“Do you see anything?” Scarlett asked Twila.
“I think they found the secret place,” Twila said with her hands to her head.
“Thank you.” Ella fondled the rosary beads around her neck.
It seemed as though they had been in the van for hours. The last time she had asked Luther the time, it had only been forty minutes. Not enough time to worry. She refrained from asking again. Instead, she waved a piece of cardboard for fleeting wisps of cool air. They had even changed into the light-weight cotton scrubs earlier just in case a drone spotted them.
“Phew, here they come.” Luther wiped off the beads of sweat rolling down his face with the back of his hand.
Justin hopped into the back of the van. “Guys, guys, we found it. A gigantic warehouse with tons of cool military stuff.”
“You ready to blow this sweat lodge?” Luther grumbled.
“Think we should wait ’til dusk,” Dean said. “Less chance of being spotted. Say, Luther, there’s more shade under the awing on the north side of the building.”
“Now you tell me.” Luther started the ignition.
“With any luck, we’ll catch a breeze,” Dean said, checking his watch. “We’ve got a good three hours before sunset. Who else needs to be chipped?”
“I guess just Ella and me,” Scarlett said. She had removed the RFID chip Shari had implanted a while ago.
“Justin,” Dean said hesitantly. “How well do they enforce this mark of the beast so to speak?”
The impact of Dean’s profound statement jolted her. He had definitely nailed that one.
Ella’s eyes rounded in acknowledgment. “O-M-G, do you think that’s what the Book of Revelation is talking about?” Ella shivered despite the heat.
Luther groaned. “My crazy Aunt Matilda used to preach about the apocalypse as if it might happen any day. I was never into that.”
“Zhetto doesn’t usually hassle unchipped cits,” Justin said. “That’s why dissidents and the homeless live there. But you won’t last long in Zones A to Y without one. And when 6G takes over, forget about it. Facial recognition will be everywhere. Way worse than China ever was.”
“How in tarnation did it come to this?” Dean pondered in apparent disgust.
Justin unpackaged a syringe. “This one says Jerry Smith.”
Ella rolled her eyes. “Really?”
Twila giggled. “You can’t be a boy. Don’t you have one for a girl?”
“It’s better if we assume the identity of men,” Scarlett said.
“Ye-ah, women are heavily surveilled,” Justin said. “No one wants a woman to turn Z on their shift. Remember, men outrank women about ten to one.”
Scarlett thought back. “According to Shari, Zac’s CitChips only work for scans. They won’t work if we get taken into custody.”
“I so miss Shari!” Ella lamented.
She reached for Ella’s hand. Twila grabbed Ella’s other hand, and they shared a silent moment of remembrance. Their Mystery School teacher and dear friend’s untimely demise still tormented them.
“Anyone else curious what’s in that Best Buy warehouse?” Luther changed the subject.
“El zilcho.” Justin smirked. “When the Last State regime took over, the good stuff was shipped to MeBuy warehouses in the inner Zones.”
“MeBuy?” Luther spat with disgust. “This is one messed-up place.”
“If anyone needs the restroom, take care of your business behind that stack of pallets next to the building.” Dean pointed outside. “Everyone else, keep your eyes and ears peeled for trouble.”
***
Scarlett awoke famished. Apparently, she had fallen asleep despite her anxiety. Grateful her mental capabilities had returned, she focused on her lightbody Merkaba shield, building it stronger and stronger.
“Ooh, Mommy, I’m so happy you feel all better now.” Twila gave a toothy grin. She had been extremely good today.
“Sorry, for falling asleep,” Scarlett said. “I’m absolutely starving.”
“No apology needed,” Dean said. “Not after what you went through the past twenty-four hours. Speakin’ of which, we should eat while we can.”
Justin dug through the pile of suits for the MREs. “Found them.”
Scarlett grabbed one before handing the box to Dean. Honestly, she didn’t think she could wait one more minute.
“I want the one with creamy soup,” Twila insisted.
Dean rifled through the box. “Hmm, don’t see any soup. How’s ’bout this one? Creamy Spinach Fettuccini. Says right here on the package Warfighter Approved just for my Twila.”
“Thank you, Grandpa Dean.” Twila scrutinized the front and back of the package as if reading every word before opening it.
Good, Twila needed to feel like she was part of a family, not just a desperate soul fighting for day-to-day survival, even if it was delusional thinking. In reality, what were their chances of returning to a normal life?
Justin watched intently. “Don’t put too much water in the—”
“Duh, I know how to use flameless heaters. I’ve been on the road for-ev-er,” Twila jeered like an annoyed veteran.
Scarlett caught Dean’s twinkle in the rearview mirror and held her laughter. Life on the run had taught Twila more than the schoolteacher in her ever could have. The child was tough and self-reliant. If only she learned to control her emotions, Scarlett mused while force-feeding herself flour tortillas dipped in barbecue beef.
She tucked the chocolate chip cookie in her pocket for Twila when a random vision blindsided her. An image of a tense Zac hammered by a barrage of questions took over her inner vision. Zac’s in trouble!
“Don’t worry”—Twila munched—“Zac’s smarter than them.”
“What is it?” Ella whispered.
“They’re interrogating Zac about his last mission,” Scarlett informed. She wished she had taught Zac to use his Merkaba force field of protection. Then again, for him to have survived all those trips from California to Last State, meant he must have the innate ability.
“Not to worry,” Dean said, trying
