Page 5 of Ash Fall

My mind goes back to the warehouse, the fence, the guards, and the weapons and how impossible that might be to fight against.

"I won't bullshit you. With two guns against that many soldiers, we're going to have a hell of a time getting inside without someone getting shot."

Torrin starts shaking his head. "I don't think we need guns."

I look at him as he glances toward Luna, then down toward his own hands.

Chapter 3 - Torrin

Gage narrows his eyes at me, still holding Luna's hand in his. "What do you mean we won’t need guns?"

My throat tightens enough that I have to swallow twice before I can answer. I've been trying not to think too hard about this since I recognized the uniforms on the road because saying it out loud makes it impossible to pretend I might be wrong.

"Those soldiers running the roadblocks and holding people at that warehouse are British Army. They're from the training unit stationed at the base." I glance at Luna, then force myself to keep going. "I'm almost certain they're under my father's command."

Gage's expression changes to surprise, and the sick feeling in my stomach gets worse. "I recognized the uniforms when Mars and I hid from one of their patrols on the way into town. I kept telling myself there could be another explanation, but there really isn't one. I think my father is behind this. I think he's trying to take over your town."

"Not your town," Luna says quietly. "Ours. You're one of us, Tor."

My eyes find hers, and I manage a small smile even though it doesn't do much to settle me. "Yeah. Ours."

Mars crosses his arms and studies me with that unnerving focus of his. "You think he'll listen to you? Last I knew, you and your father weren't exactly exchanging Father's Day cards. The man didn't even come to your games, so what's the plan? Walk in and ask him nicely to stop kidnapping people?"

"No." I look at Luna again before I can stop myself because hers is the reaction I'm dreading most. "I don't think I'm going to need him to agree."

Her brows pull together, and I clear my throat before the nerves can shut me up completely. "Something happened to me after the moon cracked. I don't know what to call it yet, but when I tell people to do something a certain way, they do it."

Nobody laughs, which somehow makes admitting the rest of it harder. "I don't mean they're persuaded. I mean they physically do what I tell them to do even if they don't want to."

Gage's hand closes around my shoulder. "I believe you. I've got something too. I climbed out of the ravine on stairs I pulled straight out of the dirt. I thought about what I needed, pushed at the ground somehow, and it moved."

Mars gives a sharp nod. "Same here, except it’s not a new skill or a talent. It's magic. I learned some things about what happened when the moon cracked, but now isn't the time for that conversation. We need to make a plan or get out of here before..."

Penny barks, and the front door opens before Mars can finish. Every one of us turns toward the sound as a man's voice carries in from the entryway.

"Davey? Oi, Davey, we're rolling out, mate. Get your..."

Two soldiers step far enough into the house to see us, and their attention goes straight to the weapons before landing on Luna. Training takes over immediately as both men grab their rifles and start bringing them up.

I don't think before stepping forward and forcing the same strange pressure into my voice that I used at the stadium. "Lower your guns. Stand still. You can answer my questions, but otherwise you cannot move."

Their rifles lower immediately, and then both men become completely still. Their arms remain exactly where they were when the command takes hold, their heads don't turn, and neither one even blinks.

Luna sucks in a breath behind me, and I glance back at her. Her hand covers her mouth, and her eyes are wide, but she isn't looking at me like she's frightened of me. She looks shocked, maybe even amazed, and I can work with that a hell of a lot better than fear.

I turn back to the soldiers. "Why are you taking people?"

"To control the town," the taller one answers. His voice works, and his mouth moves enough to form the words, but the rest of him stays locked in place.

"Who ordered you to do it?"

"Colonel Ashford."

I knew that was going to be the answer, but hearing my father's name still twists something hard in my stomach. He isn't sitting back while frightened soldiers make terrible decisions during a disaster. He's giving the orders himself.

Luna's palm presses against the middle of my back, and I take a slow breath before continuing. "Do you agree with what he's doing?"

"No," the shorter soldier says.