by Angel Lawson
I lean forward to get a peek but Jude yanks me back. I roll my eyes, “What do they want?”
“Our stuff? The car? Maybe to enslave us? God if I know.”
“How many?” I ask.
“Three. But there may be more. It’s hard to tell in this area. So many places to hide.”
We work out a quick plan. Parker and Jude will head around the other side of the building. I’ll stay here. Hopefully we can catch them off guard.
I scoot closer to the edge of the building and strain to hear.
“We’re just headed to the Vaccine Center. You’ve seen the signs, right?” Davis says, his voice is friendlier than I expect.
“Sorry, man. Ain’t nobody coming into this neighborhood to invite us to get vaccinated. Not even the monsters want to come in here.”
“Unfortunately, we’re on a schedule,” Davis says. “I’m going to have to ask you to nicely put down your gun and let us go.” I have to give whoever is talking to him props, because he must be intimidating as hell to get such a reaction. I have to assume they’re bigger or have more weapons.
I take a chance and peer around the corner. I spot Davis first and Paul is by his side. Both look alert but not tense. Of course, Paul could snap one of their necks in a blink but he doesn’t seem concerned. I lean around just a little more and my jaw drops at what I see.
Kids.
They’re just kids. Granted they’re carrying weapons, guns and a few that look homemade. They’re nearly as big as their bodies, and they sling them around like one misfire wouldn’t take a life, but still they’re kids.
“Davis!” I yell, shoving my own gun in the back of my pants.
“Yeah.”
“I’m coming out.”
I step around the side of the building and the two boys and one girl stare at me like a ghost. Their guns are raised but I keep my hands in the air. “Hey,” I say. “I’m Alex. What’s going on out here?”
“You friends with this guy?” the oldest asks. He has dark brown skin and unruly hair that doesn’t look like it’s been washed in a while. I guess he’s about twelve and the other two with him are a bit younger.
“Yes, we’re friends. And he’s right, we’ve got somewhere to be and need to move on. Is that okay with you?”
“You got any food in that bag?” He looks at the pack over my shoulder, ignoring my question.
“Some.”
“We need it. Give it over. Kori keeps giving her food to Garrett. I keep telling her not to but she doesn’t listen.”
I glace at Davis, who is stone faced, and then over to the girl Kori, who is thin as a rail and no, she doesn’t look like she’s eaten in days. Her skin has an ashy quality and I’m not even sure how she’s standing on her feet. “I can give you some of our food, but in exchange you’ve got to let us pass through. It’s important.”
“Let me see,” he says. He juts his chin in the air and I see he’s trying to act big for the others.
“Put your gun down and I’ll show you.”
He looks at the others and they nod. So he gives his gun to Kori and walks over. I take off my backpack and set it on the ground. By the time he’s reached me I’ve pulled out some canned goods and a couple of MREs from Fort Arnold.
“What’s your name?” I ask him.
“Devin.”
“Are those your siblings?”
“Yeah. Kori and Garrett, it’s my job to take care of them now that our mama’s gone.”
“Did she get sick?” He nods, and I think the tough exterior may break but he holds it together. “Who do you live with now?”
“It’s just us,” Kori shouts, but Devin gives her a look and she clamps her mouth shut.
“Us and this big dude named Marcus,” he declares, trying to scare me.
“Well, Devin, I think you’re doing a really good job.”
He points to the MREs. “What are those?”
“Army food. It’s pretty good. You can have it. All of it.”
“It’s not a trick?”
I shake my head. “No, but you’ve got to let us go. He’s right. We have important things to do. And like you, I’ve got to go take care of my sister.”
“You got a sister?”
“Yep.”
He bends and takes the food, piling it into his shirt and waving over the smaller boy, who scrambles over and takes a few packages in his tiny hands.
“Do you think you can do me a favor?” I ask him in a quiet voice.
His eyes narrow. “What kind of favor?”
“We need someone to watch that SUV while we’re gone. Can you do that? We should be back in a few days.”
“What do you have to trade for it?” he asks. This kid is smart.
I look over my shoulder. “I think Parker has some candy in her bag she can share.”
He looks between us. “Who’s Parker?”
Parker and Jude appear from the other side of the building. “That’s Parker. She’s got a bag of chocolate in her pack.”
Parker shoots me a nasty look. “Thanks a lot, Alex.”
She digs around and pulls out a bag of treats. The kid’s eyes go wide and I can tell Parker doesn’t feel that put out about sharing.
“We’ll watch your truck. Promise,” Devin says with a toothy grin. Kori and Garrett are already shoving the sweet candy into their mouths.
I also hand him a bottle of water. “Devin, besides Marcus, are there any adults that still live here?”
His face darkens. “All the adults are in the church.”
I frown. “What do you mean?”
“They went to the church,” the girl says, “and locked the door. Nobody ever came out.”
“We stay away from there,” the Garrett says. “Sometimes we can hear scary noises.”
“Good idea,” Paul agrees. “Definitely stay away from that church. But you do have somewhere safe to stay?”
“Yep.” Devin hoists the gun back on his shoulder. “And we’ve got this. We can protect your car. Don’t worry about us, we know how to take care of ourselves.”
*
We leave the kids and the car in a detached garage behind a house two blocks away. Devin says it will be safe there but I don’t really care. I’m already formulating a plan to come back for those three kids if we make it out of the battle with Chloe alive. They shouldn’t be living in the Death Fields alone.
“You know we may not be able to come back here,” Jude says, following me through the woods. Davis navigated us quickly away from the city and into the cleared safe zone. “I know that’s what you’re thinking.”
“I’m not thinking about anything but the fight ahead,” I say, not interested in admitting how close to the truth he is. It’s a crazy idea but I’m well aware that the odds of us getting out of the upcoming fight alive is slim. That’s why I didn’t say a word to those kids. They don’t need another person letting them down.
“Alex is right. We need to start getting focused,” Davis says, checking the compass he’s carrying. “We should meet up with the first team in a couple of miles.”
When we get to our prearranged camping spot, a small abandoned hunting shed, Davis and I leave the others and meet up with Team Two as expected. Their leader, Lewis, says Team Three and Four are in position as well.
“We head out at dusk,” the man says. He’s short and stocky. Old enough to be a father to either of us. A wad of tobacco is lodged in his cheek and he spits a disgusting glob of brownish sludge every fifteen seconds on the ground.
“We received intel that the Hybrids are waiting for us,” Davis says. “It’s possible they have a man on the inside. Or that they just have more sophisticated technology than we do.”
I snort back and laugh and both men glare at me. “Sorry. By ’more technology’ you mean, any? It feels like the Civil War or something out here. I keep expecting General Lee or Grant to ride by on a horse.”
“You can laugh, sweetheart, but those old Generals and their wars are goin
g to help us win today,” Lewis says before spitting on the ground. “Where do you think we got our plans? This isn’t the first battle fought on this soil. I’m sure it won’t be the last.”
He ambles off muttering about youth and video games and meeting us at the rendezvous point.
“Nice guy.”
“He’s a legend.”
“From one of the World Wars?” I ask.
Davis hits me with a hard, exasperated look. “Seriously, he’s fought in a lot of wars and organized dozens of successful missions, both in Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He knows what he’s doing and we’re lucky he survived long enough to help out today. We’ll follow his lead.”
The reality is that I’m fighting nerves. This battle looms larger than anything else we’ve done. The smash and grabs, even the disaster at the evacuation center a few weeks ago wasn’t supposed to be a big deal. The last time we faced off with Chloe, we nearly lost our lives. The difference, I guess, is that last time we were ambushed. This time, we know what we’re getting into, and it’s terrifying.
My panicked thoughts must have been apparent on my face because Davis stops and gives me soft look. He throws an unexpected arm around my shoulder and says, “I can’t predict the outcome of what will happen today, but I do know you’re a hell of a fighter, Alex. More so than I ever expected.”
“You really think so?” I never expected a compliment like this from Davis.
“Believe it not, you’ve helped me find focus when I was completely lost. PharmaCorp took me in when I needed somewhere to go but it was a bad deal. They were just using me. You’ve allowed me to redeem that—or at least try. I’m thankful for that.”
I feel the pinpricks of tears forming in my eyes. “I feel like a jerk because we’re having a manly moment about wars and battles and being the Resistance and I’m just over here slobbering like a girl.”
He squeezes my neck. “Not just any girl, Alexandra Ramsey. You’re the girl who kicks ass.”
Chapter 17
The first fiery shot comes just after the sun has set. It whizzes through the air, too close to the Resistance fighters hunkered down in the shadows of the forest. They’re well-armed and come charging from all directions. I’ve barely accepted that this is really happening when an explosion rocks the ground and I stumble, racing forward to put the gunfire behind me. Paul runs next to me, yanking me upright.
“Thanks,” I say, but it’s more just to hear my voice. I fall in line and Paul’s quick breaths set our pace. Jude is behind me, loud and too heavy on his feet, but he’s got the best aim so we’ve sacrificed speed and stealth. The gunfire provides bursts of light, and in those brief moments I know we’re running past the front lines and toward the Center itself. Our job is to get close to Chloe and take her out.
Yes, we’re going after Chloe.
Our part of the mission is terrifying and likely to fail. Davis and Parker are positioned with the other teams, who, according to rumor, have managed to secure a tank or two and a couple of hand-held rocket launchers. Basically, we’re headed straight into enemy territory that will be under serious gunfire very soon. Wyatt was right. We’re all making sacrifices to stop my sister.
Paul easily leaps over felled trees and scrawny shrubs. He’s our brawn and only defense against the Hybrids. Jude’s aim is true. Me? I’m here in case there are complications and someone needs to talk us out of a tight spot. Not that Chloe has any use for what I have to say, but I feel for my hatchet, heavy against my leg, anyway. I’ll use it against her if I have to.
The fence line comes into view and we race forward, pressing our bodies against the cool, hard steel. We’re breaking in the way we came out months ago—through the back gate behind the dumpster. It’s the Center’s blind spot and our best shot of getting inside.
Jude shifts next to me. “You think it will really be unlocked?”
“Yes.” Wyatt is supposed to leave it open for us. I have faith but I’m still not sure the rest of team is convinced. Doesn’t matter now, I think, tugging at the latch.
It’s locked.
Crap.
“It’s locked,” I say, staring at the coiled chain and padlock hanging from the gate. I yank again as though it may magically open.
Jude’s eyes reveal slight panic and I try my best to remain calm. Paul brushes past me, barking, “Move over,” before grasping the lock in both hands and pulling hard. The action seems futile but the veins in his neck strain and his biceps bulge. I’m afraid he’ll rupture something, and rest a hand on his shoulder. “Paul, don’t hurt…”
The lock snaps and he holds it up for me to see in two pieces.
“Holy crap, dude,” Jude says taking a piece and staring at it in wonder. “You’ve been holding back on us.”
We squeeze through the gate, making as little sound and movement as possible, and duck behind the dumpster. “Wyatt told Davis that Chloe would be in the main office—she’s been using it for her headquarters,” I whisper, although I don’t know how anyone would hear me with the rapid gunfire coming from the guard towers and along the fence.
Jude’s eyebrows knit together. “Are we sure about that?”
“I’m not sure about anything,” I say. “But we need to stick to the plan. Taking out Chloe is our best option.”
I lead the team out of our hiding spot and step from the darkness into the grassy area leading toward the office. We’re met with the sound of metal clicking into place as a dozen gun barrels aim in our direction. The soldiers, with their purples patches stitched on their shoulders, have us surrounded. Two figures stand in the middle. My eyes pass over Hayes, the fighter we worked closely with during our time here, who eventually betrayed us to Chloe and the smug look on his face. At his feet is a man on his knees with a gun to the back of his head.
“Found out your boy has been playing both sides,” Hayes says, jamming the nozzle of the gun into the back of Wyatt’s skull. He nods at the soldiers surrounding us and we’re disarmed and shoved to the ground. “The Director doesn’t take well to traitors.”
Wyatt’s jaw is tight—his eye blackened and swelling badly. Blood is caked on the corner of his mouth. If Hayes knew about us coming then it was likely he knew about Wyatt feeding us information.
“You would know, right?” I jerk away from the soldier binding my hands. He shoves a heavy boot in the small of my back. I still under the pressure. A broken back won’t help me complete my mission. “How does it feel to lick the boots of my sister and be a part of her deranged freak show?”
Jude is not so complaint, and takes a swinging punch before they can restrain him. His knuckles graze the Hybrid’s cheek, but she’s too quick, cracking his ribs with her elbow. He falls to the ground in a heap, doubled over in pain.
“How does it feel?” Hayes repeats my question and walks over to me. He towers over me. I keep my eyes on his. They’re not the mutated post-infection eyes the Eaters or Hybrids have, but there’s still something dangerous about them. I should have known when I saw him enter the ring with that Eater all those months ago that he had a death wish. He bends down so our faces are nearly touching. “It feels like I picked the winning team.”
I hold his eye and spit in his face. I can’t help but laugh at the long glob of saliva hanging at his chin.
“Think again.”
Hybrid hands grab me by the shoulders and Hayes’ fist balls next to my face. I wait for the punch.
It never comes.
Instead Hayes laughs, creepy and weird, particularly against the backdrop of fighting just outside the fence. He wipes the spit off this face. “What you’re doing here is stupid. A total waste of time. This little Resistance of yours, is that what it’s called?” He looks around to the stone-faced Hybrids and gets no response. He shrugs. “Your Resistance is nothing against what the Director has created. You’re a speck on her windshield. A gnat buzzing in the face of a fast-moving society. One that has already begun to transform. You can’t stop this with a co
uple of tanks and a few rag-tag wannabe soldiers. Her ideas are bigger than this—than all of us.”
“Then kill us,” I say, pushing my shoulders back in defiance. “Put us out of our misery.”
His smug expression turns into one of resignation.
He reaches for my chin and rests a soft finger underneath. “Oh, if only I could. Someone else gets the glory of that job.”
He turns abruptly and stalks back over to Wyatt, who has fallen on his side. Hayes jerks him upright and he blinks. His eyes are unfocused and his movements lax. I’m not sure he even knows we’re here.
“It’s unfortunate that the Ramsey line tends to be so defiant. There can only be one leader and that position is firmly in place.” Hayes makes a dramatic moment shouting a command, and another Hybrid appears from the side the building with a hooded prisoner. It’s a man, but not Cole. Not Davis. The body too small. Definitely not made for battle. “I hate that it’s come to this, but I need you to cooperate, Alexandra, and I suspect this is the only way.”
The hood is ripped off the prisoner’s head, revealing my father’s confused and terrified face. I scan his person for injuries but only find he looks exhausted and scared.
“Dad,” I call, attempting to move toward him but the soldiers hold me back. “Are you okay?”
He nods and his glasses slip down his nose. “Just do what they say, sweetheart.”
I don’t like the sound of that idea at all. Not one bit.
“Let’s go,” Hayes directs, and we’re dragged to our feet. The fighting moves closer and he picks up the pace. Sweat clings to the back of his shirt and he looks to the sky every time another round of gunfire occurs. We pass the side of the building, past the hidden entrance to the bunker below, and head to the front office.
“You’re taking us to Chloe?” I ask.
“No,” he says, spinning on his heel. “You’re going to call your men off. Tell them to back down before they breach the fence.”
“I’m not going to do that. I can’t.” I squirm against the grip of the Hybrid holding me and he clamps down on my shoulder, painfully. “Back off, asshole,” I say.
Jude bucks away from his captor. “Leave her alone.”