Revolution (Collide, #4)(39)

It sounded like nothing, but out of a four year old's mouth, it was more than gibberish. I listened closer and she kept repeating the words, over and over. Her voice even took on this little twang that reminded me of…Mrs. Trudy. I gasped a little at the realization that she may not be alone in her head right then.

Then Marissa's scream cut through the silent dark. I ran, leaving Lily in our pallet to her mumbling. I swung the sheet back…and promptly turned as Jeff's backside was all I could see.

Miguel and Ryan followed me. I heard Miguel first, "Ah, mate! Cover up that full moon, why don't ya!"

Jeff seemed to realize that he was naked and covered himself with the blanket. He glared at us before settling his focus back on Marissa. She was mumbling that same thing as Lily. "The end is swift, the justice equal, the way paved with gifts of the chosen."

"What does that mean?" Jeff asked and she sat up.

She looked at each in turn and then to Jeff. "We have to go there."

"Go where, sweetheart?"

"There! To the place where they are! It's the only way to stop them!" She looked at me before whispering, "Lily."

"Yeah, I heard her, too."

"Heard her what?" Jeff asked.

"She was saying the same thing as Marissa."

"Bloody hell," Miguel muttered and yawned. "Ok, so now what? We wage a revenge war? I'm all for that."

"Me, too," Rylee said from behind us. I was too focused on Marissa though.

"That's it?" I asked her. "No more to the message?"

She nodded. "There's more, but you're not going to like it."

"More from who? Mrs. Trudy? What does she have to do with all of this anyway?"

"She says they're disappointed that the Specials haven't been used for their purposes."

"Who's they?" I asked, but I already knew. "How?"

"She's found a new purpose now. She said that…Lily is the key. Lily is all we need."

I gulped down my fear and sudden despair at that. I shook my head a firm, 'No' and then said it out loud for good measure. "No."

"You know she's special," she tried to argue.

"I'm going back to bed," I said and turned to go. I was sick and tired of everyone trying to send my girls away to the enemy. It was bad enough to let Sherry go. Screw them all if they thought for one second I was letting my little blonde angel out of my Keeper sight.


I finished her bowl bath and scrubbed under her nails. She was a filthy little girl who played as hard as she did anything else. She examined her nails and nodded her approval before skipping off. I smiled at her, but the task of the day hit me and I stopped smiling.

I went into the kitchen area and dipped Lily a bowl of oatmeal before finding Marissa. I told her what I was about to do and then asked if she would watch Lily for me. She nodded without a word and then hugged me. I was little embarrassed. She never hugged me, but she sniffled against my shoulder and said, "Find her. Bring her back safe, ok?" She looked up, the sincerity making me ache. "We miss our little mama hen around here."

"I will." I glanced Lily's way. "I won't come back without Sherry."

Loss slammed into my chest. I knew this could be the last time I saw my Lily again. Marissa nodded so I made my way to Lily. I lifted her from the stool and hugged her to me. "Daddy's got to go on a little trip." I pulled back to see her. "I'll try to be home as soon as I can."

"You gonna find Mommy?" she drawled.

"I'm going to try." I cleared my throat. "Hey, do you remember what you dreamed about last night?"

She turned her head and thought, her lips twisted. Then she said, "Zebwas and ponies and horsies. Except in my dweam, they were all pink and puwple!"

I laughed and kissed her cheek. "That sounds like a good one."

"I wish I could live there," she said off handedly. "Even the gwass was pink."

I laughed again and set her down on the stool to finish her breakfast. The dog barked to get her attention and she dipped her finger in oatmeal before letting him lick it off, giggling. I went to the crates and strapped a stake to my hip and the inside of my boot. I lifted to find Danny and Miguel doing the same thing. I started to ask what they were doing, but I knew.

"You don't have to do this," I told them, emotion clogging my throat.

Miguel scoffed. "That little sheila is the reason I'm standing here right now. She's not all piss and wind! It'd be a bastard of a thing if something happened to her. She's done nothing but look after me and cook for my sorry arse. I'm coming with you."

"I'm coming, too," Danny said and held up his hand. "And don't start."

"I'm not," I said gently. "I'm done trying to get you to listen to me." We both grinned as he punched my shoulder.

"I'll come, too," Billings chimed. He rubbed the sling on his arm and scratched under the bandages. "Itches like a mother and I'm bored outta my skull."

"Am I late to the tea party?" Jeff joked as he rounded the corner.

"Not at all," I said and threw him a stake. "How's Marissa?"

"Worried." He shrugged as he sheathed the stake in his belt. "She can't see anything about Sherry so it kind of sucks for her. The one person she wants to see, she can't."