Page 53 of Jude

“Octavia is still out there,” he said. “I can feel it. She’s not dead yet.”

“None of them are.” Annie’s grip tightened. “We’ll get them all back.”

Lincoln disengaged the Invis Tech from the Cobra and they all climbed inside.

Jude accepted the water Annie handed him as he slumped down in relief. “What’s the location of the signal?”

“It’s out in the open.” Lincoln sped through the trees and out onto the road, re-engaging the Invis Tech to avoid detection.

Jude looked over his shoulder and shuddered. “They threw me into a death pit.”

“We know,” said Tobias. “We went there first.” His mouth turned down, and he looked away. “Those sick bastards. There were still a few people taking their last breaths in that pit. None could be saved. We checked.”

“They must have thought I was already dead,” said Jude. “It’s why I ended up in there.”

“We can’t get a fix on Heath’s exact location from his wrist comm.” Zane had a port screen on his lap and was studying the information on it. “It must be faulty.”

“They destroyed mine.” Jude held up the smashed device on his wrist. “Maybe they did the same with Heath’s but didn’t succeed.”

“We’re glad they didn’t,” said Annie. “It’s the only signal we’ve been able to connect with. And it’s on the move.” She gave him a hope-filled smile. “Which means he’s still alive.”

“Here’s a map of where we’re going.” Tobias projected a 3D image on the side of the Cobra, which displayed a map. “It’s an urban area. A State housing zone.”

“Why would they take them there?” asked Jude.

Tobias grimaced as he zoomed in on a large, slate-gray wall. “This is one of their death walls. We think they’ve taken Heath and Malachi there for a public execution.”

The breath rasped out of Jude’s lungs. “Can you get any sharper images? Maybe we can spot him or the others?”

“This is as good as we’ve been able to get with a drone,” said Zane. “If we get any closer, we’ll be spotted. We don’t want the State to know we’re coming.”

“We’re almost there,” said Lincoln. “I’ll get us as close as I can. We’ll need to go the rest of the way on foot.”

Jude’s gaze remained on the map as the vehicle slowed. He’d fight every dragon damned soldier there if they were intending to execute Octavia or any of his family.

Lincoln edged the vehicle past rows of identical houses. They were glorified prisons. A way to keep tabs on the population and ensure no one caused trouble.

“This is as close as we can get.” Lincoln turned off the engine.

“We’re half a mile from the death wall,” said Zane.

Annie touched Jude’s hand. “Are you sure you’re up to this?”

“I have to be,” said Jude. “For Octavia. For Heath. For Malachi. Let’s go.”

***

OCTAVIA KICKED ANDspat at the doctor as she tied the last restraint around her wrist.

“A feral little creature like you deserves to have her mind wiped.” The doctor wiped her hands down her white lab coat, as if touching Octavia offended her. “You’ll soon have the fight knocked out of you.”

“Go to hell.”

The doctor sneered. “It looks like you’ve already been there once.” Her fingers traced the scars on Octavia’s cheek. “Remove her hair.”

“No!” The traitorous word flew out of Octavia. Her hair was her barrier, it was her protection. They couldn’t take it.

“A mind wipe is more effective if the hair is gone. It ensures full contact with the skin. I want to test a mind wipe on you before we remove the plate in your skull. See how effective it is,” said the doctor.