Inner Circle

by Y A Marks

  Immediately, they dropped what they were doing and hurried around the corner.

  “Turn left up here,” he told me. “There’s an elevator at the end of the hallway.”

  I was surprised that he was taking everything so well. I had expected more of a struggle. I guess in the midst of the chaos, he figured I might be his best option. I only wanted to save a handful of prisoners. Thousands more could be escaping right now. He also knew I didn’t want to kill him, so I was probably very different from those who had weapons because of the Death Days. His meager guards would have their work cut out for them. This wasn’t a jail break with simple prisoners, but with armed ones, many of whom had guns and ammunition.

  I pushed the down button for the elevator. A light bell dinged, and the doors slid open. I pulled Norwood inside and pressed the button to the bottom level.

  We exited on the main floor. The hallways were empty except for a few people dashing around in the distance. The alarm blared and sent pounding waves into my brain. Monitors on the wall showcased what was happening at the north wall. Hundreds of inmates climbed over rocks and debris. A four-foot opening was all the explosives had made, but it was large enough. The quadcopters circled the scene as dozens of prison guards positioned themselves to stop the outflow of prisoners.

  It dawned on me that I hadn’t warned Trivet about sending the cops. He may wait for us to show up, but the more I considered the idea, the more I doubted it. Trivet wasn’t the type to linger. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he had a limo waiting for him. As annoying as Trivet was, he was fascinating. He did think differently. The more I considered him, the more I understood Jonas’s respect for him. After all, I was only one step away from everything that Trivet had promised. If it wasn’t for Vogel showing up, we’d probably already be in Trivet’s limo celebrating.

  Norwood and I came to the second elevator, the one that took us up to the top of the curved tower. I tugged Norwood inside and started the elevator toward the tenth floor.

  “I uh… never liked this project.” Norwood’s head faced forward, away from me. His words came out in a low, purposeful way.

  “Um, what?” I didn’t think he would be having a conversation with me. Caution stirred me, and I was ready for him to counterattack like you always see in the movies.

  “These Death Days. This was all Dalton’s pet project.”

  I listened to the words, but they had no meaning to me. Norwood was in charge of these things. He made sure the Death Days were done. “I’m not sure what that means, sir.”

  “It means that in thirty-eight states, Dalton has created a name for himself against crime. I always thought events like this would be considered cruel and unusual punishment.”

  “I would think so. I guess?” I didn’t know what to say, except “Yeah it is,” or maybe “No duh!” but I decided not to say that. He seemed sincere, and it wasn’t the time for me to stomp on his apology.

  “I guess you’re a product of our high schools being privatized.”

  “Yes sir,” I said. “I did complete eighth grade, though. I was a pretty good student.”

  Norwood winced. “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.” A pause passed between us and then his head rotated around toward me. “Did you know your father, Miss Washington?”

  The question took me by surprise. My stomach dropped to my knees. I didn’t think he would ask me anything, especially about something so personal. “Um, no sir, I didn’t.”

  I glanced down at him. His eyes defocused. “I’m sorry.”

  A pinch cut into my chest. His words were soft and kind. I would never have thought in a million years that he would feel anything, least of all for me.

  “Sometimes I think I don’t know my own children. Ever since Gretchen started at State she hasn’t had much to say to me. Her mother thinks it’s a phase that she is going through, but I think she’s drifting away.” He looked around the elevator then back toward me. “She’s a lot like you. She believes there is a way to bridge the gap of hate and misunderstanding.”

  “She sounds… um, great, but you already knew that, right?” The best thing was to say something nice. I didn’t know much at all about Norwood, but he wasn’t a bad guy. He was a prison warden, a man who wanted to do his job well and efficiently. He wasn’t like Dalton, Clarisse, or Troy.

  “I can’t say you’re a good girl, Paeton.” His stare sliced right down to my soul. “But I can say that at least you are making an effort, so let me give you a bit of advice. If you somehow make it through this, stay away from Dalton. He’s not a man to be trifled with. Do you understand?”

  I opened my mouth, but every word I had was caught in my throat. The first time Dalton’s face shown in the android’s helmet, there was a sinister gleam in his eyes. The fact that Norwood acknowledged his power sent arrows through my skull. After a few tries at saying something, I managed a weak, “Yes, sir.”

  The elevator door slid open. I moved back around the chair and pushed Norwood into the room. From memory, I went to the far left side where the one guard opening the floor and controlling the circle.

  “Very top,” Norwood informed me.

  My gaze snapped to the words “Trap Door Control.” I hit the button, and the door at the bottom of the room slid open. The hollow sound of churning wind filled the room with a faint scent of blood and ash. A moment later, I found a small slider on the panel labeled “Magnet Control.” It was set to 0. I slid it all the way up.

  A few screams and moans came from the opening. Slowly, heads and bodies appeared. Ares cradled Pyra, keeping her steady. Shannon gritted her teeth as she held onto Jonas. They were all alive and high above the dangers on the ground. As I closed the trap door, two figures I didn’t expect floated through the opening. Guns gleamed from their hands, but their bodies and faces were painted black.

  Everything within me stilled as the first one of them rotated around and locked eyes with me. I scrambled for my gun and aimed it at his face.

  CHAPTER 25

  The man in dark clothing and a painted face raised his arms in surrender. His eyes widened and a look of concern played on his face. “Paeton, don’t shoot!”

  “Who are—”

  He wiped his sleeve across half of his face. A line of mud disappeared around his right eye and nose. I recognized the dark eyes and skin. It was Raj. The guy next to him lifted his hands as well. This new guy was a good six inches taller than Raj with thick arms and a tight face that appeared as though it would pop. Moody the Monster shot to the front of my mind just looking at the guy.

  “Just put the gun down, please,” Raj said. His head craned toward Jonas who floated next to him. “We need to get Jonas help.”

  At those words, my gun lowered. I didn’t know why I held it up so long. My reflexes were on edge, and my mind was buzzing. Even after I shut the door and turned off the magnet, my heart rattled around inside of me.

  Everyone, except for Raj and Moody lay out on the floor. They were beaten up and could barely move.

  “How did you know we were here?” Shannon asked. A trace of venom was in her voice.

  I ran over to see to her.

  Raj bent down to survey everyone’s wounds. “Jonas sent word to me,” Raj said. “Three guys came from the Razorbacks, saying that Trivet had sent you guys down here to… blow up the field generator? I honestly didn’t think it was possible.”

  I thought about Raj’s explanation and remembered Jonas doing just as Raj had said. Jonas must have known he might need reinforcements, or at least let Raj know he had a way out of the prison. His timing was the only thing that didn’t sit right with me. We had to be gone, what, an hour—two hours? With an able body, surely Raj could have met us and maybe saved Shannon and the others from being skewered by Vogel.

  “Where’s the rest of your T.O.T.?” Shannon asked.

  “Most didn’t make it. The word has spread about the wall and everyone is going crazy.” Raj studied the scene and cleaned his face as he moved
toward Jonas. His words were logical. If I were a prisoner and I found out there was a way out, even during the Death Days, I’d abandon everything for the hope of freedom. Jonas had said many prisoners just wanted a new life. They didn’t want to be killers or to be killed. Trivet’s hole-in-the-wall was a peaceful solution.

  “What is he doing here?” Moody the Monster’s gruff voice startled me.

  I glanced over. Moody nodded at Norwood. I stepped toward the guard and grabbed the guard’s arm so he would turn to me. “He’s with me.”

  “We should kill him right now,” Moody said and pointed his gun at Norwood.

  “No!” I said. I moved in front of Norwood and pulled my gun out, aiming it at Moody. “I said he’s with me.”

  Moody didn’t move. His gun remained in the same place which meant if he fired, the bullet would cut straight through my abdomen. The hair on the back of my neck rose. Whoever this guy was, he was not backing down. His hands were steady, and his eyes sharp.

  I didn’t like this at all. This guy wasn’t listening to me. From what I could tell by his hardened expression, he didn’t care.

  Three long seconds passed before I heard Raj’s voice. “It’s okay. He’s injured and tied to the chair. Paeton’s right to keep him alive. We may need him.”

  Moody lowered his gun. Even with the immediate danger passed, uneasiness rolled through my abdomen. I didn’t know him. Honestly, I still didn’t know Raj all that well. Jonas vouched for Raj, saying that he had saved his life countless times. That fact was the only thing that kept me from shooting Raj and Moody the Monster.

  “If you’re going to try to make your escape, I suggest you get to it,” Norwood said.

  I turned around toward him and nodded. After a moment to survey the area, I kneeled down next to Norwood. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you as long as you hold up your end of the bargain.”

  Norwood’s eyebrows tightened into a confused stare. He held his wound and lightened his expression. “You’d better work fast.”

  I agreed and pulled away. He grabbed my wrist and dropped it quickly. It was just enough to get my attention.

  “Be careful,” he mouthed.

  I nodded, not understanding why Norwood would try to warn me about anything. He seemed different from the disappointed man I’d met yesterday.

  I glanced back at the others. “Raj, can you help Jonas into the elevator? Ares, can you get Pyra? New guy—dude, can you get my friend Shannon?” I turned to the elevator and pushed the button for the door to open. Raj dragged Jonas across the floor. Ares managed to lift Pyra, but Moody still didn’t have Shannon in his hands.

  “Just give me your gun,” she said. “I can hold it for you.”

  “No, I’m good,” Moody argued.

  He wedged the gun into the front of his pants and grabbed Shannon under the arm. Her face grimaced as he put her arm around his neck. I would have thought he would have just lifted her up. She wasn’t much heavier than me. I didn’t like seeing her half walk across the floor with the arrow still wedged in her thigh.

  After Shannon and Moody were on the elevator, we took it down to the main floor. Norwood guided us through a few hallways. It was tough going, especially for Shannon and Jonas. After a few minutes, we found two utility carts against a wall in the second hallway. They were covered in boxes. After a sweep of Ares’s arm, they became free enough to put Pyra on one and Jonas and Shannon on the other. Shannon sat up with Jonas lying on her patched leg. The leg with the arrow was angled to just fit on the edge. Ares took off his coat and put it under Pyra’s head.

  I didn’t like the way they were situated. It frightened me to see them like this. Their bodies were in a delicate situation and a wrong move could possibly kill Jonas and Pyra. I prayed that they could hold on a little longer.

  “You okay?” I asked Ares.

  “Right as rain,” he said.

  He was lying. Everyone dripped with blood. It was just a matter of time before it caught up to him like it had already done to Pyra and Jonas. Pyra hadn’t opened her eyes since I got them into the tower. Her breathing was steady but weakened. Shannon was becoming dizzy, and Jonas’s leadership had faded a long time ago. At this point, he was just hanging on. We had to get out of this building. After that, I had to find a way to get everyone medical help.

  My first thought was to go straight to the emergency room at the nearest hospital. I could put a gun to the head of the doctors and make them heal the others. I scrapped that idea because I can’t be in three places at once, and I was also sure that the hospital would be crawling with security.

  Raj pushed the cart with Jonas and Shannon. Ares took the one with Pyra. I continued with Norwood and Moody was alone.

  I thought back to Jonas and what he had said about Raj. He trusted him. I swallowed my frustration. “Raj, is there any place we could go for medical help?”

  “You mean for Jonas,” he said.

  “Yes. Getting out of here won’t help much if I can’t find a place to help them.”

  He took a moment to think, his head bending backward. “I believe there is a safe house near old Chastain Park. I’m not sure where, but we can try to call in, once we’re in a car and headed north.”

  I rubbed the PCD inside my pocket that I had taken from Benjamin in Norwood’s office. The PCD was Norwood’s. I still should be able to start a call with him in the vicinity because his D-Tag would allow me to access the PCD’s operating system. I wasn’t sure if my Master Key would work on a PCD. The problem was, who was I going to call? It wasn’t like I had Rylan’s PCD Number.

  “Thanks, I’m sure we’ll find a way,” I said.

  Once we left this place, every cop in Georgia would be looking for us. We needed to get a car and to get out of this area and back into Atlanta. I just didn’t know how long anyone would last, and I was running on the food from eight hours ago and adrenaline. If I could get the Escerica members’ attention somehow, I would be safe. Would Josalyn be watching the areas around the prison? Would she know? Surely, police reinforcements were headed to the prison. Maybe if I held up the PCD to a security camera, Josalyn would know to hack it.

  We reached the end of the hall and turned right. There was a checkpoint that attached to a corridor that was about fifteen yards long. On the far side of the corridor was a gate that seemed to be controlled by the first checkpoint. Despite my naive hope that every single person in the building would be out trying to catch the escaping prisoners, the checkpoint was manned.

  “What do we do?” Ares said.

  “We have Norwood.” I continued the pace. “He’s our bargaining chip.”

  “Agreed. My thoughts exactly,” Raj said.

  Out of the corner of my eye, a determined expression locked on Raj’s face. His eyes flicked, and he wiped his forehead repeatedly.

  Shannon craned her head back toward me. Her eyebrows tightened, and she shook her head slowly. Something was bothering her. This all seemed wrong somehow. I still had reservations about Moody the Monster, who didn’t really help anyone.

  We reached the first checkpoint. The officer gazed at us with wide eyes. He grabbed his PCD. His mouth opened and closed. Even though he spoke to someone, we couldn’t hear anything he was saying inside the booth.

  “I’ll handle this part,” Raj said.

  He left the cart with Jonas and Shannon and took a few steps toward the booth.

  “Open the gate,” he said.

  The officer thinned his eyes at Raj. There was a look of surprise on the officer’s face that seemed to fade just as quickly as it came. Raj pointed a gun at Norwood and then tapped the glass of the checkpoint. Afterward, Raj glanced down at the controls within the checkpoint office and mouthed the word “Open.”

  The officer took another glance at Norwood, shifted his eyes, and then opened the gate. Raj moved out of the way and went back to the cart with Jonas. “Let’s head on through,” he said.

  “How will we know if the far gate will open?”
I asked.

  “We still have Norwood,” Raj said. His statement was so matter-of-fact that it was off-putting. The first gate was open, and we did have Norwood. I couldn’t deny those facts, but my stomach wouldn’t stop spinning.

  Shannon glanced at me. She rubbed her fingers over the center of her bow and slowly brought out an arrow to place beside it. I craned around toward Ares and Pyra.

  “How’s she doing?” I asked.

  “She’s fine for now. We need to get her help as soon as possible, though.” Ares slid his good eye to the side, back toward me, then again to the side. His concerns were the same as Shannon’s. Moody sniffed his nose with one hand and tapped the trigger of his weapon with the other hand.

  I wanted some miracle to happen in this moment. I needed for Jonas to wake up, know what was going on, and assure me that I was jumping to conclusions. My heart hammered so fast that it was moments from bursting into tiny fragments.

  With Jonas and Pyra unconscious and Ares and Shannon severely wounded, I was the only one who had the ability to fight. However, fatigue plagued me, and I was about half the size of Moody who was in perfect health.

  My mind raced to come to a solid conclusion. Jonas had said that the Circles were given ten PCDs to use. The PCDs were the only way to communicate with anyone privately. Raj had access to a private PCD because he was in a leadership position. Vogel had been assigned the task to kill Jonas. He had said so himself. If it wasn’t for the hole in the north wall, we would have all been dead by Vogel’s hands.

  Raj appeared out of nowhere, crossing the deadly prison grounds in the middle of the Death Days. Even with the north wall opened, it seemed a bit odd that he would have made it here so easily. There wasn’t a scratch on him. He had to know something or be after something. I just didn’t know what. Jonas was the only person here of importance.

  I needed to test my theory. I stopped and kneeled.

  Moody hit me in the back with his hand. “Go,” he said.

  “There’s something wrong with the wheel. It’s stuck. Just go on, I’ll be right behind you.”