by Harper North
Sky backs all the way to the wall, not saying a word.
I stash the gun in my waistband, roll up the maps, and tuck them under my arm. “Do what you want, but I’m going to talk to him. With or without you two.”
Elias steps in front of me, blocking the way out, eyes boring into mine.
“I’ve gone over every alternative,” I whisper. “None of them get us out of here in time. I wouldn’t do this unless I thought there wasn’t any other way.”
He slowly exhales and relaxes his shoulders, then takes two steps back. “Fine, but I’m going with you. There’s no way he’s going to manipulate us again.”
“I’m coming, too,” Sky mumbles, following behind Elias and me as we move out.
I square myself as we head toward the holding cells three levels below. The fastest way down is a metal escape ladder. Our boots kick up dust as we each land on the ground, the little plumes surrounding us illuminated by a few old mining lights. I cover my mouth with my hand and scan our surroundings. We stashed the creep in the last holding cell, three rooms left of the stairs, far enough away from the other Dwellers so we wouldn’t have to hear his constant protests and hacking cough. I wave for Elias and Sky to follow me.
Yasay sits in a five by eight cell with nothing but a bucket, a small plate of untouched food, and a cup of water. A Dweller must have taken pity on him. He might still have some pull around here, even in his sad state. If it were up to me, I would’ve let him starve.
His head dangles between his arms, but he looks up when we enter, eyes narrowing, filled with black hate. “You come to set me free?” he growls.
“In your dreams, scum,” I say, pacing in front of his cell. I nearly gag at the sour reek of old sweat and body odor that lingers down here.
Sky lurks in the background. “Hurry up, okay? I don’t want to be in the same room as him any longer than I have to be.”
Yasay pulls his portly body up. He leans forward and hacks up a thick mucous glob spitting it between the bars. It lands at Elias’ feet. Elias, already on edge, rushes to the cage and slams his hands against the bars. The rattle echoes through the holding area.
“Unless you want to spend the rest of your life in this cage,” he hisses, “I suggest you act a little more civilized.”
I go to Elias’ side and pry his fingers from the bars. I’m pretty sure if he could get them around Yasay’s neck right now, he’d choke him to death.
“What do you sewer rats want?” Yasay snarls.
I shake my head and huff out a breath. “It’s your lucky day. We need your help.”
Yasay laughs, a deep, mocking chortle, and leans back from the bars. “You? Need my help?”
Sky steps forward. “This place is about to become a tomb. We need you to tell us how to get out of the mines.”
Yasay stops laughing. He flares his nostrils and squats down, silent. After a beat, he begins to pick at the plate of food.
“Are you going to help us or not?” Elias snaps.
Still saying nothing, Yasay lifts something from the plate and takes a bite. After a few chews, he says, “I can help you.”
My pulse picks up. “Good.” I hold one of the maps up to the bars. “We’ve looked at all the tunnels, and there doesn’t seem to be any other way out except through Hope’s Gate, but that tunnel has collapsed.”
“Pity,” Yasay says. “That was the best way.”
“Well it’s gone, okay?” Elias says defiantly. “So which other way will get us back up top?”
Yasay wipes his hands on his thighs and slowly stands. “It’s a complicated matter,” he says. “Not something I could just tell you. My memory isn’t very good, but I know the way when I walk it.”
Elias barks out a laugh. “If you think you’re coming with us, buddy, you’ve got another thing coming.”
Yasay shrugs and turns his back to us.
I pull Elias around. “The Leeches are going to be swarming these tunnels by tomorrow. We don’t have time to play around with this.”
“Listen to her,” Yasay says, turning back around. “She’s smart. Well, modified-smart, at least. I’ll show you the way.”
The blood drains from Sky’s face. “I’m not walking the tunnels with him.”
I sigh and dig through my pocket for the key to his cell. “Listen, Yasay,” I hiss, coming closer, “there’s more of us now. If you even think for a second—”
“Yes, yes,” Yasay says, waving away my threat. “I’ll be on my best behavior. No cutting, no shooting,” he promises, making a gun with his hand and pretending to shoot Elias.
Elias stiffens and bares his teeth at Yasay. He lunges for the bars, but Sky is faster. He grabs for Elias and holds him back. “Don’t let him get to you,” Sky says, clinging to Elias’ arms until, finally, Elias shakes him off.
“I’m fine,” he snarls through his teeth, eyes glinting with rage. “Open the cage.”
“No, not yet,” I say, staring Yasay down. “There are a few more things we need to do. It’s best he stays here until morning.” I jingle the key in front of him and put it back in my pocket.
“You’re going to leave me here another night?” Yasay groans. “I can’t breathe down here. My lungs aren’t very good. You don’t want me to die in the night, do you?”
Elias grins. “It wouldn’t bother me.”
“But then you’d never leave the mines.” Yasay looks at me. “Or perhaps you’ll leave when the EHC makes their way in.”
I shudder, but throw off his words. “You’ll stay one more night down here, Yasay. That’s my order.”
Elias and Sky are behind me as I head out of the room and back up the stairs.
“We should all get some sleep. Tomorrow’s a big day.”
Elias nods. “I’ll just go check on the Dwellers, make sure they have everything they need.”
“Meet us down there in the morning, first thing,” Sky says.
I unsuccessfully smother a yawn with my palm as I head toward the room I’ve taken over. It’s one of the guard’s old rooms near the mining operation’s headquarters in the main building. It’s much larger and more private than the sleeping area in the dorms. I check to make sure the door is locked before I turn to the dresser. Pulling open the middle drawer, I move aside old operations manuals. Tucked in the corner, I grab the mod kit I stashed in here an hour ago. I didn’t like the idea of keeping it in that crawlspace away from me down the hall. I took it earlier while the boys were training the dwellers. It’s just safer with me. Holding it with both hands, I reassure myself that bringing it with me makes the most sense. There are no other options.
I stuff the kit into my baggy side pocket. It’s staying with me from here on out.
I check the time on an old clock on the wall. Somehow, it’s already morning. So much for a full night’s sleep. I lie down on my stiff bed and let the events of the past few days consume me. It only takes a few minutes before I’m out.
Two loud thuds at the door jolt me awake.
“Fin?” Sky’s muffled voice calls to me from the other side. “You’re late.”
I roll over and sit up. “I’m awake,” I mumble, still half-asleep, but throwing off the covers and plunking my feet onto the floor.
At the small sink nestled in the corner, I splash water on my face, washing away some of the constant grit we have to deal with daily while underground. I throw my hair into a ponytail and take one last look in the mirror. Good enough.
I head out and make my way to the meeting area where hundreds of Dwellers have already gathered, eager to begin the fight. Nervousness tightens my chest at the sight of them. Elias and Sky are nowhere to be found. Jace steps over and hands me a scanner.
“This will confirm the change in their DNA,” he tells me. “It will also classify them.”
“Where’d you find it?” I ask.
“Some of the guards talked. I guess it was used to assess the pregnancies down here.”
“Thanks.”
The
re are twenty-two able and willing Dwellers in total, most only a few years older than me, but already they have fine lines around their eyes and mouths, reflecting lives of hard labor. Even so, their energy is strong, their voices excited. I line them up and try to organize them the best I can, scanning each one and making sure they all have water, climbing gear, and a weapon. A few more step up to be modified, encouraged by their friends. So far none have changed into the Noble class modification. Mainly they’re Tenant class, with only a few Century class.
“What about the rest?” a modified Dweller asks, pointing behind me. “The ones who haven’t been modified?”
I turn to look at a group of people who have either chosen not to fight, or seem to be too old for the modification to work on them.
“All they can do is hide at this point,” I say. “They have no other choice.”
The thought of what might happen to an unmodified Dweller when the Leeches break through makes my stomach turn, but there’s nothing more I can do.
Out of the corner of my eye, and just beyond the group, in the corner, sits Sky and Cia. Sky leans in and whispers something in her ear.
“Excuse me,” a female voice says behind me.
I turn to find a woman wearing a twisted rag around her head and a long, dirty skirt. Stray blonde hairs poke out from the rag. She inches toward me, her head hung.
“Yes?” I ask, my stomach twisting. Somehow, for some reason, I feel like I know her. Then she lifts her chin, and bright blue eyes shine from her dirt-streaked face.
I’d know those eyes anywhere.
“You’re—”
The woman thrust her hand over my mouth, hissing out a, “Shh!”
I gently pull her hand from my mouth, gaping back at her. “You… you’re Sky’s mother,” I whisper in disbelief. “Cia’s.”
“Oh, please don’t tell them,” she pleads. “I have no idea what they think of me. I abandoned them.”
“What are you talking about? You saved them. They talk about you all the time. Go see them.”
She looks back down, shuffling her feet. “I don’t know. I doubt Sky will even remember me.”
I take one of her hands in my own, meeting her gaze when she looks back up. “He will remember you,” I insist. “I never had a chance to even see my mother. Don’t do the same to him. Don’t waste this opportunity.”
Relief washes over her face, and her eyes light up, brighter than I’ve ever seen anyone’s.
She lifts her other hand, squeezing mine in her own. “Thank you.”
I watch as she crosses the cavern. Sky looks up, and his eyes widen. He climbs slowly to his feet and takes several shaky steps toward her. I can’t hear the words they exchange, but when they’re done, Sky wraps his arms around the woman and pulls her in close, his embrace consuming her small frame. In a flash, Cia’s up too, throwing her arms around both of their legs.
A mother.
My knees wobble as my throat tightens and tears rush to my eyes. I shift over, so I can cling to the nearest wall.
This is a reunion I’ll never have.
Sky breaks away, so his mother can bend down to embrace Cia. He notices me watching and rushes over, reaching out and gripping my arm.
“It’s her,” he whispers, eyes aglow
I force a smile. “I know.”
“She was hiding in the Slack during the battle until she found out we were here.”
I glance over one more time, looking at their mother as she cradles Cia in her arms, smoothing out her daughter’s hair and kissing the crown of her head.
“She’ll be safe now,” I say.
Sky takes a deep breath. He stands taller, like a weight has been lifted from him. “I know. They’ll disappear somewhere in the tunnels. They’ll be okay.”
I pat him on his shoulder. “And when we have a better life on top, you can return for them.”
Sky’s hand slides down my wrist to entwine his fingers with mine. He leads me over to them, to his family, his actual, flesh-and-blood family.
“This is Fin,” he says, introducing me to his mother.
The woman smiles. “We’ve met. I’m Lydia.”
Sky gives me a quizzical look, but I ignore it. “You have very brave children.”
Lydia beams with pride and squeezes Sky’s other hand. “Yes, I do.”
A low, guttural moan sounds from outside the tunnel. I swing around, grabbing the gun on my hip.
“Alright everyone,” a voice announces from the entrance. “We’ve got our tour guide here ready to lead us to the top.”
Jase walks out, and behind him, Elias marches a handcuffed and very bruised Yasay into the room. I pat my pockets for the key to the cage, only to find it’s gone. Elias must have swiped it from me last night.
Elias, with a sly grin on his face, prods his gun into Yasay’s back. Yasay’s face twists in agony, the welts rising from his cheeks distorting his features.
I stomp over to them, anger pinching my voice as I glare at Elias. “What are you doing?”
“Just making sure Yasay here understands what we’re doing,” he replies, shoving the gun into Yasay’s ribcage.
I look to Jase. “You going to stop this?”
He only looks away, quickening his pace.
“You’re lucky I don’t put a bullet in your head,” Yasay growls as he tries to twist away.
Elias punches Yasay in the gut, and he doubles over and retches. “Good thing I’m the one with the gun, then.”
“Hey stop!” I shout, putting a hand on Elias’ chest. “I think he’s got it. Time to go.”
Once Yasay is back up, he looks ready to spit out a thousand more insults. Elias holds the butt of the gun up as if to smash it into his face.
“Elias!” I snap, stopping him. “We need his help, remember?”
“This way, pretty boy,” Yasay taunts, limping toward the east tunnel.
Elias grits his teeth, holding in the rage that wants to pour out.
The Dwellers don’t budge. Some wring their hands while others look to one another for reassurance. I scan the fighters. “We have no other choice. There’s no need to worry. We are in charge. Yasay can’t hurt you anymore. He knows a way out of the tunnels, and for now we have to trust him.”
The confidence in my voice is fake, but it’s the best I can give them.
Some of the faces relax, but it’s clear most aren’t buying it. Even so, a few Dwellers grab guns from the pile and fall in line behind Elias and Yasay. Others turn and kiss their loved ones goodbye before collecting their gear. The last of them disappear into the large tunnel, tailed by Oliver and Knuckles. There’s not half as many as I’d hoped.
How is this ever going to work?
I scan the crowd for Lacy and Drape. As the group files into the tunnel, I spot them picking up equipment. Drape carries two bags, probably food. Lacy somehow got the biggest gun in the pile before anyone else could. Not sure how I feel about that, but there’s no time to worry. Instead, I rush ahead to make sure Elias doesn’t do anything stupid, catching up with Sky first.
“You say goodbye to your mom?” I ask.
“I didn’t want to, but I have to do this. For them.”
At the front of the group, Yasay coughs loudly toward his shoulder. Elias holds the gun to his back, unwavering. I leave Sky at the back of the group and make my way to Elias’ side, leaning in.
“He hasn’t been modified,” I whisper, “so don’t shoot him, and don’t beat him again. His body can’t handle it.”
Elias quirks up an eyebrow and grins. “No promises.”
CHAPTER 3
We walk for an hour through the wide tunnel. The group gathered as much as we could before we left, and the climbing supplies and my own stock of rations are heavy on my back. The old, musty smell of the walls surrounds me and, to be honest, it reminds me of home.
But this is not my home anymore. It never was.
Lighting from several flashlights and battery-powered lanterns illum
inate our way. The Dwellers talk amongst themselves, and the nerves and excitement are contagious. Drape found some freckle-faced girl who looks about his age. I’m sure he’s bragging to her or something, but by the smile on her face, she seems into it.
I keep pace beside Sky, the steady beat of our boots on the ground lulling us deeper into our thoughts, deep enough to drown from the vacant look on Sky’s face.
“You think we’re headed in the right direction?” I ask.
“Hmm?” he replies, snapping out of it and peering around the tunnel. “I haven’t been here before, so I don’t know. I’m really sorry.”
Nervousness rolls around in my stomach at his words, but I push it down. “It’s not your fault.”
He shrugs and puts his hands in his pockets. He’s clearly distracted.
“You’ll have all the time in the world with your mom when this is over,” I say.
A sweet smile crosses Sky’s lips and sends a flutter into my stomach. “I know. You’re right.”
Calm down, Fin. Focus.
I pat him on the shoulder and check up ahead again. Jase and Bricks march on either side of Yasay. Jase turns back and narrows his eyes at me. I slow a bit.
What’s that all about?
“You okay?” Sky asks.
“Fine. Just thinking about going back up top.”
Lacy’s voice interrupts us. “You ready for this?”
I swing around. She has a gun strapped over her shoulder, resting against her chest. I wish she’d put it away. Elias makes his way back to us and stands next to her.
“It’s not going to be easy, but I think we can do it,” I say, turning to Sky, who’s gone silent. “Jase will get us to Mason’s group. They’ll help us.”
Lacy’s eyes narrow and her voice lowers. “I still don’t get how you could let that murderer lead us.”
I sigh. “If you have a better idea, I’m all ears.”
Elias cocks his gun. “If it were up to me, I would’ve killed the bastard, then found my own way out of here.”
“Then, why didn’t you?” I ask. “When you had the chance? And, if you remember, we did try to make a go of it alone. There are no other options.”
