Page 89 of Us Defiant Few

But they were outnumbered.

So his vengeance would wait.

“We understand,” he growled, pushing by him.

“Don’t forget.” Ansel’s cruel voice drifted past them as they quickly exited the tent. “Find the library. You have until tomorrow night to raise the gates.”

23

The world made my heart weary. But faith was the only thing keeping my feet steady.

Takeshi kept a tight grip on her hand as they sped-walked toward the edge of town. They passed tent after colorful tent, and when Khalani glanced over her shoulder, her vision lingered on the ancient casino.

But Takeshi jerked her attention forward. “Keep walking.”

He pulled her even faster through the encampment, practically forcing her to run to keep up with his long strides. A muscle feathered along his jaw when he noticed her questioning gaze.

“I’m one breath from turning around, and murdering every person who was in that tent before I move on to the rest of the town,” he explained in a rough voice.

Khalani didn’t argue.

The broken parts of her wanted to see the Sinners burn. But they had no time to sate their burning need for revenge. They had to warn the Chief before it was too late.

Khalani quickened her pace as they neared the outer barrier. Spears jutted from the metal fence, the sharp tips reaching toward the sky. All the color drained from her face when she realized what was stuck to the spears.

Heads.

Multiple heads with mouths wide open—agony frozen in time.

Who were they?

Travelers like them?

Residents of Desert Spring?

When they finally reached the fence, one of the men Ansel had sent directed the two guards to open the barrier.

“Here.” The small guard tossed the packs at their feet, immediately backing away. “You’d better get going. Don’t forget what Ansel said.”

Khalani and Takeshi didn’t need to hear another word. They grabbed their stuff and charged into the desert sun.

And if they’d paused to listen, they might’ve heard distant cries pouring from the bloody fence, like ghosts warning them to never return.

* * *

Their feet pounded against the sand. Sweat cloaked her entire body as Khalani fought to distance herself from the nightmarish town.

A vast desert composed of peaks and valleys surrounded them. Unlike the trek from Apollo, no roads were present to make the trip easier.

The Sinners’ town truly lay in the middle of nowhere.

Takeshi let her set the pace, his darkened face set with concentration as they made the journey west. He used an extra shirt in his bag to wrap the wound on her arm before ripping off another piece of black fabric to do the same on his cut before beckoning her forward.

When the wind picked up, flinging sand into their faces, she reached into her bag and sighed in relief. The Sinners had taken their weapons, but they left her scarf and notebook.

She quickly wrapped the soft fabric around her head, covering her mouth to protect from the elements as Takeshi did the same with a black scarf. She couldn’t help but stare when he covered the lower half of his face and slowly lifted his head.

Somehow, the subtle mystery and dark mask made him even more magnetic. He stood tall and continued to march onward like he belonged in the desert.