Rage

Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

I t feels like we waste countless minutes staring at one another in the silence, even though I’m sure it’s only seconds. I can feel the weight of curious gazes on me from the darkened windows nearby, but I don’t care.

Let them see the destruction I’ve caused.

Let them know what they’re capable of.

They may not have crazy witch powers—or maybe they do—but we are not helpless animals like the Peace Officers would have us believe. We are so much more, and we’re capable of great things. All we need is to trust ourselves.

Trust in our power.

“Torri, I…” Lita’s voice trails off, and my gut twists with unease. Is she going to change her mind? Will she want anything to do with me after what I just did? “You’re right.”

“I am?” I gasp with relief, before clearing my throat. “I mean, of course I am.”

“We need to go. Now. ” She glances over my shoulder at the gatherer house, probably looking for wandering eyes. Walking past me, she crouches to grab two of the officers’ rifles and tosses one to me. “They’re out of ammo, but these may come in handy.”

They definitely will, especially if we’re coming back for the rest of the girls like I promised. Not tonight—we’re not prepared enough to take all forty-five of the harvesters with us—but soon.

“Come on.” I jerk my head toward the forest and we run, sprinting like our lives depend on it.

We don’t stop at the treeline, instead we weave between giant tree trunks and maneuver through the underbrush for nearly an hour before we stop. We’re exhausted and pouring sweat, but the relief of freedom outweighs everything else.

We’re free .

Of course, there’s a chance they’ll send Peace Officers after us. They’ll want retribution. They’ll want to make a spectacle out of us, because if everyone believes they can be free, who will be left to keep their state running?

Who will feed them? Nurture them? Breed for them?

We retreat into a small cave hidden perfectly at the base of the mountains, elated to find shelter for the night. It’s small and cozy, just wide enough for Lita and I to curl up together, but it’s perfect otherwise.

I use her satchel as a pillow, and she settles into the crook of my arm with her head on my chest.

For what feels like the first time in my entire life, I relax.

I close my eyes and breathe in the sweet smell of our new life, letting it fill me to the brim. We’re not entirely out of the woods yet, and we have a lot of work ahead of us, but in this moment—this slice of perfection we’ve managed to find ourselves in—I finally have a name for the feeling I get when I’m with Lita.

It doesn’t exist in Merik, but out here in the wilderness, away from Peace Officers and the High Majesty’s rule, it makes sense.

I’m home.