Underground 4

by Janelle Stalder

  “Is Lottey okay?” Roman asked as she sat down beside him again.

  “I think it’s just a passing bug,” she replied, looking to Pete. “She’ll be better soon.”

  Seamus walked in then, bringing with him the scent of coming winter from the cold outside. The tip of his nose was red, meaning he must have left early this morning if he’d already been out and about. Pete didn’t like the idea of Seamus going out there alone, but he wasn’t about to act like his father and tell him he couldn’t do as he pleased. He was a grown man, and could take care of himself.

  Seamus smiled, his grin not reaching his eyes quite like it used to. “This man needs to eat. Someone get me a plate.”

  Pete looked down at the food Charlotte had left, then slid it down to his friend. “Bon appetit, mate.”

  Phoenix stood at the bars of her cell, her eyes trained on the main door that led into the corridor that was lined with cells. Most were empty now, the previous occupants no longer alive. It made her sick to see only one person return each fight night, but there was nothing she could do about it.

  She waited there, knowing that eventually they’d bring in Pixie. If she was playing the part of a fighter, Bastian was sure to insist that she be housed here. This was where all the fighters stayed. She wasn’t sure where the patrons who attended these fights slept, but she was sure Garrett and Missy would be in a better place than this.

  An hour seemed to pass, and still no one came. She bit at her nails, nerves racking her body at the thought of what might be happening elsewhere. Had Bastian taken them somewhere under the ruse that he had bought into their story, and then just killed them?

  A shudder ran through her at the thought. It was possible, and she would never know until it was too late. She didn’t trust that man any further than she could throw him, and lord knew she wouldn’t be able to toss all that muscle more than an inch.

  Trent had looked super pissed – like, even more so than usual, which she didn’t think possible until then – and had glared at her when she passed him on the way out from practice. He was obviously as angry about seeing their siblings here as she was.

  What the hell were they thinking? What kind of plan was this? What happened if Bastian, the cruel bastard, put Tyler and Trent together in the ring? Then what?! Was she the only smart one who thought of these things? It had taken all her control not to jump over those ropes and rush to Missy when their eyes had finally met. She could see how scared her baby sister was.

  And yet, there was also a glint of strength there that Phoenix had never seen before. She couldn’t help but wonder what had happened when she had saved the burly Scott to put it there.

  It’s not like Phoenix didn’t know Tyler had a soft spot when it came to Missy, but she’d never expected her sister to reciprocate his feelings. Was it possible something had happened between them to make Missy heal finally after her brutal past? God, she hoped so. Phoenix wanted her carefree sister back, not the shell that had remained when those soldiers were done with her.

  The loud clank of the main door opening had her pressing closer against the bars, peering down the hall as best she could at the newcomers. When she saw just one guard come through without Pixie, her gut twisted.

  The sound of his boots reverberated off the walls as he slowly made his way down toward her cell. She expected him to keep going, so when he stopped in front of her cell she instinctively backed away warily. She’d already practiced that day, what could he want now?

  The keys at his hip jingled as he pulled them off, going to the door that locked her away. “Boss wants you to do some laps outside,” he said in a gruff voice.

  “Outside?” Had she heard him right? She hadn’t been outside since the day they’d brought her here. He looked at her as though she were daft.

  “Yeah, outside,” he said slowly before shaking his head like she was some idiot child.

  “W-why?”

  He shrugged. “He thinks you need some vitamin D, or some shit like that. He doesn’t want you getting sick before your first fight.”

  What? That was odd. “Why would he care?” she asked, voicing her inner question.

  “How the hell should I know? Just get your ass out here, Red.” He opened the door, motioning her through impatiently.

  She hesitated, looking at the opening with distrust. What if they’d figured out her connection with the sudden appearance of Garrett and his fighter, and this was all just a ploy to get her out so they could kill her too? She didn’t want to die with a bullet in the back of her skull. She’d rather go down fighting for her life in a ring than like that.

  “Do you want some fresh air or not?” he asked with a huff. “Or do you like it down here in this stuffy-as-fuck place?”

  When he put it that way, being outside definitely seemed like a nice change, but one that didn’t sit well with her. Moving slowly, she joined him outside, putting her hands in front of him like she was supposed to so he could put the shackles on her.

  “Let’s go.” He pulled her roughly down and out of the cellblock, leading her through familiar hallways. They walked past the practice area she was used to, and kept going down another hall.

  The floor seemed to be slanting upward, and she knew that she really was going outside for once. The idea put a new spring in her step, her body suddenly ravenous for the feel of sunlight and the caress of a fresh breeze on her face.

  When they finally broke through, her eyes fluttered closed against the brightness, like a new babe just entering the world. It blinded her, but it was heavenly. She took a deep breath in, savouring the crisp air of the Outlands. The smog and dust of New Berlin didn’t fill the air here. All she could smell was grass, dirt, and simply air. It felt as though she’d been beneath the ground for years, not weeks.

  “Move it, Red,” the guard barked. “The track is over there. Hurry up.”

  Phoenix opened her eyes, scowling at the man for ruining such a sweet moment. She looked over to where he motioned, and her heart raced at seeing other fighters there, already running laps. It was the two biggest fighters that she locked in on first though, and the sight of the Scott and Mr. Hot shot had never been so sweet. Go figure.

  The guards had brought Tyler in not long after Trent had returned from his round in the practice ring. He’d wanted to talk to him right then and there, but they’d placed Tyler in a cell further down where the only way they’d be able to converse would be to yell, and there was no way he was doing that. He needed a moment to speak with him, and wasn’t sure how he’d be able to get it.

  Thankfully, the guards had returned to take them all out, saying something about laps, and had proceeded to bring them all outside to an enclosed area with a track. At first Trent was too stunned by the fact that they’d actually brought them outside to realize this would be his perfect opportunity, but he soon shook himself and focused again.

  He’d started a light jog around the track, not looking back to see where Tyler was, so as not to alarm anyone. He’d continued that way on his own, hearing footfalls behind him, but never turning to see who it was. Not until two other fighters started to jog beside one another, speaking to each other, did he sense Tyler approach.

  The two of them ran a couple of laps in silence, both their eyes glancing at the guards standing on the side to see how closely they were being watched. It wasn’t long until Trent noticed they were too involved in their own conversation to catch much of what was happening on the track, that he finally looked directly at his friend.

  “I can’t say it’s good to see you, but damn, it’s good to see you,” he said.

  Tyler smiled. “I know what you mean. Quite the predicament you and the lass got yourselves into,” he said.

  Trent grunted. “Says the guy who is now running beside me. Want to tell me what the hell is going on?”

  Tyler opened his mouth to respond, when they heard someone else fast approaching, making them both turn forward again.

  “Well hey there, boy
s,” Phoenix said, running up alongside him. She gave Trent a wink, falling in step with them. “Fancy meeting you two here.”

  “Keep your voice down,” Trent said, looking back at the guards.

  She waved him off. “They’re busy talking about some girl they both laid over there, I wouldn’t be worried about them hearing anything we say here. So, Scotty,” she said, leaning over to look at Tyler, “want to tell me what the hell you’re doing here? And with my sister, no less?”

  Trent glanced at his friend, to see his mouth flatten into a thin line.

  “We came to get you guys out of here,” he replied. “I should think that was obvious.”

  Phoenix snorted in an unladylike way that had Trent fighting back a smile. There were certain things about her that he found adorable, not that he’d ever admit it. The fact that she could still come off as so confident and flippant, considering their current situation, had him feeling strangely proud of her. Again, not that he’d admit it.

  “Of course you did. I also was going to get us out of here, by whistling for a couple of flying unicorns to come down and take us away.” She sighed dramatically. “Now there’s too many of us. You’ve gone and ruined my entire plan.”

  Trent shook his head, not even looking to see his friend’s reaction.

  “Want to explain why you thought bringing my sister with you was a smart idea?”

  She was pissed. Trent understood where she was coming from, and couldn’t help but wonder that himself. He understood the guys coming to try and get them out, but why bring Missy and Pixie? He looked to Tyler for a response. His friend didn’t look any happier about it than they were.

  “She wouldn’t stay. I tried,” was his only explanation.

  “Why wouldn’t she stay? That makes no sense,” Phoenix argued.

  Tyler was quiet for a moment, seemingly contemplating his answer. With another sigh, he said, “she didn’t want to be separated from me again.” He gave them both a meaningful look and left it at that.

  Trent looked over at Phoenix, who almost looked comical with her mouth hanging open in surprise. He reached over with one finger, gently shutting it. “You’ll catch flies like that,” he said, smiling despite himself.

  She shooed him away, batting at his hands. To her credit, she let that particular subject drop, accepting that there was obviously something between Tyler and Missy they’d missed while being locked up here. Her eyes scanned the track, and then looked back to Tyler.

  “Where is Pixie then? Why bring her?”

  “We needed a quick exit plan, and she’s the best one to create one, if you catch my drift,” he answered.

  Little Pixie and her explosives, Trent thought. It wasn’t the best plan, but a last ditch effort he supposed if they couldn’t think of anything better. Best case, they could blow out the tunnels behind them, if they could get away and make it to the entrance.

  “As to where she is now,” Tyler continued, “I have no idea. I assumed with the rest of you women.”

  Phoenix shook her head. “She was never brought to our cells. I figured she would be, but she wasn’t.”

  The concern Trent read in her eyes bothered him for some reason – not that there was anything he could do about it. He was sure quiet, little Pixie was perfectly okay in there. She wasn’t Phoenix, who could push even saints to the last of their patience. Her big mouth constantly got her in trouble. His eyes drifted down to the offending, plump lips, his mind going to places he knew it shouldn’t.

  Giving his head a good shake, he looked straight again, trying his best to ignore the way her scent reached his nose, enticing him every time he took a deep breath. Oblivious to his inner struggles, the other two continued their conversation without him. Truth be told, he didn’t even hear a word of it as he watched her slender frame in his peripheral vision. There was something so delicate and fragile about Phoenix, and yet she was the strongest woman he’d ever known.

  Not that he’d tell her that.

  Suddenly she reached out and slapped him, hard, on the arm. He flinched, looking down at her with a frown. “What was that for?” he asked.

  “Did you hear what he just said?”

  Trent looked between them both, ashamed to admit he hadn’t heard a word. Shaking his head, he looked to Tyler to explain.

  “I was telling her about the treatments in the Institute I received,” said Tyler.

  “He can throw a man across a room!” Phoenix interjected.

  He raised both brows in surprise. “You actually got treatments, and you’re alive to tell the tale?”

  A grim look passed over his friend’s face as his mouth flattened into a thin line. “It wasn’t without its price, trust me. It’s been a rough few weeks.”

  “OH man,” Phoenix said excitedly, running sideways beside him. “If you two fight, my money is on the Scotsman.”

  Trent gave her a narrowed look, then turned away. He’d never lost a fight in his life, and he didn’t plan to now. Although, this did complicate things as far as he could tell. What would happen should Bastian put the two of them in the ring together? Or was that the answer? His brain raced, blocking them out again as he went through their options, limited as they were.

  “Garrett will take me in to practice tomorrow morning,” he caught Tyler saying. “While we’re there, I’m hoping Missy can take a look around and see if there is any other way out of there, besides the main entrance.”

  “You’re letting Missy snoop around on her own?” Phoenix asked, her voice rising.

  Both men shushed her, looking over to the guards. They seemed completely unaware of anything other than themselves. Trent turned to give Phoenix a hard look.

  “Oh put your daddy eyes away,” she huffed, rolling her own. “I didn’t yell loud enough for anyone to hear.”

  “You have no idea what loud is, because everything you do and say is loud to other people. Unless you want them to figure us all out, I’d suggest learning how to be quiet instead.”

  She opened her mouth, most likely to curse at him like always, but Tyler cut her off.

  “Missy is a lot stronger than you think, Phoenix. She saved me, and I know that she can handle something like this. Don’t underestimate her just because she’s gentler than you.”

  Trent snorted at his comparison of the two sisters. Gentler indeed. What he meant to say was Missy wasn’t a hell-raiser like Phoenix, and knew how to blend in. With her spunky attitude and bright red hair, that was impossible for Phoenix.

  “Fine,” she conceded, frowning. “But if anything happens to her, I hold you responsible.”

  “Nothing will happen to her,” Tyler replied. “I won’t let it.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  All was not lost.

  Douglas Hatcher sat in a chair that had seen better days, in a building that reeked of rat piss and shit. While he lived like a pathetic lower, Ludwig Tennebris sat surrounded by all the comforts of the old world, reigning over his beloved Uppers. Well all that would change soon. The institute was now destroyed by the New World leader, but thankfully they'd managed to save the most promising of their subjects. Well, save one. But there was nothing they could do about that now.

  From what his men had just told him, he knew that their plan was still going to fall into fruition. Ludwig’s days were numbered, he just didn’t realize it yet.

  “And the soldiers?” he asked his man still standing before him.

  “In place,” John replied.

  Douglas couldn’t believe how difficult it had been to find New World Order soldiers who were willing to betray their leader. Surprisingly most of Ludwig’s men were loyal to the fault, something Douglas hadn’t expected. But alas, there were always some who could be swayed to another side. Knowing this, he’d had his men do their best to find the ones that could lend their hand to the rebels.

  Now it was a matter of waiting – again. Something he seemed to always be doing as of late. At least it couldn’t be said that Douglas Hatcher lacked p
atience. With everything moving the way he’d hoped, that particular virtue would finally be worth it. The tides were changing, and with it, New Berlin would soon see a new leader.

  Stella gazed at her reflection. What she saw there was nothing impressive. Unlike her sister, Mara, she didn’t have the golden hair that their mother did, or the bright blue eyes that all the boys seemed to gravitate toward. No, she had been given plain brown hair that hung in curls that could never be tamed, with hazel eyes that often looked more brown than green.

  Where Mara had smooth, clear porcelain skin, hers was bronzed from the sun, with freckles dotting her nose. Unremarkable. That’s what she was. Despite her mother always telling her what a beauty she was, Stella didn’t see it.

  Sighing, she pulled at the dress she wore, knowing that no matter what she did it wouldn’t change the girl staring back at her. Turning away, she grabbed her small purse, throwing it across her chest and making her way down to the kitchen. The rest of her family already sat there, eating their meager breakfast of oatmeal and fruits.

  She supposed they had it better than most. While she didn’t know much about the lowers in the western and eastern ghettos, as an Upper, she knew they had more than most of the population left in New Berlin. She ought to be thankful for that, and yet her life seemed to be slowly slipping by with nothing exciting ever happening.

  “Morning,” her father greeted from behind his paper.

  “Morning,” she replied. Sitting down in her usual spot, she picked at the food left for her, already cold from sitting there while she fussed uselessly at herself. Served her right.

  “Girls, I want you straight home after school,” their mother said, standing to go to the sink. “The NWO has called a town meeting at the community center tonight, and I want you both there looking your best.”

  Their mom was always concerned about their appearances. That was probably why Stella felt the way she did. It never escaped her notice the way she’d introduce Mara with such pride to all, leaving Stella as almost an afterthought. Their mother wanted both of them to marry one of the richer men in the Upper section to secure their futures, but as far as Stella could tell, no one was interested in her.