Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 132491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
29
The chain of command is important, but you have a duty to consider who will benefit from orders you’re given, and to speak up when you know something is wrong. Blind obedience and misplaced loyalty can lead good people down very bad paths.
- Excerpt from a police training manual written by Ben Hollis
A gust of wind blows loose strands of hair across my face when I emerge from the cave. When I look up at the sky, my gut churns with nervousness. It’s not just the cloud the snow has been falling from that’s gray now—it’s the entire sky.
Marcus’s brow furrows when he steps out of the cave. “We have to go back to camp. It’s never good when it comes on this fast. Virginia’s storm will gain momentum from the temperature drop.”
I tuck errant sections of hair behind my ears. “What’s the point of the microclimates?”
His expression is sober when he responds, a storm much like the one in the sky brewing in his eyes. “The ultimate goal is probably weaponizing climate. Heating or freezing people in certain areas to death.”
My lips part with shock as the horror of it sets in. Whitman could kill large groups of people without sending in a single soldier. The implications are terrifying.
“But here, the microclimates were being used for training at Rising Tide. People were being taught to endure the worst weather conditions. To build shelters out of the materials around you.”
I lock eyes with him, a bad feeling settling over me. “But now she’s using it against your camp.”
“Our camp.”
“Ours.”
“Virginia was sowing chaos any way she could, but she slowed way down in the past few months. I think the lack of food and supplies forced her to change gears and focus manpower on surviving.” His lips purse in a thin, grim line. “But now she’s desperate. She’s going to throw everything she can at us.”
I nod, wind rustling through the trees around us. “What if we give them some food? Do you think it would help?”
“No. It would take a lot of manpower to deliver it, and I can’t risk her killing those people.” He glances around. “Flavius is gone. We need to get back as fast as we can.”
“Let’s go.”
He casts a quick look at the tall volcano on the other side of the island. Then he takes off his pack and pulls out his radio, pressing a button on it.
“Ares to Athena.”
He waits, and a response comes a couple seconds later. “Athena reads, Ares.”
“Implement all storm protocols immediately.”
“Copy that, Ares.”
Nova’s voice is cool and calm. Marcus packs his radio and shoulders his pack, giving me a quick look. “Ready?”
I nod and we start the trip back at a light jog.
“God of war, huh?” I say, keeping my gaze ahead.
“I didn’t choose that call sign.”
“Who did?”
There’s a pause. “Finn.”
“The two of you were close?”
“We were. I’ll never forgive myself for what happened to him.”
I flick a glance at him, confused. “It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault.”
His jaw is set in a tense line. “I should’ve turned my team back the moment I saw Pax.”
“Why?”
Almost a full minute passes. I don’t think he’s going to respond, but he finally does. “Pax was controlling the snake.”
On a surface level, it shocks me. But also ... I knew. A part of me knew and just didn’t want to admit it. His expression changed right before the snake flew out of the jungle. It was too convenient that the snake showed up right at the moment Pax needed to flee.
“He ran ahead and left me that day. I was so afraid you guys were behind me, planning to kill me.”
Marcus scoffs. “Pax is out for Pax. He’s not as evil as Virginia, but he’s a self-serving bastard.”
Wind whips hair around my face and I brush it away from my eyes. The snow has turned into sleet. Wet, mushy blobs land on my arms as we approach the jungle entrance.
“I asked Ellison to give you a pregnancy test when you were unconscious after you first arrived,” Marcus admits, scanning back and forth for any threats in the jungle.
“Me? Hell no.”
“When I saw you with Pax that day, I assumed the two of you were together.”
I’m jolted by the memory of kissing him. I genuinely thought I was losing my mind because of the way aromium made me feel around Pax. And he knew the entire time, but never told me.
“Absolutely not. He tried, but I’m smarter than that.”
I think. Who knows? If I’d never been thrown into that hole by Virginia, maybe my aromium would’ve just gotten stronger, and eventually I wouldn’t have been able to resist Pax’s advances. The thought of being pregnant with his robot soldier baby makes my stomach turn with a sick sensation.
“So if we ran into him right now, he could get that monster snake to attack us?” I ask.