-Worlds Apart- Ruination
Page 24
My fingers trace along his hands, it’s amazing how much better he looks already. I lose myself in his eyes, green ones that draw me into them. There’s a gentle knock as Kara steps back in. I didn’t even notice her leave.
“Nessa, we have your family. They’re here to see you.” I’d almost forgot about that. A pit hits my stomach. Kara clears her throat, “They’re in the lounge.”
“Go see them. I’ll wait for ya.” Ty smiles. “I was thinkin’ of going for a swim but I guess I can wait a blink.” He grins.
“I’ll be right back.” My stomach twists and turns in excitement.
It’s been a year since I’ve seen Papa or Emma. I hope they recognize me. What if they’re mad? Maybe they didn’t want to be rescued. Maybe they would rather have stayed where they were. I shake my head, knowing they wouldn’t have wanted to live a lie. I take the turn around the nurse’s station and see them. My heart skips in my chest, throwing itself wildly as I get closer. Their backs are to me as they watch the news of last night’s attacks stream across the TV.
“Papa…Emma?” I say. They turn, Papa freezes and Emma runs.
“Nessa!” She clings to my waist as my heart races. She’s grown so much in a year.
“Emma thank god you’re safe!” Papa makes his way to me. His eyes are twisted with pain and confusion. “Papa, I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you but I couldn’t. They would have taken Emma, they would have—” He cuts me off, pulling me into his arms.
His touch feels stronger than ever before, more comforting and honest than I remember. It feels so good to have them back.
“What happened to you? You look awful.” Emma says.
“I’ve been through hell and back about three times. I’ll tell you everything in time. All that matters is you’re here. You’re free and safe.” I look at Kara and Jake. “These are good people. They’ll help us.” Emma’s eyes give away her trepidation.
“What about the people we left behind?”
Jake chimes in from the corner, “We’re not going to rest until we’ve freed everyone.”
Emma looks back to me, “Did Garrett find you?”
“Garrett?” A pit settles deep in my stomach. “No Emma, they took him to Central after the banquet last year. He’s probably still there.”
Jake turns up the broadcast streaming from the massive television in the lobby. Images of the crafts bombing the walls flash and I see hundreds of refugees making their way through the rubble.
Emma takes a deep breath, “He escaped months ago.”
It’s like the air’s kicked out of me. “What?” I ask.
Papas rests his hand on Emma’s shoulder, “A month ago he came to our house looking for you.” The pit twists like a knife in my stomach. “He’d broken out of Central to find you. We told him what had happened, or at least what Central had told us.” Papa speaks up, “He didn’t believe the story. He knew you didn’t accept any scout position, he knew it didn’t exist. He left to find you.”
My stomach hollows as I try catching my breath. The television blasts an emergency alarm and the screen flashes to static. Jake curses.
“Damn thing’s broken.”
The static stops as coverage begins again but it’s different now. No more walls crumbling and refugees being rescued. Now it’s a sterile white room with a single chair positioned dead center. There’s a man tied to the seat. His body’s limp as blood drips from the white bag covering his head.
Jake stares at the TV. “What the hell?” He looks back to Kara and me. I try focusing on the news. We all turn to the television as Jake dials up the volume.
The singsong voice begins, “Ladies and gentleman this is a message from behind the walls of Central. I’m here to inform you that one of the leaders of last night’s rebellion has been captured.” We all look to each other utterly confused. “He will be executed in one week from today unless his co-conspirator surrenders.” Kara and I lock eyes. “Her name is Vanessa Hollins.” A picture of my face flashes across the screen. “We’re asking anyone with information regarding her whereabouts to contact us. We’re prepared to initiate biological warfare on your people unless she’s surrendered within one week’s time.”
The voice sounds so familiar and then it hits me, Natalie. Just then her long dark hair sashays as she walks in front of the camera towards the chair. My blood boils and I’ve never wanted to kill her more than I do now.
“One week Miss Hollins.” She looks directly at the camera like she’s staring into my soul. She pulls off the bag and I immediately drop to the floor. My knees hit as I feel myself in ruination. She lifts Garrett’s chin, his swollen acorn-brown eyes look straight at the camera, straight at me.
Table of Contents
-Worlds Apart-
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Table of Contents
-Worlds Apart-
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
share-buttons">share