Authors: Natalie Whipple
Gunfire.
The Major freezes, and in the silence I can hear yelling outside. My heart skips with hope. Someone has finally come to get me! Is Brady out there destroying the school? Is Bea popping eardrums? Is Mom hurling cars at soldiers? It might be horrible, but I hope they are.
The office door bursts open, and a few soldiers come in, walking backwards with their guns trained on someone. When I see his wild auburn hair and angry face, I’m not sure I’ve ever been happier to see Graham. He grips the young scientist girl with one arm and holds a knife to her throat with the other.
“How about we make a trade?” Graham says.
They throw me back in the cell and usher Graham and his hostage into the principal’s office. I can’t hear anything but mumbles, and yet my hope has never been higher. The Major needs that girl to make Radiasure—he won’t let her get hurt. I don’t know how Graham found out about her, but for once I’m kind of glad he’s an evil genius.
Ten minutes later, Graham emerges on his own and hands a paper to Tagawa. “Major Norton says she’s free to go.”
Tagawa snags the paper and reads it with a curled lip. Tossing it on the floor, he grabs the key and unlocks my cell. “Shoulda guessed your syndicate family would come for you eventually. Bunch of crooks.”
“Speak for yourself,” I spit back.
“C’mon, Fi.” Graham grabs my shirt from the ground and hands it to me. For the first time, I’m not scared when he picks me up and flies out the door. He shoots into the air before the soldiers outside can react. I shut my eyes and hold onto him tight. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I whisper, but him asking brings on tears. “Thank you. For coming to get me.”
He puts his hand on my cheek, all brother-like and concerned. “They hurt you?”
“The Phantom hit me when I refused his help to escape. They just starved me.”
He snorts. “Just? Because going without food for four days is nothing.”
“You know what I mean.” I venture a peek at his face, and it seems full of regret. Though I can’t quite place my feelings, I think I might see the brother Graham used to be when we were kids. And more than that, I’m surprised by how much I want him back. “How did you know to hold that girl hostage? Maybe I’m horrible, but it was pretty brilliant.”
He looks away, shrugging. “Did some digging. I’ve been taught to hit people in their weak spots for a long time. Kinda second nature, unfortunately.”
“I get that, about the second nature thing.” Thinking about everything that’s happened since Juan’s men and the Army showed up, it feels like going back to the crime life is as easy as slipping on a pair of sandals. “Right and wrong…I still don’t know which is which.”
“Not sure anyone does these days.”
“Guess so.”
“What matters most to me now is making sure the people I care about are safe and happy.” Graham squeezes me tighter. “Whatever happens, Fi, I hope you know I’ve only been trying to do what’s best for you. I’ve screwed it up a lot, but that’s the truth.”
“I know. It’s okay.” And I mean it—Graham and I will be fine eventually. With my eyes closed and that trouble so far below us, for a second I feel safer than I have all week. I breathe out the tension and let myself lean on Graham. “I’m so tired.”
“We’re almost home. You have to at least eat before you sleep.”
“Okay.”
The descent is as horrible as usual, but at least there’s nothing in my stomach to lose. Before Graham can grab the knob, the door flies open. Mom screams my name and then more people join in. It looks like the entire Pack is here, and I frown. “Wait, so you all let Graham go in there on his own?”
“He insisted!” Hector says.
Miles scratches his head. “He was the only one who could have done it with no consequences, since he’s already a wanted criminal. Plus, it saved Mom from breaking The Phantom’s deal, and it makes it look like you’re still working with Dad to boot.”
“Sometimes my shitty past pays off.” Graham sets me down, and I wobble. Mom and Seth are immediately by my side. “They starved her, Ma.”
Mom puts her hand to my face, and it stings. “Oh, sweetheart. Let’s get you something to eat.”
“Are you hurt anywhere?” Seth nudges me to the kitchen, where Mom already has plain crackers and a glass of water out. She must not trust my empty stomach to handle more. It sounds like everyone follows us, and I have to admit I appreciate the concern. “Did they torture you?”
“Um, no, but I got cut on my thigh trying to escape,” I say, just remembering he can see my wounds when no one else can. By the sound of his voice I wonder if it’s worse than I think.
Mom grabs the first-aid kit from the laundry room. “Where’s your cut?”
“I’ll do it,” Seth says, but then immediately blushes. “Um, if that’s okay with you.”
“Of course.” Mom smiles.
He opens the kit and grabs the cleaning cloths. “Where’s the wound, Fiona?”
“Here.” I take his hand and put it on my thigh where it stings, though I know perfectly well he can see it. He cleans it gently, feeling the cut more than necessary. As I watch, my heart feels like it’s about to burst I missed him so much. Maybe our secret isn’t always ideal, but right now I treasure it—no one else can understand what we share.
“It seems pretty long.” Seth rummages in the kit, pulling out some butterfly bandages. “It could scar.”
“Oh no, not a scar.” I take another cracker. It feels so good to eat that the pain in my leg hardly registers. I want to eat forever even though my stomach couldn’t take it.
“Sounds like you’re fine. Attitude is still intact.” He pokes my ribs, and I lean my head on his shoulder, happy to have him back just the way he is. But as much as I’d like to revel in this moment of return, there are more important things to discuss.
“So The Phantom paid me a visit while I was locked up.” Everyone’s faces fill with horror. When no one answers, I figure I may as well go on. “He wanted to help me escape, but I told him no. Then he roughed me up a little.”
“Oh, Fiona.” Mom crumples onto the counter.
“What else was I supposed to do? I would have been in his debt.”
“I know.” Mom pulls herself back up, rubbing her temples like I’ve given her an instant headache. “What did he say to you?”
“He figured the Army was keeping me because I really do know stuff, and he told me if I tell them I’m dead.” I try to grab the cracker box, but Mom snatches it away telekinetically. “It’s not a big deal because I’m never telling the Army anything after what they did to me. That Major Norton is a massive asshole.”
Carlos snorts, and everyone looks at him. “Sorry, I got this picture in my head and—”
“We know,” Bea says. “No need to explain.”
I sip at my water. “What have you guys been doing?”
“Besides trying to get you out?” Miles looks like he hasn’t slept much in the past few days, and I feel like it’s my fault. “We’ve taken turns trying to figure out that formula you didn’t steal.”
“Anything?”
Mom pulls the formula from her pants pocket, and I wonder if that’s been its permanent home since I got arrested. She points to a bunch of symbols I don’t really understand. “The key is this element: merinite. It’s a very stable liquid I’ve never seen on the periodic table, I assume because it’s top secret. It looks like when you combine merinite with this large compound it inhibits radiation.”
“Is there any way to test if something’s merinite?” I ask, thinking of that scientist girl and her tests at the waterfall.
“Yeah, Hector’s been working on performing it,” Seth says as Mom flips to the right page to show me. “We should be able to pull it off if we get a sample.”
“And what, exactly, will you do if you discover this secret place of yours does have what they’re looking for?” Graham asks. “Destroy it?”
“I don’t see why not,” Hector says.
Graham purses his lips. “Why not just take it out now, then?”
“Because,” I say, hesitating as I think of those beautiful pools that hold so many good memories, “it’s an amazing place. It shouldn’t be destroyed if it’s not a threat to anyone. I want to know for sure before that has to happen.”
“Me too,” Seth says.
“Sounds sentimental to me.” Graham floats higher up, reclining in the air.
“It’s not all sentimental,” Brady defends. “We know nothing about this element. What if we do something wrong with it and the whole place explodes? We need more information before we try to destroy it. If we even
have
it.”
Graham nods. “I guess that’s true. But you don’t have much time to figure it out.”
“Nope,” I say as this pit forms in my stomach. My whole being craves revenge for what The Phantom and the Army put me through, but there are other people I have to think about, too. “If you guys don’t want to be involved…I understand. You’ve seen what can happen now, and I’m afraid it’s gonna get worse from here on out because I’m not stopping. If you help me, it might be you locked up next time.”
Bea’s dark eyes seem hesitant. “What are you trying to say, Fi?”
Part of me doesn’t want to admit it, because there’s no going back and they might abandon me. But my mind is made up: I have to do the right thing. “I’m saying I’m going vigilante here. Look at how much violence just the search for this merinite element has caused—can you imagine how much worse it’ll get if they find it? There’s no way in hell I’m letting anyone make Radiasure again. And I’d love to have you all on my team, but I’m not forcing anyone.”
Shocked silence.
I look down, embarrassed. “I know I’ve made fun of those vigilante groups, but I think I’m starting to get it. Someone has to fight back against all this shit. Why not me? Why not us? We’re strong. You can’t tell me we aren’t.”
Still no one answers, and I’m waiting for them to walk out on me. Covering our tracks was one thing, but going on the offensive is another. Finally, Carlos clears his throat. “I just have one question.”
“Yes?” I say tentatively.
“Do I have to wear a dorky costume?”
I roll my eyes. “Um, no.”
“I’m in then!” He strikes a pose, puffing out his chest. “What’re we gonna call ourselves? The Justice Coalition?”
“Hell no.” Hector smacks the back of Carlos’ head. “We’d need a better name than that.”
I raise an eyebrow. “We don’t need a name at all—but does that mean you’re in, too, Hector?”
Bea punches my shoulder. “Of course we’re all in. Being in your gang is better than someone else’s. At least we’ll get priority.”
“It’s not a gang!”
Seth gives me this look that is one part worry and two parts pride. “It kind of is, but that’s okay.”
I sigh. “Whatever. I’m just making sure you know I’m not expecting you to follow me on this, because I know I’m being crazy.”
Brady holds his hands up. “As long as you know.”
Mom gives me a knowing smile. “Your family will always have your back.”
“Okay then. Let’s plan,” I say, though my heart races with fear. As much as this feels right, it’s the craziest thing I could possibly do. I ran from my crime life, and now I’m officially jumping right back into it.
Since Seth is banned from attending school, he spent all of yesterday at my house taking care of me. It’s nice spending so much time with him after being locked up, and Mom is able to go to work without worrying so much about me and my gimp leg. But this morning he’s late, and I get a text:
Dad being stupid. Be there once I get him to work.
I’m okay. Miles is here
,
I send back, knowing he’ll stress if he thinks I’m alone. “You’re not going anywhere soon, right, Miles?”
He looks away from the baseball game just briefly. “Wasn’t planning on it, why?”
“Seth is gonna be late.”
“Ah.” He sits up straighter and flexes his muscles. “So I’m on guard duty.”
“Whatever.”
“Someone has to keep an eye on our leader—you’re a prime target.”
For some reason, I’m not in the mood for his jokes today. They used to be fun, but now it feels like they’re hiding something. I can’t help but ask, “It’s been over a week and your ankle is fine. Won’t you get in trouble if you miss more work?”
“I quit. It was getting in the way of school.” He makes it sound like no big deal, but I don’t buy it.
“But you’re missing classes, too, aren’t you?”
He turns off the TV. Finally I have his full attention, but his expression is clearly annoyed. I’m not sure if it’s because of the questions or interrupting him while a game is on. “What are you trying to get at?”
“It’s just…I feel bad that I’m putting you in harm’s way when you’ve already sacrificed so much for me and Mom. I know you’re worried, but if you want to go back to Tucson—”
“Fiona, I’m not just here because I
have
to be, okay? I
want
to. I
need
to…” Miles’ phone makes the sound of a baseball hitting a bat, and his eyes about pop out of his head. He grabs it, and by the way he looks at the screen I can only assume it’s one person.