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Authors: Natalie Whipple
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and I freeze. I may be invisible, but there’s so much dust in here I have to be careful. I tiptoe to a corner, taking care to avoid leaving footprints, and huddle down just in case.
“It was probably a lizard or something,” Seth says. “If Fiona was here, wouldn’t she come out if she heard us?”
I can hardly believe it—they’re looking for me. But Seth’s wrong. I’m not coming out for anyone but Miles.
“I don’t know.” Brady steps through the broken window, shining his flashlight right over my concealed bag. He doesn’t see it. “Trixy said she sounded terrified of her brother. Fiona didn’t even want her helping because she’d get in trouble, so Fiona might think the same thing about us.”
I smile because he’s right. It’s freaky how he seems to understand me.
“How considerate of her,” Seth says. “Maybe she should have thought about that before coming here in the first place.”
“It is considerate, since she’s obviously trying to escape. There’s no denying it now.”
“You guys are so slow.”
“Shut up, brainiac. You could have told us.” Brady lifts things like they weigh nothing, checking for me. My heart warms at how concerned he seems. It’s probably because Bea’s worried, but it’s still sweet.
“I promised her I wouldn’t.” Seth leans by the window, staring at the ground like he’s completely bored.
Brady sighs. “Fine. I guess that’s a good excuse, but from the way you were acting earlier I thought you’d be more—”
“Can we get going?” Seth stands away from the windowsill. “I don’t run as fast as you.”
Brady laughs as he shines the light on Mr. Cranky. “Changing the subject, huh? You must—”
“Will you quit it?” Seth holds up a hand to block the light. “We still have to check the factory, or we’ll never get Bea off our backs. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to get at least a little sleep tonight.”
“You’re not worried about her at all? It’s not exactly safe out here, and Bea said she didn’t have food.”
“Fiona can take care of herself.” Seth slips a backpack off his shoulders. “And that’s what this is for. We’ll leave half of it here and half of it at the factory. If she ran off this way at all, she’s bound to see both.”
Brady’s shoulders slump. “I guess that’s the best we can do.”
“Yup.” Seth unzips the bag, revealing several boxes of food, sports drinks, and even a blanket for the increasingly chilly night. “Let’s get going.”
Brady heads outside. “Do you want me to carry you?”
Seth scoffs. “I have some dignity, you know.”
Brady laughs, and then their footsteps fade into the distance. I stay put for a few minutes, though the food and drink call to me. I don’t want them to come back and see it gone. They probably don’t realize I’m here, but it doesn’t hurt to be extra cautious. When I can’t take it anymore, I rush to the window and look out. No flashlights. The other building’s outline barely shows against the sky. They called it a factory, but it must be a ruin just like this. I’ll have to check it out when I get the food they’re apparently leaving there.
With the coast clear, I dig into some protein bars. I stuff one in my mouth, and I about die when I notice the box of blueberry Pop-Tarts, too. Bea must have seen them in my cart and figured I liked them. I pause midbite. I don’t get it. I’ve never met people who’d risk themselves to help me escape, or who’d run around the desert all night leaving food just in case I was there.
I grab a drink, gulping it down as I think. They could be lying. Just because Bea said they weren’t working for a syndicate doesn’t mean it’s true.
Bea’s fearless eyes come back to me, then Brady’s worried voice, and even Seth saying I’m amazing for trying to escape. They … might care about me. A chill runs down my spine.
Chapter 11
It’s day three, and Miles hasn’t come yet. He should have
“It was probably a lizard or something,” Seth says. “If Fiona was here, wouldn’t she come out if she heard us?”
I can hardly believe it—they’re looking for me. But Seth’s wrong. I’m not coming out for anyone but Miles.
“I don’t know.” Brady steps through the broken window, shining his flashlight right over my concealed bag. He doesn’t see it. “Trixy said she sounded terrified of her brother. Fiona didn’t even want her helping because she’d get in trouble, so Fiona might think the same thing about us.”
I smile because he’s right. It’s freaky how he seems to understand me.
“How considerate of her,” Seth says. “Maybe she should have thought about that before coming here in the first place.”
“It is considerate, since she’s obviously trying to escape. There’s no denying it now.”
“You guys are so slow.”
“Shut up, brainiac. You could have told us.” Brady lifts things like they weigh nothing, checking for me. My heart warms at how concerned he seems. It’s probably because Bea’s worried, but it’s still sweet.
“I promised her I wouldn’t.” Seth leans by the window, staring at the ground like he’s completely bored.
Brady sighs. “Fine. I guess that’s a good excuse, but from the way you were acting earlier I thought you’d be more—”
“Can we get going?” Seth stands away from the windowsill. “I don’t run as fast as you.”
Brady laughs as he shines the light on Mr. Cranky. “Changing the subject, huh? You must—”
“Will you quit it?” Seth holds up a hand to block the light. “We still have to check the factory, or we’ll never get Bea off our backs. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to get at least a little sleep tonight.”
“You’re not worried about her at all? It’s not exactly safe out here, and Bea said she didn’t have food.”
“Fiona can take care of herself.” Seth slips a backpack off his shoulders. “And that’s what this is for. We’ll leave half of it here and half of it at the factory. If she ran off this way at all, she’s bound to see both.”
Brady’s shoulders slump. “I guess that’s the best we can do.”
“Yup.” Seth unzips the bag, revealing several boxes of food, sports drinks, and even a blanket for the increasingly chilly night. “Let’s get going.”
Brady heads outside. “Do you want me to carry you?”
Seth scoffs. “I have some dignity, you know.”
Brady laughs, and then their footsteps fade into the distance. I stay put for a few minutes, though the food and drink call to me. I don’t want them to come back and see it gone. They probably don’t realize I’m here, but it doesn’t hurt to be extra cautious. When I can’t take it anymore, I rush to the window and look out. No flashlights. The other building’s outline barely shows against the sky. They called it a factory, but it must be a ruin just like this. I’ll have to check it out when I get the food they’re apparently leaving there.
With the coast clear, I dig into some protein bars. I stuff one in my mouth, and I about die when I notice the box of blueberry Pop-Tarts, too. Bea must have seen them in my cart and figured I liked them. I pause midbite. I don’t get it. I’ve never met people who’d risk themselves to help me escape, or who’d run around the desert all night leaving food just in case I was there.
I grab a drink, gulping it down as I think. They could be lying. Just because Bea said they weren’t working for a syndicate doesn’t mean it’s true.
Bea’s fearless eyes come back to me, then Brady’s worried voice, and even Seth saying I’m amazing for trying to escape. They … might care about me. A chill runs down my spine.
Chapter 11
It’s day three, and Miles hasn’t come yet. He should have
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