Hope by Sam Crescent Read Free Book Online Page A

resistance.
    “Look, I know I told you that being alone was the worst
thing for you. Going with me is not a good idea,” he said.
    “Why not?”
    “I forgot to get my bag of food from Don. He always makes
sure his workers are well fed before distributing it out to the rest of the
area. It is how he works.”
    “I thought the area was his people,” she said.
    Damon growled at how little she knew about the world. “When
I get back I’ll tell you more about it, but I’ve got to go. Anyway, I’m
starving, and I bet you are, too.”
    She nodded her head, and her hand rubbed her stomach.
    “If I take you with me, the goods I have won’t be worth
shit. The owner will offer a trade, the food for a night with you.”
    Her eyes went wide as she stared at him. She shook her head
in denial.
    “Oh.”
    “Yes, oh.” He moved to the head of
the bed. Damon gave the plank of wood several knocks, and then the door to his
hide hole was opened. He pulled out a small knife and handed it to her. “I want
you to climb in there.”
    “What if there are spiders?” she asked.
    He frowned. “Stop being a coward.”
    “I’m not being a coward. Spiders bite, you know?” she asked.
    “So they’ll bite you. Climb in, and then when I get back you
can come out. If anyone breaks in, don’t show yourself. Let them ransack the
place. If they come in here and look like they’re going to come for you, then
use it. Got it?”
    She stared at the hole and then at him.
    “Are you sure I wouldn’t be better off coming with you?”
    “Do you want to trade your body for some food?”
    Penny took his hand and climbed into the hole. “God, I hate
this world.”
    “Don’t we all.”
    He put the wood back in place.
    “Are you okay?”
    “Besides being freaked out, I’m good.”
    Damon chuckled. “Take care. I’ll be back soon.”
    He left the bedroom, grabbed another weapon from his storage,
and left his apartment. He pointed the gun outside, slowly making his way out
of the building.
      He acknowledged the
people he passed with a nod of his head. The food store was at the back of the
old supermarket, in the basement. He opened the floors and walked down. Only
people who were in the know could find the place.
    The food store was run by Martin. He was a large man with
dark skin and black eyes. His muscles rivalled Damon’s. He had a lot of respect
for Martin as the other guy had helped him out of a few scrapes in the past.
    A couple of other men were at the store looking over the plastic
containers and fresh produce. Plastic hadn’t been destroyed, and it didn’t
degrade like other materials. Most of the food that could be preserved went
into plastic containers. Damon didn’t know if this was good or not. The food
was better than what the people had done before, taking that fucking blasted
pill.
    The fresh produce was given by Don. It didn’t stay fresh for long, and what little could be found was a true
pleasure. The farmers were doing everything they could to introduce more and
more vegetables to the area.
    “Hey, Damon, it has been a while since I’ve seen you here,”
Martin said. His arms were folded showing off an impressive bulge of muscle.
    Damon cracked his knuckles, grabbed a basket, and started
walking the aisles.
    “I forgot to pick up my load,” he said. Martin knew about
the supply of food to the closest workers for Don.
    Martin grunted, grabbing a couple of plastic containers and
putting them in the basket. “They’re the best we got.”
    Damon nodded his head accepting what he put in. Martin
wasn’t a bad guy, but like everyone else, he bargained for everything. Damon
didn’t hold that against him. In this world, everything needed to come at a
price.
    “I don’t suppose you heard about a group of young thugs? Not
from around here. Most of them wore sweaters with hoods?” Damon asked.
    Martin followed him around the store. From the frown on his
face, Damon knew the big guy was thinking.
    “No, I haven’t