Sanctuary Page 2

  “She’s about fifty.”

  Maya nodded. “That’s her.” She sighed. “She’s our midwife. Julie Imes.”

  Layla blew out a long breath and nodded in agreement. “Can you take us to her?”

  “Of course.” She lifted a hand and reached out to grip Layla’s shoulder. “How long have you been traveling?”

  “Two weeks.”

  “Let’s get moving then. By tonight, you’ll be safe and fed and have a bed to sleep in at one of our outposts. From there, someone will pick you up and lead you the rest of the way to our compound.”

  Layla glanced at her sister, feeling the first niggling of hope in two weeks.

  Maya opened her backpack and pulled out a canteen, offering it to Layla. “Water?”

  “Thank you.” Layla took a long drink and then handed it to Ariel.

  “Ready?” Maya asked as she stood, pulling her backpack over her shoulders. “I want to get out of the city before the sun gets any higher in the sky.”

  Layla winced as she stood. She was sore from sitting on the concrete, sleeping upright.

  Ariel rose next to her, shrugging into her backpack at the same time as Layla. They followed Maya out from their hiding spot and carefully climbed over the rubble to emerge from under the overpass.

  “Are you sure this is safe?” Layla asked, tipping her head back to look at the sky.

  Maya glanced over her shoulder. “The choppers are done for the night. We’re good. Just keep your eyes and ears open for hummers and even militants on foot.”

  Layla nodded. She and Ariel had only emerged into society ten days ago, so they weren’t fully aware of everything they should look out for, but they’d learned quickly to trust no one and stay in the shadows.

  For about an hour, the three of them moved in silence, glancing around at all times, listening closely. Finally, they entered a road, moving west, and Maya led them off to one side so they could move along the tree line. It would be safer than standing out like a sore thumb on the main road.

  “How many people are in your group?” Layla asked when they finally allowed themselves to breathe easier.

  “Oh gosh, hundreds now. We started out with just a dozen of us, but we’ve been growing.” Maya glanced at Layla. “We’re not all in the same place anymore. We…wander.” She smiled. “We call ourselves The Wanderers.”

  “Seems fitting.”

  “How do you know Julie?” Maya asked.

  “We don’t. We’ve never met her, actually,” Layla responded.

  “We’ve never met anyone,” Ariel added under her breath.

  Maya’s eyes widened as she glanced back and forth between the sisters. “What do you mean?”

  Layla hitched her backpack up higher on her shoulders. “Julie was one of our mother’s best friends. When our parents found out they were pregnant and then that I would be a girl, Julie was their midwife.”

  Maya smiled. “So, she delivered you?”

  Layla shook her head. “No. Our parents left their home in the middle of the night and moved off the grid before I was born. My father delivered both of us.”

  Maya’s eyes widened further. “Holy shit. And you never went into a city?”

  “Nope. We had a network of people we trusted. We traded with them. Our father would leave sometimes and come back with supplies. The three of us women never went more than about a mile from the cabin.”

  “That’s incredible. I’ve heard a lot of stories of survival, but yours might top all of them.” Maya glanced to the side again. “Where are your parents now?”

  Ariel sucked in a breath next to Layla.

  “Dead.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “Me too,” Layla whispered. She didn’t feel like going into the details right now. It had only been two weeks. All Ariel and Layla had done from the moment their parents had been killed was survive. They hadn’t had time to mourn the loss or even dwell on it yet.

  “Were your parents in contact with Julie then?” Maya asked, changing the subject.

  “Indirectly. Several years ago, our father heard her name when he was making a trade with someone. He got a message to her. After that, he managed to set up communication between our mother and Julie. It was infrequent, but it was enough that Ariel and I knew to head west and look for her. We knew she was with a group of people who were our only hope.”

  Maya reached out and took Layla’s hand in hers. She grabbed Ariel’s with her other hand and gave them both a squeeze. “I’m so glad I found you then.”

  “How did you find us?” Ariel asked. “What were you doing in the city alone if you have a safe place?”

  “Looking for survivors. It’s what I do. I go out at night and help people get to safety. Several of us do it.”

  “That sounds dangerous,” Layla pointed out.

  Maya nodded. “I guess, but when I find people like you, I’m reminded it’s all worth it. The thought of anyone falling into the hands of the militants makes me shudder. And that’s just one of the groups who would like to get their grubby paws on two young women traveling alone.”

  Layla sighed. “That’s what our parents warned us about. But I’m not sure they knew how bad it was.”

  “Yeah. The list of crazies out there is long. Religious zealots, private citizens, the US government, pimps… People from all walks of life will do almost anything to get their hands on a woman. They don’t even care how old you are. If you were to get captured, chances are you would immediately be sold. Most of the groups out here hunting at night work for someone higher up the food chain. Their job is to find women and bring them back to whoever they work for. It keeps food on their tables.”

  Layla swallowed. “Jesus.”

  Maya looked at her again as they continued walking. “Never trust anyone who isn’t with The Wanderers. Young women like us are a priceless commodity. Even people who were otherwise decent citizens just a few years ago will not hesitate to snag you and sell you to the highest bidder. People are desperate. They’d trade you for food.”

  Layla knew it was bad. She knew the situation in the world had grown worse and worse in the past few years, but this was the first time she’d ventured out to see for herself. It was the first time someone who really knew the situation had explained it to her.

  She and her sister weren’t totally inept. Their parents had raised them to fend for themselves. They were well-educated, could grow their own food, fight off nearly any attacker, and even shoot a gun if they needed to.

  Layla shivered as she recalled exactly that—needing to shoot a weapon just two weeks ago. It hadn’t saved her parents, but it very well probably saved herself and Ariel.

  “Is your group comprised of only women?” she asked.

  Maya shook her head. “No. Most are men, just like in the regular population, and that number is growing. But we’re very careful when we take in men. It’s dangerous. They must be well-vetted. There are still good men in the world, ones who believe in democracy and free will, ones who would never take what isn’t offered to them.” Her voice trailed off.

  Layla was nervous about what she would find when they reached wherever they were going. She was leery of nearly all people, women or men, but her interactions with men were few and far between. What she knew was that they were taller, broader, stronger. They could take what they wanted and often did.

  Her father had been one of the good guys, and he’d told them that often, but he’d also warned them that he was an anomaly and they should be careful. The world was an ugly place.

  They walked for another hour before Maya stopped them with an outstretched hand, squatting down at the edge of the tree line.

  Layla stared at the cabin in front of her and then glanced at Maya. “Where are we? That looks like a one-room cabin.”

  Maya grinned. “That’s what it’s supposed to look like. But it’s a bunker. It can house twenty people.”

  “Underground?” Ariel asked.

  “Yep. I just
want to be sure the coast is clear, and then we’ll go in.” She set her backpack down in front of her and pulled out a walkie-talkie. After turning it on, she tuned in to a specific channel and pushed the button on the side. “Hey.”

  A few seconds later, a man’s voice responded, “You’re back. Got anyone with you?”

  “Yes. Two women. We clear?”

  “Yes. Come on in.”

  Layla pointed at the walkie-talkie as Maya tucked it back into her pack. “How do you have power for that?”

  “Solar.”

  “Ah. That’s amazing. Is your compound solar powered?”

  “Yes. Most of it. Did you not have any power where you lived?” Maya asked.

  “We did. Intermittently. We used it sparingly when Dad traded for propane or gas.”

  Ariel nodded. “We even had a TV. Without old movies and videos, we would be far more ignorant about the world.”

  Maya glanced at them as she stood. “Believe it or not, there are still entire communities living untouched with all modern conveniences. They don’t share nicely, mind you, but on the black market one can get just about anything.” She nodded toward the cabin. “Let’s go.”

  “You sure about this?” Ariel whispered.

  “She knows Julie. This is what we prayed about for two weeks. It’s our only hope.” Layla hugged her sister to her side, noticing that she was shaking. She couldn’t blame her. They were both unnerved. Tired. Leery about everyone and everything. But this was the first promising thing to happen to them since they’d left home.

  Someone opened the door as they stepped onto the small porch, and Maya ushered Layla and Ariel inside.

  Ariel gripped Layla’s hand tightly as they faced a tall, broad dark-skinned man.

  “Jay, this is Layla and Ariel.”

  The man hesitated, his brow furrowed, but then he smiled, flashing white teeth as he held out a hand to Layla first. “Nice to meet you both.”

  Layla shook his hand, trying not to stare at him. It wasn’t so much that she had met very few men in her life. It was that he was so damn big. And handsome. And his smile took her breath away. She immediately knew she could trust him, as irrational as that may be.

  “Don’t be fooled by his size,” Maya joked. “Jay is a giant teddy bear.”

  “Hey, now. Stop telling people that. You’re ruining my reputation.”

  Maya shoved at his biceps playfully and rolled her eyes. “Dude, your reputation is as a giant teddy bear.”

  He laughed, a deep sound that calmed Layla somehow. She loved the way his eyes wrinkled at the same time. Yeah, she liked him.

  Maya hurried over to a kitchen area in the one-room cabin, opened her pack, and started filling it with what looked like homemade protein bars. She filled her canteen from the faucet and turned back around. “I have to get back out there, but you’ll be in good hands here.”

  “What?” Ariel’s voice squeaked. “You’re leaving us here?”

  Jay took a step back, rubbing his palms on his thighs.

  Layla pulled her sister in closer. “What happens next?” she asked Maya.

  “Someone will come and transport you to our main facility. This is one of our outposts. It’s too far to walk to the closest compound.”

  Layla nodded. “Okay.” She glanced around, remembering Maya had said this cabin was a false front. There was more underground, though for the life of her, Layla couldn’t see where the entrance to anything underground might be.

  “Is anyone else here right now?” Maya asked Jay.

  “No, but Gatlin, Ledger, and Nile will be here before dark.”

  Maya lifted a brow. “They have anyone with them?”

  Jay shrugged. “Not sure. Don’t worry. I won’t let anyone leave here until I’m certain I trust them.”

  Maya glanced at Layla and Ariel and then back at Jay.

  He gave her another nod. “Nothing happens to any woman on my watch. You know that, Maya.” His voice was soft, but it had an edge of disappointment that she would doubt him.

  “You’re right. Sorry.” She rolled her shoulders as if her muscles were tight. “I haven’t slept enough lately.”

  “Why don’t you stay for the day? Catch up on your rest.”

  She shook her head and put her pack back on.

  Jay reached out and gently grabbed her wrist. “I know you want to save the world, but you can’t do that if you’re not at a hundred percent, Maya. You need sleep and fuel. If you’re not at your best, you’ll get caught.”

  “I know,” she muttered. “I’m good. Don’t worry about me.” With that, she opened the door and stepped outside.

  When the door closed behind her, Layla drew in a deep breath. “Is she okay?” she asked, staring out the small window at Maya’s retreat.

  “Yeah. She’s just…Maya.”

  “She saved our lives,” Ariel murmured.

  Jay’s infectious grin returned. “She does that. It’s her life’s mission.” He turned toward a door Layla assumed would be a pantry. “Come on. I bet you two could use a shower, clean clothes, food, and sleep. You pick the order.”

  Layla was shocked when Jay opened the closet to reveal shelves of canned goods and bottles of water. He grabbed two bottles of water and handed them to Layla and Ariel.

  After shutting the pantry door, he reached for another lever behind the handle and gave a firmer tug. The entire pantry swung out toward them, revealing a narrow set of stairs that led down into the ground.

  Ariel stiffened next to Layla.

  “Would you like me to go first?” Jay asked as he grabbed a string hanging from the ceiling to flip on a bare lightbulb that illuminated the tight passage. “I know it’s daunting the first time, but I promise this bunker is safe. Sometimes there are up to two dozen people down there, but today it’s just you two. Transport was here three nights ago and took everyone to the main compound. Another group will be here tonight. They’ll escort you. Your timing was excellent.”

  Layla had to force herself not to react to the fact that she and her sister had just been left alone with a man. Not just any man but one the two of them wouldn’t be able to overtake under any circumstances. She should be afraid. Instead, she trusted him implicitly. Nothing would happen to her or her sister under his care.

  “I’ll go,” Ariel announced, surprising Layla. Of the two of them, Ariel was far more timid. It wasn’t that she was weak, but she was hesitant, less likely to trust.

  Using her sudden newfound bravery, she entered the narrow space and descended the stairs.

  Layla looked at Jay and lifted a brow. “How do you even fit through this passage?”

  He chuckled. “It’s tight, but I manage.”

  Layla followed her sister, realizing quickly that the stairwell was a spiral. As she got closer to the floor, she was able to see more of what lay beneath the small cabin.

  There was only one room, but it was spacious and equipped for an apocalypse, which was what they were essentially living through.

  Two walls were lined with cots stacked three high like one would find on a navy ship. The far end of the room was a living space of sorts with a long table, a dozen chairs, and a kitchen area. When she hit the floor and turned around, she noticed the other end past the spiral staircase had four doors.

  It was nearly comical watching Jay emerge from the stairwell, neck bent to avoid hitting his head. He straightened to his full height after he stepped away from the stairs.

  Layla guessed him to be about six-eight. The ceiling was only a few inches above him.

  “Wow,” Ariel murmured as she wandered deeper into the long, narrow room.

  Jay pointed toward the doors behind the stairs. “The two middle ones are toilets. The outer ones are showers. We have well water, so it’s cold, but it’s better than nothing.” He pointed at the rows of shelves that extended between the last of the bunk beds and the bathrooms. “Everything you’ll need is here. Towels. Clean clothes…”

  Layla nodded. “Tha
nk you.”

  Jay stepped to one side to indicate a large bin. “Hook your towel up at the end of whichever bunk you choose to use while you’re here, but anything too dirty to reuse goes in the bin. Every once in a while someone brings clean laundry and takes the dirty.”

  “Amazing. You’re so organized.”

  Jay grinned. “Been at this for years. It’s a well-oiled machine.”

  “Years…” Layla wandered farther into the space, awed by the setup and what this group of people—The Wanderers—did.

  “I’ll let you two get cleaned up. There’s plenty to eat. Sleep if you want.” He pointed toward the other end of the room. “If you need anything, I’ll be up in the cabin.” He grabbed the iron railing for the stairs and started to climb.

  Layla watched him as he twisted his large frame in an awkward position in order to climb those stairs. Every inch of him was strong and built. She didn’t know how she could find herself attracted to the first man she’d ever really seen up close in her age range, but she was.

  Seconds later, he was gone, and Layla turned to face Ariel. “Shower and then food?”

  Ariel nodded. “I like that plan. And then sleep. I feel like I could sleep for three days.”

  Layla wasn’t surprised. Ariel hadn’t slept well since they’d left home. Layla hadn’t either because she’d been forced to sleep with one eye open, but she’d never needed as much rest as her sister. With Jay keeping watch upstairs, she felt safe enough to sleep deeply for once.

  So why did she feel compelled to go back upstairs?

  Chapter 4

  An hour later, Layla left Ariel sound asleep and climbed the spiral stairs back up into the cabin, uncertain how she would open the door from this side and then fascinated when she found that there were four peepholes right at eye level when she reached the top of the stairs—each strategically facing out from all four sides of the room.

  She glanced through each of them, turning in a circle to do so. Handy since anyone could use them to see what was surrounding them outside and inside the cabin before opening the door. She felt around until she located a lever and gave it a shove. It was heavy, but it slowly moved outward.