But Ryder wasn’t distracted. “I thought you said the town was fifteen minutes away. That was twenty minutes ago.”
“It took you long enough to catch on,” Carter replied. “I know you guys from the bunker aren’t too bright.”
I hate it when he talks like that, like I am the same as the others in the bunker. I’m nothing like them. I know Carter can see how much his comments piss me off. Then why does he keep making them?
“Relax,” he soothed. “I can’t lead you straight to it, can I?”
Ryder tried to hold in her frustration, a skill she’d learned living in the bunker, but everyone had a breaking point. “Carter, I don’t have time for your kiddie games. My friends need my help.”
“And what type of person would I be if I led you straight to our settlement? I don’t think you’re here to make trouble, but I can’t take the risk. It’s not worth their lives.” Carter nodded toward the kids walking in front of them. “They’ll take them first.”
Ryder sighed. She understood, but it didn’t help her get back to the bunker any quicker.
Jessica leaned around Carter’s head, and he pretended her weight had unbalanced him. He stumbled sideways, then back the other way. Ryder raised her arms at one point as she thought they were actually going to fall.
“He’s just being silly.” Jessica laughed. “I want to get down now.”
Carter gently set her on the ground, and she ran off to be with her friends.
“Do you normally hang around with all these kids, or just today, because of all this happening?” Ryder asked.
“Yeah, I hang out with them. They’re smarter than some of the others in the settlement.”
“So you’re like the daycare around here?”
“Nah, more like a fun big bro. I suck at giving them rules or scolding them. I leave that to the boring people in the settlement.”
It sounded like he had a good deal with the kids, much like the one Ryder and Terrier had with the kids in the bunker. They went down there to tell them funny stories, sing songs, and play games that they remembered from before they lived in the bunker.
Ryder made sure the kids weren’t in earshot before she asked, “Was that Jessica’s mom?”
“Yes.” Carter’s face went serious. “She was one of those people who went berserk, but Jessica kept her hidden from the rest of the settlement, saying she had a cold. Jessica is a very good actress, but every actress has a bad day. Her mom turned and went for her. That was when we heard the screams and knew what had happened.”
Ryder watched Jessica’s blonde hair bounce as she played with the other kids. She really was a good actress. I don't think I could have been as strong as she was, but love makes you do funny things.
Ryder hadn’t seen much love in her life, other than from her own mom, Mama Lou, and Terrier, but that was more than most people got.
“How long have you lived in the bunker?” he asked.
“Hey, it was me asking the questions.”
“Has anyone told you that you suck at having a conversation? It’s supposed to go back and forth. We take turns asking questions.” Carter raised his eyebrow and winked.
He must be gay. Ryder knew he was right about the conversations, though. She wasn’t used to anyone asking her about her life. She’d learned to be on guard. If she wasn’t, the lapse might cost her life.
“I was taken when I was six.”
“Damn,” he cursed. “I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry? You didn’t take me.” She sighed. I really need to work on my people skills, but there is no fucking way I’m going to admit that.
“You know what I mean.”
“How old was your sister?” Ryder asked.
“Six,” Carter replied, his voice creaking.
“How long ago?” Please say a week. Then there is hope that she hasn’t become one of the men’s toys.
“Fifteen years ago.” The concern in Carter’s voice broke Ryder’s heart, and with good reason.
They were both silent for a while, awkward and not sure what to say. Ryder broke it. “No bullshit this time. How far away is the settlement?”
“Five more minutes.”
Mama Lou was terrified that Afana knew that she knew where Terrier was. She’d hoped the cameras hadn’t caught him. If they had, he wouldn’t be asking, would he?
“I haven’t seen him,” she lied.
“Don’t play games with me.” Afana was huge. Mama Lou had thought that her guard Peter was big, but he looked tiny compared to Afana.
“I’m not lying. I haven’t seen him.” Mama Lou’s voice quivered; her nerves were getting the better of her. Pull yourself together! “I can show you where he normally goes.” Terrier, you better be still hiding down the tunnel.
“Take me there.”
“This way.” Mama Lou was pretending there was nothing wrong. Afana followed her, and she wasn’t sure where to take him. She clicked her nails together as she thought. She decided to take him to the kids’ room.
“This is where Terrier likes to visit,” she said. “May I first announce you to the kids? They will be excited to see you since this is the first time you’ve been down here to visit them.”
Afana knew she was doing it to prepare them for the monster they were about to see. “If you warn Terrier, I will have your head.”
“I understand.”
Mama Lou scurried into the kids’ room, and the kids ran toward her, excited. She did everything she could to make sure that while the kids were down here, their lives were filled with laughter and love.
She hoped that Afana wouldn’t take that from her.
“Hello, kids. We have a special guest today.” The kids fell silent—as well as kids could. They were excited, asking who was coming. “Hush, kids. It is Afana.”
The kids’ smiles quickly turned into frowns and fear. Natalie was back in the kids’ room, and she whispered to Mama Lou, “Why is he here?”
“He’s looking for Terrier.”
Natalie placed her hand
