We emerge from the tunnels and cover the manhole, dragging some debris and building rubble over the exposed shaft, and then we head back towards the bridge. In the faint light of dawn I see that Reed is practically black with dust and soot, and I can only imagine what he must have gone through after the explosion. His clothes are torn in a number of places, and his arms and face are marked with dried blood.
“How did you get out?” I murmur, half to myself. I still can’t believe he survived the explosion in the tunnels.
“When I realised what was about to happen I ran like hell,” he answers diffidently. “I still didn’t manage to completely escape the cave-in though, and the blast itself was agony.” I nod sympathetically, my injuries were bad enough and I was much further away from the detonation – thanks to him.
“You saved my life.” I meet his eyes briefly before looking back at my feet. He is regarding me thoughtfully, but he doesn’t acknowledge my words and just continues with his story.
“When I came to, I was buried under the debris, but not so deep that I couldn’t pull my way out.” True to form, he completely downplays the monumental effort this must have cost him, if his appearance is anything to go by. “The worst part was finding my way out of those damn tunnels.” He grins. “I have a new appreciation for your dear David.”
“You saved my life,” I repeat, seriously, still finding it difficult to meet his eyes. “You could have died.”
“Yeah, well, let’s not get carried away, Tiny, don’t think it makes you special.” He shrugs it off, smiling, and then turns back to the others.
Chase walks calmly between Jethro and Reed, looking only mildly interested in what is going on around him.
“I need your phone,” I hold out my hand, and he reaches into the breast pocket of his grey jacket and hands me his mobile. I crush it in my hand and throw it into a nearby bush before turning to Gabe. “Can you get us a car?”
“No problem.” Gabe walks off and I ask Jethro to follow him.
Gabe and Jethro return with a dark blue sedan and the seven of us pile into it. We lock Chase in the trunk and Jethro drives, David beside him navigating. Reed and Gabe sit on either side of the back seat, near the windows, and I perch in the middle, on my father’s lap, holding on to the seats in front of me and trying to make myself as light as possible.
“Relax, Bex,” my dad laughs. “You weigh nothing and we have a long way to go.”
Blushing slightly, I relax my position and put more of my weight down.
“So, what happened, Dad?”
“I really have no idea.” He knows exactly what I am asking. “One minute we were explaining to the crowds what had happened and the next we were surrounded by NUSA soldiers. It was almost as if it had been planned, like they knew we were coming. Joseph Hale arrived and accused us of treason, and we were thrown into the back of an SUV and taken to Eric’s mansion.”
I am listening intently to every word, but I am also scouring the streets for danger. Driving in the full light of day is not wise, but we need to get as far from the Plaza as possible before they have time to regroup and the city is locked down.
“We spent only a few days there. They tried to torture information from us, not very effectively, to be honest.”
“You and the VP?”
“Yeah.”
“What did you tell them?”
“That we had a base in Mexico City but that I hadn’t been there. I don’t think they believed me,” he adds wryly. “Anyway, when they realised they weren’t going to get any concrete information out of me, they moved me to the lab and told me I had to assist with the procedures.” He sighs, looking me directly in the eye. “I had to do it, Bex. I’m sorry, but they backed me into a corner.”
“Did they threaten Mr Williams?”
“How do you know that?”
“I figured it had to be something pretty dramatic to get you to go along with them. The VP was the only thing they had to use against you. Do you have any idea where he is now?”
My father looks crestfallen. “No. I only saw him once after they moved me to the Plaza. I was having a bad day, told them to stuff their research. They figured I needed reminding of what was at stake, so they paraded him in, pushed him around. I tried to call their bluff, but then they really started to hurt him . . .” his voice breaks with emotion and I put my arm around him.
“It’s not your fault, Dad.”
“Twenty-eight years,” he whispers. “Twenty-eight years we’ve been together. I’ve been protecting Kenneth Williams most of my adult life.”
“We’ll find him, you have my word. This is not over, Dad. I promise you, one way or another, we’ll find him.”
“The day you were captured,” Reed breaks the silence and we turn to face him, “why did you enter the States with no security?”
“I’m not sure I follow?” My dad sounds slightly confused at the line of questioning but Reed doesn’t back down.
“The day of the battle, when you and the VP came into the States. You came alone – no security, no guards. Why would you do that?”
“We never suspected there would be any resistance; Dane’s army was defeated, we assumed that it was safe.”
“Assumed?” Reed challenges and I narrow my eyes at him.
“I . . .” My father trails off, looking perplexed.
“Dad,” I interrupt, “did the General send you into the States without security? He says you declined any guards.”
“Why on earth would we decline guards?” He seems perplexed. “I don’t know, it all happened so fast. We made a mistake, obviously. Why do you ask?”
I take a deep breath. “Do you think the General could have had anything to do with your capture?”
“No,” he answers immediately. “I trust Harrison with my life. There’s no way he would double-cross us.” I don’t argue, but I can see by the set of Reed’s jaw that he is not convinced.
Chapter 13
By the time we have crossed through Indiana into Michigan and reached the Ottawa River, my legs and back are aching from being perched in the same position for so long. Taking cover in the trees not far from the river bank, we try to evaluate how we are going to get back out of the States to Toledo. We had planned our destruction of the lab with such precision but had not really established our exit plan.
“As far as I can tell, we have two problems,” Reed points out. “One, no distraction. The guards will see us for sure when we pass the boundary fence.”
“And the other problem?” I ask.
“We’re not salmon, Tiny. Swimming upstream is going to be a hell of a lot harder than coming down with the current.”
I assess the group. Of the six of us, only Reed, David and I are strong enough to make the swim. Jethro’s speed is not going to help him through the water and Gabe and my father will never make it without assistance.
“How many guards do you reckon we’re looking at?” I ask Jethro, who has spent most of the afternoon scouting the area and watching the boundary fences, getting an idea of the soldiers’ movements.
“About twenty, give or take. Of course the longer it takes us, the more time there’ll be for the other guards to get here; they’ll come down the fence line as soon as the alarm is raised.”
“Twenty,” I gnaw at my lip, trying to figure out a plan. “How long until their reinforcements arrive?”
“Probably no more than five or ten minutes for the fastest wave.”
“You can’t seriously think we could fight our way through?” David asks but I ignore the question. “They’ll know,” he sounds frantic, “they’ll know we were here, that this is how we came in. I thought we needed to be discreet, that was part of the plan. If they see us, there’s no way we can get back in again. Ever.”
“We needed to get in undetected, to be sure nobody stopped us,” Reed co
rrects. “Getting out is just that: getting out. It doesn’t really matter if they know, so long as they can’t stop us.”
“But they can stop us. Mr Davis, Gabe, they’ll never escape down the river.”
“Exactly.” I grin and Reed shakes his head as he realises what my plan is.
We wait until midnight, when the night is at its blackest, and the guards manning the fences will be tired enough to start making mistakes. Hopefully.
“This has got to be the most insane idea you have ever come up with,” Reed grumbles as we swim upstream, our arms cutting through the water and bringing us closer and closer to the fences.
“Worse than taking on the Dane Army outnumbered?”
“Okay, maybe the second most insane idea.”
“What about blowing up the NUSA lab in the most high-security building in the States?”
“Okay, okay, point taken, no need to brag.”
“I’m not bragging, I know this is going to work.”
“Oh really? And the reason you’re so sure of yourself?”
“Oh, I’m not. I’m sure of you.” His silence is absolute, and I smile in the dark. I’m not lying, not flattering him. With Reed by my side, I feel that anything is possible, that nothing can hurt me. He won’t allow it.
I glance back, squinting through the darkness, trying to establish where we entered the water. I can vaguely make out the three shadows standing on the river bank. As I watch, they turn and move away from the water’s edge, towards the road.
“They’d better move it,” I murmur, spitting out a mouthful of water.
“They’ll be fine, you need to focus.” He’s right and I shift my attention back to the boundary fence which is almost in view.
“You ready?” Reed asks.
“Let’s do this,” I answer, my words drowned by the sudden wail of a siren.
“That’s our cue, Sexy Bex,” he swims to the shore and we emerge from the river at a run, heading straight for the horde of soldiers swarming towards us.
We are still knee-deep in water when the first wave is upon us. I dispatch my first two opponents with little effort, but the third lands a painful blow to my right knee.
“Son of a bitch.” I turn on him and return the favour. I hear the splintering of bone as I drive the heel of my foot down hard on his kneecap. I sweep my leg beneath him and he crashes to the ground, water spraying in all directions. Reed has already made it to dry ground and is unleashing his fury on a multitude of men at once. One by one they drop to the ground. Grabbing hold of another soldier, I spin him around and hold him against my body so that he takes the brunt of a brutal blow from one of his associates. Dropping the incapacitated man to the ground, I grab the assailant and bring his head down hard as I lift my knee. There is a sickening crunch and the blood from his nose and mouth sprays the front of my grey vest.
On and on we wage our two-man battle against at least ten times as many opponents. A quick glance confirms that our plan is working, the soldiers are so preoccupied with us that they have left this section of the fence entirely undefended. Over the clamour of the battle, I hear the deep roar of an engine and a moment later the dark blue sedan roars out of the darkness, hurtling straight towards the boundary fence. I spare a moment’s sympathy for poor Chase, who is no doubt being tossed around in the trunk like a rag doll. Too late, the nearest soldiers realise that our fight is a diversion and they try to stop the speeding car. One is foolish enough to stand in the path of the oncoming vehicle and it hits him head-on, slamming him into the fence before he is flipped over the hood, landing in a crumpled heap behind the sedan in a spray of dust. The boundary fences are designed to act as a barrier – a deterrent to anyone approaching from the barren lands, but it is the presence of the NUSA soldiers that make them inaccessible. The fence itself is no match for the force of the moving car and, as it crashes through, the entire section between two of the concrete posts is ripped away, flying over the sedan and landing in the dirt just beyond the fence line. I catch Reed’s eye as the car fishtails dangerously and then heads out into the Rebeldom.
“Time to go!” he roars, now that the others are out, and I don’t hesitate. I quickly overpower the soldier I am fighting and sprint after the sedan, Reed right behind me. Not even the fastest NUSA soldier could catch us, Gifted as we are, and we have soon put enough distance between us and the Michigan boundary fence to be able to relax.
We reach the Toledo camp just after the others, and I immediately extract Chase from the trunk of the blue sedan. He looks ridiculously out of place in his grey suit and tie and he has a large bruise on his right cheek, no doubt a result of his bumpy ride.
“Where the hell are we?” he demands to know.
“We’re in the barren lands. Ohio, to be exact.”
“Are you insane? The barren lands are toxic, Rebecca, we’ll die out here!”
“We’ll survive,” I nod at Jethro, who is standing nearby, keeping a close watch. “Lock him up,” I order. We are still too close to NUSA to risk Chase getting away from us.
“Try to get some rest,” I say calmly, ignoring Chase’s cry of protest as Jethro ties his hands behind his back. “I’ll come and see you in the morning.”
I go in search of the others and gratefully accept the cup of coffee that Veronica holds out as I pass the kitchen.
“You’re a godsend,” I thank her, and she smiles, her eyes following Jethro as he marches Chase down the hall.
“Dinner will be ready soon,” she adds, suddenly remembering that I am standing there. “I’m sure you’re all starving.”
I take my steaming mug and enter the strategy room where the atmosphere is positively euphoric.
“We did it!” Jethro displays uncharacteristic exuberance and practically lifts me off my feet in a crushing bear-hug. David is packing away his maps and blueprints, a grin stretching from ear to ear. Reed claps him on the back, almost hard enough to knock him to the ground.
“Well done, Specs,” he laughs, and David takes it in good humour. Reed turns to me and there is an awkward moment, neither of us knowing quite what to do.
“Where’s Brett?” Tim asks, and the atmosphere changes immediately.
I take a deep breath and face him. “He didn’t make it,” I answer. “I’m sorry. Nor did Marcus,” I add, casting a glance at Gabe, who is sitting quietly at the table, an untouched cup of coffee cooling in front of him.
Morgan enters the room and I smile at her, relieved that she didn’t come with us and that she is okay. She barely spares me a glance.
“Where’s the Vice-President?” she asks and my dad shakes his head.
“We don’t know, I haven’t seen him in months.” The guilt etched on his face tugs at my heartstrings and I link my arm through his.
“Walk with me?”
We walk out into the starry night. The air is cool and I shiver slightly, pulling closer to my dad and basking in his warmth.
“I was so worried about you,” I murmur and he ruffles my hair.
“I know, I’m sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“What have I missed?”
“Not much. Until the decision to blow up the lab we didn’t really know what to do, we were just making assumptions, trying to figure out what happened. I let everyone down,” I admit ashamedly. “All I could think about was you. And Aidan. I wasted four months, Dad.”
“Bex,” he pulls me closer to him, “don’t, just don’t,” he repeats as I open my mouth to insist. “You’re only human. You need to grieve, just like the rest of us. And from what I saw back there, it looks like you’ve made up for lost time.” He smiles at me and again I feel the euphoria of blowing up the lab.
“Someone has taken over where Eric left off,” my dad is talking again, “but I don’t for one second believe that Joseph Hale has the gumption or the drive.”
“Agreed,” I sigh. “Eric tried to warn me, but I just didn’t stop to listen.”
“What?” My father was captured shortly after I murdered my husband, he has no idea what happened in Eric’s office that day.
“He told me, just before he died, that he wasn’t the one pulling the strings, that I had another enemy. I just didn’t believe him. If I had taken the time to listen we might not be in this position. You and the VP might never have been captured.”
“No, Bex,” his voice is firm, “there are no ‘what-ifs’. You did what you thought was right. Eric was a monster, responsible for the murder of countless innocents. Don’t have any regrets, they’ll eat at you from the inside.”
“He killed Aidan,” I murmur, and I feel the strength of my anger overwhelming the guilt.
“Exactly. You have nothing to feel bad about. Anyone else would have done exactly the same in your situation.”
“Tell that to the General.” My dad laughs, the gruff sound music to my ears.
“Is Harrison giving you a hard time?”
“He’s pretty pissed that I didn’t let Eric live, given what we could have learned. He’s also finally got his way, he’s creating new Gifted soldiers as we speak.”
“What?” His tone is incredulous.
“I don’t like it either, but with the sheer numbers that NUSA has, we have to level the playing field or we haven’t a snowball’s chance in hell of winning this war.”
“Well, destroying the lab will ensure that NUSA can’t Gift any new soldiers. You saw to that,” he adds proudly.
“And with you back home, at least our soldiers will have a higher chance of survival undergoing the procedures.” He doesn’t argue, he is not prone to false modesty.
“You really trust the General?” I ask as we change course and walk back to the camp.
He turns to face me, the silver moonlight illuminating only half of his face.
The Legion Page 11
