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Krieger felt all-encompassing rage as he spun on Derek, ripping the item out of his hand and tossing it to the ground. He backhanded him, then gripped his shirt. “What’s wrong with you?”
Derek’s eyes went wide. Anger and shame swirled in his dark globes as he watched Eva on the ground, holding her injured limb. Creases etched Derek’s forehead, and the corner of his lips turned down as he realized what he had done.
Krieger released him and turned back to Eva. She looked to him with unshed tears glistening in her eyes. The pain of her arm? Or the situation?
“Let’s get you to medical,” he said as he knelt down next to her.
“No, I think it’s all right, it’s just bruised.”
A thudding sounded behind Krieger, and he turned to see Derek running from the training arena, pushing past Sarah as she approached the circle.
“Sorry I’m late, guys, what did I miss?” she said as she turned and watched Derek disappear into the settlement.
Eva stood with Krieger’s help, massaging her arm. Then she addressed the trainees. “Okay, show’s over, let’s get everyone lined up so we can start our lesson for the day.”
Krieger studied Eva’s face. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
But she would not meet his gaze. “I’m fine. We need to get this lesson done so we can help the others with winter prepping.” Turning from him, she walked over to the crew. “Let’s get them all wooden daggers.”
Luke nodded and went to a trunk tucked to the side of the arena and handed John the items to be passed out. Krieger took a deep breath, rubbed the blood from his nose, and joined John in passing out the faux weapons.
Two hours later, the trainees left sweaty and fatigued. Sarah, John, Luke, Eva, and Krieger sat in the middle of the arena, sipping water and munching on some dried meat.
“I miss pizza,” Sarah said as she ripped another chunk out of her jerky.
Laughing, Luke said, “Hell, I miss a lot of things, soda being one.”
Krieger noticed Luke’s smile drop and wondered what his story was. “How did you and John come to Everwood, Luke?”
Luke finished his meat, then picked up a leaf and studied it. “It’s not a terribly impressive story.” He looked from the leaf to John, who was staring hard at the floorboards. “We lived in Vermont and had heard of survivors who were thriving in the Adirondacks. Our father was determined to get us here, so we spent the better part of a month surviving on the road, making the trek. He didn’t know exactly where it was, only that it was in the higher elevations. I’m pretty sure he cried when we finally saw some men working on building a wall around a settlement that was lifted off the ground. ‘Tree-topia,’ our dad had called it. That was seven years ago now.”
John was still looking at the wood floor when he said, “Dad has been gone for five of those years.”
“I’m sorry. How did he die?” Krieger asked.
Luke set the leaf down and met Krieger’s gaze. “He went out on a scouting mission and never came back. Weather? The Others? No one really knows.”
“I know he’s proud of the men you and John have become, Luke. You both are vital members of the settlement, and I’m proud to be able to work with you guys,” Eva said as she tucked a stray golden hair behind her ear.
Sarah reached out, placing a hand on John’s shoulder, and said, “I am too! Now let’s talk about something a little more upbeat. Who’s excited for the Harvest Celebration? Less than two weeks now. Eva, do you know if any special theme or activity is going to take place this year? Your dad puts it on every year, you must be in the know?”
With awkward movements, Eva shifted. “Oh, I-I guess, I’m not sure.”
What did she know about it? Something that made her uncomfortable? Krieger couldn’t help but wonder as Eva’s cheeks turned beet red.
Sarah leaned forward and swatted Eva’s knee. “Yes, you do—spill!”
Avoiding Sarah’s close scrutiny, Eva stood, shifting her weight from one foot to the other, concentrating a little too hard on her water canteen. “I really don’t, but I’ll let you know if anything comes up—”
“Hey, I heard there was a real good fight earlier.” Tucker Sanders’s voice carried across the arena as he eased down the stairs to join them.
Krieger’s stomach swam with unease. Word of the fight was already getting around. Eva rolled her eyes at the statement as Luke and John stood and met Tucker halfway.
Sarah approached Eva. “Sorry, Eva, I didn’t mean to pry. It will be even better if I’m surprised!” She gave Eva a big smile. “Gotta go. The kitchen is expecting me to help with dinner prep. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
As Sarah bounded up the steps, Eva started to pick up the rest of the wooden daggers.
“Hey, Eva,” Luke called over his shoulder, “Tucker needs help with the weapons inventory. We’ll catch you later, okay?”
