“You heard the lady!” Nole shouts, circling one finger in the air. "Randolph and Damian, you’re both headed back home with some of our guards. As for everyone else, you know the plan so let's haul out."
Heaving Elijah to his feet, Ryder, Lara and Ivan trail him with their weapons.
“Don’t go thinkin’ we won’t shoot you if you try anythin’ funny,” Ryder announces. “We can certainly use you right now, but we got plenty of backup plans if I decide your face looks better with a bullet hole. You got me?”
Elijah nods, his jaw clenched so tight his temples pulse with fury. Shoving him forward, our team moves through the forest in the direction of the League’s mall, or whatever is left of it after Jax’s fireworks display. I have to admit, I’m kind of excited to see what damage we caused. Once all this is over, I want to see the entire thing ablaze a second time. Leave it as nothing more than a pile of burning ash like they did to Charlie’s compound. Seems fair.
Nole tromps ahead, black hair shining as he leads the team. I jog forward and fall into step beside him. “So, what is the rest of the plan?”
“What do you mean?” he asks, his tone falsely innocent.
“I mean, even with Elijah hostage, a dozen of us aren’t going to be much of a match against whatever League members are left. Are there more coming?”
“Of course.”
“Is… are… are Jax and Rey…”
Nole stops so suddenly I walk two more steps before coming to a halt as well, flipping around to face him. The others walk past without so much as a second look and he waits, taking several long moments before responding.
“I’m going to tell you the same thing I told both of them when they showed up at pounding on my door at sunrise. Together, I should add, because apparently when they’re arguing the same case, they are a united front. If we are going to be successful, you need to have your head in the game, and that means that you can’t be worried about what happens to others.”
“But they’re my… friends,” I say because I have no idea what to call either of them at this point.
“And mine, as are all of the others involved. But this is a war. Hopefully the end of a war, but a war just the same. You have to learn to compartmentalize and shut out anything that might interfere with your thinking or your emotions or your logic. I’ve learned how to do it. Charlie learned how to do it. If you’re going to be the kind of leader I think you can become, you need to learn how to do it as well. That’s how you survive and how the greater good of your people survive. We are going to lose people today, that is inevitable, and there will be a time for mourning and grief and tears, but not until we have won. Figure out how to remove Jax and Rey from your thoughts tonight, or say behind. I don’t want someone on the battlefield if they aren’t one hundred percent focused on the mission because that person is no longer a soldier, they are a liability.”
He stalks away as I stand dumbfounded in the middle of the woods, my mouth hinged open like a cracked door. I don’t move for several seconds, Nole’s statement swirling through my thoughts.
I suppose he’s right. I can’t go into this worrying about Rey or Jax or anyone else. It’s mostly my fault we’re all in this mess anyway.
Not wanting to be left in the dark woods that may or may not contain more League members, I quicken my pace and fall into step with Charlie.
“You knew all about this?” I ask.
“Of course. We set it up together.”
“No one felt a need to tell me even part of it? Could have made me feel a lot better when we left."
“No. You didn’t need to know. The fewer people who did, the better. The others coming behind us don’t even know. It’s best when not everyone has the full information, just in case.”
“Because we don’t know who to trust?” I ask thinking of Ashlynn and her betrayal.
“Yes, but also in case any of our team is captured. I’m sure you’ve noticed by now that Elijah and Sawyer have no problems with inflicting harm just because they can. I can only imagine what they would do if someone had information they wanted.
“And yet Sawyer is so focused on everyone using ‘please’ and ‘thank you’,” I grumble. “His priorities are seriously out of whack.”
She sighs, licking her bottom lip. “He’s always been like that. Always operated on a broken moral compass guided by insane ideals.”
My nose wrinkles and I squint at her in the dark. “How do you know?”
“I’ve been in this game a long time.”
For several minutes we walk side by side trailing along behind the lantern-light of the others ahead of us. I can see it glint off Elijah’s vibrant hair as he shuffles between Ryder and Ivan, both of whom march with long, straight backs, shoulders wide and heads held high. Like father, like son.
“I guess life on the surface isn’t all that different from inside ROC,” I say.
“What do you mean?”
“At the end of the day, everyone is just trying to survive.”
“Congratulations. You’ve summed up all of human history in one sentence.”
“But doesn’t that make you depressed? Shouldn’t life be more than just surviving? Shouldn’t it be better than that?”
“It can be, but it’s on you to achieve it. No one will hand ‘better’ to you. It will never be easy and sometimes you have to fight to the death for it. Most people are too afraid to do so. Or they’ve allowed themselves to be lead to believe it doesn’t work that way. They’re wrong.”
“That’s what we’re doing tonight then? Fighting for our chance at more than just survival?”
She offers a sly smile. “Of course it is. Why else would we be doing this?”
“All right, listen up,” Nole calls, bringing everyone to a stop as we form a small circle. “We’re about a quarter mile from the League’s patrolled perimeter. Once we cross into their lines, we’ll have another mile and a half until we hit whatever is left of their mall and then need to get through the still standing portion of the building to Sawyer, all without anyone realizing the little change-up in pecking order tonight.” He jerks his head toward Elijah, who responds with a cold sneer and flaring nostrils.
“Unfortunately,” Nole continues, “Charlie and Kelsey, this means we need to tie you up again.”
I blink in surprise. “Wait, what? Why?”
“Cause part of our plan is to make it look like Elijah was successful in his,” Nole replies.
“Our version of hidin’ in plain sight,” Ryder announces with a chuckle. "Turnin’ the League's game right back around at them."
I point to Elijah. “But then that means we have to untie him.”
“Yeah,” Ryder says, jabbing at Elijah with his gun, “but I think our dear friend understands that if he says or tries anythin’, literally anythin’ at all, I’ll shoot him in a heartbeat.”
“And how do I know you won’t just shoot me anyway once you get whatever it is you all want?”
“If you’d like, I can shoot ya now and be done with it?” Ryder asks, his face dark and serious and I can’t help but shiver at his ominous tone because I know he’s serious. Elijah emits an angry snort, but clenches his mouth shut.
“Thought so,” Ryder says.
“I apologize, Kelsey,” Nole says, “but this is all necessary. Can you trust me right now?”
I do trust him, and Charlie and everyone else that stands in our little circle, except Elijah of course. But the thought of having my hands bound while the man who has beaten, drugged and tried to kill me several times won’t be tied up, leaves me with a mounting sense of unease and foreboding. But I don’t see any other way around it. Whatever Nole planned, it’s all worked well so far.
“Sorry little poppet,” Ryder says as Lara steps forward to knot fresh rope around my wrists. She’s gentle as she can be, but it has to be believable so the rope chaffs and rubs painfully at my already raw skin.
“Any chance I can at least get a gun?”
�
��Got one right here for you,” Nole announces, patting a holster attached to the waist of his League uniform. “And a good, sharp knife. You’ll get it soon as possible.”
It makes me feel a little better as I watch Charlie bound as well. Then Nole cuts off Elijah’s bindings. “We’re serious about shooting you. If I think for a second you’re going to compromise our mission, I’ll drive the bullet through your forehead myself.”
Rubbing at his wrists, Elijah flashes a nasty glower. “Whatever.”
My team re-dons their helmets and facemasks and moments later, I am once again a prisoner of the League.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I hate that I have my hands tied and that I continue to be unarmed the closer we travel to League headquarters. Twice I ask Nole if I can at least have a knife.
“What for?” he asks after my second request. “I’m here. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”
I consider pointing out that Rey said the same thing to me the night before the Gamble which started this entire fiasco, but I keep my mouth shut. I don’t need a reminder of the past, especially right now. Besides, while it’s unlikely Elijah will live to see the morning, I still don’t want him to know about Rey. It’s the only protection I can offer my best friend.
I peek at Elijah from the corner of my eye, Ryder’s lantern light falling on the man’s freckled face. He shows no fear, not so much as the slightest concern for his dire situation and I think of my conversation earlier with Charlie, how he’s missing something essential to being human. Surely he must know his odds aren’t good. Even if we don’t win tonight, there’s no way Nole or Charlie or Ryder will let Elijah survive this.
And if they don’t kill him, I will. Even if I have to use my bare hands.
Still, Elijah’s misplaced assurance and air of steady determination unnerve me. Something is so very wrong with that man.
Shapes shift in the trees, black shadows materializing from the night. My feet freeze halfway into my next step as my chest tightens and stomach flips around itself.
“Elijah? That you?” calls one man dressed in the familiar League gear, a giant weapon in his hands.
My eyes dart to Ryder, but I can’t see his face behind the visor of his helmet, so I sneak a glance at Charlie instead. Whatever thoughts roam her head, they are carefully concealed by her usual calm demeanor. There has to be something on this planet that cracks her poised and solid outer shell. Although, whatever it is, I’m not sure I want to know.
The masked man I know is Nole turns slightly toward Elijah, jerking his head almost imperceptibly. I have a moment of panic believing Elijah won’t follow our orders, as he strides forward to stand before his comrade.
“Success,” Elijah sneers and a weight lifts off my shoulders. He might be a miserable excuse for a human being, but at least the red-haired psychopath isn’t stupid. “I’m taking them to Sawyer.”
Elijah’s man grins, offering a lazy salute. “Right-O, boss. You called that one good.” Then he wanders off, back to whatever post he came from. I figure he’ll be one of the first to know Elijah’s plan failed when the rest of our party arrives. He’ll also be one of the first killed in the coming battle.
In a way, I feel bad for some of the League members. Those who, like myself and Charlie and the rest of the Risers, are only doing what they can to stay alive and joining the League was the best way to ensure survival. Or they were born into it and this seems normal, like all the heinous things I witnessed in ROC that were just part of another day. I bet most of them don’t realize how horrible Sawyer and Elijah are, or they’ve been lead to believe the Risers are the bad guys, just like everyone on the surface believes those in ROC must be as terrible as the Councilmembers. If only the world were that black and white, but like the décor of ROC, it has been painted in a thousand shades of grey. Too many people have been misjudged because of the fanatical ideas of a few.
As the League’s mall looms ahead, more than half has been reduced to a giant pile of scorched remains. Only the north side still stands, and I am sad to realize it’s the part that houses Sawyer’s living quarters and all those creepy, bizarre mannequins he prefers to call “art”.
With Ryder and Nole close on his heels, Elijah rounds the back of the building to a small entrance I’d never seen before. Considering the state of the rest of the mall, it’s probably one of only two or three useable entrances left, perhaps once intended for employees when the mall was still a mall.
Two guards stand by the doors, but quickly move aside at Elijah’s appearance. I have to say, Nole’s plan to have Elijah lead us to Sawyer was brilliant. No League member would dare question Elijah, let alone stop him.
Ascending the stairs, guns ready, Elijah leads us through the side of the building and up to the fourth floor. He stops before a small black, metal door and jerks his head at Nole.
“Through there. It’s a back hallway to Sawyer’s quarters. There won’t be any guards until we get to his chambers.”
“Well, by all means,” Nole says with a jab of his gun. “Shall we?"
“Can you untie me now?” I ask with a hopeful glance at Nole.
“Not yet. Wait till we get through the last guards.”
I groan in exasperation, but if I want this mission to be successful, and so far it has, I have no choice but to listen. Besides, it’s only a few more minutes, then I can have my hands untied and watch the ropes get transferred straight to Sawyer’s wrists. And Elijah’s. I hope they’ll let me tie the knots. That does seem like ironic justice.
Shouldering through the door, Nole leads us into the hall, Charlie and me next, Ryder and Elijah at our heels and the rest of the League-dressed- Risers trailing along behind. Our boots thud on the tile floor, but there’s no reason to be quiet as none of Sawyer’s guards will expect anyone other than Elijah and his men with their two captives.
The end of the hall and three armed guards come into sight. One sneers.
“Charlie and that little brat came after all. Gotta say, Elijah, I thought-“
It’s the last thing he says as Nole draws a knife from his belt and slashes the man’s throat. His gun clatters to the ground as he clutches at the gapping wound in his neck. Blood pours down the front of his uniform, gushing between his fingers as he drops to his knees, choking and convulsing until lying still, all in a matter of seconds.
The two other guards don’t even have a chance to react before Risers silence them as well. I turn away from the bodies, breathing heavily, unable to handle death no matter how many times I witness it. I am still struck by how quickly it happens. One moment alive, the next gone, vanished from this earth. Everything involved in that person’s life; hopes, dreams, fears, loves, hates; ceasing to exist in a split second, as if none of it ever mattered at all.
I’m sad for the men we’ve just killed, and for those who will die tonight on both sides, with the exception of Elijah and his grandfather. Some people are too evil to be allowed to exist, and their hopes and dreams or nightmarish delusions need to die too. That is how I cope with the events about to come. Many will die, but at the end of the night, it will be for the best. Some will die so that many others can live.
And isn’t that how the Council justifies the Gamble? Does this make me no better than my father, accepting the death of innocent lives just to reach an end goal? I shudder at the thought, but I can't shake away the hints of truth. Jax said that when he stopped caring about the lives of those he kills, then it meant he’d become a monster. Does that mean, in my indifference toward those on the opposing side who will pay the ultimate price tonight, I have become the monster I feared?
Ryder once told me I had a choice, but now it seems that either decision I make, people will be killed. If I refuse to kill Sawyer and Elijah, they will hunt me and anyone I love out of malicious vengeance, but if move forward with this plan, I am condemning dozens to death. Aren’t we all here because of me? Destroying the League was my suggestion after all.
So maybe I wa
s always doomed to become a monster. Maybe I never really had a choice, it was only a matter of how and when.
Either way, my time for reflection is long past. Taking a deep breath, I face Ivan and hold out my hands. “Now?”
Laughing to himself and slipping a small knife from his belt, he slices through my ropes and then twists the knife’s handle toward me. "Here you go. Hope you're ready."
Grabbing it, I tuck it into my own belt, relieved I'm finally armed.
“Can I have a gun too?” I ask as I see Nole pass one to Charlie. The two share a brief exchange I can’t hear, but when Nole reaches out and grazes Charlie’s cheek, I can’t help but grin. I’ve decided they make a good couple, and I think Nole is the only man who can match Charlie’s intelligence.
The coldness of steel meets my palm, drawing my attention away from our leaders.
“It’s had your name on it all night,” Ryder says, nodding to the gun I now hold. I find myself once again stepping away from him.
He cocks his head, regarding my odd reaction. “Remember what I told you?”
“Keep the safety on until I’m ready to shoot.”
“Good. Now get ready to shoot."
I nod and breathe in again. This is it. This is my last chance. In a few short minutes, either Sawyer will be dead, or I will be. Either way, this ends tonight.
With Elijah in tow, we shove open the door, stride down the short hall and enter Sawyer’s chambers.
Where we are met with twenty armed men, all aiming at my tiny group.
Guess I know how it will end. At least I won’t have to live with the guilt of becoming a monster.
“Put them down,” Elijah snarls, casting a smug smirk at Nole and Charlie. My eyes dart back and forth between them, the rest of my team and the large League army before us. Based on their expressions, somehow I don’t think this is part of Nole’s plan.
The Choice (The Gamble Series Book 2) Page 11