After a couple of minutes, Will leaned in and kissed Dee on the lips. I covered Rosie’s eyes with my hand, but she pulled my hand down over her mouth to keep herself from laughing. I could feel her smile under my hand, making me smile.
When Will finally pulled away, Rosie and I stepped away from the door. I shooed Rosie away, making her go find her mom in the storage room. I casually leaned against the wall, waiting for Will to come out.
Will’s smile couldn’t have been any bigger when he stepped out of the room. He looked at me and cleared his throat. “You ready to go?”
I nodded. “Yes.” As I walked past Dee’s room, I peered in to see her lying on the bed, her hands over her face.
“You were right, you know,” Will said, making me look over at him.
“About what?” I asked.
“That I shouldn’t think about it too much and it would all work out.”
I smiled at him. “So how was it?”
Will's cheeks and neck turned red. “Uh, amazing.”
“Good,” I said, linking my arm through his. “I swear you two were made for each other. I can’t believe I hadn’t thought of it before.”
“This is so weird,” Will said, straightening his glasses. “I never thought I’d ever feel like this.” He sighed. “And now we have to go fight in a battle. One I may not come out alive in.”
“Don’t say that, Will,” I said. “Just think positively. When you’re fighting, just remember what you’re fighting for.”
Will nodded but said nothing. We walked in silence through Headquarters and out to the jeep. I got in the passenger seat and looked around at the emptiness as we drove through town. There wasn’t a person in sight. The stillness made me shiver.
Every house and building we passed reminded me of what we were fighting for. We had worked so hard to get New Haven where it was. The survival of the city and the people depended on the outcome of the battle. It would set the tone for the entire war. Winning this would give us the encouragement we needed and the strength to continue.
When we pulled up on the east side, Dante came running over to the jeep. “Finally. What took you so long?”
I patted him on the shoulder as I stepped out of the jeep. “Some of us have what we call ‘friends.’ You should look into it sometime.”
Will waved goodbye and set off for his post.
“Very funny, Emmie,” Dante said. “Besides, my best friend is standing right in front of me.” He looked at my belt and straps. “Where did you get that?”
“Dee made it for me to hold all of my magazines. Like it?”
“Like it?” Dante asked, running his hand over his fro. “It’s sweet. And perfect. I made sure a whole bunch of magazines were already loaded up for you and now we have a convenient spot to put them all.”
“You’ll have to help me put them all in.”
Dante nodded. “Sure thing.”
Maya handed me a sword. Its bright polish sheen caught the reflection of the sun. The handle had flowers and vines engraved in it. I noticed a small engraving on the tip of the handle. I ran my finger over it, tracing the letters LC.
“LC.” I looked at Maya. “What’s the LC for?”
“Lilly Chang,” Maya said, looking at the sword. “It was my mom’s.”
My eyes widened. “Oh, Maya, I can’t take this.”
“Yes, you can.” Maya put her hand around mine. “I want you to use it during the battle. My mom would want you to. It’s a good sword. Bruce sharpened it before he left.”
I stared at Maya, still unsure if I should use it. It meant a lot to Maya and Bruce and I would’ve felt so bad if something happened to it. “Don’t you want to use it?”
Maya shook her head. “I’m a lefty. You and my mom are right-handed.” She smiled. “It’s okay, Emmie. I trust you. And if anything happens to it, no big deal. It’s a sword. It was made for battle. I’d hate to think of it just sitting there not being used. I’d also hate to think of some random person using it.”
“Thanks, Maya,” I said. “This means a lot.” I sheathed the sword in my new leather belt on my left side so I could draw it across my body. My gun sat in its holster opposite of the sword.
Santiago walked up, holding a box. He placed it on the ground and pulled out a magazine. “Dante said you needed these.”
“Yes, I do,” I said.
Dante and Santiago immediately went to work, filling all my pouches with the magazines.
Maya looked out at all our citizens lining up in their spots, twirling the bracelets around her wrist. “This is finally happening.”
Taking a deep breath, I ran my fingers through my hair. “I just hope we’re ready.”
“We have to be ready,” Dante said, putting in a magazine on the back of my belt.
Santiago bounced around as he loaded up my magazines. “I’m so pumped. This is going to be awesome.”
“Of course, you’d be excited about going into battle,” I said, laughing.
Santiago looked at me. “You aren’t?”
“I’m excited and terrified at the same time.” I looked out at all our warriors, seeing the mixed emotions throughout them.
Dante patted me on the shoulder. “You’re going to be awesome.”
I looked at him, a small frown forming on my face. “I just wish we could all be together. I don’t like all of us being in separate areas.” In training, we worked best when the four of us were together. An unseen power pulled us close, enhancing our strength and accuracy.
“It makes sense to be apart,” Maya said. “We all have different skill sets.”
“I know,” I said.
“Besides,” Santiago said, “if we’re all grouped right next to each other, we could all be killed at the same time.”
“I think she was just referring to moral support,” Dante said, looking at me.
I nodded. It was comforting to think of having my friends right next to me. But it wasn’t logical.
Santiago tapped his ear. “We can still communicate. I’ll throw out all the words of encouragement you need, baby.”
When Santiago and Dante finished loading me up, I adjusted the straps, the weight making me stumble. “This is some heavy stuff. I hope I don’t fall over.”
“The faster you get the ammo out, the lighter it will get.” Dante pointed to a small platform on the south side of the canyon. “I had that made for you. That way you’ll be a little higher up and can just keep on shooting any soldier that gets near.” He put his hand on my arm. “I’ll be up in the tower right behind you. I’ll be your eyes, Em.”
“Just try not to get too flustered,” Santiago said. “Make each bullet count.”
I nodded, letting it all sink in. “I will.” I squeezed Dante’s arm. “Thank you. I’d hug you, but I don’t think it would be comfortable for either of us.”
Dante leaned his cheek right up next to my mouth and pointed at it. I smiled and gave him a big wet kiss on his cheek.
“Seriously, Emmie?” Dante said as he wiped off his cheek.
Santiago and Maya were laughing.
Santiago threw his arms around Dante and Maya. “Come on, guys, let’s bring this together.” I put my arms around Dante and Maya, and we all leaned in. Santiago kept his voice soft. “Lord, give us the strength to carry out our mission. Help us to keep our eyes clear and focused, our hearts full and open, so we can win this battle for New Haven. Amen.”
“Amen,” Dante, Maya, and I said.
At the same time, we all shouted at the top of our lungs, “For New Haven!”
Dante helped me to my platform. For the first time, I found myself hoping the enemy soldiers would just get there so I could start firing off the rounds. I wasn’t sure how long I could bear the weight.
“You set?” Dante asked.
I looked down at my straps and belt, glancing at my gun and sword. “I think so.”
Dante tapped my head. “What about up here?”
“I hope so.”
> “You can do this, Em.” Determination sat in his eyes. “You have it in you. Just stay focused. You have amazing aim, so use your talent well. Aim straight for the face since most of their body is covered in armor.”
I nodded, running my fingers through my hair. Dante pulled something out of his pocket and put it in my hand—a ponytail holder. “Dante, why do you have one of these?”
He laughed. “I got it from Vivica. She said you could use it to keep your hair out of your face.”
“That’s a relief,” I said, pulling my hair back and putting it on. “I wouldn’t want you growing your hair out like Santiago. It’s already getting too long.” I looked at his hair. "Well, big."
“What, I wouldn’t look good with long, flowing hair?” Dante asked, running his hand over his mini fro.
“No,” I said. “Not at all. You look great with short hair.”
“Then don’t cut your hair like Maya’s,” Dante said, eyeing my long blonde hair. “I don’t think short hair would suit you.”
“Well, then that’s settled.”
Dante looked up at his tower. “I better get up there.” He hugged me tight, both of us ignoring the magazines squished between us. “I’ve got your back, Emmie. We’re going to win this.”
“I know.”
We pulled back and kissed each other on the cheeks. Dante gave me one last look and left, leaving me all alone. I put my earpiece in my right ear and an earplug in my left. Thankfully, the earpieces had been made to muffle any outside noises.
A wind passed over me, sending a chill through my body. Tina had contacted me through my communicator on my way out of Headquarters and tried to talk me into grabbing my coat since it had been raining off and on all morning. At the time, I had so much adrenaline in me, I didn’t feel the slightest bit cold. Now, I regretted the decision.
A drop of rain landed on my cheek. I looked up at the dark, gray clouds looming over us and sighed. The rain was going to make it so much harder.
As I stood there, I took the time to look around. We had about a hundred and fifty warriors up in the towers, their bows and arrows ready to go. In each tower, half of the warriors kneeled while the others stood behind them.
Dante was in the middle of the tower that stood behind me. He was staring straight ahead, his posture showing his confidence. His father was in the middle tower using binoculars to keep an eye out for the army headed our way. We had all insisted that the president and vice president stay in the infirmary so we could keep them safe, but they both refused.
Santiago was on the tower to the north of President Brown. Even from down where I stood, I could see his smile. His rocket launcher was leaning up against his leg. Santiago drummed the launcher with his fingers, eager to get started. The vice president was a few guys down from him.
Vivica was on the south tower and Terrance was on the north tower. Both of them, plus Dante, President Brown, and Vice President Mendes were the command leaders on their towers.
James stood next to Vivica, his face showing no emotion. The president told him he didn’t have to fight since he’d just lost his son, but James wanted to. He said the battle was the only thing worth living for now.
When I looked up at Vivica, she glanced down at me. I pointed to my ponytail. “Thank you.”
A small smile formed on Vivica’s face as her voice came through my earpiece. “You’re welcome.”
Tina had a group of around a hundred and thirty warriors with her on the north side of the mountain. Javier and Fernando stood next to her, all of them gripping their shotguns.
To the right of me, on the south side, Mack was up on the mountain with around a hundred and fifty warriors, all with various rifles and shotguns. Will stood near him, holding a rifle. He bounced around in nervousness.
Joshua stood to the right of Will, one hand around the grip of his rifle, the other hand on the forend. Joshua was one of the few residents we had that knew guns inside and out. Whit had taught him how to use a gun when he was little.
My dad stood near the back. Unfortunately, Dad didn’t have great aim. He was also terribly uncoordinated, so everything we tried to train him in didn’t go well. He kept saying that he was just a computer guy. But he also wasn’t willing to stay behind and not fight. We needed every person we could get, and Dad wanted to help. Mack had given him a rifle and told him only to shoot when necessary.
Mack looked down at me and smiled. His voice came through my earpiece. “You ready, Emmie?”
I nodded at him. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“You’re going to do great. Just remember everything we went over in training.” Mack pointed to his heart. “During battle, less of this.” He pointed to his head. “And more of this.”
“Uh, we can’t see you from where we are,” Santiago said. The earpieces were an open communication to all that had one. “Where did you point? That sounded a little dirty.”
I laughed. “Less heart, more mind.”
Santiago sighed. “That’s not so dirty.”
“Of course, it would be my son to make that comment,” Vice President Mendes said.
“Who do you think I got it from?” Santiago asked.
Vice President Mendes laughed. “Touché.”
Lightning streaked through the sky, the booming thunder following not long after. Rain trickled down. I looked down at the warriors on the ground. They were all lined up, spaced evenly apart between the mouth of the canyon. Maya stood in the middle, her hand gripping the handle of her still sheathed sword.
There were only around eighteen warriors down with Maya, since that was the number of swords we had. The members of Juniper that came with Maya only had their swords, plus some spares they had taken before they left their city. When the ammo ran low, the warriors up higher would be ordered to join Maya down below, removing swords off the fallen enemies for use.
Thunder Thighs stood right next to Maya, her face and stature ready for battle. She had her hair pulled back in a braid and had covered her face in warrior paint that some of the residents were using.
When we started training, Thunder Thighs was immediately drawn to the sword. She didn’t even bother with any other weapon. When I asked her about it, she told me only sissies would use a gun or bow and arrow. She liked being in the action, the enemy falling right before her eyes. I feared for any soldier that came across Thunder Thighs.
A faint sound in the distance caught my attention. As it grew closer, the steady beat of the soldiers stomping echoed through the canyon. I could make out the group coming toward us in the distance. My heart raced as the reality finally set in.
This was it. They were here. In a matter of minutes, the battle would be underway. I glanced around at our warriors again, thinking that we were going to lose so many of them, if not all. There were only around four hundred and fifty of us. There were twenty-five hundred of the enemy.
Well, eleven were dead thanks to Gideon eliminating General Ming and ten of his imperial soldiers. Of course, that didn’t make me feel any better.
“Everyone hold steady,” President Brown said. “No one moves until I give the command.”
I stood straight, trying to clear my mind of any negative thought or emotion. I took my handgun out of its holster and held it at my side, the barrel pointed down.
“Santiago, get your first rocket ready,” President Brown said.
The excitement in Santiago’s voice radiated through the earpiece. “I’ve been waiting my whole life for someone to say that to me.”
I shook my head, trying not to laugh.
As the soldiers came closer, a clanking sound grew. They were all beating their hands against their chests. Their swords were already unsheathed, ready to strike.
“Aim for the front of the group, Santiago,” President Brown said. “Let me know when you’re ready.”
After a few moments, Santiago spoke. “Ready, sir.”
“On my command,” President Brown said. “Ready.” The stomps were get
ting louder, the vibrations from their armor being hit filling the air. “Set.” It made me wonder how loud it would be if I didn’t have the earplugs in. “Fire!”
A faint whistling hummed as the rocket soared through the air. I kept my eyes focused on the front line of the soldiers.
Moments later, the rocket landed in the middle of the second line of soldiers, sending them flying away from the blast, some hitting into nearby trees. A cloud of smoke rose into the air. The soldiers nearby the blast scrambled around, flustered.
A soldier from the front line shouted something at his fellow soldiers and they quickly regained their composure, going back to the perfect motion.
“Archers, ready,” President Brown said. The command leaders repeated the order. I wanted to turn around to see them release their arrows, but I forced myself to keep forward. I didn’t want to lose my concentration.
“Fire!” President Brown shouted. I stood firm as the arrows flew, connecting with the soldiers. Some stumbled a little and a few fell to the ground. Their fellow soldiers just marched over their fallen comrades.
The arrows continued to fly at each issuing command. Every now and then, a grenade would be thrown. Despite the soldiers that were falling, the others kept steady, not missing a beat. Their level of discipline amazed me. Some didn’t even bat an eye when a soldier fell right in front of them.
As the archers continued, President Brown ordered Tina and Mack’s groups to fire their guns. The enemy soldiers flinched more at the sound of the guns. Maya had said they only had swords as weapons, so they may have never seen a gun or bow and arrow before.
General Ming had prepared them well. The way they were synchronized, and the precision of their movements almost made them seem not human.
They were only twenty yards out now. Maya shouted for the warriors down below to unsheathe their swords and prepare to fight. The arrows and bullets continued to fly, each volley taking down a few soldiers.
I pulled my handgun up, gripping it tightly. There was a soldier only a couple of yards away from me. My aim settled on his face, right between the eyes. I took a deep breath and pulled the trigger. The bullet connected with the soldier and he fell to the ground.
Reckoning (New Haven Book 2) Page 17
