Read Online The Believers (The Breeders Series - Book 2) by Katie French - Free Book Online Page A

say so.” What I don't say is, You've never known starvation. You have no idea what it's like out there.
    “The carousel,” Mage says, swinging around one of the outer poles. I stop to touch a horse's flared nostril, when footsteps thud toward me.
    “Riley!”
    It's Ethan, running at a full clip. He slams into me, his bony body nearly taking me out as he tightens his arms around my waist. I wrap my arms around him and press my face to his dark hair. Behind him Rayburn follows, pushing a greasy strand of black hair off his glasses. Clay limps between tables and chairs, his face breaking into a smile. He throws his arms around me. My heart thrums as I pick up his scent.
    “Didn't sleep at all,” he whispers into my hair. “I didn't know what they done to you.”
    “I'm okay,” I say, pulling back, realizing I have an audience. People have stopped their business and turned.
    “We heard 'bout yer ma,” Clay says, clutching a chair to help support his weight. “D'you know how she's doin'?”
    Ethan’s hand finds mine. “Is she okay?”
    I run a hand down his hair. “I don't know. Mage…” I pause. “Everyone this is Mage. Mage, this is Clay, Rayburn, and Ethan.” Ethan's hand slips from mine as he notices her. He stands up straighter, puffing out his chest.
    Mage smiles as her eyes linger on my little brother. The flush in his cheeks is unmistakable. “We don't know anything about your mom,” she says, “but I’m sure she's doing dandy. We'll go check when we're done.” She blinks those golden lashes and the blush burns deeper through Ethan's cheeks.
    I'm about to ask how long this tour will take when she grips my hand and pulls me close. “I have something to show you,” she whispers, her eyes flitting around the noisy room. “Can you be quiet?” She looks at everyone's face. We all nod. “Follow me and act natural.”
    She leads us through the noisy cafeteria and down a hallway. A group of women walk by and Mage smiles, but the instant they’re gone, her face becomes stony again. “This way.” Instead of heading back to the sleeping halls, she heads right, down a dark hallway.
    We walk together, Ethan at my side, Clay and Rayburn behind. Clay limps heavily. At the pace Mage is going, I know it hurts him. I bite my tongue. Nothing would embarrass him more than me asking to slow down so that he could rest his tore-up leg. I’ve got no idea what we're into and I don't wanna ask in case she changes her mind. She might be showing us a way out, trucks or even weapons, though I'm not sure why she'd do that. Either way, I wanna see what's on this side of the mall.
    As we move farther from the warm, bustling food court, the dark hallway is eerie and quiet, sending nervous tingles up my arms. The hallway has the worst signs of decay I've seen so far in this camp. Large cracks run up the plaster walls. The carpet’s been stripped away, leaving only pitted concrete. Our footsteps echo. It smells like mildew, stale air, and something else—something sulfuric and chemical.
    Mage turns around, her features hollow in the dim light. “If anyone asks why we're down here, I'm going to tell them that I found you wandering off and I’m bringing you back. It's the only lie I can think of that they'll believe. Okay?”
    “Mage, where are you tak—”
    “Shhh.” She presses her finger to her lips. “Just a little farther.”
    Clay's hand finds the small of my back. He's just as nervous as I am.
    “Stop,” Mage whispers and we do.
    Dim outlines lurk in the corners. Ethan's hand finds mine. I hear the distinct sound of a struck match and the hiss of flame. Then light floods the darkness as Mage turns on a gas camping lantern she's lifted from a stool beside her.
    A giant crevasse cuts across the ground where the floor used to be—a deep, black scar, ominous and ugly. We're only steps away. If Mage hadn’t stopped us at that exact moment, we would've plunged to our deaths. I peer down. Crumbled bits of concrete