Page 182 of After the Burn

We kept moving.

A woman carrying towels stopped when she saw us and the blood on our clothes. I raised one finger to my lips, and she nodded, then walked away quickly. Another woman appeared near the warehouse. The same one who had brought me water earlier.

Her face drained of color. “You need to go back.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“They’ll kill you.” She warned, her voice shaking with fear.

“Maybe,” I agreed. “Or maybe I’ll kill them.”

“I really hope so.” Her eyes moved to Wren, then back to me. “There are worse things than death around here.”

I didn’t doubt that.

“Do you know a girl named Lila?” She froze, and I stepped closer. “Please. She has blonde hair and was brought here for fuel.”

She parted her lips to speak, but only managed a slight nod.

“Where is she?” I asked urgently.

Her shoulders dropped. “South of the warehouse.”

My heart jumped. “Take us.”

She shook her head frantically. “I can’t.”

Wren stepped closer. “We’ll protect you.”

“No,” she whispered, her voice low and desperate. “I can’t go back there.”

I softened my expression. “What’s back there?”

Her eyes filled with sympathy. “I’ll take you close, but that’s it.”

That was enough.

She led us between the warehouses, staying several feet ahead, as if distance might save her if someone discovered us.

We passed two more women, but neither even looked up.

As we reached the far corner of the south warehouse, the woman stopped. “I’m not going any farther.”

I looked past her, but all I could see was fencing and shadows. “What’s back there?” I asked again, hoping to get an answer this time.

Her face turned pale. “That’s where they keep the dead.”

Every nerve in my body tightened, and Wren’s hand found my arm.

The woman backed away. “I’m sorry, I have to go.”

I glanced over at Wren, and she seemed as uneasy as I was. Neither of us spoke as we rounded the corner.

Both of us came to a sudden stop.

What the hell was I looking at?

A livestock enclosure was erected at the rear of the warehouse. Heavy pipe reinforced with chain-link fencing.