CHAPTER 44: DIVERSION
16 years old
Cameron and Gage start chuckling, and Jaden and Rob join in.
“Aren’t they going to find us down here?” asks Landon nervously.
“We deployed a decoy,” Gage says proudly.
“We figured this might happen, so we had a diversion set up here,” explains Cameron, trying to withhold her giggles. “We sent a battered silver Outlander from the parking structure. It’ll evade the cops until it doesn’t run anymore.”
Summer sucks in a deep breath before letting it out slowly.
“Are you okay?” asks Gage and Landon at the same time.
Dazed, she nods sluggishly and sits up.
“A new update,” informs Cameron, changing the subject while her fingers tap on the glass before her. A man’s somber voice fills the vehicle.
“The police are still in pursuit of the stolen Leaguer vehicle. It has come to our attention that two Leaguers from the camp in Phantomship were taken during the escape of the prisoners.” Prisoners? That’s what Gage had called Summer long before she was told otherwise in the law class. Still, it catches most of them off guard. “Cameron Steen and Gage Appleton are said to be hostages.” A holographic image suddenly appears in the middle of everyone in the back of the Outlander, making Summer jump in surprise. The same image appears on the windshield. It’s a picture of Cameron and Gage, studiously scowling while in their uniforms. “Avoid the roads right now. If you see this Silver Outlander”—a picture appears of the pursuit—“move far away. If you see these two on foot, do not approach them. Contact authorities immediately and remove yourself from the situation.
“Now back to our regular broadcast. . . .”
Cameron presses a button, and all goes silent in the car. “I’m famous,” she jokes thoughtfully.
“Infamous,” Gage corrects.
“Prisoners?” barks Landon crossly. “That’s what I thought!” He begins to grumble incoherently. Summer’s thoughts are on the same wavelength.
“What the bloody hell is the point of those idiotic classes if we’re considered prisoners?” gripes Rob.
“Two reasons,” says Gage. “First, to keep everyone from focusing on escape and the fact that they’re actually being held against their will. Second, those who show promise and can possibly be brought up in our society will be accepted—especially younger Outlanders.”
“So what?” shouts Rob irately. “The plan is to keep us locked up forever?”
Summer glances between the two, wondering the same thing.
Gage looks down, ashamed. “This is why we’re against the government’s plans. . . .”
Rob’s face turns into a mask of heated rage. “Just spit it out!”
Startled, Gage’s eyes snap to Rob’s. “They want to kill those who are useless to our society! Okay? They want to kill the Outlanders. Only a tiny percentage will survive. At least that’s how it is in the Canadian Federation. President Beaumont is only waiting for the bill to be passed to start executions!”
“Why didn’t you tell us this from the beginning?” roars Rob with such outrage that spit flies from his mouth.
“I’m sorry! I knew if I told you too early things could have easily taken a wrong turn. You’ve escaped, haven’t you? We helped, didn’t we?” defends Gage while he points at Rob.
Summer gently places a palm on Gage’s forearm and brings his arm back down. He turns to her, and his eyes are full of deep remorse. “I would have never let them kill you or your friends.” His tone’s sincere, and she believes him—after everything they just went through to get away from the authorities it’s obvious which side they’re on. The thing is . . . she can feel the tide of anger rising in her as well at the news. It’s something that rarely happens, but now that she’s found this new freedom, she’s also found the freedom of thought. The last time she let her fury take her over was when she cooked hot peppers in the whole crew’s dinner. But now it’s boiling just barely under the surface.
“So what do we do now?” asks Jaden, pulling Gage’s attention from Summer.
“Ethan—our tech genius—turned the cameras off in the parking structure as soon as we crashed through the building, so we’re waiting for someone from the Greenhorn Project to bring us a vehicle,” explains Gage.
“Greenhorn Project?” asks Lucy with raised brows.
“The way things were in your camp were heavenly compared to the other camps,” says Gage gravely. “Outlanders at other camps have been starved, beaten, and killed. It’s getting ugly, and many citizens are embarrassed by President Beaumont’s blind eye.”
“This has sparked the Greenhorn Project, a group of people who are against the mistreatment of Outlanders,” adds Cameron. “We’re secretly a part of this project and have their full support to rescue you specifically, Summer.”
Me? she thinks with raised brows.
“Our ride’s here,” says Gage suddenly, leaving Summer to her wild thoughts.