“Me too. But when we get to Morningside, we’ll each have our own bed. Own rooms, even.”
She smiled as her son slid to the floor, wishing she believed that they’d make it to Morningside, that there would be an end to their flight, to the pursuit. Wren sidled next to her, wrapped his arms around her leg. He seemed taller than he’d been last night. She dropped a hand on his back, squeezed him against her leg in a one-handed hug.
“Come on, we should get moving.”
Cass helped Wren pull a heavier overshirt on over the top of his thinner long-sleeved shirt. As his head popped through the top, she found him staring her in the eye with a look of serious concern.
“What’s wrong?”
“Do we have to have different rooms?”
Cass felt her heart turn in her chest.
“No, baby,” she said, kneeling to his height and drawing him close. “No, we can stay together. We can always stay together.”
Her eyes welled. She squeezed tight, continued to hold him as he stood with his arms at his sides, empty sleeves limp and dangling. For a long moment, he just let her hug him.
“Mama?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“You’re squishing me.”
She smiled at that. Wiped her eyes quickly before letting go.
“Sorry.”
“That’s OK.”
Cass helped her son pull his arms into the sleeves of his overshirt. He lost a sleeve in the process and the two worked together to fish it out, and to pull the inner sleeve back down his arm.
“Go ahead and get your coat on, then hop up on the bed,” she said. “I’ll help you with your boots.”
As Wren wrangled himself into his new coat, Cass changed out of the shirt she’d slept in and into clean clothes that almost felt new. Slipping into the less-worn garments energized her, as if she were putting on armor for the journey ahead. She slid her feet into thick socks made for hiking, and then sank them into her boots, and buckled them up. She stood and felt strong.
Wren was already up on the bed again and Cass helped him put on his new boots. Boots without holes. Boots that fit. He dropped off the edge of the bed to his feet, and they stood together, ready to travel. Scavengers though they were, Cass couldn’t help feeling rich. She couldn’t remember the last time they’d had everything they’d needed, and some to spare. Looking at the packs by the door, the ones Three had so painstakingly gathered and organized, she realized that for the first time since she’d left RushRuin, she actually felt prepared.
Cass took Wren’s hand, and moved to the door. She swung it open and jumped a little when she saw Jackson standing there. She’d completely forgotten he was waiting.
“All set?” he asked.
“Yep.”
“Let me just get your gear.”
Jackson pushed in and wrestled all three packs onto his shoulders, refusing any of Cass’s attempts to help. He didn’t seem to have much trouble with Wren’s pack, or her own, but it took him nearly a full minute to pull Three’s pack off the ground, and position it securely on his back. It was only as the three made their way up the twisting staircase that she realized this was a show of strength on his part. She didn’t understand it, but she said nothing.
They moved up past the Commons, all the way to the flat, concrete entrance where the Gate stood. Still, there was no sign of Three. Jackson trudged to the gate and, red-faced and sweating, slung the packs to the ground just in front of the looming steel plate.
“Is Three meeting us here?” asked Cass.
“I’d guess so. He didn’t really say.”
Jackson moved over to the hand-crank, and paused to check the time.
“Should be good,” he said to no one in particular. And then he began to crank. The early purple light of dawn spilled in beneath the gate, splashing across the floor and sweeping over their feet, carrying with it a rolling wave of morning air, sharp with the scent of cold frost. In its midst, a shadow stretched.
And as the Gate rose to height, Cass recognized the figure standing beyond: Three.
“Ready to move?” he asked, with typical grim nonchalance.
“Did you spend the night out there?” Cass asked, in disbelief, knowing full well the answer to her own question. Which was good, because he ignored it anyway.
“We’re going to have to keep a pretty good pace. Sooner we get started, the better we’ll do.”
“Then let’s go.”
Cass swung her pack up onto her back, and clipped the harness around her waist. It fit her well, and though she was surprised at the weight, once it was in place, it was so well-balanced she hardly noticed it. Wren’s was much lighter. She didn’t even try to lift Three’s.
Three strode in, and hoisted his pack without any apparent strain. As he buckled in, he spoke to Jackson, though he didn’t look at him.
“I’d feel better if you came with us, kid. Hate to leave you behind.”
Jackson shuffled towards the three, but lingered several feet away.
“I’d probably just slow you down,” he replied. “Besides, I gotta be here to work the gate for anyone else who might show up, yeah?”
He smiled unconvincingly. If he didn’t believe it himself, Cass couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t just come along.
“Please, Jackson?” Wren said. “Please come with us.”
“We’d be happy to have you,” Cass added. “Really.”
Jackson blushed at that. Dropped his gaze to Wren, and ruffled his hair. Shook his head. He shifted on his feet. Still nervous.
“I can’t. But come back any time.”
He glanced up at Cass as he said the last bit, then quickly away. Sheepish. It clicked for Cass.
Oh, she thought. A crush.
“Go on,” Three said to Jackson. “Say something, kid. I doubt you’ll get another chance, and I don’t want you chasing after us once we leave.”
Cass glanced over at Three. He was straight-faced except for the slight downward turn of one corner of his mouth; a tiny expression Cass had learned to read as something of a suppressed smile. She guessed he’d figured it out a while ago.
Jackson just looked up at her again, and smiled awkwardly. He shrugged, uncertain of what to say, looked away, out through the gate into the city beyond. Cass walked over to him, took his jaw in her hand, and swiveled his face towards hers.
“Thanks, Jackson. For everything. You’re a true hero.”
Before he could respond, she kissed him quickly but firmly on the mouth. He stared at her, stunned, when she backed off. She could still feel his gaze as she joined Three and Wren. Something like amusement washed over Three’s face.
Cass took Wren’s hand in hers and waited.
“Say bye, baby.”
Wren waved.
“Bye, Jackson.”
“Goodbye, little one.”
“We gotta move. Last chance, kid.”
Cass glanced behind her, saw Jackson shake his head. He was beaming.
“Alright then. Stay safe.”
“You too, Three. See you around, yeah?”
“Never can tell.”
Three turned and held out his hand, letting Cass and Wren lead the way out. They headed out into the open, and Cass felt a hitch in her chest. Some mix of exhilaration and fear. Not quite equal parts, but she couldn’t tell which she felt more strongly.
“Hey, pim me when you get to Morningside, yeah?” Jackson called from behind. “Let me know you made it.”
“Sure,” Three answered back over his shoulder. “I’ll have Cass do it.”
Cass didn’t turn around then. She just shook her head. When they had walked maybe a hundred feet, Three slid in next to her, leaned close. Spoke in low tones.
“Doubt you’ll ever see him again. But that kiss is gonna last him a looong time.”
He nudged her with an elbow, and then moved away a pace or two.