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)
“I assume Smythe will want you to stay with Briar and go work Mae Murphy,” Briggs says. “Smythe is our leader. But it might not be a rescue mission. We need her information.”
The rasp of my palm rubbing my stubbled jaw is the only sound for a couple of seconds.
“Come on, man. If the ILF are the good guys, how can you leave someone in that situation? Briar was assaulted by him many times. He has to die.”
“We wouldn’t leave a woman in that situation for long,” Cress assures me. “A few days, maybe. But you’ve been straight with us and we’re being straight with you. If you join us in order to use the boat, Smythe gets to assign you wherever he needs you most.”
I cross my arms over my chest and lean back, considering. I don’t want to be split up from Briar, even for a week. But now that I know what a shitty situation her sister is in, I can’t leave here without a boat. There’s no way I’m going back and telling Briar I could’ve gotten us passage back home but didn’t.
“Okay,” I say, sullen. “I’ll do whatever I need to do.”
Cress and Briggs exchange a look.
“You can leave anytime,” Briggs says. “But you need to know—if you don’t do what you’re supposed to, or if you stab us in the back, you’ll disappear permanently. And if something happens to Briar, or the two of you break up, that doesn’t change what you owe us.”
I nod. “I understand. Briar and I want what the ILF does. I think she’ll want to join, too.”
“We’d love to have her.” Briggs looks at Cress. “I’m gonna go ahead and tell him.”
“Yeah, you should.”
I bristle. “Tell me what?”
“There was a volcanic explosion on your island almost a week ago.”
Air lodges in my throat. “What the fuck? I’ve been here since yesterday and you’re just now telling me?”
I get up from my seat, pacing a few steps away from them.
“There are survivors,” Cress says.
Fuck. Fucking fuck. The volcano blew and I’ve been sleeping in beds and eating pancakes with syrup. Our camp could be gone. Pax and Theron could have Briar.
“You manipulative fucks!” I point at Briggs. “You made sure to get my word before you told me Briar might be dead.”
Briggs holds my gaze as he says, “She’s not.”
“You’re positive?”
He nods. “There was a lot of damage, but she’s okay. The Rising Tide camp is gone and your people took them in.”
My stomach drops to the floor. “Are you fucking with me?”
He stands. “Like I said, you can leave anytime you want.”
“Take me to the goddamn boat.”
A man with a holstered gun approaches us, but Briggs waves him off.
I’m seething as Briggs leads me through dimly lit tunnels, the walk seemingly endless. Briar was afraid I wouldn’t come back to her; I never imagined she’d be the one in danger.
Finally, we reach a grotto, the air cooling considerably as soon as we enter the cavernous space. The rock walls are painted blue-green by bioluminescent moss and algae. Though it’s dark in the low light, the water is calm, six different boats bobbing gently up and down.
The boat Briggs stops next to has an aerodynamic shape, like a sleek paper airplane.
“This is Gussie. She’s a stealth sub,” Briggs says. “She’s voice-controlled with a manual override. You’re on Island Seven, so just tell the nav system to take you there. There’s a radio inside that you can reach us with. Don’t give any names or locations. If you’re compromised, we’d rather you sink it than let it fall into New America’s hands.”
“How is this thing powered? You sure I can get to the mainland?”
“Yeah, you could take this thing around the world. It has a nuclear fusion core.”
“How many people can we fit in it?”
He shrugs. “We’ve had up to fifteen. The lighter she is, the faster she is. You’ll dock in Corpus Christi. Just tell the nav system you want to go to Texas and that’s where it’ll take you. Radio us when you’re on the way so we can let our Corpus Christi crew know you’re coming.”
I glare at him. “If Briar’s not okay, I’m coming back here. You better fucking hide well if I do.”
“She was alive as of this morning.” He looks at the sub. “Gussie, open.”
A panel on the sleek white vessel slides aside soundlessly.
“Go fuck yourself, Briggs,” I mutter, stepping inside.
“Save that anger for the people who deserve it.”
Gussie is as sleek and well-designed on the inside as she is on the outside. There are buttons and lights on panels, the seats in the boat oversized and covered in dark-gray leather.
I glance back at Briggs, giving him the finger as the door closes.
He grins back. “Welcome to the resistance, Marcus.”
PART THREE
33
“We lost our largest warehouse of food and weapons in the last bombing. There won’t be an ILF headquarters anymore. It’s too dangerous. Supplies will be scattered throughout our territory. This is a setback, but our resolve remains stronger than ever.” – Decoded message from ILF leadership to all members