Wings of the Walker - CoraLee June Page 0,242

littered the streets, and the few people we did see were hunched over, marching like ants to their destinations while staring at their feet.

“Cavil occupies everything but the deadlands, but it’s only a matter of time,” Jules said in a low voice. She pressed her forehead against the window and peered at a burly guard spitting in the street.

“Where is everyone?” I asked. Although I’d spent most my life in the Stonewell Manor, I’d assumed that major cities were bustling with life. Saberus was empty.

“They’re either dead, hiding from Cavil’s men, or hiding from infected Walkers. Only the immune are safe since the rejection,” Jules said beneath her breath.

The transport zoomed by until we stopped at an iron gate leading to the main road. It slowly slid open for us, allowing the transport to pass through. Guards eyed us, and I held my breath as we passed, thankful that we had stolen an official Ethros transport back on the island. It let us travel without issues.

Just as we were about to pass the barrier and head towards Galla, an infected Walker with bloody eyes ran by. Crimson tears streamed down his face, and bursting blisters oozed along his arms. He wandered towards our transport, causing a frenzy of amusement to break out among the bored guards.

I expected them to pull the Heat from their holsters and ease his suffering, but they laughed at the Walker’s contorted face of agony. Pointing at the way the blood seeped from his arms onto the paved road of Saberus, they kept their distance but didn't stop him.

I could hear their laughter echoing through our transport. They stared at the infected Walker’s hunched over form, snickering at the way he suffered, feeling no compassion or empathy for his pain. He was wearing dress pants and leather shoes, and aside from the blood, they appeared to be tailored and expensive. Evidence that this man was once an Elite. I stared at his wrist and saw that he had a fetter on. He’d sold his freedom to Cavil then ended his life as a Walker.

It wasn’t until the infected Walker was close enough to become a threat, that a guard with curly blond hair and yellow teeth shot him with Heat, ending his suffering. His remains were now just a cloud of white dust, billowing in the humid air.

“At least they didn’t electrocute him first,” Jules said in an emotionless tone. “Sometimes, if they’re wearing fetters, they like to do that.” I snapped my gaze to Jules then frowned. Was this something she had seen? Kemper grabbed my hand and squeezed as we passed the barrier and continued towards Galla. It felt so weird to be heading back to where it all began. I was born in the Walker Zone. I just wondered if it was where I would die, too.

Galla had more security than Saberus. A line of people in transports and wagons wrapped around the exterior fence, waiting to get inside. Jules informed us that Cavil would be moving to the capital soon but was staying in Galla to appoint new leadership. I bet he was there to boast about his conquests across the empire. In my short time with Cavil, I’d learned that he was arrogant and assuming. He’d request parades in the street every day he left his home if he had the manpower to do so. But with the rejection and X so widespread, there simply weren’t enough people these days. You’d think a man that wants the world to worship him would be more concerned about the dwindling population.

“Park at these coordinates, Tallis will meet us there to smuggle us in the Zone,” Jules said. She tossed a scrap piece of paper in Huxley’s lap. “Normally, it’s easy to get in and hard to get out, but until we’ve changed your file in the Walker database, we have to be careful. We don’t want Cavil to be aware that any of you are here.”

“Are you sure about this?” Huxley asked while eyeing the paper with scrutiny.

“We should probably just establish right now that I know what the fuck I’m doing. I’d say you need to listen to me, but I know you won’t. So at the very least, I need you to not ask stupid questions. Of course I’m sure.”

I eyed Jules and bit back a smile. I loved the way she asserted herself with the guys. As Huxley leaned over to punch the coordinates into the center console of the