“You might be crazier than me,” Bill says. “And that’s saying a lot.” I snort.
“That doesn’t make any sense. Why would you risk your lives … to help us?” I ask.
“We’re starving, thirsty … dying,” the man with the black brand says. “And you’re the only hope we’ve got to end this, once and for all.” I pause for a moment as his words swim around in my head.
“That’s it?” I ask.
He chuckles. “That’s it.”
“Well, hang on a minute,” the girl interrupts. “I think we need to ask for a guarantee, don’t you?” She looks over at the man who was about to hit her and then to the man with the black brand.
The man with the black brand clears his throat. “Yes. One more thing.”
“What?” I ask.
“The packs stay here with us. After all, once you’re outta here, you won’t need them.” He smiles, looking satisfied.
“Deal,” Bill says in a scratchy voice before any of us has a chance to respond. “Here’s everything I’ve got.” He opens his backpack, pushing aside files, and holds out his water, food, and some spare ammunition.
“Line up,” the black-branded man says. He takes the supplies and divvies it out to the others as they fall into a thin line. “Make sure the children are fed first.”
I like this guy.
They pass cans of food and water down the line. At the end of it, I watch as the older Sinners summon the young children from their nearby huts. Hesitantly, the children peek out. Their potbellies and sunken eyes bleed my heart. They’ve been living in filth for how long, and now they don’t even have the basic necessities of food and water. The adults give them small servings, tenderly making sure they don’t eat or drink too fast. My stomach drops. The Sinners handle each item with care, never letting the sight of the food make them crazy.
Bill finishes handing out his food. He nods his head toward me. “Well, are you in?” he asks.
Cole and I lock glances. Bruno hasn’t acknowledged anyone yet. He stares into space with dead eyes. No more tears drop down over his cheekbones, and his hands lie limp at his sides, Grace’s body lying beside him.
“What’re you thinking?” Cole asks.
“I don’t think we have a choice.” I take a deep breath and open my backpack, emptying the remains of the food and water. “I’m in.”
“Then so am I.”
One hour later.
“Here’s the plan,” the black-branded man says. “We’ve managed to repair a car so that it runs. We’ll distract the guards while your assets drive to the entrance. As soon as we get it open, you drive through.”
“How will you make that happen?” Roméo asks. He swipes at a fly buzzing near his face.
“I’ve created a trusting relationship with a guard who works the gate, and she’s willing to help us,” the man answers.
It’s my turn to raise an eyebrow. “A guard?” I repeat.
“You’ve trusted a few, right?” The man gives me a weak smile.
“Very few,” I say.
Cole grasps my hand and squeezes it. “What’s your name?”
“Levi.”
“All right, Levi. Let’s get started.”
Two hours later.
I’m running on pure adrenaline. But we can’t wait any longer or we’ll lose the element of surprise we so desperately need. Before I know it, Bill’s wrapping his arms around me with a long sigh.
“Stay with Roméo, and whatever happens, you have to get those files out,” I say. “Oh, and Bill, thank you, for everything. Without you, we’d be dead.”
A slow blush creeps up his cheeks, and he shrugs. “Shucks, Lusty, I only hope to make you proud.” He smiles and salutes me.
My throat tightens, but I hold back my emotions. “You already have,” I tell him.
“Take care of yourself, and that nutty gray dog,” he adds.
This won’t be the last time we see each other, right?
“Goodbye, Roméo,” I say. He holds out his hand to shake mine, but I step in and give him an awkward hug. His one hand catches me around my back, and he steps away quickly when our bodies touch.
“Thank you for helping me,” he says. His reddened eyes and thin body look nothing like the person I met the first time. “I’ll make sure these reach the United Powers as soon as possible. Once they see the files, they’ll have all the evidence they need. They’ll have no choice but to intervene.”
“Here’s hoping,” I say. “And thank you.”
“There’s no need to thank me; nobody deserves this life, and we can’t let this virus get out into the general population,” he says. “Now, go rescue Sutton, and I’ll do my part.”
Before I reply, he shakes hands with Cole, says an encouraging word to Bruno, and even pats Zeus on the head. He loads the files into the car and gets into the passenger seat next to Bill. They’ll wait until they receive the signal to go through the doors.
It’s going to be a long day.