More gunshots replied.
Zero dead, two wounded and five left. Connor stood and projected his voice. “I’ve taken a leg and a foot. I could have killed both of them, but I don’t want to. I don’t even want to hurt you guys, but I will. So help me God, I will wound every single one of you until my daughter is brought out.”
“But if you’d just surrender, we can take you to her.” A different soldier spoke now.
“That’s not going to happen, so I suggest you get in there and tell the major I want to see my daughter.”
Arguing came from the front of the school as the soldiers discussed their options. Then finally, one replied, “Okay. We’ll go talk to the Major. Just don’t shoot.”
Connor peeked around the tree and saw them file into the school. Two of the five had a soldier riding piggy back.
Connor leaned against the tree and waited.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Liberty
AS JEFF AND I followed Major Thompson down the center aisle to the front row of seats, we heard a few shots from outside the front of the building. I paused and looked back, wondering if Connor was okay. The major motioned us along, and then sat once he was a few seats in. He gestured for me to take the seat beside him, and I did, with Jeff on my other side. Soldiers filed in around us. I heard them behind me and resisted the urge to turn around and look. I deliberately laced my fingers and put my hands in my lap so I wouldn’t fidget as we stared at the spotlight on the curtain. I couldn’t stand the waiting, though.
“Where is Ashley?” I asked.
The general shook his head. “Now is not the time for questions. For now, we will sit and wait for the actors.”
More gunshots erupted outside. I winced, and the major frowned.
“Ahh,” he said. “I see our ‘star’ has decided not to come quietly. That’s a pity. I do hope they don’t accidentally kill him. That would be most inconvenient.”
Why? What the heck are you planning?
“At any rate, I suppose we should get started.” The major sat back in his chair and cleared his throat. Projecting his voice, he ordered, “Open the curtain.”
The curtains slowly parted to reveal Ashley sitting, mid-stage, on a high-backed chair. A Progression soldier stood beside her, with a hand gun pressed against her temple. She squinted into the sudden light and tried to raise her arms, but her wrists were tied to the chair.
A strangled sound escaped from my lips as I stood, intent on rushing down there and freeing Ashley. Jeff grabbed my wrist. Surprised, I turned toward him and he shook his head at me.
“He wants you to react,” he whispered, nodding toward the major.
Right.
Mentally kicking myself for being so stupid, I sat and put my hands back in my lap.
She’s okay. She’s alive and they’re holding her. She’s okay. Just breathe and be smart.
I recapped the plan in my head, vowing to stick to it. After I collected myself, I nodded to Jeff to let him know I was back under control. When my gaze returned to the stage, I felt the major watching me.
Enjoying the show?
Since I couldn’t trust myself to speak, I kept my mouth closed and watched Ashley. Moments ticked away as I wondered where Braden was. I also silently questioned the absence of the major’s evil daughter, Gina. Surely she’d want to be here, savoring this moment of hell for us. If we survived, I’d have to ask Jeff where she was.
When we survive. Think positive. When, not if.
Footfalls hurried through the hallway, growing louder as they approached. Jeff and I turned and watched the door, awaiting news about Connor. Three anxious young soldiers burst into the room and paused to scan the area. Then one of them marched over to us and whispered something to the major. Two more soldiers filed in, each carrying a wounded boy on his back.
Wounded, but not dead. Thank you, Connor.
“Why did you leave your post?” the major asked. “Were your directions unclear?”
“No, Major, our orders were perfectly clear.” the soldier standing closest to the major replied. “But he shot Briggs and Stuart and asked us to bring you a message.”
The major glanced over his shoulder at the two wounded soldiers, who were being lowered to the ground.
“They need a medic,” the soldier insisted.
“They’re still breathing, so they should not have turned from their directive. You’re all facing insubordination for this!” the major shouted. He stood. “You all know the cost. We do what we must to keep our brothers and sisters safe. To stay free. Are you failing me, Corporal Noyes?”
The soldier stiffened. “No, Major.”
“Well, you might as well tell me his message.”
“He says he’ll surrender as soon as he sees the girl. He wants to make sure she’s unharmed.”
“Just the girl?”
Noyes nodded.
“Interesting.” The major looked at me and asked, “Why just the girl?”
I was a horrible liar, so I swallowed back the lie I’d planned to tell and stuck as close to the truth as possible. “I didn’t like Connor’s plan, so I decided to try my own. His feelings might be a little hurt about that.”
“I see.” The major nodded. “And what, exactly, is your plan?”
“Walk in the front door and ask to see Ashley, no killing, no dying.”
The major chuckled. “And what was Connor’s plan?”
“Use lots of big guns and storm the castle.”
“Can you think of any other reason why Connor wouldn’t want me to take you outside?”
I chewed on my lip for a moment. “Yeah. I talk a lot. He might be kind of tired of that.”
The major laughed. “She talks a lot,” he said to the soldiers.
A few of them chuckled, but most remained quiet.
“I can speak with him, Major,” Jeff volunteered. “I’ll convince him that the girls are in danger, and that he needs to lay down his weapons.”
“What sort of fool do you take me for?” The major sneered at Jeff. “I don’t know what you two have planned, but I do remember telling you what your fate would be if you chose to ignore my commands again. I trust that you haven’t forgotten that?”
“No, Major.” Jeff lowered his head.
As the major stood, he gestured for the soldier on the stage to bring Ashley to him. The soldier nodded and started untying her.
“My apologies for the delay in our show, but I must see to a momentary inconvenience outside. It turns out that the old adage is correct; if you want something done right, you truly do have to do it yourself.”
The soldier from the stage tugged Ashley from the platform and stood her beside the major. She watched me as he grabbed her arm and tugged her toward the aisle. He paused long enough to direct Kylee to sit in his vacated seat beside me.
“She likes to talk, Tinstel. So, if she so much as opens her mouth, kill them both.”
“Yes, Major,” Kylee replied.
Then he was gone. With his final declaration, he’d demolished our plans. I sat, dumbfounded, wondering how to win over these kids without speaking. The task was impossible. I had to explain—to make them understand—that there was a better way. I looked to Jeff for support, but he wouldn’t meet my eyes. He had to feel as disheartened as I did. I closed my eyes and tried to focus, waiting for the right answer to come to me. Time ticked away and I had no answers.
I opened my eyes and searched until I finally spotted Braden standing directly behind me. Head bowed and shoulders lowered, he seemed sorrowful and upset. I closed my eyes again. This time a sparrow greeted me behind my eyelids. She was brave, fierce, and completely untouchable by fire as she soared above the earth. For the first time in a long time, I felt free and protected.
‘His eye is on the sparrow,’ Boom’s voice whispered in my ear.
Encouraged, I opened my eyes and said, “Brae! Thank God you’re okay.”
Confusion creased his forehead.
“Shut up
,” Kylee said. “Talk again and I’ll kill you.”
She should have killed me when I first said his name, but she didn’t. Braden looked at me. The remorse in his eyes encouraged me far more than Kylee’s promise of death scared me.
“I was worried about you! I had a letter with me, but the major ripped it up. The army has offered immunity and pardon to anyone who defects.”
“I said shut up!” Kylee screamed.
I could see her out the corner of my eye. With both hands, she aimed a handgun straight at me. Anger distorted her features as her body stilled. She was really going to kill me. I knew it, but I couldn’t stop myself from speaking. This was my only chance to help them.
“I know you were afraid before, but you don’t have to be afraid anymore. You can join us.” I looked around. “You can all join us.”
Braden lunged for me, jumping over the seat. There was a loud bang, and then he crashed into me. I toppled over. My left shoulder hit the hard floor first, and excruciating pain blossomed from the point of contact. Another wave of pain went down my side. Braden landed on top of me, his upper body smashing my head into the floor. I smelled copper, my ears rang, and stars danced through my vision.
Was I shot?
My entire body was full of pain and pressure, making it difficult to breathe. I tried to ask Braden if he was okay, but couldn’t form the words much less speak them.
“No!” someone shouted. “Oh, God, no!”
Kylee. She continued screaming as the weight of Braden’s body lifted off me. Jeff appeared inches from my face, his eyes wide and his face white as he looked me over.
He said something, but I couldn’t hear him over the ringing and the screaming.
“What?” I asked.
“Were you shot?” he asked.
The ringing started to fade, but Kylee’s cries grew louder. Jeff’s gaze drifted down to my shirt. Blood drenched the front of me.
“I don’t know,” I replied.
Kylee screamed again. She knelt in front of Braden. “Why?! You’re so stupid, Brae. Why would you do that?”
“Because Liberty’s right,” I heard Braden say, his voice barely audible over the fading ringing of my ears. “I’m sick of killing and I’m sick of taking. There has to be a better way.”
“What about dying?” Kylee argued. “You sick of that, yet? Because that’s what they’ll do to all of us.”
“No. We saw what the Army’s really like. The major’s been lying to us all along, Kye. We can trust the Army. We have to help them.”
“What’s wrong with Braden?” I asked.
Jeff looked at the kid and shook his head, his eyes sorrowful.
“He was shot!” Kylee shouted. “He was shot because you couldn’t keep your big mouth shut!”
“What?! No!” It no longer mattered how much my body hurt, I had to get to him. I pushed myself to a sitting position, leaned over, and slithered along the floor to where he lay. Jeff put his arms under mine and helped me until I stopped front of Braden.
The boy was sprawled out on his back with his arms and legs stretched out as if he was making a snow angel on the auditorium floor. Kylee leaned over him with her hands pressed against his chest. Blood oozed around her fingers and covered the front of Braden’s shirt. Still shocked, I watched as she tried to staunch the bleeding. She screamed for a medic. The rest of the soldiers just stood there watching, their jaws hanging open.
He’s dying!
The realization hit me like a knife to the heart. My eyes flooded with tears. “Why? This should be me, Brae. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“You’re damn right it should be you,” Kylee snapped. Keeping one hand pressed against her brother’s chest, she put her gun to my head. “You just couldn’t shut up, could you? You did this!”
“No,” Braden replied. “We did this. And I’m gonna fix it. I’m gonna tell the truth about the Army. This is my purpose, Kye.”
My heart wanted to shatter at the bravery of the kid. Tears fell from my eyes as I watched him affect the soldiers around him and witnessed what a great leader he would have made. He had given up his life not only for me, but for all of them. I swallowed back the emotions that threatened to consume me.
His legs and arms shook. Sweat beaded on his pale forehead.
“My purpose was always to die.” He gave me a weak smile, and then turned his gaze on his sister, who still had her gun pointed at my head. “I get to die saving a life, Kye. Please promise me it wasn’t for nothing.”
The gun resting against the side of my head trembled violently.
“I can’t do that,” Kylee replied.
“Yes, you can,” Braden whispered. “I love you, sis.”
Before she could reply, his eyes rolled up into his head and his body relaxed.
The pressure from Kylee’s gun disappeared, and then metal clanged on the floor. Her composure shattered. She grabbed hold of his shoulders and shook him, begging him to wake up. Sobs ripped through her, jerking her body with the force of guilt and sorrow. I didn’t know what to say or do, so I leaned against Jeff. He draped an arm over my shoulders as I cried beside Kylee.
The doors darkened, reminding me that we were still very much in danger. I looked up to see Connor between two soldiers, walking alongside the major who was still using Ashley as a shield in front of him.
“What’s going on here?” the major demanded.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Liberty
CONNOR DROPPED HIS weapons behind the tree, knowing they’d be taken from him if he didn’t. He watched the school entrance, wondering—once again—if Jeff was right about the major. After what seemed like an eternity, the doors swung open and two soldiers stepped through. They were followed by Ashley, Major Thompson, and two more soldiers. The major held Ashley directly in front of him, with a pistol pressed against her head, while the soldiers surrounded him, scanning the parking lot with their guns drawn.
Connor considered the scene. He could shoot the major without hurting Ashley. But, how would the soldiers respond? Would they shoot back at Connor or just kill Ashley right away? He wasn’t willing to gamble with his daughter’s life, so he dropped his last gun—his Glock—and waited for the major to tell him what to do.
“Dunstan, I’m appalled at your manners,” the major announced. “Here I have your daughter completely unharmed, and you waltz up and start shooting my men.”
“I could have killed those boys. You wanted me to, didn’t you? You practically served them to me on a platter, Major Thompson. Your disregard for the lives of your soldiers is disgusting. You should give them to me. We both know I’ll treat them better.”
The major twisted Ashley’s arm until she cried out in pain. “Do you think it’s wise to antagonize me?” he asked.
Game over. Connor stepped out from behind the tree with his hands up. “No. I’m sorry. Please don’t hurt her.”
The soldiers all aimed their weapons at Connor as the major released Ashley’s arm. She rubbed it while Connor inched toward her, trying to buy Liberty as much time as possible without putting his daughter in further danger.
“Good to see that you’ve come to your senses,” the major said.
Connor crossed the street and stepped into the parking lot.
“Just keep coming, nice and slow. Keep your hands where we can see them.”
Since the major had ordered it, Connor slowed his pace to a crawl. When he finally reached the major, soldiers swarmed him, patted him down, and announced that he was clean.
A gun went off inside the school. Someone screamed.
“Well, I did instruct her not to talk,” the major said with a shrug.
Fear swept up Connor’s spine, and Ashley brushed tears away with her shoulder as the soldiers herded them into the school.
Another scream followed indecipherable orders. It didn’t sound like Liberty’s voice, but still, Connor worried. The soldiers at his sides prevented him from sprinting ahead to find out what had h
appened. The major limped along as they slowly led him down two never-ending halls and into a dark auditorium. A single spotlight lit up the stage, illuminating a vacant chair center stage. Soldiers clustered around the floor in front of the stage.
“What’s going on here?” the major asked, his deep baritone echoing off the walls.
Kylee stood. Blood covered the front of her shirt and her face glistened with tears in the dim light. “Braden’s been shot!” she replied.
“What?” the major asked. “By whom?”
Since Jeff and Liberty both entered unarmed, Connor wondered the same thing. The major and the soldiers looked puzzled and distracted as they watched Kylee. Connor had an opportunity. He eyed the long knife holstered around the waist of the soldier next to him. Two armed soldiers stood within striking range, but both neither was paying attention to him. One snap of a strap, and Connor slid the knife free. He spun and lunged, simultaneously knocking the major’s hand upward and sliding the blade across his neck. Adrenaline and pride flooded Connor’s veins at the sight of the major’s blood, making him feel invincible. The gun fired, and plaster sprayed down on Connor from above.
Everyone in the room turned to stare at Connor and the major. Guns aimed, jaws dropped, and Connor spun the major so his dying body shielded Connor and Ashley. While the major grabbed at his throat, trying to staunch the flow of blood, Connor disarmed him, and then pushed Ashley away, shoving her into the hallway behind him.
“Stay low and out here,” he said before slamming the door closed.
He turned back around, expecting to be riddled with bullets the instant the major stopped breathing. Instead, the soldiers seemed frozen as they watched the major frantically cling to life.
There were gurgling sounds, and then the major’s head bent forward. A crimson necklace stretched across the front of his throat, dripping down into his shirt.
The two soldiers who had brought Connor in turned their weapons on each other. Around the auditorium, fights broke out. A caramel-skinned boy dropped his gun and lunged at another soldier’s throat with his bare hands. A brunette girl punched a blonde in the face.
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