Shattered Lands by Alice Henderson

Author:Alice Henderson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2018-08-14T10:28:58+00:00

Chapter 15

After half an hour of being dragged behind the caravan, H124’s arms and legs ached. Dust from the trucks billowed around her in a thick cloud, making breathing impossible. She coughed and spat out dirt. Her body ached for water. Beside her Byron struggled with his manacles, trying to slip out of them. Dirk only stared out silently; she worried he was in shock.

In the bed of the truck, Astoria rattled her chains, cursing and threatening the Death Riders. They only laughed.

The trucks slowed, and the one she was chained to came to a halt. Then it revved its engine, winding through a series of silver spikes sticking out of the ground. It lunged forward suddenly, and H124 was yanked off her feet. Seeing the spike looming up before her, she tried to roll, but it struck her arm. She heard a sickening snap, and an intense pain shot up her arm. The truck started dragging her, but all she could do was cry out, rolling onto her back to cradle her arm. Still the manacles pulled at her, sending rivulets of agony up her shoulder.

Byron rushed over to her from the neighboring truck, his chains barely allowing him the reach. He reached down and lifted her to her feet. Blood streamed down her arm where the spike had bitten through it, and she could feel the bones grinding together inside. It was broken. She gritted her teeth as Byron helped her keep her balance, tears cascading down her cheeks.

They wound through more spikes, Byron helping her stay upright. Ahead lay a large circular structure, and the trucks pulled up to it. At least a hundred vehicles were parked there already.

Unhooking them from the bumpers, the Death Riders forced H124 and the others to march toward the wall of the huge circle. They opened a door of iron bars, shoving them through. Beyond lay a cement hallway, dark and reeking of the coppery scent of fresh blood. As a rough hand slammed onto her back, she stumbled against the wall, steadying herself with her shoulder. Behind her, two men dragged Astoria in chains. She kicked and writhed on the dirty floor as she slid along.

“Get her out of those chains!” Dirk shouted at them. He bent to help her, trying to lift her, but one of the Death Riders kicked him in the back, spending him toppling on top of his sister.

They drove them forward, paying them no heed. At the end of the tunnel, H124 saw an open steel door that led to a large cage. They passed through the open ingress. The cage looked out over an expansive view of an arena beyond.

The Death Riders shoved them against the bars, then retreated down the hallway, slamming the door shut behind them. They were trapped now. H124 reached out with her mind, searching for a TWR that might be controlling something in the gate. She found nothing, so she reached out farther, again coming up empty. It didn’t surprise her.

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