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“I’m surprised they didn’t plow it all down after I escaped.”
“They had no reason. They all believed you were dead at first.”
“And how do I know the guards won’t shoot the two of you?”
“You don’t.” I don’t bother to look up at him, the irritation of this morning still gnawing at me. “Just as I don’t know the outcome of you venturing back inside Calico. I suppose we just have to trust.”
I know he doesn’t like the idea, at all. But neither do I. Stepping toward me, he grabs my arms, and the earnest look in his eyes reminds me of when he was a boy, when all he could do was communicate with those crystal blues. The worry swirling in them takes me back to the morning Papa asked me to deliver the poultice. The same day Legion came after him, but the morning began with his silent concern over my wellbeing. He wouldn’t dare tell me that he’s doing this for me, because he knows damn well I’d tell him not to. That I don’t need him to risk his life for me.
Instead, he lowers his gaze, drawing me into his body. “Please be safe.”
“I will.”
Arms wrapped tight around me, he kisses the top of my head. “You’re my whole life, Wren. My reason.”
At the visual of mutations biting into his flesh, I close my eyes over tears. “And you’re mine.”
The girl isn’t much of a talker. This much I’ve gleaned of Cali in the two-mile walk toward the gate, during which she hasn’t spoken a word. Maybe she thinks doing so will set me off and end her chances of getting inside Calico. After all, I’ve made it pretty clear I’m against this asinine plan.
Ahead of us, the gates of Szolen stand guarded, as usual, and as we approach, the spotlight finds the two of us, blinding our eyes to anything outside of its halo.
“Stop right there.” The voice is one I recognize, and I can just make out his silhouette, perched above the top of the gate beside the swiveling light, where he holds a gun on us.
“Hi, Arty.”
“Stay back, Wren. I’m to shoot on sight.”
“Then, why haven’t you?”
“What do you want?”
I squint my eyes, trying to see how many guard the fence this late. All I can make out is one other body watching us from the other end of the gate. “Am I an enemy now?”
“You’ve been roaming the desert too long. You know the rules.”
“I was captured by rebels and held prisoner.” I turn to Cali beside me. “Both of us escaped. I just want to come home.”
The silhouette of him lowers his gun, but I’m not so quick to think he’s welcoming me back with open arms. “You’ll be checked. Thoroughly. We find one bite, and you’ll be put down.”
“I haven’t forgotten the rules, Arty.”
In an act of mercy, he flicks off the spotlight, and I see him gesture to the other man across from him. A minute later, the gates click and grind into motion, and the breath I’ve held escapes me on a shudder.
“I thought he would shoot us for certain,” Cali says beside me, as we stride toward the slowly opening entrance.
“Nah. I’ve known Arty since I was a teenager. I don’t think he’s ever actually used that gun on anyone in his life.”
“They’re not concerned?” Voice lowered to a whisper, she leans in. “That you were held by rebels?”
“Of course they are. It’s the only reason he opened the gate.” We step through the barrier, greeted by Legion soldiers and a few of the guards. The sight of them seems to put Cali on edge, as I hear her gasp beside me. “Do everything they tell you. Do not fight them, understand?”
“Yes, but … Legion was sent to hunt us down after we escaped. What if they recognize me?”
“Then pray they don’t.”
As expected, we’re approached with rough hands that drag us off to the side and perform a check for weapons. Hand resting on his gun, Artie stands casually off to the side, head tipped as he watches the search. The added lines etched in his face and dark circles beneath his eyes tell of sleepless nights and stress.
“How’d you manage to escape the rebels?”
