Red Handed

  The sky was black velvet with pinpricks of white diamonds. The air was cool and fragrant with man-made lake and pine and dirt. Entranced, I tilted my chin up and splayed my arms. Before coming to this camp, I'd been able to go outside whenever I wanted. I'd lain in the sun for hours, absorbing the warmth; I'd partied in the moonlight, lost in my own little world.

  What a difference a few weeks had made. I loved camp, but God, I had missed this. Having my freedom taken away was the absolute worst. I understood the reasoning for it now, might even have accepted it, but that didn't change my frustration at being kept from it.

  Kitten gasped, and I turned to see what had startled her. She was facing the building we'd just exited. I turned, too, and blinked in surprise. Uh, there was no building. Only night and dirt.

  "A shield covers the building," Mia explained. "It's blocked from the naked eye by modified energy particles."

  Tentatively, I reached out. My fingers encountered something jellylike that caused the air around my fingers to dapple and ripple like water. "Wow," I said, awed. "How will we find the door then?"

  "You learn." Mia clapped her hands. "Enough chatter. Let's move out. We've got a lot of ground to cover and not a lot of time to do it."

  She loaded us inside a large black van--the same van that had brought me here, was my guess. Sweet memories, I thought dryly. From the outside, the vehicle appeared completely closed up, no side windows, no doorways. But with a single command of "open" from Mia, two doors popped open.

  When we were seated inside, I realized that there were indeed windows; they were simply covered by a shade. Mia claimed the driver's seat and programmed a location into the console computer.

  As the car kicked into gear, she turned to us. There was no reason for her to steer or even watch the road. The computer did that for her. What's more, Mia didn't need to break or accelerate because the sensors knew when to do that.

  "We're going to drive around the city," she said. "I want you to tell me when you see an other-worlder."

  I exchanged a glance with Kitten, who sat on my left.

  "Are we being graded on this?" Cara asked.

  "With your lives," was the dead-serious answer.

  Several girls groaned. My heartbeat sped into hyperdrive.

  Mia frowned. "I'm not going to kill you, if that's what you're thinking. In the real world, you have to spot the aliens before they spot you. Don't assume that just because most of them are visually different that you'll be able to know when one is near. They hide. They sneak. Some of them can even transport right in front of you and kill you before you realize what's happened." Her frown deepened. "In my early days as an agent, I was attacked from behind and almost died. Had I been paying attention, I could have killed the alien before he knew I was there."

  Silence.

  All of us were busy staring out the windows, searching...searching...for the elusive enemy among us. The enemy who would kill us if we didn't kill him first. I saw only tall syn-oaks that knifed the skyline and thick bushes, freshly planted since there weren't enough trees and the government was always looking for ways to replenish.

  To my right, Emma shifted. I'd sat by her on purpose. I needed to apologize to her. I never should have mentioned her trauma. She'd been opening up to me, animated for the first time since I'd met her, and I'd reminded her of what she'd gone through.

  Like she'd said, I didn't want people to know about my drug use because they always--okay, usually--treated me differently. Emma probably felt the same. There was shame in knowing that others knew your deep, dark secrets.

  I should wait until we were alone, or at the very least wait until this assignment was complete, but...screw the assignment. My teammate came first. "I'm sorry," I whispered to her.

  She turned away, giving me her back.

  "We all have our secrets, Emma," I said in that same quiet tone. "You've heard mine. I was a drug addict. What you don't know is that I've spent six months in rehab before coming to this camp--and that wasn't the first time. It was just the first time I decided to get clean."

  At first, I didn't think I'd reached her, but then she slowly pivoted in her seat and faced me. "I used to fly, too," she admitted softly.

  My eyes widened. I'd thought I was the only one here with such a stain on her record. "I didn't know."

  "I was stupid enough to take Onadyn while swimming and I was coming down from the high when I realized I was surrounded by a group of--" Her voice had begun shaking and she paused. "A group of Lyrosses. They were...I was..." She stopped again, but this time she didn't start back up.

  I reached over and squeezed her hand. She covered my hand with her palm. I could guess how the event came about. When she'd come to, the Outers had already been in the process of raping her. She would have been weak, dehydrated. She wouldn't have been able to fight.

  Nothing I said could comfort her, I knew that. But I said, "We're learning how to neutralize creatures like that."

  "I will kill them." Hate dripped from her voice. "I will."

  "And I'll help."

  We shared a smile.

  "Girls," Mia said. "What's so important that you're not paying attention as ordered?"

  "Teamwork," I said. "A very wise instructor once told me that a good team worked together but a great team liked each other."

  Her lips curled into an amused, dry grin. "Good answer, but you'd better start paying attention or I'll whip your asses. We've already passed two Arcadians and no one noticed."

  "Well, hell," Kitten muttered. "I was paying attention and I didn't see them."

  "They know how to hide, how to blend into the shadows. Look."

  I craned my neck until I peered over Emma's shoulder. I didn't release her hand, though, and she didn't release mine. I studied, I observed, I scanned, really I did, but I saw only the occasional tree. The moon was a tiny sliver, muted and thin, not very helpful.

  Soon we reached the edge of the city, away from the pier, and there were a few more lights. Lots more buildings. Not many people were out at this hour, but there were a few cars on the road.

  Scattered throughout were hookers and druggies in need of a fix. They stumbled around, soliciting anyone who would listen. They were dirty and probably desperate. That could have been me one day, I realized. It was humbling. Shaming. But also invigorating. I'd broken the cycle. That wouldn't be me.

  From the corner of my eye, I saw movement. I shifted and sharpened my gaze into the swell of buildings. Saw nothing. I scanned the area. There! Adrenaline raced through my veins. A stooped body that was hairless and wrinkled bounded from one corner of a building to another.

  "Look! A Sybilin," I said, pointing.

  Mia's blue eyes widened and she followed the length of my arm. "Where?"

  "There."

  A second later, she cursed under her breath. "Where there's one, there's a horde." She ordered the car to stop. In the next instant, the tires squealed and we were thrown forward.

  "Stay here," Mia said as she withdrew a pyre-gun. "Open," she commanded, and one of the doors instantly obeyed. She jumped outside, yelled, "Close and lock," over her shoulder, and was off.

  She disappeared down a dark alleyway. One heartbeat passed. Two. Blue beams erupted, lighting up the night. I thought I heard a scream. Thought I saw a shadow move. Then, nothing.

  "I wonder what Jenn's doing now," I said. Wrong topic, I realized a second later. It really brought down everyone's morale. I was happy when Kitten changed the subject.

  "I bet Mia nailed him." Grinning, Kitten clapped. "He's probably begging for death."

  Everyone glued their noses to the right window, watching and waiting.

  "I know one thing," Lindsay said. "I never want to piss that woman off. There's murder in her eyes."

  I agreed. Still, I couldn't help but like and admire her. "Think she can beat up her boyfriend?"

  Cara barked out a laugh. "Probably. I pity the poor fool. I bet he has to wear iron underwear to protect himself f
rom her anger."

  I bit my lip to keep from smiling. "She's not that bad."

  "Are you kidding me?" Lindsay's red eyebrows winged into her equally red hairline. "My first day at camp, she knocked me on my ass for no reason."

  "Ha!" Cara wagged a finger at her. "Your first day here, you told her that you hoped she liked the taste of tile because you were going to use her face as a mop."

  "No, you did not," I gasped out.

  Emma covered her mouth to hide her grin.

  Lindsay's cheeks colored, the exact shade of her hair. "I didn't want to become anyone's bitch, okay," she admitted. "And I'd always heard that the best way to send a message that you shouldn't be messed with was to find the strongest person and knock them down."

  "But Mia?" I shook my head and tsk ed under my tongue. "That's just asking for a beatdown."

  Mia returned a few seconds later and conversation ceased. We jumped back into our seats as she peeked her head inside the car. "Help me load him on top, girls, and then we're heading back." Her tone was grim, chasing away our momentary amusement. "This exercise is officially over. I didn't see his friends, but I know they're out there. We've got to warn Boss."

  14

  The drive home was quiet and tension-filled.

  I wished Jenn had been there; she would have said something to lighten the mood. When we returned--I don't know how Mia found the invisible building--she entered some sort of code on a remote and the shield dropped, leaving a perfect view of the camp. Except there was only a rough-hewn doorway and a hill. That I could see, at least. The rest had to be underground.

  She ushered us inside and to the Common. "Get some rest," she said, distracted. "Classes start soon."

  Unconcerned with the Sybilins, the girls yawned and trekked off to their rooms. I remained in the doorway, too wired to sleep.

  Realizing I wasn't beside her anymore, Kitten glanced over her shoulder and stopped. Her orange, gold, and brown hair had come loose from its band and now tumbled down her back in tangles. "You coming?"

  "Not yet. I'm going to work out or something."

  "Want company?"

  "Nah. Go on."

  "Sure?"

  I nodded.

  "Good, 'cause I'm about to pass out."

  We shared a grin and then she was off. The halls were empty as I strode to the gym, ready to expend some unwanted energy. I ID'd in with a hand scan and approached the virtual boxing ring.

  Those Sybilins...I was worried about them. About the damage they could do to the people of New Chicago. What if one of them got to my mom? What if they killed her? What if--damn it, there were so many "what ifs." The girls didn't know what they could do, they hadn't seen. They hadn't been attacked that night in the forest.

  Mia had said there were always others, but she hadn't seen any. Had they seen us, then? Hidden? Or had they followed us? I wasn't ready to face those water suckers again. My skin was still flaking from the last time. Next time I fought them, I wanted to have the expert skill of an A.I.R. agent. I wanted to do major damage.

  I wanted to kick ass.

  "What are you doing here?"

  Gasping at the unexpected interruption, I spun around. Ryan was leaning one shoulder against the wall. Sweat trickled down his temples and neck, as if he'd just worked out. Hardcore. Strands of wet hair were plastered to his head.

  He looked fantastic. And he'd spoken to me.

  "What are you doing here?"

  "Honestly?" he said, then frowned. "I have no idea. You?"

  "I couldn't sleep," I admitted.

  His frown slowly inched into a wry smile. "Me neither, but I bet your sleeplessness is for an entirely different reason."

  "Yeah?" I regarded him silently. Something about his words caused my stomach to clench. No, I realized in the next second. Not his words. My stomach clenched at what he didn't say. He wanted sex; that's why he couldn't sleep. "What's your reason?" I wanted to hear him say it. Dangerous, I know.

  He didn't reply for a moment, just looked at me. His ice-blue eyes were filled with heat. A heat I'd seen before--and liked. A heat that did crazy things to my heartbeat and to the blood flowing through my veins. "What, you're ignoring me again? I asked you a question, Stone."

  He rolled his eyes. "That's 'Mr. Stone' to you."

  I snorted. He was Ryan to me. Not once had I thought of him as Mr. Stone.

  Ryan straightened and closed the distance between us. I drew in a deep breath, absorbing the male scent of him. "Well?" I insisted.

  He tapped me on the end of the nose and said, "You. You're the reason I can't sleep."

  "Oh." The word slipped from me, a breathless sigh. He'd given me the answer I'd wanted to hear, the answer I'd expected, and a tremble worked through me. I liked this guy, way more than I should. Way more than was wise. And every time I saw him, I only liked him more.

  "What's your reason, Miss Germaine?" he asked.

  It was hard to think with him in front of me, his hot blue gaze boring into me. I wanted to repeat his answer, but didn't dare. The truth was hazardous to my health. Instead, I sidestepped his question and told him about the tour I'd just taken and how it had been cut short.

  His nostrils flared in anger. "Those Sybilins...I hate them. They multiply and kill, multiply and kill. Like a virus."

  I studied him for a moment. "I'm glad you came that night in the forest. We would have died without you."

  "We'd heard they were in the area, but none of us had actually seen one. Then one of Allison's old friends called her and invited her to the party. We came alone because we didn't want to alarm the kids or alert them to our presence, but backup was supposed to have arrived earlier if needed."

  Kids. I ran my tongue over my teeth. He'd just lumped me into that "kid" category. I didn't want him to see me as a kid. It's for the best, Phoenix. You know it is. "Why didn't they?"

  "They were fighting Sybilins somewhere else. The creatures were out in droves that night." Ryan tilted his head toward the boxing ring. "You came to work out, right? Well, let's work you out."

  My heart skipped a beat. "Together?"

  "Why not?"

  I threw my arms in the air. "Because you don't look at me or touch me anymore."

  "I'm looking at you right now." And he was. His eyes were still blazing that blue fire, hotter than before.

  "Why?" I asked, a sudden catch in my throat. "Why now?"

  "Tonight I'm feeling dangerous. Daring."

  So was I, I realized. I hadn't been able to admit my feelings, but I did want him to touch me. Very badly. I could tell he was on the verge of changing his mind, though, of the danger he'd admitted was so exciting. He was already stepping backward, away from me.

  "You don't look like you're into danger." Stupid. This is stupid. "Sure you can take me?" I taunted in a way that was guaranteed to get him inside the ring. Boys couldn't tolerate jabs to their prowess. "Afraid I'll knock you on your ass again?"

  He paused and smiled wryly. "I guess we'll find out, won't we?" He latched onto my shoulders, spun me around, and gave my lower back a gentle push. "You've been doing very well in class. You focus. You have strength. Speed. What you don't have is a killer instinct."

  "I do, too!" I stepped into the ring marked by red lines on the floor.

  Ryan stepped in behind me. "Ring. Lock," he said. Then to me, he said, "No, you don't. You think you have it, but you don't."

  The air swirled and solidified over the lines, then branched upward until we were encased in a clear, solid box. No room to run. Only room to fight and fight some more.

  "I'm not going to go easy on you," he said. There was relish in his voice.

  "Good. I don't want you to." I'd thought to fight a hologram, but Ryan was better. Much, much better. Cuter, sexier. "And just so you know, I don't plan to go easy on you, either."

  "Funny." He didn't give me any warning. In the next flash of time, he leapt forward, grabbed my shoulder, and spun me around, placing us chest to back.

&nbs
p; Startled, I didn't react and that failure cost me. Ryan was able to lock his hands around my neck and squeeze. I tried to elbow him, but he expected it and dodged. I tried to step on his foot, but again, he expected it and moved out of my line of fire.

  "Back to where we started," he said. "Distract me once, my bad. Distract me twice, I don't think so."

  What should I do? What the hell should I do? I could not let him beat me so easily. But he was stealing the very breath from my lungs, squeezing harder than he had that first time.

  "I'm tough on you because I want you to survive," he said. "I don't want you hurt out there."

  Forcing myself to calm, I latched onto his wrists. He squeezed tighter, just hard enough to remind me of Breathless. What he didn't know was that it took more to cut off my airways than it required for most people. Took longer to render me unconscious, too.

  Who would have thought there would be a bright side to drug use?

  I can do this. I can. I bent down, bringing Ryan with me and letting his weight fall onto my back.

  "What are you doing?" he bit out.

  Using all of my leg strength, I crouched and bucked up my butt, flinging Ryan over my head. He hit and rolled, forced to let go of me. I wasn't given any time to gloat, though.

  "Good thinking," he said, swiping out his arms and knocking my ankles together.

  I crashed to my butt, hard. But before I even hit, he was on top of me, his knees at my temples, his, uh, crotch at my throat. As I gasped and struggled, he pinned my shoulders to the ground and gave me the rest of his weight.

  "What are you going to do now?" he asked.

  Panting, I stared up at him. Damn it! I had tried, but he'd still beat me quickly and easily and the knowledge stung. "Pout," I snapped. "I'm going to pout."

  He nearly choked on a laugh. Good. It would save me the trouble of killing him later. "No reason to pout," he said. "All you have to do is work one of your legs between us and kick. Got it?"

  I nodded, but didn't attempt it. The longer he stayed where he was, the more I realized I, uh, kind of liked it.

  "You did good, Phoenix. Real good."

  "No, I didn't," I grumbled. "You're just trying to make me feel better."

  "Is it working?"

  "No. I can do better than this."