by Tracey Ward
“I could hand it over to Marlow instead,” Vin suggests calmly. “Absorb it into The Hive.”
“The other Colonies won’t just let that go. They’ll take it back.”
“We’ll find out.”
I stop pacing, my eyes landing on his unnaturally calm face. “When?”
“Soon,” he says quietly, watching me too. “In the next half hour or so.”
“He’s on his way, isn’t he?”
“He’s been spotted. He’s bringing an army. Just like you said he would.”
I square my shoulders, standing tall and defiant. “You don’t think that I—”
“Why would I?”
“But you don’t trust anyone.”
Vin looks down at his desk where his hands are clasped together loosely. He’s absently spinning his ring on his finger the way he does when he’s thinking, only I wonder if it’s as unconscious an act as I imagine. He pauses, pulling the ring from his finger and looking it over thoughtfully.
“Today is as good a day as any to start,” he mutters.
“What’s the plan?” Ryan asks curtly. “What will you do when Marlow gets here?”
“I haven’t decided,” Vin says on a sigh, slipping the ring back on his finger. “I’ll open the doors. I’ll let him in. I’ll listen. From there, I don’t know.”
“Letting him in is pretty much letting him have this place,” I remind him.
“It’s better than letting the Colonies have it back.”
“They’ll probably take it back anyway.”
“Maybe. But they have bigger things on their mind right now.”
“Like what?”
“Like the mess you started with the Vashons.”
I scowl at him. “We didn’t start anything. Marlow sent us to them and—”
“He sent the Colonists there too,” Ryan says.
“What?”
Vin is nodding at Ryan. “I think so. The timing is too perfect. He sent you there and days later the Colonists attack an enemy they’ve left alone for at least four years? Pretty convenient.”
“But why?” I ask.
“Because he’s not strong enough to attack them himself.”
“The Colonists or the Vashons?”
“Take your pick. He hates them both. Now they’re busy fighting each other.”
“The Hive boat,” Ryan says bitterly. “He sent us sailing down the river in the dead of night in a bright white boat, straight past the Colonies, heading for Vashon Island. He probably gave it a day, and then went to the Colonies and told them he’d been to a meeting with the Vashons. A meeting they called about joining forces and overthrowing them.”
“It’s not completely a lie,” I say.
“But it was the other way around. It was him bringing the idea to the Vashons.”
“Intent is everything,” Vin agrees.
“So now Marlow has the Colonies fighting the Vashons, two of the largest forces left in the city. His two biggest rivals.”
“And one of his closest men is on the inside of an undefended Colony building,” I say, looking to Vin.
“He thinks he’s coming here to take this place,” he says quietly. “He has no idea it’s already been taken.”
“He’ll kill people,” Ryan warns.
“Not if I throw the doors open and go out to meet him.”
“That’s why you’re opening the doors to him?” I ask skeptically. “To save the lives of the people inside?”
“Well, that and I don’t want him damaging my home.”
“You still think you can hold onto it?”
He stands suddenly, his eyes hard. Determined. “Either I keep what’s mine,” he says severely, “or I’ll watch it burn.”
“And what happens to the people inside? The ones following you? Trusting you blindly?”
“We all have our own paths to follow,” he replies coldly.
I scoff at him. “You’re full of it.”
“Usually, yes.”
“You won’t leave these people to die and you won’t leave them to Marlow. You’re not that selfish.”
He raises his eyebrows at me. “Since when?”
“Since you tasted real leadership. Not control, not fear, not power. They follow you because they love you and you get off on that more than anything.”
“I wouldn’t say more than anything. I’m still a man, Kitten.”
“Then act like one.”
He grins slightly, eyeing me. “Gladly.”
“Stop.”
Vin and I both look at Ryan. He’s standing just behind me, his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes locked on Vin. He’s not himself—not the warm, funny guy I’ve come to know and love.
He’s Arena Ryan, made of stone and fire.
“Stop talking to her like that,” Ryan warns Vin, “or I’ll show you what a man looks like.”
Vin’s grin doesn’t falter, but his eyes change. They’re amused. “I understand it’s meant to sound like a threat, but I feel like you’re flirting with me, Hyperion.”
“You’re not my type and she’s not yours, so back off.”
“Is that how it is? You’re finally staking your claim on her?”
“She’s not a piece of property to be claimed.”
Vin snorts. “That’s cute, but it’s a lie and you know it. Things aren’t like they used to be. Resources are scarce. She’s one of the rarest items I’ve seen in a long time and if you don’t hurry up and mark your territory, someone else will and it won’t be sweet and it sure as hell won’t be pretty.”
Ryan tenses. “It won’t happen like that. Not as long as I’m alive.”
“You’re walking around with a diamond in your hand hoping a city of thieves will let you keep it. Once Marlow marches through that door, you won’t be able to keep her any more than I can keep this Colony.” Vin’s voice lowers, softening slightly. “We’re both about to lose everything. I’m willing to destroy what’s mine to keep it from being taken. What are you going to do?”
Ryan stares back at Vin for a long time. I don’t bother speaking up. I don’t tell them I’m my own person and they don’t need to defend me, that I’m no one’s property, blah, blah, blah. They wouldn’t listen to me, so why bother? And here’s the real bitch of it: I don’t know that it’s necessarily true. I don’t know that they’re wrong.
I remember the way Marlow looked at me when I was in his Hive. I remember what it felt like to tell him I was a Benjamin, the reaction he had and the feeling it gave me in the pit of my stomach. I know what it means, I’m not an idiot. I understand what Vin can see, what Marlow wants, and what Ryan will die to protect it.
“I’ll kill Marlow.”
I close my eyes, feeling defeated.
Ryan is completely calm, completely certain, and completely out of his friggin’ mind.
“Ryan, you—” I begin tiredly, opening my eyes.
“Give me an opening and I’ll kill Marlow.”
I feel sick to my stomach, but Vin is grinning.
“Hyperion,” he says slowly, “you got yourself a deal.”
Chapter Eleven
“He’s playing you!” I shout at Ryan.
My voice echoes off the hard, gray walls of the showers. We’re waiting for the line to form outside—the line of Colonists being rounded up and sent away down the tunnels to hide from Marlow and his men. Vin has a lot of confidence in his ability to talk Marlow down from killing everyone inside, but he’s not insane. Confidence does not equal a sure thing, so the entire place—aside from the Guard—is being evacuated. Trent seems pretty sure we can find our way out without getting lost and dying in the dark. As much as I trust his wicked sharp eyes and bizarre computer brain that probably mapped every inch of tunnel we’ve seen so far, I have my doubts. About everything.
Right now as I stand in front of Ryan shouting, I know people can hear us—especially the guards just outside the door—but I don’t care. I’m angry and they can all know it. I hope t
hey feel it, taste it. Choke on it.
To my surprise, Ryan laughs. “Of course he’s playing me.”
“Then why did you agree to it?”
“Because it needs to be done.”
“You can’t kill Marlow.”
“He’s a man. All men can be killed. Vin will find me the opening to make it happen.”
“He’ll screw you over is what he’ll do.”
“Not on this. He needs Marlow dead just as much as I do.”
“Why do you need him dead?”
“Because it’s the only way to make sure he never lays a hand on you.”
“We could leave like you were talking about.”
“You said not until this is over. It’s a long way from over.”
“I don’t care what I said! We’ll leave right now.” I grab his arm, tugging on him hard. He’s too strong. I can’t move him. “Let’s go!”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m not a coward.”
“Well, I am. Let’s go!”
Ryan smiles at me as I keep yanking on his arm. “No, you’re not.”
“I’m scared and I’m ready to run. That’s a coward.”
“But you’re not scared for you. You’re scared for me.”
“What’s the difference?”
“A lot.”
I try a different tactic—one I’ve never used before. One I don’t even know how to use.
I stand in front of him, taking his face in my hands and pressing my body to his. His eyes turn wary. He knows what I’m doing, but he’s not about to stop me. He breathes in deeply before weaving his arms around my waist and holding me to him.
“Please, Ryan,” I whisper, my eyes begging his. “Please don’t try to do this. You’re not a murderer. It’s not worth it.”
He leans his head down until our foreheads are touching. “It is to me.”
“Not to me. And if you die…” I can’t finish that sentence. I can’t even finish the thought.
“If anything happens to me, Trent will get you out of the city. He’ll run with you.”
“Why don’t you run with me now?”
“Because it’s not only about you. It’s about every person in this building. It’s about everyone in The Hive. All the women in the stables, the babies being traded to the Colonies.”
“Crenshaw’s daughter,” I mumble.
“Yeah. With Marlow and the Colonies gone, things could be different.”
“They could get worse.”
“Or they could get better. We’ll never know until we try. Which is why you need to go. Now.”
He’s right, but he’s also wrong. We have to try. We have to get Marlow out of power, but what he’s wrong about is me. I’m not going anywhere. Not without him.
“All right,” I say quietly, pulling away. “I’ll go.”
He’s not buying it. I don’t have to look at him to know it; I can feel it in the way he doesn’t answer me—and just as I’m planning on double-crossing him, I get the feeling he’s going to double-cross me. It’s all for the greater good and because everybody cares about everybody, but in the end isn’t it all just lying? I don’t care what color you paint it, it’s still ugly.
I hear footsteps down the hall. People are filing into the doorway, nervous eyes scanning the room like they suspect they’re being led to the slaughter. Like they’re looking for more blood and bodies. More hungry cannibals licking their lips and gnashing their teeth.
Trent leads the way, jumping smoothly down into the drain. Ryan and the guards from outside start to lead people toward the hole, the first group being the Team Leaders that were captured and held inside the building, used to keep up communication with the other Colonies. It was Trent’s idea to bring them out. He said we might need them again when we made our move against the stadiums. They could help us walk right through the front door.
I watch as they go one by one down into the darkness, a few familiar faces (Melissa included) passing me by slowly, and I start to wonder how long this is going to take. There are a lot of people here, and even if all of them aren’t going, enough are. And they’re making a lot of noise.
I bolt from the room. I don’t bother using stealth or finesse; it doesn’t matter. Ryan has his hands halfway to the center of the world helping to lower people down. He doesn’t even see me leave.
When I’m halfway to the roof, I hear the first blast. It’s far off, but not far enough. I’d say it came from somewhere within a five-block radius and it’s not alone. It’s followed quickly by another. Then another.
I weave through the now panicking crowd up the stairs, breaking into a run wherever I can find the space. Once I reach the fire stairs heading toward the roof, I’m completely alone. Right until I find him.
He’s exactly where I expected him to be: right where he was last night as dawn was breaking and he was worrying about losing his castle. Beyond him on the horizon I can see plumes of smoke rolling into the sky. It’s something I usually only see on this scale during market days when all the gangs meet, eat, drink, barter, and make me ache with loneliness.
“What was it?” I ask Vin.
“The barricades keeping the Risen up against the outer gate. He’s blowing them. In the next twenty minutes the outside will be swarming with more zombies than it’s seen in years.”
“And Marlow will be inside.”
“That’s the plan.” He glances over his shoulder at me. “Isn’t it also the plan that you leave with everyone else?”
“That’s Ryan’s plan, not mine.”
“He wants to keep you safe.”
“And you’re using that to your advantage.”
He looks away again. “I use everything to my advantage.”
“And everyone?” I ask hotly.
He ignores me.
“I’m not going.”
“I’m not surprised. He’ll kill Marlow whether you’re here or not.”
“Not if I kill Marlow first.”
Vin shoots me a look so sharp it hurts. I feel it sting in my skin as my heart rate spikes painfully. “You will not,” he snarls.
I narrow my eyes at him. “You don’t get to tell me what to do any more than I can tell you what to do.”
“Listen to me, Joss,” he says harshly, taking my arm in his iron grip. “You will stay as far away from Marlow as possible, do you understand? If you go near him, you’ll ruin everything. You’ll not only get me killed, but your boy as well. Do you understand me?”
“No,” I growl, trying in vain to pull away. “I don’t understand your plans at all, which is why I don’t trust them and it’s why I won’t listen to you. I think you’re using Ryan. I think you’re going to let him do your dirty work for you and then you’ll betray him. You’ll get him killed.”
He lets go of my arm, nearly shoving me away as he does it. “You don’t know that.”
“I do, because I know what you’re capable of.”
“No one knows what I’m capable of. Least of all me.”
“But you’re not denying it, which is the scary thing. You’re not even trying to lie to me.”
“Would it make you feel better if I did?”
“I will kill you,” I warn him, my voice laced with venom. “If Ryan dies in there, I will kill you myself. I will do it slowly with a smile on my face and I will dance in your blood as you die.”
Vin smiles slowly. “I think you mean that, Kitten.”
“I will live it if you make me. It’s up to you.”
His smile fades as another explosion erupts in the streets.
Captain Hook approaches.
“I don’t know exactly what’s going to happen today,” he tells me seriously. “But I swear to you, if I can help it, I won’t give you a reason to kill me.”
I sigh, offering him my hand. “That’s crap, but I’ll take it. Only because I honestly believe that’s the best I can expect from you.”
He takes my hand in his, but
instead of shaking it he squeezes it once firmly. Affectionately. “It’s more than I’ve ever given anyone.”
***
Vin called it: just over twenty minutes later and The Hive is outside the gates. They’re smart and at least a little patient because they don’t break the gates entirely, even though they’ve shown that they could have blown the old empty shipping containers to pieces the same way they did to the outer barriers. But they don’t want this place swarming with zombies—not when they plan to take ownership of it.
Vin takes his six remaining Guard members with him to the gate. Ryan and I, one of us extremely sour-faced and annoyed at the other for not leaving when they were told to, stay inside and watch the arrival from the massive windows of the main sleeping area. Vin thought it was better Marlow didn’t see us right away, just in case he’s angry with us—though I think if anyone should be angry, it should be us. And I am. I’ve clenched my hands so tightly my fingernails are leaving red crescents in my palms. If I press much harder I’ll draw blood.
“You should have gone.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t start.”
“You’ll never be safe if he’s alive,” Ryan continues, his voice tight. “You or any other woman in the wild. You can’t tell me with what we know about him and his deal with the Colonies that you don’t think he deserves to die.”
“Who are you trying to convince, Ryan? Me or yourself?”
He doesn’t answer and when I look over at him he refuses to meet my eyes.
“You don’t have to do this,” I tell him softly. “You’ll hate yourself if you do.”
“If I don’t do it, who will?”
I look back to the gate as it swings open with a long, grating shriek. Men step through the container, moving into the open space inside the gates like they already own the place. Like it was theirs before it was even built. Like the world belongs to them, along with everything and anyone in it.
“I’m sure if you asked nicely you’d find a few takers,” I mutter.
“Vincent!” a familiar voice cries, carrying across the gardens to the building.