The Zero Trilogy (Book 3): End of Day (8 page)

She didn’t like his answer. It was vague, and vagueness could kill them. This place was too open – too friendly. Leif opened the front door to the lodge. Inside, there was a huge lobby and a crackling fireplace. There were people sitting on every couch, every spare area of floor. It smelled of burning wood and coffee.

Leif closed the door, and the great mastiffs were locked outside.

“You know where it is,” Leif said. “But I wanted to warn you…” he lowered his voice, leaning forward, saying something quietly into Cheng’s ear.

Cheng nodded again.

“I will see you soon, I’m sure.” Leif tipped his head. “Nice meeting you, Elle. Bravo.”

He left the lodge.

“Oh, nice. He didn’t even say goodbye to
me
,” Luli complained.

“It’s nothing personal,” Cheng replied. “Leif is a good guy. We go back a long way.”

The lodge was obviously a shelter for civilians. Not unlike the Civilian Ward at Bear Mountain. But this was different. This was
unorganized. Everyone was armed. There were stores and animals. It seemed okay. For now.

Elle kept her hand on Bravo’s collar. It was comforting. As long as he didn’t sense any real threats, they were safe.

“I’ll show you to our room, ladies,” Cheng said, mock-bowing, sweeping his hand through the air. “Follow me.”

Elle and Luli followed Cheng through the lobby and up a flight of wide, wooden steps that creaked with their weight. Elle and Bravo were the last ones up the stairs, stopping on the second floor. Cheng walked to the end of a long, carpeted hallway, pausing at the last door on the left. He slid a key into the hole, turned the knob, and pushed the door open. The room was small, with two beds and a dresser. Elle walked through the room, pulling open the dusty curtains, shedding light into the space. It was woodsy and cloistered, but it was nicer than sleeping outside.

Elle leaned against the windowsill and peered outside, over the trails and trees, watching the busy strip of Falcon Point.

“This is the nicest black market I’ve ever seen,” Elle muttered.

“Oh, have you seen many?” Cheng sat on the edge of the bed, grinning.

“You know what I mean.”

“I know.” He laughed. “Yes, Falcon Point is more of an escape from Omega than anything else. We certainly have our share of unsavory individuals here, but still – we all have one thing in common. We hate Omega, and we work together to stay off their radar.”

Luli sat on the second bed and sighed.

“Now what?” she said.

“We rest,” Cheng replied. “We’ll need our strength.”

“How long are we going to stay here?” Luli asked.

“As long as we need to.” Cheng shrugged. “Falcon Point has always provided me with shelter and security when I’ve been here before.”

“And why have you been here before?” Elle demanded. “What are you not telling us?”

Elle couldn’t explain why, but she got the sudden, desperate urge to choke the truth out of
him. He was keeping secrets. Secrets had the power to kill or save – she knew that. It angered her.

A heavy, awkward silence fell over the room.

Cheng slowly stood up, looking down on Elle, his expression serious.

“You don’t want to know about me,” he said at last. “I’m nothing to brag about.”

He absently touched the handles of the two swords strapped to his back. He looked out the window, and Elle knew that she would get nothing out of him.

“Come on, Bravo,” she said.

Bravo snapped to attention. She walked through the room and threw open the door. “Where are you going?” Luli said, annoyed.

“Out,” Elle answered.

Cheng made no move to stop her as she left the room with Bravo.

She didn’t want him to.

Chapter Five

Elle stared at the open door of the Trading Post. People flowed in and out of the entrance, hauling goods. She could smell the food from within the building. It was rich and enticing.

Let’s go inside!
Bravo jumped up and wagged his tail.
Come on!

Elle swallowed a nervous lump in her throat.

“Okay,” she whispered. “Let’s do it.”

She walked over the threshold and took a deep breath. The interior of the building was simple. Four walls, shelves and piles of goods. There were boxes of jeans and button-up shirts, crates of boots and tennis shoes. There were shelves of canned goods and cabinets filled to the bursting point with first-aid supplies like bandages, gauze and rubbing alcohol. People stood in a long line, their arms full of items to trade with. Some of them gave Elle and Bravo
long, suspicious glares as they walked by, but most were too preoccupied with the task of bartering to notice their presence.

Elle ran her hand over the jeans, feeling the rough, new material on her calloused fingers. It would be so nice to have new clothes! The militia at Bear Mountain had provided her with boots, but new pants and a heavier jacket would be great. Sadly, she didn’t have anything to trade with so she just admired the goods from a distance.

“What do you want?” Cheng asked.

Startled, Elle met his twinkling gaze. He was standing beside her, seemingly having appeared out of nowhere.

It was becoming a habit with him.

“I thought you were resting with Luli,” she snorted.

“Resting with Luli is an oxymoron,” Cheng replied. “Now please. What is it you’d like in this store?”

“New clothes,” Elle said. “But I don’t have anything to trade with.”

“You do now.”

Cheng raised his hand, waving to the clerk behind the counter. He was a tall, portly man with thinning hair and a thickset, sweaty face.

“Cheng,” the man said, breathing hard. “You’re back.”

“Indeed I am. I’m here to cash in on that favor you owe me.” Cheng winked. “My friend here needs supplies.”

The clerk nodded slowly.

“Yes, of course, Cheng.” He looked back toward the line of people, impatiently waiting for him to return. “Anything you like, anything at all.” He paused. “Are you back to stay, Cheng?”

Cheng put his arm around the clerk’s shoulders.

“Now, Mr. Halverson,” he said gaily. “What fun would my visits be if you knew everything about them? Surprises are good for you– they keep you young.” He patted him on the back. “Go on, back to work. Your customers are waiting. Thank you for your generosity.”

The clerk nodded feverishly and returned to the counter.

“The store is yours, fair lady,” Cheng said, bowing his head.

Elle raised an eyebrow.

“He seemed overjoyed to see you,” she stated, deadpan.

“He was. He loves me like his own son.” Cheng picked up a pair of jeans and tossed them to Elle. “Pick out what you need, little ninja.”

Elle sighed. She wanted to ask him what favor Cheng was cashing in with the store clerk. “Why are you helping me?” Elle asked.

Cheng didn’t reply.

“Here, this would look remarkable with your hair, don’t you think?” Cheng laughed uproariously at his own comment and tossed a black flannel shirt into Elle’s arms. Elle and Bravo trailed behind Cheng as he strolled through the store, grabbing items and piling them on Elle’s clothes.

They were nearing the door when something caught Elle’s eye.

“Wait,” she said.

She shoved the supplies into Cheng’s arms. She walked to the corner of the store and
picked up a crisp leather collar that had been shoved aside. She slipped it inside her jacket pocket, smiling slightly.

“Okay,” she told him. “Let’s go.”

They left the Trading Post with countless items, hauling the supplies back to the lodge and into their room. When they walked inside, Luli was gone.

“She probably went to get some fresh air,” Cheng said.

But he didn’t seem so sure.

Cheng dropped the stuff on the bed. There was a pair of new jeans, two thick shirts, wool socks, underwear, a green knit cap, leather gloves and a brand new backpack. Elle pulled some clothes from the pile and went into the bathroom. There was light from a window above the small toilet. She pulled her old clothes off and dressed in the new ones, feeling crisp, clean and warm. The socks felt incredible against her sore, blistered and calloused feet. She picked up a hairbrush sitting on the counter and tried to comb her short hair, but it did nothing to make it look neater. It was still short and boyish.

But practical, right, Elle?

She swallowed and left the bathroom, walking into the room again. Bravo was lying on the floor, his head between his front paws, sleeping softly. Elle quietly transferred the items from her old backpack into the new, waterproof one. She had picked up medical supplies at the trading post. Things like sterile sutures, antibiotics, bandage wraps, water-purifying tablets, pain relief ointments and heat patches all found their way into her pack. She stuffed it with beef jerky and sealed packages of high-calorie crackers and protein bars, three canteens of water and a pair of aviator sunglasses that she had found long ago in the desert.

“You’re very prepared,” Cheng commented.

He was sitting cross-legged on the floor, his eyes closed.

Elle zipped her pack shut. She pressed her lips together.

Then, “Thank you. For the supplies. I don’t know how you managed it, but thanks anyway.”

Cheng slowly opened his eyes.

“You’re welcome.” He looked pleased. “Come sit with me, Elle.”

Elle hesitated, but she sat down slowly, crossing her legs. They were only two feet apart. She closed her eyes, took a breath. All she saw in the darkness of her mind was the tragic horrors of the Bear Mountain Civilian Ward, and the bodies of the dead families.

“Do you get the flashbacks, too?” Elle asked, opening her eyes. “Of the bad stuff?”

“If you could just learn to retrain your brain,” Cheng murmured, “you could go from great to unstoppable.”

“Who says I’m not already unstoppable?” Elle retorted, defensive.

Cheng chuckled, leaning forward, his breath hot against her cheek.

“I suppose you have a point there, little ninja.”

They stared at each other for a long moment, suspended in time. Cheng leaned forward and pressed his lips against Elle’s. Elle’s heart stopped beating. She felt numb. His mouth was soft and warm. She closed her eyes for a
moment, and then the kiss was over, and Cheng was on his feet, headed for the door.

Elle was frozen. But only for a second.

She sprang up and charged after him, flushed and furious.

“Where do you think you’re going?” she demanded, darting in front of him, blocking the door. “You can’t just kiss me and run. Coward.”

Cheng looked shocked.

“Coward?” He knit his brow. “Far from it, Elle.”

“Then why are you running?” she said.

For the first time since she had known him, Cheng seemed to be at a loss for words. Elle’s heart pounded against her ribcage. She was terrified, but exhilarated. Cheng’s fine, handsome features looked strained. His eyes were a stormy swirl of blue and gray. Elle’s initial instinct was to retreat and run – fight or flight! But she stood there, meeting his gaze, determined to be the one who would not run. Not this time.

Cheng slipped his hand behind Elle’s neck and pulled her closer, into a real kiss. A long one, a good one. Elle wrapped her hands over his
broad shoulders and he held her to him, warm and strong.

Bravo barked.

Elle jerked away, scared, and the doorknob rattled. Elle hurried to the other side of the room, face burning, and looked out the window. The door opened, and Luli walked inside. She was carrying an apple, tossing it up and down in her hand. Cheng stood there, still, spaced out.

“Traded my beef jerky for this apple,” Luli said. “Where have you been? I looked all over.”

Elle sat next to Bravo and absently scratched behind his ears, noting that her hands were trembling. She didn’t like that. It was stupid.

“Bartering,” Cheng said.

His voice was smooth and his expression was neutral. He was suddenly back to normal. “There are clothes and supplies here on the bed. Take what you need.”

Luli chomped on her apple, shooting a suspicious glance at Elle.

“Did you go shopping together?” she asked. “Because that’s so adorable I think I’ll puke.”

Luli rifled through the clothes. Cheng sat on the edge of the bed, watching Elle stroke Bravo’s fur. She deliberately refused to meet his gaze. It would give her away. She stood up and Bravo followed. She walked to the door.

“Where are you going
now
?” Luli said.

Elle replied, “I’ll be back later.”

She slipped into the hallway with Bravo, moving as fast she could. She had to get away from Cheng. Bravo was the only one she could trust – not Cheng. What was wrong with her? Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Elle walked out of the lodge, into the forest, away from the confusion.

She didn’t trust herself with this one.

When Elle had been growing up, her mother had warned her to stay away from boys. Love, her mother had told her, was a trap and a cruel lie. It didn’t exist. All that existed was
physical attraction. Beyond that, there was nothing.

Elle had always wondered if that meant her mother didn’t love her own children. She had spent many hours thinking about this subject, whiling away long, lonely days in Santa Monica, foraging for food. She’d been a loner then, and she believed what her mother said.

That love is a lie
.

Love is a lie
.

Love is a lie
.

Bravo nudged her hand with his damp nose. His deep, knowing eyes sparkled at her in the waning daylight.

Love wasn’t a lie. It couldn’t be.

Not completely, anyway.

She kissed the top of Bravo’s head.

“What am I doing, boy?” she muttered.

He laid his head across her knees. She looked across Falcon Point, perched on a rock hidden behind the trees. The steady rhythm of his breathing was a comfort to her. She was ashamed of herself for kissing Cheng. She was strong and independent, and having feelings for
him would make her weak. It would cloud her judgment. Cheng held secrets. Secrets could be lethal.

No. Elle would have to be smarter than him.