Chapter 12

A Dark Foe:

Dust lay in the dark listening to Todd’s soft snores. They had eaten with the rest of the group before retiring to their room. Sammy had been quiet, but she gave him a small nod to let him know that she was alright. She had also given him a roughly drawn map to the lower section where she was staying.

Rolling onto his side, he pulled the penlight out of his pocket and flicked it on. She was almost directly below him. He turned the light off and replaced the penlight in his pocket before he focused. He felt the odd tingle in his body just before he faded.

Rising from the bed, he glanced down at Todd’s peaceful form once more before he passed through the thin door of their room. He continued across the open common area until he reached the outer section. Turning right, he quickly made his way down the stairwell to the lower section where Sammy and the other women and children stayed.

Pulling the image of the map up in his head, he walked over to the third door from the entrance. He paused to look around. Stella, one of the other women that he had met earlier, was sitting by a small lamp. She was patching clothing. Dust froze when she paused and looked around with a frown before she returned her attention to the shirt she was working on.

He passed through the door to Sammy’s room and scanned it to make sure she was alone before he solidified. A grin curved his lips when Sammy covered her mouth to smother the squeak when he suddenly appeared. She scowled at him before she waved him closer.

“Here,” she whispered, holding out several candy bars. “I had these in my bag. I couldn’t take anything from the supply room. Maria and Stella count everything.”

“I’ll get more from the car later,” Dust whispered with a smile of thanks as he ripped one of the chocolate bars open and devoured it. “They don’t feed us much, that’s for sure.”

“I noticed that,” Sammy replied with a grim look. “How is Todd?”

“He’s asleep,” Dust assured her. “I’m going to go take a look around. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

Sammy nodded and scooted back on the bed. She drew her knees up to her chin and stared at him. He could see that she was scared, but she was trying to hide it.

“Where are you going?” She asked in a husky voice.

Dust reached out and touched her cheek with his fingers. “Just to look around,” he whispered. “It will be alright. We’ll leave tomorrow if you want.”

Sammy nodded and leaned her cheek into his hand. “I’m scared, Dust. What if they don’t let us go? What if they try to stop us?” She asked.

“They won’t,” Dust assured her. “Beau said we could leave if we wanted.”

Sammy swallowed and nodded. “Just… be careful,” she said.

“I will. I promise,” he replied, standing up and winking at her before he focused and faded from sight.

He passed through the door again. This time, the room was empty. The shirt that Stella had been working on was lying neatly folded on top of a basket of other clothing. He walked out of the circular room and turned toward the stairwell leading down to the last level. Swallowing, he glanced over his shoulder before he started down the steps.

*.*.*

Thirty miles away, ten dark shadows paused. The one in the front stepped forward onto the rise and stared down along the narrow, two-lane road. She could feel the other creature, the one she hunted. It was a faint pull, but she could feel him calling to her.

Turning, she snarled at one of the other devil dogs. It was her beta. It would support her to the death.

Storm.

It’s thoughts washed through her mind like a fuzzy picture, but she knew what it was saying. Her gaze turned back to the massive storm that was churning in the distance. It was slowly moving away, but it was still too dangerous for them to approach. Without cover, her pack would be defenseless.

Search, she ordered.

Her Beta turned and growled to several of the black shapes lying behind her before taking off at a run. She watched as they disappeared over the rise and down along the road. Hunger pulled at her.

There had not been much to eat at the rubble of the buildings they had left miles behind. She had finished eating the flesh that had been in the bags, but it had not been enough to build her strength. The storm and the necessity for them to hunt had also slowed down her ability to track the vehicle. The second storm in the distance was worse than the first one. This one was more dangerous, but it would also force the ones she hunted to seek shelter as well. She could feel it.

A low whine from one of the dogs behind her drew her attention. It was hungry. Her eyes blazed as they ran over the beast. Turning, she trotted back to where it was lying. The dog immediately dropped its head down and tucked its tail between its legs before offering its throat in submission.

A primitive urge swept through her and she wanted to rip into the vulnerable tissue. It was the new, cognizant part of her that cautioned her to wait. She would need numbers when she confronted the two-legged creatures again. Once they were eliminated, she could kill this one. Until then, she would have to wait.

A low snarl of disapproval filled the air before she focused on the cringing beast. A low yelp escaped it, but it didn’t move as she bent closer. Her mouth watered at the thought of burying it into the soft flesh. She almost ignored her need for numbers verses her need for sustenance. Her mouth opened to reveal razor-sharp teeth. Her head started downward before it jerked up at the faint sound of her Beta’s howl. It had found the trail.

*.*.*

Dust paused outside of another one of the massive red doors. He frowned as he stared at it. Solidifying, he placed a hand against it and thought for a moment. He was about to open it when he heard the faint sound of footsteps and a flicker of light coming down the stairs.

Stepping back, he faded again and waited. A minute later, Beau and Alex came into view. He was carrying a small tray in one hand and a flashlight in the other. Alex was carrying a shotgun.

“I don’t know why we don’t just kill it,” Alex grumbled. “It’s just eating food that could be for the rest of us.”

“Shut up, Alex,” Beau growled. “Open the door.”

“What if it got loose again?” Alex asked, setting his shotgun down next to the door.

“Then, you can kill it,” Beau replied in exasperation. “I warned it that if it tried to escape again, that there wouldn’t be a second chance.”

“The only reason you haven’t is because…,” Alex started to say before he snapped his mouth shut. “Sorry, Beau.”

“Just shut up, Alex, and stay focused,” Beau ordered. “I’ll go in, you stay by the door like you normally do. If it tries to get out, close the door and seal it.”

“I know. I know,” Alex grumbled, grabbing his gun and pulling the door open.

Dust curiously listened as the two talked back and forth with each other. He moved silently past Alex and followed Beau into the area. This one was different from the others. It had been left unfinished. Cold, gray concrete covered the walls, floor, and ceiling. In the center was a thick support column. Wrapped around it was a heavy chain. The entire room was illuminated by three bright shop lights mounted to the ceiling.

Dust slid back along the wall just inside the door and waited. He watched as Beau cautiously stepped into the room and looked around. A movement out of the corner of his eye drew his attention back to the solid beam in the center of the room.

“Josie, I’ve brought you some food,” Beau called out, setting the tray down on the ground and sliding it toward the beam.

A slender hand slid along the concrete post before a tangle of red hair appeared. Dust drew in a swift breath of air when a pair of vivid green eyes stared back at Beau. The body of a young girl, slightly older than him and Sammy, stepped out from around the pillar. Her eyes narrowed on where Alex stood at the door with his shotgun aimed at her.

“I thought you forgot about me,” she whispered in a husky voice.

Dust frowned when he saw the thick chains around both of her wrists. His hands curled at the sight of the thin body. He wondered what she had done to deserve being chained like an animal.

“Just eat, girl, so I can take the tray back,” Beau ordered.

Josie slowly sank to her knees and picked up the food. It didn’t take her long to devour the meager offering. She stood up and kicked the tray across the floor, ignoring Alex when he stepped forward in warning. A menacing smile curved her lips as she tilted her head and looked over Beau’s shoulder.

“What’s the matter, Alex? Feeling a little hot under the collar?” Josie asked with a soft laugh. “I can make you hotter if you like.”

“Josie,” Beau growled in warning.

Josie’s gaze swept along the wall where Dust was standing. He saw her frown for a second before her gaze locked on Beau’s face. The tension in the air grew the longer they stared at each other.

“Go away,” she finally muttered, looking away. “You don’t give me enough food to fight.”

“If I did, you’d kill us all,” Beau retorted in a soft tone.

Josie gave him a malicious grin before she stepped back to the center pillar where the chains were attached. She ran her hand along it, pausing before she disappeared again. Dust watched as Beau bent and picked up the tray before he started to turn back toward the door.

“Wouldn’t you?” Josie’s whispered question resonated through the room.

Beau paused and turned back to her. Dust waited, starting to feel the drain from being in his current form pulling on him. He clenched his fist, focusing to keep the form.

“Wouldn’t I what?” Beau asked in a harsh voice.

Josie glanced over her shoulder and stared at Beau. “Wouldn’t you kill all of us if we starved you and treated you like some unnatural beast? Wouldn’t you, dad?”

Beau’s face stiffened and he turned on his heel. Dust released a deep breath when the door closed behind them. He rested his head against the wall and closed his eyes, debating if he should solidify and eat a candy bar now, or after he got out of the room.

“Don’t let them know what you are,” Josie’s voice echoed in the room. “They won’t chain you up. They’ll kill you, like they did the others.”

Dust was so shocked when Josie reappeared around the pillar that he lost his hold on his form and reappeared. He stared at Josie. With shaky fingers, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the other two candy bars that Sammy had given him. Tearing one open, he quickly ate it. He started to unwrap the other one, but something stopped him. Glancing up, he saw Josie’s gaze locked on the precious energy in his hand.

He took a step forward, pausing for a moment before he pushed his reservations away. He wanted, needed, answers. Why was she chained up down here? What did she mean when she said they had killed the others? Was she like him?

And most important, was Beau really her father?

“I’m Dust,” he said, holding out the candy bar as he came to a stop in front of her.

She hesitated a moment before she reached out and took the chocolate out of his hand. Ripping it open, she quickly devoured the sweet treat. He watched as she licked her fingers even as she kept her gaze on him.

“I’m Josie,” she finally responded. “How long have you been here?”

“We just arrived this afternoon,” he admitted, frowning at the chains hanging from her arms. “Why do they keep you chained up?”

Josie tilted her head and smiled at Dust. “Because they are afraid of me,” she replied with a bitter laugh.

“Should they be?” He asked curiously.

Dust studied Josie’s face for a moment before he looked around the pillar. Stepping to the side, he saw an old mattress on the ground and some blankets. There were some other small items, a bowl of water, a towel, some additional clothing, but not much else. His gaze swept the back wall. A makeshift toilet was up against the wall. He started to turn back to look at Josie when he caught a line of dark streaks along the other side of the wall and ceiling. They looked like burn marks.

“Not at first, but they should be terrified now,” she retorted as she followed his gaze.

“Fire?” He murmured in a puzzled voice.

“I shouldn’t have wasted my energy,” Josie replied with a shrug.

Dust turned to look at Josie again as he pieced together what she was saying without really telling him. The gut feeling that this wasn’t a good place for him, Sammy, and Todd to be at was growing. Now, it looked like they would have someone else tagging along with them. There was no way he could leave Josie imprisoned here, especially if her only offense was being different like him.

“You said there were others. Were they like you… and me?” Dust asked.

Josie gave Dust a grim, sad smile and wearily sank down onto the mattress. She pulled the chain up next to her and leaned her head back against the concrete beam. He stepped closer and squatted down so he could see her face. She blinked several times before she closed her eyes.

“Yes,” she said in a husky voice. “There were five of us. We didn’t know what had happened. Dad… Beau… killed Ethan first. He said it was the work of the devil and that we’d turn into beasts, like some of the animals that we saw in the first weeks after the impact. Tim, Karen, and Mr. Beckman were the next three they hunted down.” She opened her eyes and looked at Dust. “He wanted to kill me, but he couldn’t. I’m his flesh and blood. But even that won’t save me if I try to leave again. He’ll hunt me down and kill me just like he did the others.”

“How can he tell?” Dust asked, staring back at the dark marks.

“If you are like us, you need more food than normal. He’ll watch you. That’s one reason they count everything. They don’t eat much either,” she whispered, groaning and falling to the side on the bed. “I’m always so hungry.”

Dust watched as she curled up into a ball. Her arms were protectively wrapped around her waist. Making a decision, he rose to his feet.

“Listen, Sammy, Todd and I are getting out of here. You can come with us,” he said, looking down at Josie as she rolled onto her back.

“I can’t dissolve like you,” she whispered. “I’m too weak to do anything.”

“I’ll get you some food,” Dust promised. “We have some in the car we brought. I’ll bring it down to you. But, you’ve got to promise not to do anything until we are ready to go. I won’t endanger Sammy and Todd.”

Josie slowly sat up and pushed her hair back from her face. He could see the hope and fear in her eyes. She bit her lip before she nodded.

“Are they like us? What can they do?” She asked in a husky voice.

Dust shook his head. “They aren’t like us, but I swore I’d protect them. Sammy saved my life. I won’t do anything that will put her or her little brother in danger,” he informed her with a look of warning.

Josie finally nodded. “You get me out of here, and I’ll help you,” she promised in a soft voice.

“I’ll be back,” Dust whispered, stepping back and fading. “I promise.”

He was almost to the outer wall when he heard Josie call out his name. He turned, but didn’t reform. He knew she could sense him.

“You’d better come back, Dust,” Josie whispered. “Please… Don’t leave me here to die.”

Dust swallowed and turned away. He had a lot more exploring to do before the night was out and still needed to get up to the car for some food before returning to Sammy to let her know what he found out. Passing through the wall, Dust felt a growing sense of urgency. There was something else out there. He could feel it. Even tucked deep in the ground, he could feel the threat growing closer.

Hunted, he thought as he moved up the stairwell. I feel like I’m being hunted.