Page 43 of The Outsider
“Some,” I answered honestly. “Not everywhere, but…I’ve seen enough to know that it’s out there. Not all abductions, though. That’s more of an opportunity thing. Some people become slaves willingly, at least at first.”
“Why?”
I shrugged. “They’re poor, starving, and desperate. Sure, they’re abused, but slaves usually get a home and a meal every day. That’s a lot to people who’ve been born into nothing, or who don’t know how to take care of themselves.”
Claire was quiet. She carefully bandaged my back, and I kissed her in thanks. Her expression was thoughtful as the four of us gathered around the fire. We had dinner, and I noticed that she kept glancing over at Asha, who remained silent throughout. Kimmy half-heartedly tried to make conversation, but none of us were in the mood.
“Ash,” Claire finally said, her tone careful. “Who is Cade?”
Asha flinched as though she’d been hit. “Nobody.”
I rolled my eyes. “Look, your friends nearly killed us today. Least you can do is give us a heads-up if they might come looking for you.”
“John,” Kimmy scolded, right as Asha snapped back, “They’re not my friends.”
“We know that,” Claire said, giving me a disapproving glance, and it was obvious I wasn’t going to win this one. I may not have beenable to stand the woman, but my sister and my girlfriend clearly saw something in her that I just didn’t. For now, I’d have to suck it up, even if I fantasized more and more about pushing Asha down an abandoned mineshaft.
“Fine,” I said, holding up my hands. “Sorry.”
Asha softened slightly, though she still glared at me.
“No one’s looking for me,” she said. “We happened to run into them, which isn’t that unusual. The Guardians are one of the biggest gangs in the region; they control a lot of territory. I didn’t know they’d taken Little River, though.”
Kimmy touched her hand. Asha flinched but allowed it.
“Is Cade someone who hurt you?” Kimmy asked softly. “You’re safe from him now, you know. We’ll protect you.”
I wasn’t so sure on that front, but there was an intimacy to the promise that made me sigh. No matter how much I didn’t trust Asha, it was too late. My sister had a thing for her. It was obvious in the way she looked at her.
“Thank you,” Asha replied, and to my surprise, she sounded sincere.
Later, after Kimmy headed to bed, Claire and I prepared for the first watch of the night. Asha headed for the tent to turn in, and as I watched her, she met my eye. A second passed, and then she smiled at me.
It only lasted half a second, and then she turned away. She’d never smiled at me before. It should’ve felt like a peace offering, maybe. An olive branch. I should’ve taken it as a sign that things between us may not always be so heated.
So, why did it make me more uneasy than ever?
Chapter 13
Claire
For all the time they spent together over the next couple weeks, the animosity between Asha and John hadn’t ebbed even a little. However, with me, she finally began to thaw. It began in small bits of conversation here and there, when she’d let me share a joke between her and Kimmy or ask me how I was feeling. She even offered me the rest of her food one evening, claiming she wasn’t hungry and wanted me to have it.
Hungry as I was all the time now with food rationing, I couldn’t refuse. John had managed to shoot a goose that day, and the fatty, smoky meat practically melted in my mouth. I polished off the rest of her dinner, and for the first time in days, I felt full.
Asha and I were on first watch that night, so John and Kimmy shared the tent. John came over to kiss me goodnight.
“Get some rest,” I murmured to him, and he kissed my forehead.
“I will. Just—” He glanced at Asha. “Be careful, alright?”
Asha rolled her eyes. “Unclench, Wastelander. She’smyfriend, remember?”
“Don’t fucking call me that,” he retorted, then turned back to me. “Like I said…if you need me—”
“I’ll be fine,” I soothed, smoothing his hair.
He kissed me goodnight, then headed toward the tent. Soon, the only sound was the crackling of the campfire and the distant hooting of owls.
