After taking three steps toward the bags, I stop. The tanned muscles along Guy’s arms work as he pulls not one but two packs over his back, and then he heads over.
He hands me one of the backpacks and I put Madox down to slip it on.
“Thanks,” I mutter. I’ve accepted that I’ll never figure Guy out — the way he helps and protects me, then leaves when I need him most. I know he’s here to save someone, and that I’m probably confusing him. But I wish he’d open his mouth and say so.
Reaching into the pockets of my cargo pants, I feel the white device and relax slightly. “Do you have your device?” I ask Guy.
He nods and turns toward the desert. “I’m sure it’ll go off soon enough.”
I watch him watching the sand, then I turn and look for Harper. She’s heading in our direction, the blond boy at her heel.
“Hey,” she says. “You guys getting ready?” She seems unsure for some reason, and I wonder if she’s questioning whether we’ll continue to travel together. I know it’s what I’ve been thinking.
I decide to rip the Band-Aid off.
“Ready, now that you’re here. Took your time sauntering your tush over, didn’t you?” I bump her shoulder and smile, all while holding my breath. “Want to lead for a while when we kick off?”
She turns away and peers into the sun, but I don’t miss the relief dripping from her face. “Sure, whatever.”
“Hey-o, I’m Jaxon. With an x, not a cks. Pleased to make your acquaintance. Harper’s told me so much about you.” I look at Harper. She shrugs. Jaxon throws a long, thin arm around her shoulder and she brushes it off. “I’ll be traveling with you guys, but don’t fret, I’m good company. Whoa, rewind. Let’s go with outstanding. Don’t want to shortchange myself.”
“Traveling with us, huh?” I can’t stop smiling at a fuming Harper. It’s obvious she’s found some redeeming quality in the guy, or she wouldn’t have ever agreed to this. Which I’m actually only guessing she has. “Well.” I glance at Guy, then back at Jaxon. “Welcome, I guess.”
A young girl with red cheeks steps out from behind his legs. She looks to be about ten years old and is every bit as round as she is tall. Her brunette hair is pulled back into a ponytail and small wisps of hair curl around her face. The overall effect is beyond endearing.
The girl straightens. “I’m Olivia. I’d like to come, too. If it’s all right.”
Jaxon musses Olivia’s hair and more wisps spring out from her ponytail. “’Course it’s all right. I can’t go anywhere without my sidekick.” The girl grins up at him.
“You’re more than welcome to join us.” No one contests what I’ve said, so I assume the matter is settled. We’ll have two new Contenders to add to our group.
“Are we being replaced already?” a soft voice asks from behind me. I freeze, but a slow smile crawls across my face. As I spin around, my heart leaps.
Caroline and Dink are trekking through the sand toward us.
“Knew you couldn’t stay away,” Harper says.
I throw my arms around the woman I hardly know, almost giddy with relief. “You came,” I say. “You changed your mind.” I try hard not to do my happy dance, to keep my arms at my sides and my feet on the ground, but my body wins out. I jump in a circle, pump my arms, and shake my butt. I’m so obnoxious.
“What the hell are you doing?” Guy asks.
“My happy dance,” I respond, as if it’s obvious.
He shakes his head, but I can tell he’s pleased we’re all together. But we aren’t, really. Our group falls quiet and it’s like we’ve suddenly remembered who we’re missing. One brother is gone forever. But the other …
Our heads turn as we seek him out. At first, we don’t see him, but then Dink raises his arm and points.
“I’ll talk to him,” Guy says. No one fights him for the job. He walks away and approaches Ransom. We watch without speaking as Ransom shakes his head. His mouth never moves. Guy returns and when we look at him for confirmation, he shakes his head once. We don’t ask for details, but I can’t help feeling like I should try. I swallow my apprehension and move toward Ransom.
Guy grabs my arm. “Let him be, Tella,” he says. “He’s not ready for anyone’s companionship.”
I hear Guy speaking, but I can only study Ransom’s slim body. He looks like he’s lost a lot of weight, and his Pandora watches him carefully, as if he knows something is off with his Contender. So young, I think. But then I remember that he’s only two or three years younger than I am.
“I’ll give him space today,” I say, mostly to myself. “But I won’t stop trying to reach out.” I know by saying this, I’m letting go of the fantasy that our old group will travel together. And I suppose I’m praying now for another chance to see him at the next base camp. Maybe after some time alone to mourn his brother, he’ll be more willing to let us in.
“What’s inside the packs?” Caroline asks. “I haven’t looked yet.”
Instead of answering, I look more closely at Dink. His face appears flushed, and I wonder if he’s okay. “Dink, are you feeling all right?”
“Oh, he’s fine,” Caroline says, pulling him against her. “I think the serum they gave us just affected him more than most.” She looks down at him. “He’s so small.”
“And inconsequential, which is exactly why he shouldn’t be here,” a new voice says. His words grate my nerves, and before I even turn my head, I know it’s Titus. His blond hair is slicked back, and he’s wearing a painted-on smile. “Tella,” he says, cocking his head up.
“What do you want?” I ask.
“To make you a proposition.” He looks at the pack of guys behind him, then back at me. “I’ve chosen the best Contenders to travel with. And I assure you, one of us will win this race.” Titus glances at the fox at my feet. “I’d like to offer you a position with us … with the Triggers. And with it, a chance to win.”
“Pass,” I say.
“Reconsider,” he growls, stepping toward me.
Guy shoves him backward. “She said pass. Now get the hell out of her face.”
Titus looks alarmed, like he never expected Guy to challenge him in front of his followers. But once again, he fakes a smile and opens his arms, as if everything is one big joke. “Have it your way. Die in the desert, assholes.”
When he swivels on his heels to move away, I gasp. I notice for the first time that he’s holding the end of a rope in his left hand. Attached to the opposite end is G-6, Levi’s ram. I go to snatch it from Titus, but he jerks his arm away like he has eyes in the back of his head.
“See you noticed I went Dumpster diving,” he says over his shoulder. “He’s not the most impressive Pandora, but then again, I’m not done collecting yet.”
At this, Guy attempts to grab Titus, but AK-7 barrels forward and growls. In response, M-4 leaps in front of Guy and swipes his paw just shy of the bear’s face.
Titus roars with laughter and leads the clan of guys — the Triggers — and their Pandoras away. I catch Ransom staring Titus down and wonder if he has a plan to get his brother’s Pandora back. If he does, I certainly wouldn’t mind being included.
I glance at Guy. “He’s after Madox. That’s what Titus was saying, right?”
Guy rubs his jawline, considering. “Yeah, but I think he’ll be looking to pick up any Pandora he can along the way.”
“We’ve got to take that jerkoff down.”
We all turn and look at Jaxon.
“What?” he says. “That guy’s a grade-A douche.”