Page 79 of Uprising

“I said, let’s get in the RV, and we can head to this cabin Ghost owns. I know you said to meet at the island, but?—”

“I can’t,” taking a step back, I continue, “there's someone. I have someone, and he was taken. I–I have to get him back.”

All the joy that I was feeling once before is gone. A sickening drop of fear replaces any good that I had.

“What? Who took him? What happened?” Mallory asks, fear lacing her voice.

“My father, his men. They took him. I don’t even know what happened, w–we were kissing one minute, and the next they were scanning us with some weird device thing.”

Infected.

There’s no way Reed was infected. He wasn’t bitten. That stupid reader was wrong, dead wrong.

“Your father? Why would they take him?”

“I don’t know,” I lied. I didn’t want them to know hemightbe infected. Rue would tell me it was a lost cause, that it was easier to remember him as he was and not like one of those zombies.

“Let’s get inside; I don’t like being out in the open like this,” Ghost says. He doesn’t wait for anyone to agree before he’s pulling Rue towards the RV. One by one we all pile into the vehicle. Maverick sits down in the driver's seat, while Mallory kneels next to him, his fingers sliding through her hair. I frown at them, ready to say something when Rue grabs my arm.

“I’ll explain their dynamic later,” she whispers, pulling me towards the small table and chair. We sit across from each other while Ghost walks around the Rue’s back.

“Tell us what happened?” Rue lightly orders.

“I told you, I don’t know. We were kissing one second, and the next my father’s guard was surrounding us, the next I’m waking up and he’s gone.”

“Do you have any idea why they would take him?” Rue asks.

“No!” I snap. Rue sits back, clearly surprised by my outburst.

“Noah, we’re not blaming you. We’re just trying to get a better understanding.”

“I have to get on the island.”

“Yeah, and how do you plan to do that?” Mavericks asks from behind me. Peering over my shoulder, I roll my eyes, already hating him.

“I haven’t quite come up with a plan, but it’s my parents' island; they’ll have to let me on.” The moment the words leave my mouth, the air shifts. Silence crashes over me like waves, thick and suffocating. I have to get him back. Every second we’re sitting here, the longer he’s over there. God knows what they’re doing to him.

“Okay, then we’re all going,” Rue announces. While I love both Mallory and Rue, Rue is the only one who understands me on a deeper level. She can see the hurt in my eyes; she knows what I’m thinking without having to be told.

“I need to get him back,” I whisper, my voice cracking. I’m so tired of crying, of hurting.

Rue grabs my hands, squeezing, “You will—we will get him back.”

“We’ll need to come up with a plan.” Ghost sighs.

“Are we even sure this guy is worth it?” Maverick blurts out. Swinging around, I can’t stop the hatred pouring out of me for this guy. Who does he even think he is?

“Reed’s worth everything. Everything! I love him, and I will stop at nothing to get him back.” I hissed.

“Did you just say Reed?” Ghost asks.

Turning around, I frown, peering up at him. “Yes?”

“What does he look like?”

I close my eyes, imagining he’s standing in front of me. I smile. “He’s tall, broad-shoulders, but so perfect. He's got the most beautiful jet-black hair, but it’s his eyes. The most intense, striking bright blue that reminds me of an electric storm. He even has this scar on?—”

“His lip.”

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