“Yes, and I guarantee you’ll regret the choice the wheel made for you. The suit is to protect you from the rain which is poison. Follow us and keep your eyes open.”
As we traveled, Fawke filled the newcomer in on life in the city and our primary goal of finding other survivors. “You make number eight in our group.”
“That’s all?” Jolt’s steps faltered. “I’d hoped for more when they told me the job I’d been chosen for. Oh, and Alga said she’s surprised to find you still alive.”
The temptation to offer him the role of leader tugged at me, but I couldn’t. I wouldn’t feel right handing something to someone I wasn’t willing to bear myself. “I’m as surprised as she is.”
“Don’t let her size fool you,” Fawke said. “Our leader is fearless and bright.”
I straightened at the compliment. “We should stop talking. Malignants know a helicopter means a human is around somewhere. They can’t smell us, but they can still hear.” I left out the fact they seemed to be getting smarter.
Once we arrived home and introductions were made, Jolt emptied the large pack on his back. “I wasn’t sure what we needed, so grabbed some tools, food, a sword and knife, and a blanket.”
“You’ll be glad of the blanket.” Moses clapped him on the back. “We’ll be glad of the rest. Where’s your parachute? They’re useful covering out here.”
“I cut the lines and ran.”
“He was being chased by two Malignants.” I propped the gun against the wall. “I’m very grateful that you didn’t drop one of the weapons.”
“No way. Alga told me to definitely not take only a sword and if my leader was to make it long enough to get home, she’d need the gun..”
I laughed and ducked my head, again wishing the man who’d led me to the room had been as helpful. “We’re trying to build a couple of wagons in order to carry our supplies to the mountain, but keep getting set upon by Malignants.”
Ezra sorted the food, exclaiming over a pear. “Where did this beauty come from? Fruit is rare indeed.”
“Didn’t know what it was. It was on a shelf. Looked good, so I took it.” Jolt shrugged. His gaze kept flicking to Gage, who blushed. “The hill?”
“I don’t care where it came from,” Kira said. “Cut it into eights.”
“I wasn’t the only one who landed on black,” Jolt said as we enjoyed the fruit. “There was another guy.”
“What happened to him?” Dante asked, biting into his slice of the fruit. “Man, that’s good.”
“I don’t know, but I caught a glimpse of him after the supply room and all he had with him was a knife. The next morning, there were several people in his room.” A shadow crossed his features. “I think he killed himself rather than come here.”
“Are the people in Soriah familiar with Malignants?” Fawke wiped his fingers on his pants. “I had no idea what they were until my training.”
“I don’t know. What’s up with the continuous fires burning?”
“Gas mains,” Ezra said. “Be glad of them. If you think it’s cold and dark now, imagine what life without them would be like.”
“I saw another man and woman being led in chains. I think they tried to steal food.” Jolt licked the pear juice from his fingers. “Do you think they’ll be sent here?”
“The non-violent criminals usually are,” Ezra said. “We turn violent real fast once we get here, though.”
“Where do the violent ones go?” I asked. “How do they know someone sent here doesn’t go rogue and kill the others in order to keep the supplies all to themselves?”
Ezra’s laugh lacked humor. “They put a tracker in you, right? If they think you’re disposable, all they have to do is punch in a code and that tracker will dislodge and race through your bloodstream straight to your heart. Bucking the system is suicide.”
I glanced at the small bump under the skin on my right forearm. It would be a quick death, most likely painless. But, I wasn’t a criminal. In ten years, I’d be living a life of luxury with plenty of food and fine clothes. Still young enough to get married and have a family. I wanted to live.
“How many have come and gone since you’ve been here, Ezra?”
“They were here before me, and they’ll be here after me. When I showed up, there were twenty of us. A few were terminated, the others killed by Malignants, we thought.” He inhaled sharply through his nose. “I was told that the Stalkers once lived on the outskirts of the city, closer to the mountain, but moved further inland with each death. I’m thinking not all the deaths can be blamed on those creatures.”
“Which means the other survivors aren’t friendly.”
His gaze clashed with mine. “Hence the lack of motivation in hunting them down. Until now. Something must have happened for the President to want them located.”
“Now, we’re being honest.” I moved to my bedding. “Best get some rest. Tomorrow, we go outside in our suits to find what we need for the wagons. No more dark tunnels.”
Wrapping my wool blanket around me, I rolled over and faced the wall. Getting Ezra to be truthful was like pulling teeth from one of the Malignants. Almost impossible. We all knew he was a lifer. We all knew he’d been given orders to find survivors and bide his time until orders came for our group to actually start searching. That time had come.
The sight of the smoke was what he’d feared. I still didn’t trust him, although I doubted he held anymore secrets. Friendly or not, we’d been given an order to find the others. That didn’t mean we had to make contact. If we could live among the Malignants,
