Page 73 of Dissent (The Dissenter Saga #1)

I didn’t know how long I slept, but the next time I woke up, I was propped up by pillows.

This time, when I opened my eyes, my face was tilted to the right, facing a window I hadn’t noticed the first time.

I assumed the shades had been closed. But now, they were drawn back, allowing a beam of sunshine to light up the room, landing on the bed at my feet, warming them.

I couldn’t help but smile at seeing the sunshine, the little dust particles dancing in the light, gleaming like glitter.

“You’re awake.”

I jumped, startled by the voice. I turned my head and found Sasha seated at the table in the corner of the room.

She stood up and made her way to my bed before sitting herself down on the edge.

Her silvery hair was braided, and she wore a simple navy-blue dress with a matching blue sash that wrapped around her head.

It seemed odd. Sasha didn’t strike me as the type to accessorize.

Recognizing my stare, she smiled and lifted her hand to her sash.

“Do you like it? I’m not one for modern fashion, but this trend serves my purpose.

I don’t need everyone gawking at my staples.

” Toying with the sash for a minute, she added, “It would seem that Chelsea is quite strong. The doctor hopes to remove them soon.”

Ouch… Cracked skull. I wasn’t too sure how to respond, so I settled for, “I’m sorry.”

“Nonsense, child. You have nothing to be sorry for. Now, tell me, how are you feeling?”

I went to say ‘awful,’ but hesitated. Mentally, I scanned myself, noting all my hurts, and then realized I was feeling good. “ Decent, actually.”

A smile slid over her lips. “Excellent. I’m glad to hear that.” I smiled too. Whatever that injection was, it was amazing! “Now, I suspect you have many questions. So, before you overwhelm me with them all, allow me to answer a few of them right off the bat.”

I sat up, anticipation causing my heart to pick up speed. She was right…I had lots of questions. And I needed to know the answers to each one, desperately .

“You were in a coma for two weeks. And since waking from that coma, Dr. Sherman has been dosing you regularly with a medication that has stimulated your immune response and accelerated your body’s ability to heal itself.

Something we call the Genesis Serum. The effect has left you ready to leave this hospital in just a day or two.

It did, however, put you back into a deep sleep.

You’ve been sleeping for the past three days since you initially awoke. ”

“What!” Three days? I had missed another three days?

“Easy, child,” she lifted a hand up in warning. “Be grateful.”

I took a deep breath, noticing the exercise didn’t hurt anymore. In fact, nothing in me hurt. I nodded. “Keep going.”

She put her hand down and continued. “The siege at the rebel camp was disastrous for our cause. We are lucky that Wes sent the warning when he did. Had it not been for that, I’m afraid everything would have been lost.”

“I’m so sorry.” I meant it too. Somehow, I felt responsible for it all. “It’s over, isn’t it? The Dissenters were destroyed.”

Sasha clucked her tongue in disapproval, giving me a stern glare.

“Nonsense. I’m still alive, thanks to you.

As long as I breathe, this rebellion has a beating heart.

There’s a reason I’ve chosen a phoenix as the symbol of our order.

No matter how many times they leave us for dead in flames, we will always rise again. ”

“But, but you lost everything…”

She waved me off. “Child, I have been around for quite some time. I have my ways. We have taken quite a blow, that’s true. But it’s not the end for us. I have a few tricks up my sleeve that will ensure the survival of this rebellion.”

I nodded, mulling her words over in my head before remembering what really mattered to me. “What about my friends? Are they okay?”

“Your friends are safe.”

“Oh thank goodness…” The words fell out of me, and a weight that I didn’t even realize I had been carrying was lifted from my shoulders. I ran my fingers through my hair. “So, they’re all okay? All of them?”

“Yes.”

“Edith?” She was the one I didn’t see at the end of it all on that damn roof.

“She was fairly battered, just as you were, but she was found when reinforcements arrived. She was released from the hospital a week ago.”

The memory of Edith falling to the floor skittered the edge of my consciousness, and then the knowledge that she was okay filled me with relief. “What about Wes and Matias?”

Something flickered across her features that I didn’t quite capture.

It was gone too fast, replaced with the serene calm I’d grown accustomed to from Sasha.

“Both are fine. Matias fared the best out of all of us in fact, but his injuries still required medical attention. He was in the hospital for a few days, but was released a couple of weeks ago. Wes is still recovering in the hospital, same as you. His previous injury from the reconnaissance mission was severely aggravated when he thought it wise to carry 130 pounds up the side of a mountain.”

She arched a brow at me as my cheeks flushed with red. My memory offered me the image of Wes gripping his shoulder, grimacing.

“Of course,” she continued, “he also carried me up several flights of stairs. And for that, I’m incredibly grateful to him.”

Images of that night crossed my mind in quick spurts, cut scenes from a story I couldn’t fully remember. I looked up at Sasha. “Is he going to be okay?”

A soft smile graced her lips, but it didn’t quite meet her eyes. “Yes, he’s expected to make a full recovery.”

I blew out a breath, nodding my head.

“All three of them have been anxious about you.” She looked away at something, her voice taking on an odd timbre. “Matias has been here frequently, demanding that he be allowed to see you. I believe he may have worn out his welcome since they no longer allow him past the front door.”

A flush of heat crossed my cheeks as my heart melted slightly. “Really?”

She looked back at me, and this time, her smile conveyed genuine warmth. “Yes, really.”

I looked down, feeling embarrassment curl into me, but the good kind.

The kind that came when you felt joy over the very thing that made you want to bury your face under a blanket while you smiled like an idiot.

That kind of embarrassment. The silence stretched for a moment while I tried to smack down the swirls of butterflies in my stomach.

Then, I remembered…I remembered Jacob on the roof, racing towards me before everything went black.

The butterflies of love were quickly replaced by the raptors of fear.

“Jacob. What about my brother? Did he get hurt? Is he okay?”

“Mara,” her voice was soft as she took an elegant hand and placed it on mine. “Your brother did not return from the camp with the others.”

My heart skipped a beat. “What? No. No, please listen. He’s good, Sasha, and he can help us.” But the look on her face, the way the corners of her mouth tipped down into a frown, told me I wasn’t fully understanding.

“Child, your brother is not being held captive by me or anyone else part of this rebellion.” She breathed deeply, preparing herself.

“When reinforcements arrived, so did more REG soldiers. From what I’ve been able to gather from the reports, Jacob was taken by the REG.

The last intel I received was that he was being held prisoner back in Telvia. ”

“No,” my hands flew to my mouth, covering my lips. “No! Please tell me you’re lying.”

“His willingness to help you escape did not go unnoticed by his comrades. My understanding is that the Telvian Council has placed pressure on Raúl to follow through with his warning to the people about aiding Dissenters.”

“Oh my god…” My eyes peeled back as open as they could. I couldn’t believe it. This couldn’t be happening.

Sasha squeezed my hand. “Jacob is Raúl’s only son.

Understandably, he is struggling to comply with the Council’s request.” Straightening herself again, she drew back her hand.

“As much as I am saddened by our losses at the camp, the story of Jacob’s willingness to help you has been spreading throughout Telvia.

The Telvian Council has been trying to keep the rumors under wraps, but their efforts have not been working well.

Between the news of your survival, your brother’s willingness to go against his own father to aid you, and now Raúl’s struggle to follow through with his threat… well, people are talking.”

I placed a hand on my chest, feeling my heart slam against my ribs as the sound of blood rushed through my ears.

“It would seem that we have accomplished our initial task. We have thrown Telvia into chaos. Raúl has pushed back Election Day, claiming that the people of Telvia need certainty and stability.” A victorious smile crossed her lips.

“But I am no fool. Raúl is panicking. The loyalty of the people is slipping, and he knows it.”

I really didn’t care about Raúl right now. I only cared about one thing—my brother. “What about Jacob? You promised me you would do everything in your power to keep him alive.”

The smile slipped from Sasha’s lips as her brows furrowed. “What would you have me do? Your brother is behind enemy lines, and Telvian Administration did not make the same mistake your father did. Jacob is in no basement.”

My hands came slamming down on either side of me, tears flooding my vision. “You promised!”

Sasha raised her voice, but remained in full control of herself. “I cannot risk the few people I have left to go after your brother, Mara. The Telvian Council has him imprisoned in the Bellfire Tower.”

I inhaled deeply. “No…”

“I’m afraid it’s true, child. And if Raúl has any hopes of regaining control of Telvia, he’ll need to make good on his threat.” Her face softened as she shifted her gaze away from me. “It’s only a matter of time… I’m afraid your brother’s days are numbered.”

I closed my eyes, feeling the beads of moisture rolling down my cheeks. This couldn’t be happening. Jacob couldn’t die. My chest tightened as though my lungs were wrapped in the deadly coils of a boa constrictor.

I think I’m going to be sick .

Sasha placed a hand on my leg, patting me gently in a poor attempt at consoling me. I couldn’t let this happen. I couldn’t let him die…not Jacob.

“You have to help him,” I demanded.

She frowned, pulling away from me. “Unfortunately, child, there is nothing I can do to save him.”

I straightened, rolling my shoulders back as the determination bubbled up within me. “You have to try.”

“I can’t—”

“Yes, you can. You said this revolution isn’t over, that you had tricks up your sleeve. So figure it out. Save him or I’m pulling out.”

Sasha eyed me, her lids narrowing as her annoyance and frustration became clear across her face. “I don’t know what you think I can do to save your brother, child, but I guarantee that there’s nothing I can do to help him…not with the lack of manpower I currently have.”

I gritted my teeth, losing my patience as desperation crawled through me. “Then find the manpower.”

Sasha stiffened. “You think it’s that easy, do you?”

“I don’t give a shit if it’s easy for you. I want my brother back. So, if you want me to keep helping you, then get him back .”

Something flickered across her piercing gaze. She was calculating, that I could tell. But what she was weighing out was a mystery to me. All I knew was I wanted Jacob back, alive . And I would do anythin g to make that happen.

Sasha rolled her shoulders back as she stood up, pulling herself to her full height. “Raúl must be stopped. If you want your brother to survive this war, then you must be ready to do whatever it takes.”

I gave her a curt nod.

“I might have a plan to save your brother, but in return, you’ll need to do exactly as I tell you. We need to rebuild our forces, and we need to do it quickly if we have any hope of saving Jacob before his time runs out.”

I nodded again. “I’ll do whatever it is you want, but Jacob makes it back alive.”

Sasha took in a slow, deep breath through her nose before finally lifting her head with a victorious smile. “Well, child, it seems we have a deal. Let’s get your brother back.”

Thank you for reading Mara’s story! I hope you enjoyed this rollercoaster of a ride as much as I enjoyed writing it for you. Mara’s story continues in Resist , book two of The Dissenter Saga.

Coming September 26, 2024