by J. C. Hart
"Don't worry about us," Madea said. Her brow furrowed in concern as his breathing grew more ragged. "Let's get you some help."
Their shuffled gait got them to the infirmary ten minutes later.
The medic helped them lay him on a table; the same one Madea had woken on, just days ago.
"Garrett, are you okay?" Madea waved the doctor to the side of the bed. She stepped back to give him some room, but Garrett's hand flashed out and grabbed hers, drawing her back to his side with a strength she didn't think he had.
"Don't leave me. Not now." His eyes locked on hers.
"I won't," she whispered.
Tahra bustled into the room then, racing to the edge of the table and tracing a hand lightly over the wounds on his face. "Are you okay?" Tahra asked again.
"I'll live. Won't I, Doc?"
"You'll live, though it's going to take a few days to get you healed up."
"See? I'll be fine. I didn't tell them anything, in case you were worried."
"No, I never doubted you. I'm just sorry it happened at all." Tahra shook her head, a combination of sadness and fury on her face. "That man will do anything to get what he wants."
"About that," Madea said. "We need to talk." She glanced over at Sarai and Tahra's gaze followed, her eyes widening.
"Sarai?"
"Mother." Sarai's eyes were round and luminous, like a lost child. Tahra stepped forward and folded her into an embrace. It took a few seconds for Sarai's arms to reach around her mother, but when they did, she squeezed so tightly that Madea thought she might never let go.
It was strange being on the outside, watching this reunion. Her own hadn't been quite like this, but she wondered if the same emotions had flashed across her face, so obvious, so raw. She longed to join them, but she had to let Sarai have this moment to herself.
Garrett squeezed her hand. "You okay?" he asked, voice rasping. The doctor worked quietly on the wounds to his body, cleaning and dressing them without intruding on their conversation.
"Did you get sick of everyone asking you that, so thought you'd use it on me instead?" She smiled wryly.
"No, I mean it. Are you? You look...sad."
"Everything's different. I don't know who I can trust any more. I don't know who is right and who is wrong, or if anyone is even right at all." She sighed, then perched on the edge of his bed.
"You can trust me. I hope you know that."
"I'd say you've proven that one." She laughed. "You didn't have to get all cut up to show me, though."
"We'll say I took one for the team." He tried to shrug, but grimaced and stopped halfway through the motion.
"Which team is that?"
"Whatever one you're on."
"I'm starting to think that you've memorized a bunch of lines from some book. You're far too smooth for your own good."
"Maybe you just bring out the best in me." He squeezed her hand. "How is the baby?"
All of a sudden she wanted to tell him about the child, about how she was connected to her now, how she was changed from her experience with one of the creatures. But would he even believe her?
"She's good." Madea nodded, realizing her slip as his eyes went wide.
"She?"
Madea nodded, a smile slipping across her lips. "It's a girl."
He smiled back at her and for the first time she realized that he would make a good father. This was the reaction she wanted for her baby. Not the sterile response she'd gotten from Sullivan.
"I can picture you with a baby girl. I know you're probably worried, but I think you're going to make a good mum. It's obvious you care, or you wouldn't have taken Jaxon under your wing. He's lucky he has you."
"Do I get a proper introduction now that you're coherent?" Sarai asked as she crossed to the bed. Tahra was hanging back for some reason, but Madea pushed that thought aside.
"Garrett, this is my sister, Sarai, and your co-rescuer," Madea said. "And this is Garrett."
"Don't I get a subtitle?" He raised an eyebrow.
"If you were to have one, what would it be?" Madea asked, her heart thumped hard as she waited for his response.
He seemed to be mulling over the question. He squeezed her hand. "I'm not sure of the technical term, but I'm hoping to have a role in your life. If you want, of course..."
She felt her cheeks flush.
"Madea! I don't think I've ever seen you blush," Sarai said, nudging her with an elbow. "You must be pretty special, Garrett. She doesn't get like that over just anyone."
"Well, thanks. That makes me feel pretty good."
"I am here..." Madea muttered. "Why are you people always talking about me as though I'm not in the room?"
Sarai hugged her. "We love you, but sometimes, you aren't the most communicative person in the universe."
"Well, I've had my reasons."
"Not to change the subject, but when can we get Rickard?" Sarai asked. "I know we've not been here long, but he'll be waiting and I want to make sure he's safe."
"Of course. Sorry." Madea rubbed her face with her hands.
"No, it's okay. You were a little distracted." Sarai winked at her.
"Do you need a hand?" Tahra stepped forward.
"No, I should be fine," Madea replied. "I'll grab something to eat first, though. Is Jaxon awake?"
"Fast asleep. He's in your bed."
"Thanks." Madea nodded at her, then glanced at Sarai and Garrett. "See you soon, then."
He reached for her hand again, then drew her towards him. She kissed him briefly, aware of the other women in the room. "Be safe," he said, his words soft yet firm.
"I will. And you—" She turned to Sarai. "Keep an eye on him for me, would you?"
"You don't trust me?" Garrett managed to sound wounded by her comment.
"Not in this." She smiled, shaking her head.
"Take care, please?" Sarai said, reaching out to squeeze her hands.
"I'm just going to get Rickard. I've stormed enough mansions for tonight, thank you very much. The scene he made outside wouldn't have given anyone a clue that he was in on what was happening at Father’s." She headed for the door.
Tahra fell into step beside her. "Can I walk with you?"
"Of course." Madea's brows knitted together.
"What happened?"
"Sorry. I should have filled you in. I wasn't thinking."
"It's been an intense night for everyone, Maddy. Don't be too hard on yourself," Tahra said.
"I made a deal with Father. I think it's a good one and I hope you'll agree."
"Yes?" Tahra raised an eyebrow.
"He's agreed to stop the Hollowings. From now on, all Sun-Touched will be passed to us."
Tahra stopped walking, her jaw worked as she processed what Madea had just said. "All?"
"Every single one of them. I know it's not everything you had hoped for, but it's a huge step. I'm hoping we can broker some trade deals. We have the advantage here, Mother."
She snorted. "How do you gather that?"
"We can work outside the domes. We need to stop hiding down here in the tunnels and make the most of the world that those who haven't been Touched are so afraid of. Don't you see? There is a whole world of possibility. We just need to get out there and grasp it." Madea was surprised by her own passion. She had only been among the ranks of the Touched for a little while, yet the small span of time she had spent outside the domes with Garrett had been the most pleasurable she'd had since arriving on Diamara. It made no sense to stay confined when they could live freely, without the constraints that those who feared exposure had.
"I don't know how many people would want to leave—" Tahra stopped in the middle of the hallway, as if just thinking about it was too difficult.
"No one has to do anything they don't want to, but if you lead the way...they look up to you, Mother. They admire you, your drive, your passion. You saved them and they owe you their lives. That will count for something. If you showed them that you were brave enough to do it
, they might feel the same way. Think about the possibilities."
"I will." Tahra nodded her head. "Thank you, for dealing with your father. It's a step in the right direction, though I still believe we should be rid of the domes entirely."
"Not right now. Not like that. There has got to be a better way. Just look at Sarai. She's not Touched, but she's here with us."
"I'll consider all the options. Okay?"
"Thanks."
"Let's get you some food. Then you better get Rickard," Tahra said as she moved down the hallway. "You know, I always thought it would be you and him—"
"No. Trust me, Sarai and Rickard are a better couple than we would ever have been. We make great friends, but he would drive me nuts as a partner." Madea smiled.
"Besides, there is Garrett..."
"There is." Madea pursed her lips, preventing anything else from slipping out. "I need to check on Jaxon, and then I'm going for Rickard.”
Back at her rooms, Madea slipped into the bedroom to check on Jaxon. She knelt down beside the bed and ran her fingers through his hair. He was so fast asleep that he barely stirred at her touch. "I'm going to get your dad back. I know you don't know him yet, but he's going to be there for you. He's going to love you and do everything he can to make up for the years he wasn't around. I know it won't make up for losing your mother, but it's something. I hope it's enough." She placed a kiss on his forehead, then stood, watching his slow, deep breathing. Tahra was in the kitchen, cutting a sandwich. She pushed the plate across the bench towards Madea.
"It's been a long time since you made me a sandwich. What's in it?"
"Peanut butter. It used to be your favourite."
"Still is." Madea reached for half and took a bite out of it. There was something about such simple fare that seemed to brighten the day. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Tahra sighed. "I've missed this, you know? The little things. Making your lunch. Talking to you every day. Watching you grow. I mean I watched, but it's not the same as seeing you face to face. I wish I could have been there."
"I know." Madea nodded. "It wasn't easy for any of us and playing the blame game isn't going to do any good. We can make up for lost time now."
"We can," Tahra agreed. "You'll come back straight away, right?"
"Yeah, this shouldn't take long. We'll be back before you know it." She finished her sandwich and pushed the empty plate back across to her mother. "Will you stay here with Jaxon?"
"I can, if that's what you want."
"Thanks. I don't want him to wake up alone."
Tahra came around the bench and folded Madea into her arms. "Take care. If you're not back in a couple of hours, I will send out a search party."
Madea laughed. "Okay." She grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder. "See you soon," she called as she closed the door. Madea took a deep breath and headed back towards the hatch. When she got back from this, she was going to sleep for as long as they would let her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Madea pushed through the back door of Rickard's house. "Rickard?" she called out.
"In here," he replied. She followed his voice, heading for the living room. As she stepped through the doorway, someone grabbed her, pinning her arms to her sides. She struggled against her captor, but his grip was too firm and she couldn't find a way free.
"I'm sorry, Madea. I'm so sorry." Tears streamed down Rickard’s face. He was bound to a chair. "I didn't think he would do this, I didn't think he would get this upset—"
"Shut up," grunted the man holding her.
"Sullivan?"
"It's me, honey." His words dripped with sarcasm.
"What are you doing? Why did you tie him up? Why are you holding me?" Madea demanded. There was no scenario in which this made sense.
"Just shut up for a minute, would you?" He maneuvered her into a second chair. She struggled against him, but it was no use, she was too tired, and he was too strong. He wound a rope around her body and fastened her to the chair.
"Weren't you drunk not long ago? I was worried they were going to arrest you," Madea said. She tried to keep her voice calm, but it wavered at the end.
"It was all an act, to help you. I thought you needed me. I thought that I was doing you a favour, when all I was really doing was helping you free your new lover. What did you do? Go and shack up with the first available guy you could find?"
The words stung so much that Madea was rendered speechless for a moment. "You...I...what?"
"You just thought you'd go and find some other guy to play daddy to our baby. Was that it?"
Madea closed her eyes for a moment, then looked up at him. His eyes were wild with a rage she hadn't thought him capable of. She flicked her tongue across her bottom lip, choosing her words carefully. "You didn't want to be a father. You made that quite clear. And despite the fact that it's none of your business anyway, I'll have you know that I haven't shacked up with anyone, thank you very much." She bit out the words.
"Then who was he? The guy that was so important you had to rescue him?"
"His name is Garrett, and maybe there is something between us, but it's none of your business." She tried to shrug, but her arms were bound too tight. "You were the one who didn't want a relationship."
"That doesn't mean I wanted you to go off and find someone else." He paced in front of her, occasionally stopping to glare.
She had never expected this behaviour from him. He'd always seemed so rational. "You need to let me go, Sully. Now. Before this gets out of hand. What's this all about, anyway?"
"Your father asked me to detain you, and that's what I'm doing." He nodded his head, as if that explained it all.
"Since when do you take orders from my father?" Madea raised an eyebrow, trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
"I've always taken my orders from him. Always. Who do you think makes the pills that create madness? To keep people in line? You didn’t think every Hollowing was for real, did you?" He shook his head in disgust at her. "Don't look so surprised. I know you know all about that. You had to go and get yourself properly Touched, didn't you?"
"If you knew all about that, you'd know the only reason I am is because Father wouldn't do what he'd been asked. So blame him for that one, not me." Her stomach twisted itself up in knots as it dawned on her that just about everyone around her was involved in this, in one way or another. The only ones who seemed innocent of anything were Jaxon and Sarai, and while she knew she could trust them, she couldn't rely on them to do anything to change the situation.
"I've had enough of this," she said. "Let me go. I mean it." There was something happening inside her. She could feel their baby move as though she was responding to the sound of her father, to the sound of her parents arguing, but there was more to it than that. Pressure built in Madea's veins. Ether creatures swarmed through the walls and into the house. She'd not seen them come inside before, though she'd seen them in the domes earlier. They gathered around, their tendrils lashing out to touch the three of them.
But she was the only one who could feel it, who could sense the extra weight in the room. Panic pooled in her chest. "Sully, let me go now. Please, before something happens that you might not like."
"Like you can do anything in your position." He shook his head and Madea could have sworn she saw madness gleaming in his eyes. She had never seen him like this, never thought he was capable of this behaviour. Whatever had happened to him that night he'd overdosed had changed something inside him.
He crossed to her side and ran his hands through her hair. Madea struggled against her bonds, wishing that the creatures were made of something more substantial so that they could slip her from her ties, or knock Sullivan out. One of them flicked its tendrils at her as if in response to her thoughts, wrapping around her wrists before sliding through her body.
"What are you going to do now?" Madea asked, trying to buy some time.
"Your father wants to see you." His fingers slipped fro
m her hair and his hands came to rest on her shoulders. He traced the hollows of her neck with a finger, his touch bringing a shudder to her body. Once, this would have turned her on, but now it made her want to vomit.
The muscles in her belly clenched and she hunched forward as much as she could.
"Is the baby moving?" Sullivan asked, stepping around so that he was in front of her. He dropped to his knees and reached forward to push her shirt up so that he could touch the skin of her abdomen.
As he made contact, realization flooded through Madea and she called out to her child, called out to the creatures, who merged with her body and sent a shock wave through her skin to Sullivan. Madea's eyes were forced shut as a tsunami of images and emotions flooded through her—things her daughter was already thinking and feeling, memories of the Hollowed that the ether creatures had absorbed, along with a wealth of information about Madea's last few weeks. Snippets of her time in the tunnels, of her life as one of the Touched.
Sullivan crashed back onto the floor, a stunned look of reverence plastered on his face. His jaw moved, lips opening and closing for a minute before he could speak.
"That...she...you..."
"You know now, don't you? You can see why I have to get away. You can see what's been happening. Can't you?" Madea leaned forward as much as she could, trying to fathom what he might be thinking.
Sullivan scrambled to his feet, backing further away from her. "It's too much, too much to understand." He dragged his fingers through his hair as he paced. "You have to get out of here."
"So untie me," Madea said.
"I don't want to see anything else." He eyed her warily. "If I touch you again..."
"Nothing will happen. I'll make sure of it." She could only hope that was the truth. She was still struggling to understand what had just happened, to Sullivan, and to her.
He took a tentative step forward. "Can I trust you?"
Madea sighed. "You've seen everything about my life in the last weeks. You know I'm not hiding anything."
"Right," he mumbled, then knelt behind her, letting the rope fall to the ground.
Madea rubbed her wrists. She might only have been captive for a short time, but it was long enough. "And Rickard," she said, nodding towards her friend. Sullivan moved to do her bidding, even helping the other man to his feet.
