Two people jumped out. I groaned. Newcomers could put a kink in my plan.
“Guess you’ve got to explain to two more how you’re turning rebel.” Fawke narrowed his eyes.
I shrugged. The newcomers might be the easiest to convince since they’d still be shocked about the wheel landing on black. “No need to meet them. No Malignants to attack. Let them come to us.”
“All I have left of the bread is the hard ends,” Kira said.
“They’ll be glad of it.” I finished my slice and wiped my hands on my leather skirt, then got to my feet to stand and greet the newcomers.
Two males, identical twins, approached us. I turned to Ezra. “Has this ever happened before?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Poor fools.” Moses shook his head. “Well, I reckon I’ve made my choice, too, Crynn. I’m a lifer. What have I got to lose? I’ll be joining you.”
“As will I.” Ezra nodded.
“Me, too,” Kira said. “We’re stuck here no matter what.”
“I don’t want to stay here.” Gage glanced up, her expression grave. “I’ve nine more years. How will I survive out here alone?”
“Fawke’s staying,” I said, knowing that would cement her decision. “Maybe these twins will, too.”
“Great. Two who can’t fight.” She licked her fingers and glanced at the radio.
“Don’t,” Fawke said. “Don’t betray those you’ve fought alongside by calling Sharon.”
“Whatever.” She pasted on a smile as the twins joined us.
“Welcome. I’m Crynn Dayholt, the leader. Make yourselves comfortable.” I’d let them settle in a while before letting them know what was going on.
“Ted and Ned. Guess you know why we’re here. I’m Ted, in gray. Ned wears black.” They both accepted the bread from Kira.
“Why don’t you have any weapons?” I tilted my head.
“We spun the wheel, ate a big meal, and got flown out the next morning. We were able to grab a few food items.” Ted shrugged out of his pack and handed it to me.
“It was weird,” his brother said. “I spun first, the needle landing on black. Some old hag said since we’re twins, the decision counted for us both.”
I raised my brows at Fawke. He shrugged, but didn’t say anything.
These two were Shane and Lara’s replacements. Those in charge waited for an opportunity to replace them, knowing we’d have held onto their weapons. Hope rose in me. This meant they had no idea what I planned to do.
Talk returned to plans of staying and going. Gage was more than happy to explain to the twins.
They glanced at me in alarm. “The chips,” Ted said.
“Won’t kill us,” I answered. “We’ve tested them.”
“Monsters?”
“Back there.” I jerked my thumb over my shoulder. “They don’t like open spaces.”
“So, if we go with you we won’t have to fight them?” A hopeful expression crossed Ned’s face. “We were told about them by the pilot right before he told us to jump.”
“I can’t promise you that. Just be glad you didn’t have to fight your way to us. You don’t have to make your decision now.”
“It’s an easy one. We’ve been orphans since the age of ten. We’re staying.” Ned glanced at his brother who nodded. “No one will miss us when we die, real death or fake.”
Fawke made a noise in his throat and marched away.
My heart sank. With every person who made the decision to follow me, left him with one less fighter. He’d return to danger of the burning city with a much smaller group. If I knew him as well as I thought I did, he’d return even if he returned alone.
“Let him be,” I said when Gage made a move to follow him.
“You are no longer my leader.” She planted her fists on her hips.
“I am as long as this chip is in my arm.” I narrowed my eyes. “If you go now, you’ll make him resentful. Learn to read his body language if you plan on spending the next two years with him.”
Face darkening, she climbed into the tent like a pouting teenager. I sighed and shook my head, hoping she’d listen to Ezra and not contact Sharon. If she did, the life of every person who said they’d follow me would be forfeit. Our deaths ordered.
Fawke might hesitate if told to kill us, but Gage wouldn’t spare a second thought at getting rid of me. I exhaled heavily. “I need everyone’s decision by night fall.”
“The three of us will go,” Riva said. “We’ve nothing back there. Once they released us from prison, we knew we were here for life.”
That left only Fawke and Gage, the two survivors of our group, to explain to Sharon what had befallen us. I nodded, wondering whether he’d blame our deaths on Malignants or the survival group.
“Formation!” I grabbed my weapons as a large group of men and women sprinted toward us.
Fawke dashed back to my side. “You’re still my assignment as long as you have your chip.”
I smiled and raised my weapon. “Do not fire unless fired upon. They may be friendly.” A fact confirmed a minute later as they waved a white flag.
Lowering my gun, I held up my hand, recognizing Lloyd leading the group. His unsmiling face had me raising my weapon again.
Too late. We were outnumbered two-to-one. The survivors formed a circle around us.
20
“Drop your weapons,” Lloyd said. “You won’t win this fight.”
“We didn’t harm your man.” I glared as my weapons were taken, and my hands tied behind my back. “Why repay us this way?”
“Our leader wants to meet with you.” He motioned for a man with a knife to step forward.
Before I knew what was happening, he’d cut the chip from my arm and crushed it under his boot. I gritted my teeth against the pain as he moved from
