Day of Reckoning (Dawn of Rebellion Series Book 2)

by Michelle Lynn

“Em,” Ryan chastises.

  “What?” she demands. “I was just being honest.” She walks off to mope.

  “Sorry,” Ryan sighs.

  “It’s okay,” I say. “She’s been through a lot.”

  “So have you,” he says. “All of us have.”

  “She’s just a kid.” I don’t know why I’m defending her.

  “Aren’t we all?” His question surprises me. I haven’t considered myself a kid for a very long time.

  “I don’t know if I’ve ever really been a kid,” I say honestly. “My sister and I had to grow up in a hurry over in London.”

  “What’s it like over there?” he asks.

  “That depends on where you live,” I explain. “Gabby and I lived in the east end. That's the dodgy part. We thought our father was dead and our mother abandoned us. She just walked away.” My voice trails off.

  “So, who took care of you?”

  “My sister. I was the one who was going to get a placement in Uni after grade school so she let me focus on my lessons while she always made sure I had a roof over my head and food in my stomach.” I pause. “When she was arrested, I knew that it was my turn. I knew I had to be there for her.” I grow quiet as I think about my sister. She’s probably preparing for the assault on Texas. What will they make her do? I turn as Emily walks towards us.

  “You shouldn’t eavesdrop sis,” Ryan says softly. She ignores him as she looks at me.

  “Were you always this brave?” Her voice is small and full of fear. Through all her bratty behavior I had failed to see the scared kid who was just taken from her parents.

  “I’m not brave,” I say plainly. It is the truth. “I don’t know how I got here; how I became this person that would risk her life. It’s like bravery or cowardice doesn’t mean so much when someone you love is in danger.” She sits next to her brother and leans into him.

  “She’s not in danger anymore though,” Ryan says. “You could have walked away from this.”

  “No I couldn’t. Gabby is the danger now. Somehow, I have become the girl that keeps trying to save my sister even when she doesn’t want me to. It’s like banging your head against a wall.”

  “So, you’re like a hero,” Emily says. “Trying to save everyone and all that.”

  “No, definitely not a hero.” I think for a moment. “I’m a sister.”

  “Oh, well Ryan better not expect me to go after him if he does something stupid,” Emily says. Ryan tickles her and she giggles.

  “What about you?” I ask Ryan. “Why are you helping me?”

  “Well,” he smiles, “I am a hero.” That sets us all off laughing.

  Chapter 71: Dawn

  Emily trots towards us with the hint of a smile playing on her lips. She has decided to hate me just a little less after our conversation last night but she still spent the day roaming out in front of us.

  “Jasmine wants to run,” she told us hours ago before setting off to explore the hills before us.

  “Nice of you to join us,” Ryan says. We’ve all been trying really hard to keep things light this morning. The more we smile and pretend at fearlessness, the less we think about what’s coming. Every river that we’ve crossed and every stretch of land that is now behind us has brought us closer to this. Emily pulls up beside us.

  “I didn’t know they were so big,” Emily says as we stare at the walls stretching out in the distance. Silence looms between us as we slide from our mounts. Ryan unties his pack and begins searching through it. He pulls out an assortment of knives and begins tucking them away. I watch him in awe as he gears up. He pulls out two handguns and offers one to me. I take it slowly and he shows me where to conceal it.

  “What about me?” Emily squeaks.

  “You are not coming.” He doesn’t look her in the eye as he prepares for the oncoming screaming.

  “Yes I am,” she states calmly.

  “Someone needs to stay with the horses,” he explains, although, I know that’s not the real reason.

  “So you’re gonna leave me out here all alone?” she demands.

  “It’s safer than in there surrounded by Texans.” He stares at her until her shoulders sag and her resolve dissipates.

  “Fine.” She sits cross legged on the ground. Ryan opens his mouth to say something else then clamps it shut.

  We’ve arrived in perfect timing. The sun went down about half an hour ago and the remaining light is fading. We’ve had plenty of time to talk over our plan. Our main priority is to get to Darren and Tia Cole before the entire city is destroyed and then we need to find my sister.

  As we move closer to the wall, we see a group of people waiting next to the open gate that trucks are driving through. There is a small door next to the gate where two Texans in full protective gear are standing. They scan a device over each person’s forehead before allowing them to enter the city. Almost every time, we hear them yell “clean!” There are a few people, however, who get the designation “impure!” Soldiers then rush to take those people away.

  “What are they doing?” I ask Ryan.

  “I've heard about this,” he starts. “The farmers that work the land close to here live in the city. Every time anyone is let past the wall, they are scanned for any sign of disease. Even a cold is enough to be taken away. They are also checking for foreigners that are trying to get in. Unlike St. Louis, only pure Texans are allowed within Vicksburg limits.”

  “Then how did Gabby and I end up there?”

  “You already know they wanted something from you. I'll bet that having you in custody was leverage against your father.” He quiets and I force myself to turn away from these people and focus on how we will get in.

  Every day, a number of supply trucks enter and exit the city. The last few always arrive just after dark. There is always a truck with a red ribbon near the tire. I learned from the rebels that this is how they get in and out to deliver messages. You wouldn't even see the sign if you weren't looking for it.

  This time of year, the trucks are full of food crates from the nearby farms. We leave Emily sulking in a thicket of trees and leg it towards the trucks. They are stopped as they enter the gate to be inspected and a line of them sit unmoving on the road. I look for the truck that will take us in. I find it. The ribbon is small but I can see just enough of it.

  “This one,” I whisper to Ryan.

  Every inch of each truck is inspected as they pass into the city. Well, almost every inch. When the rebels helped us flee from Texas, Allison showed us a compartment behind the cab that is never checked because the guards are in too big of a hurry. They call it the smugglers den because smugglers use the space to move their goods.

  Ryan and I use the darkness as our cover and pull ourselves into the back of the truck. We move on silent feet to push the crates out of our way. We are not finished when we feel the truck lurch forward. I trip over a box in back of me and Ryan grabs my arm to keep me on my feet. The truck stops once more and I finish uncovering the trap door.

  Ryan pulls on the small metal ring and the small door swings upwards. We pull the door shut behind us and wait. The truck moves forward again and when it stops we can hear muffled voices.

  “Papers?”

  “Of course.”

  “All clear back here!”

  “Papers are in order. You may go.”

  “Thank you.”

  The truck bumps along the Texan roads and comes to one final stop. After a few minutes, there are footsteps in the back of the truck. I don’t know how long Ryan and I are huddled together in silence before a truck rumbles by and all the voices fade away except for one.

  The door to our hiding space is open and a man offers his hand to help me out.

  “It's all clear out here,” he says. “You must be part of the attack right?” I let out a sigh of relief. I was right about the red ribbon. This man is a rebel.

  “Yeah,” I lie. “They sent us in early to get into position.”

  “Well good luck,
” he says as he walks away.

  “I can’t believe that worked,” I whisper as I step down and stretch my legs. It seems like a lifetime ago that I was escaping from Texas using this same car park. Now I am breaking back in. I must be a right fool.

  “What now?” Ryan asks, looking to me for direction. We had come to the conclusion that we can’t do anything without help. I don’t know when the rebel assault will take place but it should be any day now. We can’t wait for that.

  “Come on.” I lead us out onto the street. Curfew was at sundown but there are still a few stragglers lurking about. I use the shadows and alleyways to our advantage. To most of these people, we might look like just a couple of curfew breakers, but if they get a closer look, they’ll be able to tell just by our clothes that we don’t belong here.

  “Move along!” a soldier yells down the street. “Get inside before I have to arrest all of you.” We duck into a doorway and wait for him to pass. We try to stay quiet but every step seems to echo off the brick. We hurry up our pace and I hope we are going the right way. I have only been in this part of the city once before and it was not my best night. The one and only time I’ve been drunk was at Landon's illegal party but I remember enough to get back to his place.

  We reach his building and go to the third floor. His party was in the basement but I remember him mentioning his flat. I count the doors and stop before we reach the fifth one in from the stairwell. We fling the door open and Ryan stops me before entering. There are voices coming from inside and none of them are Landon. I look around the corner and his flat is a wreck; his belongings strewn everywhere.

  I run back to the end of the hall and down the stairs. What happened to Landon? Where could he be? I don’t stop running until we reach the basement. I open the door at the bottom without even thinking.

  “Landon,” I call out desperately in a hushed voice. There is no response. “Landon,” I try one more time. A man steps out of the shadows and at first I think it’s him. It’s not.

  Adrian.

  My breath catches in my throat as I try to speak. We’re done for. I just know it. Adrian killed his own mother because she was a rebel. Gabby saw it with her own eyes. What will he do to us?

  Adrian squints as he tries to recognize me in the dim basement light. “Dawn?” he asks, confused. I pull out my gun and aim it high on his chest.

  “Don’t come any closer,” I bark. Behind me, Ryan stands at the ready.

  Adrian looks me straight in the eye as he pulls his own gun from a holster at his waist.

  “Drop it!” I command. He raises his arm in surrender and lets his gun clatter to the floor. “Where’s Landon!” I yell.

  “So it’s true,” he says calmly.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” I try to control my voice but it betrays me.

  “Landon was arrested on suspicion of being a rebel,” he explains. “He got you out, didn’t he? And that boy of yours?”

  “Shut up!” I scream. I run my free hand through my hair. I am not meant for all of this. I need help. Landon would have known what to do. Ryan puts a hand on my shoulder to lower my gun as he raises his own.

  “What are you doing here?” Ryan asks. Adrian glares at him.

  “Who the hell are you?” he demands.

  “That doesn’t matter does it? I have the gun,” Ryan responds. “Now, answer the question.”

  “I tried to get here before the police but I was too late,” Adrian answers before turning to me. “Why did you come back? You were supposed to be safe.”

  “What do you mean?” I ask, my voice low and quiet. “Why do you care?”

  “I helped you.” He tries to take a step towards me but Ryan gets in his way.

  “Is that why you killed your mother? To help us? She was the one who was on our side,” I snap. Adrian looks away from me and stares at the ground.

  “I had to,” he whispers. “My mother and I had a deal that we wouldn't let each other be confined in those labs and tortured.”

  “We don’t have time for this.” I turn away.

  “You have no clue what would have happened to her if I hadn't shot her.” I stop and turn, considering his words.

  “That doesn’t mean you wouldn’t turn us in,” I growl.

  “Are you here with the rebels?” he asks.

  “No.” I figure there’s no point in lying. “The rebels are here to kill a lot of people. We are only here to kill two.”

  “Tia and Darren?” he asks. When I don’t respond, he continues. “Let me help you.” He pauses. “For my mom.” I look at Ryan and he shrugs. He doesn’t know Adrian like I do. There was a time when I trusted him. Do I have to trust him to use him now? “My father died in those labs,” Adrian explains. “He died at the hands of Darren Cole. Let me help you!”

  “Ryan, take his gun,” I say. Ryan grabs it from the floor and tucks it away. “One wrong move, Adrian, and I will shoot you myself.”

  Adrian tells us that there is a meeting for government officials tomorrow night. That is when we will make our move. What that move is, I don’t really know. Adrian agrees to hide us in his flat until then. I notice that Ryan keeps his weapons handy and I am secretly glad for that. We can’t trust Adrian but I don’t know if we can do this without him.

  Chapter 72: Gabby

  “Weaponry and stealth,” Officer Lincoln is saying. “We cannot rely on numbers but we can rely on our training and of course, our fire power. We cannot force our way; we cannot create a war with the Texan people. Create chaos. The runners will set things off with their explosions. Remember, only use buildings on the edges of town to set up because the runners will be targeting those in the center of everything.” He looks away before delivering his final instruction, “Jonathan has requested that you target civilians. Make them believe their own soldiers have turned on them. I know there are casualties in every war but it is different when you are asked to create civilian casualties. I am sorry.” He bows his head. “May God go with you now and forgive you later.”

  I do not believe in God but Linc’s prayer sent me off with a feeling of comfort. No matter what you believe, when someone prays for you it is a profound thing. They believe it will keep you safe. They care if you come back.

  The snipers are sent in first. Jonathan’s voice issues commands over our wrist coms but I tune him out. Officers can give as many orders as they want but most of them fly out the window when the real work starts. We skirt the city at a distance, moving through the woods until we can see the back gate. “That’s where we enter,” Linc informs us. I pull the sleeve of my Texan military uniform down to hide my com and leave the safety of the trees with the rest of my unit.

  “Remember,” Jonathan’s voice comes over our coms, “our goal is not to beat these people. Our goal is to help them beat themselves. Mayhem. Not war.” Shay rolls her eyes at me and I can’t help but laugh a little. Jonathan has said that line to us probably a hundred times by now.

  Officer Lincoln reaches the wall first and I see a small door that I didn’t notice before. It looks almost as if it is part of the wall itself. He raps his knuckles on the door three times and then twice and then three times again. When it doesn’t open right away, he looks around nervously. After a few minutes, he knocks again.

  The door swings open on rusty hinges and I cringe at the sound it makes. I recognize Clay and Jack as they wave us through. Jack is grinning broadly but Clay has a scowl on his face.

  “Welcome to Texas,” Jack whispers as he hurries us along. He leaves the door partially open for the next wave of rebels. “Good to see you’re alive Gabby.” He claps me on the back. Clay is silent as we meander around the unconscious guards on the ground.

  “Each building has stairs on the outside going to the roof,” Clay informs us gruffly. “They serve as fire escapes. Do not enter the buildings because you may not get back out. Use the fire escapes to get into position.” I don’t linger as Shay pulls me into a run. As the two best snipers, we hav
e been assigned to the government building. I only hope I get a clear shot at Adrian.

  We slow down and lock step as we pass a group of Texan soldiers. The officer leading the unit salutes us and we almost pass each other without a word. I said almost. At the last minute he motions for us to stop. A lump forms in my throat.

  “Where are you headed soldiers?” he asks, eying our uniforms up and down.

  “We were just relieved of our post along the wall,” Shay speaks up. I stay quiet because my accent would give us away.

  “You wouldn’t be heading to your bunks now, would you?” He stares us down and I suddenly don’t know what the right answer is.

  “No sir,” Shay says tentatively.

  “Good answer,” he says. “Then I’m sure you got the orders to go to the government sector. The meeting tonight requires extra security. Anyone whose shift has ended is to report for extra duty. The orders went wide and I’m sure you were just heading there.”

  “Yes sir,” Shay says with confidence.

  “You might as well join us then,” he says before issuing the command to move out. Shay and I bring up the rear and try to match their marching.

  “Shite,” I whisper. “What now?”

  “We don’t have time for this,” Shay says a bit too loudly. The soldier in from of us turns to glare. Marching is an incredibly slow way to get anywhere. We walk straight down the center of each road. I would prefer the shadows. The bag that is slung across my back seems to weigh more and more the closer we get. The government building is surrounded by soldiers milling about. Officers yell out orders and I briefly see government officials stepping through the front door amidst their own security. How are we supposed to do this with all these armed Texans around?

  As soon as our marching unit is engulfed in the sea of Texans, we are able to slip away.

  “Snipers in position?” Jonathan's voice surprises me. I had almost forgotten about the com on my wrist. How stupid can I be? A few minutes ago, that would have gotten me killed.

  “Snipers 1 and 2 not quite ready,” I reply.

  “Get ready,” the response is harsh. We are running way behind by the time Shay and I find the fire escape at the back of the building. For now, most of the Texans are in the front receiving their orders so we immediately jump into action. Linc told us that the snipers are to remain hidden at all costs. If chaos erupts before the runners are in position, we will fail.