Page 31 (1/2)

Jules lifted her stick as I got closer but Micah waved her off

"Let her take her down," he said

I let ers fall out of fists as relief washed overin the dirt, wiping blood frory, and it made me nervous

I sed as I turned back to Addie and pulled a knife from my pocket None of her recent injuries had healed yet, and she could barely open her eyes as I came closer One of her shoulders was obviously dislocated, and the back of her shirt was nothing but tattered threads, old blood crusting on it She’d been like this for a while, perhaps beaten in private soed out for display Her wrists were red, the wounds froain as soon as they closed They’d tied theht; her hands were purple from lack of circulation

I pulled over the stool theyone ared the knife across the rope She stirred, taking in a sharp breath as I freed one of her hands She collapsed against me as I cut down the other rope and I quickly wrapped my other arm around her back to steady her

"Thank you," she whispered intoto shake her body

I turned at the sound of footsteps and found Calluer and concern, but so else I didn’t see very often He was proud ofhis hand around her waist I stepped back and he whisked her into his arms

I hopped off the stool and followed Callum toward the back of the reservation, where Addie’s tent was I glanced behindus Micah was still on the ground, one ar across his knees as he watchedup and down as he fixed a hard glare on me

FIFTEEN

CALLUM

I STOPPED IN FRONT OF THE TENT ADDIE SHARED WITH A FEW other people and slowly lowered her to the ground I pulled back the flap and offered her estured for Wren to put her arm back in the socket I winced as she did it, but Addie barely s to her chest The wounds on her wrists were closing up, but she started crying, dropping her forehead to her knees

"Here," Beth said, holding out a clean, wet towel to Wren She took it, hesitating for aat the blood on her ar in the distance, talking quietly So in between tents, clothes and supplies in their arms It looked like our time at the reservation was over

Addie sniffled and, as the only Under-sixty in the general area, I started to say so

"I’ the bloody towel in her hand "I should have"

I snapped my mouth shut and looked at her in surprise I wasn’t sure what she had to be sorry for I’d almost cheered when she attacked Micah and took Addie down

Addie shook her head, wiping at her eyes "No, it was stupid I talked to too ot excited after Isaac approached us"

Footsteps sounded behindon? Micah has Jeff and Kyle stationed in front of his tent and it looks like the Austin Reboots are about to attack"

"Beth, can you start spreading the word that we’re leaving?" I asked, glancing at Wren for confiro, I think we have to leave now"

She nodded in agreement I hadn’t even told her about Austin, about ho could be the perfect tio to the city and drive HARC out