Wings of the Walker - CoraLee June Page 0,304

I added.

I expected the person to end me then. I was too scared to turn my eyes back to him and see who it was at the end of the knife, too afraid to meet my death. But instead of a swift slice along my throat, an awed, clipped voice caught me off guard. "Ash?" I let out a sigh of relief at the familiarity before turning to look at who was threatening my life.

"Thurst?" I asked incredulously when realizing that the tall man towering over me was from Tallis and Mia's Scavenger camp. I hadn't seen him since we first left Dormas. Although my time with him was brief, I jumped up for joy and wrapped my arms around his neck, squeezing him tightly as he choked out a short chuckle in shock. "I can't believe it's you. Where is Bowden? And Hope?" I asked before pulling away and looking him in the eye. His white hair had been cut shorter, but the blue designs along his skin were still beautiful and intricate. He seemed like his time away from Tallis had worn him. He was skinnier, less vibrant.

Thurst frowned before whistling in response. The chirping sound echoed off the concrete buildings, sounding like a small bird as it traveled through the old, deserted town. After a moment, another person emerged from the buildings around us, and I noticed that it was Bowden.

I opened my mouth to ask where Hope was, but Thurst answered my unspoken question first.

“Hope was taken from us.”

At that, my heart completely sank. It nearly disappeared. Tears filled my eyes, and I took in Bowden’s lean form in the distance while grabbing at my chest. For a moment, I felt frozen in my turmoil. My fists were clenched in anger and sadness. My teeth were gnawing a hole in my lip so deep I knew I’d choke on blood.

I grabbed Jacob’s hand and urged him forward, bounding towards Bowden with a sense of disbelief and grief. I could feel the power of Hope’s namesake completely disappearing from my system. Once I was in front of Bowden, I let out a sob before gently wrapping my arms around him. Seeing him was difficult, but losing the baby girl I saved was cracking the last bit of resolve I had. “I’m so sorry,” I choked out. And I was. I was sorry that we weren’t here to help.

I looked at him, frowning when I realized that this was all that was left of Tallis' camp. "Is anyone else..." I trailed off, afraid to say my question out loud.

"We're it. Most migrated, some died of X. Few went off to fight. Some were...captured. We decided to stay put," Thurst said from behind me.

"Oh God, Tallis. Tallis is here!" I exclaimed, realizing that he would want to see them.

There was still hope in Dormas, after all.

Chapter Three

I stared at the flames in the campfire, too lost in my thoughts to really feel the warmth it put off. The winds from the deadlands carried with them a toxic smell that singed my nose hairs. It was bittersweet, setting up camp with the men I loved while grieving a little girl that was taken from Thurst and Bowden. I was a combination of all the moments leading up to this. I was hardened by Ethros, strengthened by my time in the deadlands. Destroyed by the idea of everyone I’d ever cared about being taken from me.

I was ruined.

“What are you thinking about?” Huxley asked while drawing in the dirt with a stick.

“Payne,” I replied. “And Hope.” The two children were special to me. Knowing that the cure was within Payne was a relief, but it was also terrifying. What if someone else got to him first? What if he was dead? What if he was captured like Hope was? Thurst and Bowden refused to go into detail, saying that it hurt too much to discuss. A thousand scenarios flooded my mind, and I had to dig my nails into my thighs, pinching them to keep from crying.

I watched the couple with despair. Thurst’s and Bowden's cheeks were sunken in. “I’m a foolish girl, Hux,” I said before brushing away an ant that was crawling along my skin.

“Why do you say that?” Off to the left, Patrick and Kemper were building shelter for the night, so I didn’t have to sleep in the transport again. Naturally, Tallis had whipped up a tent for him and Jules in record time, and they had