Page 136

Show No Fear

I wait patiently at gunpoint at the front gate as they radio in. One of the guards drops his gun, eyeing me worriedly, and snatches a black radio clipped to his shoulder while holding the button down as he speaks. “Boss, we have a woman at the gate.” A beep sounds and we wait for the response.

“So? Kill her,” comes the crackled response. The guards all move closer then, but I don’t react apart from letting my smile disappear.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. You see I’m the queen of the fucking North and you came into my lands, took my people, and left yours behind.

I have them, of course, but there are a lot of angry people there waiting.

So unless you want to start a war you can’t win, I suggest you let me in.

” I shrug, smiling and nodding as they gape at me.

“Did you get all that, or would you like me to repeat it?” I taunt when they just stand there staring at me.

The same guard grabs his radio again, swallowing as sweat dampens his temple. “Erm, boss, I think you are going to want to see her. She said she’s the…erm, queen of the North and that we took her men and she will declare war? Is that right?” The guard looks at me and I nod.

“Good boy,” I mock, and he narrows his eyes. “Oh, and I’m not a patient woman, so don’t fuck me around or I will get my armies just to be a spiteful bitch,” I warn with glee.

He relays the message and I pretend to look around as I wait for the response. “Nice walls. Bet they won’t withstand bombs though, or rocket launchers,” I point out idly, and they just gape at me again, clearly having no idea what to say.

The radio crackles to life and he juggles it in his hand. “Bring her in,” the voice commands, and I lower my hands.

“There, that wasn’t so hard, now was it? Lead the way,” I offer.

The two guards out front bang on the gate house to the side.

“Open her up!” he yells, and the gate starts to crank open, revealing the city beyond.

I step up behind them and wait, standing uncomfortably close just to annoy them.

I know they sense me, because their shoulders tighten and their grips on their guns get harder.

“Don’t do that boys, wouldn’t want to start a war because you had premature shooting problems, would you?

” I tease, then move around them and stride into the inner city like I own the joint.

I spot the cameras on me instantly, and know the guards we captured were right, they are tracking my every move.

I wave at one then blow them a kiss, waiting for the guards who are supposed to escort me to catch up.

The buildings here are bigger, shinier, and looked after.

Smaller apartment style buildings line the main road with bigger ones towering behind them.

There are shops, even a shopping center, to the left, and a fucking supermarket with trolleys outside.

All are open and filled with people. The road leads to the huge skyscrapers you can see from beyond the wall.

I’m guessing that’s where the government stays in the center in the richest part.

I spot people walking the sidewalk in dresses and suits, one even has a dog on a leash.

It looks like a before advert for pre-scorch, whereas I look like the after picture.

People stop and stare as we pass, some even gasp so I make sure to play it up, flashing weapons at them and grinning at their shocked and disgusted faces.

I’m marched down the center of the city into a giant square.

In the middle stands what I can only guess is an art piece of two men on a bridge, surrounded by gardens on either side with people eating lunch or just relaxing.

Skyscrapers box in each side, looking down on you, putting you on display.

Trying to intimidate you of course. I’m not given a tour or even spoken to, merely led to the biggest building, the one with a spire on top and glass windows looking down on everything.

The doors are even glass and rotate as we enter into a lobby with a guard stationed behind the desk and a turnstile.

It looks like an old office building that they have converted.

The lobby has those low settees and chairs, but there is no one there waiting, and I am led straight to the turnstiles and the man lingering there.

“They are expecting her,” is all the guard says, then throws me a dirty look before they step back, obviously going back to their gate duty.

“Nice to meet you, boys,” I tease, and turn back as the gate is opened, and I am ushered through it to an elevator that works.

Fuck, these bastards must have unlimited power.

How did they get it? Or are they simply showing off?

It would make sense they would send all the power to their building and not spread it everywhere, especially considering what I have learned from them.

The doors open to reveal another guard, and now I know they are doing it on purpose in an attempt to intimidate me—all this show of force against one woman.

But I’ve been in worse situations, so I just smile and get on board, again standing close to the guard to unnerve him.

The other man climbs on and I am bracketed between them, so I lean back against the wall and let my cape fully open, and then drop it to the floor since it’s no longer needed.

I know they see my weapons in the shiny, silver reflections before them when they stiffen.

Did they really think I would come unprotected?

The ride is filled with strained silence, their bodies wound tight, expecting me to attack at any minute. Music fills the space as we rise quickly, only adding to the tension until the screen above the doors finally announces “12” and a mechanic voice informs us the doors are opening.

When we reach the twelfth floor the doors open, and they step out to show, yep, you guessed it, more guards. This time the big man turns to me. “We need your weapons.”

I expected this, so I hand all the visible ones over, expecting they wouldn’t think I would hide any with the arsenal I was carrying.

As the pile at his feet grows, I feel them getting tenser and tenser.

“That’s it, boys. Oh, and lose any of that and I will kill you.

They were gifts.” I wink then and big guys points at me.

“I need to pat you down,” he snaps.

“Do it, but don’t let my men find out, they are the jealous sort.

” I shrug, holding out my arms. He falters at my words and quickly pats me down, not finding any of the weapons I have hidden.

What an idiot. As usual, they are underestimating me because I’m a woman and alone.

I’m guided down the hallway to what looks like a conference room.

A big, silver table with glasses of water wait there.

Windows on one side look out onto the Cities, and glass separates it from the rest of the hallway.

I’m gestured inside, and then they shut the door and press their backs to the glass and wait.

Feeling like a bitch, I knock on the glass. “You know I can see you, right?” I harass.

They ignore me, so I snoop around the room, getting bored.

Feeling vindictive, I choose the big leather chair at the head of the table and place my boots on the pristine table, knocking dirt and sand everywhere as I wait for them, then I close my eyes and lean my head back against the leather and wait.

They keep me waiting just long enough to be considered rude until I hear the clacking of their heels down the hallway.

They are so loud, I could hear them coming from miles away.

I keep my eyes closed as they enter the room, not giving them what they want—an audience to their show.

This is all part of the plan to try and intimidate me, and I’m going to flip that on their fucking heads.

They have never met anyone like me.

The room goes silent. I can hear their brains whirling, they are clearly stumped on what to do.

Did they think I would be nervously waiting in here?

Bitch, please, I’ve faced down Nan after fucking all night.

Nothing is scarier than that. Only when they start to shuffle do I crack my eyes open while leaning back casually in their chair.

“Hello, boys, have we finished with the dick measuring contest? Let’s get down to business now, shall we?

” I suggest, getting comfier as I scan them.

The fools aren’t even carrying any weapons, depending only on their guards to keep them safe.

Just like pale faces.

The group gathered is made up of nearly all men, apart from one woman, who’s’ stern face, cold eyes, and tangible power make her the obvious pick for being a leader.

Her hair is an auburn colour and pulled back so tightly in a bun that it stretches her eyebrows, making her look angry at all times.

No hair dares to escape that grip. Her perfectly pink painted lips are thin and turned down.

Her cheeks are also painted pink, and her tight skirt and white shirt look brand new.

Fuck, she’s even wearing heels. To her right are two men who look similar—brothers, I would guess.

They must be in their late forties, with grey, receding hair and bellies poking through their shirts.

The only difference is one is taller with brown eyes and one is shorter with blue eyes.

To the left of the woman is an older man, hunched over a cane.

His head is bald on top with grey, thin hair on the side, his skin tanned and wrinkled with an angry looking scowl, and he is wearing a perfect suit.

It all screams money and protection. These people have never suffered or worked a day in their lives.

I’m betting they took advantage after the scorch and took charge, getting others to do the dirty work.