Chapter Seven

It was only midmorning, yet Grieco and Bray had been traveling for several hours already. Grieco had stirred Bray from his heavy sleep while the air was still chilly and the stars had not yet gone to bed for the day. They had walked steadily south for well over an hour before the first hint of dawn creased the sky, Bray stumbling along after the skilled Grieco who seemed to know these wild lands just as well as she had known the area on the outskirts of the city.

She was not much of a talker, keeping her gaze set straight south, only speaking to him to inquire if he was hungry or if he needed a break. Sometimes Bray wondered if it wasn’t for the fact that he was with her if she would stop to rest at all. She almost seemed inhuman.

Her silence left Bray quite a bit of time to himself to mull over his thoughts and his actions over the past several months. He was not proud of what he had done. He had severely wounded several people who had once been his allies, his friends or his lovers. The only person Bray did not regret hurting was Ebony. As far as he was concerned, that traitorous snake deserved everything she got.

When Bray had originally planned to leave the city in search for his brother shortly after Trudy’s rather startling revelation that Martin was really alive, Bray had not been sure why he would want to go. He just felt propelled to do so. But as time wore on and as Bray traveled further away from the city he realized just how important it was to him that he make peace with Martin, or rather Zoot. Besides, he could really use his help right now.

Bray let out a weary sigh as he cast a sideways glance at the mysterious and striking brunette walking a few paces behind him. She had done her hair differently today, he noticed. Twisted it away from her face leaving only a few tendrils down, clinging to her bare skin as perspiration accumulated. The style was very sexy and made her look like the teenager Bray knew she was instead of the cold and ridged woman she projected.

“So what’s your story?” Bray asked her suddenly, obviously taking her by surprise. She turned to face him, her eyes widening, causing her to look years younger and innocent once again.

“Wh-what?” Grieco stammered, her hand fluttering to her throat and her cheeks tingeing with a delicate pink color. “What did you say?”

Bray shrugged, amused that he had thrown her off so. She was obviously a creature who set a task before her and focused on that and that alone. “Nothing really.” He grinned, thankful to discover his companion really was human after all. “I just asked what your story was. You’re pretty mysterious, you have to admit. I don’t remember anyone ever saying anything about your past back in the City either.”

“I don’t have a past.” Grieco replied, drawing her lips together in a fine line.

He looked at her skeptically. “You don’t really expect me to believe that, Grieco, do you? Everyone has a past, even if we don’t really want it.” He hesitated, memories of what he had tried to do to Amber and how he had abandoned Danni in a barn to give birth alone coming washing back to him. “I have a past.’ He murmured quietly. “A past I really, really regret, but it’s a part of who I am. I can’t deny my past any more than I can deny that I’m Bray.”

Grieco nodded slowly, fingering a loose tendril of damp brown hair before she self-consciously tucked it behind her ear. “You’re right, Bray.” She replied, startling him with how easily she had given in. “I do have a past. I just don’t want to tell you.”

Bray chuckled, throwing his head back and letting the sound erupt from his belly. It had been a long, long time since he had been able to laugh, especially like that. “You’re a funny girl, Grieco. That’s for sure. You don’t have to tell me about your past, just know I’m here if you ever do want to talk, alright?”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Grieco seemed relieved that he wasn’t going to pressure him to tell her tale. “We need to keep moving.” She abruptly changed the subject. “It will be quite hot today and I want to cover as much ground as possible before we have to stop.”

“I’m right behind you.” Bray nodded, motioning for her to push onward. She did so swiftly, her shoulders squared and her head held high while Bray followed directly behind her, admiring the view.

~*~*~

The air in Lord Ram’s office was suffocating, or maybe it was just his personality. Siva wasn’t sure which. Her head was hammering in pain and she yearned to escape to the sweet darkness of her quarters where she could bury herself under blankets and try and pretend she hadn’t drank as many cocktails last night as she really did.  After Lex had left, still searching for his Amber, Siva had remained at the casino, taking up every random bloke and his offer to buy her a drink. She was regretting all except for the two Lex had bought her now.

“Siva, my pet,” Ram cut into Siva’s distracted thoughts as she sat at her workstation pretending to be going over some figures she had actually done the day before. “Is something wrong? You seem awfully quiet this morning.”

Siva knew Ram didn’t really care, he never did. Somehow he must have found out about her excursion the night before and was letting her know that he knew she had been out drinking. “I’m fine.” She lied, looking up with a wince as the bright sunlight streamed through the undraped windows. “Just a little tried.”

“Late night last night?” Java smirked from her workstation. She had obviously scored some points with their great husband the night before. Whoopee for her. Siva rolled her eyes.

“Not as long as yours, apparently.” Siva smirked but quickly hid her smug expression with the back of her hand, pretending to yawn.

Java shot Siva a deadly glare but Siva chose to ignore it, turning back to her paperwork, determined to actually get something done today. She began to move down the checklist of Virts and their assigned destinations, trying to pretend that she didn’t know these “volunteers” were really kidnapped friends and family members. ‘A means to an end.’ She tried to convince herself, but no matter how much she believe Zoot really did want to bring peace and prosperity back to the city, taking prisoners and making them experiments and slaves was not the way to do it.

The door to Ram’s office suddenly opened and Siva looked up, immediately thankful for the distraction. It was Jay – only twelve hours late for his debriefing on his meeting with Ebony. Siva couldn’t help but feel sorry for poor Jay. He was as much of a victim of circumstance as she was. No one should have to put up with the games that Ram played with Jay.

“Jay,” She smiled at him, trying to see past the cold mask of Techno general, “Good morning.”

“Good morning, Siva.” Jay hesitated then turned to Java who was practically glowing under his miniscule attention. “Java.”

“What? Aren’t you going to say good morning to me, Jay?” Ram cackled as he rolled his chair forward so that he was only a few feet away from Jay.

“I can tell by your expression that your morning is going well, Ram.” Jay replied in a well-practiced, clipped tone. Siva was ever impressed by how emotionless Jay remained when in Ram’s presence.

“Right you are.” Ram rubbed his thickly gloved hands together in eager anticipation. “Though it would be much better if my general had reported back to me yesterday as he was instructed instead of waiting until this morning.”

“I had a headache.” Jay was lying, Siva could tell.

“Oooo… Headaches. Nasty things.” Ram nodded his head up and down overly dramatically. Ram knew Jay was lying as well, but it was his game he was playing so he didn’t mind. “So tell me, Jay, did you like our little surprise?”

“What? Ebony?” Jay arched a carefully groomed eyebrow. “As City Leader? I wasn’t surprised. She is a very ambitious woman.”

“Ambitious monster more like it.” Java growled under her breath and Siva could have sworn her eyes flashed with green envy.

“Yes, she is.” Ram nodded his head thoughtfully. “Ambition is a highly admirable quality, don’t you think, Jay? After all, it was ambition that got me into this highly esteemed position today.”

“If used correctly, ambition is a valuable tool and quality.” Jay provided all the right answers. He had been expecting this.  

Ram nodded his head again then shifted his chair over to his own personal workstation. “I’ve been looking over the reports this morning,” He began carefully, watching Jay, “I understand there was a slight mix-up in the reprogramming unit.”

“Yes, a minor glitch. It has been fixed now.” Jay affirmed.

“Tell me about this glitch, Jay.” Ram frowned. “You know I do not like glitches, especially when it comes to my reprogramming unit. The reprogramming is the future of the Technos. Without it we are nothing.”

“One of the Virts was delivered a couple days early, that is all.” Jay answered. “Her reprogrammer has not yet arrived from the Omega Camp, however Ved has volunteered to reprogram her during his free time.”

“Oooo, during his free time!” Ram cackled. “Ved, Ved, Ved. So dedicated to the job. So diligent. We need more men like him. Isn’t that right, Java my pet?”

“Yes, Lord Ram.” Java’s expression was simply nauseating. “Ved is a valuable asset.”

Ram smirked. “And we must always invest in our assets, isn’t that right, Jay?” Ram did not wait for Jay to reply before he continued. “That is why I’m always looking to expand, to bring in new talent and new personalities to the Techons, people I believe could aid and assist us and Zoot in our mission of bring prosperity back to the city.”

“Sir?” Jay looked at him curiously. Siva was surprised to see that Java was startled by Ram’s words as well. Siva, on the other hand, had a hunch the moment they learned Ebony was City Leader that Ram would try something like this.

“I’m thinking of adding to my collection. What do you think, Jay?” Ram wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “Knowing your history with Java’s and Siva’s dear history I wanted to make sure I wasn’t stepping on any toes before I made my move.”

Jay sputtered, clearly taken off guard by Ram’s words. “Y-you mean to marry Ebony? But Lord Ram, you haven’t even met her yet.”

“Ram, you can’t!” Java slammed her palm onto the desk, nearly knocking her computer from her workstation. “Ebony, she’s poison! You know that! She’s evil to the core and will destroy you and the Technos. You can’t turn your back on her.”

“I like a little danger in my life.” Ram cackled, reveling in both Jay’s and Java’s reactions. “And Jay, I was thinking that since you’re so tight with my desired City Leader you could give her the message for me.”

“What? That you’re proposing marriage?” Jay’s disgust was written clearly across his face.

“No, of course not.” Ram let out a maniacal laugh. “Just that I would like to meet with her. Perhaps discuss the future plans for her City. I would send one of my girls here, but I think that would be too much of a shock to our Ebony. Wouldn’t you agree, Siva?”

Siva nodded automatically, well remembering the last time she had seen and actually spoken to Ebony. She had been by Zoot’s side, standing there smirking and looking triumphant as Zoot ordered their deaths. If it had not been for their mysterious rescuer, whom Siva had always secretly suspected as being their sister, neither Java or Siva would be alive today.

“So it’s decided then.” Ram smirked. “You will give my message to Ebony. Bring her to the stadium and I will meet with her at the lady’s leisure. That is all. Dismissed.” Ram waved Jay off, then turned back his computer which was already set up for a video game. Siva shot Jay a sympathetic look as he walked towards the door, wishing there was something she could do to help her blonde friend, but her hands were tied, just like they always seemed to be.

~*~*~

‘Damn him.’ Grieco thought angrily to herself as she carefully picked the safest route to Zoot’s safe house, avoiding any pitfalls or dangerous territories. She knew she would able to handle herself come what may, she was just a little skeptical of Bray’s survival skills.   

He had completely surprised her with his sudden question, prying into her past. She had assumed Bray was as self-absorbed and arrogant as he always seemed to be, not caring about anyone but himself. She had been a little shocked when he had known her name, but to inquire of her past… That was not something she even considered he might ask.

She felt her cheeks flame with shame as she herself recalled the strange events that had brought her to this point in her life. Bray was right. Pasts shape you, no matter how much you don’t want them to. Grieco had once been a shy and naïve girl, so terrified of the world that was rapidly changing around her that she hid in her family’s cellar for months, only at last emerging from her hiding place when she had ran out of food.

When she came aboveground she had quickly discovered her worst fears had come to pass. The world she had known and loved had passed, falling to a world ruled by chaos and anarchy. Kids had formed tribes, surrogate families that looked after each other. Like gangs, only more violent and more fiercely loyal.

Grieco had tried to find a gang, find people that she could relate with, but her entire neighborhood had already cleared out. The only ones who remained were the ones who could not deal with the reality of what had happened. She recognized several of her classmates wandering the streets, strange listless expressions in their eyes as if they couldn’t believe what had happened. They were waiting for death and as tempting as it was to join them, ignore what had happened, Grieco was determined not to give in so easily.

She had traveled to the city, ignoring the words of warning from kids who were feeling. The city was dangerous, ruled by a young man who called himself Zoot. He was the one who had taken care of the last of the adults, killing the now elderly old men and women as they lay in their hospital beds, begging for sympathy. Zoot was the one who had burned the books, killed the weak, destroyed the city. Zoot was the only ruler the city had any more, and he ruled with an iron fist.

Rather then become terrified of Zoot, Grieco found herself strangely fascinated by the charismatic man. She had heard whispers of the boy he had been before the Virus – a shy and awkward boy who called himself Martin. But rather than become weaker through the events that were happening in the world around him, Martin had transformed into the powerful entity of Zoot. Someone to be feared, not laughed at. Someone to listen to, not ignore.

When she had at last arrived in the city, Grieco found it just as she imagined it. Overturned cars, vacant buildings, fires constantly burning. She had camped out inside an empty building for several weeks, hiding in the shadows, coming out to trade with those who had food.

It was on one of these excursions that she caught her first glimpse of him. The kid she had just traded her grandmother’s antique mirror, unbroken, had not be cautious as they hurried back to their tribe. They had been caught like a deer in headlights as Zoot’s squad car came zooming around the corner. He hadn’t stood a chance and Zoot mowed him down like a blade of grass while Grieco watched, utterly fascinated.

After that Grieco found herself going out more and more often. She sat quietly and observed as the Locos, Zoot’s tribe, slowly became more and more organized. They had two bases, the rail yards and the Horton Bailey Hotel, though they mostly operated out of the former rather than the latter.

She had moved away from her safe abandoned building to an old shack that was near to the rail yards. The Locos never knew she was there, but she watched every day, observing their tactics and techniques, watched as Zoot’s followers all cowered in fear of him, even his woman, Ebony.

Grieco had been watching that night when Zoot had quietly slipped away from the Loco camp, carefully avoiding the guards he had posted. She had followed him as he made his way to the center of the city, to the Phoenix Mall. He had entered the mall through the sewer entrance and though Grieco had waited for hours he never reemerged.

When dawn at last arrived, Grieco was ready to return to the rail yards, hoping to catch up with his activities back there. Perhaps he had escaped through a different exit, she did not know. However just as she was preparing to leave she saw him, or at least what once was him.

It was obvious the Mall Rats were carrying a dead body, as much as they tried to hide that fact. They all wore disguises, hideous things that clearly masked any distinguishing features. Grieco had followed them as they carried Zoot’s body to the beach, watch as they built a pyre and cried as they cast him out to sea, the pyre aflame.

Grieco had waited until the last of the Mall Rats, the man she now knew as Bray, left the beach, tears streaking his vivid makeup. It was then that she had flung herself into the ocean. Looking back on it now, Grieco did not understand her motivation for her actions. She only remembered the deep feeling of pain and misery realizing that the man she had fallen in love with from afar was dead. She did not want to live without him.

She had always been a strong swimmer, the fastest in her school. Before the Virus she had won several medals, and that day she would have won another. She had swum with all her might, her one desire to get to that pyre before her strength gave out and the ocean’s depths claimed her.

Just as she felt the last of her strength ebb, her hand had hit the pyre, still burning, though with less intensity as the ocean’s waves lapped away at the wicked flame. She pulled herself atop the pyre, uncaring for the flame and laid herself across Zoot’s still body, mentally willing herself to die quickly.

And then she felt it. The heartbeat. So soft and faint that she at first thought she had imagined it, but after listening carefully for several minutes she realized it was not a figment of her overly-active imagination. It was there. Zoot was alive.

Without another moment’s hesitation, Grieco quickly doused the remaining flames that ate away at the pyre turned lifeboat. She then began the tedious task of removing Zoot’s burial clothes, a white linen sheet that had definitely seen its better days. The sheet had been scorched in a few places but had protected Zoot from the majority of injury.

They rode on the small raft for what felt like days, Grieco doing her best to shield the unconscious Zoot from the sun’s harmful rays and the ocean’s cruel waves, protecting him from further pain as much as possible. They had no food and no water and Grieco knew they would slowly die if they did not wash to shore soon.

She had already given up by the time the raft drifted onto the sandbar that the Guardian now called the Straight of Zoot. She hadn’t believed it at first, yet when she rolled off the former pyre and onto the shallow water she realized that someone up above had been looking out for them after all.

Life became easy in comparison to what they had just been through after they shored on the sandbar. Grieco managed to carefully bring Zoot down from the pyre and create a bed for him in a small sheltered she managed to erect made of palm branches and leaves. He still had never regained consciousness, but Grieco was undaunted. They had overcome the hard part. The rest was downhill.

They lived on the beach for weeks, Grieco caring for Zoot as he remained a prisoner to his dark sleep. At times he would stir, saying a name of a stranger from time to time, but never did he fully wake up. Grieco refused to let go of hope, however, and continued to nurse him to healthy, day by day.

One day, after they had been shored for over a month, Grieco had traveled further inland to replenish their food stock. She had only been gone for a little over an hour but when she returned she discovered the small shelter that had slowly begun to turn into a hut vacant. At first she thought Zoot had woken up, however when she read the tracks she realized that was far from the truth. According to the tracks their safe haven had been approached by two individuals. They entered the hut, picked up Zoot and together carried him away.

When Grieco closed her eyes she could still remember the cold fury that had filled her when she realized what had happened. Without even stopping to gather the few supplies she had found during their stay on the beach, Grieco had head out after the people responsible for stealing Zoot from her. She had vowed to herself that she would get him back, if it was the last thing she did.  

She had discovered where they taken Zoot. It was the same place that had now become his infamous Safe House, an old government fort. She had camped outside the fort for days hoping to catch a glimpse of the man she had fallen in love with yet never spoken a word to, not with him actually hearing her that is.

At last, after she had been living outside the fort for days a rabble of desolate looking kids approached the gate. Grieco thought she recognized some of them as once running with the Locos, but she could not be sure. They knocked on the gate and a striking blonde had answered. She had let them in instantly and it was then that Grieco knew what she had to do.

She had waited until the next group of former Locos arrived then mingled herself in with them. There she learned that Zoot was awake, though still very weak. He desperately wanted to return to the city, but the city had to first be prepared for his return. He had begun the formation of the Chosen and in a vain attempt to try and be near to him once again, Grieco had joined up.

After she had become one of the Chosen Grieco had strived daily to work herself into a position that would gain Zoot’s attention, however rather than be noticed by the one her heart yearned for it was the Guardian who noticed how zealous she was. She was one of the few Chosen who was selected to go on the very first Chosen mission, reentry to the City.

She could still remember how freezing cold she was that night that the Chosen had gathered on the beach, awaiting Zoot’s signal. When at last he gave it they had left immediately in long boats that Grieco had not even known existed. It was on that chilly boat ride that Grieco realized the fullness of what her obsession had caused her to do. She had joined a cult, a group that wanted to bring chaos back to the city and suddenly that thought filled her with terror.

Grieco had not remained with the Chosen long. After the Guardian’s first psychotic outburst Grieco had made her hasty departure, never once looking back. It was then that she formed the Heavens, a small band of outcasts from other tribes. They were not family like the rest of the tribes seemed to be, but stuck together for mere convenience. When Grieco was taken prisoner by the Chosen only a few short months later she hadn’t even missed them. 

A heavy sigh escaped Grieco’s lips as she shot a glance back in Bray’s direction. He was watching the ground, carefully avoiding the treacherous rocks and holes that Grieco had accidentally led them into, distracted herself. There was absolutely no way she could ever tell this man – the brother of Zoot – her story. He wouldn’t understand. No one did, least of all herself.

“We’ll stop here for the day.” Grieco said suddenly, startling Bray. “It’s getting hot.”

Bray nodded, sweat pouring down his handsome face and for one instant he reminded her of Zoot.

“We’ll set out again as soon as the sun sets.” She commented quietly, finding a softer spot on the earth to bed down on. She closed her eyes, wishing that somehow she could blot out her memories as easily as she had blotted out the light.

“If only.” She breathed out and then was asleep.

~*~*~ 

“Who are you?”

Jack awoke with a start, the darkness that filled the room disorienting him momentarily. He quickly sat up and tried to gain his bearings as his eyes adjusted to the very dim lighting. “Wh-what was that?” He stammered out, rubbing at his eyes. He had not heard anyone come into the room, though he had been sleeping quite soundly.

“Who are you?” The voice repeated, strong yet tinged with fear. Distinctively female.

The Dead Girl! Jack realized all at once. He looked over to where he could make out her faint outline in the dark. She was seated on her cot, facing forward, though if she was looking at him, Jack couldn’t tell.

“Jack.” He said quickly. “My name is Jack. Wh-who are you?”

The girl said nothing for several long moments before at last breaking the uncomfortable silence that had fallen between them. “Jack. Such a nice name.”

Jack frowned, pinching himself on the arm to make sure he was not dreaming. This situation was certainly weird enough to be mistaken for a dream. Yet sure enough there was the slight pain assuring him it was not.  

“I, er, suppose.” Jack had always hated his name. He had been called jackass one too many times for his liking. “What did you say yours was again?”

“I didn’t.” She replied instantly this time. “I’m trying to remember.”

“Wh-what do you mean?” Jack felt his curiosity being piqued. She had a lovely voice, low and beautiful, definitely the type of voice that could lull a baby to sleep. He imagined she had a lovely singing voice as well.

“The Dead Girl, that’s what they call me.” She replied cryptically, supplying information he had already managed to figure out on his own. “But I’m not dead, Jack. Though I feel as if I am.”

Jack said nothing. He didn’t know what to say, but he hoped she would continue just the same.

“The last thing I remember is waking up in a machine with something on my head. The man in black told me they were scanning me and something went wrong. Then they moved me here because I was no good to them any longer. I couldn’t remember anything anymore.”

“You mean you have amnesia?” Jack realized suddenly. “You mean the Technos were doing experiments on you and somehow they wiped out all your memories?”

“I don’t know.” She admitted softly. “Are they the Technos?”

Jack nodded, then realized she could not see the movement in the dark. “Yeah, that’s what Simon told me they were called. They’re doing something with Virtual Reality, though I don’t know what. It sounds more like science fiction than reality, but since the Virus everything has pretty much been that way.”

“The Virus?”

“Uh, nothing. Never mind. Remind me and I’ll tell you sometime.” Jack bit down on his lip, hoping that someone else would strike up a conversation with the strange girl and inform her that her parents and all the adults were dead before he had the opportunity. “So, if you don’t remember your name, what do they call you? Besides Dead Girl?”

“Nothing.” She replied. “They only call me Dead Girl.”

“Nothing else? Nothing at all?” Jack frowned, finding it difficult to believe that such an organized outfit like these Technos would not have some way of identifying their beautiful prisoner other than by calling her Dead Girl.

“My number is MIA626.”

“MIA626? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“We all have numbers, Jack.” She explained carefully. “Mine is MIA626. MIA stands for Memory Investigation Access.”

“Memory Investigation Access?” Jack shuddered inwardly, not even wanting to imagine what that meant. “Is that what experiment they were performing when they wiped your memories?”

“I don’t know.”

Jack nodded, thinking silently to himself. If she was MIA626 he must have a number as well, though Simon had not mentioned anything like that to him yet. Perhaps because he hadn’t actually been tested yet he was not officially in their database. He hoped so. He hated the thought of having his name taken away and being assigned a number.

“I want a name, Jack.” She whispered suddenly, breaking into her thoughts. “I don’t want to be called Dead Girl anymore. I’m not dead.”

“No.” Jack shook his head quickly. “No you’re not, and I won’t call you that, I promise.”

“Then what will you call me, Jack?”

Jack hesitated. He had never been very good at picking out names. Before Brady had been named and the Mall Rats were trying to figure out something to call her other than baby because Trudy wouldn’t name her, Jack came up with the absolute worst suggestions, or at least that’s what Patsy told him. He thought Sue was a good name for a girl.

“Sue?” He suggested suddenly.

“No.” Came the flat response, bringing a smile to Jack’s lips.

“Okay, not Sue. Um, how about… He trailed off, thinking. “How about Mia?”

“Mia?” She repeated tentatively. “Like MIA?”

“Yeah, exactly.” Jack nodded his head quickly. “It’s obviously not your real name, but it will work. And I, well, I sort of think it’s pretty.”

“I do too, Jack.” She murmured. “I like Mia.” She crossed the room suddenly and sat on the bed next to Jack, sitting very, very close and causing a warm heat to rush to Jack’s head.

“I, erm, I like Mia too.” Jack choked out at last.

Before Jack knew what was happening Mia had planted a quick kiss on his cheek then rose to her feet and scurried back to her own bed. “Thank you, Jack.” She called from her bed. “Thank you for naming me. Please tell them I’m not the Dead Girl anymore.”

“I will.” Jack felt a bit dizzy from Mia’s platonic kiss. “Believe me, I will.”

~*~*~

“Well, this is it.” Salene murmured softly as she shot an encouraging smile in Ryan’s direction. He had barely spoken six words to her since they had broken camp early that morning, though Salene had not been that surprised. The Ryan she had found in a long deserted Chosen prison camp was not the Ryan who had been taken away from her so many months before. He had changed, something had changed him, and Salene was still trying to learn just what that was.

Sensing her husband’s reluctance, she gently pulled him to a stop and moved in front of him so she could look at him directly in his beautiful eyes that had haunted her every waking moment until she found him. “Are you sure you want to do this, Ry? We could always turn around… Go back-“ The words stuck in the back of her throat. She did not want to go back to the wilderness, no friends, no food, never knowing if you’d wake up in the morning surrounded by an unfriendly tribe. Yet as much as she didn’t want that again, she knew for Ryan she would do it.

“I’m sure, Salene.” Ryan smiled haltingly at her as he took her hands with his own and gave them a gentle squeeze. “This is something that I’ve got to do. It’s just strange, that’s all. Everything has changed so much. You changed so much…” His eyes fell to her flat abdomen and Salene felt the old familiar heartache rise up in her throat.

Struggling to control the tears that had already formed in the back of her eyes, Salene put on a brave smile and quickly brushed her lips against Ryan’s. “We can try again, Ryan.” Though the niggling doubt in her mind kept reminding her that she didn’t even know if she was capable of having children anymore. After a miscarriage, many women were never able to conceive again. Salene just prayed she was not one of them.

“Yeah, we will.” Ryan agreed, his gaze flicking past Salene and over her shoulder to where the unchanging mall stood, breaking up the single story monotony of the buildings around it. Salene had always loved the mall, even before the Virus it had been her favorite place to go. “Shall we go?”

Salene nodded, feeling Ryan’s still and quiet strength slowly begin to seep into her. He had always been a rock for her, a security that she knew she could count on no matter what else happened in the world. When he had been ripped away from her she had nearly lost it. She regretted so many things, one of them being never showing Ryan just how much she really did love him. She was not about to make that mistake ever again.

“Salene?” A loud voice called from behind them, a voice that was familiar to the redhead though she could not place from where. “Salene is that you? And oh my! Ryan!”

Both Ryan and Salene quickly turned to see who it was that addressed them. The couple that approached was at first strangers to Salene, but as they neared closer realization dawn on Salene.

“Danni!” Salene cried happily, pulling Ryan to run and meet Danni and the handsome stranger who walked alongside her. Salene could not help but notice the tiny bundle that Danni held in her arms and the lack of the bulge that Salene had grown accustomed to seeing Danni with. “Oh my goodness! It’s so great to see you. And who is this little cutie-pie?”

Danni beamed, obviously a very proud parent of the tiny child in her arms. “This is Raven Ella.” Danni whispered the name almost reverently, shooting a loving look over at the stranger who stood protectively at her side. “And I don’t think either of you have met him, but this is Ravenscroft.”

Salene quickly masked her surprise that the little girl in Danni’s arms seemed to be named after the stranger rather than her father, Bray. “So, what brings you and your little one outside of the mall?” Salene queried after Ryan had made the proper ooohs and ahhs over the little one. “Isn’t it a bit dangerous with the invading tribe in the area?”

“The Technos pose no real threat.” Ravenscroft said instantly and for the first time Salene noticed his black trouser and matching black lycra shirt that looked very similar to the uniforms she had seen in the distance. “They did not enter the city in the best way, but their intentions are good. Trust me.”

Salene glanced nervously over at Ryan who seemed to be sizing the other male up. At last Ryan nodded and a tentative smile flitted across his lips. “You were one of them?” Ryan addressed Ravenscroft for the first time, shocking Salene only slight with his directness. He was no longer the same Ryan who beat around the bush when he wanted to know something.

“Yes.” Ravenscroft nodded, not at all ashamed. “But I deserted. When I found Danni in the barn I could not just leave her there giving birth, now could I?”

“Barn?” Salene’s eyes widened. “Danni, what on earth were you doing giving birth alone in a barn? You’re not a cow!”

“It’s a long story, Salene. A long unpleasant one.” Danni drew her lips together in a thin line. “Ebony banished Bray from the city and I stupidly followed him. I went into labor and he abandoned me. I would have died if Ravenscroft had not found me.”

Salene was shocked at Danni’s words. She knew that Bray had gone through a lot of changes himself in the past several months, but she was appalled by his behavior. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Ryan would never have left her alone while giving birth. It would have been impossible to drive him away from her side.

“Let’s get to the mall.” Ravenscroft said suddenly, glancing around nervously. “I have a feeling we’re being watched.”

“Watched?” Danni cried in alarm.

Ravenscroft nodded, pointing to a old light pole that had not had much use since the adults died. Now, however, there was what appeared to be a security camera fashioned to its highest point and it was pointing right in their direction.

“When did those get there?” Salene furrowed her brow, remembering how uneasy she had been back before the Virus when she knew everything was being videotaped. “Did the Technos leave them?”

“No doubt.” Ravenscroft confirmed. “We best get inside, now.” He then turned to Danni, holding out his arms to take Raven so she could walk faster. However, the moment the newborn passed from Danni’s arms and into Ravencroft’s she opened her mouth and began to scream, an ear-shattering scream that Salene knew could be heard for blocks.

“Not again.” Danni murmured softly, trying to quiet her daughter while Ravenscroft rocked her gently back and forth. “Please, sweetie. You’re okay. Just go back to sleep. Please.”

However Raven would not quiet and at last Ravenscroft passed her back to Danni with an apologetic look on his face. “I don’t understand,” He murmured softly, almost too quiet for Salene to hear, “Why does she only cry when I hold her?”

“I don’t know, Ravenscroft.” Danni murmured back. “I don’t know.”