Page 46 of Born Savage

“That’s not possible.”

“Ask yourself why you were found and how you were saved. And now, why the same young man who’d just faced a horrible tragedy of his own, someone with a target on his head accepted a position and an honor to protect our former way of life, the very freedoms our country had fought to protect for years. Before corruption and greed played a hand in our destruction. Your lives are forever intertwined and now, you must face the future. Together. You must go with him.”

“I can’t leave my mother.” For a split second, I was watching my mother withering away, facing the hopelessness that had originally kept me awake at night.

Then something strange occurred that I hadn’t been prepared for, a vision unlike any of the others I’d had in recent weeks. The screen in my mind was gray, almost as if a rolling fog was shimmering back and forth, but with passing seconds, the images began to clear.

A man and a woman. They were standing close together. They were arguing, the woman screaming at him. I couldn’t understand what was being said, but tears were running down her face. She was hysterical, pointing her finger at the man.

He did the unthinkable, smashing his fist into her face, the force tossing her down.

“Star.” The voice was unworldly, surreal and echoing, but I recognized it as Peter’s.

“A dog ran into the room, snarling. He bit the man, ripping his trousers.” I could hear myself reciting the vision, muttering the words as my throat tightened.

“Go on,” Peter told me.

“A little girl standing all alone, crying and screaming. Something glints in the light. A knife maybe. Metal. He was holding metal in his hand. His face is twisted, his foot coming down on the door. Screams and cries, the little girl finally running toward her mother only to be shoved away, and the man yanked the woman onto her feet. His thick fingers were wrapped around her throat.”

I stopped talking, lifting my head and studying Peter, who squeezed my hand.

“He killed her. He killed the dog. Jake. My dog.” Now I was whispering. “He didn’t want me.”

“Star. I’m so sorry. I am so very sorry, but people wanted you very much. Tom and Carrie love you and are very much your parents. You know that. They were also prepared from the beginning about your destiny. They knew a time would come when you’d be leaving the village. Because you are their destiny as well.”

I took a step away, the vision long gone, but the ache and uncertainty were too much to bear. Too much to comprehend. Peter was right. The man who’d provided sperm meant nothing.

“My mother is sick. She is dying.”

His sigh was as heavy as the way my heart felt, the rapid thudding echoing in my ears. “Star. Listen to me. Please.”

A knock on the door interrupted us, but couldn’t stop the volume of questions rushing through my mind.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, Peter, Commander, but we have a problem.”

I turned my head, witnessing terror on Ralph’s face. His tone knocked me from the dark place even though I wanted answers. No, I deserved answers. “What’s wrong?”

He shifted his gaze from Peter to where I was standing, uncertain he should tell me anything about the issue.

“Ralph. Speak freely. What are we dealing with?” Peter encouraged.

“Savages have arrived. They have a request. To see Star.”

CHAPTER 9

Rage

“I’ll take your weapons.”

With a deep exhale, I took my time scanning the four men who’d made their appearance out of nowhere only a few minutes before. They obviously had some infrared or heat sensor system in the underground bunker, the same as we did; only if Star hadn’t stolen one of our GPS systems, we would possibly have left the area, given the readings had been all over the place.

They had assault rifles, which likely meant the bunker itself had been one outfitted by the military.

“No,” I said, finally sweeping my gaze back to the one who’d made the demand.

“Then I suggest you go ahead and leave,” he pushed.

“Not without talking to Star. I don’t believe you want to pick a fight.” The other three were already itchy, so concerned about our capabilities they were sweating.