by AR Colbert
Jeremy slammed his hands against the steering wheel and pulled quickly over to the side of the road. “She’s just like the rest of them!” He cut his eyes accusingly over to Asher before turning around to face me.
“I love to bake. It sounds stupid, but it’s the truth. And I’m good at it! I would help my mother as a boy. In fact, I would make most of the breads in her bakery, bread so good that the Leaders would drive out themselves to purchase my loaves. But one look at my broad shoulders during the aptitude test had me immediately assigned as a Worker. Manual labor. They don’t care that my spine is curved and I feel like I’m getting shocked every time I lean down to pull a weed. They don’t care about the blisters that grow across my skin from too many hours in the sunlight. They don’t care that every day when I go to work I feel like I’m taking one more day off of my life. I have broad shoulders and muscles, and that’s all they saw.”
I swallowed, bracing myself for the rest of his story. The sorrow in his eyes told me there had to be more.
“The constant pain from my work made me angry. It turned me into a beast of a man. Cruel and mean. Unlovable. That’s what my wife said when she left. That I was unlovable. She faked her death and escaped to the Outside. I would have followed her, but it was easier to pretend she died than to face her with that hatred in her eyes. Hatred for the man I became. So, no. It isn’t fair. None of it is fair. But I refuse to let them kill me by forcing me into a box that isn’t meant for me. We deserve better.”
Jeremy’s cheeks were red, his chest heaving. I wiped my eyes before any tears could escape, and reached out to touch his shoulder. He jerked his arm away, but I wouldn’t let it go. “I’m sorry. I know that doesn’t do anything to erase your pain, but I am truly sorry.”
I wanted to tell him about my dad. I wanted to let him know that I understood how it felt to lose someone to the Outside, to have someone you love chased away by an unfair system. But this wasn’t my turn to share. He deserved to have his story heard.
“Do you see that building up on the right?” Asher pointed to a solid gray warehouse behind a chain-link fence. The lot surrounding it was barren—lifeless, with piles of dirt and a few pieces of trash blowing up in tiny twists of air. “That was a food bank. Director Yoder understood our rebellion. She understood that the system needed to be reworked. She sympathized with us, and agreed that we should be given more choice in how we live our lives. When the people stopped working, she arranged this food bank so we could survive. The portions were small and the food was bland, but it kept us alive.”
“What happened to it?” I asked.
“Walsh discovered it. Director Yoder was found dead two days later, and Walsh took her place. The day he stepped into office, a mysterious gas leaked in the food bank. It left everyone within a block of here sick and gasping for air. Those within the building didn’t make it. The food was all destroyed, and this fence was immediately constructed to keep people away. They say it’s hazardous now, and no one is supposed to step foot on the premises.”
I lifted the handle of my door.
“Ms. Greenwood, stop! What are you doing?”
It was too late. I was already out of the car. Asher moved to open his door and join me, but Jeremy grabbed him by the arm. I could hear him yelling at Asher to not be foolish through the windows.
I wasn’t being foolish, I just wanted to understand. Because if what Asher told me was true, I was living with a murderer.
I stepped closer to the property. I wouldn’t cross over the fence, but I wanted to examine the building—to see if there was any chance this could’ve been a true accident. I wasn’t hopeful, but I had to know.
Anger bubbled inside with each step I took. It started deep and rose, hot like fire as it reached my chest. This wasn’t right at all.
I stood on the corner, peering through the diamonds criss-crossing the fence, attempting to get a better angle through the one door on this side. It was slightly ajar, with yellow CAUTION tape draped across it.
In my periphery, a flash of darkness moved across the street. I turned to see what it was, but the street was empty. Carefully, I inched closer to the road, and in the reflection of the broken glass of a building on the other side, I saw it again. The dark silhouette of a man, hooded and still. Waiting and watching me.
My chest was burning now, angry and afraid. I turned back to the car, moving more quickly when I saw another figure. This second man was moving fast. Really fast. He sprinted toward me, and I froze. He would definitely reach me before I could get to the car. But if I ran in the opposite direction, the other man would get me. I only had one choice, and it was probably just as deadly.
I turned and jumped on the fence, forcing the toes of my boots through its small openings.
“Claren, stop!” I looked back toward the voice and noticed the man running toward me carried a gun. But he wasn’t pointing it at me. He had it aimed across the street, at the other shadowy figure.
“Rider?”
“Get down from there. Go back to the car!”
“What are—”
“Don’t you dare touch her!” My eyes snapped across the street before I could finish my sentence. A familiar feeling washed over me, pushing through the fear, and relaxing me with its melody.
“Raf?”
He emerged from the shadows, carrying a large stick. Oh, Raf. No!
“STOP!” I jumped down from the fence and ran out into the middle of the road, placing myself squarely between the men with hands extended to both sides, as though I could do anything to really keep them apart.
They were close enough now that I was able to make out both of their faces. Rider, with his handsome features twisted in fury, arms extended, crouched down with the look of an assassin. And Raf—who had to know he couldn’t win with a stick in a gunfight, but was ready to die trying. Willing to sacrifice his life to protect me. My heart hammered hard against my ribs at the sight of him.
“Please, drop your weapons. There are no enemies here.”
Neither moved their arms. They slowly circled around me, eyes focused on the other. I felt as though I was caught in some twisted mirror, two forces of strength and fury facing off, tall and strong with matching dark hair. Rider was filled out a bit more from daily strength training, but Raf’s eyes were wild. I learned long before from watching Cato that you should never count out the crazy one—no matter what he was up against.
“I’m serious, guys. Drop it!” I put my hands on my hips, irritated that neither trusted me enough to believe that I was safe. Eventually, they each lowered their weapons.
“Rider, meet Raf. Raf... Rider.”
CHAPTER 15
“We’re all on the same side here.” I dropped my hands in exasperation. They continued to watch each other closely with narrowed eyes.
“Rider is a Protector, and he’s been assigned as my personal security.” I spoke to Raf first. Something about the look on his face told me he’d be the first to come unhinged. I needed to de-escalate this situation quickly.
“Yeah, I recognize him. I just don’t trust him. He was with you and Dax when you got attacked by the Exiled.”
I ignored Rider’s twitchy trigger finger and placed my hands on Raf’s shoulders, projecting what little calm I could muster. “A lot has changed since then. Rider is on our side. He saved my life, and I know that he’d do it again. He’s even worked to help the Embers. I promise. He’s good.”
Once I trusted Raf not to attack, I turned to Rider. “Raf is my friend from Morton. He helps lead one of the Ember camps now.”
“You mean when he’s not being knocked out by the Exiled? We never would have gotten attacked that day if it wasn’t for him snooping around when we were trying to do our jobs.”
This wasn’t going well.
“Look, guys. We’ve all made mistakes. But I think we’ve all learned from them as well. Put your weapons away and let’s take a walk. I need explanations for why you’re both here scaring me to deat
h in the middle of Louisburg. And I’d like to discuss it away from our audience.”
They followed my glance back to the car where Asher and Jeremy stared wide-eyed and open mouthed, faces nearly pressed against the front windshield. I gave them a thumbs up and mouthed that I was okay before turning and walking in the opposite direction. Raf and Rider followed, thankfully.
“You first,” I said with an angry glare toward Rider.
“I was hired to protect you. That’s what I was doing. Forgive me if I overreacted to the dark hooded figure waiting for you in the alleyway.” He cut his eyes over to Raf, who clenched his jaw.
“How’d you even know where I was?”
“There are trackers on the vehicles. Joy saw you climb in and let me know. I followed you, but I couldn’t catch up until the car stopped.”
Ugh. I took a deep breath and tried not to be angry about being tracked again. It wasn’t Rider’s fault. He was doing his job. But I didn’t like it.
“And you?” I said, elbowing Raf in the side harder than I’d intended. “What’s your excuse?”
“Ember business.”
I rolled my eyes. That excuse was getting old.
“Really,” he insisted. “We have some things to talk about later.” He eyed Rider warily. “When we can talk privately.”
“Whatever you have to say, you might as well spit it out. I’m not leaving Claren alone with you.” Rider stared Raf down as we turned around the block. A few citizens were loping around on the street up ahead, so I slowed my pace to a stop. If this was about the Embers, we wouldn’t want to discuss it within earshot of anyone else.
“It’s okay, Raf.” I took his hand into mine, ignoring the flutter in my chest as I did. “He’s here to help. I trust him.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he deliberated. “There have been reports from other camps. They’ve seen the same strange motorcycle men creeping around.”
“How many?” I asked.
“Two others. But I’m sure they’ve scoped out other camps as well and gone undetected.”
“Any idea what they’re up to yet? Have the Embers noticed anything missing?”
“No. Nothing else is off at all. But I guarantee there’s something bigger going on here.”
“How strange.” I turned to Rider and gave him a brief rundown of what we saw as we made our way back to the car.
“Well it sounds like we need to figure out what the Supreme Leadership might want with them,” Rider said.
“And how am I supposed to do that?”
His brows pulled together. “Through the only contact you have.”
I stopped, my frown matching his. “Everett.”
He nodded. Raf, aware of the apprehension I was feeling, turned to face me, concern tugging at the corners of his perfect pout.
“I’ll explain later,” I said. “Let’s get back to the house.”
With a yank of the door handle, I popped my head into the vehicle to face my two very surprised drivers. “You guys know Rider, right? Well, this is Raf.” I jerked my chin toward the guys standing behind me. “Do you mind if they squeeze in for a ride back to the house?”
Jeremy’s forehead wrinkled. “But wh—”
“Don’t ask questions. Driver rules 101,” Asher interrupted. “Of course, Ms. Greenwood. Climb in.”
Back at the house, Rider relaxed enough to let Raf and me chat privately in my room, though I’m sure he remained alert and waiting in the hallway.
“You know, you could have just mailed me a letter about the sightings.” I toyed with the edge of my coverlet. We faced each other, cross-legged on the floor. It seemed easier to ignore my feelings for him this way. Sitting on the bed seemed too personal. Too intimate. I didn’t want personal and intimate.
“I could have, yes. But that would have made the next part of my mission pretty difficult.”
“Oh yeah? And what’s that?”
“Recruiting.”
“For the Embers?”
He nodded. I leaned forward on my knees, excitement prickling my skin. Finally, I might get some real work to do here. “So there are camps Outside of Louisburg?”
“It’s likely.”
Wait. “Likely? Who are you going to recruit if you aren’t even sure about camps in the area?”
“Well, that’s part of the mission too. I need to locate the Outside camps, and then get them on board with the Embers’ goals. We’ll need a home base around here.”
“But you don’t know if there are friendly Outsiders here at all right now?”
“I’m sure there are.”
“But you don’t know?”
“Not for certain.”
“And what about the camp you were placed in charge of outside of Classen City? Are they going to be okay while you search for something that may not exist here?” I didn’t mean to be rude, but this was all feeling like another excuse for him to watch over me. And I was clear about not wanting that.
He had more important work to do back home. I refused to fawn over boys like a little girl in love when there were lives that needed to be saved and laws that needed to be changed. Being together now wasn’t a good idea for either of us.
“Marissa has everything under control back home.”
Marissa. I hated the jealousy that still threatened to choke me at the sound of her name. “I’m sure she does.” I bit my tongue to stop myself from saying more and sounding petulant. “And where are you going to stay while you’re searching for these camps that may not exist?”
“I’ll find somewhere,” he said, standing abruptly. I stood, too, crossing my arms. He couldn’t really have expected me to put him up here in the house. Not with Everett around. That would have been crazy.
And I told him, I would not have him babysitting me here.
“I don’t know why you’re so angry, Claren. I thought you’d be happy to have some company around.”
“I don’t need company. I need a mission of my own. If you’re really here to recruit for the Embers, please do it quickly. I’m going to lose it if I don’t get something productive to do here soon.”
The look on his face was melting through my wall, rendering my anger as weak as an ice cube on a hot summer day. “Stop looking at me like that,” I said. The corner of his mouth pulled up. Did he know how his crooked grin slayed me?
He did now. Stupid empathic abilities.
Raf took a slow step forward, really playing up the effect he knew he had on me. “You’re cute when you’re mad.”
“Stop.” I suppressed my smile.
He froze in place, lifting both hands in front of his chest. “As you wish.” He dropped his chin a fraction of an inch, his eyes staring straight through my defenses. His chest rose and fell with slow steady breaths, and I wanted to touch it, to hold him against me.
But it wasn’t good for us. I couldn’t forget.
“Good luck with your mission, Raf.”
His gaze fell to my lips, his longing to kiss me so thick I could feel it. Or was that my longing to be kissed?
“I’ll find you as soon as I have something to report,” he said.
“I’m counting on it.”
Everett finally emerged from the secret room beyond his office on Monday morning. It was too bad, really. I’d rather enjoyed not seeing him around the house.
He was alone—no sign of the woman in the black dress. He offered no explanation for where he’d been or what he’d been doing for the last two days, and I didn’t dare ask. We finished a quick, cordial breakfast and left for my first day of work at the Louisburg City Hall.
Several familiar faces greeted me as I walked the halls toward my new office. Many I recognized from my party. Probably half of the Leaders we passed held a certain degree of respect for Everett. The other half almost seemed to fear him. They tucked themselves around corners or into offices as he neared, glancing timidly out into the hall at me as we passed. I wondered how many of them suspected foul play after the previous Direct
or’s disappearance. How many of them thought I might be just like him?
Everett held a large corner office on the top floor. It was exquisitely decorated. A plush black leather couch and two armchairs welcomed us into a sitting area just inside the door. An oversized wood desk sat nearer the window, and a very well stocked bar cart sat just beside it. We were on the 8th floor, so the floor to ceiling corner windows provided us a line of sight over the enormous Center walls and out into the real world of the city beyond.
“You are welcome to spend your days in here with me, if you choose,” Everett said with a smile. “But I’ve also outfitted an office space for you just next door. Would you like to see it?”
He led me through the doors into a quaint, extremely feminine office, about a quarter of the size of his. I didn’t mind the size. I didn’t need much space. But the decor was over the top.
A fuzzy pink office chair sat behind a shiny white desk. On the desk was an enormous arrangement of white peonies in a crystal vase that sent a dizzying array of rainbows dancing off the pale pink walls from the sunlight shining through the window. The scent of the flowers was overwhelming in such a small space and they took up most of the desk space.
“Thank you, Director Walsh. It’s lovely.”
“I’d really prefer it if you called me Everett,” he said with a wink. “I’m going to leave you here to get acquainted with your new space while I go take a phone call. Barbara will be up after lunch to speak with you about some upcoming events. She’s my assistant here, but feel free to borrow her if you need help with anything. If you come across something that’s too difficult or out of reach for you girls, just call me. I’m known for saving the day around here.”
He tapped the door frame twice before making a dramatic exit. I stood in front of the window, admiring the view and enjoying the warmth of the sunlight trickling in. “Don’t worry,” I whispered to the thousands of people who couldn’t hear me beyond the Center walls. “I’ll make things better for you.”
