by J. L. Weil
“Good. Then you know how this is going to end.” I whipped up the stun gun clutched in my hand.
“I’m not letting you out of here,” he said, lunging forward. He caught my arm in both hands, twisting it over my head. I was no match for his strength to my utter frustration.
I had to do something or risk everything we’d done so far. Any second, I expected the alarms to be tripped. Powering up, I let the flow of electricity in the air fill my veins. Lightning impaled the night, setting it aglow. The guard knew what was coming and hastily released his hold on me, his pupils dilating with fear. I don’t know what happened next. My brain kicked into survival mode. The gun in my hand went off, and since a Taser utilizes bolts of electricity, my power amplified the charge, lighting up the air.
His body started twitching as if he was seizing, and I waited for him to go down, but he somehow managed to stay on his feet.
What is this guy made of? Steel?
The same couldn’t be said for me. I didn’t possess any super human strength, but I did have power of my own. The sheer surge of the jolt would have killed a normal man. I needed to expect no one and nothing was normal anymore. While he twitched like a live wire, I curled my fist—still pumping with power—and socked him in the face.
His eyes rolled to the back of his head, and like a sawed off tree trunk, he hit the ground in plank formation.
Biting my lip, I impeded the string of swear words I had ready as I stepped backward, cradling my hand. Why does it look so easy in the movies when you punch someone?
I might have broken my hand.
Snatching my bag off the ground, I turned to Star, who quivered, and threw a haunting glance in her direction. If we were going to get out of here alive, she needed to calm down. “Are you okay?” I asked, doing my best to ignore the pain shooting through my hand.
She nodded, eyeing me with a weird expression, as if scared… of me. “D-did you…?”
“Kill him?” I added. “No, he isn’t dead. I just knocked him out.” Hopefully. “I told you I would protect you, and I meant it. Now all we have to do is walk out the gate.” I didn’t want to give her time to reconsider what we were doing. “We need to go.”
Putting a hand under her elbow, I guided her toward the exit. We edged out of the fenced compound and into the volatile Heights. Then we were running, each step taking us farther and farther from the Institute.
I don’t know how long we ran for, but my lungs burned and my legs felt like Jell-O. As we crested the top of a hill, I slowed our pace. Under the deep blue sky, I looked up and saw the stars glimmering like thousands of diamonds, and I wanted to weep for so many reasons.
A cold resolve hit me in the gut as I regarded the gleaming city behind us. I was out, but I wasn’t free. Not yet. My parents would look for me. They would hunt me as they hunted Dash. I had something they desired: my DNA.
I pushed aside the bleak thoughts of the Institute. It would take many therapy sessions to rid myself of the stain the Institute had left on my soul. But for tonight, I had bigger problems.
Where were Star and I going to sleep?
And how the hell was I going to find Dash?
Chapter Nine
Reality seemed to descend upon me all at once. Holy crap on a graham cracker. We had done it. We had really snuck out of Diamond Towers in the middle of the night.
My time at the Institute was behind me, but my journey was far from over. It seemed like a lifetime ago when all I had to worry about was grades, homework, and making sectionals in cheerleading. So much had changed, even from a few weeks ago when Dash had found me.
Finding him was going to be nearly impossible, but impossible tasks seemed to be my thing. If Star and I made our way to Hurst, Dash was bound to turn up there eventually. It was probably the closest thing Dash had to a home.
Star walked silently next to me, her eyes huge and a hand clutching her bag tightly. I could only imagine what she saw as her gaze roamed over the land—so much deadly beauty, for the darkness hid gruesome creatures and poisonous wildlife. I should have been frightened, but I wasn’t, not like what I’d just left behind, and I understood for the first time why Dash had vowed never to step foot inside the white city again.
My eyes went skyward, and as I’d hoped, I made out a black figure swooping down from the sky. Blink passed over the treetops, wings spread out like a glider, and gave one long squawk.
“Bossy bird,” I mumbled, but I think I knew now how I would find Dash. Blink had just become my guide. I only hoped trusting him didn’t lead to my unwanted misfortune.
“What did you say?” Star asked.
“Nothing. We need to keep moving.”
“For how long?” A pinch of a whine flavored her tone.
She was tired and overwhelmed. Who could blame her for complaining? “Until we find some place to hide during the day.”
Star hiked her bag over her shoulder, her eyes shifting in every direction as if someone would pop out at us at any second. “You want to travel at night? That doesn’t seem safe.”
“Depends on whether you would rather bump into the Night’s Guards or whatever the Heights throws at you.”
“Is there an option three?”
“I wish,” I grumbled.
“Where are we going?”
My gaze flicked up into the dark blue night, spotting the Blinken. “I’m not sure, but my instincts are telling me to go south”—straight into Somber Mountain.
Damn, Blink better know what he’s doing.
We walked in silence for a while, except for the occasional sigh from Star. This area of the Heights was less wooded and more open, making me nervous from the lack of coverage. The terrain became a battle, rolling up and down in rocky formations. My eyes every so often searched for the bird.
Miles later, I spotted what could be a suitable place to rest, as long as nothing else occupied the space, and even then, I wasn’t keen about our choice, but options were limited in the wild.
Star was breathless, struggling to keep up with my stamina, and she stumbled as I paused to scope out the area. “We’re stopping?” she gasped.
My eyes flicked up to the side of the mountain. “Yeah, we should rest. It’s been a long day.”
Her eyes were half-lidded, her cheeks flushed with exertion. She looked ready to drop dead on her feet. “Oh, thank God. I was convinced you were a robot.”
The cave I’d found for us reminded me of the first night I’d spent with Dash, which then brought on memories of the other nights we’d spent in the Heights: inside a tree, the lagoon, the tent in Eastroth, and the little abandoned house where we’d kissed.
How many nights would it take before I found him? Because I wasn’t letting myself think of any other alternative; I would find Dash.
We traveled for the next few nights only after the sun had gone down, and we stayed in the shadows. The small amount of food Star and I had packed in her bag was nearly gone, and by tomorrow, we’d be starving to death if we didn’t find either food or civilization. If Star was worried, she never let on, but I knew she was scared.
We both were.
Neither of us knew what to expect next, or how much longer we could keep going as we had been. We took it one day at a time. And currently, our top priority was the loud rustling sound in a patch of bushes off to our right. I stopped moving and craned my head to the side. We’d been lucky so far, not running into anyone or anything, but our luck was about to change. This section of the land seemed barren with its dried leaves and dead twigs. Light fog covered the ground, giving it almost a graveyard ambiance—eerie and sad. I swore in the howling wind I could hear weeping.
But it wasn’t the only sound out there.
An echoing roar shattered the desolate air.
Star all but barreled into me. Her hand clutched my arm. “What was that? Charlotte? D-do you think it’s a lion or a bear?” Her panic shone crystal clear in her rapid questions shooting off one after the other.
&
nbsp; “Let’s keep moving. I’m sure it is just a harmless animal.” Even as the words left my mouth, I didn’t believe them, and I doubted Star did either.
A tortured growl sounded again. Star and I looked at each other, and we set off at a dead run over the uneven ground. I’d always been a decent runner, but Star was faster, and she was dragging me. Still, there was no way we could outrun what chased us. The thundering of its footsteps grew closer, and we only had a matter of minutes before the panting of its breath would be on the back of our necks.
“We need to get to higher ground,” I yelled, my breath coming out in wisps as we sprinted.
“Can’t you just zap it or something?” Star suggested.
Yeah, I could, if I was able to summon power that fast. In my current state, I wasn’t confident enough in my abilities to risk it. “There!” I pointed to one of the smaller mountains surrounding us. There was a ledge not too far up, but high enough to hopefully keep this thing from having us for dinner. Star wasted no time scaling the side of the mountain like she did it for fun on Sundays. It had to be adrenaline.
Wish I could steal some of hers. The crag wasn’t super steep, but all the loose rocks and gravel made climbing it difficult. Clasping a rock in the side of the mountain, I pulled myself up, using whatever I could to stabilize my feet. The beast was close behind me.
Ugh. Where was Dash when I needed him?
I would even take the damn bird.
I glanced over my shoulder, my curiosity demanding to know what followed us and how close.
I wish I hadn’t given into the urge.
Although I didn’t know what it was, I did know that the creature wasn’t looking to be friends. I saw its eyes first, flaming orbs of orange. A large lion that looked like it had been crossed with a wolf came ramming through the mist, jaw open, baring sizable sharp teeth. Turning forward, I focused on crawling higher up the cliff to the edge.
Life never went smoothly.
My foot slipped on a loose foothold, and I lost my grasp, leaving me dangling one-handed on the side of a mountain.
“Charlotte!” Star yelled.
Holy crap. I’m going to plunge straight into its salivating mouth.
It took a miracle and upper body strength I didn’t have a few weeks ago, to latch my other hand onto a divot and prevent myself from falling. The beast snapped at my heels, growling as it arched up on its hind legs. I liked my legs attached to my body, but if I didn’t do something, this creature was going to be munching on my limbs.
I managed to get my bearings and scrambled up the incline. “Go! I’m okay,” I told Star who was trying to get to me.
Pulling myself onto the ledge, I collapsed on my back, staring up at the stars and exhaling in quick pants.
“I thought for sure we were going to be lion kabobs,” Star said.
My breathing slowly began to even, unable to believe we hadn’t been eaten alive. “Not going to lie. That was intense.”
“How long do you think that thing will stay down there?” Star asked, and like a brave soul, she peeked over the edge. The beast snarled, and Star jumped.
“All night,” I replied, gazing up into the sky, watching the mist swirl over the top of the mountain. Damn. We were going to lose an entire night’s journey.
Star wrapped her arms around herself. A chill had settled into the air. “What are we going to do?”
Good question. I’d give a kidney for a hot shower. Being out on my own for these last few days had been a rude awakening. How had I ever glamorized my time with Dash? Sure he was cute as shit, but all the other parts—the being hungry, feeling dirty and tired all the time—that sucked. Somehow though, with Dash, it hadn’t seemed so bad… or tough.
Where the hell are you, Dash Darhk?
A black dot appeared in the sky. Blink. He dove down from the peak of the mountain and started flying in rapid circles, squawking like his wings were on fire. “What is his deal?” I grumbled, sitting up, my hands propped behind me.
“Who?” Star asked.
I needed to stop rambling out loud. “Just that stupid bird. He won’t shut up.” Shoving myself to my feet, I brushed off the dust and pebbles clinging to my clothes, not that it would help the state of their appearance.
Star blinked. “What bird?”
My gaze narrowed at her, judging to see if she was screwing with me, but that wasn’t Star’s style. “You don’t see that bird directly above our heads?” I pointed up in the sky to the lunatic still flying in rampaged madness.
She bit her lip, eyes bouncing around the sky. “I can’t see anything through the thick mist.”
And if she couldn’t see the giant bird making crazy loops, something told me she couldn’t hear his obnoxious screeching. I scanned the area, looking for trouble. Why else would the bird be going ape-shit?
A hand covered my mouth, jerking me backwards until I hit a solid form. The danger wasn’t over yet. Tingles danced over my skin. Fear? A blade pressed to my throat. Definitely fear.
“Don’t make a sound,” the assailant threatened.
It was pitch black out, but I’d know that voice anywhere. My heart stopped. The world might have even stopped rotating. “Dash?” I whispered.
“Freckles?” He spun me around, looking at me. Looking might not be the appropriate description. He drank in every angle of my face. “What are you doing here?”
His attractiveness struck me hard, like a bolt of lightning. “You mean on the side of a mountain? I could ask you the same. Isn’t it obvious? I was searching for you.” And hiding from a vicious creature, but details didn’t matter. I had found Dash. I should be jumping up and down.
I had barely finished the last sentence when I was suddenly engulfed in his arms, his woodsy and familiar scent surrounding me. This was more like it. My arms automatically wound around his neck, and I never wanted to let go. I couldn’t believe this was real; he was real. I devoured everything about him. The way he felt. The way he smelled. The way he made me feel.
“I was sure I’d never see you again.” His voice sounded huskier than I remembered and a whole lot sexier. He lowered his head and pressed his lips to mine, and I sighed.
Common sense jumped right out the window. Nothing mattered except for the feel of Dash’s mouth moving over mine. Partly desperate, but mostly sweet, I threw every fear, all the pain I’d endured, the lonely nights missing him, into the kiss. My entire body responded, glowing inside with soft warmth. It was like the sun beamed within me. His fingers spread over my lower back, and I tilted my head as he deepened the kiss.
The raw emotion from both of us broke something inside me. As much as I had dreamed or wished for the day I would see him again, I hadn’t been sure I ever would. And here he was. We’d only been apart for a month, but it felt like years. And I hadn’t forgotten there was another girl, a girl who shall not be named. He might still feel a sense of responsibility to her, but it was me who made him tremble, as he did when I pulled away.
“You left,” I said on a half sob, my fingers clenching onto the front of his shirt. I rubbed my cheek against his, the rough stubble grazing over my skin, and then glanced up into silver eyes shimmering like a million stars and waited.
His arms tightened around me. “I didn’t. I mean I did, but not without finding you first.” His hands framed my face, wiping the tears away with his thumb. “You were lying in this big, plush bed. It took me a few days to break out, and when I finally located you, I—”
“You what?” I prompted, desperate to understand what had happened.
“I couldn’t take you away from your family. It felt so selfish to want you with me, when you could sleep in a bed every night. Have food to eat. All the things I couldn’t give you. At least not yet.”
“So you planned to come back for me?”
He ran a hand through his dark tousled hair. “I don’t know. Maybe. I didn’t let myself think that far ahead.”
Color crawled up my neck and into my cheeks. There
were so many emotions pinging around inside me. Too many. I couldn’t decide if I was pissed he had left me or relieved. It didn’t matter though. I was here. He was here. And he was alive. “They’re still hunting you.”
Nodding, he caught the last tear with a kiss. “I know. You’re okay?”
I buried my face into his chest, wrapping my arms around him again. “I am now,” I whispered. “Don’t let me go.”
“Never again,” he vowed, pressing a kiss into my hair. “How did you manage to get away?”
Star. I’d completely forgotten about her up until this moment. Seeing Dash had consumed me. I smiled and tipped my head back. “I had help.”
Star cleared her throat, stepping into a streak of moonbeams. “Hello, Dylan. It’s been a long time.”
Dash stiffened in my arms, his whole demeanor changing. I’d never really seen utter shock on Dash’s face, the kind that left him gaping and speechless. It worried me to say the least.
“Who the hell is Dylan?” I glanced around to see if there was someone else with Dash or maybe he had been followed.
The Institute.
My heart jackhammered in my chest, spears of anxiety stabbing my gut. I expected to see someone step out of the shadows and was prepared to fight, kill if I had to. I wasn’t going to be ripped from Dash a second time.
But there was no one, and confusion clouded my mind. What was going on?
Dash’s arms fell away from me, dropping to his waist, and in the pale light, his face turned whiter, if possible. “Is it really you?”
Star nodded her head.
My eyes volleyed back and forth between Star and Dash, understanding slowly seeping in. Fuck. My joyous and full heart shrank and shriveled. No. No. No. She couldn’t be.
Chapter Ten
Silence descended. I wanted nothing more than to deny what my heart knew was happening. Star was Dash’s girlfriend pre-apocalypse. And Dash, his name had been Dylan. Such an ordinary name—nothing like the guy I knew now.
“Am I dreaming?” Dash hadn’t moved from his spot on the ledge beside me. His feet seemed to be made of lead, rooted to the ground.
