“Come with me.”
Piper looked up, startled. She had lingered in the mess hall after she finished dinner, writing in the journal she’d started to keep and savoring a mug of almost-hard cider. Someone, she figured, needed to document the changes the world was going through, even if her perspective was profoundly limited.
Brody Sanders stood in front of her table, staring down at her. Well, this was a first. He’d never spoken directly to her before.
“Excuse me?”
“Come with me,” he repeated. No “please,” no explanation. Just a command he clearly expected to be obeyed. He towered above her, wearing the only expression she’d ever seen him wear: stone. Hard face, hard eyes.
“Uhm, do you mind if I ask why?”
“We need to talk.”
Piper narrowed her eyes. Something about this was starting to feel very, very off. “We can talk right here.” She pushed the chair opposite her out with her foot. Cordiality never hurt.
“We need to talk in private.”
Piper leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest. No way. No way in hell. She glanced around, and discovered they were the only ones left in the mess hall. She could hear the rattle and clink of dishes being washed in the kitchen – that was usually her job, but this was one of her rare rotations off. She gestured to the empty hall around them with a hand she hoped didn’t shake. “This is private enough, don’t you think?”
Brody continued to stare for a few moments, then sat. His movements were economical, controlled, powerful. “You aren’t Noah’s woman.”
So this was it. The showdown she’d been hoping wouldn’t happen. She’d put off all three of her other suitors by hinting she was a lesbian. Up until this moment, her biggest problem had been their conspiracy to get her together with Ruth, who really was homosexual.
“I’m not anybody’s woman.” No subtlety, not with this guy. “I’m not interested in men sexually.”
Brody’s stare hadn’t wavered since he approached her, and it didn’t flicker now. “You’re lying.”
“Nope. Sorry to disappoint.”
“It doesn’t matter whether you are or you aren’t.” Brody reached across the table, and his hand circled her wrist. He didn’t squeeze, didn’t hurt. “I gave you time to choose. You didn’t. So now I’m choosing.”
Piper couldn’t help herself; she jerked her arm reflexively, but his hand didn’t budge. Neither did her wrist. “Let go of me.”
“No.”
Cold sweat slicked Piper’s underarms and sides, but she was god-damned if she’d let him see her fear. “Look, let me be crystal clear, Sanders. I don’t want to be your woman. I don’t want to be anyone’s woman. You can’t ‘choose’ for me, and I don’t know where you ever got the idea you could. Now let go of my wrist before I call for help. Somebody’s still in the kitchen.”
Sanders’ hand disappeared under the table. It reappeared holding a semi-automatic pistol. He laid the gun on the table between them. “If you call for help, I’ll shoot whoever comes.”
Piper stared at him, incredulous. “You have got to be kidding me. Look, pal, I’m turning you down because I’m not into guys – it’s nothing personal. You need to go find yourself a willing woman. And here’s just a hint for you: next time, try wooing instead of threatening. Much more effective, I promise.”
His stare was starting to feel reptilian. Had he even blinked yet? “You’re the most expedient option. We’ve scouted Walden and the surrounding ranches, but there aren’t many people left alive. Only a few women, and none of them are appropriate.”
This was getting more surreal by the minute. “So, let me get this straight: You’re not even really attracted to me – you’re just looking to scratch an itch, and I’m your most ‘appropriate option?’”
His eyes did flicker then, sliding down her body like a cold, oily caress. “You’re not unattractive. And sex is a biological need.”
She jerked her wrist again, got nowhere. “I’m speechless, Sanders. I had no idea you were such a sweet talker. You’ve made your pitch, I’ve turned you down, and I’m calling your bluff – you’re not going to shoot anyone. Let me go. Now.”
Sanders pulled her in closer, and leaned across the table. This close, she could see that his eyes were a deep, true blue. They might have been beautiful if there had been even a single spark of humor or warmth in them. “Listen carefully. I’m only going to explain this once, and if you don’t grasp it, I’ll give you an object lesson. I’ve made a choice, and you will abide by it. You came into this group with no skills and no value, and this is a way you can earn your keep. You should consider yourself lucky that I won’t allow the others to use you.”
This could not be happening. This was not the world as Piper knew it. “You’re insane,” she whispered. She couldn’t muster confidence or strength in her tone any longer. “I’ll tell the others, and they won’t let you hurt me. They don’t like you anyway.”
“They don’t like me, but they need me. Ramsey’s dead, and I’m the only tactician. And if you tell them, I’ll kill Jenny’s boy.”
Piper went light-headed. Jenny, her husband Aaron, and their only remaining child, Caden, had just rejoined the group a few days ago. Jenny was hanging onto sanity by a thread, and she couldn’t bear to let Caden out of her sight. Her eyes clung to him no matter what she was doing, and it hurt to see how hard she was trying not to smother him. When he was near her, Jenny’s hand rose and fell over and over, smoothing his hair, touching his arm, a soft rub of his back. Unlike most 11 year-old boys, Caden tolerated the embarrassing maternal affection, obviously sensing his mother’s need.
Losing Caden would kill Jenny, there was no doubt in Piper’s mind. She could not comprehend the casualness with which Sanders spoke of killing a child. Noah had mentioned that Sanders had seen too much combat, had lost touch with his humanity, but this…this was beyond anything she could have imagined. She couldn’t think of a single thing to say.
His thumb moved against her wrist, and she was shocked to recognize it as a caress. “I’m not a monster. I just know how to apply pressure to get what I want. I won’t be unkind to you.”
“I’ll leave.” She blurted it out before she could think, but she couldn’t gulp the words back now.
“No, you won’t. If you do, I’ll come after you. And I’ll kill Noah.”
“You can’t just start killing people! You’ll never get away with it – the rest of the group will turn on you!”
“Do you really think I can’t make it look like an accident? Piper.” It was the first time he had said her name, and it made her feel sick. “It’s simple. If you don’t capitulate, I will take them out one by one. I don’t need any of them to survive, and it would mean more resources for me in the long run. If you try to run, I will bring you back, and I will retaliate.”
Scrabbling, like a rat in a maze. Piper had never encountered a problem she couldn’t think her way out of, and her brain felt like it was shorting and sparking as she frantically looked for a flaw in his plan. Tactician, indeed. She had not seen this coming, and she could not see a way out.
“If I could just have some time…” she began weakly, but he shook his head.
“You’ve had enough time. Your decision right now is whether you come with me, or whether whoever is in the kitchen slips and cracks their head open because they didn’t see the puddle of water by the sink.”
As if on cue, the kitchen door opened. She kept her eyes pinned to Sanders, and couldn’t suppress a wince when a familiar voice called out.
“Piper? What are you still doing here?”
Levi. It was Levi. Shit, shit, shit – should she try to act? Try to take Sanders by surprise? Levi had been a soldier, too, surely he could…
He saw it in her eyes. His hand tightened on her wrist, just enough to warn her. He palmed the revolver and slid it into his lap. “Go ahead,” he whispered. “Try it. I’d enjoy taking him out.”
Piper opened her mouth, but her voice was strangled by terror. She cleared her throat and tried again. “Nothing. We’re just, uh, talking.”
Levi stopped beside their table. Sanders shifted his grip so that his fingers were laced gently with Piper’s, and Levi’s eyes fell on their joined hands. He frowned. “Well. This is…cozy.”
Piper stared as hard as she could at Levi, willing him to read her mind, to see her need in her eyes. Under the table, Sanders shifted his foot so that it rested on top of hers. Then, he pressed. Hard.
Her eyes flew back to his and he shook his head, the movement so tiny, Levi didn’t see it. He kept his eyes locked with hers, but spoke to Levi. “Yeah, it’s cozy, and you’re a third wheel. Beat it, Ramsey.”
“Piper? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She forced the words out, hated how breathless she sounded. “We’re just…getting to know each other. It’s fine. I’m fine.”
Levi was quiet and still, so still, Piper couldn’t help looking at him again. He was frowning at her, his disapproval obvious. “Well. I guess there’s no figuring the fickleness of women.”
Idiot! Her mind screamed. Are you blind? Can’t you see what’s happening? Get over your god-damned preconceived notions about me and help!
Another warning press on her foot, and her eyes skittered back to Sanders. He smiled slightly, the expression even more intimidating than his usual stone-face. “No figuring. Do us a favor and let your brother know Piper will be staying with me tonight.”
Another moment of un-godly tension in which Piper didn’t dare look away from Sanders. He was a snake, about to strike. Then, Levi moved away.
“Tell him yourself. And turn the lights out when you leave.”
When the outside door had sighed shut behind him, Piper tried to yank free again. Sanders tightened his fingers around hers so hard her knuckles cracked.
“No. He’s watching through the window. Lean across the table and kiss me.”
“No.”
“Do it now, or he dies, and his brother in ten minutes.”
When she still hesitated, Sanders let go of her hand and stood up. “Fine. Like I said, I’ll enjoy ending him.”
“No!” Piper jumped to her feet and acted. She slid around the table, stepped into his arms, and kissed him.
Sanders didn’t hesitate either. His arms banded around her, one huge hand sliding to cup her buttocks, pressing her against the ridge of his erection. Piper felt gorge rise in her throat; this had turned him on? His lips were cool, slick and gentle against hers, and the gentleness made her angrier than she’d ever been in her life.
Mindful of Levi watching – she could feel his eyes – she broke the kiss as naturally as she could manage, and leaned back in Sanders’ arms. She smiled sweetly up at him. “Let’s get one thing straight, Sanders. I hate you. You are a pathetic abomination and-”
He slid his hand up to the nape of her neck, rubbed in what felt like a caress, then pressed on something that made her knees go out from under her. He caught her weight easily, lifting her against him, then nuzzled into her neck, making it look like they were carried away by passion. His mouth slid up the side of her neck to rest against her ear.
“You will never speak to me that way again,” he whispered. “I can cause you more pain than you can imagine, and never leave a mark on you.” To prove his point, he slid his hand higher, until his thumb was resting behind her ear. He pressed, and Piper’s world went white-hot with pain.
She cried out, tried to arch away, but Sanders just hauled her closer. He lifted one of her legs around his waist and ground against her, biting and suckling at her throat like a vampire. Piper blinked frantically, trying to clear her vision, while his voice grated against her skin.
“You won’t call me Sanders anymore, either. You call me Brody. Say it.”
Piper squeezed her eyes shut and held her breath, trapping the sobs in her chest until she thought her lungs would burst. She wouldn’t say it – he couldn’t make her. And she wouldn’t cry, wouldn’t give him the satisfaction, she had her pride, damn it–
He moved his thumb behind her ear again, pressed, and pride disintegrated. When she could speak, she did. “Brody,” she choked, among broken sobs, and hated herself even more than she hated him.
He actually smiled at her. “Good. Now let’s go. We’ll go to your cabin first so you can get your things and tell Noah you won’t be back.”
Her brain shut down. Overload. She couldn’t process anymore. She walked through the woods beside him, docile as a lamb, and didn’t fight his hand curled around her upper arm. She entered the cabin she’d been sharing with Noah, felt a moment of vague panic and gratitude that he wasn’t there, and stuffed her things into a backpack. She left him a note, and had to read it over to discover what she had said: “Staying with Brody. Take care. Piper.”
Brody took the backpack from her, and they walked to his cabin in silence. Piper had just enough brain function left to worry that she might be going into shock, to rage that she was wimping out, giving in, giving up, but mostly, she drifted. She was in a numb, muffled place, and she wasn’t sure how to get out, or if she wanted to.
They reached his cabin, and Brody shut and latched the door behind them. He set her backpack down, and lit several oil lamps while Piper stood in the middle of the room, swaying slightly, staring at nothing. He moved to stand in front of her, then reached for the hem of her sweatshirt.
Piper roared out of her padded cell with an abruptness that caught them both by surprise.
She was swinging before she could think, and Brody caught her fist a scant inch from his nose. He twisted her arm down and behind her, but before he could yank her close, she dropped to the ground and twisted out of his grip. She kept right on spinning until she was crouched behind the table. Her eyes darted around the room, looking for anything she could use as a weapon, anyplace she could barricade and defend herself.
A low rumble of laughter from Brody sent ice down her spine. His chest was rising and falling swiftly, and his eyes were bright with something unholy. My God, he was enjoying this, she realized. He wanted her to fight, to resist – it excited him. Piper’s mind struggled to analyze, to process this information to tactical advantage, but he didn’t give her time.
Rather than go around the table, he simply shoved it to the side and walked straight at her. Piper tried to scramble around him to make for the door, but he caught her by her long ponytail and yanked her back. Piper screamed at the shock of pain, clutching her head, and ended up on her knees in front of him. He pulled on her hair until she was forced to look up at him.
His face was flushed and slack with lust, and he was nearly panting now. Still using her ponytail to control her, he rubbed her face against the bulge in his pants, moaning and rocking his hips against her. Then he hauled her to her feet and bent his head to kiss her.
“I can make it good for you,” he rasped. “This doesn’t have to be rape, Piper.”
His mouth clamped onto hers, and once again, Piper felt gorge rise in her throat. This time though, she didn’t try to stifle it, oh no. It comes to this, she had time to think, and vomited onto his face and chest.
Brody roared and shoved her backwards so hard she fell. Using her own momentum, Piper rolled until she was on her feet and sprinted for the door. He caught her by the back of her sweatshirt this time, and twisted until she was choking, clawing at the neckband.
“God damn it,” he muttered. He hauled her to a corner of the cabin where a water jug and basin were set up next to a sink. Trapping her in the corner with his body, he let go of her sweatshirt. While she wheezed in air, he unbuttoned his shirt and peeled out of his t-shirt. He dropped the soiled clothing on the floor, then pointed at the basin.
“Clean up the mess you made,” he gritted.
Piper stared up at him, desperately trying to calculate. His bare chest was about six inches from her nose, heaving with outrage. An animal-like musk rose off his skin; that, combined with the scent of her own vomit, made her stomach heave again. He grabbed her by the ponytail and shook her so hard she saw stars. It hurt too much to even scream – she couldn’t get any air.
“You puke on me again and you will lick it up, do you understand?” He gave her another shake. “Answer me.”
“Yes!” she gasped. He let her go, and she couldn’t stop herself from reaching up to rub her head. My God, she had never imagined her own hair could be used as a weapon against her. Her scalp sang with pain. Keeping her eyes lowered, she turned slightly away to pour water into the basin, then took one of the washcloths from the stack. She wet it and wrung it out, her movements as slow as she dared to make them, her mind racing and calculating.
There had to be a way she could debilitate him, just for a moment, so she could get out the door. Why hadn’t she run when she had the chance? Why hadn’t she just asked Levi for help?
She shook her head, trying to order her thoughts. Berating herself for past failures wasn’t going to get her out of this. She re-wet the washcloth, wrung it out, and pretended to drop it. Brody growled, and she flinched, scooping the washcloth out of the water with quaking hands. She was out of time.
Turning, she wiped his face, throat and chest clean with quick, economical movements. She wasn’t rough, which would anger him, nor did she hesitate, which he might interpret as a caress. Finished, she turned and dropped the washcloth into the basin, then stood with her arms hanging at her sides, face lowered.
For a moment, he didn’t seem to know what to make of her stillness. He slid his arms around her waist, and she went completely limp, as if she had fainted. She heard him grunt in surprise, then lean to put his shoulder against her stomach. He straightened with her draped over his shoulder and moved towards the bed in the opposite corner of the room.
Piper forced herself to let her body flop unresponsively. If he liked a fight, she’d give him the opposite. He lowered her to the bed, and she sprawled awkwardly, hair draped across her face, one arm twisted painfully underneath her. Still, she didn’t stir. He straightened, and she could feel him looming above her, staring.
This was a desperate gamble, and she didn’t have a back-up plan if it failed. Her brain logged that away as something to remedy in the future: she needed to be prepared, to have multiple contingency plans. Never, ever again would she fail because she hadn’t thought a situation through.
After several long moments, she felt him tugging at her shoes. One by one, they dropped to the floor. It took every bit of concentration Piper possessed to keep her face slack and her limbs relaxed. This was the moment of truth; if there was any humanity in him, he would leave her like this, and wait until she regained consciousness to resume his amorous attentions.
His hands slid up her legs, lingered appreciatively on her thighs, then slid higher. His thumbs brushed the apex of her legs before they moved on to the snap of her jeans.
Gamble lost. She was dealing with a pervert who would strip and rape an unconscious woman. Piper’s eyes snapped open, and she kicked as hard as she could at his face.
Her foot caught his cheekbone a glancing blow, but without her shoes, all it did was arouse him again. He caught both her ankles, yanked her legs apart, then landed on her with his full weight. Piper’s air left her with a whoosh. He snagged her wrists and pinned them to the bed on either side of her head. When her struggles weakened, he braced himself on his forearms, still holding her wrists, and stared down at her.
Piper sucked in air and stared back. She was out of calculations, out of options. There was only one thing left for her to do: damage him as much as possible. She lifted her head, shifted her shoulders, and sank her teeth into his wrist as deeply as she could.
She never saw him swing, never saw the fist that exploded against the side of her head. Her ear popped excruciatingly, and the world spun with crazy colors. She was too dazed to stop him when he yanked her jeans and underwear off, then reached for the hem of her sweatshirt. She flailed at him weakly, thwarting his efforts, until he just fisted his hands in the neckline and tore it off her.
Piper curled into a ball and locked her arms around her knees, but he was relentless. Inch by painful inch, he pried apart her protective cocoon until he was once again sprawled on top of her. By now, she knew that fighting was only egging him on, only hurting her, but she could not stop. She would not make one thing about this easy for him.
“Piper,” he grated. He had her wrists pinned again, and he rose up off her so he could look down at her naked body, her sweatshirt hanging shredded and open from her shoulders. He shifted so that he held both her wrists in one hand, then coasted his hand from her neck to her thighs, lingering and stroking. Everywhere he touched, it felt like worms were squirming against her skin, burrowing into her, rotting her.
“I don’t want this to be rape,” he whispered, staring into her eyes. “Stop fighting me. Let me make this good for you. I can make it so good.”
End game. No way out. Piper closed her eyes, and felt tears stream out of the corners, tracking warm and wet down her temples. Taking a deep shuddering breath, she nodded. “Okay,” she whispered. “Okay.”
A deep, approving rumble shook his chest, and he nuzzled his face against hers. His mouth slid down her throat, and she turned her face towards him, nuzzling back, finding the edge of his jaw, then his throat, with her lips.
Then, with all the strength and rage in her, she lunged and latched her teeth onto his throat. She bit deep, deep, felt his blood spurt into her mouth, heard him roar.
His hand fastened around her throat, and still she hung on, determined to kill him or die trying. Finally, lack of oxygen broke her grip and she fell back against the pillows, clawing at his hand. Her vision darkened around the edges but he didn’t relinquish the crush-hold he had on her throat. She could feel his other hand fumbling at his pants, hear his animal growls of lust and pain, but it was all starting to seem very far away.
She stopped struggling, her hands falling limply at her sides. Alright, she thought. So this is it. At least I died trying.
He released her then, and as her body sucked in breath after desperate breath, he shoved her legs apart and tore into her brutally. Piper’s scream was long and anguished. Her last thought before she finally lost consciousness was that she would rather have died.