"Yes!"
I release him, hoping he's not lying to me. "Has she given him Fenoquel?"
"I don't know," he growls. "Anything else?"
I let him go and swirl my finger into the fourth floor expanding the blueprints. I hear Rafe walk away, his heavy footsteps unmistakable.
"My family is most likely in here," Link says and points to Kendel Field. "I have to save them."
"I know, and we will. Tank and Colt will make sure of it." I look him in the eyes. "We will make sure of it."
My words feel hollow, a lot like when Colt promised me they would find a cure. I will do my best to help Link, but there's only so much I can do. By the look in Link's eyes, he knows this too.
He nods and says, "Let's go."
"I can't just yet. I need to find Colt."
"But Rafe said he wanted us to gear up the new recruits from Boston."
"He did?"
Link narrows his eyes. "Weren't you listening?"
"I guess not," I admit. Memorizing the blueprints was more important than anything Rafe had to say. "Let's hurry then. I need time to talk to Colt before we leave. I want to tell him where Max is in case he can help."
I follow Link behind the hangars to the third airship. The thing is monstrous, at least twenty times bigger than Tank's hovercraft. It's mostly silver with windows in a grid pattern over the front and sides and has a nose that sticks out several feet at the top. I assume this is the cockpit.
"Where did Rafe get this?" I ask Link before we get too busy. There must be at least three hundred people crowded around it awaiting instructions.
"Two were flown in just before sunrise from the West, and the one we are using was taken from the Institute at Rainer."
I stare up at it in awe while Link addresses the crowd about the equipment they are going to need. I wonder how we are going to provide everyone with weapons, but just then two of Rafe's men push over a large black container on wheels. The door opens. Inside are all kinds of old-school guns. Two more containers show up. It makes me nauseous to see them, knowing they will end lives before the sun has set.
While we hand out the weapons, we give the best instructions we can. Many don't know how to use them. Our part of the country has never seen a war like this before. They've always just kept their heads down, obeyed the Institute, and closed their eyes to Ebony's iron fist.
But now their eyes are wide open, and their desire for freedom outweighs their fear.
Another large group arrives at the airship next to us. Shred heads this one. His group is obviously more experienced. They wear their soldier's uniforms with different kinds of guns and knives attached to the thick material. They will outlive my group simply because of their gear. By the grim expressions of the people around me, they know it.
At the first airship, Tank and Colt finally arrive, bringing with them the soldiers that have fought with us since the beginning like Jet, Raven, Ice, and Zip. There's a strong energy to them, quiet yet powerful. Even Shred and his men notice the change in the air and quiet their voices.
Colt's eyes meet mine, and he smiles, but then he becomes just as busy as me trying to organize everyone into the airship. It takes almost an hour to get everyone loaded. Our ship has fewer people than the others as we will be providing weapons training on the way there for anyone that wants it. It won't give us much time, but it's better than nothing. It's only a two-hour flight.
I haven't seen Rafe yet, but assume he's traveling in his own hovercraft. Several have already left ahead of us.
When the last person of our group walks up the ramp, Link turns to me and says, "Ladies first."
"You go ahead," I say. "I need a second with Colt."
I glance over to him just then. They are still loading cargo and people. I like watching Colt. The way he speaks to people is gentle yet authoritative. He doesn't order them around while watching from the sidelines. I've seen Rafe do that many times. Instead, Colt is there among them, working side by side.
I don't see Tank or Jenna. They must already be in the airship, probably preparing it to fly. I glance up to the cockpit. Sure enough I spot the both of them along with a few others. Jenna happens to look down and sees me. She waves. I smile and wave back. I hope so much for my friend's safety.
"Sage!" a familiar voice calls.
I drop my gaze. Colt walks toward me. I hurry to him, my footsteps picking up speed until I fall into his arms.
He holds me tight and nuzzles his head into my neck. "You stay safe. Do you understand?"
I nod. "I think I know where Max is. Fourth floor of Elise Tower."
He pulls back to look down on me. His eyes are full of worry. "That's good, but I have a strong feeling that things are going to be a lot harder than we expect. You may have to make some difficult choices."
"What do you mean?"
"Ebony is holding a lot of people there, not just your brother."
"I know."
His Adam’s apple moves up and down. "We need to save as many people as we can."
This time it's me who swallows hard. "I have to save Max."
He pulls me back in for a hug, and I wonder if it's because he can't look me in the eyes anymore. I know what he's thinking. He doesn't think we can save Max because he's separated from the other Originals, but he's wrong.
I don't know how, but I'm going to save them all.
25
Link and I sit by each other near the entrance of the airship. I want to make sure we’re the first ones off. I check my gear several times, making sure knives and guns are firmly secured where they should be. Link does the same. It's hard not to do whenever I look into the faces of those with us. The room reeks with their fear.
On the metal floor above us, I hear the sounds of fighting from those anxious to learn all they can as quickly as possible. They will live longer than the ones down below with us, the ones choosing not to learn as much as they can. They've already given up. Some might think they are cowards, yet they are still on a ship about to enter a war zone with zero training. The only thing that drives them is revenge. They will die taking out as many Institute guards as they can. It's a sad way to go really, dying with all that rage in your heart. I wonder if I will be one of them.
I lean my head back and stare up at the ceiling, reminding myself why I'm here. Get Max and save Originals.
The speaker above me crackles, and the pilot's deep voice booms through. "Prepare for landing in five." The pilot pauses. "Good luck."
Good luck? I jump to my feet and turn around to peer out the window. Others rush to do the same.
Charlotte, the biggest city in the East, is on fire. And what buildings aren't on fire have been reduced to rubble. Gasps and voices crowd the already small space. I press my hand on my heart and force my breathing to relax while I keep looking.
Smoke fills the air blocking my view to much of the city. I crane my neck looking for a break through the gray cloud. When it comes, I see that there is still part of the city that stands upright. Elise Tower, with all its shiny metal, sits in the middle of it completely unharmed. When the airship rotates around I'm able to spot Kendel Field. Parts of it are on fire, too.
I glance over at Link. His fists are pressed against the glass, and his face is red.
"I'm going to kill every last one of them," he whispers through his teeth.
"How is the city already destroyed?" I ask out loud, but more to myself than anyone else.
I lift my gaze and discover the source. A hovercraft zips through the sky. A second later a bright light shoots from its front. From my view, I can't see where it goes, but I can hear it. A loud explosion destroying more of the city.
I drop into my chair, shocked. Weapons like these haven't been used for centuries, at least not that I've heard of. Clearly they are still being used in the West, and now Rafe's brought them here.
Link sits next to me as the airship begins to lower. "Do you think my family is all right?"
I don't look at him
when I say, "I'm sure they are. That part of the city isn't damaged too much." A sickness in my stomach burns.
There's a slight lurch when we land. People from upstairs have hurried down, crowding the loading bay. I take several deep breaths focusing on when the giant ramp will finally open. I even resort to counting.
Link talks to the crowd, giving final instructions and words of encouragement while I think, sixty-five, sixty-six, opening and closing my hands. People are bumping into me on all sides. Seventy-four, seventy-five. I need fresh air!
Just when I reach ninety-four, there's a hiss as the ramp opens and cool air rushes in. I inhale it and prepare for what I'm about to see.
Our ship has landed in the middle of what was probably a shiny black street, but now it's covered in debris and angry black marks. The buildings on each side of me are on fire filling the air with smoke and the smell of burning wood and rubber. Gunfire sounds in the distance.
"Let's go!" Link shouts.
We are the first to leave. I run alongside Link, taking in my bearings. We've been dropped a couple of blocks away from where Rafe said we would be. I realize why right away. The large parking lot we were supposed to land in is a giant, smoldering crater. Elise Tower is several blocks beyond it. It's perfect, unharmed exterior is a sharp contrast from the rest of the city. Kendel Field is off to my left. Link glances over there longingly. For a second, I think he's going to veer that way, but he stays the course.
As we get closer to the fighting, Link turns around and makes the sign for everyone to divide into our assigned four groups and head toward Elise Tower at different entry points.
I motion my group to follow me and jog up a street to my right before I turn left again back toward the Tower. I glance down at my wristpad. If Myers does his job, the security field surrounding the tower should be shut off in seven minutes.
Occasionally I glance back at the people following behind me. Their eyes are darting around, and they hold their guns tightly. I lead one of the groups that didn't want to get in some last-minute training.
I hope we don't encounter too much resistance.
As we cross a small parking lot, I spot at least a dozen Institute guards rounding the block in front of us. They see us at the same time.
"Get down!" I yell as the soldiers dive behind parked vehicles.
My soldiers do the same, hiding behind whatever we can find to protect ourselves. I slip into a narrow crevice between two partially destroyed buildings that are just barely standing. I peek out just as the Institute guards fire. We return it best we can, but it's clear how untrained my group is. None of their shots come close to hitting their target.
I can tell a few of them, the stronger Primes with special abilities, want to skip the whole gun thing altogether. That's something they were never taught to do, but they know how to use their skills.
Somehow I need to make that happen.
I glance down the long stretch between the two buildings. Maybe I can circle behind them like I did before to save Tank, but just then the rear of the shop collapses, blocking my escape. The only way out is to go forward.
Breathing quickly, I remind myself that I have a special suit, that I'm fast and strong.
I leap from my protected space as far and high as I can, surprising those on the ground. On my descent, I fire my gun at two of the closest guards. My aim is to kill.
As soon as I land, I keep going, sprinting fast. I feel a bullet glide past my arm, but the armored suit protects my skin. Another grazes my legs. I kill three more guards, clearing enough space that my group behind me can move forward.
Just then the gun is shot from my hand and lands in the middle of the road. I spin and duck behind a shiny, electronic newsstand, the closest coverage I can find. I expect to feel bullets spray in my direction, but my guys manage to keep the others distracted while I quickly look for anything to help me out of my predicament. There's not much. A partially collapsed hair salon is ten feet away, broken glass and twisted metal scattered all over. I could risk exposure and grab what I can to use as a weapon. Or… I glance up. A large square street sign reminding people not to litter is just above me. It could work.
I glance around the corner making a mental note of the guard's positions. Just as I do, a grunt followed by a scream comes from our side. I don't dare look over to see the cause. I need to take these guards out as quickly as possible.
Jumping up from my position, I take hold of the large sign with both hands and rip it from its post. I don't even take a breath before I'm charging toward the nearest guard. Bullets ping off the metal leaving deep indents, but I don't stop.
I crash into the tall man at such an angle that his body flies into another guard close to him, and they tumble to the ground. I fling my sign on top of them both and jump as hard as I can on top of it, then quickly pick it up again. Their bodies lie still.
Using the sign again as a shield, I rush toward my gun and easily scoop it up. By this time, my group has advanced forward enough that the Institute guards have begun to retreat. This gives me a moment's pause. I glance back the way we came. A man and a woman have been shot and killed. Their blood runs together and the crimson color is made brighter by the silver road beneath it. A woman kneels over one of them, crying quietly. My heart lurches within my chest, but I have to look away. The battle's not even close to being over.
"Move forward!" I order.
Once again I take the lead, keeping hold to a metal bolt still attached to the center of the sign. A few Prime soldiers, the ones who had looked the most anxious to fight earlier, jog beside me. One of them also grabs a sign and does the same as me. The closer we get to Elise Tower, the more the fighting increases. It's constant and doesn't let up. Sweat drenches the small of my back and mats my hair to my forehead.
More of my group disappears. I like to think they got scared and ran back instead of the alternative.
We are within a block of the tower. Explosions continue to go off throughout different parts of the city. Whenever I get a chance, I glance toward Kendel Field. Smoke rises into the air, and I can't ignore the smell of blood wafting from that direction.
Elise Tower comes into view. There are so many soldiers surrounding it I can't count them all. There are all kinds of Primes: dozens of Titans, Speeders, Mudders, Dresdens, Serpens, and of course regular Primes. Link and the other groups have already engaged them in hand-to-hand combat. Those who have managed to hang onto their guns and still have ammunition, use them when possible. Jenna is among the group hiding behind a parked car, firing her weapon whenever she can.
Bodies lie on the ground everywhere. A dark crimson color touches everything around me. This is what Rafe meant when he said I didn't understand war. I didn't. I had no idea it could get this bloody. I glance around at the destruction, thinking of all the guards Rafe and his men probably killed in their bomb attack before we arrived. Our casualties could have been so much worse had he not done this.
I charge into the closest group of guards, my shield lifted. A couple of them fire guns in our direction, but there are so many of us attacking at once that they aren't sure where to shoot. I make a goal to take out the ones with guns first to at least give my group a fighting chance.
As I draw closer, I swing the sign back and forth, slicing at anything and everything that moves. I cut through them like the rotating blade of a blender. It only takes a few blinks of my eyes before I have to shut my mind to the blood and gore all around me. It's the only way I'll be able to keep doing what I'm doing.
My body becomes a robot, a horrible, deadly killing machine, while my mind returns to the night I spent with Colt flying in the air, my arms outstretched, the cool wind blowing against my face, the warmth of his body against my back.
I am free.
I am at peace.
"Sage!"
Strong arms take hold of my shoulders that I can't shake. I blink several times and wipe red from my vision. Link stands in front of me, his chest heaving up
and down.
"You can stop now," he says. "They're retreating."
I whip my head around. Men and women soldiers are fleeing away from the Tower and into the ruined city streets, doing their best not to get shot by stray gunfire. One of them glances back at me, his face frozen in horror. I know what he thinks: I am a monster.
I drop the shield, but it doesn't clatter against the ground like I expect. It lands on soft bodies.
"This way," Link says and pulls my hand forward maneuvering between all the bodies. Our HOPE soldiers lay among the Institute guards. For the first time in over a century, we have finally come together, and it took death to make it happen.
I swallow bitterly.
"When is the force field coming down?" Link yells. There's a hint of urgency in his voice, and I catch him glancing several times over to Kendel Field.
Jenna comes up behind him wiping sweat from her brow.
Shred, who stands as close to the electrical field as possible, lowers the long blade in his hand and presses the com device in his ear. I wish I would've been given one of those so I could communicate with Colt.
"What's taking so long?" Shred shouts.
Because there is so much noise cluttering the air, gunshots, screaming, crying, I can't hear the response, but by Shred's expression, it can't be good.
"What did Rafe say?" Link demands.
Shred shakes his head in frustration. "Rafe hasn't heard from Myers. He's waiting to get in at the rear of the building just like us."
Link approaches the invisible field searching all over as if he might spot a way through. "So now what? I can't keep waiting here while my family is trapped over there."
"Go," I tell him, and nod my head toward Kendel Field.
"No," Shred counters. "His orders were to secure the Fenoquel."
I step close to Shred, within arms reach. "I just changed them."
A sly smile wrinkles Shred's face. "All I have to do is tell Rafe that you aren't obeying and," he draws a finger across his neck.
I lunge at him so fast, I surprise even myself. I have him in a tight headlock before he can defend himself. With my free hand, I reach into his ear and flick the small ear piece out. As soon as it hits the ground, I stomp on it.
Saving Eden (Original Series book 3) Page 20