Our heavy breathing fills the silent still air. Ignoring the skeletons of different animals we pass, I focus on the beautiful forest around us. This is one of the few forests they never managed to burn down or clear.

It's beautiful but I'm too petrified to appreciate it.

'How much longer? My back is about to break under the weight of this bag,' Cas grumbles behind me as we continue to walk uphill on the rocky, uneven ground.

'That's what happens when you load a bag with half a house,' Roman mutters. 'This isn't a holiday, you don't need to collect souvenirs.'

'One, this is the closest thing I will experience to a holiday and two, I don't know what souvenirs are. I have gifts for everyone back home. I got a bunch of baby clothes and children's toys, some really interesting looking board games and DVDs. It's about time we expand our movie night selection.'

'You could have found all that in the town near us,' Roman says flatly.

'Could have, should have, blah blah. You, Bo and Kit all sound the same,' Cas huffs. 'Anyway, Dolly only lets me take fun stuff if we have space after we collect the useful stuff and we never have space.'

'Organise an outing with some of the others where you go looking for fun stuff then,' Roman says.

There's silence for a bit then Cas says, 'You'd let me do that?'

'Of course. Haiden and Kit went out to collect seeds. Admittedly, it didn't go as planned but once everything settles with Klein, there's no reason you can't go out with others, as long as you arm yourself appropriately and notify us that you're leaving so we don't worry.'

'I didn't think you'd trust me enough to let me lead something.'

'We trust you, Cas, it's why we ask so much of you,' Roman sighs.

'Wow, this holiday has been a real bonding experience, Roman. I now see you as a human being rather than an authority figure I despise,' Cas says.

Roman mumbles something under his breath which I don't hear.

'Do you think things will settle with Klein?' I ask.

'Me and Ethel will have to sort something out,' Roman says unconvincingly. 'Quiet now. The village is just ahead.'

The village isn't anything like I imagined. In my head, I pictured something similar to the Naturalist settlement.

This place looks like a brand new town.

Two-storey houses with large glass windows are scattered on a slope overlooking a large grassy area with a playground. Several children are playing in the playground, while older children stand around talking.

Everything looks so normal.

The three of us are crouched down on the edge of the forest, hidden by a fallen tree.

'This place looks amazing,' Cas whispers. 'I'm not going to lie, from what I've heard about this place, I imagined everyone naked and men pumping women at every available minute. I may have also imagined a fire, one they jump over naked.'

'This isn't a demented version of The Wicker Man.' Roman shakes his head.

'What's The Wicker Man?' I ask.

'A really creepy but very good film. We'll watch it when we get back,' Cas says. 'Now, what's the plan?'

'Klein's house is there,' Roman gestures at a house on the edge. 'I doubt he will keep them there though.'

'How big is this place?' I ask.

'It has about fifty houses all with a similar layout. Living area and bathroom downstairs, two rooms upstairs.' Roman takes off his bag, opens it and pulls out his gun. 'Let's watch and wait for a bit.'

Staring at the playground, it reminds me of the time me and Zach stopped at one. Most of it was rusty, the swings creaked and swung jerkily, the roundabout hardly moved and the slide left brown marks all over my hands and clothes. Yet we spent hours there; talking, laughing and kissing. We'd had fun.

Both of us had fun. I'm sure of it.

I shake away the memory and look through the windows of the houses which give me glimpses of family life. People reading, talking, playing with children. It reminds me of my family; of Mattan who's about to have his own.

I'm an emotional memory wreck.

I exhale shakily and focus on Klein's house. It's dark and still.

'Is the grassy area where they light the fire to jump over whilst naked?' Cas asks.

Roman sighs but doesn't respond.

'Are there armed guards monitoring the village?' Cas asks.

'There are guards allocated to stand at the road leading into the village but they don't walk around the village.'

'And none of the victims of Klein and his gang of rapists try to escape?' Casa asks surprised.

Roman rubs his forehead. 'No. Klein is manipulative, he'll play on your weaknesses and twist everything so you think you have no better options. Also, he's ensured everyday life is comfortable which further prevents people wanting to leave.'

'This place is making me want to punch myself in the ovaries,' Cas murmurs.

'Why?' I ask confused.

'Because I don't want to get pregnant for at least another fifteen to twenty years, but the amount of pregnant teenagers I'm seeing is making me think it's contagious around here,' Cas shudders, gesturing towards the playground.

I squint and notice Cas is right. There are several teenage girls in the playground who look heavily pregnant. Are some of those younger children theirs? I assumed they were siblings.

'It's no joke, Cas. Children shouldn't be having children,' Roman says sombrely.

'Some would argue as soon as you reach puberty that's natures way of indicating your body is ready. Also, throughout history lots of countries and cultures allowed marriage and sex to occur once a child had hit puberty,' I say.

Cas arches an eyebrow and Roman frowns. 'You agree with what is happening here?'

'No, I don't.' I shake my head. 'When I was nine the council leaders where I lived held a meeting about what the minimum age should be in regards to people settling. A fourteen-year-old boy and a fifteen-year-old girl wanted to settle but people felt they were both too young. The argument the girl and boy used were that if your body is capable of making children than it should be allowed.' I look at the children playing. 'The parents kicked up a massive fuss so the council leaders set a minimum age of sixteen. Even sixteen seems too young. My body may be capable of carrying a child but my mind is definitely not ready to bring one up.'

'Exactly. And even when you are ready, you should choose who that happens with not raped by some pervert. Who knows how many of those girls are victims of Klein or the others,' Roman spits

'Roman seriously you go from normal to intense in a second. We get it,' Cas says. 'No one thinks rape is ok.'

'You'd be surprised,' Roman says.

We continue sitting and watching. The sun disappears completely and dim lights turn on; illuminating a path weaving around the houses. Everyone has gone inside, most of the houses go dark as people go to bed.

No one walks into or out of Klein's house the entire time.

'Doesn't look like there's anyone at Kleins,' Cas says.

'I know.' Roman frowns. 'We're going to have to look around.'

'Any idea where else they could be?' I ask.

Roman looks around as though he'll able to see an answer. 'No. Cas, stay here. If we don't come back by sunrise you leave. No matter what.'

'You can't seriously expect me to sit here and do nothing?' Cas says.

'You're keeping watch on Klein's house.'

'You mean I'm going to watch Klein's house while you two get caught.' Cas folds her arms across her chest.

'Cas, don't make me regret bringing you,' Roman hisses.

'Fine. I'll stare pointlessly at Klein's house.' Cas pulls out a large knife from a side pocket of her bag. 'Not exactly a gun but it will have to do if I need to defend myself.'

I retrieve my gun and drop my bag on the floor. Roman stands and gestures for me to follow him. We walk along the edge of the forest which borders the village.

'Do you definitely think they're not at Klein's?' I whisper.

'There would be some activity if the two of them were being kept there,' Roman says.

Branches crunch underfoot, rocks clatter when we disturb them. Occasionally, we stop to listen for any signs of people or to step closer and peer at the houses, looking for some indication of Zach and Raz. Most houses are dark, a few have lights shining on people sitting on a chair or sofa.

The calm and peaceful surroundings make it hard for me to associate this place with everything I've been told takes place here.

I guess that's the problem. Abuse can happen anywhere.

A wide path splits in front of us. One way curves into the village and the other bends in the opposite direction, leading into the forest. We walk under the trail of lights bathing the path in a soft glow and follow it deeper into the forest.

Abruptly, Roman grabs my arm and pulls me off the path and behind a tree lining the path. Roman gestures ahead of us and I see several huts.

Roman shakes his head. 'I completely forgot about these buildings. Ethel told me Klein set up an area which people could use for private meetings. In reality, Klein set it up to hide his activities from the others. After Doll's accusations, he didn't want to bring women to his house anymore or been seen going into their houses.'

'And no one is questioning why he's set up secluded private places far away from the village?'

'Would you?' Roman glances at me.

'I'd think it's odd.'

'So if me or Ethel had told you we had a few huts which people could use for privacy, are you telling me you and Zach wouldn't have used them?' Roman arches an eyebrow.

'I'm not saying I wouldn't use them. I'd just think it was odd. Especially, if you started asking me to meet you for private meetings.'

'Klein doesn't ask. He's more clever than that. He gets them to ask.' Roman walks towards the huts slowly.

Our breathing is too loud. The sound of branches snapping under our feet is too loud. Every muscle tenses waiting for a person to come running and shooting in our direction.

No one comes.

At the huts, there are no guards. No signs of life.

'Look inside the windows,' Roman whispers.

'Ok.' Peering into windows, I can't see through any of them. I glance at Roman who is peering in through another window. 'See anything?'

'No, they're covered on the inside,' Roman hisses. 'We're going to have to try the doors. Get ready with your gun.'

I nod and clench the gun in my hands tightly. Roman slowly turns the handle while I watch for any signs of Klein or his people. Roman goes in and comes out a minute later. 'Nothing, let's try the next one.'

Roman opens the door and goes inside the next one. My heart is beating too fast, my hands are clammy, the gun slips within my grip. Roman returns without saying anything. He's found nothing.

We run to the next hut. Roman opens the door and curses. I look over his shoulder to see Raz and Zach tied to chairs; both their mouths are bound with fabric.

Ras and Zachs' eyes widen when they see us. They start to shout but their words are muffled against the wad of material covering their mouths.

Me and Roman run forward, tucking our guns into our waistbands. I start to untie the gag around Zach's mouth and Roman does Raz's. My trembling fingers struggle to unknot the tightly bound fabric and Roman seems to be having the same trouble. Raz and Zach shake their head, both desperately trying to speak.

'You took your time,' a voice says from behind us.

I reach for my gun.

'Don't touch your weapons or we'll shoot,' the voice snaps. 'Slowly raise your hands, place them on the back of your heads and kneel slowly.'

I look at Roman who nods at me. We both slowly raise our hands and place them on our heads while kneeling.

Turning my head, I see Klein standing at the other end of the room, his gun pointed at me, along with three other men all with their guns aimed at us.

'Take their guns and check them for more weapons,' Klein orders.

Two of the men approach and take the guns tucked into our waistbands. A pair of hands grope my body. I bite my lip and close my eyes, holding my breath as I wait for the invasion of body to cease.

The man steps away. 'No more weapons.'

'Nice plan by the way, Roman, setting Zach's people on us. Not great for us because it means I'm going to have to think of a way to increase our protection and stop them from taking Kit. I don't have the luxury of a fence like you, not that it helped Faith and her unborn child.' Klein sighs.

Raz starts to shake. Straining against the restraints, he starts to shout. I don't need to understand the muffled words to know he's cursing Klein.

Klein waves his hand dismissively. 'Raz, you really need to stop wasting energy. I told you we'll release you when you see sense. Your parents want you back with them, your younger siblings want their big brother back.'

Raz continues to strain. His face is contorted with anger, his eyes fixed on Klein. My gaze drifts to Zach who is staring at me, his brow is creased and he doesn't look happy to see me.
The look takes me by surprise.

'I have to say, I'm surprised you're here. I thought the message Ethel sent was a ruse, her way of trying to get us to leave. I wouldn't have left my best trackers watching your community if I knew Kit would come to us.'

'Your trackers are going downhill if they're your best ones. We walked out with no trouble,' Roman snarls.

'My instructions were for them to stop anyone entering your community not to stop people leaving. I thought there was a chance you or Ethel would send someone to come after the boys and try to bring them back. I didn't realise you'd send the very girl I wanted.' Klein grins. 'Tie him up. Kit, you'll come with me. I finally have a chance to show you what your future could look like.'

My breath falters, my stomach curdles and my whole body starts to shake. Roman looks up at me, his mouth in a firm line. Zach strains against his restraints, his muffled shouts filling the air.

A man approaches Roman and grabs his hands but Roman jerks to the side, slamming into his body. They grapple, I hear shouts, a crack explodes through the small space.

My ears are ringing as Roman slumps to the floor.

'No,' I scream.

My hands drop from my head as I stumble on my knees towards Roman. He clutches his stomach, blood seeps between his fingers. I press my hands against his stomach to stop the flow of blood. His eyes close as he groans, his face contorted with agony.

'Someone help him,' I shriek, continuing to press on his stomach. Blood soaks my hands.

There's so much blood. Too much blood.

'Roman, can you hear me?' I bend down, my one hand still pressing his stomach and with the other, I tilt his face towards me. His eyes open to look at me.

'Roman, you're going to be alright,' I whimper. 'I promised Haiden I'd look after you, and I want to look after you. You're going to be ok. Stay with me.'

Roman's mouth tilts into a half-smile. One bloodied hand lifts to my face and pats my cheek gently. I cup his hand with mine and bring it back to his stomach. 'Press down to stop the blood.'

Roman tries to push my hands away but I don't let him. He tries to speak but no words come out. I lower my head next to his moving mouth but all I can hear is his fading breath.

A slight static crackle replaces the sound of his inhale and exhale.

Tears roll down my cheeks, dripping onto his face. I'm sobbing, my hands still pressing his stomach but his chest is no longer moving; his hands and arms are limp.

The strong metallic smell of blood fills the room along with the shadow of death. I don't dare take my hands off his stomach. I don't dare move in case it will somehow make this permanent. If I don't let go then Roman has to stay.

I wish that were true.

'I'm so sorry, Kit. I didn't want anyone to die unnecessarily,' Klein says from behind me.

'Why didn't you do something then?' My voice breaks as I watch Roman's, face getting paler. Slowly he looks less like Roman and more like a fake version of him, an imposter. 'You could have helped him but you just stood there.'

'He was shot in the stomach and anyone could see from the blood loss he wasn't going to survive. Moving him would have only made his passing more painful.' Klein kneels down and gently takes my blood-soaked hands off Roman's stomach.

I rip my hands from Klein's grasp and shuffle backwards. Klein gives me a sympathetic smile. He rests his hand on Roman's head momentarily and I want to push him away, to stop him from touching Roman.

Roman hates you, Klein. Roman would hate you touching him.

Klein shakes his head gently. 'Roman was once a valued member of this society. I never understood why he turned his back on us.'

'He realised you were a disgusting pervert who encouraged rape,' I spit.

'Lies. You really have been greatly misinformed.' Klein gestures at two of the men. They step forward and pick up Roman's body.

'What are you doing with him?' I ask shakily.

'We can't leave him here. It would be cruel to leave Zach and Raz with a dead body.' Klein places his hand on my shoulder and I shrug him off. I watch the two people carry Roman out through the door. 'And Roman will continue to provide even through death. His key organs are removed for consumption and the remains will be composted and eventually be used to replenish our fields.'

'You're going to eat him?' I ask disgusted.

'Pregnant women will be given specific organs to eat as they are highly nutritious and will benefit their growing child. Our focus here is all about bringing healthy, strong children into the world.' Klein smiles. 'Virulence nearly succeeded in wiping out most of humanity. It is the responsibility of those left to establish a new future, a new society. We have the opportunity to repopulate whilst also making the world better. A new way of life which relies on utilising nature not destroying it.'

'You mean creating a place where you can use women's bodies as objects,' I spit out.

'I'm not sure what lies Ethel and Roman have been feeding you but women are sacred. Women carry our future in their womb, they nourish them and nurture them.' Klein walks over to a bucket in the corner and grabs a flannel from the side which he dips into the bucket and rings out the excess water. He walks towards me and kneels in front of me. Smiling, he wipes the flannel along my face.

'Don't touch me,' my voice trembles.

Klein shrugs and hands me the flannel, which lays limply in my hand. He rocks back on his heels and watches me. I don't move and he sighs loudly, takes the flannel out of my hand and starts to wipe at my face again.

I push away the flannel. 'Don'-'

'Clean yourself or I will do it,' Klein says firmly.

I snatch the flannel from his hand and rub roughly at my face. I continue rubbing my hands and my arms but all I'm doing is smearing the blood across my skin.

Klein takes the flannel and returns to the bucket, rinsing it in the water. 'I apologise for how things went back in the town when they discovered you and your friends. My people were a little overzealous in trying to bring you to me.'

'They shot my friend.'

'Unfortunately, the situation got a little too heated and people were on edge. They wanted to talk to you; you ran then attacked them. They obviously felt threatened.' Klein brings back the flannel and hands it to me.

I take the flannel and continue smearing Roman's blood across my skin.

'It's time to come with me.' Klein takes the flannel from my hand and drops it on the floor, into the pool of Roman's blood. He grips my arm and lifts me to standing.

'Get off.' I try to pull my arm away but he tightens his grip.

'I will but don't do anything stupid. I don't want to hurt you. I want us to get on,' Klein says quietly then let's go of my arm.

I hear Zach shouting against the material wrapped around his mouth as I follow Klein outside. I don't look at Zach or Raz.

I can't bring myself to say goodbye to Zach again, and I don't want to see the look of blame on both of their faces.

Klein was wrong earlier when he said he knew Ethel and Roman would send someone to look for Raz and Zach. If it wasn't for me no one would have come.

Roman wouldn't have died.