Page 67 of Us Defiant Few

She took a great interest in plants as a kid. She wanted to be a gardener herself, even though those jobs were reserved for the top scientists.

“Where did they get the seeds?” she asked.

Derek frowned. “What do you mean?”

“They were growing the crops long before we got here, right?”

“Yes.”

“How would they have access to the seed vaults?”

The seed vaults were the most treasured areas in the underground cities. They built storage facilities that housed millions of seeds that grew well in limited space and artificial light.

As far as she knew, they only existed underground.

“I never asked them.” Derek’s brows pulled together. “I assumed they were able to find seeds on the raids. Either that or they’ve had them from the very beginning.”

“The beginning of what?”

“The Great Collapse.” His wary gaze darted around the house before he leaned in close. “When I asked the Chief how long they’d been out here, she dodged the question. My guess is that their ancestors were the original survivors of the Great Collapse. The people who weren’t granted a spot underground.”

“But why not just say that? What are they trying to hide?”

“I don’t know.” Derek rubbed his forehead. “But they’ve been nice to me the entire time. Abnormally so. For all intents and purposes, the people here are peaceful.”

“I don’t trust it.” Brock watched the front door, his eyes narrowing like he wanted to barricade it. “I want to leave as soon as possible.”

Derek fumbled with his hands, his shoulders drooping. “I understand…but I’d be lying if I said that I want to leave. Desert Spring has solar panels for electricity. Water. Clean clothes. A job I can believe in and actually use my brain for. But I’d rather be with you all than stay alone.”

“We’re not leaving you again.” Khalani’s voice strengthened as she dropped the crop seed question from her mind. It didn’t really matter since they were leaving.

“But what about you guys?” Derek made eye contact with each of them. “What happened after you left?”

At first, no one spoke.

Khalani glanced at Takeshi, whose dark gaze seared into her like a firebrand.

He wasn’t the type of man to do something as simple as look at you. He memorized every inch until he knew more about your body than you did.

She could almost hear him in her mind, daring her to speak.

“What story shall you tell? The version of me you so desperately cling to? Or the truth? That we’d never met before, and you kissed me outside in a futile attempt to restart a relationship that never existed.”

The voice was so loud, her own insecurities chimed in.

A man like Takeshi would never notice you.

You’re too unstable.

Stubborn.

Weak.

The list went on and on.

But Khalani had already lived with gaping pits of anxiety and depression. It hadn’t killed her yet. She took a deep breath, inhaling all the negativity before purging it from her body.

“I’ll tell you what happened,” she started.