“Better to have one dead man than four.” Liam matches her glare, and the family resemblance between them has never been more obvious. Same green eyes, same wrinkled nose, same stubbornness.
“Okay, how about a compromise?” I push them apart to force an end to their staring match. “What if Liam stays in front of the building. Slightly out of sight, but with a clear view of the door. The rest of you can wait on the sides of the building and get a lock on the guards from behind after they come out.”
“That still puts Liam in the most danger. Alone.” Mary stares at me like there must be more to the plan, but that’s all I’ve got.
“Someone has to be out front to keep them from running back here.” Liam reaches around me to grab Mary’s arm. “We have to put the village first.”
Mary nods and Liam nods back at her.
“Let’s go then.”
Thirty-Four
The walk to the schoolhouse takes forever. Even though the building isn’t that far away from the dining hall, we have to go around the village so we can approach from behind. By now, the pink rays of the sun are growing, though it’s still dark thanks to all the trees. We have to hurry or we’ll lose the benefit of surprise. The guards could go back to the dining hall for another torture victim at any time.
As soon as we get to the back of the schoolhouse, I don’t waste a second. It takes a minute, but I find a board along the base of the building loose enough to pry off.
Ethan helps me with another one to make a bigger hole. I grab his light and I’m diving under.
“Rebecca.”
“What is it, Liam? I need to go.”
“I know.” He scratches the back of his neck. “I just want you to know, no matter what happens, in case I don’t make it, I’m really proud of you. Ana would be, too.”
I can’t have this conversation with him, not right now. I have to focus. “Listen for the system to kick on.”
I dive back under the building before he can call me back.
There isn’t enough room in the crawl space to stay on my hands and knees. I drop down onto my stomach and slither deeper in. I have no idea how far in the electric box will be, so I have to keep stopping and rolling over onto my back to check the ceiling.
The sounds of Ethan, Liam, and the others can’t reach me down here, but everything going on above me is amplified.
No one says a word, but there is a lot of movement. Someone with a heavy shoe, like a boot is right above me now. They are walking in a little three foot circle, changing direction every couple of laps.
Whoever it is, is highly agitated, and that can’t be good.
Two more sets of feet come close. One is a clipped pace, but the other might as well be dragging their feet. I have to keep moving.
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know who you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do.” A chair scrapes across the wooden floor and sends a shower of dust down onto my face. “Rebecca Collins. She was here, and we know it.”
It hits me, lying on my back in the dirt, under a schoolhouse. That person they are looking for, Rebecca Collins, doesn’t exist anymore.
Rebecca Collins was a naive little girl who spent her whole life cowering behind an overbearing mother. Rebecca Collins wanted nothing more than to follow the rules and go along with the plan, even if she knew it was flawed. Rebecca Collins was ready to accept that she was some kind of deranged monster, just because someone else told her it was true.
Rebecca Whedon isn’t any of those things. And not just because I married Daniel, though picking a husband without her mother’s approval is definitely outside of Rebecca Collins’ approved activities. I’m not that girl anymore because I choose to be better than that. I can be whoever I want to be, and right now I choose not to be a coward.
I roll over onto my belly and use my arms to pull myself across the ground. I have to be getting close to the center of the building. My neck aches from holding it at such a weird angle. I need to finish this fast.
Another few feet and I roll over, holding the light stick at an angle above me so none of the light seeps through the floor above. Nothing.
I roll back over and out of the corner of my eye, something dangles down in the darkness. Please let that be it.
I slither over several feet to my right and something hits me in the face. I flash on my light and let out a soft exhale. I found the box, but my heart is stuck in my throat. Wires are everywhere, some of them connected, others dangling into the dirt, useless.
About like I’m feeling right now. If Daniel were here he could sort this all out in less than a minute. I am not Daniel, but my choices are pretty limited to fixing the panel or running away like a scared dog. Since option B includes watching a lot of innocent people beaten and killed, I have to figure this out.
I slide over until I’m right under the panel and peel back some of the wires. I need to find the right switches before I can even think about fixing anything.
The fan switch is on the side of the unit and there aren’t any exposed wires near it. I have to assume it works okay, but only because I don’t have any options if it doesn’t. The CUH toggle is harder to find, but it’s there, just like Thomas said it would be. There is one wire near it that is loosely wrapped around an exposed metal prong.
The connection looks shoddy at best. I twist the metal around with dirty fingers and mold it until it’s butted up against the prong. I shine the light on all the other disconnected wires. What do I do? If I try to put them back, but put them in the wrong place, I could blow the whole system up.
I don’t have many options other than firing it up and seeing what happens. I flip the switch and nothing happens. I toggle the CUH switch and hold my breath.
Nothing but more shouting from above. There must be another more central line that isn’t where it should be. After everything we’ve done to get this far, we’re stuck. Because I can’t get the furnace to kick on.
I feel like I’m back in the PIT listening to Daniel explain all the inner workings of the Cardinal’s system and how he was hacking into the system. I get that there are wires that should be connected, but that’s where my understanding runs out.
I could attach wires to the various tabs until the sun is at high noon and still not be any closer to getting this system running. Plus, I risk setting everything on fire. I can’t waste any more time. I’ll have to crawl back out and come up with a new plan. We could storm through the front door and hope for the best, but that almost guarantees someone else ends up with a bullet hole. We could wait until they come out of the building to get another torture victim, but who knows how many lives would be lost before then.
I spin around until my head is facing the back of the building and roll back over. I stop myself before I’m fully on my stomach and let my back sink into the dirt. What are the chances?
Right above me, several wires twist together and connect with a metal capsule at the end. Each of the wires is a different color, different from all the black of the other box. This has to be important.
I run my fingers along the edge of the box until I hit an indent that feels like it could hold the metal connector. Please let this work. I wedge the light between my chin and shoulder and guide the connection of wires over to where my index finger holds the spot. When something isn’t working, Daniel blows on it. Might as well stick with what works. I blow all the air in my lungs on the wires and stick the metal connector into the slot.
Lights on the panel go crazy flashing green and red over and over again. Somewhere in the building, the furnace kicks to life with a soft moan followed by the steady thrum of an engine.
The voices above me change from shouts and orders to confusion. More people moving, walking from room to room. I lay my head back in the dirt and close my eyes. My heart beats out a frantic pace and pounds against my ribcage. Please work. Please work. Please work.
Coughing joins the noise upstairs, and it’s the sweetest sound
I’ve heard in a long time. I squeeze my eyes tighter and picture the room above me filling with dust and debris. The shouting picks up again and pounding feet all rush toward the door. Please let Liam and the others be ready to move.
The door squeaks open and shouts tumble into the early morning.
“Freeze. Hands in the air.” Liam’s voice is unmistakable.
More shouting and the sounds of heavy objects hitting the ground. I have to hope those are the guards’ weapons and not ours. The voices are indistinguishable now, between those shouting orders and those yelling profanities.
The shouts deaden. Gags. Whoever lost their weapons just lost their voice as well.
“Split up. Ethan, head inside and get everyone out. Jeremy, run back and let the others know we’re okay.” Liam. Liam is calling out orders.
Warmth fills my chest and spreads down my arms and up into my face. We did it. It’s over and no one dies. I press a steady hand to my heart and open my eyes, staring at the now empty floor above me.
I roll back over onto my belly and work my way to the opening. My legs are useless noodles behind me, and wiggling out of the crawlspace is harder than it was wiggling in. Without all that adrenaline pumping through my veins, pulling myself across the damp soil with only my arms is harder than it was a few minutes ago.
I push my way out of the opening and stop, leaning on my knees to suck in deep breaths of fresh air.
“Rebecca!”
My head jerks up. Patrice runs straight at me with Eric right behind her. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be back at Allmore with the others.”
“She stole a horse and followed us here.” Eric stands with his arms crossed, glaring at Patrice.
Patrice wraps her arms around him and Eric relents into the hug. “What was I supposed to do, just sit there and wait for all of you to come back? Or not come back?”
She turns around to face me and the look of love on her face makes her look even more like Daniel. I’m not sure if I should slap her or hug her. Daniel would probably do both.
“Once upon a time you told me that there would come a day when you all would become my family and I’d be glad to be stuck out here with all of you.” Patrice lets go of Eric and grabs my hand. “You were right. This is my family, and families stick together.”
I pull her into a hug and Eric wraps his arms around both of us. All that’s missing is Daniel. I sink into the relief of everyone being safe for another minute and then let go and switch into command mode.
“Alright Eric, I want you to find Marcus and get that bullet out of Daniel’s leg now. Patrice, stick with me so I can make sure you stay out of trouble. I need to find Liam so we can get out of here and back to the rest of our family.”
* * *
I push open the door to Alan’s house without knocking. When you save someone’s life, I guess there’s less of a need to follow formalities.
“Rebecca.” Liam gestures from his seat in a formal cushioned chair. “Come on in. Have a seat. Alan was just about to fill me in on what happened.”
Alan glances up from his chair and I cover a gasp with my hand. He’s aged ten years since I last saw him. Margaret sits next to him, her arm looped through his as if she’s ready to fight wild lions to keep him safe.
I ignore them for now and turn to Liam. “How is everyone?”
Liam leans back in his chair and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Scared, shocked, mourning. I’m not sure they know how to feel.”
I take a seat on the couch opposite Alan. He’s exhausted, like the rest of us, but we need to know what happened before we can plan our next move. “Tell us what happened.”
Alan stares at me with bloodshot eyes, his face unreadable. “It was a normal night. We were all done with dinner and everyone was getting ready to call it a night. I was still in the dining hall talking with Dan about a project he’s working on.” Alan shakes from a chill. “It all happened so fast. One minute we were sitting around just like this, and the next minute Mary comes racing in screaming about guards finding her.”
“Why would the Cardinal send so few men out to attack?” Liam sounds more frustrated than curious.
“I’m guessing they were a scouting mission, but running into Mary forced them to act or risk us not being here when they got back with reinforcements.”
Liam nods. “Then what?”
“We were powerless to fight against them. They had guns and our bows were all put away. It’s not like we expect violence on a daily basis.” He pats Margaret’s arm and keeps going. “Once they had everyone inside, they grabbed me and several other men, and hauled us over to the schoolhouse. They tried to torture information out of us.”
“Information about me?”
Alan’s eyes meet mine and he doesn’t have to say it. “When the torture didn’t work, they started shooting.”
“How many?” I don’t want to know, but I need to. I need to know how many more deaths the Cardinal is responsible for.
“Five. Five brave men who will be remembered for their sacrifice. Everyone will want to have a release for them before we leave.”
“We don’t have time, but we’ll make time for this. Did you learn anything from them? Do they know the location of the other villages? Are more guards coming?”
“No, they didn’t say anything to us. Liam, I’m so sorry.” Alan leans forward and reaches for his son’s hand. Liam pulls back, and Alan has to settle for patting his knee. “I was wrong. About Ana and all the other Rejects. I let the Cardinal poison my thoughts all the way out here, and if I could go back and change it I would.”
“Did you tell the other villages to stop trading with us?” It’s so inconsequential right now, but I have to know the truth about this man who we all just risked our lives to save.
“Yes, but only because I wanted you to come home.” Alan stares at Liam, tears making his red eyes even worse. “I thought if enough villages refused to trade with you, you’d be forced to give up on Allmore and come home. Even Ana.”
“Well, that’s not going to happen, because Ana is dead.” Liam jumps up and wrenches open the front door. “I have my team loading up supplies from your storehouses. Mary and I are working on the exit strategy to get everyone out of here. I’ll see you in Allmore.”
The four us of sit in silence as Liam stomps down the front porch and off into the village.
“I never meant for any of this…” Alan stares at the door, his shoulders hunched and his face blank.
There’s nothing else to do here. I grab Patrice’s arm and stand up. Margaret catches my eye and nods at the same time she tightens her grip on Alan’s arm. They need so much healing, but at least they have each other.
I nod my thanks and we head back out into the village. There are people moving about everywhere, but the cheerful banter and ease of everyday life is gone. For the moment, Arbor Glen is stripped of its happiness.
I shake my head at the stark difference. “I can’t imagine what he’s going through.”
“Are we talking about Alan or Liam?”
“Both.” I thread my arm through Patrice’s. “Alan was so desperate to win his son back, but he couldn’t just admit that he was wrong. Now Liam pretty much hates him. Then poor Liam. All those years without speaking to his father, wanting to prove himself so bad. But no one wants to be right like this.”
“I miss my dad. I wish I could have told him how much he means to me one last time.”
I’ve been so wrapped up in my own world, I never stopped to ask Patrice how she was handling the news of her father’s disappearance. “Don’t give up hope yet. I haven’t.”
She nods. “Okay.”
I nod back, but I don’t have any confidence in my own words. Now I know just how far the Cardinal is willing to go to maintain his delicate hold on control and power. I’ve been officially missing for months now. Maybe he can feel the rule of his little domain of force-fed perfection slipping from his fingers. A man like that doesn�
��t let a member of his inner circle break out alive.
But the Cardinal is getting reckless.
Thirty-Five
“How is he doing?”
The lobby of Marcus’s office is packed with people waiting to be treated for their injuries. Eric stands from where he was wrapping a woman’s ankle in stretchy gauze.
“Better now.” He grabs Patrice and wraps her in a firm hug. “Marcus got the bullet out and repaired the torn muscle. He’s going to have a long recovery, but he’ll be okay.”
“Can we see him?” It’s not that I don’t believe Eric, but I need to see Daniel with my own eyes.
“He’s probably still out from the anesthesia, but you can wait with him if you want.”
Patrice looks up into Eric’s eyes. “Can you come with us?”
“Let me finish here, and I’ll come back in a minute, okay?”
Patrice nods, and he kisses her gently. My chest warms a bit at seeing the two of them together. They deserve to find some happiness.
Eric turns back to his patient. Patrice loops her arm through mine and we push through the door to the back rooms of the infirmary.
Daniel is asleep on a bed in the back. An old-fashioned machine beeps out a steady rhythm, like a heartbeat, and harsh lights cast his skin in yellow hues.
Marcus walks over after checking on another patient. The room is packed with beds. “He’ll be waking up soon and probably in a lot of pain. I don’t have IV meds for him so I can’t give him anything until he can swallow a pill.”
I nod and grab Daniel’s hand. His palm is warm against mine. I thought it would be cold, so the warmth is reassuring. “Eric says you got the bullet out.”
Marcus lifts Daniel’s other hand and pushes two fingers against his wrist to check his pulse. “It wasn’t too deep, but it did some serious damage on the way in. It’ll be a while before he can walk, and he might always have a bit of a limp.”
“So long as he keeps breathing, the rest we can live with.”
Rite of Revelation (Acceptance Book 2) Page 22