P2 XXI

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"I think we should get you set up with a bed," Peter told her. He grabbed a bundle of blankets and guided her into the room where most of the camp sat scattered out.

Venus's eyes had finally started to adjust to the dim light. She noticed that most of the camp had separated into their factions. The techs were huddled in their own corner, and the hunters dominated their space.

She noticed Mars with the hunting group with his arm wrapped around Bridget.

Peter followed her gaze and asked, "Do you want me to set up your cot over by them?"

"No," She quickly replied, "I'd rather not."

She had enough of Bridget to last her a lifetime.

"Is there somewhere you'd prefer? Near Cas, maybe?"

Venus searched for her until she found her friend with her head resting in a dark-haired boy's shoulder. Venus wondered if he was the elusive Destin that she had heard so much about.

At first, Venus was ready to crash the tech group, until she remembered how excited Cas was about being near Destin's cot. She didn't want to be the third wheel in their little love fest.

"I think," Venus started to say as she glanced from Mars and Bridget to Cas and Destin, "I think I'd be better off on my own."

Peter looked around, to think of a better option that would make Venus more comfortable, before he asked, "Do...do you want to bunk next to me?"

Venus nodded, to his relief, and he guided her over to the spot he was planning to set up his own bedding.

"What does everyone do down here?" Venus asked as she looked around at all the young people sitting around and conversing with each other.

"There isn't as much for us to do down here. The security doesn't have to be as strong and since we are going to be living off mainly NEGS we don't really need cooks, hunter, and scavenger right now so we divide up the few chores that are left. Which is mostly keeping an inventory of the pantry, meeting up with our people on the outside, and watching the monitor."

"What monitor?" Venus asked.

"It's just a little video that's wired to a battery powered monitor. It's an eye to the outside. That way we know it's safe to send someone up when we need to. It also lets us know if something is getting uncomfortably close to the cave entrance."

"Has anything come uncomfortably close?" Venus nervously asked.

"If it had we wouldn't be in here," he told her.

"It seems odd that they haven't found you yet," Venus said.

Peter smirked as he started to roll out padding and blankets on the hard cold ground, "This forest is dangerously huge. If you wanted to get lost and never be found again, you could. And our movements are random, the only camp that is consistent is this one and even then the directions that we approach it every year isn't the same."

Venus sat down next to him to get the weight off her feet. he noticed the floor of the cave was wet with a gritty sandy material. The cave wasn't what she hoped for. he wasn't expecting perfection but it was colder, dirtier, and not the type of environment a young mother was hoping to bring her children into the world in.

Dread filled her as she realized she couldn't bring the twins into the world in the cave and she would have to make a trip up top before they came.

She started thinking about all the moves they would have to make after the babies were born. She knew Cas would help her with the babies, and probably even Peter, but what kind of life would that be for them? A nomad life living out of tents or caves? They were constantly on the run from a danger Venus hadn't seen in months. She wasn't even sure they were even looking for her anymore.

"Wouldn't it be more cost effective to find another two Breeders that looked similar to Mar and I, and have them breed to replace us?" Venus thought to herself.

As Venus thought about the future she saw a young man she recognized head toward them. His name was Shaw and he was Peter's right-hand guy. The only decision that Peter did discuss with Shaw was any decision that revolved around Venus. Peter had asked Shaw what he thought about rescuing Breeders and Shaw was against it. If it wasn't for Pepa, Peter wouldn't have done it either. Bring Breeders into their camp was too risky. But the risks didn't stop there. Peter decided to postpone the journey to the cave, because of Venus, on his own. In Shaw's eyes, Venus had clouded Peter's judgment and was too willing to risk the entire camp's safety for one girl.

"Peter," he announced as he approached. Shaw's voice, so deep that it rumbled in other people's chest.

Peter looked over his shoulder and smiled at his friend, "Shaw." Peter stood and embraced him.

"I was wanting to make sure everyone made it safely, this time," Shaw said as he shot a glance toward Venus. His voice was full of contempt and filled Venus with guilt. She knew he was talking about losing Pepa when she helped them escape. Even though Peter didn't hold her at fault, Shaw did.

"The hike could have gone smoother," Peter admitted, "but we made it. Anything new happens while I was gone?"

"I think maybe we should talk about it in private," Shaw quietly said, but not so quiet that Venus didn't hear.

"Right, I'll be right there," he told Shaw.

After Layland walked away, Peter turned back to Venus, "Will you be alright for a little bit?"

"Of course," she told him.

Peter followed Shaw until they were out of earshot of the group.

"What's wrong?" Peter instantly asked.

"After I made sure that the other was settled when we first got here I went to meet with, Trevon, he's our youngest liaison," Shaw informed him, "he was telling me that there was a bounty out for a couple of Breeders that escaped. He said, that they have started scouring the town looking for them and even offering a bounty to get them back."

"Did you tell him that we have them?"

Shaw shook his head, "No, he seemed a little too interested in the bounty. Apparently, it's a hefty price."

Peter let out a sigh and looked over his shoulder toward Venus before turning back to say, "It doesn't change anything. We are all wanted, just some of us more than others."

A/N:

Well, I think that's that. I will be stopping Part 2 here but like Part 1 & 2, Part 3 will continue on in this book so it's easier to find. Thank you so much for following Venus's journey and for all my faithful readers.

Reading_Mermaid08


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