Nova bursts through the door, her tear-streaked face going straight to her wife.
“Briar’s giving her blood,” McClain explains.
“She’ll live?” Nova asks, a note of pleading in her tone.
“I think so.”
Nova’s eyes lock onto mine. “Thank you, Briar.”
“Of course. I’d give her anything she needed.”
She looks at Marcus, the tension between them still palpable.
“Thank you for saving her,” she says tightly.
He just nods.
I had no idea when I killed Virginia that I was tipping the first domino in a series of actions that would follow.
If I hadn’t killed her, Theron wouldn’t be here. Ellison wouldn’t have been kidnapped. We’d still have all our supplies.
It was me or her, though. I had no choice.
I curl into Marcus’s chest, letting my mind and body rest. None of us knows which domino will fall next, but I have a feeling it won’t be anything good for us.
10
“Trust that the men leading New America are doing everything in their power to build a country even better than the one we had before. A strong sense of right and wrong guides every decision we make. Family first. Women and children are our treasures, and we will protect them at any cost.” – Excerpt from a video message from New America President Soren Whitman to the New America population
Marcus
That fucking honey-custard smell. I wanted to bury my face in Briar’s hair as I held her earlier, the scent of ylang-ylang, the tropical flower she puts in her shampoo, making me physically ache for her.
My arms were tired after holding her for two and a half hours, but it was well worth it to be close to her again. It’s been hell having her physically close but miles away emotionally.
Ellison pulled through. I left Briar sleeping on a cot to recharge after the transfusion, and I went to check on things in camp.
As expected, it was a shit show. I got mobbed by people yelling and complaining about sharing our supplies with the Tiders. After what I’d just been through with Ellison and Briar, I didn’t have much patience for it, but I did my best.
It’s the night of our weekly social gathering, and I think people need it more than ever. I tightened up security at our camp perimeter, but I don’t think Pax and Theron will try anything tonight.
Jun strums a soft, haunting song on his ukulele as the sun slips below the horizon, everyone sitting in small, quiet groups. I stare at the flickering flames of the bonfire, the day’s events still fresh in my mind.
If I’m the wizard around here, the curtain was pulled back on me today. My people think I’m invincible, always two steps ahead of Rising Tide. Many of them were shocked to realize I’m just a man, fallible like anyone else.
Thinking I can’t be beaten and I always have the answers makes people feel safe. Today fractured me, though, and I don’t have it in me to pretend everything’s okay.
Nova’s too furious to even look at me. Elison came close to dying. The Tiders have a mammoth, cutthroat operative working for them who can walk into our camp at any time. I gave up half our supplies today, so we’ll have to ration, which we’ve never done before. At least they didn’t get much ammo, because we keep most of it stashed in underground caches hidden around the island.
It’s clear McClain doesn’t have much time left. He’s weak and bony, and I can’t believe he’s not bedridden. If he and Briar can’t create an aromium stabilizer, I don’t know what our next move will be.
The one and only good development for us came a few hours ago, when Niran returned to camp with a report. He said six Tiders took their share of the supplies and left to fend for themselves. I hope it’s the start of a breakdown at Pax’s camp.
I return to the work I was doing, running a whetstone over the blade of my hunting knife to sharpen it. It’s meditative, helping take my mind off the events of the day.
But then I look up and see Briar walking toward the bonfire, and my hands go still.
She’s smiling, her long, dark curls wet from a shower. Amira’s beside her. With the amount of blood she gave Ellison, she should be resting. Has she eaten since the transfusion?
