“We’re going now.”
“No,” Rahn says.
“What?” Corin sounds furious. “Of course we’re going now.”
Rahn shakes his head. “We’ve just got back. We’ve been walkin’ ages, and had a run in with a spirit—”
“A spirit?”
“All fangs and blood, it was. Lucky it didn’t feed from us, suck all our energy out.”
“But we got back here quicker,” Corin says. “It must’ve helped us—a reverse feeding?”
“We got back here quicker because we were runnin’ from it. Nothin’ to do with the spirit itself. And now we’re bloody exhausted,” Rahn says, but I frown. There definitely wasn’t time for Rahn and Corin to run all the way from New Kimearo to here without spirit intervention. “Corin and I need to rest. We’ll go after Seven in the morning.”
“No, we have to go now.” I fold my arms. “We don’t need you two. It’s me, Elf, Kayden, Paul, Three, Esther, and Yani. We’ve already planned this—though we thought we’d be getting you two out as well.” Well, trying. “We can’t waste time—every second is important.” I exhale loudly. “If I’d known this was going to happen, that you were going to try and delay, I would’ve gone straight in there instead of driving Finn back. I didn’t think you’d start showing your prejudice to the Sarrs in a situation like this!”
“What?” Rahn takes a step toward me. “You were with Finn? On the raid? In New Kimearo?”
“Yes.” I glare at him. “And it’s a good job too, because he’d been caught when I found him, and I got him out of there. He was injured too.”
For a long moment, Rahn and I glare at each other. He’s got the faded shadow of a moustache and beard, and it makes him look savage, but in an almost comical way. Like he’s trying to look scary, but he isn’t. Because really, he’s just an old man. Nearly fifty.
“You disobeyed me,” he says. “You disobeyed your leader. Again.” He cracks his knuckles, and his previous words—I will crush my competition—fly through my head.
I lift my head higher. “Ever wonder why people don’t listen to you, Rahn? Why they disobey you?” I point at him. “Because you get people converted. You had five in your group. And you lost Katya and Seven, and Finn was also in trouble. I saved him. Me.”
“And you think people will trust you?” Rahn steps closer. “Trust you like how they trust a leader? Even though you’ve proven yourself untrustworthy, countless times. Keelie, you’re mad. Actually mad.”
Mad. I stiffen. No. I’m not.
“You ain’t got experience,” Rahn says, punctuating each word with a jab of his finger toward my face. “And now you want to go divin’ straight in there, when we’re not prepared, when we’ve not talked plans.”
“Plans? It’s always the same plan. Get them out.”
“Not when her mother converted willingly. Seven could’ve chosen it too. We have to think of everythin’ and be prepared.”
“But Seven shot an Enhanced,” Three interrupts.
Rahn ignores him. “Do you see, Keelie? Bein’ a leader ain’t all about action and rushin’ in. It’s plannin’, it’s workin’ out what’s best for the group, it’s keepin’ the group safe. You ain’t got experience in that, so you don’t decide what we do.”
“But sittin’ around is the one thing we don’t do when one of us is taken.” Hell, I’ve even started speaking in his clipped manner. I take a deep breath. “I’ve killed more Enhanced than you—I’m more experienced there.”
“And you love it, don’t you?” He nostrils flare. “You’re psychotic.”
Psychotic. For a moment, I see a crimson haze in front of me. “I am not psychotic.”
“You love killin’ though,” he counters. “And that is killin’ you—killin’ your humanity. You’re obsessed. You ain’t well. You’re mad, Keelie. Mad.”
I grit my teeth. “I am fine.” I flex my fingers.
“No! You’re not—Keelie, we’ve all heard you! How you talk to yourself, tellin’ yourself you’re not mad. That’s not normal.”
I shake my head. “I don’t do that! I’m not mad. Don’t you dare say that!”
“But it runs in your family. Elf’s told me. He’s worried about you. We all are.”
“What?” I twist around, look for my brother. Then I look at Rahn. “You’re worried about me? Huh, that’s almost funny.”
He nods. “You are reckless, Keelie. And selfish. And that’s why people don’t trust you. That’s why you shouldn’t lead this mission. And that’s why you need to back down. I’m not saying I’m not gettin’ Seven back. But we’re goin’ in the mornin’. Corin and I need to sleep, and we’re the strongest fighters.”
“No, I’m the strongest.”
“You’re unstable. You’re a liability. We can’t rely on you.”
I let out a high-pitched laugh. “But I’m the one who saved Finn! Me, Rahn—me! Where were you? Because you weren’t there—you weren’t looking after your people. And that’s what a leader should do. A leader keeps people safe. I keep people safe.”
The corners of Rahn’s lips lift up. “Like how you kept Mila safe? And Bea?”
Cold fury bursts open inside me. How dare he. How dare he!
I scream at him, throw myself at him. My body hits him, hard, and he falls back.
One quick movement, that’s all it takes. One movement.
I pounce on him, punch him. Blood sprays out from his nose, and I grab his shoulders, shake him, yell at him, scream at him.
Hurt him! Kill him!
And the others are shouting at me, yelling and screaming. Someone pulls the gun out of my belt—I feel it slide away, but I don’t care, I don’t need it. I punch Rahn again.
Hands grab me, but I turn and kick out, get Elf and then Corin. Then I’m pummeling Rahn again and—
Keelie!
Mila’s voice.
I freeze.
And Corin drags me away. I don’t fight him. Just stay on the ground. Hell, I attacked Rahn. Rahn. And part of me wants to laugh and laugh and never stop laughing.
“I am not havin’ you in my group,” Rahn snarls, getting up. “You’re banished!”
“Banished?” I snort and let out a strange laugh. “You’re not banishing me.”
I stare at him. He can’t really be. Not after his speech before, when he said that we have to stick together, that Untamed don’t survive out there on their own.
His upper lip curls. “I most certainly am. I will not have you in my group. I warned you. I have given you plenty of chances, but you’re wild.” He rubs at his jaw.
“No!” I yell. “You need me on this mission. I’m coming! I have to get my sister out.”
“Seven isn’t your sister, Keelie.” Rahn’s words are icy.
I stare at him blankly. Then emotion kicks in. “You still need me!” I yell, fighting against Corin. Three steps in, grabs my arm, stops me from punching Corin. “I’ll be there! I will! I’m coming with you! I don’t care what you say. I’m getting her back!” I turn, twist, try to see Elf. But he’s just staring at me. Why isn’t he backing me up?
“Take her to her hut,” Rahn says.
“What?” I burst out. “Thought I was being banished?” I laugh manically. “See, you can’t even make your mind up! What kind of leader does that make you? A leader needs to be sure! And why would you want me in my hut if I’m banished and mad? It doesn’t make sense. You don’t make sense, Rahn. Can’t you see?”
Fury passes over Rahn’s face for a moment. “I’m banishin’ you tomorrow—after we’ve got Seven back. Not when you’re in this state. You’d probably turn up at New Kimearo anyway, wreckin’ havoc and ruinin’ our plans as we try to rescue Seven. No, if you’re goin’ to be there, it’s on my terms. Got it? My rules. You obey me. And if you so much as set a foot out of line tomorrow, I’ll kill you.”
There’s a sharp, collective inhalation of breath.
My eyes widen, and I stare at him, sure I can’t have heard corre
ctly. “I’m on the rescue mission?” Even though I’m untrustworthy?
Rahn nods. “Your last ever mission. Because, I mean it, afterward, you are out of my group. You’re to go far, far away. And if I ever see you again ’round here, I’ll kill you. Got it? Tomorrow’s the last day I want to see you.”
“Rahn,” Elf begins. “This is—”
“Don’t,” Rahn snaps. “Just take her away now. And make sure she doesn’t get out of her hut. Keep watch.”
“What?” I stare at him. “You’re imprisoning me?”
He wouldn’t. Wouldn’t do that. This is….
“Yes,” Rahn says. “I am.” He flicks his fingers at Sajo. “And check her for more weapons. Make sure she ain’t goin’ to slit my throat in the night.”
“Slit your throat?” I raise my eyebrows. “I wouldn’t kill you!”
“Really?” he says, dryly. “Well, that’s news to me.”
They sit outside our hut with loaded guns.
“I’m not mad!” I yell at them. “You don’t need to be guarding me! You need to be out there, getting Seven and Katya back! Can’t you see what Rahn’s doing? He’s making you focus on me instead of what you should be doing!”
“Keelie, calm down.” Elf touches my shoulder gently, and I flinch. I’d forgotten he’s here too. It’s just the two of us. “Rahn could change his mind at any moment about you coming tomorrow.”
I pull myself away from him. The traitor. “You didn’t even back me up. Twins of the stars. Yeah, right.”
“Keelie—your behavior….”
“My behavior what?” I snarl.
Elf shakes his head. “You’re exhausted. You need to sleep. You need to be prepared and… And, Keelie, I don’t like this. It doesn’t make sense, Rahn letting you go tomorrow. Despite what he said.”
“It’s because I’m the best fighter.”
But my brother doesn’t look convinced. “He’s got something else in store.” He exhales hard. “I’m sure of it. Look, just make sure you’ve got a gun on you at all times tomorrow. I’ll stick with you too, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Rahn attempts something.”
I snort. “I can handle myself.”
Elf nods. “Let’s hope so.” He lets go of a shaky breath. “We’d better sleep. We need to be in top condition tomorrow.”
I nod, feel strange. “You’d better be careful too,” I say after a moment, remembering Rahn’s threat from before. “And Five.”
And Seven.
Elf nods, says they’re always careful.
We settle down. In the darkness, I stare across at Bea’s bed. It’s still there. My sister. My sister who left because of me.
I’m supposed to protect my sisters.
But I didn’t.
“I should’ve stayed with Seven,” I whisper, imagine my words tangling round and round and round and round, until they take on a shape, a form. They look like Seven. She stares at me, blinking. “I’ll make sure you don’t end up like Mila,” I promise her.
I try to keep breathing evenly, but it feels like there are invisible hands squeezing my neck.
If I lose Seven as well, I’m not sure I’ll be able to live with myself.
By the morning, part of me expects Rahn to have changed his mind about me coming on the rescue mission, but he hasn’t. Just rounds me up with the others he’s chosen and gives us all a quick briefing.
We nod, and then we’re going through the finer details. But the plan is always the same. The distraction team distracts. The extraction team extracts. The backup team backs up. And we get our person out.
Now we just wait to hear who’s on which team.
“You’re on distraction, Keelie.” Rahn points at me. “You’re the primary distracter. And Elf and Yani will be your backup. Corin and I will do the extraction, with Esther and Kayden on hand for our backup. If need be, we’ll set off a purple flare to call you lot for more backup, in which case Keelie continues distracting, and Elf and Yani come to us.”
Distraction? And two backup teams?
“But I’m our best fighter,” I say. “I need to be on the extraction. Anyone can do the distraction.”
“What’s the problem?” Rahn’s voice is blunt, and it reminds me of his earlier warning. I have to obey him. “You love puttin’ yourself in danger. You’ve got the most dangerous job, drawing all the Enhanced out to you. Thought you’d be thrilled.”
My eyes narrow. The plan is never for one person to be doing the distraction for a major operation like a rescue. In those, we have to work together—it’s not like a small distraction that one person can pull off on his or her own, only needing to distract one Enhanced, while others steal a car or a set of keys. I frown.
Then I get it: Rahn doesn’t want me surviving this.
He wants me captured?
Or dead.
I grit my teeth as I listen to him. He wants me to distract? Fine. I’ll distract. I’ll be very distracting.
As soon as he’s finished, I head back to my hut and sort through all my clothes. I find my shortest shorts and put them on my bed, then grab the hoody I’m looking for. Neon orange and fitted. I smile as I pull it over my black T-shirt and replace my jeans with the shorts. The hoody’s a little tight around my bust, but I know I look distracting. Even the Watcher Doll, from its place by Bea’s calendar tells me that I do. I finish the look with sturdy, black boots with slight wedge heels and do the laces up tightly.
I smile as I head back out.
“Keelie?”
Five’s tear-stained face wobbles in front of me. She blinks at me, her gaze raking over my appearance.
“Get Seven back,” she whispers.
I take hold of her hands quickly, and then she’s in my arms, crying gut-wrenching sobs. I hold her tightly.
“I will,” I say.
Five and I break apart, and she disappears into her hut.
Rahn shouts for us to depart and gives me a strong look when he sees my outfit. Doesn’t say anything though. One point to me.
“Her mother’s a Seer,” Esther says, climbing into the truck bed. She’s dressed all in black, like the others. “So Seven might have a strong mind too. Able to resist for longer.”
“Let’s hope so.” I breathe deeply. Seven’s spent a night there already. We should’ve gone yesterday.
“The cut-off isn’t until the seventh day,” Esther says. “We’ve got plenty of time, and we’ll do it. We’ll get her back.”
Corin marches over with two bags, dumps them in the truck bed. He hasn’t spoken a word.
A few minutes later, we leave: me, Rahn, Corin, Yani, Elf, Kayden, and Esther. Seven of us to get the seventh Sarr back. For some reason, that seems important to me. Very important.
Rahn drives, and I am in the cab with him. Just the two of us. Probably so I can’t start conspiring with the others. We crash over the uneven terrain. The headlights jolt, and, after about twenty minutes, one of them flickers.
Pain rumbles in my chest.
“I never could work out what Lìxúe saw in Owen—your father,” Rahn mutters. “She would’ve been better off with….”
My eyes narrow. “With what? You?”
Rahn’s expression darkens; suddenly, I’m glad I can’t see his eyes. They’d burn me.
“With anyone but Owen. And I would’ve raised Bea as my own if….”
“As your own?” I stare at him. “You’ve always treated Bea awfully.”
He exhales hard, then curses, tilting his face to the sky. Then he looks back at me, staring again. Trying to see my mother in me?
Great.
Just great.
I feel my skin crawl under his gaze. I turn a heavy glare on him and lean back into the seat, deeper, let the headrest cradle my head.
“Just tryin’ to be friendly,” Rahn mutters. “There’s no need to sulk.”
Friendly? Huh.
“I’m not sulking,” I say.
“You’re always sulkin’ because you always think it’s a c
ompetition.” He shifts the truck into a lower gear as the terrain gets steeper. The engine groans.
The land looks different now. More orange than usual. Brighter. I squint, bring a hand to my eyes.
Sudden darkness.
Someone screams. High-pitched and blood-curdling.
Rahn slams the brakes, his body jolting.
I flinch, turn, look through the criss-cross fine mesh over the back window, look for the others, and—
They’re looking back at me. Esther’s eyes are wide.
“What the hell?” Rahn snaps, then revs the engine loudly. He turns, looks at me. “I didn’t do that.”
“I know,” I say. “You don’t scream like that.” My hand is already on my door’s handle.
“No—it wasn’t me who braked. I didn’t move my foot.”
In the truck bed, Corin and Kayden are shouting.
I jump out, and the air’s suddenly cold, the wind roaring. “What’s happening?”
The scream slices through the air again, and the engine stutters.
I feel my blood get heavier as I stare at the other villagers. No one here is screaming.
Rahn gets out, walks around the truck slowly. The high-pitched scream sounds again, and it’s so loud, it swamps the engine. And it keeps going. It doesn’t stop.
“We ain’t run someone over, have we?”
“There wasn’t anyone there.” I shake my head, and—
What if….
No.
I crouch down. The shrieking continues.
“What are you doing?” Corin jumps down next to me, and dust flies up, gets in my eyes, stings them.
I swear, blinking hard, then rub at them.
Corin puts a hand on my shoulder.
“We need to look under the truck,” I say, and—
“No,” he shouts. “Rahn, cut the engine first. If there’s—”
“Is it a spirit?” Esther’s voice is small. “Has it got in the engine?”
“Impossible,” Rahn says, back on his way to the driver’s door. But the look on his face says that he doesn’t think it’s impossible.
We all stare at each other.
“We didn’t see a spirit,” Rahn says slowly, then gets back in.
A Dangerous Game Page 33