27
I would endure the pain all over again for the chance to be with you.
Penny led them back to their house where a dozen other guards stood watch outside. Patreus’s mouth fell open when Winnie and Khalani walked alongside her.
“Ch-Chief,” he stammered, reaching for his gun. “Why aren’t they locked up?”
“They’re here to help us,” Penny said firmly. “Give me the keys.”
Khalani glanced at the entrance to the house, noticing the front door had chains wrapped around the handle, with the windows shattered and broken glass littering the ground.
“You told them?”
“Everything.”
“But Father said we can’t trust humans, Chief,” Patreus reiterated. “They’re violent, unreliable—”
“Father isn’t here!” Penny shouted.
The other warriors snapped their wide gazes to her.
“He didn’t just abandon us. He lied,” she said.
“Not all humans are violent beasts who only reap destruction. These people are good and peaceful, just like we’ve all tried to be.
But war is at our doorstep, and we can either fight together against our common enemy, or we can wither away and die like we did hundreds of years ago.
” Penny raised her head to the moon, and it peered back at her, encouraging her to speak.
“It’s time to look beyond our differences and come together. And when this final battle is over, we can tear our walls down and build a new future on the surface together.”
The warriors murmured among themselves, nodding in agreement. But Patreus still fumed, glaring at Khalani and Winnie like they were sent to kill them all.
“Open the door,” Penny commanded once more.
“This isn’t a good idea, Chief.”
The tension between them was tighter than a noose. No one moved or spoke until Ferren stepped forward.
“What are you doing, Ferren? Get back in line,” Patreus snapped.
“No,” Ferren shot back. “I agreed to fight the Sinners because Atlas murdered our people. But they”—he pointed at Khalani and Winnie—“aren’t our enemy. If we are to fight once more, I’m honored to have them by our side.”
The conviction and passion in his tone made her chest swell. Even Penny’s eyes shimmered under the moonlight.
Ferren undid the chains around the front door, the metal slinking to the ground in a loud clatter. Khalani tensed as they passed Patreus, half expecting him to pull out his gun and shoot, but he cursed under his breath and stormed off.
Penny gave her a gentle nod. “Go ahead.”
As soon as she opened the door, a chorus of voices shouted.
“There they are!”
“We thought you were dead!”
“Get away from them!”
Arms pulled her through the doorway, and she could barely breathe as Serene, Derek, Adan, and Elise wrapped her in a suffocating hug.
“You’re okay!” Elise exclaimed.
“We gotta stop this kidnapping shit,” Serene muttered in her other ear.
“Can I kill the Chief now?” Adan growled, turning on Penny.
“No!” Khalani and Winnie held out their hands. “She’s on our side.”
“How is that possible? She gassed us.” Derek’s hard glare sliced through the Chief, his fists clenched at his side.
“If you’re looking for an apology, you won’t get it.” Penny lifted her gaze. “It was the only way to separate you safely without a fight.”
“But isn’t it true that you’ve been spying on us? Give me one good reason why we shouldn’t beat the shit out of you right now.” Serene demanded, fists clenching.
“Agreed.” Brock emerged from the darkness, eyes peeled on Penny, who took a wary step back.
“Just wait!” Khalani stepped in front of her, sensing the impending violence. “The Chief will explain everything. But…where’s Takeshi?”
She looked past them, surprised he wasn’t the one giving death threats.
“We woke up in the house together,” Derek spoke. “Patreus said no one was allowed to leave. But Takeshi…uh…he didn’t take that part too well.”
The others exchanged uneasy glances.
“Where is he? Is Takeshi okay?” The panic in her voice heightened, filling the room.
“He’s fine.” Adan squeezed her shoulder. “But when Patreus refused to let him see you…he got a little mad.”
“A little?” Serene scoffed. “He knocked one of the guards out cold and threw furniture against the windows to break free. Brock literally had to tackle him to the ground to prevent the guards from shooting. Even then, it took all three guys to subdue him. We had to chain him up so he wouldn’t get himself killed. ”
She felt her heart sputter, realizing that she wasn’t the only one who would go to unbelievable lengths to save Takeshi from himself.
Like it or not, he was part of their family.
“You’re probably the only one who can calm him down,” Serene added, staring at Khalani. “He’s still threatening to string everyone upside down by their entrails. And honestly, a part of me wants to see it happen.” Serene’s serpentine glare shifted to the Chief.
“I’ll explain everything to you,” Penny began, “just like I did to them.”
But Khalani was already gone.
She brushed past everyone, bolting straight for the living room.
When she heard another shout, her feet skidded to a stop.
Takeshi was tied to a chair with thick ropes wrapped around his chest and legs. His darkened eyes immediately found her, his chest heaving in rapid breaths.
“Kanes.” His wild gaze raked over her body. “What did they do?”
Her stomach flipped, the previous night still fresh on her mind. But Takeshi stared at her like any sign of harm would descend him into true madness.
It did…strange things to her chest.
“I’m okay,” she said quietly, unsure what to do.
“Get these fucking ropes off me,” Takeshi snarled.
Brock appeared, knife in his hand as he sawed off the thick bindings. As soon as Takeshi was free, his gaze snapped to the Chief, who’d just entered the room.
Quick as lightning, he snatched the knife from Brock’s hand and hurled it straight at the Chief. The blade slammed into the wall, a centimeter from Penny’s head.
A splatter of blood dripped from the tip of her ear.
“Consider this your final warning. If you ever put Kanes or any one of them”—Takeshi pointed to Winnie and the others—“in harm’s way again, I’ll carve you into unrecognizable pieces and scatter your remains across the desert.”
Penny’s lips pressed into a thin white line as Brock smirked like the crazy man he was.
Khalani released a nervous chuckle.
“He’s not being serious,” she lied, trying to defuse the tension.
“I’m dead serious.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t take offense because I’d do the same for my people.” Penny straightened, cool respect in her tone. “It’s why we need your help.”
Takeshi crossed his arms, like the last thing he wanted to do was help, but the rest of their group crowded into the room. Despite the inherent distrust, no one interrupted Penny as she recounted her upbringing and their mission in Desert Spring.
Everyone stood in rapt attention, their eyes wide.
“So, everyone in this town is a clone? Even the kids?” Serene asked, all the color drained from her face.
“Except for you all. Yes.”
“Do you age? Can you…die?” Elise whispered, her voice rattled.
“Yes. We can die just as easily as any human, but we age slower.”
“Why was Khalani’s picture down there?” Takeshi’s voice cut through the air like the knife he threw. But his glare wasn’t aimed at Khalani, he pointed his ire straight at the Chief.
“I have no idea.” Penny shook her head. “I was never privy to those files. But if you’re worried about her being a clone—”
“I don’t give a fuck whether she’s a clone, human, or part animal,” he growled. “I want to know who put her picture down there.”
Warmth curled inside her.
She could barely live with herself if she wasn’t human. But Takeshi spoke like it didn’t matter.
“Father must have put her picture with the rest,” Penny said.
“Where is he?”
Penny hesitated, her throat bobbing. “I haven’t seen him since I left the lab. After what happened with Ansel and the Sinners, he cut off all communication with Desert Spring.”
Takeshi’s calculating gaze drifted to the floor, deep in thought.
“So what do you need us for?” Brock asked.
“The Sinners are attacking tonight,” Penny said. “We need your help to stop them.”
“Why should we risk our necks for someone who’s been lying to us the whole time? For people who aren’t truly human?”
Silence fell.
Penny’s chin quivered, and her eyes fluttered away. As if the wisdom Winnie had bestowed on her completely vanished under the weight of this conversation.
“Does it make a difference?” The words burst from Khalani before she could snatch them back. “What if I’m like them too? Would you all want me to die?”
Takeshi stiffened beside her, but much to her shock, Brock immediately scoffed as if it were a stupid question.
“You know we don’t give a fuck about that. But that’s because it’s you. I trust you. I don’t trust them or the person who brought them here.” He gestured to Penny.
“You’re still not getting it, Brock,” Khalani reiterated.
“Where we come from or who brought us into the world doesn’t matter.
These people could’ve let Winnie die, but they didn’t.
They didn’t have to give us food and shelter, or watch over Derek, but they did.
They protected us, knowing that we’re different from them.
And if we turn our backs on them now, then I don’t think we should be called humans either. ”
Silence persisted as everyone weighed her words.
They might disagree.
Even hate her for it. But she’d rather fight for her beliefs than thrive in silence.
Serene’s eyes glistened as she marched forward and threw her arms around Khalani.
“I don’t care what picture was down there. You’re forever my sister, and I’ll follow you anywhere.”
Khalani’s fingers trembled as Serene squeezed the fabric of her shirt, holding fast when her knees felt like crashing to the ground.
Serene pulled away and turned to face Takeshi. He didn’t speak, but he narrowed his gaze.
“Now that we know we’re going to fight, can I use your gun?” Serene asked.
“You know damn well the only man who’s ever going to give you a gun is me,” Brock hissed and stepped forward.
Serene rolled her eyes, but the faintest smile tugged on her lips.
Brock glanced at Takeshi. “Sorry for punching you in the face earlier.”
“You’re lucky it was three on one.” Takeshi’s voice was cold, but he looked at Brock like he didn’t mind his presence anymore.
“Rematch after we kill the Sinners?”
Takeshi gave a predatory nod.
“So, you’ll really help us? All of you?” Penny asked, her hands clenched together, the infectious tendrils of hope entering her eyes for what may have been the first time in years.
“We’re kind of a package deal, lady.” Adan spoke, throwing his arm around Khalani’s shoulder. “If one of us fights, we’ll all be there at the end.”