“Okay, thank you then. I will sit for a minute, but if you see anything you call for me, okay?” My order comes across clearly, and Jace grabs my hand in his, surprising me by the soft touch.
“I promise. If I see anything, you’ll be the first person I call for. Get some rest,” he replies seriously, looking me straight in the eye. I finally accept his offer after a few beats of my racing heartbeat, breaking his intense stare as I awkwardly go and drop down next to where Dex rests with his bag against a small wall.
I’ve just laid my head back, resting it against the hard stone, when a loud bang echoes through the still streets and sends me jumping to my feet.
Chapter 11
“What was that?” I ask, my head swiveling from side to side as I try to discover the source of the noise.
The guys don’t respond, each eerily still as they stare through an odd cylinder shape, their own heads barely moving. It’s Dex that finally lowers the odd contraption, passing it to me.
“Stand right here, and look through this end,” he directs, motioning that I should hold the narrower side to my eye. Doing as he asks, I lift the strange tube and try to make out what it is I’m looking at. It takes a second, but I realize that I’m seeing a street in the distance, the hollow tube making the image appear larger.
“What am I supposed to be seeing?” I ask, growing frustrated at their continued silence, and Dex steps closer, helping to aim the end of the tube in the direction he wants me to see.
When the small circle finally focuses, I see a group of men in odd clothing. The white sleeves of their tops, and the legs of their pants are long, shimmering slightly in the afternoon sun. That part is interesting, but I discover not the cause of their heavy silence. No, that’s something that has my own breath catching, as fear begins to cloud my rational mind.
Against a huge wall, the sides stretching in either direction as far as I can see, is a small blond-haired boy. He stands with his hands raised above his head, with a body lying motionless on the ground beside him. I can’t see his face, but I don’t need to. I know it better than I do my own as I’ve comforted it through tears, and smiled with it in laughter. Cole!
Having seen enough, I lower the tool and toss it to Dex, turning to sprint for the door. I have to get to him! The thought fills my head, and I barely hear the shouts to stop behind me. It’s not until I crash to the ground that I realize something, or someone has landed on top of me.
“Get off!” I scream, kicking and bucking my body to dislodge them, but they don’t move. Acting completely on instinct, I throw my head back and feel it crack against soft skin.
“Argh! What the hell, Samara?” Nico yells out above me, but I don’t stop fighting. Using the small distraction, I roll over and go to force my legs between us, intent on kicking him off. Yet, as soon as I get my body twisted, I feel his body come down on me, securing my wrists in his hands.
“No! Please! I need to get to him. I have to get to Cole!” I plead, still fighting, but not gaining any leeway. If anything, his grip only seems to tighten.
“Samara! Sam! Look at me!” he orders, and I don’t know if it’s his use of my nickname, the one only my family knows that breaks through the mindless panic, but I go quiet and still beneath him.
Seeing the change in me, Nico releases a breath and looks directly in my eyes. “You can’t just run out there—” he starts, but his words cause the fight to start to return to me, interrupting him. He starts again, “Enough! Fighting me will only get you killed if you run out there. He’s still alive, which means they’re not planning to kill him yet. I’m not sure why they would keep him alive, but we can work with that. What we can’t do, is run out there with no plan. That will surely get us all killed. So, I need you to calm down and trust me. I’ll do everything in my power to help you get your brother, but right now, I need you to trust me.”
I look him in the eye defiantly. “Swear it! Swear that you’ll help me get him back!” I demand, and in his face, I see determination.
“I swear to you, Samara. I will do everything I can to help you get him. I promise you. If it’s possible, I’ll do whatever it takes,” he responds, and a look stronger than words passes between us. In his intense stare, I see that he means what he says, but I also see his own pain shaping the determined eyes staring back at me. The loss of his own sister creates a connection between the two of us that only shared grief can do.
We stay like that for a minute longer. Me, scanning his face for any indication that he won’t do as he says, and him, waiting to see if I’ll trust him and not rush off.
“Come take a look, Nico,” Jace says, breaking our stare off, and Nico pushes off me, smoothly climbing to his feet. Needing a second, I don’t move to follow until Dex’s kind face comes into view, and he stretches his hand in my direction.
Allowing Dex to pull me to my feet, I move back over to where Jace and Nico stand, speaking quietly.
“Are they scanning him? Since when do they check outsiders?” Jace is asking, and I see Nico’s frown.
“I don’t know, but we need to get back to camp and talk to Brayden. He’ll need to know that the officials are switching tactics,” Nico answers, and my earlier panic begins to come back full force. Stepping between the two, I look Nico right in the face and interrupt their conversation.
“What about your promise? You gave me your word that you would help him!” I remind him, not backing down from the look on his face.
“I did, and I don’t plan to go back on that. But right now, there’s nothing that we can do for him. If we go after him now, even if we make it before they enter through their gates, we’ll likely be shot on the spot. But, if we can get to our leader, maybe we can get some more help, okay?”
His voice is sincere, and once again, I feel the truth in his words, and his gaze. Dex and Jace also step forward, and I turn to look at where they stand, their own expressions fierce.
“I will help, too. Whatever it takes,” Dex informs me, and I turn to look at Jace.
“Oh, I’m most definitely in! A new adventure, and with a pretty girl to boot? Hell, yeah, I’m helping. Let’s get going,” Jace says enthusiastically, and with the three of them all in agreement to do whatever it takes to help retrieve Cole, my heart feels a little bit lighter.
Chapter 12
We stayed up on top of that building, watching the sector officials until they disappeared back behind their high walls. After a scan, and then a second scan, they had taken Cole with them, leaving the motionless body behind. I didn’t know who it had been, but if they’d been trying to hurt Cole, I was glad they hadn’t moved again.
Once Nico finally declared the coast clear, we had descended back down all those stairs. The climb down had been easier, but I was exhausted from the day. Both the physical strain and stress combined to drain the energy from me. I could probably have fallen asleep standing up by that point, but they had assured me that the walk to their camp wouldn’t be too bad, so I forced my feet to keep moving forward. Just put one foot in front of the other, Sam. You can do this!
The guys would probably laugh to know that I have been talking to myself since we started walking again, but the small pep talk playing on repeat in my head has kept me moving. Without it, and my fear for Cole driving me forward, I would have likely found a spot to lie down a while ago. As it is, we now stand in front of more stairs on the street. Except this time, they lead down into a dark hole.
“Umm . . . do we really need to go down there?” I ask nervously.
“We’re almost there,” Nico says with a smirk before disappearing inside. Following his lead, Jace smiles, shrugs a shoulder, and descends after him.
“Hey, don’t worry. It’s just a few steps, and then we can get some light, okay? Here, you can hold on to me, and I’ll help you,” Dex offers kindly. I forgo the offered hand and instead, wrap my hands around his forearm, stepping in close.
“Thank you, Dex. For everything,” I respond, and he gives a smile
that almost looks sad. He’s been mostly quiet since watching the sector officials take Cole, so I’m glad he is willing to walk with me now.
It’s dark in the place Dex leads me, and I can tell he’s done this often enough to not trip. Me? It’s only the strength of his arm that I’m clutching which keeps me on my feet. I’ve asked why we don’t use the lights yet, but they responded with a whispered, “Just wait.”
I’ve waited, but now that our steps echo around us, signaling that we’re in a large open space, my curiosity is getting the better of me. That, and not even being able to see my hand inches in front of my face has me jumping at every noise. I’ve never feared the dark, but that was only because I’ve always known where I was. Now, in a place I’ve never been before, I feel the darkness as if it’s a physical weight pressing down on me.
“Are you ready, Samara?” Dex asks when he pulls me to a stop, and I hear that Jace and Nico are no longer walking, either.
“Ready for what?” I ask, scooting in a little closer, and I feel Dex reach his hand up and squeeze mine. It’s a gentle squeeze, but it’s enough to loosen the ball of anxiety that fills my gut.
Rather than answer, the guys stay quiet, until suddenly, lights flare to life all around me, and I’m left blinking in awe of what I see. Everywhere I look are windows and doors, the cloth hanging in them swaying from the faces that peer out, and I know I must look silly standing there with my mouth hanging open, gaping at my surroundings.
“What . . . what is this place?” I ask, having to stop to clear my throat. It’s Jace that walks over and answers, using his hand to gently push my chin up, closing my mouth.
“This, sweet Samara, is home. Welcome,” he tells me, his smile so genuine that I smile through my shock. The moment, however, is ruined when a deep, authoritative voice calls from my side.
“You’ve got some explaining to do, boys,” the man says, his voice booming through the cavernous space, and I realize that I’m probably gaping again, yet I don’t seem able to stop.
He’s older than me, and even the guys, but that doesn’t mean anything. With his russet-colored hair, shot through with strands that look made of gold, he is handsome in a way that is different from the others. Where the guys all are gorgeous, their faces still look like they have growing to do. This man, though, his features are as rugged as they are gorgeous, and I feel like a little girl standing there under his watchful gaze.
“Of course, Brayden. We have a lot to tell you, but first let me introduce you to Samara. She’s from The Between. She lost her parents there to the anthropophagites, and then her brother to the sector officials in the city. It’s actually one of the things that we need to discuss, but she doesn’t have anyone or anywhere to go,” Dex says from my side, his voice coming out in his own authoritative tone, and I wonder if I misjudged him. His gentleness with me has led me to believe he was the more passive of the three, but seeing him speak up on my behalf now has me rethinking that.
“And you trust her enough to bring her here?” Brayden challenges, but those green eyes of his never stop staring at my face, like he can see if I’m a threat by staring at me long enough. This time it’s Jace that comes to my defense, and once again, I’m baffled by how much more mature he sounds when speaking to Brayden. They’d told me he is their leader, but I didn’t realize what that meant to them.
“We trust her. She was being attacked when we found her, and she’s been with us since then, searching for her kid brother,” Jace says with certainty.
“Brayden, you know us. We wouldn’t bring someone here that would jeopardize our people. But we really do need to talk, and I’d rather not do it with an audience,” Nico says from his spot a few feet away, and finally manages to pull Brayden’s attention away from me.
“Fine. But if this goes badly and she betrays us, I’m holding you three responsible,” Brayden says, and turns to walk away. As I’m still holding onto Dex, I don’t hesitate to move when he does, and we leave the large space behind.
Chapter 13
“Stop. You said you saw them scan the boy, and then allow him inside?” Brayden demands from his desk chair, while the rest of us sit spread out in the other available seats.
We’ve been here a while already, recounting our stories, and I’ve begun to grow restless from just sitting around. Nico doesn’t appear fazed by the waiting questions, and just continues to answer Brayden with a patience that eludes me.
“Yes, sir. We were on the roof of a building, so our vantage point was pretty good. We had to use our binoculars, but it was clear what they were doing. I’m just not sure why.” Nico seems frustrated by that, but I was grateful just knowing Cole was alive.
“And you, Samara? What of your plans?” he asks, turning in his chair to face me directly.
I’m thrown off by Brayden’s question since he had not addressed me directly before now, but I try not to let on how much his penetrating gaze affects me. I feel dissected before him, and it makes me uncomfortable.
“I don’t know honestly. The night we lost our parents, the only thought I had was to get my little brother as far away from the Fleshers as possible, but now . . . Well, I guess I’m just playing it by ear. I know that finding Cole is my only priority right now, and after that, I’ll just have to see what happens,” I inform him, more candid with my situation than I planned to be, but there is something about his piercing eyes staring through me, as if he can see every lie, which makes it difficult to tell him anything but the truth. Plus, with the others around, I feel safe. I haven’t known them long, but so far, all they’ve done is try to help. Even Nico, with his generally moody behavior.
No one speaks at that revelation, but the four of them share looks I can’t decipher. What surprises me most, though, is that in the end, those looks all come to rest on Dex, not Brayden.
“You know what it will take to save the boy, Dex. I’m not going to ask that of you, but if you decide to do it, I’ll do what I can out here to help.”
Brayden says this to Dex in a tone that comes off as more familiar than what I would have expected of a leader, and I study the two closer. Now that they’re side by side, I’m able to pick up on little details I missed before. Like the similar shape of their face, and even their build. I want to ask about it, but I stay quiet, and wait. If Dex really does have a way of helping Cole, I don’t want to dissuade him by demanding answers. Not yet, at least.
“No, Brayden. You can’t be suggesting that. There has to be another way. I can sneak over the wall and grab—” Nico says sharply into the silence, but Brayden doesn’t even look his way, just raises a hand to silence him.
“It’s his choice, Nico. You brought the girl here for a reason, and this is the price of saving her brother. It wouldn’t be for forever but leaving would be harder this time than last. They’ll be expecting it.”
Again, when Brayden talks, everyone seems to know what he’s talking about. Well, everyone but me, but I can’t force myself to remain quiet any longer. Whatever it is Dex would have to do seems bad, and it’s not his place to sacrifice himself for my brother. It is mine.
“Dex, I don’t know what is going on, but whatever it is, no. I will find a way to get my brother back. I really appreciate how kind you have been, but it’s not your problem. If you could just point me in the right direction, I’ll be on my way. Thank you all for saving me,” I tell them, rising from my chair, but Dex finally speaks up and stops me.
“I escaped from Sector A three years ago. Brayden, my uncle, was the one to help me get out. He knew that I wasn’t willing to become the person I was expected to be there, so he gave up the life he’d made in Sector A and got me out. I swore I’d never go back there again, but I can’t sit idly by while your brother, and others, need my help. Not anymore I can’t.” His voice is strong, the words determined as he looks at me, but I still don’t understand. Who was he supposed to become? I think, and he must see the question on my face.
“My father, Jonathan Parson, is
the President of Sector A. As his son, I would have one day been expected to take his place, a duty I once found myself looking forward to, but that all changed . . . ” His voice breaks off, and his face takes on a distant melancholic look. As if he is seeing things that are not in this room, but he’s filled me with too many questions now to wait for him to continue, and I step toward him.
“What changed, Dex? What happened that made you abandon the life you once coveted?” I ask, needing to know what had happened, and why I should trust him now.
“He killed my mother, Samara. He didn’t like that she wanted better for the occupants of Sector B, so he had her telecom rigged so that when he called her, it exploded. I saw it happen,” he tells me, and his eyes look so haunted that I take the last few steps that separate us and wrap him in a hug. He doesn’t hesitate to hug me back, and for a moment, we stand there comforting each other as if we’re the only two people in the world.
Chapter 14
“Brayden, there has to be another way, man. Let me and Nico go in. We can use the cream on our hair and sneak over the gates. No one will recognize us, and we’ll be able to grab the kid and get out of there.”
I pull away at Jace’s voice, a reminder that we’re not alone in the room, and shoot him a grateful smile. He responds by sending his own grin my way, and I find myself looking to Brayden for his response. Dex, however, seems to have other ideas and speaks before he has the chance to.
“Brayden’s right. I can get in easily. Plus, I’ll be able to access more intel than y’all, as I’m the President’s son. So, might as well do something good with the title.” The bitter way Dex spits out the words, leaves no doubt in my mind about how he feels about his family, and I figure it’s time to add my own thoughts on the subject. It is, after all, my brother that they are discussing.
On the Brink Page 37