Read Apocalypsis 03 - Exodus for Free Online

to tend to another patient.
    “What are they poking you for?” asked Peter, probably wondering like me if they were doing some weird-ass medicine man stuff on him.
    “Just redoing the bandages, seeing if there’s any pus in there.”
    Peter grimaced. “Sorry I asked.”
    Kowi smiled. “Hey, I’m not complaining. Being poked is better than the alternative.”
    “Not being poked?” I asked.
    He laughed. “No. Being too dead to bother poking.” Then his smile disappeared. “Oh, crap. Sorry, Bryn. I didn’t … mean anything by it.”
    I grinned madly at him. “No offense.”
    Kowi frowned at me and then looked at Peter. Peter was staring at me like I’d lost my mind.
    “Stop looking at me like that. Bodo’s not dead. I’d know it if he were.”
    Peter’s eyes got wide but he said nothing. Kowi cleared his throat but otherwise remained quiet. An uncomfortable silence fell over the area, so I said the first thing that came to mind, trying to change the subject.
    “So … canners. Some escaped …”
    Kowi glanced down at the journal he held in his hand and said, “Yeah.” He looked back up. “I’ve been reading some stuff in here, and I wanted to talk to you and Trip about it.”
    “Why me?” I asked.
    “Because I trust you to make good decisions for our welfare. You know how to fight better than any of us, and it’s always going to fall to you to make us ready for whatever comes.”
    I felt proud and pressured at the same time. It brought my happiness level down several notches.
    Peter slung his arm across my shoulders. “Bryn’s totally there for you guys, just like I am. But she needs time to recover. She’s been through a lot.”
    “We all have. I’m not saying she needs to do anything until she’s ready. But I’m worried those canners who got away will try and find us.”
    “How will they? They don’t even know where we came from,” said Peter.
    “We were all wearing moccasins and warpaint. It’s no mystery most of us are Native Americans; we can hardly hide that from anyone. And LaShay told us they have spies all over those neighborhoods, and most of them live in the area, so they know about the Miccosukee village and reservation. They probably saw us pulling up the minute we came near. It wouldn’t take long to put it all together with the direction we came from.”
    “Shit,” I said, the weight of his words sinking in. Our sanctuary has been compromised. “I’m so sorry.” I couldn’t think of anything else to say. It felt like it was all my doing.
    “It’s not your fault, so why are you apologizing?” said Kowi, sounding angry.
    “Because it feels like my fault, that’s why.”
    “So, you brought the canners to the area and forced them to hunt kids?” he said sarcastically.
    “No. But your lives were fine; everything was going well and then we showed up and the shit hit the fan.”
    “Coincidence. Just an unlucky coincidence.”
    I heard a hiss of breath behind me and turned to find Coli standing there, scowling.
    “Oh, Jesus,” I said, frustrated that I was going to have to deal with her. “Are you following me now?”
    “Coli, I’m not going to say it again,” warned Kowi. “You either get over your shit or don’t come in here anymore.”
    She glared at Kowi and then at me, looking like she was going to say something back; but instead she turned on her heel and left us all there. We watched her back fade into the trees.
    Kowi was shaking his head. “I honestly don’t know what to do with her.” He ran his fingers through his hair, making the tangles look even worse. “One minute she’s smiling and the next she looks like she wants to rip my face off.”
    I smiled. “I thought I was the only one she showered with affection like that.”
    Kowi laughed. “Hardly. Dealing with her mood swings is like being on an emotional roller coaster.”
    “Without a seatbelt,” added Peter.
    Kowi smiled but didn’t comment. “So, back to the journal.” He tapped