Indestructible (Indestructible Trilogy Book 1) (22 page)

Nolan shakes his head. “Another invasion’s coming. Jared’s been watching the divide all this time, waiting to make a move. More and more are attacking. And the energy blasts are getting more frequent. He wanted to have a Transcendent to lead his army against them, but apparently he’s failed to create one of his own. He needs Leah. And it won’t hurt to have the invincible Cas on his side, too.”

He failed?
But that means…

I imagine another group like ours, concealed away. I thought the fiends would be enough to deal with. But people? Pyros? Could I really fight them?

“You’re an idiot,” says Cas. “You think you’ll somehow be spared?”

“I told you, I want to choose my own fate. Jared showed me a taste of what awaits us if he kills us through the tattoos. It’s unendurable.”

“I couldn’t give a damn about that. Get away from the girl. She’s
human,
you pathetic excuse for a Pyro.”

Murray’s shaking Elle, over and over, but she’s insensible. A lump rises in my throat. As Murray moves, I see a trail of blood leading to her bare arm, which has been carved with the same image as Nolan’s tattoo.
Nolan
did that.

“Bastard,” I whisper. The buzzing anger rises again, and heat rushes over me. A voice whispers in my ear, telling me he deserves to die.

Nolan saved me, helped me, made me feel like I could be human again. And now he’s turned into one of the monsters.

I leap at him, dagger held high.

Nolan whirls on me, drawing his own weapon, and the two hit each other with a splintering crash. The impact jars my arm but I keep a firm grip on the hilt. Nolan’s eyes narrow.

“Stay out of this, Leah. I’m sorry, but I can’t help it.”

“The hell you can’t,” I say.

“I wish I could say the same,” he says. “I know you won’t let me leave. But if you don’t go to Jared within the next seven days, he’ll order me to kill everyone at the base. At whatever cost. Do you want to risk that?” He addresses Murray.

Cas replies instead. “I’m all for letting you burn,” he says.

“What about the others?” Nolan’s expression darkens. “I’m not the only one marked by Jared. Everyone he picked out from amongst us Pyros bears the same mark. Jared will activate all of them at once, and your own people will turn on you. Including the girl.” He glances down at Elle’s prone form.

“You’re despicable.” I grip the dagger tighter, pushing forward, and as he pushes back, I strike him with my other fist. The cracking noise as I hit his jaw gives me a mild gratification. His head snaps to the side.

“Leah,” says Murray. “Stop. It makes no difference now.”

But fury has me in its grip. Fire rushes to the surface of my hand as I aim another punch. He ducks, but I anticipate it and kick at his knee. A sharp gasp escapes him and he drops his dagger an inch or two.

I deliver a right hook so powerful it sends him crashing into the desk. Nolan sits up, groaning. A deep red bruise marks the right side of his face. He’s dropped his weapon, and Cas leaps in to retrieve it.

“Murray!” he snaps.

Murray looks up from Elle, his face creased with twice as many lines as before.

“Lock this bastard away somewhere before he can cause any more trouble.”

Murray stays still, and I think he’s at a loss at how to reply. Finally, he whispers, “The back room. It has a lock.”

Cas nods, stalks over to Nolan, and grabs him by the scruff of his neck. Nolan scrambles for his dagger, but I kick it sharply, and send it spinning away across the floor. Cas drags him across the floor to the door at the back of the room.

“The key, Murray.” Cas’s furious expression never wavers.

Keeping his eyes on Elle, Murray fumbles in his pocket and withdraws a key, which he tosses to Cas. The throw misses, but Cas moves like a blur, still keeping a grip on Nolan, and catches it. He unlocks the door and throws Nolan inside. Slamming the door shut, he twists the key again, pulls it out, and puts it in his own pocket.

“Just in case,” he says.

Murray lifts Elle onto the work bench. I move over to her, chest tightening at the sight of the ugly red mark on her arm. She whimpers. Her eyes are glassy, half-open, and I don’t know if she recognises me.

“Sorry,” I whisper, even though it’s stupid to blame myself. Nolan had everyone fooled. Except it wasn’t really him.

“That can wait,” says Cas sharply. “Jared has his claws in us now. The only thing to do is as he says. Hand over the girl.”

“Me?” I ask. “You’d give a dangerous weapon over to the enemy?”

“It’s your life or everyone else’s.” Cas looks so calm, I want to slap him.

“I’ll go,” I say. “If it’ll save everyone. But where? Whereabouts did he go?”

We look around as though expecting to see him hiding behind a rock. But of course he flew away—he could be anywhere by now.

“What if he wants both of us?” I ask, indicating Cas. “He was going to take Cas with him earlier.”

“You’re joking, right?” says Cas, eyebrows raised. “Who’s going to act as a shield if I’m not here?”

“If we obey, maybe we won’t need a shield,” says Murray.

Cas’s brows climb higher, incredulous. “You’re joking. I go with her?”

“I’m not overly keen on the idea either, you know,” I say. But the notion of being out there alone appeals even less.

“Whereabouts do we even go? If he’s built a new lab, it could be anywhere. He has air transport now.” He has a point. The old lab has turned to ashes.

Murray clears his throat awkwardly.

Cas turns on him. “There’s something you’re not telling us, isn’t there?”

Murray hesitates a while before answering. “There is… our old base. He may very well have moved back in there. He did mention the place where it all started.”

Cas’s brow furrows. “Thought that place was destroyed in a blast?”

Murray shakes his head. “It was damaged, but not permanently. There were underground rooms. It’s all I can think of.”

“Well, we don’t know for sure,” says Cas. “If Jared can attack within the base itself, then the last thing we need is two of our fighters missing. Where’s the proof that going to him will do any good? He’s probably planning a surprise attack.”

“The lab is only a day’s journey away,” says Murray. “I can send people after you.”

“That won’t be necessary,” says Cas, though he still looks displeased. “But it’s not my choice, is it?”

He studies me, and the intensity freezes me inside. I have to be the one to decide. And I suddenly know that I’ll do anything to protect these people—even go out into the wilderness with Cas, perhaps to face certain death.

Better to die than to be the last one standing, alone in the world.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Murray calls a meeting. It turns out Nolan locked the doors to the dormitories, and dozens of terrified faces greet us as Murray unlocks them. Everyone files into the hall.

My heart pounds in my ears.
I might never see them again. I might never see my home.

Home.
Strange that I think of this place as being akin to a home, after so long without one. And now I might be leaving it forever.

If it keeps them safe, if it spares Elle and the others, I’d do anything.

Murray’s talking about an invasion. That word sparks panic even in the oldest, most experienced Pyros. They’ve been at a stalemate so long.

I follow Murray back to his office, along with Cas.

Murray turns to him, his face clouded. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Yes.” Cas throws me a sharp glance. “I’ll make sure we get there without any trouble.”

“You’ll need supplies, water…” Murray seems to snap out of a trance.

“Just give us what we need and make it quick,” says Cas.

Murray sucks in a breath. “Be careful. There’s no knowing what he’s planning. If he’s trying to create his own Transcendent…”

“We’ll stop him,” says Cas.

I nod. “We will.”

He actually said
we
. As if he thinks I’m capable of helping. Who knew?

I still can’t figure out what Cas
wants.
He’s willing to throw himself into the path of danger without a second thought, but does he really expect to survive what Jared has planned? I don’t think he’s planning to sacrifice us himself, but if he throws us into the front of a battle against the fiends, then the odds of us making it out alive are pretty low.

It’s what you’re made for. You’re Transcendent.

When he looks at me, his eyes narrow. “You. Go back to your dorm and get whatever you need. I’ll stay here.”

Typical Cas, I think at first. Then I realise that this is my last chance to say goodbye to everyone.

As I leave, I hear Murray ask, “Are you sure he’d do it? Sacrifice her?”

“You really don’t know your brother that well, do you?”

Shivers run through me. Does he think I’m going to my death?
Not if I can help it.
The fiends have taken everything from me already. But the people here have shown me I can build a new life even in the ashes of the old one. I’m damned if I’ll lose that now.

My chest tightens again when I hear voices from behind the door to the dormitory. Taking a deep breath, I enter.

All heads turn in my direction. I draw in a deep breath, my gaze travelling over the curious faces. People who’ve accepted me, when I thought I’d never encounter a friendly face again. I blink tears out of my eyes and force the words out.

“I’m leaving. I have to go.”

“Why?” Poppy says.

Too late for regret now. I give a rundown of the night’s events, but pause when I get to the part about the tattoos, not knowing how much I’m supposed to tell them. In the end, I don’t, nor about Nolan’s involvement.

The reaction’s exactly as I expected: complete and total panic. Questions fly everywhere, and several people jump to their feet. I feel their fear, and yet, I can’t stay and reassure them. Not when every second I waste makes it more likely that they won’t get out before Jared makes a move. My one consolation is that none of them have the marks. That’s the part I don’t mention. I can’t get a word in edgeways at this point. And the last thing I want is distrust and rumours to tear everyone apart, slow them down, when they’re losing their best soldier. And as for me…

“Guys,” I say, but my voice is lost in the general noise. I make my way over to Poppy and Tyler, who sit completely still, stunned.

“I’m sorry, guys,” I say. “Cas and I have to go to Jared. It’s the only way to stop this. You’ll be fine, I promise.”

“But what about you?” Poppy sobs, raising her eyes to meet mine. “You’ll come back, right?”

I don’t want to lie to her. Hell, I don’t want to lie to any of them. In the world before, we might have been close friends.

“I’ll try to,” I say.

I meet Cas by the exit. He hands me a backpack, presumably containing enough food and water to survive outside for a few days. I peek inside and also find a sleeping bag.
Guess I’ll be sleeping under the stars again.

Murray hurries up to us. “Stay safe,” he says, with a glance back to his room where Elle still lies. I wish I could say goodbye to her properly.
God, I hope she recovers from this.
What Nolan did was inexcusable.

“Bye,” I say, and Cas gives a curt nod before disappearing into the tunnel.

Looks like I’ll have my work cut out keeping up with him.

The collapsed path proves tricky to navigate, especially carrying supplies. When we reach the part where the fiend knocked me down, I stop.

“It wouldn’t harm us if we jumped, right?” I say, looking down at the sheer drop. It didn’t hurt the last time, and would save us precious minutes of scrambling down the rocks.

Cas stares at me and says nothing. It’s a bit disconcerting.

“Just an idea,” I mutter, looking away.

“No, it’s a great idea. Hold on.” He shifts the backpack so it’s firmly on his shoulders and poises on the edge of the cliff.

He jumps, and my heart leaps into my throat even though I know it won’t hurt him. Before I can start to doubt myself, I jump, too.

He said it was a
great idea
. I almost laugh as the adrenaline kicks in. I’m falling, falling…

My body slams into rock and I gasp, the thrill knocked out of me. I stagger, but I know nothing’s broken, even bruised. Cas stands to the side, casually, raising an eyebrow as I try to regain my balance.

“You nearly landed on me, you know. Don’t they tell you to look before you leap?”

“Sorry,” I say, looking away. Then I stare. “Cas…”

“What?”

I just point. The ruin of a house stands nearby, tucked into the shadow of the mountain—I’d never have spotted it if we hadn’t landed nearby. The roof’s collapsed, but the walls are intact. The door lies open.