Liberated

by Abi Ketner

  “Please,” he says, speaking for the very first time since we found him. “Don’t die.” The others around me gasp, and my chin quivers.

  “I promise I’ll do everything I possibly can,” I say. “I’ll see you soon … Now, run along before I change my mind and don’t let you go.”

  “Bye,” he says to everyone.

  “Bye, Owen,” we say in unison. And this time, he leaves with a skip in his step and never looks back. Cole goes to walk them out.

  “Now would you look at that. Good things still happen,” Bruno says. “Even here.”

  “Yes, they do,” I say. “Like our friendship. You’re my brother, and I love you. No matter what, I will always be here for you.”

  “I know, Miss Lexi, and I couldn’t agree more.”

  “You too, Crazy Bill,” I tell him.

  “Shucks, Lusty. You’re making me blush.” I nudge him with my arm.

  “Where’s the rest of the group?” Cole asks, returning.

  “Genesis dropped them at another location,” Bruno replies. “I will say this, that girl doesn’t mess around.” He leads us to the back of the building, where the others are making their plans. His face is all business. “The only people left here are those taking part in the assault. Gabe left for the lab about an hour ago. He’s going to try his best to collect more information.”

  A thick atmosphere of nervous energy embraces us as we greet the others. I try not to allow myself to be irritated that all these plans were made without me, but there’s nothing I can do now. It’s done. The letter burns in my pocket, reminding me that I didn’t have a chance to tell Bruno about it. Hopefully I will soon. I cross my arms while I take inventory of the room.

  Surrounded by her followers, Genesis looks up from the center of the group and waves us over.

  “Why tomorrow?” I ask in a hard voice.

  “The information Gabe gave us forced our hand,” she answers swiftly. Judging from the tension in her posture, I get the feeling she’s waiting for me to argue. But I realize it’s not worth it.

  “And our groups?”

  “Yours is waiting for you over there in that corner.” She points to the area where Bill wandered off to. “Here are your instructions.” She gives me a map with a layout provided by Bruno and information on guard changes and numbers. I glance over it carefully while chewing on my lower lip. “Gabe said a shipment is scheduled to go at dawn tomorrow. It’s a perfect opportunity to intervene and break into the training center. It leaves us only a few minutes to grab what we need and get out, but that’s all we need. Bruno and I organized the teams, each with a specific task. Yours needs to get inside and disable enough guards that I’m able to get in with my team and collect weapons. We’re counting on you to hold them off until we’re out. Got it?”

  “Yeah, I got it,” I say. The light bounces off my ring, but I keep from making eye contact with Cole. I can feel the tension rolling off him from beside me.

  Genesis pulls him aside with Bruno, and they begin discussing their plan while I walk over to where my team—comprised of Bill and assorted members of Genesis’s group—stands waiting. Bill smiles his gap-toothed smile and swigs a gulp of something that smells strong and putrid.

  “We’re the tip of the spear,” he says. “At least we get to make the grand entrance.”

  “Ha. Damn straight, Bill. And we’re going to pierce anyone who dares to try and stop us.”

  He does a little dance. “Holy crackers,” he says, using Grace’s emphasis. “What if the blood stains their pretty floors?”

  “It’d be a damn shame,” I say, and we laugh together as he nudges me with his shoulder. I know this is how he copes in stressful situations—drinking and joking. It used to bother me, but I’m grateful for it now.

  I kneel and lean forward, my group of ten automatically hushing around me. I lay out the plans for them, and we go over the guard rotations and numbers, and our goal. We talk through every possible route going in and coming out in case of emergency. Once finished, I rock back on my heels and exhale.

  “No exceptions this time,” I say, “we hold our position until Genesis’s team gets in and out safely.”

  My team members nod in silent agreement. I make it a point to observe each of them, holding their gazes for a split second before moving on. They’re multi-colored—Hispanic, African American, Asian, and Caucasian. Most of them are branded, but a couple aren’t. But we all hold one thing in common: we’re all hungry for action and tired of being pushed around.

  Lastly, I hold Bill’s gaze. He doesn’t smile or crack any jokes. For once, he looks sober, despite the drink in his hand. Then he does something that makes me flinch.

  He takes my hand without breaking eye contact. “You be safe … Lusty,” he says, choking on the last word. “You hear?”

  Usually, he’d say something funny or wish me good luck. Maybe it’s the superstitious part of me reacting, but it weirds me out. “As always,” I reply, quickly turning away.

  “Tonight, sleep well,” I tell the others. “Tomorrow, we give them hell.”

  ***

  The warmth of Cole’s body gives me security. His arm wraps over me and pulls me closer as Zeus settles on my other side. Around us, people snore, whisper, or pray. The open windows let in a cool breeze that smells like mud mixed with autumn. If it weren’t for Cole’s heart pumping against my back, I’d be shivering.

  I try my hardest to sleep, but it’s no use. My mind won’t allow it. I go over the last few months in my head, the grayish blur that was my life before entering the Hole. My thoughts pause at the memory of meeting Cole and Sutton, losing Alyssa, and reuniting with Keegan. I flash to his death—he was so young and so full of life—holding him in my arms as he sputtered his last words.

  Then my memories flicker on to the short time we lived outside the Hole. Sure, it was dangerous and we were always being hunted, but in a sense, we were still free. Looking back, I see the twinge in Cole’s eyes, the way he avoided getting too personal for fear of my reaction to his secret. Meeting Grace was a blessing, a friend sent from heaven to keep me level. Her soothing nature was an anchor to all of us, especially Bruno. The memory of losing her is still too fresh in my mind. I close my eyes and sigh.

  Then I realize the most amazing thing. All these memories, all the people I’ve met along my dangerous journey, have helped me grow and mature. They’ve shown me true friendship and love. They’ve proven people can still be good, regardless of their brand—or lack thereof. Would I have known how deep loyalty runs if I hadn’t come to the Hole? Would I be able to set aside differences with others so easily if I hadn’t been branded myself? As I sift through the past, I’m in awe of the depth of my friendships. I’m in awe that, of all my memories, I’ve involuntarily chosen to keep the positive ones close to my heart. Maybe Keegan was right after all. Maybe my Mom knew what she was doing when she sent me here. I’ve experienced love and loss. And tomorrow, it’ll be the same thing. I clasp Cole’s hand over my heart and listen as he groans in his sleep.

  Bruno’s gruff voice rouses me from a restless sleep. He shakes me awake, moving to Cole once I acknowledge him.

  “Time to get this show on the road,” he says. “And please don’t die.”

  “You do the same,” I say. It pains me to look in his kind eyes, hoping it’s not for the last time.

  In an instant, we’re up and packing, checking and double-checking our supplies. Zeus sits patiently next to Cole, his ears twitching from the commotion. I inspect my gun and place it in my waistband while trying not to think about how little ammunition I have. Less ammo means closer combat, which is much riskier. I remember what Bruno said about making every shot count. I can’t miss. Not once.

  In the adjoining room, Genesis pores over her map once more. She holds a small flashlight that casts shadows over the sharp contours of her face. Once satisfied, she folds up the map and tucks it away, flipping off the light. Bruno touches her shoulder, whispering something, a
nd she nods in agreement. Her lips seal into a thin line as she straightens her shoulders. Then she enters our room. Confidence surrounds her like a cloud. I must admit I’m glad I ran into her and kicked her ass that fateful day. Although a second round now might go differently. She’s a strong fighter, a confident leader, and a survivor—my kind of girl.

  “Teams A and B,” she says in a demanding but quiet voice.

  “Reporting,” Cole says. Bruno joins him. Behind him, Levi stands with his mouth closed and hands twisting in front of him. He’s been strangely silent.

  “Go get them,” she commands.

  It happens so fast, I barely have time to think. Cole hugs me quickly but forcefully and kisses my forehead. “Play it safe,” he says in my ear. “And try not to worry. I got your back.”

  I hug Zeus, wrapping my shaking arms around his neck as he wags his tail. “Protect Cole,” I tell him. “Be your badass self, Zeus. No holding back. You got this, buddy.”

  Then Cole spins on his heels, almost willing himself not to make eye contact. I sense his fear and urgency all at once. I love you. I don’t say it out loud because I don’t want to act on my worst fears. Besides, everything between us has already been said. It’s time to take care of business.

  “Team C,” Genesis says.

  “Awaiting your command,” I respond. My teammates, including Bill, who takes one last swig before tossing his bottle aside, huddle around me, focused despite the dark, early hour.

  “Team D,” she says, and her group forms beside us. “Everyone suited up?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” one of her people replies.

  “Keep your focus on the mission,” she says. “Time to show them what we’re made of.”

  With the darkness cloaking our movements, we step into the frost-kissed streets. My breath billows in front of me with every puff. I take the lead, scouting intersections, buildings, and houses before gesturing my team on. In the middle of a street, something cool lands on my face and slides down the side of my nose. I look up with amazement. White flakes fall from the sky. How beautiful. And ironic. The snowflakes settle on my arms, causing goosebumps to spring up on my bare flesh. Softly and daintily, they spin around us, disappearing into the hard, cracked pavement.

  It’s hard to believe there was a time when I used to play in the snow with Keegan. We used to get heavy snowfall in the Midwest, perfect for making forts and snowmen. Keegan always managed to pelt me with snowballs, one time making me cry when he hit me directly in the face. I’ll never forget the sting of it. Dad would shake his head, but Mom would make me hot chocolate, which soothed everything. Someday, I’ll have hot chocolate again. With marshmallows … lots of big marshmallows.

  Thankfully, the snow’s too light to stick before melting away on the ground, so I don’t have to stress about our footprints being tracked from our starting location. I’m more anxious about Cole and Bruno distracting the main checkpoint guards without getting blown away.

  The solid, soft thumping of my team’s boots on the ground follows me. No one speaks, using hand motions to communicate instead. That’s one good thing Bruno and Cole brought to Genesis’s group: order and discipline. Even so, with Bill at my back, I’m more confident in my group’s abilities.

  After maneuvering to the side of the training center, we hunker down between two buildings and wait for Cole and Bruno to signal. Genesis moves up beside me, her arm brushing mine as she glares into the distance. Her team lines up behind her, their posture almost mirroring my squad—they’re all poised like cats waiting for the perfectly weak prey to stumble upon them.

  I practice controlling my breathing, shielding my face so that no guards can spot us. I flex my fingers and roll back my shoulders to stay loose. The seconds tick by. With every minute, the darkness fades into a light gray. I peek over my shoulder.

  Bill pulls out his bottle and takes a drink.

  Of course he has an extra bottle.

  He gives me a wicked smile, the dim light glinting off his crooked teeth. His hands fumble putting the bottle back, but then he gives me a thumbs-up. If he’s worried, he’s not showing it. Behind him, the others squat, focusing on me, awaiting my signal.

  A light flickers across from the training center. One flick from them tells me they’re in position.

  Hot blood rushes loudly in my ears.

  My hands sweat as I grip my gun.

  A group of guards changes position as a truck rumbles up to the checkpoint. It’s nearly impossible to hear their voices over the engine. After the driver hands clearance papers to the guard manning the checkpoint, the guard waves the truck onward. It revs and jumps forward, heading down into the parking garage.

  Two flickers of light come from Cole and Bruno.

  They’re ready to go.

  Adrenaline snakes its way through me, and my heart hammers in my chest. Breathe, just breathe. I take a deep, shaky breath and exhale, slow and steady.

  With the sky brightening to a dull gray, Bruno and Cole covertly lead their men toward the checkpoint. Their shadows stretch across the pavement. I pray they aren’t discovered before they arrive.

  A shot is fired.

  Oh, God, please.

  There’s silence.

  Bruno and Cole’s team work quickly, but not quick enough. A siren blasts through the Hole. The noise pierces my eardrums, and I fight the natural urge to shrink into myself. Instead, I’m poised to join the fight.

  I want in there. For Cole, and for Bruno.

  The guard inside the small checkpoint runs around inside the small building with a panicked expression. He slams down on controls inside, probably activating warnings. He must’ve engaged the bullet-proof glass doors—our teams are having a hard time getting in.

  Guards pour out of the parking garage. Cole and Bruno’s squads are about to be overwhelmed. I punch down the fear welling up within me. The guards posted around the hospital swarm to the back. Red tracers blur through the air.

  I can handle this. No matter what happens. I will get this done.

  I glance at Genesis, and her forehead creases in thick lines. Her lips purse, and her hands tremble. It unnerves me. I’ve never seen her afraid before. Something’s horribly wrong.

  Well, hell. If she’s not going to do anything …

  I motion to my team, and they ready themselves. Eyes of steel, hearts of warriors. A hand grabs my arm. Genesis shakes her head, but I rip my arm away from her, giving her a nasty look.

  “I’m going,” I growl. “Wait for my signal.” And then you better be there.

  I move my team forward, sprinting across the street into the void between the training center and buildings. A floodlight rotates, landing on us as we sprint. Immediately, we draw a heavy line of fire from the guards. As hellish as it feels to have bullets ripping around us, I’m hopeful it’s creating a diversion for Cole and Bruno’s teams.

  When we reach the hospital, I slam against the wall. Rage puffs out from my lungs, every muscle taut within me. Bill’s at my back yelling like a madman. I sprint on, telling myself not to fire yet. Conserve the ammo. Make each bullet count.

  We round the corner of the hospital and face the guards behind it. It’s a bloodbath, guards and Sinners hacking away at each other. I’m unable to locate Cole and Bruno in the fray. Only Zeus’s tall figure sticks out. His snout’s covered in blood, and some drips from his teeth. He tears guards apart, leaving his signature bites on the necks of dead bodies. He snarls and barks as a man aims a gun at him. Without hesitation, I point and pull the trigger. The man goes down, and Zeus rips through the crowd, pulling the body with him.

  Where are Cole and Bruno?

  We finished the diversion attempt, but I don’t know if it helped. Bill pushes me forward, making the decision for me. I put one foot in front of the other, telling myself to follow through with the plan, regardless of whether they made it. We’re too far in to back out now.

  With Bill encouraging me, we head down into the parking garage. Shooting and shri
eking and boots echo along the thick cement walls. Trucks and vehicles are parked haphazardly in all directions. One guard lies halfway out of a driver’s seat, motionless.

  I turn to signal a team member, hoping he’s still behind me. Thankfully, he is. Light the charge, I signal.

  He fumbles with it for a few seconds but gets it lit. Then he turns and runs, tossing it in front of the garage entrance. It explodes, showering the entrance with sparks. A plume of smoke trails into the sky. Then he’s cut down by a guard.

  Genesis and her team better show up.

  With no time to dwell, I turn to face the training center entrance. The wall of gunfire almost blasts me out of my skin, but somehow we cut through it. I dart toward them with no fear and no thoughts, except to get inside. They come at me, but Bill and I take down two of the largest guards. Next to me, Bruno appears out of nowhere, slashing his way through them. The other members of my team are quick to disable the rest. I use my shoulder to ram into the doors, and they open, shocking me. I thought they’d be locked down by now.

  A fistful of wiring lies on the floor next to the control box, and when I look up, Bruno gives a wry smile. In his fist, he holds the rest of the wires.

  That would explain it. Heaving for oxygen, I join him in holding off the guards threatening to break our thin barrier. Bill’s gun clicks, and the slide jacks open, empty. He doesn’t waste any time in pulling out his knife. Next to him, only two of my team members remain.

  A guard charges the entrance, but Bruno disables him with a swift kick, and I finish him off by shooting him in the chest. I’m down to three bullets, and I still haven’t spotted Cole. Fear ripples around my brain, but I turn it off.

  “Hold the line!” I shout at Bill, and we each take a side of the doorway.

  “Where the hell is Genesis?” Bruno shouts.