We’d find a way.
9
I lay on my back staring through the gloom at the sagging ceiling as the rest of my group continued to sleep. How did Soriah know what we did or didn’t do? Did Ezra communicate with them in some way? Was he a spy for those on the hill or simply a life-long Stalker with nothing to lose?
When it became evident I’d get no more sleep, I sat up and listened to the strangely soothing sounds of those around me snoring. The Malignants must sleep, too, because nights were void of their screams. What if we chose to move at night rather than in the dim light of day? Our rubber helmets had flashlights. We could move faster without having to stop and fight every hour.
“Can’t sleep?” Fawks leaned on his right elbow.
I wrapped my arms around my bent knees. “I know we have trackers in our arms. Obviously, they can eliminate us, but my question is…how does Soriah keep tabs on us? I haven’t noticed any cameras or recording devices.”
“That’s a very good question.” He moved to a cross-legged sitting position and glanced to where the others slept. “I’ve wondered about Ezra being a snitch.”
“Yeah, but why? Would it shorten his time here? I haven’t noticed him receiving any gifts.” As leader, I felt it my duty to get to bottom of how we were being watched. “It’s far more than our trackers. It’s also more than clearing the city of Malignants. That’s an impossible task. Maybe that’s what a Stalkers purpose was at first, but I think our primary mission has changed.”
He scooted closer and lowered his voice. “Be careful. I agree that there is a spy in our midst. Maybe it’s Ezra, but it could be someone else.”
I faced him. “Can I trust you?”
“Don’t trust anyone. Everyone has a price out here. If they’re offered the chance to do something to gain their freedom, they will.”
“But how?” My shoulders slumped. “How would they be approached?” So many things didn’t make sense.
“Weren’t you given special instructions before coming here?” He whispered.
“No.” I widened my eyes.
“Then, you’re lucky. I assumed everyone got their own special assignment. Something to do for Soriah when the time was right.”
“What’s yours?”
His teeth flashed. “Ah, if I told you, I’d have to kill you.”
“What do you get out of it?” Why wasn’t I given a special assignment?
“Extra luxuries when my time here is done.” He got up and rolled up his blanket. “Time to get these bums up. We’ve a lot of scavenging to do if we’re going to build two wagons, one big enough for all of us to sleep on.”
I got up and straightened my own bedding. “Hopefully, we’ll get the tent or something else to keep us from the rain while we sleep.” What we needed almost as bad was more Stalkers. “Pulling two wagons through the kind of debris we’ll encounter will be rough.”
“There’s too many supplies for us to carry on our backs. Dropping a trailer when we’re attacked will be easier than shucking packs.”
I agreed, just wished for an easier way. I nudged Gage with my foot. “Time to feed everyone so we can get started.”
Fawke made the rounds of waking everyone else. Our shelter filled with groans.
“Let Kira make breakfast,” Gage whined.
“It’s your job.” I frowned. “Kira will be helping us find supplies. Be glad for the easier task. I’ll leave Jolt behind with you to guard our supplies.”
“Suits me,” the new guy said. “I’m not in any hurry to face those things again. Especially when the other alternative is time with a pretty girl. You can’t have been here long, Gage.”
“A year.” She filled a pot with water running from a hole in the roof, then started a fire. “It’s a can of mystery soup again.”
I grimaced. “It’ll be hot and filling, if nothing else.” I longed for one of my mother’s biscuits or simple butter sandwiches.
The device propped on a cinderblock crackled. Ezra reached up and turned it on. “Sharon.”
“Miss Dayholt, please.”
He glowered. “Guess I’ve been relegated to somewhere below you in the communication pyramid.” He gave a sarcastic wave forward.
“Sharon.” I stood and awaited instruction.
“We’ll be dropping the tent off tomorrow with two thieves delegated to join your ranks. Once you leave the place you’ve camped for so long, we’ll make your weekly drops according to the location of your tracker.”
“My tracker?”
Sharon raised a brow. “You are the leader, are you not? If you are to find yourself separated, you’ll need what’s in that drop. If the others want to partake of these things, they need to keep you safe, don’t they?” She clicked off.
I narrowed my eyes and stared at the dark screen. After a second, I touched it. My fingertip connected with the reflection. No space in between. I smiled. I’d discovered how Soriah watched us. At least when we were at camp. Still smiling and deciding to keep the information to myself for now, I moved to the entrance and stared into a gray day finally dry from the rain. Gathering supplies would be cooler without having to wear the suits. Covering our skin with blood would suffice.
Fawke joined me. “What’s on your mind?”
“How do you feel about traveling at night? The Malignants sleep.”
“It’ll be rough. If we wake them, we won’t see them coming? If we sleep during the day, they could sneak up on us.”
I exhaled heavily. “I guess we take our chances during the day.” I turned and sat by the fire to await breakfast.
After we ate, we spread blood from a recent Malignant we’d killed on our skin. Outside the door, to the right, we had quite the pile of Malignant carcasses. Since we
