Page 49 of Warrior

With so many reported dead, the Federation had gone into survival mode.That much I could understand.What I couldn’t wrap my head around was the systematic killing of humans now, or the initial decision to hide the true number of survivors.

When it looked like the hellhounds would win and our elders were nearly annihilated, Greystone brought us into the fight as Shadow Warriors.We went to war, stood beside humans, and saved the Federation.Marinah’s father had tried to help us.He shared some of the government’s inner workings with Greystone and found ways to protect the Warriors.That became even clearer after his death.

Now, we were hoping to gather humans willing to fight alongside us against the Federation, but that would need to wait.It was a slippery slope, and the time wasn’t right.Beck and Nokita’s teams might have better luck with their observations.Here, in Federation-controlled territory, the risk was too great to attempt contact.

Everything seemed to ride on Marinah.

Chapter Seventeen

Marinah

My promised interrogation was postponed, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was because of my newly reinstated status as Secretary of Defense.Despite the president’s proclamation to Labyrinth, my day was spent essentially twiddling my thumbs in my room.Like the Shadow Warriors, I was little more than a prisoner, and the guards stationed in the outer hall were a clear reminder that things weren’t as the president wanted them to appear.

It wasn’t until the following morning that I finally got a chance to speak privately with Labyrinth.We sat down at one of the tables in the Warriors’ eating quarters.The room had eight tables with chairs and absolutely nothing to make it feel welcoming.Even the walls could’ve benefited from a fresh coat of paint.Labyrinth, however, looked perfectly at home in the austere space, dressed in his newly issued U.S.military fatigues.I bit back a comment about the uniform.

“The more we look like them, the more they’ll trust us,” he said, clearly picking up on the distaste written across my face.“Even so,” he added, “they have us eat here to keep humans from being exposed to our animal natures.We must smell bad too,” he finished with a completely straight face.

“I know you stink,” I deadpanned.“I’m not sure about the other Warriors.”

He laughed, and just like that, the small talk was over.Labyrinth leaned forward, his tone shifting as he got down to business.“Yesterday, I checked the area where the hellhounds were sighted, and I didn’t learn a damn thing.I was told that inspecting security would have to wait until later today.”He tapped his finger on the table, his frustration barely concealed.“The Federation has a sizable army.One of the soldiers I spoke with this morning said they’re commandeering civilians and killing those who don’t comply.Entire families.”

The words hit me hard, and I cringed inwardly.“Do you believe him?”I asked, my voice quieter than I intended.

Labyrinth shrugged.“I do.He risked his life to tell me, and if he’s lying, I can’t imagine why the Federation would have him deliver a message so damaging to their reputation.It doesn’t make sense otherwise.I think we should believe him.”

A few years into my job as an analyst, I started worrying about how new soldiers were being brought in.My father assured me that the Federation wasn’t accepting anyone who didn’t volunteer willingly.At the onset of the hellhound attacks, soldiers had seemed to come out of the woodwork, ready to save humanity.But as the death toll climbed into the millions, things began to change.Soldiers deserted, choosing to return home to defend their families instead of staying on the front lines.

I’d heard a few unsubstantiated rumors about resistance in the western U.S.after the new government formed, but I never brought it up with my father.Over time, the rumors faded, replaced by the official narrative: those who didn’t come to the Capitol for safety had died.They were killed by hellhounds, disease, and starvation or at least that’s what they told us.Other than the occasional whisper of rebellion, my world was a small, controlled box.All the intel I received came directly from the Federation.

It hurt to think my father could have been complicit in the corruption.He had to have known things weren’t right.Before his death, areas surrounding the Capitol had been established to house those unable to fight, the young, the old, and the infirm.I’d heard a rumor that many of those people disappeared.Now I wondered what really happened to them.I’d never questioned my father about it.Had I simply buried my head in the sand?

The only people who were truly protected were the family members of the military and the military personnel themselves.Even red stripes and their families received safe lodging.People like me were granted quarters within the tunnel network.I knew countless civilians were left undefended, but it was one of the many things I forced myself to ignore.Thinking about the billions who had died around the world was too much to bear.I simplified my worries, focusing only on those closest to me, mainly my father, whom I’d loved with my entire heart.

After the Federation rose to power almost overnight, there hadn’t been enough uniforms for the soldiers.Red bandannas tied around the upper arm signified infantry.As soldiers died and more uniforms became available, the bandannas were replaced by red-striped patches.I never questioned what happened to the families of the soldiers who died.Were they forced to leave the tunnels?Once again, why didn’t I ask?

A shiver passed over my skin.I was as guilty as the Federation.If I’d taken the time to analyze the rumors and inconsistencies fed to us by the government, I would’ve seen the truth much sooner.Fear had kept me in line, just like it had so many others.Even so, I hated making excuses for my conformity.

I stared at my hands, wondering how I’d ever been that person.“I agree.They’re kidnapping humans,” I said, refusing to soften it with the wordcommandeer.“They’d need to travel farther out.Places out west and possibly Canada would be the safest bet.We were told Canada had a small, working government.Now that I know the truth, the possibility of mass survivors opens up unlimited potential for the Federation to locate new recruits.If humans survived in Cuba, they survived elsewhere too, including here.Americans aren’t exactly easy to wipe out.I think we have our answer.I should’ve seen this before.”

I glanced up, bracing for the contempt that would be in Labyrinth’s eyes.Instead, I found compassion.

“The soldier who gave me the information said many more humans survived than you were led to believe,” Labyrinth said.“He was also told that speaking about it to anyone would be considered treason.I only got lucky because he’s from a town a stone’s throw from where I grew up, and I knew one of his sisters.He said many civilians are fighting back.He was unlucky enough to be caught in one of their skirmishes, which is how he ended up with a red stripe on his uniform.”

Labyrinth paused, giving me a few seconds to absorb what he’d said, before adding, “If the civilians don’t join, they’re shot on the spot.”

I glanced around the room, wondering how I’d ever fallen for the Federation’s lies.I loved and admired my father so much that it had been easier to follow blindly than to make waves.That was the old Marinah, and I wasn’t that woman anymore.It was time to confront my past and change what I could.

“I need to speak with my old co-workers,” I said.“I need to see what the latest intel is or at least what’s been fed to them.”I took a slow breath.“Like me, they don’t have a clue what’s actually happening.”

His striking dual-colored eyes darkened.“You can’t be certain of that.Don’t trust anyone unless you’re one hundred percent sure of them.”He glanced over my shoulder, going quiet as an unpleasant scent hit our nostrils.

Ten seconds later, General Smyth stepped inside, dressed in military fatigues similar to Labyrinth’s.“May I join you?”he asked, though he didn’t wait for an answer.He pulled out a chair and sat, his attention fixed squarely on Labyrinth while ignoring me entirely.

“I think we got off on the wrong foot,” Smyth said, his tone attempting diplomacy.“I’m hoping we can put our differences aside and work together.Fewer humans and Shadow Warriors will die if we do.”

When Labyrinth didn’t respond immediately, I kicked him slightly under the table.

Even then, the jerk hesitated a moment longer, intensifying his glare before finally speaking.“We trusted you once before, and it didn’t end well.How will this time be any different?”His voice was clipped, and I didn’t miss the subtle way the general’s back stiffened.

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