The gunshot had come from one of ‘them’. A misfire. Something which would not go down well. Bullets were rare and prized – oh, and the dumbass could have killed someone.
A gleam of pale skin caught her eye. Eva had no problem seeing in the half-light, and recognized the hard, lithe figure of their leader. Kata. The tall, brunette female was young, but she was in charge of this operation. Of course, what she lacked in age she made up for in hardassness.
The willowy, dirty-blond female who had misfired the small handgun – and was still waving it around like an incompetent miscreant – started to back away in slow, measured steps.
“Shit, sorry, Kata,” she said, her voice emerging as nothing more than a squeak.
Eva turned away from the ass-chewing that idiot was about to receive. She rubbed at her face, her eyes as gritty as sandpaper. You got two chances in this group. Waste them and you were out on your own. Gangers, rebels, homeless – the streets of New York were not a place you wanted to find yourself alone. Something Eva had discovered the hard way. Although, Mortem had had a few fun months feeding its blood lust. Still, without this group, she’d have fallen by now. No doubt.
There would be no more sleep that morning, and since the creep of light could be seen through the grime-clad windows, she pulled herself up.
It took her mere minutes to tuck the insulated bedding into her backpack, and secure Mortem in the sheath across her shoulders. It sat just behind her neck and on the right-side of her shoulder blade. Easy access. She was reminded of the hours she’d spent practicing, just to make sure she could rip it free without losing an ear.
Shadows rose around her, the rest of the group waking up. Three days ago they had moved on from their last stronghold and were now in another of the millions of abandoned buildings in the outer areas of New York City.
Already the warehouse was heating up; the summer months were not enjoyable in the derelict city. She didn’t have a watch. Time had ceased being relevant, but judging by the trailing of light, it was just before dawn.
June had always been her favorite month, before the fall. Eva remembered lazy days beneath large trees, growing food, storing for the winter, laughter – she cut off the thoughts again.
Those days were gone.
The innocent child she had been growing up in the country was gone. Now she was focused on ridding the world of the scumbags: the gangers who smuggled humans like they were nothing more than property.
“Ladies!” Kata had finished her scathing attack on slippery-gun-fingers, and was now focused on the rest of the group again. “We move out in ten minutes.”
The tone brooked no argument. And more than one female had learned the hard way that if you weren’t outside, suited up with weapons concealed, then the group would leave without you. And since they never returned to the same building twice, you would not find them again.
Eva took a moment to brush her teeth; no matter how filthy she was, she had to have clean teeth. Her paste was getting dangerously low, and it was a real bitch to replace supplies. She’d have to keep an eye out. Shouldering her small pack – the bulk of it rested on the opposite side to Mortem – she strode out the door. They would eat rations as they traveled. Hunger was their constant companion.
Stepping through the rotting, termite-ridden barn-style doors, Eva crossed the concrete area to wait outside. Kata was already out, facing into the rising sun, the glow of light washing over her porcelain features. Eva stood beside the leader. Neither of them spoke, both lost in thought.
Kata never indulged in small talk. She kept her distance from everyone, ruling with iron control. She was not without compassion. Eva had seen her express softer emotions, but she had a personal space that was all encompassing and unyielding.
Which was totally fine with Eva; she could not afford to care. Emotions made you vulnerable, and she had no more energy to be caring or losing people. She could barely keep herself going most days.
Plus she was harboring some pretty large craziness in her head, something she had never told anyone. And never planned to reveal.
Within minutes they were joined by the other females. No one would be left behind today. They were silent as they all waited to receive the brief.
Kata wasted no time. “We’re moving back into downtown. There are two missions for this week. One is to take out the stronghold in the left quadrant of Central Park, and the other is to interrupt a convoy of smugglers that will be moving through Manhattan.”
Her dark eyes swept across the faces and Eva knew what the leader saw. A group of well-trained females aged from seventeen to about forty. Their numbers were at eighteen right then, but that changed pretty frequently. It was a tough life, not recommended for the elderly. These were seasoned fighters, features hard and weary, but determined.
“Alright, Vigiladies. It is time to move out.”