Denton doesn’t even look at me when he says yes. “We—Nadine and me—we thought it would be okay. That we’d be able to live with it and that maybe by being in charge of Fort Caroline’s law enforcement, we could make a difference. We needed a place to feel safe after everything that went down with the flu. Some normalcy.”
I have no sympathy for him. Jamie and I wanted that, too. We all do, even now. But we saw what was wrong with Fort Caroline andwe left. Just because Denton eventually caught on doesn’t make me respect him.
“So why did you run away?” Jamie asks. “If you knew all this was happening and other people there saw it, too, why didn’t you do what you wanted and make a difference?”
“We did,” he says. “Or we tried. But we trusted the wrong person and we had to run.”
Cara, who has been quiet most of this time, finally speaks. “Who ran with you?”
“Nadine and six others.”
“Why didn’t you leave earlier?” she asks. “You told me things were getting bad way before I left. You told me to keep my head down, do my work, and just wait. But you could have left before I did.”
I could be wrong, but Cara sounds hurt. Like maybe she had asked Denton to leave with her before and he refused. And maybe that’s why she finally decided to come with us.
Denton reaches out and puts his hand on hers. It’s not a romantic touch, more paternal. “I was worried when you left. But I’m glad you were safe. I had a feeling that was you shooting at us when we caught up to you all.”
Rocky Horror groans. “Okay, show of hands, who here in this room hasn’t shot at someone else?” His hand goes up, and so does Niki’s—probably not realizing Rocky Horror is joking. Trying to cut the tension that has filled the room.
Taylor comes into the doorway holding hands with the Kid. I can tell from the look on her face that she knows something is going on. Or maybe they’ve both been listening. She waves me over. I giveJamie a reassuring squeeze on the leg and go to her while Denton asks if we’ve run into anyone from Fort Caroline on the road.
“The Kid has to go to the bathroom, but he won’t let anyone else take him,” Taylor says.
I look down at him. “I appreciate you, too, Kid, but your timing sucks.” I turn to get Hannah’s attention and she comes over to us.
“The Kid’s been having some stomach issues the last day or so. Do you have any over-the-counter meds that might help? Also, which way to the bathroom?”
She nods. “Head out the front door, right past the cabins; we put in some outhouses. Come find me after and we’ll get him some medicine and Pedialyte.”
I thank her, and the Kid takes my hand. Jamie knows what’s going on, so I turn back to give him another look of reassurance, hoping my telepathic support will be enough while I’m gone. Instead, he stands and walks across the room.
“Let’s go,” he says.
Taylor follows us. “What’s happening in there?”
“Nothing good,” I say.
Jamar is waiting for Taylor outside, and she separates from us as we walk in the direction of the outhouses. The Kid is pulling my hand, trying to get me to go faster.
“Go ahead,” I say once the outhouses are in sight. The Kid runs to the closest one and Jamie and I hang back to give him some privacy.
“Why did you lie to me?” I ask. “About the wanted poster?”
He looks at the ground. “Because Daphne had just died, and I didn’t want to worry you.”
“I’m always worried; that’s a terrible excuse. And you found itbeforeDaphne died, so try again, only this time don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not lying. I didn’t want to show you at first because it scared me. I knew it would scare you, too, and I didn’t want to do that.ThenDaphne died, and I knew I couldn’t show it to you yet. I’m sorry.”
I sigh, still annoyed that he lied to me, but I can put a pin in that for now because he’s still scared. “Are you okay?”
He shakes his head. “No.”
I hug him and he squeezes me tight, crouching down to put his face against my neck.
“This is just going to keep happening, isn’t it?” he asks.
I rub his back with my good hand while the left one pulses with pain from the pressure of his body against me. But I bite back the agony and hide it from my voice. “This isn’t the same as the Keys. Denton is running from Fort Caroline now, too.”
