Revolutionary Love (The Revolution Series Book 1) (15 page)

"There is no cure and you know that. You can either let her live out a slow death or if she is unlucky never ending pain. We can't risk her infecting anyone. We have to exterminate the threat." David's voice was plain and simple. It was like he placed her in a box inside his mind.

"She's not a threat!" Rugter shouted, shoving David by his shoulders.

"It's okay." Jewel's voice was barely above a whisper.

"I got this Jewel. Everything will be okay." Rugter shoved David again.

I could sense David's patience wearing thin. When Rugter brought his fist back, a boom bounced around the forest.

I didn't have to look to know what happened. I could hear it in Chantel's scream and the way Seth was swearing under his breath. I closed my eyes. I couldn't look. I wouldn't look.

Rugter started screaming. Sobbing. Now he was really falling apart. Jewel ended her own life. I covered my ears. I didn't want to hear this. I didn't want to be a part of this.

I pressed my lips together. Time felt like it was going by at the pace of a snail.

"This is your fault!" Rugter bellowed. I opened my eyes to see who he was blaming. He was staring right at Seth.

"You are in shock." Seth's voice was calm and controlled. He was tense beside me.

Rugter's blue eyes blazed and his face was pinched in pain and anger. He was out of control.

"You were supposed to be on watch! You were supposed to be protecting the group!" Rugter pulled a gun out and pointed it at Seth.

"Rugter you need to calm down. Now." David commanded, stepping closer to Rugter.

"Jewel is dead because of you!" Rugter's hand was shaking. "All because you wanted to disappear into the woods to have a quickie with Evelyn."

"What?" Chantel gasped, looking back and forth between Seth and me.

"That's not what happened at all!" I defended.

"Oh shut up, Evelyn. We all know how easy you are." Rugter gave me a cruel, cold look.

"Rugter stop. You're angry and upset. You are not thinking rationally." David spoke, now with his voice calm and soothing. His hazel eyes watched Rugter like a hawk. He slowly took a step forward.

"I'm not thinking rationally? You ranked Seth higher than me when he can't think when his hormones are out of control."

I wasn't expecting it when Rugter started charging at Seth. Before he made it to Seth, he got tackled to the ground by Adam. Adam wrapped his arms around Rugter's throat and got him into a choke hold. Rugter clawed at Adams' arm trying to get out. Slowly, Rugter stopped moving. Adam released him when he passed out.

It was quiet then. Nobody dared to turn and look at Jewel. David ran his hands through his hair but appeared to be calm.

"Well, that sure was something else." Everybody turned and looked at Jessica. She was leaning against a tree eating an apple. She looked care free and like something devastating didn't just happen.

"You stupid bitch!" Chantel shouted at me. "This is your fault! Do you notice that bad things only happen when you're alive! You should have been executed!"

"Chantel, stop." Seth warned.

"No." She pointed at the body behind her. "Jewel is dead because of her, not you. That's another murder added to your list!" She seethed at me. "You're the one that should be dead!"

"Enough!" David bellowed. "We do not have time for petty arguments like this. Jewel dying and getting attacked by the diseased is unfortunate, but it happens. It's the world we live in. We will give her a proper burial and be on our way. Anybody has anything else to say, take it up with me."

I looked down. Rugter stirred on the floor but didn't wake up. Adam stood up and brushed himself off. He looked between Seth and I. Hurt was written across his face.

Chantel's eyes flared when Seth looked at her. She spun on her heels and disappeared through the trees. Seth sighed and followed her.

I was awkwardly standing off to the side. David and Adam went over to Jewel's body.

"You know, you are not all that different from Evelyn. Seth may say otherwise, but I can see the resemblance." Jessica shot me a quick smirk.

She was trying to get a rise out of me. I think she could feel my distaste for Evelyn. I ignored her words and watched as David and Adam dug into the ground with huge sticks.

One was down in our group. Who knew when the next body would add up?

Chantel was hanging on Seth’s arm again. All was forgiven with him. Anytime she saw me looking at him she gazed at me with hate. Adam walked side by side with me. He wouldn't let Rugter come next to me.

Rugter switched his blame to me. I think it was easier on him to view me as the monster and not his battle buddy. Seth wouldn't make any sort of eye contact with me.

I didn't feel as though I did anything wrong. I heard a noise and I went to investigate. He was hurt. I caused the injury. All I did was try and help.

Rugter woke for the burial. He watched with a stone cold face as they lowered her body into the ground.

David led us further and further into the woods. We had no food, nor water. I was dehydrated and starving.

We came across a cabin. David must have known it was there. He walked straight towards it.

"I never noticed this was here," Adam mumbled more to himself.

David walked up to the wooden cabin doors and unlocked it. "We will be staying here for a night, save up some energy. Make yourselves at home. I'll be back in a few hours."

David walked away from the door and disappeared. Nobody made a movement to go inside, so I did. I flipped on the light switch. The cabin was small, but it was two stories high.

A cracked, old leather couch sat in the living room on top of a fur rug. The walls were full of rifles and deer heads.

I sat on the couch grateful to be off of my feet. Adam, my follower, sat next to me. When Rugter came in, he disappeared upstairs. Chantel and Seth stayed outside.

"What were you and Seth doing?" Adam finally asked.

I was waiting for it. I knew he would ask. "I heard noises in the trees, so I went to investigate. Seth was bleeding through his gauze. I helped him clean the wound and reapply pressure onto it." I stared at the brown fur on the ground.

"Why didn't you wake me up when you heard noises?"

I looked at Adam. His eyes showed jealousy. I knew why. He was in love with Evelyn and he didn't like the thought of her being with his brother. It must have destroyed him when they got engaged, even if it was fake. "You were sleeping and it didn't cross my mind."

Adam gave me a look. He sat up a little bit and crossed his arms. "Jewel dying wasn't your fault."

A pang shot through my heart. I looked away from him to hide the emotion in my eyes. I knew it wasn't my fault, but if I had stayed, I would have seen the diseased come. I could have warned her, but I didn't.

"Sometimes when people are hurt they need somebody to blame to help cope." Adam said.

I nodded my head. "I know."

I looked at Adam again. I was remembering how hard and tough he was in the tunnels. I compared him to now. He had a gentle, soft heart. He could be a soldier when he needed to and a human when the time called. In a way, I admired him.

His lips turned up into a smile. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

I shrugged. "No reason."

Adams lips quirked even more. "Do you think you will ever get your memory back?"

"No." My tone got flat. It irritated me knowing he would always think I was Evelyn. I wanted to be Brianna in everyone's eyes.

The smile left Adams lips. "Why do you sound so sure?"

"Because I know." I don't even have all of my own memories. I still didn't know how I got here. I came to the conclusion I must have died and woken up here like Dr. Lynn. I had no idea how I happened to die.

The front door banged open and Chantel walked in. She looked around and her eyes spotted me. They held fury.

"I want you to die already." She seethed. Her hands were shaking at her side. Her bronze skin was flushed in anger.

"Chantel relax." Adam stood up.

"Relax? Relax? That whore has you wrapped around her fingers, doesn't she? You're blind. You can't see the monster that she is!" Chantel looked around the living room, then darted up the stairs.

I clamped my lips shut. It was difficult to not say anything and always let her talk to me like I was lower than her. She did save my life once, but I knew she regretted it.

Adam had an apology written in his eyes. "She's honestly a good person."

The night she got the diseased girl off of me flashed through my mind. A bad person would have let her rip my flesh apart. "I know."

"I wonder where David went." Adam stood and walked around the cabin. He opened all of the cupboards in the kitchen. "There are a lot of canned food here. This is probably a hide out."

I trailed my fingers through the dust on the couch. Nobody had been here in a long time.

"Do you want me to teach you how to hunt?" Adam called from the kitchen.

I blinked. Where did that come from? "The Unit would probably hear the gunshots." I couldn't imagine myself shooting a harmless animal. I wasn't a vegetarian, but it was different to eat meat then it was to kill something.

"You need a little meat on your bones. Plus there are bows and arrows in here."

A sharp pain stabbed through me when Jewel crossed my mind. She had a bow. I wondered if she hunted too.

"Maybe another time."

Adam walked out of the kitchen and stared at my face. He was watching it closely. I attempted to cover my pain and blank my face. When his eyes softened, I knew I failed.

"Are you okay?" He went over and sat next to me again. Adam laced his fingers through mine and gave me a concerned look.

His softness touched my heart. I had to blink back tears. I wasn't okay. I bit my lip to keep it from trembling. "I'm just tired."

Adams grip on my hand tightened. It was like he was trying to give me his strength. "You can go to sleep."

I shook my head. "Not that kind of tired." I dropped my head and looked at the floor. "I'm emotionally exhausted. I don't know how much more of this I can take."

"Evelyn..." Adam trailed off.

I stiffened a little bit at hearing her name. He caught the movement and frowned.

"Everything will be okay." His tone held a promise.

I knew he was trying to make me feel better, but I got angry. It was a lie. He was lying. Everything would not be okay. As long as I was here, everything would never be okay. Nothing would ever be okay again.

I shoved myself up from the couch and stormed outside. Anger boiled in my stomach. I clenched my hands into fists at my side. My emotions were out of control. When I stormed straight towards the trees, Adam caught my arm.

"What are you doing? It's dangerous out there." He easily made me come to a halt.

"I am going on a walk." I kept my voice curt.

Adam grunted in annoyance. "No, you are not. You are going to come back inside." I could hear and feel the demand. His voice was authoritative. In a way, I wanted to listen. I was angry, though. I ripped my arm out of his hand.

"Evelyn." He stayed on my heels.

"Don't call me that!" I screamed. I turned around and attempted to shove him backwards. He didn't budge at all. He was pure muscle beneath his shirt.

Adam stayed calm and collected. His green eyes watched me closely. My face felt like a book and he seemed to be reading it.

"What should I call you then?" He placed his hands on my shoulders when I went to retreat.

"Brianna," I whispered.

Adam’s eyes trailed over my face. Dark shadows were underneath his eyes. He was as tired as I was. "Brianna it is."

He didn't question my name change. He just went with it. "Come back inside, Brianna."

Something inside me loosened at hearing my name. I felt relieved. I never wanted to be called Evelyn again. Ever. The sound of her name made bile rise in my throat.

I squeezed my eyes shut for a few seconds. I was searching for composure-strength to keep going. "Okay." I opened my eyes.

Adam led me back inside. He pulled out a water bottle from the fridge and handed it to me. I was surprised when it was cold. I didn't realize there would be electricity way out here. I didn't have it in me to question it. I gratefully took the water and gulped it down. I was dehydrated. We turned our heads when the door swung open.

Adam reached for his side arm. It was only David and Seth. David's hazel eyes landed on me. There was an emotion in them that I couldn't read. I could sense he wanted to say something, but he didn't. He rubbed his hands over his face and walked right back outside.

"What did I do now?" I wondered out loud.

Seth's dark eyes gave me a bleak look. "Nothing, Evelyn."

He went back to calling me Evelyn. I did not notice it when he first walked into the kitchen, but his cheek was red and swollen like someone punched him in the face. My eyes traced the mark. Had David punched him? It wasn't there before.

The red was a sharp contrast against his tan skin. Adam beat me to questioning him.

"What exactly are we doing here? We are sitting ducks waiting for The Unit to catch up with us." Adam leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms.

"We will have a ride by the morning." Seth did not elaborate.

He watched Adam when he reached an arm out and took my hand. I had a weird urge to pull my hand away, but I wanted the comfort. The human contact. Adam seemed to be my only friend.

"Who will be giving us a ride?" Adam questioned, holding my hand tighter. He was worried about something. I could tell.

Seth's eyes darkened. "A seeker."

Adam tensed. "A seeker? We won't even be able to get a word out before he snipes Evelyn."

I froze. "What?" I thought all a seeker was somebody you relayed messages to, not some kind of sniper.

Seth rubbed his jaw. "We will keep her hidden until David has a chance to talk to him."

Adam shook his head. "Not good enough. You know they scope the place out before they make any moves. They could come in in the middle of the night and slit her throat."

Fear danced down my spine. Who were these seeker people?

"I will be on watch." Seth's eyes had dark shadows underneath them. He looked exhausted.

I didn't trust my life in his hands.

"Remember what happened the last time you were on watch." Adam took a dirty shot at his brother. Guilt ate at my stomach at his hurtful words. I yanked my hand away from his, no longer wanting his comfort.

"That's a horrible thing to say." I declared, giving Adam a dirty look.

Adam gave a half shrug, brushing off my words. "It's true. This isn't a good idea. So many bad things can happen." Adam looked at me, sadness filling his eyes. "I just don't want you to get hurt."

Seth scoffed under his breath. Adam looked up when he heard the sound. "What's that noise for?" His tone was now defensive.

"I left her in your care and not even a day later she gets taken by Rugter and attacked by the diseased." Seth's voice was stone.

When did he get so protective over me?

Adam's entire body stiffened. His green eyes darkened. "Rutger outranks me. I had no choice."

Seth smiled a cold slow smile. "Don't give me excuses. We aren't kids anymore. She looks like that because of you."

Self-consciously, I ran my hands through my hair. Did I look that bad? I looked back and forth between the brothers. I was getting between them and causing an argument. I looked down at the tile floor. I thought my day couldn't get any worse, but I was wrong.

Adam’s eyes blazed an emerald green and Seth's eyes were endless depths of darkness. One brother was light while the other brother was dark. One brother clung to innocence while the other brother lost all innocence. They were opposite, yet the same.

I interrupted their banter. "I'll have you guys know, I can take care of myself." I didn't need two guys having a pissing contest over my safety.

They both looked over at me as if they forgot I was even here.

"The last time you ran you couldn't even make it a mile away." Seth reminded me.

"I had just been blasted by a bomb. I'd say I did a pretty good job." I shoved my brown hair out of my face and glared.

Adam looked at my facial expression and chuckled. "Don't rile her up. She gets violent when you do."

My jaw dropped. I was not a violent person. "No, I do not!"

Adam lifted an eyebrow. "That night in the woods, I saw you chuck a flashlight at the soldier."

I forced myself not to smile. I almost forgot about that. "He deserved it."

The mood was quickly lightening. My body relaxed a little and it felt easier to breathe.

Seth watched our exchange silently. Something was going on in his head and I couldn't figure out what it was.

We turned our heads when we heard creaking down the stairs. It was Rugter. His blue eyes were bloodshot and his clothes were wrinkled. He had a blank facial expression. He moved with stiff movements like a robot.

"She could have been vaccinated." He stopped and looked at us.

He was talking about Jewel.

"What do you mean?" Adam pressed, moving out of the kitchen.