Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 110757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“Well?” John’s brow furrows with concern when he spots me approaching.
“There’s nothing left there. The armed guards are protecting the gas stored under the pumps.”
“Shit,” Greta says.
I couldn’t have said it better myself. My phone is powered down and buried in my pack, in hopes I’ll be able to get service at some point.
“So what do we do?” Eric, a student I haven’t talked to much, looks at the faces around him. “We can’t call the police.”
“We could hike to the closest town,” John suggests. “Then we could—”
Greta cuts in. “What if we run into more people with machine guns?”
“Let’s just take a moment,” Professor Cosgrove says. “We don’t want to overreact.”
“I’m not going back to the island,” John says. “I need to make sure my girlfriend and my family are okay.”
Cosgrove rubs his temple, looking irritated. “All we know is that we don’t have cell service and the general store and pub have apparently been...”
“Looted,” I finish for him. “I’m leaving. My parents live about an hour from Seattle, so I’m—”
“Briar, no!” Cosgrove raises his voice, adamant. “Your mother is a very smart woman and she told you to stay where you are.”
I meet his gaze, reminding myself he wasn’t raised by Ben Hollis. He doesn’t plan for the worst.
“I’m a smart woman, too. We don’t have enough food and water to survive on the island.”
“But what if that’s how we survive the virus?” Greta asks. “What if your mom told you to stay where you are because of the virus?”
I exhale softly. “I get what you’re saying. I don’t expect anyone to go with me. The island might be the best choice for some of you.”
Cosgrove wipes the back of his hand across his sweaty brow. “We have to stay together.”
“I’m not staying,” John says firmly. “I have to get back home to Ohio.” His gaze flicks to mine. “Can I come with you?”
I nod, taking off my pack so I can adjust the straps to fit better for traveling. “Anyone who wants to come with me can, but we’re going where I want at my pace.”
“Briar.” Cosgrove gives me a pleading look. “Think about this, please.”
I give him a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry, Professor. This is the right choice for me.”
Straps adjusted, I reshoulder my pack and make sure the pistol is secure in my waistband.
I can’t stay here and do nothing when my parents might be in danger. My mother’s message sounded like goodbye, but if there’s even a chance I can help them, I have to try.
3
“The woman who betrayed you will only be remembered as a traitor. Your new wife is a credit to you. I send my heartfelt congratulations on the birth of your son. Given your wife’s beauty, I’m sure you’ll be expecting another one soon.”
—Excerpt from a message from New America President Soren Whitman to New America Supreme Commander Lochlan Murphy
Briar
The next morning, Amira and I are the last ones to arrive at the meeting room for a briefing of Command Team One. It’s deliberate—I didn’t want to make small talk with Marcus nearby.
He’s sitting on a stool, his feet flat on the ground since he’s so tall. As always, he looks good. He’s wearing one of his trademark gray T-shirts, the sleeves hugging his biceps. His hair is getting longish, a few dark strands hanging close to his eyes.
The rest of Command Team One’s members—Nova, Adele, Chase, and Wyatt—are sitting in chairs around the small table in the center of the room. Amira and I take two empty chairs.
Marcus only glances at me for a second before saying, “Let’s get started.”
“We need to check on Niran,” Nova says.
Marcus crosses his thick arms over his chest, shaking his head. “It’s risky enough having one person there. We can’t send more.”
Niran has been surveilling Rising Tide for two weeks now. He checks in over the radio daily when he can. I didn’t realize there was an issue.
“Has he not checked in?” I ask.
“Not for the past two days.”
It’s the closest Marcus has come to speaking to me since Pax told me the truth about him. His complete indifference makes me rage inwardly. How fucking dare he not be as upset about what happened between us as I am?
“Why are we sitting on our asses, then?” I say sharply. “If he didn’t check in, they might’ve found him.”
He could be at the bottom of the hole Virginia imprisoned me in when I was at Rising Tide, getting pissed on and denied water. This is the kind of information that should have been shared with all of us the first day he didn’t check in.
“Niran knew the risks.” Marcus’s deep voice is taut with aggravation.
Everyone in the room seems to hold their breath. The rest of them won’t risk pissing Marcus off. But I’ve never been great at blindly following anyone’s lead.