Summer Lane - Day One

Her words were harsh and cold. Elle felt a stab of guilt and turned on her heel, walking against the wind. There was a moment of silence before she heard the sound of footsteps behind her. They were following her.

Well, of course they are , Elle thought. They can’t just give up and die .

They trudged across the wide, open space for hours. Elle had only a small amount of water in her backpack; enough to last a day or two if they were careful, but that was all.

They stopped to rest under the shade of a lone, ugly tree weathered by years of desert wind. Elle knelt to give Bravo a small handful of water. He drank it up with one swipe of his tongue, panting.

“You’re giving him our water ,” Jay said, sounding surprised.

“He needs hydration as much as we do,” Elle replied.

“But we’re the ones dying.”

“Bravo is a part of our group. He’s helped keep us alive.”

“Bravo is a dog .”

Elle slowly stood up, glaring at Jay.

“Bravo is my friend ,” she said.

“And what are we?” Georgia interjected. “We’re people and you’re wasting supplies on an animal . Elle, think of us .”

“I am thinking of you,” Elle answered, terse. “Bravo and I came all the way across the desert and risked our lives to save you from the Slavers. I think the least we can do is share our water with him.”

“But we need it more,” Jay pleaded. “We’ve got half of a bottle left. Don’t waste it on the dog.”

“His name is Bravo ,” Elle hissed, slamming the lid on the water bottle. She shoved it into her backpack, licking her dry, cracked lips. “If you don’t want to share with him, then I don’t want to share with you .”

She zipped her pack shut and swung it across her shoulders, stalking off, Bravo beside her. She heard footsteps, turned, and caught a glimpse of Jay’s face. He grabbed the back of her pack and ripped it off her shoulders. Elle felt a shock of pain in her right arm. Jay yanked the pack away and Elle skidded across the dirt, tumbling in a heap.

“I’m taking charge of this,” Jay said.

Elle stared at him, dirt in her mouth, pain in her arm.

“You’re not thinking straight,” Elle replied, heart racing. “You’re panicking. Don’t do that, Jay. Trust me. I got across this desert to come for you guys, and I can get us back across it.”

“There is no back ,” Jay laughed. It was a mean, guttural sound. “Back to what ?” His crazed smile faded. “But we’re not sacrificing our lives because you’re giving all our supplies away to a freaking mutt .”

Elle looked at Bravo. He was tense. He could sense the arguing; he could smell the discord in the air. She placed one hand on his collar, kneeling on the ground. Georgia was frozen. She looked scared. Flash watched the whole thing with a deer-in-the-headlights expression on his face.

“That’s my pack,” Elle said slowly. “And I would appreciate it if you’d give it back.”

Jay’s glare was piercing. He slid his arms through the straps, shaking his head.

“Sorry, Elle,” he said. “But this is the way it has to be.”

Elle was infuriated. Her hands shook.

She had come all this way. She’d suffered through the brutality of the desert and risked her life in Slaver territory for this ? For selfish, short-sighted children who were staging a mutiny?

Jay walked forward, taking his gaze off Elle. Georgia and Flash glanced at Elle, then at Jay. And they started walking, leaving Elle in the dirt.

Elle tightened her grip around Bravo’s collar.

Tell me this isn’t happening , Elle thought.

“Jay!” Elle stood up. “You will not do this to me!”

He kept walking. Georgia cast a guilty glance at Elle, but she didn’t stop walking. Anger rushed through Elle’s veins.

How dare they do this. After everything.

Elle got to her feet and sprinted across the open space between her and Jay. She slammed into him from behind and they fell to the ground in a tumbled heap. Elle jammed the heel of her shoe into his chin. Jay swore and grabbed Elle’s arm, twisting it backward. Elle cried out and sunk her teeth into his hand, biting as hard as she could. She tasted blood. Jay screamed and let go. Elle rolled to her feet and kicked him.

“After everything we’ve done for you,” Elle yelled, “you’re going to steal my stuff and leave me behind to die ? Is that your brilliant plan, Jay ?” She kicked him again. He grabbed her foot, slammed her against the ground.

“STOP IT!” Georgia begged. “PLEASE!”

Elle ignored her, her head spinning from hitting the dirt. She rolled sideways and grabbed a handful of Jay’s hair. She yanked on it, pulling out a big chunk. Blood stuck to her hands. Jay screamed again and attacked Elle with a maniacal energy, cursing and spitting as they rolled around in the dirt. Georgia tried to intervene, pulling on Jay, attempting to haul him out of the fight. Jay shoved her away. Flash just sat on the ground.

“ Please don’t do this!” Georgia begged, tears running down her face.

Elle tuned her out. This wasn’t about doing what was right anymore. This was about survival. Bravo was watching the whole thing from the sidelines, his ears pricking forward. He paced, barking loudly.

He hardly ever barked.

Elle rolled to the side, avoiding another heavy blow from Jay. She tried to stand up but Jay grabbed her ankles and pulled her back down. Her face slapped the rocky soil and she saw stars.

Don’t hold back because he’s your friend , a little voice said. He’s trying to kill you. You need to defend yourself .

Elle’s natural survival instincts were coming out. Hadn’t she known from the beginning not to trust anyone? Hadn’t she violated her most important rule by teaming up with these idiots? And then she had gotten emotionally attached to them, finding herself on a half-baked rescue mission to save them from enslavement in the desert.

And this is how they thanked her.

Trust nobody , Elle thought. It’s me against the world .

Jay nailed Elle, pinning her against the ground, one knee on her chest. Elle coughed, struggling for breath. Bravo barked again, and this time he was on Jay, barreling into him at a full charge. Jay fell sideways as the dog attacked. Bravo dug his teeth into Jay’s arm. Jay cried out in agonizing pain. Elle struggled to her feet, coughing, dizzy. She drew her Smith and Wesson out of her jacket and held it directly in front of her, pointing the muzzle of the gun at Jay’s head.

Her hands shook.

“Bravo,” Elle said. Her voice was low but firm. Bravo released Jay’s arm and circled him, growling and flashing his teeth. Tears of pain ran down Jay’s face. Blood ran down his arm, pooling in the dirt. “Take off the backpack,” Elle commanded. “Now.”

Jay slowly slid his arms out of the straps and kicked the backpack toward Elle. She knelt down and slung one strap over her shoulder, still aching with pain and burning with adrenaline and anger.

“Let’s get one thing straight, city boy,” Elle said. “I’m in charge. I make the rules, and I decide how we ration the food. You lost the right to vote in this little democracy when you tried to break my arm about five seconds ago.” She took a step closer. “And if you try anything again, I’ll kill you.” She glanced at Bravo. “And if I don’t kill you, the dog will.”

She looked at Georgia.

“I don’t think Jay was thinking straight—” the girl started to say.

“None of us are thinking straight,” Elle replied. “It’s no excuse.”