Page 80 of Us Defiant Few
His probing gaze narrowed, but he didn’t say anything else as Khalani caught up to Brock. The musty scent of old brick filled her lungs as Ferren led them onward.
They stayed on the right-hand side of the town, close to the broken windows of each building. The place looked eerily similar to a picture she’d seen in a history book of an old Western city.
A flicker of movement appeared to her left. Khalani instinctively raised her gun, but it was only tumbleweed blowing past. She slowly lowered her weapon, her erratic pulse pounding in her ears.
No cars lined the streets of the vacant town. When she peered through one of the broken windows, no furniture remained in the buildings. Everything was completely cleared out.
As if people had abandoned this place for a reason.
Khalani silently willed Ferren to move faster.
She wasn’t the only one.
The other three warriors stiffened with each scrape of their boots along the sand and lifted their guns every time the wind howled, warning them to leave.
But they pressed forward, ignoring the eerie feeling that commanded their muscles to run.
Even Takeshi, who usually maintained a wide berth, planted himself inches from her back. They finally reached the target building, which was larger than all the rest. Pillars dotted the wooden porch, and a yellow sign hung inside the window.
HILLS GENERAL STORE: CLOSED
INTRUDERS WILL BE SHOT ON SIGHT!
She gulped, but Ferren waved his hand in dismissal.
“That sign is hundreds of years old. Our scouts think there may be canned food in the back safe. You two keep guard out front. The rest, come with me.” Ferren directed Khalani and Takeshi to stay outside.
The other warriors eagerly followed him indoors. Brock was the only one who hesitated, but Takeshi gave him a firm nod.
Khalani’s muscles coiled as the dilapidated door closed behind Brock with a loud creak, barely hanging onto its hinges. She glanced at Takeshi, who looked nothing like the soft-hearted man who’d held her in the prison camp. The terrifying Captain who’d ripped the Governor’s head off stood beside her.
His shrewd gaze swept the road and abandoned buildings with cold precision. He subtly shifted his body, tightening his grip around the gun as he positioned himself between her and the main street.
“What’s wrong?” she whispered.
“Something doesn’t feel right.”
Violence stirred beneath his steady voice.
She silently raised her weapon beside him.
Other than a few loud thuds from inside the building, everything was still. The sun continued to rise, gradually exposing their position.
Khalani turned toward the door.
What was taking so long?
She tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear when a glint of light streaked across her face. She squinted as another flicker hit her eyes.
“Takeshi,” she warned.
He turned, raising his gun as another beam of light flashed.
“Stay here,” he commanded in a low voice, stepping forward, but he halted.
A small figure appeared across the street, stepping out from the dark alley. Khalani’s heart sputtered in her chest, unable to believe what she was seeing.
It was a child.
