VOLITION (Perception Trilogy, book 2)

by Strauss, Lee

  My heart skipped. “Isn’t that against your religion?”

  “What? Body heat? Not last I checked.”

  He rubbed my arms, and I grew warmer. I found myself relaxing into him.

  That was how Noah found us.

  “What the hell?” he said.

  I jumped back like I’d been caught cheating again, which I hadn’t.

  “She doesn’t have a coat,” Taylor said. “I was just keeping her warm.”

  Noah’s expression didn’t soften.

  “It was nothing,” I said.

  “Right,” he spit out.

  “Hey, now’s not a good time for a lover’s spat,” Taylor said. “You got people looking to do you harm out there.”

  “They’re searching the house at the moment,” Noah said. “Next it’ll be the outbuildings.”

  “Where were you?” I asked.

  “I parked the car down a service road, before they could find it, then came back for you.”

  Taylor sat in the chair at the desk and turned on the laptop. He tapped on the old-fashioned plastic keyboard like an expert.

  “You type pretty well for a guy not exposed to technology,” Noah said, frowning.

  “Sometimes you have to be flexible,” Taylor said. A window opened up showing mine and Noah’s faces side by side, my last name VANDERVEEN in bold letters.

  I exhaled. “You know who I am?”

  Taylor spun his chair around to look at me. “I’ve always known who you were.”

  “Wait a minute. You’re Finn’s whiz-kid?” Noah said.

  “Shh,” he warned.

  We heard muffled sounds of footsteps circling above us along with the clanging of yard tools as they searched the shed. My heart raced and burning fear flared in my chest. What would happen to me if they found us? All they had to do was look under the door mat.

  Would Grandpa V have my memories erased again?

  I couldn’t think about what they’d do to Noah.

  The shuffling was followed by the creaking of the shed door until there was silence.

  We let out a collective breath.

  “That was close,” Noah said.

  “Do you think they’ll come back?” I asked.

  “Yup.” Taylor pointed to the monitor. A government site was up with Grant’s page opened. Grant’s request for immediate back-up to the address of the commune was in the notes.

  “You’re a hacker?” Noah was incredulous.

  I had to admit I was also surprised. And impressed.

  “I’m a man of many talents,” Taylor said. “Unfortunately, I don’t know if you have time to get away before the back-up arrives. Says here they were dispatched ten minutes ago.”

  “Why? I thought they searched the place,” I said. “As far as they know I’m not here.”

  “Something must’ve tipped them off.”

  Or someone. And my money was on Rebecca.

  “What are we going to do?” I asked.

  The ammunition cupboard had a key code, which Taylor apparently knew. His fingers flew over the pad and it clicked open. He tossed a gun to Noah. “Do you know how to use one of these?”

  Noah examined it carefully. “I think I can manage.”

  Taylor ran up the steps to the hatch. “I have to get Finn.”

  Noah stared at me with a pained expression. He probably regretted coming back for me in Sol City, and I wouldn’t blame him. I didn’t know if he still loved me as he’d once claimed. But I could be certain of one thing: Taylor Blake for sure didn’t love me and if Noah and I got out of this alive, I would devote myself to him. I owed him my life.

  “Noah,” I said softly. I took his hand. He glanced at our entwined fingers and pulled me close, resting his chin on my head.

  “We’re going to get through this,” he said. “We’re going to survive.”

  We pulled apart when the hatch opened up. My eyes bugged out as each member of the commune came down the steps with food, water and blankets in hand.

  Dorothy grabbed her chest. “Finn! What is this?”

  All the commune people looked stunned, their eyes wide and glossy with fear as they took in the lights and gadgetry of the computer and printer set up. The girls grouped together like a frightened flock of birds.

  “I’ll explain later,” Finn said. “Right now, this is the only place I know that you will be safe.”

  Dorothy’s face was ashen. “You’re not going to fight them?”

  “Damn right,” Ike said. “Pardon my language, Dorothy, but the spawn of Satan are about to descend on our doorstep and we have a God-given right to fight them off.”

  “But we’re pacifists,” she squealed. “We can’t take up arms. We must put our faith in God to protect us.”

  Noah raised his rifle. “No disrespect, Sister Ranger, but I’m putting my faith in God and thanking him that he provided this.”

  “I’m not making anyone fight who doesn’t want to,” Finn said. His eyes were wild, and he jumped with nerves like he’d been waiting his whole life for something like this to happen. His eyes darted from man to man. “Who’s in?”

  Besides Finn, Ike and Noah raised their hands. Then Taylor.

  “Son,” Mr. Galloway said, shaking his head. Obviously, he didn’t know about Taylor’s secret life as a techy.

  “I’m sorry, pa,” is all he said.

  Simon’s hand went up and Hannah burst into tears. “I’ll be all right,” he said to her. “God will keep me safe.”

  Philip’s hand went up with a quiver. Finn’s gaze landed on him. “Philip, I need someone to look after the women, in case...”

  Philip seemed relieved as his hand came down. “I’ll do it.”

  “Okay,” Finn said. “Grab your ammunition and we’ll set up strategically in the house and across the yard. Philip, stay here with the women until one of us returns with the all clear. Otherwise, stay until morning.”

  He opened the hatch and the guys headed out. Noah squeezed my hand.

  “I’m coming too,” I said, taking a fire arm from the cupboard. My small pistol was tucked in the back of my pants, but I was glad to have another.

  “Zoe, no,” Noah said, bearing down with his dark stare.

  “I’m a good shot and you know it. I saved your life, too, once. Remember?”

  His shoulders collapsed as he puffed out in resignation. I fell in line behind the guys leaving the bunker, fully aware that the women gawked at me as I left.

  Chapter 15

  Shots rang out before I turned the corner of the shed. Grant’s back-up stormed the property and spread out throughout the commune. We were outnumbered and out positioned.

  I crouched behind the shed and tugged on Noah’s arm. “Someone’s going to get killed,” I said. I wasn’t being melodramatic. It was a statistical certainty. “I should give myself up. You could escape. I’m the one they want.”

  Noah kneeled beside me. “No, Zoe. Don’t.”

  “But someone—”

  “As long as it’s not you.”

  My jaw dropped. Noah was willing to let others die in order to save me. Why?

  “Please, Zoe. We’ve come too far to give up. We just need to make it to the car.”

  I let out a long, shaky breath. “Okay.” If we were going to die, we’d die trying.

  Ironically, the sun came out. Had this happened one day earlier, Noah and I would’ve been long gone. It was low on the horizon and worked to our advantage, shining east toward Grant’s team, making it hard for them to see us.

  Something glittered to my left.

  “Over there,” I said. I fired my weapon.

  The shot was returned, and Noah and I ducked.

  Whoever it was sprinted exceedingly fast to the next outbuilding, a flash of reflection following them.

  “Cyborgs!” I said.

  “What?”

  “Grant’s back up. Some of them are cyborgs.”

  “Damn Vanderveen,” Noah said. “Go! I’ll cover you. And shoot
at anything that shines.”

  I ran to the forest, ducking as Noah shot a round in the opposite direction. I did the same for him from my position so he could join me.

  A branch snapped, and I turned, gun pointed at the sound. Taylor stood thirty feet away. A cyborg pointed a weapon at Taylor’s head. Noah aimed his gun and shot. Taylor dove behind a bush into a snow bank. The cyborg crumbled to the ground as his circuitry fried.

  Other agents seemed to materialize out of nowhere. Noah and I joined Taylor and started shooting back. Grant and his agents almost outnumbered us two to one and, though I admired their tenacity, these commune folk weren’t exactly great shooters.

  Finn and Simon flanked us to the north. Ike had climbed on top of the sloped roof of the barn.

  A month ago, the most action I’d ever seen was around the pool at my house in Sol City, swimming laps or making out with Jackson. Now I was shooting at federal agents.

  I felt beads of sweat break out on my brow and harden into bits of ice. My eyelashes had frosted up and my vision blurred. My hands were red and my fingers formed a stiff claw around the trigger. I was running on adrenaline and counting on many years of firing range practice to get me out of this alive.

  The battle had moved farther into the forest. I pressed in behind a tree, wishing my clothes blended in better. Despite the cold I stripped out of the yellow shirt I had on top. Black was better.

  Shots rang out.

  “Noah?”

  “I’m over here.” He stepped out and shot a round so I could make a mad dash to join him. I trusted that he was taking us closer to the car.

  The noise of gun fire and footsteps rapidly crunching through crusty snow filled the forest. The agents weren’t close enough to make out. Which one was Grant? And where was his partner?

  “We have to hurry,” I said. Grant wasn’t stupid. He’d probably sent someone to circle around us from behind.

  Screams.

  My head followed the sound. It was Finn. He was on his knees, his ginger head bobbing as he cried out. Simon’s familiar form lay beside him, blood running out of a bullet hole in the middle of his forehead, a crimson pool painting the snow under his skull.

  I clasped my stomach. “I think I’m going to vomit.”

  Noah grabbed my hand and tugged. “There’s nothing we can do. Let’s go.” He pulled me further into the woods and we tromped awkwardly through the snow. I stumbled over branches and twigs. Something wet was running down my face, freezing my cheeks.

  A sob escaped my chest.

  “I told you, Noah! I told you someone would be killed!” And it was my fault.

  “He knew the risks. They all did.”

  I heaved and my legs gave out, the image of Simon’s grey face and that gruesome bullet hole, etched on my mind.

  Noah took my chin in his hand and stared hard into my eyes. “Get a hold of yourself! We have to get out alive, or his death is for nothing! You understand? You can grieve later.”

  I shuddered and swallowed hard, and willed my legs to follow Noah. “Is the car this way? Are we almost there?”

  A bullet shot overhead. We ducked but kept running.

  “Zoe Vanderveen! Stop or I’ll kill your boyfriend.” Like a mirage, Grant appeared in front of us, his big, beefy hands wrapped around a long-range rifle. We skidded to a stop and Noah groaned. He dropped his weapon, shouting at me to run.

  “Zoe, go!”

  “And let him shoot you?” I dropped my rifle, which landed in the snow with a thug.

  Grant shouted, “Put your hands in the air.”

  His sidekick agent stepped into view.

  “I’d like you to meet Mara,” he said with a smarmy grin.

  Her jacket sleeves had tugged up and the sunlight glinted off her wrists. She was a cyborg.

  “Put your hands together,” she said. She snapped cuffs on my wrists then moved on to Noah. He grimaced as the cuffs clicked into place.

  “Grandpa V must be paying you well.” I snarled at Grant. “Getting you to do all his dirty work for him.”

  “There are good days and bad days,” he answered flippantly. “And yes, the pay is pretty good. Now come with me.”

  Grant nudged Noah in the back with the tip of his rifle and we started walking. I shot a worried look at Noah. If we got into Grant’s car, that would be the end for us. We had to make a move, but I couldn’t think of what. All I had was to keep Grant talking and hope for a diversion.

  “What’s good ol’ Grandpa up to these days, anyway?”

  Grant actually smiled. “Well, if you must know, he’s getting married.”

  “What?” Grandpa had never looked at another woman since Grandma had died.

  Grant seemed pleased to be the bearer of such “happy” news. “He’s running for president,” he said. “He needs a First Lady.”

  “Who?” I asked.

  “Oh, don’t worry your pretty little head. You’ll meet her soon enough.”

  I scowled. I would meet Grandpa’s new girlfriend while Noah died without me shedding even one tear because the first thing they’d do with me is wipe my mind clean of any memory of him.

  We approached Grant’s car and my anxiety hit new levels. The cyborg opened the back door. A shot rang out before she could push us in. She stiffened and fell to the ground. The bullet had struck her in the eye.

  Grant returned fire in the direction of the shooter, firing blind. The shooter had the advantage of being able to see his target. Grant fell to the ground, blood oozing from his neck.

  Taylor sprung from the bushes.

  “You did this?” I said.

  “Necessary evil.” He dug up a large stone with his foot. “Crouch down and lay your cuff on it.”

  Noah did it first, his knees sinking into the snow until his hands rested awkwardly on the stone. Taylor shot his gun to break the chain. I did the same, wincing a little as the wet cold seeped in through my jeans.

  He shot me free then said, “If I were you guys, I’d get lost.”

  “What about you?” I worried for his life. I liked Taylor and even though I was about to leave with Noah, I didn’t want to see him hurt.

  “I’ll be fine. Now get going.” He held my eyes for a long moment before turning and disappearing into the bushes.

  “I never thought I’d ever say this,” Noah said, shaking his head, “but it was good to see Taylor Blake.”

  Chapter 16

  I settled back into the car, and Noah geared us up to the highest speed it could go without tossing us into the next hairpin ditch.

  If tension were heat, the small car would be boiling. Every muscle in my body clenched with anxiety and stress. Noah’s fingers gripped the steering wheel, white with nerves and the cold. Even the silence was chilly. Simon’s lifeless body flashed through my mind, echoing with Finn’s anguished cries. I imagined Hannah sobbing against Celia Galloway’s chest, inconsolable when she heard the news.

  “He’s dead because of me.” My breath clouded up the passenger window. I reached up and drew a cross through it with my finger.

  Noah shot me a look. “Zoe.”

  “It’s true. Simon’s dead because of me. If we hadn’t shown up there, if we hadn’t been hiding from Grandpa V, he’d still be alive.”

  “This isn’t your fault. It’s your crazy grandfather’s fault. He’s the one who sicced Grant and his machines on the commune.”

  “Because we were there.”

  “Yes, but they didn’t have to bring out the big guns. They didn’t have to start shooting.”

  “What’s going to happen to them now?”

  “I don’t know.” Noah scrubbed his forehead, like he was trying to erase the memory of what just happened. “They’ll relocate, start again somewhere else. Those people are resourceful if nothing else.”

  “I just feel so bad.” A lump the size of my fist formed in my throat and I swallowed hard around it. We were only going to stay one day. If it weren’t for the weather, we would’ve left soon
er and none of this would’ve happened. Grant wouldn’t have found us, Simon wouldn’t have died.

  I wouldn’t have kissed Taylor Blake.

  “I think I’m going to be sick,” I said.

  Noah shot me a look, like I had to be kidding, but the expression on my face must’ve said otherwise. He pulled over.

  I couldn’t remember when I’d eaten last, but whatever it was now pooled on the side of the road. I held my hair back, a tangle of loose, greasy strands, and gagged.

  “Are you okay?” Noah shifted anxiously, his hands moving in and out of his pockets, like he didn’t know what to do with them. Like he didn’t know what to do with me.

  I breathed in the crisp air and the sweat of sickness cooled into unpleasant clamminess. I started shivering again.

  “I think so.”

  “We should keep moving.”

  “I know.”

  It was a relief to merge with the traffic at Salt Lake City, to mix in with the crowd. Noah pulled into the back alley three blocks away from the train station.

  “Here’s your wig.” He pulled the pink mess out of his bag. I shot him a confused look remembering clearly how I’d thrown it out at our last motel.

  “I retrieved it from the trash,” Noah explained. “I thought you might need it again.”

  I reached for it with shaky fingers. I pushed my shorter brunette locks behind my ears and put it on.

  Noah gathered the guns, collapsing them. He handed me one.

  “Put it in your bag,” he said, “but keep the handgun in your back.”

  The rifle weighed heavily in my bag and my shoulder sank when I slipped on the strap.

  We abandoned the car. Noah tugged my hand, practically pulling me through the alley. We arrived at the busy station and he pushed us into a secluded place behind a large potted plant.

  He pulled his cap lower over his face. “Wait here.”

  I held back, keeping my eyes glued to him as he bought the tickets.

  “Sleeper room,” he told me when he returned. “We need the rest. And the anonymity.”

  We boarded the MagLev cross-country train and I followed Noah to the sleeping cars. Each room had a locking door and a narrow bed, really only big enough for one person. Noah saw me staring.