Outliers_A Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian Novel by Kate L. Mary

Author:Kate L. Mary [Mary, Kate L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Twisted Press, LLC
Published: 2018-03-06T06:00:00+00:00

14

As an outlier working in the city, I got one day off every two weeks, and for my first one as Bodhi’s wife, I chose to spend the entire day with him. We slept in the cave, curled up on top of a pile of furs. Between the fire going at our side and the warmth of my husband’s body, there was no chance for a chill to sink into my bones, and even the hard floor of the cave was unable to keep me from snagging a good night’s sleep.

The scurry of feet in the dark recesses of the cave woke me in the morning. Sunshine streamed in through the holes Bodhi had pointed out the night before, and I had to turn my eyes away from the light. They were small, placed at a level that was both good for venting the smoke from the fire, but also would not allow too much water in if we had a rare night of rain.

I had only been awake for a moment when Bodhi turned to face me. His eyes were hazy with sleep and puffy from the night before, but the smile that lit up his face was closer to the expression I was used to seeing.

“Sleep well?” he asked.

“Every night that I am with you, I will sleep well.”

I snuggled against him and the sigh he let out seemed to sink into me.

“Good,” he said.

He kissed the top of my head before untangling himself and climbing to his feet. I was naked, so I pulled the fur up to my chin and watched as he built the fire back up. Bodhi was still undressed as well, and I expected him to worry about sparks, but he seemed unconcerned.

“Hungry?” he called over his shoulder, his focus on the fire in front of him.

“Of course.”

He looked back, shooting me a grin that lit up his face, and then pulled a leather pouch from his bag and tossed it my way. It was filled with dried fruit and meat, as well as a handful of nuts. Not much, especially for two people, but this was the way we lived and something we were both used to after a lifetime of struggle.

He came back and sat at my side, and together we ate, naked but warmed by the fire.

“What is beyond this room?” I asked, nodding to the other tunnels. “Have you explored more of the cave?”

“Some,” he replied, “but not much. A larger room sits just beyond the tunnel, but there is no light and no holes for ventilation. Further back are even more tunnels. I explored them once, but they seemed to go on forever and I realized that if my torch burned out I could get lost and die. It seemed too risky.”

I shivered and scooted closer. “Yes, it does.”

After we finished eating, we staunched out the fire and left the cave. Bodhi had his bow, as well as a smaller one for me, and even though his offer the night before had surprised me, I was looking forward to learning how to shoot.

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