Free THEM (Season 1): Episode 1 by M.D. Massey

way.
    She reached out for the light, then pulled her hand back as she got close to touching it. “It’s not hot,” she said with a hint of surprise in her voice.
    “No, LED lights don’t get hot. They were just starting to become popular, before the Great War. They don’t use as much electricity, and they don’t put off heat. Supposed to be better for the environment.” She looked at me quizzically. “Before the War, people were concerned that we were messing up the planet with chemicals and whatnot that were floating off into the atmosphere—the air—from the fuels we burned to make electricity and to power our cars. People were worried we were ruining the planet.”
    She shook her head. “I’ll never understand people before the War. Dropping bombs all over is a funny way to save the planet.”
    I chuckled and nodded. “Well, it certainly solved our greenhouse problem. You hungry?”
    That perked her up considerably, but only for a moment. Then her eyes hardened, and she looked at me with more than a bit of distrust. I saw her hand edge toward the small .22 pistol at her hip, ever so slightly and slowly. “I don’t have anything to trade, mister. And I don’t do what those kids do in the punter camps, so don’t even think about it.”
    I turned away, ignoring her reaction with my body language while watching her with my peripheral vision to make sure she didn’t try to shoot me and steal my food. “I’m not asking for anything in return. You look like you haven’t eaten in a while, and I know how that feels. I have enough to share.”
    Since she didn’t make a move, I reached into my pack and pulled out some jerky and some flatbread I made from ground pecans, acorns, and cattail flour. It didn’t taste like much, but it was filling, and the ingredients were easy to find in these parts. I handed a few pieces of each over to her, and she snatched them away hesitantly.
    “Eat slowly. I’d nibble on the bread first, let your stomach get used to it, otherwise you’ll be throwing it back up.”
    She nodded and did as I instructed, but I noticed that she took a good hunk of the jerky in her mouth as well, chewing slowly and savoring the sensation of having food in her mouth. One of the tricks you learn when food is scarce is to chew everything slowly and thoroughly. For one, it helps break down your food completely, so your body can get as much nutrition from it as possible. Second, it helps so that you begin feeling full while you’re still eating. That way you don’t squander your rations on just a few meals.
    “I’m Aidan. Some folks call me Sully.”
    “I know who you are—at least, I was pretty sure before you said so. Not many Mexican hunters out here that talk like a gringo, and the axe sort of gave it away. My tío used to talk about you. He said you were the best hunter around, and a little crazy.”
    I laughed. “Well, to be honest I sort of try to make people think I’m a little crazy. Reputation is everything in this business, and if people think you’re both crazy and dangerous, they’re less likely to try to put a knife or bullet in your back when you’re not looking.” I waited for a moment, but she didn’t seem inclined to reply. Not wanting to push or pry, I left her to her meal in silence. Truth be told, I was starting to like this kid. Most kids you couldn’t shut up, and I liked the quiet. Not to mention that being quiet was a survival skill. You can’t listen when you’re talking all the time, makes it easy to miss what’s going on around you.
    I studied the map Sam had given me for a moment, then waited for the girl to finish eating. After she was done, I laid out my bedroll and tucked my rifle back on the other side of me against the wall. After the kid got settled in, I turned out the lamp, reclining with one of the Glocks on my chest.
    A couple of minutes later, she spoke up again. “My name is Gabby.”
    “Short for Gabriella?”
    “Yeah, but I go by