Free Escape from Eden (Original Series book 2) by Rachel McClellan Page A

that I don't stop to think about how my actions will hurt the people around me. I really am sorry."
    Max hugs me again.
    I rub his back, but he pushes away from me suddenly, his eyes wide, as if he’s suddenly remembered something. “I want you to take something with you.”
    “What?” I ask.
    He stands abruptly nearly knocking over his chair. “I’ll be right back.”
    As soon as he’s gone, I join Jerry and Tank on the other side of the room by Jerry’s desk. Jerry looks ridiculously small next to Tank.
    “We don’t need that many,” Tank is saying. “Two, maybe three, should be fine.”
    Jerry shakes his head. “You don’t know what it’s like out there, especially at night. It’s when the worst of the Techheads’ creations come out, and they are ruthless.”
    “Fine,” Tank says, his voice deeper than usual. “But hurry. I’m wasting time.”
    “I’ll go recruit some people right now.” Jerry stands. “Give me one hour.”
    A thought occurs to me before he leaves the room. “Ask Link, Jerry. I bet he’ll want to come.”
    “Link,” Jerry says out loud, as if he’s considering him as an option. “Good idea.”
    When he leaves the room I turn to Stella, startling her by my suddenness. “Do you think my mother is still alive? And please be honest.”
    It takes her a moment to answer, and I fear the worst. I’ll be mourning her death again before I can celebrate her life.
    “Yes. Your mother is a fighter, just like you. I saw it in her eyes the moment we met. But life was tough there," she's quick to say. "Ebony did some horrible things to your mother when she first arrived, some things that may have changed her. You need to promise me something, Sage."
    I let go of the breath I'd been holding to say, "Anything."
    Her voice lowers, as if she wants only me to hear her next words. "It has to be you who saves your mother. Do you understand? You are the only one who will be able to get through to her."
    Rolling my fingers into fists, I whisper, "What did they do to her?"
    Stella must’ve seen the color I felt draining from my face, because she speaks quickly. “You don't need to concern yourself with that. Your mother is strong. She had plans to change things at Enfield and then go back for her children.”
    “She spoke about us?”
    “When she could. We were watched most of the time, but sometimes I was paired with her to work in the gardens. She loved you both dearly.”
    I grit my teeth together, thinking how difficult it must've been for her to be trapped in that place. "I can't believe Dad didn't try to save her!"
    This catches Tank's attention, and he turns away from the window he was looking out. "I'm sure there's an explanation. Your father would've saved her if he could."
    “Really,” I say, my voice suddenly bitter. “Like the way he saved me and Max from the Institute?”
    “Look, I'm just saying that you don't know the whole story. Wait until you talk to him."
    I’m about to say something I would most likely regret, but Link appears in the doorway, out of breath and smiling. “You guys need my help to get off the island?”
    Tank’s eyes narrow, probably concerned about Link’s age. “Are you the best Jerry can get?”
    “Link is good,” I say. “He’s one of our best fighters.”
    Link walks to my side and drapes his arm across my shoulders. To Tank he says, “I do my best, just like you."
    Tank wrinkles his nose, looking from me to Link and back again. “Are you two together? Like, together, together?”
    I immediately step away from Link, and his arm drops to his side. “Just friends,” I say, then hurry and ask Link, “Who else is Jerry getting?”
    “Layla, Renny, and Smoke.”
    “I don’t think you should take that many,” Stella says, surprising us all with her voice. Once again she’s managed to become a part of the room. She steps away from it and into our circle. “I have watched the forest at night from the wall, the way it responds to movement