“You can do it, Lexi!” Cole shouts.
Just then, it pops up, letting the doors swing open, and I slide inside. The boxes rattle among some broken glass strewn across the floor, and a liquid pools at my feet. I try to lift a box, but it’s too heavy. My tendons groan and my arms shake when I attempt it again. Trying to get in drained me of my strength.
Before I’m able to call for help, Cole’s climbing in beside me. His vein pulses in his forehead, sweat sliding down his sculpted arms. He gives me a wink. I got it.” Picking up a heavy box, he moves back toward the open doors. The truck sways, and I grab his arm to steady him. Just before he hops off, I smack him on the butt. I can’t explain why. It just came naturally. Like it used to.
“Hey there!” he says with his adorable half-smile.
“Get away from me!” I yell at him. He’s trying not to smile as he sprints away.
Seeing how close we are to the wall, I know I need to get out too. My hands grasp the heavy doors and I jump. My feet hit the ground, sending a shock through my body. I go down onto my hands and knees, and Zeus is there, licking my face. I jump up to find Bill waving me down. Even though my feet are throbbing and my head is spinning, I sprint after him.
My legs move swiftly behind Cole, Bill, and the others. Relief washes over me as I fall in line behind Cole, Bill, and the others.
By the time we retrieve Owen and make it to the new safe house Genesis procured, we’re covered in dust and crusted with salt. And half the day has passed.
Owen grabs me around the knees and squashes me in a big hug, melting my heart, and I give his face a kiss. Cole puts the box on the hard, cool floor and bear-hugs Bruno, who laughs and then pushes him away. In this moment of triumph, Cole grabs me and pulls me close to him, and I do what comes naturally. I wrap my arms around him, and our bodies press together, his warmth giving me strength.
“Ohhhhh, guys, this is bad, bad, bad.” Bill’s voice rips through the room, and everyone stops to look at him. He’s kneeling next to the open box holding a vial in his hands.
He pushes it toward me, and I take it. I read the label twice before I realize what it is. My heart begins to gallop.
“It’s happening. We better figure out how to slow this down,” I say.
All eyes rest on me. My fingers shake as I carefully put the vial back in the box, my throat feeling choked. “I don’t believe this.” Please God. It can’t be.
“What?” Cole asks.
“The virus … he perfected it.” My voice cracks. “Not only that, he’s mass-produced it.” I turn to Cole, my hands limp at my sides. “We’re fighting a different kind of war. Our entire world’s at risk of extermination.”
“Dinosaurs here we come,” Bill says from my side. I shoot him a dirty look.
Bruno curses under his breath.
“Want to fill us in?” Genesis asks. She reaches over and plucks a vial from the box, swirling it around, sniffing it, and then reading the label. “It’s the cure. We got the cure. What’s the problem here?”
“You went off track,” Cole says, anger lacing his words. “You can’t fathom what we’ve been through!”
“Yes, you’re welcome, by the way,” she snaps, hands on her hips, but Bruno waves them both down.
“Genesis,” I say, trying to hold my voice steady, “are you ready for answers?”
“I heard Wilson,” she snaps. “There was a virus, but there’s a cure now. I’m not following.”
“Wilson lied,” Bruno says. “There’s no cure. Am I right, Miss Lexi?” He crosses one arm over his chest, stroking his chin with the other.
Genesis huffs, annoyed at being left out. “Then what. Exactly. Is this?”
“The virus is now Wilson’s biochemical weapon,” Bill explains. “He’s going to kill millions of people.”
“Still not following.” Genesis places the vial back into the box none too gently and steps away from it, her aggravation clear.
“Don’t you get it?” I yell. “There never was a vaccine! It was big fat lie.”
Everyone in the room pauses, some wearing skeptical expressions and some shaking their heads in shock. Genesis’s forehead scrunches up, deep wrinkles forming, making her look older than her years.
“Wilson lied? Imagine that,” Bill mumbles.
I ignore him. “Wilson was injecting Sinners with the live virus, which is what has been killing people left and right.” My shoulders slump as a million thoughts fight for my attention. “We tried getting medical records out to warn the United Powers, but we’re not sure they got them. They probably would’ve been here by now if they had.”
“So basically, we’re screwed?” Genesis asks flatly.
“Exactly.” I keep my eyes on the box. “This could change everything. Just think for a second. With the amount we have here, it’s possible he could attack other countries.”
Genesis smacks her forehead. “And all we did was sit here watching five trucks get out.” Her voice raises as the realization dawns on her, her fists clenching at her sides. “And you didn’t think this was important to tell me? What the hell’s wrong with you?”
“I’m warning you, Genesis, watch your tone,” I snap. “Had you told us your intentions, I would’ve told you. But no. You went behind our backs and did what you wanted. So we did what we wanted. We’re even.”
“Enough!” Bruno jumps in, holding up his hands. “Blame won’t solve the problem. So let’s regroup and try to figure out where they’re transporting the vials.”
“Does it matter?” I ask. “What’s done is done.”
Bruno looks defeated as he shakes his head. “You’re right.”
“We’re screwed,” I repeat. “Wilson might attack other countries, and we have no way of warning them.”
“Who cares?” a man pipes up from Genesis’s team. “None of those people care about us Sinners. We’ve been rotting away here for years, and not one of them has lifted a finger to help us. They’re getting what they deserve.”
“Dip shit!” Bill snaps. “Just a few weeks ago, there was an entire network of revolt members trying to help outside these walls. They needed proof, and we tried to get it to them. But that obviously didn’t succeed.” Bill flails his arms around at us. “We lost friends on that mission, so the least you can do is show some respect.”
“We’ve lost friends too,” the man shoots back.
“Duh, Einstein. Who hasn’t?” Bill is speaking so angrily, spit flies from his mouth. “But not for the same cause!”
A grumble from the other man is met with some assent and some disagreement. They raise their voices, and soon everyone’s shouting, on their toes, fists raised.
This will only end badly. I step back in an attempt to find breathing room, but the crowd pushes inward. A fight’s bound to break out if someone doesn’t exert control over the situation. Owen slinks behind Bill, and Zeus snarls at the man closest to me.
“Knock it off,” I command the room. But no one listens. They’re too close, sharing each other’s air, red-faced and looking for an argument.
“Stop,” Cole says. “Now.” But Genesis and two of her followers bare their teeth at him. His hand moves to the gun at his side. Bruno tries to jump between them, but there are too many people in the way.
I check over my shoulder as Owen slowly steps backward, searching for something solid with his hands. His eyes enlarge, fear coursing through them. He gives a small whimper.
“Hey there, it’ll be okay, just cover your ears and close your eyes,” I try to tell him, but I can’t turn around because the others are shouting and pressing in on me. In front of me, Zeus snarls at someone, and Owen flinches. He covers his ears with his hands and backs away. Right into the box.
The sound of shattering glass makes everyone freeze. An oozing liquid seeps across the floor, spreading with long fingers.
With their brains apparently working again, people dart out of the way. But Owen only stands, staring at the substance as it pours over the
floor and turns into a puddle at his feet.
I swoop in and pick him up before the virus can touch him. “Are you okay?” I ask as he buries his face in my shoulder. When he doesn’t answer, I put him back on his feet and inspect him for injuries. Thankfully, he doesn’t have any broken skin. “Thank goodness, you’re all right, buddy.”
Tension simmers in the silence around us, and I fear another outbreak. I nod toward Bill, who pulls Owen into his arms and moves him away from the gathering of people—and the spreading virus.
“So it’s all over?” Genesis asks angrily, throwing her hands in the air. “We have nothing left to fight for!”
“I disagree,” I say. “You’re right and wrong. We cannot stop the virus from spreading … unless …”
Genesis quirks her brows at me.
“Unless we get Sutton back,” I say firmly. “He’s our only chance of connecting with the outside. And this is where trust comes into play.” I look around at the tense people still listening apprehensively. “You know about the virus, which means now it’s your turn to help us get weapons. Wilson’s started a war. It’s finally time to start ours.”
Genesis folds her hands across her chest and watches to see how her people will respond. When nobody speaks up, she asks, “What good could Sutton possibly do?” She keeps her face neutral.
“He could help us find a cure,” I say. “Trust me. We need him.”
“Yes. Yes we do,” Bill chimes in from the back corner. “Sutton’s the man.” But nobody seems to buying it.
“How many of you have families outside the Hole?” I ask.
Some raise their hands, and others shrug as if they’re not sure anymore.
“Think about it, do you want them agreeing with Wilson that you deserve this hellish life? Because we sinned?” I don’t pause to wait for an answer. “Every person here, and outside of here, is a sinner, whether we wear brands or not. But we’re all people first. We’re stuck in here, and they’re outside, but that has no bearing on whose life is more important. Every life should be sacred. We’re humans just like them. The only difference is that here, behind these walls, we’re prisoners, and out there, they’re free. Don’t let Wilson take your humanity away from you, because it’s all we’ve got left. And it’s up to each and every one of you to hold on to that.”
All eyes rest on me, and I let my words flow. “We have the choice to keep fighting against this evil, because I don’t want the generations after us to endure what we have. Do you?”
No one responds, so I shout, “Don’t you want the country to know you fought? That you stood up for yourself and didn’t back down when the devil tried everything to end you? That you didn’t sacrifice your humanity regardless of how you’ve been treated? That no matter the cost, you still care enough to prevent them from suffering the same fate?”
A grumble of approval moves through the crowd, and I swear Genesis has teary eyes. She quickly averts her gaze.
“Then let’s break down these walls,” I thunder, “and bring Wilson down!”
The room erupts in a shout of agreement, and Zeus howls along. The excitement and adrenaline marching through my veins is amplified by their enthusiasm. For the first time since failing to get the records out, I believe we have a shot. It might be a long one, but it’s something. Even Genesis looks motivated. Her usually cold demeanor fades as her mind dances with ideas. She pulls Bruno aside, and they talk quietly. Next thing I know, he’s drawing her a map, and they’re bouncing strategies off each other.
In the midst of it all, a warm hand rests on my shoulder, giving me peace amidst the chaos. I turn, and Cole’s staring at me with pride.
I give him a sheepish smile. “What?”
“If only Sutton could’ve heard you just now, turning a full-blown riot into a peace treaty.” He pulls me into an embrace and whispers in my ear, “I’m proud of you, Lexi.” My throat tightens; a tingling sensation hits the base of my spine and travels upward. “You’ve changed.”
“How so?”
“The once frightened girl is now a force to be reckoned with, and knowing your dad as briefly as I did …” He pauses to clear his throat. “I can say that you and Keegan are just as brave as he was. And I will follow you, until the end, wherever and whenever that might be.”
I tear up as I step back, holding on to his strong, calloused hands. “Until the end,” I say. “Let’s burn this place to the ground.”
“Hoorah,” he says with a wink.
With planning in full swing, there’s no time to think about much else, and I find myself disconnected from my grief over my mom. But, occasionally, the memory of her speaking her last words to Keegan haunts me. I swallow what feels like a cotton ball in my throat and practically choke. Maybe Keegan was right. Maybe she had her reasons for doing what she did, and maybe someday I’ll understand them. Until that time, though, I have to keep pushing forward. And that means cherishing the memories I have of her from when I was a child.
Those were the good times. The days I choose to remember. Dad was traveling a lot, but when he came home, Mom always had dinner on the table and chocolate-chip cookies baking. Some people think I was spoiled, but I like to think having parents who loved each other was normal. Keegan was always outside, working on his car or out with his buddies, probably getting into trouble. My parents were patient with us, like they were with each other. I don’t know, maybe they knew their days together were numbered, so they lived each like it was their last.
Remembering those times mend my soul, giving me hope that maybe, someday, I can have that again.
“Lexi, you with us?” Genesis asks, eyebrows raised.
“Yeah. I’m listening.” My response comes out flippant, and she glares at me.
“Bruno and Cole will distract the guards at the checkpoint,” she repeats, “and that’s our opportunity to rush in.”
“How do you plan on distracting them?” I ask the boys.
“Oh, I’m just a bowl full of brilliant ideas,” Bruno says. He winks, and I roll my eyes. Even though his smart-ass comments drive me crazy, it’s refreshing to see him joking around.
“Once you’re inside, we’ll disable them from the outside,” Cole says.
I cross my arms. “Once we’re in then what?”
“Clear a path and wait for us,” Cole replies. “We’re going to be short on time, so the goal’s to grab as many weapons and ammo as we can carry. Guns, grenades … anything.”
“How much time do we have?” I ask.
“That depends,” Genesis says. “We’re going to observe and study the guards for a few days. Memorize their routes, shift changes. Stuff like that. We’ve only got one shot at this, so until we’re certain we know what to expect … we’re not going. Remember to count the number of guards entering and exiting the building, what time this happens, and how long they stay in their rotations. Once we figure out the time with the lowest number of guards inside, we’ll know when to go. It’s our best bet.”
I nod. “Are we forming teams again?”
“Yes,” Cole says. “And each team will have their own agenda. That we will stick with.”
“All right. Who’s with me?” I ask.
“The one and only,” Bill says. He smiles while taking a swig out of his bottle. I don’t know how he manages to do it. Genesis squints at him, shaking her head.
“Your ass better be sober, Bill.” I give him a playful shove, and he sputters. “I can’t have you staggering after me and falling on your face.”
“I’ll have just the one drink, Lusty. I promise.”
“Good. Because I’m counting on your ninja skills.”
“A few of my people will join your team,” Genesis says. “My team will be right behind you.”
“Remember, we’re extremely low on ammo,” Bruno says. “If you’re going to shoot, you better hit the target. Whatever you do … don’t miss.”
“Great. No pressure there,” I say with a wicked smile. “Bruno, I want a layout
of the training center. Can you draw it? I also want to know what weapons are most vital to us and their exact location.”
Bruno nods, but Bill shakes his head. “Slight problem. What if they’ve moved them?”
“Then we’ll adjust accordingly and grab what we can.” I turn away from Bill. “Cole”—he snaps to attention—“can you go over with me what you know about being a guard inside? Where you positioned yourselves, what your rotations were, where you ate, where you crapped, for heaven’s sake. Because if we go in blind, this could end before it’s even started.”
“I’m on it,” he says. “I’m jotting down notes as we speak. Should I describe the toilets?”
“In great detail, please.” The corners of his mouth curve as he studies my face, and I wink at him, which makes him groan. Joking with him helps take the edge off what’s ahead, and I must admit I’ve missed the flirting.
“Genesis.” I rest my hands on my hips as I address her. “Are you sure your team can handle close contact like this?”
“Don’t underestimate us,” she says, flipping her hair. “How do you think we survived this long?”
“Good point.”
“One last thing,” she says. We all pause before going about our duties. “Because of Wilson’s announcement, Sinners have no reason to hide anymore. They’ll be out in force.”
“Maybe can flip some of them to our side,” Cole says.
“Then let the recruiting begin,” I answer in a hard voice. “The more red brands, the better.”
She sneers, her hands grazing her red brand. “My personal favorite color.”
***
Immediately, Bruno takes a group of people to observe the training center and learn its schedule. Bill insists on drinking in a corner and singing bawdy songs that everyone tries to tune out. Owen sleeps on a blanket with other children, while Genesis finishes briefing some of her followers, who seem all too eager to begin with the plan.
“You ready?” Cole breaks into my thoughts.
“For what … exactly?”
“Training,” he answers with a gleam in his eye.