Page 15 of After the Fall

“Back to these supposed zombies,” I said, “we need to look into it. Carder Corporation signed a contract stating that any staff in Stirling County would be kept to under twenty people, and it sounds like they may be breaching it. They also signeda non-compete clause, so if Carder is doing any mining or exploration, we can kick them out of the county.”

Atticus pulled out his phone. “How do you spell it again?”

I sighed. “It looks like we’re getting more reliant on the damn things too.” I spelled out Genocorp and Atticus typed it into his phone.

“There’s not much.” His brow knitted as he tapped and frowned at the screen. “I’ll check the Carder Corporation.”

I walked ahead while Atticus searched for any information about Genocorp. The leaves rustled as Atticus caught up, moments later.

“Anything?” I asked.

He shook his head. “Looks like they use a private network.”

My stomach clenched. “What kind of company sets up a branch in the middle of nowhere, with zero internet or social media presence?”

“One that’s up to no good.”

Rocks clattered and clacked down the steep cliff ahead of us, disappearing into the treetops of the forest below. My eyesight was ten times better than twenty-twenty, but I still needed my binoculars from time to time. I took them from the pocket of my backpack and scanned the area leased by Carder. “I can see the clearing.”

“Where?” Atticus held his hand over his eyes.

I handed him the binoculars. “Just past that stand of aspens, directly north. You can see the open spot where they landed the helicopter.”

Atticus bit his lower lip as he focused the binoculars. “I can see the roof and the chopper. It looks like they did minimal clearing around the building, which is good for the forest.”

Tucking the binoculars into my backpack, I nodded. “It’s also good for keeping a low profile.”

“Do we have time to check it out?” Atticus looked to the sky instead of checking his watch, a habit that we had learned growing up, and one that hadn’t been erased by technology – yet.

I was anxious to get back to the house. Harper was safe there, but no one could protect her like me. My crew was loyal as fuck, but if it came down to choosing between saving one of us, or Harper, they would choose a sasquatch every time. Even with my orders. We were hardwired to protect each other, which is why it had been so tough for us when we’d killed the rogue. I’d chosen Harper’s life over the rogue’s, and it had cost me my position in the community. The threat of the wolves had brought me back into the community, but one more misstep would lead to a permanent banishment, or worse.

But I would do it again.

If it came down to it, I’d kill one of us for Harper. Joe Davis, on the other hand – I wasn’t sure where a creature like him fell in our code.

“Yeah. We have to go see what they’re doing there,” I said. “At least make sure they aren’t violating any terms of the agreement. Maybe someone there has seen something weird in the woods.”

“True. Good point.” Atticus adjusted the strap of the crossbow and put on his wool hat. “It’s chilly up here. We’re going to lose the sun soon, too.” Clouds loomed on the horizon. “Should we take the eastern route along the riv—”

A loud scream interrupted him. The kind that an animal made when it was in intense pain. But the pitch was wrong, and I knew that we weren’t hearing an animal. The bloodcurdling sound was a human, screaming for his life.

“Shit.” I tilted my head and tried to figure out where the scream had originated.

“Help.” The call echoed through the canyon.

Atticus shook his head. “That’s not Joe Davis.”

He was right. The scream had come from the direction of our last snare. “Come on.” I jumped from the clearing and set off through the forest, back the way we’d come. “I hope you brought some of the forgetting serum.”

He patted his chest pocket. “I never leave home without it.”

“Good.” The scream pierced the air again. “Sounds like we’re going to need it.”

We watchedfrom a distance before approaching. The man was swinging upside down, hanging by his ankle.

“Should we wait until he tires himself out?” Atticus whispered.

The swinging slowed, but every time the man tried to reach the rope around his ankle, he ended up flailing around. Yellow leaves fell from the tree branches above him, and if it weren’t for the fact that we could smell his fear, and hear the frantic grunts he was making, it would almost look beautiful. Like a circus act.