Ashes
Book Two of The Scorching Trilogy
Libbi Duncan
© Copyright Libbi Duncan 2018
Black Rose Writing | Texas
© 2018 by Libbi Duncan
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publishers, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a newspaper, magazine or journal.
The final approval for this literary material is granted by the author.
First digital version
All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Print ISBN: 978-1-68433-070-6
PUBLISHED BY BLACK ROSE WRITING
www.blackrosewriting.com
Print edition produced in the United States of America
Dedicated To:
My niece and nephew Robin and Wyatt; look up to the stars, down to the pages of books, and into your imagination.
My alpha readers/sisters Jessica, Mikayla, and Hanna; I write for you three first.
My beta readers Melissa, Derek, and Casey, and /r/writing, /r/YAwriters and The Story Brewers of Amarillo; you continue to help me grow and improve.
My students and all of my readers; you inspire me to keep telling stories and dreaming the impossible. I hope you’ll do the same.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
The Story will Continue With...
BRW Info
CHAPTER 1
The sun beat down from high in the mocking blue sky. A light breeze teased the air, but it wasn’t enough to keep Madi cool. Sweat dripped down her neck, and her breaths came in short gasps as if her body was hesitant to inhale more of the invasive heat. She squinted at the horizon; the desert looked the same as it had for days. Maybe weeks.
Madi squeezed a few drops of warm water into her mouth. Her supply ran as low as her patience, and she was almost out of that. Months had passed since they left Rita’s tent-city and entered the vast deserts of what was left of America. At the last merchant camp she had traded her flight suit for the loose robes her nomadic friends wore, but the heat still made her delirious at times. She longed for her cool home on the moon or the mild climate of Acerbia, where she had left her friends. This was not the Earth she fell in love with.
This is hell, she thought. I feel like I’m burning alive…
No, this was not the Earth she fell in love with, but she would travel through anything to get back to the people and places she loved. Thoughts of Torian, Vesper, Levia, and her mind-controlled father filled her heat-weary head. Thoughts of the mountains, and lakes, and the ocean. It was these thoughts that had kept her going for so long, even in the face of her doubts. She had to get back to them and make everything right again.
I’m alive.
Torian’s words burned in her memory. But what if it was a trick? Maybe the Commander had Dom send it, and she was walking into a trap. Or what if he had died after all? Dom had shot him in the back, and his blood splattered across the snow-bank as he fell. How could he survive that? He hadn’t messaged her since then. But neither had anyone else.
We’re lost, aren’t we?
she said to no one in particular, trying to distract herself.
No,
Orion grunted. Stop worrying.
Madi wanted to spit some bitter response, but instead she stayed quiet. She needed him on her side. He had looked out for her ever since he, his wife Olive, and their son Zeke had found her collapsed on the beach and taken her back to the oasis. Olive treated her like a nuisance, and Zeke followed her around like a lost puppy, which was kind of annoying, but Orion was all right. Better keep it that way, she thought.
Her shoulders ached, so she shifted her pack and tried to move the pressure over her hips instead. It helped, but she knew the relief would be temporary. It always was. A groan escaped her chapped lips as she looked up at the faint outline of the moon and longed for it yet again.
Need to ride the camel?
Olive asked from up ahead on the trail. You sound tired.
Madi picked up her pace. You can stop asking,
she said. I’m not tired, I’m just tired of the view, that’s all.
Olive cackled. You’re not fooling anyone, girl.
Zeke jogged up next to her, unfazed by the familiar journey through his native lands. Aww, leave her alone mom,
he said. She’s not used to it here, that’s all.
I don’t need you to patronize me,
Madi said. Olive’s negativity made her uncomfortable, but Zeke’s little crush was pretty awkward too. Her harsh words left him downtrodden. But thanks,
she added. She didn’t want to lose the one friend she had in that dumb desert, even if he was a little too friendly.
As the trip wore on she checked her communicator obsessively, hoping for word from her other friends, but it was no use; there hadn’t been a signal since they started walking forever ago. "I’m alive." The message stared back at her from an otherwise empty screen. Those two words kept her going, but she wasn’t sure if she was going forward or going crazy. The blazing void of the desert even made it impossible to talk to her mom back at the oasis. It was maddening. And the others? There was no way of knowing what had happened to them either.
One foot in front of the other. Hour after hour. Day after day. Her eyes traced the cracks in the ground or tried to find shapes in the occasional cloud. Her mind buzzed with thoughts of her loved ones and with thoughts of her enemies. She would never forget their faces. Dom’s as he betrayed them. Gorian’s as he hunted them down like animals. Commander Atteran’s as he stole her father away and set out to control the planet with war. I’ll make them pay, she thought. Whatever it takes.
. . .
Time stood still, but the world kept moving. Changes crept up so gradually that Madi didn’t even notice at first. The cracks in the ground grew larger. The horizon angled up in some places, but down in others. Hills. Mesas. Mountains. Soon the days grew more pleasant, if only because they sometimes found shade to rest under for a while.
I told you we weren’t lost,
Orion said, breaking the endless silence one morning. The mountains aren’t far. The Capitol lies within them.
The camel lurched beneath her, the bulk of their supplies rising up in a pile behind her aching back. She’d stopped trying to pretend she wasn’t exhausted and accepted Olive’s most recent sarcastic offer. I don’t care what they think, she told herself. Maybe I am tired. So what. I bet they are too. How much farther?
We’ll reach the outpost soon,
Olive said. We should be able to rest there, but we’ll have to leave our camel. The mountain path is too rough.
Zeke patted the lumbering animal as he walked beside it. Do you think they’ll have any ponies this time?
Maybe,
his mother replied with a shrug. If we’re lucky.
The last day before they reached the outpost, they all took off their packs and loaded them onto the camel with the rest of their stuff. Until then they had taken turns riding it when their blisters bled or their legs were too tired to keep walking. Madi didn’t like admitting she needed to do that, but she was happy to get rid of her heavy pack. After living an easy life on the moon, her body wasn’t used to such weight, and Torian had carried most of their supplies when they had traveled together searching for her parents months earlier.
They kept walking into the cold of night, anxious to reach the safety of the outpost as soon as possible. The stars twinkled in the black, moonless sky. A shiver ran down Madi’s back as a light gust of wind brought the sound of neighing horses to her ears.
It sounds like there are horses up ahead,
she whispered in the dark. I guess we’re almost there!
Quiet girl,
Orion whispered. I told you we’re at least a day from the outpost. We’re not alone.
They stopped in their tracks. No one spoke, but Madi felt the others readying their weapons. She drew her daggers as slow as she could, careful not to make a sound. As she waited, staring into the void with anticipation, she wished she had some Acerbian eye drops to help her see. Or Torian’s ears, she thought, straining to hear more hints of the hidden assailants. When the dread of the unknown became almost too much to bear, the sound of hoofbeats mingled with clanging metal and shouting men broke the tension. Raiders.
You know the drill,
Orion said. Wait for my signal. Stay low.
Madi crouched down with Zeke at her back. No mercy this time,
she whispered, remembering how he had hesitated when a female raider had him cornered last time. You know they won’t give you any if they get the chance.
Zeke cocked his pistol. I know.
The sound of horses raging toward them grew louder, and the shouting grew more excited. It seemed as if an entire army of raiders rushed down the hillside, coming right for them.
They’re close,
Olive said.
Wait for my signal,
Orion repeated.
Three seconds passed. A shot zipped overhead, but it came from behind them.
Now!
Orion shot a flare in the direction of the gunshot, ignoring the cacophony of chaos approaching from the mountains. Behind us!"
The flare shot through the leg of the leading attacker and stuck in the ground, sending red sparks into the sky and lighting up a small group of stealthy raiders. They wore flowing black robes and painted their skin with mud to match the moonless night.
It didn’t work! RETREAT!
One of them shouted as Madi sprinted toward them, daggers flashing in the light of the flare.
Olive, Orion, and Zeke aimed for the cowards at the back that were already trying to run. Madi took out the handful that were brave enough to stand their ground. The battle ended in seconds.
Zeke, go take out the loudspeaker,
Olive said. Madi, see what they have for us. We’ll keep watch in case more show up.
The sound of fake horses and yelling raiders faded as Zeke destroyed the distraction device. Madi slinked toward the bodies that littered the desert. She didn’t complain; she’d learned long ago not to question her gracious guides. They always made her scavenge the corpses, and it fell to her silent daggers to put down any stragglers and minimize the chance more would find them. She crept from body to body, searching their pockets and packs for anything that might be useful.
Most of the raiders they came across carried swords, daggers, staffs, and other silent weapons. Sometimes Madi would find a rusty pistol or an old shotgun, but rarely anything worth grabbing. This time, however, the raiders had better gear. In addition to the usual supply of water and rations, she found a few newer-model laser rifles, a bottle of clear liquor, and even a functioning communicator on the body of their leader.
Olive opened the bottle of liquor and smelled the contents. Real tequila,
she said, taking a swig. We must be closer to the Capitol than we thought.
Madi kicked up her feet and chugged some water, declining the alcohol. Why’d they even bother attacking us? These guys have more than we do,
she remarked, admiring her haul.
Probably thought we were with a caravan,
Orion said, cracking open a can of beans. Let’s get to the outpost before any more make that mistake. It’s closer than we thought, shouldn’t take us long.
When they finished eating, they loaded up everything they could carry and set off into the night. Although her feet still screamed with each step and her back still ached, her stomach no longer growled for food, and her head no longer pounded from dehydration. Madi thought her healing powers might’ve returned, she felt so much better. But by the time they saw the lights of the outpost, the old blisters on her feet had reopened. I guess my nanobots still haven’t recovered… she thought, wincing with each step. She hadn’t tried using her telekinetic or telepathic powers since they started their journey through the desert, and her numerous wounds had been slow to heal. The fear of being stuck without powers stayed with her.
It was hard to tell in the darkness, but the outpost seemed smaller than the oasis camps they’d stopped at during their trip. Smaller, but more permanent. Instead of a sea of white tents around a peaceful lagoon, dusty stone buildings sat nestled around a concrete-walled spring at the bottom of a rocky ridge. A low wall curved around the settlement, blocking out some of the harshness of the desert wind. Two guards stood sleepy-eyed at the gate, but roused their weapons when Madi and the others approached.
Olive, is that you?
one of them asked, lowering his gun. Awful late for a caravan to be getting in. Where’s the rest of them?
Olive brushed by him like she owned the place. We’re not in a caravan this time. We came from Rita’s Oasis. Lots of raiders slowed us down. Have the patrols stopped?
Yeah, sorry about that,
he said. Recruitment is down. It’s all we can do to keep the mountain path safe. What brings you from so far this time of year, if not a caravan?
We’re heading for the Capitol. Special delivery.
She turned and winked at Madi.
Uh, okay,
he said, scratching his head. Just make sure you check in with the Major.
Olive gave him a sarcastic smile and waved for Madi to follow her. She led them down the center path toward the largest building, leaving their weary camel behind with one of the confused guards.
Madi struggled to stay awake despite the frigid air that whipped around them as they walked. They usually made camp when the sun set; the days were unbearably hot, but the nights were cold enough to kill. The higher elevation and wind coming down off the mountains only made it worse. By the time they made it inside the outpost headquarters, she could barely feel her hands, and her teeth chattered together against her will.
The entry room of the HQ was bare, but warm. A bored woman behind an old wooden desk stared at them for a moment without blinking.
Can I help you?
she asked, still leaning against her elbow.
Olive crossed her arms. I’m Olive Harrison. My husband, son, and our guest Madi,
she said, pointing them out. We’d like to check in for the night. Are you new?
The woman squinted her sleepy eyes at them. Sorry, yes—I’m new. Let me look you up.
She typed something into her ancient-looking computer. Her eyes widened for a moment. Yes, I see you in our system. I apologize for the delay, Ms. Harrison,
she said, suddenly formal. Your quarters will be ready shortly. I do need more information about your guest, though. I apologize for the inconvenience.
They’re taking me to the Capitol to meet with the president,
Madi said, tired of staying quiet.
Oh,
she said, raising an eyebrow. You’ll need to—
Get permission from the Major. We know,
Olive said, interrupting her. Look, we’ve had a long trip. Can we move this along? I’m sure the he wouldn’t be happy to hear how you handled this.
O-of course. I’ll send him a wakeup call. By the time you reach his office he should be there.
She finished typing in their information and apologized a thousand times. Please don’t tell the Major I did a bad job. I can’t afford to get demoted again.
Olive rolled her eyes. Fine.
Madi fell in behind the others and followed their lead. The hallway was dim and narrow, almost claustrophobic after being in the open desert for so long. She hadn’t quite adjusted to the feeling of being back in civilization. Her body warmed back up after a few minutes inside, but that made her even drowsier. This meeting better be quick. I’m so done with this day, she thought, choking back a yawn.
They followed the hallway all the way back, for much longer than she expected based on the building’s exterior. We must be under the mountain by now, she realized. It was a long, quiet walk punctuated by the sound of breathing and slow, sleepy footsteps. A pair of large doors opened up to a circular room with a giant fire roaring in the middle. A few night-owls gathered around it, seated on a low bench and talking in whispers. Olive walked around the rim of the room and came to the door in the center of the opposite wall. She held up a hand.
Madi, come with me. Everyone else wait here,
she said. And let me do the talking.
Zeke opened his mouth to complain, but Orion shushed him with a look and dragged him over by the fire to wait. Madi gave Zeke an apologetic smile and followed Olive into the Major’s office.
A single lamp lit the spartan room. An older man sat at a table with a mug of coffee between his hands. He glanced up at them, took a long swig of his drink, and stood up.
Olive,
he said, turning toward the wall. Do you have any idea what time it is?
I’m sorry sir,
she said. It’s—important.
The Major took another gulp. He drained the mug and set it down, then turned back toward them and laughed. Get over here and give your old man a hug.
Madi’s mouth fell open. Olive ran over with uncharacteristic enthusiasm and threw her arms around him. He picked her up like she was a child and locked her in a warm embrace. They smiled together, ignoring Madi’s confused stare.
It’s been too long, Olive. I wish you’d just settle down here,
the Major said. Where’s that husband of yours? And my grandson?
They’re outside, dad,
Olive said, stepping back a little. This isn’t a personal visit, though.
The Major’s eyes turned toward Madi. Ah, I see,
he said. What’s going on then? Who’s this?
Madi crossed her arms, ready to get things over with. My name is Madeline Longview. I’m from the moon. Your daughter is taking me to the Capitol to see the president. We’ve been travelling through the desert for months; my family, friends, and the entire planet are in danger, and I’m really tired. Does that answer your questions?
Olive looked horrified.
The Major just laughed. Straight to business, eh? I like that.
He walked over to her and stuck out his hand. I’m tired too, so I’ll make this quick. I’m Major Harrison. I’ve got more questions, but they can wait.
He turned to Olive. Breakfast is served at 0600. Head to the barracks and rest until then. I’ll be doing the same.
. . .
When they got settled into their bunks, Madi fell asleep as soon as she hit the mattress. She didn’t care how thin the blankets were, or how hard the springs were. She was so exhausted that it didn’t matter. Four hours later the sound of trumpets playing over a speaker system woke her from a dreamless sleep. She glanced at her communicator. 5 a.m. Ugh. You’ve gotta be kidding me, she thought. I don’t care about breakfast. I just want more sleep. The lights came on, but she stayed in bed and hid under the covers. Just as her eyes closed and sleep was about to take hold, she felt the buzz
