The Bleed: Book 2: RAPTURE David Moody (the red fox clan txt) 📖

“What the hell?”

“I do not think help came from that quarter. It was perhaps the praying.”

“Bullshit.”

“We are not dead, Maddie. Now I am not saying that your prayers were answered in the traditional way of thought, but perhaps the intelligence operating the storm recognized the gesture and that is why we were spared.”

“You think?”

“What else could it have been? The whistling and clicking were some type of language; there was no way we could have known what they were saying.”

“We need to find out who was running that then. They could help us!” Maddie was excited. Kalandar, not so much. “You’re not sharing in my enthusiasm.”

“I am of the belief that the intelligence of that storm was of the artificial variety. It offered a warning, in a way. We responded, so it went about its programmed way.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I am not sure, it’s just a thought. But if it had been a life form, would it not make sense that we would have been contacted in a more physical form by now? I know we have not rested properly, but it does not appear that the sun completely sets here. I think it might be for the best if we find some sort of sustenance. I do not like being at the whim of whatever we may encounter.”

They walked for hours. Maddie had at times drifted so far into her thoughts to have been asleep as she moved. More than once, Kalandar had to reach out and steer her back in the direction they were heading. Her legs, back, and feet ached, but it could not hold a candle in comparison to the rawness in her throat. What little spit she could procure to swallow felt as if it had been tainted with miniature razor blades. She wondered how long it would be before she ripped the lining of her esophagus. She briefly debated over spitting out her saliva but knew that would only hasten her dehydration, and she was already on the clock.

“We are close,” the usually indefatigable Kalandar mumbled.

Maddie wanted to tell him off, but could not even imagine the pain she would have to endure to force air past her tortured vocal cords. And there was a chance, like old, rusty piano wire, they would snap if she did. She didn’t look up, either, to see if what he was saying was the truth. Her neck had been bent over for so long she did not think she had the power to lift her head without help. Maddie stumbled and fell into the back of Kalandar’s leg, causing them both to fall over.

He rolled over so he was looking up at the sky. “As good a place to stop as any,” he said. A moment later, he was snoring softly. Maddie arose first after a fitful sleep; the sun was high overhead, yet it was a chill wind that had awakened her. She saw a line of black clouds off in the distance. At first, she was fearful that it was round two of the strange storm, but quickly realized it was something more normal.

“Kalandar,” she croaked. The pain in her throat had eased up somewhat but was still a constant irritation that needed to be slaked. She bent down and pushed his shoulder.

He roared as he sat up. Maddie reflexively jumped back. It took him a few seconds before he came completely out of his slumber and his glazed over eyes cleared. “It is important that we make the city today.” He stood and began walking without saying another word.

“I guess no breakfast then?” It hurt to say the words but she needed a smile.

Kalandar shared no such compunction. By midday, they had reached the outskirts of the city. Strange dwellings that looked more like hives than homes dominated their field of vision. The openings were enormous, some twenty feet high and five feet wide; Maddie did not want to meet the insect that had dwelled there. Kalandar strode in like he owned the place, but Maddie was much more hesitant. A large, cylindrical container with a flat bottom and many protrusions stood in the corner, leaning on its side. The material was clear, the liquid inside an azure. Kalandar headed straight for it, he tipped the container to his lips; some got into his mouth, most sloshed out the many ports.

Maddie was leaning against the entrance. “That could be cleaning fluid for all you know,” she rasped.

“It would be far better than swallowing the dust I have been for the last few hours.” He bent over as his stomach gurgled amid the mixing of the strange brew and the fluids within him. What came back out looked more like the browns of a ruptured septic line.

“Kalandar?” Maddie moved to help though she had no idea what she could do if he had poisoned himself.

He held his hand up. “Fine,” he managed to say. “Drank too quickly.”

When she was somewhat certain he wasn’t going to fall over, she began to check out her surroundings. Built into the wall were hexagonal shelves—most were empty, but some had all manner of unidentifiable objects on them. She couldn’t decide whether it was a knick-knack set up or a pantry or neither. “Could be both,” she said aloud. She found a container that looked very similar to the one Kalandar had drunk from, though it was much smaller, and the fluid inside more the color of a sunset on a tropical island. She sniffed at the contents and caught a subtle scent of floral. She plugged up as many of the openings as she could with her hands and then tipped a thimble full of liquid onto her tongue. When she swallowed, she thought she could just about feel the healing properties of the drink, much like a character in a video game will a potion bought at an apothecary. As desperately as she wanted to drink the whole carafe, she refrained. As callous as it sounded,