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James turns off the video camera and hands it to Aydan.
“Send this to Kristen,” he says in a low voice. “She’ll know what to do with it.”
Checking his watch, he walks back to the van and, this time, retrieves a large cardboard box. He pulls a Swiss army knife out of his pocket and cuts the tape.
“There are jackets here for everyone. Your names are stamped on the collar,” James says, leaving the box and walking toward the table where the maps and plans for the mission still lay sprawled.
“What? We have to wear a uniform now?” Blare sneers.
“You don’t have to, but you’ll want to,” James says without taking his eyes off the table.
Clark starts digging in the box, trying to find the jacket with his name on.
“Oso, here’s yours,” he says, throwing one to the big guy.
“Wow, cool,” Oso says, shrugging into the jacket right away. “It fits like pantyhose on the legs of a hot babe.” He laughs.
Clark’s still digging, tossing jackets right and left. Mine flies across the air and hits me in the face. After impact, it slides down my chest and lands in my cradling arms.
Its leather is smooth in my hands. I turn it around and find the insignia. Up close I can see all the minute details outlined by different colored threads. Rich reds, oranges, and yellows for the flames. Black and many shades of gray for the shapes of screaming shadows. I have the feeling it’s James’s design. At the bottom, I can now make out the small letters woven with golden thread. As I look at each perfectly delineated character, Aydan’s voice cuts through my trance, repeating the words written on the insignia.
“IgNiTe and FiGhT.”
“I like it,” Oso says in a contemplative tone. “It’s catchy.”
I like it, too. I slip the jacket on, roll my shoulders and move my arms to test the fit. Its leathery scent brings memories of Dad. He used to have a brown leather jacket that smelled just like this. It feels light on me, molding to my body perfectly as if it’s custom-made. Curious, I check out everyone else. All except Blare are wearing their jackets now, looking tailored and shiny.
Oso examines everybody critically. “Look at you lot. You clean up real well, if I may say so.” He nods repeatedly, displaying a huge smile that seems to show every single one of his teeth. “We look pretty damn awesome.”
I catch James looking back at us, his mouth slanted by a small, satisfied smile. He looks like a father observing his kids after giving them a brand-new toy. My heart warms as if the insignia is seeping heat into my chest. James is a true leader. I have a feeling he and Dad would have been great friends, if they’d met.
With a sheepish expression, Blare puts on the jacket. The frown disappears from her face and I dare say she’s smiling, too.
“The man’s a genius.”
I jump. Xave is standing next to me after sneaking up unnoticed. I look up at him. His eyes are on James. “Don’t you think?” he asks, gazing back at me.
“Yeah, he is,” I agree and look at my hands. I didn’t realize Xave and I were back on speaking terms. He’s pretty much ignored me since that day at the arcade.
Cracking my knuckles, I try to hide my embarrassment. After the way I acted, I should have been the first one to try to break the ice. I feel selfish, but mainly, I feel dumb. Why was I even mad at him? It’s not like we could really be together, anyway. We know too much about each other, even if he doesn’t know the most crucial part about me: the part about being infected by one of the creatures he’s sworn to annihilate.
I sigh. At least it seems he still wants to be friends. I’m thankful for that.
“So ... how did you hear about tonight?” he asks.
Oh, so this is why he’s talking to me. The last time I joined an IgNiTe meeting, Xave was the one who told me the time and place, right after Clark told him. Given that today I got here without his involvement makes it obvious that my connection with IgNiTe is now more direct than his. If he only knew.
“From Aydan,” I say.
Xave’s jaw tightens. “Aydan, huh? I see.”
“Since they were pressed for time. He and James ... asked me to help with hacking one of the security devices.”
“Oh. You got an important job. Not just a lookout, like me.”
“Everyone’s job is important, Xave.”
He makes a skeptical sound in the back of his throat. “Sure. Well, enjoy it. I know that’s your element.”
Xave starts to turn away. I put a hand on his arm. He stops and stares at my fingers on his tense bicep. I snatch my hand away and something like disappointment flashes behind his hazel eyes.
“Um, be careful,” I say.
We exchange glances. More passes between us in the ensuing silence. Regret. Concern. Longing.
“You, too.” His voice is soft, with real concern behind it.
“I’ll be fine. Just sitting in the van in case something goes wrong with my code.”
“Good.”
Xave takes a few steps backward, holding my gaze. My lower lip trembles with words that need to be spoken. I bite them back and swallow hard. I have to keep reminding myself that I have nothing to offer him. Lies are not a good foundation for any type of relationship. And if I offered the truth, things would be far worse than they are now.
I break eye contact. I let him go.