Earth(55)

Lightning struck dangerously close. Screams came from the camp.

Alex licked his lips, glancing toward the screams. "I was coming to get you. Susan says a huge storm is coming."

"I know – which is why you have to leave me behind." I stepped back.

"What? No – come on. Bee and Susan are waiting for us."

He tried pulling on my arm, but I pulled back. He raised his eyebrows.

"A group of prisoners escaped. People from Robert's camp, and some we picked up in Evansville. Also – someone named Marissa, and her sister. Can you make sure they are taken care of?"

"Why don't you make sure? Come on." He turned, but I didn't follow.

"She's going to be okay, you know," I raised my voice at his retreating silhouette.

He stopped in his tracks, hunching his shoulders like I just knifed him in the back.

"Bee is…" I paused, swallowing the lump in my throat. "She's going to be fine. As long as she is with you and Susan."

He turned, his face contorted in pain. "Don't do this…" I could barely hear him.

"Go north – or maybe east. Get to the hybrid power station on the Great Lakes so I'll know where to find you. I'll go west with One Less; until I've done what needs to be done. Then we can reconnect."

He stepped forward. "We can figure this out, these storms. It'll be dangerous to separate." He put his hand on my shoulder.

I winced again, ducking out of his grasp. He was left holding his hand out in midair. "What is happening to you Kaitlyn?!" He yelled above the wind.

I placed the braid of my former locks in his hand. "I'm not Kaitlyn anymore. I can't be if we're going to survive this." I closed his fist around the hair. "Take care of her, Alex."

I turned away, forcing one foot in front of the other as fast as they would go. There were no tears, no more aches in my chest, and no more heavy stomach. My world had gone numb.





Chapter 32





Finish It





The pads over my fresh tattoos were soaked, many hanging off my skin. As I walked, I ripped them off. The rain helped to take the sting away. I shut down the electrical signals I used to pinpoint people. I couldn't be witness to a retreating Alex, Susan, and Bee. Shawn had managed to take them all away after all.

I skirted the perimeter of the camp. Most likely, my stuff had already blown away.

I'll just keep walking until everyone else is ready to move. It was mindless work, one foot in front of another.

A flash of yellow on the trail in front of me broke me out of my trance. A rain jacket. Someone was moving quick and staying low, keeping between the largest shrubs. I followed.

"Stop!"

I froze in my tracks, racking my brain for an excuse as to why I was out here.

"What are doing?" the voice demanded.

I turned, opening my mouth, still unsure of what was about to come out. Twenty feet in front of me, the yellow rain jacket person stood, arms in the air. A guard stood in front, pointing his weapon at them.

I ducked behind a tree.

"I said, what are you doing? Everyone should be back at camp, packing up."

A woman's voice answered, "I have information to deliver that can't wait. I need to catch Shawn's group before they leave."

I know that voice. I crawled closer.

"Do you have clearance?" the guard asked.

She held up a note. He snatched it out of her hand, unfolded it, and read. "Is this for real? You've found the one he's been looking for?"

My heart jumped up into my throat. I peeked around another tree and saw Sabrina, nodding.

"Very well then." He handed back the note. "Did you report to admin before you left?"

She shook her head. "No. Admin is compromised. But the issue will be resolved soon."

He lowered his gun and motioned for her to pass. I crouched down behind the tree. The guard walked by on the other side, continuing his rounds. As soon as he was out of sight, I stood and sprinted in the direction Sabrina went. I slowed only when I found the yellow.

I had to stop her, at all costs. She probably detected my powers when she attempted to heal me. She already knew about my hair and tattoos. It would all be for naught if I let her get to Shawn.

With the storm getting louder and louder, sneaking up behind her was easy. I matched her steps, closing the distance between us. I picked up a large, round rock. My fingers gripped its curves as I held it up and back, preparing for the strike.

Thunder cracked overhead. I swung, connecting with her temple. She crumpled and lay still on the ground. I threw back the yellow rain jacket, revealing a thin line of blood trickling down her face. I pawed at her body until I found the note. Just as I unfolded it, the sky opened up in a downpour. The paper, and all the words on it, melted in my hand.