Renegade by Olivia Tillotson

Author:Olivia Tillotson [Tillotson, Olivia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-30T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

“Mom?” I look over at Ben, his brow furrowed.

His hands run through his dark hair, fingers intertwining in the mess of curls at the back of his head. He doesn’t know what is going on either. He finally scoots his chair closer to mine, placing his face inches from mine, our foreheads almost touching, as he strains to hear what my mother is saying.

“Mom, how did you get this number? How did you find me?” My eyes lock with Ben’s green ones peeking out from behind his dark curls that have fallen disheveled across them.

“That isn’t important. What is important is that you know that Ashlynn and I are safe, but it won’t be that way for long. We are running out of time.” Her voice is filled with urgency. “You and your brother need to get here. Now.”

My eyes are still locked with Ben’s, and he urges me to keep talking. “Mom, what do you need us to do?” I ask, my heart pounding at the idea of finally seeing Ashlynn, at getting her out of here uninfected, alive.

“Tonight, get into our building tonight. You know the way in. I will be in my office late unsupervised. You have until two.” I need more information, I’m not ready yet. “Mom, I don’t understand, I—” But I am cut off by a loud banging noise coming from the phone.

“I’m out of time—they are here. Anne, you have to trust me. Just be here by two.” She hangs up the phone, leaving my heart racing, my eyes wild with the same hope and fear that fill Ben’s.

“We have to go tell Jack.” I stand up. Ben nods and motions for me to follow him as he pushes through the crowd of stunned people, with me not far behind. As we slip out the door and into the dark tunnels, my mind races with unanswered questions. “Did you hear all of that?” I ask, unable to see Ben’s expression well enough to read him.

“Yeah, I did,” he answers, sounding a little distant.

“I can’t believe it. We are going to get Mom tonight. It is finally happening.” I can practically hear my heart beating in the silence of the tunnels. I am so excited. “We can finally get out of here for good,” I exclaim, relieved to be free of all this running, of all the rules and fear.

Ben doesn’t respond. He just keeps walking down the damp tunnel.

“Ben, did you hear me?” I ask, wishing he would share my excitement. “We are finally getting out of here! Isn’t that great?”

He keeps his eyes forward, making it impossible for me to tell what he is thinking. “Sure.”

“Sure? That’s it?” I ask, a little taken aback.

He suddenly halts and turns to face me, catching me off guard. “Look, I’m happy for you, Anne. I am,” he says, “But I’m nervous about this. Didn’t that seem a little weird to you?” He shakes his head.

“Ben,” I say, grinning, “this is what I have been fighting for.

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