Beasts and Savages (The Beastly Series Book 1) (40 page)

I grimaced. He looked terrible. “Tanner, how long have we been here? Back in this house?”

“It's been a day since the first bombing.  I carried you here overnight. We’ve been here for a few hours.”

“What? By yourself? Why didn’t you wake me, make me walk. I would have … eventually.” I stretched and swung my legs off the bed. My vision went in and out, and nausea clenched my stomach. I rubbed my temples and asked, “Did I hit my head?”

“No … Lea? Do you promise not to get mad?” Tanner sat at the edge of the bed, an arm’s length away from me, and shielded himself with his arms.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “I make no promises.”

“You were going crazy. You were hurting me, yourself. I almost dropped you, and after you kicked me in the leg, I wasn’t sure I’d catch you.”

“So?”

“So, I injected you with a drug that knocks you out. It was old, but still potent. Flynn says – said -” Tanner’s voice cracked.

“Oh, Tanner.” I slid to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. He tucked his chin over my shoulder and hugged me. I buried my face into his neck; he smelled of dirt, sweat, and fire. His shoulders heaved as he sobbed, racking my entire body with his. I stroked the hair at the nape of his neck.  After he squeezed me for so long I was sure I wouldn’t breathe again, he sat up and wiped his face on his sleeve.

“I just can’t believe he’s gone. He was my friend, Lea. I trusted him, looked up to him. He’d been so great to me after you – after Miller …”

I took his hand in mine. “I know.”

A low rumble vibrated the windows. I jumped at the sound.

“They’re getting closer together,” he observed.

“What?” I asked.

“The women are bombing the village one house at a time. They waited ten hours after the first one.  It’s only been eight hours this time.”

“Are we safe here?”

He bit his lip. “We are for now. They’ve only hit the village. No one should be there now. The boys that didn’t make it to the bunker scattered into shelters in the woods. The Elders went to a cave to create a plan. They plan to fight back, of course.”

“So we’re the only people in a house?”

“I’ve been sure not to light up any windows and have kept the fires burning as low as possible.” He sighed.

I grunted as a cramp shot through my abdomen. “Tanner? I think I’m starting my period.”

“What? Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Tanner grinned and caressed me cheek with his thumb. “Thank God.” His smile faded, “I mean …”

I kissed his palm. “No, I’m relieved. Mating with Miller isn’t what I wanted.” Outside, the rumbling stopped. The scene out the window was peaceful, and for a moment it didn’t feel like we were hiding from a war. “Tanner, how much time do you think we have? Before they find us here?”

He rubbed his eyes, now bloodshot, and went to the window. “I don’t know. Hours? Days? Soon, they’ll figure out they’re bombing an empty village. Probably already have.”

“They know. Their intent isn’t to kill everyone; they have much more powerful weapons for that. They want to scare the men into submission, but if they find us here, they’ll kill us. Me for being a traitor, you for being a man.” I joined him at the window and leaned into him when he wrapped his arm around me. We watched the new plume of black smoke billow against the blue sky.

Tanner cocked his head and raised an eyebrow. “So I’m a man now, not an insufferable boy?”

I smacked his chest with the back of my hand. “Stop.”

“Seriously, now that you’re awake, we need to decide what we’re going to do. We can’t stay here until they either bomb us or find us. Well, we can, but …”

“But we can’t. I say we leave tonight, as soon as it’s dark. In the meantime, you can get cleaned up and rest and I can gather food and supplies. We’ll slip out under the cover of darkness.” I left the window and searched for my satchel. I had a few tampons left and I needed one.

“What about you? We have five, maybe six hours before dark. It’ll take us a few to gather food, supplies, make a plan. And then we have to run all night. If I need to rest, you do too.” He ran his fingers through his hair while he paced. He looked worn out, yet relieved.

“I just woke up. I’ll be fine. I know where the kitchen is and where to find food. You’re filthy, and you look terrible. I’ll get you some water. Take a nap.” I gathered my clothes and satchel and strode toward the door.

Tanner caught my arm. “Where are you going?” His eyes were pleading, almost scared.

“Well, I need to go to the outhouse, and you need warm water to wash up. Food and water needs packed.”

“Don’t go outside without me. I’ll come with you. And no stoking a fire for warm water, I’ll clean up in cold.” He wrapped his arm around mine and escorted me to the hall.

“We both can’t fit in the outhouse, Tanner.”

He laughed. “I know. I’ll be on guard while you’re in there.”

“If I let you guard the outhouse, do you promise to wash up and take a nap while I gather food?”

“It’s a deal.”

***

The kitchen had been picked clean, and after an hour of searching I came up with a tin of dried fruit, half a tin of deer jerky, and a stale loaf of bread.  It was better than nothing, and left plenty of room for water.

The house was so quiet that small noises made me jump. When the wood in the fire popped, I nearly screamed.  After everything was packed, I couldn’t sit in the kitchen and wait. It was too unnerving. I explored the house.

Since I’d been moved to Locke’s room, I had stayed away from the basement. I opened the door and considered going down, but I couldn’t make myself do it. A cool breeze blew through the doorway, and I slammed the door shut. I’d frequented the kitchen and living room often and there wasn’t anything there to see.  The bedrooms were on the second floor, so I tiptoed up the stairs, careful not to wake Tanner.

The first room was Dawning’s, and it was locked. The next was mine, Locke’s, and I peeked in, expecting to see Tanner curled up on the bed, but it was empty. Across from it was a room with two sets of bunks with a table in the middle. Blankets and pillows were strewn everywhere, and I questioned whether I should take one with us. I’d ask Tanner. He was sleeping in the last room.

He had changed his clothes and washed his arms and face, but his hair still poked up in odd angles.  He was spread across a small bed, sleeping fully clothed. I sat in the bunk across from him. His features were relaxed, but not completely. I couldn't decide if he was asleep or not.

“You could join me, you know.” He cracked a smile. “If everything’s packed, you could get some sleep. We have what, three hours?” Without opening his eyes, he rolled to his side and scooted to the back of the bed.

I wasn't tired, and I was too restless to sleep. Nervous excitement coursed through my veins because I was finally getting out of here, away from the war. I understood why we had to leave at dark, but if Tanner didn't need rest, I would've talked him into leaving all ready.

Tanner sighed and patted the bed in front of him. As tired as he was, he couldn't let himself relax. I could see it in the creases of his forehead, the lines around his eyes. He had aged so much in the short time I'd known him; we both had been forced to grow up so quickly, make life and death choices in split seconds.

I lay next to him, provided him with some comfort so he could sleep.  He wrapped his arm around my waist, pulled me to him, and nestled his nose into the back of my neck. As I felt his body loosen, he breathed, “Thank you.”

Soon his breaths evened, and he was asleep. I closed my eyes, but stayed awake. I thought of Beth, of how horrible her life had been here, how terrible her death must have been, and of Rally, and hoped she made it to the bunker okay. And Flynn, he'd been one of the few boys who was never scared of me, who respected me. He'd been the reason Tanner cried, really cried, in front of me.

A low rumble shook the window, and my body stiffened. Tanner sprung up and shouted, “Bomb!” He leaped off the bed and yanked me to the floor, shielding me with his body. The roar grew so loud it shook the house, and then it faded. I held my breath, waiting for the whistle, bracing for the impact. Nothing happened.

Tanner stood and looked out his window, but it was facing the wrong direction. We sprinted to Locke's room and got to the window just as three planes dropped behind the trees. Tanner's mouth fell in horror as they lowered further and further, until they were gone.

“They were low, too low. Did they crash?”

I shook my head. “No. Not all three like that. They're landing, probably in the clearing on the other side of the village.”

“Then they're far away. We can still wait until it's completely dark before we leave.” He searched my face and bit his lip.

“Tanner, women have vehicles that move quickly, trucks. They could get from the village to here in less than an hour. But, they're big and probably hard to manage in the woods.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because if they find a path, a clearing big enough, they'll be here before dark.” I stared out the window, in a daze. The sun was already low in the sky; sunset was less than two hours away.

“Then we move now. Dress in layers, the warmest clothes you can find. Meet me in the kitchen in twenty minutes.” He stalked to the door, already in action mode.

“Where are you going?”

His green eyes sparkled. “We need weapons.”

***

It was already dark when Tanner burst through the kitchen door, knife in each hand. He thrust them to me. “These are for you, one for each pocket.”

I yanked them away, tucked them into my trousers, and glowered at him. “Where have you been? Twenty minutes was over an hour ago!”

Tanner shrugged. “Sorry. I got us knives, hid some more outside, and some traps too.”

He'd prepared for more than a trip to the bunker. I tilted me head. “Tanner, are we going to the bunker?”