much.
After everything, they both did.
The Civilian Ward was noisy. There were lots of children. Mothers nursed sickly infants while toddlers whined and cooed. Elle curled up on a cot in the corner, her back to the wall. She watched everyone wander around. The wall of noise was deafening to her – loud and annoying. It was enough to drive you crazy.
Bravo didn’t look too happy about it either. He lay on his stomach, his head between his front paws, a distressed expression on his face.
“I know,” Elle muttered. “Too loud.”
She and Bravo were used to the silence of abandoned landscapes and empty cities. There was none of that here. All of these people, crammed into a small space, most of them unwashed and sweaty.
Elle sat on the edge of the cot. Skylights in the high ceiling allowed sunlight to filter into the building. She stood up. She didn’t want to be here anymore. She walked through the crowd of people. Bravo followed, eager to make his escape, too.
As soon as she walked outside, she took a deep breath of pure, cold air. It felt good. The military compound was still as busy as ever. Civilian survivors were being checked in at the front gates.
Something about seeing these people affected her. It was rare to find a place where people helped each other these days. This was a treasure. A diamond amidst the callous ashes of the apocalypse.
“Bravo, come,” Elle said.
She moved forward, walking through the camp. Bravo trotted beside her, his ears pricked up. He was happy to be out of the Civilian Ward. Elle reached the main building and walked up the steps, pushing through the heavy metal doors. The guards near the front desk paused. Awoman with gray hair and a dark jacket looked through her glasses as they walked inside.
“Miss Costas,” she stated. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in the Civilian Ward, according to Lieutenant Felix.”
“I’m here to talk to him,” Elle replied.
The woman sighed dramatically and stood.
“He’s in his office,” she said. “Wait here.”
She walked through the busy room. When she appeared again, she said, “Go ahead.”
Elle nodded and walked through the building.
“Hold it,” the woman said.
Elle turned around.
“Leave the dog here. We don’t want animals inside Headquarters.”
Elle raised an eyebrow.
“Bravo comes with me,” Elle stated.
She kept walking. The woman must have seen something dangerous in Elle’s face, because she dropped the subject.
They reached the Secure Room, where they had met last night. Felix was standing at atable, tracing his finger along a map. He looked up and smiled broadly when Elle walked in.
“Miss Costas,” he exclaimed. “Have my men been taking good care of you?”
“Yes.” Elle motioned to Bravo with her left hand, and he sat. “Bravo and I appreciate your help – and the food.”
“That’s what Bear Mountain is here for.” Felix splayed his fingers on the table. “Have you met Cheng?” He gestured to the back of the room. Elle turned, alarmed to see the tall Asian boy on the far side of the room, leaning casually against a map nailed to the wall.
He smiled.
“We’ve met,” Cheng said, a languid expression on his face.
Elle looked away.
“Good.” Felix walked around the table and reached his hand toward Bravo.
The dog released a warning growl and Felix drew his hand back quickly.
“Ah, I see he’s not the friendly type,” Felix commented.
“He’ll warm up to you,” Elle replied.
“Cheng and I were just having a chat about you two,” Felix went on, clearing his throat. “We believe you could be valuable to Bear Mountain. You’re a survivor, and a fighter. You’ve got a bomb dog. That’s an asset. You could help the operation here. Bring in survivors, save lives. How does that sound to you?”
Elle looked at the floor.
And there it was. A chance to start over – to do something with her life, to be helpful. She could have food and protection. She
After everything, they both did.
The Civilian Ward was noisy. There were lots of children. Mothers nursed sickly infants while toddlers whined and cooed. Elle curled up on a cot in the corner, her back to the wall. She watched everyone wander around. The wall of noise was deafening to her – loud and annoying. It was enough to drive you crazy.
Bravo didn’t look too happy about it either. He lay on his stomach, his head between his front paws, a distressed expression on his face.
“I know,” Elle muttered. “Too loud.”
She and Bravo were used to the silence of abandoned landscapes and empty cities. There was none of that here. All of these people, crammed into a small space, most of them unwashed and sweaty.
Elle sat on the edge of the cot. Skylights in the high ceiling allowed sunlight to filter into the building. She stood up. She didn’t want to be here anymore. She walked through the crowd of people. Bravo followed, eager to make his escape, too.
As soon as she walked outside, she took a deep breath of pure, cold air. It felt good. The military compound was still as busy as ever. Civilian survivors were being checked in at the front gates.
Something about seeing these people affected her. It was rare to find a place where people helped each other these days. This was a treasure. A diamond amidst the callous ashes of the apocalypse.
“Bravo, come,” Elle said.
She moved forward, walking through the camp. Bravo trotted beside her, his ears pricked up. He was happy to be out of the Civilian Ward. Elle reached the main building and walked up the steps, pushing through the heavy metal doors. The guards near the front desk paused. Awoman with gray hair and a dark jacket looked through her glasses as they walked inside.
“Miss Costas,” she stated. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in the Civilian Ward, according to Lieutenant Felix.”
“I’m here to talk to him,” Elle replied.
The woman sighed dramatically and stood.
“He’s in his office,” she said. “Wait here.”
She walked through the busy room. When she appeared again, she said, “Go ahead.”
Elle nodded and walked through the building.
“Hold it,” the woman said.
Elle turned around.
“Leave the dog here. We don’t want animals inside Headquarters.”
Elle raised an eyebrow.
“Bravo comes with me,” Elle stated.
She kept walking. The woman must have seen something dangerous in Elle’s face, because she dropped the subject.
They reached the Secure Room, where they had met last night. Felix was standing at atable, tracing his finger along a map. He looked up and smiled broadly when Elle walked in.
“Miss Costas,” he exclaimed. “Have my men been taking good care of you?”
“Yes.” Elle motioned to Bravo with her left hand, and he sat. “Bravo and I appreciate your help – and the food.”
“That’s what Bear Mountain is here for.” Felix splayed his fingers on the table. “Have you met Cheng?” He gestured to the back of the room. Elle turned, alarmed to see the tall Asian boy on the far side of the room, leaning casually against a map nailed to the wall.
He smiled.
“We’ve met,” Cheng said, a languid expression on his face.
Elle looked away.
“Good.” Felix walked around the table and reached his hand toward Bravo.
The dog released a warning growl and Felix drew his hand back quickly.
“Ah, I see he’s not the friendly type,” Felix commented.
“He’ll warm up to you,” Elle replied.
“Cheng and I were just having a chat about you two,” Felix went on, clearing his throat. “We believe you could be valuable to Bear Mountain. You’re a survivor, and a fighter. You’ve got a bomb dog. That’s an asset. You could help the operation here. Bring in survivors, save lives. How does that sound to you?”
Elle looked at the floor.
And there it was. A chance to start over – to do something with her life, to be helpful. She could have food and protection. She
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