Free PRIME by Samantha Boyette Page B

had become, and he was grateful. When Adam spoke again, it felt to Simon as if Adam were inside his head, speaking only to him.
    “I am going to read from the prayer of St. Francis. Noah seemed to enjoy it when I shared it with him.” Adam took a deep breath. “Lord, where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. Amen.”
    “Amen,” everyone said. Adam stepped aside.
    Dodge stepped forward. “Everyone follow Simon and Tessa back to the rec center. We’ll finish up here.”
    Simon stood, reluctantly letting go of Tessa’s hand. He looked back in time to see Dodge and Tech both plunge their torches into the wood. The kerosene ignited quickly, and in seconds the whole pile was on fire. Tech and Dodge stepped back to keep an eye on the fire. Simon turned and continued leading the others back.
    The gym was as near to silent as Simon had ever seen it. The only noise came from the littlest kids who were playing a game in the corner. To Simon’s surprise, Tessa sat with Zeke and him on the couch. No one bothered turning on the overhead lights, so the only light came from the huge windows that lined the gym. They were dirt covered, and only a grimy half light forced its way through.
    Dodge stepped into the gym, followed by Matt and his friends. They filed past him into the rec center and stood near the stage at the front of the room. Lara went to stand beside Matt, leaning into him and speaking softly as she touched his wrist. Dodge motioned to Zeke. Zeke stood and loped over to him. He inclined his head as Dodge spoke quickly and quietly into his ear. After a moment, Zeke stepped back and nodded before leaving the gym. Simon knew he wasn’t the only one whose eyes followed Dodge as he walked across the gym.
    Dodge had taken off his tie and untucked his shirt with the first few buttons undone, but his suit jacket remained on. As he walked past Simon and Tessa, the sharp smell of burnt wood and something more acrid assaulted Simon’s senses. Dodge didn’t meet anyone’s eyes. He walked straight to the small stage at the front of the room, put his back to the stage, and hefted himself up. He sat, legs dangling over the edge, looking out on the room.
    “That’s done.” Dodge nodded once. “Tech and Zeke are taking guard for the next few minutes. They know what I’m about to say. I wanted to be sure everyone else was here to hear it.” Matt and his friends shifted uncomfortably, eyeing each other with questioning glances to see if the others knew what was coming. Simon kept his eyes on Dodge, listening carefully to every word.
    “What happened to Noah was my fault.” There were small sounds of surprise from around the room, and Matt smirked. Simon was as surprised as anyone to hear Dodge start his speech that way. Dodge looked down at his hands as he spoke. “I’ve been treating this whole thing like an adventure. Yesterday was no different. I should have been more careful when I climbed onto that wall. Noah died needlessly.”
    “I could have told you that,” Matt sneered.
    “Just shut up and let him finish,” Tessa snapped. Simon and Dodge both gave her grateful smiles. Lara let her hand slip into Matt’s and glared at Tessa.
    “I believe that few of you would have acted differently; there are only a few of us like Simon who have seen the last few weeks for what they are. For all purposes we are in the middle of a war zone.” Simon nodded, as did Tessa. Dodge stood slowly and looked out at the group. “I want you all to help me make sure Noah’s death is not without purpose. We gotta stop running around here like we’re the lost boys, or the kids in ‘Lord of the Flies’. Today we need to start acting like we are at war.” Dodge paused, looking out over the silent crowd. Even Matt was silent, which he took as permission to continue. He began to pace back