Free Fracture Me by Tahereh Mafi Page A

you should, too. We’re heading
     out after breakfast.”
    “Are you serious?” I say. “We’re still heading out to fight—even with all this shit
     going on?”
    “Of course we are,” Ian snaps at me. “You know we can’t wait any longer. The supreme
     isn’t going to reschedule his plans to launch an attack on the civilians. It’s too
     late to back out now.”
    “But what about Warner?” I demand. “We’re not going to try and find him?”
    “Maybe.” Ian shrugs. “See if you can find him on the battlefield.”
    “Jesus.” I’m so filled with rage I can hardly see straight. “I could kill Castle for
     letting this happen—for being so goddamn soft with him—”
    “Rein it in, man.” Ian cuts me off. “We’ve got other problems. And hey”—he grabs my
     shoulder, looks me in the eye—“you’re not the only one who’s pissed at Castle. But
     now’s not the time.”
    I shake him off, shoot him a dark look, and charge back down the hall.
    James has all sorts of questions when I get back, but I’m still so angry I’m not ready
     to deal with him. It doesn’t seem to matter; James is stubborn as hell. I’m strapping
     on holsters and locking my weapons into place and he won’t back down.
    “But then what did he say?” James is asking. “After you said we should find Warner?”
    I adjust my pants, tighten the laces on my boots.
    James taps my arm. “Adam.” He taps my arm again. “Did he know where Castle was?” Another
     tap. “Did he say what time you guys had to leave today?” More tapping. “Adam when
     are y—”
    I pick him up and he squeaks; I place him in a far corner of the room.
    “Addie—”
    I throw a blanket over his head.
    James shouts and struggles with the blanket until he manages to pull it off and throw
     it down. He’s red in the face and his fists are clenched and he’s finally mad.
    I start laughing. I can’t help it.
    James is so frustrated he has to spit the words out when he speaks. “Kenji said that
     I have as much right to know what’s happening down here as everyone else. Kenji never
     gets mad when I ask questions. He never ignores me. He’s never mean to me, and you’re
     being m-mean to me, and I don’t like it when you l-laugh at me—”
    James’s voice breaks, and it’s only then that I look up. I notice the tears streaked
     across his cheeks.
    “Hey,” I say, meeting him across the room. “Hey, hey.” I grip his shoulders, drop
     to one knee. “What’s going on? Why the tears? What happened?”
    “You’re leaving.” James hiccups.
    “Aw, c’mon,” I sigh. “You knew I was leaving, remember? Remember when we talked about
     this?”
    “You’re going to die.” Another hiccup.
    I raise an eyebrow at him. “I didn’t know you could tell the future.”
    “Addie—”
    “Hey—”
    “I don’t call you Addie in front of anyone else!” James says, protesting before I
     have a chance to. “I don’t know why it makes you so mad. You said you loved it when
     Mom called you Addie. Why can’t I?”
    I sigh again as I get to my feet, mussing his hair on my way up. James makes a strangled
     sound and jerks away. “What’s the problem?” I ask. I pull up my pants leg to attach
     a semiautomatic to the holster underneath. “I’ve been a soldier for a long time now.
     You’ve always known the risks. What’s different all of a sudden?”
    James is quiet long enough for me to notice. I look up.
    “I want to come with you,” he says, wiping his nose with a shaky hand. “I want to
     fight, too.”
    My body goes rigid. “We’re not having that conversation again.”
    “But Kenji said—”
    “I don’t give a rat’s ass what Kenji said! You are a ten-year-old child ,” I say. “You are not fighting in any war. Not walking onto any battlefield. Do you
     understand me?”
    James stares at me.
    “I said, Do you understand me? ” I walk right up to him, grab his arms.
    James flinches a little. “Yes,” he