Empty Earth: Post-Apocalyptic Extreme by Ash Ericmore

Author:Ash Ericmore [Ericmore, Ash]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-02-22T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

NOVEMBER

James snapped his eyes open. He hadn’t meant to sleep. He looked to Ellie. She was asleep in the cot next to him. He sucked a deep breath in before looking around the room. Watts was standing at the door—his silhouette wiry in the light. He was watching them. As soon as James looked at him, he turned and walked away. Not quickly. Not like he was trying to not be seen.

Fucking creep.

James swung his legs from the bed and reached down, picking up the Remington. He gently shook Ellie awake. “Hey, there,” he said. “You okay?”

She rubbed her eyes, nodding. “I slept,” she said.

James smiled. “Me too. Shall we go and try and find something to eat, maybe?”

She nodded and they got up. James wondered what the time was, what with there being no way to tell night from day. They left the bunk room and went along to the kitchen. One of the men that James hadn’t been introduced to was cleaning up. There was the smell of cooked food. The guy glanced over to them. “There’s some in the oven if you’re hungry.” Then he returned to his chore. Not much of a talker, then.

James went over and opened the door of the oven. It smelt good. It pulled it out and served what was there onto two plates, left out on the table for the two of them. They sat and ate as the man finished washing and left.

James made sure to sit facing the door. Halfway through the meal Stanny came in and sat at the table with them. “How did you sleep?” he asked.

“Good, thank you.” James forked his food. “This is good too, I assume we have you to thank for it?”

“Think nothing of it.” Stanny smiled. It was warm, but like everything, Stanny seemed to do, off. “You’ll be joining us out today.”

It should have been a question, except the inflexion wasn’t there. James raised his eyebrows. “I’d rather not leave Ellie.”

“Oh, she’ll be fine.”

“I’d rather not.”

Stanny frowned. “Well, you have to pay your way.” He eyed the food. Eyebrows raised. He wanted James to know he wasn’t asking.

James sighed. “I think we best be on our way, though.” He put his fork down and pushed his plate away from himself. He looked at Ellie and she got the idea, doing the same.

Stanny cleared his throat. “I’m afraid that you have partaken in our hospitality, but leave if you must. I would insist that you at least help on our hunt this morning, and then after that, you’ll be free to leave, of course.” He smiled. Well, he tried to smile. “You might change your mind.”

James tapped on the table. A nervous tick. Ellie reached across and rested her hand on his. She smiled at him. “It’ll be fine for a few hours.”

James looked at her, and then Stanny. He gave a short smile. “Fine. As Ellie says.”

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