male sitting in the passenger seat of a delivery truck. He was bouncing, like the truck was going down a rough road. When he looked up, I could see the layout of the land. Afterwards, he looked over at the driver’s seat where the ranger sat.
Even now,” Micah continued, a faraway glimmer in his eyes as his hand still touched the box, “I can see the ranger. There are others, but their images are blurry. All are from society: blond hair and blue eyes. Their faces are unclear. They are loading the shipment into a truck.” He paused for a moment, his lids scrunched. “The next image is of him unloading the truck and bringing the items in here. He is alone. He sets the box down, and the connection is broken.” He opened his eyes, azure burning a hole into her.
“But how did you know this was the place from the daybook?” Angela asked.
“I did not know,” Micah replied. “That is why after we followed Davis and found nothing, I wanted to go down side roads. With the evidence of the Renegades, and what I had gathered from the daybook, I knew the place had to be close.”
Somehow, even with the help of the area police, Davis had still been able to duck beneath their radar and deliver the supplies. Well, at least her radar, Micah’s radar had a much wider range. His abilities put her at a disadvantage, made her a joke. Soon, though, the playing field would be level.
Her mouth drawn back tightly in disgust, she opened a box. Bandages, surgical tape, aspirin, scissors, and other medical supplies filled the container.
Dyllon yanked open the top of another box and pulled out a can of green beans and one of sardines. “They eat better than I do.” He dropped the contents back into the box. “What now?” he said to Angela.
Micah cut her off, “We find the ranger.”
30
Soft grey clouds rolled along the blue sky, joining together, obscuring the sun. Thick humidity clung to the Missouri forest, and the scent of ozone was heavy in the warm air. The heavy rain that had swept through the area left puddles of standing water and muddy trails in its wake.
Rein followed the group surrounding Ellyssa, as she pointed out different plants and described their uses. Every time she turned around, she smiled at Rein, clearly enjoying teaching the Renegades how to survive. In fact, he was enjoying the lessons as much as the others and even played guinea pig when his family hesitated to try something new. He had tasted the inner bark of the white pine, which was amazingly sweet, and chewed on pine needles, which weren’t as good but were still edible.
Ellyssa dropped to her knees and unearthed a wild carrot. From her pocket she produced hemlock. She positioned them together in her hands. “As you can see, both taproots are white, so it is imperative to know the difference between them.” She set both plants down and moved back, so that everyone could examine the similarities. “Look at the leaves. They are both triangular in outline, and both produce flowers that can be white or pinkish in color.”
“How are we supposed to tell them apart?” asked Summer, a beautiful teen with chocolate eyes.
Summer’s was the first birth Rein had experienced. Her father had passed out, and her mother’s screams had echoed throughout the passages. It’d scared the hell out of him.
“Is it fatal if we gather the wrong plant?” asked Summer’s mother, her eyes the same color as her daughter’s. Her fingers were intertwined with her husband’s.
“Yes.”
“Well? How do we tell, then?”
Ellyssa smiled. “Very easily, actually.” She pulled some leaves from the hemlock and handed them to Summer. “Roll these between your finger and thumb.” She waited as the teenager did as instructed. “Now smell.”
Summer sniffed her finger and wrinkled her nose. “That stinks.”
Ellyssa laughed. “Yes, it does. Now, try this one.” She handed over the leaves from the carrot. “What does that smell like?”
“Carrots.”
“A simple test.” She dusted her hands on the legs of her pants. “Another way to tell the difference is by examining the stem. The wild carrot’s stem is hairy while the hemlock’s is smooth. Now, I would like all of you to try and find some wild carrots.”
The group dispersed into smaller crews of two or three, leaving Rein and Ellyssa alone. She turned toward him, her eyes shining.
“You’re a natural with kids,” said Rein.
She appeared shocked at his observation. “No. I’m not.”
Confused, he went to her and took her hand in his. “Why do you say that? Look how much you’re enjoying the children and their families.”
“I was never a child. Never had the opportunity to play or go to a normal school. How could I relate?” she said, her voice soft, thoughtful.
“But, you’re doing a great job.”
“It’s not the same.” She pulled away from him. “You forget, I was bred to survive. And to kill.”
“And not to feel emotion, either,” he added pointedly. “And to talk like a robot. And. And.” He went to her side. “And you’re not any of those things.”
She didn’t reply, her stance stiff as she watched one of the groups reappear. Green leaves poked from their small canvas bags. They waved before disappearing down an old deer trail.
“Ellyssa,” he said, touching her arm. “I want to show you something.” He pulled her into an open area where the rain was not hindered by overhanging branches.
A corner of her mouth pulled back, questioning. “What?”
“Run.”
Ellyssa stared at him, as if a third eye had opened in the center of his forehead. “I don’t understand.”
Grinning, Rein said, “Just run, would you?”
She crossed her arms. “I would feel silly.”
He stepped close to her, his face centimeters away. She smelled of the outdoors, flowers and sun; her eyes were clear and blue as a summer’s day. Ellyssa swallowed, hard, and met his gaze.
Rein cupped her cheek. “Trust me.”
She nodded.
He smiled and stepped back. “Go!” he said, pointing across the field.
Ellyssa took off running through the meadow, the long blades of grass bouncing back behind her. Rein followed, not wanting to miss her expression. When she reached the middle where wildflowers clustered in a pastel burst of color, it happened. Hundreds of white butterflies erupted from the tangle of leaves and stalks, fluttering in the light breeze and soft shower. They danced wildly around her, swirling in a frenzied state.
Ellyssa stopped, her eyes wide in wonder. “Oh.” She reached her hand out, and a small butterfly landed on her finger. She brought it close to her face, examining it. “Beautiful,” she said.
“Not as beautiful as you.”
She froze; her face blanked. Not the response he was expecting.
Then, suddenly, laughter erupted from Ellyssa, loud and uninhibited. She took off running in a circle, her hair fanning behind; her hands brushed across the flowering plants, scaring more butterflies from their hiding places. Their wings beat white against the overcast grey. She stopped in front of him, a smile on her lips.
“This is the most perfect day I have ever experienced.”
Rein stepped closer to her; the back of his hand brushed her cheek.
“Thank you,” she said, shyly, her eyes focusing over his shoulder. He placed his finger under her chin. “Look at me.”
She did, her gaze timid. She chewed on her bottom lip.
He rested his hand on the small of her back and pulled her close. With his free hand, he pushed a damp piece of hair behind her ear. Droplets of rain glistened in her lashes and reflected the blue of her eyes. Her soft
