by Patti Larsen
And so I vent my fury with my hands and feet, with the length of metal I jerk free from the back of one of the train's kids, with the taser I liberate from a dying Crawler. Over and over I kill and kill, while the world spins on around me.
I finally pause, breathe, look around. They are dead, all of them, the Crawlers in their metal suits. I hadn't noticed the Brights and Howls who now lie lifeless among them. The others must have dealt with this part of the threat. But now I know, as the calm hums in my soul, Duet was right.
Not random. Nothing is, clearly.
A hand settles on my shoulder and I turn slowly, still observing the dead, still on alert, until I am spun all the way around and his eyes meet mine.
Nothing. No feeling, no surge of emotion. Just Beckett's blue eyes. I'm lost then, in the calm, unable to return this time.
Aren't I?
“Trio.” He stares at me with awe on his face, but with so much feeling in his gaze something flickers inside me, warms me, shakes off the calm until I'm lurching forward, arms around him, my face pressed into the heated skin of his neck while he holds me close and whispers my name in my ear.
Fur and muscle press into my legs, paws clawing at me. I pull free of Beckett only to fall to my knees and hug the dog who whines and licks my face, vibrating as I hold him.
When I try to set him free he presses against me again, head over my shoulder. It's only when Poppy comes running, crying, that he lets me go. I swing her up into my arms, hold her close, whisper her name to her as Beckett did to me.
Why did I ever leave them?
Chime isn't happy to see me, stomping up to frown at me like this is all my fault. Which it is. Still, I've rescued her. She could at least be grateful for her life.
I can only assume she is, because she doesn't argue when Beckett glares silently back.
“You'll have to stay now,” Chime finally growls as the remains of her crew gather around her. “We need the bodies.”
***
Chapter Twelve
It turns out the ambush was planned around a group of large trees, felled in the path of the train. While a small force, much smaller than when I left them, tackles the removal, Poppy fills me in on what's happened to them since Duet and I went our own way.
“We didn't make it far,” she says as I bend over one of Chime's boys. His leg is bleeding, a rent gaping flesh to the bone. Tears track down his cheeks, but he doesn't move or flinch from me as I touch him as I feared he would. The wound heals under my hand, the tingle under my control. I feel weak, worn thin after being inside the calm for so long, but I have to help if I can.
“Why's that?” I smile at Poppy as I rise from the now smiling boy who scrubs his wet cheeks with both hands before scrambling off. I'm not watching him, not at all, only peripherally aware he's gone as I stroke Poppy's hair. The dog refuses to back away, sitting right next to me every time I stop at another injured child.
“Chime.” Poppy rolls her eyes as the dog chuffs his agreement. “She's such a coward. We found a switchback, but we would have had to take the train apart to make it work. And Ande's done so much to the engine he wasn't sure he could do it.”
“So you kept going.” I'm grateful they did. It's so strange knowing they were this close all along, traveling no faster than Duet and I. It feels like yesterday I saw them, but so much has happened in between it feels more like forever. And yet, as if no time has passed at all. When did the future and the present and the past become so fluid?
“She made us crawl after the last time, the trees and such.” Poppy touches the face of the girl I'm healing as if she's born to be a healer, too. “And then we landed here and she spent more time arguing about turning around, which we can't do, versus clearing the track. I'm sure the Crawlers heard her shouting and came to see what was up.”
I can't help but giggle a little, even though it's really not funny.
“How did you find us?” Poppy holds my hand as I sit at last, the last of the crew whole and healthy, Duet joining us as we find a place a short distance away where we can be alone. My sister's presence can only mean the tracks are cleared, her endless strength no longer needed. Either that or Chime told her to leave and her help wasn't welcome. I sigh as I look down the track, spot the blockage, know it's the latter. I spot Beckett with the others moving the logs, not sure what to tell Poppy, knowing it's not my place to share his gift.
“We were close by,” I say at last, the dog's head resting in my lap. His dark eyes watch me endlessly, body heavy and tense as if he's afraid I'll suddenly rise and leave him again. Which I might be forced to do, no matter what Chime said. She meant me, I'm sure of it, when she said I could stay. But there's no way she will so willingly allow Duet a place on her train, not after my sister killed one of her crew.
I refocus on Poppy and can tell from the expression on her face she knows I'm not telling her everything, but she holds her peace in favor of hugging my arm and snuggling against me.
It's not long before Socrates comes to find us. He seems hesitant, but when I hold out my arms he comes right to me and hugs me.
“I'm sorry,” he whispers. “We should have stood up for you.”
I shrug and smile as I pull back. “And I should have trusted my friends.”
Glowing Vander sits next to us, eyes meeting mine. “You've saved us before,” he says. “We let Chime convince us you were a threat.” But his gaze isn't on me any longer and I know they all fear Duet.
But when Beckett joins us, crouching before me, he turns immediately to Duet and holds out his hand. “Thank you.”
She takes his in her human one with a wide grin on her face. “You're welcome.” She pumps his hand up and down once before sitting back, looking very pleased with herself.
Ande joins us shortly after that, Brick and Chime as well, though from the look on the train leader's face she'd rather be anywhere but near me and my sister clone.
“We're in the middle of nowhere.” Beckett stands, looks around. “And yet, we keep getting attacked. How are they finding us?”
“The rail line.” Ande shrugs. “It's hard to miss.”
But Beckett shakes his head. “We've traveled further and faster than they can,” he says. “At least as far as we know. And it would take a lot of wrangling to gather up a group of Brights and Howls like that.”
“Two groups,” Duet says.
Everyone stares. “She's right,” I say. “We had just finished off another pack, led by Crawlers, when—” I stop speaking, glance at Beckett who doesn't move or say anything. “When we saw the glow of the fires and came to investigate.”
Duet hums to herself, quiet and deep, but I have no idea if she's preparing to call me a liar. Not likely. She's on my side even more than her own.
And if lying can save Beckett face, even if it's only in his own mind, I'll do it.
“There's no way the group was accidental, that the Crawlers stumbled on them and took advantage of the situation.” Beckett's blue eyes focus on mine. “And two is downright impossible.”
“So they're communicating,” I say. “But how?” I glance at Socrates. “Satellites?”
No one else knows what I mean, but I'm certain he does. He nods slowly, frowning. “As far as I know any worldwide telecommunication is broken. But I suppose, if they found a way to access the satellite network. Maybe.”
“But they are watching us,” I say. “How else would they know we'd split up?”
No one says anything, all of us lost in thought, until Duet finally perks up, grinning.
“Puppies?”
Poppy smiles, runs for the train even as one of the kids calls to Chime the track is cleared.
I stand, glance at Duet, then at the train's leader. I'm ready to fight for Duet and, though my heart aches, will leave with her if need be. I feel the tension around me, as my friends wait to hear if we're in for a fight.
“If Trio and Duet aren't welcome,” Beckett says, “we're leaving with them.”
&nb
sp; I almost smile, imagining stuffing all of us into the SUV. But the doubt in Chime's face tells me she considers the threat real. And at this point, she's right. Her crew is down to a handful and she needs kids to clear track and shovel coal, not to mention protect the train. Her mental process is clearly visible on her face as she goes through first worry, then doubt, then anger and finally acceptance.
Before she can speak up, Ande growls softly under his breath.
“Oh for goodness s-s-sakes,” Ande says, glaring at Chime. “They s-s-saved our lives.” He waves at me. “I never wanted you to g-g-go.”
Chime huffs as if she's being terribly put out, but I know we have her cornered. Which could make her dangerous. But I can't worry about that now, not while she's caving right in front of me despite her hard mask. “The first hint of trouble,” she says, “you're both off again, but this time I'm not stopping the train.”
Ande pushes past her, reaches for me, takes my hands. “You're always welcome,” he says softly. “I w-w-wish you would b-b-believe that.”
I hug him, his skinny body all hard angles against me, bristly red hair tickling my nose.
“Thank you,” I say.
***
Chapter Thirteen
I snuggle the puppies as Shine licks my cheek while Shade nibbles at my hair. Both fat puppy bodies wiggle in time as they welcome me back. It's easy to sit here now, surrounded by kids who are suddenly grateful I'm with them. Even grateful for Duet, while Vander and Socrates leave to help Ande fire up the train and Chime calls out for us to board at last.
But it's Vander's voice that catches my attention as he returns to me, eyes intent and full of concern.
“There's something you need to see.”
I follow him, Beckett beside me, leaving Poppy to load the puppies on board with Duet at her side, the dog refusing to leave me even for a moment. Vander stops next to the fallen body of a Bright, the girl's long hair covering what's left of her glow. She's fading, her luminescence almost gone as it trickles from her after death.
Vander's toe disturbs something thick and black lying next to the girl. Something with an antenna. He bends, lift the device, holds it up to me with a grim expression and I know what he's about to say.
“They are communicating.” Vander stands, turns the knob on the top of what looks like a walkie-talkie, but army issue, bulky and hardy. As he adjusts the volume, we catch the sound of voices, but they are faint, distant and it's impossible to make out what they are saying through the static.
“Give me that.” Brick appears suddenly, wrenching the hand set from Vander's grip. But before he can mess with it, Beckett takes it back. Firmly. With a solid shove against Brick's chest for good measure. They glare at each other a moment, predators over a kill, before Brick backs off and Beckett hands the device back to Vander.
We all board the train, head immediately for the engine and Socrates. The young genius's eyes light up when he sees what Vander holds, taking it from the Bright’s glowing hand to examine it himself. Socrates grins and winks before turning toward the back of the train. “There's only one explanation,” he says. “One reason to have something like this.” He pushes through us, exits to the coal car, begins to walk back, still fiddling with knobs. “They are talking to each other, of course they are. But without more information, they can't set up their little surprises.” He stops for a moment, ear cocked to the side, pressed against the walkie-talkie. He's turned the volume way down and I know why.
So the person with the other one won't hear him coming.
The main car holds what's left of the crew, now eager to be off. Beckett moves in front of Socrates, blocking what he's doing from view. My eyes scan the car, searching for what Socrates seeks. I feel the jolt of the train begin to move, the press of the dog against my legs as the forward motion makes us all sway, but I'm focused on the small group of kids, only six where there were over twenty, who look up at us as if we're friends.
And we are. To most. But perhaps not to all.
Even Chime seems curious as she turns from speaking to one of her crew. “What?”
But it's not until Socrates comes to hover over one of the boys he cranks the volume knob and the feedback from the second walkie-talkie reveals its location.
The boy stares, fish-mouth gaping as Beckett rifles through his sleeping blankets. The device is hidden well, under layers of cloth, tucked into an old sock.
“What's that?” The boy lurches to his feet, looking frantically around at the people who used to be his friends. Awareness dawns as he sees the same thing in Socrates's hands, the glares from the others. “That's not mine, I swear it.”
The train picks up speed, rattling beneath us as everyone seems to hold their breath.
And then, in a surge of anger, they rush him, Chime's people. I don't move, though I want to. Tell myself to. Simply stand there and watch as they pull him toward the door. He is screaming at the top of his lungs, begging them to listen, that he's not a traitor. He's one of us.
The door slides open, Chime at the head of the small pack. Her face contorts in fury as she shoves him backward over the gap between cars.
“Traitor,” she snarls. “Get off my train.”
I'm moving at last, they can't, they mustn't, but he's gone, screams cut short as he falls to the tracks, the speeding train leaving him behind.
Though I'm sure not in one piece. I shudder violently, my whole body aching with grief.
This isn't how it's supposed to be.
“He was Cade's.” Brick crosses his arms over his chest, nods to Chime. “I thought I knew him from somewhere.”
She wipes her mouth with the back of her hand, looking sick and a little crazy.
“At least now we have our own means.” Beckett takes the second hand set. “We can listen in on them.”
“Yes.” Chime reaches for it and he lets her take it. “I'm sick of being hunted down, chased into the ground. It's time we had the advantage.”
I'm not sure if I'm happy about her sudden change of heart.
“We can't trust anyone.” Chime hugs the hand set to her chest. “Not anymore.”
“So we push on, then?” Socrates's tone is pure sarcasm, but Chime doesn't seem to notice. She just nods and turns away.
The others fade back to their places, to ponder their own thoughts, hide inside their own dark fears. I grasp Socrates by the shoulder before he can join them and slide the disk into his free hand.
“I have a laptop,” I say. “And Duet can make it work. But I can't read what's on this.”
His eyebrows go up. “Important?”
I nod. “I think so.”
Socrates examines the disk a moment then grins. “I love a mystery,” he says.
***
Chapter Fourteen
I look out the back of the caboose, feet dangling from the step, and smile at Duet who waves at me from the front seat of the SUV. She's following us closely, the rails making a much better path for the truck than the damaged roadways. Poppy perches beside her, the two puppies bounding around inside the cab and a flash of old fear hits me. She needs to be wearing a seat belt! And the puppies should be harnessed. Then my anxiety fades and I laugh.
There are more dangerous things in this world. Let them have their fun.
The sounds of country music drift forward as Poppy and Duet sing as loudly as they can through the open windows. I laugh at their antics, then hug myself as we pass a sign, falling sideways on itself, turned back to face me, faded letters clear enough as they fade into the distance.
New York City. We're close, very close. We've made it, despite the odds.
Now what, Trio?
The train slows, stops, the SUV pulling up behind. Beckett appears next to me, taking a seat on my free side while the dog barely lifts his golden head from my lap.
“Broken track.” Beckett waves at Poppy. “Natural this time. Ande said it would only take a minute to fix.”
Meanwhile, the blaring sound of mu
sic has drawn an audience. The kids drift back toward the truck, smiling, laughing even, beginning to dance as Poppy jumps down with the puppies and gyrates on the tracks like a rock star. I find myself smiling and laughing with them, enjoying the sight.
Kids. They are kids.
This is how it's meant to be.
“Thank you.” Beckett's whisper is barely audible over the music and laughter. But I know exactly what he means.
“Your gift is not my secret to share.” I stroke the dog's soft ears, just enjoying the feeling of his body on one side, the press of Beckett's leg and shoulder on the other.
“I hate it.” Beckett's head drops, hands clenched in his lap.
“Why?” I touch one of his fists, feel his tension release under my caress.
“Because,” he says, not meeting my eyes, “because of my father.”
I wait, letting him have his moment to gather his thoughts. He'll go on when he's ready. I know him so well.
How?
“I'm afraid.” Beckett shudders softly, hand taking mine at last. “I think... Trio, I think this was my father's fault.”
I force myself to breathe. In. Out. I know he's right somehow. And yet, not.
Not quite.
“The Sick.” I turn to him, catch him looking at me. “You mean the Sick?”
Beckett nods, clearly miserable, shoulders hunched and tight. But the hand that holds mine is gentle and warm and I refuse to let it go.
“Beckett,” I say, “no matter what your father did, you didn't.”
He doesn't move for a long moment, just sitting there lost in misplaced guilt. But slowly, softly, his body relaxes, unwinds, shoulders flexing and going back.
“You're right,” he says. “And we need every advantage if we're going to find out why you're here.”
When Beckett turns toward me, blue eyes locking on mine, there is so much confidence in him I don't hesitate to lean close and touch my lips to his. As if in concert with me, he cups my face in his free hand, still holding my other gently, so gently.
