It had been a close call today, all the way around. She’d been so shaken up by the near detainment, that the assault on her life from the man in the barn had just been another blip on the radar. Christ, and she’d been so glad when Hogan had killed the man. The stranger had tried to kill them, for a deer for Christ’s sakes. The man could have used that bullet to kill his own deer. Yet, he’d tried to kill them. Perhaps all the violence around her was making her hard or numb. This whole situation was changing her. She’d seen violence done to a lot of people and had treated them. But now, it was being done to her, in some form or fashion.
That made her angry, not afraid. It made her mad as hell. It made her want to burn everything down and destroy. She wanted to protect Hogan and her home and herself. Her hand went to the gun, that was still in the holster in her bra. She was so thankful she had it. Being a victim sucked. She would not hesitate to defend her home, to protect Hogan, as he’d done for her. No. Her vantage point had changed. Her mindset was changing with the times. The government wouldn’t help them, and it looked like it was trying to subjugate them.
She didn’t want to live in one of those monstrosities. Hogan’s soft snores tickled the back of her neck and she smiled softly. No, she’d stay right here, with Hogan. She’d fight to her dying breath, to stay free of the Hive and anyone else who threatened them. She had a right, the Constitution said so. The government was trying to change that. It wasn’t fair and it wasn’t right. But, as she knew, life wasn’t either of those. You had to make your own justice and she would. With Hogan’s help she would.
She could feel her body begin to relax. It had been a hell of a day, with a hell of an ending. She smiled softly as she placed her hand over Hogan’s. She was falling for this man, or rather, she had fallen already. She was okay with that. Their relationship was changing, and Hogan was changing, and the thought of it made her heart skip a beat.
Ӝ
Topeka, KS
Ian shifted in his bed, thinking about what the girls had said. Megan was right. He’d been captured, along with hundreds of others. He knew his parents were going crazy, wondering where he was. His heart twisted. He was sure his mother was devastated, and she’d grieve the loss of her baby. He was the baby of the family and he was a momma’s boy at heart. He was proud of it too. He’d be okay, but the rage inside, that his mother would suffer and grieve, kept him awake and resentful as hell. If he truly thought this were temporary, he didn’t think he’d mind. It reminded him of bootcamp. He’d gone into the navy five years ago. He’d only just gotten out last year. He’d spent three years on a ship and knew it wasn’t for him and so when his enlistment ended, he came home. He’d gotten through bootcamp and had even enjoyed that. A smile creased his face as he remembered being cycled. Or, punished with exercise. It was a quick way to learn a lesson, unlike a bullet to the head.
He’d essentially been kidnapped by the city’s government. How could they do this? He had proved to the officials that he was a local. They’d seen his driver’s license and yet, he’d not been allowed to leave the city. He’d been sent to some kind of holding area. He had his medical history taken, which he thought was uncalled for.
He’d grown up on a large farm, his three older brothers and older sister still lived there. They produced wheat, winter wheat and spring wheat, along with corn. His parents also had a lot of farm hands as well, but it took all of them to run the large farm. He’d been gone over a week now and he was sure his mother was going crazy with worry.
That thought again brought angry agitation and he shifted and turned over. He could hear the soft snoring of the women. He smiled. They were kind and had helped him adjust to his new home. They were just as trapped as he was. If he got out of here, he’d take them with him. His family farm was about sixty miles from Topeka. An hour drive, but how would he get home now? If he could get home. It would be a long walk home. He’d have to think about it and plan for the escape.
The administrative clerk had assured him that it was only temporary, until they got Topeka under control, from the riots and looting. But he didn’t believe that, and he didn’t think the clerk believed the bullshit he was spitting out either. Something niggled in his mind, like a splinter that wouldn’t come out. This place reminded him of bootcamp, with its rules, regulations, housing and food. Though, he had to admit, the food in bootcamp was better. Bootcamp didn’t have the death penalty either. He understood why some of the rules were in place, but then again, why couldn’t they leave? Why the high fences and razor wire and guards with weapons, pointed in at them?
He’d been assigned to work in the gardens, in the three upper stories of the Hive. The gardens were large expanses of soil that had been laid out, so crops could be grown all year long. There was venting and light coming in through the large windows that surrounded the top three floors. There
