Hero (Book Two)

by Laura Frances

“I don’t like this,” Ian says. He rubs the back of his neck. “You’ve practiced with a gun one time. One time, Hannah. Against soldiers who’ve trained for years. If something goes wrong—”

  “I have to do this, Ian.”

  He’s shaking his head.

  “It’s a bad idea,” he mutters.

  Solomon kneels in the center of the room and spreads the map of the valley across the floor. Others crouch and kneel, with the soldiers in the back standing and leaning to see.

  “Cash, Hannah, and Drew will go together, but you need to be extra vigilant. They are hunting you. Thomas and Phil will remain at the barrier and join the watch there.” He points to a sector on the map. It is the Beauty sector—the place where I lived and worked.

  “Hannah, you’re familiar with this area, are you not?”

  “Yes, sir,” I say, the words sticking in my dried-out throat. Now that the decision is made, my body is alive with nervous energy.

  “There’s a meeting planned in an abandoned building just a few blocks in. Since you know this area, I’ll send you there as an added measure. If you run into trouble, you’re less likely to get lost in the alleys.” He looks to Cash.

  “Do you know the path outside the fencing? You can take it all the way to within half a mile of this meeting place.”

  Cash nods. “I know it.”

  Solomon sits back on his heel and sweeps his gaze over all the faces staring back at him.

  “This mission could change the course of everything moving forward. You are the strongest—” His eyes meet mine. “And the bravest soldiers I have ever known.”

  He stands.

  “Lay everything at the feet of those men. Tell them anything you can to turn their hearts. Tension is higher after the attack on the barracks, and some will see you as the enemy more than others. Guard one another. Get back here alive. And above all, remember that you are part of something so monumental, history will write your names on its heart as the greatest heroes of your day.

  The soldiers around me jump into action, but I’m still standing, Solomon’s words soaking through my skin—absorbing into all the hidden places of my heart. This is our last chance. It feels like too much to accomplish.

  The men leave to prepare, and Cash steps toward Takeshi. While they’re distracted talking, I slip into the hall, hoping to see Ben before I leave. Ian catches up, taking my arm to stop me.

  “You don’t need to do this,” he says quietly. His gaze bounces over the men walking past, then returns. “You don’t need to prove anything. Let the soldiers do this tonight, Hannah.”

  I pull my arm out of his reach.

  “You’re wrong,” I say. “I do need to. I have just as much reason as these soldiers. More, even.”

  Ian runs a hand over his face. He’s sweating, beads forming over his forehead. Something about his stress softens me.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask. I know it’s more than this thing I’ve volunteered for. Ian’s gaze is stuck on the wall. I can tell he’s somewhere else right now; I’ve seen that look on him before. He shakes his head.

  “It’s never what you think it’ll be,” he murmurs. His eyes meet mine. I know he’s brave. My life is proof that he doesn’t shrink from the harder things. But right now, fear is all over his face. After a long pause he says, “Stay alert out there. Keep your eyes open and your gun ready.”

  “I will,” I say, holding his gaze. I push my shoulders back, a show of courage. Ian nods once, taking a few slow steps backward, lips pressed hard. There are words there, but he’s choosing to keep them in. His eyes flick over my shoulder, and I look back to see Cash exiting the room. Cash reaches my side, and Ian’s hand shoots out. Cash shakes it.

  “Be careful out there, sir,” Ian says.

  “You do the same.”

  Ian leaves, and my eyes linger on him a few seconds while he walks away. When I turn to Cash again, he’s leaning his shoulder to the wall and studying me.

  “I’m sorry,” I say to him. “There wasn’t another option.”

  “Besides staying here.”

  I frown. “Don’t ask me to do that. There’s nothing worse than waiting.”

  Cash pushes off the wall and steps closer. “I can think of a few worse things.”

  I shake my head. “I can’t. I promise I’m strong enough.”

  His next look is stern. “I know that. You don’t have to convince me that you’re strong. And brave. But you’ll be in their territory, Hannah. Not ours.”

  “I’ll be with you,” I say quietly. My face heats, and Cash’s features soften.

  “We’ll take care of each other,” he murmurs.

  16

  The clouds have pulled back, and the moon is bright white when we leave the factory. My thoughts are still on Ben when my feet hit the asphalt. When I leave him, every time, I worry something will happen while I’m gone.

  The wind is cold, and my face is numb. I’ve layered three pairs of pants, since Worker clothes are thin and tattered. They don’t do much good, but our pace is fast. My body will warm soon enough.

  We walk in silence down the dark alleys: Cash, me, then Drew. The last time I was on an assignment like this, I misunderstood the man in the lab. Days later, Edan was dead. Now Chloe is dead too, and it is my fault.

  Cash’s voice echoes in my memory.

  You couldn’t have stopped them dying any more than I could have saved Edan. You are not to blame.

  I stare at the back of his head, feeling the guilt like fingers squeezing.

  I’m still trying to believe him.

  Cash stops just before a corner that opens to a street. On the other side is the border fencing and the mountain. Behind the tree line is darkness, and who knows what else roaming just beyond.

  “That fence is open territory,” he says, his voice low. “We maintain control of the areas surrounding this sector, but any number of Watchers may be patrolling.”

  “Not to mention the bears,” Drew whispers. “Here’s a genius idea: Let’s bring back some meat.”

  Cash grunts, and it sounds like an agreement. These soldiers are used to heartier meals. Our rations have been spread thin with the addition of hundreds of Workers. I’m not sure how they’re managing on shared cans of beans and vegetables.

  We cross, running crouched through the street lamp lighting. The men carry their guns in hand, but I am weaponless…at least to anyone who might cross our path; my gun is hidden beneath my clothes, secured behind my back. I didn’t want to bring it—I’m afraid it will fall out and give us away if Cash has to drag me. But Solomon insisted.

  We jog along the fence for a full minute before reaching our exit. It’s guarded by three soldiers, and they all point their guns at us when we approach…until they see Cash. The weapons are lowered, and one man hurries to unlock the fence door.

  “Be safe,” another says. “And if you come across a Watcher named Will Barrett, with hair like this guy—” He points at Drew. “Tell him Patrick says he better get his scrawny butt over here.”

  “Barret,” Drew repeats, clapping the man’s shoulder. “You got it, buddy.”

  “Our patrols returned an hour ago,” the third soldier says. “Saw no movement for a good three miles. But don’t trust it. We’re hearing lots of air activity, and I get the feeling things are about to heat up.”

  The doorway squeals when Cash pulls it open. We step through, and my heart drums harder. I try not to let it show on my face.

  We make our way just inside the tree line, and the air fills with the sounds of night creatures. Our boots crunch over dead plants and patches of snow. It’s strange to be so close to the valley—yet separate. We walk surrounded by trees and living beasts, beautiful things that don’t care about the Council or this revolution. But when I turn to my left, there are the factories just beyond the fence. There are the dying Outcasts and broken Workers and tormented men with guns. I can hear the helicopter blades beating the air somewhere far in the distance. Occasionally a
gunshot echoes, and I wonder who has died.

  Several minutes in, Drew jumps past me and grabs Cash’s arm. Holding up a finger to quiet us, he slowly points toward the deeper woods. We all crouch, hidden behind a mass of dead bushes. There’s movement no more than thirty yards away. In the dense tree cover, it’s hard to tell if we’re hiding from men or animals. But the closer they come, the more clearly I can make out their harsh whispers.

  “—can’t do that and you know it. Think about your family.”

  “You don’t know anything about my family,” one of the men says. “If you’re not with me, then go back.”

  Their silhouettes appear in a patch of moonlight that breaks through the trees. They’re Watchers, and one man grabs the other, pointing a pistol at his head.

  “Get your gun out of my face,” the captured man growls. In a fury of movements, he manages to free himself. The two stand feet apart, weapons pointed at one another.

  “You leave me no choice,” the other man says. “They know what you’re planning to do.”

  “And you’re the big hero who’s gonna stop me, huh?”

  “I’ll do my duty, same as anyone.”

  “Your duty.” He laughs. “To who? To the Council? You don’t owe them anything.”

  “You’re wrong. I owe them everything. I had nothing until I joined.”

  They inch closer to each other, glaring down the barrels of their guns.

  “Put your gun down, Ford!”

  “I don’t have a choice,” Ford repeats. “I can’t let you do this.”

  “You can come with me. Die on the right side of this war.”

  “They’ll never win, Bo. What chance do they have?” He’s desperate now, pleading. “They’re outgunned. Outnumbered. They can’t—they’ll never win.”

  Bo shakes his head. “I don’t care.”

  “So you’ll choose to die for nothing.”

  “No,” Bo says. “I’ll die for everything.”

  Cash raises his rifle and stands, pushing through the bushes. I watch him wide-eyed as he takes long strides toward the men. Drew grabs my arm, keeping me in place.

  “We have to help him!” I whisper. Drew’s head shakes.

  “Let Cash sort this.”

  “Do we have a problem here?” Cash says, announcing his presence. Both Ford and Bo shift their aim toward Cash. But Bo must recognize him, because his aim moves back to Ford.

  “This is none of your concern,” Ford says.

  “I disagree,” Bo says. I can tell by his voice that he’s grinning. “I’d say this is entirely his concern.”

  Ford’s gun lowers a few inches while he processes who Cash is. Quickly he raises it again, arms tense.

  “They’d give me a medal if I bagged you,” he says. Fear shoots through me. But it’s two against one. There’s no way he’ll manage it.

  “Probably,” Cash says, his voice even and calm. He keeps his aim on Ford. “Is that what you want? Medals? Honor?”

  “I don’t expect you to understand,” Ford says. “I wasn’t born into privilege.”

  Drew shifts beside me. “Wait here,” he whispers. He makes his way in a wide circle around the men, staying in the darker places, crouched low. My heart beat is too hard; the sound of it in my ears makes listening difficult. I try to breathe steady and wait.

  “They’re all I have!” Ford says. He’s desperate now, outnumbered. “I come with you, and they’re dead. I won’t do it!”

  Drew creeps behind Ford, inching closer, but still hidden from the clearing.

  “I get it,” Bo says, adding sincerity to his tone. “I do, man. But what about the families that are dying anyway? The ones who were born into this mess?”

  Ford shakes his head—too fast. Too panicked. “I can’t,” he repeats. Then again. He says it five times before Drew sneaks behind him and slams the butt of his rifle to the side of Ford’s head. The man crumples to the ground. Bo crouches by his head and checks for a pulse.

  “He’ll be fine,” he says. “Until the wolves smell him.”

  I rise from my hiding place and move to join them. Bo raises his gun, but lifts an eyebrow instead of shooting me.

  “What are you doing out here?” he says, eyes wide with wonder. “Are you escaping?”

  His features are much like Meli’s: with tanned skin and dark hair. He’s older, though. Mid-thirties at least.

  “She’s with us,” Drew says. He nudges Ford’s arm with his boot. “Think we should move him? I don’t want to be responsible for this guy becoming dinner.

  “This is Hannah,” Cash says. “I’m—”

  “Cash Gray. Yes, I know who you are. We share the same misfortune.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “My uncle is Council member Sebastián Olivera. You are the son of Titus Gray, correct?”

  I bristle, as if Titus himself were standing with us. It is an unconscious reaction, and I fight to keep it to myself.

  Cash nods. “I am.”

  Bo holsters his gun and extends his hand to Cash. “Seems we’ve found ourselves on the same side at last.”

  17

  “My uncle is a coward,” Bo says, searching Ford for weapons. He pulls a thick knife from a pocket of the unconscious man’s pants. “He wears a mask and hides behind stone walls.” He stands. “Walking away from him is easy.”

  “I understand,” Cash says, adjusting the rifle strap across his chest. “We’re grateful to have you.”

  Drew glances toward the deeper woods more than once. Rubbing his chin and looking at Ford, he says again, “What do we do about this guy?”

  “Take him to Solomon,” Cash says to Bo. “But we can’t lose any more time. Can you find your way?”

  Bo grunts, hauling Ford’s limp body from the ground and tossing him over his shoulder.

  “Second star to the right,” Bo mutters, then he grins. Jerking his head toward me, he says, “This is the one they had in the cells, isn’t it?”

  “Yes,” I say, before anyone can answer for me. I square my shoulders.

  “Lots of stories floating around about you. Rumors that say you spit in a Councilman’s face.”

  “Sorry to disappoint you,” I say, raising an eyebrow. “But I’m not sure I had enough spit left after they were done with me.”

  Bo smiles, a nasally laugh leaving him. “Yet here you are. No one ever escapes the cells.”

  Even though it’s obvious I had help—no one would believe I could escape Titus on my own—it feels unwise to connect anyone with my rescue. So I shrug a shoulder.

  “All right. Keep your secrets,” he says. “But be advised, there’s a hefty reward on your head.” He points at Cash. “Yours too.”

  “We’ll keep that in mind,” Cash says.

  We part ways, and I glance back at Bo before he disappears behind the trees.

  “Do you trust him?” I ask Cash quietly.

  Cash keeps his gaze ahead, eyes focused. “Still deciding,” he mutters.

  “He sounded pretty solid when Ford had a gun to his head,” Drew says.

  “People sound like a lot of things,” Cash replies.

  The trees block the wind, so walking the woods is easy. I feel safer on this side of the fence, though I shouldn’t. There are likely dozens of Watchers patrolling within a dangerous distance. But something about the whispering needles on the green trees and the questioning sound of a far-off creature makes me feel sheltered.

  We continue through the darkness, walking a full hour before Cash slows the pace.

  “In here,” he says, leading us to crouch beneath a large overhanging rock. We huddle together, with me wedged between the two men. Cash pulls a bottle of water from a pack he wears, twists off the cap, and hands it to me. Drew pulls another from his own pack and drinks it.

  “Thanks,” I say, before downing half the bottle. Thirst hits the moment the water touches my tongue, and I can’t help guzzling. I hand the water back, saying, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to drink so much.
”

  “It’s the cold,” Cash says. He drinks the remaining liquid. “Masks your thirst.”

  “How much farther?” I ask.

  “Another hour. But I expect to see more patrols from here on out. We’ll need to be careful.”

  “How do we plan to get through the fence on this end?” Drew asks, pulling the knit cap from his head and shaking off the snow. His red hair catches the moonlight, and shadows sit in strange places over his face. The combination makes his appearance wild.

  “I’m relying on some allies to get us through. We’ll know when we get there.”

  Drew nods his understanding, tugging the cap over his hair. “So we’re wingin’ it.”

  Cash shifts his feet, then drops a knee to the wet ground for balance. “Seems that way,” he says.

  I remember the last time he said those words. A little slave child asked him if he was our friend. When he replied with seems that way, I wrote him off as untrustworthy and delusional.

  “We’ll figure something out,” I say, touching his arm. He turns his face to me, until there are only inches between us. He doesn’t say anything, but I feel like he does. I feel like he says something just for me.

  The air is colder when we rise from our huddle. What I’m wearing isn’t enough to protect me from it. We have to be careful now, so we walk low, using the bushes and other natural things to conceal us.

  The hour passes slow, and instead of soldiers, I find myself listening for animals as we walk. When we encountered the bear on our hike to the valley, the moment was unexpected, and I didn’t have time to think it through. But now, in the deep dark of night, the thought of meeting a bear frightens me. I listen for the grunts and heavy exhales. Sticks snap nearby, and I jerk my face toward the sound, but nothing happens.

  Cash’s hand shoots back, grabbing my arm. He darts behind a large tree, kneeling, and Drew and I do the same. Ahead on the path, three soldiers amble toward us.

  “We need to hide,” I whisper.

  “No time,” Drew says.

  Cash twists to meet my eyes.

  “I’m sorry,” he says to me, his eyebrows pinched, and I catch on. This is where the pretending begins. It’s a dangerous risk we’re taking.