Page 158 of Dustwalker

“You don’t have to tell me,” Lara said, stepping closer. She stopped when he shook his head again.

A quiet sob spilled past Gary’s lips. “They killed my little girl. My beautiful little girl.” He turned away and leaned against the wall, his body quaking. “They held us down and forced us to watch. Forced us to listen to Maggie crying for help, to her screams, my God her screams…and when she wasn’t moving anymore…”

Eyes burning and tears falling, Lara shook her head frantically. “No…”

“There was so much blood. But…but he wasn’t done. They dragged Kate away from Maggie, and…and they beat her.” Gary slammed his fists against the wall. The shack rattled. “Hit her again, and again, until she bled. Until she…lost the baby.”

No, no, no…

Breaths coming quick and shallow, Lara glanced down at her hands. She recalled the pain of Warlord’s fists all too well. Her stomach clenched, threatening to empty itself. How much suffering would be forced upon these people?

No more. We’ll rid the world of this monster.

“Is…is Kate here, Gary?”

He nodded again, wiped at his face, and led her into the back room.

Kate lay upon the bed, pale and sunken-eyed, her hair damp with sweat. Lara knelt beside her and lifted Kate’s hand. It was cold and limp, as though the life had been sapped from her.

Lara closed her hands around the woman’s, holding it. “Kate?”

The woman turned her head. Her eyes were unfocused, staring through Lara, until she blinked and something dawned in her gaze. Her face crumpled as she shook with sobs. “My babies…”

“Shh, I know.” Lara pressed Kate's hand to her cheek. “We will stop him.”

“How?” Gary demanded.

Lara lowered Kate’s hand but didn’t release it. “I’m here with people who plan to end Warlord and take this city back. To help us.”

Kate stared up at Lara with watery eyes, silent as Gary knelt beside her. Lara met his gaze.

He scrutinized her as though he was seeing her for the first time. As though he was finally noticing the changes. “People said you were either dead…or with one ofthem.”

“I’m with a bot, but he’s not one of them,” she said. “He took care of me. Protected me.”

Gary's expression darkened. “He forced?—”

“No! No. He didn't force me. He's never forced me. I love him, Gary, and as crazy as it sounds, he loves me. We’ve both suffered because of Warlord. Without Ronin, I’d be dead.” Lara glanced at Kate. “I can’t explain everything now, there isn’t time, but there are people here, humans and bots, who are goingto put an end to all this. There’s a place not far away, underground, where they’ve thrived. They have gardens, animals, children in school, housing. An army. They’re here to help, but they need ourhelp, too.”

“How?” Kate’s hold on Lara’s hand tightened. “How?”

“Another group is heading for the bot district right now. They might even be there already. They’re going to take over the hospital and make a distraction. I’m here to gather up anyone who’s willing to fight. Anyone willing to stand up to Warlord.”

“I will,” Gary said. “I want him torn apart.”

Hope leapt within her chest. “Can you help me talk to the others? I know…I know there doesn’t seem to be much hope, but we can makea better life for all of us.”

He looked down at Kate, his eyes determined but soft as he lovingly brushed his fingers through her hair. “Anything. She’s all I have left.”

Kate released Lara’s hand to take Gary’s, closing her eyes as he leaned down and kissed her forehead.

“I’ll be back,” Lara said as she rose to her feet.

She nudged the front door aside and stepped out. The soldiers haddispersed, but she quickly picked out their shadowy forms in the gloom. Lara waved one of them over.

The soldier tugged down the scarf from his mouth as he approached. He held the butt of his rifle against his shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s a woman inside who needs to be taken to the forward camp so Nancy can help her. She was beaten severely and had a miscarriage. I don’t think she can make it on her own.”