Joshua wrapped his arms around me and I leaned in taking a taste of his lips, drinking him in. “We should get out before we turn into prunes,” he kissed me one last time before we swam to the edge of the stream.
Joshua hoisted himself onto the bank and I enjoyed the view as the crest of moonlight showed off his backside. Maybe I shouldn’t have looked but I did. He didn’t turn around. He’d never know I peeked. “Leave my clothes by the bank!” I called waiting until he’d put on his boxers, pretending I hadn’t been watching all this time. He tossed my clothes along the river’s edge. From the darkened stream I could see Joshua. He slid his shirt on first and then his pants. “Don’t look!” I shouted back at him.
“I won’t. Tell me when you’re done,” he answered.
I pulled myself out of the river, struggling for only a moment as the spot I’d chosen had been steeper than where I’d come in. I slipped on my clothes, glancing around. “Josh do you see our shoes anywhere?”
“Are you decent?” He laughed, turning around the smile faltered with wide-eyes. “Look out!” He screamed pointing behind me.
I felt the sharp blade of a knife against my throat. “Give me the keys,” a husky male voice whispered into my ear. With one hand on the blade the other moved over and across my waist, making me feel sick.
“Get off me!” I shouted trying to break free. I had no weapon and absolutely no training. Terrified didn’t even begin to explain the feeling racing through me.
“Now, why would I do that?” His laughter echoed through the open expanse of land. “As soon as your boyfriend gives me the keys, you and me, we’ll get out of here. I could use a girl like you,” his breath tickled my ear and forced a horrible shudder down my spine. “Imagine all the things I could do with you.” His hand loosened on my stomach as he petted my hair. This was who they’d warned us about in the Gravelands – outlaws.
“Leave me alone!” I pushed back, feeling the slight nick of the blade against my throat. I swept my foot back and kicked the thief hard. Joshua came barreling at us full speed dropping the man to the ground. The knife fell from the outlaw’s hands, lodging in Joshua’s foot. His eyes went wide as he swallowed the scream before it emitted from his lungs. Joshua no longer had the upper hand.
The stranger pulled the knife from Joshua’s foot. It dripped with blood as the man laughed darkly. He tossed it to the grass, his grip around Joshua’s throat strangling him. The stranger leaned forward reaching Joshua’s ear. “Do you know all the fun things I’m going to do with your girlfriend?”
“Let him go!” I shouted, grabbing the knife as I lifted it towards the man’s throat.
“Or what?” He laughed, pushing off Joshua’s body. I was relieved to see the rise and fall of his chest – he was still alive. With my attention on Joshua, he yanked the knife from my grip as I stumbled backwards. “Now, you’ve angered me,” he seethed with dark eyes as he lunged at me with the blade. I fell backwards onto the grass. The man loomed above and bent down, trapping me against the cold hard ground. My arms flailed and feet kicked as I desperately fought back.
“Get the hell off me!” I screamed. “Joshua!” I shouted, pleading for help. I was trapped.
Gasping for air, Joshua stumbled slightly as he gripped a large rock, slamming it into the back of the outlaw’s head. It only took a second for the man to fall unconscious against me. “Help me up!” I didn’t want to lie anywhere near the freak who had attacked us. Joshua rolled the man off my body, and I jumped and took a quick step backward. “We should get out of here before he wakes up.”
“Not yet,” Joshua shook his head. “Help me get his shirt off.”
“What?” My eyes widened. “What are you doing?” I asked helping pull the shirt from the man’s limp body. He was breathing, but he wasn’t conscious.
“I need a bandage for my foot.” He gestured towards the car. “Think you can drive?”
“Yes.” I nodded, my hands visibly shaking. “Let me help,” I insisted as I wrapped an arm around his waist and gently escorted him to the car. Once seated, Joshua took the shirt and ripped it into four strips. The first soaked through with blood as he wrapped it around his foot. He grabbed the second strip of cloth and continued bandaging his injury, tying the end off in a knot as he saved the last two pieces for later.
I grabbed the keys from him and waited until he had buckled in before I shut the door and rushed to the driver’s side. “Let’s go!” My attacker hadn’t moved since Joshua had hit him over the head, but I didn’t want to hang around and find out if he would regain consciousness. I grabbed the pack from the backseat and handed it to Joshua. “You’re in charge of directions,” I instructed, backing the car away from the stream as we headed towards the mysterious town on the map.
CHAPTER 14
I knew we were close. Though the darkness had enveloped the city sky, the moonlight shone down on the buildings guiding me the last few miles to town. I glanced at Joshua, seeing his eyes closed, I didn’t have the heart to wake him. I knew his foot hurt and the last thing I wanted was to remind him of that pain.
I stepped harder on the gas, thrilled we’d made it within sight of the village. I ached from being in the car so long. I craved a hot shower and a comfortable bed.
As we approached the town, Joshua stirred. “We there?” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes and seeing the town a hundred yards away. We were coming in fast, so I slowed down.
“Is there a guard entrance?” I couldn’t find one. This town had no walls at all. I’d never seen a town like this, unafraid of the outside. Although I’d only seen two towns in all my life, Genesis and Haven, both had manned gates and walls protecting the people.
“Just head in there,” he gestured towards one of the roads that looked well-traveled. I moved onto the grass and toward the road, slowing more as we drove into town.
“Where do you think we should go?” I asked, seeing a few buildings ahead. None looked as well kept as Haven, or as tall, but it was evident people lived here. Houses stretched along the road as we drove further into the community, but all were dark. I opened my mouth, about to ask Joshua which way to go when an older gentleman step out in front of the car. I slammed on the brakes, careful not to hit anyone, and both of us jerked forward in the vehicle as we came to an abrupt halt.
“Who are you?” The booming voice echoed, and my eyes widened seeing a giant shotgun staring back at us through the windshield.
“We seek asylum,” I spoke up, hoping we hadn’t made a grave mistake in our decision to come here. “We’re from Haven. I’m Jacqueline, and this is Adam. The government destroyed our town.”
“Why should we help you?” the man with the shotgun answered. He was older with salt and pepper hair and balding. Two burly men blocked our doors, guns drawn. I swallowed nervously and shut off the car, trying to prove we weren’t a threat.
“We seek shelter and food,” I told the older man who stood in front of our vehicle. The headlights shone bright and I shut them off as well. The man watched with hooded eyes, and I could hardly see more than his silhouette as the darkness encompassed us. He seemed to be the leader and I groaned in protest as the man beside me pulled open the car door, forcefully grabbed my arm and dragged me out. “We just came for help!” I pleaded as they pulled Joshua from the passenger side. “We’ll leave if we’re not welcome here.”
“How did you find us?” The older man asked. “We don’t get visitors.” His tone was harsh, unforgiving. I glanced at Joshua. Had we made a mistake coming here?