Chapter 19: Raiders at the Gate

The convoy had almost reached its destination when the world erupted into chaos. The sun was just beginning its descent into the horizon, casting a fiery glow over the barren landscape. The heat was unbearable, the ground cracked and dry, but the group kept moving forward. Evelyn’s mind raced. The decision to follow Jack had felt like a calculated risk—a chance to find safety in numbers. But now, as they approached the convoy, the air felt wrong. Too quiet. Too still.Then it happened.A distant shout sliced through the silence, followed by the unmistakable sound of engines revving. The hairs on the back of Evelyn’s neck stood up, and her instincts kicked in before she could even think.“Get down!” she barked, grabbing Mara’s arm and yanking her to the ground behind a half-collapsed structure.The others followed, scrambling for cover as the first gunshot rang out. The blast was deafening, splitting the air and sending birds scattering from their perches.Jack cursed under his breath. "Raiders," he muttered. "Damn it, they’ve been tracking us for days."Evelyn’s heart sank. Raiders. The worst kind of scum, scavengers who took what they wanted by force. They weren’t just looking for supplies—they were looking for power. And that meant the group wasn’t just a target; they were prey.“They’ll want our supplies,” Jack continued, his voice urgent. “Don’t let them get too close. Do you have weapons?”Evelyn glanced at Liam, who was already pulling his gun from its holster. "We've got what we need," she said, her voice steady but laced with tension.“Then stay low,” Jack said, his eyes narrowing as he peered out from behind the wreckage. “And whatever you do—don’t let them see you. They’re not here to negotiate.”Evelyn swallowed hard. They couldn’t afford to be spotted. They had no choice but to remain hidden, hoping the raiders wouldn’t find them. She motioned for the others to move back farther into the shadows, each person slipping quietly behind what little cover they could find.From their vantage point, they could see a group of raiders on motorcycles, riding in fast, their engines growling like wild beasts. A few more vehicles followed, but it was clear that the motorcycles were the vanguard, scouting ahead for easy pickings.The raiders spread out, some of them walking toward the convoy, others casing the area. One of them, a man with a wide, crooked grin and a rifle slung over his shoulder, made his way straight for Jack’s convoy, clearly confident in his dominance."Hey!" he yelled, waving his gun toward the few remaining survivors who were still standing by the vehicles. "Where’s the rest of you hiding? We know you’ve got supplies! Don’t make us come find you!"Evelyn’s grip tightened around her knife. She could feel the pulse of fear in her chest, but it was matched by a surge of adrenaline. She had to think. They couldn’t risk a full-on fight, not with so many raiders. But if they gave in too easily, they’d be at the mercy of these savages.Jack stepped into view, hands raised, trying to deescalate the situation. “We’ve got plenty,” he called out. “We’re just passing through. Take what you want, but let us go. We won’t cause you any trouble.”The raider grinned wider, and Evelyn’s stomach churned. She could see the glint of greed in his eyes. “Oh, we’ll take what we want, alright,” he said, his voice sharp with mockery. “But you’re not going anywhere. You’ve got a convoy, and that means you’ve got something valuable. And we’re here to make sure you share it.”The other raiders started to fan out, surrounding the convoy, blocking any potential escape routes. A few of them approached the makeshift barricades, rifling through the wreckage as if they had all the time in the world. The situation was becoming worse by the second. Evelyn’s mind raced.She exchanged a quick glance with Liam, who was already moving into position. They didn’t have much time. The raiders would start taking people hostage if they weren’t careful. And Evelyn wasn’t about to let that happen.“You’re wasting your time,” Jack said, his voice harder now, the edge of a threat in his tone. “We’re not giving you anything for free. If you want it, you’ll have to take it. And that means we’ll fight you for it.”The raider’s grin faltered for just a second before he chuckled, low and dangerous. “Is that a threat, old man? You think you can take us on? You don’t even know who you’re dealing with.”Evelyn’s heart pounded in her chest. She knew the odds were stacked against them, but she couldn’t stand by and let Jack get killed or captured. These raiders would take everything they had—and more if they could. No one was safe from their cruelty.Then, the leader raised his rifle, the muzzle pointing straight at Jack’s chest. “Enough talk. We take what we want, or we start taking lives. You choose.”It was clear now that words wouldn’t work. They were out of time.Evelyn’s eyes flicked to Liam, who had already begun to move toward the rear of the convoy, positioning himself for an attack. His eyes met hers for a brief moment—a shared understanding between them. It was time to act.The moment the raider’s finger twitched toward the trigger, Evelyn threw herself out from behind the wreckage, sprinting toward the nearest bandit. The others followed suit, charging toward the raiders.Gunshots rang out, a burst of sharp crackles in the air. Evelyn’s heart leapt in her chest as she tackled one of the raiders, knocking the rifle from his hands. She didn’t hesitate—her fist slammed into his face, the impact bone-crushing. He went down hard, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t. There were still too many of them.Behind her, Liam fired, the shots precise and deadly, taking down two of the raiders who were about to storm the convoy. But the remaining raiders were quick to respond. One of them opened fire, the bullets slamming into the metal wreckage they were using as cover. Evelyn ducked low, narrowly avoiding the spray of bullets.Harris was already on the move, charging toward another raider who had come too close. He knocked the man to the ground, wrestling with him in the dirt. The sound of grunts and struggling filled the air as the two men fought for control.“Take cover!” Jack shouted, his voice hoarse as he grabbed a nearby rifle and aimed it at the remaining raiders.But the bandits weren’t backing down. They spread out, weaving between the vehicles, closing in on the survivors. Evelyn could feel the pressure mounting with each passing second. The raiders weren’t just after their supplies anymore—they were after blood.A loud explosion suddenly rocked the ground beneath their feet, a blast that sent debris flying into the air. The raiders scattered in every direction, momentarily disoriented. But Evelyn didn’t have time to process what had happened. There was only one thing on her mind now: survival.“We fight or we die!” she shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.She grabbed her rifle, ready to take down anyone who came too close. She couldn’t afford to hesitate—not now.The fight raged on, and the tension in the air was palpable, each second drawing them closer to the line between life and death.