The Change: Episode one (28 page)

“
Really…”

I felt her eyes swing to me and heard the
convict’s amused grunt.

“
Yeah, they might hold
you.”

I flushed at the thoughts that comment
brought and was glad when the train alert sounded again.

“
We are arriving at
Atlanta Depot. Please check your room for all of your items before
disembarking, and thank you for taking the Network
Rider.”

My face was still red as we moved toward the
door.

The weather had been unusually calm for the
last few days, but we saw that had changed as we stepped from the
rickety platform. The wind was gusting heavily, the gritty sky
above us rolling in shades of purple and green. A storm was coming,
and I shivered, stepping closer to Candice. Then my eyes registered
my surroundings and I forgot about my fears.

The Kudzu plant was everywhere.

It wound up trees, choking them until the
trunks underneath were as petrified from the lack of water as they
were in the Forests of Kentucky, but this was worse somehow.
Instead of dead trees, these were dying trunks with their killer
living around them like a shroud. The Kudzu covered every inch of
ground and area that I could see. How did Candice plan to travel
through there? I doubted I was much of a hiker.

I looked over to see Baker staring at all
the greenery and vines with a slight smile and understood he
considered this home. I shrugged. Maybe there was more to see
underneath, but from where I stood, it was a jungle to be
conquered. The only open area was directly in front of the
platform, and a few the other passengers who got off at this stop
moved that way. I studied the three signs I could see from where we
stood.

“
Enter at your own risk.
Unguarded.”

“
Stay on main path and
turn around at the marker. Those who go further will NOT be
searched for.”

It was the last one my eyes lingered on.

Number of people who’ve
gone off the beaten path and never returned
398
400 401
404

The number clearly wasn’t done growing, and
before I could wonder if we would be the next tallies added to it,
Candice let out a low snort.

“
Laying it on a bit thick,
aren’t you?”

Baker chuckled. “Gotta keep them out
somehow.”

“
How many of those missing
people really exist?”

“
Ten or so. All but one
chose to help us.”

I wanted to ask what they had done with the
other adventurer who’d found the rebel base hidden inside this
dense jungle and chosen not to keep the secret, and managed not to.
There were other people around us, one even staring at Baker like
she might recognize him, and I knew better than to speak this time
and draw more attention.

The Network guards were also staring our
way, and I was very glad to see it was the group from last night.
They would report the sighting, but maybe not exactly where Baker
had been or who he was with. That sent me into another level of
panicked worry. What would happen when the Network found out the
Pruetts had aided Baker?

Angelica joined us, and I listened to her
words, but my mind was on the future. If the Pruetts were arrested,
would I be able to help them escape?

“
Your parents have the
other two convicts in custody. They’re exchanging them directly to
the Network hub there, and then heading home.” Angelica’s dark eyes
switched to me before returning to my owner. “I’ll take him back if
you want.”

I clamped my lips shut and worried.

C

Angelica’s offer was tempting, but I made
the only choice I could. If he were away from me, I’d be too
distracted. “No.”

She shrugged and dropped back to take Drag
while I took Point. With Daniel and then Baker behind me, it made a
neat little sandwich that the males wouldn’t like, but Angelica
would keep things under control while I broke a dozen Network
rules. Helping the enemy, not reporting rebel sightings and
locations, lying, falsifying papers, requisitioned supplies being
consumed for personal use, evading, trespassing… I sighed. If we
were caught, Angelica and I would be executed on the same wall as
Baker and his rebel friends.

As we ventured under the naturally-formed
green archway, my mental clock started ticking. The Network would
be told, but not for a day. The guards currently holding a heavy
pocket right now had me to thank for it, and I turned suddenly to
give them a hard look. One of them grinned at me, and I returned
the sentiment.

“
Let’s go.”

We openly moved off the path and into the
dense jungle, drawing shocked murmurs from the few tourists nearby.
Most had remained at the platform.

“
Won’t the sightseers call
it in?”

Daniel’s very low voice had me letting out
another sigh. “Yes, but Atlanta is thick and wide. They won’t know
exactly where we are.”

“
What about your parents?
Won’t the Network hold…”

Angelica gave him the comfort he needed.
“They’ll be questioned and released. The Network won’t hold them
responsible for our actions.”

“
But they track all
messages and…”

“
Stop, Daniel.” I turned to
look at him and made sure to include Baker as I laid it out for
them. I didn’t bother lowering my voice.

“
The Pruetts are for
freedom. We always have been, and we don’t consider gender a
deciding factor. If I choose to help the rebels, we will, and we’ll
handle what comes. Do you understand what I mean?”

Baker was grinning. He did, but Daniel shook
his head. “You’re putting your family at risk for him.”

I gave a warmer look, meant only for my
mate. “Some things are worth dying for.”

Daniel knew I meant him, and his pale face
flushed in pleasure. “Whatever you want to do, I’m in. You know
that?”

I nodded, turning back. “I do.”

D

It was hard to walk.

The thick vines kept tripping me up, and I
struggled to move like the others. Candice took long, high steps
that got her where she wanted to go, but when I tried it, the
clingy plants wrapped around my boots and jerked me down. After ten
minutes, I’d fallen twice, and Angelica moved to my side.

“
You have to kinda jump
when you land, or they tangle you up.”

When she demonstrated, I picked it up
easily, but my lack of knowledge about the outside world had Baker
smirking.

“
Thanks.”

She gave a curt nod as she went back to her
post, and I sighed as I remembered that the sound of my voice was
painful to her Changeling ears. I had hoped to settle into the new
life and be happy, but adjusting to this world was harder than I’d
expected. I swiped the sweat from my brow and followed my owner
into the jungle. Maybe next time we’d go to someplace easier, like
the beach.

The jungle thickened as we walked, and it
wasn’t until I tripped over a thick patch of purple flowers that I
realized we were already in the city. It was so covered in the
vines that I hadn’t seen it, and I stared in surprise, bringing our
little convoy to a halt.

The thick masses I’d thought to be covered
trees were actually walls, pillars, old relics of the past that had
withstood the tests of time, but not nature. Considering the level
of growth here, I imagined even these relics would be gone but not
for the covering that kept them from crumbling. If the vines were
killed off, what was left of the city would immediately collapse
into piles of rock and gravel.

The very tips of arched roofs jutted out
from the green leaves, hinting at decaying frames and thickets full
of nasty surprises. There would be skeletons inside those overgrown
walls, graying bones with no owners, only ghosts.

The thought gave me a chill, and I turned
back to the path…Then flushed at the hard looks. I dropped my head
and we got moving again.

C

We reached the river all at once.

One second, we were deep in the jungle, and
the next I was pulling my mate back from the edge of a steep
incline that overlooked a crystal-blue river winding through the
vines. Painfully aware of how fascinating Daniel found water, I
turned to give him a sharp look, only to see he was already
absorbed in the glistening ripples.

I sighed. “Ten minute break.”

Baker grunted behind me, and I heard
Angelica snort in cynical amusement. Thanks to the convict’s loose
tongue, Angelica was now stewing on having to control herself
around so many males. It was a fun trip we had going so far.

“
Can I…”

“
No.” I hadn’t meant to be
so curt. “It’s not safe.”

And yet, we were about to ride the river. I
could see the edge of what was probably a scavenger boat waiting
just around the bend. I gave Angelica a quick wave, and she moved
off in that direction to get the passage she had secured for us.
There were ways… and the Pruetts knew most of them.

Daniel stopped at my side, and I looked back
to see Baker leaning against a leaf-covered pillar. His goggles
were down, and I wondered what he was thinking as he stared at us.
I’d known Baker long enough to be sure he would recover and quickly
move on. I’d been very worried about having feelings for him
because of it. Baker wasn’t a one-woman kinda man, or at least I’d
always thought so.

I swung back to the river we were about to
use to delve further into the jungle-like city. We could stay on
these paths, but once we reached the edge of town proper, we might
have to hack our way in. I had chosen a route easier and faster
than that, but a bit more dangerous.

I felt Daniel’s attention shift as the boat
slowly rode the waves into view. “We’re sailing in?”

Sweat dripped from his brow, and my need
flared hungrily. I found very few things sexier than a man working
one up. His eagerness had me smiling against my will, and I lifted
a soft hand to push the hair from his damp brow. “For a bit.”

He grinned at me happily, and I spun away
before I could kiss him. I wasn’t overly concerned with Baker’s
feelings, but I also didn’t want to see him hurt. Behind me, I
sensed a new conversation waiting, and waved Angelica toward them
while I went to inspect the boat.

D

“
What’s she waiting
for?”

I hated myself for asking,
but Baker knew. He’d lain with her… loved her. No one else had ever
gotten as close, I was sure.
Did he see me
as a weakling because I didn’t know any of these survival things?
Was I a threat for my good looks and a joke for my clumsiness? Was
he as confused about me as I was about him? I thought that was
likely. Candice seemed to have that effect on people.

Baker raised his goggles, and I studied the
hard lines of his face, those wild, shined eyes. This had been my
substitute, and in many ways, still was. How would I get him out of
her mind?

“
When I met her, she was
determined to do one thing – get something that had been stolen
from her.” Baker’s eyes flashed bitterly. “I didn’t know it was
you. Until she signed up for the Games, I thought we might… come to
love each other.”

“
Candice? In
love?”

I knew better, but Baker shook his head like
I’d said something stupid.

“
She’s always been taken...
I just didn’t know it.” He sighed, “She won’t force it on you.
Until she knows you’re sure, she’ll stay back.”

I forced it out through the hope… the fear.
“And after?”

His eyes glinted again, this time in with
sad hatred I instantly pitied him for. “You’ll never be sold, never
be alone. She’ll love you so completely your past will vanish into
those happy dreams the Den Mothers tried to sell you on.”

Angelica stepped into the area, and I stored
that huge discovery for the next one. “And what about you? She
cares. You can’t deny it.”

To my surprise, he laughed. “You really are
a rookie. She used me, kid, to learn enough to save your ass.”

He slid his goggles back into place. “And I
always knew it wasn’t for me, so save your pity. I enjoyed every
second of servicing her needs.”

Jealousy seared me. I could see him using
those heathen arms to pleasure her, and I spun back toward the
water feeling angry instead of sorry for him.

Angelica’s voice made me listen against my
will. “So you’re not in love with her?”

Baker chuckled. “Why? You wanna rent me
next? I make my living that way, you know.”

I tried to ignore their flirting,
understanding Baker really did have feelings he was covering. I
didn’t understand that type of reaction. Why lie? His male pride
would get in the way of any relationship he tried to have… I
realized it was intentional and felt the rest of my anger fade.
Baker was trying to keep from appearing hurt or even interested any
longer. That was a tempting tactic, except it was off limits to me.
I’d already revealed my feelings to her. Hadn’t I? Unsure, I
followed her from the land and onto the water.

Our driver was tall and wiry, wearing
camouflage clothes and black paint over her hands and face. With
her small boat painted the same way, she appeared almost exactly
like the images I had seen of the old world army. She even had a
weapon on the front that I assumed to be some sort of a machine
gun. Those neatly rolled coils of ammunition gave me a flash of our
kamikaze captain polishing and reloading while eating from a
can.

I looked over the edges to see what could
have been the dried husk of a bean and turned my head away to hide
the smile. I didn’t see any signs of a male around, but once we got
underway, I understood the crazy woman had a death wish that only
these debris fields could satisfy.