Allies or Pawns

The compound had settled into a tense, uneasy rhythm as the evening sky deepened into twilight. The recent warning about Jace and Ellie's growing threat weighed heavily on the survivors. Patrols had been doubled, weapons checked and rechecked, and yet Leila still felt the gnawing sensation in the pit of her stomach—an instinctive dread that whispered: We're not ready. Not yet.

She stood by the main gates, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, fingers drumming against the fabric of her jacket. The faint scent of wood smoke clung to the air, mingling with the earthy dampness left by the melting snow. She wasn't alone—Kai stood at her right, hands resting lightly on his belt, scanning the darkening tree line with the practiced ease of a man always prepared for the worst. Mark flanked her left, shifting his weight impatiently, the strap of his rifle tight across his chest.

A low whistle came from the watchtower above them. "Movement," one of the sentries called out.

Leila's muscles tensed. She focused on the path ahead, barely visible beyond the fading light. A lone rider emerged from the tree line, their silhouette stark against the dusky horizon. The horse beneath them was thin but sturdy, its coat caked in dust, nostrils flaring as it carried its burden forward. The rider sat slouched in the saddle, their movements slow and deliberate, as if weighed down by exhaustion rather than fear.

"Hold fire," Leila ordered, voice steady. The sentries lowered their rifles but kept their fingers near the triggers.

The horse stopped just outside the barricade, hooves scraping against the dirt as the rider swung a leg over and dismounted with practiced ease. Up close, the man was lean, his face weathered and lined with fatigue. The dark scarf around his neck was tugged down to reveal a sharp jaw, unkempt stubble, and wary but intelligent eyes that flickered between the figures watching him.

Kai took a measured step forward, his voice firm but not immediately hostile. "Dismount, hands visible. No sudden moves."

The stranger raised his hands slightly, palms outward, as if to show he wasn't here to cause trouble. "No need for dramatics," he said, voice rough with the telltale rasp of someone who hadn't had enough water in days. "I'm not looking to die tonight."

Leila studied him carefully, her gaze sweeping over the dust-coated fabric of his jacket, the knife strapped to his thigh, the rifle slung over his back. He was armed but carried himself like someone who didn't intend to use those weapons unless absolutely necessary.

"Name," she demanded.

"Jonas Lorne," he answered without hesitation. "I'm from Red Pines. It's a settlement about a half-day's ride south of here."

Leila exchanged a quick glance with Mark, who furrowed his brows in thought. "Never heard of it," he muttered under his breath.

"That's intentional," Jonas admitted, shifting his stance slightly. "We keep to ourselves, stay off the main roads. We've managed to survive that way—at least, until recently." His gaze flickered toward the compound walls, the reinforced barriers standing tall against the backdrop of the darkening sky. "You've built something here. We've heard the rumors."

Leila kept her expression neutral, though her grip on her forearm tightened. The fact that people outside their usual trading network were hearing about their compound meant they were no longer a secret. That was dangerous.

"Why are you here?" she asked bluntly.

Jonas exhaled through his nose. "Because Jace and Ellie are out there."

The silence that followed was deafening.

A cold, leaden weight settled in Leila's gut, her entire body going rigid at the sound of their names spoken so casually, like an afterthought. The memories hit like a fist to the ribs—Jace's betrayal, Ellie's knife in her back, the department store, the gunfire, the searing rage that had nearly consumed her. She forced herself to breathe evenly, refusing to let her emotions dictate her next move.

Kai, however, caught the change in her posture. His gaze flickered toward her for the briefest moment before returning to Jonas. "You've had run-ins with them?"

Jonas let out a dry, humorless laugh. "If by 'run-ins' you mean they tore through a small enclave west of us like a goddamn wildfire, then yes. They didn't just raid it. They took it. Claimed it as theirs. Those who fought back were executed on the spot. The ones who surrendered? We don't know. Some were forced into their ranks. Others… weren't seen again." His jaw tightened, the memory clearly a fresh wound. "That was two weeks ago. We've been watching them ever since. They're expanding. Fast."

Leila's fingers curled into fists, nails pressing into her palms. This was worse than she'd anticipated. Jace and Ellie weren't just scavengers anymore. They were leaders. Conquerors.

Jonas met her gaze, his expression hard but sincere. "They're coming for you. And not just for supplies." His voice lowered slightly. "We've heard them talk. Your name comes up more than once."

A chill ran through her veins, though she forced herself to remain still.

Kai's voice cut through the tension. "And you're telling us this out of the kindness of your heart?"

Jonas scoffed. "Goodwill doesn't exist anymore. We want to survive. We figure the best way to do that is to work together. Alone, we're easy pickings. But if we combine forces…" He let the thought linger in the air. "We stand a chance."

Leila studied him. Alliances were a gamble, one she wasn't sure she could afford to take. Trust was something that had burned her, over and over.

Mark leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "If we let them in, we expose our defenses."

"If we don't," Darren countered from behind them, "we might be turning away the only shot we have at stopping Jace and Ellie before they get here."

Jonas didn't flinch at the hushed argument happening in front of him. He simply waited, patient, knowing the ball was in Leila's court.

She inhaled sharply, exhaling through gritted teeth. "What exactly are you proposing?"

"A meeting," Jonas answered immediately. "Neutral ground. A few representatives from each side. No weapons drawn unless necessary."

Leila raised a brow. That was a loaded statement. Weapons would be present—just hidden. Smart.

Her thoughts churned. This could be a trap. Could be a way to get them out in the open, expose weaknesses, bait them into a false sense of security.

But… if Red Pines was genuine in their fears… If they really had been watching Jace and Ellie take over settlements… If this was a real chance to win...

She turned to Kai, knowing he was the one person she could rely on to tell her the truth. "Thoughts?"

Kai's jaw was tense, his gaze unwavering. "I don't like it."

Leila exhaled, nodding slightly. "Me neither."

Jonas straightened. "But?"

"But we'll meet," she said finally.

The weight of the decision settled over the group. Some looked relieved. Others wary.

Jonas nodded. "I'll let my people know."

As the crowd dispersed, Leila felt Kai's presence linger beside her. His voice was softer this time. "You sure about this?"

"No," she admitted. "But if we don't do this, we'll never stand a chance."

Kai was silent for a long moment before he finally said, "Then we fight."

Leila tightened her grip on her rifle, staring out into the distance.

Whatever came next, they'd be ready.