“Are you guys okay?” a male voice calls. Several people come running up the trail of destruction left behind by the tortiz.
“She’s hurt,” Link says. “We need to get back to the compound.”
“Bo—” I say.
“We got her,” the man says, and then adds after nearly choking on a breath, “We also found Aleron’s body.”
Link touches the man on the shoulder gently. I don’t know these people like Link does, but I do understand loss. It’s always difficult.
A whistle fills the air.
We all freeze and look up as if something is about to fall from the sky. The whistle sounds again.
“No more whistles,” Link whispers. The others seem to be thinking the same thing. One of the women clasps her hands together as if saying a prayer. None of us want to hear three whistles ever again.
After a few seconds and only the sound of the wind blowing through the tops of the trees, there's a collective outpour of held breath from everyone in the group.
“Let’s get back,” Link says and helps me to my feet.
I can walk but not without leaning into him. Despite the pain, I move as quickly as I can. Someone from the outside has just been recovered, and I can’t wait to see who.
5
As soon as we reach the compound, I’m whisked away despite my protests. Link hands me off to one of the Primes who lives with us. His name is Brutus, and he’s in charge of the medical unit. I’ve seen him many times before. He’s one of the few Primes that was born on the island, a child of Techheads. His father was dumped on Purgatory when he was caught stealing sensitive information from the Institute, and his mother was banished for openly speaking against the Institute's treatment toward Originals. It was extremely rare for a Techhead to be sympathetic toward us as most were happy with their brain and all the knowledge it contained. In general, Techheads felt the population would be better if everyone were there species.
“This should heal quickly,” Brutus says and swipes at his large, bronzed forehead with the back of his hand. His blond hair is receding, making the deformity more pronounced.
I lie flat so he can better get at the wound. “Just hurry and sew it up. I want to see who was dropped.”
“What does it matter? It will be some Prime who thought he could take on the Institute. Now there’s one less person out there who cares about Originals.” He presses at my side with a wet cloth. After a few seconds my skin becomes numb.
“Why haven’t you ever tried to leave the island? They could use your help out there.”
He squirts a liquid on my wound that smells like apples and a bit like pine. “Nah. I’m twenty-five now. The Kiss has already touched me. I feel it in my bones, eating at me bit by bit. It won’t be long now.”
There’s pressure on my ribs. I glance down at a long, rectangular box that Brutus is pressing into my flesh. At the touch of a button, several needles pierce my skin and begin to vibrate. There's a sharp pain as the electrical current and vibrations begin to heal my wound.
I flinch and say, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“It’s part of life,” he says, his lilac colored eyes meeting mine. After a minute, the box at my side beeps. Brutus removes it and helps me to sit up. “You're going to be sore for a few days, but take this. It will help with the pain.”
He drops a large pill onto my hand. I turn it over. It’s big and brown and contains healing properties. For me to feel better, I have to take it. I have to accept it as if there is no other way.
“What if it wasn’t?” I ask, after I've swallowed the pill.
“Excuse me?”
“What if it wasn’t part of life? What if the Kiss never existed?”
His eyebrows lift. “Then I would get the hell off this island. I would travel the world, and I would find love and have a family.” He helps me off the table. “But that’s something that will only happen in my dreams.”
“Not if I can help it.” I grit my teeth, as I stretch my upper body.
He chuckles. “A teenage Original out to save the world. I like it.”
“I have to try.” I slide off the table to my feet. “Thanks for fixing me. I really appreciate it.”
“Anytime, Sage. Good luck.”
Before I leave, I throw my arms around him, despite knowing his aversion to being touched. I can't help it. With him having the Kiss, he could die at anytime.
He jerks a little in surprise, but then hugs me back, a long sigh escaping his lips. "Thank you," he says.
It's my turn to be surprised, and I pull away. "For what?"
"I forgot what it's like to be hugged. It's nice."
I give a sad smile and say, “Take care of yourself.”
He nods. “You too.”
I open the door to the med unit, feeling deflated. If only I could get off the island, I could help people like Brutus somehow. Maybe my father has a cure by now. If he did, I'd get it back to Brutus. He's one of the good ones.
Out in the hallway, Link jumps up from a chair when he sees me, his eyes wide with concern.
“You didn’t need to wait,” I say. “I’ll be fine.”
“You lost a lot of blood.”
“I'm better now. Thanks for helping me.” I walk by him, and he falls in step next to me. “Have you seen who dropped yet?”
He shakes his head. “I’ve been here the whole time, but I overheard someone say it’s a man. They were excited about whoever it was too, like they knew him.”
“But how could that be? How would an Original know any Prime on the outside?”
Link rubs the back of his neck and sours his face like it hurts. “They wouldn’t unless it was someone really famous that we've seen in magazines, but I doubt the Institute would drop someone like that here.”
I freeze, every part of me. Even my heart stops for a fraction of a second. But in the next heartbeat, I’m running as fast as I can, regardless of the pain shooting through my body.
“Sage!” Link says. “Wait up!” His feet slap against the metal floor after me.
I turn several corners, dodging past people walking the narrow halls. I say an apology whenever I bump into someone, which is often. It seems to take forever to get to Jerry’s office, the place I know he’d take a dropper to introduce them to the compound. It's one of the nicest rooms and doesn’t feel as cold and rustic as the rest of the place. It’s where Jerry first took me.
When I round the last corner, lots of voices carry out from Jerry’s open door. I slow to a walk, suddenly nervous.
“What the hell, Sage?” Link says from behind me, sounding out of breath. “You just got speared!”
I step into the doorway. There are several people in the room, but I only see two. My brother is smiling big and talking to a tall, broad-shouldered man who is sitting in a chair, his back to me. He has platinum blond hair.
Max’s smile disappears when he sees me. “Sage? What happened?”
I move into the room, unable to look away from the man who is slowly turning around.
“Hey, good looking,” the man says and winks.
“Tank?” It’s a stupid question, one of my dumbest, but I can’t believe he’s really here. Tank is known around the world for his extreme athleticism. He was the superstar in every sport, attended all the celebrity events, and was known for being a lady's man. Secretly, though, he was working with HOPE up until he exposed his position to save Colt and me from being captured by the Institute.
He chuckles. “Last time I checked.” He glances down at my shirt, probably noticing the blood. “Still getting into trouble, I see.”
Max touches my arm. “Are you okay? What happened?”
“I got spiked, but I'll live.” I walk past him and go to Tank. There are so many questions I need to ask, but one must come before all others. “Is Colt alive?”
He pauses before answering, “Alive and well.”
I stumble back a step and gasp for air. Colt’s alive. The room seems to grow
warmer and all the colors around me brighten.
I ask my second question. “What are you doing here?”
Even though he’s smiling, I know he’s been through a lot. His lip is split, half of his face is bruised purple and yellow, and dried blood is caked onto his clothes.
“The Institute dropped me. You know me and my big mouth.”
“But how did they catch you?” This is what shocks me the most. Tank is the most skilled fighter I have ever seen, and if he didn’t want to fight, he could easily hide anywhere in the world. He pretty much has the money to do whatever he wants.
Link comes beside me, his mouth open and staring at Tank. “You know him? The world’s greatest athlete? I have posters of him… of you.”
Tank grins even wider. “I like this guy, Sage. He’s a keeper.”
This can’t be happening. Tank is here, joking with me as if we never parted.
He must notice my shocked expression because he laughs and says, “You better sit down.”
Max brings over a chair. I’m dropping into it before it’s all the way under me.
Jerry steps forward and clears his throat. “This reunion is nice, but it’s going to have to continue later. We need to talk to Tank alone. Everyone clear the room.”
“Are you coming?” Max asks me. Link stands next to him. He’s still staring at Tank.
“I’m staying,” I say. I need to know why he’s here.
“No you’re not,” Jerry says. “This doesn’t concern you.”
I don’t believe him. Why else would Tank come here? I must be needed on the outside for some reason. Maybe my father needs my help or maybe Colt. I smile at this thought.
“I can stay, right Tank? This is about me after all.”
His expression falls. “Sorry, babe. Not this time.”
“You need to go, Sage,” Jerry says.
I don’t move. He’s lying. He has to be.
Max takes my hand and gently tugs me to the door. “Come on. You should probably be resting.”
“I’ll find you when I’m done,” Tank says. “We have a lot of catching up to do.”
“Yeah, okay,” I say, but I say it so soft, I’m not sure he heard me. It was foolish to think he was here for me, I guess. It's not like I'm a key player in the resistance, any kind of a player for that matter. And that's what I need to change. Primes and Originals should be working together to take down the Institute.
“So you guys know him, like really know him?” Link asks once we’re out in the hall.
Max laughs. “We do. He’s a great guy. He helped get us to Eden.”
Link whistles low. “Who knew someone so famous was part of HOPE? I wonder if there are others.”
“Probably not,” I mumble. I don't want to tell him that very few Primes believe in HOPE's cause.
“What happened out there?” Max asks me. “How’d you get hurt?”
“It was awesome,” Link answers for me. “Your sister took on a tortiz.”
While he continues to tell Max about what happened, I try to ignore the empty feeling in my chest. So what if Tank isn’t here for me? Colt is alive, and in time I’ll find my way off this island. I won’t be here forever.
But no matter what I tell myself, I still feel the sting of Tank’s rejection. Not just his, but in a way I feel it is Colt’s too. That is stupid, though. I have no way of knowing if Colt and Tank still speak to each other. Plus there is a chance that Colt’s health isn't a hundred percent. But Tank had said ‘alive and well’ I remind myself. If he is well than that means he must’ve gotten an oDNA injection from my father, buying him several more years of life. And if he could get his hands on more, he could continue to live even longer. Still, though, it wasn't a true cure. The Kiss would eventually come for him.
I stop when I reach the outside door.
“What are you doing?” Max asks me.
“I’m working outside today.” I need to stay busy, otherwise I’ll be tempted to storm Jerry’s office and insist I speak with Tank again.
“But you’re hurt. What are you trying to do? First you take on a monster by yourself and now this?” Max’s voice is rising.
“It’s okay,” I say. “Relax.”
“I’ll go with her, Max,” Link says and pats Max's back. “I won’t let her do anything too hard.”
Max stares at me, his ivory complexion turning red. “You can be so selfish sometimes,” he says and walks away.
“Max!” I call, but he doesn’t stop. I go after him and whirl him around. "What was that all about?"
His jaw is set tight, and he won't look at me.
"Spill," I order. This is the first time he's ever spoken to me like this, and I can’t help but feel a little hurt, especially after everything I’ve done for him.
His gaze slowly meets mine. His chin quivers, reminding me of his young age, before he says, "My whole life you've taken care of me, even taking over Mom's role when she died. You sacrificed so much, and then last year, when we were on the run, you nearly gave your life to keep me safe." He inhales a hitched breath. "When Dad healed me, I couldn't wait to show you. I could finally take care of myself, but more importantly, I could finally take care of you."
I open my mouth to speak, but he stops me.
"How am I supposed to take care of you, if you keep rushing into danger? You're being stupid, and I don't understand why."
I stare at him, dumbfounded. I don't know if I'm angry at him for calling me stupid, or angry at myself for not noticing how he was feeling sooner.
"So are you going to tell me?" he asks again.
"Tell you what?"
"Why are you so anxious to rush into danger all of the time, especially when there are stronger people for the job? Do you have a martyr complex or something?"
Heat rises to my face. "I don't want to be a martyr. I just don't want anyone I care about to get hurt."
He balls his hands into fists, his expression twisting into something unrecognizable. "And how exactly do you think I'll feel if something happens to you? Don't you think I'll be hurt? Does that even cross your mind? We finally have a chance for a normal brother/sister relationship, but all you want to do is go back to fighting every chance you get, and I'm sick of it!"
Before I can respond, he turns on his heel and storms off. This time I don't go after him.
Link comes up behind me and pats my shoulder. “You okay?"
I quickly nod and swallow the tears running down the back of my throat. I had no idea Max felt this strongly, and it saddens and shocks me. I used to always know what Max felt or needed just by the way he looked at me, but now I realize that I don't know him at all.
I can’t do much in the way of clearing the forest. My side hurts every time I twist or try to pick up anything. Pretty much all I’m good for is scooting fallen limbs out of the way with my foot. It also doesn't help that I can't stop thinking about Max and everything he said to me. Am I acting like a martyr trying to get off the island so soon? I don't know the answer, but I do know that I need to be doing more than just clearing trees all day. I want to help. I want to make a difference. But what does that mean for Max? Am I being selfish? These thoughts plague me until I stop working altogether.
"You look ridiculous," Link says after about an hour. "Just go in already.”
I don’t argue and leave him behind. What I need is to lay horizontal for a while to try and let this wound heal. Maybe after that I can hunt down Max to resume our conversation.
I walk through the door into the mudroom, but stop when I hear my name. I turn around. Tank is standing next to a window where he must’ve seen me walking toward the compound.
“It’s so good to see you,” he says. He isn’t smiling suggestively or winking. He’s just being himself, something he only seems to do when he’s alone with me. This is probably because I called him out on his dual personality after I saw him with his secret girlfriend Ash, a Prime healer who’s as far from the spotlight as one could get. They seemed
completely opposite of each other, yet when I saw how gentle he was with her, I knew he was in love. I never got to tell him how proud I was of him for opening his heart when so many others choose not to.
My shoulders relax. “And it is so good to see you. Can you tell me what happened? You know, after I left for Eden?”
I move over to him and slouch into a chair, trying not to bend at the waist.
“Honestly it was Colt who turned the tide. I thought we were all goners, but then he showed up like some vengeful demon angel, dropping bombs from the sky. Truth be told, he scared even me, but it made all the difference. In no time at all, the Institute was retreating. We hurt them good but not without a price.” He pulls up a chair and sits across from me. “Two of the Dresdens died, Rowdy and Suma. Anthony was hurt badly, too, and Colt nearly died. After the fight, he had a major seizure and fell into a coma. We took him straight to your father for treatment. It took him a couple of weeks before he finally woke up.”
I swallow the rising lump in my throat. “But he’s okay?”
“He’s doing really well. I promise.”
Air flows more freely into my lungs. “Why are you here? The truth. I know you didn’t just let the Institute capture you. It’s so beneath you.”
He chuckles. “You’re right. The only way those douchebags could ever catch me is if I let them, which is exactly what I did. We needed someone to get on the Island and it couldn’t have been Colt, although he offered many times. We just couldn’t afford to lose him.”
"What does that mean?”
"I'll admit, the kid surprised me. He's a hard worker; relentless actually. After he woke up from his coma, he started changing things. The poor guy barely slept." Tank kicks his legs up and rests them on a chair next to mine. “I didn’t like Colt at first, but I consider him my brother now, my slightly younger, sometimes annoying brother. There's not a thing I wouldn't do for him.”
This surprises me. I never thought those two could ever be close. "So what happened to Colt? What did he change?"
Tank grins. “He grew a set, a big ol’ brass pair.”
“What does that mean?”
Escape from Eden (Original Series book 2) Page 4