Free Under Different Stars by Amy A. Bartol Page B

tiredly.
    “Because I gave you an order. This isn’t Chicago, Kricket, where you can do whatever you want. Here, there are consequences when orders are disobeyed,” he replies, glaring at me.
    Feeling hot and sticky from running for my life through the jungle, my chin rises militantly. “I’m sorry, I don’t recall joining your army, so your orders don’t apply to me.”
    I see Jax cringe. “Kricket—” Jax says quickly, but Trey cuts him off by holding up his hand. Then, he turns to me and the menace in his eyes is unmistakable.
    Bracing myself for whatever is coming, I watch as Trey approaches me and leans down until he’s an inch from my face. “This is your draft notice, Kricket. You’re in my army now. You no longer think for yourself. I will think for you. I will tell you what to do and when to do it. Do you understand?” he asks.
    Allowing a small smile to grace my lips, I reply, “By your logic, I guess I should ask you if I understand.” I look beyond Trey’s scowling face and see Jax close his eyes as his face falls. I look back to Trey.
    “Wayra, hand me the rope,” Trey says softly, his eyes never leaving mine. Feeling myself pale a little, I fidget, shifting from one foot to the other as I wait with my heart in my throat for what is going to happen next. As the rope is put into Trey’s hands, he asks, “Feel like changing your mind?”
    Shaking my head, my chin comes up, “No.”
    I watch his expression sour, like he tastes something he despises, right before he lunges toward me. I cringe involuntarily as my face turns away. My arms come up to protect me, knowing his fists will probably hurt more than I’m used to. He surprises me, though, when he doesn’t hurt me. He merely grasps my wrists, tying the rope around them as I tug against him to get free.
    Trey looks almost alarmed, like seeing me flinch and realizing that I thought he intended to hit me wasn’t the reaction he’d expected from me. His voice is gruff as he says, “I’ll treat you like a prisoner until you learn to follow my orders. I can’t have you disobeying me here. It could get us all killed, Kricket.” I remain silent. “Wayra, put her on my back. We’ve wasted enough time,” Trey orders, watching my reaction. I try not to have one as Wayra picks me up, looping my arms over Trey’s neck as he settles me on Trey’s back.
    “She’s on, sir,” Wayra says in a clipped tone.
    “Try not to choke me, because it’ll be a long way down,” Trey advises me over his shoulder. He doesn’t waste any more time, but begins climbing the huge tree in front of us. I have to wind my legs around Trey’s waist as he climbs the bark like a monkey. Glancing up, I can see a wooden platform above our heads. When we near it, Trey slips through an opening. He sits on the lip of the deck, ducking under my arms so that I’m no longer attached to his back.
    Leaning against the massive trunk, I gaze around, seeing rope railings leading to rope bridges connecting several of the trees together hundreds of feet above the ground. Darkness is descending, making it difficult to see very far.
    “What is this place?” I ask Trey, as Jax crawls through the hole in the wooden planks.
    Trey frowns at me, but doesn’t answer my question. He’s still pouting , I think, shifting my eyes away from him.
    “It’s a base. A place to stop and rest,” Jax answers soothingly. He leans forward to untie my hands.
    “No. Leave it tied,” Trey says, watching my reaction as Jax reluctantly drops his hands. I close my eyes, resting my head against the tree. Weariness makes my body droop and I wave off the canteen before giving in to fatigue.
    I must have slept, because when I open my eyes again, it’s much darker. The only light is coming from the enormous moon above my head and a galaxy of stars surrounding it. No one has touched me, I don’t think, because I’m still in the same position. My hands are numb, as the rope around them is cutting off