“Fucker,” Daya mutters.
White-hot fury builds in my chest, an ever-present volcano ready to erupt at any second. And it has, many times. Resulting in a lot of traffickers dying and a couple of buildings burnt down. I try to concentrate, otherwise I’ll go blind with rage again, and my car will go careening off the side of the road.
I come up to a dead end, my only option being to turn left or right.
“Jay, is the railroad line up ahead?”
“Yep, a few hundred feet,” he confirms a moment later.
“We’re going to search on foot, but I have a few men on standby, and I want you to send them to the house just in case. I don’t want anyone to leave.”
“Got it.”
I turn left and drive for a few seconds before coming across a hiking trail. There’s a small lot, so I quickly whip into a parking space.
“Put your Bluetooth in,” I tell Daya, sticking my own in my ear. Michael has pulled in the spot beside me, and the four of us exit the cars.
“Is it Addie?” Michael asks immediately.
“We don’t know for sure, but I think it is, and she can’t be far.”
Ruby gasps and puts a hand over her heart, always one to be theatrical. “Oh! We best hurry then. She’s probably so scared, poor girl.”
Michael nods, a small hopeful smile tipping up his lips.
“Help direct us to the railroad line,” I tell Jay after calling him on the Bluetooth while pulling out a cigarette from the pack.
“Those will kill you,” Jay complains. I look up, noting the drone stationed fifty feet above my head. I raise my hand and give it the finger. Jay chuckles through my Bluetooth and tells us where to head.
It takes us about five minutes of speed-walking to find the train.
“How long is the train?”
“This one is larger than most. Stretches about two miles. You’ve got about a half-mile to your right, and the rest to your left.”
I turn to Michael, “You and Ruby go right, and Daya and I will go left.”
He nods, already taking off in the direction. “See you soon,” he says, waving a hand, Ruby quickly following after him.
“Ruby!” I call. “You got a gun, right?”
“You’re damn right I do,” she shouts back, not even glancing behind her. Smiling in approval, I head in the other direction, my bones rattling with anticipation.
I’m coming home with my little mouse tonight. And then?
We’re going to burn down the world together.
Chapter 22
The Diamond
The tip of my toe catches on a rock, and I stumble forward, managing to right myself before I eat dirt. The cold has settled deep in my bones, and all feeling in my hands and feet have depleted.
I don’t know how long I’ve been running now, but I’ve counted the trailers I’ve passed.
Twelve. Only twelve.
It’s pitch-black outside still, and an owl is hooting somewhere in the distance, easily drowned out by my namesake.
“Diiiamond!”
I heard Rocco’s friends calling for me right as I reached the train, and I’m seconds away from bending over and puking, which would lead them straight to me. If not by the sound of my retching, then by the puddle of vomit I would be leaving behind.
It took me a while to find the train again, being so unfamiliar with these woods. I’ve only run through them twice, and both times was through a large maze filled with traps. Considering I’m not thinking clearly at the moment, I didn’t want to risk tripping over a wire, so I went around it.
“Diiiiiiamoonddd!” a man calls again, and I gag, the adrenaline too powerful.
Their voices are still relatively far off, but I haven’t covered any of my tracks. Haven’t had the time to. I’ve no idea if they know how to follow them—probably not—but it doesn’t matter. Francesca will, since she hunted me when we practiced for the Culling.
I’m on the twentieth trailer when I stumble again, and this time, I’m unable to catch myself. I topple forward, landing awkwardly on my hands and knees, agony flaring from the impact. My bag goes flying, and another fucking water bottle tumbles out. Dropping my head low between my shoulders, I work on breathing.
In, and out. In—fuck, I can’t breathe.
My numb face contorts, and a sob crawls up my throat like the itsy-bitsy spider.
Keep fighting, baby. Keep fighting.
I don’t know how to anymore, Zade. I don’t fucking know how.
I shake my head, sucking in sharply, working on getting it fucking together. Another inhale, and I force myself up, bits of rock, leaves, and sticks embedded into my palms.