Page 7 of Ronan

Each footfall feels pointless, and the half mile to safety might as well be a hundred against the advantage of their vehicles. Even if we made it to the woods, they would come after us on foot. We’d have a chance, sure, but I’m a realist.

And realistically? I’m fucked.

“Boomerang, go!Go!” Her speed and stamina will allow her to escape, and I can distract them long enough for her to get away. She charges ahead in a blur of motion, just as a sudden cramp buckles my knees, and I stumble. Apotent surge of relief hits me in the chest as I watch her fly off into the distance.

Tires spit gravel into the air as a dirt bike screams past, forcing me into a jarring, uncontrolled skid as I dig my feet into the soil. A black bandana obscures the face of the rider, and their slim build is hidden by a thick leather jacket. Silent and anonymous, they rev the motor, injecting the air with a potent punch of gasoline as they stare, daring me to make the wrong move.

“I’m not looking for trouble.” I speak loud enough to be heard over the rumbling engine, gesturing towards the woods. A few locks of brown hair fall over my forehead, sweat plastering them to my skin. The edges of my glasses fog up with the heat rolling off my body. “I’m just passing through, and I’ll be on my way.”

“Do you think we’re stupid, boy?” A deep, gruff voice calls from behind me, and I turn to find a tank of a man approaching from the dusty Jeep. The glare of the headlights illuminates his massive frame—tall, broad-shouldered, and arms that are bigger than my thighs. Untamed energy practically bristles from him, a wild beard and head full of unruly dark hair fluttering in warning. Hidden by darkness, his face is only a shadow, but I know all too well the anger and emptiness I’ll find there.

In this world, they’re all the same.

“I’m not looking for trouble,” I repeat slowly, my hands visible, palms open, while gesturing in the direction I was headed. “Just a traveler, passing through.”

“You’ve seen our camp, and we can’t have you blabbing about our location, now, can we?”

The giant fence surrounding their camp isn’t what I’d call inconspicuous. Smack dab in the middle of aclearing, there are dozens of tents and a few permanent structures peeking above the wooden slats. It’s easily spotted by anyone within a ten-mile radius, but I don’t bother telling him that.

Sarcasm isnotthe key to making friends out here, believe it or not, and he seems too dense to understand it, anyway.

“There’s no one for me to tell,” I say, and damn if it isn’t the truth. “It’s just me.”

“We can’t be too careful, y’understand?” His meaty hand lands on my shoulder and jostles my whole body, and I groan internally as I consider my escape. A knee to the crotch might work if his fucking thighs weren’t big enough to crush my head like a walnut.

A sudden rasping snarl takes us both by surprise. Boomerang flies between us, teeth bared as she latches onto his forearm. The man tumbles backward with a bellow, hitting the ground with a thud and a cloud of dust.

“No, no, girl, run! Get out of here!” I scream, panic making my voice rise. The familiar click of a gun makes me freeze as that panic turns into full-blown terror. Firearms are luxuries rarely found out here in the wilds, which tells me his camp is well-stocked. When I risk a glance at him, the pistol is not pointed at me, but digging into the side of Boomerang’s head. Her fangs dig trenches into his skin, deep pits that are pooling with crimson.

The first rays of sunshine filter over the horizon in time to gleam off the teeth of his evil smile. “Please, no,” I beg as she slings her head, cutting him deeper.

“You’d rather me shoot you, then?” The barrel shifts to me, and even at a distance, I can almost feel thecold metal pressing against my forehead as he aims it square between my eyes.

Hands shaking, I swallow twice to clear the lump from my throat. “Boomerang, let go,” I plead, and her intelligent brown eyes meet mine for a moment before her jaw slacks, allowing the man to rip his arm from her mouth. Hyper-aware of the gun pointed at my brain, I keep my hands up, palms facing him. “This is a huge misunderstanding. We’re leaving, and we won’t return.”

“That’s what they all say.” His gaze flickers to his bleeding arm, then to Boomerang, who’s edged closer to my feet. “Should shoot the mutt for making me bleed.”

“She was just protecting me.”

“Yeah?” His hand swipes over his mouth, leaving a glistening crimson smear on his lips that makes me cringe. “You need more than a dog for protection out here, boy.”

My knife collection beckons me from inside my pack, but even if I could get to it in time, it wouldn’t stand up to his gun. I skip through denial and anger, moving straight to bargaining. “Please, take my stuff… it’s yours. Consider it payment for the injury and let us continue on our way. You’ll never see us again.”

Starting over on supplies won’t be fun, but it’s doable. It won’t be the first time I’ve rebuilt from nothing out here in these wastelands, and it probably won’t be the last, either.

“Oh, he’s a funny guy.” A feminine voice speaks up from behind me, and the soft, delicate timbre doesn’t lessen the contempt in her sneering chuckle. Out here, rule number one is watch your back, and I allowed myself to be distracted by the dramatics in front of me. Allowed myself to forget his companion was stalking me like a panther inthe night, with claws just as deadly. “He thinks we need permission to take his stuff when he’s the one trespassing on our lands.”

“Just—” I twist towards the voice as something heavy whistles through the air. A blow that was intended for the back of my head makes a cartoonishly loud bong as it crashes into my forehead, and Boomerang’s startled rasping bark is the last thing I hear before everything turns dark.

Chapter 3

Cameron

Sunlight streams into my face and I flinch awake, frantic as I scramble for my blanket. On the occasions I have to stop and rest in the middle of the day, I’m meticulous—always making sure to be well hidden and out of the direct sun.

Never like this, exposed and vulnerable.

Blinded by the light, my hand slaps around my body, thunking into something metal. Despite the burn, my eyes fly open as my pounding headache registers, memories rushing back so fast they make me nauseous.

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