Rival

by Cindy R. Wilson

  Juno kicked up sand as she walked, taking deep breaths to calm herself down. It would all be fine. She’d be fine, and she’d be able to see Pillar again.

  She glanced to the border and frowned. What was that? Lanterns?

  She was almost to the dock, but she slowed her pace and peered closer. Yes, there were lanterns. Three of them. All on her side of the border. But… She squinted in the darkness, hardly able to make out more than shadows. It looked like there was another figure across the border.

  Juno glanced to the post, twenty feet away. She could leave her note. She could be done with this right now. What did it matter if people were at the border? After today they weren’t her people anymore. It wasn’t her fight.

  But worry flickered in her stomach. What if it was Maddox?

  What if it was someone in his family?

  Then she heard a shout. She took steps closer to the group at the border and watched in horror as they stepped onto the pavement as though they were going to cross. There was more yelling, voices rising in the darkness.

  In anger.

  They were shouting at each other.

  And then, in the blink of the eye, the three figures on her side rushed at the other one. There was yelling and the sound of a scuffle. Juno pulled out her knife but didn’t know what else to do.

  Maddox.

  Her heart squeezed hard, and she hurried toward the group. The people on her side had purposely gone over to the other side. She had no idea what they’d been yelling at each other, but this time it was her people’s fault.

  She saw someone take a punch, and then all three of her men surrounded the one from the other side. Two men grabbed his arms, and the other shoved him farther onto this side of the community.

  Another lantern light appeared by the boathouse, and another farther back at one of the other homes.

  Even though it was still dark, Juno’s people were starting to gather. She reached the group of men and nearly dropped to her knees in relief when she saw it wasn’t Maddox in their grip.

  Whoever it was, though, wasn’t happy. He cursed at her men and spat at one when they hit him in the stomach. He had blood running from his lip. In fact, he looked a lot like Ty had when he’d been returned from the other side.

  What if this was someone Maddox knew? A friend. Juno’s mind whirled in horror. Or his brother.

  She couldn’t just turn her back on what was going on—even if it had nothing to do with her.

  Cam held the man’s arm and nodded to the closest person with a lantern. “Get Rand and Stef. We have an intruder.”

  Juno’s mouth dropped open as the boy ran off. It wasn’t an intruder. Her people had dragged this man across the border.

  Cam noticed her standing to the side, her knife still in hand. “Looks like they can’t stop coming to our side.”

  “I didn’t!” the man shouted. He struggled against the grip on his arms and kicked out with one foot, trying to hit whoever stood closest. “You guys started it! You dragged me over here—”

  “Shut up!” Cam snapped, looking precariously close to punching the man again. “You started it by destroying our nets.” Cam glanced at her with a nod. “You know how much work it was to make those nets? Ask her—she did most of it!”

  Juno couldn’t stop looking at the man, the drop of blood by his lip, the wild look in his eyes. “Cam…”

  This was way out of hand. She understood there needed to be consequences for destroying their nets, but where would it end? Rand and Stef said the next time someone came on their side of the border, they were dead.

  Did that mean they were going to kill this man? And if he was Maddox’s brother?

  Her stomach churned with worry. He’d never forgive her people. He might never forgive her—even if she didn’t even belong here anymore.

  There might be no going back from this.

  Before she could figure out what to do, she heard talking and saw a bigger group coming to join them. Rand stepped to the front and looked at Cam.

  “We caught him at the border,” Cam said, which wasn’t technically a lie.

  The man struggled again. “I was on my side—”

  “Quiet,” Rand snapped. He lifted his chin at Cam. “Do we know if he’s the one who destroyed the nets?”

  “We haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet.”

  Rand’s gaze slid over her, but he didn’t say a word, not even to ask if she’d seen anything.

  Leave. Go to the bridge now. That’s what her brain was telling her. Leave, and put this all behind her. But she couldn’t go right now not knowing the fate of this man—especially if it was someone close to Maddox.

  She needed more information.

  Stef gestured to the boathouse. “Get him inside, and then we’ll ask questions.”

  Juno’s heart pumped hard in her chest as she followed the group to the boathouse. A half dozen lanterns moved in slow progression across the sand until they reached the structure, with Juno pulling up the rear. It was quiet behind her, no noise or movement on the other side of the road. Did anyone over there have a clue that one of their men had just been taken? What had he been doing out there alone? Just watching the perimeter? Or something else, like planning on coming across?

  It didn’t really matter, did it? Either way, her people had still escalated a disagreement and made it worse. The other side might have started it, but no one was planning on ending it.

  No wonder Maddox was so sick of the sides fighting. And he had more of a reason than anyone since it was his father who died.

  When they reached the boathouse, she spotted Pillar coming around the corner, rubbing her eyes. She saw Juno and hurried over, wrapping her arm through Juno’s.

  Her heart broke a little. She was supposed to be saying goodbye to her friend this morning, and now, more than anything, she wanted to confide in Pillar and get advice on what to do. Talk to someone who wouldn’t judge her.

  Like Maddox.

  “What happened?” Pillar asked, watching as Cam hauled the man into a chair. Others grabbed the ropes they’d been retying for the nets.

  “They were fighting,” she whispered, staying to the rear of the crowd. “At the border.”

  “And he came across?”

  Juno sank back farther against the wall. She bit her lip. “Not…really.”

  Her eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean—they were yelling at each other. I couldn’t hear what they were saying. And then Cam and—and the others—they just kind of rushed him. And dragged him to our side.”

  “What?” she hissed. Pillar shook her head. “Why would they do that? I mean—”

  “Shh.” Juno watched as they finished tying the man to the chair and Stef glanced in their direction.

  “I didn’t do anything!” the man shouted. “They did it—it was them.” He glared at Cam and his friends. “They attacked me. She saw it—the one with the green shirt.”

  The entire group turned to look at her. Her throat went dry. She had seen what happened—and it didn’t look like the man’s fault. But would Rand even believe her?’

  Rand’s jaw clenched, then he calmly turned back to the man. “It doesn’t matter who saw what. You were on our side of the border, you beat up one of our guys, and someone—maybe you—destroyed our nets. Someone has to pay.”

  Pillar gasped under her breath and squeezed Juno’s arm. “But—but, what if…”

  Her voice trailed off. Juno had no idea what to do, either. Rand couldn’t care less what she had to say.

  She curled her hands into fists. But she had to try. “He’s right,” Juno said. It was so quiet she didn’t think anyone heard her. So she cleared her throat and spoke louder. “He’s right. I saw what happened.”

  Stef’s gaze snapped to hers, almost murderous, and then more stares turned her way.

  Juno swallowed and lifted her chin. “They were all fighting at the border. But he wasn’t on our side.”

  Cam ga
ve a harsh laugh. “He was at the border, planning on heading over here. It doesn’t matter who was yelling. He was still causing a problem.”

  “A problem we need to rectify,” Rand said, his jaw set.

  Then he turned away from her again. Her heart raced out of control. There was nothing she could do—nothing to stop what they wanted to happen.

  Stef pushed her way through the crowd and came to stand in front of her and Pillar. “Someone needs to collect the fish and make sure the nets and pots we have out there are safe,” she said, voice even. “Juno. Get it done.” She glanced at Pillar. “I don’t want you to see this.”

  Pillar blinked. “But…you aren’t going to kill him, are you?”

  “Not yet. We’ll see if we can get him to talk first.”

  It didn’t give Juno much relief, though. Even if the guy said anything, they still weren’t going to let him go. Not after all that had happened.

  Stef glared at Juno. “The fish. Now.”

  Juno turned automatically for the door, obeying like she always had. It didn’t occur to her until she was outside in the open air again that she didn’t have to get the fish or crab. She didn’t belong here, and these weren’t her people.

  She didn’t have to do what they said anymore.

  Then Pillar jogged up next to her, and that whole idea shattered. How was she supposed to leave Pillar when things were dangerous? And how was she supposed to walk away when something might happen to someone Maddox cared about?

  She had to talk to him. That’s what she needed to do. To make sure he was okay. To see what the others were planning on doing about their missing man. If they even knew anything about it yet.

  “Are you okay?” Pillar asked.

  Juno shook her head. “You shouldn’t be out here. St—your mom won’t like it. It’s dangerous.”

  “It’s dangerous for you, too.”

  Juno opened her mouth to tell Juno that Stef couldn’t care less if Juno got hurt, but she hated putting Pillar’s mom down in front of her. “It’s just better for you to go back in.”

  She took long strides across the beach, hurrying to the shoreline as fast as she could. But she couldn’t help but glance to the border—more specifically at the pole where she and Maddox would meet or leave messages for each other. She needed to get to him somehow.

  Thick fog was starting to roll in. If she went now, if she left him a message, no one would see. They were all too distracted with the man in the boathouse, and the fog could be her cover.

  “I don’t want you to be alone,” Pillar said, then touched Juno’s arm, making her slow down. “What’s wrong? Do you see something over there?”

  Juno’s gaze snapped back to her friend. “What? No. I mean—”

  “Wait.” Pillar pulled her to a stop. “Are you looking for him? The—the boy you were talking about?”

  Words lodged in her throat. How had Pillar guessed? Guilt instantly crept up on her. Apparently Pillar was paying more attention to her life than Juno realized. And also, Juno hadn’t been paying that much attention to Pillar. She’d been a bad friend.

  She blew out a breath and turned to Pillar in the moonlight. “Yes. But…” Her gaze traveled to the space behind Pillar, deathly afraid someone might overhear. If anyone else knew about Maddox, things would go from bad to worse.

  “Why are you keeping this from me?” Pillar asked, a hint of hurt in her voice. “You know you can trust me.”

  Juno swallowed and lowered her chin. “I do. I do know that, and I’m sorry. I just didn’t want you to get in trouble by involving you in something…”

  “Something what?”

  Juno met her eyes again. “Something very bad. This boy. He’s…”

  “Not from our community,” Pillar said.

  Juno’s mouth dropped open. “How did you know?”

  “Because you leave all the time to go scavenging by the bridge. He’s a wanderer, isn’t he?”

  That wasn’t the only reason she’d been over by the bridge. Which meant one more thing she’d been keeping from Pillar—that she was planning on leaving and moving over there. But one thing at a time.

  “He’s not a wanderer,” Juno whispered, watching Pillar’s face. She pointed in the direction of the border. “He’s from over there.”

  Pillar squeaked and then slapped a hand over her mouth. “From across the border? He’s one of the others?”

  “Shh. Pillar, you have to be quiet.”

  “But he’s—he’s the enemy!”

  “Pillar!” Juno gripped her arms as she glanced around to see if anyone had heard. The fog grew thicker by the water, surrounding them in a fine mist. “You have to keep this secret.”

  “How did you even meet him?”

  “I thought he was the one stealing my fish.”

  Pillar nodded fast. “Probably because he was. I mean—he wasn’t….” Her mouth opened in an “O” of surprise and understanding. “He was on our side of the border, wasn’t he?”

  “Yes, but he wasn’t stealing.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because I know,” Juno said, squeezing her friend’s arm. “I know him. He’s not like that. He wouldn’t steal from us. He helped me make rat traps, and he doesn’t even want the feud between our communities…”

  Pillar’s eyes searched her face. “But…” She lifted her shoulders as though she didn’t know what to say.

  “That’s why I didn’t tell you,” Juno told her. “Because I didn’t want you or him getting in trouble.”

  Pillar leaned in close, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Are you in love with him?”

  Her heart jolted. To hear someone else say the words out loud made it that much more real. She slowed her mind, made herself listen to the crash of the waves next to them before she spoke.

  “I don’t know. I know that he’s a good person, and if you knew him, I think you would agree. I wish there wasn’t a feud between our sides. Maddox feels the same way, and now we have one of his people.”

  “Maddox? Is that his name?”

  “Yes.” Juno swallowed. “And I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you. You’re my best friend in the entire world, and I don’t want to keep anything from you anymore. I just—I need to leave him a message and tell him I’ll do what it takes to fix this.”

  “A message?”

  Juno nodded. “Yes. Over on the pole.” She pulled out her knife. “I’ll leave a message and then get the fish and then…”

  She didn’t know what. But she had to try to make sure her parents didn’t hurt the man in the boathouse. At least, not until she could talk to Maddox.

  Pillar nodded. “Okay. Maybe…” Her eyes lit with an idea. “I know what we can do.”

  “What?”

  “Go leave your note, and then I’ll tell you.”

  Juno nodded. She gripped her knife in her hand, glancing at the border before she started toward the pole. It was so foggy now she could barely make out the dock. And beyond that? It was a vast beach of nothingness.

  She counted her steps as she walked, hoping she’d walk right up to the pole. Hoping everything would work out. Hoping Maddox would see her message before something even worse happened.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Maddox

  He waited until his mom shut off the lantern downstairs before he crawled out of bed, snagging his shoes on the way. Part of him was grateful Theo was out scavenging and patrolling the border, and the other half worried.

  He’d overheard James talking with someone else at dinner, saying how he wasn’t going to let the other side keep bothering them.

  Maddox had thought, Now what? Wasn’t it their side who destroyed the other side’s nets and held one of their men captive?

  And wasn’t it about time this ended?

  He wondered if it would have mattered to Theo. Maybe it was better that his brother had no clue. He might have just agreed with James and made it worse.

  Juno. That’s who he was worried about
right now. Juno and his mom. He needed to tell his mother what was going on—that he didn’t think the others were all that bad. That Theo and James were making the situation worse.

  But first, he needed to make sure Juno was safe. She was supposed to leave her community today, and he planned on meeting her. But he wanted to talk to his mom before that. He wanted to start the situation on the road to recovery rather than ignoring it.

  So, he’d leave Juno a message and tell her he’d meet her tonight if he could. He’d visit her in her new home and enjoy her company like he always did.

  He knew she was going to be happy. And he didn’t want her to be lonely, so he’d visit as much as he could.

  Maddox waited until he was out the door safely before putting his shoes on. It was a risk walking anywhere near the border these days, but it was one he needed to take. Juno had put herself at risk more than once to see him.

  Maddox cursed when he tripped on a tree root then decided to head to the beach. It was quieter there, with less debris to trip on, though the sand made his journey slow. Tonight, the crescent moon gave barely any light, and fog rolled in from the water, making it nearly impossible to see where he was going.

  He relied on the crashing waves to make sure he was still headed in the right direction. He knew where the light post was, but he couldn’t see it with all the fog. He frowned. He’d prefer not to walk down the road to get there, but it might be the only option.

  If he did that, though, he might risk running into someone else from the other community. They had people at the perimeter every night still, as if they were expecting something else to happen.

  He didn’t blame them. Both sides were tense.

  Maddox got closer to the water and then paused when he saw a figure up ahead. He tensed and immediately thought of Theo.

  But through the mist, he could tell the figure wasn’t nearly as big as Theo. In fact…

  “Juno?” he whispered.

  He took a few steps closer until he could tell for sure it was her. She was barely moving, trying to find her way through the thick fog. When he reached her, he gripped her arms to orient her, and she gasped.

  “Shh, it’s me.”

  “Oh, Maddox. I’m glad you’re here.”