The Circadia Chronicles: Omnibus: The Complete Colonization Sci-Fi Series Heather Heckadon (books that read to you .TXT) 📖

WE TURNED OUR ATTENTION back to the camp in the cave. Everyone was shaking hands on the new plans being worked into place and having small talk. Spotting Smith standing over to the side, leaning against the cavern wall, I approached him.

“When do you have to go back?” I asked, leaning against the wall in front of him.

“PRETTY SOON,” HE SAID. “Leslie will notice I’m gone eventually.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure,” he said. “What’s that?”

“When you first caught me, in the woods, what did you mean?” I asked.

“What did I say that you’re confused about?”

“You said that maybe you and I would have a chance since Garrett was out of the picture. What did you mean by that?” I asked. “Why would you say that?”

“Aella,” he said, pushing off from the rock wall and looking straight down at me, “I said it so that you’d hate me even more. I did a terrible thing, but I figured you’d see right through me. I needed you to hate me so that you weren’t asking questions or anything around camp. I needed my story to be believable, and I figured that would be one of the easiest ways to piss you off.” He stepped closer to me and leaned back against the wall. “Was I right?”

“No, not at all actually,” I said. “But I did see right through you. The night the woman died in our apartment, I watched you walking around in the dark. Heard you burying her, and crying...”

He looked down at the ground and pursed his lips.

I spoke again. “I saw right through you, but even then, I still hated you. I still kind of do, but I also know what you did for us...and what you’re gonna do for us isn’t going to be easy. Not in the slightest...because even if you survive what you’re offering to do, you’re still gonna have to live with everything you’ve done, whether it be right or wrong, and that’s not gonna be easy either.”

Smith sighed. “I can’t take back what I’ve done. It’s too late for that...but I can try to make up for it. Even if everything has been to protect us, to protect you, I’ll still never be able to repay anyone for the lives lost. I’ll work every day until I die to make it right. Or try.”

We locked eyes. Knowing that I may never see Smith again was disheartening. No matter how much I had hated him before, I had grown to respect him. When I saw him stab Idris, I had never hated anyone more. When I found out why he did it though, my heart ached for him. He loved Idris just like we did, but he still did it. For us.

I reached out my arms, and he returned the hug, holding on for quite a while. I rested my head on his shoulder and exhaled. “I need you to make it out, okay?”

He squeezed tighter. “I’m gonna try,” he said. “No promises. Remember that.”

I closed my eyes and one silent tear fell down my cheek. I wiped it with the back of my hand before pulling away so he didn’t see. “Don’t do anything stupid,” I said.

“Are you serious right now?” he asked. “After all this, and that’s what you have to say?”

“...yeah, pretty sure. Now, you better leave before it’s too late. You can’t be in trouble with Leslie any more than you already are right now,” I said.

He bumped into my shoulder as he walked past. I watched as he talked with Garrett and Spencer for a moment, then sought out the doctor and left. Dr. Mayhew would have to give detailed instructions on where to find the vial of the virus and how to get into it. I assumed Dr. Mayhew would tell him about it on the trip out.

The ones closest to Smith from before, like Garrett, Spencer, Jane and I, watched as he left. It felt like watching a storm rolling in. I knew it was going to be a disaster, and things were going to be crazy, but I couldn’t help but be excited.

Once Smith was out of sight, Garrett turned his eyes to me and walked my way. Still leaned up against the cave wall lit with the fire, I waited. Circling close until he finally leaned against the wall in front of me, he looked around to be sure no one would hear him. “Did he tell you?”

“Tell me what?” I asked.

“Dr. Mayhew is going into camp with him. Apparently, the lock code for the virus is Dr. Mayhew’s fingerprint,” he said.

“What?” I asked. I was immediately furious. Why hadn’t he told me that when he was standing here? Why hadn’t anyone else told me?

“Dr. Mayhew is supposed to be back by the end of the night. In and out kinda thing, but I’m worried.”

“We shouldn’t have let him go. Whose order let him go?” I asked.

“No one’s. Dr. Mayhew insisted, saying it was the only possible way we were going to be able to win. We all told him no, and told him we needed to talk to you, and to the group. He didn’t listen, and said he would go with or without help, and had very strict instructions that we not tell you,” he said. “I wanted to tell you Aella, but I also didn’t want Dr. Mayhew going in without any plan or help, which is what he would’ve done.” Garrett shook his head and sighed. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry,” I said. “I mean, what were you supposed to do? You did the right thing. He didn’t give you much of a choice, and it was his choice to make. He’s right, the only way we are going to win this war is with that virus. Without the virus, we don’t have a chance.”

“I just hope it works,” he said. “The what-ifs are killing me. What if it doesn’t work? What if