The Complete Makanza Series: Books 0-4

by Krista Street

  He’d always been barefoot in his cell. I’d often been amazed that the coldness never bothered him.

  How long ago that now seemed.

  Taking a deep breath, I pushed the memory back and hurried into the small bathroom. I almost fell over in my haste to pull my boots on. I didn’t know how much time they’d give me if my ride was leaving in twenty minutes.

  Through the window, the world was blindingly white. At least a foot of snow sat on the ground.

  How on earth will my ride get through that?

  It could take days before the state’s plows made it up here. That also means Amy, Mitch, Charlie, and Sharon are stuck in Mobridge until then. I hope they have enough food.

  And Ian. Where’s Ian?

  I felt so sick with worry that I almost didn’t eat, but I knew I had to. It could be hours before I ate again.

  The meal tray consisted of oatmeal, milk, and canned peaches. Again, simple but nutritious food. I could only hope they fed the Kazzies this well.

  A sharp knock sounded on the door just as I finished. I stiffened when it swung open for a second time. The same female officer appeared. Under her hat, mousy brown hair was pulled back in a severe bun.

  She didn’t smile.

  “Turn around and put your hands behind your back.”

  Her tone made me jump. I did as she said, seriously afraid of how she’d react if I didn’t. The unconfident, young soldiers that had escorted me last night were long gone. From the stripes pinned to her chest, this woman was high ranking and meant business.

  Swallowing tightly, I grimaced when the cuffs slid around my wrists. She put them on snugly but not so tight they’d hurt. It was enough to tell me that she wasn’t messing around but also that she was fair. Dr. Roberts would have clamped them down until the metal bit into my skin.

  “This way.” She grabbed onto my arm firmly.

  With my stomach in my throat, I knocked on the door that connected me to Sara. The officer continued to lead me down the hallway, oblivious to my telepathic connection.

  Meghan? Is that you?

  Sara sounded groggy. I wondered what time it was. Yeah, they just came for me. They’re taking me somewhere.

  I felt her grow more alert. Where?

  I don’t know. They said my ride was coming in twenty minutes, and that was twenty minutes ago.

  Okay, don’t worry, just try to stay calm.

  I knew she sensed my rising panic.

  A door appeared when we rounded the hall. The officer stopped and barked something at the young soldier manning it. He hurried away after a quick salute and, “Yes, ma’am.”

  With wide eyes, I followed his movements. He disappeared into a room by the door. I could only assume the door ahead led to the outside, or . . .

  I swallowed.

  Somewhere I didn’t want to go.

  Breathe, Meghan. Just breathe. Sara’s calm voice disappeared after she uttered the words. A moment later, someone else’s voice came through.

  Meghan? Davin’s tone was urgent.

  I jumped in surprise which got a peculiar glance from the officer.

  Davin? I tried to stop my widening gaze. Sara had never channeled us so quickly before. How did Sara do that so fast?

  She’s been practicing. There are a few Kazzies here that are as receptive as you. She uses them a lot to hone her skills. If she’s not tired, she’s fast.

  Hearing his voice and calm words helped slow my rapidly beating heart.

  Sara said they’re taking you somewhere?

  Yeah, but I don’t know where.

  Just stay calm. Remember what you said last night—you’re not a Kazzie. They won’t do to you what they do to us.

  His words brought back the unfairness of this all. As soon as I get out of this mess, I’m going to stop this once and for all, Davin. Just wait and see.

  I felt him smile. There’s that fighting spirit I admire so much.

  Davin’s words helped. The panic within me calmed.

  The young soldier that had disappeared into the room returned with a cargo jacket that was too big for me. The female officer draped it over my shoulders before ushering me forward. I kept looking around, expecting to see Dr. Roberts at any moment.

  I never did.

  The door they led me to opened to the outside. Fierce wind blew across the prairie. It stung my eyes. However, I was still able to see how they planned to transport me.

  A helicopter.

  It waited only twenty yards away, its blades spinning through the air. Wherever I’m going, I’m going via helicopter.

  I felt his surprise.

  Whirring from the blades was deafening as they rushed me across the snowy pavement and then pushed me onboard. I’m going to go, Davin. I need to pay attention to what’s going on.

  I felt his worry and anger at the MRRA grow like wildfire. Tell us what’s happening as soon as you arrive at wherever they’re taking you.

  I will.

  The female officer addressed the pilot just as I shut the connection. “Take her to Rapid. They’re waiting for her there.”

  Her words chilled me.

  “What will happen to me in Rapid City?” My shoulders hunched up as cold wind blew inside the chopper.

  Another soldier was in the cab. He sat beside me and wore sunglasses, a full helmet, and a jumpsuit. The female officer merely slammed the door closed.

  I waited for a response from the soldiers inside. None came.

  “Belt her up!” the pilot called.

  Before I knew it, the soldier had me strapped in, and we were airborne. The ground disappeared beneath us as my stomach lurched. This was much different from a plane.

  The flight to Rapid City was quick. We were landing and the door was opening before I could get my thoughts in order. I tried to keep the coat around me when they pushed me outside, but it kept slipping off. My hands being cuffed behind me wasn’t helping.

  Rapid City was cold but not as frigid as the reservation. Gray clouds blanketed the sky. The Black Hills rose to the west. Snow covered the pine trees. It seemed the freak late autumn blizzard had hit here too.

  Two officers stepped out of a squad car and approached while I waited on the tarmac, the loud helicopter’s blades swirling behind me. From their uniforms, I knew they were local law enforcement.

  When they reached us, one grabbed my arm and addressed the MRRA soldier. “We’ll take it from here.”

  The soldier nodded and climbed back aboard the chopper.

  The female police officer pulled me forward as her male partner flanked my other side. I took a step but slipped on ice and landed hard on my knee. Pain shot up my leg. I bit my lip as the officers hauled me back upright. Neither apologized.

  The next few hours passed in a blur. I kept Sara informed throughout the entire morning, yet the events felt like they were happening around me. That this was all a terrible nightmare and that at any moment, I’d wake up.

  I was first taken to the county jail and officially arrested for breaking into the reservation. From there, my entire body was searched before I donned prison garbs. I watched mutely while they took inventory of my meager possessions. After that, I recited my medical history, signed forms, and had my fingerprints and mugshot taken.

  And at the end, I was given a phone call.

  With shaking fingers, I dialed Cate’s number only to get her voicemail.

  Cursing, I left a message explaining as best I could what happened in the short time the message service allowed. Hanging up, I turned to the female officer who stood behind me.

  “Done?” Her tone sounded bored.

  Swallowing sharply, I nodded.

  “Follow me. You’ll be in the intake cell for thirty-six hours before joining general pop.”

  I followed her in a daze down the cold, concrete hallway of Rapid City’s jail. It wasn’t until the prison door slid closed, scratching metal grating in its track, that it all became a crashing reality.

  I’m in jail.<
br />
  I’m being charged with a felony.

  I’m going to prison.

  That last realization made me crumble to the floor. Stupid! Stupid! It was so stupid to think that I could break into the reservation and not suffer the repercussions.

  What did you think? That you’d be able to fool the MRRA? I thought again of Ian. I still had no idea where he was.

  Sara knocked rapidly on our connection. I knew she’d felt my surge of adrenaline, but I kept her out. A few other women appeared at my side and stared down at me. It was only then that I realized I wasn’t in a cell by myself. One of the women hunched down and tipped my chin toward her.

  “Hey, you’re that lady on TV. The one who helped create the vaccine.” She smiled, revealing a mouth full of missing teeth.

  I pulled my chin back just as three other women circled closer.

  “Is that really her?” another asked. “What’s she doing in here?”

  The one that gripped my chin put her hands under my armpits. I tensed, my breath sucking in. The guard who was stationed outside our cell wasn’t paying attention. Earbuds filled her ears as she jammed quietly to her music, her back turned to us.

  “I . . . wait!”

  The woman hauled me to my feet.

  “It is her!” The woman smiled again.

  Another inmate advanced, pushing past two other women. There were ten of us in the large cell. All of us wore matching prison garbs. I had no idea what everyone was in for.

  The woman that had pushed past the others stopped right in front of me. Putting her hands on her hips, she asked, “Is it true? Are you the one who’s going around the country, saying we should free the Kazzies?”

  She wasn’t much bigger than me, but there was a hardness to her that I could never rival. Even though it felt like I’d throw up from being so nervous, I forced myself to meet her gaze.

  “Yeah, that’s me.”

  I tensed, waiting to see what she’d do. The guard outside still seemed oblivious to what was transpiring right under her nose.

  The hard woman put her hands on her hips, a sneer growing on her mouth. Taking another step closer, she stopped only six inches from my face.

  “Those filthy Kazzies will kill us all and you want them free?”

  I didn’t know if it was the crazy last twenty-four hours, or how it seemed like every time I tried to fight for the Kazzies, another blockade was put in front of me, but something inside of me snapped.

  I stepped forward so quickly I caught her off guard.

  She fell back, almost tripping over herself.

  “They’re not filthy Kazzies! I’ve been around them for months and haven’t died from Makanza. It’s ignorance and hate like what you’re spewing that is the reason twelve hundred innocent people are locked away right now!”

  The woman’s gaze widened before she hid her surprise. Her expression grew guarded as she stood back up. “Well, I heard you can still catch it, even with the vaccine.”

  My chest rose and fell so fast I could barely catch my breath. It felt like my heart would beat right out of my chest. Sara knocked rapidly again. Everyone around me took a step back. I could only imagine how I appeared.

  Crazy. That’s probably how you appear.

  “Who told you that you can still catch the virus?” My hands were shaking so I crossed my arms.

  The woman shrugged. “I dunno. I saw a flyer the other day. It said to stay away from people with the virus. That we can still catch it even with the vaccine.”

  I frowned heavily. A flyer? “Who made the flyer?”

  She shrugged again. “I dunno, really, I don’t. But some friends of mine said a group of guys were going door-to-door handing them out, saying to not trust what you and those other people are saying on TV.”

  An image of the protestors in D.C. flashed through my mind, of the man who’d organized it all. Senator Douglas. He was at it again.

  My hands balled tightly into fists. Cate and I had been working for months to stop the lies he was spreading, but it seemed as soon as we snuffed out one of his fires another erupted.

  “None of it’s true. Everything in those flyers is a lie, do you hear me? None of it’s true!”

  The woman stepped back. “Yeah. Yeah, I hear ya.”

  All of the other women around me were quiet, watching the exchange between me and the hard woman.

  I was about to ask more questions when two guards rounded the corner and approached the cell. The female officer outside ripped the earbuds out and pocketed them before they could see.

  “Forester!” one of them yelled.

  I turned to the door just as he opened it.

  Cool hazel eyes met mine. “Follow me.”

  I just stood there. Now where am I going?

  When I didn’t step forward, he reached and pulled me out, but he didn’t cuff me before leading me down the hall. The other women in the cell watched me leave, their hands gripping the cell’s metal bars.

  “Where are we going?” I asked.

  The guards led me back to the front of the jail. Before I knew it, they were giving me back my belongings and telling me to change. “You’re out.”

  “Wha . . . what?” My eyes widened.

  “I said you’re out. The charges have been dropped. You must have some friends in high places.” His annoyed look told me exactly how he felt about that.

  I didn’t argue. Instead, I rushed to change and grabbed my things. My hands shook so badly I dropped my boots.

  When I emerged from Rapid City’s jail, the gray clouds were gone. I finally answered Sara’s rapid knocking.

  Meghan? Are you okay? What the heck’s going on?

  I shrugged, feeling as confused as her. I don’t know, but they let me out. They said something about me having friends in high places.

  Oh, Meghan, that’s awesome news!

  We spoke for a few more minutes. She promised to pass the news to Davin. I gotta go, Sara. I really need to figure out what to do from here.

  Yeah, okay. Keep in touch.

  We shut down our connection as a grin stretched across my face. The sun shone down, and the entire world sparkled white. I wrapped the military coat tighter around me. It did little to stop the cold, but at least it was dry and not missing its filling.

  I shaded my eyes as I tried to figure out what to do or where to go. I didn’t have money or a phone. If worse came to worse, I could walk to Sharon’s house. She kept a key in the back under a green pot. I could let myself in and use her landline to call someone.

  Jogging down the steps, I called upon the map of Rapid City that was stored in my eidetic memory just as a shiny black vehicle rounded the corner. It drove right for me, making me step back.

  When it reached my side, the window rolled down and a blond head poked out. Cate’s grim expression met mine.

  “Get in.”

  16 – THE PRESIDENT

  She didn’t have to say it twice. I jumped in the back and slammed the door. The driver took off.

  “Are you the one who got me out?” I angled my body toward Cate.

  “Yes. Who else could get a felony charge dropped?” Cate’s words were sharp. “Seriously, Meghan, you broke into the reservation? What were you thinking?”

  Her harsh words emanated through the cab. The driver that sat in front stayed facing forward. Snow still covered the streets in town. It looked like the local plows had done one pass through, but that was it. However, it didn’t look like the winter storm that hit the reservation had been as bad here. Only six inches of snow sat on front yards and parking lots.

  From the streets the driver took, I knew where we were going.

  The airport.

  “It’s not as simple as that.” I struggled with how to explain. Nobody knew about what Sara could do, not even Cate, even though I knew the Director would never do anything to harm the twin. Still, I’d made a promise to Sara, and I intended to keep it.

  “How is it not that simple?” Cate’s eyes
sparkled with fury. “Ian said—”

  “Ian!” I sat up straighter. “Have you heard from him? Is he all right?”

  She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Yes, I’ve heard from him. He was in some barn on some deserted farm up near the reservation when I last spoke to him. As for why he was there, I’m not sure I want to know. He’ll be returning to Washington tomorrow. I’ve having the second MRI plane pick him up. Enough is enough out here!”

  I cringed. “I can explain—”

  “Good, because I’d love to hear it.” She crossed her arms, her words bristling in the air.

  “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t wait for someone higher up to maybe grant me access to the reservation. You know how the government works. It could have been months! And you saw those videos. You saw what was being done to them!” I waved my arm in annoyance. “How has waiting benefited us anyway? We’ve done nothing but wait while we try to convince the president to fire Dr. Roberts. And what’s happened? Nothing!”

  “That’s because we didn’t have proof of anything going on. But now we do!” She took another deep breath.

  I could tell that she was disappointed in me. But she didn’t know that I needed to connect with Sara again, and the only way to do that was to be physically close to the twin.

  “Thank you for getting me out.” My words were quiet as the airport appeared. Even though we were still half a mile away, I could see the runway. The MRI jet waited.

  “Don’t thank me yet. Once the president hears about your stunt, you may be locked back up.”

  THE RUNWAY WAS still a mess when we pulled up to it, but a large strip down the middle had been plowed.

  I guessed Cate had to pull another string to hire a local plow to clear the runway. I could only imagine the new weight she carried in D.C. None of what she’d accomplished this morning could have been easy.

  While the pilot readied the plane, Cate let me borrow her cell phone. I still hadn’t talked to my co-workers or Sharon. None of them knew what had happened to me.

  After my first text, Amy’s reply was several dozen smiley faces and exclamation marks. I could only guess upon their worry.