Smolder by Abigail Livinghouse (best young adult book series TXT) 📕

 "I'm fine though, and everyone else is fine too. We're safe here in this place for the time being. I doubt we'll run into another herd like that for awhile. You have nothing to worry about." I approached reassuringly, but Trenton just shook his head again.

 "I don't think you understand. I have such high hopes for these people, I believe we can accomplish something even in this dark world we live in. I'm not giving up, and this whole fight has brought down so many of their spirits. I really have began to worry." He confessed, and I could see the creases of exhaustion and anxiety marring his young face. I wasn't sure how I could help him, or even if he would go for anything that I offered. But it was worth a shot.

 "Why don't you let me take your position as guard for the night? You get some rest." I suggested, my hopes a bit higher. I was much better at watchdog than lying in the dirt and waiting for something to sink its teeth into me. Plus, I had my flames. Even though they probably wouldn't come in handy too much with other people from the group guarding the perimeter with me, but still it was nice to know they were there and they were always a last ditch effort if it came to that.

 Trenton looked at me, shock and a bit of horror on his face. "I couldn't possibly ask you to do that. Besides, you're a . . ." He trailed off, seeming to bite his tongue at the last minute but I smirked, knowing exactly what he was about to say.

 "We're not cavemen Trenton, and I am well aware of my gender. Just because I dated a woman doesn't mean I don't know my basic human anatomy." I quipped sarcastically, not really hurt but enjoying his discomfort all the more when a blush colored his fair skin.

 "I know, it's just that the girls usually leave it up to us to take care of all the hard stuff and make sure they're safe. Them and the children. That's always how it's been done around here, that's always how Isabella's had it anyway. Or at least, she never objected to it." I could tell that Trenton was at a loss as he shifted uncomfortably. I shrugged.

 "Isabella is a woman and she's the leader of the whole group." I pointed out. He nodded.

 "Yes." I could almost hear the words before they came out of his mouth. Yes, but only because her husband had died and she was appointed by default.

 Oh, what an old fashioned group I was in. With the leader a completely biased woman and the co-leader a completely sexist guy. What had I gotten myself into?

  "Look it's getting late, either you go upstairs and sleep so that I can go downstairs and stand watch. Or the other way around. Your choice." I said finally, about ready to turn around when I saw his shoulders droop in defeat.

 "Alright. I'm not going to deny you what you are rightfully allowed." Trenton said a bit hesitantly. I allowed myself a small smile of victory.

"Except if Isabella comes after you because you broke one of her rules, then I cannot be held accountable." He added in his own defense, and I nodded. I wasn't too worried about the leader going after me, after all (and I knew this was a complete misuse of their gratitude) I had just saved the whole group. She owed me something that I could do of my own free will.

  "Thank you." I said genuinely, and I turned around to leave when he suddenly spoke again.

  "In a world consumed by darkness, this group is the last surviving light." Trenton's murmured words seemed a bit ominous as they sunk in, and I felt goose-bumps rise on my arms.

  "I believe you're right." I whispered in almost reluctant agreement.

  "You know Siren, you're very bright for someone living in the dark." He said as almost an afterthought. For some reason I took offense to his words, and stepped away from the window.

 "I'm not the only one." I retorted, and descended the semi-stable stairs to the outside.

*             *             *

 Turns out two other boys were outside standing watch along with me, Luke and Manuel. There had been another kid about ready to pass out, so I sent him in to take his place. They were surprised to see a girl there to help out, but didn't question it, probably assuming it was something Isabella had ordered.

 "I'm Manuel, or Manny." The tall one said, with smooth hispanic skin and sweet brown eyes. His brown hair to match was cut short and seemed well groomed even in these conditions. I smiled.

  "Siren." I introduced myself, and they both nodded.

  "We know who you are, I'm Luke by the way." The other one who was the polar opposite of Manny provided. Luke was a few inches shorter than him, with ivory skin and dark green eyes. His hair was a very light blonde and was about to his chin. With how quick and jerky his movements were, he reminded me somewhat of an elf. I smiled at Luke, more at my own personal joke than his introduction.

 "Nice to meet you guys. So where do I stand watch?" I asked expectantly, feeling my knife nestled in my pocket and my gun ready in its holster.

While the group was settling down Billy had pulled me aside and taught me properly how to shoot. He said I had done a good job with the herd, but I was lucky that a chunk hadn't been taken out of me. So, it was best that I learn the right way to do it. He had provided me with the right holster and showed me how to secure it in place so that way it wouldn't fall or go off on its own. When we were finished, I was now fully equipped to fight a Half Dead the right way.

 Luke looked around the perimeter. It was a very small establishment, but with a large parking lot surrounding it. It would be easy to spot a threat if it came shuffling towards you, but it was also easy to be cornered in such a big open space like this.

 "I'm at the front door and Manny's at the back. Dylan had been at the side entrance, so you can take that." He instructed with an encouraging smile at the end. I returned it and nodded.

 "Okay, thanks." I went off in the direction that Manny pointed me in and soon found myself alone, standing in front of two double doors that seemed welded shut. Even if there wasn't a guard here, I doubted anything would get beyond the two steel barriers. No matter, I leaned against them and looked out, at the ready.

 This had once been a bustling interstate. I could barely remember it, but a faint image of being driven to the hospital after falling off my bike came to the surface. I was maybe five or six at the time, and my parents had trusted me enough to let me go riding in the park across the street from our house. They told me to stay in the grassy area, but of course as a curious and quite stupid child I wandered into the basketball courts and ended up on my ass, and the bike on my arm.

 I shook my head, the memory ending with being scooped up and shoved into some sort of car with flashing colorful lights, and loud sounds flooding the interior and exterior as I was rushed to the emergency room.

 Well that was odd. I barely ever thought about my childhood at all, but the sight of these cracking roads and abandoned stores surrounding me seemed to bring back some stuff. I wondered idly if I liked remembering bits and pieces or not.

  I stood for approximately an hour or so, according to Trenton's watch which I still needed to return to him. The sun was beginning to peak over the horizon, and I shut my eyes, feeling the warm of its first morning rays on my skin. When I opened my eyes, I did not see the sun anymore. I saw a wall. A gray wall in front of me. I threw my head up, seeing a single bulb hanging from the ceiling and illuminating the center of the room where I was standing. As I looked to my side, there was another gray wall. Then another to my left with a door in the middle of it. I turned around to see behind me, but was abruptly stopped by a sharp pain in my wrists and ankles. I looked down and saw that I was no longer standing but sitting down in a straight backed chair, and I had been tied to it with wire.

 I gasped as I struggled against my restraints, the metal biting into my skin. My flames roared to attention at the pain, and I began to sweat.

 "Ah, ah, ah." A male voice chided from somewhere in the room and I froze, my flames heating up my whole body.

 "Not yet. Soon, very soon you may release your blaze. But not yet." He repeated in a cool, collected voice.

 I gritted my teeth, the pain in my ankles and wrists and the build up of fire inside of me creating a very uncomfortable combination.

  "Who are you and why the hell am I here?" I shouted angrily at the invisible person. A ghostly chuckle followed.

 "My my, you seem to have a bit of an attitude don't you?" Suddenly, a blinding stab of agony shot from my head all the way down to my fingertips. It filled out my whole body, and was hotter than the flames brewing inside of me. I let out a strangled scream.

  "We're just going to have to fix that won't we?" Pale hands clamped down on my scalding arms, and a body came into focus. A tall, slender man wearing a black suit. His face was still sheathed in darkness, but his voice was loud and clear.

 "I do look forward to seeing you in person Miss Nobel, but until then." One of those pale hands wrapped around my eyes, and I let out another scream of terror and shock at his cold skin on mine.

 "We'll meet again soon. Very soon." He purred out of the darkness, and then it was over.

With a gasp I brought my head up and went to stand, slamming my scalp into one of the handles to the doors behind me. I groaned in frustration at myself and the dull throbbing, reaching back with my hand and then sighing in relief that there was no blood. The last thing we needed was for my blood to attract any Half Deads.

Straightening up, I saw that the sky was still dully glowing with the