Free Evolution by Stephanie Diaz Page B

halfway up the ramp. His voice is stiff when he answers: “I’ve told you why. Commander Charlie ordered me to make sure you’re safely returned to the Core.”
    â€œRight.” I don’t hide my sarcasm. “He thinks I possess ‘extraordinary genes,’ so he wants to keep me safe, even though I’ve done nothing but disobey him and ruin his plans. You expect me to believe that?”
    â€œI don’t know why he wants to keep you safe.” The muscles in his back are rigid, visible through his armor. “I don’t question the commander’s orders. I just follow them.”
    â€œYou’re lying.”
    â€œIf that’s what you want to believe, I don’t care,” Dean says, continuing up the ramp. “I’ll be back with the medi-kit.” He disappears inside the hovercraft.
    I kick a piece of rubble in the grass, letting out a yell of frustration. I’m sick of all the lies. They have to stop. From now on, I’m going to demand the truth until someone gives it to me.
    Out of the corner of my eye, I catch movement on the edge of the forest. I spin around, focusing on the trees. Four figures limp onto the battlefield—four more survivors from the battle with the Mardenites. Dean and I aren’t the only people left alive.
    I run forward, ready to shout Beechy’s name—he has to be with them. But I stop in my tracks as soon as one of the figures lifts his gun and I realize he’s not an Alliance rebel. He’s Sam, limping along but alive as ever.
    â€œHalt right there,” he says.
    I put my hands up, so he’ll know I’m not one of the Mardenites. “Don’t shoot. It’s me—it’s Clementine.”
    Sam’s arm falters a little, but he doesn’t lower his gun. He’s close enough now that I can make out his face and the people he’s with: Skylar, Darren, and a corporal whose name I don’t know.
    Beechy isn’t with them.
    â€œHow did you get here?” Sam asks, his voice unsteady with anger. His eyes seem bloodshot in the moonlight.
    A step behind him, Darren’s eyes flicker between the two of us nervously. His face is shiny with fever sweat, his body shaking. The rest of them are in a similar state. Skylar has a hand pressed against her side, covering up a dark stain that looks like blood. She makes no move to calm Sam down. Her gaze drifts past me, looking around the battle site.
    â€œI’m not alone,” I say, trying not to sound as agitated as I feel. Sam shouldn’t be pointing his gun at me after everything, but he’s clearly not in a normal state of mind. “I came with Lieutenant Dean. He and I escaped into the forest.”
    â€œWhere is he now?” Sam demands.
    â€œI’m right here,” Dean says behind me, his boots clunking down the boarding ramp. “Lieutenant, put your weapon down. We’ve lost enough people today.”
    After a long moment, Sam slowly lowers his gun. I drop my hands. The look he gives me is full of pure hatred. I’m sure he can’t stand the fact I survived yet another battle.
    â€œIt’s good to see you,” Skylar says between coughs, as Dean steps into view beside me. “We weren’t sure if anyone else got away before the raiders landed.”
    I swallow hard against the bulge of fear in my throat. I have a question, but I’m worried I already know the answer. “Where is everyone else?”
    â€œThey’re gone,” Darren says through a ragged breath.
    â€œThey were taken by the Mardenites,” Skylar says.
    Their words slice through my chest like a knife. Taken. Captured.
    â€œYou’re wrong,” I say.
    They have to be.
    â€œHow do you know?” Dean asks.
    â€œWe saw the aliens drag people aboard their ships.” Skylar’s voice doesn’t waver, and she meets his eyes directly. I don’t think she’s lying.
    I feel cold all over,