Awareness: Book Two in the Influence Series by David R. Bernstein

Author:David R. Bernstein [Bernstein, David R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Torment Publishing
Published: 2018-07-05T22:00:00+00:00

15

UNDERSTANDING

STRATTON REMAINS UNCONSCIOUS as Stanley and Farren each grab him under the arm and drag him through the remains of the city. His boots scrape on the cobble as we vacate the area. Stratton groans once and Stanley flinches, but the young Resistance fighter doesn’t let go. There’s a haunted look on his weathered face, and it’s clear that he has revenge on his mind. I don’t need to expand my consciousness to know that.

Farren glances at me as we cut down another alley and toward some stairs that lead into the darkness underneath the city, a dank, musty smell emerging from it. I know why he’s letting Stanley help handle Stratton. He doesn’t want me to have to get anywhere near such a monster.

“The subway,” Breece tells me. “Even the Harvesters don’t often go there. It’s too infested with rats and there’s nothing of value. Not to mention they flood easily.” She glares at Stratton. Her attitude’s shifted since he showed.

“Stratton can join them,” I say, watching as Amanda wrinkles her nose. “He’s a rat.” Hope fills me that perhaps he can still hear.

“Wait, what are you planning?” Breece asks. “Some good old fashioned interrogation?”

“Perhaps,” Farren replies.

“Don’t you think that’s dangerous?” Breece continues. “Right now we have only one Influencer with us, and I don’t want her to have to handle him alone.”

“I agree,” Farren says, sharing a glance with Amanda. It’s as if the three of them are having a vote about not making me handle this.

A protest starts on my lips, but then I realize that I don’t want to deal with Stratton alone either. The thought of three people looking out for me boggles my mind. “Having more than one Influencer keeping him under control would make sense.”

Breece and Amanda both smile at me. “Good thinking, squirt,” Amanda says.

“Hey!”

“I’m going to be a little while, then,” Breece says. “I need someone to help me gather the others.” She waves the other female fighter along with her and vanishes into a nearby alley. In a way, I’m glad she’s gone. If Stratton wakes, that’s one less person he can drive to do unthinkable things.

As we wait, Farren and Stanley continue to check on Stratton, taking his pulse and pushing his eyelids back. Our group waits at the entrance to the subway tunnels.

“I hope she knows where the others might have gone,” I say.

“I’m sure these Protectors have multiple meeting points,” Amanda reassures me. “The others would have gone to the nearest one they could. It might take Breece a while to round them all up.”

But it doesn’t. It turns out that Leeyah, Jax, and the others have stayed together since the separation. Breece got instructions before the mission to find them at a certain warehouse in that event. The Protectors are planners, and that makes me breathe a big sigh of relief when she, Nance, Caiden, and everyone else pour into the alley.

Leeyah takes off her helmet and rushes over to me, opening her arms for a hug.

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