Escape from Harrizel (30 page)

“What?”

“So you’re his new play-thing?” He crosses
his arms, circling me. “Has Rox tapped it? It’s not like him to
wait.”

I move for my door and he blocks me.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa…” he plunges his hand to
the crimson arch. “Where do you think you’re going?”

The two that were following me arrive at my
back, sandwiching me to Mantis. My heart stops again and then takes
off as I play out my options. If I jump into my room—if I can even
get
in there—they’ll jet in with me and I’ll be trapped. The
other possibility is escaping through the scarce crowd, hiding in
someone’s room. But
whose
? I only know Reid and Sampson’s
and what if neither went back to their bunker? I’d be trapped
outside with Mantis who could just take me by force then.

I keep my voice strong. “What do you
want?”

“I’m sure he’s told you who I am.”

“He might’ve mentioned it.”

“Maybe you should
say
it,” he orders.
“Just so I know you know.”

My blood boils as I glance around the
rapidly-thinning corridor. Time’s running out.

“Who?” Mantis is getting impatient.
“
Who
am I?”

All he wants is to hear his name but I’m not
giving him that satisfaction. “You? You’re just someone else who
couldn’t beat Rox.”

Mantis’ eyes grow wide, fierce with rage.
For a split second I think he’s going to punch me until a familiar
voice eases the tension with a casual, almost fruitful laugh.

“She’s right about that,” Jace picks his
thumbnail with a pocket-sized knife as he leans against the rail.
The blade is made from same material as the sheets carried in
transport—dried gibb.

The two Kings glance to one another and, as
if encouraged by each other’s presence, stand firm. But their focus
drifts to Jace, who has started tossing the blade up and down,
catching it effortlessly. He’s not even watching it, but watching
them watch him, a casual grace to his actions.

“Just having some fun,” Mantis holds his
hands up in defense, smirking. “No harm in that, right?”

“That’s a question you probably should’ve
asked yourself first,” Jace catches the tiny knife and resumes
picking his thumbnail. “Cause, uh… I know my answer. Chief?”

The tall Indian appears behind Mantis like a
brick wall, looming with warning through tight lips and flared
nostrils. Glaring at Mantis and the Kings behind me, he tilts his
head, a loud crack emitting from his neck.

“Yeah… he doesn’t talk much,” Jace examines
his hands, selecting a new finger to clean. He tosses Mantis a
look. “But I’m going to say it’s a no.”

“Come on guys…”

“See, that’s the thing—we’re not your guys
anymore. In fact,” and he looks to Chief for confirmation, “we
never were.”

The Kings exchange glances with uncertainty,
especially as Chief withdraws a rounded blade that extends from his
elbow to his fingertips. He grips it by the brown handle, a thin
hunk of wood wrapped in brown twine. At the sight, the two Clansmen
push back, eventually making off down the hall just as the
remaining stragglers find their rooms.

The tower is nearly empty.

“Aw… well that wasn’t nice,” Mantis frowns
before speaking directly to Jace. “Rox treating you okay? You know
there’s always a place for you with the Kings.”

“Sure there is,” he laughs, cleaning the
nail of his middle finger. “But a dirt plot’s not really my
thing.”

“For the King of Hearts?” Mantis smiles
coyly. “
Never
. Just as much pussy as you can handle.”

Jace returns the grin, “Got that already.
Thanks,” he pushes himself from the rail, to the other side of me.
“I’ll send Rox your regards.”

Mantis looks between all three of us and
finally takes off down the open mouth of the hall.

Before Jace can say anything, Chief motions
to the door behind me. “You should get back in your room. Now.”

I do as he says, sealing myself inside my
bunker and withdrawing all the way to the window. I press my back
to the wall and slink down to the ground. I have two Marowines
saved but my hunger has abated. The lunch hour passes quickly and
before I know it, the alarm screeches overhead, advising that it’s
time to head back and Rebuild. I’ve only been able to nibble on
half a Marowine, my stomach turning in knots for this moment. Will
Mantis be waiting for me, ready to pounce in? Or will he send
another King?

A knock sounds on the door.

My heart takes off as I walk toward it,
trying to rationalize why a King would bother knocking, unless it’s
to throw me off. But maybe Chief or Jace were able to notify Reid,
let him know what happened. I cling to this hope, pulling back the
crimson arch and holding my breath.

Able offers a gaping smile. “Hi bestie.”

I’m so relieved that I throw my arms around
in his neck in a tight hug. “Hi!”

“You know I’m not Reid, right?”

Pulling back, I peek over his shoulder to
the dimly lit tower thriving with a steady passage of bodies.
Everyone’s headed back to work, back to Rebuilding. Soon we’ll all
be in the same place, all outside, under the same gray ceiling.
Exposed.

“How about I walk you down?” Able offers to
link his arm in mine. I accept and he leads us down the buzzing
stairwell.

“They told you?”

“Are you kidding?” he laughs. “Oh yeah. Reid
is
not
happy—I’ll say that.”

“Not happy?”

“You want the rated or unrated version?”

“But nothing happened.”

“Yet…” Able corrects. “Nothing happened
yet
. The fact that Mantis was at your door and his two idiot
goons followed you there did
not
go over well with him. He
would’ve come to get you himself but he’s overloaded with Jace and
Tucker on the shipment of Arrivals that came during second common
hour. They need to act quickly—from a recruitment
standpoint—otherwise he would’ve been here.”

“Sounds busy.”

“To say the least.”

We move quickly, along with the rest of the
crowd, sliding down the stairwell as Tetlak shakes his staff in the
air, circling in the Courtyard below. He glares up at us with his
yellow eyes, demanding we move faster.

“Sorry you have to play with the girls
instead of the boys,” I toss Able an apologetic frown as we reach
the ninth floor. “I’m sure you have better things to do.”

“Then spending time with my best friend?” he
scoffs, “No way. This is an assignment I don’t mind at all.”

“So what are they doing now?”

“Who?”

“Reid… Tucker, Jace…”

“I believe Reid and Jace are with
Jothkore.”

“Doing what?”

“Probably getting as much information as
possible from the latest shipment. Location pick-ups, details of
surroundings, injuries if there were any—anything that could assist
in describing character.”

“And then?”

“Set a Scout on the notables—potentials
and
threats—and go from there. With a Scout watching twenty
four-seven, you’re bound to know a little bit about a person.”

“But don’t the Scouts have other
assignments? Bartering with the Clients?”

Able nods, spinning us down another floor.
“Yup, that’s why they’ll send their own Scouts for that. They’ll
hire their own assistants to take care of their assignments in
their absence,” he pulls me closer, “everyone is working for
everyone. Everyone is
watching
everyone. It’s all one big
game and right now, we’re adding more players.”

“Are we gathering food again tonight?”

“Maybe,” we reach the Courtyard, passing
Tetlak who glares our way, his focus unwavering. “He says there’s
something important he needs to tell us. I think we’re going back
to that tree place.”

“Camp.”

We pass through the open portcullis and out
under the gray sky again, people drifting in separate directions
now that Tetlak’s no longer urging them to move along. He remains
inside, hassling the last few out.

“Reid’s having everyone meet,” Able keeps
his voice low. “All the Rogues again.”

“Are the Scouts on board with the
pills?”

“Yeah. We’ve also warned a few Clients. I
think Griffin was one.”

“So tonight then?”

“Yup. Beginning of Leisure Time. Someone
will come get you.”

“Able…” I clutch his arm. I’m not sure what
I really want to ask or if I can face the reality of the question.
“Am I… should I…”

“Just keep yourself constantly surrounded.
People know who you are so if he tries it again, we’ll be right
there. It’s when you’re alone that you’re in trouble,” he leans in,
making sure I understand this. “Don’t give him that
opportunity.”

I force a smile and he gently withdraws his
arm from mine.

“You’ll be fine,” he smiles sincerely. “I’ll
be nearby. We all will.”

Able backs up, heading for the center part
of the trench as I veer to my normal right. If it’s true, and
they’re all nearby, then I’m not as vulnerable I had myself
thinking. I resume my digging and try to concentrate on tonight and
Sampson revealing everything to the Rogues. How will they take it?
Will it explain a lot of their questions? And what are we planning
to do about all the new Arrivals, the pills and Snatchings? My mind
wanders with question after question as I lose myself to the
monotonous digging.

***

It’s break before Reminders.

Able said someone would come get me. Is this
how it’s going to be from now on? An escort everywhere? I’m lying
on my bed with my eyes closed, waiting for the inevitable knock
when images of the lady in the red bandanna flash by. Who is she?
And why does she only come in my dreams? Shutting my eyes tighter,
I try to will more of the scene when a quick two-pound knock sounds
on my door.

I sit up just as Reid walks through, his
face hardened. “Tell me what happened.”

“Hey…”

“Did he touch you?” Reid moves toward me,
his hands balled into fists. “Did he lay a fucking
finger
on
you?”

“What?” I’m surprised at the ferocity in his
tone. “No.”

“And what about the other two?”

“No…” I gulp, suddenly uneasy with the rage
emitting from him. “They didn’t—nothing happened. I’m fine.”

He exhales, still unsatisfied as he begins
pacing the room. He runs his fingers through his hair, bringing his
thumb to his front teeth, gnawing on it.

“Reid?”

“I’m so sorry, Fallon,” he drops to the bed
next to me, softly brushing my cheek. “Are you okay?
Seriously?”

“
Seriously
, I’m fine,” I take his
hand in mine, dropping them to my lap. “So, Sampson is telling the
Rogues tonight?”

“They need to know as soon as possible,” he
accepts the distraction, “we’ll lead them from the Auditorium—same
as last time.”

“And how’d recruiting go?”

“Some leads,” he shrugs, “not as many as I’d
hoped. We have a few Scouts out there so we’ll see.”

“And the Kings are doing the same?”

“This is their golden opportunity. Try and
destroy us once and for all. Claim the Castle for themselves again.
But they probably had the same luck. It wasn’t a big shipment.”

“I thought Clarence would be doubling his
quota?”

“He
will
be,” Reid exhales, “and
that’s why we need all the help we can get. The Castle’s about to
grow in population and we’re not Rebuilding anything. There’s no
room for that many people. We’re going to start going fast,” he
falls forward, his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. A
quiet minute goes by before he speaks again. “We’re going to have
to figure something out soon.”

I’m overcome by the sudden urge to comfort
him, to make him understand he’s not alone in this.

“We will,” I squeeze his hand. “The Rogues
will know tonight and from there, we’ll get a plan together. We’ve
got Sampson on our side, Clarence,
Jothkore
even,” I say,
but Reid just stares at the ground, his fingers at his temples.
“Hey,” I force him to look at me, lifting his chin to mine, “we’ll
come up with something. You’re not in this by yourself.”

His eyes flicker between mine, searching for
truth, wanting to believe me. Should he? He wants to hold onto the
idea but seems unsure. No, it’s always been on his shoulders. It
always will be. Still, he’s grateful for the possibility. He leans
in but just as I think he’s going to kiss me, he stops, pressing
his forehead to mine.

“You know I won’t let them hurt you,
right?”

My breath catches. I lick my lips, wanting
to taste his. “I know.”

“Never,” he growls, pulling away just as the
alarm for Reminders blares. He paces, gnawing on the tip of his
right thumb, contemplating something. “We need to find out. We need
to know what they’re doing.”

“The Dofinikes?”

Reid nods.

“But even if we find out, what do we do? How
can we stop it?”

He paces again, his face hardening as the
question he’s been asking himself this whole time consumes him
further. I jump up to meet him, grasping him by the arms. He
doesn’t realize it’s me at first and stiffens in response. But then
he looks down, relaxing again.

“Hey—we’ll figure it out.”

He takes my hand from his arm and brings it
to his face. Lightly, he kisses the center of my palm, setting my
body aflame.

“Reid…” I start as a light knock sounds at
the door.

He drops my hand with an apologetic look,
pulling back instantly at the sound. Reaching for the door, he
opens it to Tucker, Able and Jace walking in without an invitation,
the three glancing around my bunker curiously.

“All Rogues know to meet same as last time,”
Tucker advises, keeping close by the door.

“Scouts?” Reid asks.

“A few have reported. Could be some
possibilities,” Tucker shrugs, “we’ll have to wait and see.”