Free Stronger by Lani Woodland Page A

of the people in the rebellion meeting. “Touching that Val is how I got my bloody nose.”
    He groans. “The one I wasn’t there in time to prevent.”
    “You stopped him from killing me.”
    Ty’s shoulders slump. “When I think of how many I haven’t stopped or how many I myself have punished.”
    I touch the line between his eyebrows. “It’s—”
    “Don’t you dare try and tell me it’s okay. Until this moment I’ve never thought of a Deb as a real person while I’ve been patrolling. It helps to think of them as well… Did I ever punish you?”
    “No, Ty. And even among us Debs you’re known to be kind.”
    “Kind?” He raises his eyebrow. “Really?”
    “Well, maybe not kind, but less harsh.” I search for the right word. “Fair.”
    He threads his thumb in his belt buckle. “I thought the Debs all worshipped us, like they do the Orions.”
    “Most do, but some of us are leery. We’ve seen enough not to have such blind loyalty. But we know you’re serving the Orions, who are perfection.”
    Ty snorts.
    “For the most part, the Debs do look up to you. They always blame themselves for the punishments they receive.”
    Ty touches my cheek. “But you don’t?”
    I put my hand over his. “No. I learned at a young age—playing with you and Bryant—that Vals aren’t perfect.”
    He smiles and his dimple briefly shows itself. “We’ll have to meet together again soon. Tomorrow at four. Do you know the path by the school, near the beach?”
    “Yes, I know it.”
    “Will you meet me there? I want to talk more.”
    “Yes, of course.”
    “Wait. It’s pretty far. Can you make it? I know Debs have weak lungs.”
    “We do, but Uncle Charlie has had me exercise every day of my life. I’m in better shape than most Debs, and I walk all the time. I can even do some basic fighting.”
    “Maybe I’ll show you a few moves myself.” He ruffles my hair and a few wisps pull free. “And let me give you a few of my points, so you have enough to eat.”
    He gives me another hug before we finally join the rest of the meeting. We learn that the attack on the Sacred Square was done by a lone, disillusioned man, not someone the resistance had recruited. He’d strapped a bomb to himself and ran inside the building. The statues weren’t damaged, something the Orions are happy about. After my failed attempt to shove one over, it makes me feel a little better that an explosion couldn’t knock them over either.
    “Did we ever find out who was responsible for the explosion in the hangar?” one of the group asks Uncle Charlie.
    Charlie shakes his head. “Just that several planes were damaged. Any other questions?”
    “What about the people on the termination list?” I ask. “Did we save them all? Except for Carlos?” Saying Carlos’s name still sends a flicker of shame through me.
    Charlie nods. “We mourn the loss of Carlos. It was a close call in a couple of the other cases, but we got the rest of them out.”
    A thrill runs through me, knowing that my work helped save their lives. “I can do more, Uncle Charlie. Just let me know what you need.”
    Charlie squeezes my shoulder. “I like your passion. We’ll need that. For right now, just hang tight.” His gaze moves from face to face, meeting each person’s eyes. “We’re getting close, people. Soon we will strike at the Orions and strike hard. I need to leave right away, one more thing I need to see to. When I return, we may have some new allies in our fight. I can’t say more right now. We can win this war, my friends. We can and we must.”
    Ty is asked to stay after we disband. I consider waiting for him but know I have to get to my shift.
    That night as I fall asleep, I dream of my brother and my family, of basking in their love.

Chapter 9
    The next morning the feeling of love still warms me. I barely notice the cold as we walk toward the greenhouse.
    We put on our hazmat uniforms and check in.
    Our foreman tells us we’ll be