Alliance (Sequel To Reliance)

Chapter 1

I stretch and feel for my knife in my pocket. It's tucked securely away in my holster. I look over to see Cordie huddled in the corner, still asleep.

It had only been two days since we had escaped from the soldiers. As a profist, I'm in danger. Cordie had told me that soldiers killed profists, proficient people who had much greater skills that they learned on their own without training. Senator Hainsworth was behind all of this, sending in new soldiers everyday to kill us off.

I had lost almost everything over the past couple of weeks; my ammuntion, my former allies, and my sense of what's going on in my life. All I had left was an ally and both my weapons. Although we're running low on food...

After Cordie is awake, I explain the situation. I suggest for me to go hunting for food.

"You can't, they'll be looking for you," Cordie pleads, "I'll go."

I peek outside of the hollow. It looks about noontime. I look back at Cordie.

"If you make it quick, you can go," I finally say. She grabs her pistol, but I stop her.

"Take your knife so they can't hear you."

Cordie grabs the knife and slips on her boots. She then wraps her arms around me, embracing me tightly. I hug her back, holding her close.

"Watch yourself," I say, still in the embrace, "don't stay in one place for too long. Come back as soon as you can."

She breaks away, climbing out of the hollow and leaves me. I rest against the wall, hugging my knees close. All I need is to lose the only person who I can trust that knows who are profists and who aren't.

I pull out my knife, looking at the dried up blood. I then begin to sharpen it as I had seen Jax do two nights ago.

I begin to think of Jax, and how he had saved my life. Although now it doesn't matter. He's out to kill, and I can only guess that I'm first on his list. Maeve won't stand a chance against him, and my heart aches. I'm feeling guilty again.

Harlan Twells, my first ally, I think of and become frightened. I can't seem to get rid of that image on that night when he looked at me the way he did. His brows were furrowed, his eyes darker, and his face twisted.

I stand up, feeling myself hyperventilate. I can't deal with the fact of Harlan, who would've just finish off Cordie with his knife, coming after me next.

I calm myself down, but continue to pace around the hut. I've never been as nervous as I am now. I anxiously wait for Cordie's return, biting my nails and pulling at my hair, something I've never caught myself doing before.

I hear the wind blow from above. It's soothing. Laying down against my bag, I pull out leftover small bits of bark. Anxiety can work up an appetite.

As I eat some meat from an unfortunate bird I shot that night, hoping that it hasn't been tampered with by the soldiers, I force myself to take small bites. It tastes dry, and I wash it down with a small amount of water.

I hear rustling coming from outside, and move back towards the end of the cave, pulling out my pistol. My pistol. I feel stupid as I had forgotten to restock from Maeve, who had a year's full supply of bullets somehow. It wasn't fair, I had thought, but now I realize I could've made out like a bandit if I had only restocked last night before taking off.

A patch of light shines through the cave, and I whip out my knife quickly. I'm relieved to know that it's only Cordie, and I slip my knife back away.

"I clipped a few rabbits with my knife," she says breathlessly, holding three by their bloody cotton tails. Their white fur, now sticky with warm, fresh blood, would have to be skinned.

"That's all there was?" I don't mean to sound harsh, but we need to stock up for at least another week.

"Before I heard them," she replies. Her eyes are wide. "They're pissed."

Figures. They'll be after the both of us with those extra bullets that they have. I'm sickened by the thought.

"Did they see you?"

"If they did, we'd have bullets in our chests," she admits, "so no, I don't think they did. Unless they're waiting for the right moment for an attack...but they aren't that clever."

I nod, but I'm not convinced. Harlan is a high ranked soldier, probably a captain. He'd know how to deal with situations like these.

"Harlan," I say aloud, "he'll know."

Cordie's eyes lower.

"We'll be fine," she says, "as long as you survive."

"Don't talk like that," I breathe. Without Cordie, I'd have no one. Anyone would have to get through me before Cordie first.