Isaura (12 page)

“Why not?” Joshua coughed, grimacing as I glanced him over
yet again. My fingers found their way into his hair, trying to study his eyes
and then down and across his chest. “I'm fine,” he insisted.

“It doesn't work that way.” I threw my arms up into the air,
frustrated. “Why does she want us?” I couldn't fathom why she'd kidnap us and
lock us in a cellar.

Joshua paced the length of the room, feeling over the
concrete walls. There was no indication of a door anywhere. “She's working for
the new government.”

“No way. It's not possible.” I couldn't believe the system
was involved in her plans. The cellar was bigger than the one at my mother's
house, but smaller than our bedroom in Shadow. I missed home even more now. I
touched my palms to the cold cement. We were deep underground. I didn't want to
consider we could die in here.

“I don't know when she approached them but I'm sure of it,”
Joshua answered. My eyes adjusted to the faint light. Joshua's hand was
trembling. He may have been trying to sound brave, but his exterior was
crumbling. “Isaura saw what you did with those men. I still can't believe you
were able to set them on fire.” His eyes locked with mine. He was curious how
I'd been able to do it. So was I. “She told the new government you're a monster
and they put a bounty out on you. Anyone treated with Mindonsiphan they ordered
dead.”

“Funny Isaura forgot to mention to them that she injected
herself with it.” It didn't matter what she'd done. It was only a matter of
time until others would come after us. No one was safe.

“What are we going to do?” Joshua asked. His hand hit the
cement, we were trapped. There wasn't much chance of help finding us.

“Our best weapon, Joshua, is you.” I stared at him, my gaze
unwavering. “I don't think she realizes what you're capable of.”

Joshua reached out his hand to stroke my cheek as he approached.
I remembered our encounter with Isaura. She'd wanted me because of what I was
worth to her. She hadn't known there were others just like me. It was our
greatest defense, as was Henry if he learned how to use his abilities. “We need
to get out of here and back to Spade.” I maneuvered away from Joshua, feeling
over every wall. There was no indication of a way out. “With all four of us
together, we have a fighting chance.”

“The four of us?” Joshua repeated.

“Henry, Cate, you and me.” I couldn't tell if he was
relieved or agitated that I said Henry's name. I wouldn't ask Adelaide to help
us. She was still a child, but Henry was capable if he studied and trained for
a few weeks’ time.

Joshua glanced towards the ceiling. “You've got me thinking,
there has to be another way out. Someone built this place and unless they
intended for themselves to die, we're missing something.”

I followed his gaze and saw the slightest discoloration on
the ceiling. “Lift me up,” I demanded.

He paused for a moment before giving in. I was lighter: it
would be easier for him to lift me than vice versa. It took only a second for
me to find my way on his shoulders. My body shook as he lifted me. I wasn't
sure if I trembled from nerves or from fearing he'd drop me. Once in the air
and my feet secure on his shoulders, I felt over the ceiling. “It's wet.” I
glanced down at Joshua. “Why do you think that is?”

“Push it?” I tried. Nothing budged. My fingers moved over
the material looking down at my fingers realizing they were caked with dirt.

“I think the ceiling is made of earth.” I used both palms, jamming
with all my force upwards, trying my best to lift the door. It inched but a
slight creak followed.

“That's it. Try again!” Joshua encouraged. I shifted on him
and he gripped my legs tighter. I couldn't look down again, the height made my
stomach somersault. I bounced upwards slightly hearing him grimace but the
force was enough to push the door free. The afternoon light poured in,
temporarily blinding me. Seeing the outside world I wanted out faster.

My hands clawed at the earth, pulling myself up out of the
small hole we'd been in and onto real ground. I lay motionless for a moment on
my back, gasping for air.

“Olivia?” I heard Joshua's voice and rolled around, glad no
one kept watch. Moving towards the hole I reached my arms down. “I don't think
that's going to work.” Joshua laughed. “I'll pull you right back down. Go get
help.”

“No way! I'm not leaving you,” I refused. “Let me just find
something to help you climb out, wait there.”

There wasn't a soul in sight. My feet crunched along the
earth. My fingers moved over the bark of a tall tree. If I found a solid branch
I could use it to help Joshua climb out. Though I didn't have any tools on
hand, how would I saw it down? If I was lucky enough to find a downed tree,
it'd have to fit in the hole and I'd have to carry it. I may have been treated
with Mindonsiphan but I couldn't do the impossible.

From forty feet away, I saw the perfect tree. “I got it!” I
called out, hoping he could hear me. Tall vines hung from the highest branch
down to the root. I could make it work. Even if it took a few hours at least
Joshua would be out before nightfall.

I climbed the thick trunk, finding my way to the top of the
tree. I refused to look down. I had no idea what type of vines they were and
didn't care. It would work. I singed the tips of a dozen vines. One by one they
fell to the ground as I was careful not to set the tree ablaze. It was the best
I could do without a knife. I climbed back down and gathered the vines, tying
them around the trunk of another tree closer to the hole. Braiding them
together I formed a rope, throwing it down to Joshua.

“Try this!” I yelled down to him, praying it would hold his
weight. I stayed close to the opening of the cellar, in case it didn't hold and
I needed to grab him. Joshua gripped the vines, giving them a slight tug. “They're
tied around a tree,” I explained. “It'll be okay.” I wasn't sure it would, but
I needed him to feel confident in what I'd done. “Just climb it, Josh.” Besides,
the longer we stayed, the worse off we were. Isaura would come back to the
cellar, wouldn't she?

He wasted no time climbing the vine rope. As he reached the
top, I gripped his arm helping him the rest of the way. “Thanks,” he gasped, breathing
hard. He sat down on the grass squinting as his eyes adjusted to daylight. “Where
are we?”

“I have no idea.” All I'd seen were trees when I'd gone
looking for a way to help Joshua out of the cellar. There'd been no sign of
civilization at all. “I guess I should probably tell you this now rather than
later.” I grimaced. “Isaura has the ability to move through time.”

He snorted a laugh.

“You don't believe me?”

Joshua glanced around once more, finally standing up. “I
believe you think she told you the truth but no. I don't think she can move
through time. I think she's trying to intimidate you.”

“Why?” I frowned, not understanding her motivation.

“Maybe so you'd give up trying to track her down? If you
think she can't be found, maybe you won't try.” He sighed. “I don't know. Come
on.” He stood up, offering me his hand.

Together, we walked through the thick forest. The canopy
overhead allowed daylight to pass, but I could tell it wouldn't be long before
night set in. “We should find something to eat. Remember what Milo and Uma
taught us?”

“A little of it.”

“There's no stream around here so we likely won't catch any
fish, but I can scout for berries,” I offered.

Joshua stared up at the trees masking the sky. “We should
make camp soon. Start a fire and try and keep warm for the night.”

“You gather firewood. I'm going to see if I can find
something to eat that won't kill us.”

Joshua laughed under his breath. “You do that, Olive.” I
hadn't seen any plants that looked edible, but I hadn't been looking earlier. I'd
been paying more attention to finding signs of life. I'd seen none other than
each other.

I picked a handful of berries, hoping I remembered right and
they weren't poisonous. We'd find out soon enough. Night approached as we
curled up together on the ground. Joshua had gathered wood and I started the
fire. I hoped no wild animals roamed the forest at night.”You're freezing.” His
hands brushed against my arms.

“I guess I am.” I smiled moving closer to the fire. I felt
Joshua's arms encircle me as he pulled me into his lap.

“Body heat,” he whispered into my ear. “It'll warm us both
up.” I doubted Joshua needed to get any warmer, his hands felt like they were
on fire. It felt good though. I didn't complain.

“Thanks.” I shifted, turning my head back to kiss him. “I'm
glad we got out of the cellar.” I didn't hear him answer me. The day had taken
its toll on both of us. I closed my eyes, leaning back against his chest. I
could feel every breath he took. It lulled me to sleep.

Early the next morning I stirred. Joshua's arms were wrapped
around me in a warm embrace. I longed to stay curled in his warmth but we
needed to find our way out of the forest before night fell again. Reluctantly,
I slipped from his grasp, walking away from our small camp to find more food.

I didn't gather much. There wasn't anything to carry it in
and hopefully we'd have a real dinner tonight.

“Olivia?” I heard his voice, echoing through the forest. “Olivia!”
It grew louder and more frantic.

“Josh!” I came running back, dropping a few berries on the
way as I maneuvered back to camp. “What is it? What's wrong?” I glanced around,
unsure what I expected to find.

I could see his face red and his chest breathing hard as he
tried to catch his breath. “I was worried she came back for you.” I handed him
a few berries and sat on the ground. Although I felt ready to walk, Joshua
didn't quite look up to it yet. I rested a hand on his thigh, giving him a
faint smile.

“I'm right here. It's okay,” I assured him, patting his leg.
“I thought it would be a good idea to find some breakfast.” I saw the look on
his face as the normal color returned to his cheeks. “Isaura will be back.” I said.
“But not today. I think she's waiting to make her move.”

Joshua studied my face, his thumb moving up to my cheek,
brushing a strand of hair from my eyes. “What do you mean?”

I popped a berry in my mouth, tasting the tart sensation as
my tongue crushed it to the roof of my mouth. “She can't let anyone know what
she's capable of. She's smart, devious even, and also a planner. She didn't
drop us in a hole for us to get away.”

“I'm not following.”

I sighed, offering him a berry before putting another in my
mouth. Joshua took it, having a slow bite as I continued to explain my theory. “You
mentioned that the government is involved. That they want us dead. She could
have killed us both yesterday if that was her intent. Clearly, it wasn't.”

Joshua grabbed another berry from the ground. He dusted the
dirt off it before eating it, waiting for me to elaborate. “She's after something.
Originally I thought it had to do with value, what I was worth to her. It's not,
though. Not if she's capable of the same things we are.”

Joshua eyed me skeptically. “We're not killers.” He stood
up, offering me a hand. I joined him as we walked together further through the
forest.

“No, we're not. Isaura wants something from us. Both of us.
If she doesn't know what you're capable of, why abduct you?”

Joshua let out a heavy sigh. “I thought it was to get
information out of you. Torture me and you'll talk.” Our feet trampled leaves
and my eyes moved along the forest looking for any other signs of food, water
or an escape.

“Except she left us alone. She dropped us both off and ran.”
I couldn't make sense of why she hadn't stuck around. What was the rush if
she'd taken the time to abduct us, why leave us on our own?

“Maybe she's not a planner. She could have been called back
to Torv?”

I stopped walking. His mention of Torv caught me off guard. “What
do you mean?”

He grabbed my arm, pulling me with him to keep up. “Torv is
the capital now. Officially on the map of
The Republic of Cabal
.”

“You're not serious?” I laughed.

Joshua shrugged. “I didn't choose it. They wanted to be able
to move forward without forgetting the past.” How could they ever forget what
they'd done, breaking families apart?

I kept walking alongside Joshua. “What else did you find?”
We hadn't seen each other since he'd left for Torv.

“This way,” Joshua said. He pointed towards the tree. “Tree
moss grows thickest on the north side.” I raised an eyebrow, wondering how he
knew that. “It gets the least amount of sunlight.” He glanced at me with a
faint smile. “I did ask around to see if anyone else from Shadow was still
alive.”

“And?” I tried to keep up with him. Joshua was taller than
me, though just barely but he seemed to be faster at walking. Or maybe he just
hoped to cover more area by moving quicker through the forest.

“Hazel is.”

“What? How?” My eyes widened. “Are you sure?”

“Positive. She's also pregnant.” My mouth dropped in
astonishment. “She's one of their new recruits for the pregnancy initiative.”
My stomach sunk at the words. They were seeking out volunteers.

“Did you talk to her?” I couldn't believe he hadn't
mentioned it sooner! I could only imagine Hazel with a round belly cursing
every time the little critter inside her kicked or moved around.

“For a few minutes,” Joshua admitted. “She hadn't heard the
news about Shadow though I'm not sure those in Torv may have known. I think
they were trying not to worry her because of the pregnancy.” It made sense to
not put the baby’s or mother's life at risk any more than they already had
been. “I tried to convince her to come back with us, but she wouldn’t,” Joshua
admitted. “Now that I think of it, maybe that’s why Isaura took me? To keep me
from meddling?”