Strange Skies (25 page)

I should want to watch him get ripped to shreds. Enjoy it even. But I couldn’t.

Kale stared at the monster as it growled and prepared to pounce again. I propped myself up on my elbows, aimed between Kale’s eyes, and fired. The monster jumped back, looking around as though confused. I moved the gun to the right and fired again. It fell without a sound.

It was then that I noticed my own blood leaking from under me. I touched my leg and it was soaked. My head spun. I tried to look up and could just make out part of Alec’s Weeping Boy constellation through the trees. Everything
started to fade again and I put my head down, laying my cheek against the cool mud. I’d just rest for a minute and then I’d get back to the others. Besides, I’d earned a short break. I’d gotten rid of Kale and caught dinner. I rocked.

Chapter
TWENTY

“J
AMES
,” I
CALLED OUT
.

“Sshhh, you need to rest, sweetcakes.” A hand held mine and I struggled to open my eyes.

The light was bright and I squinted as my eyes adjusted. “Markus?”

“Who else would it be?”

I tried to sit up and Markus moved to help me. He put his arm around my shoulders and shifted me until I sat on the edge of the cot. We were inside one of the huts. “Is this our camp?” I asked.

Markus nodded. Reed and Alec sat together on the other side of the tent, holding hands. “
Hola
, Tora,” said Alec. “Good to see you awake.”

“How long have I been out?” I asked.

Reed counted on her hands. “Five light breaks? Crap, I don’t know. A day maybe.”

My thigh was bandaged in thick layers of cloth. Pain meds must have been involved because aside from a dull throb, I didn’t feel much. At least my leg was still there, which had to be a good sign.

“Did James do this?” I asked, running my hand over the bandage. “Is he okay? Who helped him?”

Markus laughed. “Yes, to the first two questions. As for the last, luckily, I’ve seen James in action enough as a medic that he was able to walk me through it.”

Markus handed me some water. “After I fixed James up, Web and I went searching for you in the woods. We’d heard the lasers and hoped you’d gotten Kale.” He shook his head. “The last thing I expected was to find you passed out in the mud with a dead guy and a meat monster. Thanks for that, by the way, it was delicious.”

I smiled weakly. “Thought you’d appreciate it.”

“Anyway, Web gathered the guns while I carried you back here. James wanted to fix you up himself, even though he wasn’t in great shape. He’s been sleeping ever since. Hut next door. Max is with him.” Markus stood up and offered me his hand. “And I’m guessing you want to head over, so I’ll help.”

“Thanks.” I took his hand and stood gingerly. Fresh pain went through my leg but nothing was going to keep me away from James. “By the way, what happened to Kale’s pilot? Last I saw, you were rolling on the ground with him.”

“He’s taken care of.” Markus flexed his bicep in an
exaggerated manner. “Turns out I don’t need a gun with these babies.”

Alec laughed. “
Muy valiente, amigo.
”

Reed rested her head on Alec’s shoulder. “I’m just glad we’re all okay.”

I smiled at Reed and Alec as I left, leaning on Markus. He helped me hobble to the next hut. “I really am glad you’re okay,” he said. “While you’re visiting James, I’m going to go find you a stick you can use to help you walk.”

“Thanks.” I leaned against the hut flap and peered inside. Max sat next to James, an assortment of vials and gadgets near his side. “Hi, Max.”

Max jumped up and came over. “Here, let me help you.” He brought me over to the cot where James lay asleep. I winced as I sat down on the bed and straightened out my leg.

“I’ll leave you with him a minute,” Max said. “Just yell if you need anything.”

He left and I turned to James. His breathing was soft but steady, and he had a large bandage across his chest. I ran my hand along the stubble on his cheek and leaned over to kiss him gently on the lips.

His eyes fluttered open. “I was hoping that was you and not Max.”

I laughed. “I can’t believe you’re okay.” I looked down at my leg. “Thanks for saving me … again.”

James smiled. “Anytime. You saved us. We’ve got all the guns thanks to you.”

I touched his chest lightly. “We look kind of cute in our matching bandages.”

He pulled me to him, and I kissed him again until he coughed. I’d been pressing on his chest. “Oops, sorry.”

James hacked into his arm. “Don’t ever apologize for kissing me. Just give me a sec.”

I ran my hand through his hair. “Get better fast, okay?”

James raised an eyebrow. “Why? Are you offering to do more than kiss me?”

A flush crept across my face. “Maybe, but I don’t want to hurt you.”

He laughed and coughed again. “You were pretty impressive. I’ll try to heal quickly.” A coughing fit overcame him and I tried to give him water, then called for Max when the cough didn’t stop. “I think he might need something stronger,” I said to Max.

Max grabbed a vial and pressed it to James’ arm. “This will help. You need to rest a while more to heal that lung.”

The coughing eased and James grabbed for my hand. I held it as he drifted off to sleep. “You’re beautiful,” he murmured as his eyes closed.

I sat there with his hand in mine.

Max sighed. “You can stay, but no more excitement until he’s better. Got it?”

I blushed. “Got it.”

Max sat by the door and leaned back against the hut wall. The exhaustion showed in his face, and I knew he was still healing from his own injury. His eyes shut after a bit.
I got more comfortable on the cot, careful not to disturb James, and let my thoughts drift. We couldn’t stay here long, not now that the Consulate knew where we were. We’d have to move as soon as possible to a safer location. And somehow, along the way, I’d get rid of the guns once and for all.

James cried out in his sleep, and I stroked his hand until the pain passed.

Chapter
TWENTY-ONE

Three Days Later

T
HE GUNS WERE SECURELY STORED ON
M
ARKUS
’
SHIP AND
we’d gathered all the final supplies. I hobbled around with the stick Markus had found for me, asking if anyone needed help. Though my leg felt stronger each day, I still needed some assistance with walking.

“Thanks, Gunner. We’re good,” one man responded to me.

After taking down the Consulate ships and shooting Kale, some of the Resistance started calling me “Gunner.” It wasn’t the sweetest term of endearment I’d heard, but at least they were on our side.

We’d head to Dais and hope that the colony there would welcome us with open arms. Or at least not shoot us on sight. Once the Consulate regrouped, they were sure
to come back knowing that Dad’s weapons were somewhere within reach. Since nowhere on Caelia was out of their reach, it was decided that no one could remain—for the time being, anyway. The problem was that everyone wouldn’t fit on Markus’ ship, and it was all we had.

James, Max, Markus, Web, and I would go first, along with a few other Resistance members. Max figured that the new colony might be more receptive if we first brought James, a medic, with us, along with some supplies. If they allowed us to borrow one of their ships, then both Markus and Max could return for the rest of the group. Alec and Reed offered to stay behind with the others.

“I’ve heard one of the moons around Dais is made mostly of diamonds,” Reed said, her hand twined through Alec’s.

That got Markus’ attention. “That sounds like an interesting business venture right there.”

I shook my head.

“What?” Markus said. “I’m done with the gun business. Too violent, you know?”

James walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. “You ready?”

I smiled. “Ready as ever. I’m just sad to be leaving here. I’ll really miss the beach.”

He squeezed me. “You and me both.”

I batted his arm. “That’s not what I meant.”

James and Markus carried the last few packs to the ship, though James wasn’t supposed to carry anything heavier
than a few pounds for several more months. I looked around Caelia one last time. Part of me would stay here, with Dad, with the ocean. I hated to leave the lush trees and the scent of the wildflowers, even if it was only for a little while. To go from a pod city and an underground bunker to a place like this was unbelievable.

I don’t think I ever really believed I’d make it off Earth. I thought I was destined to die on that sun-scorched, water-challenged planet, yet here I was on Caelia. Which made it that much harder to leave.

Alec jogged up to me with barely a limp in his step. “Here,” he said. He had a pink flower in his hand and slid it behind my ear. “To remember us until we’re all together again.”

I fingered the soft petals. “Thanks, but I’ll see you soon enough.” I glanced over at Reed. “I’m glad you two found each other. She’s a sweetheart.”

Alec nodded. “Yeah, she is. Take care of yourself, Tora.” He leaned over. “And don’t tell, but I’ll always consider you my
ángel
.”

I smiled. “It’s our secret. And a way better a nickname than Gunner, for sure.”

I looked over at the ship and knew it was time to get on board. The light break had brought a soft, warm wind and the sky was a crystal clear blue. It boded well for a good flight. My friends that were staying behind seemed content, and those going with me were optimistic. Everyone was on the mend and I knew that the days I’d need a
walking stick were limited. A slight queasiness lingered in my belly but I knew it was it was due to having to leave Caelia.

A wave of nostalgia hit me as Markus’ ship rose into the air. I might be leaving for now, but Callie City was my home and those Consulate burners weren’t going to keep me away for long. When they came back and found Callie City deserted and the weapons gone, that would be the end of it. They’d go back to their side of the planet and hopefully never set foot here again. I was taking back my city, my beach, and my flowers as soon as possible. The ocean with its pink sand beach was the last thing I saw as we zipped away toward the horizon through the calm skies.

“I’ll be back,” I whispered to the waves below.

Acknowledgments

I’
VE HEARD SEQUELS ARE TRICKY, BUT THIS BOOK WAS A BLAST
to write, and I’m so thankful for the people that helped me along the way. A huge thanks to my fearless agent, Jessica Regel, for her insights and comments, which make me a better writer, and for her all-around awesomeness. Also, thanks to JVNLA, especially Laura Biagi, who gave me fantastic notes on this book, as well as Jennifer Weltz and Tara Hart, whose tweets always make me smile. I’m so grateful to everyone at Egmont USA, especially my fantastic editor, Alison Weiss, for believing in this series. This book would not be what it is without my phenomenal beta readers: Valerie Kemp (a.k.a. the plot-hole queen), Lynne “Zloty” Matson, and Sara Raasch (“young Sara”). I’d have lost my sanity entirely without the support of the
incredible YA Valentines, and my amazing writer friends, Wendy Terrien, Sue Duff, and Aimee Henley.

I feel so lucky to have people shouting about this series to the world, including Michelle Bayuk and Margaret Coffee at Egmont, and the awesome team of Julie Schoerke, Sami Jo Lien, Marissa DeCuir Curnette, and Grace Wright at JKS Communications. The science in this book was vastly improved thanks to Fran Bagenal, Professor of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Any scientific errors are entirely mine.

Finally, to all my friends (both online and in the real world) and my family, thanks so much for your love and support. To my hubby and kiddos, you’re my everything and make me feel like the luckiest person on this little planet. Thank you.