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“We’re meeting with the other leaders in an hour,” Idris informs Chance.
“What will the meeting be about?” I ask before I take a bite of my food.
“We need to check our numbers after the attack and plan an assault on the ecocity,” Chance answers. “I’ll let you know what the leaders decide.”
Changing the subject, I ask, “Where’s Dawn?”
Idris nods in no particular direction. “At Gerald’s store.”
“You left her alone?” I dart up, and not waiting for his answer, I jog around the building and head for the clothing store.
Someone removed Gerald’s body, for which I’m grateful. When I step into the store, it’s dark.
“Dawn?”
“Here,” she whispers, coming from the back. “They’re going to come and clear this place out soon.” She gestures at the clothes. “Take what you need before it’s all gone.”
“I didn’t come here for clothes,” I say as I follow her to a rack. “I came to check on you. How are you holding up?”
She shrugs and starts to take clothes off the hangers, holding the outfits up against me.
I nudge her hands away and wrap my arms around her. “I’m sorry about Gerald. I wish I got here sooner.”
“I’m okay,” she whispers as she pulls back. “Seriously, they’re going to raid the store. Let’s grab what you need and get out of here.”
Dawn grabs two outfits similar to the one Gerald gave me, then says, “Grab a jacket. You need something warm. And another pair of boots.”
I do it to appease her, but it doesn’t feel right.
She shoves everything into a new black backpack and tosses it at me.
I place the jacket and boots inside, then ask, “How did things go with Idris?”
A smile ghosts around her lips. “Good. He had a fright and said he wants me to stay by his side.”
“Is it what you want?”
She nods. “I only stayed here for Gerald. With him dead, I might as well go with Idris wherever he goes.” Her voice is strained with tears.
Wanting to make sure she’ll be okay, I ask, “Do you want to be with Idris?”
She nods again. “Besides you, he’s all I have.” She lets out a strained chuckle. “Hearing he wants me was supposed to be the happiest moment of my life, but with Gerald killed…” she chokes on a sob.
I drop the bag and hug her to me. “I understand. It’s hard to be happy when there’s so much bad happening.” I rub my hand up and down her back. “I’ll do my best to create a world where happiness isn’t always overshadowed by bad things.”
There’s a moment of thick silence between us as we hold onto each other.
“Thank you,” Dawn whispers. “For saving me.”
“I wasn’t going to let my friend die.”
She lets out a sputter. “I’m so glad I met you.”
“Me too.”
“Can you promise me one other thing?”
I pull back to see her face. “What?”
“You’ll come back to me after the war.”
That’s not a promise I can make, but not wanting to upset her more than she already is, I lie, “I’ll come back to you.”
“I mean, I can’t let your eyebrows get out of control again.”
I let out a burst of laughter. “Yeah, we can’t let that happen.”
Leaving the store with Dawn, I look up at the billowing smoke from the last dying embers of the buildings that burned down.
I think about how much everyone has lost and feel I have to do something to prevent further bloodshed. I can’t see how there can be any winners in a war.
I could go to the ecocity by myself.
The thought instantly takes root, and I stop walking.
“What?” Dawn asks.
I quickly shake my head. “You go ahead. I’ll catch up.”
As I watch her walk toward the park, I weigh my options.
I can stay and fight in a war where there’s a strong possibility that I’ll lose more friends, or I can go to the ecocity, kill the emissaries, get my dad and hightail it out of there.
If the emissaries are dead and I have my father, there won’t be anyone to make insensates.
Shit. It could actually work.
“Hey, kid, why are you standing in the middle of the street?” Kenzo suddenly asks.
I was so deep in thought I didn’t see him.
“I was just thinking.”
He throws his arm around my shoulders. “Enough thinking for one day. Did you eat?”
I shake my head.
“Join me for dinner.”
Walking to the dining hall, I say, “I’m glad you’re here, Kenzo. About what happened when I left–”
He silences me with a shake of his head. “It’s in the past. All that matters is that we’re together again.”
“I missed you,” I admit.
“Not half as much as I missed your stubborn ass.”
Chapter 13
Jai
Tonight we have to stay with the others in case there’s another attack.
I’m still struggling to wrap my mind around everything that’s happened. It’s insane and heartbreaking.
Lying down next to Chance, I let out a heavy breath.
