th the smell of fear and unwashed bodies. We h

ould hear them

se and cruel. The smas

g Red Rock apart

us," a young woman sobb

ly steady, though I could see her hands trembling i

That flimsy door wouldn't ho

nd it. They alway

seless this deep. "Still no signal. He turned off his radio anyway after I tried

. He'd deliberate

Chloe added, her voice barely audible. "Especially

rly loyal to Mike. If Mike told him the sky was gre

ear the mine entran

close," I

fied ranch, a good twenty-minute ride on a dirt bike, if you knew th

eone ha

e way to the Miller ranch. I can get there

les hidden in a small shed near the

searching mine in the gloom.

But... your

nough, or who they'd listen to quickly," I said.

"I'm small, I'm fast. And... and maybe if they see i

ckering light in the oppress

ly. "He thinks you're with me on this

ed her shoulders. "Then I'll go to th

ld be watched. Bu

was gone, slipping through a narrow ventilation shaft I hadn't

utside, every distant shout,

ed to pass. Mayb

sound from the

ered in dust and grime, he

uldn't come back

Martha demanded, grabbin

t. I told Mike the Vultures were here, that they were in town. He... he said I was lying.

to... to make sure I came straight back here and didn't bother the

of despair wa

ground shook. Dust rained

losives on the town