Flawed by J. L. Spelbring Read Free Book Online

eased himself through the door, where he was instantly engulfed in Sarah’s thin arms. Laughing, Woody returned her embrace. Tim patted a greeting on his back.
    As soon as Woody had moved, relief from the insufferable heat poured into the little compartment in the form of freezing temperatures. Ellyssa took in a deep, cool breath. She climbed out and stepped into the chilly air of the garage where Sarah and Tim had hidden them in coffin-like boxes. So much had happened since then; it seemed like ages ago. The garage was the same—boxes and containers stacked against the walls to transport goods and people, the same type that had transported her and Woody. The smoothness with which the Resistance operated still astounded Ellyssa, right under the nose of society.
    The cold penetrated her clothes and inched over her skin, raising goose bumps. After sweating for the last few hours, she didn’t mind. She smiled and was about to greet her hosts, but before she had a chance to say anything, she found herself in the same predicament as Woody had. For someone as small and frail as Sarah, she was incredibly strong. Her arms wrapped around Ellyssa in a vise-like hug.
    Surprised, Ellyssa stood still for a moment, arms dangling uselessly. But Sarah’s warmth and spirit fed Ellyssa with a sense of familiarity she was growing accustomed to. Finally, she hugged the older female.
    Sarah didn’t seem to notice Ellyssa’s hesitation at all. She pulled Ellyssa in for one last squeeze, then stepped away, wiping her hands on her yellow coat. “My, you are all just soaking wet.”
    “Yes,” she said, feeling the warmth seep away. She wrapped her arms around herself. “It is cold.” She turned and grabbed her parka from the sweat box she’d just escaped. It was damp.
    “Tim, we need to go inside,” Sarah said, pulling blankets free from a box. “Here, dear.” She unfolded the blanket, then pulled it around Ellyssa’s shoulders. “This will help until we get you inside the house.” As she spoke, her eyes suddenly lit up, erasing away another ten years. “Rein.”
    Rein held his arms open. “It’s been a while.”
    “At least a year,” Sarah said, muffled in his chest.
    As Rein and Sarah greeted each other, Ellyssa noticed Trista walking toward Tim. The older male looked at her, his brow bunched in questioning wrinkles. Trista gave him a subtle shake of the head.
    Ellyssa wondered what secret message the two exchanged. Going by their worried expressions, whatever it was, it wasn’t going to be good. Narrowing her eyes, Ellyssa asked, “What’s wrong?”
    Tim nervously fingered his beard. “Let’s get in the house first.”
    Ellyssa felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Sarah smiling sadly. The older female dropped her hand and reached for Rein and Woody.
    “I’m so sorry for the loss you’ve endured. It was terrible when news reached us, then Trista,” her head lowered, “filled us in on the rest of the gruesome details.”
    “I haven’t had time to tell them everything,” Trista piped up.
    Sarah nodded. “I see. Well, there will be plenty of time for all that. I’m sure you must be starving.”
    Tim approached Rein and gripped his shoulder. “We’re truly sorry, son.”
    “Thank you,” Rein replied, looking away and blinking.
    Tim fidgeted for a moment. “Well, then, I guess we should go in the house.”
    Sarah opened the door. Snow swirled in and freezing wind snuck under the folds of her blanket. Shivering, Ellyssa filed out after the others into the backyard that had been green at her last visit. Browns and gold, with a light powdering of snow, dominated the landscape. The fruit-bearing trees’ bare limbs stretched into a cloudy sky.
    Tim took the lead as they neared the back door. With his hand on the doorknob, he hesitated, then turned around. He rubbed his bearded chin. “Do you remember what makes up the Resistance?”
    Both frowning, Rein and Woody nodded.
    “Remember that.” He turned