The Withered Series (Book 1): Wither Read Online Free PDF Page B

guess
I’ve hit my quota for a while.
    “I
used to watch movies about the apocalypse,” I say, placing a
hand on my stomach.  Even though it is empty, I fear another
bout of drive heaves may be in my near future.  “Thought
it was kinda cool, ya know?  Even with all of the death and
destruction I always saw it as a rebirth, but this isn’t life.
 It’s not even surviving.”
    I
fall silent, thinking over the enormity of what has been lost and its
only beginning.  Things will get worse. They always do.
    For
the first time since waking I become aware of the chill on the air.
Cable’s long sleeves are pulled low over his wrists.  His
pants are tucked into his boots.    
    “It’s
cold.”  He starts forward in response to my statement, as
if with the intent of tucking in my blanket but I jerk back and he
instantly falls still.  “I meant it’s cold in
general.  Not that I’m cold.”
    He
sinks back to the floor.  “They took out this section’s
power station last night.  I don’t know what they are
thinking.  Blow that thing up and the rest of city goes off the
grid, including them.”
    I
bite my lower lip, thinking over what he’d said about them
stocking up.  If anyone in this city is prepared to wait out
this apocalypse it’s them.   “Maybe that’s
the point.”
    “What
is?”
    “If
I wanted to take control of a city, I’d go after the essentials
first: water, food, fuel and weapons.  They’ve already
done that.  Now if they send people running scared, they have
free reign over anything people need to survive.  It’s the
dead of winter.  When the survivors begin to starve or the next
ice storm blows through, people will be forced to come to them or
die.”
    Cable
tilts his head to the side and I spy the hint of a tattoo rising from
the back of his collar.  “Makes sense, only I don't think
there will be any dealing.  Those gangs are out for blood.  You
can’t negotiate with madness.”
    “Don’t
I know it.” I rub the back of my neck to ease the pain.
 Multiple sites along my body ache.  It’s hard to
tell what pain is from my recent beating or from the fever.   “Did
you lose any of your men at the hospital?”
    “A
few.”
    Silence
hangs between us for a time, thick and impregnable.  I should
say that I’m sorry.  Most decent humans would, right?
    “Did
you kill that guy that attacked me?”  His gaze hardens
before he nods.  “Good.”
    “Good?”
 He brings his knees up into his chest and links his hands in
front of his laced combat boots.  Splatters of dried blood cling
to the soles.  “You think killing a man is a good thing?”
    I
shrug, trying to appear indifferent as I tighten my grip on my waist,
desperate to ignore the tremble in my fingers.  “He would
have killed me.”
    “I
reckon he would have.  Still doesn’t make it right
though.”
    His
answer floors me.  Glancing toward the door, I see his gun
propped against the wall.  I don’t know what kind it is,
but it’s big and mean looking.  A heck of a lot scarier
than that pistol I lost.  “Why do you carry one of those
if you don’t intend to use it?”
    Glancing
toward his weapon, Cable frowns and looks back at me.  “Why
do you carry a gun when you have no clue how you use it?”
    My
mouth drops open.  “How do you--”
    “I
had to put the girl down that you shot.  You missed her heart by
a good half a foot.  Bullet went through the top of her stomach.
 She was suffering when I found her.”  He clenches
his fists and looks up at me.  “My guess is that you got
off a lucky shot.”
    “So?”
 I bristle at the accusation in his voice.  “At least
I defended myself.”
    “Yes,
Ma’am.  You did, but that isn’t good enough.”
    “I
told you, I’m not a Ma’am, so cut that crap.”  I
slant my body away from him and cross my arms over my chest.  “I
survived. That’s all that matters now.”
    “No.”
 Cable pushes up from the floor in one smooth motion.