I nod at him and look at Connor. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yeah,” he says.
“Wait,” Heather says.
All of us look at her.
She stares at the ground, looking almost ashamed of what she’s about to say. “Christopher took the virus from you,” she says. “Can he wake up as a greyskin?”
I know that he told me when he heaˀ it tls someone, he doesn’t take the wound, only the pain. But does that work the same for illnesses?
Danny pulls out a pistol from his belt and sighs deeply. “There’s more honor in this than waking up as one of those things. We have to make sure. For his sake.”
I swallow hard and nod. Danny stays behind, waiting for the rest of us to leave. I point to a truck only a few feet away from us and ask Jeffrey to try and get it started. The others begin to make their way to it. Connor is still standing there, staring at me.
“When it hit me that you were really going to die, I didn’t know what to think,” he says. “I didn’t want to go on. I was ready to go down with the Center. Truthfully, I don’t want to live without you.”
I step forward and place a hand on his cheek. “I love you, Connor.” I close my eyes and lean in and his lips meet mine half way. It’s a sweet kiss. Tender. And it melts my insides. The idea of kissing someone has never felt so right, so…perfect. As he kisses me back, I know that this is the man I truly love. The one I want to be with forever.
He breaks the kiss first, reaching to the back of my neck and resting his forehead on mine. Our eyes stare into one another. “We can do this,” he says. “We can finish this today. We will.”
“Let’s do it,” I say. I start wrapping the bloody shirt at his chin and pull it tight around his head. I cover one of his eyes, and finally end it by tucking it in at the back of his head. I step back and look at him.
Heather walks up to let us know that Jeffrey got the truck started and the others are ready to go.
“What do you think?” I ask. “Recognizable?”
“That’s disgusting,” Heather said.
“Good,” I say.
Connor looks like his face must have been ripped to shreds. I don’t even think Jeremiah would recognize him up close, though I don’t plan on giving him the chance.
I tell Connor and Heather to go ahead and that I will meet them in a second. I bend down next to Christopher’s body and touch his arm. It’s already cold. I still can’t believe that he did this for me. But I know it wasn’t just for me. It was for him. For his sister. For the world. I vow not to let him down. I won’t let his sacrifice be in vain.
By my life, or even in my death, I swear I will see to it that Jeremiah dies today.
Jeffrey smiles at me as I walk to the front passenger seat of the truck. Connor squeezes in beside me while everyone else piles into the back. As I look around the courtyard, everything seems so lifeless apart from the dancing flames of the rubble from the Center. Jeremiah’s announcement for people to stay indoors must have been heeded.
Danny tells us to go ahead of him and that he will use the second truck to follow behind in a minute. Jeffrey drives through the streets toward the prison and a loud bang sounds through the air. Danny has made sure Christopher won’t wake up. A silent tear drops down my cheek. Christopher was more of a hero than any of us.
I glance at Connor and he looks at me with his uncovered eye. We both understand what we’re about to do. We both know that we could die. Jeremiah usually has something up his sleeve, but isn’t it just Trace’s gift this time? Does Jeremiah know that I saw his conversation with Evelyn? When he had touched her, seeing into her mind, he knew everything she knew. But there were a lot of memories to sift through. He might not have a clue that I saw everything. He might not know that I can do more than just move things with my mind.
I have a feeling he’s going to want to meet with me away from Evelyn and Aaron. He will want ˀe than jto have Evelyn’s ability so he can look into my mind to see what tricks I might be playing, but he knows it’s too dangerous to meet me without any kind of fighting power. So, instead, he will probably come in with Aaron’s ability, ready to electrocute me if I make any sudden movements. He also won’t be alone. No doubt there are guards all around the prison. Many of them are probably hiding in the shadows, ready to shoot.
I fear for Connor’s life, but I know that as long as I don’t give him away and he keeps the head wrap on, he will be fine - at least for a few minutes. And I hope a few minutes is all it takes.
I still silently question myself as Jeffrey drives forward. I had been so willing to die when I knew that it was inevitable, but now I actually feel fear. I have been given back everything. I still have a chance to see my little brother grow up. I might even get to see the day when the greyskins can’t reach me or my family.
Jeffrey picks up speed as we drive past a large group of greyskins. All of them seem interested in one specific building at the moment. There must have been a lot of noise or movement there. I shake my head when I think about it. How sick has this world become over the past sixty years? How could we ever get it back to the way things were? I suppose things will never be truly the same.
I close my eyes and think of Evelyn. She and Aaron are alone and talking.
“I don’t know,” she says. “But I have to make him think she’s alive.”
“Has it been a full twenty-four hours?” Aaron asked.
“I’m not sure. I don’t think so, but I can’t imagine she has the strength to get here or fight Jeremiah.”
“If she’s dead, we’re all dead.”
“I don’t know. I just don’t know.”
I open my eyes. Jeremiah is no longer with them. I’m sure he’s preparing his men to surround the area in case more of us show up than expected. I’m not exactly sure what the others with me are planning. I know they will be on standby, but by the time they get the call, won’t it be too late?
I shake my head, trying to focus my thoughts on one thing: talking to Jeremiah. Somehow I’ve got to level with him. I have to be able to get close enough to him to take him down. I’m still willing to give my life, but I feel much more cautious about it now than I did. Thanks to Christopher, I’m not dying anymore. I’ve got a responsibility to destroy Jeremiah and stay alive at the same time.
Jeffrey starts to let up on the gas as he tells me that the prison is just up the road. He finally puts the truck in park and everyone but Connor and me get out. I scoot over into the driver’s seat as Jeffrey places a hand on the window opening of the door.
“I’m going to keep the radio on and turned up,” he says. “We’ll wait for your call, but if you’re not done in the next ten minutes or so, we’re coming in.” He shrugs his shoulders. “I’m leaning toward charging in there full-force. We’re ready to die if we need to.”
“That sounds like what I’d do,” I say. “I’ll try to be finished before you start to worry.”
Jeffrey smiled at me. “Evelyn picked a good one,” he says.
I’m not entirely sure he knows that I know what he’s talking about. I’ve seen the meeting with Evelyn and the others. I saw how she talked about me and wanted me to carry on. I simply return Jeffrey’s smile and place my hand on his.
“Hopefully we will be done with all of this soon,” I say.
“I hope so too. Be careful.”
He steps back from the trucˀ bek and I put it in drive, rolling forward at a slow pace that feels entirely too fast. As we drive on, Connor reaches out and squeezes my hand. I don’t look at him, though I’m happy he is with me. All too soon the prison comes into view. The crumbled remains from the explosions yesterday are all over the streets and I know we’ll have to stop the truck a couple of blocks from the now open courtyard.
I put it into park in the middle of the deserted street and take a deep breath. “What am I doing?” I say out loud. Another tear streaks down the side of my face as I think about Christopher. About Sadie. What will she say?
&n
bsp; “Hey,” Connor says.
I look at him.
“Now isn’t the time for tears. You’re about to face the most evil man that has ever walked this Earth. You show him your tears, you show him the wrong kind of weakness.”
“What do you mean, wrong kind?” I ask.
“Right now you need to show him that you’re on the brink of death,” Connor explains. “If he knows anything about your condition right now, he’s going to think you are weak. That’s a good position for you to be in. That way, he might not be too cautious about you.”
I nod as he tells me this.
“You already look pretty rough with all the dirt on your face,” he says.
“Thanks.”
“When we approach, walk with a limp. Make sure he thinks you are on the brink of death. Make him think he has more power than he really does.”
“And you don’t say a word,” I tell him. “He might recognize you anyway. Just make sure you stand back from us. You’re his prize. I’m not letting him get close to you without getting Evelyn and Aaron back.”
“What’s your plan?” Connor asks.
“I don’t know. Jeremiah is going to want me dead, but he thinks I’m about dead anyway.” I shake my head. “Just play it by ear, I guess.”
We both get out of the truck and start walking toward the prison. Connor holds a rifle in his hands even though he knows he can’t use it unless we either have Aaron and Evelyn or we are attacked.
“Do you have a pistol?” I ask.
Connor nods and pulls it from his belt.
“When I give you a nod, I want you to hold it to your head like you’re going to kill yourself.”
“What?”
I smile at him. “He won’t know what to do.”
“And what is your plan after I hold a gun to my head?”
I shake my head. “I don’t have a plan. We’ll figure it out from there. I’ve got to read his reaction first.”
Connor doesn’t say anything to this, but I assume that he accepts it. Neither of us can see into the courtyard because sections of the walls have been left nearly intact, but the feeling I have in my gut tells me there is danger lurking on the other side. I can just feel that there are guards perched atop the surrounding buildings. The two of us are probably in their sights right now. Jeremiah likely knows exactly where we are.
When we reach the courtyard, we walk through a break in the wall and immediately see a figure standing in the middle. It’s Jeremiah.
He is alone, but I know he isn’t really alone. There are guards posted in strategic positions, I’m sure of it.
I look at Connor one more time, hoping that his bandaged head is enough to keep him concealed. I nod at him and begin to stumble toward the man in the middle of the courtyard as Connor hangs back near the entrance.
JereˀHe miah stands confidently dressed head to toe in clothes similar to what I had seen him wear when I first met him. He wears the boots and safari-like outfit that hides most of his skin. He wears sunglasses and a hat. I can smell his perfumes from here.
I drag my right foot as though it’s difficult to lift it. I can’t let him think that I’ve been healed. The moment he notices that I no longer carry the virus within me, is the moment he becomes aggressive. He thinks he has the upper hand, but he doesn’t realize that I’m at full strength and the healer is dead.
I finally stop when I’m about twenty feet from him. Jeremiah simply stares at me and I’m unable to catch his facial expression behind the dark sunglasses. Set behind him, however, are what looks to be about five different car batteries. As soon as I see them, my thoughts go back to the several times I have seen Aaron use cars as his source of power. They were powerful indeed, but they were limited. It confirms to me that he touched Aaron recently, so he’s expecting a fight. I know I just have to stay calm and try to avoid a physical confrontation.
“Why does the healer stay back there?” Jeremiah asks.
“A little apprehensive to the thought of dying,” I say. “You know simply taking his power will do nothing for you, right?”
“I am aware,” he says. “But there are other ways to make him heal me.”
“You would take a man’s life so freely?” I don’t know why I even ask. I know what he is capable of.
Jeremiah just smiles at me.
“What do you want?” I ask.
“You’re almost dead, aren’t you?”
I blink.
“The virus has almost taken you over. There almost isn’t any point for me to take your life now.” He takes a deep breath. “Admittedly, you aren’t going to get much out of the deal that I’m ready to propose to you.”
“What’s that?” I ask.
“I’m willing to give you Aaron for the healer. Simple exchange. However, you and Evelyn will die.”
“You expect me to agree to this?”
Jeremiah shrugs. “I don’t think you have much of a choice.”
I turn and look at Connor and nod. Connor pulls the gun from his belt as planned and holds the barrel to his head. When I turn back, I can see Jeremiah’s eyebrows have lifted.
“Christopher isn’t afraid to die,” I say. “Before we came here, he said that if Evelyn, Aaron, and I aren’t able to go free, he would kill himself right in front of you.”
“And if I did let them go free?”
“He would give himself up.”
“I don’t believe you.”
I shrug. “It’s your gamble. Looks like it has taken you this long to find a healer. I don’t suspect you really want to wait another sixty years, do you?”
Jeremiah takes off his sunglasses and places them into one of his pockets, staring at me with his sagging eyes. “I think you’re bluffing,” he says.
I say nothing.
“I don’t have to have a healer. I can go on living the way I do.”
“You’re tired of the craving for flesh,” I say. “Having him so close to you now must be difficult with me standing in your way.”
“From what I understand, all I have to do is wait you out for the next hour or so and you’ll be dead.”
“Christopher won’t wait that long.”
“Neither will I.” He looks up at something and nods.
When I turn to try and see whˀpheat he nodded at, all I see are buildings and walls. I turn back to Jeremiah. “Have and alternate plan?”
“When you’ve lived as long as I have, you always have an alternate plan.” When the words pass his lips, I hear a loud gunshot through the air. At first, I think it’s directed toward me, but I’m not hit. I spin around when I hear Connor scream out in pain. He’s lying on the ground, holding his leg.
When I look back at Jeremiah, he seems to be glowing. With a hard punch, he sends electric bolts flying toward me. I fall backward as the electricity makes me spasm uncontrollably. I felt this same pain yesterday. It’s terrible. I’ve lost all control of my limbs. On top of that, the shock burns hotter than anything I’ve ever felt.
For a moment, he stops, though my limbs continue to move without my control. All he has to do is continue to send shocks through me and I will be finished. I’m able to look up at him, and I expect some sort of maniacal grin, but he looks at me very seriously.
“You’ve made a mistake trying to cross me, Mora,” Jeremiah says. “When you made me an enemy, you signed your death sentence.” He shakes his head. “You aren’t going to die by the virus. I’m going to kill you.” He takes a step forward. “I’m going to kill you, Aaron, and Evelyn. And once I use up your healer, I’m going after all your Starborn friends. I won’t stop until they are all dead. Your grandma will die trying to protect your little brother. And Jake? Well, by then I won’t have the taste for human flesh, but I might just make an exception for him.”
As soon as the words leave his mouth, I stand and swing my arms as hard as I can, grabbing his legs with my mind and throwing him to the ground. He lets out a groan, but I’m distracted by the sound of bullets landing ne
ar me. I look up and see two guards on top of the prison. I stop their bullets only feet away from me and send them back at the shooters. I do this with several other guards. But then I hear another gun firing from the ground. It’s Connor. He’s firing his rifle at every guard he can find, covering me as I reach out and grab Jeremiah, lifting him in the air with just a thought. When he’s about twenty feet in the air, I let him go and he drops to the dirt in a crash.
I’m about to grab for him again when I feel another surge of electricity sizzle through me. I scream out in pain as I lose my balance and fall to my knees. A bullet zips through the air past my head and Jeremiah lets out a terrifying scream as it rips through his shoulder, pausing his surge of electrical power. I see it as my chance to charge forward, grabbing him through the air with my fingers and shoving him down. I start to grab him again, but I stop when I hear trucks. Ten covered trucks pull up to each of the gaps in the wall. Screven guards jump out of the trucks and climb to the tops. They crawl out to the edges and begin to lift up on the back gates.
What I see makes my stomach drop. From each of the trucks, come at least twenty greyskins. All of them are hungry for flesh. Connor hobbles toward me as fast as his injured leg will carry him. I instantly reach into my pocket and pull out the radio. I hold it up to my mouth and call out for Jeffrey.
“All of you needed to be here about two minutes ago,” I say. “There are greyskins and guards everywhere. Be careful, but come fast!”
I’m blindsided by a force that I hadn’t seem coming. When I’m able to look up, I see Jeremiah on top of me.
“Time to see what it’s like being you!” he says with a yellow smile.
I immediately throw him off me to the ground about ten feet away. Connor holds up his rifle to shoot Jeremiah, but Jeremiah reachˀyelles into the air and swats the gun away. He then swipes again and Connor is on the ground.
The greyskins are almost on us. Screaming, groaning, they want nothing but to feast on the people fighting in the middle of the courtyard. I wish the others would get here soon. I don’t know how long Connor and I can do this alone.
With a swing of my arm, an entire row of greyskins is tossed backward. But in the same movement, I feel a blast of air hit me and knock me face-first to the ground. I can feel blood trickle out of my forehead and down my face. Looking up, I see Jeremiah throwing greyskins in every direction. He doesn’t look worried. He looks amazed by the power he now wields. My gift.
The Starborn Saga (Books 1, 2, & 3) Page 64