by Greg Dragon
“To the people it was, Treen. It’s easier to peg something like this on a group than an individual. That way, if you never find that one person, someone still pays the price. I’m just doing what my people demand. As of today, we’re at war with those who live outside our borders, since it’s clear now that we can’t coexist.” He lifted my hand to his lips and gave it a peck, as if we’d been discussing or haircuts or shoe brands. “Get better soon.”
“Take care, Treena,” Konnor said with a smirk as he turned to follow Dresden. He’d never called me by my nickname before. Maybe he felt he could be nice now that he’d taken everything possible from me.
“Be alert,” Dresden said quietly to someone just outside the door. “And ask your boss why her techband hasn’t arrived yet. There’s no excuse for this kind of delay.” His footsteps disappeared down the hall.
A guard. Of course. Dresden had probably insisted on that, since it wouldn’t do to lose his greatest claim to power. He’d keep me rigidly within reach yet far enough away that he got the glory and made the decisions. He’d never agree to change the system that had gotten him there. He probably hadn’t even stolen the camera, I realized bitterly. He’d probably hired someone to take the risk for him, knowing all the while that he could step in as the hero when the time was right.
“Love you, sweetheart,” Lanah said, and then her gaze fell on Jasper. Her eyes went wide in surprise. He sat rigidly in his wheelchair, looking very much like a guilty child. The blood drained from her face, and she staggered out the door. Jasper stared at the empty doorway.
“She wasn’t expecting to see you,” I said.
“Obviously.”
“I want to be alone now.”
He sighed and turned his attention back to me. “I’m sorry about the way this turned out. It’s not the way I wanted it either. After all we’ve done, all the sacrifices we’ve made—well, let me just say that I hope you can forgive me someday. I used you every bit as much as Mills did, and I had no right. For what it’s worth, you would have made a fantastic empress.”
“Thanks, but please go. I need some time.”
He hesitated, then wheeled himself out. “She’s sleeping now,” he said to the guard. “Make sure she’s not disturbed.” The door closed.
I forced myself to sit up, and the headache returned full force. Sleep was the last thing I wanted right now. A neatly folded uniform sat on the side table. I unfolded it, noting the silver bands on both arms. What rank that was, I had no idea.
A strange weight toppled out onto the sheet. Curious, I dropped the uniform and felt around. My fingers closed on a cold, round object. My stone. The silver thread was gone, but I’d know it anywhere. Part purple, part gold. Tiny specks from within reflected against the light. Purple for NORA, but gold for something else. Someone else.
Suddenly I knew exactly who had placed it here and why.
I dressed quickly. The door wasn’t an option. I put the stone in my pocket and lifted the window open slowly. Warm outside air brushed my hair aside, and the window made a tiny squeak. I watched the door, but the guard didn’t rush in. Taking a deep breath, I put my head out the window and looked downward. My room was seven or eight stories up, and the evening shadows now darkened the empty street below. To my right, only two meters away, was a fire escape. I wanted to laugh with relief.
Placing one leg over the windowsill, I eased myself out and sat on the edge. The city spread out before me like a blanket of buildings, all painted a soft orange by the afternoon sunlight. It was nearly the same sight I’d seen at the top of the tower all those years ago. Fortunately, I was a very different person now.
There was only one place to go now. It would be a difficult and dangerous journey, but it was where I belonged.
“I’m coming, Vance,” I said, and took a leap toward the brightness of the sun.
46
I met my captors just past the wall.
Supposedly my mom and sisters were waiting at the largest of the potential settlement locations, a hidden meadow near Millennium Peak, with a creek and dark, rich soil for crops. It meant food and water, but if they thought they were safe there, they’d be disappointed. I knew better than anyone how easily NORA could find us if they ever decided to. And I wasn’t entirely convinced they wouldn’t. Either way, it was time to fulfill the second part of my bargain.
Anton had weaseled his way into the role of enforcer again. It was as if the missile attack had never happened. He sat casually on a rock, surrounded by ten thugs. They had thick facial hair, most caked with years’ worth of dirt and grime. The men stood as I approached, their backs loaded heavily with travel gear. A couple of them shot murderous looks in my direction.
“You actually came,” Anton said.
I shrugged. “Where would I go?”
“Back to your girlfriend. Or did you dump her because she lost the throne? Well, you’re here, so put your arms up.”
I resisted the urge to punch him in the nose and raised my hands. Four of the men aimed their stunners at my chest.
Anton stepped forward and cuffed my hands in front of me. Since I had no techband, these were simple chain cuffs, thin but sufficiently sturdy. It wouldn’t take long to get out of them. If necessary.
“His rights,” one of the men muttered. “Ain’t we supposed to arrest him proper-like?”
Another man spat, leaving a trickle of wetness on his gray beard. “Nah, he knows plenty about that. He’s arrested hundreds of innocent people, my wife and son among them.”
“Vance Hawking has no rights,” Anton announced, his voice cold. “He’s a traitor and a spy, and he can’t be trusted, no matter what he pretends. He’ll answer for his crimes as soon as we get back.” He yanked on my bonds, making me stumble. I’d been wrong about the cuffs. They didn’t use an electric punishment, but they’d been sharpened on the inside so that the metal bit into my wrists whenever I pulled against them. I took a reluctant step forward, and Anton grinned. “See? Good little pup. Maybe we’ll make something decent out of you yet.”
The group turned to leave, and I allowed myself one last look at the border wall, the sunlight reflecting almost painfully off its metal surface. A few concrete and steel buildings peered over it, and the sound of bicycle traffic hummed from the other side. If it weren’t for Anton’s group, I would have enjoyed the solitude of nine days’ travel before seeing another person. It seemed my last days of freedom had been taken from me, along with everything else that mattered.
I pushed away the thought that followed. Treena had her boyfriend, her Rating, and everything she’d ever wanted. My family was safe, my clan was gathering again, and they’d choose a new leader to protect them and decide my fate. Soon everything would be as it should.
“Your girlfriend was a pretty one,” Anton said. “If she wasn’t already taken, I might take a crack at her myself.” He yanked sharply on the chain. The metal bit into my wrists and I stumbled to my knees, ignoring the cold laughter of my escorts. With a growl, I jumped quickly to my feet and straightened to face Anton. His eyes widened slightly. After a moment he swallowed hard and looked away, keeping the chain slack this time. “All right, then. Time to go.”
The men shuffled away, giving me plenty of space to walk in the center. I had nine days of travel to plan my defense, to explain why I’d sacrificed their families for my own. Nine days of Anton’s comments and traveling and forcing Treena out of my head for good. Nine days of climbing ever higher, watching the trees close in and wondering whether I faced mercy or justice. I would kneel for now.
But whatever my fate, they would not see me kneel long.
I was a Hawking.
The End
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Call me strange, but I always enjoy reading the Acknowledgments section of books. It’s amazing many people are involved in the birth of a good story. Now that I’m on the other side of the page, I’d be ungrateful not to shine the spotlight on the amazing friends, family, and professiona
ls who helped Numbers Game see the light.
I had many victims—er, volunteers—who stepped forward to beta read over the three years (and six drafts) it took to get this book finished. I’d like to thank Ashlei King, Geneen Jacobson, Sally Johnson, Melanie Auman, Randy Roberts (of YouTube fame), Kristina Roberts, the ever-encouraging Brad and Gayle Myler, and Scott and Lisa McDougle, who refused to let me set it away for long.
It’s an honor to be a member of two critique groups, and it’s an even greater honor that they tolerated my pleas for readings (sometimes multiple times) and yet still like me. At least, they haven’t kicked me out yet. These wonderful professionals and friends include Adrienne Monson, Karyn Patterson, Ruth Craddock, Mary King, Karen Pellett, Rachelle Monson, Jen Greyson, Kara Bosshardt, and the talented Roxy Haynie, whose beautiful writing style I will always covet. I’d also like to thank the lovely Cindy Hogan, whose expert advice will always be cherished, as well as Cindy Anderson and Susan Tietjen. Special thanks to Angela Woiwode, who gave me no less than fifteen manuscript pages of advice at one point. (It took a year and several tissue boxes, but I finally finished her revisions and it was a much stronger story. Thanks, Angela!)
I’m also grateful for my fabulous cover designer, Clarissa Yeo of Yocla Designs, and for the chapter graphics by my talented cousin, Corey Egbert. A big thank-you to Cindy C. Bennett for her beautiful formatting and her patience with my tricky ideas and timeline, as well as to Eschler Editing. Heidi Brockbank and Sabine Berlin tore the story apart and showed me how to put it back together, and I’m so glad they did. And finally, thanks to my Facebook pals, iWriteNetwork, Author’s Think Tank, and Master Koda for being my sounding board on cover designs, formatters and a dozen other things. We live in an amazing age where help is just seconds away, and at the very least, it’s good to know I’m not alone.
And finally, a giant hug to my family members for their unwavering support and love, and especially to my husband and children, who took Mac n’ Cheese, hundreds of “Just a minute” replies, and endless hours of post-dinner Netflix in stride. You are everything to me.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
REBECCA RODE is an award-winning author, journalist, and mother of four. She is the author of the inspirational book, How to Have Peace When You’re Falling to Pieces, and writes for Deseret News, KSL.com, FamilyShare, and Provo Daily Herald. However, her true love is writing for teenagers. She enjoys traveling, reading, and martial arts, and she has a ridiculous addiction to chocolate-banana shakes. Learn more at
RebeccaRode.com
www.facebook.com/AuthorRebeccaRode
Twitter: @RebeccaRode
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Swarmers
by
R.V. Doon
Evaney
Evaney Harwood’s first hint of doom came when the ground rumbled.
Her friends climbed the last hill while she returned to the Land Rover for migraine tablets. Everyone was pumped, believing they were nearing the cave. She didn’t want a headache to spoil Winn Eastman’s joy when he found it. Evaney glanced at her sparkling engagement ring and grinned. Winn’s proposal at the Autumn Inn last night surprised her. For the first time in her life, sheer happiness kept her awake.
The land shook again. She heard whispering. “Guys?” she called out.
Maybe not whispers. Evaney knelt and touched the earth. Impossible. The ground pulsed as if she stood over buried machinery or something electrical. She jerked her hand back and stood. Static electricity ran up to her wrist. Crazy. She massaged her arm until it faded.
Evaney studied the surroundings. Sunset intensified the gorgeous fall colors in rural northeast Alabama. She turned in a circle, scanning the valley and woods. Shadows made her jumpy and her muscles tensed for action. Blood thumped in her ears. The cool air carried a faint sulfurous odor, like burning hair. She shivered. A danger alarm from childhood buzzed in her head. Kooky or not, she had to warn them. Honk the horn?
The wind swirled and carried Jax’s shout, followed by group laughter. Their distant voices sounded excited and her hyped-up state eased. She laughed, feeling embarrassed. They were all seniors at Duke University—cutting classes, true, but here for a common good.
Evaney swallowed more CloudMist, a local bottled mineral water. She had dawdled long enough. Evaney jogged across a carpet of red and gold maple leaves to the base of the hill. Halfway up the incline the land rippled, and she lost her footing. She skidded on her bottom down to the base. Back in the woods, a tree toppled. The thud rattled her.
Anxious, she gazed up at the brow expecting to see worried friends peering back, but no one came. “Winn!” she yelled, brushing dirt from her pants. She knew this cave meant a second chance for Winn’s dying sister. Were they injured?
“A fool’s errand.” Grand Nessy’s grating voice popped into her mind. “It will be dark soon.”
Evaney bit her lip. She never thought of her grandmother and it spooked her. “Winn!”
The sudden quiet jarred her. Leafless trees once crowded with noisy, migrating birds were bare, no insects buzzed around her head, and human voices were silent. Her mouth went dry, and her extremities chilled. “Jax!” Evaney shouted. “Dave!” No one answered.
She strained to listen for life signs, any sounds other than her own. Vibrations from the ground ran up her legs. Her body hairs rose and she broke out in goosebumps. She stamped her feet and wondered if they had stumbled upon a military or research site. Were the land rumbles a security deterrent? The urge to duck and hide overwhelmed her. I can’t go up there.
“Winn!” Panic surfed through her veins as minutes ticked away.
Winn knew her grandmother had abused her. Evaney wanted to die when he asked to see the scars. He kissed them, making her cry. She didn’t tell him plastic surgery had minimized the worst ones.
The ground swarms, because that’s what they were, settled into a continuous tremor. She checked her cell phone—no signal. Evaney took a deep breath and forced herself to join her friends. She had climbed halfway up, struggling in loose dirt, when Jordan’s high-pitched screams rang out.
Heart thumping, she debated returning to the Land Rover and waiting for them. Her inner child wanted to hunker in safety until the land stilled. No, Evaney clenched her teeth and jabbed her manicured nails into the dirt and climbed. She never had friends until college. Despite the loose, rocky soil and self doubts, she made it to the crest. The top was flat for about thirty feet and then it angled down in sharp drops.
“Evaney!” Winn shouted.
His voice sounded muffled. She ran downhill, skidding, and jumping over fissures and cracks. She slid another ten feet in loose dirt. “I’m here!”
Winn’s Tag watchband reflected the waning sunlight from a small hole, but the rest of his body hung down in a cavern. Both hands gripped his ice ax and a slinger leash dangled from the spike. The ground felt unstable as she moved to him. As she watched, he tried to slip his wrist into the slinger. “They’re attacking us!”
“Who?”
He grunted with effort. “Rocks are unsteady.”
“I’ve got a rope.” Evaney pulled it from her backpack and inched across the cracked surface. How did they get underground?
Winn screamed. Her heart fluttered and she froze. The land ripples lasted longer this time.
“Help, Ev!” he cried out.
Crack!
Evaney dropped the rope and dived for a scrawny pine tree near the ice ax. She got one hand snug around its trunk before the ground fractured beneath her. Sections crashed into the cave. “Winn?”
The P90X workouts had strengthened her arm muscles. Her upper chest rested on a slanted ledge, and her legs flailed into a dark pit not far from Winn. Taking a deep breath, she pulled up enough to grip the tree with both hands. She grunted and prepared to heave up her lower body.
Winn grabbed her leg. Her hands slipped as the sapling tipped over. Its roots held, but both her arms were fully extended under his added weight. He took his weight off. “Rope?”
“Lost it!”
Winn grunted and then Kaylee screamed, “They’re coming!”
“Climb, Kaylee,” Winn yelled.
“How far is the drop?” Evaney shouted.
He yelled back. “Pull! Pull us up!” He grabbed her legs.
Kaylee shrieked, “They’re biting me!”
What?
Evaney gritted her teeth as pain stabbed her hands. She ignored muffled screams and growling, bear-like sounds. Sweat popped out on her forehead and trickled into her eyes. No matter what she tried, she didn’t budge. “I can’t!”
Kaylee screamed nonstop.
Winn babbled, “We lost Dave. Help me reach slinger.”
The pain became unbearable when either Winn or Kaylee began to twist. Evaney shouted, “You’re hurting me!”
“Vermin always survives, don’t you?” Grand Nessy whispered.
Kaylee’s moans faded and then the pressure eased.
Evaney grunted with relief. “Kaylee?”
“She bled out. Pull up now or we’re next!”
Her body shook. She had nothing left.
“Help me!” His body jerked. “It’s jumping. Toss me the ax.”
Rock scraped underneath her chin from his sudden tug. She slid further. Her muscles burned and cramped. Evaney groaned and held tight. Something slapped her ankle. “I can’t let go!”
