Three (Article 5 #3)(53)

I frowned, feeling somehow lighter without this burden, but infinitely more exposed.

Chase and I sat on the swings at the small playground just outside the cafeteria, rocking gently forward and back. After a while, Will brought us some food, then disappeared back into the kitchen. We ate quietly, plates on our laps, and watched the light from the standing torches throw shapes against the concrete side of the building.

“The Expungement Initiative,” I muttered. Chase had used the term earlier when describing what they’d done to my mother in the Lexington FBR base. It was a new protocol, approved by the Chief of Reformation, meant to make the Article violators disappear so the country could start fresh.

“I can’t believe they named it,” I said.

Chase leaned forward to put his plate on the ground.

“It’s the government,” he said, staring at the sand between his feet. “They have a name for everything. Even the things that don’t really exist.”

I pushed the rest of the food aside. An image of Tucker flashed in my mind. I didn’t know if he’d made it to the safe house yet, but part of me was now glad I hadn’t been sent to find him. The thought of seeing him now, with my mother’s story fresh in my mind, made me sick.

“I hope this works,” I said.

Chase didn’t respond right away. “If it works, we’ll never be able to go back.”

I didn’t know if he meant back home, or back outside of the Red Zone. It didn’t much matter; either was a risk. I rested my head against the cool chain of the swing. “I know.”

“What happens then?” He’d never asked me a question about the future before. I didn’t know how to answer.

I pushed back on my heels and let the swing carry me forward. “Remember when we were little we’d see who could jump the farthest?”

He smiled. “I remember.”

“You’d always let me win.” I pumped my legs. “I bet I can jump farther now.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” he said.

I didn’t jump; I let the momentum carry me back to a stop. And then I walked out of the swing and sat on the crunchy sand against the jungle gym. He came and sat beside me, and I snuggled closer and laid my cheek on his chest.

“Sometimes I miss you when you’re not even gone,” he said.

I closed my eyes.

*

WE were woken some time later by Will’s tentative footsteps on the playground sand. It was still dark outside, so not too much time could have passed. I wasn’t sure when the kid slept; he always seemed to be lurking near the lodge. As he approached, he eyed Chase suspiciously.

“The doc wants to see you,” he said. “He’s with your dad.” I rubbed my eyes and sat up.

Chase’s brows scrunched. “My dad?”

“Yeah,” said Will, spilling bread crumbs as he snatched my plate. He had a twitchy way of moving, always watching over his shoulder as if he suspected someone might be sneaking up on him. Throw some dirt on him and he easily could have been one of the Lost Boys who’d jumped us in the woods. “Who else’s dad you think I’m talkin’ about?” he said. “Big, tall, black hair. The hunter.”

There was only one person here who could possibly be confused as Chase’s father.

“You mean Jesse,” I said. “Chase’s uncle.”

Will’s mouth pulled to the side. “I ’spose.”

“Why do you call him the hunter?” asked Chase. Jesse hadn’t been assigned to any hunting party as far as I knew.

“I seen him before,” said Will, checking behind him. “In the woods. He thinks I don’t remember, but I remember.”

It was possible he’d seen Jesse hunting from the safe house—Jesse had said they’d had run-ins with the Lost Boys before.

“You mean before DeWitt brought you here,” Chase said.

“DeWitt didn’t bring me nowhere.” Will snatched his plate. “I go where I want.”

“My mistake,” said Chase.

At the sound of footsteps from inside the lodge, the boy paused, and lifted his nose like an animal who’d caught a scent.

“They’re at the graveyard,” said Will quickly. “It’s—”

“I know where it is,” I said, then wilted a little when Chase’s brow cocked in my direction. I was surprised DeWitt had left the lodge without us knowing. We must have slept through it.

Before we could ask any more, Will sped away.

“Jumpy,” said Chase.

“At least he’s not trying to catch me in a net,” I said, frowning as Will disappeared back inside the cafeteria. It was possible that he could have seen Chase’s uncle in the woods. For an instant, I pictured Will throwing a net over the man twice his size and couldn’t help but grin.

Chase smirked. “I guess some people can be rehabilitated after all.”

“What can I say?” I said with a sigh. “I’m not Sister material.”

“Definitely not.”

I elbowed him in the side. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He laughed, then abruptly cleared his throat. The blood rushed to my skin. I could still feel his fingertips trailing down my arm, his grip, firm and warm behind my bent knee. The heat of his breath on my neck and the way we both fumbled, and trembled, and finally found each other.