The Girl Who Broke Free (Death Fields 5)

Wyatt makes it over and Walker says, “You look like shit, Faraday.”

“Good to see you too, Walker.”

I can’t help but exhale for the first time in hours. We made it, we’r

e back together and it’s possible Chloe was wrong. We can stop this, once and for all.

*

After a surreal standoff amidst the piles of dead bodies on the highway, Erwin and the US official, Mackenzie Hamilton, agree to meet at the farm house.

I’m relieved to see Paul and Cole backing Erwin up, looking beat up but still alert. Benjamin must have been with Erwin in the tank as he stands close by, seemingly moved to a higher station with Erwin now that he’s taken the EVI-2.

Erwin definitely knows how to surround himself with powerful soldiers.

The best part though is how pleased I am to spot Davis, hulking and quiet, as part of Hamilton’s direct guard. I can’t fight the smile when I see him and I spot the twitch of his lips. He doesn’t break from duty to give me the hug I want but God, I’m glad to see him. Jackson, still lean and strong, flanks Hamilton’s other side. They’ve got their game faces on and I don’t exactly know their positions in Hamilton’s world. Or what Hamilton’s world even is. I’m just happy to see them alive and part of whatever’s coming next. It’s good to have friends on the inside.

“Get a team together and prepare to track down the missing Hybrids,” Hamilton says to Davis. He eyes the rest of us. “I was serious about them being wanted.”

No one argues. No one says anything. Davis follows his command.

The rest of us climb into the trucks, our bodies tired and weary, and head to the farm.

At the house Jane and Jude wait on the porch, shocked to see our caravan. I hop off the truck and pull them to the side. They are both exhausted from the fight and the turmoil our bodies have gone through with the rapid change from human to Mutt back to human. I feel my feet dragging but I know we’re near the end, and it’s enough to keep me going.

“Keep your head low,” I whisper. “I’m not sure what’s going on but—”

“There’s a dining room table inside,” Jane says, pointing to the door. I roll my eyes for her cutting me off but absorb the exchange Hamilton has with Walker. He knows who my sister is and what she’s done.

The two men go inside, leaving the rest of us on the porch. Wyatt collapses in a wooden slat rocking chair, sighing heavily. Jackson and Walker stand close to the window. Paul, Benjamin, and Cole hover at the edge of the porch. Cole looks strangely in place amongst our rag-tag team, as though he never abandoned us.

It’s been so long since we’ve been together—they missed the attack on the farmhouse all those months ago. They didn’t know I’d been kidnapped with Jane and the Mennonites. They didn’t know we thought Wyatt was dead or the Fight Club Cole and I endured.

And we have no idea what they’ve been up to at all except showing up with a powerful force we had no idea existed.

Hamilton never gave us his rank, but he carries himself with an air of dignity and power. I move closer to Walker and watch him through the window. He’s African-American, tall with broad shoulders. His thick but trimmed beard implies he’s had access to housing and good conditions. I notice his nails are filed and clean.

“We have so much to catch up on,” I say. “Things got really crazy right after you left.”

“I’m aware of some of it. Our intelligence is superior to anything we’ve had since the virus spread. But yeah, I’d love to hear your side of the story.”

“I can’t wait to find out where you’ve been for the last six months and how you found this guy.”

She grins but it’s weak and there’s something wary in her eyes. “Is everything okay?”

Wyatt’s chair creaks as he shifts to get a better view of the two of us. I don’t have to look at him to know he’s picked up on the weird vibe.

Her voice lowers and although I’m sure we are the only ones that can hear her, I know three others on this porch have super-hearing.

“Hamilton is a smart man. A Colonel in the Army. Lower-ranking than Erwin, with a history in bio-weapons, pre-virus. Thankfully, he’s smart and determined to get this country back on its feet.”

“Well that’s sounds awesome, right?”

“Sure.” Her eyes dart at the Mutts standing to the side. “If you’re human and meet the criteria he’s established. Hamilton wants every Eater, Hybrid, Mutt and any other variation rounded up and terminated.”

It sounds rational but it’s not. These are people we know. Hell, I may fall into the ’other variation” ‘category myself after taking the EVI-3.

“The Hybrids are dangerous, yes, but the Mutts, well, that’s not so easy,” Wyatt says. I’m surprised he’s coming to their defense. “Without the Mutts we can’t take down the Hybrids. We’ve tried and failed. We only made a dent today because of them and even then it was a massacre.”