Creators(36)

As she turned to storm out of the room, Stephanie’s hair flew to the side of her shoulder. Two faded branding marks glared at me from the back of her neck. Instinctively, I reached up and felt my own slash marks. These marks were the way the council kept track of the transgressions of girls. I had received my first mark as a result of my sister, Emma, getting pregnant. My second mark came when I spoke out for Henry’s girlfriend, Julia, during her trial for treason. George gave me my third, claiming I would need it to help him bring down the council.

“How do you have those marks? You said you never lived in a compound,” I asked, pointing a finger toward her.

Stephanie furrowed her brow. “Your father made me get them years ago. In case…” Her voice trailed off.

“In case what?” Eric asked.

We were almost there.

Glaring at Eric, Stephanie pushed past Henry and stumbled out of the room. Henry turned to me and clenched his jaw. “Great party, Tess,” he said dryly.

“Things didn’t exactly go as I planned,” I admitted.

Henry raised an eyebrow. “Really? What exactly did you plan to happen here tonight?”

I didn’t like his tone. I couldn’t stand how he stood judging me after everything he heard. “I planned on getting Stephanie to tell me exactly what my father is doing here in the community and what he’s hiding.”

“You planned on attacking her! She’s not your enemy.”

“Maybe she’s not my enemy, but she’s certainly not on our side,” I countered.

“Our side? What makes you think I agree with you? Just because it’s the side you picked? I think we both know those days are gone,” he said, his voice carrying a tiredness that I wondered would ever leave.

I lifted my head to meet his eyes. “Not my side. The side that puts people before the cause. That’s the side you belong on.”

Henry shook his head and took a step away from me. “You don’t get to tell me what side I belong on anymore.”

And then he left.





Chapter 15


The streets of the community were eerily quiet the following morning, but I could still hear the angry words thrown about the previous night banging inside of my head. I hadn’t meant to hurt Stephanie. I had intended to convince her we could be friends, so she would feel comfortable enough to let the effects of the alcohol take control. Then she was supposed to tell us everything. In the pale light of morning, it was hard to see my actions as noble.

My stomach tightened when I thought of the way Eric had bragged about killing Stephanie’s sister. He wasn’t a bad man; not that she would ever know that by the way he had acted last night. He was just fiercely protective of those he cared about. It was our common ground.

The whole night was one colossal mess. Despite his terrible tactics, Eric was right. We needed to protect the people of the community. Maybe they hadn’t always welcomed me with open arms, but they had offered me safety. Twice. I couldn’t forget that.

I sighed and pushed my feet faster toward the infirmary. Louisa had been moved there due to her failing health. The closer she got to her due date, the worse she became. Cramping. Shortness of breath. Loss of color. Despite being only a few months along, she didn’t look like she was a survivor; she looked like she was losing the battle. When I had returned there last night to relieve Sharon, she took one look at me and told me to turn around, go back to my room, and get some rest. She left no room for arguments.

The night before, I’d slept curled up on a chair, checking every so often to make sure Lockwood was still breathing. When I finally pulled myself from my restless slumber, I was excited to spend the morning with Louisa. She had started to talk more and more with both Lockwood and myself, and I was really loving our moments together. We still weren’t close by any means, but our relationship was going. It was a start.

I was lost in the memories of the night before and dreams of my sister’s future, when the sounds of footsteps running behind me broke my trance. They pounded heavily against the morning silence, fighting for control with the breaking dawn. I turned around to see a man sprinting down the dirt road toward me.

He was covered in blood.

A thousand different scenarios ran through my mind. Maybe he was one of Al’s men finally exacting his revenge on me because of my father’s actions. Maybe he was some spy from the council. Maybe he was another one of my father’s crazed men, putting into action some plan I wasn’t made privy to.

Hadn’t we all argued about that last night? Desperation was man’s greatest ally and darkest villain.

I looked wildly around me for a sign of anyone or anything to aid me. No one but the bloodied man and me were to be found. Considering the speed at which the man ran toward me, there was no hope of outrunning him. I would have to face him straight on.