Chapter One
The smell of mould lingered in the air. Something could have died in the walls, left to decay and fester. With no fresh air the room had become stagnant. Most abandoned buildings had the same fragrance, unless part of the roof had collapsed and water had seeped in, causing the air to be thick with moisture.
The smells weren’t necessarily the worst part about spending a night in an old building; Nadia was surprised she noticed the stench at all with three younger brothers. She laid on her back, wrapped up in her sleeping bag, gazing at the ceiling; the paint cracked and peeled.
Her parents were gone and had taken the dog with them. She recognised the steady rhythm of her brothers breathing, but not of her mother and father.
They wouldn’t have gone far, or else they would have woken Nadia up at least. They had hidden the trucks in the parking lot the night before. If she could be bothered to stand and walk towards the nearest window, she would be able to see them down below. One of her brothers let out a loud snore in their sleep, though they didn’t stir; both Gabriel and Elijah slept like the dead, at least compared to her and Dante.
Nadia groaned and rolled onto her side as the radio beeped, her bag on the floor near her head. She fumbled around for it, still half asleep, as she pushed herself up and held it to her ear.
‘What?’ Nadia moaned as she pushed her mess of black hair out of her face. Her father had complained that she kept it too long for their occupation, but her mother always took Nadia’s side. He did have a point, though, as they could go for several days without a shower while scavenging, and it would start to smell despite her best efforts.
‘I thought you would have been awake by now. Mum and I have the trucks ready to go,’ Her father replied over the radio.
Nadia unzipped the sleeping bag with one hand, ‘You could have woken us up earlier, old man.’
‘Don’t get snappy with me, missy. Get your butt up and go to the west window,’ Luke said.
Nadia grumbled as she slid on her worn combat boots and climbed to her feet, leaving them untied as she meandered to the dirty window, peering out over the large town. Birds had roosted on the building across the street, and several more had constructed nests along the broken gutters. Long grass had grown through the cracks in the cement, sprawling over the sidewalks, while moss had stained the concrete buildings green. Most of the windows that weren’t broken were opaque with dust. Nature had begun to reclaim the town that had stood empty for more than a quarter of a century.
‘You should be able to see me directly across from you, on the tallest building,’ Luke said over the radio.
Nadia used her bare hand to scrub the dirt off the glass. Luke stood on an old brick building off in the distance, waving. They had passed the old motel when they had searched the area the night before.
‘Can we at least have something to eat first?’ Nadia said as she wiped the sleep from her eyes, wandering to her sleeping bag.
‘Nope. I want you and your brothers here in two and a half minutes, starting… now.’
‘Dad,’ Nadia said in disbelief.
‘We can restart, and I’ll give you two minutes if you prefer,’ Luke replied.
‘What? No.’ Nadia snatched her holster and hooked her arms through it, the Berretta resting against her ribs. ‘Where’s Mum?’
‘You’re wasting time, Sweetie.’
Before Nadia could reply, the radio went silent, ‘Shit.’ She clapped her hands loudly and threw her jacket on. ‘Get up. Move it.’
Dante sat up with a start, his brown hair stuck to his face. He desperately needed a haircut, but for the last six months, he had worn a grey bandanna to keep it out of his face, regardless of their father’s protest.
He ran his fingers through his hair and quickly tied his bandana, ‘What’s wrong?’
‘We need to move, or Dad will chew my ear off,’ Nadia replied.
Dante frowned as he threw back his sleeping bag and scurried to their younger brother, ‘Eli, get up.’
Her youngest brother didn’t budge until Dante shook his shoulder. Elijah yawned as he sat up, peering around the room lethargic, his short hair sticking up at odd angles. Like Dante, Elijah had inherited their mother’s chocolate-coloured hair, though Dante was the only one with her blue eyes.
‘What are we—’
‘No time. Pack your things and put your shoes on,’ Nadia ordered as she rolled up her sleeping bag. ‘Gabe. Get up.’
Gabriel rolled onto his side, away from her. Nadia released a sigh as she finished packing her bag; of course, he was going to be the one to drag his feet. Nadia rose, careful not to trip on her unlaced boots as she kicked him hard in the ribs.
‘Get up. We need to leave,’ Nadia said in haste.
Gabriel groaned as he pulled the sleeping bag further over his head, ‘Tell Dad I’m busy.’
‘Gabriel Marcus Robert Hayter. If you don’t get up right now, I’ll toss you off the roof myself,’ Nadia said with her hands on her hips.
Gabriel rolled back over to face her, opening a single green eye. Dark stubble had already grown along most of his square jaw. He looked older than sixteen, and he wouldn’t shave until their mother made him.
‘On no, she’s using middle names,’ he said mockingly. ‘Now I know you’re being serious.’
Nadia cocked an eyebrow; she was expected to coordinate them, and it was too early in the day to tolerate his nonsense. She grabbed tightly onto the foot of his sleeping bag and heaved as she stood up.
‘Hey, what the—’
Gabriel tumbled out as she tugged it from under him. He glared at her as he sat up, and Nadia threw the sleeping bag on his head in response.
‘If you keep stalling, I’ll make sure Mum gives your breakfast to Joy,’ Nadia said as she kneeled to lace her boots.
‘Someone’s pissy today,’ Gabriel muttered as he picked up his holster.
‘We could always feed him to Joy,’ Elijah squeaked as he jammed the rest of his belongings into his bag in an unorganised mess.
‘Yeah, but she might choke on his thick head,’ Dante said with a smirk.
Nadia put herself between them before one of them threw something, ‘Enough. We’re wasting time.’
She slung her bag over her shoulder and tied her hair back into a messy ponytail; she could worry about brushing it later. Nadia jogged to the window, gazing down at the surrounding buildings; they had already wasted a minute organising themselves. They needed to take the direct path, but numerous buildings blocked the route.
Nadia twisted around to find Dante rolling up Elijah’s sleeping bag as he dressed hastily. She couldn’t hold it against him that he was slower; he was several years their junior, barely entering his teens. Gabriel, on the other hand, she could, especially as he wasn’t even a year and a half younger than her and only eleven months older than Dante.
Gabriel was the last one on his feet, ready to move. Nadia didn’t give him a chance to let out some witty remark.
‘Let’s move,’ Nadia instructed as she passed them, heading towards the doorway.
‘Where are we going?’ Dante asked as he trailed behind her.
‘Dad’s at a motel, roughly three blocks away,’ Nadia didn’t slow as she rushed towards the stairwell, heading towards the stairs leading to the roof.
‘How long do we have?’ Dante said.
‘Not long enough.’
Nadia picked up speed as she leapt up the stairs to the top floor, ramming the door as hard as she could with her left shoulder. The hinges cracked and popped off the wall, the wood splintering as the lock broke and the door flew onto the ground. Nadia didn’t have to look behind to know that her brothers were on her heels. Her father had run them through enough drills for them to automatically fall into formation. Nadia ran towards the west edge and pushed off with her left foot. She landed on the railing with her right and propelled herself forward. Thankfully the street wasn’t too wide; Nadia cleared it with ease and landed on her hands and knees on the shop roof on the opposite side. She looked over her shoulder as Dante landed beside her; if she could clear the distance, then he and Gabriel would have no problem. It was Elijah she had to worry about.
Elijah landed right on the edge, waving his arms around as he toppled backwards, but Gabriel was at his side in an instant. He grabbed Elijah’s bag and gently shoved him away from the edge. Nadia turned back to the motel; their father would be watching their every move from a distance.
Nadia sprinted across the roof and leapt over the back alley to the shop behind it; if they had any hope of reaching the motel on time, they would have to take the high road. She sucked in a deep breath as she reached the front of the shop and jumped, landing briefly on the top of a rusted car, the pillars crunching as she leapt off and onto the next roof.
Gabriel was at her side as she checked again over her shoulder, clearing the street in a single jump. Dante almost made it with a single leap; he grabbed onto the drain and pulled himself over the side in one fluid motion. Elijah followed Nadia’s route, bounding off the car, the roof caving in under the force, but he closed the distance.
With Elijah’s feet firmly on the roof, Nadia regained the lead, racing across the rooftops until they reached the next street. If they jumped onto the house across the road, the tiles would break on impact, and one of them would fall. They would have to cut through the yards. Nadia covered as much distance as possible with a single jump, landing in the overgrown garden. The grass was well past her knees, and some of the weeds reached head height. If there were paths, they were hidden in the undergrowth. Plants snagged on her clothes as she made her way around the brick house; the gate had fallen to the ground, the corroded metal crunching under her boots. She made a beeline to the back fence, clearing it with ease straight into the next yard. She ignored the horrendous smell coming from the half-full swimming pool, a thick layer of algae floating atop the deep green water.
Nadia gasped for breath as she reached the side of the motel, looking up at the five-story building; they had already wasted enough time.
‘Which way?’ Dante asked as he took her side.
There was no telling what they would find inside; the place could be a maze, the floor could have caved in, old furniture could be piled up, blocking their path.
‘Straight up the side,’ Nadia replied.
Nadia backed up to get a running jump, leaping as high as she could and latched onto the stone window ledge. She dug her feet in and launched herself up, grabbing the ledge above her. Gabriel climbed to her left, passing her with ease, Dante right behind him. Nadia waited for Elijah to catch up before moving to the next window, carrying most of her weight in her fingers. The ledges didn’t allow her to get a firm grip, but all they had to do was climb to the roof.
Dante and Gabriel quickly moved ahead, disappearing over the rooftop, but Nadia stayed behind, waiting for Elijah. Dante leaned over the edge offering his hands out.
Nadia hopped to the next ledge and turned back to Elijah, ‘Come on.’
Elijah hesitated, the fall wouldn’t leave any of them with lasting injuries, but at such a height, it would still hurt. Nadia remained patient as he took in a deep breath and jumped. She grabbed his arm with her right hand and flung him upwards with all her strength. Elijah catapulted towards the roof and snatched Dante’s hand.
‘I got you,’ Dante said as he dragged Elijah over the side of the roof.
With as much force as she could, Nadia bent her knees and leapt. Gabriel leaned over the side of the building, Nadia seizing his hand, hanging suspended in the air. Gabriel lifted her over the side onto the roof. Nadia sighed as she turned to find their father looking unimpressed. While Nadia had heard countless comments about how they all resembled Luke, Gabriel was almost his little clone. Little was a poor choice of words, as he had grown taller than Luke in the last year. Not that her father was a short man; he was a bit over six foot, and despite being in his mid-forties, he still retained the physique of a trained soldier. Given their lifestyle, there was no reason why either of their parents would have started to gain weight.
Gabriel gave him a smug smile as he leaned back beside Nadia, ‘Kept you waiting, huh?’
Luke folded his arms across his chest, ‘You’re a minute late.’
‘Gabe did it,’ Elijah blurted out.
‘You have to sleep sometime, Squirt,’ Gabriel muttered, so low Luke wouldn’t have been able to hear.
Luke stopped directly before them, ‘If it had been the Republic or the machines, they could have levelled that building before you managed to escape.’
Dante looked downcast, ‘Sorry, Dad.’
Gabriel shrugged, ‘Easy solution; next time, we won’t come south of the border.’
‘Yeah, next time we can go up north and find some cannibals to feed Gabriel to,’ Elijah said mirthfully.
‘I’m being serious. You know how dangerous it is south of the lakes,’ Luke paused and gestured to the staircase. ‘Mum’s already got the trucks ready to go, and she has breakfast for you all. I’m not sure if you all deserve it.’
Gabriel elbowed Dante in the ribs, ‘I’ll race you.’
‘What do we win?’ Dante asked.
‘Half of the loser’s breakfast?’ Gabriel said.
Dante grinned and was over the side of the building in a split second, leaving Gabriel standing there in shock.
‘That little shit,’ Gabriel muttered.
‘Watch your mouth,’ Luke scolded as Gabriel followed Dante over the side.
Elijah went to climb over the edge, but Luke grabbed his bag and drew him back, ‘You’ll go down the stairs.’
‘But Dad,’ Elijah pleaded.
‘No,’ Luke said and gestured to the door. ‘And don’t run ahead either.’
Elijah slumped as he sluggishly made his way to the stairs, mumbling about how unfair it was under his breath. Nadia stood there, disheartened; she didn’t expect them to be on time, but a whole minute? She should have done better.
Luke glanced down at her, a smile across his bearded face, the grey strands contrasting with his black hair, ‘Don’t beat yourself up, Sweetie. I know it’s hard when Elijah can’t keep up yet.’
‘But you’re right. If we get attacked, we could be….’ Nadia let her words hang; it wasn’t the first time they had failed one of their father’s tests and the older they got, the more difficult he made them.
‘You stick together and remember your training,’ Luke put his arm around her shoulders and led her towards the doorway. ‘And it won’t be long before Elijah can keep up. Give it a year or two, and he’ll be your height.’
It hadn’t felt so long ago that Nadia had been the tallest and fastest out of them, but Gabriel had grown like a string bean, and Dante hadn’t been too far behind; he still had a bit more time to grow.
‘We’ll head back to Haven soon, and it’s been a while since we’ve had any raids in the south,’ Luke said.
Nadia’s brow furrowed, ‘I heard you telling Mum about trouble with gangs before we left.’
‘You kids and your damn hearing. There have been sightings closer to Detroit, but from what I’ve heard, none of them has crossed into Ontario yet. We’ll be fine if we head further east and go back through Quebec,’ Luke said.
Nadia paused as they reached the door, ‘So what do we do if they start heading north? If they’re already in Michigan, then it might not be long before they decide to poke around Toronto—’
‘I’ll worry about the intel; you worry about your brothers. If they get too close, we’ll deal with it like we always have. We’ve never seen the Republic send more than scouts that far east, so I doubt it’s anything to get worked up about,’ Luke gently nudged her towards the stairs. ‘Don’t even think about asking if you can come scouting. The last thing I need is your mother castrating me.’
Nadia gradually moved down the steps. It would have taken a fraction of the time if she had gone over the side of the building like her brothers, but it wasn’t an option for Luke. ‘She shouldn’t be worried about us; you’re the squishy one.’
Squishy wasn’t the best way to describe it, but it had been a light-hearted term Gabriel had started using when he was ten, and it had stuck. Regardless of the term they used, Nadia and her brothers were the odd ones out, and neither Luke nor Anne had given them an explanation for their abnormal abilities. What they had drilled into them was that nobody could discover the truth, no matter what.
‘Mum just wants to keep you safe, regardless of what you can do,’ Luke said.
‘Are you coming or not?’ Elijah’s voice echoed from the bottom of the stairwell.
‘Speaking of which, we better get going before she comes looking for us,’ Luke said.
Nadia followed him down the stairwell, if they took too long, nothing would be left for breakfast.
