Page 46

JACE

T he engine ticks and the tires crunch over broken asphalt as we soar down the street searching for a spot of red hair.

For a second, it almost feels normal. Like we’re another crew out here scavenging, driving toward something other than danger and revenge.

Toward something that makes sense. But nothing makes sense anymore.

I grip the wheel tighter, steering around an old three-car wreck that doesn’t look like there were any survivors.

My eyes flick to the passenger seat where Autumn sits curled up, staring out the window with her arms wrapped around herself.

She hasn’t said much since Lucy disappeared again.

The purple strands of her hair catch what little sunlight filters through the dirty windows, and something in my chest tightens at the sight.

Luna’s head pokes between the seats from the back.

The dog hasn’t left Autumn’s side since the confrontation with Lucy.

Movement pulls my attention back to the road. Mars leans forward over the center console from the backseat. “Dregs.”

Three men lean against a car in the road. The hood is open, with smoke pouring out from the engine. They spread out to block the road when they see us approach.

“This doesn’t look good,” I say before killing the engine.

My instincts scream danger, and they haven’t let me down yet.

“Autumn, get down, and don’t come out until I tell you to.

Lock the door behind us. Above all, stay hidden, no matter what.

Stay with Luna.” I glance at the German Shepherd in the back seat. “Luna, stay. Protect.”

The dog’s ears prick forward at the command and she sinks down to the floor in the back.

Instead of arguing like I expect her to, Autumn unbuckles her seatbelt and slides down into the footwell. The rest of us pile out with our weapons within reach. We approach slowly, trying to look casual while assessing the threat.

The three new guys look like anyone else. Dusty clothes, patched jackets, worn boots. They could be normal survivors. They jury on that is out until they make their intentions known.

I address the men. “Looks like you’re having some car trouble. Want me to take a look at it?”

The man on the right has sandy hair, while the other two are pale auburn. The sandy-haired man shakes his head. “Engine’s shot. It’s so hard to find a decent car around here. I think it’ll be easier if we take yours instead.”

Yup. Dregs. I clear my throat. “If you let it cool off, I can get a better look at what the problem is.” Anything to get them out of our way so we can pass, although I’m tempted to get back in the car and drive in a different direction.

The first dreg takes a step forward. “See, that won’t work for us. We’re trying to find someone, and time is of the utmost importance. We’ll be taking your car.”

He tries to brush past me, but I place a hand on his shoulder and shove him back. “No can do. You see, we’re looking for someone, too. ”

The second dreg, who must have found gum somewhere because he’s smacking it around his mouth like he’s never learned a single manner in his life, grins. “That’s funny. Hey, isn’t that funny, Richy?”

The third dreg, who must be Richy, looks bored and intrigued all at once. “That is funny, indeed. What’s she look like?”

Caspian is the first to answer, but when he begins to mention red hair, Mars cuts him off and gives a vague description. “She’s about this tall. Pain in the ass. Hard to miss her.”

The one chewing gum lets out a guffaw. “Pain in the ass. Aren’t they all?”

I clench my jaw to keep myself from punching his lights out. “Who are you looking for?”

The first one brushes his sandy hair out of his eyes and responds. “Purple hair. Name is like a season I think, though I forget which one. Winter?” He shrugs. “Also a pain in the ass, from what I hear.”

My body goes rigid. Dammit. I can’t let them near that car.

I don’t move or blink, but they notice my change in demeanor, anyway. The dreg grins wider, and I can see the gum clenched between his teeth. “You’ve seen her.”

“We saw someone like that,” I say through clenched teeth. “Few miles back. Didn’t stick around.” I point back in the direction we came from to throw them off.

The dreg narrows his eyes. “That so?”

I nod. “We really should get back to our search.” I step sideways and inch back toward the car.

The sandy-haired dreg crosses his arms with a knowing smirk. “You never described your girl you were looking for. Physically, I mean.”

I grind my teeth. “Not the same. Ours doesn’t have purple hair. That sounds like an insane color to have right now, and I’m not sure I believe it.” I continue to edge back toward the car, my muscles coiling tighter with each step.

Almost there.

The one with the gum speaks again, and I want to shove that gum down his throat with my fist. “Hey Richy, I think he’s lying.”

“Deal with it, then,” Richy says in a bored tone.

I don’t realize anyone has moved until the whoosh hits me. Gasoline fire blooms too fast, too hot. The sandy-haired dreg drops the match and steps back, casually setting my entire world ablaze when flames burst from the undercarriage of our car.

Autumn’s head pops up behind the window. Her eyes widen with fear and shock as heat curls around her. Luna’s frantic barking echoes from inside the car and her paws scratch desperately at the window.

“No.” That’s the only word I can say as my throat chokes up.

A cold barrel presses to my temple and the gum-chewing dreg leans in close. “You lied to us.”

Mars and Caspian are already pinned to the ground with guns aimed at their heads, but my world narrows to the fire and to Autumn.

“That’s Summer’s sister, Winter or whatever. The Labs requested her for the replacement,” the dreg says. His gun vibrates against my temple when he laughs. His words barely register, because all I see is fire.

The flames dance higher, crackling into the air, and then I’m thrown back there again.

The shed. The smoke. The screaming. The tears glistening on his cheeks before evaporating in the heat. Watching Malcolm burn alive while I’m helpless to save him because I’m weakened by hunger and being held back by a maniac with a psychotic laugh. All to learn a lesson no one should ever learn .

I can’t move. my lungs won’t work. My knees threaten to buckle.

Not again. Not her.

The dreg shoves the barrel harder against my skull. “Guess we found what we came for. It’s a shame she’s going to be dead by the time we get to her. Maybe the lab will still want her body.”

Behind the glass, Autumn fumbles at the door handle, but then jerks back with a hiss. The metal is already glowing red.

Something breaks inside me, and a dam bursts, washing away the paralysis. “Shoot me,” I rasp. “That’s the only way you’ll stop me from getting to her.”

The dreg’s laugh comes out low and cruel.

I slam my elbow into the driver’s side window.

Glass shatters. I clear the glass away from the frame of the window, ignoring the tiny cut marks in my palms. The flames lift higher, biting at my skin, but I hardly feel it.

I claw at the door, ignoring the fire searing my hands, and rip it open.

Autumn coughs. Smoke curls around her. Her eyes lock with mine. They’re hazel, alive, and terrified.

I haul her out and shield my body with mine.

Luna jumps out with a whine. My arms scream in pain as the flames bite deeper, but I clutch Autumn to my chest, refusing to let go.

We hit the ground hard when I finally collapse, and I cover her body with my own, holding her close as the heat roars behind us and the explosion goes off.

“Jace,” she gasps, her eyes wide.

The dreg stands over me with his gun raised and the barrel pressing against the back of my head. “Thank you for saving what’s ours. There’s a nice little reward for her alive.”

“Move,” Autumn cries out. She tries to shove me off, but I don’t budge. My body only stiffens, becoming a human shield.

“If I move, you’ll be exposed,” I whisper, staring down into her bright hazel eyes. What a beautiful color. “I already thought I lost you once. I can’t lose you again.”

The heat, the smoke, the gun at my head, it all blurs. I tighten my arms around Autumn and stare into her panicked eyes while I wait for the shot.

A flash of motion.

Gunfire.

Ringing in my ears.

The dreg above me jerks sideways and collapses to the ground with a grunt when Mars barrels into him. Mars knocks him to the ground and disarms him in one swift move.

Caspian is right behind him, taking down the other dregs before anyone can react, with Luna fighting and biting alongside him.

It’s over in seconds, but I’m still shaking. Still holding her. Still tasting the smoke in my throat while I look into her eyes and realize…

She’s still alive. I got to her in time.

The past and present twist together as Malcolm’s face shifts into hers, the old shed becoming our burning car.

I saved her.