I thought often about the Kazzies from the videos. Bethany was the woman who’d been shot from the sky, and Jamal was the man who’d been shot after the guards purposely tripped his girlfriend. I’d spoken with Sara about them a few times. Jamal was still in the reservation’s hospital. Only Bethany had been released. Both were expected to recover, but still, neither of them should have ever been shot.
It was all so unfair.
Bethany’s doing okay. She’s still pretty sore and isn’t able to fly. They’re expecting her to recover that ability eventually. And Jamal has an infection from the gunshot wound. He has to stay in the hospital for another week of IV antibiotics.
My gut burned. Damn, Dr. Roberts!
As least he’s gone now.
I pulled the covers up higher. Is the new Sergeant Major treating you all well?
Yeah, we’re allowed to leave our houses now as we please, but… I don’t know. Things are different. A lot of the Kazzies I’ve spoken with now distrust the guards. There’s so much anger and resentment against them. None of us felt that way before they locked us away in isolation and began abusing us. I don’t know if it will ever get better. I felt Sara shrug. We’ll just have to see how it goes. You know, in case we never–
Let’s not think that way. Sooner or later we’ll get you out. Even if the final vote is No, I’ll keep trying. Someday, you’ll all be free.
Let’s hope so.
Have you all been watching the news?
No, I can’t. It’s too stressful.
I turned on my side and stared at the dark wall. That’s how I feel too. And Davin? My voice caught. How’s he doing?
I’ll let you ask him.
Sara put distance between us and then Davin entered my mind. It was like a heavy, powerful presence drifted into my skull. A shiver ran through me.
Meghan?
Yeah, I’m here. How are you?
Fine.
I knew he wasn’t fine. Tension oozed from his direction. Are you watching the news coverage on the election, I asked.
Yes.
His clipped tone made my stomach sink. And?
So far, 17.8 million people have voted no. 17.3 million have voted yes.
My fingers shook. I grabbed onto the blanket in the dark room and gripped it tightly. I tried to get my heart rate under control. Thirty-eight million people are eligible to vote in this country. It could still go either way.
Hmm… was all he replied.
So what else have you been up to? How are you and Sage?
Sage is practicing more with his electricity. He said the next time someone tries to put mitts on his hands, he’s going to fry them.
He said the words in a joking manner, but I still heard the undercurrent of anger. Is he serious?
Yeah, I think he is. You don’t know what it was like… when they…
No, I don’t, but violence won’t help things.
Tell that to the guards when they shoot you.
I sighed heavily. Yeah, Davin, I know. I really get it, okay? But if the vote… I swallowed thickly. If the vote is no tomorrow, I need you to all be patient and let me try again. I need–
If the vote is no tomorrow, Meghan, that’s it. It’s done.
No! I won’t let it be done, I’ll–
Meghan. His tone grew quiet. Please. Listen to me. If the vote tomorrow is no, that’s it. It’s over. You’ll have to let this go.
Don’t, Davin. Just don’t!
No, I’m mean it, Meghan. And please, believe me, that I’m not trying to change you, but sometimes, things can’t be helped. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how hard you try, and I’m not going to watch you run yourself into the ground, not eating, losing weight, having dark circles under your eyes for the rest of your life, all to–
That was just from the campaign schedule! It was crazy busy, but it’s not always like that.
Yes, it has always been like that ever since you started trying to free us this summer. I won’t let you kill yourself for us. I won’t.
Tears poured down my cheeks. How is it that we have the same conversation every time we talk?
Because every time we talk I see you slowly killing yourself for me and everyone else. You have no idea what that does to me, to see what kind of toll this takes on you.
So it would be better to leave you to rot up there?
His tone softened even more. We’re not rotting. We’ll be fine. Since Roberts left, things have improved. We can handle it.
You shouldn’t have to handle it! I sat upright in bed and pushed the covers down. I wanted to scream in frustration. I didn’t understand how Davin and I could keep talking about the same thing over and over and not come to some sort of resolution.
But I knew why we couldn’t. We were both stubborn in this matter. He was adamant I stop “killing myself” as he put it, and I was adamant I’d rather die than see them continually imprisoned.
It was a lose-lose situation. If I stopped fighting for them, it would forever eat at my soul. Yet if I didn’t, it would continually eat away at Davin.
There was no good outcome.
I wiped the tears from my face as moonlight poured across the room. My hand looked ghostly white. Sniffing, I tried to pull myself together. I guess we’ll have to hope that the final vote is yes.
He sighed heavily. Yeah, I guess so.
21 – OUTCOME
Sharon and I drove to the reservation first thing the next day. The votes were in. The polls had ended at midnight.
Now, it was just waiting for the result.
During the drive, if Sharon and I weren’t nervously chatting with one another, we were both staring ahead lost in our own thoughts. Within a few hours, Sharon would know if her son would be free, and I would know if Davin and I ever had a chance of being together.
When the large gates, tall fences with barbed wire, and watch towers appeared, my heart rate increased. I leaned forward in my seat. The seatbelt tugged sharply across my chest.
“We’re here.” Sharon drove slowly across the bridge.
We weren’t the only ones arriving. I recognized a few vehicles. During my time in the rez, I’d met other family members. Some of them had greeted me like an old friend before we’d been introduced. I knew that was from all of the news coverage. My familiar face made them think they already knew me.
I loved that I was making a difference in their lives, but those familiar greetings had triggered my anxiety. One mother had actually pulled me into a hug the second we shook hands. Sweat had erupted across my entire body. She’d never seemed to notice, but I had pulled back the second I could.
Sharon rolled down her window as we approached the gates. One of the guards came forward and ducked down. “Sharon, Meghan, good to see you both.”
“You too, Lance.” Sharon smiled. “How is everyone doing?”
He shrugged. “It’s pretty tense as I’m sure you can imagine. The new Sergeant Major has been pacing all morning.” He smiled sheepishly. “We may all be out of jobs if the vote is yes.”
Sharon laughed. I only managed a nod. My stomach kept flipping.
“I’m sure your services will be needed elsewhere.” Sharon patted his hand. “And you’re so young, you will have so many new opportunities when my son is freed.”
It still amazed me that Sharon was so convinced of a positive outcome. The numbers Davin had quoted me last night flowed through my head like hot lava. They burned every time I thought of them. Hearing all of those “no” votes was like a knife through my heart. Those people didn’t want my friends to be freed.
I knew I shouldn’t take that personally. Voters were scared. A lot of the public still was. Cate and I still needed to better educate everyone, but still, it hurt. It hurt that so many people didn’t understand that my friends were nothing to be feared.
Lance stood and tapped the roof of our car. “Open the gate!”
The gate opened in front of us. The long winding road into the reservation waited. Lance wav
ed us forward.
I knocked on my connection with Sara. We’re here. Just entering now.
Oh good! We’re all going crazy in here!
Me too. I’ll see you soon.
Despite Sharon acting optimistic, I knew she was afraid too. Her hands tightened so sharply around the steering wheel, they squeaked against the leather. With a clenched jaw, she drove down the road. When buildings appeared in the distance, I could barely breathe. It felt like my throat was going to close in. It could still be hours before they released the result.
Nobody wanted a false report. Anarchy would no doubt ensue if that happened.
Smoke rose from some of the chimneys in the Kazzie neighborhood. Curtains were open. Lights shone from within even in daytime. As we passed down the streets, my heart filled when I saw Kazzies outside walking around and talking to one another.
Some of them stopped to watch us as we passed. Sharon’s car was a familiar one. More than a few of them waved at us.
I waved in return and smiled as best I could.
When Sharon pulled up to the curb outside of Davin’s house, the front door opened. Davin stood in the doorway dressed in his usual jeans and t-shirt. Even from a distance, the brightness of his eyes caught me off guard.
It was the first thing I’d recognized about Davin on the very first day I saw him. He had the most beautiful eyes I’d ever seen. They were so blue they put the ocean to shame. Sharon’s eyes were the same. It was the one trait they shared.
In a blurred movement, Davin appeared at his mother’s door. He opened it before she could and helped her out. The attentive gesture brought a smile to my lips.
Davin was still hugging his mom when I stepped out and slammed my door.
“How are you doing?” She cradled his face in her hands. “You’ll be free to come home soon.”
Davin just nodded, but I still saw the deep emotion that swirled in those irises.
When he glanced over the roof of the car, our gazes met. As always, my breath stopped. Neither of us said anything. I couldn’t. I was so choked with emotion no words would come out.
“Let’s go inside.” Davin took his mother’s hand and came around the front of the car. He approached my side and stared down at me.
“Did you sleep much last night?” His shoulders were tense. I knew he was thinking about our argument.
I shrugged. “A little, but it was hard.”
With his free hand, he entwined his fingers through mine. The three of us walked to the front door. Their next door neighbors were outside talking with other neighbors across the street. All of them stopped to watch us.
Standing in a group, it was so obvious which strain each Kazzie had. One woman’s ears were twice the size of a normal human. She had strain 24. She’d be able to hear us from down the street.
The man standing beside her had green skin. I knew if he opened his mouth he’d have a forked tongue. With strain 37, he must be freezing out here. Since his metabolism was similar to that of a reptile, he’d have a hard time regulating his body temperature. It probably explained why he wore three jackets.
The other two Kazzies standing beside them appeared no outwardly different than me or Sharon. That meant they could have one of a dozen different strains. Whether that be strain 11, like Davin, or strain 8, like Dorothy, I didn’t know. Of the 40 Makanza strains, only 13 didn’t result in outwardly physical changes.
They would be the lucky ones if they were ever released. The public would never know they were Kazzies.
Davin shut the door behind us. A fire crackled in the fireplace. Its warmth filled the room.
Sage appeared from around the corner. “Hey, Meghan and Sharon.” He wore a thick sweater and dark jeans. Socks covered his feet. Unlike Davin, he never went barefoot.
“How was the drive up?” Sage’s normal question helped ease the tension. It felt like electricity crackled between Davin and me.
I stepped closer to the fire and held my hands out. “It went fine but was long. I’m glad we’re here.”
Sage nodded and stuffed a hand in his pocket. “Should we turn the TV on? I haven’t had the guts to yet.” The large Kazzie ran his free hand through his hair. The firelight reflected off his unique skin.
“Yeah, let’s turn it on.” Davin strode to the TV and picked up the remote. The TV buzzed to life.
Since it opened immediately to the election, I knew all of the channels were covering the vote.
In a lightning fast move, Davin rearranged the couch and chair to face the TV. Sage dropped onto the chair. It squeaked under his weight. Davin, Sharon, and I sat on the couch. With Davin in the middle, his weight pushed the middle cushion down. Gravity pulled me toward him.
He glanced my way, a forced smile on this face.
More than anything, I wished he’d put his arm around me. He didn’t. I figured his distance was either from our fight last night or him preparing himself for the worst.
My troubling thoughts helped distract me from the news. ANN kept going over the results that they’d documented. Some said the vote was yes, others said the vote was no. The reality was that it was too close to call.
“This is going to drive me crazy.” Sharon bounced up from the couch. “I’m going to make a pot of tea. Does anybody want some?”
Before any of us could respond, she hurried to the kitchen. Banging sounded as she searched for a teapot.
“Do you even own a teakettle?” I glanced between the two men.
Sage shrugged. “I have no idea. I don’t drink that stuff.”
“I’ll help her.” Davin stood. His warm side disappeared.
I leaned back against the sofa and bit my lip. Closing my eyes, I tapped into my link with Sara. Where are you guys?
It took her a minute to respond. I could sense that she was busy. When she finally did, her response was distant. Sophie, Dorothy, and I are talking to our neighbors. We’ll be over soon. I’ll find Garrett and Victor and bring them too.
Good. See you soon.
Alone in my head, my worries resumed. “Let’s turn it off.” I didn’t wait for Sage to respond. I stood and turned off the TV.
With nothing but silence in the living room, I began pacing.
Sage ran a hand through his hair. “Meghan, you gotta turn that back on. The second they release the results I need to know.”
I shook my head. “Of course, I’m sorry.” With a shaky finger, I turned the TV back on. “I’ll be in the kitchen with Davin and Sharon. If the results come in, please tell us.”
In the kitchen, Sharon had found a pan to boil water. Davin stood ramrod straight, his hands on his hips. His broad shoulders and hard chest were visible through his t-shirt.
I wrapped my arms around myself. “Is there enough tea for me?”
Sharon jumped at the sound of my voice. “Oh, Meghan. Of course. Of course I’ll make some for you.”
She looked so frazzled. It was becoming apparent that her optimism was a false front.
A few minutes later, knocking sounded on the front door. Sage answered and the rest of the Kazzies from Compound 26 poured into the room.
“Meghan!” Sara ran to me and pulled me into a hug.
I gripped her tightly.
She pulled back. “It’s so good to see you. I’m so scared about what they’re going to say.”
Sophie and Dorothy joined us. Sophie looked identical to Sara. Blue skin, blue eyes, a lithe physique, and silky blond hair. Dorothy, on the other hand, was middle-aged, brown haired, and eternally plump. Strain 8 would never allow her to be thin.
“Hi, Dorothy.” I squeezed her hand.
“Oh, Meghan. You must be bone-tired after these past few months.” She pulled me into a fierce hug.
When I pulled back, I waved hellos to Victor and Garrett. Victor’s red skin looked darker than normal. I imagined his fiery temper had triggered a few times this morning while we waited for results. On the other hand, Garrett’s relaxed posture seemed calm as usual. However, his l
arge, egg-shaped eyes kept glancing toward the living room’s TV. More than once, he crept to the edge of the kitchen to get a better look.
The kitchen felt crowded with so many of us together, but the bodies pressing against me didn’t trigger my anxiety. If anything, I felt more relaxed having my friends so close.
I gripped Sophie’s hand. “Let’s just hope for the best. I think–”
“You guys! Come in here! They’re announcing the vote!” Sage’s booming voice filled the entire house.
Davin’s and my gaze met. With shaking legs, I reached for his hand. He pushed away from the counter and with a blurred movement was at my side.
All nine of us crowded into the living room. The newscaster on the TV sat behind a desk. He shuffled papers, his movements shaky and erratic.
Clearing his throat, he faced the camera. “The results are in from the vote. As many of you know, this was a close vote. The president will be announcing the outcome. She feels it is best coming from her.”
My heart beat so hard I thought it would beat right out of my chest. Davin’s hand closed tightly over mine. I squeezed him back just as strongly.
It was so quiet in the living room, I could hear everyone breathing.
The president appeared on the TV. The tension in the room grew, as if we’d all come face-to-face with a lion, and no one knew what to do. Fight. Or run.
Regardless, this was it. The time had come to know the fate of the Kazzies. And the truth was – there was no running from it.
“Good evening.” The president sat at her desk in the Oval Office. Her elbows rested on the wooden top. Her gaze didn’t waver. “To begin, I want to thank those of you who voted, and thank those who worked tirelessly through the night to count the votes. I know everybody wants to know the outcome. Before I announce it, I want to remind everyone that this is the final decision.”
Final. No. It can’t be final if the answer’s no!
Davin seemed to read my thoughts. He squeezed my hand, a sad smile covering his face.
The president continued. “After today, there will not be any changes. I encourage all of you to come together. To rebuild our country, we need to work as one. It is imperative that the division among us does not forsake our future.”
Section 12: Book #3 in The Makanza Series Page 23