Strikers by Ann Christy

Author:Ann Christy [Christy, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Ann Christy
Published: 2014-07-14T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Four

We decide to camp in the big building while Maddix heals. None of us feels very comfortable staying put, especially without knowing who might be left to look for us, but we really don’t have much choice. Maddix is a mess and even if he tried to walk on his wounded leg, his ribs and face would stop him from going. All we can do is just wait it out and try to remain vigilant for any signs of pursuit.

For almost the entirety of the first day I do nothing but sleep, take my turn on watch and then promptly go back to sleep. Everyone does, except for caring for Maddix when he wakes.

On the second morning, I wake feeling well rested and immediately think of Jordan. I really want to find him, or find whatever of him that I can. While we eat, I suggest going back to the tower and seeing what I can see. Jovan and Cassi both insist that I should go no further, and really, neither of them is keen on the idea of me climbing the tower alone. But what good will it do to have someone else there should I fall? Will they catch me? Though I do give in and agree not to go back and search for Jordan at the settlement, I don’t agree not to look for some sign of him.

Jovan gives me a dirty look as I leave like he knows I’m up to something, but I just wave as I head across the lot toward the trees. I walk perhaps a mile back down our old path but there are no new signs of people passing. No cooling campfire, no scuffs or tracks other than the ones I think we left. Best of all, no smell of decay that might signal Jordan made it out only to die on the trail without finding us. I think that would have been the worst thing to find.

Despite what I said, I head to the settlement. There, I find nothing I can definitely say is my father. The buildings are nothing more than blackened piles of wood and gray ash. The body of the man Maddix tangled with is where we left it, but in a condition so awful I have to walk away. There’s a horse, too, and I feel terrible when I see it, knowing it must have been terribly afraid and completely at the mercy of the humans fighting around it. It’s hopeless to try to find anyone inside the piles of debris. I still try, but I find nothing.

Back at the tower, I climb and sit, completely alone except for my hawk friend and the chicks as the day progresses. There’s nothing to be seen for miles. No smoke from any source is a good thing. Either Jordan was able to take out however many came after us or the survivors went a different direction.

The hawk “guh-runks” at me a few times and spreads his wings, making sure I know that the top of the tower belongs to his family.

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