After I splashed water on my face, I assessed my appearance in the small bathroom mirror. Haggard was a good word, I decided. I smoothed my tunic over my stomach and turned to the side. Still flat. I wasn’t going to lie in a bed all day. Maybe there was something I could do to help around the camp, so I walked out into the light. Things were bustling, people chopping wood and preparing food over fires. Will rushed over to me, Marilyn tagging along behind him. Keeping his voice low, he asked, “Are you feeling well enough to be up and around?”
I nodded. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bottle. Remaining in hushed tones, he explained, “These are very strong prenatal vitamins. I have no idea how long we’ll be out here, and until you can get examined in a clinic I want you taking these. Just keep them hidden, OK?”
I nodded again, tucking them discreetly into my tunic pocket. Marilyn interrupted, throwing her arms around me.
“I am so sorry about last night! I wasn’t thinking. Are you OK? Were they nice to you?”
“I’m fine, Marilyn. It wasn’t so bad.”
I looked around for Rory or his new henchman, Luke. No sign of either. I turned to Marilyn. “But you have to tell me how you got here. We were so worried. Nick especially. You disappeared….”
She smiled as if she didn’t have a care in the world and replied, “After that day out here in the forest, seeing that thing, I knew I had to get away. I thought it would come after me. That guy I was dating told me there were rumors about people meeting up out here.” She swept her arm, indicating the camp. “People started showing up even before the first disappearances were reported. I guess they figured things would go south pretty quickly in the city.” I nodded. It was what Adam had told me when he’d packed up and left, too. “I’m sorry if I worried you guys. How are Nick and Elizabeth?” Her pert face quickly crumpled with worry.
“They were fine last time I spoke to them, but they must be wondering where I am. I need to contact them. Do you think Rory would allow them to come out here with us?” I asked hopefully.
Marilyn frowned. “I don’t know. He’s pretty strict. But maybe Rory is sort of in charge here. He’s from some little highland village on Continent Two, and I guess he’s really obsessed with traditions and stuff.”
We were walking toward the little campfire outside the house and her voice was low in my ear, as if conferring a secret.
“I guess his people have been planning a revolt against the Travelers for centuries now, so he’s all hopped up on revenge. I doubt he’d just let you go get the other guys.”
I jumped a little at the hostile voice that piped up behind us. “Let her go into the city? And go straight to the Director to tell her where we all are? I don’t think so.”
I turned to see Luke had crept up behind us, the dart gun still in his hand. “I’d do no such thing. Going to get the rest of our team is the right thing to do.” I stood ramrod-straight and looked down my nose at him. He sneered, then turned to yell, “Rory!”
I saw the hulking Scotsman break away from a group of people sawing wood. His eyes narrowed when he saw us. I was glad Will had quietly reappeared beside me; I desperately needed as many allies as possible.
“Why aren’t ye in bed? Dr. Sheridan says ye got malaria. Lucky for ye, it’s all ye got.”
His eyes scanned the length of me, and the ax he was holding was a silent threat.
“Rory, she’s talking about going back into the city. You can’t honestly think it would be safe to allow that, do you?” Luke had puffed up his chest as if to emulate Rory’s stature.
“We’ve got more people arriving, some from other continents. Ye all should be busy helping to build shelters. We’re running out of room. I don’t have time to debate trips into the city.”
He was turning to go when I piped up. “I’d just be going to fetch two members of my team. They’d be of great help around here. Whatever you’re planning, I know they’d want to help.”
Rory turned and spat. Marilyn dodged out of the way. “Ye go into the city, alone? To fetch your team members?” He snorted. “Luke’s right. It’s not safe, ye being bonded to an Eater.”
He swung his ax up over his shoulder.
“But what if someone from the camp went with me? Someone you trusted?” I asked, attempting a manner of respect.
His eyes narrowed in what I hoped was consideration. “Take Adam, then. But it’s ye’re own hides ye got to worry about. Something happens, we can’t help ye.”
With that, he walked away. Marilyn clutched my arm, and said she’d go find Adam. Luke didn’t look too happy. “If you try anything while you’re in the city, I’ll know about it,” he warned, the dart gun up and in my face now.
I shrugged. “I’ll take my chances.”
The walk through the forest was circuitous but I paid closer attention to the route Adam took me through. He was quiet, but apologetic about the night before. He explained that Rory had come from Continent Two several days before any disappearances had been reported.
“He says all this has been planned for a long time, the creation of the Eaters. And that certain staff in Facilities around the world are organizing the whole thing under the Directors’ orders. I knew things weren’t what they seemed,” Adam said. “The Director has been carrying this out right under our noses. And she answers to the Travelers. This was their plan. But what we can’t figure out is why.”
I was watching my footing when Adam stopped me in the middle of some brush. “I’m really sorry Jack turned out to be an Eater. Maybe … maybe things will turn out all right.” His smile was wan. My own in response lacked hope.
After what seemed like hours, we arrived at the train. It was deserted. It had never been a hive of activity, but the change was palpable. “Is it even running?” I asked, worry shading my voice.
“Yeah. Everything is still running, like nothing has changed.”
We rode up the escalator, and I looked out along the tree line. The silence was deep. Once on the empty train, I took out my phone and tried Nick. I got him on the first attempt.
“Mina, thank God. We thought … Well, we just didn’t know. Where are you?”
I explained everything and told him I’d found Marilyn. His voice was drenched in relief when he asked how he could see us all again.
“I’m coming into the city to get you,” I replied. “Adam, my neighbor, is with me. Where’s Elizabeth?”
“She’s right here, with me. We haven’t left my apartment. I’ll start packing.” Nick was clearly ready to move into action.
“We need to meet someplace out of the way. Go to where the jogging trails start. Meet us at the station there,” I said.
“Why? Is someone following you?” Nick asked.
“Just … it’s safer.” Adam looked at me when I said this, confused, mirroring Nick’s tone. “Go there, OK?” I didn’t want to debate this.
Nick hesitated. When he finally responded, I heard the weight of his exhaustion deepen his voice. “OK. We’ll be there.”
I signed off, and Adam and I rode the rest of the way in silence.