Page 107 of Off the Rails

The warm glimmer bounced off of the fresh foliage that grew out of every nook and cranny.

Despite myself, I'd gotten accustomed to its wild, untamed beauty. And as hard as it was to accept that Nash and Blade had lied to me about our history, it was equally difficult to imagine leaving this place.

It had been a long time since I’d stayed in the same place this long. I had either been unwilling to push my luck in the generosity of others or had been kicked out.

By the time we reached the ticket booth, my chest was tight with something like sadness.

Just beyond the wrought iron bars of Feverpoint’s main gate was a gold Camaro that shimmered in the evening sun — and four people.

I immediately recognized Dom Dumont and Dr. Leo, the kind military doctor who’d taken care of Jane the other night.

But I hadn't seen the lean one with curly hair nor the redhead with perfect ringlets and shining green eyes.

Behind me, Blade split off toward an electrical panel in the ticket booth. “Open sesame.”

At her words, the black metal gate opened. And my three captors crossed the threshold from Feverpoint’s safety into the parking lot.

Unflinching, Dom didn't move an inch, leaning against the hood of her vintage car with her arms crossed over her chest.

But the redhead did recoil when she saw the masked clowns — not with new surprise but with the anxiety of recognition. Her eyes were peeled on Blade’s blood-splattered clown mask.

And my eyes flicked back toward my captor.

With a shrug, Blade explained herself. “We’re something like old friends.” A twisted laugh ripped from her throat as she gripped the handles of her axes.

A pang of jealousy rushed through me as my gaze moved back to our new guests.

Was she someone they had hunted in the past?

Given the three tatted mascs next to her, I was guessing that anything that may have happened between the redhead and my freaks was long over. Dom, Leo, and their friend made a wall around their girl, making sure that we’d be unable to reach her.

Even if we did, she looked like the type to put up a fight.

Still, I had a feeling that I’d quickly become Blade's favorite toy.

Cyrus tapped the tip of her machete against one of the iron posts. “I don't have all night.”

“Got some deliveries from The Oracle?” Dom smirked and pushed herself off of the Camaro’s hood, walking closer. “We've got a problem. That woman you brought into the shop won't talk.”

My shoulders dropped, disappointed that time hadn’t eased her suspicions of the people trying to help her.

When we had left Lucky Strike that night we hoped that Jane would settle down and finally tell us who she was speaking to — who had grabbed her like she was their property.

It was always a longshot, given how she was speaking when we first found her.

Dom continued, “Whoever she was with seems to have trained her not to spill details. It doesn't feel like a run-of-the-mill abuser. But it doesn't change that we're at a dead end.”

Under her porcelain mask, Nash spoke next. “And what are we supposed to do about it? We scared the girl half to death when we found her.”

Dr. Leo stepped forward and gave her two cents. “We're starting to believe that no one will talk to us because we are in charge now. They still don't believe that people in power will protect them, even though we've proven ourselves to them. As far as they're concerned, Dom Spencer, Keira, and I — along with all of the Violence — are just a new cog in the wheel.”

I couldn't say I was surprised. The people of Valemont had been left in the dark for so long that even the sunlight was still feeling like a murky shadow.

Since the fall of Zeus Industries and Isaac Dumont, Valemont was still struggling with disappearing women and powerful men. The whole county had become a fear-mongering tactic for other powerful corporations to try and weaponize.

Cyrus shook her head. “Getting laced drugs off the street wasn't enough? I still don't see how this has anything to do with us.”

They’re dealers.