of moving a decaying corpse to look for supplies.”
Fawke grinned. “Great idea, boss. We start digging in the morning.”
6
I woke the next morning to rain, something I saw so rarely I couldn’t contain my excitement. I rushed to the door and reached out my hand.
“No.” Fawke slapped my hand down. “The rain is poison. If it gets on your skin, you grow sick and die.”
“Is that how the disease spreads?” The one that had killed most of the world’s population and caused some trigger-happy man-in-charge to press the buttons that sent off dozens of nuclear warheads. At least that’s what we’d learned in school. Strange how they’d left out the theory of rain spreading the disease.
No one ventured outside in the rain in Soriah either. Not without protective clothing. Work, school, had always been canceled. Going outside was forbidden, but as a child, I hadn’t known why.
“We don’t think so. Although, not even the Malignants will be out today. We can’t turn into one of them. The plague from long ago made them what they are.”
I stepped under the building’s metal awning and stared across the courtyard. “Do we have gear that’s rainproof?”
He narrowed his eyes. “What are you thinking?”
I glanced over my shoulder. “Today is a perfect day to scout. Maybe find the Malignants’ lair or a clue to these phantom other survivors.”
“No one has ever taken the chance,” Kira said, joining us. “A mistake would be fatal.”
“I’ll take the chance. Do we have the gear or not?”
She nodded. “We received coveralls months ago, masks, gloves, all of it.”
I frowned. “None of you thought to test it?” I cut a glance at Fawke.
He shrugged. “I wanted to, but the others said they’d shoot me before letting me back in. Fear is a great deterrent. No one wants to die before returning to Soriah and a life of luxury.”
“How often does it rain?”
“Once a month, maybe twice, and it takes days for everything to dry up.”
By now, the others had joined us, intrigued, but worried about the track of our conversation. “I’ll go,” I said. “This could be the perfect time. Soriah wouldn’t have sent the equipment if they didn’t think it beneficial to us. We’re too valuable for them to kill off. I don’t think they have the resources to send things that might or might not work.”
“We’ll all go.” Ezra opened a trunk near where he slept.
“No. I’ll take Fawke since he knows the area. The rest of you work on the hiding place for our supplies.” I waited to see whether Fawke would balk at coming with me.
Instead, a slow grin spread across his face. “Looks like I got the easy job suckers.” He snatched a bag from Ezra’s hand.
“Those of you digging will need to wear the gear, too,” I said. “Just in case. Don’t take any chances of splashes hitting your skin or soaking your clothes. Every one of us is needed to fight.” I left my furry robe behind, stripped down to my underclothes, and then pulled the thick rubber suit over my clothing and head. A clear mask with holes to breathe through, then tight-fitting rubber gloves completed my outfit. I was covered in rubber from head to toe, same as the others.
Thankfully, the tight-fitting gloves still allowed me to get a good grip on my sword. The Malignants might not go out into the rain, but I planned on us going into buildings in search of where they laid up. We might have to fight our way out.
“I still haven’t decided if you’re brave or the most insane person I’ve ever met.” Fawke slung his weapon over his shoulder.
“A little of both.” Brave? Not even a little bit. I didn’t see the point of living in fear, though. I was here for ten years or until I died. Some days, it was a toss up of which I’d prefer.
Gage handed Fawke a bag to hook to his belt. “Food and water. See you before dark.” Her eyes searched his. I might be young, but I knew yearning when I saw it.
I sighed and turned away. It wouldn’t do to fall for anyone under the circumstances we lived in. Still, my heart dropped a little at the fact Fawke might like someone more than he cared for me.
Taking a deep breath that sounded harsh behind my mask, I stepped into the rain. I waited to see its effect on my suit. The drops rolled like water off a tin roof.
Fawke took the lead across the courtyard. Since that’s where we
