Read Online The Cellar: A Post-Apocalyptic Novella by Richard Dela Cruz - Free Book Online Page A

hands around her waist.
    “Watch it mister,” Lara said pertly. “Don’t let your hands go wandering off where they shouldn’t be.”
    He felt his mouth go dry. “Understood.”
    “I want you to hold on tight and stick close to me. Lean when and where I lean so we don’t wobble too much…”
    He couldn’t hear much after that. All he could think about was how warm and soft she felt, how good her hair smelled, how he wanted to bury his face in it. Next thing he knew they were on their way through the forest. He was literally in the dark as the robe flapped around him. He trusted that she had a good view as she peeked out the cowl.
    The movement was unsettling—especially when it went over the bumps. He’d never been on a vehicle in his life. He remembered there was a time when horses were still around to pull carts. But they were all dead by the time he turned six.
    He looked down for a moment. “I think the wheels are visible,” he whispered near her ear. “The hem is a few inches too high.”
    “It can’t be helped,” Lara replied. “I’ll just make sure we don’t get too close for anyone to notice.”
    They rolled along in silence for several minutes—until both of them heard a cry of alarm. Lara slowed the vehicle down to a crawl.
    “Why are you slowing down?” he asked, trying to keep his voice low.
    “There are several people up ahead. If I go too fast it might make the wheels more obvious.”
    “What do they look like?”
    “Like people.”
    “Could you at least try to describe them?”
    “Well, there’s a bearded bald guy with scars on his face and his toothless girlfriend has half her head shaved.”
    “Oh shit!” Daren exclaimed. “We’re screwed.”
    “Friends of yours?”
    “I threw dirt in baldy’s face. And I’m the reason why semi-baldy lost her teeth.”
    “You need to work on your people skills.”
    “Duly noted,” Daren retorted. “What are they doing?”
    “I don’t like this.” Fear crept into Lara’s voice. “They’re not reacting like people normally do. They’re not running away.”
    “It’s our wheels. They can see them.”
    “I should light more glowsticks.” He felt Lara reach for her pockets. “Maybe we’ll look more ghostly that way.”
    Daren heard boots breaking twigs from somewhere behind. Someone was sneaking up on them. He saw the distant flicker of a torch from underneath the robe.
    “Let’s go, dammit!”
    “Not yet,” said Lara. “We might still be able to pull this off if we keep calm.”
    There was a whizzing noise. Daren knew what it was the moment he heard it. His fears were confirmed when he heard an arrow hit the ground right beside them. A second whizz pierced the air and another arrow landed nearby.
    “They’re shooting at us!”
    “I am aware,” Lara snapped at him. “But the fact that they haven’t charged at us means they’re still scared.”
    “Obviously not scared enough to avoid sticking an arrow in us.”
    Daren heard something rip. He closed his eyes and prayed it wasn’t what he thought it was. But the shift in the backpack’s weight told him all he needed to know. If he removed his arms from Lara’s waist to fix the problem he’d lose his balance and their cover would be blown. He felt Lara flinch as she registered the sound.
    “What was that?” she asked.
    “My shoulder strap. I think it’s coming off.”
    “No.” Lara’s voice shook. “Not now.”
    “Let’s get the hell out of here, Lara.” He squeezed her tighter.
    As the vehicle went faster, Daren heard shouts all around him. He heard Bryson give orders to the others. The sound of running feet got closer. Lara was going over uneven ground, and he felt jostled as she tried to navigate at a higher speed.
    “Light it!” Bryson’s voice rang out clearly.
    “Oh no!” Lara shouted.
    “What’s wrong? What’s ha—”
    A flaming arrow shot through the back hem. The robe instantly caught fire and threatened to engulf both of them. Lara