Flynn hung his head. He felt like an idiot! What was he thinking, really? That winning first place in the Trials made him special? That it gave him the right to demand favors, or that they would make an exception and bend the rules for him? Did he expect someone like the Rottweiler to change his mind? His father was right about the man after all… he really was the biggest bastard in town! Flynn had no doubt about it now… Duncan Roth had no heart, and Flynn was a complete fool to think he would spare Tony, or anybody else for that matter… Slowly, Flynn turned and opened the door. The guard was waiting for him.
“Take the boy back downstairs, Hopper… And make sure he uses the front door this time.”
Flynn heard Duncan laugh as the guard’s hand grabbed him by the collar and threw him out of the room.
TWENTY
The Midtown Bay’s Scavenging Station shimmered in the distance ahead. Its cargo hold was made of a rusting railway transfer bridge, kept afloat by dozens of barrels and tires, encircled by large floating pontoon docks. This was where the “newbie” Free Scavengers were supposed to gather and get their first instructions and assignments from their boss, Duncan Roth. Flynn slowed down the Seeker and let it glide slowly toward the nearest dock.
Pharrell and Clay were already there, their raft moored to the Station’s docking platform. Flynn was immediately struck by how quiet the two boys were. Always full of laughs and loud chatter, they were now sitting in silence. Pharrell turned to look at Flynn. “You alone?” the boy asked, puzzled.
“They took Tony,” Flynn said as he tied his raft next to theirs. “And my father!”
Pharrell nodded. He then looked away, his red-rimmed eyes wandering absently over the horizon. Flynn studied him for a moment, frowning, trying to figure out what was wrong with Pharrell… And then it hit him… The boy had lost someone close, someone who had been on the List, just like Flynn’s father.
“Who did they take?” Flynn asked quietly.
“Both my parents,” replied Pharrell, his face full of pain and misery now. “I was kind’a ready for my old man, but my mom… that came out of nowhere…”
“Were you there… when they came for them?”
“Yeah, man. Dad held it together, but my mom… she took it pretty bad, cryin’ an’ all that!”
“I wasn’t there for my dad,” said Flynn.
“That must’ve been rough, bro…”
“Yeah, real rough,” Flynn said and turned to Pharrell’s buddy. “Your family OK, Clay?”
“Mine’s safe!” Clay mumbled. “For now…”
Flynn sank into his seat and closed his eyes. He felt bad for Pharrell. The fact that he wasn’t alone in his loss didn’t make it less painful, though… In the course of only two days, Flynn had gone from the highest to the lowest point in his life… Winning and losing! But Flynn wasn’t prepared to lose! Not like that, not without a fight!
“Where’s the girl?” Pharrell’s voice brought him back to the present. “Wasn’t she your back-up Crew Mate?”
“Not anymore… Don’t need her!”
“You kiddin’?” Pharrell raised an eyebrow. “Duncan won’t let ya work without a Crew Mate, ya know…”
“The hell with work,” Flynn snapped, “…and Duncan Roth!”
Pharrell cocked his head. “What’s on your mind, bro? Fed up with life on the Upper Side already?”
“No, but if I don’t do something soon, my life will mean nothing!” Flynn jumped from his seat and hopped onto Pharrell’s raft. There was a new urgency in his voice. “I can’t just let them kill Tony and my dad, can I? You can’t let your parents go away… We’ve got to do something, Pharrell.”
The boy just stared at Flynn, stunned by his words.
“C’mon, we can come up with something… get them out of there…”
“They’re gone, man, they’re gone!” said Pharrell, shaking his head. “Give it up!”
“Give it up?” Flynn cried angrily. “You’re going to sit and watch you folks die, just like that? I never took you for a coward Pharrell…” He was now stabbing his finger in Pharrell’s face.
“I’m no coward!” Pharrell sprang from his seat. “But I ain’t stupid, either! I know the rules here, and I plan to stay alive for as long as I can! Get it?”
“Yeah, I get it!” shouted Flynn, glaring at him. “I’m stupid ‘cause I don’t want to accept their rules… and to keep my mouth shut…”
“You’ve lost your mind Perry boy! Quit with this reckless bullshit talk before you get us all into trouble.”
“Yeah? And live like a coward for the rest of my life!”
“Watch it!” Pharrell growled, pushing Flynn hard in the chest.
Flynn stumbled back, found his footing quickly and saw that Pharrell was now pointing a diving knife, inches away from his face. As the blade slashed sideways through the air, Flynn caught Pharrell by the wrist and drew his own knife… But before Flynn could strike, Pharrell had grabbed his wrist, too. Now, with their hands locked and arm muscles bulging, the two began to move around in circles.
“Hey, hey! Stop!” yelled Clay, trying to break up the fight. He managed to pull the boys apart and stood between them, hoping that he could get them to calm down. Flynn and Pharrell glared at each other, breathing heavily, their bodies tense and ready to pounce at each other again.
Suddenly, the loud sound of a motor boat made them all turn their heads. Duncan Roth was speeding toward the Station, his boat cutting through the glassy waters of Midtown Bay. He wasn’t alone. There was someone sitting next to him. Flynn squinted and lifted up his hand to shade his eyes against the glare of the sun. He saw a boy sitting next to the Rottweiler and his heart skipped a beat. “Tony!” he cried. Duncan Roth had changed his mind, Flynn thought happily. But as the boat approached, Flynn realized he had made a terrible mistake. “Shit!” Flynn spat in the water with disgust… It wasn’t his friend sitting next to Duncan Roth… It was Madison Ray, her long hair cropped to within inches of her scalp.
Flynn couldn’t believe his eyes. What the hell did she want? As if hooking up with Leo wasn’t enough, Madison was now hanging round Duncan Roth! Raging inside, Flynn watched the boat as it slowed down and slid next to the boys’ rafts. Avoiding his gaze, Madison got up and followed Duncan Roth onto the docking platform. Flynn noticed the golden badge pinned above her breast and his face darkened.
“Perry!” Duncan Roth turned to address Flynn. “As you’re well aware, Anthony Romero can no longer serve as your Crew Mate!”
Flynn felt his whole body tense. He stared furiously back at Duncan Roth.
“Therefore…” the man continued, “having trained with you prior to the Trials, Madison Ray will take his place.”
“No, sir!” said Flynn, lifting up his chin. “She won’t!”
Pharrell and Clay’s jaws dropped when they heard Flynn’s words. They had never seen such open defiance of authority. Stunned, their eyes darted back and forth between Duncan Roth and Flynn. Madison also shot a worried look at Flynn… No one dared talk back to the Rottweiler, no one!
At first, there wasn’t an immediate reaction from Duncan Roth. His cold eyes remained fixed on Flynn for a painfully long moment. “Perry!” he finally spoke, “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that! And I strongly suggest you don’t repeat it again!”
Too late, thought Flynn. Blood was rushing to his head now. He had crossed the line, he knew that, but he couldn’t stop himself… He was beyond caring about the consequences… “I don’t need her! I can work alone!” he said.
Duncan Roth ignored him and turned to Madison. “Go ahead! Board his raft.”
Without any hesitation, Madison jumped down from the platform and walked over to Flynn. He glared at her, and then at Duncan Roth. “Sir, I won’t work with…” Flynn began to say.