“What the hell?”
Amira is gaping at us, a canteen in hand. “Did you guys just get a ride here from vines?”
“Long story,” Briar says. Her expression is unreadable as she looks at me. “Let’s talk.”
“It might not be safe,” I say, looking around as I fall into step beside her. “Ingrid’s probably got guys with guns scouring this jungle for us.”
“Won’t take long.”
Fuck. She’s pissed. I knew she would be, but I still dread her telling me what a selfish piece of shit I am. The truth hurts more when it comes from someone who means everything to you.
We’re almost to the small waterfall where we fill our canteens when she spins around to face me.
“Did anyone else speak up for my mom that day?”
Shame engulfs me as I shake my head, Lucy’s resigned expression permanently etched into my mind.
“So there were twenty-six of you, and no one said anything?”
“Not everyone was there that day, but no one who was there said anything.”
She nods slightly. “Was Ellison there?”
I hate to throw Ellison under the bus, but I’m done keeping things from Briar.
“Yeah.”
“Who else?”
I think back. “Dr. P., Dr. Kennedy, Yeva. And McClain, by FaceTime.”
“So you were one of the youngest? The most inexperienced?”
“Yeah, but I was in med school. I wasn’t a kid. I knew she was right.”
Her eyes soften. “Thank you for owning it. What they did to my parents”—she swallows, tears pooling in her eyes—“it hurts and it always will. But it’s not your fault.”
I’m confused. She’s pissed, but not at me?
“My mom would say the senior scientists had more responsibility than a medical student to speak up. But even then, I get why they didn’t. They were probably scared. Look what happened to my mom.”
I look away, sighing heavily. “Look what that fear led to, though. If we had all tried to stop it?—”
She puts a palm on my chest and meets my eyes. “Marcus. The two most futile words in the English language arewhat if. Peoplewhat iftheir way into madness. Is there anything else—anything—about yourself you haven’t told me that I need to know?”
“No.”
“Good. I’m done hanging out here while Chance and the others are being tortured. I’m done getting shot at like prey. I’m done with Ingrid taking over our camp.”
“Okay. You know I’ll back you. But we need to be smart about it.”
She goes back in the direction of the cave entrance without another word. I follow.
When I make my way through the vines over the entrance, she’s already making her case to the others.
“If he hadn’t moved, he’d be dead. And if my vines hadn’t come, we’d both be dead. Time is power for Ingrid. Time to get more weapons and soldiers. Time to hunt us like animals. I can’t do it anymore. I’m going after Ingrid. I think if I cut off the head of this snake, her soldiers will retreat. They don’t want to be here.”
Two torches Pax lashed onto rocks give off just enough light to see everyone’s expressions. None of them looks eager to pack up and run right this second.
