The Perfect Outcast

by Melissa O. Hansen

  “Last we counted, twenty-nine. We can’t leave our homes. Once someone is sick, there’s nothing anyone can do. No one can get near them. We have to sit back and hope their bodies are strong enough to pull through.” Trinee broke into sobs. “It’s scary, Lina. I wish Dad was with us, but I know you need him more right now.”

  Tears came to Alina’s eyes. “Thank you for letting him help us.”

  Trinee steadied her breath. “You’re welcome.”

  “Can I ask you one more thing?”

  “Of course.”

  “How bad is Zaiden? Has he talked to anyone?”

  “Well,” Trinee giggled through her tears. “It could be a rumor, but I heard he’s been calling for you since he got here. He’s delirious, of course, which makes his words more sincere!”

  Alina’s heart jumped. “I wish I was there. I could take care of him and everyone who’s sick.”

  “There you go again, wanting to save the world,” Trinee teased.

  “I can’t help it. Immortality does that to a person.” Alina managed to laugh. “Stay safe, Trin.”

  “You too.”

  “Bye.”

  Alina hung up the phone. Baylor turned to her.

  “Stormport is being quarantined,” he said. “No one can go in; no one can leave.”

  “Why can’t they leave? They should go before they get infected!” protested Rex.

  “Like many diseases, people are contagious before they have symptoms,” Baylor explained. “We can’t afford to have this spread outside of Stormport. Lance is worried it will wipe out all of Carthem—in fact, he believes that’s Sampson’s intention. He knows there’s a rebellion growing, and Lance is leading it—Sampson’s been trying to kill Lance for years. Losing him would be a crushing blow.” Baylor rubbed his eyebrows. “We need to get to Jaden right away. A quarantine could really complicate our plans. We must leave tomorrow.”

  Alina’s heart dropped. Tomorrow! She wasn’t prepared for this. Stormport called for her now, not Jaden! She could fly there at full speed, and if Zaiden was calling for her from his deathbed, she could save him. But it would mean abandoning the mission when so many counted on her.

  “Can we talk to Lance before we go?” Jade asked.

  “No, he’s busy working with the medical team to find a cure,” Baylor said. “We must manage without his advice for now. Rex, can you travel tomorrow, or would you rather stay here?”

  “Stay here!” Rex exclaimed. “You think I’d let you go without me? I’m coming. I’ll be fine.”

  Rex did look better. His face was scarred, but that would fade in time. His leg needed a few more weeks in the cast, but as long as they had the car, that wouldn’t matter.

  “Pack up tonight, then, all of you. We must get off early, while Gerard’s men are sleeping. I don’t know where they are, but any head start will give us an advantage.”

  Jade and Alina left the parlor and headed toward the stairs. As they passed the front door, they heard a knock.

  Oliver grinned through the window on the door. “Oh—I forgot!” Alina said. “We planned to work at the granary this evening. Do you think I should still go?”

  “Of course,” Jade said. “You have all night to pack, remember?”

  Alina sighed. “I don’t feel like going, actually. I’ll talk to him.”

  She opened the door. “Hey, Lina! Ready to go?” Oliver asked. His smile vanished. “What’s wrong?”

  She stepped outside. “We’ve had some bad news.” She glanced up the street at Mayor Nelson and Maxwell, who were marching toward his home. “Here they come to speak to Baylor. There’s an emergency in Stormport.”

  “What’s going on?” Oliver asked. The men came inside the gate and nodded, then went into the house, their eyes heavy with worry.

  “They’ve had an outbreak of a serious illness. Sampson smuggled a virus in. Many people are dying, so the city is under quarantine.”

  Oliver went pale. “How was it smuggled in?”

  “Two people brought it.”

  “From Pria?”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s awful. You must be worried for your friends there. Are any of them sick?”

  “Yes. I know both of the boys who brought in the disease. One of them was the reason I escaped Pria in the first place.”

  “Do you think Millflower will be quarantined?”

  “Yes, most likely.”

  Oliver released a long breath. “Well, I’m not going to lie, I’m happy to hear that. I was dreading the day you left. I’ve had more fun these past two weeks than I have in my whole life.”

  Alina swallowed. “I need to talk to you about that.” She sat down in a wicker chair. “Baylor says we can’t afford to get stuck here. We must leave before a quarantine happens, here or at Jaden.” She paused. “Tomorrow morning, in fact.”

  “Tomorrow?”

  “Yes.”

  Oliver slumped down on the chair next to her, took off his cap, and began twisting it in his hands. “That’s a real bummer.”

  “I know.”

  He hesitated, then took a deep breath. “I want to go with you. Do you think Baylor will let me?”

  Alina stared at him in shock. “Go to Jaden? You’re not old enough!”

  “I’m seventeen! Is there an age requirement or something?”

  “They need you here to help with the harvest. Your mom needs you. You have a job and school to finish next year.”

  Oliver’s cap popped out of its spiral. “Everyone I’m close to, including my mom, knows I don’t want to stay in Millflower. I’ve wanted to live in Stormport or Jaden as long as I can remember. But those opportunities don’t come often. The road is dangerous, and yes, there’s always too much work to be done here. But here’s my chance! Oh, Alina, I want to go! Can’t you ask Baylor?” He turned his pleading, blue eyes on her.

  She sighed. “He won’t let you, Ollie. We have to keep the group small. Even four is pushing it. Big groups attract the creatures, you see.”

  He looked so devastated, she almost agreed to beg for him but decided against it. Did she want him there? If he found out about Zaiden, he wouldn’t like it, and then their friendship would change.

  “How about you come to Jaden next year, after you finish school? You can choose to go then, can’t you?”

  “Yes. I planned to leave, even before you came along. You—well, let’s just say Millflower will be unbearable with you gone. Will you be in Jaden next spring?”

  “I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t know what the plan is for ousting Sampson, or what my role is. But it keeps proving to be bigger than I think.”

  “Can you promise me something?”

  “What’s that?”

  “Whatever your adventure is, will you include me? Send for me, or even better, come and get me yourself. I want to join the fight against Sampson. I want more than this small town can give me.”

  Alina shifted in her seat. This could get complicated. But then, maybe she was analyzing too much. Zaiden needed to get well and come to Jaden before he could complicate anything—and she and Oliver were only friends. His companionship would be a comfort to her.

  “I’ll do all I can, Ollie, I promise.”

  He smiled and put his cap back on. “Can I help you pack, then?”

  “Sure,” she said, and stood up. Then she remembered Zaiden’s info-disc stashed in her backpack, which he would surely see.

  “On second thought, I can pack later; I have all night. Let’s do something fun.”

  “Not the granary, then, I suppose.”

  “Yes, let’s do the granary! We said we’d be there. I want to do something for Millflower before I leave.”

  “Well, that’s the place to be, then. Carthem depends on it.”

  They didn’t speak as they walked past the wheat fields to the granary, the golden stalks stretching all the way to Millflower’s back wall. Alina kept glancing at Oliver. He stared at the ground, frowning, but when they r
eached the granary, his shoulders relaxed. He met her eyes and smiled.

  As they filled bags with grain, he told her they should share their deepest secrets with each other. He confessed he liked to dance and often shut the door to his room, turned on his music and let himself loose. Alina asked him to show her some moves right there, but he said he could only dance to music.

  Then she broke into a song, something she’d never done before, and was surprised by how perfect she sounded. Oliver’s jaw dropped as she danced along the platform, swinging her hair and belting into the wheat scooper in her hand. He grinned and jumped in, blending his voice with hers, and though his dancing wasn’t as polished, they complemented each other.

  The sun was setting when they left, casting a bronze glow over the wheat fields. The hard work put them in good spirits, and Oliver put his arm around Alina’s shoulder like he’d done so many times before.

  “You know, Lina,” he said. “There are moments I love Millflower. This is one of them.”

  “Well, from what I hear, Millflower loves you, too. At least half the population does.”

  He blushed down to his shirt collar. “Actually, you’re unfamiliar with the demographics of Millflower. Women outnumber men two to one.”

  “Oh, so two-thirds of the town loves you, sorry, my mistake.”

  “And half of that population is already married.”

  “Okay.”

  “And another twenty-five percent are under the age of eight. But for the last twenty-five percent, yeah, you’re pretty much right.”

  Alina burst into laughter, and when she stopped there was an awkward silence. She decided to steer the conversation from where she’d led it.

  She wasn’t fast enough.

  “You know,” Oliver said seriously, “that percentage of the female population means nothing to a guy. All he wants is for that special, point-zero-one percent to love him.”

  Alina tilted her head for a moment, then furrowed her brow. “Huh?”

  He cringed. “Never mind.”

  They walked in silence, his arm still around her. Neither of them wanted to disturb the moment with words. When Maxwell’s house came into view, Alina felt tears come to her eyes. They reached the gate, where Oliver stopped and took her in his arms.

  She could feel his heart racing as she pressed against him. “Thanks for the best two weeks of my life,” he whispered.

  She blinked back the tears. “Thanks for being such a good friend. I hope you still have some after I leave.”

  He laughed, and the tension loosened. Alina was afraid to pull away and look at him. After several minutes, he released her.

  She couldn’t meet his gaze. “Goodbye,” she mumbled to the ground.

  He put his hand under her chin and lifted it. The lights from the house illuminated his sharp jawline. He stared into her eyes for a moment, then glanced at her lips.

  Voices from the house saved her. She turned her head and saw a group gathered in Maxwell’s dining room, veiled by thin drapes.

  “I need to go,” she whispered. “Goodbye.” She squeezed his hand as she ran off. She reached the porch steps and heard his soft reply.

  “Goodbye, my timeless friend.”

  Alina stepped inside Maxwell’s home and found the mayor sitting at the dining table. Christine, Maxwell, Jade, and Rex huddled together with grim expressions on their faces. Baylor stood next to the window with his arms crossed.

  “Uh oh,” she said as she closed the door. “This can’t be good.” She thought of Zaiden and Baylor’s family in Stormport, and a lump came to her throat. “Have you heard news?”

  “Alina, sit down,” Maxwell said, pulling a chair away from the table. “There have been some new developments.”

  Alina looked at Baylor. His jaw twitched, and he did not meet her eyes.

  Panic rose in her chest. “Baylor, what’s going on?”

  Mayor Nelson spoke up. “I will explain. I heard the news first. Please, sit down.”

  Alina sat on the edge of the chair.

  “I suppose your long stay here, waiting for Rex and Baylor to heal, was unwise. It’s given Gerard time to collaborate with Sampson.” The mayor cleared his throat. “Gerard and his mob have surrounded Millflower.”

  Alina blinked twice. “There’s only about twelve or thirteen of them. How can they surround the town?”

  “Sampson has sent aid,” the mayor explained. “According to Gerard, they now number six hundred. That matches the entire population of Millflower, including our women and children.”

  “Six hundred!” Alina exclaimed. “And are they all protected from wilderness dangers?”

  “It appears so, yes.”

  “Have you seen all these men?”

  “I’ve seen enough to believe his estimate is probably accurate. And they’re not all men. Many are women, and they’re armed.”

  “That’s not the worst part,” Baylor cut in. “Can you think how Sampson might have readied an army so quickly?”

  Alina shook her head.

  Baylor dropped his voice. “They are his experiments. Their brains are programmed to follow orders from him, and now Gerard.”

  Alina stopped a gasp with her hand. “Prisoners from the dungeons?”

  “Yes. This is a declaration of war. We’ve never had such an influx from Pria before. Gerard met them at the portal, and they’ve obeyed him blindly since.”

  “What are they planning to do?”

  “Gerard says they’re not interested in war. They want you. And if they don’t get you, they’ll attack the town.”

  Alina stood up and began twisting her fingers. “But how can you be sure they won’t attack after they take me? Won’t Sampson destroy Millflower if he can?”

  The mayor rubbed his temples. “I know. We must play our cards carefully.”

  Maxwell spoke up. “I believe Gerard doesn’t want to attack the town. The chaos would make it easy for you to escape. You’ve proven difficult to contain. But we can’t risk it. We don’t have much choice.”

  Alina put her face in her hands to hide her tears. Gerard and his men terrified her more than anything she could think of—except seeing her loved ones die.

  She couldn’t endanger Millflower. The people of Carthem would starve if it fell.

  She wiped her eyes and raised her head. “How much time do we have?”

  “Until midnight. Three hours. If he doesn’t have you by then, they will attack.”

  “Should I take anything with me?”

  At these words, Jade stood and left the table, holding back tears.

  Baylor watched her leave. “There’s hope, Alina. I have a plan that might work. At least it will keep you safe from their filthy hands. You don’t need to bring anything—they’d only confiscate it anyway.”

  She nodded, chewing on her lip.

  Baylor turned to Mayor Nelson. “I’ll take Alina to Gerard. You contact Lance, and I’m sure he’ll have a plan for getting her back. We’ll act quickly, before they take her far.” He turned back to Alina. “Don’t worry, you won’t be with them long.”

  The mayor nodded, drumming his fingers on the table as he frowned. He let out a long breath. “I guess that’s our only option.” He looked at Alina. “We’ll do everything we can to get you back soon. I promise.”

  They all rose to leave, patting Alina’s shoulder as they passed. Baylor embraced her.

  “It’ll be all right,” he whispered. “You are like a daughter to me, and I will protect you as such. When will you be ready to go?”

  “I’ll pack my bag so it’s ready for Jade to take, and then let’s go.”

  “I’ll wait here for you.”

  She went upstairs and found Nicole sitting on her bed with an icy glare on her face. Alina ignored her as she gathered her clothes and folded them into her pack.

  “I know what’s going on,” Nicole hissed.

  Alina didn’t look at her. “Good for you.”

  Nicole slid off the bed and app
roached her with crossed arms. “I knew it was a mistake to let you come here.”

  Alina said nothing.

  “Now you’re putting all of us in danger. My only comfort is no one will let you come back after this.”

  Alina spun around to face her. “Why do you hate me so much?” she blurted out louder than she meant to, and Nicole shot an anxious glance at the door. “Is it because I’m beautiful, and you’re not?”

  Nicole’s eyes flashed. “Of course not. I’m not vain like you are. And just so you know, that boyfriend of yours is not as nice as you think.”

  “Well, maybe not, but he’s the nicest person I’ve met here, so that doesn’t say much about the rest of you,” Alina retorted. “I would’ve taken friendship from anyone and been happy. It’s not my fault the town heartthrob was the only one who reached out to me.” She threw her packed bag by the door and left without looking back.

  Baylor waited for her at the bottom of the stairs. “Is everything okay?” he asked, looking up the stairs over her shoulder.

  “Yes.” Alina fumed.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “I just want to be normal,” she snapped.

  He smiled faintly. “Alina, your life from the start has never been normal.” He opened the door for her and followed her outside.

  The darkness made her anxious. Why must Gerard take her in the evening? The homes they passed revealed families watching the monitor, eating dessert and washing dishes, unaware of the danger surrounding them. She swallowed a lump in her throat, surprised by how sad she was to leave.

  As they passed Wheaton Drive, she stretched her neck to see Oliver’s house and caught a light from his bedroom window. He didn’t mention it, but she knew he planned to see her off in the morning.

  “Baylor,” she said, “we have some extra time, don’t we? Can we stop by Oliver’s house so I can explain everything to him?”

  He shook his head. “Not a good idea. You can’t tell him why you’re leaving. Only the town officials know of the danger we’re in. We don’t want to cause a panic.”

  “You should’ve held the meeting at a more private place, then. Nicole heard the whole thing. Tomorrow everyone will know.”

  “By then you’ll have already left, and the town will be safe. You tell Oliver now, and he’ll do something drastic and foolish to protect you. Boys overreact when it comes to saving their girlfriends.”