Page 77 of The Dire Legacy

Slipping into the flow of water, it pours into a wide trough that feeds to the far spillway.

Getting inside was the easy part.

Lightly tiptoeing up the wide steel staircase, it’s a pleasant discovery to see the heavy double doors are propped open.

When they dragged me in a couple of days ago, I noticed something that didn’t seem as important at the time.

But, now, it’s my goal.

This isn’t something I could do last month. It’s a skill I never would have learned without Michael.

How to start a fire using flint and steel.

The big pile of split wood that is centered near so many of their trailers will make the ideal point of chaos. Hiding behind it, I’mjust about to strike the first spark when I hear low voices getting closer.

Shit.

Go by. Don’t stop.

Thankfully, they listen to my inner plea.

It takes me three times to land the ember on the tiny pile of sawdust.

When I bend low and blow on it, my lips pull up in a grin thinking of all the dirty things Michael would say right now.

I bet he’s fidgeting at the gate waiting for me.

Just a couple more minutes.

Alpha said there were enough nibbles off of my arm to give him and fifteen dogs a leap in their healing ability. Having virtually invincible allies will be our ace in the hole.

The small flame dances to life and I feel like I deserve a trophy.

What is wrong with me that I feel this excited to burn a village to the ground? Oh, yea. They’re evil fucks who kidnapped me, tried to kill the love of my life, and murdered a woman to steal her baby.

Moral dilemma solved.

Assholes deserve to roast.

Pushing the growing fire into the bottom of the stacked wood, it’s hard not to feel giddy about how dry it is and how fast the flame eats its way up.

Time to go.

Weaving my way behind campers and shacks, I’m nearly to the large gate when I hear the first yells of alarm.

That stack is nearly thirty feet square. If it catches like I think it will, they’re going to have a very hard time extinguishing it before the buildings around it burn, too.

Frantic footfalls pass where I’m hidden. There’s garbled shouting before more feet go by in the opposite direction.

Now’s my chance.

The cross bar that locks the doors is heavier than I thought and makes a hell of a lot of noise when it clatters free.

“Are you okay?” Michael pushes through the slim opening and rushes to me.

“Yep, let’s find that kid.” My hand falls into his and I pull him towards the clinic where they had kept me.

“Anyone we need to keep alive?” Alpha asks as he lopes by.

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