Reclamation (Best Laid Plans Book 4) (44 page)

It sure didn't seem like it. The soldiers who weren't occupied handling prisoners seemed to be amusing themselves by beating and taunting Derrick, the oldest man in her group, while he cowered on the ground and begged for mercy.

The only other mother in the group cried in protest as her seven year old daughter was torn from her grip and prodded away from the huddle of prisoners. The soldiers shouted at the confused girl and waved their hands in a shooing motion, until she finally seemed to realize what they wanted. She turned and bolted into the night, disappearing into the darkness beyond the lights.

A few others were pushed out of the group, people in their thirties or older and a boy in his early teens. Then the soldiers began herding Deb and everyone who remained towards the back of the nearest truck, which she saw was packed with even more filthy and frightened prisoners.

She tried to catch one last glimpse of the rest of her group as the blockheads made her scramble up into the crowded truck with the others, but all she saw was soldiers and snarling dogs. Everyone who came up into the truck was about her age, less than half of the group she'd been with. She didn't want to think about what would happen to the others.

Then again, she didn't want to think about what would happen to her.

The press of unwashed bodies was so tight that no one could sit, and the stink of it made her stomach heave. It was like the worst mosh pit ever. When the truck lurched into motion a few minutes later the packed mass of people barely shifted.

Deb slumped against the prisoners around her, who were all slumping as well. Not quite sitting or crouching, but all leaning against one another to take the weight off their legs. It wasn't very comfortable and she had trouble breathing, but there was literally no other choice.

To her surprise another emotion had joined her grief and despair. Relief. She was caught, and the enemy might have a terrible fate in store for her, but at least she didn't have to run anymore. Didn't have to hide, cower, spend sleepless days and nights evading pursuit. Events were out of her hands for the moment.

She could finally rest, at least until she found an opportunity to do something about her situation.

End of Book Four

The story continues in Determination,

Fifth and final book of the Best Laid Plans series.