The Unfortunates(87)

I tap the message in the bottom left corner and it opens up.



Kaden,

It turns out our mine situation is a hell of a lot more complicated than I thought. I saw the videos. Those collapses are no freak accident! What have you done? If word gets out about this, we are screwed! I never should have trusted you with such an important position. Unfortunates we presumed dead are living in one of our mines? They’ve had YEARS to establish themselves. They’ve killed Fortunates and Moderators and have kept the Unfortunates for themselves. DO NOT send out anymore Unfortunates. I don’t want their numbers to increase. Our only option is to blow the mine sky high. That is your last job before I give the position to your brother. Clean up your mess, find a good cover story and never speak of this again.

And Kade, for your sake, you’d want to hope you had nothing to do with this.

M. Sario.



At the bottom, there’s a small map of the mines. It’s not far from here, just across the lake, over the fence and on the other side of the small mountain. You could make it there in a day, or two, depending on circumstances. Holy. Shit. Unfortunates have sought refuge in one of the Sario mines and are killing any Fortunate or Moderator that enters? How badass is that? I can’t help the smile that spreads across my lips. This is ground breaking… a rebellion? Fighting for freedom? Excitement bubbles in my chest and I close the message. Unfortunately, it disappears off the screen all together.

“Crap.” I curse under my breath. How do I get it back? “Oh no, no, no…”

I swallow hard and let out an exhale. It’s okay… if it’s gone, that means Kade can’t read it either. I’d rather it not exist than lie open for him to see that I’ve read it. Abandoning operation ‘turn off the computer’ I rush back to bed and climb in. I definitely can’t sleep now. I could live with them… I could go to the mine and truly be free. I could fight for something—or die for something. As the thought passes, I feel his arms circle me and pull me back in, squeezing me hard against his body.

“You’re cold,” he mutters sleepily, then wraps a leg around mine, completely pinning me against him. His skin is warm and I lie perfectly still as I let it engulf me. I stare directly ahead at the wall. There’s one small problem to my running away idea… him. I don’t think I can leave him. After everything he’s done, I owe him my life. The thought of disappointing him leaves an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach. I’ve become one of ‘those’ Unfortunates. The ones that get caught up in the Fortunate spell… the ones that truly believe their Fortunate would die for them. Only, I’m certain mine would. There’s a good chance he’s setting me up for the murder of his father. Why can’t he just kill him, why does he need my help? What if we get caught? He can easily turn the entire situation on me. I shift, trying to pull myself out of Kade’s grip, but he won’t allow it. He holds on tight, so tight I’m certain he’ll crush every bone in my body if I pull any harder.

“Sleep,” he orders, his voice husky and tired. I stop moving and slump into him, letting him pull me even closer.

There’s no way I’m going to be able to sleep, not now. I have to warn everyone. I have to tell the Unfortunates that they’re going to blow the mine, don’t I? Surely, there’s some kind of Unfortunate code. But how am I going to get away from Kade long enough to run? Do I even want to run? Then it hit me, THIRTEEN! I can tell her, she’d love a chance to get away from here, from Vince, and she could warn the Unfortunates in the mine at the same time and they can all flee together, wherever the land takes them before it stops. Excitement bubbles to the surface once again. I can save Thirteen and she can save the Unfortunates in the mine. It’s a win-win. I’m not going to lie… a part of me is happy I get to stay here with Kade. As long as I have him, I think I’m safe.



∞



I’m not sure how long I lie awake for or if I’ve dozed off occasionally, but the second the outside light filters in through the curtains, the door opens. I peer through semi-closed eyelids and watch as Vince leans against the door frame. On the very tip of his index finger, hangs a small silver key. He had a key to this room the whole time? “Well, isn’t this sweet.”

I feel Kade’s body tighten as he lifts his head to peer over my shoulder.

“Cuddling? Elizabeth told me that wasn’t your thing, Kaden.” Vince draws the mug he holds in his hands to his lips and takes one self-satisfied sip. “She’ll be thrilled to know it just isn’t your thing when you’re with her.”