Dusk Territories: Always Burning Read Online Free PDF Page A

this hell hole now. States…heck the whole country has been in shreds. No chain of command, no president, no nothing.”
    This…is insane. All of this shit happened in what, months? Graham thought. He could feel his already dry mouth become arid. “So…”
    “So, we survived. There are plenty of people like the Drifter, but he’s one of a kind. He amassed a legion of people, followers. The old man probably never intended for it. However, he made an opportunity out of nothin’. He can be trusted. Power hasn’t corrupted his head, still sharp as an axe.”
    Tyrus laughed. “His brain’s probably too banged up to realize how much power he has.”
    “But he’ll protect what he has and what we have,” Crisium retorted.
    “That he would,” Tyrus agreed. “He’ll help ya get yourself straight, Graham.”
    “How far away is this…caravan?” Even saying it aloud, Graham thought it was crazy. But, right now, he couldn’t debate anything.
    “No further than a few clicks from here. We normally do runs around broken up cities—usually smaller ones. A mutant or demon with every normal and we gather what we can.” Crisium shrugged. “They are probably expecting us back from now.”
    Graham tried to gather the meaning of mutant or the new one, demon, but stopped trying in mid-thought. He wasn’t going to strain his brain. All he needed to do was to get to this caravan. Finishing the field dressing, he got himself up, and dusted the sand off his faded and torn camouflaged pants. He kicked the empty first aid pack aside. “So, what you’re saying is this Drifter might know a little something for me?”
    “Yeah,” Tyrus and Crisium said in unison.
    “He might even let ya chill around for a bit,” Crisium added, blowing a ring of smoke.
    Tyrus rolled his eyes. “He does pick up mutants and demons like stray puppies.”He looked to Crisium, and both busted out in laughter. “But really, he’ll probably find you interesting. There’re worse, personality wise, than you.”
    “Wood?” Crisium questioned.
    “Wood,” Tyrus answered.
    That wasn’t the first time Graham had heard that name . He must be some real pain, Graham thought. Giving an amused laugh, he slung his assault rifle into his palms. “I suppose that we should get going if they’re expecting you back. They might expect trouble if two of their own is missing.” He knew he would if he sent his men out on a scouting or retrieval mission and they hadn’t returned in the allotted time. “I’ll take point. Just guide me where to go and I’ll make sure you two get there safely. It’s the least I could do for what you have done for me so far.”
    Tyrus and Crisium both gave a blank expression.
    It was a very dangerous move that in no way worked in his favor aside for gaining trust. If they were some sort of bandit group leading him to a trap, he would have no way of knowing. However, he was confident. Graham was confident that they could be trusted enough. But if not, he planned some ways of escape. Training had taught him many things. One of those things was how to be deadly. He could easily wheel himself in a 180, pop their heads off with two shots, and go on his merry way. But he was sure that it wouldn’t have to come to that.
    Graham gave a toothy grin, probably more frightening than reassuring. “Just lead the way.”
    _
    The Drifter’s company had set up just a few miles from the edge of the base, to the north near what was Jacksonville. Or what was left of the broken city once named Jacksonville. Even from this distance, the city seemed to be in shambles. The entire city was a different landscape than the land around it. Where around the city were badlands, the city itself was like a miniature forest. Tall trees jutted from the toppled buildings, wild grass broke through the dark soil. An indigo haze drifted around it, hanging loosely on the threshold of the inner city. He squinted, trying to see more of the city to no avail. Yet, he