Page 97 of Ghosts of the Dead

I laugh again, and this time it’s a hollow sound that scrapes my throat. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m losing my mind and she was never here at all.”

“You’re not losing anything,” Mars says. “We all saw her hair from the street. It’s almost as noticeable as yours. She was here.”

Caspian finishes cleaning the rotter brain matter from my hand, and rubs his thumb along my Gemini tattoo before releasing my hand.

I stare down at the dead rotter at my feet, at the mess of what used to be human, and wonder if I’ll ever get the answers I need. Lucy’s brothers are the real monsters here, and she’s the only one who can get me to them.

Or is she in on the whole thing?

35

JACE

The engine ticks and the tires crunch over broken asphalt as we soar down the street searching for a spot of red hair. For a second, it almost feels normal. Like we’re another crew out here scavenging, driving toward something other than danger and revenge. Toward something that makes sense. But nothing makes sense anymore.

I grip the wheel tighter, steering around an old three-car wreck that doesn’t look like there were any survivors. My eyes flick to the passenger seat where Autumn sits curled up, staring out the window with her arms wrapped around herself. She hasn’t said much since Lucy disappeared again. The purple strands of her hair catch what little sunlight filters through the dirty windows, and something in my chest tightens at the sight. Luna’s head pokes between the seats from the back. The dog hasn’t left Autumn’s side since the confrontation with Lucy.

Movement pulls my attention back to the road. Mars leans forward over the center console from the backseat. “Dregs.”

Three men lean against a car in the road. The hood isopen, with smoke pouring out from the engine. They spread out to block the road when they see us approach.

“This doesn’t look good,” I say before killing the engine. My instincts scream danger, and they haven’t let me down yet. “Autumn, get down, and don’t come out until I tell you to. Lock the door behind us. Above all, stay hidden, no matter what. Stay with Luna.” I glance at the German Shepherd in the back seat. “Luna, stay. Protect.”

The dog’s ears prick forward at the command and she sinks down to the floor in the back.

Instead of arguing like I expect her to, Autumn unbuckles her seatbelt and slides down into the footwell. The rest of us pile out with our weapons within reach. We approach slowly, trying to look casual while assessing the threat.

The three new guys look like anyone else. Dusty clothes, patched jackets, worn boots. They could be normal survivors. They jury on that is out until they make their intentions known.

I address the men. “Looks like you’re having some car trouble. Want me to take a look at it?”

The man on the right has sandy hair, while the other two are pale auburn. The sandy-haired man shakes his head. “Engine’s shot. It’s so hard to find a decent car around here. I think it’ll be easier if we take yours instead.”

Yup. Dregs. I clear my throat. “If you let it cool off, I can get a better look at what the problem is.” Anything to get them out of our way so we can pass, although I’m tempted to get back in the car and drive in a different direction.

The first dreg takes a step forward. “See, that won’t work for us. We’re trying to find someone, and time is of the utmost importance. We’ll be taking your car.”

He tries to brush past me, but I place a hand on his shoulder and shove him back. “No can do. You see, we’re looking for someone, too.”

The second dreg, who must have found gum somewhere because he’s smacking it around his mouth like he’s never learned a single manner in his life, grins. “That’s funny. Hey, isn’t that funny, Richy?”

The third dreg, who must be Richy, looks bored and intrigued all at once. “That is funny, indeed. What’s she look like?”

Caspian is the first to answer, but when he begins to mention red hair, Mars cuts him off and gives a vague description. “She’s about this tall. Pain in the ass. Hard to miss her.”

The one chewing gum lets out a guffaw. “Pain in the ass. Aren’t they all?”

I clench my jaw to keep myself from punching his lights out. “Who are you looking for?”

The first one brushes his sandy hair out of his eyes and responds. “Purple hair. Name is like a season I think, though I forget which one. Winter?” He shrugs. “Also a pain in the ass, from what I hear.”

My body goes rigid. Dammit. I can’t let them near that car.

I don’t move or blink, but they notice my change in demeanor, anyway. The dreg grins wider, and I can see the gum clenched between his teeth. “You’ve seen her.”

“We saw someone like that,” I say through clenched teeth. “Few miles back. Didn’t stick around.” I point back in the direction we came from to throw them off.

The dreg narrows his eyes. “That so?”

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