The Alliance (16 page)

 

UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE

HarperCollins
Publishers

....................................

Chapter
42

We lasted three days, without water or food, before we were forced to make a move. It didn't take much for them to capture us, which the men guarding the city insisted was for our protection yet again. If anything about this incident gives me faith in the human spirit, it is the one person who showed us kindness by not turning us in even earlier. However, he was still in a position to help us and instead chose to ignore us, which might be just as bad as turning us in.

—­The diary of Megan Jean

“Please,” Mia said. “I have told you every detail from the past few months. Now tell me more about what happened to you.”

She couldn't take her eyes off Corinna. It was like sitting with a ghost. Mia was certain Corinna's husband William had killed her. Then she realized her mother and sister felt the same way being so close to her. Mia's relatives, like most of America, had thought she was dead.

“Before your father got really bad I made him drive me to William's house,” Mia's mother said. “I wanted to speak with him about your father's medical condition.”

“What could he have done?” Mia asked.

“He was a medic when he was in ser­vice,” Corinna said. “But to answer your question, nothing. If David had been shot, then William might have been able to get the bullet out, but that was about it.”

Mia didn't know why Corinna was referring to their father by his name but didn't think it was important enough to stop her story.

“William was not very happy to see us,” Mia's mother said. “He refused to let us inside. I was left standing on his front porch and I looked up to see a familiar face staring back down at me from a window.”

“I shouldn't have believed you were dead,” Mia said. “I was wrong.”

“No,” Corinna said. “That night I left here William kept telling me nobody cared about me but him. I knew he was wrong. Laura did care about me. I could see it in her eyes.”

Mia picked up on Corinna's calling their mother by her first name but again didn't ask why.

“But they sent you back?”

“What were they supposed to do? I was married and William's property.”

The horror Mia felt at her parents' actions started to dissolve. She didn't know what else they could have done. If they lied and said Corinna wasn't here, William and the RAG agents would have searched the property and found her.

“To prove to me that my parents didn't love me, he told them I was dead and that they wouldn't bother to mourn. I thought he was right. I was defeated. Laura and David didn't ask any questions or request to attend a funeral ser­vice. I thought they didn't love me. Then I saw her at the window and I knew he was wrong. They did come for me.”

“I lost it, started pounding on the door,” Mia's mother said. “Screaming for Corinna. William came back with a gun.”

“What did you do?” Mia asked.

“Begged,” Mia's mother said. “I dropped to my knees and begged him to let me see my daughter. He kept insisting that she was dead and I had imagined seeing her.”

“After my escape attempt William kept me locked in a room upstairs,” Corinna said. “It was a violent ­couple of months. I think he was planning to kill me if he couldn't break me into submission, but that meant he would have to spend more money on a new wife.”

“Money was such a motivator for your father, I thought it might be for William too,” Mia's mother said. “I had brought lots with me, to pay William for his medical ser­vices. I didn't know how much it would cost so I took a lot of money. That's when it hit me. I offered to buy back Corinna.”

“And he accepted?” Mia asked.

“Not at first,” Mia's mother said. “Then I went to the car and brought back all the cash I had. I gave him everything and he gave me back my daughter.”

“Just like that?” Mia asked. “That's illegal; wasn't he scared you would tell someone?”

“What would happen if I told?” Mia's mother asked. “Your father was coming undone; William would get into some trouble, but Corinna and I would be sent away. William understood there was no risk. He had Corinna declared dead and I am certain he purchased a new, more compliant bride right away.”

“We've been living here ever since,” Corinna said. “It has been some of the hardest months of my life. Now you've come to join us.”

Corinna reached out and took Mia's hand. Mia felt a warmth flow through her body. This felt right. Corinna was alive and her mother was a new person. The sun had almost set and Mia's mother stood up. She came back with some candles and matches.

“There's no electricity anymore,” she said. “We make do though. It will be a different story when winter comes; I'm sure the running water will stop by then, but we've been digging a well.”

“Winter?” Mia asked.

She was jogged out of this fantasy and pulled her hand away from Corinna.

“It will pass,” Corinna said. “Then in spring we can start the garden up again. We're so busy around here the time will fly.”

“I can't stay here,” Mia said.

Even in the candlelight she could see the look of hurt and confusion on Corinna's face.

“But we're together again,” Mia's mother said. “It will be different this time.”

“That would be hiding,” Mia said. “It's not a life.”

“I know you've spent time with rebel groups and international spies,” Corinna said. “But that's not a life either. We can all be happy here. Together.”

“You don't understand,” Mia said. “If the government hasn't put it together yet I can assure you Grant has. We have about one more night at the most until the disaster at the orphanage is discovered. The first place he'll come looking for me is here.”

“We'll be ready for him,” Corinna said.

“With what? The one shotgun you have?” Mia asked. “He'll have an army. You two can't stay here either. I've put you in so much danger just by coming. If I had known I would have stayed away.”

“Don't say that,” Mia's mother said. “You coming home today is one of the happiest moments in my life.”

“I mean it,” Mia said. “We're leaving. All of us. I won't let anything bad happen to you because of me.”

“What about your father?” Mia's mother asked.

“Him too,” Mia said. “We're leaving tonight.”

“Where will we go?” Corinna asked.

It didn't take long for Mia to come up with the answer.

“Someplace with ­people I trust,” Mia said. “Corinna, I need you to find me a map of the Midwest Area. Mom, get one of the cars ready. Make sure there's extra gasoline in the back. Both of you pack supplies, food, water, and warm clothing.”

Both women stared at her, neither moved.

“This is serious,” Mia said. “Bad ­people will come here. They will take both of you away. Please, don't fight me on this.”

“Think, honey,” Mia's mother said. “What if someone sees us on the road? Three women and an incapacitated man traveling together? It's a bad idea.”

Mia pushed her chair away from the table and went to the kitchen. She pulled open the first drawer and saw the pair of scissors. Without acknowledging either woman Mia walked behind Corinna and with a single cut chopped her braid off. Mia slammed the removed hair on the table. She walked over to her mother and chopped off the bun sitting on top of her head.

“I will find us some baseball hats,” Mia said. “You're men now. Act like it.”

Both women looked at her with wide eyes. Neither protested her missing locks and each stood up. Mia started leaving the kitchen.

“Where are you going?” Corinna asked, her voice shaking.

“I'm going to say hello to Father,” Mia said. “And figure out the best way to move him.”

Mia kept walking and she heard her family members start scrambling around to complete their tasks. Mia was appreciative of how compliant they were. Neither woman was stupid; they both were aware the chances of their surviving the winter were slim to none even if Grant wasn't after Mia. She knew most of their decision was based on fear. Mia was terrified too, but she wasn't about to let them know that. Her mother had helped prepare her for life and Corinna had started her on this strange journey. Now it was Mia's turn to play the role of leader.

 

UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE

HarperCollins
Publishers

....................................

Chapter
43

The escapees have been privately detained. The grand commander has yet to set up a prison, or set of basic laws for his men, but these women are jailed for only trying to get their freedom back. This is a cold, hard world we are entering.

—­The journal of Isaac Ryland

It was colder than Andrew had expected. With the sun down there was nothing to counteract the wind. He was grateful that the mountains blocked some of the breeze, but he still scooted closer to the fire. They set up makeshift beds with the clothing and even brought the agent to join them.

“So what's the deal with the doctor?” Carter asked. “And you said earlier my dad was part of Affinity? Who are these inside ­people?”

“We shouldn't talk in front of the agent,” Zack said.

“By the time this is all over it won't matter what he has to say,” Andrew said.

Zack gave Andrew a half smile. Andrew recognized the gesture of approval. It seemed like Andrew and Zack were on the same page again. Their team would destroy the ser­vice list and the master Registry, putting an end to the American way of life. Andrew was sure of that.

“There are thousands of us,” Zack said.

“But did you know him?” Carter asked.

“No,” Zack said. “I checked in with headquarters and informed them of the situation. They contacted the nearest member with medical training.”

“The population of America is close to four million ­people,” Agent Quillian said. “The thousands who are behind your cause are nothing.”

“What would you do?” Andrew asked. “If mandatory ser­vice and the Registry were no more?”

“That's impossible,” Agent Quillian said.

“Pretend it's not,” Andrew said. “You know about our plans.”

The agent rolled his eyes and shook his head.

“I would get out of the country,” Carter said. “Spend some time with my dad and come back after the dust settled.”

Andrew watched Zack stare at Carter with narrowed eyes. “Rescuing Roderick is not part of the protocol,” Zack said. “I'm sorry, Carter, but your father is as good as dead.”

“Fine,” Carter said. “Then I would stay and rebuild. I think I would like to open a school. Teach some of the abandoned youths what my dad taught me, or maybe dedicate my time to reuniting families.”

Andrew was relieved Carter didn't react to Zack's comment. Zack didn't seem interested in the fact that Carter had moved ahead without protesting. Carter had Andrew's word and that meant something. He felt a sting at the way he'd betrayed Mia by failing to stick to it; that mistake would never happen again.

“I'd head home,” Zack said. “Wait for my next assignment.”

“What if you chose your own assignment then?” Carter asked.

“Fine,” Zack said. “I would like to reorganize the armed ser­vices. America will still need an army, only a voluntary one. I'd help with the restructuring.”

“Andrew?” Carter asked.

“I would marry Mia,” Andrew said.

As soon as the words left his mouth he wished he could take them back. That was too personal of a thought to share; he was so tired his brain wasn't filtering right. He expected the other men to laugh at him, but instead they nodded their heads. Even Agent Quillian didn't laugh.

“As long as everyone else is sharing,” the agent said, “if your half-­brained plan were to come to fruition I would spend every waking minute of my time meeting every girl who came across my path.”

Andrew raised his chin. Zack and Carter looked just as perturbed.

“What?” the agent asked. “When I was overseas I did quite well with the ladies. I don't know if you gentlemen noticed, but I'm quite the looker.”

Carter burst out laughing first and soon they all joined in; even Agent Quillian laughed at himself. It was surreal; Andrew was in so much danger but felt safe for a moment, as if nothing huge was looming over them. It would have been perfect if Mia were there. He felt a pang in his gut and reached into his pocket to check his phone.

“I wouldn't bother,” Agent Quillian said. “No ser­vice out here. That's the only reason you three are still free. Once you exit the mountains every RAG agent in the country will be looking for you.”

“They don't have our pictures,” Carter said. “We used fake ones.”

“It's not RAG agents I'm worried about,” Andrew said.

Even if they managed to fool the American government, there was no way Grant hadn't put two and two together by now.

“You should be worried about being out here,” Agent Quillian said.

“We've heard you complain all night,” Zack said. “We're alone and I think it's time we went to bed.”

“Can you untie me?” Agent Quillian asked. He puffed out his chest and wiggled his hands, which were secured behind his back.

“Sleep on your stomach,” Andrew said.

“That's not fair,” Agent Quillian said. “At least move my hands to my front.”

Andrew followed Zack's lead and lay down on the pile of clothes he was using as a pillow. He let his hands slip inside his suit coat and settled down for the night. His eyelids closed and Agent Quillian faded out. Andrew's sleep came quickly.