The Truth About Cinder Read online

  "You did well, Cinder. I'm happy you were our leader and—"

  Cinder cut Maysa off by raising her hand and motioning for silence. She thought she heard something. Footsteps?

  "Get your shoes on," she whispered. "Everyone, get your stuff and get ready to run on my word." Cinder paused, listening for the sound again. The women scurried to collect their items and stood with terror on their faces.

  Silence.

  She listened hard, only hearing her breath and the heavy breathing of the women.

  Silence.

  And then the words…

  "Stay right where you are." A man walked into the room with an axe in his hand.

  Cinder turned to Maysa. "Run! Run now and don't look back. Take them and run! I'll hold him off."

  Maysa hesitated.

  "Go! Everyone run!" Cinder screamed.

  The man charged, but Cinder met his attack head on. She plowed into his body with all her weight, knocking them both to the ground. She could see that the women had escaped from the corner of her eye which was all she cared about. These women were hers to protect. It was her responsibility.

  She would do whatever it took to protect them. She was their leader.

  Before she could register relief, the man's fist hit her face with a storming force. Bolts of light blurred her vision from the power of the blow. Blood seeped from her nose as her attacker punched her again and again like a ravaging beast. The evil in his eyes shone in the dim light of the abandoned building. The rot of his teeth and the stench of his breath only enhanced the nightmare Cinder couldn't wake from. This monster was decaying with the rest of the world, but it was clear his soul and any human decency had already disappeared.

  Seeing her blood splattered on the ground, she struggled to her feet, but he was suddenly on top of her, restraining her on the sand-covered floor, his filthy clad thighs prying her legs apart. She tried not to focus on the crazed face looming over her. His hungry eyes laced with evil made it clear he wanted more than just murder and mayhem.

  He would rape her. He would rape her and then he would kill her. Cinder was sure she wasn’t his first victim and most certainly wouldn’t be his last. There were thousands like this man. The world had created them. A new breed. A sick and twisted version of what man once was.

  His mouth came down toward her face, dried spit and crusted sand at the corners. She blocked the forced vile touch with both hands, flaying his skin with her nails as she attempted to claw out his eyes. Cinder fought the urge to let out a scream, she feared Maysa or the others would come back to try to save her. She wouldn't allow that. She wouldn't allow them all to die. She had no choice but to save herself. Even if she died, this man wouldn't walk away unscathed.

  She would kill him if she could.

  She would die fighting and bring this man with her to the depths of hell.

  He hissed between his missing teeth, beads of foul sweat dripped off the tip of his filthy nose. Sweat oozed from every pore of his body. Clearly fatigue had set in. Cinder could feel his strength weakening with every defensive move she made. His depraved desires clouded his mind. Hope washed over her. She could still fight him off. She just needed to outlast his vigor. Resilience and wits could switch this situation around. She wouldn't stop fighting until he killed her.

  "You are nothing but a whore! You know you want it just as bad as me. You're one of the harem girls. We've heard all about the harem girls. You want it! Stop fighting!"

  Breathing hard, his desert-worn body wheezed with every struggle. He had her detained on the hot, sandy floor, but Cinder knew she had a chance to break free as his sexual need overpowered everything else. Nutrition, rest, and exercise at the palace had made her strong. She thrashed her body more, refusing to look at his lust-filled face only inches from her own. As the battle continued, she suddenly doubted that strength alone would fight him off. Cinder feared he would eventually win. She needed something—

  His axe. She needed to reach his axe.

  She had sent it flying across the room when she’d met his attack head on. If only she could stretch out her arm just a little further, the weapon would be within reach. She needed to struggle more. Just a little bit more.

  "Stop fighting! I'll kill you if I have to!" Spittle splattered Cinder's face. Nausea roiled through her.

  His soiled hands grabbed her breasts. Lust distracted him, slowly letting his guard down. "You know you want this. This is what you women are trained for. I heard all about the harem," he murmured, despicable vile warred with lust in his voice. "It's been so long. So long. So long!"

  Cinder opened her mouth to scream, but stifled her voice. Her only chance of getting out of this alive was to outsmart him. Catch him off guard.

  Reach for the axe.

  "I used to be a ladies' man," he continued, moving a hand to unbutton his pants. "I promise you, I'll make you feel good. Real good. I know you're experienced, but I can teach you a thing or two."

  She managed to fake a smile and nod.

  "Just stop fighting me," he spat. "Spread your legs. You want me, don't you?"

  "Yes," she whispered, the word almost burning her tongue. “You’re right. I’m a harem girl. I know exactly what to do.”

  His severe stare searched her face. "You're not going to fight, right? You're going to stay right here where you belong and let me fuck that tight pussy of yours?"

  She managed another weak nod and an even bigger smile.

  He returned the smile, a sneer that revealed gaps where teeth once were. His thighs relaxed, loosening their hold on her lower body.

  Cinder forced herself to be patient. She had to wait for just the right opportunity to strike. She knew she would have only one chance. Cinder would die before she'd let the monster take her.

  The man slowly shifted so he could lower his pants.

  Axe. There was the axe.

  She smiled one last time before she shoved him away, rolled toward the axe, and swung. It happened so quick, Cinder didn't have time to think. She let out an animalistic growl as she struck the axe into his chest.

  Blood sputtered from his mouth as he glanced down at his body in horror. She'd just missed his heart. Blood poured from the wound. His blood-shot eyes flashed with rage as he knocked the axe out of her hand, sending it flying across the room once again.

  Turning her head, she saw the axe lying across the room. Wincing, she managed to fight her way into a standing position, head still spinning from the battering blows to her face. She drew in a deep breath, stumbling as she made her way across the room.

  Cinder stood inches from the axe when her attacker shot up from the floor, evidently thinking the same as her. Not giving him the chance, she launched herself the remaining distance and grabbed the axe before the vile fiend could react.

  Foolishly, the man lunged at Cinder—no doubt hoping he could wrestle the weapon from her grasp. Had he forgotten he spurted blood from his wound, that he was growing weaker by the moment? Without hesitation, she swung the ax at him again, watching as he bowed back to avoid the cutting blade before moving forward again. Seeing his crazed eyes, she pulled the axe back, changing the angle of her swing and then slashed at his filthy cock. Yes, she would deliver the final blow to his piece of shit dick that he’d nearly violated her with.

  Blood shot out from his private region as the man howled in agony.

  Die motherfucker.

  Die a dickless monster.

  Vomit rose in the back of her throat as her attacker fell to the floor. Cinder began to tremble so hard her teeth chattered. Tears nearly blinded her. He was dead! She’d killed a man!

  Blood. So much blood. Blood everywhere. She’d killed another person. She’d killed a living breathing human.

  No. She’d slayed the dragon. Just like in a fairytale.

  The villain was dead.

  Happily Ever After.

  Happily Ever Fucking After.

  12

  “Are you all right?”

 
The sound of another man's voice brought tears to her eyes. Someone else was here! Help… a miracle… someone.

  Cinder shifted her head to see a man looming in the shadows of the room. His silhouette exuded power. His deep voice possessed strength. This man could be another attacker… and yet, she didn’t quite feel he was.

  He approached Cinder with caution, his hands open to show he meant no harm. He acted as if he were walking toward a wounded wild animal. "Give me the axe. Everything's going to be okay." The shadowed man touched her forearm tentatively. Her head swirled in confusion. She looked down and saw that her bloodied hand still gripped the axe, scarlet now from blood she had spilled.

  Murderer. She had become a murderer.

  "He's dead and can’t hurt you any longer.” When Cinder didn’t immediately hand over the weapon, he added, “I'm not going to hurt you. Just give me the axe." The gentleness of his voice somehow soothed her. Maybe foolishly, she handed it to him, looking him straight in the eyes. She knew at that very moment, she was in safe hands.

  "How badly are you hurt?" he asked as he scanned for injuries.

  She stared at her hands. Parts of her felt numb, while other parts radiated in pain. Cinder looked into his eyes and began to cry. He hesitated for a moment, but wrapped his arms around her beaten body. She clung to him as she sobbed, shaking violently. No longer able to stand, her knees buckled. The stranger gently lowered them both to the floor as he pulled away enough so he could look into her face.

  "What are you doing here?" he hissed.

  The harshness of the question confused her. Cinder sucked back the last sob, and quickly tried to regain her composure. "The Palace of Lazar is under attack by Jaden. We came here for safety, until reinforcements come."

  "Who are we?"

  "Women of the harem. We were split up so it would be harder to be captured. There's a bounty on our…" She paused, wishing she hadn't released the information.

  "Why here? This commune was evacuated years ago. The resources have long dried up." Any sign of softness from this stranger became a distant memory.

  "I don't know," she said. "We were told to go west and stop at the first commune. We did as we were told."

  "Where are the rest of the women?" he asked, tension blanketing his face.

  "I don't know. They ran when the man attacked."

  "Why didn't you run?"

  She shrugged. "I wanted to give them a head start. I thought more men might come."

  The man stood and began to pace. "What's your name?"

  "Cinder."

  "And you say Jaden is attacking the palace? Word is, Jaden is conquering communes effortlessly and savagely. No survivors."

  Cinder tried not to listen or believe. She wouldn't allow panic to set in on just a rumor. "The harem was sent out before the army of Jaden arrived. Lazar will not go down without a fight."

  "What do you plan on doing now?" His tone sharpened with each question. "This commune's no place for you. It's dangerous."

  She glanced up into his eyes. For the first time since leaving Donte, the feeling of hope took over. The foreign sensation caused her voice to quiver. "Are there people here? People who could help us?"

  "The people who didn't migrate when the land dried up are just like the one who almost killed you. Is that what you're looking for?" His response stung like a slap to the face. He seemed annoyed that he even had to answer her question.

  "What's your name?”

  A muscle clenched in his jaw, forcing him to bite out the answer. "Nico. You didn't answer my question," he barked. "What do you plan on doing now?"

  Her tongue stuck to the roof her mouth. Desperate for water, she swallowed hard against the lump that threatened to choke her. "I don't know. I need to find the others. I need to learn what might have happened to Lazar." She shut out the fear of the unknown with a shiver and folded her arms across her chest.

  She glanced at the dead body lying face down with a pool of blood beneath it. She couldn't stay here. The thought of it made her sick. An idea came to her that seemed about as crazy as coming into a death ravished commune with five women. But in her current situation, what did she have to lose?

  Quickly, before she lost her nerve, she asked, "May I go with you? May I stay with you tonight?"

  Slowly, he turned his head to look at her, his gaze flat and unblinking. "With me?" he repeated. "Have you lost your mind? How do you know I won't try to do the same thing that dead guy tried? Or worse?"

  "You wouldn't." Cinder's head ached, so she pressed her hand against it to ease the pain. "You would've already made your move by now if that was your plan." When he didn't reply, she continued on. "It's almost dark. Just let me stay with you for one night and then I'll be on my way. Please."

  Very deliberately, carefully, Nico spoke. "One night. Tomorrow morning you find the other women and leave. You continue to head further west. There's a farming commune about a two days walk. Are we clear?"

  She hesitated. "I promise I'll be out of your hair first thing." She had no intention of making any promises she couldn't, or wouldn't, keep. She needed to get back to Donte or die trying. But she wasn't foolish enough to reveal that fact.

  "Can you walk?" he asked as he held out his hand to her. "We need to get out of here."

  13

  Early the next morning, the sun shone brightly through the glass greenhouse Nico had brought her to last night. Cinder let out a slight groan and shielded her eyes from the bright rays. Her head still pounded from the night before. She squirmed from underneath Nico's protective embrace, something he must have done in his sleep. No way would he have done that awake… or would he?

  She sat up and briefly scanned her surroundings, noticing broken pots and the remains of dead plants scattered around. Gardening tools hung on hooks and a pair of gloves sat on a wooden table. Leftover signs of human life caused Cinder to want to cry. She could envision someone gardening in here at one time. Cinder bowed her head and hugged herself against the bitter cold as she turned her head and watched Nico still sleeping peacefully beside her.

  She reached over and brushed away the few strands of his dark brown hair that fell over his eyes, allowing her fingertips to brush against his sun-kissed skin. It was odd touching a complete stranger, but she needed to do so to feel this was all real and not some kind of dark dream. She thought of all that happened last night, and knew that she was truly lucky he wasn’t another attacker. She barely knew him, yet for some reason she felt she could trust him. Tears welled up at the corners of her eyes while she watched him sleep beneath the bright sun. She wondered if Donte was safe. Had he survived the attack? Was Nico correct when he said Jaden conquered all, and there would be no survivors? She shook the horrible thoughts away.

  No. Donte was alive. He had to be alive. The prince? The guards? The rest of the harem? Everyone had to still be alive. They had to be.

  Nico moved his head, moaning as he awoke. He opened his eyes and looked directly into Cinder's.

  "Hey," he breathed. Pushing himself into a more upright position, he ran his fingers through his tousled hair while he let out a tired yawn and stretched out his muscles. "How long have you been awake?”

  "Not long. My head and the aches in my body woke me up," she managed to say.

  Nico scanned her face and head, no doubt taking stock of all her cuts and bruises from the attack.

  “Are you cold?” he asked.

  Cinder shrugged. She didn’t want to lie, but she also didn’t want to be a burden.

  Concerned, he pulled Cinder close to him. "Come on," he said as he helped her up and wrapped the blanket they had shared last night around her shoulders. "Let's get you out of here."

  Cinder held on to Nico, surprised by how drained she felt. She winced when a sharp pain shot through her head, causing her to almost black out. Without meaning to, she rested her head upon Nico's shoulder.

  "I'm dizzy, Nico. I feel really weak," she admitted as she gazed up at him. Any strength she had
prior seemed to have escaped her.

  "You'll be fine," he reassured. "I'll make sure of it."

  Cinder smiled and kept a tight hold of his arm. "Thank you," she murmured.

  He paused briefly, then scooped her up into his arms. "We need to get some food in you."

  She squinted against the sun as Nico carried her out on to the street, quickly making his way past a row of housing. Everywhere she looked, shuttered houses surrounded them. She let out an uneasy breath and grimaced upon noticing how run down and destroyed the structures had become. This was a far cry from the opulence of Lazar. She couldn't believe the condition of the dirty street Nico carried her down. It had been a while since she'd seen such filth, but she also knew that she would have to learn to accept it. At least until she found the rest of the women. Then she wasn't sure if she'd stay and wait for Donte as he ordered, or if she should go back to Lazar and find him.

  Nico stopped in front of a rundown building about a mile away from where they had spent the night.

  "This is the place we're going to be staying in?" Cinder asked nervously as she glanced up at the building, taking in the once elegant façade beat down by apocalyptic elements that had ended everything. It looked like it once belonged to a leader or wealthy resident of the commune.

  "Yes," he said, looking down at her with a worried expression. "It's not as nice as I'd like to take you, but we need to get off the street and get you inside. I know it's secure."

  "Okay," she said, feeling safer than she had since leaving Lazar.

  Nico led her up the stone steps and through the front door. The wallpaper was peeling. A horrible stench filled the air. Cinder hoped it wasn't death and there weren't any dead bodies lying around. Dust and cobwebs engulfed the front room, a sad contrast to the place of grandeur she imagined it had once been. Mankind had not stepped foot through these doors for quite some time. Cinder flinched when she noticed cockroaches scurrying across the floor, which only caused her to press against Nico's chest even further. Nico glanced down at her and gave a reassuring smile as he carried her towards the stairs.