The Strays
Chapter Seven

I helped Colt down first, leaving Ty to swing for longer. “You’ve had your fun Indie, now help me down.” He insisted.

“I’m not sure I have the strength now. I am just a girl, after all.”

“Hilarious, misogyny lesson learned. Now, can we leave before Rocky replaces us?”

I unhooked the rope that suspended him and let him drop to prove a point, then Colt rushed over to untie him.

“To think, I actually liked you for a few brief moments.” Ty scowled, getting up from the floor and rubbing his head. “You wouldn’t have some clothes, would you?”

I passed him his clothes from beside the door, then turned away as he and Colt got changed.

“You’re not just another one of Stitch’s Strays, are you?” Colt asked, as I popped my head around the door to check the coast was clear.

“And you aren’t just another factionless straggler.”

“So what happened to you then? You definitely took your time with this break out.” Ty interjected.

“Well, I’m sorry that I was tied up in the basement, under constant watch from two rather disgusting guards. Next time I’ll ask them nicely to let us go. Anyway, you were supposed to be protecting me. That’s why I was forced to bring you along, besides all that stood between you and freedom was some rope, as well as a rusty lock.”

“Touché.” He retorted. “What’s the plan?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I’ll let you know when I have one. In the meantime, let’s use the front door and run as fast as possible.”

We all made a beeline for the staircase, Colt still looking incredibly confused.

“You’re no doubt wondering who I really am or why my friend and I are here.”

“Actually, yes I am. Last I checked, volunteers at a clinic that denounces violence didn’t come on rescue missions or take down armed guards.” Colt bluntly stated.

“I’m not a volunteer at The Paragon, I actually used to live there, I’m the one who fortified it actually and I would’ve come alone, but some friends of mine insisted Ty accompany me for safety, turns out his ass was the one in need of saving, not mine.”

As we neared freedom and the exit, our conversation was cut short. “Oi, you stop right there!”

Ty and Colt both looked at me in alarm. “Ty, grab my clothes from behind that pallet, then take Colt and run. I’ll replace you by the alley South of here, you know the one.”

“I promised I wouldn’t leave you behind or let you get hurt.”

“I can take care of myself. You need to get Colt back to Stitch and Leo. They’ll know what to do, I’m sure.”

“Ty’s right. We can’t just leave you here.”

“Did you hear about what happened to Hatter and his guys after you left The Paragon? That was me. I’ve dealt with far worse odds, but if you guys stay, we’re screwed. It’s one thing risking your own life, but I won’t abide risking others, which makes the two of you a liability. Leave and I’ll buy you some more time, which you’re currently wasting. I promise I’ll come replace you when it’s safe. Just trust me. Please.”

Ty nodded his head, knowing he wouldn’t win. “Fine, be at the meeting point in the next three hours. If you aren’t there, I’m coming back.” He compromised, passing me my clothes.

“It’s probably better if you hold on to them and keep them safe. I’ll need something clean to change into when I replace you, because blood spatter is rather unflattering.”

My joke seemed to lighten the mood as both the boys fled and I waited for the ranks to close in, my fists raised.

“Come on, Cae, it doesn’t have to be like this. You’re outnumbered, you don’t stand a chance. Just give up, we’ll catch up to your friend’s eventually.” Rocky taunted.

I laughed as the first person took a swing at me. The others were unsure. I ducked with ease, throwing an uppercut to his ribs before stealing the gun from his belt as he fell to the ground. I raised the weapon, aiming it at his friends. The other three with weapons drew them, aiming for me. “How do you wanna do this, Rocky? I know for a fact I can kill one, maybe two, of them before they kill me. The question is, do you really want me dead?”

Rocky thought through the dilemma.

“I know I’m wanted alive. I’ve seen the list and I doubt Delilah would appreciate you killing me. You’ve lost this one, Rocky, so just let me walk away. I’m willing to die for my freedom, are you?”

Rocky waved her hand. “Lower your weapons, let her go. I’m sure we’ll be seeing her again soon.”

“I guess I’ll see you around then.” I waved goodbye mockingly as I backed away, not lowering the gun until I could sprint away.

I made it to the meeting place, where the boys had waited for me, both leaning up against a wall, anxious expressions as Ty looked at his watch.

“You boys weren’t worried about me, were you?” I teased. “Can I get my clothes back? This uniform makes a bit of a statement.”

Ty peeled himself off the wall and passed me my clothes, then I disappeared to get changed. When I came back, the boys were whispering between themselves.

“If the two of you are going to talk about me, maybe don’t do it when I’m only a few feet away.” I walked past them, tossing the scavenger uniform aside as I headed back toward the border and home. “You two coming?”

They both started walking, and I waited so they could catch up. Neither talking to me. It was as though something had changed since my clothes swap. “You think I’m a double agent, don’t you?”

Ty shrugged. “I don’t know what to think anymore. There’s no way you should have made it out of there. None of us should have. I also saw your gun and every time something goes wrong, you’re at the epicentre.”

“You two can think what you want. I’m not one of the bad guys, but if we have a problem, I am sure we can sort it out at The Paragon, where it’s safe. We can do a whole fucking trial, but we should move.”

“Fine, but I’m only coming with you guys because Ty told me what’s been happening.” Colt sulked.

I raised my eyebrow curiously at my roommate. “Oh, he did, did he?”

The boys walked ahead of me, gossiping like giddy school girls as I dragged my feet behind them. I had just saved both of their lives, finally gotten Ty to trust me. Now it all meant nothing because of a growing paranoia that made my trust issues look sane.

I was grateful to see the tunnel entrance that marked our exit from this death zone signifying our freedom on the other side, provided no nearby patrols spotted us. Ty marched ahead, followed by Colt, to ensure the exit was unguarded. I stayed behind to make sure nobody had tailed us. He was supposed to signal me once they knew it was safe, but complications arose. I lowered my guard briefly, turning toward the tunnel where I could hear Ty calling; informing me it was safe, and I made my way inside, but I was barely a fifth of the way through when a firm hand gripped my mouth, silencing me as they grabbed my arm, hauling me back into the dead zone. I could hear Ty’s voice growing more concerned as he entered the passageway to replace me. With each step I was dragged backwards, his voice became more distant. I tried to scream out and struggle, but my voice was muffled, my resistance futile. It wasn’t until I felt the cool metal pressed against my back and the roar of an engine springing to life. This was when I truly realised how much trouble I was in. Vehicles were a rare commodity in dead zones. There were few functioning and even fewer people able to use them. This meant these must be people with influence, as I knew for a fact it wasn’t something scavengers could commonly afford.

Whoever had grabbed me forced me into the back of a van, pinning me to the floor, face down, as one of his accomplices bound and gagged me.

It felt like an eternity had passed as I was stuck lying there, feeling every bump and pothole along the way, before we finally reached our destination. I was forced to my feet as the doors opened. A boy a few years older than me with eyes as dark as coal, and hair a deep blue like the abyss of the ocean, helped me climb out. I scanned my surroundings, trying to work out where I was, dread engulfing me as I realised where I had been bought. It was a building that had once served as a science museum, but now belonged to The Trojans. This was a tech savvy faction that I knew very little about. This was because they were rather impressive when it came to maintaining their privacy. I didn’t even know what their leader looked like. I barely had a name, as everyone simply called him Wraith.

The boy with smokey eyes grabbed my arm and pushed me toward the building’s entrance. I dug my feet firmly into the ground, knowing that my odds of survival would significantly decrease if I made it inside. This didn’t seem to faze the boy as he lifted me off the ground, carrying me the distance. This surprised me, as I couldn’t quite fathom where he had acquired the strength. He wasn’t scrawny per se; he was athletically built, his body more toned than muscular. I kicked and squirmed, but he was unperturbed, leading me heartlessly to my doom.

Once we were inside the building, the boy carried me over to an elevator that, shockingly, still worked. The journey upstairs in that enclosed space felt infinite and the wave of dread I had felt before intensified as the doors opened. A tear escaped, flowing freely down my cheek as I scanned the floor, remembering a simpler time when I first moved to the city. I was so excited to see the wonders of the museum my dad pretended to be sick so he could have a day off work to take me and my older brother; I remember the joy I felt as we wandered through the exhibitions then when my father treated us to ice cream I laughed so hard because my brother dropped it on his lap and had to walk around for the rest of the day with a brown stain, as my father wouldn’t take him home to change, though now I was certain, the purity of those fond memories would be tainted by this new reality. The young man forced through the familiar surroundings, toward what I knew to be the planetarium. I wanted to be strong, but deep down I was terrified, unprepared. I knew nothing about my captors and given how I’d left things with Ty; there was doubt in my mind that somebody would come to rescue me. Once inside the planetarium, the boy dragged me toward the front, pushing me down on a chair before removing my gag and bondage. I rubbed my sore, bruised wrists, uncertain about my next actions. It was just me and the boy. I hadn’t seen guards or anybody else, which meant I could take him, given my newfound freedom.

“I know what you’re thinking, and you’re probably right about being able to take me on. You may even make it through the front entrance before somebody successfully recaptures and returns you to this very spot, where your freedom will be removed. So if you want to leave, feel free. I won’t try to stop you.” The boy calmly stated, taking a seat in one of the chairs beside me.

“Aren’t you scared about what Wraith will do to you if I escape on your watch? I mean, he must have a reason for bringing me here, right? Though I’m pretty sure it’s a case of mistaken identity.”

“I’ve no reason to fear anyone in my faction and your being here is no mistake, Caelyn Lewis, or do you prefer Liberty? That is what your rebel friends call you, isn’t it?” The boy smiled nonchalantly as he leaned back in his chair, hands resting behind his head.

I was about to leave when curiosity got the better of me; that was probably going to be my downfall someday, and I turned on my heels to face him. “I don’t know who you are, or what you think you know, but I can tell you this much. Whoever you believe me to be is wrong. You can tell Wraith he’s mistaken.”

The boy laughed. “I was told you were smart, personally I’m yet to see it and like I said before, you’re definitely the one I want.”

I wanted to slam my head into a wall for being so stupid. “You aren’t anything like what I expected the leader of The Trojans to be. I’m not sure if I expected you to be geekier, with braces and acne or brawnier, like the brute your reputation claims you to be.”

“And you aren’t nearly as spirited or as challenging as I thought you would be. I guess both of us are disappointed.” He sighed.

I took a seat beside him, realising how foolish it would be to run. Everything seemed too calm, too easy, and now I knew why. Wraith was a strategist, always thinking ten steps ahead. He’d have expected my attempt at escape and planned accordingly. “Why am I here? Why isn’t Delilah or Hatter? I know about your secret alliance.”

“My business with you is my own, you see. Recently you’ve made a habit of stealing from me and I intend to see to it you stop.” He explained.

“I really don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t even know who you were until today, speaking of which, what day is it today?”

Wraith raised an eyebrow curiously. “Saturday. Why?”

Almost a week. I had been held prisoner by Rocky for almost a week. Stitch and Leo were going to kill me.

“Obviously you have the wrong person, that I can say with complete honesty. I know nothing about any thefts. Now please, just let me leave. My friends are going to be worried and they’ll come looking for me, but all they’ll replace is trouble. I implore you, please let me go.”

Wraith got up from his chair, inspecting me curiously. “Either you think me a fool, or you don’t know what you’re meddling in.”

“Well, why don’t you enlighten me?” I spat, squaring up to him, even though he was at least three inches taller than me.

“Now there’s that famous rebel fire. I can see it in your eyes. I was worried for a moment that it might have been extinguished. Now, let’s see if you’re smart enough to work out the error that landed you here.”

I took a seat, racking my brain as I tried to figure out what was going on. Why was Wraith in Scavenger territory? He wasn’t that stupid, and how did he know where I was? Rocky’s last words echoed in my ear. That’s why she let me go, why she didn’t fight. It had been too easy and I should have seen that.

“You’re Rocky’s silent partner. You’re the real boss running the Scavenger operation. Which also means Colt was your captive, not hers.”

Wraith slowly applauded me. “Now I see why Rocky and Delilah think you’re such a big deal, not to mention the E.A.D.” The clapping slowed, his expression growing serious. “My prisoner isn’t the only thing you’ve stolen from me though, I know you were the one that stole the data from The Sanctum, no doubt with some help from your friends at The Paragon, which means you’re also the one that uploaded the virus that took down my mainframe.”

“Wasn’t me? Do I look like the tech type, or like I could sneak into prep central unnoticed? Even if I had help, the only person I know that’s competent with computers was locked up, in Delilah’s custody. Tell me, why did you only grab me back at the tunnel? Why not take Ty and Colt as well?”

“Why risk all three of you escaping and me losing reliable men when I could have your friends come to get you? Now, why don’t you stop trying to deflect my questions and tell me how you broke into the Sanctum?” He growled, clearly losing his cool.

I leaned back in the chair, wondering if I should continue to feign ignorance and see what he tells me, or if I should just come clean. After all, he struck me as a rather reasonable man.

“Why aren’t the Enforcers here yet? Elites must sing your praises, turning in the city’s most wanted, unless, of course, they don’t know you have me because you didn’t turn me in.”

“Why wouldn’t I want to do something like that?” Wraith asked.

“If I were to guess, I’d say leverage. You want information from me, but you know it will take time. You tell Delilah I’m here and you’re immediately facing a ticking clock.”

Wraith looked rather impressed by my deductive reasoning. “You’re a real smartass. It makes sense why so many people want you dead. You’re quite irritating and with your clear knowledge of strategy, particularly evasion I can imagine under the right circumstances, you could be considered quite a threat.”

“If you think I’m threatening now, see what I can do at one hundred percent; when I’m not in recovery.” I squared up to him again, trying to assert some dominance through maintaining eye contact.

Wraith smiled, his grin a conceited one. “Sounds like it could be fun. I’ll hold you to it.”