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The guy smiled a little and pulled out a thin stack of folded papers from his pocket.
“You can deliver these in person.We leave in twenty to rendezvous at the evac site.”
I took my letter to Rachel and felt so many things.Relief and devastation were the biggest.Zion would finally be safe, but I was dreading what would happen next.I’d been there when Apollo left with Nova.It hadn’t been pretty.Zion hadn’t understood why his dad and sister were leaving.And I could only imagine what my sweet little nephew would do when Rachel tried putting him on the transport without her.
The rest of the group was looking just as shell-shocked as I felt.Sid had his head bowed and was wiping at his eyes.Steve looked like he was going to throw up.Brandon was staring at nothing, just holding the letter.Roland’s gaze met mine.
“My daughter’s fifteen,” he said.“I haven’t seen her in six months.”
Katie sniffled and hugged her knees to her chest.
“My brother’s twenty-five,” she said.“Three years older than me.I’m not even sure he knows I left.Special needs.Do you think your daughter would watch over him for me?”
The desperation in her voice triggered all the things I’d been holding back.Feeling every fracture in that wall I’d been holding in place, I turned on my heel and left the room.It took me ten minutes to pull myself together.Another five with a cold washcloth on my face before I was willing to walk out the door.
When I did, Molev was waiting for me.
He took my hand without speaking and led me out of the house to one of the waiting vehicles.A few of the others were already there.Once I was situated, he went back in.The rest came out with him.
It was a quiet drive around the base to the helicopter pad.The whir of the blades warming up made it all that much more real.The ride to the evac site didn’t take too long, and I observed the chaos as we touched down.
Hundreds of people stood outside the evacuation area’s fence, yelling and begging for a seat on the large carrier that was being loaded with supplies.Armed guards stood inside the fence, looking out, making sure no one tried to climb over the razor wire.I couldn’t imagine facing that level of desperation day after day.
“Head there,” the soldier yelled, pointing toward another building.
We jumped out and ran together.The yelling outside the fence slowly died as people caught sight of Molev until we only heard the engines of the vehicles moving supplies.
One of the soldiers guarding the door stepped aside and opened it for us when we neared.His gaze never left Molev, and his partner kept his hands on his weapon.Whatever information they’d been given, it was clear they’d expected Molev and didn’t trust him.
“He doesn’t bite,” I said.“The infected do.”
The soldier didn’t acknowledge me as I moved past him, so I didn’t bother trying to say more.
More soldiers were inside the smaller building.
All armed.All facing the door.
Over half of them pointed their weapons at Molev as he entered with us.
“Molev, run!”I said when I realized what was happening.
That roar that I’d hoped never to hear again echoed behind me.The soldiers raced at us.One grabbed me.A burst of shots was fired outside while scuffling continued inside.When the soldier holding me turned to pull me away, I saw why.
The door was still open.Molev was gone.And the rest of the team was fighting.
Sid swore and head-butted the soldier trying to hold him back.
“Fucking idiots.What are you doing?”he yelled before he threw a punch and swore again.Roni was trying to bite hers.
“Stop!”I yelled without fighting my captor as he dragged me farther away from the door.
No one inside listened to me.Outside, though, there was another roar and more gunfire.
“Dammit, Molev, we’re fine!”I yelled.“Just go!”
“Sid.Roni,” I called.“If you don’t stop fighting, he’s going to think we need his help and risk himself to save your sorry asses.Is that what you want?”
They both stopped.Roni’s nose was bleeding, and Sid had a black eye.
