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)
“No. I trust her, of course. I’m not suspicious of her. I’m just worried.”
“Yeah, I would be, too. But you know what my dad would say?”
She arches a brow, waiting for me to continue.
“He’d say I trust you is a complete sentence. Once you add the word but, you change its entire meaning.”
A smile tugs on her lips. “Wise man, your dad.”
“He was.”
“You worried about Marcus?”
“I’m trying to keep my mind busy with other things, but yes.”
“Ain’t love grand?”
Her wry question makes me laugh. I think it’s my first laugh of the day.
“So the Tiders are guarding our camp at night,” she says. “Never thought that sentence would come out of my mouth.”
“The supply building is made of reinforced concrete and the locks are solid. All our weapons are in the Sub.”
“I’m not questioning you,” she says. “I think it’s a good idea. Our people need to sleep.”
“Let’s just hope Marcus doesn’t get back at night.”
She scoffs. “We’d better leave a note for him in that grotto, or we could wake up to a mess.”
“I will.”
We’ve reached the center of camp. She looks around at the mixture of our people and the Tiders, most of them sticking by their own people, but a few talking to each other. The sun is starting its descent and the laundry bike riders are beginning their camp rounds.
“Don’t say it,” I warn. “It’s too soon to say this was a good idea.”
“I wasn’t going to say that. I was going to say I’m glad you and Marcus worked things out. He needs you.”
She turns toward the Hub, leaving me thinking about Marcus and wondering where he is right now. And more importantly, how he is.
27
“We’re all scared out of our minds. There’s no help coming. The monsters we created have taken over. Now it’s only a matter of time.” – Excerpt from the journal of Island One leader Sybil Macleod
Briar
“Wake up, Briar.”
Nova’s voice launches me out of a deep sleep. Amira and I are sleeping on the floor of an empty office because there aren’t enough cots for all of us in the Sub.
I scramble to my feet, running my hands over my wild hair in an effort to tame it.
Nova steps into the room and closes the door behind her, her expression grim.
“Theron’s gone,” she says.
My stomach drops to the floor. “Gone?”
“The cell door was ripped out of the rock. We shouldn’t have left the Tiders alone in camp last night.”
“Shit.” I scrub a hand down my face, still groggy. “So he’s gone, but the rest of them are still here?”
“Seems like it. Stella and Breck are doing a count.”
“What should we do?”
“Tighten security. Take away their spears. See if Pax knows anything.”
This is my fault. Theron is a beast of a man, and I should have been more cautious. Now that he’s on the loose, he could pick off our people one at a time while hiding in the jungle. Or join the other Rising Tide exiles and attack. Set our camp on fire. Steal our remaining supplies, which we can’t afford to lose.
“Action and reaction, Briar,” Nova says. “Guilt isn’t a reaction. Get yourself together and let’s deal with this.”
I nod, running my hands through my hair and gathering the thick waves into a bun at the nape of my neck.
“What can I do?” Amira asks.
“Go to the tower with your bow,” I say. “Be ready to take out any threats. If Theron or the exiles come into our camp, shoot to kill.”
“Got it.”
Nova radios all the command team members to get strapped and meet outside the Sub. My anger grows with every step I take toward the weapons room.
If anyone from our camp gets hurt, that’s on me, and the chances of it happening are a lot higher now. I led with my heart, and it’s not just myself I’ve put at risk.
I already have a gun in my shoulder holster and a small knife strapped to my ankle. I put on a waist holster and add a second gun and a hunting knife to it.
Niran, loading a gun nearby, gives me a cautious look.
“You good?” he asks.
“Fantastic,” I bite back, grabbing a stun stick.
I storm up the Sub’s ramp, the guards at the door opening it for me. The bright morning sunlight is blinding, so I shield my eyes with a hand.
Several command team members are already here, and so is Pax. I glare at him.
“You know anything about this?”
He puts his palms up. “Would I be here if I did?”
I narrow my eyes. “Don’t answer my questions with questions. Do you know anything about Theron breaking out?”
“No.” His eyes stay locked on mine as he says it. “I wouldn’t put my people at risk by doing something so stupid.”
Nova and Niran walk out at the same time, Nova’s jaw set and her eyes blazing.