Badlands: The Lion’s Den(36)

“You’re going to show me where his house is,” Flora said.

She took off the necklace with the “H” dangling from it and handed it to Sam.

“Go into Hudson territory. Ask anyone you see for directions to a place called the Lion’s Den. Ask for Finn Hudson,” she said to him. “Tell him where I’m going.”

With a sinking heart, she followed Sarah out of the basement, towards Ruben’s house.





Chapter Eighteen




Ruben’s house was a big, ugly red brick building. A huge Humvee was parked in front. It looked brand new, so it must have been smuggled into the territory. A dozen guards paced in front of it in an ostentatious show of power. No chance of getting in through the front entrance, that was clear.

Sarah led Flora around to a back alley that led to the rear of the building. When they peered out, they didn’t see any guards.

“Maybe you might be able to climb in through a back window,” Sarah said doubtfully. “But probably not. You know this is totally insane, right?”

“That’s my middle name,” Flora said with a faint smile.

“Lousy middle name. I shouldn’t have brought you here.” Sarah looked stricken. Her breath came in gulps. “We can’t save her, Flora.”

“I have to try. You should go, though. I’ll take it from here,” Flora said, peering intently at the house. She saw a bunch of dumpsters located by the wrought-iron gates. She could shift, jump up on the dumpsters, launch herself over the gates and run to the back of the house. Then she could climb the fire escapes and maybe pry up a window. After that, she had no idea. “Go to the Lion’s Den. Tell them what’s happened.”

“I should go with you,” Sarah protested.

“No,” Flora said, shaking her head. “If I don’t make it out, Sam needs someone to take care of him. I’m a stranger to him. He needs you.”

Sarah wiped away tears with the back of her grimy hand. “You don’t suck too badly, for a cat,” she muttered, and hurried off.

Flora was hoping against hope that under extreme duress the fire-starting power would kick in.

I must have the power, she told herself desperately. Would TerraDyne have paid all that money for nothing? Somehow, she must have the ability.

Maybe I have to be really, really scared for it to work.

She rushed towards the dumpsters, and as she reached them, half a dozen bear shifters stepped out from behind them and quickly surrounded her. She stared at them, heart hammering against her ribcage, and concentrated with all her might.

They weren’t catching on fire. Not even smoldering a little.

So much for that theory, then.

She let them grab her and march her around to the front of the house, through the front gate, up the stairs and into a living room where Ruben waited.

Ruben was actually sitting on a throne. A big, golden throne with red velvet cushions. He was a handsome guy, in a thuggish sort of way, with a broken nose and a scar slashing through his right eyebrow. He wore a shiny, new-looking black leather jacket and thick gold chain necklaces, and a pretty girl in a tight pink lycra dress sat on the arm of his throne, massaging his neck. His wavy black hair was shellacked into place. Everything about him was so over the top and ridiculous that Flora would have laughed if she hadn’t been terrified out of her wits.

So. Apparently even being so frightened that she was ready to pee her pants wasn’t enough to tap into her ability. She really wasn’t a Firestarter.

Too bad she wouldn’t survive long enough to tell the scientists that they’d wasted their money.

“Well, well, look who was stupid enough to take the bait,” Ruben sneered.

And then it dawned on Flora. He hadn’t gone after Madison because he actually wanted her. He’d grabbed her because he’d known it would draw Flora in.

How had he known that? And why did he want Flora?

“What do you want with me?” She had a sinking feeling that she knew, but she was praying that she was wrong.

“What do you think I want with you?” He smiled, and she saw that he had a gold front tooth. “I hear you’re a Firestarter. We could use one of those.”

Nope, she wasn’t wrong.

“Well, then you heard incorrectly. If I were a Firestarter, you’d be barbecued bear right now,” she snapped. She glared at his guards. “And so would all of your flying monkeys.”

Several of his guards growled and moved closer to her.

Ruben shook his head. “She’s too valuable,” he said. Then he looked at her. “Obviously you’re a latent. We’re going to put you in a fireproof room and see if you can perform for us. Apply a little pressure.” His smile stretched wide. “If we can’t figure out how to use your talents, we’ll sell you to those scientists who have been looking for you.”