Eve of Tomorrow (Dawn of Rebellion Series Book 3)

by Michelle Lynn

  I turn my head to glare but, to my annoyance, he isn't bothered by my obvious hostility. “Come on. There is work to do,” he says as he holds out his arm, expecting me to take it. Instead, I brush past him and he has to leg it to catch up.

  “More interviews today?” I ask sullenly. For weeks we've been interviewing people again and again. Most of our interviewees were involved in the government or the church when Tia Cole ran things. We're trying to gauge their levels of loyalty to her and the old ways. So far, we've found that most of these people easily transferred their allegiance to Adrian but we still don't trust any of them.

  “Not today,” Adrian answers. “Our envoy to the Mexicans returned this morning.”

  “Good,” I reply. I can only manage a single word as relief rushes through me. Lee is here. In this whole messed up world, Lee has become one of the only people that I can count on. I have felt so alone here over the past weeks. No one to trust. No one that I even really want to talk to.

  It's not far from the labs to the government building. I reach the door first and swipe my card. I've been given a key card that can pretty much get me in anywhere, except for the labs. Adrian likes me to snoop and find things out about people. My first instinct is to distrust people and he uses that.

  I don't hold the door for him, so it shuts in his face but I don't look back. I use my card again to gain access to the upper floors of the building. Adrian catches up and we ride the elevator in silence. We stop on the top floor and the door slides open, revealing a travel weary group of people sitting around the table. They don't stand as we enter the room. That's the difference between Rebels and Texans. Texans would be fawning all over Adrian; the Rebels know better.

  One man does rise from his seat and walks over.

  “Gabby,” he says in his serious way. “It's good to see you.”

  Before the words pass my lips, I reach my arms out and hug Lee tightly. He is surprised as he pats my back. Lee and I aren't exactly the hugging kind of friends. After a few uncomfortable moments, I back away.

  “I'm glad you're here,” I say.

  Chapter 4: Jeremy

  St. Louis is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. It's a city that is centered on its port. Most of the boat crews are smugglers but no one seems to care. Alcohol is illegal but there are so many bars making their own hooch that it's almost impossible to avoid. No one ever gets busted. Everything here can be bought and sold and nothing is ever free. There is a Mexican controlled part of town, even though Mexicans aren't allowed in Texas. These people are under the same rule as the capitol but they aren't blind followers of a prophet they've never seen.

  During the Rebel attacks, St. Louis surrendered pretty early on so the destruction was limited. The docks took a big hit when people started lighting boats on fire but everything seems to be back to normal, or as normal as this place gets.

  As soon as I was released from the hospital, I requested my assignment here. At the time, I didn't completely understand why. I only knew that I needed to get away from the Rebel compound. After everything that happened, I didn't feel safe there. I was beaten by Jonathan Clarke and then thrown into a cell with Dawn. For days, we thought we were going to die. I don't remember much of that time because I was fading in and out of consciousness.

  By the time I woke in the clinic, General Nolan was in charge and everything was different. We were no longer talking about attacks and battle plans. People were being deployed to re-stabilize the area and fix what we had broken. Dawn was already gone on an unsanctioned mission. I shouldn't have been surprised. Gabby would come to check on me but the awkward silence became too much. I didn't really have anything to say to her. She already knew what I couldn't find the words to say. It was time for us both to move on.

  “Catch!” Drew yells as he lobs a bottle of water at me. I snatch it out of the air and take a swig.

  “Thanks man,” I say as we move further in from the docks. This place continues to amaze me with its vast network of warehouses along the waterfront.

  “We're heading for one of the Mexican houses,” Drew explains. “It's not far.”

  “How do we get in?” I ask. “We won't exactly blend.”

  “We have a contact that is meeting us out front,” he answers. “Let me do most of the talking since I know what information we need.”

  I just nod. Normally, I'd want to be more involved, but he's right. I know nothing about any of this. I'm only here because I caught Drew heading out. He was going to come here alone but there was no way I was letting that happen. To put it simply, I'm his protection. I've got a gun in the holster on my hip and another strapped to my leg. I hope that's enough.

  “Rebel.” A man steps out from the darkness. I slip my hand over the safety and then rest it on the gun, “You are Rebels?” he asks, his accent thick.

  “Yes,” Drew responds. “And you are Rafael.”

  “Come,” Rafael orders. “We must not be late.” He begins to lead us back the way we had come.

  “Where are we going?” I ask. “We're supposed to be in the Mexican blocks.”

  “No, no,” he responds, his voice is hushed. “He cannot meet you there.”

  “Who?” Drew asks. Rafael doesn't answer. Instead, he veers off into an empty building and we follow him downstairs to the basement.

  “You're late,” a short man says as he shows himself.

  “I am sorry uncle,” Rafael says as he backs out of the room.

  “I am Miguel, Rafael says you Rebels need information,” he says keeping his voice low as he studies us.

  “How do we know that you have what we need?” I ask.

  “You only talk to me,” he responds. I am about to say something else when Drew cuts me off.

  “Jeremy,” Drew snaps. “Wait for me outside.”

  I want to object but Drew's face tells me to stay out of it. Reluctantly, I climb the stairs.

  I scan the darkened street as I wait for what seems like hours. Finally, Drew emerges from the building but I can't see the expression on his face as he rushes past me.

  “Let's go,” he says.

  “What happened in there?” I ask as my feet catch up to his.

  “Nothing,” he spits. “Another dead end. There is something going on in Mexico and we need to know what.”

  “What do you mean?” I ask. “If I'm going to help you, I need to know what's going on.”

  “I don't want to drag you into this. It's not a good idea,” he says.

  “Drew, I'm already in it. You can't be going to these meets without backup,” I respond. Drew stops walking and looks at me.

  “I barely know you, Jeremy,” he hesitates. “But Dawn trusts you.”

  He starts moving even quicker than before. When we reach the docks, I follow him to the ship tied to the very last slip. There is not a single soul on deck so we board without any problems. We use the narrow staircase to head below deck. As soon as we enter the room, an older fellow hurries towards us.

  “Drew,” he says as they shake hands.

  He eyes me up and down before steering Drew towards a table at the opposite end of the room. I follow them. There is a small group of people in deep conversation when we sit down.

  A woman that I immediately recognize as a Rebel officer protests.

  “Drew, we can't keep bringing people in, not until we know more,” she says.

  “Then who is supposed to watch my back with the Mexicans?” he asks. “You, Officer Mills, are leaving soon to follow your lead. The captain is old and slow, no offense.”

  “None taken,” the old captain says before Drew continues.

  “Lucas can barely stand and should probably still be in a hospital bed. So tell me, which one of you are going to help me find the answers we need?” he asks.

  “It's okay, Grace, Jeremy can be trusted,” the man I know as Lucas states. “Dawn trusted him with her life.”

  Even though Drew had said practically the same thing, I see his face go dark for a
second. Dawn loves Drew but, when it mattered the most, she trusted me over him.

  “Did they tell you anything?” Lucas directs the question to Drew.

  “I met with Miguel of the Carlita cartel,” Drew begins. “They are searching for answers as well but there is a rumor that the Moreno cartel is preparing for war.”

  “War?” Officer Mills asks. “The Moreno’s don’t have borderland.”

  “They have no interest in fighting Texas,” Drew explains. “I was told that Juan Moreno is a dangerous man. If all of Mexico plunges into war, the colonies are next.”

  The door to the stairwell bursts open and two small boys run in. Their breathing is ragged and their faces are red.

  “Dad!” one of them yells. “We were chased but I think we lost him!” There is a sense of boyish pride in his voice. The captain looks angry.

  “You left the boat?” he asks as he raises his voice. “You two know better than that.”

  “We were so bored here,” they answer. Both boys look down at their feet. They know they're in trouble.

  “Captain,” Officer Mills says suddenly, “I think we need to leave St. Louis.”

  “We weren't prepared to leave for a couple of days,” he replies. The captain scratches his beard but doesn’t look worried.

  “We have no choice,” she responds. “I have some leads to track down but I must speak with the General first.”

  The captain nods and leaves the room to order his sailors to prepare the ship.

  “So, you’re heading for the Rebel compound?” Drew asks, nodding his approval. “General Nolan needs to be brought up to speed. He probably has access to information that we don’t. Jeremy and I will keep looking for answers here.”

  Drew and I hurry away from the docks and slip into the shadowed town.

  Drew turns to me and but I can’t make out his expression in the darkness as he speaks.

  “Someone will have to go to Mexico eventually to put an end to all of this.”

  Chapter 5: Dawn

  The outer parts of the forested Wastelands don’t look as if they had been destroyed by the storms or natural causes as I was led to believe. They are scorched and twisted but there are still spots where the greenery is trying to push through. I hadn’t expected that. It's supposed to be a wasteland.

  Everything is silent, save the sound of our footsteps moving forward. We have seen very few animals. We shot a couple birds a few days ago but that’s it. I’ve lost track of the days. I don’t know when we last ate or when we last had more than a couple hours rest. Our bodies and minds are weary. I worry that any attack would be the end of us because we are in no fighting state. My feet drag rather than step along the ground and my arms hang at my sides as if they are dead weight that I am carrying.

  We don’t know how much longer we have to wander before we find where Emily is being kept. By the time we reach her, we may not be any good to her.

  Corey and Ryan have spent their entire lives in the colonies and don't know any more about this place than I do. They say people just don't talk about it. They've both known people that have left their homes to explore the area. None of them ever returned. I’m not surprised. It is easy to get lost.

  As we get deeper into the woods, we find that the trees are no longer burned but stand tall and healthy around us. The ground is soft underneath our feet, probably because of the rains we've heard about.

  I spot a group of deer up ahead and I couldn't be more excited. They are the first large animals we've seen in a while. More birds start to appear in the tree canopy overhead and we are running low on supplies so Corey decides it's a good time to hunt. He seems to have more energy and strength than Ryan and I at the moment so we keep moving, knowing he'll catch up eventually.

  “None of this is supposed to be possible,” Ryan mutters.

  “So much for a wasteland,” I respond. Some of the birds move lower for cover and squawk as if warning us that the rain is coming. It comes out of nowhere and I am soaked within seconds. I stop and strain to lift my eyes to look at the sky. The sun is still out and the blue is as brilliant as ever. How can it rain when the sky looks like that?

  Ryan turns back towards me with a grin plastered across his face. It's good to see him smile.

  “Let's keep moving,” I say. The rain doesn't let up and the ground beneath our feet turns to mud. I am trying to pull my foot free when I am grabbed from behind. I yell for Ryan but my voice lacks the strength to reach him through the pounding rain. I struggle against my captor but it’s no use. He pulls me behind a tree and waits as Ryan gets farther and farther away. I scream but my voice is lost in the howling wind. There is a sharp pain on the back of my head and then nothing, nothing at all.

  Chapter 6: Dawn

  “Dawn, wake up,” I hear her say. “Seriously Dawn, you weren't hurt that bad.” Gabby? No, Gabby may as well be on the other side of the planet right now. I open my eyes slowly and Emily is sitting on the end of my bed.

  “Emily,” I say, relieved. We found her.

  “Took you long enough to wake up. You wouldn't stop fighting them so they had to knock you out,” she says.

  “Who are they? Where am I?” I ask.

  “They are the freedom fighters,” she answers.

  My pulse goes into instant panic mode. We've been captured by the freedom fighters. It's only a matter of time before we're dead. We're utterly buggered.

  “Chill out,” Emily snaps. “It's not what you think. They're good people.”

  “They've brainwashed you,” I picture the fierce fighters that have killed so many people.

  “I am not brainwashed!” she yells.

  “You're a kid. How would you know if they're good people?” I ask, regretting my word choice immediately as I see the tears form in her eyes.

  “They never treat me like a kid!” she yells, as she hurries from the room in a fit.

  I am such a jerk.

  I don’t know how long I’ve been here but it’s light outside so it’s been at least a few hours. My head aches from being knocked out. The instant anger at the thought dissipates immediately because I don’t have the will to hold onto it.

  I take stock of the room I am in. The window is open to allow air to move through and there is food next to the bed. I cram it into my mouth so fast that I almost choke and then wash it down with the tea they’ve left for me. I don’t even consider that there could be something wrong with the food. I’m too hungry. I eat everything and then stand on wobbly legs. The exhaustion of my journey hits me in full force and I almost fall. I catch myself and then carefully walk across the room to the door expecting it to be locked as I turn the knob. It's not. I pull it open. There is no one there. I am not being held captive or even watched. What is going on? Where are the fighters that took me prisoner?

  I step outside and people smile at me as I pass. They are not the savage people I have come across. I don't return a single smile as confusion and distrust cloud my thoughts. There is a dirt path through the town that is lined with houses. These aren't the huts that I've seen huddled together on Texan land. It's more like the American town of Cincinnati where the homes are sturdy. Lines of clothing are strung between houses and I even spot a few gardens. As I walk, no one stares. No one tries to stop me.

  I move slowly until my legs can’t handle it anymore. I sit down, planning on heading back to my room after a short rest.

  After a while, I hear my name. “Dawn Nolan!” someone yells.

  I turn my head and see a middle aged man jogging towards me. I suddenly wish I had something to protect myself with but my weapons were taken from me. I reluctantly stay where I am until the stranger takes a seat next to me. I may not be a prisoner here, but, let's be honest, I'm still at their mercy. The man reaches me and offers me his hand to shake.

  “Hello Miss Nolan, my name is Riley,” he says. When I don't take his hand, he lowers it. “I tried to make it back by the time you woke. Sorry about the way you were brought here.”r />
  “What about my friends? Are Corey and Ryan here?” I ask quickly.

  “No,” he answers. “Our patrol made a mistake in only bringing you. We are trying to find your friends. It is hard to survive in the Wastelands unless we find you. That is how we stay hidden.”

  He stands and helps me to my feet before placing a hand on my back to lead me inside a nearby house. “I saw that you ate everything we gave you and figured you were probably still hungry.”

  As if on cue, my stomach gurgles. I am served an overflowing plate of fresh fruit, chicken, and something white. I smell it and can't help but dig in eagerly as if I’ve never had a hot meal in my life.

  “It's corn,” Riley explains. “We have the only fields that can still grow sweet corn.”

  I wait until I am finished to ask my questions and am surprised that Riley is willing to answer every one.

  “What is this place?” I ask. I haven't forgotten all my suspicions even though this man makes it very hard to dislike him.

  “It is just a town, like any other in the colonies,” he answers.

  “How big is the town?” I ask.

  “Bigger than you would ever imagine. This section is where the current residents live. There is a much larger part that is unoccupied and waiting for future residents. Then we have the farms. Because of the rains, we can grow things that the Texan farms only dream of.”

  “How can you survive in the Wastelands?” I ask.

  “We survive because it is called the Wastelands. At one point, it was uninhabitable. Over the course of time, that changed but people’s perceptions didn't. We keep ourselves hidden to stay out of the wars and whatnot. We burn the outer parts of the forests every year so that others think it is a harsh place. We also utilize our freedom fighters. They scare most people off.” He trails off and I sense that he won't elaborate on their fighters. I move on, for now.

  “Why did you kidnap Emily?” I ask. I don't mean for it to be harsh but there isn't really a nice way to ask a question like that.

  “Once again, we regret the way she was taken,” he says as he runs a hand through his scraggly hair and watches my face, trying to determine if he should tell me the truth.