Compliance (36 page)

The rumbling noise increases. The ground trembles.

“What’s happening?” Cal shouts.

I shake my head, then turn.

The tank. At least it looks like the tank that took Burn and me to Fort Huron, but it can’t be the same one. Burn made it explode. I stop. Which is worse, the Shredders or those cannibals at Fort Huron? I shift direction. What will we do now? Shredders on one side and those military people on the other.

Cal stops and my hand slips from his. “Wait,” he yells. “There’s someone waving at us from that huge metal thing. They’re trying to get our attention.”

I stop and turn. Glancing over my shoulder, I see the Shredders have abandoned their chase, likely scared off by the tank. Then I see the FA insignia on the side of the tank. Do I dare hope?

The tank stops and a large body climbs out of the hatch. It’s Burn. I race forward.

“Get in here,” he yells. “We don’t have much time.”

I make Cal climb up the tank first; then I follow. Burn offers his hand. He yanks me up and my body slams against his. He wraps his arms around me. “You made it.”

“Jayma and Tobin?”

He nods. “They’re inside.”

I wrap my arms around his neck. “Thank you.”

In his arms, I feel safe. I don’t want to let go.

“Get down,” he says. “Comps.”

A loud bang comes from the direction of Haven and there’s an explosion about ten feet to the left of the tank.

I shoot down the ladder. Burn follows, and the tank starts moving even before he’s fully closed the hatch.

I land on the floor of the tank and am thrown back. Cal jumps up to cushion my fall and then draws me into his lap.

“You came back for me,” Cal says. “You saved me.” He pulls me into a kiss.

Adrenaline, anxiety and stress pour out of me, and it feels as if Cal’s extracting my pain with his kiss, soothing every fear and ache with his caress. The world and my troubles wash away, and it’s just me and Cal. He knows what I am and still loves me. We’ve escaped Haven. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier.

The tank goes over a bump and we break apart.

Reality floods back. We aren’t alone.

My cheeks, my entire body, are on fire. I shift off of Cal’s lap to sit next to him on the bench. I glance at the others. Jayma’s grinning across from me, next to Tobin who’s struggling to keep his wings contained. I turn toward Burn.

He’s staring at the floor, hands clenched into fists on his knees.

What have I done? If his full Deviance kicks in while we’re in this tank, none of us will come out alive.

“Burn?” My voice is drowned out by the sound of the tank.

I cross the small space and sit down next to him, putting a hand softly on one of his fists. He raises his head to look at me. His jaw’s tight, teeth clenched, and his eyes are dark and sad.

“I’m sorry.” My words are inadequate.

He shakes his head.

“I—we got caught up in the situation. I—”

He shakes his head again. “Nothing to explain. You’re with Cal. I get it. I’ve accepted it.” He looks down. “It’s not like we can ever—you know.” He pulls his hand out from under mine and turns away.

My heart sinks. I never meant to hurt Burn and I certainly don’t want to hurt Cal. I’m not even sure, given a choice, which one I want to be with, and I can’t begin to sort out my feelings right now.

We go over another bump and Jayma squeals. Tobin’s wings sprout again and she helps him contain them. Cal watches them in awe. I turn to Burn beside me, but he quickly looks away. My heart sinks, but I can’t fix this now.

The ride is rough as we cross the dangerous hot zone that surrounds Haven, and I can’t help but think how the bumps symbolize my life. I may have escaped Haven alive, but so much is unfinished, so many obstacles lie ahead.

The FA and the rebels are battling the Comps inside the dome, but Mrs. Kalin is still alive. If she takes the Presidency and makes daily broadcasts to the employees, how long will it take before everyone inside Haven is under her control—including the FA soldiers and rebels?

She told me that some people are resistant to her power—I know I am—but even I found myself falling under her spell.

I need to warn the others. I need to go back. I need to stop Mrs. Kalin.

“Brace yourselves,” the driver shouts from the front. “We’re going through the wall.”

I grab one of the handles above my head, bracing for whatever comes.

The second book in a series is a challenge: meeting the expectations of fans of the first novel, while simultaneously entertaining readers new to the world, and I’m deeply indebted to everyone who helped me bring
Compliance
to the page.

First I’d like to thank the readers who loved
Deviants
and were kind enough to let me know. You make everything worthwhile.

As always, I am forever grateful to my critique partners Molly O’Keefe and Ripley Vaughn, without whom my books might not get written. Or at least not as well. Thank you for not letting me get away with anything, and for making the process a lot more interesting and fun. Thanks also to Stephanie Doyle who read a draft of the manuscript before reading
Deviants
, and to Mary Sullivan and Michele Young.

I must also thank the vast and varied writers’ community I’m proud to be part of, including members of RWA, SCBWI, CANSCAIP, Backspace, #torkidlit, and Monthtowrite. Particular shout-outs to Danielle Younge-Ullman, Bev Katz Rosenbaum, Claudia Osmond, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Nelsa Roberto, Megan Crewe, Chevy Stevens, Diana Peterfreund, Eileen Cook, Eileen Rendahl, Barrie Summy, Kwana Jackson, Misty Simon, Alli Sinclair, Danita Cahill, and Marilyn

Brant, and dozens of others. I’m going to kick myself for not listing. TRW peeps; you know who you are.

A shout-out to everyone at “the office” aka F’Coffee, and at Broadview Espresso. Thanks for putting up with the strange woman with the pink hair huddled over her laptop for hours on end, hogging the plug.

Thank you forever to my enthusiastic agent Charlie Olsen. Your continued belief in me means the world. And thank you to everyone else at InkWell Management, especially Alexis Hurley for her efforts to have this series translated into other languages. And a special thank you to eighth grader Kirsten Traudt, who read and wrote a helpful and insightful report on
Compliance
, while doing an internship at InkWell.

Finally, but by no means least, thanks are due to Lindsay Guzzardo who helped me unwind and reweave the multiple plot lines in this story. And thank you to everyone at Amazon Children’s Publishing, including Margery Cuyler, Deborah Bass, Amy Hosford, Jenny Parnow, Erick Pullen, Timoney Korbar and Katrina Damkoehler. Go team!