Sinners 01 - Branded (35 page)

“That’s it for the morning, guys. Go rest up,” Keegan puts his arm around me. “When
the revolt breaks out, I want you on my team.” He turns to walk toward the showers.

I chase him, tugging at his shirt. “What do you mean?”

He continues walking, so I match his stride. “For the main operation, we divided everyone
into teams. I’m assigning you to my team. One, because I want to look after you, and
two, because you’re that damn good.” He cracks his neck and stops with his hand on
the light switch. People pass, but we don’t move.

“Who leads the other teams?”

“Sutton, Bruno, and a lot of others… People you haven’t met. Why?” His eyes search
mine with a cool stare.

“Just wondered,” I mumble.
Obviously Bruno’s alive if he’s going to lead a team,
I think with satisfaction. If he’s still kicking, then chances are so is Cole.

“For God’s sake, please tell me it’s not because of him.” His cobalt eyes see right
through me. “He can’t be trusted, and for that reason alone, he’s not welcome anywhere
near my group.” He takes a deep breath. “Enough about him. Go shower. I’ll catch up
with you later.”

I start to speak again, but he’s not in the mood. He slams the switch down and the
lights flicker off. The room feels lonely and smells like body odor.

I shuffle to the women’s showers and tiptoe past the stalls before anyone can talk
to me.

“I love you, Lexi. You’re all I want. You’re the air I breathe, the very reason for
my existence,” Cole says as he kisses along my jawline, my ear, and my neck. Bright
light frames his perfect face, and warmth from his body radiates against mine.

I wrap my arms around him, pulling him closer. “You have no idea how much I love you,”
I say.

His eyes light up, and he pulls my left hand to his chest, fingering my ring. “I’ll
never let you down,” he says.

I wake up drowning in perspiration and twisted sheets and grasp at my heart as the
tears flow down my face. Pain courses through my entire body, causing me to heave.
I sprint to the bathroom down the hall to puke and return, collapsing on my bed.

Even though I haven’t seen him in weeks, his face appears in my dreams regularly.
It haunts me to remember the hurt in his eyes, his face when I chose to fight with
Keegan over him.
But I didn’t choose it over him. I chose to fight for us, for my father
. My mind twists, desiring to see him, yet I’m nervous he’ll hate me for everything.

The longing always seeps back in despite my attempts to keep busy. The longing for
his face, his voice, and his body against mine. I retch in pain while remembering
how he touched me. His hands caressed me here, and I touch my cheek. And here. I touch
my lips.

I take the ring off my left finger and read the inscription again. “Dad, if you hear
me, please, watch over Cole. There’s no way I’d overcome losing him,” I whisper.

“Morning! Hope you’re ready. We have a busy day. First, training, second, a meeting,
and then lunch. Everyone’s expected to be punctual—including you! So no farting around,”
Keegan says as he walks into my room unannounced.

“Would it kill you to knock?” I ask, sitting up in my bed. “Or is that too much to
ask?”

“What’s it matter? Are you trying to hide something from me?” he asks with his arms
folded across his chest.

“No, I just want some freaking privacy.”

He arches his eyebrow and evaluates me for a minute. “Whatever. Get up and let’s go.”

“Fine.” I stand up, pull on my boots, and draw my hair away from my face. When I finish,
he rolls his eyes and exhales deeply, as if searching for an ounce of patience. Then
I follow him down the hall as he enters a few other rooms to rouse people.

He leaves halfway through training and we continue on like good pupils.

Two hours race by. My brain spins from experimenting with pressure points. I see stars
when they practice on me. One person passes out, and the medical personnel take him
away.

Everyone rushes to shower and meet at the main conference room. I have no idea where
to go, so I follow the crowd. They stand outside the heavy doors, waiting to go in.
They all form their cliques, but I stand alone against the wall. The light above me
keeps flickering, but no one seems to notice. It’s quiet except for the murmuring
within their closed circles.

Keegan arrives, and everyone parts like the Red Sea. Several large, armed men follow
him. I glance at his entourage and am surprised to see Sutton, Bruno, Zeus, and Cole
following along. Sutton nods his head my direction but says nothing. Zeus lunges,
jumping and licking my face.

I stumble backward into the wall, laughing. “Zeus! How’s my boy? I’ve missed you!”
I wrap my hands around his big ears and scratch his head. The joy is short-lived when
I notice everyone staring at me.

Keegan looks mortified. “Please get that stupid dog away from her,” he says.

Cole and Keegan’s men move toward Zeus, but he refuses to move. He plants himself
in front of me and bares his canine teeth with ferocity. They try to grab his collar,
but he growls and snaps at them.

“It’s fine. Just let him stay with me, unless you want someone to get hurt.”  I put
my hand through his collar and he doesn’t mind. When I look up, Cole’s eyes meet mine
for the first time in weeks. I’m stunned like the first time I met him. He looks more
appealing than ever. His hair is newly faded, the way I like it, and his short-sleeved
T-shirt gives a glimpse of his well-muscled arms. Something like regret passes behind
those familiar, dark eyes as he approaches me, and I want to dive into his skin.

“He needs to spend time with you. He’s been hurting since you’ve been gone,” Cole
says. “But nowhere close to the hell I’ve been living without you.”

I’m unable to respond. My heart deflates, and I want to drop to my knees and beg him
to forgive my brother for being a jerk. But his tall, masculine figure passes me as
Keegan shouts for everyone to go in.

“What the hell? Are you trying to start a riot?” Keegan grabs my arm and shoves me
through the doors. Zeus growls at him but stays closely by my side.

“Keep that dog under control or I’ll have no problem putting a bullet through his
head.” The gruffness of his voice scares me and I don’t doubt he’d follow through,
but if he harms Zeus, I’ll shoot him where the sun don’t shine.

I recognize this room as the control room where Keegan first took Bruno, Cole, and
me. I walk to a spot around the large table in the center and take a seat. People
file in until the space is packed with bodies.

Zeus huffs and lies on top of my feet, practically cutting off my circulation until
I force him to move a little. “Zeus, seriously…” He refuses to move more than three
inches away from me, so I end up sitting cross-legged in my seat, feeling a bit childish.
Oh well, I miss him too much to make him get up.

Someone dims the lights as the screens mounted on the walls light up, showing hundreds
of people, also underground in other areas of the Hole, anticipating the meeting.

Keegan paces around the center table. “Greetings, fellow warriors! You’re probably
wondering why we’re having a meeting this early.” He stands with his fingers steepled
in confidence. “It’s time we explain our plans. Many of you know Dr. Sutton, or Sutton,
as we call him. He’s a doctor in the hospital, and most importantly, a leader of our
great rebellion. He has high connections. With his leadership and knowledge, we’ll
take down the Hole, the commander, and acquire power for ourselves!”

Everyone cheers and claps. The person next to me whistles, and Zeus’s ears perk up.
I arch my back a little to scan the crowd and see Sutton sitting in the front row,
along with Bruno and Cole. They look uptight, but they still clap at all the appropriate
times.

“With no further ado, Sutton is here to speak to us today. He doesn’t have a lot of
time, so we ask for your complete attention.” Keegan sits down, and the people clap
again as Sutton stands.

I catch Cole’s eye. I don’t want to look, but I do. I don’t want to stare, but I can’t
stop myself. I break away. I feel the weight of his eyes on my face as a deep flush
crawls up my cheeks.
He still loves me
.
I know it.

Keegan hands Sutton a remote. Sutton turns on a hologram that seemingly floats over
the center table. The picture is fuzzy at first, but as it clears, a 3D diagram of
the Hole becomes defined—the large walls encircling the Hole, the commander’s residence,
and the streets with their buildings and shantytowns. I’m confounded by the size,
the thickness of the walls with the pathway on top, and the distance we’ll need to
travel on foot. My eyes settle on the tallest building—the hospital. It sits central
to all the activity. It sickens me to think there’s only one hospital for everyone.
It’s no wonder it was always packed, always busy, and disgustingly dirty.
Well, except for the basement where the guards train.
Yet, how lucky was I to receive a job there, working under Sutton, of all people?

A smaller picture also pops up of the remote transformation center and the lab where
everyone is branded before entering the Hole.
So this is where Wilson prefers to work.
It strikes me as interesting that the transformation center is separate from the
Hole.
Not that it matters. It’s all for the purpose of torturing people.

Sutton’s voice cuts through my inner thoughts, bringing my attention directly to him.

“This is the only map of the Hole that’s ever been made. Not much has changed since
it was constructed. A lot of people died for this, so please take me serious when
I say this is top secret. I became a doctor because I love the human body and it gives
me joy to help others. My mission started decades ago when I saw the injustices created
by a system that accuses, brands, and tortures its citizens. My best friend growing
up was an activist. He openly spoke with disgust of the Hole—”

Sutton’s eyes focus on me in the crowd as he refers to my father.
Please don’t let my courage fail me now.
I nod at him, acknowledging and respecting his words as a torrent of emotions wells
up in my chest. Pride. Pain. Memories.

“My friend, my brother, was murdered for speaking openly in defense of those who couldn’t
do it for themselves. Since then, I’ve dedicated myself to helping your people. The
time of watching is over. It is time to act.” He pauses as everyone stands and cheers.

I find myself standing and clapping along with the crowd. The people connected by
satellite also stand and clap, their faces ranging from joy to fear. Keegan motions
for us to sit, so we do.

“Over the years, we’ve compiled an arsenal of weapons. We’ve finished digging the
tunnels that we now live in. We’ve made a plan that will overthrow the current leader
and install a new, fairer justice system for all.”

Everyone stands to clap again. The thunderous applause echoes so loud that I look
up at the ceiling, hoping the commander can’t hear us. As I drop my eyes, I catch
Cole staring at me, and my heart rate increases.

“We’ve broken everyone into teams with leaders. Each team has a specific goal to accomplish.
After this meeting, the list of teams and their leaders will be hung in the hallway
for you to see. You’ll meet with your team and leader to begin your specific training
this week.” He motions to the large screens. “Those of you who aren’t present but
are connected by remote satellite will be notified of your teams by your local team
leaders.”

Some of the faces on screen smile, while others look solemn. We all know what’s at
stake.
Relationships. Lives. The future.

“Next week we begin the full offensive.” A hush moves across the room, and all eyes
are glued upon Sutton.

“I bear the full weight of my responsibility as a leader. I know some of you won’t
survive, but take hope in the knowledge that you’re giving the younger generation
a chance you never had. A chance to live freely without terror, without want, without
injustice. You give them the hope that they can overcome anything—short of death.”

The crowd roars as they stand and applaud him once again. The last sentence of his
speech resonates with all, and I finger the ring on my hand, feeling my father’s presence.
Wishing he were here. Wishing Alyssa could witness this.

People start moving around, talking in loud voices, and crowding out into the hallway
to see their groups. The lights come back on slowly, and the remote satellite links
are disabled one by one. Men stand with Sutton and Keegan around the hologram in the
center, discussing tactics. Zeus waits with me.

“Of course you’re in Keegan’s group.” A familiar voice breaks into my thoughts.

I spin and Cole stands before me. I drop my eyes, looking anywhere but at him. I can’t
control my hands, so I twist them together. He eyes my ring, taking my hand into his,
and playing with it. His touch sends ripples throughout my being.

“Does that surprise you?”

“No, but it pisses me off. You deserve the right to choose who you want to fight with.
God, babe, I miss you. I’m going crazy. I think about you constantly. I’m worried
that you’re hurt, worried that you need me, and worried that you’ll—”

I put my hand on his chest to stop him. I know what he feels because I feel it too.
The need, the desire to be together is almost overwhelming. It strips me of rationale
and melts my resolve like fire bending steel.

“I miss you more, but our feelings for each other are exactly why Keegan doesn’t want
us fighting together.”

“I’m still going to protect you.” He shifts his weight, dropping my hand, unsure of
himself. “I’m still going to worry about you.”

“No! You need to worry about keeping yourself alive. I can take care of myself now.
If only you could see how good I’ve become, you’d see I don’t need your protection
anymore.” My soul screams for him, longing to touch him back and desiring to rewind
time. “I hope you know I never thought he’d force you to leave…” I stumble over my
own words and he stops me.