CHAPTER SEVEN

Astrid yawned as she opened her eyes. Learies had placed her in a nice room and the morning sun was pouring through the double windows. She was surprised that her first reaction was to look for Ryan lying nearby. She was even more surprised by her disappointment when seeing he wasn't there. She'd grown so used to his quiet, comforting presence. She rolled over and stared at the sheer curtains.

The night before Learies had set her up with a good meal, a warm bath and some clean underclothes. Astrid tried to trade for them but Learies would hear nothing of it. Astrid had filled her in on life with the Chosen, her escape and finding Ryan.

"What about you?" She changed the subject. "Did Tesh make it?"

Learies shook her head as she tried to hide the sorrow just under the surface.

"They told me they would do what they could if I cooperated. Then they took him away and used this place as a way to trap rebels, strays." She scraped at some dried food stuck on the table top. "I did whatever they told me to. I just wanted him back. There were all kinds of rumors and stories about what they did to people who resisted them. I ignored it mostly and did what I do best. Survive."

Astrid smirked a little at the familiar comment.

"Anyways," Learies shrugged. "I finally got word about Tesh. The Chosen Lieutenant, Luke I think his name was, he was kind enough to tell me the truth." She sighed. "He died a day or two after they came here. They did try to help him but he just... the wound was too severe."

"I'm sorry," Astrid wasn't sure what else to say.

Learies just shrugged again. "You know how it is. It was prob'ly better that way. You know Tesh, he wasn't built to be a captive."

Finally prying herself from the comfortable bed, Astrid dressed and gathered her things. Downstairs Learies filled her up with a hearty breakfast of fried eggs and potatoes.

"Le," She started to protest. "You can't possibly spare this for me."

Learies waved her away with a smirk. "Think of it as a welcome home buffet."

Home. Astrid let the word float around in her head. The city had always been her home. But now she was beginning to feel it was time to permanently move on. Time to find another home. After eating Learies informed her that the trade markets were up and running again in sector nine. Astrid mostly had prescription drugs for trade and she didn't want to waste them on the street. She wanted to trade them with Learies for some credible street trades.

"Percoset?" Learies eyes went wide. "How in the hell did you find that? You were always good at finding this kinda stuff."

Astrid smirked. "You can't be afraid to search a dead body. How many times have I told you?"

"Yeah yeah. Why do you want to waste them here? These babies are worth a fortune on the street. Pain killers go for a great deal."

"If I try to trade these out there I'll be jumped within a block by some freak who thinks I'm rich. I'd rather trade them with someone I trust and take the regular stuff out there to trade."

"Well if you're gonna go through all that trouble why don't you just do your shopping here." Learies gestured to her goods. "I'm sure I've got everything you need."

"Come on Le. You know the rule: never shop in one place."

Learies rolled her eyes and took the pills. There was no arguing with Astrid when it came to survival on the streets. She was the expert having lived out there for nearly three years before the virus struck. Before the virus Astrid lived mostly with vagrants and druggies. She learned all the hustles and was involved with many deals. Those people were some of the first victims of the virus. Living in such close, scummy proximity and bad lifestyle choices such as sharing needles spread the disease fast.

Surrounded by death Astrid did what she did best. Survive. She raided the different apartments for the most valuable of trades: drugs. She kept secret stashes hidden all over the place, never carrying all she owned with her. Never knew when she might get robbed. Of course after the Chosen took over she couldn't count on those stashes to be where she left them. Yet, she still found rare items to trade. She was the perfect street rat.

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"Ugh!"

Ryan winced in pain as he stumbled along the path from the creek. He'd just finished taking a cold dip. If he wasn't careful he could fall and be stuck just as Astrid warned. He didn't want her to come back and find him sprawled out. She might think he'd ignored her. He certainly didn't want to upset her. Not with that terrible temper of hers. But it wasn't just the threat of another emotional explosion that he feared.

He was afraid of hurting her. There was something more to Astrid than she was letting on. Something soft and gentle. There was a kindness in her eyes which he caught sometimes when she looked at him. There was a sadness as well. He wondered what had happened to cause her to put up that protective wall. Though the virus itself was reason enough for anyone to put up a wall.

He made it to the porch and eased himself into the wicker chair. A cooler breeze was picking up and though he felt chilled in his wet clothes he didn't bother to go inside. The air felt good and he savored the goosebumps. To feel something other than damp earth on his skin. For a moment he thought of Astrid's gentle touch then immediately erased it from his mind. What was he doing thinking of her that way? He had a beautiful wife out there waiting for him.

Ryan sat reminiscing of better times when he and Salene were happy. Those wonderful lazy mornings when they would lie around in bed, neither wanting to leave the other's side and start the day. The way she used to smile at him and her laugh. God how he missed her laugh. If he could just hear Salene's laugh one more time. That and his baby's cry. He'd be the happiest man in the world.

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"I'll take the pants... and the sweat shirt too."

Astrid made her deal and stuffed the clothes in her sack. She'd done well for herself at the market, not only picking up supplies she and Ryan needed in the cabin but supplies for whatever might lie ahead. The market place was bustling and no one paid her much attention which was a good sign for the ex Chosen member. Everyone seemed more preoccupied with the posters being taped up everywhere.

She asked around and learned there was talk of an election for a new city leader. Even after the long history of tyrannical rulers, the city still wanted someone to be in charge. Astrid rolled her eyes. It seemed everyone would rather follow the leader than make a path for themselves. Sheep.

She was avoiding her next objective which was to find out the fate of the Mallrats. It wasn't that she didn't want Ryan's friends to know he was alive. But when she made it to the mall, she would have to find out about Salene and the baby. Once Ryan knew what was going on with his family, his next goal would be to get to them. And then he would leave. This was not something Astrid was looking forward to.

Could she help it if she had begun to like him? He made her feel safe. Made her feel warm inside. There was something in his very nature that calmed her spirit. With him it was as if life could be good again and all the crap that had happened before didn't matter. She felt new with him. When he smiled at her it was as though the little girl that no one ever loved no longer existed.

"Can you believe it?"

Astrid looked up at the boy who was now standing next to her. He too was staring at the election poster of Bray.

"What?" She was wary of his presence.

"Mallrats still trying to be on top. Don't he realize how many people want to skin him alive?"

"Why? He didn't kill anybody."

"No," The boy shook his colorful head. "But they won't give up the Guardian and that has the city peeved."

"The Mallrats have the Guardian?" Astrid was surprised. She was sure someone would have iced him by now.

The boy nodded. "Won't put him on trial 'cause he's crazy or something like that. Like we didn't know he was crazy. That whole sector is chaos with people storming the mall."

"It is?" Astrid had mixed feelings about this information. On one hand it gave her an excuse not to go to the mall. She being an ex-Chosen herself certainly couldn't show up there while people were demanding restitution for the Chosen crimes. It would only take one person to recognize her and they'd rip her limb from limb. On the other hand it meant getting back to the cabin with no news for Ryan.

"Yup."

"So the Mallrats are still in the mall?"

"With a name like that where else they gonna go?" The boy laughed.

Astrid smiled. "Sounds like you know a lot about them."

"I know enough." He looked at her. "You new to the city?"

"No, but I've been away for awhile. Maybe you could help me."

He gave her a once over and smirked. "Maybe. What you need little lady?"

She gave a flirtatious smile. "I'm looking for a friend. She was a Mallrat and she's pregnant. At least she was when I left. Name's Salene... red hair, pretty face. You hear anything about her or the baby?"

"Yeah, I heard of her." The boy looked thoughtful. "She ain't pregnant anymore though."

"Then she had it?"

He shook his head. "No. She had some kind of fall and lost it."

"Oh." Astrid's face fell. Poor Ryan. "How is she?"

He shrugged. "Heard she flipped out after that. Went crazier than the Guardian. Someone said she jumped off the roof. Haven't seen her since"

"Oh my God." The words came out in whispers.

The boy studied Astrid's crestfallen face and sighed. "Sorry I said it like that. Her being your friend and all."

Astrid sighed. "I asked." Slowly she turned and walked away.

"Anything else I can help you with?" He called after her retreating form.

She only shook her head numbly and kept going.