Plastered against the back of the house, I closed my eyes. Icy moisture wanted to freeze my eyelids shut.
“Did a guard spot us?” I kept my voice low.
Ian frowned heavily. “I don’t know.”
It seemed to take hours before the truck slowly passed.
“Did they see the footprints?” I inched closer to Ian.
“They’d only be able to see them on the two streets we crossed if they drove down those streets, and if they were paying attention. We’ll have to try and cover those tracks on our way out.”
“We need to knock on the window and hope this is where Sara and Sophie live. We’re running out of time. If they see those tracks, all they have to do is follow them. It will lead them right to us!”
I bolted to a stand before Ian could reply and ran to the first window. I rapped on it as Ian reached my side.
Please, please, please let this be their home!
The lights were still on inside. Since the window was too high for either of us to see through, I didn’t know what room it was attached to. It could be the bathroom.
I tapped again.
Nothing.
“Let’s go to the other side and see if we can find a room with a light on.” I grabbed Ian’s hand and pulled him around the corner. The guard’s words kept haunting me. It sounded as if they’d been looking for someone.
The second window on the other side was lit up. I stood on my tiptoes and raised my arm. I rapped on it sharply, no longer caring if we drew attention from the neighbors. I needed to find the twins.
When nothing happened again, I raised my arm to knock a second time just as the curtains parted. A blue face peered out.
I grinned and backed up so she could see me better.
Sophie’s eyes widened.
I mouthed, Get Sara.
Sophie stood paralyzed, her mouth dropping.
I cupped my hands around my mouth. “Get Sara!”
That yell kicked her into action. She raced away from the window. A second later, two blue faces appeared.
I never thought I’d be so happy to see someone.
Sara and Sophie watched me with wide eyes, surprise evident on their faces. I tapped the side of my head subtly as Ian stayed quiet. I then closed my eyes and searched for that mental door in the back of my mind that used to link me to the twin.
I felt Ian’s hovering presence, but he didn’t say anything. He couldn’t know what I was doing. To him, it would look like I’d closed my eyes and stood there.
A throbbing began in my mind. It was similar to the first time. Something strange started in the base of my skull. Like warmth and pressure building at once. My breath stopped as the pressure expanded until the crushing force disappeared.
Meghan? Is that really you?
Tears formed in my eyes when I opened them. Sara and Sophie continued peering through the window.
I felt Ian beside me, shuffling from foot to foot. “Ah, Meghan? Are you going to talk to them?”
He had no idea I already was.
I continued to stare at Sara, my lips not moving. Yes. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I cut off our connection before, but I’m back now. I should have never left! I—
“There’s definitely tracks here!” A soldier’s voice carried faintly through the wind.
My eyes widened. Ian’s did the same.
“We need to get out of here!” He didn’t give me a chance to respond. Instead, he clamped his hand over my arm and pulled me to the front of the house. We were sailing across the street to the other side just as another patrol vehicle rounded the corner.
“They’re on foot!” The guard’s voice reached my ears just as Ian and I sprinted across the yard to the one behind it.
Meghan? I pushed Sara’s question to the back of my mind as Ian and I fled. Ian was right. We needed to get out of here!
I felt Sara in my mind. Sorry, I can’t talk now! I closed our connection so I could concentrate on escaping.
We sprinted from yard to yard.
Darkness beyond the next street indicated the open prairie was close. Three miles beyond that lay the fence.
“We need to keep running!” Ian’s labored breathing sounded above the wind.
We dashed through the last yard as two patrol trucks swerved around the corners, one on each end of the street. A spotlight shone right at us.
“Shit!” Ian muttered. “Keep going! Don’t stop!”
We burst through the last yard, running as fast as we could just as a bark reached my ears.
No, no, please no! If they had dogs, we couldn’t outrun them.
Ian and I were both sprinting now. Our arms pumped at our sides as the black prairie lay ahead. We burst through the last backyard, our boots sinking into the snow as we ran as fast as we could.
Another bark reached my ear.
It was closer.
I didn’t dare look behind us. We were three miles away from the fence with nothing to guide us. Neither of us slowed to pull out the GPS.
A growl came next.
I could hear them now. There were several dogs. Panting breaths and grunts came from behind me. Something brushed my leg.
I swerved to the side.
The dog followed.
Ian continued running ahead, and in that moment, I knew it wasn’t possible for us both to escape. But one of us can.
I came to a grinding halt. The dogs barreled into me, pushing me into the snow. I instinctively wrapped my arms around my neck and head and curled into a ball. Their teeth bit into me as the guards’ voices sounded in the night.
“Meghan!” Ian’s frantic shout reached my ears.
“Go! Keep running!” My words were muffled, but I yelled as loud as I could.
I didn’t hear Ian again. The dogs had me pinned and then more footsteps came.
“I got her. The dogs caught her.” Crackling from a radio came next.
A voice sounded through it. A voice I hated more than any other. “Is it who I think it is?”
The guard shouted at the dogs. Their bites and growls disappeared, but they still whined in excitement even though they’d heeled.
With a sharp wrench on my shoulder, the guard turned me. A bright light shone on my face. I squinted and held up a hand.
“Yes, sir. It’s her. It’s Dr. Meghan Forester.”
“Good. Bring her to me,” Dr. Roberts commanded.
13 – INTERROGATION
Two guards hauled me to my feet. I frantically searched the prairie for signs of Ian, but he’d vanished into the night.
Please let him be all right!
I could only hope that he’d make it back to the fence and find his way to Cash’s home. If he didn’t, he’d freeze to death.
No, you can’t think that way! Ian’s smart. He’ll find a way out.
One of the dogs whined again when the guard commanded it to stay.
My jacket was ripped in several areas from their bites. Puffy insulation from inside the coat blew away in the wind. Coldness seeped inside. My hat had fallen off somewhere in the scuffle along with my goggles. I had no idea where.
“Where’s the other one? The guy?” the guard demanded.
Both soldiers were tall, young men. I couldn’t see them clearly in the night, but the one that gripped my arm was strong. He didn’t budge when I struggled against him.
I didn’t respond, but it didn’t matter. The other guard replied, “He ran into the prairie.”
“Send the dogs after him.” The first guard’s gaze scanned the night.
My stomach sank. Even though Ian was nowhere to be seen, it wouldn’t matter. Dogs could track him.
The second guard shook his head. “Do we need to? The perimeter guards are aware. They’re patrolling the fence. He won’t get through.”
I squeezed my eyes tightly shut. No!
But the first guard wasn’t so easily swayed. “No. Send the dogs. Dr. Roberts wants him caught.”
“Yes, sir.” The second guard rad
ioed for more help and told them to bring more dogs.
It was only then that I became aware of Sara frantically knocking on the mental door connecting us. I’d been so consumed with getting away, I hadn’t noticed.
As the guards pushed me into a walk, I opened up to her.
I’m so glad to be in touch with you again. Her words were coated with anxiety. I knew she’d felt my fear when the guards chased me. Since I was so receptive, she got images and glimpses from me even when I meant to keep things to myself.
Her frantic questions resumed. What the heck’s going on? How are you here? And what happened in September? Why did you shut us out?
I cringed when she said the word, us. It was true. I hadn’t just shut her out, I’d shut out every Kazzie from my Compound.
I can’t explain now. I’ve run into a situation.
Her breath sucked in. Did you get caught?
The guards continued to push me along as the dogs whined at their feet. Cold wind continued to blow all around. It chilled me now that my coat was in shreds. Yes. They caught me. I’ll contact you soon. They’re taking me to Dr. Roberts.
Oh, Meghan. What’s going on?
I’ll explain soon. Promise.
I shut down our connection. Right now, I needed to concentrate and keep my wits about me.
The guards flanked my sides as we walked. Neither of them said anything, but a wave of annoyance hung around them. I’m sure having to chase me in the snow while a blizzard blew wasn’t their idea of a good night.
The dogs trotted at our sides, their tongues lolling out of their mouths.
I tried to look over my shoulder, but the guard nudged me forward. Ian was out there somewhere, on his own, running. I bit my lip as I pictured what he faced. The guards at the fence, waiting for him, patrolling the area. More dogs and soldiers coming to hunt him. Even if he managed to reach the fence, he’d either have to cut a new hole or locate the old one. Neither seemed likely.
My worry grew since even if he dodged the guards and found a way through the fence, he’d still have to hike miles to Cash’s barn. I didn’t dare attempt to pull out my cell phone to contact him or Amy. The guards hadn’t searched me yet, but I imagined they would. It was only a matter of time before they confiscated my phone. Then, I’d be cut off from everyone.
At least, I found Sara. This entire debacle wasn’t a complete waste. Finding her was the entire reason I’d risked this.
The lights grew as we approached the first backyard. Two trucks waited on the street, their headlights on. Another guard with an assault rifle stood by its hood.
“You caught her?” He stepped forward. Under his helmet, his features were hidden in shadows.
“The dogs caught her. The guy’s still loose, but the perimeter squad knows and backup is coming.” The guard that spoke clutched my right arm.
I shivered in the cold.
“Her jacket’s been destroyed. We should get her inside.”
I was surprised to hear kind words from the guard on my left. He offered me a small smile when I met his gaze.
“Yeah, get her in the back.” The guard at the truck made a move to slide into the driver’s seat but then stopped. “Have you searched her?”
“Uh, no, not yet.” The kind guard shifted his feet in the snow.
My own feet were freezing. Now that the mad sprint had worn off, I was wet from lying in the snow while the dogs attacked, and what remained of my jacket was minimal at best. Cold wind seeped through the material.
“Search her.” The guard by the truck crossed his arms.
I readily complied with the search and was thankful it was the kind guard. He was efficient and respectful. However, he did confiscate my cell phone. Dammit.
“Do you have to take that?” I said the words quietly so only he would hear them.
In the streetlight, I could just make out his brown eyes and chiseled features. He was young, probably late teens to early twenties. He cleared his throat. “Um, yeah, I do.”
“Please? Can I have it back?”
“Get her in the truck, Xanders!”
The kind guard, Private Xanders apparently, jumped when the soldier by the truck barked at him. He kept my cell phone. “Yes, sir.”
“Xanders!” the guard yelled again. He sounded exasperated. “Cuff her!”
“Right, of course, sorry.” Private Xanders looked at me with apologetic eyes. “Sorry, I have to handcuff you.”
I didn’t try to resist. It was pointless. Even if I managed to get away, there was nothing I could do. If I ran across the prairie in a half-torn jacket, I’d probably freeze to death if the dogs didn’t catch up with me.
No, it was smarter to do as they said and wait for the repercussions. I knew I’d be arrested. Now, it was just a matter of what punishment I was dealt.
I swallowed tightly at that thought. I wouldn’t be of any help to the Kazzies if I was rotting in a jail cell.
Turning, I put my hands behind my back. He slid cool, metal cuffs around my wrists. With his help, I climbed inside the back of the truck.
The guard who’d been standing at the front of the truck hopped into the driver’s seat. The other guard who had been on my right climbed into the second truck. He took the dogs with him. An outline of a fourth guard appeared in that truck’s cab.
Hot air blew through the dash when the soldier put the truck into gear. He flipped on the windshield wipers. Snow already covered it. While waiting for it to clear, he fiddled with something else on the dashboard.
Crackling from a radio reached my ears. A voice came next, “We’re searching the perimeter on the north side. No sign of him—”
The voice cut off when the guard killed the radio. He put the truck into drive and stomped on the gas pedal.
My heart leaped. Ian hasn’t been caught yet!
But then my grin faded. There were a hundred reasons that would explain why they hadn’t found Ian. Images of him falling, twisting an ankle, or being lost in the large vacant prairie kept filling my mind. No, don’t think that. He’ll either find a way out of he’ll get caught. Either way, he’ll make it.
As the guards drove ahead, I settled back against the seat. Blood whooshed through my ears as my heart beat erratically. It was slowly sinking in what had happened.
I’d been caught.
I was about to be arrested.
Ian was lost on the prairie. I still had no idea where Davin was or if he was being hurt.
And I was about to meet Dr. Roberts.
The only solace I took from any of it was that I was once again in communication with Sara. Regardless of what they did to me, that connection made the punishment worth it.
Or so I hoped.
THE BUILDING THE guards drove me to was on the outskirts of town. I tried to pay attention to where we’d driven, but the visibility was so poor I couldn’t. Everything out my window was darkness intermixed with falling snow.
It was eerie.
Sara tentatively knocked as we drove. I opened the mental door for a minute since nothing was happening. Hi.
Oh, Meghan, are you okay? What happened?
I sighed. I’m not sure where to start, and I don’t have much time. But tell me, are you okay? Is Sophie okay?
Yes, we’re both fine, but—
And Davin? How is he? I held my breath as I waited.
He’s being kept somewhere.
My stomach flipped. But he’s fine?
He’s not being drugged anymore, so he and I can talk, but they won’t let him out of the room he’s confined to.
I let out the breath I’d been holding. He wasn’t being drugged. Maybe my deal with Dr. Roberts hadn’t been completely in vain. Did he say—
“Get her out. Roberts is inside waiting,” the driver barked.
My question evaporated when the guard pulled the truck into a small parking lot. I gotta go, Sara. I’ve arrived at wherever they’re taking me.
The guard shifted the truck into park and turned.
>
Where is it? she asked frantically.
I tried to see out the front windshield but between the two guards and blowing snow, I couldn’t see much. I don’t know. I’ll be in touch soon.
I closed our connection before she could ask anything further.
The guards opened their doors, and it was only then I heard his earlier words. Roberts is waiting.
I shivered. Dr. Roberts had the power to make my life miserable. He was also doing who-knew-what to my friends. My stomach twisted into knots at the thought of him taking my punishment out on them. Nausea made my stomach roll.
The driving guard issued more orders to Private Xanders. I had a feeling Xanders was new to the MRRA. The driver, however, carried an air of authority and had a brisk tone. I imagined he held a higher rank.
I stumbled out of the vehicle when Xanders opened the door. With my hands behind my back, the clunky winter boots, and my hair flying everywhere now that I didn’t have a hat to tame it, meant I was a mess.
“Whoa, there.” Private Xanders steadied me. If he hadn’t, I would have slipped on the snowy pavement.
My gaze drifted to the building. Now that I was out of the vehicle, I could see it better. It was a large oblong barrack with double doors and no windows. It had military written all over it.
“Are all of the Kazzies in their homes right now? Or are some kept somewhere else?”
He cocked his head at my question.
“Some of the homes were completely dark, as if nobody lived in them. Where are those Kazzies?” What I really wanted to ask was, where’s Davin?
“Xanders!” The other guard yelled at us before he could respond.
“This way, ma’am.” He nodded toward the door and gently latched onto my arm.
The building we strode toward wasn’t the only one out here. It seemed half a dozen similar looking buildings lined this road.
“What is this place?”
“Officers’ quarters and barracks.”
Xanders opened the door. Cold air blew into the small entry between the building’s outer doors and inner double doors.
The other guard stayed behind, talking to someone on the radio.
“Do you know Davin Kinder?” I asked.
Xanders opened the next set of doors. “Can’t say I recognize that name.”
The Complete Makanza Series: Books 0-4 Page 73