Betrayal: Ashes of the Collapse Book 3: (A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller) by Mark Hunter & Mike Kraus

Author:Mark Hunter & Mike Kraus [Hunter, Mark & Kraus, Mike]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Muonic Press Inc
Published: 2024-11-22T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee

Mills led David and Jody through the dense deciduous forest that surrounded her hidden compound, leading them deeper into her realm of half-spoken mysteries. The canopy above was a vibrant mix of oak, hickory, and maple trees, their leaves rustling gently in the cool breeze, and underfoot, the ground was carpeted with a thick layer of leaf litter, dotted with patches of ferns and wildflowers. All around them, the air was heavy with the sweet scent of honeysuckle and the earthy aroma of mushrooms growing on fallen logs. As they walked, Mills held out her arms, steering the others clear of a patch of underbrush.

"Watch your step here." She gestured to a barely visible tripwire stretched between two trees. "Get caught on that and you'll have a mighty bad headache."

Jody's keen eyes followed the wire to one side, where it fed through an eye loop at the base of the tree then ran up the trunk, its end attached to a splintered board balanced precariously in the branches over the path. The weight of a pile of broken red bricks bent the branch, giving the impression that the slightest tug on the line would send the whole thing tumbling down on an unwary traveler's head.

"Oh, dang," Jody murmured. "That's like a trap from a cartoon!"

David put a hand on his daughter's shoulder, carefully ushering her around. "Except not nearly as funny when it goes off."

Mills continued forward, ducking under a low-hanging branch and pointing to a lattice of sticks and leaves on the ground. "Careful. There's a pit under there deep enough to break your neck if you fall in."

"Ralph and Barb had pits like that around their property too," Jody noted. "Do all of the people on the Whisper Wave protect their houses with traps?"

"I dunno. I didn't put these in until Woodchuck left. When he was here I always felt safe, but now that I'm on my own…" Mills trailed off, shrugging. "I gotta take care of myself."

David looked to the young woman, and a pang of fatherly concern bit his gut. "Has anyone tried to get to you out here?"

"Not that I know of. The natural seclusion always did a pretty good job of keeping people away. I don't even think anyone knows I'm here. But you can never be too careful, right?"

"That's for sure," David agreed. "Especially now."

They continued on, picking their way carefully through the forest. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the ground with shifting patterns of light and shadow, and a red-tailed hawk soared overhead, its piercing cry echoing through the trees. Jody paused to examine a patch of wild blackberry brambles, their dark fruit plump and inviting.

"Ooh! Blackberries! Can I eat some?"

Mills snuffed. "Please. Eat all of them. I hate these stupid plants. I can't tell you how many times I've ripped my legs open on the thorns in the dark."

Jody plucked a few of the swollen berries and popped them into her mouth, and they

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