Falling & Uprising
Page 28
Chapter Sixty
BRAM
Frey is the last one on the roof of the train after helping everyone else up. He remains sitting with his legs in the hatch for a moment, stunned by the view. Shallow water pools against the northwest side of the tunnel. To the east, it appears to be only puddles. I had never realized that parts of the tunnel are mostly buried underground.
“What have we done?” Krisalyn breathes.
“We couldn’t have done anything to cause this.” Vogue’s voice wavers, trying to convince herself as much as anyone else.
Frey puffs out a breath. “I’m sure it’s just a coincidence.”
Back the way we came, flashes of light crackle as Gladstone battles. “Whatever happened,” I say, “we can’t stay here. We should go back to Gladstone. It’s the closest land.” I look around at the land we’re surrounded by. “You know what I mean. They probably need help.”
“Bram,” Sophos says, “you’re the only one who could offer Gladstone anything. We need to get to Lawson to connect the networks and unite the islands.”
“We have to be at least twenty-five miles from Lawson. Are we walking?” That would take much more time than I’m willing to waste.
“The train E-stopped when it tipped off the track,” Dixon says, “but it’s level again, and there’s not that much water, so it should come back on.” He opens the holoScreen, and Frey leans over his shoulder to watch what happens.
“Our transportation is back on schedule.” Frey’s voice drops into a hesitant tone.
Flashes from Gladstone hold my attention while everyone drops back into the train. Tori's familial home looks like it’s being blown to pieces. How can I walk away from that?
Sophos is the last one on the roof with me. He comes to my side and places a hand on my shoulder. “Let’s regroup in Lawson so we can help the other islands.”
I press my lips into a tight frown and nod. Sophos descends into the train, and I follow, closing the hatch behind me. Krisalyn opens the door to let most of the water drain from the car, and Dixon sets us off again. Everyone sits in stunned silence for the remainder of the trip. I drop my head back and close my eyes. The sea is gone. How is that even possible? I’ve come to believe anything is possible with people, but not geography. I can’t form a cohesive thought about this development.
The train slows to a stop, and I can’t keep fixating on the sea. I stand up to address my troops, choking back a comment about their flashy attire. “We don’t know what we’re walking into. We need to assume it’s a battle zone and prepare accordingly.”
Four grim faces look at each other.
“Bram,” Sophos says, rising from his seat, “we’re going to the factory at D and Kings Drive.” Then to the group: “It’s only a couple of blocks away.”
I nod as I load a new magazine into my pistol.
“This is not what I’d have picked to wear.” Vogue shakes her head.
Even tousled and bruised, the inconsistency between her glamorous appearance and the nervous way she clutches a gun is startling. At least everyone is smart enough to point them at the floor. Any of those guns are more likely to shoot me than one of our enemies.
Krisalyn eyes me. “Bram, you are the worst dressed of all of us. You look like a marshal.”
She’s right. I unbutton my uniform shirt and toss it onto a seat, leaving me in a gray undershirt. I’ll never wear that uniform again. This will probably feel like a significant moment when I look back on it, but now, the moment slides over me like bare tires on ice.
They stay back as the door opens, and I peer out to the platform from around the train’s side. The area is clear, so I wave the group forward to the staircase. What I wouldn’t give to have Tori on one end of this parade. Wait, I do have someone.
“Dixon,” I order, “you take the rear and keep an eye out behind us.”
He nods his agreement and pulls out a gun, cocking it deftly. He stays back to let the others pass. Well, that works.
As we start up the stairs, the heels clicking behind me grate on the little patience I have left. I’d love for us to be quiet so I might hear someone coming, but they sound like a tap-dancing ensemble.
“Try to step quietly,” I urge under my breath.
The locks on the doors are on backup batteries, so my cuff gets us through. I crack open the door at the storage level, where all is quiet. I lead the way through the maze of dim hallways to another staircase. Half a flight away from the main level, gunfire is audible. How the hell am I going to get these people through this?
“Wait here,” I whisper to Sophos. “Let me check it out and find you a route. I’ll knock once when I get back.”
I slip through the door and press my back against the wall. The staircase is hidden back far enough that there isn’t anything going on over here. The sounds are coming from the main entrance—time to find a back door.
I come to an exit door, but I hate to open it blindly. The building is under siege, so the odds are anyone positioned outside is with the uprising, blocking this escape route. It’s a better bet than running into the crossfire.
The door is hardly open when bullets pepper the wall next to it. “Let’s see your hands!” a voice shouts.
I holster my gun at my back and put my hands out first, palms forward. Leaving one foot in the door to keep it open, I step out cautiously. Several guns are trained on me, but the people holding them aren’t in crisp navy-blue marshal uniforms.
“I’m Bram Eros.”
Some guns lower slightly, and one person jumps out of the darkness to come toward me. “Is it really you?” As he approaches, seeing the face of the young man is like looking in a mirror. My pulse quickens. “It’s me, Aren.” I smile as my brother slams into me for a hug, nearly knocking me off my feet.
“Watch the door!” I caution as I grab it.
“Welcome home,” he says. “We don’t have much time for a real reunion right now.”
“I know. I guess you’d like to get into this door?”
“Yeah, that would be helpful.”
“It’s all yours. I have people I need to get out of here. Are they still going to the factory on Kings?”
“Yeah, Mom’s made that our base.” He turns toward the group gathered behind him. “Nakita!” A petite girl no older than eighteen comes forward to join us. “My brother is moving Kaycian rebels to base. Help cover them.”
“Okay.” She may be small, but she looks fierce, holding a rifle like it’s a natural extension of her body.
“It shouldn’t be too bad,” Aren says. “We’ve pushed most of the opposition into this building.” He turns to the rest of the group. “You three stay out here to guard the door, the rest of us this way. We’ll surprise them from behind.”
Someone holds the door open, and Aren, Nakita, and I lead the troop down the hall. “I’ll come back to help after I drop them off,” I say as we approach the door concealing the Kaycians.
“Maybe it’ll all be over by then.” Aren is carrying on the Eros family tradition of cockiness, apparently.
“Be smart, and be safe,” I say. Aren continues down the hall while Nakita and I wait by the door, letting everyone pass by. The hallway clears, and I knock once on the door. It cracks open, and I pull it the rest of the way, “It’s me. Come on.” Sophos is the first one out, glancing around the hallway.
“I’ll lead the way,” Nakita says, eyeing everyone as they exit the stairway. “They know me.”
I nod in assent. Nakita starts back down the hall with the nervous Kaycians trailing her. When Dixon brings up the rear, I pat his shoulder. “I’ll cover us, but keep your eyes open.” He relaxes a little.
Outside, I can’t help but laugh at how the remaining guards look at the refugees as we pass by. Even in the dark, these flashy outfits are eye-popping to the islanders, who have never seen anything like it. I shake my head again at the fact that they are dressed like this for a damn revolution.
***
; Going down this street would be surreal after five years anyway, but seeing it with our people armed and patrolling the streets instead of the marshals is mystifying. And in a bizarre twist, I’m protecting the type of people I despised this whole time. I used to think Lawson was a city of quiet, meek people, but these people look driven and empowered. Could we have done it? Could we have started a new age for the islands?
The commotion back at the Establishment Center grows louder. People are rushing over, but cheers fill the air.
“Nakita!” She turns to me. “Take them in. I’ll be back.” There’s only one block to go, and they’ll be okay with Nakita as an escort.
I run back to the Establishment Center, where people are crowded around the front steps. There’s a buzz in the air as people shout and cheer. I shoulder my way through the celebration and see my mom at the top of the steps.
“Bram!” I see her say rather than hear in the commotion. She rushes down to me and wraps me in a hug. “They’ve surrendered. We have the island!”
“Already?”
“Those who make the weapons have the edge.” Her eyes sparkle in her excitement.
“Okay. That’s great. But we need to check on the other islands. It looked like Gladstone was blowing up.”
“How did you see Gladstone?”
I scratch my eyebrow. The tunnel is supposed to be underwater, making it hard to explain that I was standing on it. No one would believe it without seeing it anyway. “Come with me.” I take her hand and pull her out of the crowd. We take off to the west and jog the five hundred yards to the seawall. She doesn’t have any trouble keeping up—it’s like she hasn’t aged at all. The sun is starting to rise on the other side of the island, and the morning glow illuminates the scene I couldn’t explain. She covers her mouth, eyes wide when she sees it. Where the sea should be splashing at the wall is just a drop off and puddles over an expanse of land as far as the eye can see.
Part of me hoped that it wasn’t widespread, but that wouldn’t make any sense. Even though I knew what I’d find, it’s a shocking sight.
“Hey!” We both turn to see Aren approaching us. “Gardner and Eudora are clear. We’re just waiting… Holy shit.” His update is lost to his surprise at the view. His pace slows to a crawl as he closes the distance between us.
Mom takes each of us by the hand as we stare in awed silence. The revolution wouldn’t have been over in a day anyway, but this will complicate things. What does this mean for the islands? My mood darkens as the sky lightens. I wonder what the new day will bring as the sun rises on a changed world.
Acknowledgements
First and foremost, thank YOU! Whoever you are, I cannot tell you how grateful I am that you read this book. I hope you enjoyed it.
Amber, thank you for being nice enough about my first (awful) version of this to encourage me to keep going. My earliest readers—Elise, Leah, Lissa, Melonie—your suggestions helped me reshape this story into what it is today, and I can’t thank you enough. Ashleigh, Debbie, and Christopher, I can’t tell you how much I love writing all the things with you. Thank you for loving my characters, replotting the rest of the series, and for all of the tears I’ve shed laughing with you.
Amy Brewer, I’m quite certain no literary agent has ever helped a writer who isn’t her client so much in the history of agenting. You’re amazing. My editor, Amy Tipton, thank you for getting this book ready with me. It was such a pleasure to work with you! Laurence and Stephanie at Darkstroke, thank you for believing in this book and bringing it into the world with me. To all of the Darkstroke authors, thank you for welcoming me into this amazing family.
To all the writing communities: Moms Who Write, Authortok, Bookstagram, 5am Writers Club, thank you for all of the love, support, and encouragement. I’m so glad we can celebrate, cry, and laugh together about this crazy writing journey.
The best book club that ever was, Literarily Wasted, thank you for keeping books fun!
Mom and Dad, thank you for always believing in everything I do. Dad, you’re welcome for making you read a book. Kristen, you are a shining example of what can happen when you not only follow dreams but stalk them with ferocious determination. Even if you skipped here to read that, I still love you. But seriously, you should read the book.
My husband Frank and my sons Nathan and David, thank you for allowing me to disappear for countless hours to make this happen. This wasn’t the plan, but you’ve been flexible and accepting, and it means the world to me. Frank, you too—you’re welcome for making you read a book. Warning: books are addicting.
About the Author
Natalie always watches the movie after reading the book, even though she’ll prefer the book. Born and raised in Florida, she grew up in performing arts. Acting in community theater, singing at professional sporting events, and dancing in theme park shows set up her love of theatrics which has shifted to words. Books of all kinds grace her shelves, so long as she can fall into a story and escape from the real world.
Natalie now resides in Kansas, where her husband is dismayed that writing has displaced baking.
Find all the places Natalie hides on the internet through www.nataliecammarattabooks.com.
www.darkstroke.com
darkstroke is
an imprint of
Crooked Cat Books
Chapter One SERENITY
Chapter Two SERENITY
Chapter Three SERENITY
Chapter Four BRAM
Chapter Five SERENITY
Chapter Six SERENITY
Chapter Seven BRAM
Chapter Eight SERENITY
Chapter Nine BRAM
Chapter Ten SERENITY
Chapter Eleven SERENITY
Chapter Twelve BRAM
Chapter Thirteen SERENITY
Chapter Fourteen BRAM
Chapter Fifteen SERENITY
Chapter Sixteen SERENITY
Chapter Seventeen BRAM
Chapter Eighteen SERENITY
Chapter Nineteen BRAM
Chapter Twenty SERENITY
Chapter Twenty-One BRAM
Chapter Twenty-Two SERENITY
Chapter Twenty-Three BRAM
Chapter Twenty-Four SERENITY
Chapter Twenty-Five BRAM
Chapter Twenty-Six BRAM
Chapter Twenty-Seven SERENITY
Chapter Twenty-Eight BRAM
Chapter Twenty-Nine SERENITY
Chapter Thirty BRAM
Chapter Thirty-One SERENITY
Chapter Thirty-Two BRAM
Chapter Thirty-Three SERENITY
Chapter Thirty-Four BRAM
Chapter Thirty-Five SERENITY
Chapter Thirty-Six BRAM
Chapter Thirty-Seven SERENITY
Chapter Thirty-Eight BRAM
Chapter Thirty-Nine SERENITY
Chapter Forty SERENITY
Chapter Forty-One BRAM
Chapter Forty-Two SERENITY
Chapter Forty-Three SERENITY
Chapter Forty-Four BRAM
Chapter Forty-Five SERENITY
Chapter Forty-Six BRAM
Chapter Forty-Seven SERENITY
Chapter Forty-Eight BRAM
Chapter Forty-Nine SERENITY
Chapter Fifty BRAM
Chapter Fifty-One SERENITY
Chapter Fifty-Two BRAM
Chapter Fifty-Three SERENITY
Chapter Fifty-Four BRAM
Chapter Fifty-Five SERENITY
Chapter Fifty-Six BRAM
Chapter Fifty-Seven SERENITY
Chapter Fifty-Eight BRAM
Chapter Fifty-Nine SERENITY
Chapter Sixty BRAM
0%); -o-filter: grayscale(100%); -ms-filter: grayscale(100%); filter: grayscale(100%); " class="sharethis-inline-share-buttons">share