The Revealed (32 page)

For now, I wait. I can only hope Skylar got to the others in time. I’ll stay in this prison if it means The Revealed can save my parents and stop Westerfield.

I check the clock. We are supposed to be regrouping with Zared right now.

The polls have just closed.

I use my front teeth to switch on the television and the news comes on. Every media outlet is covering the presidential election announcement. Not just the announcement itself, but all-day footage of the rally. People holding their signs, commenting on the important issues and on The Revealed, especially.

The crowd is going crazy. The vote has ended. The nation has a new leader.

An anchorman’s voice rises over the din of spectators, “… only two weeks after their daughter was reported missing. Lily Atwood is the latest eighteen-year-old suspected of being abducted by rebel organization The Revealed. Her bodyguard was found dead on the house grounds with no evidence of Ms. Atwood to be found. Her parents have not heard from her since. Despite everything, Mark Atwood has continued his campaign with valor and strength in these difficult times. He cancelled his campaign plans in the north, returning to Capitol City early to be at home with his grieving family.”

Helplessness begins to consume me. I try not to dwell on my small part in this big picture of the catastrophe that’s about to unfold. Instead, I need to focus on getting out of here. There has to be a way to escape. Feeling defeated won’t get me anywhere.

The news station keeps a digital countdown in the corner. It ticks down the minutes until eight o’clock. Two hours and fifty-seven minutes left.

I slide my wrists together. They move only slightly and the cords burn my skin. The bands don’t loosen, but I’m able to twist my hands just slightly so my fingers aren’t touching. After repeating this action a few times, I can run my index finger and thumb of each hand against one another. It’s enough to give me some range of motion. I hold my wrists away from my body. One of my shoulders pops with the stretch. The position isn’t comfortable. But I can snap my fingers and the flame spreads over my fingertips, just not enough to melt the plastic.

I move to the balcony and look over the edge. The men are still there. I jiggle the door handle, and it doesn’t budge. There aren’t any phones in my room, and I lost my cell when my bag was confiscated.

There isn’t anything useful that would aid in an escape. No tools to pick a lock.

The noise of the television in the background does nothing to disarm my anxiety, but I can’t bear to turn it off. I can see Independence Avenue in the background of the footage and the park just beyond that.

I have to get out of here.

I pace back and forth, snapping my fingers and then letting the fire burn out.

If only I were stronger. Maybe Julia shouldn’t have let me come. I should have trained harder. If my mind were like Rory’s or Skylar’s I would be out of here by now.

I push my hip against the door and try to swivel my hands around the doorknob.

The door is locked.

Am I desperate enough to burn it down?

If I touch the door I can light a fire. That could keep security occupied long enough for me to get out. Or the fire would spread, and I might be trapped in the blaze. I might burn down the entire house, but then I never liked this place anyway.

I move toward the door.

Just as I am about to set it on fire, it flies open.

I spring back, tumbling over myself as I try to avoid being hit.

Rory stands in the doorway.

Evan is at her side, along with a few other security officers, though they aren’t moving to fight her. What’s going on? Why aren’t they trying to get rid of her?

“Rory?” I ask hesitantly.

“I came just as soon as I heard you were back.” She wraps me in a tight hug and then whispers into my ear, “Just play along.” She pulls back and stares at me with this worried look on her face. “I was catering your father’s after-party event at the Capitol Building. I ran into security at the rally, and was told you’d turned up alive in your father’s office. I came as soon as I heard.” She wraps me in another forceful embrace. “Did they hurt you? Are you hurt?”

“No?” I say, trying to play along despite my confusion.

“Where are they, Lily?” she demands. “Where are The Revealed?”

“The Revealed?”

I realize suddenly what she’s doing. The outside world doesn’t know Rory is a member. Only I do. Evan was always infatuated with her, always looking for a way to impress her. She probably fooled him into allowing her into the house. Stupid boy, I’m sure he was hoping to win her affection.

“She isn’t talking,” Evan explains, putting on this air of superiority. “She says The Revealed were
helping
her.”

“Helping?” Rory puts a hand to her mouth. It’s all an act. “Lily what have they done to you?”

“I’m fine, really,” I say, still unsure which words are the right ones. What I really want to tell her is that there’s a sniper at the park across Independence Avenue. I bite my already sore lip. Now is not the time. Now the information would just alert them that we’re on the same team.

“She’s clearly been brainwashed.” Rory shakes her head, gripping the sides of my face with concern. “She should be at a hospital. She needs to be looked at.”

“I’m sure her father will make arrangements soon,” Evan agrees.

“I’d like a moment, if you don’t mind? Alone with her?” Rory’s eyes fill with concern. “Maybe I can talk some sense into her?”

Evan immediately objects. “That isn’t a good idea. She’s stronger than she looks.”

“I’ll take care of her,” Rory promises.

“No, miss,” Evan insists, “you don’t understand. She can do these weird things with her hands. She isn’t safe.”

“She won’t hurt me,” Rory says assuredly. “Please, I really feel like if I had a chance to talk to her I could make her see reason.”

Rory saunters up to Evan, and I can see her eyelashes batting even from here. She pouts to emphasize her plea, but I’m done hanging around here. I can feel the guard moving behind me; as soon as he’s close enough, I throw out my elbow, slamming into his gut.

The guard doubles over, and I swing him the rest of the way to the ground.

“Lily!” Rory glances back at me. She rolls her eyes. “This was so
not
part of the plan.”

I shrug and then point behind Rory where Evan is staring in shock and confusion.

Rory turns back to him reluctantly. “Sorry,” she sighs, and then grabs for the gun at his hip, yanking it from the holster. “Down!” Rory orders. “Everyone back or I’ll shoot.”

I know Rory wouldn’t really hurt anyone, but security doesn’t. And Evan is too stunned to do anything but fall to his knees and put his hands behind his head. The others clumsily pull out their weapons and raise them.

Rory shakes her head and sighs before she shoves her hand forward and a wind whips toward the raised weapons. It hits the guards and knocks the guns from their hands.

One-handed, Rory quickly melts off my handcuffs. The gun is still raised in her other hand, steadily pointed at the guards as if she’s done this before. Maybe she has.

“Run!” Rory pulls me into the hallway.

She doesn’t have to tell me twice.

She sprints with me down the main stairs, through the foyer, and out the front door until we are out on the concrete patio, following the path around the house.

As we round a corner of the house, we run into another wave of security. They take one look at Rory and me barreling toward them and freeze, unsure how to react. They don’t exactly want to draw their weapons on the potential president’s daughter.

“Stop!” they order, trying to tackle Rory instead.

She handles them all like it’s a choreographed dance. Her fighting skills are like something out of a movie. I reach for the closest one and use what I’ve learned in self-defense class to flip him on his back. With only a few quick movements and twists from Rory’s wrists, we are past security, leaving them behind us on the grass.

“How much time do we have left?” I ask as we sprint toward the garage.

“About two and a half hours.” Rory keeps her eyes forward.

It isn’t enough time. “Have Zared and the others found anything yet?”

“Nothing. They’re even searching each room in the surrounding buildings.”

I didn’t expect better news.

“You know your cover is completely blown. Everyone will know you’re a member of The Revealed.”

“It’s about time,” she chuckles. “I’m sick of pretending I can cook.”

We head for the garage, and I see the guards talking frantically into their headpieces. No doubt they know we’ve escaped and are waiting for us.

“Ready?” Rory asks under her breath.

“Definitely,” I say, feeling my muscles twitch with electric adrenaline.

“Go.”

I sprint toward the side of the garage, punching in the security access code as quickly as I can.

The guards raise their weapons on Rory. She bends low to the ground, throwing out her hands.

“Put your hands up!” security yells.

“I don’t think you want me to do that.” Rory smirks but does as they ask. I see her eyes narrow in focus. I try to pay attention to my actions instead of staring at Rory, but it’s hard not to get distracted by her skill. Rory, of all people. My boy-crazy, free-spirited, best-friend-turned-action hero. Who would have thought?

“What is it with these people and guns?” Rory says, annoyed, not showing an ounce of fear. “They just don’t learn.”

Security shouts into their headpiece mics, “They’re around front!”

For a moment, nothing happens.

Then security begins to curse, dropping their weapons. The metal becomes hot under Rory’s control, and the pistols burn their hands. Rory twists her wrists and pulls her hands back to her sides. The guns clatter to the ground.

Still, security advances. Darren is at the front acting as leader. His eyes say he has no intention of backing down. He reaches Rory, gripping her around the neck, yanking her to the ground. The garage door opens.

I turn back to help Rory. Maybe my mind isn’t as strong as the rest of The Revealed yet, but that doesn’t mean I’m powerless.

I run toward Darren, arms extended and mind focused, ramming my hands into his side and using wind to increase the force of my push. Darren topples to the ground, releasing Rory from his hold.

“Sorry,” I say, cringing and looking down at Darren. “But I tried to tell you.”

I help Rory stand. There are at least a dozen guards closing in around us, and more are sprinting from the fences. Rory doesn’t even flinch, swooping her hands around, the branches on the trees near the driveway mimic her motions. She beckons the branches toward us, and they wrap around the legs of security, pulling four of them to the ground. It gives us the space we need to run to the car. I use DNA recognition to get inside, and the engine roars to life. Rory slides into the passenger seat with barely enough time to close the door when I stomp my foot on the gas.

More guns are drawn, and security shoots at our tires, trying to stop our getaway. One of the tires blows and for a moment, the car swivels around the road. I yank the wheel, trying to straighten out. Thanks to the damage-correcting technology of the car, we don’t have to wait long. The tire repairs itself, and the car returns to a smooth and straight trajectory. I really do love this Aston. Luckily, with the car’s automatic remote control for the fence, we don’t have to try barreling through it. I’m not quite sure how that would turn out.

Rory looks through the back window as I focus on the road, speeding to the highway.

“I can’t believe we just did that.” I shake my head. Word was probably just reaching my father about my escape.

“Believe it,” Rory says. “You’re free.”

“Free.” I lean comfortably against my seat, keeping my hands on the wheel. I never have to go back to that house again.

Rory pulls out her phone and dials a number. I hear Skylar pick up on the other end. And I remember the park.

“Got her,” Rory says and smiles.

“Good,” he says relieved. “Now get back here. We’ve still got an assassination to stop.”

“On our way.”

“Wait,” I grab the phone before she can hang up.

The battle isn’t over yet.

“Skylar?” I turn the phone on speaker. Rory studies me quizzically with quick looks between me and the road. “It’s the park.”

“What’s the park?” He doesn’t get it.

“The email correspondence with Marg. It’s coded. They’re talking about directions to the park. There’s a sniper in the Spirit of Justice Park. Can you guys get there?”

He curses into the phone. “We’re there.”

Relief, so palpable I shudder, fills me to the core.

The drive back to the announcement area is interminably slow. As we near the Capitol Building, it’s clear we aren’t going to make it any farther by car. Rory finds a parking lot, and we literally sprint into the city. Finally, we reach the center of the crowd.

I call Skylar again, “Did you get him?”

“Cara and I are here now,” Skylar says. “There are tourists everywhere. We checked the roof. We’ve checked all the rooms. Every nook. There isn’t a sniper, Lily.”

People are milling all around us, pushing and jostling. I can barely see past the herds of people in front of me. I stare at the other roads around me.

Only an hour and a half left until the announcement.

“Keep looking,” I tell Skylar.

I follow Rory to find the others, the phone still pushed against my ear waiting for good news.

Nero tussles my hair. “I can tell you’re going to be a troublemaker.”

Like he’s one to talk.

“My dad’s going on that stage,” I tell them, resigned.

“We figured that much,” Nero says. “In the meantime, there’s at least one person floating around this crowd waiting to blow his head off.”

“Hey,” Zared snaps, “that’s enough.”

“Yeah, well I say that if he doesn’t want our help, we let him face the consequences.”

“That’s my father!” I advance on Nero.

Rory grips my arm, holding me back. “I’d let you go, babe, but it’s not quite Nero’s turn to get what he deserves today. Westerfield is up first.”