I'm cursing the cloud cover now because it diminishes my visibility and appears to be dropping lower. Soon I won't be able to see more than a few feet in front of me. I look back toward the stadium to assess which direction might get me to KJ faster. Once I piece together my location, I take off at a light jog. I want to keep a steady pace so that I don't tire out and can make a quick decision if I need to.
This part of the city is in complete ruins. Few buildings are recognizable as most have been reduced to piles of debris. If anything lived here, it would have a hard time surviving. Still, I don't take my chances and keep my pace until I see more intact buildings appear before me. When I see a few outsiders moving about, I know I've reached the part of the city with which I am familiar.
I slow my pace to make sense of the area I am in so I can find my way to where KJ and I had been meeting. I'm grateful that we've explored the city together—it's allowed me to create a mental map of every road.
As I continue toward my destination, I notice that the number of outsiders congregating out in the open is larger than usual. KJ told me that most didn't care I was running around the city with her, but the looks that some have been giving me are making me uneasy. I have never felt such anger and hate directed toward me.
I press forward for another mile before I turn a corner and see her sitting in front of the entrance that had become our meeting place. Her face is tired and worn, but she looks as beautiful as ever. The low clouds are framing her in such a way that she looks ethereal.
She stands when she sees me but doesn't budge. I walk over to her, too scared to touch her. “Hi, KJ.”
Her eyes struggle with the soup of emotions she is feeling, and a light glaze covers them. She slaps me hard on my cheek, catching me off guard. My heart sinks, unsure of how to respond, but before I can react, she jumps into my arms and kisses my lips.
“What happened?” She pulls away from me.
“They found out I had been going into the city and locked me up,” I tell her.
“Do they know about me?” The fear in her voice cuts through me. I would never want to put her in danger. I would never let anything bad happen to her.
“No. Farouk does, but he wouldn't do anything,” I say, trying to calm her.
She pushes me back. “Why didn't you tell me? I've been coming here every night and waiting for hours.”
“I really couldn't. They locked me in my room, and I couldn't even get a message to 13 to be able to tell you. They are monitoring my every move. I'm not even supposed to be here right now, but I had to see you.” I grab her hand.
KJ smiles but pulls her hand away. “Did they follow you?”
I'm confused by the mixed messages she's sending me. She seems anxious. “Are you okay?”
“They are attacking the bunker.” KJ looks at me, hoping for something to calm her nerves.
“What? What do you mean? Who?” I'm confused, and KJ's changing emotions aren't helping.
“We. Well, they. The people of the city. After you came to have dinner and told us everything about what was going on, my mother started talking to people.” Her knees get weak, and she sits on the ground. She looks like she hasn't eaten or slept in days. “I didn't know. I tried to stop her. I didn't know.”
I sit down beside her and wrap my arms around her. “It's okay. Just tell me what's going on. What happened?”
She leans her head on my shoulder, finding comfort in my embrace. “I found out a few days ago. My mom started talking to a lot of the more able-bodied people, letting them know about what you told her. She told them about the compound in Egypt and about what the scientists were planning to do. They gathered some more people, collected weapons, and are planning to overrun the stadium to sabotage the bunker.”
I look her in the eye. “They can't do that.”
“They have to try,” she yells at me, pushing me away.
“I mean, they won't succeed. There are hundreds of drones. They have a full arsenal of weapons with more power than anything your mom and her friends have. We have to tell her to stop,” I plead with her as I stand. I reach my hand to her to help her up.
She rises without taking my hand. “It's too late.”
“What do you mean?” I pry. “When are they planning the attack?”
“I tried to tell you sooner, but you never came.” The tears that roll down her face are pure pain.
“KJ, when are they planning the attack?” I ask again as I grab her arm.
“Tonight.” She wipes the tears from her face and looks me in the eye. “Now.”
CHAPTER XI
I stare at KJ. How did I miss this? How did we miss this? The drones will slaughter the outsiders. They could capture KJ's mom; the drones could kill her. They'd ask where she got her information, and there's no reason to protect me. She'd tell them it was me. She could ruin the whole operation.
“We need to stop them!” I shout.
KJ looks at me, dejected. “How?”
“I don't know.” I really don't. “You run back home. See if you can find your mom. Talk to her. Tell her what I told you about the weapons that they have at the stadium.”
“What are you
