by Jessica Roe
“Werewolf,” Sacha reminded him. “I heal fast, even when I'm human.”
Moisey seemed perturbed, and Fortune knew why. “What were they doing to you? To test your healing abilities, I mean.”
For the first time, some of the sparkle left Sacha's eyes. “They cut me open. Again and again. They recorded how fast I healed, then they did it again, only deeper.”
They were silent at they listened to him talk. Sacha so very rarely opened up about his tests, but they all knew it was worse than what most of them had to go through. Like a lot of judgmental Outcasts in the outside world, the scientists seemed to think that Sacha was less than human and treated him just so. They were wrong – Sacha was more human than anyone Fortune had ever met.
“It was too much,” Sacha admitted quietly. “I didn't want them to see how much pain they were inflicting.”
“Hear, hear,” muttered Xahlia, startling Fortune. He hadn't even realized she'd been listening in. But she was right – they both were. Letting the scientists know that their sick experiments were affecting them was like admitting weakness, like handing over their pride on a silver platter. There had been many a time when Fortune had bitten his tongue so hard he'd drawn blood just to keep from crying out on the lab table. Logically he knew the scientists knew, but still, it was a pride thing.
“I closed my eyes.” Sacha looked down at his hands and smiled to himself. “And when I opened them, I wasn't on that lab table any more. I was out there.”
Gelasius cocked his head. “They let you outside?” This came as a surprise because their outside time still hadn't been reinstated. Fortune was beginning to think Merche had been right – Pablo's partner was going to make things much harder for them down there.
“No, that's the thing! I just closed my eyes and when I opened them I was standing in the middle of that rainforest. I knew it was the same one because I was surrounded by those bloodsucking trees, the ones we could see through the fence when we used to go outside.” He ran a hand through his dark hair and laughed. “She was there, guys. Gable was there!”
Nobody spoke. It wasn't a good silence, just. . .awkward.
Fortune opened his mouth then immediately closed it, having no idea what to say. He knew the others were thinking the same thing as he – Sacha had passed out from the pain and had been dreaming. But how could they say that to him when he was so happy?
“You were dreaming,” Xahlia snapped meanly. Oh, that was how they could say it. Except now Fortune wanted to reach through the bars and throttle the vindictive bitch. She always hated when he talked about Gable.
Sacha stared over in Xahlia's direction, though his eyes were vacant like he wasn't actually seeing her, rather processing her words in his mind.
Sparing a quick glare for Xahlia, Fortune asked Sacha, “Did you speak to her?”
He shook his head, seeming to have lost his steam. “We were only there for a minute before I. . .woke up. Before I woke up on the lab table.” He dropped his head into his hands, obviously figuring out what the rest of them already had, before running his hands over his face harshly and glancing up at Fortune. “Do you think it was real? Do you think she's coming for me? For us?”
“I. . .I don't know.” He was torn between being honest and wanting to keep Sacha smiling. The only problem was, if he fed Sacha's dreams, it would only be harder for him when they didn't come true. “I'd like to believe she is. I'm sure she's trying her hardest to get to you.”
Sacha deflated. “But you don't think she's here. Neither do I, not really. I know it's not possible.” With a sigh, he moved over to his own cot and flopped down. “I'm not delusional, it just felt so real. Seeing her there, so close I could almost touch her.” There was nothing left of his earlier joy. Now he looked more depressed than ever as reality set in. Fortune wished he'd just lied his arse off, told Sacha that it had been real and that he'd see his girl soon. “I feel like I've lost her all over again.”
Chapter 19
Gable
“We leave in five minutes,” instructed Zay as the team gathered up the rest of their supplies. “Leave nothing behind, not unless you don't mind losing it forever.”
Gable left them to it, needing to be alone for just a minute more, needing to gather her emotions and lock them away inside so she could continue on with the mission without breaking down like a stupid, pathetic girl. She took shelter behind a large tree, knowing that she wasn't really alone, but appreciating the illusion all the same. This tree was different than the ones with veins; taller than a house and wider than a car, with heart shaped leaves so dark they were almost black.
She felt weak. Weak in that way only Sacha had ever been able to make her feel, though she'd never really minded it. Not with him.
But weakness wasn't going to bring him home to her.
She had to toughen up.
“Gable?”
A sigh escaped her lips and she bit back a curse when she heard Nicky's voice. Oblivious as ever, he'd ignored her desire for solitude and followed her.
“What's wrong?” he asked gently, stepping in close, right up in her space. He reached up a hand as if he was going to touch her face but pulled back at the last moment. Maybe he wasn't as oblivious as he seemed. “What happened with you and Cadby back there? You're pale.”
“It's nothing.”
He tilted his head, studying her. It was a move she remembered so well from when they'd been teenagers, from before they'd even fallen in love. Whenever they'd clashed and fought he'd suddenly cock his head and she'd always known he was searching her – for a weakness usually, a cut so deep he'd win whatever pointless argument they'd be in the middle of. She closed her eyes as the memories washed over her. “You're lying. You forget I know all your faces. I know all of you.”
He had, once upon a time. “I saw Sacha,” she snapped. “I almost had him, and then I lost him all over again.”
Like her words had physically hurt him, he took a step back. “Right. Sacha.”
“You asked.”
He cracked his knuckles uncomfortably, glancing behind like he wanted to escape, before he turned back to her, his expression resolved. “We need to talk. About us.”
“We've been over this, Nicky. So many times. There is no us.”
“There will always be an us,” he exclaimed passionately.
Her stomach clenched at his words. She didn't know if she had the heart to fight him, not when she was still so raw and wounded inside. And he was right. . .in a way. Even if they weren't together, there would always be something between them. Affection, memories, a bond forged by first love. “Look, I know you loved me back then, and you know I loved you too. More than anything, at one point. But I'm not that girl anymore. You have to realize that. Things change. People change.”
“I'm not a complete asshole, Gable. I know that.”
“But you don't! You still look at me like I'm her.”
His mouth hardened into a grim, determined line. “Kiss me,” he challenged, his voice low and gravelly.
“What?”
“Kiss me. I dare you. Kiss me and feel nothing.”
She stared up at his face, his beautiful, familiar face. The early afternoon sun was glinting through small gaps in the trees, lighting him up, making his eyes glow. His jaw was dusted with overnight stubble; it made him look edgy and dark and gut wrenchingly gorgeous. At sixteen she'd thought he couldn't possibly get any more handsome, but she'd been wrong. The power he welded now that he was a man just made him. . .devastating.
“Fine,” she breathed, and left the safety of her tree, stepping forward until their bodies pressed together. Nicky barely had time to blink in surprise that she'd called his bluff before she cupped a hand around the back of his neck, pulling him down until his lips met hers. He froze for a second, and Gable wondered whether it was because he'd thought she wouldn't do it. But finally he came to life, taking control of their kiss, owning it, owning her. His strong arms wrapped around her body; one hand sli
ding beneath her black vest to clutch her back with hard, demanding fingers, the other buried into the hair at the back of her neck, holding her tight against him like he'd never let go. Not ever.
Their mouths moved against one another furiously, fighting for control, tasting each other, daring each other. He moaned gruffly, walking her back until she slammed against the tree, pushing into her as he ravished her.
Gable kissed him back with everything she had, her hands sliding over his wide shoulders, holding on to him like she was drowning and he was the only thing in the universe keeping her afloat. His hands trapped hers above her head as he pressed harder against her.
Nicky had been right, she did feel something. Of course she felt something. This was Nicky Pierce; her first escape, her first love, her first everything. Yes, she felt something. But it just. . .wasn't enough.
Gently, she pulled her mouth from his and slid her arms down to place her palms flat against his solid chest. Not to push him away, just to get a little distance, a little breathing room.
He shook his head desperately and buried his face into her neck. “Not yet,” he begged quietly, like he already knew what she was going to say. And if he knew that, then he must have felt it too, though he didn't want to admit it, even to himself. He felt that there wasn't enough too. He lifted his face and pressed his forehead against hers, their breaths mingling as they panted heavily. “Don't say anything yet.”
“I'm sorry.” She wrapped her arms around his narrow waist in a tight embrace, closing her eyes as he clutched her back even tighter. “I do care about you, Nicky. I always will-”
With outright denial in his eyes, he pulled back suddenly. “Don't you say it. I'm not done convincing you yet.”
“Nicky-”
“We'll talk more later, when we make camp tonight.”
“Nicky. . .” she trailed off, softer this time. She needed to get through to him.
He leaned forward and placed a hot, sweet kiss on her forehead. “It's not over,” he whispered, before turning and striding away to join the others without once looking back.
Gable banged her head against the tree and squeezed her eyes closed in defeat. He'd always been so stubborn, so unable to take no for an answer. That was something that hadn't changed over the years.
But there was just one thing, something she couldn't lie to herself about that she would never tell Nicky because it would only give him hope.
If there had been no Sacha, she would be Nicky's. There was no question about it.
But there was a Sacha. There would always be a Sacha, and she couldn't deal with her emotions and Nicky's. It was too much and they had so many things to achieve.
So she made a vow to herself right then and there. No more alone time, by herself or with Nicky. She could avoid him, at least until their mission was through.
She could.
+++
They continued their arduous trek through the rainforest from where they'd left off the night before, sweating their asses off and straining their already aching muscles. They moved in a straight line for the most part, only altering direction when they were blocked by huge rocks and boulders or large ponds full of mysterious bubbling liquids, or when the foliage was too thick or difficult to navigate through. Luckily they had Cadby to put them back on track each time they veered off path. It was hard, not being able to see the trail he could see to lead them, but each of them trusted him implicitly.
The rainforest was dark and warm, but without the dampness that came with the rainforests back in the human realm. The trees were so tall that barely any light managed to squeeze its way through, which only made their journey that much harder. Their noses were assaulted with the musty smell of the trees, and something. . .riper. Like blood. Even the flowery scent of the plants couldn't hide it.
In an effort to avoid Nicky, Gable stuck to the back of the group with Queenie. She was trying her hardest to keep up with the others, though it was obvious that she was physically struggling. Gable shouldered her pack for a while, but Queenie was determined to carry it as much as possible, not wanting to be a burden. Gable respected that.
“Guys, hold up a minute,” Nicky called out after a while, pausing in his tracks and raising a hand.
“What's wrong?” asked Zay from the front of the group.
Nicky's face was grim. “Shadow.”
They all fell silent as the implications of that set in. Nicky had helped all of the shadows yesterday, so a new one could only mean one thing – somebody had just died, right at that moment. It was a horribly chilling reminder of why they were there.
The rest of them sat down to wait on fallen trees or rocks as Nicky helped the shadow. Watching him, Gable couldn't help but wonder if he'd be able to tell if it was Sacha, if the worst came to pass. She shuddered and closed her mind off to wandering thoughts.
“Electrocution,” Nicky told them a short while later, shaking his head as his eyes turned from gray back to brown. “They pumped the poor girl so full of electricity her body couldn't handle it.”
Gable felt a second of relief that it couldn't have been Sacha, then immediately hated herself for being relieved over somebody's death.
“Bastards!” Ward spat in disgust.
Cadby placed a hand on his shoulder. “We're going to get them,” he assured him evenly. “We're going to find the Outcasts, and we're going to make the ones that hold them pay. Every last one of them.”
+++
“. . .so this mayor chick was so grateful I saved her ass and her town being destroyed by the earthquake that she started sliding her hand up my leg, right there in front of her husband. And he just sat there, grinning like an idiot.”
They laughed as Ward recounted his story a little while later, lightening their spirits, if only a little.
“You don't like a hot cougar?” Zay teased, climbing over a fallen branch and grinning as he let it swing back in Hue's face. Keeping up with the Keeper/Tracker rivalry, they'd been messing with each other since the minute they'd set off – though it was all in good fun. “They're the ones that know all the nasty tricks.”
Ward shot him a wide grin as Queenie made a sound of disgust. “Hey, women are beautiful all shapes and ages. I just don't do threesomes with other dudes or-”
A shot rang out and a bullet whizzed by him, narrowly missing his cheek and embedding itself into a nearby tree with a thunk. The tree made an ear piercing screeching sound as thick, gooey blood oozed from the bullet hole.
“Down!” Zay yelled, pushing Queenie to the ground and throwing himself over her as he reached for his gun.
Gable ducked behind the wounded tree and dropped her pack, her weapon already in her hand.
“Drop your weapons and come with us willingly and we won't have to shoot you,” boomed a deep voice.
“A little late for that,” Gable muttered, taking the safety off her gun.
Zay ushered Queenie behind Gable's cover and told her to stay down.
“Where are the others?” Gable asked, chancing a glance around the tree. There were two men dressed in navy blue jumpsuits – guards, she presumed. She ducked back when they shot again, only missing her by a narrow margin.
“We need to avoid shooting them,” Zay hissed. “Dead bodies are a sure way to alert everyone of our presence, and. . .it's just not how we do things unless absolutely necessary. We know radio signals don't work here so we're at an advantage. They can't alert anyone of our being here unless they can get back and do it in person. You, Hue and I are going to distract them while Nicky and Ward incapacitate them from behind.”
“Where's Cadby?”
“Over there with Hue.” He nodded to to a large, mossy boulder which Cadby and Hue were barely visible behind.
Gable was impressed with the speed in which he'd come up with his plan – he really was made for more than just Keeping.
She leaned around the tree and shot at the guards, making sure it went way above their heads. She wanted to distract them, b
ut she didn't want to accidentally shoot Nicky or Ward in the process.
“I said drop your weapons!” the same voice commanded.
Gable rolled her eyes. “I'll show you mine if you show me yours,” she called back.
“Keep dreaming, bitch.”
Zay raised an eyebrow at her. “Charming fellows, aren't they?”
“Here.” Gable handed Zay her gun and her dagger. He took them, confused.
“What are you doing?”
“Distracting them.”
Before Zay could stop her or tell her all the reasons her plan was so incredibly stupid, Gable stood and stepped around the tree with her hands in the air.
At the sight of her, the two guards lifted their guns and aimed right at her heart. “Walk slowly towards us.”
She smirked deviously. “Or you could come over here and get me.”
The one who seemed to be in charge, blond and thick and all around brutish, blinked in surprise when he got a good look at her. He was composed again within seconds. “I know you, traitor. I know what you're capable of.”
“Maybe.” She glanced over his shoulder. “But you know nothing about him.”
Before he could turn, thick vines shot out of the earth, twisting around his hands and feet and slamming him down to the ground. He yelped and another vine wrapped around his mouth like a gag.
Guard number two waved his gun around wildly, fearful of the enemy he couldn't see. While he was distracted, Nicky grabbed him from behind. In one quick, skilled movement, he knocked the gun from the guard and tightened his arm around his neck until he passed out.
“I taught him that move,” Zay bragged smugly, stepping out from behind the tree as Nicky dropped the guard unceremoniously to the floor.
Gable accepted her weapons back. “Show off.”
“What now?” Nicky asked, wiping his hands. “Tie them up?”
