Beyond The Wall: A Young Adult Dystopian Novel (The Beyond Book 1) by Kate L. Mary

Author:Kate L. Mary [Mary, Kate L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Twisted Press, LLC
Published: 2021-04-22T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Jerrick and I distract ourselves by sorting through the provisions.

“I did a quick count earlier,” he says as he empties one of the crates, lining bottles and packages of food up so he can get a better look at them. “But I want to double-check the inventory and make sure we have enough for one extra person.”

He’s referring to me even though I haven’t agreed, but I can’t look him in the eye. Both because I haven’t decided, and because I’m afraid if I do, all I’ll be able to think about is kissing him. How much I want him shouldn’t be the deciding factor in this decision.

He seems to understand, because he goes back to sorting without saying anything else.

A creak cuts through the silence, and my heart stutters, threatening to stop. I freeze, a backpack in my hands, and stare at the dark corner of the room where the staircase looms. A second later, Ransom walks through the door, and I relax, blowing out a sigh of relief.

He pauses, looks from Jerrick to me, and heat blooms across my cheeks. I feel like the words we kissed are tattooed on my head.

“Hey, man.” Jerrick barely glances toward Ransom, and it’s clear by his tone that he’s unaware of the awkward situation.

Ransom continues walking, not looking at either one of us. He has a backpack in his hand, which he wordlessly tosses on top of the supplies already spread out on the table. Then he drops into a chair.

Jerrick scoops the bag up, nodding in approval as he dumps it out, and close to a dozen food packets tumble onto the table. They’re the same ones we get at the Teen Center. The portions are small but nutritious. Ransom must have taken them from the Education Center when no one was looking.

“Great,” Jerrick says, adding them to the others he’s already set aside. “That gives us more than enough. I was worried we might need more since Drea is coming.”

Ransom flinches and looks at me for the first time. “I didn’t know Drea had made up her mind.”

My cheeks burn, and I say nothing. I’m not even thinking about the trip. I’m thinking about Jerrick and me kissing, and how Ransom could have walked in on us.

“She hasn’t yet.” Jerrick is just as laidback as always. Can he really not know what’s going on? I thought he was more observant than that. “I’m only hoping she’ll make up her mind soon.”

He takes my hand, and Ransom’s face contorts with pain.

He turns his head to the side, focusing on something at the edge of the room so he doesn’t have to look at us. “You don’t need to worry because I’m not going.”

Jerrick drops my hand. “What? No. Ransom, I thought we talked about this. It isn’t safe.”

“We did, but I don’t agree with you.” Ransom stands, but the movement is slow. Unmoved by Jerrick’s outburst. “You need someone on the inside, and I’m the perfect person for that. Especially if I become a Protector.

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