Chapter 3

We left the family in the clearing and moved early in the morning. There was no point in sticking around.

If we did, we would be an easy target for all the infected. Especially the supernatural ones. Our scent would be thick in the air and they would find us easily.

We walked through the dense foliage for half the day, and then Alice groaned. I chuckled and stood, checking our surroundings.

“Ok let’s get some rest for now.” Alice huffed and dropped where she was standing.

“Drink and rest but be alert.” She rolled her eyes but nodded.

I tapped my sword and bowie knife to make sure they were where they should be and made a circle around where we were, to check for the undead, stupid or not.

Fortunately, there was nothing and I relaxed a little and went back to Alice and found her snoozing in the damn open with no care in the world.

I stood in front of her, frustrated, then kicked her legs, making her yelp.

She glared at me while she was on her ass on the ground, and I just shrugged. “I told you to be alert. You would have been eaten by now.”

I leaned against a tree and unscrewed my water bottle and took a small sip. I shook the container and tsked we need to find some clean water soon.

‘Let’s camp here tonight; this place is as good as any.’ Alice signed and I sighed. She is a teenager. She was supposed to be more energetic than that.

“Ok princess, I will go and set the traps. Be careful and don’t fall asleep while I’m gone.” She waved her hand absently and buried her head inside her backpack.

I’m sure she was looking for one of her books. The girl was obsessed with reading.

I checked the perimeter again and set the traps. Then closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, expanding my senses.

I heard a bird cry and an animal, a rodent maybe, digging into the ground. The air smelled fresh. There was no decaying smell in the air or stench of decomposing bodies.

I strained my ears farther and heard the faint drip of water. I cocked my head to the side.

There was no smell of any mass of water nearby and I can’t hear it flow. So where does this dripping noise come from?

I walked to the east but halted abruptly. My footsteps have an echo. How? Unless…… I stomped my feet twice and opened my eyes.

It is hollow here. I crouched, then swept the ground with my hands, knocking on it in the process, and found it. There, under a big bush, there was a steel handle.

I put some strength in my grip and pulled, but it didn’t budge. I tried again growling, and this time the hatch opened to a dark hole.

I whistled and seconds later, Alice was standing in front of me, a machete in her hand. I signed.

‘I will go down first, be ready for anything. If I didn’t come out in two minutes, close that thing and leave.’

I didn’t wait for her confirmation. I dropped my backpack and sword and went down the small ladder I had found.

It was dark, cold, and the air was stuffy, but there was no foul smell, so that was a good sign. The small space stretched for nine feet at least before it widened into a big area.

I searched with my eyes for any sign of danger, but there was nothing.

I touched the wall to my left and searched for a light switch. I know it was just wishful thinking.

There has been no electricity for over twelve years now, but it was a habit that never died. And praise the goddess, there was light here.

I checked the small space again and smiled. This was a small bunker suitable for two. Maybe three people most. There were two small cots and two doors.

One looked broader than the other, and it was made out of what looked like steel.

I opened the first door, and it was a small bathroom, then the second and I gasped in surprise. Right in front of me, there were rows after rows of MREs and a small armory from AR to melee weapons.

I jumped up and down, proud of my finding, and went back to get Alice. I found her climbing down. I waited until she was on her feet and slapped the back of her head.

“I told you to stay for my signal.” She winced, then shrugged.

‘You were taking so long, I got worried.’ I growled and climbed to close the hatch and went back to the open area and found Al excitedly humming while checking an AK-47.

“Hey be careful with that, you might hurt yourself.” She rolled her eyes but put the gun on its stand.

‘It is unloaded, and the safety is on. It isn’t my first time holding a gun.’ She said, reaching for the MRE packets and reading them.

I went to the small bathroom and checked the faucet and lo and behold there was running water still. Alice came to see when she heard the sound of water.

‘What is that place?’ She signed her eyes wide with wonder and excitement. I chuckled.

“I think this place belonged to one of those survivalists, but I guess he wasn’t living in this world anymore.” Alice hummed and went back to the supply room.

We spent a relatively quiet week enjoying the peaceful life of the bunker. For the first time in many years, we had a roof above our heads.

We usually stay away from big cities or buildings clusters because seventy out of ten times, it would have someone inside or close by.

We used to camp in forests away from people. So being here now was a blessing. I washed my face and cut off my hair shorter. Long hair wasn’t practical.

I don’t have the time to brush or find some products to take care of it.

It was a suitable solution that Alice hated with vengeance. I pitied her; she had such beautiful red hair that used to glow in the sunlight.

I put on my hoodie and jeans and turned to the teenager who was eating a chocolate bar and reading some old torn book.

“I will go out to cheek the traps and the perimeter. Don’t go out without me.”

She looked up and nodded, then she threw the moss phlox small spray bottle at me. And she signed.

‘You never know what you would find lurking out there.’ Then she shrugged and went back to her book.

I smiled. She was right. Being here had made me lazy and reckless. I sprayed myself, then went out.

 I cheeked the traps first and for the third day in a row, there was nothing. It was weird; I used to get at least a rat which I would set free. But for three days I got nothing.

I broadened my circle, this time looking for clues for what was really happening, and came out empty-handed. 

Actually, the area was quiet. Too quiet for my liking, which meant that there was something that scared the birds and small prey away.

The undead didn’t have that effect on them, so this was because of humans or shifters. I think humans weren’t a big threat to them, either. 

Then this was Shifter’s doing. I climbed the tree closest to me to get a better view, and the breath left my lungs. To our northeast, there was a big camp full of people and shifters.

I didn’t need to scent them to know their physical appearance was a clear indicator.

I swallowed hard when I saw some familiar faces. Johanson was standing there giving orders to humans, and they scurried away to do his bidding.

Is this my last pack? The one that threw me and my family away when I was eight.

I shuddered when I saw the scar my father had given him. It didn’t heal properly and now I was certain that it was my old pack, but what were they doing here?

It was a long way from their territory.

Johnson barked something and people around gave him a wide berth. 

Someone walked with a thick robe and dragged a group of infected behind him, making people cower.

A human who was brave enough shouted at him and he slashed his chest with his claws then ribbed his throat open.

I shudder when the blood splattered everywhere and the row of the infected attacked the poor male human. They cut him into pieces in seconds and his entrails were what were left.

I gagged when I saw Johnson licking his claws clean and his face contorted into a content smile.

The stupid ones were lined around their camp and everyone else was bustling around doing something. I bit my lips in agitation, we need to leave here.

It wasn’t safe anymore. If he knew that I was in his territory, he would kill me. 

Technically, I’m the rightful alpha to this pack. I’m a big threat to him. Even though, unlike me, Johnson is a full-blooded wolf.

Suddenly, he raised his nose up and inhaled. I held my breath. My body broke into an uncontainable shudder. Did he smell me? But that was impossible.

I have used the scent masking plant.

I froze on that branch waiting, my body still shaking, and my breath ragged. He kept glaring at the area that I was hiding in and I almost said my last prayer to the goddess.

Someone came and broke the spell. He frowned at him.

The male was holding one of my empty traps; I cursed silently when I saw him give his men the orders to search the area. I climbed down quickly and ran toward the bunker.

Shit, shit, shit, this was not good. I need to get Alice and leave this fucking place.

I heard a twig break to my right and jerked into a stop. Someone was close, and he had caught my scent. I tip-toed and stood behind a tree and slowly unsheathed my bowie knife.

A young wolf walked silently, sniffing the air. I licked my lips and clutched the knife tighter in my hand.

He stopped and flexed his claws as if readying himself for an attack. He turned to his left and ran. I sighed and almost dropped to the ground in relief.

Just when I was about to move again, something caught my hoodie and pulled me backward. I gasped when a hand clamped on my neck. 

I twisted my body and kicked them in the chest making them fall, then jumped on his fallen body and held the knife to their throat.

I snarled at the male, who looked at me with wide eyes and inhaled. “Alexandria! Is that you?” I pushed the knife deeper, my eyes flashing green.

“I was going to let you live, but now I’m not sure. Who the fuck are you and how do you know me?”