“You’ve lost a lot of people to Adrenalites.”
“This entire city has lost to them.” Roman reloaded his pistol and tucked it into his jacket. “I learnt early what everyone here learns eventually: Adrenalites are monsters. And if I give Sparks his own needle, and he uses it to go rogue, it might not be just me that he kills, it might be some kids parents. That’s why I don’t trust him.”
Caleb nodded. “If I were in your shoes I’d probably feel the same way.”
“So you’ll follow my orders?”
“I will. But I have one condition: If we can’t capture Spencer, or if he can’t create this serum, then you’re going to man up and give Sparks his own needles. I don’t care about your beliefs and fears against him. A promise is a promise.”
“Why do you care so much about what happens to the boy?”
“That’s my condition. Take it or leave it.”
Roman considered this. He desperately wanted to say no, but, in the end, he didn’t have much of a choice. For this to work, he needed all the help he could get.
“You’ve got a deal,” he said.
Caleb grunted, satisfied.
The door swung open and Ruby stepped inside. Her bow was slung across her shoulder. She looked between Roman and Caleb. “You heard the news?”
“Yeah.”
“Then we’ve got preparations to make.” If she was still mad at Roman, she didn’t let it show.
Roman groaned, stood, and walked to the cupboard to find some food. He only just realized how hungry he was. “Aye,” he said. “Let’s find a way to steal from Gavin.”
“You got a plan?” Caleb asked.
“I’ve got an idea.” Roman found the cupboard empty. Damn. “But you’re not going to like it.”
“Why not?”
“Because while I’m searching the Haven for Spencer, you’re going to be attacking one of the power stations.”
“You want me to take on an entire station of militia?” Caleb asked. “I’m good, Roman, but I’m not that good.”
Roman sighed. He hated how much he had come to rely on the boy. “It’s true, you’re not,” he said. “But Sparks just might be.”
13
The gates of the Haven rose into view, red rags hanging from the barbed wire. They were open and the crowd had already begun to pile through. Roman hunched his shoulders and glared at the gates like they were the entrance to hell itself. In a way, they were.
The last of the day’s light was fading. The afternoon had rushed past in the chaos of planning, only interrupted by a restless nap that hadn’t lasted nearly long enough. Ruby and Tan walked alongside Roman. Tan was missing his usual grin — for him, that was the equivalent of shitting his pants with fear. They pushed into the crowd outside the gates. People cursed, laughed and shouted as they jostled to move ahead in the line. Roman thought of Caleb and Sparks, on the other side of the district. He knew he had made the right choice in keeping Sparks away from the Haven. But still, he would have felt safer with Caleb next to him. Although it would have been impossible to remain inconspicuous with a man of Caleb’s size around.
“I’m having serious doubts about this plan,” Tan muttered.
“And you think now is the time to mention them?” Roman said. “Seems a little late.”
“Better late than never. I ain’t one to question your genius, Boss. But I’m just saying, my face is exceptionally recognizable. That’s on account of me being so good looking.” Out of the corner of his eye, Roman saw Tan casually pick-pocket a lady’s wallet while she was busy clinging to the man beside her, giggling. Tan ruffled through its contents, then gently returned it, minus two coins.
Roman grinned. “Are you sure it’s not because your face resembles a doorknob?”
“Nah. If that were true, somebody would’ve told me.”
“Boys, please,” Ruby hissed. “Can we focus less on being annoying, and more on blending in.”
“Being annoying is what people do in crowds, love,” Tan said. “So if we weren’t annoying, how could we possibly blend in?”
The first drops of rain were beginning to fall, clinging to Roman’s hair and dripping down his cheeks. He trained his eyes on the multiple thugs watching from the sides of the crowd. Gavin’s men. Technically, Roman and his gang were allowed to come and watch the fight. But Gavin wasn’t stupid; he knew that Roman was looking for Spencer, and there was no doubt he had told his men to deny Roman entry to the Haven.
They turned a corner and the pit fighting hall came into view. The ball of tension in Roman’s gut tightened. If his guess was right, Spencer would be in the cells beneath the hall. In the same cells that held Gavin’s Adrenalites.
“Roman, we’ve got trouble,” Ruby whispered. She subtly pointed ahead of them.
It was the one-eared thug who had trailed Roman on their last visit. He had a black eye, and Roman chuckled thinking of how he had gotten it. The thug hadn’t noticed them, at least not yet. Roman readjusted his hood.
“It’s a pity it’s not an eye that he’s missing,” he whispered.
“Give me an arrow and I could fix that,” Ruby replied.
One-ear looked over the crowd. His eyes locked with Romans.
“Shit.” Roman quickened his pace.
The thug turned and marched towards the fighting hall.
“I’ll meet you two at the door,” Roman said, then pushed his way through the crowd as hastily as he dared. One-ear had a solid ten-yard head start, but Roman quickly closed the distance. Breaking off from the crowd and stepping behind One-ear, he tapped the thug on the shoulder. His other hand gripped his pistol tight.
“Want to guess what I’m holding in my coat?” Roman asked, voice low.
One-ear stopped immediately.
“I’ll give you a hint,” Roman continued, “It’s a gun.”
Fear flashed in the thug’s eyes as he turned his head to see Roman. “What do you want?”
“For you to shut up and keep walking.”
Roman lead them back into the crowd. He remained close enough to keep the gun hidden between them. With one quick motion, he tore the red rag off One-ear’s arm and tucked it into his own pocket.
“I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced,” Roman said casually. “What’s your name?”
“Go fuck yourself.”
Roman gave him a sharp jab in the back with the barrel of the pistol.
“Gah! My name’s Kelvin.”
“Much better. Now, Kelvin, do you know what I’ll do to you if you make any disturbance?”
Kelvin shook his head.
“Do you want to know?”
Another shake.
“Fair enough. Just remember that it won’t be pleasant, and it involves one of us losing his kneecaps.”
No one stopped them as they entered the hall. It was already packed, and Roman looked over the mob with apprehension. So many people who had no idea how much they were risking their lives to be here — if Candle did attack tonight, things would get bloody. That is to say, even bloodier then they usually would be at a pit fight.
Roman lead them to the bleachers closest to the gate that the fighters would come out of. “Is Ashton Spencer down there?” he asked Kelvin, motioning to the gate.
“I don’t know nothing.”
Roman kicked him in the back of the leg. “Answer the damn question.”
“Argh. Fuck you. Yeah, he’s down there, locked up with the fighters.”
“And I assume Gavin has half an army down there too?”
Kelvin shook his head. “He’s hired mercenaries, but half of them are up here. The other half are watching the other entrance. The plan was to catch Candle before he can get down there.”