The Fracturing: Book 2 (The Culling Series)

by Tricia Wentworth

  This gets many smiles from the crowd. Natalie and I make our way with the crowd. Jamie and Sarge are on either side of me the whole time. Frank and Gertie fall in just behind us, and surprisingly, Dougall joins us as well. I don’t know where Bennett and Zax went, but I don’t really care.

  “Darling, here.” Frank grabs my free hand and gestures to my heels. “As much as this kills me, I’m sure going this distance barefoot will be more comfortable than wearing these four-inch heels.” He shakes his head sadly and mumbles, “Should have brought flats just in case.”

  “Thanks for thinking of my feet,” I say with a smile, glad that my attendants and guards are both present. I put little Natalie down a moment and rest a hand on Frank’s shoulder for balance as I kick off each heel, which he picks up and carries for me so we can continue on our way. The pavement is rough and cold beneath my feet, but I am much, much faster without those crazy things.

  “You two should have gone with the candidates,” I say confused as to why Frank and Gertie are here. The other attendants, if they hadn’t left already, left in the SUVs like the other candidates.

  “No dear,” Gertie shakes her head emphatically. “We go with you.” The way she says it reminds me of the tone of voice my mom uses when I have done something that makes her proud.

  As the line gets going, we start moving quicker and I’m even more grateful Frank thought to have me kick off my heels. I’m still carrying Natalie, but it’s a nice distraction from worrying about Lyncoln and this presumed drifter attack.

  Please be safe.

  Not more than five minutes later and over half of the way there, Natalie’s mom comes running through the crowd in a tizzy.

  “Oh my goodness,” she says out of breath, lifting Natalie into her arms. “Thank-you-so-much. I had said we were going to go meet you, and then she was just gone. I had no idea where she ran off to, and then I was getting stopped by everyone wanting to know what was going on. There were people everywhere. I’m so glad you had her. I was worried sick.”

  I smile sympathetically towards her. “She was really no trouble at all.” I look at Natalie and add, “And she was very brave.”

  Mrs. Zimmer’s body posture tells me how appreciative she is of my kindness to her daughter. She looks completely relieved to have Natalie back in her arms. “Shall we leave Ms. Scott with these kind people?” she asks as if noticing my entourage of people and feeling like the odd ball out.

  “Mommy, I want to stay with Ms. Scott. She’s cooooool,” Natalie informs her.

  I laugh. “You can walk with us, it’s really not a big deal at all. We are all going to the same place.”

  We near the stadium shortly after, slowing down as we all filter in through the open doors. We are somewhere in the middle of the pack and there are a whole lot of us. Hopefully, the drifters don’t know we are all going to congregate in one place, or this could end up bad.

  Is this really the best protocol… being on lockdown in one building? I guess since it’s the only option we have, we will have to take it. I just wish Lyncoln was here to ask. He would know what to do.

  Please be safe.

  Upon reaching the doors, I see Maverick holding one open and ushering people in. I stop briefly to talk to him.

  “Hey. This is where they brought you guys?”

  He smiles, gives me a short hug to the side, and starts walking with me as a military officer takes the door for him. “Yeah. Well, we are supposed to be in a skybox upstairs with our guards separate from the people, but none of us except for Marisol were okay with that.” He stops to gesture with his head to where she’s standing with Henry, about twenty yards off. He rolls his eyes. “She is demanding we get on the planes immediately.”

  “Had I known you were coming here anyway, I might not have thrown such a fit.” I smile apologetically and look towards Sarge and Jamie, who have been on pins and needles since the explosion, warrior mode.

  Jamie just rolls his eyes like he expected nothing less from me. Sarge shrugs.

  “I’m glad you stayed. Someone needed to. I was a little belligerent myself.” He nods.

  Seeing Marisol glaring at me while I stop to put my heels back on, I add, “I didn’t do it for the votes.”

  He rolls his eyes again and snorts. “The only person here that would think you did was Marisol and that is only because she is a piece of crap.”

  This makes me giggle despite our serious situation. I mean, he didn’t even whisper. “I have never heard you talk like that, Maverick.”

  “Well, she deserves it,” Elizabeth says as she joins in the conversation and steps to give me a hug. “And that’s putting it nicely.”

  They stay with my group consisting of my attendants, guards, and Mrs. Zimmer and little Natalie. Eventually, October and her husband find us and join us as well, October looking worried having the knowledge of there being a real threat. As soon as we all get settled, off to the side on the ground floor of the stadium, I step forward to talk to Dougall, who is standing on the outside of a group in a heated discussion on what to do next.

  Bennett is trying to give his opinion, but it’s clear that Sergeant Adams thinks otherwise. Their raised voices are doing nothing to calm the people trying to settle in. Maverick is by my side in an instant and we are both approaching the group. Why Dougall isn’t shushing them by now is beyond me.

  “Gentlemen,” I say calmly but commanding enough that it stops them. “Without really looking around, I would like you to realize that you are causing quite a scene.”

  Wow. I even sound like Dougall. When did that happen? I internally cringe.

  “She’s right,” Maverick adds. “Tell us what needs to be done, but let’s try not to completely panic these poor people, shall we?”

  I give Maverick a nod, glad for his backup.

  They both just glare at each other and neither budges.

  “Really?” I snap at them as softly as I can manage, but I’m angry so I’m not sure it’s so quiet after all. “We have a stadium full of people who have no idea the present danger they are in, and you two are acting like children! You,” I point at Adams. “You first. Tell me what you think needs done.”

  “I want to separate the groups here by subdivision. Send a small team out for food and water and wait until we get the all-clear from Zimmer and Reed,” he says as if it’s the obvious answer. “I don’t want anyone going home until their area is cleared and safe.”

  Reed. That’s my man. I can’t help but feel proud and terrified at his mentioning Lyncoln.

  “And Professor Bennett, what was your idea?” I ask, amazed that I’m bossing around my professor, who also happens to serve in the military. I hope I’m not totally out of line here.

  “I thought we should send a group out to clear sections and then send people home accordingly as soon as possible. It isn’t safe keeping everyone in one place. It puts a huge target on our backs,” he says as he lets out a huge breath he was holding. “It’s better for them to be on lockdown in their own homes.”

  “So here’s the deal,” Maverick chips in. “Give it an hour. Sixty minutes. In an hour if we have heard nothing, because no news is bad news, we will send out the team to clear another area. So organize the team so they’re ready but give Reed and Zimmer time to work.”

  “Seems logical to me,” I nod and look to both of them. “Are we all in agreement with that?”

  They both nod. I give Maverick’s arm a squeeze of appreciation as we turn to walk away while Adams starts organizing a team.

  “Good idea and thanks for having my back,” I say appreciatively.

  “No problem. You’ve had Beth’s back more than once,” he says, and his use of his nickname for Elizabeth makes me smile.

  I check on Natalie and Mrs. Zimmer, exchange a look with October telling her I don’t know anything more, and talk with Frank and Gertie. Although we are all nervous, we are as good as can be expected. Those of us who know about the drifters are more nervous than the g
eneral population who don’t. They are mostly confused. They probably think it was an electrical goof up of sorts. Frank and Gertie know better but aren’t supposed to know about the drifters either.

  As some men arrive with water and blankets, the Culling candidates take it upon ourselves to help. Knox, Elizabeth, Maverick, and I bring it all in and unload it while Attie, Henry, and Marisol walk around passing things out.

  Henry grabs a blanket and water bottle set from me, and I feel him squeeze my hand from underneath it. I look to see the concern in his emerald eyes. We just look at each other for a few beats, and I have to fight off the urge to hug him. I’m not sure if he’s thinking of Lyncoln or just glad we are all okay, but I’m glad the real Henry is still inside of there, somewhere. I’m sure it’s killing him to be stuck here doing whatever Marisol says and not helping somehow. Heck, he probably would be with Lyncoln if she wouldn’t be commanding his every move.

  As the clock slowly ticks away, I’m thankful for the work of handing stuff out. It keeps my mind off Lyncoln, where he is, and what’s happening. I finish up with the water and blankets, taking as many bottles of water as I can carry to my group of people.

  As I sit in one of the stadium chairs in the first few rows, Natalie climbs over her mom’s lap to see me. I talk to her and her mom and try not to pay attention to the time. It gives me an odd sense of camaraderie to know that Mrs. Zimmer’s husband and my fiancé are both gone and we are both here sitting together as we worry. At least we can wait it out together. It has already been a half an hour and still no news.

  So we wait.

  Waiting is the worst.

  I try not to think of the fears gnawing at the back of my mind of what could be happening with Lyncoln. Why would they try to blow up or get into the military base in Detroit? Were they after weapons? Were they after information on other bases? What was the point?

  I briefly think of our discussion about the uranium earlier, but I know the explosion wasn’t in the correct direction for that. Plus, I doubt they would know what to do with it. And even if they did, having all the components to build a nuclear bomb in this day and age seems highly unlikely. Having the uranium is only one ingredient in the nuclear bomb recipe.

  Natalie and Frank are laughing and talking about different kids’ movies as I sit and worry. It seems like just yesterday Lyncoln and I were watching one ourselves on our first real date. Less than a week later, we are engaged, and I am yet again sitting in wait while Lyncoln risks his life.

  And we so wait.

  Elizabeth and Attie each check in. Bennett threw a fit and split the Culling candidates around the stadium not wanting us all together, but we don’t really listen. If the drifters get to the stadium, we are either doomed or our guards are perfectly capable of defending us. He’s just overly cautious. Taggert must be rubbing off on him. There is already a barrier of Detroit men watching the stadium to protect us.

  Is it enough? Time will tell, I guess.

  More waiting.

  Finally, with only ten minutes to spare before the hour deadline, Zimmer and a team of military officials enter the stadium heading in the direction of Adams, his men, and Bennett. Zimmer holds up a hand to shush everyone in the stadium as we all sit up in attention and start talking at once wondering about the news.

  He waits for us all to get quiet and says loudly, “It seems some explosives in an exercise last week at the base were not properly disposed of causing what you heard and felt today. We are quite fortunate no one was hurt. We have secured the area and set forth measures to make sure these things are properly dealt with in the future.” He pauses. “I am truly sorry for the scare and confusion, especially on the day we have the honor of having the Culling candidates here. You are free to return to your homes as you wish.” He smiles as he finishes.

  People immediately start talking to one another, getting up to go home.

  More lies. That whole story was a load of crap.

  Mrs. Zimmer and I exchange a look. She knows her husband was lying as well. We both stand and move forward, her to see her husband and me to get the real story and find out about Lyncoln.

  Where is he?

  As Natalie and Mrs. Zimmer give him a hug, I stand back and give them their space. When they have had their moment, he nods to me. “You’re good. Reed is good. He’s on a call with Denver and Admiral Taggert right now.”

  “Okay. Now what really happened?” I ask blatantly but feel a surge of relief that Lyncoln is fine. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this feeling of constant fear when I know he is on a mission and in danger. I trust his skills and know he can handle himself fine, but I worry regardless.

  Sergeant Zimmer nods to his wife. She smiles to me as she takes Natalie out of earshot, so he can answer my question. As she does this, Sarge steps back because his radio is going off.

  Zimmer sighs and looks at the group of us now standing there, consisting of the Culling candidate members, Bennett, Zax, Dougall, a few Detroit military guards, and our own guards. Frank and Gertie have stayed back, and I am thankful for their knowing what to do in every situation.

  “Out with it,” Bennett commands, obviously not wanting to waste any more time.

  “Drifters tried to infiltrate the base. We assume they were after weapons as that would be most logical, but they were in the wrong area,” he starts explaining. “The weird part is that there were two trying to infiltrate and two we found in a suspicious looking vehicle.”

  “Were you able to detain any of them?” Bennett asks as he verbalizes what we were all thinking.

  I hold my breath waiting for his answer. Getting answers and drifter information would be nice, but the thought of more people being interrogated is terrifying. I have a terrible track record of seeing or being in interrogations. Sure, I saved Samson, but he was almost killed. And then I was forced to kill Isabella. The word “Interrogation” gives me a bad taste in my mouth.

  “No,” Zimmer shakes his head. “They all fought us. Except for one.”

  “And that one? Is he injured or something?” Zax asks confused.

  Zimmer shakes his head in disbelief. “He took some sort of pill. He died shortly thereafter.”

  “The kill-pill?” Zax asks incredulously.

  Zimmer shrugs, “Whatever it was, the point was clear. We weren’t taking any prisoners.”

  Chapter 9

  Sarge’s radio call was to head to the airfield. The SUVs are all running and waiting. Rather than staying in Detroit tonight, we are flying home to Denver before flying to Seattle tomorrow morning. Taggert doesn’t want to take any chances with the drifter movement as they obviously knew we were here, and Mile High is the safest place for us all. I’m surprised Seattle is still even in the plans for tomorrow other than they don’t want the general population thinking something is amiss. Seattle has already been prepped for tomorrow.

  When we get to the runway, I still haven’t seen Lyncoln. I’m sure he’s busy figuring out exactly what happened with the attack and debriefing Taggert on everything, but I would feel better if I could physically see him with my own two eyes. I would also like to be able to physically kiss him with my own two lips for that matter.

  As we load the plane, I see Elle scurrying around. Since I have known her, this is the first time a hair is even out of place. She must be feeling stressed.

  I smile at her. “Sorry you had our hotel all ready and then had to ditch.”

  She gestures. “Not of importance really, all things considered. I was just glad we hadn’t unloaded all the cargo yet. Frank packs a mean wardrobe,” she jokes.

  I laugh. “That I believe.”

  I find my seat and wait for Lyncoln. Sometime later, much to Marisol’s chagrin as she is getting antsy waiting, Rodgers shows up and shoves a radio in my hand.

  I look at him confused. He picks it up hits a button and says, “Go ahead.”

  I hear Lyncoln’s velvety voice and can’t help the tears that sting in my eyes. “Regs. I�
�m fine. I’m staying to finish up something here. I’m going with the cargo plane. We should only be a half-hour or so behind you guys.”

  He really is okay. I knew he would come back to me. I can’t handle any other alternative.

  I smile and use the device just like Rodgers did, “You really are fine? You aren’t getting stitched up or anything right now, are you?”

  “Not even a graze of a graze, Regs. But you can check me over yourself once we get home. I’ll find you so you can see me in one piece.” I can hear his smile through the radio. He is thinking of the masquerade ball and the night I doctored up his bullet graze.

  “Okay. I wish you were here with me but okay.” I smile feeling relieved in just hearing his voice.

  “I love you, Regs,” he says softly.

  “And I love you. Now quit using this military-grade radio for your personal purposes. Taggert would crap his pants,” I command firmly, pretending to be mad.

  Rodgers chuckles.

  “Yes, ma’am. Got it. No pants crapping. See you in a bit,” Lyncoln lightheartedly ends our conversation.

  Rodgers takes the radio and leaves the plane to go back to Lyncoln.

  I feel kind of alone as the only other couple on our plane is Marisol and Henry and it’s not like I can go sit and make small talk with them. I think about going to the back to sit with Frank and Gertie but realize that Bennett is on this plane and would have a cow. He has already been through enough drama for one day, so I stay put to make it easier on the man.

  “Jamie?” I ask, turning around.

  “Yes, Ms. Scott. What can I get you?” he asks concerned.

  “Nothing. I was wondering if you would sit beside me?” I feel like a pansy because I don’t even want to sit by myself.

  “Long day?” he asks as he plops down next to me.

  “Long day,” I nod in agreement.

  “Well, did I ever tell you about the time Sarge depantsed me in front of my whole training class?” Jamie says, kicking into story mode and getting my full and amused attention, “Accidentally, he’ll try to tell ya…”