Atoning (Darkness Rising 3.1)

Maya: It's PIZZA.

Moreno: No, it's not.

Moreno: D

on't play the irresponsible teen, Miss Maya. doesn't suit u.

Moreno: Five minutes & I turn on tracking.

"Ask where he is," I said.

She did, and he replied that he was at the campsite, where we should be. We discussed our options. Then, I rapped on the divider between the truck bed and the cab. Derek opened it.

"Moreno's had enough," I said. "He knows something's up. Maya and I think we should agree to meet him back at the campsite. Go in prepared for ambush. It's that or ditch our cell phones and hope the Nasts haven't implanted tracking devices during our medical exams."

"Oh, they have," Daniel said. "Guaranteed. And if anyone has access to that data, it's Moreno."

"That's a 'yes,' then? Meet him at the campsite?"

"It's our only option," Derek said. "Best case, we prove he's not the one who sold us out. Worst case?"

"Take him down and interrogate him," Daniel said.

Derek nodded, and I returned to Maya.

Nine

We weren't about to drive right up to the campsite. Daniel parked a half mile away. Derek wanted to leave Rae there, bound and gagged, and I think we actually might have, if we'd had anything to bind her with. Instead, she walked in front of Derek, who warned that if she made any sudden moves, he'd put her down. We knew he meant "put her down on the ground." Rae didn't seem so sure. He didn't clarify.

We'd just started down a path to the campsite when Maya's phone chirped with a text. She frowned at it and showed us.

10:55. Moreno: Stay where u r.

10:56. Maya texted back: What?

It took about ten seconds for a reply. When it came, it was one word: STAY!!!

"Huh," Daniel said.

"Yep, that's my reaction, too," Maya said. "It could mean he's realized Luke is a traitor. Or that he's seen someone staking out the campsite. Or that he wants us to think that, so we'll trust him when we catch up."

"Isn't this guy supposed to be your head of security?" Rae said.

Maya nodded.

"And you don't trust him?" Rae said. "Maybe that's a sign things aren't as good as you think."

"Things are exactly what we think they are," Maya said as she pocketed her phone. "We're in the safest possible situation, which, for us, means we still have to suspect the worst of everyone over the age of eighteen, however much we might like them."

"And you're okay living like that?"

"It's the only way we will live. Which is kinda the long-term goal."

When we neared the camp, we split up. Derek took Rae. Maya and I stuck together. Daniel looped around the other side, to circle in from that angle.

"Up?" Maya said as she scanned the trees.

I nodded.