Bone Dust & Beginnings (Alexa's Travels Book 1) (22 page)

“Uh-uh!” Alexa warned, memories assaulting her.

That voice!
had
forced her to do unspeakable things for the discovery of information she never possessed. This weakling had broken her down into a begging mass of emotion, again and again… and she’d let him, because of her humanity. Her conscience had kept her behind their walls, and now, thanks to him, she no longer had one.

Being careful not to trim her, the six fighters moved her way as they picked off the few remaining soldiers dumb enough to pop their heads out from behind doors and bumpers. They moved in that efficient V she’d taught them, mowing down anything that moved.

Alexa snarled when Corbin pointed the dart gun at her.

He was very aware she didn’t hold him in the same tender regard he did her, but what mattered was that she followed the ways of her father... Maybe this wasn’t over yet.

Around them, the soldiers lay dead and her fighters stood in a tight circle, ready to defend her if it was needed.

“I let you go.” Corbin lowered the gun.

Alexa stopped her lunge, finally getting the answer for the ease of her escape.

Her face changed into an unreadable mask, and Corbin continued, not trying to save his life, but still desperate to follow her. “I watched out for you, tried to keep the other guards away from you.”

Corbin’s face softened. “If not for Regan finding your hole-up in the desert, they still wouldn’t know where you are. You
owe
me mercy.”

Alexa wanted to kill him anyway. Her soul certainly needed it, but he’d gifted her with the most awful thing he could have - freedom.

In return, she motioned to the man still lurking in the shadows. “Show him my mercy, Paul.”

The Rabbit stepped from the darkness with a nightmarish grin and a familiar gun that Corbin stumbled back from.

“What? No…”

“Hello, Father!”

“Wait, Rab...”

“My name is Paul! I’m your son!”

“No! Don’t do…”

Bang!

“Burn it all.” Alexa turned away in guilty satisfaction.
Now that they had Rab, they didn’t need Corbin for the locations of the other bunkers. Rab knew where many of them were, but also how to hack into the government’s remaining technology… and he was loyal to her quest. All she had to do was stash him somewhere while she and her fighters brought Adrian back. It had worked out even better than she’d hoped.

1

Twelve days later, the dusty fighters stared at the message carved into the stone of the Black Hills.

Finding Safe Haven’s old campsite had been harder here, where nature seemed almost normal, but the message in the cliffs would have been impossible to miss. Jendon had gotten it word for word as it was carved, but Alexa's sharp eyes picked out an added line along the ground, like something hurriedly placed there when no one else was around.

"I'll wait as long as I can."

Despite being sure it would take a month or more for the big government bunker to learn of Corbin’s defeat, they’d stayed on the move and made good time. Alexa could still be tracked for weeks, according to Paul, but thanks to his smashing the control screen, those who picked through the wreckage wouldn’t be able to follow easily.

Still, one woman traveling with seven men drew attention, and they were sure word would get back to those in charge. Eventually, the soldiers would come again.

Edward looked back at their companion, shaking his head at the scientist’s excited examination of the black mold on the spruce trees. Paul was clearly happy that Alexa had invited him along for a while, but his sudden movements and unexpected noises were annoyances for her very serious men. If he’d been along as anything but a guest, they might have protested. As it was, the pale man had a knack for finding supplies and had already aided them with it.

Content that Alexa planned to drop the Rabbit somewhere along the way, Edward watched her eyes turn back toward the mountains, where Paul had told them the new complex was. She was tortured over it. Her stiff shoulders said she wanted to go back the way they’d come…and it was her choice. If Alexa said they were going to the big bunker to take on the new government, they would all follow.

Alexa let out a sigh, shuddering as she fought for control of her ghosts and her guilt. These people, this country, needed Adrian’s light. He was the only one who could bring them all together and force Nature to close the gates. They had to find Safe Haven.

The wind howled around them, blowing their cloaks back as if in defiance of her thoughts, and the blonde circled a finger. "Set us up. We head for Nebraska at first light."

2

In an isolated corner of the apocalyptic wastelands, the sentries were reaching their destination.

These small warriors had traveled nonstop to warn the Mother that man was once again gathering. They came with sights and sounds to share, firsthand information for the war that lie ahead. There was little doubt that this group of humans was strong enough to start the rebuilding, to begin killing the fantasy world with their harsh disbelief. They were lethal enough to battle the new environment…and maybe win. Within years, these would multiply - until the old world was returned.

That could not be allowed to happen.

“It won’t,” Nature breathed her promise, calming rapidly beating hearts. She had no intentions of letting man send her new warriors back through the gates.

“The only one who could have done so is gone from these shores. Without that green and gold light, man will never return to his former glory.”

But the sentries were worried. The animals tried to express their concerns with images of the ruthless female leading the fighters, of how she’d bound a troll. It was something only the Undead could do.

Despite losing one of her oldest birds on the golden stairs, the Spirit of Nature wasn’t overly concerned. There were many strong humans left, but without a true Alpha, there was no way mankind could heal the rift cause by their awful war. All the horror had snapped so many minds that it had been easy to push the gates open and allow the real terrors to roam free. Every human the monsters took was one less to be destroyed later.

“Return to your homes, then your duties. This group will fall the same the others have.”

“But if they make it across the waters…”

Nature’s harsh laughter rang out, sending animals darting for cover under bushes and the ground.

“The waters are under my command now. They will not allow humankind to leave any shore.”

“But if they make it south…”

Understanding how deeply the group had worried the sentries, Nature felt the first tremor of unease. She’d reacted lightly before the war, and almost been destroyed. Perhaps she should eliminate them now…

Notes

Hi, it's me waving at you again. Hope you enjoyed a glimpse of how their quest began and the two constant enemies they’ll face. What the Government can’t handle, Mother Nature might be capable of. Only time will tell.

When I started this story, it was supposed to be a short episode of a continuing saga I’d hoped to release monthly. I understood that wasn’t likely as soon as I finished the first chapter, but I’ve never really known how big it should be or where it was supposed to start. I like to think I now have both of those covered.

I expect this series to have roughly the same number of books as my first series, Life
After
War. As you may have guessed by now, they will have some sort of a meeting in the future. After the journey both groups have made through the apocalyptic wilderness, they certainly deserve to meet and swap survival tales.

Next, we'll be heading to the killin’ fields of Nebraska. Marc and Angie (above-mentioned related book) came through there right after the War of 2012 and it was ugly then. I wonder what horrors lurk there now…

This series is almost the opposite of the world and limits I face when writing LAW. This one allows me a creative freedom that always seems to have a slightly western flavor.
 
Guns and Magic - two of my favorite things... (Sorry, I was singing there.
Better that you couldn't hear it.)

Thanks for stopping by. I hope we meet again, in that distantly close realm, where just about anything can happen. I call it Angie's World.

Btw, thank you to the Betas and my new editors, Kim and Sharon. Together, you guys are the magic shining behind the words.

http://www.law-angelawhite.com

A. White

Extras

The Killin’ Fields

The Change

The Survivors

Character Bios

Quick look

The Killin Fields

Book Two

The sight of a single, lanky white wolf inside their ring of protection was something of a concern to the seven warriors lying on the hard ground. To see hundreds of glowing eyes waiting hungrily in the tall corn behind it, was terror.

“No one moves yet!”

Alexa’s command froze them, half already taking aim on the one closest to her. Time slowed as the wolf also reacted, baring its fangs to grin furiously at her.

 
“We will leave.
Now.”

The predator snarled in response, death in its blood red eyes unless her men were fast enough.

There was chaos as the wolves attacked and Alexa’s army opened fire…

The Killin’ Fields of Nebraska

There’s a battle for control and it’s gotten ugly.

500 Years into the future, nine of every ten babies conceived are female. Men have been enslaved for their own protection and the only way to get a mate is to enter the Network Games and fight for one.
The catch?
It's a live battle to the death and the competition is fierce.

Let’s meet the Players...

“…Candice Marie Pruett. At barely 18, this intimidating Bounty Hunter resides in the Recovery Zones of Ohio and has a long record of excessive force. Recently fined over one million UDs for injury to a family member, this brutal Changeling only wants one thing. To get back what was stolen from her. Rank at the start of competition
:
5/10
.

“The Blonde Bombshell.
As reigning champion, this scarlet-wearing Dock Worker is heavily favored to repeat her string of vicious victories and claim a second Bachelor. Trying to earn the title of Head Defender by winning all the Games, she starts the competition ranked
1/10
.

“The Ex-Defender.
Fresh from losing fugitives in the deserts of Nebraska, this former Network guard seeks to make amends by winning and donating her prize to charity. Baker, the dangerous, untrained male she allowed to escape, is still missing. It has lowered her rankings on day one to
7/10
.

“And their prize: A choice…

“Daniel is a 20-year-old Bachelor with excellent relief skills and no memory of his life before being sold to the Network. Calm and unaggressive, he has been trained to be the perfect, harmless mate, and now hopes for a loving owner to take him home.

“Or…

“One of the eight other eligible bachelors sharing his quarters.
They are lot #21198.

Who's ready to play? Are ya? Are ya really?

Watch Trailer