The Zero Trilogy (Book 3): End of Day by Lane Summer

Author:Lane, Summer [Lane, Summer]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction | Post-Apocalyptic | Dystopian
Published: 2015-10-04T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

When Elle came to, her head was bursting with a splitting pain. She blinked a few times, then rolled to her side and vomited. Her head spun. She placed her hands on the ground. It felt like she was bobbing up and down, up and down. She sat up, wincing at the excruciating pain, and peered ahead.

She was inside. The walls, floor and ceiling were made of wood. It smelled damp. Lanterns illuminated the room, which was filled with wooden crates and metal shipping containers. It was shadowy and cold. The stench of her own vomit made her sick, and she scooted away.

“Bravo?” she whispered.

Nothing.

Panic gripped her. Where was he? What had happened to him?

“Bravo!”

Still, nothing but silence. The room continued to bob. Elle attempted to stand, but a swell of dizziness brought her back to her knees, and the room kept rolling. Water droplets dripped onto the floor.

A boat? She was on a boat?

Elle held her head in her hands. When she had fallen, she’d felt something crack. Who knows what she’d done to herself?

Minutes passed – possibly hours.

Where was she? Why was she on a boat?

She heard footsteps and voices in the distance, and then a door opened. The footsteps grew louder. She was sitting up against the wall, rivulets of sweat sliding down her face. The tall man with the floppy hat marched down a row of rickety stairs. Behind him, more men filed down the steps.

Between the men, she saw Cheng and Luli. Their wrists were zip-tied together, and the right side of Cheng’s face was bruised. His lip was bloody. Luli looked relatively unharmed, but there was darkness in her eyes.

They’d been taken, too.

“Well, now,” the tall man said. “You’ve finally awoken. How nice for you to grace us with your presence, little Elle Costas.”

Elle raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, I know who you are,” the man continued. “But you don’t know who I am, do you?” He chuckled. He wore a long, ratty jacket. His shotgun was strapped across his back. His one eye glittered with malignant intent.

Cheng and Luli were shoved against the wall.

Cheng stared at Elle, but she looked away.

“I’m the captain of this ship,” the tall man said. “Captain Matthias. And these are my men. I know what you’re thinking, little girl. We’re nothing but pirates. Vagabonds. Aimless Slavers hunting for children.”

Elle shuddered.

“Give us some credit,” he continued. “I wouldn’t stoop so low. There are other ways to make a profit in a world as damned as this one.”

“Let the girls and the dog go,” Cheng suddenly said. “I’m the only one you need.”

Elle looked at him.

“Not so, little prince,” Matthias guffawed. “I’ve a mind to do what I want, and no boy will dictate my decisions.”

Elle bit her lip. Cheng was speaking as if Bravo were still alive, and that gave her a flicker of hope. Her headache still raged, but she said nothing.

“Cap, don’t you think you should check the boy for the mark?” one of the men said. He wore a black sock cap.

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