"Don't move until I tell you," a soft voice said behind him.
Chapter 2
Someone Else Lives
Dust froze, his eyes locked on the blazing red eyes of the devil dog even as he wanted to turn to the sound of the voice. It was the first voice other than his own that he'd heard in over a year. Afraid he was dreaming, he stood ready, holding the bloody pipe in front of him.
The beast took another step and snarled. White foam dripped from its mouth and its yellow teeth snapped as it moved through the doorway. Dust knew it was about to attack. The sound of the voice yelling for him to move echoed through the air at the same time as a thin shaft flew past his right shoulder.
He jumped to the side, sliding under a table that was bolted to the floor. His back hit the wall and he jerked his legs out of the way as the beast’s thick, black body slid across the few feet of cleared space on the dirty tile. He stared in shock at the two thick shafts of wood sticking out of its throat and upper chest. The beast's red eyes were blank and its jaw hung open as it pulled in its last breath of air.
Dust slowly scooted out from under the table, keeping his eyes on the creature just in case. He was rising to his feet when a movement behind the counter caught his attention. Turning, he held the dark gray pipe out in front of him. Two figures, one slightly taller than the other rose from behind an old display. Swallowing, Dust stared at the two dirty faces looking back at him with a combination of curiosity and fear. It took a moment for him to realize that the tall person was pointing one of the long arrows at him.
Dust waited, staring at the girl. He saw her swallow, but she didn't lower the bow in her hands. The small boy next to her scooted slightly behind her when Dust glanced at him. His gaze returned to the girl's face. He curled his fingers into a tight fist as a wave of dizziness washed through him. The hunger was beginning to become unbearable. He needed something to eat.
"Who are you?" Dust asked in a rusty voice, his eyes locked on the face of the young girl who seemed to be close to his own age.
Dust swayed as he waited for the girl to respond. He saw her swallow again and nervously bite her bottom lip. She still didn't lower the bow in her hands, even though he had dropped the pipe to his side. The small boy next to her stared back at Dust with a wide-eyed, curious expression. Dust kept his gaze fixed on the girl's face.
Dust: Before and After
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S.E. Smith is a New York Times, USA TODAY, International, and Award-Winning Bestselling author of science fiction, romance, fantasy, paranormal, and contemporary works for adults, young adults, and children. She enjoys writing a wide variety of genres that pull her readers into worlds that take them away.
S. E. Smith, Survivor Skills
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