I Am Number Four: The Lost Files #14 by Pittacus Lore

Author:Pittacus Lore
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2016-01-19T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

NEITHER RICHARDS NOR I TALK ON THE WAY back to my room. That’s fine by me. I’m too busy wondering what Ra’s demands are and going over all the ways I should have reframed my arguments in the war room, how I could have helped Sam and the Loric more.

When we get back, Briggs is standing outside my door, leaning on a crutch.

“Major Briggs here has been assigned to guard you,” Richards says.

“You mean watch me,” I say.

Briggs doesn’t meet my eye.

“It’s standard procedure,” Richards says. “Guests are always assigned an escort. It’s for your own safety.”

“You know, I can be of use to you,” I continue. “Get me data to go through. A computer. Hell, I’m just staring at the walls in there. It’s a cell. Even prisoners have access to libraries.”

“This is temporary,” Richards say. He frowns. “Look, we’re all just trying to follow protocol as best we can. The sheer amount of decisions to be made here . . .” He shakes his head. “I’ll be back later. I’m sure the president will want to speak with you after everyone’s had time to digest what you explained at the briefing.”

“Can you at least tell me if they find the Garde?”

“You’ll be informed of any declassified information deemed relevant to your situation. Now if you’ll—”

I go into my room and slam the door behind me. Immediately I feel stupid, like a child stomping off to his bedroom because his parents made him angry. But I am angry. That I haven’t heard from Sam. That I’m being treated like a prisoner. That despite everything we’ve done to try to protect Earth, the Garde are still being thought of as possible enemies.

I lie on the bed and seethe, trying to calm down. I start to count backwards from one hundred, something I used to do when the Mogs had me conscious—anything to take my mind off the horrible things that were likely to come. Somewhere in the fifties I pass out again, my body desperately trying to make up for all the lost sleep of the last few days.

After a few hours of dreamless napping, my phone rings. I am immediately fully awake, bolting into the bathroom and turning the taps on again.

I don’t recognize the number.

“Hello?” I answer, holding my breath as I wait to hear who’s on the other end of the line.

“Hey, Dad,” Sam says. “I was afraid you wouldn’t answer.”

Despite everything that’s happening, the moment I hear his voice everything is right in the world. Relief washes over me, and for a fleeting moment I think I might break down. I lean my back against the wall and sink to the ground.

“I’m here, son. Where are you? What’s going on? Are you safe?”

I manage to close my mouth before another thousand questions come out.

“I’m safe, yeah,” he says. “John and I are in Brooklyn. Once the attack started, we tried to save as many people as we could. Then we were looking for Nine, but Walker’s team found us in the subway and brought us to a temporary camp.

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