Page 116 of Us Defiant Few

With all the weapons secured to his body and the way his large frame blended in with the night, he looked like a harbinger of destruction.

“You alright?” he asked, frowning at whatever expression shown on her face.

“Fine.” She swallowed, glancing back at where the Governor once stood. He was gone but the Governor’s words remained and she couldn’t help but wonder if they were making a mistake.

“You sure you want to do this?” Takeshi asked again.

Khalani nodded, trying to withhold her panic, but Takeshi stepped closer.

“You can wait in the food hall with Winnie, Derek, and the rest of the families. You’d be safer there.”

“I’m not hiding. You trained me how to fight.”

“I don’t remember.”

“Doesn’t mean it didn’t happen,” Khalani retorted. But when she noticed the haunted look in his eyes, something warred within her. Unable to stop herself, she leaned forward, but a drop hit her nose.

Then her cheek.

They turned their faces to the sky.

The dark clouds opened up, pouring torrential rain. She tilted her head back, closing her eyes because it may be her last time to experience the Earth’s tears.

“I feel like I’ve been here before.”

Takeshi’s distant murmur floated to her, nearly drowning in the rain.

“What do you mean?” she asked, flinching as lightning cracked overhead.

“I saw something. A vision of you running toward me in the rain.” He blinked, lips parting. “Is my mind playing tricks on me again, or did that really happen?”

Khalani couldn’t believe it.

He truly was remembering.

If they survived the night, maybe the lost pieces of Takeshi would finally come home.

“Yes,” she whispered, droplets pouring down her cheeks. “Do you remember anything else?”

“Screams,” he whispered, a muscle in his jaw flexing. “Every night I dream, and all I hear are screams.”

“What do you mean? Who’s screaming?”

“I think it’s me.”

Khalani’s pulse raced, her brows pulling low.

She had no memory of that happening…

“I see them! Coming up on the north wall. Get ready to open the gate!” a voice shouted from above.

“Go, Kanes,” Takeshi ordered, his voice fierce.

She sprinted to the large wheel connected by ropes to the gate. Khalani glanced over her shoulder, but Takeshi had already vanished into the darkness. She could feel him watching her from the shadows, though.

Her hands gripped the wheel as she waited for the signal. Tingles raced up her forearms as she squeezed the wood to keep herself from running.

You can do this.