Ryker, Trudi, and I use only our eyes to search for the hidden marauders. We try to keep our movement to a minimum as not to arouse suspicion. The sliver of the moon barely sheds any light on the dark night that surrounds us. It’s a wonder that Trudi was able to see what she did. But I see it now too.
A couple of dark figures move at once. I can make out their backs and the tops of their heads as they walk crouched over through the tall grasses. Suddenly, at the same time, they all duck down. A few minutes pass, and they are up, moving silently through the grass again. The group continues with this routine movement as they travel closer to our vehicle.
“Should we try to drive, Ryker?” I ask, though I know the answer is no.
Chapter 16 / Ethan
Light begins to trickle in through the spaces between the leaves of the trees that surround us. It has a calming effect. I want nothing more than to curl up on the ground next to Val and sleep the peaceful morning away. But I know the world around us is nothing near peaceful, and we may still have traitors pursuing us.
“Val, wake up.” I nudge her on her slender shoulder. Her short brown hair is filled with leaves and pine needles. “Val, we need to get going,” I say again while leaning forward to take a closer look at the cut above her eye. It really needs to be cleaned.
She smiles before she opens her eyes. “Mmm,” she moans. “My favorite thing about being off the Pump is dreaming. Do you dream, Ethan?” With her doe-like eyes, she glances up at me. Realizing that she's only inches from my face, I move back slowly as not to upset her.
Val props herself up into a sitting position, still smiling and looking into my eyes. But all I can think about is that cut and how it's my fault that it's there. “Yeah, I dream sometimes,” I answer, moving further away. I watch her reaction as I stand. Her face is so bright and her smile is so big. It makes me wonder what her dream was about.
"Come on, we need to get going." I offer her my hand and pull her off the ground. She doesn’t seem to notice the debris in her hair, so I ease closer and lift my hand to her head. Her face flushes when I touch her hair to remove a small brown leaf that’s shaped like a star. As I pluck it away, I say, “You just have some leaves and stuff in your hair.”
Val turns an even brighter red and mumbles, “Oh, thanks.” She runs her hands through her hair, raking the rest of the remains away.
Things suddenly become awkward and we just stand not looking at each other. “Um, we should get moving.” It’s all I can think to say.
“Yeah, of course. Let’s go,” Val answers, clearly happy to have the strange moment between us over with.
After we get ourselves together, we take off toward the rising sun. It feels nice to run once again. Val is keeping a steady pace behind me. She seems to be getting better in sync with my movements. We have to dodge, jump, and duck around all sorts of nature. I like it though.
By noon, we’ve hit what looks like desert. The land is dry and dusty. The sun is scorching hot. I haven’t seen anything green in the last two miles. I was shocked by the abrupt landscape changes during my Third Trial and still, I find it unsettling…and fascinating.
The landscape thankfully fills my thoughts as we continue to run from Dr. Fredericks and his band of traitors. It helps me to not think about the fact that we are possibly being hunted, the fate of Mena’s parents, or even Mena herself. But the parched, cracked earth beneath my feet reminds me of myself—my choices, my life.
What’s wrong with me? Like my parents always told me, I need to be better.
Every once in a while, I glance back at Val. Her usually soft-looking lips are dry now. The cut on her head is red and dirty. We need to find water. I can feel that my own body is on the verge of demanding, no, screaming for water. Unfortunately, there is nothing around us that would offer up a drink.
“We’ll stop as soon as we find somewhere to get water,” I shout back to Val.
“Okay,” is all she says.
***
It’s three hours after I noticed that Val is in desperate need of water. We haven’t had anything to eat or drink since we were taken from the Republic, and I am definitely feeling it now. There just hasn’t been anything around aside from a few buildings that have completely fallen into ruin. This area has obviously been the victim of a bombing or something worse.
I’m worried night will fall without us finding something to drink or shelter to keep us hidden during the night. If I were alone, I would keep running until my body gave out, but I have to consider Val. I can tell she is exhausted. I don't want her damaged any more than she is already.
I try to shout encouraging words to her every so often. It perks her up for a moment, but she quickly slows back down. Thankfully, we haven’t seen or heard anyone following us. Maybe we can walk for a while.
I slow my pace to a fast walk. Val looks relieved to finally slow down. “Thanks,” she says. The smile on her lips doesn’t quite reach her eyes though. Maybe she’s embarrassed.
“Well, I needed a break,” I lie, “and besides, we need to look for somewhere to rest for the night. Maybe we can hide out in the rubble of one of the buildings around here.”
“I was thinking the same thing. What about over there?” As Val points to a building off in the distance, her arm brushes mine. It’s still so strange to have physical contact with someone other than when we are training and fighting. Other than Val, Mena was the only other person to touch me in a non-threatening or non-medical way. Both females make me feel odd when the contact occurs . . . both odd but each different. I wonder what it means, or if it’s normal.
As Val and I continue to walk toward the ruins before us, I put some distance between us and concentrate, once again, on the landscape. There is a little grass and some weeds here, very few trees, and no roads to lead us on a particular path. We continue East in hopes of making it to Toledo Lake.
I wonder if Ryker was telling the truth when he said there was a lake that went on for miles. Are there really villages of free people living peacefully? I haven't seen any.
After this is all over, will I want to settle in one of the villages or return to the Republic? Is there another option?
“What’s wrong?” Val interrupts my thoughts.
“Oh, just thinking about everything that’s happening and what will happen when it’s all over,” I answer without looking at her.
Val shakes her head. “I know what you mean. Everything’s been laid out for us until now. We’ll actually have to make a choice about where we want to go and what we want to do.” She hesitates and tugs on the hem of her dirty white dress—the one meant for the United Ceremony. “What do you’ll think you’ll do?” she finally asks.
“I don’t know. I don’t know where I’ll belong after all of this is over . . . assuming I even live through it. My relationship with my parents has only ever been about my status as an Exalted . . .”
“I know exactly what you mean,” Val interrupts with a knowing glance, and then she waits for me to continue.
“ . . . And Mena is with Ryker now.” She quickly looks away when I mention Mena. Sensing a bit of tension, I quickly add, “You know, I really wouldn’t mind seeing what else is out here. Everything we’ve ever been told has been a lie. For all we know, there could be many other places like Toledo Lake . . . or places that could be habitable.”
“I never thought that could be an option. I wonder what everyone else will do. Mena and Ryker will probably stay in Toledo Lake. Maybe I'll like it there too. It'll be nice to be around people again.” She smiles as she walks, thinking about all the new faces we will meet soon.
I can't say that I'm looking forward to it like she is.
Chapter 17 / Mena
“We have guns! Leave now, while you can!” Ryker shouts out of a crack in the vehicle's window. The muscles in his arm tense as he grips the rifle resting in his lap. He’s not bluffing. He means to shoot the marauders and rogue Exalted if they continue in their attempt to overtake us. They cre
ep closer with each minute that passes.
Unfortunately, Jenna is scared beyond belief. She’s whimpering in a ball on the floor between the back and front seats. She’s a brave girl and didn’t think twice about helping Ryker and myself conspire against the Republic, but that was in secret. This is an imminent face-to-face attack. Jenna has never been in such a situation—she’s a citizen. Exalted have always protected her kind. There’s never been a reason for her to know how to defend herself from anything.
I rub her back while watching the attackers out of the windows. It’s still so dark. It’s difficult to tell how many there are. One thing’s for sure—Ryker’s warning hasn’t deterred them.
“What’s going on? Why are they coming for us? I thought the people on the outside were friendly,” Jenna says as she peeks up at me from the fetal position she’s gotten herself into.
I answer as I continue soothing her by rubbing her back. “There will always be bad people in the world. But don’t worry—we’ll be okay.”
Jenna tucks her head back under her arms and waits for that to be true.
“You two ready?” Ryker asks Kwan and Trudi.
“Ready,” they both answer. Kwan has one hand on the hilt of his sword. His other hand is on the door handle. Trudi has an arrow strung in her bow, ready to fire when the time comes.
After giving Jenna a firm squeeze on her shoulder, I turn toward the vehicle door, readying myself. My hands easily find my knives. It’s nice to have them back. During my time posing as a citizen, I wasn’t allowed to keep them with me. Dr. Fredericks took them from me. It was like losing an appendage.
Now that they’re back, I feel whole again. I feel confident and strong. I feel like myself. “I’m ready too.”
“Hold on,” Ryker commands as he fires up the engine. He throws the vehicle in reverse and gives the steering wheel a hard turn. The Humvee stops when it’s facing the field beside the highway. Ryker shifts into park and turns on the bright headlights. Over two-dozen marauders and three Exalted are now visible in the field before us. Who knows how many are behind our vehicle.
The element of surprise and the blinding bright lights of the Humvee are in our favor. We don’t waste any time. Ryker flings open his door and begins shooting into the tall grass. The gunshots are deafening, but not deadly. My partner is sparing these people. He aims for shoulders and even legs when he can see them.
Kwan and Trudi guard the back of the vehicle, while I race forward into the darkness. There are no lights on this side of the vehicle to light the way. My hearing is of no use since the rifle is firing non-stop. So, I use the dim light of the crescent moon and my sense of smell to help me navigate. The marauders I’ve encountered in the past smell awful—truly awful.
And sure enough I locate my first marauder. He’s a large male, and by the ease of my victory, I know that he is not an Exalted. I leave the man on the concrete, clutching his bleeding leg.
Without warning, a screeching woman jumps on my back from the hood of an abandoned car. She’s wild and fights without any control or thought. As I try to pry her from my shoulders, she pulls at my long hair and tries to bite the side of my face.
Instead of using my knives on her, I slam her body into the side of the car that she sprang from. She tightens her grip on me as we come away from the vehicle, but I slam her again and again. Eventually, her screeches stop and her hold fails all at once.
Now that the woman is unconscious, I easily shake her off of my back and onto the hard ground below. That was strange. I’ve never been attacked quite like that before.
Now that the horrible screeching has stopped, I notice that the pause between gunshots is getting longer. So, I circle back toward our vehicle. The field that is flooded with light is virtually empty. Those that aren’t limping away are disappearing into the trees at a rapid pace. Kwan and Trudi are occupied at the back of the vehicle, but seem to be in control of the situation.
But something isn’t right . . . the back door is open and Jenna is missing.
Chapter 18 / AZ
The night in the bunkhouse was the best sleep I've gotten in days. There was an actual bed with a pillow. The cool night air circulated around the little shack with ease. While the breeze came in through the open windows, the bugs didn't. I nearly poked a hole in the netting covering the windows as I inspected it.
"Mosquito netting," Everett said. "Stop poking it."
Meals here are better than any food I've ever had. I was one of the first ones in line this morning for breakfast. Fluffy eggs and fresh bacon—it was delicious.
And though I'd rather stay here and eat all day, I promised to help train the villagers.
I take my time walking over to the training field. Though I'm walking slower than usual, I still pass up villagers going in the same direction. They're so slow.
Up ahead of me is the youth with only one hand. He's walking by himself. His legs and arms move with an odd tension. He must be sore from yesterday.
When he tumbles to the ground, air bursts from my lungs and with it a sound that I’ve never heard myself make before. Just as soon as I’ve made the strange noise, I stop myself. This in turn makes the one-armed youth make the same physical reaction.
“Look at you! You look so freaked out,” he cries over his hysteria. “What? Never laughed before? Well I’m glad I could help you out with that.”
Laugh? Is that what happened? It didn’t feel bad—just odd. It seemed the natural reaction to watching him stumble over his own two feet while he was just walking along normally. He fell into the side of a pine tree and then toppled over onto the ground.
Was that the wrong reaction to have when someone falls? Cap warned me about emotional outbursts. Is that what just happened? I need to do a better job of controlling myself for the villagers’ sakes and mine.
I offer the youth my hand to help him get back up to his feet. He takes it, still laughing on his way up. “It’s okay to laugh, you know,” he says as he pats me on the shoulder. I can’t help but flinch at the non-threatening physical contact.
“Whoa, sorry man!” He raises both arms as if admitting defeat. “Just a friendly gesture,” he says.
My body relaxes a little. I’ll have to get used to the way people are here—the way I should be now. Friendly. Physical without being violent.
“What’s your name?” I ask the youth.
“John. You’re Az, right?”
I nod my confirmation. “Come on, let's get to practice."
We return to the field that the people of Toledo Lake have designated as the training grounds. Everyone that came the first day has returned—the old lady, the overweight man, the young girls, and even John. They have surprised me with their perseverance. That is a form of strength in its own right. I have to respect these people.
We work all day, giving the archers more pointers on stance and posture. The villagers working on making new arrows are faster than I thought possible. The teenage girls are especially efficient at the job—their small hands working quickly and precisely. The blacksmiths have dropped off a basket of arrowheads for them to attach to the arrow shafts. The process is going smoothly and a large pile of near-perfect arrows is beginning to form.
At the far end of the field, Cap and the three villagers are still working on the bombs, though I can’t tell their progress. I’ve never even seen a bomb before. I’m sure they are working just as diligently as the others though.
At the end of the day, the bomb-builders place most of their supplies in a metal box that’s left on the field, but each of the three builders takes two armfuls of material to some unknown place for the night.
The bomb-builders walk with care, as they carry the explosive elements. They look like the Republic’s farmer citizens carrying baskets of eggs across the walled city—perfectly placed steps and steady hands.
I watch them as they cross the field, and I watch as one of them trips over a stray stick meant to make a new arrow. Even though I know virtual
ly nothing about bombs, I know what’s going to happen as the man falls toward the ground.
Chapter 19 / Mena
“Jenna!” I scream at the top of my lungs. Never mind the marauders that can hear me. I need to find my friend. “Jenna!”
Ryker throws open the doors on his side of our vehicle. He leans over the back seat. “She’s not here. Trudi. Kwan. Did you see anyone approach the vehicle? Did you see her leave?”
“No,” they answer together. They don’t seem to be concerned about a useless citizen. Or maybe that’s just because their faces can’t betray them yet.
I lie on my belly and look under the vehicle. Nothing but blackness. Blackness all around. The pre-dawn sky is spewing the stuff.
Panic sets in and I run haphazardly down the old highway. I call her name as I go about my blind search, “Jenna! Jenna! Where are you?” I peek in and under each vehicle I pass.
Oh no. There’s a body. Jenna?
No. It’s the crazy woman that I knocked unconscious. She’s still lying next to that abandoned car. I jump over her and keep running and shouting.
Ryker calls out to me, “Mena! Watch out!” His gun blasts, and I hear a thump behind me.
My heart stops for an instant. That was way too close. I slow and turn to see whom Ryker shot to protect me.
After taking a deep breath, I walk towards the body that lays crumpled on the broken pavement. It’s a large man with a shotgun beside his arm. I glance over to Ryker. He’s lying across the front seat of the vehicle. The ceiling light is shining down on him, illuminating his strained face and his readied rifle.
Seeing him like that steadies my nerves and makes my brain begin to function in a more rational way. What was I doing? “I’m sorry,” I say to Ryker as I return to the Humvee. “But I promised her that she’d be okay.”
United (Exalted Trilogy: Book 3) Page 5