Hunted

  I pull myself up, put my arm through the straps of my backpack, throw its weight behind me, and push my other arm through the second strap. Cole’s lips part slightly, and he leans closer to me.

  “You all right?”

  “Sure.” I bend over, wiping my palms on my jeans. I could never hide the truth from him.

  “Then we’ve got a train to catch.” He picks up a pack and steps off the porch.

  Bruno, Zeus, Grace, and I follow him as he treks down the winding driveway, along the cliff, and toward the main road. My stomach tightens into a fist the closer we get. I don’t need to guess how vulnerable we are out here. I already know it. And I feel naked. Stripped of everything but our hope.

  It’s black out here. I mean, really black. But the darkness hides us, and the temperature drops. I cross my arms over my chest, silently thanking Sutton for giving me clean, dry clothes. Inevitably, sand fills my boots, my socks, and my hair. I lick my dry and cracking lips.

  We’re glad for the cover of night, but even in the daytime, there isn’t much to see of Lexington Beach anymore. The ravages of war reach even out here, making it just another former paradise where abandoned houses rest upon splintered stilts along the beach. The citizens who remain choose to live silent lives, off the grid and away from the rule of the Commander. Like mice, they scatter when guards come around.

  We tread miles and miles of sand and nothingness until headlights bathe the road in light. I have to squint to see Cole jumping into a ditch. Zeus pushes my knees with his nose, almost nudging me into the spot where the others already wait. We’re breathing heavy as the sound of the oncoming engine gets louder. My pulse quickens as I smash myself against the side of the ditch, and sand trickles down my shoulders causing me to shiver.

  The car passes. I wonder who’s inside the vehicle, a guard or citizen. Then my mind wanders to Sutton and whether he’s being tortured right this very second. Cole gently touches my shoulder, and I push myself up onto the road.

  “Only two miles to go,” he whispers. “Be on your guard.”

  “Already am.” Who is he kidding?

  “Then what?” Grace stutters as she takes a sip of water then passes the thermos to Bruno.

  “We find a way to get on that train,” Cole says in a lower voice, grabbing a sip when Bruno passes it.

  Focus and get on the train … alive.

  I shake my head, refusing the drink. I’m too wound up to put anything into my body right now.

  We keep going, and soon, I see the dim lights of a train yard. The barbed-wire fence rises around it, and the flickering light gives it a grainy, almost black and white appearance as if in an old photograph. I notice the large bodies of the passenger cars resting in lines. One guard tower sits at the far end, with the dark silhouette of a guard against the light. I exhale, slowly … and try to take it all in. It’s so quiet, I’m afraid one false step will alert them to our presence. And yet, as we move closer, the place seems like almost an afterthought compared to other guard bases I’ve seen. It doesn’t even look like anyone’s patrolling the perimeter.

  When I lived in the country, there wasn’t a lot of guard activity, only rumors about it from my dad and his contacts. But when we moved to High Society, they were around all the time. Every week, someone was hauled away screaming, and the people would turn their heads and act like they didn’t know them. No one wanted to be mistaken for a sympathizer, or worse, a co-conspirator.

  “How the cracker are we going to get in there?” Grace asks, her voice squeaking at the end. I look in her direction. Her eyes are wide with speculation.

  A chuckle escapes me. “Cracker?”

  Cole looks at me like he knows exactly what she was saying.

  “Yeah, cracker. I know it’s ridiculous, but Grace won’t swear so she says cracker instead,” Bruno says. The whites of his eyes are a stark contrast against the darkness. “Damn waste of a word, if you ask me.”

  Grace rolls her eyes at Bruno.

  “Anyway,” Grace says. “Back to my question: how are we getting in?”

  “Very, very carefully,” Cole whispers. I watch as he scans the yard, his eyes moving back and forth quickly. “From what I can see, it seems like it’s a slow, quiet night.”

  “Yeah. There are three guards up there”—Bruno points to the tower—“with their eyes glued to the TV.” We all turn our heads toward the tower. “I imagine two of them are supposed to be guarding the main gate.”

  “You think there’s only the three of them?” I ask.

  “This is an old train yard. I don’t think they would waste guard resources on it.” Cole readjusts his belt and backpack.

  “I don’t have a good feeling about this … seems way too easy,” I say.

  “Well, it’s too late to chicken out now,” Grace says.

  Zeus snorts beside me.

  “I’ll lead, you guys follow,” Cole says. “You know the drill.” I fall in line behind him, Grace and then Bruno behind me. Cole pulls out his gun, and I notice it has a suppresser on it.

  “Where’d you get that?” I whisper and draw my gun.

  “Sutton gave it to me.”

  I nod and take a deep, cleansing breath. Next thing, I’m chasing after Cole through the reeds and sand, listening to the sounds of our heavy breathing and footsteps. The cool air bites at my cheeks. I push thoughts of our loosely made plans and what could go wrong out of my head.

  Cole motions for us to stop. He jerks to a halt and franticly signals toward the fence. I follow his hand to a hole big enough for a child to fit through. My eyes lock with Cole’s.

  Every instinct I have is telling me that it’s too easy as the hair rises on the back of my neck.

  “Feels like a trap,” I say to Cole. “We should look for another way.”

  “There is no other way. Go.” He sounds impatient. But when he motions toward the jagged entry again, I shake my head. It’s too late though; Zeus has already dug his way underneath and come up on the other side with his tongue hanging out of his mouth, staring at us like we’re idiots.

  “Damn it,” I mutter under my breath. Now, we’ve got no choice. My gut screams as Cole holds the fencing up so I can squeeze just below the sharp points.

  “Stay close to me,” Cole says as I shimmy under.

  “I will.”

  Once on the other side, I hunch down, staring back at Cole, Bruno, and Grace through the gridded wiring. I’m afraid if I move too much, my feet will disturb the gravel, alerting the guards to our location.

  Bruno barely slides underneath. Grace follows, and then Cole slides through last, carefully replacing the fencing. The scraping sound of it snapping back into place gives me the jitters. It sounds ten times louder than I’m sure it is, but I can’t help my paranoia. People have been caught for dumber reasons than this.

  Cole shrugs as if saying, “I told you so.”

  That’s when I hear the low, familiar growl.

  My head snaps to the left. Zeus’s head is low, ears back and teeth bared. His fur is ruffled, and his eyes are gleaming. Bruno shoves Grace behind him and begins to back away. But she stumbles and falls before she has a chance to get her footing. That’s when the figure comes into view.

  My jaw drops.

  Zeus charges toward the figure in full-on bark-and-attack mode. “Zeus! Don’t!” I rush to stop him, but Cole holds me back.

  “Zeus. Stop!” Cole is forceful, firm.

  Zeus stops immediately, dirt kicking up as he slides into place. He assumes a guarded stance, and his growl becomes deeper, fiercer. That growl is returned by one equally as deep and savage.

  A black Doberman with pointy ears, ferocious white canines, and a gigantic chain around his neck faces Zeus, growling and barking. With the saliva dripping down his mouth, it feels like he’s just waiting for the command to eat us. The muscular creature licks his foaming lips. If he doesn’t shut up, the guards will know we’re here.

  “Cole, shoot it!” I demand, drawing attention
to myself.

  The dog lunges in my direction.

  “Lexi, move!”

  Zeus jumps in front of me, snarling and snapping viciously, and then both dogs lock together in a mass of spit, fur, and violence. I can’t stop myself from screaming, watching Zeus be bitten and attacked like that. From somewhere in the compound, I hear others, but all I can think about is what’s unfolding in front of me.

  I aim my gun. He can’t die!

  I tighten my grip, ready, but they’re moving too fast. There’s no possible shot. Sweat beads on my forehead and drips, burning my eyes. Blood and saliva fling out into the air as the dogs continue their assault on one another. Deep down I know, only one can win this fight.

  Cole steps forward and points his gun, his body completely tense and his jaw clenched. He closes one eye and slowly pulls back the trigger.

  God, please … don’t let him miss.

  Grace has grabbed my wrist by now, but I’m rigid, frozen in shock. Bruno’s yelling at her to get away, to follow him.

  Cole shoots.

  My breath hitches.

  Everything moves in slow motion.

  One of the dogs staggers, then moves slowly away.

  The other collapses to the ground.

  I cover my ears to drown out the sound of my own screams.

  It’s Zeus. Oh God. Zeus.

  I shove my gun into its holster and rush toward him. He saved us. He saved me. He’s swerving this way and that, losing his balance. I wrap him in my arms. “It’s okay, boy. You’re going to be okay.”

  Zeus’s breathing is labored, his eyes are starting to gloss over. Cole looks wounded, crushed.

  “Go! I’ll carry him,” Cole says. He pushes me gently away and lifts a whimpering Zeus into his arms. From this vantage point, Zeus’s torn flesh is more evident.

  The other dog sounds just as bad; his crying and whimpering hits a soft spot in my heart.

  “Hold on,” I say. The other dog shakes his head. “He’s suffering.”

  “Look away,” Bruno says as he aims his gun at the poor dog. I turn away, close my eyes, and cover my ears. I can’t watch. Grace does the same. When Bruno fires, the dog makes one last yelp, and it makes me jump. I open my eyes and uncover my ears when I feel Bruno’s hand lightly pat my back. “Now he feels nothing. Now run!”

  The guards are coming. Their shouts and the sound of their feet tromping on stones give away their position. They’re close.

  We run alongside the long, sleek body of a newly polished railcar as the alarm blares, disorienting us. I dart between cars, hop over tracks, and check every door. My breaths are bursting in and out of my chest, and adrenaline pushes me to keep going. Please, let us find an open car.

  Finally, I reach a long passenger car used to transport Sinners, and I dig my fingers into the door handle, managing to slide the heavy door open. My hands shake as I hold it open for Bruno and Grace.

  Suddenly, the train creaks to life, jerking beneath my feet. I grab on to the doorframe, panic ripping through me. Where are Cole and Zeus? My shoulders tighten. Gunshots rebound around us, coupled with the whirring of wheels. I lean out the doorway, my hair flying in my face, obstructing my view.

  “Where’s Cole?” Bruno asks.

  The train picks up pace, clicking along the track.

  “Damn it, I don’t know.”

  Pulling my hair away and gritting my teeth, I’m about to scream when Cole rounds the corner with a lethargic-looking Zeus in his arms.

  Cole’s knees look like they’re about to buckle from the way he’s staggering. His eyes lift to mine, desperation crossing his face.

  “Come on,” I say. He stumbles, almost dropping Zeus. “Cole, push yourself. You’ve got to get on.”

  I glance ahead of the train, as the barbed-wire fencing comes into view, knowing we’ll soon be out of the rail yard. Focusing back on Cole, I notice guards following him, guns drawn. They fire at him, but somehow he finds the strength to run.

  I reach out my hand, but he’s just beyond my fingertips. Sweat pours off his forehead; Zeus lies limp in his arms.

  “Hand him over,” Bruno says. He moves behind me, reaching out his corded arms.

  Cole’s boots stomp to keep up, his face turning red and veins popping out of his neck as he struggles to keep up with the train.

  “Come on man, a little closer,” Bruno says. By now, Grace stands at his side, her hand on his shoulder for support.

  Cole lifts Zeus up, his limbs dangling and kicking at the air awkwardly. One paw hits Cole in the face, but he just clenches his jaw and scrunches his forehead with determination.

  “Grab him,” he says breathlessly.

  “I got him,” Bruno says. He pulls Zeus into the train car just as the train picks up speed.

  Cole just barely touches the ledge where I stand, his legs struggling to keep up. I lean out, my fingertips catching his. They brush each other, then air separates us.

  “Cole!” I scream. “Get on the train!”

  Bullets skim off the metal of the car, forcing me back for a minute. The black fencing surrounding the rail yard enters my peripheral vision. Then the door starts sliding closed.

  “Cole!” I put my body in front of the door to block it. “Someone help!”

  Grace pushes her way beside me and braces herself. “Grab him,” she shouts. “I’ll hold it.”

  I grit my teeth and jump for his hands.

  They catch mine, and with Grace bracing the door, I pull Cole onto the steps. He lands on his stomach, heaving for air as he sprawls across the threshold.

  The door slams closed with a hollow bang.

  We all smash ourselves against the cold, metal flooring. My nose crinkles from the smell of sweat, bodily fluids, and old blood. This is definitely a transport car for Sinners. I can still hear the alarms ringing and guards’ voices. My chest heaves as I roll toward Zeus to inspect him. He doesn’t look good. He’s losing a lot of blood.

  “Hurry, I need something, anything, to stop the bleeding,” I say. Bruno rummages through his bag and tosses a t-shirt at me. I tear it into strips. My hands shake, but I wrap Zeus’s wounds as he whimpers.

  “It’s okay, Zeus,” Cole says in a raspy voice. “It’s okay. I’m here.” He crawls over to us, still trying to catch his breath as he examines Zeus. “Everything’s going to be just fine.”

  Tears sting my eyes. I know how much this dog means to Cole. He tries not to let on, but I know his heart is breaking.

  “He has four gashes,” I say. “They’re not that deep, and the muscle’s not torn, but he may need stitches if the bleeding doesn’t stop.” Suddenly, my thoughts turn to Sutton’s medical bag. If he were here, he could help. He could save him.

  “He’ll pull through. He always does. He’s had injuries worse than this.” Cole gently touches my shoulders, and I lean back into him. My back rests against his chest, and he curls his arms around me. His reassuring tone calms me. So I fight my resistance and allow myself to be here for him.

  Grace lies in Bruno’s arms with her eyes squeezed shut. Her hands grip the side of her head, as if she’s trying to block out the sirens. He encircles her in his giant biceps and squeezes. I can’t help thinking she looks so small in his lap.

  I twist around to look at Cole.

  “I should’ve listened to you,” Cole says. “I should’ve trusted your instinct. The fence was a trap … and you knew it.”

  “No.” I shake my head, taking his fingers into mine. “There was no other way. There’ll never be an easy way for us.”

  The sirens stop, and I freeze in the gray light. I don’t hear any more voices. The sounds of shouting, guns firing, and loose gravel under boots subsided as the train left the rail yard, passing the large, black fence surrounding it. Now, it’s deathly silent except for the whirring of the wheels as the train kicks into high gear. I hold my breath, waiting for something to go wrong.

  But nothing happens.

  My lids grow heavy with exhaustion. Th
ere’s nothing more tiring than the feeling you get after the adrenaline leaves your veins. Even though I ache from my head to my toes, I manage to keep applying pressure to Zeus’s bleeding wounds and praying for a miracle.

  There’s no turning back. We’re on our way to the Hole.

  Flashes of early-morning sunlight wake me from my slumber. It flits through the slits at the top of the railcar. The gentle humming of the train assures me we’re still moving. I sit up and run my fingers through my tangled hair. No one else appears to be awake. I hear Cole’s soft snoring behind me and see Bruno and Grace asleep in each other’s arms. And it reminds me that love is the only blanket of warmth from this frigid world.

  Zeus! I snap my head toward him and reach over to check his wounds. He’s woofing in his sleep, and his paws twitch. I touch his bloodstained fur, and it feels stiff. Pulling my hand away, I glance at my fingers, rub them together, and realize they’re dry. His bleeding has stopped, and I rejoice for that small gift. I peer closer. His wounds don’t seem as deep as they did in last night’s darkness and chaos. A deep sigh escapes my lips. My eyes drift to the opening at the top of the wall and the light filtering through. Pulling my knees to my chest, I close my eyes, because there’s someone I need to talk to. In a whisper, I begin.

  “Dad, I hope you can hear me because there’re some things I need to say.” Ugh, this is harder than I thought it was going to be. And it’s not like he’ll respond. I swallow hard and find myself proceeding anyway. “Okay, I’m just going to spit this out, so here goes nothing. I know your dream for me was to fight for the freedom of our society, but I can’t, Dad. How can I possibly do that, when my heart is pulling me elsewhere? Trust me, I realize going after Sutton is pretty much a death sentence. But it’s a risk I have to take, because leaving him there to die isn’t something I can live with. And I’m pretty sure you’d do the same thing, because I know the kind of man you were. This world is one messed up place. It’s a war I can’t win on my own. And now, I have a smaller battle to fight, and I’m praying. Gosh, I’m praying so hard you’ll understand. I love Sutton, and I know you do too, so I need to do this for me, for us. And no matter what the outcome is, I hope you’ll be proud of me.” Tears flood my eyes; I blink, and they spill out. I feel the warm streams sliding down my cheeks, and I lick the corner of my mouth, tasting salt.