Gone (Gone #1)(125)

"I think he's had a couple of days to prepare" Diana said. "And he's got more people. And some of his people, especially the freaks from Coates. really, really want you dead" She stepped closer to him, right up in his face. "Every step of the way, Caine, you listen to me, then you do exactly what I've told you not to do. I told you to lei the freaks go who didn't want to play along. But no, you had to listen to Drake's paranoid advice. I told you logo into Perdido Beach and make a quick deal for food. You have to go try and take over. Now you're going to do whatever you want, and you'll probably end up screwing things up"

"Your faith in me is touching," Caine said.

"You're smart. You're charming. You have all this power.

But your ego is out of control."

He might have lashed out> but instead, he spread his arms wide in a gesture of helplessness. "What was I supposed to do? Coates? That's it? How do you not see what an opportunity this is? We're in a whole new world. I'm the most powerful person in that whole new worid. No adults. No parents or teachers or cops. It's perfect. Perfect for me. All I have to do is take care of Sam and a few others, and I'll have complete control" He was making fists by the conclusion of his rant.

"You'll never have complete control, Caine. This world is changing all the time. Animals. People. Who knows what's next? We didn't make this world* we're just the poor fools who are living in it"

"You're wrong. I'm not a fool. This is going to be my world." He slapped his chest. "Me. I'm going to run the FAYZ, the FAYZ is not going to run trie"

"It's not too late to walk away"

He grinned, a dark echo of his once-charming smile. "You're wrong. It's time to win* It's time to send Bug to Sam with my terms"

"Til go" Diana volunteered. !t was foolish. She knew* what he would say. And she could see the light of suspicion in his eyes.

"Bug. You know what to say. Go" He pushed Bug away, and the chameleon blended into the background. The door opened and closed.

Caine took Diana's hand. She wanted to pull it away, but she didn't. "Everyone out of here'' Caine said.

Howard go! heavily to his feet. Lana as well. When it was just the two of them, Caineand Diana, he drew her close into an awkward embrace.

"What are you doing?" she demanded stiffly,

"Pm probably going to die tonight"

"That's kind of melodramatic, isn't it? One minute you're invincible, and the next—"

He interrupted her with a rushed, lunging kiss. She let him for a few seconds. Then she pushed him back, though not with enough force to free herself from his embrace.

"What was that for?" she asked.

"IPs the least you owe me, isn't it?" Caine said. He sounded childish, needy. "I owe you?"

"You owe me. Besides, I thought you . . , you know" His cockiness had given way to petulance and now his petulance was dissolving into embarrassment and confusion.

"You're not very good at this, are you?" Diana mocked.

"What am I supposed to say? You're hot, all right?"

Diana threw her head back and laughed."Pm hot? That's what you want to tell me? One minute you're master of the FAYZ, and the next minute you're like a pathetic little kid going for his first kiss."

I lis face went dark and she knew immediately she had gone too far. His hand, fingers splayed, was in her face. She tensed, awaiting the blast of energy.

For a long time they stood that way, frozen. Diana barely breathed.

"You're seared of me, after all, Diana," Caine whispered. "All your altitude and all, and underneath it, you're scared-I can see it in your eyes"

She said nothing. He was still dangerous. At this range he had the power to kill her with a thought.

"Well, I don't want to seem like a pathetic little kid going for his first kiss" Caine said."So how about you just give me what I want? How about from now on you just do what I say?"

"You're threatening me?"

Caine nodded. "Like you said Diana, we didn't make the FAYZ, we just live here. Here in the FAYZ it's all about power. I have it. You don't."

"I guess we'll see if you're as powerful as you think, Caine," Diana said, cautious but unbowed. "I guess we'll see."





FORTY-THREE


02 HOURS, 22 MINUTES

THE DAY CARE had no window facing the plaza. Sam had snuck around into the alley to peck in one of the high-on-the-wall windows. He had seen the coyotes. He had recoiled from the sight of Drake.

The coyotes had instantly noted his presence. It was all but impossible to sneak up on them. Drake, looking him right in the eye> had uncoiled his whip hand and languidly drawn the shade.

The kids were huddled together, practically on top of one another, solemn and terrified and half watching The Little Mermaid on the TV,

Sam returned to the plaza. Neither Drake nor the coyotes could see him there. But he felt eyes on him just the same. He only slowly became aware of the kid standing beside him,

"Who are you? And how did you get there?"

"They call me Bug. Vm good at sneaking up on people."

"I guess you are."