“Wyatt Faraday.”
“Wyatt, then. We’re hearing rumors that go beyond basic military action down south. It could just be a myth—or a post-crisis urban legend—but the survivors that come into town often speak of men and women stronger than the infected—enhanced soldiers. Have you encountered anything like that?”
Wyatt pauses for the tiniest moment, I don’t know if Ms. Perez or the others notice but he answers truthfully. “Yes, I’ve encountered these men and women. We call them Hybrids.”
“And they’re dangerous?” Ethan asks. He’s leaning over the table. The woman next to him, an older woman with a full head of gray hair, has a deep, concerned line creasing her forehead.
“Extremely.”
We watch as the members of the council turn to one another and murmur in conversation. I’m worried he’s said too much and it will set them into a panic—but we’ll never get anywhere without the truth. I open my mouth to speak when Ms. Perez looks at Sophia who is standing by an interior door. “Please fetch the informant.”
Sophia nods and disappears behind the wooden door.
“We recently had a survivor come through intake. She was half-starved and ill—although free from the infection. Our health services put her in the infirmary on close watch. Her behavior was erratic and due to the fever—or at least what we thought was the fever—she had raving delusions about what was going on outside Winston-Salem and our immediate cleared areas. There was enough truth to what she said that we’ve kept her monitored for the last month while hoping for corroboration.” Ms. Perez sighs. “She used the term Hybrid—something no one else has used up to this point. Until now.”
The door opens and we all look at Sophia returning to the room. “She claims she has nothing new to say. You either believe her or just lock her back up. She doesn’t care.”
“I’m aware this has been a hard time for her,” Ms. Perez says. “Ask her to come in—I think she’ll be interested in our guests.”
Sophia pushes open the door and the entry is empty until I see a figure dressed in a basic, scrub-style uniform. I spot the braids next and smooth dark skin. A jagged scar slashes through her eyebrow. Her brown eyes flash in confusion and then recognition when she sees us. I reach for Wyatt’s hand.
Jude pushes Zoe to the side and races across the room, shocking the guard and the Council.
We’ve found Parker.
Chapter Sixteen
Parker shoves aside Sophia and flings her arms around Jude. He doesn’t miss a beat, squeezing her tight as she repeats over and over, “I thought I’d never find you again.”
He strokes the long braids that hang down her back. She closes her eyes and breaths him in. Taking a moment in the chaos to reconnect.
Tears prick at my eyes and Wyatt’s hand tightens in mine. There’s no doubt this world is crazy. It’s dark and lonely. We struggle and fight and alternately pray for it to all end and to live another day. But we also found something so good out here. And Parker is one of the good ones.
“I gather you know one another,” Ms. Perez says, gesturing for the guards to stand down.
“Yes,” I say going in for my own hug. She hasn’t let go of Jude’s hand for a second. “What did she do to get locked up?” I ask but the look of defiance on Parker’s face explains a lot. She must not have made it easy on anyone.
“And you two,” she looks at Mary Ellen and Jude. “Did you lie on your entry information? I’m assuming you’re not really married.”
“No, we’re not. My fiancé was killed not long ago.” Mary Ellen says. “It’s smarter to pose as a couple. For safety. Nothing more.”
Ms. Perez nods, although I’m sure she can’t understand what it’s like to be out there or come into a new community alone. I look at Parker, her hands are shaking and she’s thin as a rail. I’m not sure I understand, either.
Parker stops short when she realizes Zoe is standing with us. That she’s part of us. “What is she doing here?”
“Zoe’s okay, Parker. She’s helped us out.”
“Your funeral, you know that right?” She eyes the younger girl with a hard glare. Zoe holds her eye but her color pales. Parker rolls her eyes and says, “Her daddy is gonna find you and it won’t be pretty.”
She’s right. When Hamilton catches up to us, Zoe being with us will be a problem. One I hope we can leverage when the time comes.
“Are you okay?” I ask, wanting to get off the topic of the girl. “Where have you been? Walker said you disappeared from New Hope.”
Parker’s eyes narrow. “Is she here?”
“No, we, uh, left her a while back.”
Parker wipes her nose with her sleeve and tries to gain composure. “Yeah, I didn’t disappear. I left that crazy town when I realized what was going on.”