Into the Fire

by Victoria Smith

  There was so much pain and worry in this house. He went outside, seeking the solace of nature. Residual sadness clung to the trees, and the same emotions filled the inside of the house. The trees warned of substantial changes and more loss. Matt didn’t know how much more he could stand.

  He and Luke had lost so much—their parents, sister, and every other member of their family. One set of grandparents had died not long before their parents in a horrific car accident. Their mom’s parents died six months after he and Luke had gone to live with them, leaving them with their mother’s government-hating sister until she was killed for a container of fake ice cream on her way home from the store. They’d been eighteen and nineteen. He and Luke had joined the network and did what they wanted until they’d taken over the resistance when Jenner had fallen ill.

  Matt thought back to some of the stories his parents had told them about the way things used to be. It was a time when people were free to cross the sector borders at will and didn’t have to report every single aspect of their lives to the government. Hell, that was only fifty years ago. Their father had even said there was a time when personal freedom was nearly limitless—you could go where you wanted, say what you wanted, and do what you wanted as long as you didn’t hurt anyone or anything in the process. Matt couldn’t fathom that. He couldn’t help but wonder what life would be like if the sector division hadn’t happened in the early sixties.

  Luke gave him a half salute before walking toward the garage where his Corvette was parked. His brother needed time. Hell, they all needed time. And it was one of the things they didn’t have.

  “Should we go?” Jillian asked from behind him.

  Matt shook his head. “It’s not safe to travel.”

  “She went.”

  “I know, but I had no right to offer my opinion. Apparently, Luke didn’t either.” He turned to her, his sadness turning to anger. “Maybe I still don’t.”

  “Is that what you’re offering me now? An opinion?” She crossed her arms. “Why are you trying to start a fight?”

  He took a deep breath and swiped a hand down his face. “I’m sorry. I’m not.”

  Jillian didn’t say anything, but she dropped her arms and the fight left her eyes.

  He reached his hand out, grabbing hers and squeezing as they walked into the house. “It isn’t safe to travel. And you being here isn’t going to bother Luke. He’ll stay in the garage until he has stuff worked out in his head.”

  “Okay then.” She glanced around the living room. Greg and Rachel slept on the pull-out couch bed. The twins sacked out in oversized beanbag-type chairs nearby. There wasn’t space on the other couch for Theo’s big frame. “I have to get Theo settled in. Is there a place he can sleep?”

  “I’ll show you.” He led the way upstairs to the spare bedroom.

  “What about me?” she asked after telling Theo to take a shower and go to bed.

  “You can have my room.” He pointed to the closed door.

  “With or without you?” She snagged his sleeve.

  “Which do you prefer?” He waited, knowing he shouldn’t want more than they’d had, but unable to stop himself.

  She gave him a sad smile, hooking her arm through his. “With.”

  He touched her face, wiping a smudge of dirt from her cheek before kissing her gently. “Good.”

  “Shower first.” She stepped back.

  “Go ahead. I’m going to try to catch some news before I check on Luke.”

  Jillian nodded and disappeared behind the door. Matt went to the kitchen and turned the radio on with the volume low. His stomach twisted at the lies being forced down everyone’s throats. The announcer claimed the sector had won an award as the best place to live. Yeah, right. Assholes. He snapped the radio off after listening to the bulletins about travel restriction and outlaws. They were so screwed.

  Luke had the engine to the Corvette mostly dismantled by the time Matt went to the garage. Parts were everywhere. Some were broken on the floor after obviously being thrown against the wall, and others were laid out on shop towels on the bench. Matt picked up a shattered spark plug and tossed it into a metal trash can, hoping to get his brother’s attention. Luke didn’t look up.

  “Dude, what the hell?” Matt leaned against the bench.

  “She’s been running a little off lately.” He still didn’t look up.

  The car ran fine. It was Luke that was off. And with good reason.

  “Can I help?”

  Luke ignored him.

  “Olivia will be fine. She has to grieve in her own way, and that takes time. Hell, she lost her entire family in one day—thanks to that asshole. Do you think she went to find him?” Matt hadn’t thought of that before, but he knew it was possible from the short amount of time he’d spent with her.

  Luke brought his head up fast and glared at him. “Why would she do that alone?”

  “Why wouldn’t she? What does she have to lose?”

  Luke whipped around and grabbed the front of his shirt. “Me.”

  Matt didn’t know what to say. He shouldn’t have mentioned Olivia going after Jenner alone. He peeled Luke’s fingers off his shirt and stepped to the side.

  “Chill out. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry. Give her some time. You guys had a good thing going. But, seriously, she lost so much today. She probably thought it was better to walk away before something happened to you. Jenner wants her, big time. There’s an all-points bulletin out on her.”

  “You’re kidding, right? That’s bad.” Luke threw the spark plug he’d been holding hard enough to shatter it against the wall.

  “Did she tell you where she’s going?” Matt helped Luke with the engine work, sensing the urgency in his brother’s will to get the car running again.

  “No. She wouldn’t. Said it was safer if I didn’t know.” He slammed his fist on the wooden bench and swore.

  “What do you want to do?” Matt was almost afraid to ask.

  “Find Jenner and kill the son of a bitch.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Jillian lingered in the shower longer than she should. It had been too long since she hadn’t had to hurry, thanks to the ancient hot water heater in the old place and the constant line waiting to use the bathroom. She’d hoped Matt would join her, but since she’d already washed twice, it didn’t seem like that was going to happen.

  She toweled off and put on a pair of running shorts and a tank top before going to check everyone. Theo was fast asleep, his arm hanging off the edge of the bed and his prized pistol on the nightstand. The deaths of Olivia’s family had hit him hard. Jillian had a feeling it was going to take her a while to help him put things into perspective. She was so proud of him for how he handled himself today. He’d helped without being asked and had worked alongside Matt unloading the supplies. Theo seemed different since Matt crashed their lives. She was afraid to inspect that.

  Stopping at the window, Jillian studied the garage. The doors were shut, but ribbons of light spilled out. She wanted to go, to offer a woman’s opinion to Luke, but he wasn’t ready for that. Besides, she’d always made a point not to get involved in other people’s lives. Turning away, she covered the twins with the blankets Matt and Theo had brought in and headed upstairs.

  Jenner deserved a slow and painful death for what he’d done and continued doing. She’d heard rumors of organ harvesting, in addition to the experiments. The whole thing was surreal and made the already complicated issues of the sector even worse, especially since Jenner seemed to believe he was acting in their best interests. He was so charming and sincere, it was hard to not get sucked into his delusions again. Getting out of here and finding a safe place for Theo should be her first priority, but she couldn’t let go of her own desire for revenge, made worse by all that had happened today.

  Theo was more important. She shuddered at the thought of what could happen to him if she selfishly put her desire for vengeance above his safety, or if she put her desire for Matt above The
o’s well-being. She had to stick to her plan. Theo wasn’t going to The Farm—not if she could help it. They’d welcome him, but they would exploit his innate abilities and use him as one of their conduits to keep the location safe. He’d be a vessel only, his brain in use for the greater good. She’d be banned, as she already was, for trying to expose what really went on behind their closed gates and how they really treated the serum babies they claimed to love as a gift.

  It was worse than a cult with all the collective reasoning and use of skills. Sure, it was a way to add to your own abilities or hone skills you didn’t even know you had, but the loss of personal freedom and identity was as bad as it was outside the boundaries. You were a slave to the elders until you passed their tests, and no one quite knew what those tests were or what happened if you failed. There was so much secrecy and illusion, she wasn’t sure anyone outside, and maybe even most inside, knew what really went on.

  Getting out of the sector was tricky, but she’d been working on a way for months. Their aunt lived in the Southern sector, about two hundred miles inside the border. She’d welcome them and anyone Jillian brought along. Things weren’t perfect in any sector, but the risk was worth it if it meant Theo didn’t have to hide anymore, and she didn’t have to think about possibly killing him to keep him safe. If she could get Theo there, she could come back and take care of unfinished business.

  She closed the door to the room where Theo slept, sadness filling her like a rain gauge during a heavy storm. Getting across the border would be tough. She ignored the thought that leaving Matt would be harder. She couldn’t let those thoughts in, couldn’t allow him any further into her life. Jillian crawled into the bed, covered herself with sheets that smelled like Matt, and fought the urge to cry.

  She woke when Matt edged in beside her. His hair was wet, a faint smell of motor oil clinging to his skin. She rolled into him, settling against his chest with a sigh. Her decision would cause them both pain.

  He made love to her with tenderness and adoration. Tears filled her eyes when they finally settled in to sleep. His arms were around her, her head was on his chest. The endearments he’d whispered warmed and broke her heart. Their time was limited. Only he just didn’t know it yet.

  Matt was gone when she woke. The smell of coffee lured her out of bed. She went to the kitchen, hating the negative vibe filling Luke’s peaceful house. There was a lot wrong and, unfortunately, none of them could fix it.

  Theo waved from in front of the television in the family room. He played a video system she remembered from childhood, and the twins watched. She’d spent many Saturdays playing that game, beating her dad and trying to teach Theo how to play. The racing game was probably still too advanced for him, but Theo seemed to be doing well and having a grand time. She glanced out the window. Greg and Rachel held hands as they walked through the trees.

  Luke and Matt sat at the table with cups of coffee in front of them. Luke kept his eyes on his caffeine, but Matt smiled as she passed through on her way to the kitchen to pour her own coffee. She joined them at the table, her chest squeezing with the thick tension surrounding them.

  “So, we breech security here. I think his private quarters are underground.” Luke pointed to a hand-drawn map spread out on the table.

  “What makes you think that?” Matt asked, grabbing her hand.

  “He smelled like a musty basement when I dropped Olivia off for the antidote. It’s just a hunch, but either way, his living area is somewhere around here.” Luke tapped the map.

  “Okay. What’s your plan?” Matt leaned forward, taking her hand with him.

  “A lot of firepower, a few more reliable people, and luck. He’s only a man. His soldiers are an issue. They’re super strong and fight well, but they’re slow,” he said. “If only we could have dropped the drug Jenner’s giving the soldiers off at the underground. We might have a better chance at defeating them.”

  “We’ll get it to them as soon as we can.” Matt gave her with a wry smile that was more of a grimace. “Okay. What’s first? I figure we have about another twenty-four hours until they lift the travel restrictions. If they haven’t caught Olivia by then, they probably won’t.” Matt ran a hand down his face. “Dude, I’m sorry. That was insensitive.”

  “No. It’s true. She’s smarter than they are. I only hope she’s actually gone into hiding and isn’t trying to take him out herself.” Luke’s voice cracked, but his facial expression didn’t change. “There’s nothing we can do if she did, but we have to act like she hasn’t. What did the latest news report say?”

  “They’ve got a fantastic story about her going on a murderous rampage. She’s being blamed for the restroom deaths from the night I met up with Jillian, and about a dozen other bodies found in the general vicinity. We do realize that Jenner still has a connection to the current administration, don’t we?”

  “Duh,” Jillian said. “Everyone knows that. Tell me you didn’t.”

  “Well, let’s just say we were reserving judgment on that particular situation until more information was available. How do you know?” Luke glanced up at her, his thin smile dampening his sarcasm.

  “I’ve had some personal experiences. And we’ll leave it there.” She glanced at Matt before pointedly looking in at Theo. “For now.”

  She’d tell him, eventually, but talking about it now wouldn’t do any of them any good. Plus, she didn’t want to risk Theo hearing. He was sensitive enough after yesterday.

  “Fine.” Luke turned back to the map.

  Jillian could feel Matt’s gaze pressing into her. She finally met his eyes.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, taking one of her hands under the table.

  She sighed and glanced at Theo again before getting up and going onto the deck. Matt followed, closing the door behind him. His wrinkled brow broke her heart.

  “Do you remember when you asked why we stayed squatting in the basement of that old bar?”

  “You told me it was none of my business.” Matt raised an eyebrow.

  “Because I didn’t know you.” She picked at a nail in the railing.

  “And now?” The wrinkle on his forehead deepened.

  “I’ve been working on getting my group across the border and into a safe house. Despite the danger, I have to try. You know what their fate is if he catches them.” She glanced at Theo again.

  “Fine. I’ll help.”

  “You can’t. You need stay here and help Luke save those people in Jenner’s compound. Then you must get him out of power. That’s more important.”

  “If we succeed, then your trip is a waste of time.” Matt rubbed his thumb over her palm.

  “Not true. Not with the way everyone is brainwashed. Don’t you remember the propaganda about the serum babies? They called them monsters and said they were contagious and evil. My parents had to hide my brother. My dad could have lost his job if anyone found out about Theo. That kind of fear and hate won’t go away just because Jenner is out of the picture.”

  “You’re right. We didn’t have our sister for long, but I remember how people talked. Mom told everyone the baby was stillborn. Only close family ever saw her.” Matt squeezed her hand. “I can help if you’ll let me.”

  She shook her head. “My plan’s pretty solid. I’ve been working out the details for months. I can do this without you, but Luke can’t follow through without your skills.”

  He stared at her, the caress of his thumb on her palm going still. “When will you leave?”

  “As soon as possible. I have to pick up the rest of the permits. Most of them are legit, but I had to pay a fortune to have the residence documents forged. I’m taking about four others, in addition to Rachel, Greg, and the kids.”

  “It’s not wise to travel with so many people.” Matt dropped her hand.

  “Probably not, but it’s the only chance I’ll get. Me getting back here will be hard enough.” She turned to go into the house.

  “Why in hell would you come back?”
Matt glared at her. “Seriously.”

  “I have other things to do here. Scores to settle.” She leveled him with her best intimidating stare.

  Matt put up his hands. “Fine. I was just asking.”

  “Don’t.” She blew out a breath. “Please. Not now.”

  He leaned in, kissing her forehead. “Let me know if you need anything.”

  He walked away, closing the door with a final-sounding thud. She faced the woods for a while, taking deep breaths. Maybe she should have told him everything. With a sigh, she moved away from the railing and went back inside to her coffee. She sat, grabbing the barely warm cup.

  Luke leaned forward. “You’re breaking his heart.”

  “I don’t have a choice. It would be selfish and dangerous to stay. Theo has to be my top priority. He can’t take care of himself. I can’t put my wants above his.”

  He nodded. “You’re really coming back?”

  “If I live through it. Yeah, I’ll be back.” She glanced up as Matt entered carrying the pot of coffee.

  Hopefully.

  ~ ~ ~

  Olivia wasn’t sure how far she’d walked. It was morning when the gas tank went dry, and she’d been forced to park the truck in the garage of an abandoned house and take off on foot. Now twilight blanketed the sky. She’d followed the familiar old dirt road for the past few hours. Nature had reclaimed it, so she should be relatively safe.

  The cabin came into view as she stepped around a huge fallen tree. She’d expected dilapidated at best. The pristine condition of the front porch took her by surprise. No one should be living here, and squatters would want the place to appear deserted.

  Olivia’s legs threatened to give out as an older woman stepped onto the porch. She stopped in her tracks and stared.

  “Olivia. Oh, dear child.” She held out her hands.

  Olivia stared at her. Aunt Jane was dead. Olivia had been at the funeral, though there’d been no viewing. Aunt Jane hadn’t wanted people to see her in death. She’d sat through the distribution of Jane’s worldly goods in the lawyer’s office. This cabin was supposed to belong to Olivia now.