by JM Butcher
Maybe it’s not him. Maybe she saw I left the doors open. Maybe it’s her.
That’s why the doors to the outside were open last night. Billy ran out. Billy ran to the stadium. He left the doors cracked for Makayla.
Please be Makayla. Jack can get you later. Give Billy one last chance with Makayla.
Just one more run. I’ll kiss her. We can run away from this.
Ha, like that could happen. He controls her.
It’s not her anyway. I know that. But if she reads these, she’ll know my final thoughts are about her.
Dear Makayla, I’m thinking about you. Thinking about us. Be my girl. One more run. Maybe a kiss. But at least one more run. A run away from here. Just you and me. Not him.
When I read the next line, my ribs settle as the thumping in my heart stops. The thumping is replaced by furious eye twitches, uncontrollable knee shakes, and intense perspiration.
Did I tell him I couldn’t recall having night thoughts last night?
No. I didn’t. He brought it up. Not me. He asked, “Are you sure there’s not a possibility that you thought up those things? You said you can’t remember them? Is there a chance?”
I was too tense at the time to notice the slip.
Gia rests her hand on my shoulder and whispers, “I’m sorry, Maggie.”
Don’t run with Hayden. Run with me.
Chapter 20
MESSAGE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT
Citizens of the United Republics of America, I speak to you with a truly heavy heart. The act of heinous, cowardly transgression on our Northfield Juvenile Unfavorable Home has left a large number of people dead. These include our very own Keepers.
I have said a prayer for the dead, but I want us to recognize the survivors. When some of the chaos settles down, I will announce a Medal of Survival Ceremony for all of those heroic Keepers who managed to hold on to their lives.
To address the attack, I want to let you know that I spoke to our White Coats and Gray Coats, neither which have seen anything like this. The spontaneity of the attack was too precise to have been coordinated by the residents themselves. We are calling this a Cyber Transgression.
We believe that the residents at Northfield JUH were infected with a virus—sent by a rebel group. This virus turned these Unfavorables into Transgressors. I ask all of you to be vigilant. Another Cyber Transgression very well may be on the horizon. None of my people will be sleeping. I promise we will be working on ways to prevent or, at the very least, contain an attack of this nature.
Thank you. Thank God. Our United Republics of America will persist.
President Lionel Washburn, 15 October, 2040
The power goes out before Gia and I finish closing everything up. Everything is black except for a few very dim emergency lights Jack has installed. Not enough light to block the chip from recording.
Hayden will figure out very quickly that I’m in Jack’s office. Now that I’ve thought about him finding me, he’s probably on his way already.
Gia scrambles through a desk drawer and grabs a flashlight. She says, “Hurry, shine this in your eyes.” Despite the luck in locating that flashlight, we both know it’s too late.
“We’ve got to go,” I say, stating the obvious.
Gia shines the light at the door and directs me to follow her. She holds the device that gives us sight. She knows the layout of this place far better than I do, so I have no choice but to stick close to her—not that I could handle being alone right now anyway.
Instead of backtracking to the main area, Gia turns left toward the compound exit.
“Do you have access to get outside?” I ask.
“Pshh,” she mocks. “Don’t underestimate ya girl.” Sure enough, Gia puts her face in front of the scanner, and the door opens.
Jack has access to the outside. So does Gia. Billy did, too, for some unknown reason, since he was able to leave last night. And because he left the door cracked in hope that Makayla would come see him, she might not have access. That means there’s a slight chance Hayden can’t get out either.
I slam the door behind us, and Gia moves on to the next facial recognition screen. We climb up through the top. I slam that door shut, too. The first thing I notice is that the sun has almost set, leaving a beautiful pinkish-orange tint blanketing the sky.
The second thing I notice is that we’re not alone on the deck. Hayden and Makayla are here, too. Of course, they are. He’s a sociopathic mastermind. He knows our moves before we do.
Behind Hayden and Makayla, Bubba and three other Suits stand ready to detain us whenever Hayden gives them the signal. Leon is one of them. These were Hayden’s guys the whole time. It wasn’t Jack who sent the ticking time bomb into my house. It was Hayden.
That’s why Jack told me I could punish the Suits. It was his way of letting Hayden know that he disagreed with the decision. Not that Hayden would’ve let me follow through with any severe punishment, unless he views everyone as expendable.
I consider escape options. It’s too late for us to run back, especially since I shut the doors. So dumb. I’ve got nothing.
“Maggie, Maggie, Maggie,” Hayden says. “You’re too smart for your own good.”
Any charm or sympathy I sensed in Hayden before never existed. It was always an act. The confident, threatening Hayden in front of me illustrates his true form. He doesn’t care about anyone as long as he gets what he wants.
I stand still, appearing brave, but terrified on the inside.
“What’s going on, Hayden?” I ask. “What’s the point of lying to me this entire time? If you were truthful, I might’ve come around. I was almost there.”
“Not quickly enough, Maggie. You’re a naïve pacifist. It would have taken too much time, time that I don’t have. Besides, this was fun.” The fun continues for Hayden. The fun doesn’t ever stop for Hayden.
I ask, “So you thought taking care of an emotionally vulnerable girl would speed things up?”
“Probably not,” Hayden answers. “But I figured if you trusted me, I could buy some time. If only you were like your mom, it would all be good and you would be safe. So would Gia. Heck, we could’ve had something special, Maggie. At least until my real girl called it off.”
Hayden kisses Makayla, and she kisses him back.
The kiss last night. It tasted sweet. Too sweet. Hayden must’ve drugged me somehow. That’s why I don’t remember last night. There was no other opportunity for him to drug me.
He didn’t want me to know the thoughts Makayla showed me weren’t mine.
When the spectacle ends, Hayden says, “You’ll never be anything like your mom. She’s a hero. You’re a weak excuse for a daughter of greatness. Right when things are coming together, you run like a coward.”
Continuing to hold my ground, I state, “So you really do know Mother.”
Hayden shrugs. “Eh…I could. Or I couldn’t. Sounds more likely at this point that I could. But still, there’s a chance I don’t.” This is a game to him.
Gia finally speaks. “Does Johnny know her? Did he help kill the JUH kids?”
Hayden guffaws. “Johnny? Ha! He’s as weak as Maggie here. He’s not a leader. He doesn’t have the guts to do what I did. I let him think he’s running things. It satisfies his ego. Everything works out for everyone.”
“Where is Johnny?” Gia asks.
“Ha. I had to send him on an errand. He’ll be in for quite the surprise when he gets back. I can’t imagine he’s too happy about my methods. He isn’t down with the whole Unfavorable sacrifice thing, and he kinda took a liking to Billy. I hope he doesn’t scold me! Ha! I don’t want to have to take drastic measures to contain him, too. He’s an old friend of mine, you see.” Hayden’s lips form an evil grin, and he winks at Gia.
I put my arm in front of Gia to keep her from attacking Hayden. It’s not the time to be a hero. The best we can do is preserve our lives for as long as possible. The Suits have to be armed, and I know there’s at least one of the
m who won’t hesitate to pull the trigger.
“So what now?” I ask. “Time to delete me too? Time to turn me in?”
Hayden laughs again. “No way, Maggie. We have magnificent plans for you now that we know the virus works. Thank you for that. We can move on to bigger and better things. And with the daughter of Tara Gordon. Great stuff!”
Gia exclaims, “You don’t need her anymore! Let us go. It’s not like we can do anything.”
Hayden responds, “Her mom disagrees. Maggie is a valuable asset.”
My resolve starts to weaken. Not only is this maniac planning to cause more destruction, but I’m his key to success. And Mother’s success. The benefits of being the daughter of Tara Gordon.
“Okay, Hayden,” Makayla says, “this is starting to get boring.” How I want to tear her bleached hair out. If only it wasn’t buzzed too short to grab hold of, and if only four Suits weren’t lurking in the background.
“Oh, fine.” Hayden looks disappointed. “Go ahead, boys.”
The Suits approach us. Well, three of them do. One stays back. It’s Leon. Without warning, Leon reaches for his gun and pulls the trigger. The gunshot makes me blink and jump back. When I open my eyes, I see blood gushing from the back of Bubba’s head.
The other two Suits turn. The ringing of the bullet that catches one them in the chest is deafening. So deafening that I can’t hear the next shot that Leon takes, but I know he hit his target as the Suit drops to his knees, then slumps to his side. There’s a bullet hole between his eyes.
Leon turns to Gia and me. “Run!”
I’m too stunned to move. I can’t tear my gaze away from the wounded Suits who lie motionless in puddles of their own blood. The sight reminds me of Dad.
Leon got the job done again. At least this time, he was on my side.
“You traitor!” Hayden shouts, pointing a gun at Leon. “You worthless traitor. I never should have rescued you from that Home. That’s where you should be. In a Juvenile Unfavorable Home. Worthless.” Hayden takes aim and shoots. Leon looks down near his chest, right where the bullet entered.
“Go,” Leon chokes out. He slowly falls to the ground, looking into my eyes as he collapses.
Still too stunned to move, I look at the disturbed kid. The kid who shot Dad. The kid full of so much trauma and even more remorse. The kid who sacrificed his life for me. I look into his open eye, and I mouth the words “Thank you.” I hope he’s finally found peace.
Finishing my brief goodbye to Leon, I watch Hayden and Makayla hone in on us like rabid pit-bulls that are out for more than just blood and flesh. They’re out for bone and soul, too.
Gia grabs my arm. “What’s our next move?”
My plan is poorly thought out, but it’s the best I come up with in a matter of seconds. “They aren’t going to kill me. But you, they might. I’ll charge at them, and you’re going to run.”
“Oh, great plan.” At least her sass is back. “This is suicide. I’m not leaving ya here.”
“Yes you are,” I respond.
“To where?” Gia asks.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spot four or five figures across the river. It’s too dark to identify any of them, or to confirm if they’re definitely human figures.
“To them,” I tilt my head in the direction of the pack, pleading to some superior being that I’m not sending Gia straight to more of Hayden’s people.
“No.”
“Yes. Go!” I spring forward at Hayden and Makayla, knocking both of them backwards. Makayla loses her footing; Hayden stays on his feet. “Run, Gia!”
Makayla reaches for her gun. I kick her arm, knocking the weapon out of her reach. I spin around and knee Hayden in the thigh, then watch him jump and wail in pain. I throw kicks and elbows in all directions, just hoping I might land a blow.
I’m not sure whose it is, but a fist jams into my cheek, sending me to the ground. It’s Makayla’s. She hovers over me with a syringe in her hand. I close my eyes and brace myself for the tranquilizer that’s coming next.
No prick. Only a moan. Makayla’s moan. I open my eyes to see Gia standing over Makayla’s body. She kicks Makayla over and over. I can’t believe Gia came back for me. “I told you to leave!” I shout, though my heart is happy that she cares enough to not leave me.
“You’re welcome, hotshot,” she smiles and offers her hand.
There’s no time to thank her, as Hayden has recovered and his eyes are fixed on the gun on the ground. I have no chance of beating him to the gun.
“Let’s go!” I head for the river. It’s the only escape route.
Gia lags behind, in the line of fire.
“Gia! Get down!” I scream.
It’s too late. Hayden pulls the trigger, and another shot rings and echoes through the night sky. Gia goes down.
“Gia? Nooooo!”
Gia bounces up and starts running. “Come on!” She wasn’t shot. How?
Looking at the ground, I figure it out. Leon, amazingly, isn’t dead yet, and somehow he found the strength to trip Gia so that she wouldn’t be shot. He saved us again. Before Hayden puts a final bullet into Leon’s head, I catch a smile on the Suit’s face.
Now, he’s found peace.
“Faster!” Gia yells.
I run behind Gia, shielding her from a possible bullet. Hayden won’t shoot at me; I’m a valuable asset.
We make it to the edge of the deck and both dive into the river. The stench really stings my nose, but it doesn’t stop us from swimming through the rancid, muddy water toward the figures on the opposite bank.
No more shots are fired. Hayden and Makayla have given up. For now.
When we make it to the other side, hands are waiting to drag us out of the Cuyahoga. Before I see the faces that the hands belong to, I hear Gia say, “Thanks, Johnny.”
I throw my head underwater, pretending that I didn’t hear Gia correctly. If I keep my head down long enough, maybe it won’t be Jack. In my mind, he’s still no better than Hayden and Makayla. Unfortunately, my lungs don’t hold out for very long.
Popping out of the water, I surrender to two arms and let them help me out of the river.
They aren’t Jack’s arms. It’s actually two people. One arm from each. I’ve never been so happy to see a Bic-bun and a shirt with the letters AFI. The YRL to the rescue.
Olivia emphatically throws her arms around me. “Magz! Ya freakin’ yahoo! It’s so good to see you!” When we’re done hugging, she looks down at her shirt. The white letters are now muddy river water brown. “Dang, Magz, you stink. Hey Jack, you got some towels?” Olivia walks away covered in my stench.
Melli steps in front of me, holding her nose, and giggles. “She’s right, you know? You do stink.” It’s my natural reaction to laugh with her.
I so badly want to wrap my arms around Melli and cry on her shoulder like I used to. I want to tell her how much it means that she came for me. I’d do it, too, but her white blouse looks expensive. Probably a gift from her Dad.
I say, “If someone would clean the river, I would…” Melli springs forward and hugs me. A tight hug. A hug of reunited love and friendship.
“Your shirt,” I muffle into her shoulder. She breaks the hug and peers down at the filth on her blouse. The guilt growing inside of me disappears when she cracks up laughing. She pulls me in for another hug as I crack up too.
“How about this?” Melli says and grabs my hand. “On three. One…two…three…” Hands locked, we jump into the river. “Screw the shirt!” She splashes dirty water in my face.
“Melli!” I point to her head as I cough out mud. “You’re losing your Bic-bun.” When she looks up, I catch her off guard by throwing water back at her face.
Melli and I haven’t shared this much laughter together in years. I can’t remember the last time. Then again, I probably wouldn’t. But in this unlikeliest of moments, a moment when both of us should fear for our safety, we play around like kids. Like best friends.
I’ve
cried a lot the last few days, but never tears of joy like this. I don’t feel emotion like this. It’s just not me. The T-Blox must finally be out of my system.
“Children, children,” Jack says from the bank, “reunion time is over. We’ve got to get a move on before Hayden calls for the dogs.”
“I know that Johnny’s a killjoy,” Gia says, “but he’s right. Come get your towels.”
Reluctantly, Melli and I climb out of the river. We’re given towels and wrap ourselves in them. “How about a change of clothes, Johnny?” Melli spits out through her giggles. I laugh along with her. Gia rolls her eyes. She’s going to figure out real fast that Johnny is not the name of choice among this bunch.
“Where’s your car?” I ask. “Or are we walking?”
He points to a white work van with “u-Net” written in blue paint on the side. I think he’s joking until Olivia appears from the back of the truck carrying two black sweat suits.
“Stealthy ride, huh? Self-drive and everything,” Melli says, lightheartedly slapping my chest. “Toss those here, Livvy.”
Melli and I each take our turn in the back of the van to change out of our grimy clothes. When we’re finished, we look like we’re ready to run a team marathon in our matching outfits.
“I think the Cuyahoga has earned our dirty clothes,” I say, tossing mine in, and Melli does the same. “You keeping yours on, Olivia?”
“Heck yeah!” Olivia exclaims. “AFI rocks! The mud makes it cooler.”
“What’s that crap mean, anyway?,” Melli asks. I’ve wondered the same thing for a while now.
“AFI is a classic rock band. The initials stand for A Fire Inside,” Olivia answers matter-of-factly.
“Let’s go, let’s go,” Jack says, waving his hands for us to enter single file into the stolen cable van.
Before we enter, I ask, “Jack, what’s Hayden’s deal?”
“I don’t know,” Jack says. “I think he is a confused and angsty kid out to get revenge on his dad, for cutting out his eye and stuff.”