“Good thing you’re not doing it alone.”
I wrap my arms around his waist and pull him in for a hug. He’s not going to like what I’m about to say next, but asking after that speech may work in my favor.
“There’s something I need to do.”
“What?”
I take a deep breath. “I need to go home.”
*
We pack up and tell the others.
“You’re breaking out?” Jude asks. Parker sits close to him on the couch. Mary Ellen is on her other side.
“Breaking out sounds so…illegal. Who are these people to hold us prisoner?” I don’t add that I have a nagging feeling in my stomach that struck me the minute we went over the mountains. “It’s just something I need to do, you know? We’re so close to my hometown.
It shouldn’t take more than a couple of days.”
“What do we tell the Council?”
“Tell them the truth. That I got antsy and left. Wyatt came with me.” I spot the frown on Zoe’s face. “Seriously. We’re coming back. Don’t even think of following us, okay?”
“Don’t do anything stupid.” Jude declares this like he has to say it.
I make eye contact with Parker and inch my head toward the bedroom. She follows me in.
With the door shut, I give her another hug. This time I let the tears fall and I push them away with my hand.
“Not gonna lie, girl. I wasn’t sure we’d see you again.”
“Tell me about it. Do you really have to leave?” she asks.
“I think so. It’s important and it’s something Wyatt and I can do alone. We’ll be back soon. I promise.”
“Hamilton’s a bad man,” Parker says. She wipes her own, surprising, tears from her cheeks. “When we left you guys at the farmhouse I was worried we’d meet the Hybrids. We ran across that guy Avi on the road, Jane’s friend, and he told us they were coming. We changed directions, going away from Fort Knox. That’s how we ended up in New Hope.”
“What made you so nervous?”
“Walker and Davis shifted on a dime. They drank the Kool-Aid big time. They wanted the safety and security of New Hope and frankly, I think they were so scared and tired of the Hybrids that they were willing to buy into his elimination plan. But I worked with Paul for a long time and I heard the story about Cole saving your life. I knew the difference between a Mutt and a Hybrid. They didn’t care.”
“Not even Davis?” He’d traveled the same path as Parker.
“I just think he was ready to be part of something bigger and more secure. He’s a military man through-and-through.”
“I have to admit it’s tempting,” I say.
“When I heard about Hamilton’s long-term plans, the bounty hunters and purge, I knew I couldn’t stay. It sounded too familiar.”
“Like Jane’s original plans.” I shake my head. “Eradicating the world from terrorists and then the creation of super soldiers.”
“Yes. Exactly.”
That nagging feeling in my chest comes back and I know it’s time for me and Wyatt to leave.
“I’m so glad you’re okay.”
She grimaces. “Well, it looks like you’ve needed me around. You guys got into all kinds of trouble while I was gone. Imprisonment, injections, epic end-of-times battles.”