with pumps attached. Long rubber hoses coiled like snakes beneath the dry weeds. Luke pushed through the jagged, broken glass doors and stepped inside. It had been a store once, but the floor and counters were full of debris and plastic wrappings, old machines and a cash register. We ducked behind the counter and held our breath for several minutes.
“I don’t think anyone followed us,” April said finally.
She seemed so young, I forgot that she had much more experience surviving in the streets that I had. I bet it would have been easier for her to move around on her own. Together, we stood out, we made too much noise.
We barely spoke for the first twenty minutes. Luke kept checking his watch.
“How long have we been here?” I asked.
“Nearly an hour,” Luke said. He must have seen the worry on my face.
“He’s not late, not yet. He’ll be here.”
The sky was starting to darken as dusk settled, the scorched clouds of ash turning an angry gray and red as the sun dropped towards the horizon. I froze as I heard gunshots in the distances.
Then an explosion tore through ground, rattling the broken windows and rumbling like thunder. I stood up quickly and rushed outside. On the horizon, I could see a dark plume of black smoke, rising from the direction we came in.
My heart pounded in my chest as dark smoke filled the sky, along with flashes of bright flame.
“What the hell was that?” Jazmine asked.
“They must be trying to blow their way in,” Camina said. Luke shook his head.
“It’s protocol,” he said. “In the event we were discovered, Jacob had explosives set up throughout the area. A controlled demolition.”
My throat tightened painfully and my knees felt weak. Trevor and Penelope could have still been inside.
“I’m sure they got out,” Jazmine whispered, squeezing my hand. I could barely feel her touch. A rushing noise filled my ears and I felt dizzy.
“He wouldn’t have done it unless the building was already cleared,” Luke said. “Unless the elite had gotten inside somehow, and it was too late.”
Camina punched him in the shoulder, hard.
“He didn’t know Trevor had gone back for Penelope,” I said. “They should have been here by now.”
“Maybe your elite buddy didn’t want to come. If she didn’t attack him right away, she would have run off by herself, like a wild animal.”
“No, she’d never.” But then, why would she trust Trevor, she didn’t even know him.
“I should have gone myself,” I said.
“We’ve got to keep moving,” Luke said. “We need to find shelter before dark. If he’s alive, he’ll find us.”
“How?” I snapped, turning on him. “How will he find us? We’re waiting, till he gets here.”
Minutes ticked by, another thirty at least. I had to remind myself to keep breathing, trying to keep my thoughts from spiraling. I didn’t know what I would do if I lost Trevor. He was my rock, even if he was a pain in the ass sometimes. He always kept me safe. Even though I left him to be with Damien; even though I knew how much that choice had cost him. I’d sent him back into danger, to save an elite. His sworn enemy. And he’d done it, for me.
Movement caught my eye and I lifted my head. Dark figures moved through the ash, coming towards us quickly.
Relief washed over my face and I ran towards them, but then froze when I saw there were three figures, not two, and they all moved like men. They were running – no, walking fast, impossibly fast – down the deserted street, past the abandoned cars, their rusted frames warped by gnarled roots.
A second later and I could see them clearly, despite the bright, swirling embers and heavy black flakes of ash. My throat hitched in my chest when I saw the sneer on Nigel’s face.
He was on me before I could react. My sword was halfway drawn but he knocked it to the side. April ducked around the corner of the building. Luke pulled up a shotgun and fired off one round. The shot caught Bryce in the stomach and blood pooled into a jagged stain. He frowned, and a second later grabbed the gun and smacked Luke ferociously on the head.
“I liked this shirt,” he said. Luke’s eyes rolled back and he crumbled to the ground. Camina was faster. She landed three blows and a kick to the chin before Bryce caught her arm and spun her around. Jazmine tossed one of the