Page 58 of Dodging Bullets

We walked off into the darkness and down to the place where we’d left our vehicles. As we drove down Highway 49, we saw thered-and-blue flashing lights of an entire convoy of cop cars flying in the other direction.

Thirty-Three

Polly

Nim’s fine. She’s with Henry. Everything went well.

That was the message I’d gotten from Max in the group chat at three a.m. last night. By the time I woke up this morning, the Homestead was on every major news channel on the television. August had come over early in the morning and sat beside me as I flicked through channels. I had to watch, especially when someone leaked bodycam footage from when the cops arrived. I looked at the faces I knew, searching for people, for Nim.

When I saw her, hugging tiny baby Brielle to her chest, the tight bands of anxiety relaxed. They’d need me. Could I really just hide here and do nothing? If I went to them, the authorities would ask questions, and I could expose my new Pack to the law, as well as Otille-James’s Pack, if they discovered what had happened.

Leader Malakai’s name was Ken Smythe. He’d been a corporate banker before he retired and decided to create a cult with his golfing buddies. He wanted to be the king of his domain. He wanted to play outside society’s rules. Old acquaintances talked about what a kind man he’d been, if a little intense.

The news reporters talked about how he’d been found outside the compound’s walls, having committed suicide from the guilt.

The relief and the guilt meshed together until I was a basket case. My emotions were at war with each other, and every news article just made it worse. The news anchor said that the police were interviewing all the people at the compound, and I knew Nim would be one of them. The reporter at the scene confirmed the children were being taken in by CPS, until it could be determined who their parents were, and if they had any other relatives that could be found in the interim.

I hated that they were going to be the victims in this too, innocents caught up in something that was completely out of their control.

August laid me against his chest, surrounding me with his warmth. “This was the right thing. I don’t want you to ever doubt that this was the correct decision. They’ll be scared and angry now, but they’ll be able to grow up and live, fall in love, get an education, find their passions. They won’t have to have sex with some old man, or have babies they don’t want, or die if they happen to be an Alpha, or be shipped off to the highest bidder if they’re an Omega. You’ve given them alife.”

I knew all that was true, but it still hurt. “It doesn’t seem right that I’m safe and happy, while they’re scared and alone, all because of something I did.”

He clutched me tighter to his chest. “Listen to me, Polly Barrie. None of this is your fault. The fault lies squarely on the shoulders of men who wanted to play god. You might be happy now, but remember, the kids have something you didn’t have. They have each other. They have you, and Henry and Kross. You had to navigate this world alone, so they won’t have to.”

“But what if they have no one, and they’re forced into the system?” I asked softly, as Llew came into the room, a phone clutched in his hand.

“Then we’ll take them.” He said it so easily, like adopting a bunch of traumatized kids was the obvious answer. “There’s someone on the phone who might make you feel better, though.”

I was expecting Rio or Max, but when Nim’s face filled the screen, I burst into tears. “Nim!”

“Polly?You’re really okay?”

“I’m so okay.” I did our hand sign forI’m all right,just so she knew I meant it. “Are you okay?”

She shook her head. “It’s been… a lot. Cars, Polly. Cars exist. And Henry!”

Tears were streaming down my face. “I know. He’s okay.” Henry’s face appeared over the top of Nim’s head, and he gave me a happy little wave.

“I couldn’t believe it. I thought I was seeing a ghost. And these cellphone things. And the world wide web!”

She had always been the most adaptable of us. It was Nim who’d come up with our hand language, when I wasn’t allowed to speak in the Leaders’ presence anymore. It was Nim’s idea to sew the pocket in my ceremonial skirts, so I wouldn’t be found with my magazines. It was Nim who’d built a small sculpture to put on Henry’s grave, so we’d always know where he was. She was also the most pragmatic; she would conquer this new reality like every other hurdle.

“Are the kids okay?”

She nodded. “Scared, but the authorities agreed to put them all together in a single home, and they’re letting me stay with them. Henry and his friend took the rest of us back to Pieter’s farm for a while, until we get used to the idea that we were… that it’s…”

“Not the end of the world out here? It’s hard, but you’ll adapt fast, Nim, I promise.” I looked at Henry. “What about the Brothers and Sisters? And the Leaders?”

As he poked his head further into the frame with Nim, I smiled at how familiar it was, how perfect they looked together. Like a snapshot of our past, but aged up.

“The younger ones who have never been in the outside world were released immediately. They’re the ones at Pieter’s farm. The older Brothers and Sisters, like Sister Roberta, are being questioned by police and held in jail, until they decide if they’re guilty of child endangerment, unlawful detention, and a bunch of other stuff. The Leaders are being investigated for murder and attempted murder. I already gave my statement earlier.”

I wet my lips. “Do you think I should…”

Henry shook his head. “That’s entirely up to you, Polly. Of all of us, your life was made the most miserable by the Homestead and the Leaders. You have the right to do whatever you’d like, and no one can say a damn thing about it.”

I smiled. My two friends were there in front of me, safe and happy. That was all I’d ever wanted growing up. “Thanks, Henry.”

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