Even as Guy tells me his secret.
That he is here for more than just his cousin.
“She’s definitely looking at me,” someone says.
I hear a long sigh. And then, “You’re imagining things. Again.”
I know the voice. I know both of these people. My eyelids flutter and the room spins. Someone’s face comes within inches of mine. I see teeth. So many teeth, I’m afraid it’s a monster. That Titus is back with his ever-present smile.
“Get back, Jaxon. If she is awake, you’re going to scare the crap out of her.”
That’s it. That’s the face — and the owner of the teeth. “Jaxon,” I croak.
“Hot damn, I knew you were awake,” Jaxon cries.
A chair groans and seconds later, Braun leans over the cot I’m lying in. “Hey, Tinker Bell. You passed out. I carried you. Did a number on my nails.” He glances at his fingers and his eyebrows knit together with concern. Then he looks up and smiles. “Thought we might lose you.”
“Where’s Madox?” The first thing I want to know about is Guy, but I can’t bring myself to ask. His name conjures too many questions. So for now I think of my fox.
“Olivia is with him outside,” Jaxon says. “Him and the bear.”
“Is Olivia okay?” I try sitting up, but Braun lays his enormous palm against my shoulder and guides me back down. “And AK-7 isn’t bad.”
“She’s fine,” he replies. “And we know the bear isn’t bad.”
“The bear killed Titus,” I add. What I don’t admit is how I helped. But I doubt they’d blame me for my part.
Jaxon rubs the back of his neck. “Uh, we didn’t know that. We figured something went down, but no one knew what.”
“Is Ransom here? Maybe I should tell him about Titus, too. I haven’t yet.” I reach down and touch the place where Titus stabbed me. Just as I suspected, I feel stitches running along my abdomen.
“Um, you should ask Guy about Ransom. He insisted he be the one to tell you.” Braun rubs a hand over his shaved head.
My muscles clench upon hearing that Guy is here, at base camp. Perhaps right outside the door. But I guess I knew that. I remember … I remember what he said to me.
“Are you sure Titus is dead?” Braun continues.
I think back to how far Titus fell, almost four stories. I think about the tilt of his head and the blood streaming from his mouth and leg. “I’m sure.”
Braun’s shoulders fall with relief and he nods. “I didn’t want to let those things happen to you. I didn’t want to —” Something catches in his throat. He looks down and presses his lips together, breathing in through his nose.
I can’t stand the thought of Braun feeling guilty. Not after he carried me here. But mostly, I don’t want to hold on to anger or resentment. This race is hard enough on its own.
“It’s fine.” I take his hand and give it a squeeze. Jaxon takes my other hand and we have a total bonding moment. I could stay here for hours, just relaxing and chatting with these two. But there are others I need to ask about.
“Where is Caroline?” I swallow hard. “And Harper?”
Jaxon and Braun exchange looks. “You should talk to Guy about them, too,” Jaxon answers.
I want to demand answers, but decide since Guy is the only person left to ask about, I’ll do as they say. “Then can you send him in?”
They glance at each other and nod like they have to agree on this together. I wonder how long I was out for these two to have become such close conspirators. “Yeah, okay,” Jaxon says. “We’ll be right outside if you need anything.”
They leave quietly, and I glance around for the first time. I assume I’m in one of the huts I spotted from the formation. The walls create a perfect circle and the roof is pitched to a single point. The entire thing — except the dirt floor — is made of dried grass. Over the door hangs a thick green-and-blue plaid blanket. I have a similar one over my legs. Hanging across the room is a small, round mirror, and below it is a rickety chest. There are three other cots besides mine. And only one chair. The one Braun was sitting in when I woke up.
I stare at the empty chair and suddenly feel very alone. The sensation doesn’t last long. Because when I turn my head — I see Guy standing in the makeshift doorway. My chest splinters and my ribs stretch open.
All that’s left is my heart.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
He runs a hand over his jaw like he’s not sure what to do. A shiver works its way down my spine and my skin tingles. If he doesn’t touch me, I’ll burst from anxiety.
I will crumble.
He takes a step in my direction, and I open my mouth to say something, anything that will bring him closer. But he crosses the room without encouragement. He sits down on my bedside like he’s not sure if I want him there. Like he’s afraid I’ll shove him off at any moment. I’d rather tear my insides out.
Guy swallows.
His fists tighten.
His jaw clenches.
“Say something,” I tell him.
He turns and looks at me. His eyes swim with fear. My breath catches. “Jaxon tells me Titus is dead.”
A knot forms in my throat. I suddenly feel like a child again, like I need to be rocked in someone’s arms. On the formation, I was brave. I faced Titus and I lived. But here, with Guy sitting so close, the terror I felt devours my soul. Tears streak down my cheeks. I’m in awe of them, surprised that I can cry after being so dehydrated. It’s then that I realize I’m not thirsty, and that the men who work for the race must have given me fluids.
Guy wipes away my tears and shakes his head. “He got away from me, Tella,” he explains. “I knew when he ran … I knew he would go after you.” Guy looks into his lap and bites the inside of his cheek. “I tried to find him before he found you. I tried.” He squeezes his eyes shut. “I would have killed him.”
I sit up — gritting my teeth against the pain in my abdomen — and throw my arms around his waist, bury my head into his chest. Beneath me, I feel him draw in a deep breath. Then he wraps his arms around my shoulders. “Tella,” he whispers into my hair. “It’s okay. I’m here.”
I bite my lip and press my cheek closer to him. “I remember what you told me.”
He stiffens. “What do you remember?”
Pulling away, I sit up and stare into his face. “That tattoo on your back. It stands for something,” I say. “You said hawks hunt serpents.”
Guy looks at me for a long time, then nods. “That’s right.”
I clasp my hands together like Caroline does when she’s nervous. It doesn’t help. “You’re here to take down the people running this race.”
He glances over his shoulder at the door. When he looks back, he squares his shoulders and straightens. His silence is admission enough, but I want to hear him say it aloud.
“Tell me,” I say. “Tell me I’m right.”
New tears escape my eyes. I’m more afraid in this moment than I have been the whole race. Afraid Guy will die trying to find these people — and of the things I’d do to prevent that. He rubs his thumbs over my cheeks and says, “You’re right. I’m here to destroy the Brimstone Bleed. To ensure no one ever suffers through it again. I’ve been training….” He trails off and touches a hand to his mangled ear absently, as if remembering this training. Then he moves his hand to my chin, holds it so that I meet his eyes. “Tella, do you remember what I told you about Gabriel Santiago’s daughter, Morgan?”
I nod. How could I forget?
Guy breathes through tight lips, and I realize he’s about to tell me the rest of the story. My muscles tighten as I anticipate his words. “After Morgan died,” he says gently, “Santiago found out that the Pharmies were the ones who started the fire. And he sought vengeance. He wanted the Pharmies who killed his daughter, the same ones who destroyed his work, to pay for what they’d done. He threatened their families, said he’d murder their children and spouses and parents unless they agreed to his terms.” Guy swallows, and then he says to me, “Santiago was a powerful man, with powerful friends. He could’ve done what he promised.”