My eyes fall to the floor, wondering what I’d do if someone threatened to kill my entire family. Someone I thought could follow through with it. “What did he want them to do?” I ask in a whisper.
Guy rubs a hand over the back of my neck. I close my eyes as his fingers trace circles along my skin. “He asked them to choose. He asked them to choose one person in their family to compete in a race.”
My eyes snap open.
“Santiago then told them to choose someone else. Someone to be injected with a virus they’d create. That family member would be used as motivation for the person competing in the race.” Guys stops rubbing my neck. “As punishment for having a hand in his daughter’s death, Santiago created a race. And every six years, he made the Pharmies choose two people from their families. One to compete and one to become ill. Cousins, brothers, great aunts … they could choose anyone. But they had to choose. And the only thing they could do to help was create animals to assist them in the race.”
After everything I’ve been through, I almost can’t handle this last piece of the puzzle. The knowledge that nearly sixty years ago, someone in my family had a hand in Morgan’s death. And that my being here is a consequence of that. My body starts shaking as my mind snaps hold of something else….
Creator Collins.
The one who created Madox.
He could be family.
“How is this still going on? Isn’t Santiago dead?”
“Others have taken his place,” Guy says quickly, and I can hear the spitefulness in his voice. “It’s bigger now than Santiago ever thought it could be. There are people out there ignorant of the details, gambling on what they believe is an illegal horse race. And others who help the Pharmies decide who out of their families should be infected and who should compete. And there are managers, too. People who oversee the actual race and keep the gamblers informed on how their horse is performing.”
I’m overwhelmed with everything Guy’s telling me, and part of me wonders, Why tell me this now? “Is that everything you know?” I ask, defeated. “Is there more?”
“There’s more. Details that aren’t important.” He squeezes my hand.
“You’re really going to try and end this race?” I ask. “For good?”
Guy makes a fist and beats it twice against his knee. “My father told me that the people running the race recruit the top five Contenders to work for them.” Guy pauses, licks his lips. “I’m going to win, and then I’m going to take the job.”
“You’ll try to take them down from the inside,” I speculate.
He squeezes my hand again as if to say, That’s right.
“If Harper stays, maybe she can help us,” I tell him, my heart beating faster. “Did you see her fight the Triggers the night they attacked our campsite? She was like this —”
“Tella,” Guy interrupts. “You’re not doing this with me. I’m only telling you so there aren’t any more secrets.”
“But with me and Harper —”
“Harper is gone.”
I let go of his hand. “What are you talking about?”
Guy cups my face in his palm. “You’ve been out for almost a full day,” he says. “Harper left last night. She took Caroline and Ransom with her.”
“How could she do that?” I put both hands on my head, trying to come to terms with what he’s telling me. “They don’t give us the choice to leave until the last day of base camp, right?”
“She was the winner,” he explains. His voice lowers into a whisper. “She made a request because of her circumstances.” My brow furrows and Guy runs his thumb over the crease. He avoids my eyes when he says, “Harper’s daughter died.”
I cover my mouth and choke on a sob. Shaking my head, I think of how she told me only yesterday. How I went from seeing Harper as a friend and comrade — to a mother.
Guy slides his hand inside his cargo pants and withdraws an envelope. “She left this for you.” Before I can ask what it says, he presses his lips against mine. The letter flutters to the bed and I twine my arms around his neck. Guy pulls me closer and kisses me deeper until all thoughts of the race vanish. He kisses me until there is only him and me and the feel of our skin. I shiver as his hands move up my back and wrap around my neck. His tongue slides into my mouth and heat floods my body. I want to live here, in this moment — with him this close and me in his arms.
When we break away at last, both gasping for air, our hands continue to roam. They touch thighs and lips and cheeks. It’s as if our minds have released each other, but our bodies can’t dream of stopping.
“Read her letter,” he says finally. “I’ll be outside.”
He heads for the door and even then I reach out for him. I want to scream for him to stay. But instead, I look down at the envelope. The one Harper left me.
I fill my lungs, run my finger under the sealed flap —
And I pull out the letter.
Tella,
I’m leaving tonight, and I’m taking Caroline and Ransom with me. You should know I’m giving my small portion of the Cure to Caroline. She deserves a chance at a real relationship with her mother. As for me, I need to go home. I need to be with my family. I have to see my daughter again.
I will never be the same, Tella. Not without her. But listen when I tell you this — I’ll be back. I’m going to make sure what happened to me doesn’t happen to you.
I’m going to help you win the Brimstone Bleed.
— Harper
Reading Harper’s letter is too much. I pull myself out of bed and double over with pain. The stitches in my stomach are tender and raw, but I can’t lie here any longer. I right myself and move across the room. I shuffle like an old man and my mind spins. I think about the race and the things I’ve done. I think about Madox and how I’d dissolve without him. I think of Caroline and Ransom and Harper — who are all on their way home. I even think about Jaxon and Olivia and Braun, my new friends.
And I think of Guy.
I remember he’s here for more than just his cousin — that it’s bigger than a sister or a mother or a daughter. That he’ll try to destroy the Brimstone Bleed. I wonder if I’m strong enough to aid him — if I can let this be bigger than Cody. If I can help save more than just my brother.
Madox trots in and I scoop him into my arms, careful not to strain myself. The fox nuzzles my neck, and my heart sings. Holding my Pandora, I realize there’s more at stake than our loved ones back home. There are also the animals the Creators — the Pharmies — generated. What happens to them when the race ends? Are they destroyed? If so, do they go willingly to their deaths, or do they fight? I gaze at my fox and my body trembles.
When I glance up, I realize I’m standing before the oval mirror.
My gut twists when I see myself. “Good God,” I tell my Pandora. “I need a friggin’ bath.” There’s sand in my curly hair and my face is covered with grime. My white shirt is nearly brown with sweat and dirt, and I have a purple bruise blooming across my cheek. But my lips form a small smile when I see that the green-and-blue feather still dangles over my shoulder.