Page 7 of Sanctuary

“Yeah. Sure. But there’s no reason you can’t be smarter. That’s the only way you can beat him.”

I think about this for a long time, until I finally decide that Cole is right.

I can’t be tougher than Aidan. It’s never going to happen.

But I can definitely be smarter.

And who’s to say that won’t be enough.

2

For the next week,I stick close to home, doing small messenger jobs for the town, posting guard duty on the perimeter wall, and trying to decide how best to proceed with Aidan.

It’s not a bad week, but I’m already getting restless at the end of it.

Lately, I’ve been happier on the move. And other than Del and Cole, there’s not much for me in Monument.

The people in town are nice. They’re hardworking and practical and not particularly outgoing. They have little patience for superficial niceties, but they’re also kind and willing to help when they can. They took Del and I in when we were desperate and had little to offer, and I’ll always be grateful to them for that.

Del and Cole have made a home here. I’m not sure they’re ever planning to leave. I don’t feel the same, but it’s not because of Monument.

It’s because of me.

I’m not sure I’ll ever feel at home anywhere. With anyone.

And I’m not complaining. Safety and independence are all I ask for anymore, and I have both—at least, as much as anyone has either one in what the world has become.

Everyone in town has required work shifts and one day off a week, but I save up my days off so I can leave for longer jobs on my own. As long as I bring back some sort of provisions for the town, they don’t complain about me working freelance.

On Saturday, I have guard duty starting at midnight, but I’m done by midmorning and have the remainder of the day to myself.

I have an idea.

It’s bold. Presumptuous. Under normal circumstances, I’d immediately discount it as not being fair play, but Aidan has made it clear that fairness isn’t on his radar.

He doesn’t deserve to get away with poaching my jobs without any consequences.

So maybe I can poach from him too.

He already assumes I’m purposefully stealing his jobs, so I might as well do just that.

I stop by the community garden to find Del, who’s on a shift there this morning. I tell her where I’m heading and that I should be back before dark but if I don’t show up until tomorrow, she’s not to worry.

She’ll worry anyway, but there’s nothing I can do about that.

I spent most of my life worrying about her.

By cutting through the woods and over a couple of mountains instead of taking the roads, I save several hours of walking time. By the time the sun is high in the sky, I’m approaching a small river town, fortified by walls like every other community after Impact and noteworthy primarily because of dozens of small boats they have docked on the river.

The town is called Sharpsburg. Their location on a boatable river has given them an advantage in food and trade, and they’vebuilt connections with a number of other communities situated on the river.

If I can get an in with them, I’ll have more than enough jobs to fill my time.

The problem is they’ve been working with Aidan for years. They’ve given me a few minor jobs when I’ve stopped by to ask, but only ones he’s already turned down.

It’s time for that to change.

If he can take a job from me, then I can take one from him.

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