Rein watched as his treasured music box fell to the ground and shattered; the broken figurines skidded across the earthen floor.
“No!” Rein threw himself at Micah as he charged toward the stairs after Woody. It was like hitting a brick wall.
Micah barely stumbled. He grabbed Rein by the back of the neck and hurled him across the room, sending him into the boxes of supplies.
Cans fell on Rein. He covered his head with his arms.
“Hurry,” Detective Petersen ordered the guards. She turned her attention to Rein.
Rein rolled over to his knees and attempted to stand, but a boot to the ribs knocked him back down. A current ripped through his muscles, leaving him helpless.
The last thing he saw was Detective Petersen’s grin.
34
Ellyssa squatted on her haunches and slid the last box through the hole leading to the well-hidden evacuation cave. If someone searched the passageway, it would appear to dead-end, but further inspection would reveal two walls overlapping, and another tunnel leading to a drop-off into a natural cavern, a level below, hidden by an optical illusion.
“This is the last of it,” Ellyssa said as two hands appeared and grabbed hold. The box disappeared.
“Don’t forget Tyler’s group,” said Melody, the owner of the hands. The thirty-year-old woman had beautiful hazel eyes, offset by mocha-colored skin.
“After we move Jason, I will check on them.” Ellyssa rose, dusting off her hands.
Thanks to the council, who ordered drills on a regular basis, organizing the community had been easier than Ellyssa had thought possible. Within two days, all of the Renegades had their personal items moved and most of the supplies stored away, excluding the generator, which had been disassembled earlier in the morning and was ready to move out.
Ellyssa adjusted the 12-gauge on her shoulder and picked up the flashlight. White light poured into the tunnel as she emerged from between the two walls. She moved further down and turned around. The light reflected off the mineral deposits, creating the perception of a solid wall. The illusion should easily mislead any investigators.
The cavern where they’d be hiding was far from paradise. Dampness pervaded the cool air, and water dripped incessantly. The accommodations were cramped. Worse than the dankness and overcrowding was that there was no way to gather or prepare food. All they had left were a few cans of peaches and some bread Bertha had made from dandelion flour.
Hopefully, Rein and Woody would be back soon with more provisions.
Still, even with the supplies, they couldn’t stay there for long.
Ellyssa pushed the thought from her head as she entered the makeshift hospital. “Are you ready to move Jason?” she asked Mathew.
Grabbing his bag, the doctor circled, giving the room one more glance. His freshly cut hair revealed more grey than black. “Seems everything’s in order.”
“How’s he doing?”
“The infection is getting worse. If I can’t get the fever under control…” He shrugged. “He needs penicillin, not aspirin, and fresh bandages. I hope Rein gets back soon.”
Ellyssa’s sentiments exactly. She dropped her gaze.
“Hey. It’ll be okay.”
“I hope so.”
Standing in front of Ellyssa, Mathew placed both of his hands on her shoulders. He hunkered down where he could look into her eyes. “Rein and Woody will be fine.”
Forcing a grin that felt wrong on her face, Ellyssa nodded.
“We have things to do here.”
“I know.”
Mathew shoved an old, ripped sheet into the back of his belt. “Let’s go,” he said, the sheet sashaying behind him.
Ellyssa led them down the main hall. The swishing sheet whispered as it erased their footprints.
“Is everyone in the cavern?” asked Mathew.
“Most everyone. Except Tyler, Marissa, Peter, Ashley, and Caleb,” she recited the names. “They’re erasing signs that we here, too. I doubt they look as humorous, though.”
“Ha, ha. Thanks.”
“Looks like you are wearing a misplaced cape.”
“Would you prefer to do the honors?”
“No, thank you.”
“Then, I’d be quiet, if I were you.”
Ellyssa enjoyed the exchange of banter with Mathew. To speak about mundane happenings, to joke and laugh, to communicate without training or sparring. At one time, the thought of doing such things had never crossed her mind. Ellyssa really loved her new home. She just wished Rein was with her.
On their way to Jason, the sound of shoes smacking hard against the ground bounced down along the walls. Ellyssa stilled, as did Mathew. No one was assigned to outdoor duty. No one should be coming from that direction. The frantic steps slapped louder as they drew closer.
Spinning on her heel, Ellyssa stepped in front of Mathew, pinning him against the wall. She chambered a round and aimed into the darkness. Before the possible intruder reached them, she lowered her mental wall, reaching with psychic tendrils. Mathew’s adrenaline-induced thoughts interfered with her probing.
“Clear your mind,” she whispered.
Panicky images flickered wildly. Ellyssa doubled her effort to filter him out. Her eyes squeezed together as she drifted forward, searching for the unknown.
The steps drew nearer, images and emotions bombarding her, quickly overshadowing any interference from the doctor.
Fear. Desperation. Supplies. A strange place. Blurry faces. A long stream of thoughts, running together, overpowered by hysterical terror.
She recognized Woody right away; afraid someone might be following, she kept her weapon aimed into the dark passageway. She left his screaming mind and reached for Rein’s.
A void.
She pointed her flashlight into the inky blackness. Woody burst out of the shadows as if materializing out of nowhere.
His hand brushed against the wall while he ran. His usually kempt hair shone with sweat and was plastered against his head. His clothes were ragged, torn, and dirty. His eyes drew her attention. Their grey was clouded with alarm, wild and frantic. He ran toward them, but showed no signs of stopping, as if he didn’t realize they were there. As if his only concern was escape.
“Woody,” she said hesitantly. She held her hand toward him. “Woody.”
His eyes raked over her and, impossibly, widened even more. Recognition flitted through him as he skidded to a stop. His breath ragged and his chest heaving, he placed his hands on his knees.
“Ellyssa,” he panted, head down. “Rein. The community.”
Dread filled her. Her worst fear, borne from the depths of her nightmares, took life. “What about Rein?”
Still leaning over, he nodded.
“Do they have him?”
“Yes,” Woody panted.
“No.” Gasping, Ellyssa stumbled back. In one single moment, her future turned bleak. Dizziness and nausea swept through her, like a windstorm, churning in her head and midsection. Holding a hand over her stomach, she forced the overwhelming reactions to retreat.
No time for panic.
Ellyssa thought the words, obeyed them, and replaced the sensation with the one emotion she had never been denied—mounting anger. She snatched Woody by the collar and yanked him close, until their noses almost touched.
“Where is he?”
“Ellyssa!” Mathew exclaimed, snatching her wrist. “What are you doing?”
She jerked her arm free.
The doctor stepped back, hands in front of him. “It’s not his fault.”
In an instant, a wave of misery washed away the anger, as Ellyssa looked into Woody’s eyes. Emotional upheaval. Her inability to cope was incapacitating her logical thought process. She released him. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice breaking. “I just…” She covered her face and fought back the tears.