"Guys, I think that's all we're going to get from him."
Brad and Drake nodded, but didn't relax.
I stared at the body. "It's hard to tell with his face so…you know…but this looks like one of the guys who asked Rick about you, Drake. He has a partner somewhere. So... what do we do with him?"
Drake moved around the room. "We have to pack and find someplace safe. We'll leave him here. Someone will eventually find him, or he'll regain consciousness and make his way back to his boss."
"Dude," Brad said, "my name is on this lease. I'm in so much trouble."
"For what?" Drake asked. "He broke into your house. You didn't do anything wrong. Besides, we have to get out of here. We're all in danger now. I need to get you two to a safe place so I can go after the Seeker."
"Wait, what?" My head popped up. "Do you intend to go after the Seeker alone? No way. Unless by 'alone' you really mean with me, then yeah."
"Sam, we have to find out who this guy is and what he knows. It's the only way we can stop these assholes from taking kids like us, and from doing genetic experiments and God knows what else. Plus, you're sick and pregnant. It's too dangerous."
"I'm stronger than I look. What makes you think you can do this by yourself? You wouldn't have been able to crack this guy's mind without me. These are just henchmen. You're going to need me when we meet their boss. The Rent-A-Kids are my friends, the only family I've ever known. I'm going, and you can't stop me."
Brad stepped in between us. "Sam, he's right. You're in no condition to go chasing after these guys, alone or with Drake. You could get yourself or your baby killed."
Drake nodded. "Then we're agreed—"
"And Drake, she's right. You can't go running off like the Lone Ranger either. We need a plan. We need to regroup and figure out the next step. But first, we need to pack and get the hell out of here before my neighbors call the cops, or this guy's partner shows up."
Drake frowned, then gave a curt nod. It wasn't exactly a gracious concession, but it would have to do.
I wasn't feeling too gracious myself, but it was hard to argue with Brad's logic. It wouldn't hurt to get somewhere safe and at least talk about the options.
The three of us scurried around the apartment packing computers, medication, clothes, money, all the supplies and information Ana had given us.
When we had finished, we stepped out onto the porch.
"Should I lock it?" Brad asked.
"No," Drake said. "Close the door, but don't lock it. We can call the police to report a break-in. Say we're the neighbor or something."
Brad nodded and closed the door.
I scanned the area around us as we walked to the car, worried someone else might be stalking us. "We still have his partner to worry about, and the guy I saw at Venice Beach."
"I know," Drake said.
Brad sighed. "Great, more people to run from, or attack."
Drake chuckled. "Nobody said we'd be boring houseguests."
Brad groaned and tried to flip him the finger while carrying several bags. It looked painful.
I almost cracked a smile.
We loaded up the car and got in. I took the front seat while Brad drove.
Drake sat in the back. "So where now?"
Brad revved the car and pulled out of the driveway. He merged into traffic on the busy street and headed to the nearest freeway entrance. "I know a place we can go. It's out of the way and can't be traced back to me if anyone starts digging."
"Sounds perfect," I said.
"Well, almost. Just one problem."
Drake leaned forward. "What's that?"
"It's a cabin in the woods. My old journalism professor retired there. We'd have to let him in on your secret."
Drake sat back, and I leaned my head against the cool window. After a lifetime of secrets and lies, telling strangers about my abilities didn't feel natural. Could we trust this professor? Would he put us at greater risk?
Chapter 34 – Lucy
"You're asking the wrong questions," Lucy said to the crowd of Rent-A-Kids huddled around her in an unused classroom. She stared at a poster of Einstein to collect her thoughts, and hid her nervous hands under the teacher's desk she sat behind. "It's not just a question of whether we can break through the guards and high-voltage gates. The real question is what are we going to do once we're out? We're in the middle of nowhere. None of us have any forms of identification. We don't have cars, money, or contacts on the outside. How the hell are we supposed to survive out there?"
Dozens of hopeless eyes stared up at her. She hated to burst their bubble, but they had to face reality. She looked to Luke for support, but even he frowned in disappointment. Did he really think they had any chance at all of escaping? That the "Freedom Fighters" would survive?