Salvage Station 23

Chapter 3, Part 10

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The bus rumbled to a slow crawl as the headlights grew brighter, revealing a barricade set up in the middle of the road. Olivia’s heart sank. It was a clear sign: raiders were waiting for them. She moved beside Liam, her voice low and tense.

“Slow down, but don’t stop. We need to see how many there are.”

Liam nodded, his hands white-knuckled as he eased off the gas. The engine sputtered as the bus coasted forward, but something in the air made Olivia’s skin crawl. She glanced back at the group, all now wide awake, hands gripping their weapons. Rosie stood, her stance firm, the katana held loosely but ready.

The bus shuddered over the uneven road, and then, without warning, there was a sudden *pop*—a sharp, metallic crack that reverberated through the cabin. The bus lurched violently to the side as one of the tires exploded. Liam struggled to keep control, but it was too late.

“We’ve hit something!” he shouted, trying to wrestle the wheel back into place as the bus skidded. It veered sharply, grinding to a halt with a groan of protesting metal and hissing air. The entire vehicle tilted to one side, leaving them stranded.

“Shit!” Olivia cursed, bracing herself against the seat as the bus came to a stop. “Everyone get ready!”

Aiden was already on his feet, his spear in hand, while David checked his Glock, eyes narrowing as he looked toward the windows. Max scrambled to his feet, wincing slightly from his earlier injury, but his face was set in determination. Zoe and Eli exchanged a quick glance, their grips tightening on their knives.

Outside, the headlights from the other vehicles flickered ominously. The raiders were waiting, watching, their shadows barely visible beyond the blinding beams of light. The sound of footsteps crunching against the dirt reached their ears, echoing like a death knell in the quiet night.

“They’re coming,” Mia whispered, fear creeping into her voice.

“They cut the tires,” Aiden growled, his eyes dark with anger. “They knew we’d come this way.”

Olivia’s mind raced, quickly piecing the situation together. It was a deliberate trap—blocking the road, forcing them to stop, then crippling the bus to make sure they couldn’t get away. Raiders were notorious for this kind of ambush, lying in wait for survivors trying to move through the wastelands.

Rosie stepped forward, her grip on her katana firm. “They’ll rush us in a second. They’ll try to overwhelm us.”

“Then we don’t let them,” Olivia snapped, her voice filled with conviction. “We’ll hold them off. Eli, Zoe, stay by the windows. Max, Aiden, with me at the front. Mia, stick close to David and cover the back.”

Liam swallowed hard, glancing at his older brother, waiting for direction. Aiden gave him a curt nod, motioning toward the middle of the bus. “Stay low, and if it gets too close, use the spear. But don’t panic.”

As they all moved into position, Olivia grabbed her bat, its barbed wire gleaming under the dim light. She crouched low, peering through the window as the shadows outside started to shift.

The raiders were moving closer now, their figures emerging from the darkness. They were a ragtag group, covered in mismatched armor and carrying crude weapons—machetes, bats, and makeshift spears. Their faces were hidden beneath masks made of animal bones and torn fabric, giving them a feral, monstrous appearance.

One of the raiders, the leader judging by his confident stance, strode ahead of the others. He was tall, muscular, with a rusted axe slung over his shoulder and a shotgun strapped across his back. His eyes gleamed with malicious intent, and when he spotted Olivia’s glare through the window, he sneered.

“Looks like we’ve got ourselves a prize,” he called out, his voice rough and gravelly. “Come on out, nice and easy, and maybe we’ll let you live.”

Olivia’s grip on her bat tightened. “Not a chance.”

The leader barked out a harsh laugh, his followers closing in around her like vultures circling a wounded animal. “Fine by me. We’ll take everything you’ve got and leave you for the Jacks.”

Max shifted beside her, his eyes narrowing at the mention of the Jacks. He raised his spear, his knuckles white as he prepared for the inevitable assault. “We’re not giving them anything.”

A sudden flurry of motion broke through the tension as one of the raiders bolted forward, aiming to smash through the bus’s front window. Olivia reacted instantly, swinging her bat with deadly precision. The barbed wire ripped through the air and collided with the raider’s head, sending him sprawling to the ground, blood spraying from the impact.

The others barely had time to react before the rest of the group surged forward. Olivia and Max held the front, their spears and bat making short, brutal work of anyone who got too close.

Rosie moved like a shadow at the side door, her katana flashing in the dim light as she parried blows and struck down any raider who dared challenge her. Her movements were fluid and calculated, each strike purposeful, each swing deadly. She cut through the raiders like a blade through water, her expression calm and focused.

Eli and Zoe stayed near the windows, thrusting their knives through the cracked glass to keep anyone from climbing onto the bus. They moved in sync, quick and efficient, their teamwork honed by countless battles.

Aiden fired a warning shot from his Glock into the air, making the remaining raiders hesitate. “Back off!” he shouted, his voice booming over the chaos. “Last chance.”

But the leader wasn’t backing down. He swung his axe in a wide arc, knocking Olivia’s bat aside as she tried to block him. She stumbled, but before the raider could capitalize on the moment, Rosie was there, her katana slicing through the air and forcing him to retreat.

The fight had only just begun, and already blood stained the ground beneath their feet. The bus was their last line of defense, and they had no intention of letting it fall.

Olivia glanced toward Rosie, nodding in silent approval as they readied themselves for the next wave.

~~~