Heath (Ember Quest Book 1)

by Arcadia Shield

  “Hold on,” yelled Arlo. “They don’t want to open the gates and let us go home.”

  Heath wrapped an arm around Annie’s shoulders, as the truck shuddered and the engine screamed, accompanied by the sound of crunching metal.

  “We’re out,” shouted Arlo.

  The sound of a laser smashing against the side of the truck alerted Annie that they still had company.

  “Tower guards,” said Lincoln from the front of the truck. “I’ll take care of them. Leave the way clear for when the copters come in to get the other prisoners.”

  Annie stayed on the floor with Heath as Lincoln fired off several rounds.

  He thumped the side of the truck as he sat. “That will slow them.”

  “There’s more coming.” Annie peered out the back of the truck and saw three vehicles speeding out of the destroyed gates.

  “What weapons have we got on board?” asked Heath.

  “Arlo’s still got a few bombs.” Lincoln peered through the hatch into the bed of the truck where the rest of them sat. “I’ve got this gun, and whatever you’re all carrying.”

  Annie looked around, hoping to find more weapons stashed in the vehicle, but there was nothing but old blankets and empty water containers.

  “We’ll make do with what we’ve got,” said Heath. “Everybody keep your heads down, don’t make yourself a target.”

  “So long as you do the same.” Annie’s head whipped round at the sound of motorcycle engines. These weren’t the quiet hydrogen engines she was used to, they sounded like vintage petrol engines. They roared across the gravel as they neared the truck. She squinted at the riders, who wore head-to-toe black.

  “Incoming!” yelled Lincoln, as he swung around and leveled his weapon at the bikers.

  “Wait!” Annie continued to stare at the riders. “They’re not firing at us.”

  “They’re just lining up their target,” said Lincoln.

  Annie crawled back to reach through the hatch and push his gun down.

  “Are you crazy?” Lincoln stared at her in disbelief.

  She watched as one of the riders raised his hand toward the truck. “They’re friendly.”

  Mary staggered to the back of the truck and looked out. A grin crossed her face. “I wouldn’t call them friendly, but they’ll help us out.”

  “You know them?” asked Annie.

  “Sam and Lucas,” said Mary. “They live around here, and hate what goes on at the prison.”

  “We met them when looking for my dad,” said Annie.

  Mary glanced back at Dmitri, who appeared to be in shock as he sat on the bench, his hands tucked into his lap as he muttered to himself. She sat and patted Dmitri’s hand. “Those two are good to have on your side when the State decide to get rid of you.”

  As if to demonstrate, one rider twisted in his seat, keeping the bike balanced as he fired a round of pulse laser at a pursuing truck. It veered to the right, its front wheel punctured. That left two more militia trucks on their tail.

  The second rider slowed his bike until the next truck was closer before firing at the armored windscreen. The other rider joined him, blasting the side of the truck with a volley of fire.

  “You target that truck.” Heath grabbed Annie’s arm and pointed to the one on the left. “We’ll take out the next one.”

  “Don’t forget these.” Arlo tossed a bag through the hatch into the back of the truck.

  Annie caught it and pulled it open. There were half a dozen palm-sized metallic boxes in there. “How do these work?” She extracted one of them.

  “Press the button on the top and throw,” said Arlo. “You’ve got a ten-second delay, so make sure your aim is good. And don’t drop any inside the back.”

  She turned and saw Heath smiling at her. “What is it?”

  “I never thought you’d take to combat so easily.”

  “Never underestimate me,” said Annie.

  “Guess I shouldn’t.” Heath gave her a final smile before raising his gun.

  Annie pulled out a bomb. “Ready when you are.”

  Heath opened fire at the same time as Annie launched the bomb. She watched as it hit the dirt and rolled, detonating as the truck passed over. It flew up in the air for several feet before crashing and bursting into flames.

  Arlo whooped from the front seat. “We’ll make you into a bomb girl yet.”

  Annie shook her head, not able to resist a smile. “I’ll leave that to you.”

  Lincoln and the bikers took out the final truck.

  As the distance between the truck and the prison grew, Annie’s shoulders eased down when it appeared no more vehicles were pursuing them. They’d done it. Her dad was safe, and Heath was by her side.

  Sam and Lucas gave them a wave before peeling off into the dust, vanishing as quickly as they’d arrived.

  “Just got word the copters are on the way,” said Lincoln. “The rest of the patients will be out of there in twenty minutes.”

  “That’s good to know,” said Arlo. “I’ve set the rest of the explosives to detonate in thirty minutes. Then, there’ll be nothing left of that place other than a pile of rubble.”

  Lincoln laughed dryly. “I’ll let the copter crew know they’re on a non-negotiable deadline.”

  Annie let out a sigh as she looked around. Her father’s eyes were open, but he stared blankly at the opposite wall. It looked like he’d had one too many shocks. But he didn’t have any serious injuries. He’d been through worse and survived. Mary was by his side, talking quietly to him.

  Malachi was unconscious, stretched out on the opposite bench, blood leaking from a wound in his arm. The medical kit on the truck could do little to treat his injuries, but they’d be back at the bunker soon, where he’d get treated.

  Juniper sat by the open hatch, arguing with Arlo and Lincoln. She sounded just fine, despite the beating she’d taken. The two dragon hybrid prisoners who had fled with them sat huddled together, their eyes wide, as they took in what was happening.

  Annie gave them a reassuring smile as she placed her gun on the bench. The last of her energy faded as she sank down. They’d gotten free, gotten everybody out, and stopped Nick and his sick research.

  She felt Heath’s hand on her shoulder and turned toward him, her breath coming out shakily as she saw the intensity in his eyes. She’d never wanted anyone so much.

  “You did a great job,” said Heath.

  “We did an amazing job,” said Annie. “But...” Her gaze shifted out of the truck again, to the retreating sight of the prison, shimmering in the dust. “What about Nick? You think he’s dead?”

  “He won’t survive the bombing. We left him tied up in the medical room. Can’t see him getting out.”

  Annie tried to feel sad about someone losing their life. But Nick was rotten as was the prison. “There’s so much more to do. And my thoughts are still a mess. I want so much to believe you. I’m getting there, but it’s going to take time.”

  “I know.” Heath pulled her into his warm embrace and rested his chin on her head. “And we’ll do it together.”

  Chapter 19

  Heath settled on the bench next to Annie, wedging himself by the hatch so he could speak to Arlo and Lincoln. He could relax now she was by his side. They’d only been traveling for a few minutes, when he’d felt her head rest on his shoulder and heard her breathing slow. It felt good to know she trusted him to watch over her as she slept.

  Heath tightened his hold on Annie’s hand. He’d come so close to losing her, but now they were together and free. Well, as free as they could be. He was still torn about how much to show her. Worried about how much she’d have to give up to stay with him. He was asking a lot from Annie if she joined them. And what he offered her was dangerous.

  “That’s a good look on you.” Lincoln grinned at Heath as he fixed his injuries with supplies from the medical kit.

  Heath smiled. “I’m hoping she’ll stick around.”

  “Why woul
dn’t she?”

  “Because of how we live our lives,” said Heath.

  “She’s ready,” said Lincoln. “Annie’s already gotten a taste of reality. And when we pull off the rest of your crazy plans, everyone will wake up and know the truth. Why shouldn’t Annie be at the front of the queue for that?”

  “Because of the risks.” Heath looked down at Annie and pushed a strand of hair off her face. “The casualty rate is still too high.”

  “All of those casualties were volunteers,” said Lincoln.

  “Because they were desperate.”

  “They knew what they were getting themselves into,” said Lincoln. “Annie is an adult. You can let her make her own decision. And Juniper’s bite is already helping her remember. It removed Nick’s mind wipe.”

  “You want me to bite her again?” Juniper lounged on the bench next to Malachi. “Don’t much like the taste of human, but I’m prepared to sacrifice my taste buds for Annie.”

  “No. Once was enough,” said Heath, “but I’d be interested in seeing how potent we can make whatever is in your saliva. It could help with memory retrieval in the future, without having to resort to The Jolt.”

  “You’re welcome to my spit any time.” Juniper grinned at Heath.

  “You say the sweetest things,” said Arlo, from the front of the truck.

  “I’m also interested in bringing Clarissa in and getting her to share those herbs she used in that drink she gave Annie. They worked to a certain extent. Perhaps we can modify them, use it with our own treatment.”

  “Clarissa will come,” said Juniper. “She’ll want to be with Malachi.”

  “Send her a comm to let her know we’ve got him,” said Heath.

  Juniper glanced down at Malachi. “Will do. He’s far from well, though. At least he’s breathing. Clarissa will be grateful. Malachi is her only family.”

  “Clarissa’s drugs are definitely worth a go.” Lincoln shut the lid on the medical kit and eased back in his seat. “Wasn’t Sophia talking about needing additional compounds to stabilize the treatments we offer?”

  Heath nodded. Sophia and Daisy were the only ones in the bunker with training in how to treat injuries. They were dependent on those skills. Sophia had been spending every spare minute testing different ways to release people from the hypnotic suggestions of the State. The suggestions that kept people in line, stopped them questioning why the State were here and what they wanted. The results had been mixed, and there’d been a few fatalities. But Sophia was certain she’d almost gotten the basic technique right. Heath would not let Annie be one of her guinea pigs though.

  “Your woman has a mind of her own,” said Lincoln. “She’ll decide what’s best for her. Although she is into you, which shows questionable judgment.”

  Heath gave a quiet snort. “We’re friends.”

  “You don’t look at friends the way you look at her.” Lincoln raised his hands defensively. “I’m not judging. But she’ll think you’re crazy if you keep talking about dragons when she doesn’t know the truth. And she’s almost there. I think she’s ready.”

  “Maybe I am crazy,” murmured Heath.

  “There’s no going back, now,” said Lincoln. “We blew apart a State prison. I’ll be amazed if the bounty on your head isn’t tripled after that stunt.”

  The truck lurched as it hit a hole in the road. Annie jerked awake. She blinked up at Heath and smiled at him. “Are we back yet?”

  “We’ll be awhile yet,” said Heath, tucking Annie closer to him. “Rest while you can. The bunker will be busy when we get back. We’ll have the prisoners to get settled and Danni is going to want a debrief.”

  “Your base,” said Annie, her voice sounding sleepy. “I don’t suppose there’s a spare bed for me, until I figure out what to do next?”

  “Stay as long as you like,” said Heath. “We got you into this mess so it’s only right you do that.”

  “Only if it’s no trouble.”

  Lincoln laughed. “You two need to sort yourselves out.”

  “Not now,” said Heath, shooting him a glare. “Send word to Jude that the truck we left at the edge of the Black Zone needs auto-driving to base.”

  Lincoln shrugged. “Will do. And, Annie, you’re welcome to stay at the base. But you need to know what we do there. There’s no point in joining us, if you don’t believe in what we’re doing.”

  “I said, not now,” growled Heath.

  “She needs to understand,” said Lincoln.

  Heath glared at Lincoln, but then Annie’s hand touched his arm, and his anger softened.

  “I want to know everything,” said Annie. “And I would like to join you.” Her gaze went to her father. “After everything we’ve been through, I have to keep an open mind about why you’re doing this, why my dad goes off on those dangerous dragon hunts. And, to be honest, I sort of remember. Not everything, but I’m getting the weirdest flashbacks, like I’m watching a movie I slept through part of and have no clue what the ending is about.”

  “There is a way for you to believe,” said Lincoln.

  “But it’s not safe,” said Heath. “And it’s not ready for general use.”

  “I want to.” Annie turned and looked at Heath, determination in her eyes. “I have to know. Or, I might as well go back to my old life and let the State do what they want with me.”

  “That’s not an option,” said Heath. “They’ll be hunting for you now. Return to the university, and you’ll be killed.”

  “Which is why I need to understand what’s going on.” Annie took hold of his hand and linked their fingers together. “I want to work with you, but can’t do that with all these confusing memories in my head. Between Clarissa’s strange drink and Juniper chewing on my arm, I’ve felt like I’m missing something, as if a piece of my memory has vanished.”

  “Not vanished,” said Lincoln. “It’s been replaced.”

  Annie turned and looked at him, her face white with shock. “Replaced with what?”

  Lincoln’s gaze went to Heath. “She should meet Sophia.”

  Heath let out a breath. There was so much Annie needed to know. “Let’s get back to base safely, first. Then we’ll figure out what you want to do next.”

  Annie opened her mouth as if to argue more, but then snapped it shut and nodded. “Fine. But you will tell me everything.”

  Heath shook his head at the beautiful, headstrong woman by his side, and let out a contented sigh as Annie rested her head on his shoulder again. He wanted her more than anything, but had to make sure she’d be safe. And what she was asking him to do was anything but.

  “WE GET OUT HERE.” ARLO’S voice woke Annie. She hadn’t meant to sleep anymore, wanting to be alert to see where they were going, but exhaustion and shock had sapped her energy. Plus, the warm feel of Heath by her side had made her tension vanish. She hadn’t been able to resist the heavy tug of her eyelids, as his fingers had gently massaged the palm of her hand, stroking tiny circles on her flesh.

  She jumped up and followed Heath and the others out of the truck. It was parked beneath a crumbling bridge. There were several burned-out cars abandoned against one wall and a heap of trash next to them. As she looked around, she saw several people huddled on the ground, under blankets. The chill air caused goose bumps to form and she wrapped her arms around her middle.

  “This way.” Heath placed a hand on the small of Annie’s back and steered her toward a concrete wall.

  Arlo and Juniper assisted her father, as he stumbled in front of her. Lincoln carried Malachi. Mary and the other female prisoners followed behind, their eyes wide.

  Heath stopped at what looked like a solid wall and ducked down. Annie watched, as he removed a grate from the ground, and slid his hand inside. The wall in front of her opened with a low rumble as Heath stood and kicked the grate back into place.

  He grinned at her. “We’re home.”

  Annie nodded, anticipation and excitement churning in her stomach. She and the ot
hers entered through the gap, into a narrow corridor. She turned back to look at the doors, as they slid shut behind them. Slowly, pale overhead lights flickered on, lighting the corridor as they walked, activated by their motion.

  After several moments, the corridor opened up into a vehicle bay, where several people were repairing various trucks and motorbikes.

  Several of them greeted Heath as he walked by, sparing Annie and the others a curious look.

  “I’ll take Malachi to the medical bay,” said Lincoln.

  “My dad needs to go there, too,” said Annie. “His words aren’t coming out in any order. He needs attention.”

  Heath nodded. “We’ll take everyone.”

  Arlo opened the door in front of them, and led them along another long corridor, before pushing through a set of double doors. Inside the large room sat a row of beds, carts filled with neatly arranged medical tools and a number of freestanding machines. The tang of disinfectant tinted the air.

  “I’ll leave you to it,” said Arlo.

  “Off to make more bombs?” asked Mary.

  “Yes, ma’am. Best part of the day.”

  “Then I’m coming with you.”

  “So am I,” said Juniper.

  Arlo shot Heath an amused glanced. “Shouldn’t you let the Doc check you over?”

  “I’m unharmed.” Mary looked around the room and shuddered. “Had enough of medical rooms.”

  “Fine by me if Heath doesn’t object.”

  “Go,” said Heath. “But I expect she’ll want you in here at some point. And Arlo, check in with the clean-up of the prison site. Make sure everyone got out okay.”

  “Will do,” said Arlo. “But my bombs won’t have failed.”

  Mary and Juniper followed Arlo as he left the room.

  Annie helped her dad sit on an examination table. The overhead lighting was almost dazzling. Annie blinked repeatedly, getting used to the lights.

  Lincoln placed Malachi on another bed and rolled his shoulders, stretching out the muscles. “He’s heavy. Must be the dragon bones.”