19. Willa / Greer
CHAPTER 19
WILLA / GREER
“L ionel’s dead,” I push the words out between sobs. “He decided to drive instead of taking the train. They caught up to us on the highway. We pulled into a gas station. They shot him.” My words are barely coherent as I try to tell him what happened to his friend.
“Shh,” Brad says, his voice gruff and thick with emotion. He awkwardly pats me on the back a few times. “Take a minute to breathe, then we’ll talk. Everything’s going to be okay. I promise.”
He points to the metal chair on the opposite side of the table. “Slide me that chair and get her some water. This isn’t a prison cell. Have some fucking compassion.”
The other guy practically stomps out of the room, only to return a few minutes later with a cup of water. “Here.”
I sniff. “Thank you.” I take a few sips and several deep breaths. “Sorry. Seeing you reminded me of Lionel and that night. Everything hit me at once.”
The corner of Brad’s mouth turns down. “Lionel was one of my best friends. I didn’t realize he fell at the gas station. We didn’t find any bodies at the scene. Of course, there wasn’t much left. The explosion took out most of it.”
“That’s weird. There should have been at least two bodies,” I murmur. Did Raven take them? I explain everything that happened at the gas station up until I ran into the forest.
Brad leans forward and props his elbows on his knees. “The second you called and told us you were in trouble, we set out, but by the time we got to the station and searched the forest, the tracker was heading south. We didn’t know if Raven had taken you or if you’d somehow escaped.”
I stare down at my hands. “I didn’t realize it would take you so long, and I was afraid to stay in the area.” I pause and explain how River pulled me into the forest and hid us from Raven. “The next morning, we found food at a diner and a trucker willing to take us to Atlanta. Once we got here, River’s friend, Jordan, let us stay with him.”
Brad stroked his chin. “How did River get his collar off?”
Confused, I stare at him. Collar? Like a shirt? “I’m not sure what you’re asking.”
“When Raven captures one of us, they snap an electronic device around our neck,” he explains with a blank expression on his face that tells me he’s familiar with the devices and how they feel. “It blocks access to our powers. Was River wearing anything around his neck when you met him?”
“No, he had a handcuff on one of his wrists,” I reply with a shake of my head. “When they first pulled up, he didn’t move when everyone else got out. I didn’t see him again until he was running toward me.”
Brad exchanges a look with the big guy. “I see. We’ll ask River about it.” The other guy nods and leaves the room. Brad leans back in his chair. “We would have picked you up sooner, but we weren’t sure who your new friends were, and we couldn’t take the chance they were spies for Raven. So, we set up surveillance with the hope that we could get you alone. It wasn’t until Raven found Jordan’s apartment that we realized how close they were to finding you, too.”
“Did you see Jordan?” I ask, biting my lip. “We saw Raven at his place, but didn’t see him.”
Brad’s gaze is steady when he replies. “He left before Raven got there. Tell me something. Do you trust River?”
That’s a relief. “I do,” I answer with a wry smile. “He continuously tells me not to trust anybody, including him, but I do. I wouldn’t have escaped without him, and since we’ve been in Atlanta, he’s helped me hide from Raven.”
Brad’s brow furrows. “I see. What do you know about him?”
I give him the few pieces of information he’s told me. “Not a lot. He’s powerful, can manipulate plants, and has been on the run for a long time. He has a mom and sister, but I don’t know where they’re living.” Brad gives me a long look. “I get it. It’s not a lot of info. But I keep coming back to the fact that he didn’t have to save me. He could have escaped on his own, with nobody being the wiser. Everyone at the gas station was focused on me and Lionel.”
He runs a hand down his face. “Time will tell.”
The other guy comes back but says nothing.
I clasp my hands tightly together. “Is this Phoenix?”
Brad nods. “This is their headquarters. There are several facilities around the country, but this is the main one.” The guy behind him growls something, and Brad jerks his head toward him. “At ease, soldier. She didn’t even know about this world until a week ago. Who’s she going to tell?”
Wait. A week? Surely, it’s been longer. I count the days in my head. Nope. “I hope the rest of it is nicer than this room.” I can’t help the snarky comment. Right now, I feel like I’m in jail. I don’t know a lot about this world but kidnapping me leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
Brad hesitates. “It’s utilitarian. The original facility was used as a top-secret government compound, and little has changed. Phoenix uses part of it as sort of a halfway house. Here you’ll learn survival skills, how to harness your powers, how to tap into the Phoenix network, and other stuff to help you in the real world. Once you’re ready, they send you back out with a new identity.”
“So, it’s temporary?” I ask with a relieved sigh.
“Affirmative,” he says. “I know this is a lot. What can I do to help?”
Lost, I don’t know how to answer him. “Once I see River, I’ll feel a lot better. Neither him nor Jordan think Phoenix are the good guys, but because of Lionel, I’m willing to give this place a shot. I honestly don’t have anything or anyone to lose. River has a mom and sister, though. I’m not sure if he’ll want to stay.” That thought is sobering.
“I understand,” Brad says, standing up. He motions for me to stand, too. “Go with Quaid. He’ll get you settled in, and if you want to talk, I’ll be here for at least another day or two.”
So, the big guy’s name is Quaid. Kind of suits him. I give Brad a brief hug. “Thank you. If it wasn’t for you and Lionel, Hightower and his men would have found me pretty quickly. I just wish Lionel had made it. I’d feel a lot more comfortable with him here.” My parent’s deaths left a huge hole in my heart, but Lionel’s death shattered it. At least, this place will give me time to decide what to do next.
Quaid’s face is one big scowl as he takes my elbow and guides me out the door. I’m tempted to jerk away, but I don’t want him to label me a troublemaker. Still, it’s tough. There’s something about him that makes me want to smother him. Maybe it’s the intense energy flowing off him, practically smacking me in the face with his testosterone.
Or maybe it’s his complete disregard for someone else. I grit my teeth and hurry along. At this pace, I’m practically running.
“Can you slow down? Not all of us are the size of a mountain,” I huff, trying to keep up.
He completely ignores me. Like not a word. What is it with him?
His long, muscular legs eat up the endless white hallways, one corridor after another, the monotony of them broken only by the occasional overhead fluorescent light. He finally stops at… surprise… a white door.
Sliding his badge across the mechanism, he opens it and gestures for me to enter. “This is your room. Someone will come by in a couple of hours and take you to the cafeteria for dinner.” His voice is curt as he explains. “Feel free to take a shower. Fresh clothes are in the closet.” His hand gestures to the two closed doors in the room. He eyes me for a minute, then abruptly turns and walks out, shutting the door behind him.
Arrgh. What is it with him? Of course, everything in here is also white. Floors, ceiling and walls, of course, but also the dresser, mattress, and the bedding folded on top. It’s sterile and the polar opposite of my warm, cozy little garage apartment.
Narrowing my eyes, I walk over to the door and turn the handle. Locked. My blood boils, but there’s nothing I can do about it.
Flinging open one of the other doors, I find a closet with grey sweatpants and sweatshirts hanging on the rack, and I grimace at the drab but functional garb. Guess it will do. I grab a set and throw it on the bed, then walk over to the dresser and pull out a sealed package with a basic pair of white underwear, a sports bra, and socks. Is this it?
Panic at the thought of living here with nothing to call my own has me plopping down on the new bed to breathe in and out a few times. This whole scene is wigging me out. If it wasn’t for Brad, I’d be in full-on panic mode. Phoenix is nothing like I expected. I feel trapped and scared. Did I make the wrong decision? Maybe River was right, and Phoenix isn’t the good guy.
But Lionel wouldn’t have worked with them if they didn’t have integrity. I clench my hands into fists and get a handle on my emotions. Neither my father nor Lionel raised a coward. Take a shower. Get some rest. Go to dinner.
Roughly three hours later, there’s a knock on the door. Stealing myself to face Quaid’s scowling countenance, I’m surprised to see a good-looking guy standing in the hall dressed similarly to me. Dark brown hair with equally dark eyes and a tanned complexion, he easily looks like he could be Trent’s brother. When he flashes an eerily similar perfect white smile, I instinctively take a step back.
He holds up his hands. “It’s okay. I’m Gabe, and I’m here to take you to dinner.” His chuckle echoes in the empty hallway.
Uneasy, I motion for him to start walking and fall in slightly behind him. I don’t want to be caught off guard.
“It takes a little while to get used to things around here, but it beats the street. There’s food, a roof over your head, places to practice your power, and people just like you,” he assures me. “It’s safe here. And I’m sure you’ll make friends in no time. Like me.”
He reaches for the door and swings it open. A sea of grey sweats greets me. Creepy.
Gabe reaches out to grab my elbow, but I step away from his grasp. “I see my friend over there. Thanks for helping me find the cafeteria.” I don’t actually see anyone, but he reminds me too much of Trent. Not sure why. There’s just something about him.
“Okay, find me when you’re ready to leave, and I’ll walk you back to your room,” he says with a shrug and a slight frown.
Not a chance. Although, I have no idea how I’ll find my way back when everything looks the same. I’m a sight navigator. Turn left by the Starbucks, and right by the McDonald’s. That’s how I navigate roads and life. White on white isn’t helpful.
Arms circle me, and I inhale sharply, but the crisp notes of spring with an underlying scent of sweet honeysuckle ease my fear.
“River!” I turn in his arms and hug him tightly. “Are you okay? They didn’t hurt you, did they?”
He raises a finger to his lips and pulls me into the corner. “They have cameras everywhere. I left my room earlier and went exploring, and they sent someone to escort me back.” His green eyes are darting around the room behind me. “Who was that guy with you?”
“Gabe. My door was locked, so I had to wait for him to escort me to dinner,” I tell him, then remember how he picked the lock on the warehouse. “Maybe I need to learn lock-picking while I’m here.”
His lips twitch. “Couldn’t hurt. I can’t always be the one to rescue you.”
I laugh, but I’m only half-joking. If they’re offering the skills I need in this new life, I’m all in. Whatever they want to teach me.
“Brad’s here,” I tell him. When he gives me a confused look, I explain further. “Sorry. One of Lionel’s best friends. He helped us escape.” I go on to explain how Brad and Phoenix have been watching us. “Brad said Jordan left before Raven raided his place.”
Instead of being happy, River frowns. “That’s what they’re telling you, but how do you know for sure? Until I see Jordan again, I won’t hold my breath.”
“Lionel trusted Brad, and that’s good enough for me,” I tell River. It’s not that I don’t understand how he feels, but I’m not sure his isolated approach will work for me. “I trust you, but I need more than just you in my life.”
He flashes me a wry smile. “I told you not to trust me, either.” He sweeps a lock of hair behind my ear. “More people means more risk.”
“Not for me. People have a habit of dying and leaving me all alone,” I state quietly. There’s only so much I can take until there’s nothing left of me to salvage.
He leans in and places a sweet kiss on my lips. “I understand. I do.” He insists. “I’m starving. Let’s grab some dinner. Then you’re coming back to my room with me. I don’t like being alone. Gives me too much time to think.”
The thought of lying in a real bed with him makes my cheeks flush.
He leans down and whispers, “Sleep, nothing else. I swear.”
Maybe I should be relieved he’s a good guy, but I’m not.