Redeemer (13 page)

While he works his charm on another group, I turn and study the training grounds. They're so similar to Middle 3, I almost feel at home here. And they're completely different than Greater City's cold and sleek training dome.

“Keegan Clem? Yeah, sure.”

The voice carries to me and snaps me to attention. I jog to Fischer's side, but I don't know the boy.

“Keegan's been gone a few days, but if you need him, you could probably ask his girl.”

His first sentence sends me into panic mode. “Gone? Where did he go? Is he missing?”

Fischer shoots me a look and I try to tone it down. It's not easy.

The boy quirks an eyebrow at me. “He's on tour for his training. Lil should know when he'll be back.”

Lil.

Then his second sentence hits me. Keegan's girl.

Lil is Keegan's girl?

Nerves erupt in my stomach and for the first time I'm scared to see Keegan. We are no longer the same. I told him to move on, and that makes our relationship different.

“Can you give Lilith a message?” My voice squeaks and I cringe.

The boy laughs and holds up his hands. “No way. Lil wouldn't let me get near her.”

“Please.” I can't be near her. Keegan is perfectly willing to risk everything for me. Lilith Winters and her pristine goddessness? Not so much. “Tell her H is looking for K. She'll know what you mean, and she'll listen.”

Now he frowns. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“She'll know.” The last time we spoke, Lilith told me Keegan believed in God. Keegan had become a Christian. But she used all abbreviated names:
K said to tell you he believes. L

She will know, if I can only convince Keegan's friend to tell her. “Will you tell her today? Tell her we'll be back.”

His frown deepens. “Whatever. I'll try, but I can't make any promises.”

“Thank you,” I say.

He doesn't say
you're welcome
or make any gesture to show he is willing to help. His eyes suddenly roam over us. He's putting the pieces together—we're not supposed to be here. We don't really look like we belong.

I watch the knowledge click into place in his mind. He's probably wondering what he got himself into.

Putting him in this position isn't kind, but it's necessary. We leave campus in a hurry and begin scouting somewhere to score Guard Rok's fruits and vegetables.

“It's too bad we're not in Middle 3. We could raid the agricultural college. They grow stuff all the time and no one eats it.” Homesickness washes over me again, and I look away so no one sees the tears burning my eyes.

The flash of black hair charging toward us catches my eye and I gasp. It's Lilith!

Her scowl is plain to see and she marches straight to our group. “How dare you! I told you I wouldn't help you if it put me in danger.”

“I'm just trying to find Keegan.”

“You said you were done with him. Done! And here you show up? Asking around campus about me? How am I supposed to explain the message ‘H is looking for K'? You know he's going to blab to everyone he knows, right?”

I hadn't really considered that. Swallowing hard, I try to calm her. “I'm sorry, Lilith. I'm a little desperate. We need his help.”

She glances at Fischer and Isabel, noticing them for the first time. Her face pulls into a tighter scowl, and her nostrils flare. “He'll be home tonight.”

“Do you think he'll help?”

She rolls her eyes. “Why are you even asking me? You know he will. What do you want me to tell him?”

My gaze flies to Fischer and he steps forward.

“Tell him to meet us in the alley near the north gate.”

Her eyes narrow, and she glares at me again. “Are you even supposed to be here?”

I let out a sarcastic laugh. “Supposed to be? Lilith, I'm never supposed to be anywhere. That's where all my trouble started, being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Will you tell him to meet us?”

She huffs. “Whatever. Don't drag me into this anymore.” She stomps away, but her steps are no longer mad. If I had to wager a guess, I'd say she likes being clandestine and sneaky.

“She's something, ain't she?” Isabel snorts.

“You could say that.”

Isabel turns back toward the city and sighs. “About that fruit.”

 

 

 

 

18

 

“There have to be people who grow on a large scale.” I know this much. “They sell their goods in the streets, or in markets. Finding those gardens will get results much quicker than taking from several small gardens.”

“But taking everything from one grower will hurt that one person more than taking a little from everyone,” Fischer says.

I stare at him for a moment before turning away. Why did we agree to this? I rub my eyes and groan. “I don't want to take anything from anyone.”

“What if we found wild plants?” Isabel says. “The same as we've been doing while we hiked here.”

“Surely they have wild berries on the outside.” They're not going to accept less from us than what we agreed on.

“What if we can buy something from a grower,” Fischer says. “What if we work out a trade—we do work and get food in return.”

“That's illegal. No one will go for it.” But the idea sounds so good.

Fischer purses his lips and nods. “And we know everyone always does everything legally.”

I roll my eyes to hide my smile. “But we could get turned in.”

“It wouldn't be the first time.”

He's right. And it sounds better than stealing from someone who likely doesn't have enough food to begin with. “Fine.”

I don't wait around for someone else to take the lead this time. I don't like what we're doing. Les bothers me. A lot. I feel like we've made some kind of deal with Frost Moon himself.

But the deal has been made, and now we have to make good on our word.

We find the center of the market, and I stroll around like I'm looking to buy. The tables are set up in a semi-circle, with growers hawking their wares happily. It doesn't take me long to ferret out the kindest looking grower. He sells vegetables from a table at the end of the line, and he smiles as I approach.

“Looking for anything in particular, miss?”

I smile and finger an ear of corn. “Bad year for corn, isn't it?”

His eyebrows shoot up. “How'd you know?”

“Oh, my dad works with the agricultural center in Middle City 3.”

A wide smile spreads across his face. “Ah, so you must be here for training.”

I don't say yes or no. “I know his corn wasn't doing so well the last time I was at home.” Which was a long time ago, but that's not necessary information.

“So, what did your dad do for it?”

I let my eyebrows rise and I draw back. “Well, I could show you. If you have time.”

Again I am so thankful I paid attention to Dad's boring talks about vegetables.

The grower glances around at the meager crowd and nods. “I think I do have time. Would you care to help me haul this back to the farm?”

“My friends are here,” I say quickly. “We can all help.”

I wave Fischer and Isabel over, and we load his supplies into a rolling cart, and Fischer insists on pushing the cart for the man. It doesn't take long to exchange names, and we learn our farmer is Mr. Kennedy.

“It's an old name, from the Early Days, but my ancestors refused to give it up.” He smiles and puffs up his chest, but his constantly roaming gaze between the three of us lets me know he's not really at ease. It would be strange if he
didn't
wonder what the three of us are doing out and about together.

Once we reach his small farm at the edge of the city, I quickly show him the tricks Dad used to get better results from his corn, and even a few tricks for the other produce in his gardens.

Mr. Kennedy soaks up everything I say, nodding enthusiastically. “Who did you say your dad was?”

I smile. “He works at the agricultural center.” I don't want to give Mr. Kennedy too much information. I don't want to admit Dad is actually the dean. That might put him in danger, or even Mr. Kennedy in danger.

“Thank you for your help, young lady. You've saved me much frustration.”

Now it's time for truth. We may find ourselves in deep trouble. Swallowing hard, I turn to face Mr. Kennedy head on. “Mr. Kennedy, the truth is we're looking for food. We helped you out, and I don't regret that no matter the outcome here. But we need food, and I hoped since we helped you, you would find the kindness in your heart to help us.”

Mr. Kennedy's eyes widen, and he draws back. “I knew there was something strange about the lot of you. You know you can get us all in trouble, don't you?”

“Yes, sir, I do. But we had to try. We really do need the food.”

He studies us, but his face isn't upset or angry. Not even confused. “I will help you, but only this once.”

Relief washes over me, and a deep smile of gratitude turns up the corners of my mouth. “Thank you.”

He gives us a bushel of mixed fruit and vegetables, and he thanks us for our help. As we're turning to leave, he grabs my arms softly. “Please do not come back to me again. I can't risk my family for anyone.”

I swallow hard and nod. “I understand.”

Strolling through the streets with a bushel of food makes it feel like we're drawing every eye to us, but no one seems to watch us more closely than before.

We take the bounty to Les who waits not so patiently in the tunnels. “It's about time.”

Fischer shoves the basket at Les' chest. “Take your food.”

By the tone in Fischer's voice, it's obvious he thinks as little of this outing as I do.

Les turns to leave but pauses when we don't follow. “Aren't you coming?”

“We have other business to attend,” Fischer says. “We'll find our own way back.”

Les looks like he wants to shoot some rude remark our way, but finally he shrugs. “Suit yourself.”

We watch him walk away before I turn to Fischer and Isabel. “We should wait Keegan out down here.”

“That's a good idea,” Fischer says. We pass the time in mostly silence, with an odd remark here or there from any of the three of us. The full weight of everything we're doing seems to settle on us, and it's hard to feel at ease.

After an eternity passes, I climb to the top of the ladder and peek through the hole. “It's dark.”

We emerge and wait in the alley. Keegan could show up anytime—soon or not so soon. We stay in the shadows, no matter if this is an abandoned area or not. The longer we wait, the more tension festers in the air.

Minutes tick by like hours, and I pace to the street and peek around the corner. A guard stands watch across the road and I jerk back.

“How is he going to get through this city at night? What should we do?” As soon as the words leave my mouth, footsteps ring through the air. They're coming too fast. Pounding in a panic.

I spin toward Fischer. “This isn't right.”

Fischer moves fast. “Climb down!” He lifts the lid to the manhole, and Isabel shoves me toward the opening. Fischer climbs down after me. Isabel has just put her foot on the first rung down when she pauses. “You Keegan?”

“Yep!” someone calls.

I freeze as Isabel scrambles down the ladder. Keegan!

His body appears over the hole and he quickly follows and pulls the manhole in place. “They saw me. Go!” Placing his feet on either side of the ladder, he slides down and bolts.

Our feet splash through the murky waters, and it's not long before we hear the echoes of someone chasing us. No one speaks as we run through the dark, but my mind is in shambles anyway. Keegan is here! He is alive, and safe.

Or, almost safe.

What if we can't find our way out? What if we're caught again? Frost Moon is sure to have ordered my execution by now.

Low, I am with thee always, even unto the ends of the earth.

Yeah, this pretty much feels like the end. Still, I cling to the hope that we can do this.

Fischer darts to the right and we press into a smaller tunnel.

After a few moments, I realize no footsteps follow us. The guards didn't see us turn. They're not behind us.

The realization doesn't slow us down, and we reach the ladder out in record time. Silence permeates the air until every last one of us is out and safe.

As soon as I know we've made it, I turn to Keegan and throw myself at him. He envelops me in a bear hug. My bones creak, but I wouldn't trade it for all the allowances in the world.

“What happened? Are you OK?” The words tumble out, but he shakes his head.

“I'm OK. Got spotted, but they didn't know who I was. Hana, what about you? What are you doing here?”

I study his face, his short hair, his shoulders and arms and
him
. My homesickness vanishes, at least for a few minutes. “I got demoted recently, along with Fischer. But we broke out, and we came here.”

He grabs my face and laughs a crazy laugh. “Why, Hana? Why did you get demoted, and why come here? It's too dangerous.”

I shake my head, basking in the feel of his touch. My homesickness might never return. “It's better than being stuck in a prison somewhere. Come on. I'll explain when we're out of the open.”

He doesn't question where we're going as we quietly make our way back to the skyscraper at the edge of the city. I don't ask the question plaguing my mind—
how is he going to get back to his dorm?

With the lights being on in the tunnels last night and the chase through them tonight, they're sure to be patrolled from now on. I hate to say it, for Keegan's sake, but I think he is stuck with us.

Les balks when we return with an extra member of our group, but everyone ignores him as Guard Rok steps forward and eyes Keegan. “Anyone care to explain why you're putting us in further danger by bringing someone out of the city?”