Chapter One

He once asked me why I never came back. How could I answer him? I knew he could never understand the emotions I had gone through – the pain, the jealousy, and the self-doubt. I knew he wouldn’t be able to understand that I was no longer the same girl that walked up that mountain so long ago…

Amber stirred slightly as the chilly mountain wind brushed against her cheek, tickling her nose and eyelashes, and dancing in and around her long golden tresses that only hours before had been tied snuggly against her head in her traditional Zulu knot fashion.

She could feel no sensation from her waist down and for one panicked minute she thought she might be paralyzed. She tried to adjust her right arm, but just moving the most minuscule of muscles sent excruciating waves of pain up and down her slender form.

Amber wanted to open her eyes, but she was terrified to do so. She could imagine the dead bodies of her friends, those people who had become like family to her over the past several months, scattered along the mountainside. Amber knew she would not be able to handle that.

She tried to think back to what happened, but everything was such a haze. Amber could vaguely remember Dal shouting for everyone to get out of the building quick. Then she, along with the rest of the petrified Mall Rats raced towards the exit doors.

Bray had been holding her hand so tightly the circulation from her fingers had been cut off. Halfway to the doors, someone had crashed into them from behind, breaking their hold. She couldn’t remember seeing Bray after that. She could only hope he was all right.

A long moment passed as Amber tried to build up the courage to open her eyes. She really didn’t know what to expect. Finally, she slowly opened her eyes and gasped. “Ebony!” Of all the things Amber had imagined she had not expected to see the concern filled eyes of the one person who probably hated her more than any one else.

“Hush, Blondie.” Ebony instructed, a strange smile playing at her lips. “Don’t try and speak. You suffered a pretty nasty blow there. Plus, it looks like you banged up your legs pretty bad. Can you feel them?”

Amber shook her head, even that small movement causing her enough pain to prick her eyes with tears.

“You poor thing.” Ebony murmured her eyes genuinely sympathetic. “Are you thirsty?”

Amber nodded.

“I have a little bit of water left in my canteen. It’s not much and it’s not cold, but it will help.” Ebony offered the blonde her battered canteen.

Amber attempted to smile her appreciation while reaching out to take the canteen from Ebony’s offering hand. “Ow!” Amber yelped before she could bite it back. Her arm was protesting her use of it.

“Your arm hurt too?” Ebony’s eyes widened. “Here, let me take a look at it.” Ebony set the canteen down and moved over to Amber’s side. “Hum.” She murmured, her eyes carefully inspecting Amber’s arm. “It doesn’t look broken; probably just a contusion. Just as well, you shouldn’t use it for awhile.”

“Do you know what happened?” Amber queried.

“I’m not exactly sure.” Came Ebony’s response as she moved back to where she lay the canteen then lifted it to Amber’s lips. “Drink.” The liquid poured over Amber’s cracked lips offering a little relief.

“I figure we must have triggered a self-destruct sequence.” Ebony continued. “Either that or the building was ready to go anyway. I figure it’s the former rather than the latter, though.”

Amber digested what Ebony said, licking her lips to try and get the last bits of moisture from Ebony’s canteen. She studied Ebony with careful eyes. Everything inside Amber told her not to trust Ebony. She had proven herself to be evil to the core on numerous occasions. But Amber didn’t see she had much choice. She was basically helpless, dependant on Ebony, the Empress of the Locos, or the former empress if what she claimed was true.

Ebony looked as if she had escaped the worst of the explosion, though she too had a few battle scars. A large gash on her forehead was the most prominent, but Amber could see the beginnings of several large bruises appearing on Ebony’s forearms. Beyond that her normally perfectly in order braids were disheveled and her make up was horribly smeared.

“The others, are they alright?” Amber finally broke the silence, asking the question that had been nagging her from before she opened her eyes.

Ebony’s gaze shifted to her lap as she gnawed on her lower lip thoughtfully. “I don’t know.” She admitted, her voice sounding strange. “You and Zandra were the only people I’ve been able to find. I think we must have gotten separated from everyone else when the building blew.”

“Zandra?” Amber’s eyes widened with concern. “Is she okay? The baby’s not hurt, is it?”

“The baby?” Ebony whispered, all color draining from her face.

“Zandra’s pregnant. She just found out a little bit ago.” Amber answered.

Tears began to fill Ebony’s eyes in a very un-Ebony-like fashion. “Oh Amber.” She whimpered softly. “I tried to help her. I really did. I know you probably don’t believe me, but I did. There was so much blood! I couldn’t stop it—“

“Ebony, what are you saying?” Amber interrupted while struggling to sit up. Suddenly her pain did not seem that much of a big deal.

“She’s dead, Amber. She’s dead!” Ebony wailed. “I tried to stop it, but I didn’t know what to do.”

Amber hurriedly shut her eyes. Her initial reaction was to blame Ebony for Zandra’s death, but at the same time she knew Ebony wasn’t responsible anymore than she was. “Oh Zandra.” Her voice quivered. “Poor Zandra. She didn’t even want to make this stupid journey in the first place. She said it was too dangerous with the baby. She was right. Oh Zandra! Will you ever forgive me?” Amber opened her eyes and searched the heavens.

Ebony remained silent for a long moment while blinking away the tears that had managed to escape. “I’m sorry Amber.” She whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” Amber’s eyes were filled with guilt. “It was mine. I am the leader. I shouldn’t have forced Zandra to go.”

“You can’t blame yourself, Amber.” Ebony argued. “You had no idea what was going to happen.”

“But Zandra shouldn’t have had to come.” Amber shook her head, ignoring the pain that wracked her body as she did so. “I shouldn’t have made her come.” She repeated.

“Please, Amber. Don’t blame yourself. You can’t live your life blaming yourself for things like this.”

“Shut up, Ebony. You have no idea, so just leave me alone!” Amber ordered, no malice in her tone.

Ebony frowned, fidgeting in the silence. She didn’t speak again until several minutes had ticked by. “I need to find us someplace to stay the night. It’s getting dark and it gets really cold up in the mountains at night.”

“What about the others?” Amber questioned, her voice husky. “I can’t just leave them alone out here. I need to try and find them.”

“You, honey, are in no condition to be stumbling around in the dark trying to find anybody. For all you know we could be the only people who survived.”

“They’re not dead.” Amber glared at Ebony, her eyes turning to ice. “And I’ve got to at least try and find them.”

“That I would love to see.” Ebony chuckled.

“What do you mean?”

“You can’t even walk! How do you think you’re going to traipse around the mountainside looking for people, in the dark no less?”

“I’ll find a way.” Amber retorted.

“Come on, Amber! Think of yourself for once!” Ebony shouted, throwing her hands in the air. “You almost died!”

“But Bray—“

“Bray can take care of himself.” Ebony growled. “He’s a survivor. Besides, he would be telling you the same thing I am, and you know it.”

Amber glared at Ebony, but she knew she couldn’t argue. Ebony was right. She couldn’t walk, much less help anyone if she did find them. “Fine. We’ll do it your way.”

“Good.” Ebony’s lips curved upward in a smile that Amber wasn’t quite sure she trusted. “Now, I think some of the observatory is still standing. If so, I’ll see if there’s a place we can bed down in for the night. If not, well, I’m sure I can construct some kind of crude shelter from the debris.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

Ebony rolled her eyes. “Not hardly. Just sit tight. I’ll be back in a minute.” Ebony winked at the blonde then was off carefully picking her way through the wreckage of the still smoking observatory. Amber hated feeling helpless, but that was exactly what she was.

Amber closed her eyes and whispered a little prayer for the rest of the Mall Rats. She had never considered herself a religious person, but at times like these Amber could only hope there was a higher being that she could depend on.

Thinking of the Mall Rats brought Amber’s thoughts back to Zandra. She knew she shouldn’t blame herself, but how could she not? She was the leader; it was her responsibility. Zandra’s death was on her head, and somehow she would have to tell Lex. That was not something she was looking forward to.

Amber could no longer keep the tears back, and since she was alone, she allowed them to flow freely. “I’m so sorry, Zan. I’m so sorry.” She murmured over and over again. Her eyes squeezed tightly shut she tried to erase from her mind the joy she had seen on Lex’s face when Zandra announced she was pregnant. “I’m so sorry.”

Ebony returned a short while later, a huge grin spread across her face. “Well, it looks like God is smiling down on us tonight.”

“What do you mean?” Amber questioned.

“The observatory isn’t in nearly as bad shape as it appears. Only about half of it is completely destroyed. Of the other half there are quite a few places we could stay the night. Probably the safest is the men’s bathroom.”

“The men’s bathroom?” Amber squeaked.

“Yeah. It’s really the only room that has a full roof left over it. Plus, it’s far enough away from the doors that we won’t be disturbed by any wild animals.”

“Wild animals?” Amber tried to keep the fear from her voice, but she knew she wasn’t succeeding.

“Yeah. I’m sure there’s got to be a few mountain lions or something prowling around these hills.” Ebony scanned the hills. Turning back to face Amber she noticed the other girl’s worried and pensive expression. “But the explosion probably scared off most of the animals. So don’t sweat it, Blondie.” She added.

“I’m not worried.” Amber scowled. “Did you see anyone else?”

Ebony shook her head, causing her long braids to spill over her slender shoulders. “No. But I can go back out and look once I get you settled in the bathroom.”

“That would be wonderful.” Amber finally offered Ebony a smile. “I appreciate it.”

“Need some help?” Ebony offered as Amber began to straighten herself out in order to stand up.

“Naw, I think I can manage. I’m starting to feel my legs a bit again.” Amber informed the other girl. Slowly and cautiously she began to lift herself off the ground. Unfortunately, her legs weren’t as cooperative as she had hoped. “Uh—“ Her voice wobbled dangerously.

“Here. Let me.” Ebony grabbed Amber’s left arm and threw it over her shoulder then tried to lift Amber to a standing position, but even with Ebony’s assistance, Amber’s legs would not stay firm on the ground.

“How much do you weigh?” Ebony let out a deep sigh, eyeing Amber up and down.

“Huh?” Confusion in Amber’s voice.

“Just a simple question, Blondie. How much do you weigh?” Ebony joked sarcastically.

“Um, well, before the virus I was just under 44 kilos.”

“That’s it?” Ebony started. “Why, you’re nothing but skin and bones. And I bet you weigh even less now.”

Amber shrugged her shoulders, noting the pain was slightly less than the last time she had attempted that.

Ebony wrapped Amber’s arm around her neck and shoulders once again, then lifted Amber at the blonde’s knees and the middle of her back. “Light as a feather.” She grunted under Amber’s weight.

Ebony staggered in the direction of the observatory, nearly tripping or falling several times. “Put me down, Ebony.” Amber instructed. “I’m going to get you killed this way.”

“I’m not that easy to kill.” Ebony muttered. “Now we’re almost there.”

“My legs feel a little better, maybe if you—“

“Shut up!” Ebony interrupted. “I’m in charge now and we’re going to do things my way. And my way is carrying you to the observatory. Now, I don’t want to hear another peep out of you, you hear me?”

Amber nodded, but her face remained stoic.

It took Ebony twice as long to get to the observatory carrying Amber than it would have if she had been by herself, but Ebony didn’t complain. Being carried gave Amber the opportunity study the devastation the observatory explosion had caused on the mountainside. She could hardly believe it was the same mountain she and the rest of the Mall Rats had climbed just the day before.

Most the grass was now black from the smoke and ash and Amber couldn’t even hear the faintest of insects in the background. Yesterday the crickets had been so loud she had wondered how on earth she would ever be able to sleep.

Even the strong trees that grew along the mountainside were showing the affects of the explosion. Several tree limbs had been burned or broken off and were now lying on the ground waiting for someone to take them and use them for firewood. Amber was just thankful the explosion had not caused a forest fire.

“The bathroom isn’t too far into the building.” Ebony stated as they approached the once beautiful structure. Amber could see the strain of carrying her was taking it’s toll on Ebony, but still Ebony did not seem to mind.

Ebony walked down a long smoke-blackened hallway. It looked as if a fire had raced down the hall but never caught on anything. The charred walls appeared ready to collapse on one another at any minute, but Amber decided that if Ebony felt it was safe enough to stay the night she would trust her.

Abruptly, Ebony turned and walked into a room that Amber instantly recognized as the men’s bathroom. The bathroom wasn’t in much better shape than the hallway. It too had the black burn evidence of a fire on its walls. The sole window in the room was broken and bits and pieces of glass lay on the floor waiting for someone to accidentally step on them.

The bathroom stalls had mostly fallen down. There was one section still standing, but even that didn’t offer any privacy. One of the four toilets was broken, porcelain slowly degrading on the cold tile floor. The bathroom had three urinals, only one of them still attached to the wall and not exposing the rusted pipes behind the dry-rotted sheetrock and tile.

Amber wrinkled her nose. No matter how long the bathroom had been unused, it still had the distinct ‘boys bathroom’ smell which she hated. “The girls bathroom wasn’t still standing?” Amber half-joked.

Ebony shook her head as she slowly eased Amber onto the ground and propped her up against one of the least damaged walls. “The girl’s bathroom was horrible.” Ebony explained. “It looked like the pipes had exploded. There were bits and pieces of metal everywhere. Plus it stunk horrifically.”

“I see.” Amber shifted her weight, trying to make herself comfortable. The tile felt like ice on Amber’s bare calves. She wished she had worn her leather pants instead of her caprices

Amber watched as Ebony seemed to be studying the entire room. Her hazel eyes scanned each wall, careful not to miss even the tiniest of details. She crossed the room to where the window was, stood on her tiptoes and peered out.

“Interesting.” Ebony murmured almost too softly for Amber to hear.

“What’s interesting?”

“Nothing.” Ebony walked across the room again and lifted a portion of a broken stall door. “This should work.” She turned back to the window and carefully fitted the piece into the windowsill. It was a bit snug but Amber could feel it’s benefits immediately.

“Now we won’t freeze our butts of tonight.” Ebony stated, dusting her hands off on her leather pants.

“So,” Amber began, not sure how she would broach the subject. “I thought you were going to go out and try and find the others.”

“I was.” Ebony returned. “But only if the room was secure. The door doesn’t even lock. I can’t leave you here all alone.”

“Why not?”

“Well, Blondie, I hate to break it to you, but you’re pretty much defenseless without me here. And to be honest, I don’t want your death, kidnapping, or whatever on my head.”

“Don’t worry about me.” Amber argued. “I may not be able to walk very well—“

“Very well?” Ebony interrupted her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You couldn’t even stand up on your own.”

“Yes, but…” Amber trailed off, trying to keep her tears in check. She hated admitting she was so dependant on Ebony. “I need you, Ebony.” She whispered in a low tone. “The others please go out and look for them.”

Ebony’s gaze locked with Amber’s for a solid minute before Ebony let out a heavy sigh. “Alright. I’ll go. But only if you can stand up.”

“Sounds fair.”

“Without my help.” Ebony added.

Amber gritted her teeth in determination. She couldn’t understand why Ebony was being so stubborn on this issue. She scowled at Ebony, then placed her palms flat on the cold tile. Very gingerly she raised her self to a crouching position, using the wall for support.

“Is this good enough?” Amber gasped. She couldn’t believe how much pain and effort it had taken to only get into that position.

“I said stand.” Came the cold reply.

“Fine.” Even slower than before, Amber raised herself into a standing position. Her leg muscles were screaming, but she paid them no heed. “Satisfied?” She breathed eventually.

“Sure am.” Ebony shrugged. “I’ll be back soon.” Ebony turned and made her way to the door. Cautiously, she opened the door a crack, glancing both ways down the hallway. Finally satisfied that no one was out there, she exited the bathroom, accidentally catching her leather coat on the doorjamb in the process.

“Dang it!” She scowled. “I always do that.” She quickly yanked on her coat, pulling it free, then hurried on her way down the hallway, completely unaware of the small paper-like object that had fallen out of her coat pocket.

The minutes ticked by as Amber studied the cracks in the bathroom wall hoping to keep her mind off of Bray, Ebony, Zandra, and the rest of the Mall Rats. Ebony was acting so peculiarly, not at all like the Ebony who had kidnapped Bray only a couple of weeks before.

Amber certainly didn’t know what to make of it. She hated Ebony, or at least she thought she did. When Amber opened her eyes and saw Ebony she thought for sure her life was over. But instead of leaving her to die, Ebony was helping her. It just didn’t make sense to Amber.

‘I know she’s intelligent and devious enough to try and trick me into trusting her.’ Amber thought to herself. ‘But I will not fall for that. I know better than that.’

Amber frowned. She shouldn’t be thinking of Ebony at a time like this. Of course, if she wasn’t thinking of Ebony her thoughts were pulled to much more painful matters. Bray. Somehow, deep inside her, she knew he was still alive. She could feel it. It was almost as if she could hear his heart beating in time with her own.

“Oh Bray.” She whispered, her eyes drifting towards the ceiling. “I know you’re out there. Please, please be okay.” Slowly, Amber’s eyelids slid shut, sleep finally claiming her exhausted body.