Crown of Flies: A Post-Apocalyptic Adventure (After the End Book 2) by Doug Troxell

Author:Doug Troxell [Troxell, Doug]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2022-08-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Drusilla watched the sunrise from her secret spot on the roof behind the heating unit. She hadn’t slept all night. She expected some kind of repercussions from her part in the raid at Tranquility Hills, but Ash never called for her.

As strange as it sounded, part of her felt slighted that Draven’s penance had included a suicide mission while she had walked away unscathed. She didn’t know what to make of it. The unanswered questions had kept her from seeking solace in her dreams, but it wasn’t the only reason she had held vigil all night.

Draven.

She thought she’d be more than happy to see him march to his death, but she couldn’t help herself from hoping to see him stumble back to the building safe and sound. Even with all his tireless moralizing, she wasn’t quite ready to live in a world that didn’t include his self-righteous voice.

She watched as the splotches of red and pink and orange grew and expanded on the horizon. It was so beautiful it made her sick. Then she realized she wasn’t alone. She forced herself not to turn around. She didn’t want Draven to see her smile.

“Thought maybe I wouldn’t see you again,” she said. “But I should have known I wouldn’t get rid of you that easily.”

But it wasn’t Draven who sat down next to her.

“Beautiful sunrise,” Ash said. “Sometimes I forget the world doesn’t give a shit about our apocalypse. In fact, it’s probably grateful for it. It’s better off without us.”

Drusilla shot to her feet. “Ash! I thought you were—”

“Draven hasn’t come back yet. Maybe today. Maybe not.”

She relaxed and sat back down. She reminded herself that this was Ash, the same Ash she had traveled with across Pennsylvania. She knew him—or at least she thought she did.

“Here I was thinking I escaped my spanking,” she said, “and here you are with a paddle.”

“You think I’m here to punish you? For what?”

She started to answer but bit her tongue. With Ash, it was impossible to know what was a test and what wasn’t.

“For—for what happened at Tranquility Hills. For Forge.”

“That wasn’t your fault. You were following orders. Forge probably only made it back because of you. You saved him, and I’m grateful.”

She almost fell into his trap. Almost. But she knew beneath the soft and fuzzy exterior of his compliments, there were hidden razor blades.

“Enough with the sweet talk. What are you actually doing here?”

His facade faded immediately. “I’m here to offer you what you wanted. I want to make you general of the Keepers.”

“What about Draven?”

Ash pointed to the sunrise. “The sun rises on a new day and our general has not returned. But the game continues. Next man up.”

“But what about my … shortcomings?”

The sun continued to rise, bathing the roof in fresh sunlight. Ash shielded his eyes from the sun’s rays and retreated back into the shadows.

“Do you know what quality I value above all others? Loyalty. I need to know the people I put in charge will follow orders.

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