scientists are being interviewed, trying to calm the public down that this isn’t an epidemic—this virus can be healed. But we know that’s not true. Symptoms will probably return and they might get worse. At least, if we’re right about this virus being the slow-killing one.
The crowds supporting the League grow smaller and smaller. We’re quiet , speechless as we watch the footage of the fake Kale injecting the kid over and over and over again. Kale fumes. “Why’d he have to be me?”
“Because you’re the Keepers’ leaders’ kid,” I say.
“Not only that,” X adds, sitting down on the floor. “Having a teen Keeper inflict a virus makes it worse. Now the whole world thinks the Elites are teaching the kids to hurt the normies.”
“Fantastic,” Kale mutters. “Any luck with Scar?”
“He’s willing to meet with us.”
Chapter Ten
Scar’s in one of the New Jersey sewers. Public transportation is still shut down, but will open tomorrow morning. The city needs to run.
Wearing our disguises, t he guys and I leave the house and look around. The streets are not so deserted, probably because some people are confident the doctors will cure them of the virus when it reaches New York. Of course there are some who hide in their houses because they’re scared of getting infected.
“We need a car,” Kale says. “Or a cab?”
X shakes his head. “Too risky. They can track us down.” He scans around. “We’re stealing a car.”
“What!” I sputter. “What if someone catches us? They c an track down the license plate. Cops will be onto us within seconds.”
“Kale will get someone to give us his car.”
Kale frowns. “I really hate controlling people .”
“We’re doing this to find your parents and save Lindsay,” X says. “I don’t like it, either, but we’re trying to survive.” He points somewhere ahead of us. “There’s a guy.”
We follow him down the block, across the street, and up another block.
The man looks to be in his forties. He’s standing near his car that’s parked in the driveway, inspecting it for damage or something.
X nods to Kale. Kale steps forward to the guy. “Uh, excuse me—”
“ Don’t bother me, kid,” the man snaps.
Kale steps back and narrows his eyes. A second later, the guy perks up, smiling. I don’t like it , but X is right. We need to do whatever it takes to survive. “Sure you can have my car!” the guy says. “Take it as long as you need. Please take care of it.”
“We will,” Kale promises.
The guy’s still grinning when X pulls out of the driveway. None of us have licenses, but X doesn’t care. He’s the only one who knows how to drive.
“ His family left him,” Kale tells us in an empty tone. He’s sitting in the passenger seat. “After the fake Samson and Cindy attacked the park, his wife grabbed the kids and fled to Brazil, to her parents. He stayed behind because of his job.”
I feel horrible. Responsible for some reason. But this wasn’t our fault. It was Vlayne’s. X must be sharing my thoughts because he curses her under his breath.
“ If we manage to clear our names,” I say. “Maybe his wife and kids will return.”
Kale presses his head against the window. “Maybe.”
We drive in silence. I busy myself by staring out the window and trying to keep my thoughts positive. I didn’t think about this before, but maybe Scar can help locate my dad, too. We know my mom was taken, but what about my dad?
“ This is my fault,” X says after a few minutes.
“X—” Kale starts.
He holds up his hand. “I took the formula out of my head. Because of that Vlayne released the virus. I knew the risks when I took it.” His eyes flick to Kale. “I couldn’t let you die. Maybe I could have found a way to save you and still safeguard the formula.”
“Don’t beat yourself up over it, man. I owe you my life.” Kale smiles a bit. X only nods.
Silence again.
We pass an area where there are lots of
The crowds supporting the League grow smaller and smaller. We’re quiet , speechless as we watch the footage of the fake Kale injecting the kid over and over and over again. Kale fumes. “Why’d he have to be me?”
“Because you’re the Keepers’ leaders’ kid,” I say.
“Not only that,” X adds, sitting down on the floor. “Having a teen Keeper inflict a virus makes it worse. Now the whole world thinks the Elites are teaching the kids to hurt the normies.”
“Fantastic,” Kale mutters. “Any luck with Scar?”
“He’s willing to meet with us.”
Chapter Ten
Scar’s in one of the New Jersey sewers. Public transportation is still shut down, but will open tomorrow morning. The city needs to run.
Wearing our disguises, t he guys and I leave the house and look around. The streets are not so deserted, probably because some people are confident the doctors will cure them of the virus when it reaches New York. Of course there are some who hide in their houses because they’re scared of getting infected.
“We need a car,” Kale says. “Or a cab?”
X shakes his head. “Too risky. They can track us down.” He scans around. “We’re stealing a car.”
“What!” I sputter. “What if someone catches us? They c an track down the license plate. Cops will be onto us within seconds.”
“Kale will get someone to give us his car.”
Kale frowns. “I really hate controlling people .”
“We’re doing this to find your parents and save Lindsay,” X says. “I don’t like it, either, but we’re trying to survive.” He points somewhere ahead of us. “There’s a guy.”
We follow him down the block, across the street, and up another block.
The man looks to be in his forties. He’s standing near his car that’s parked in the driveway, inspecting it for damage or something.
X nods to Kale. Kale steps forward to the guy. “Uh, excuse me—”
“ Don’t bother me, kid,” the man snaps.
Kale steps back and narrows his eyes. A second later, the guy perks up, smiling. I don’t like it , but X is right. We need to do whatever it takes to survive. “Sure you can have my car!” the guy says. “Take it as long as you need. Please take care of it.”
“We will,” Kale promises.
The guy’s still grinning when X pulls out of the driveway. None of us have licenses, but X doesn’t care. He’s the only one who knows how to drive.
“ His family left him,” Kale tells us in an empty tone. He’s sitting in the passenger seat. “After the fake Samson and Cindy attacked the park, his wife grabbed the kids and fled to Brazil, to her parents. He stayed behind because of his job.”
I feel horrible. Responsible for some reason. But this wasn’t our fault. It was Vlayne’s. X must be sharing my thoughts because he curses her under his breath.
“ If we manage to clear our names,” I say. “Maybe his wife and kids will return.”
Kale presses his head against the window. “Maybe.”
We drive in silence. I busy myself by staring out the window and trying to keep my thoughts positive. I didn’t think about this before, but maybe Scar can help locate my dad, too. We know my mom was taken, but what about my dad?
“ This is my fault,” X says after a few minutes.
“X—” Kale starts.
He holds up his hand. “I took the formula out of my head. Because of that Vlayne released the virus. I knew the risks when I took it.” His eyes flick to Kale. “I couldn’t let you die. Maybe I could have found a way to save you and still safeguard the formula.”
“Don’t beat yourself up over it, man. I owe you my life.” Kale smiles a bit. X only nods.
Silence again.
We pass an area where there are lots of
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