Rebel Nation by Shaunta Grimes Read Free Book Online Page A

came back into the city. The house was dark and empty. And cold.
    â€œI’ll start a fire,” he said.
    Clover inhaled sharply, as if he’d physically pushed her out of her contemplative state. “Good idea.”
    Since Clover was at the Academy and, as far as anyone in the city knew, West was dead, no energy was allotted to this house for them to use for lights or heat or cooking or anything else. West had taken all of their candles to the Dinosaur.
    Jude gave a small hand-cranked flashlight that he’d put in his pack at the Dinosaur to Clover so they wouldn’t be left in pitch dark while he got a fire going in the living room. “Do you have wood?”
    â€œIn the backyard.” She sat on one end of the sofa and cranked the light, then shined it down the other end for Leanne, who really looked like she needed to sit.
    Jude went for wood, picking up some kindling as well as larger, dry pieces. They would need the fire overnight, to stay warm while they slept. He kept an eye on the house next door, where Isaiah’s grandmother lived. Would she notice the smoke coming from the Donovan chimney? Would anyone? It was possible, but he didn’t think anyone would come to investigate until curfew lifted with the sun in the morning. And even if they did, this was Clover’s family home. They weren’t doing anything wrong.
    At least, not by being here.
    Several times he looked through the window into the living room, and in the dim light he saw Clover and Leanne sitting on opposite ends of the couch not talking.
    When he came in, Clover found him some matches, then stayed near while he got the fire going. Leanne’s presence, combined with being in her old house for any reason, was freaking her out. Mango picked up on her discomfort as well, so he stayed close to Clover, causing a three-being pileup every time Jude turned around.
    â€œOkay,” he finally said. “That’s done.”
    Clover sat back on the couch and patted the seat next to her until Mango climbed up and positioned himself between her and Leanne. Jude sat in a chair near Clover’s end of the couch. Leanne watched their ballet without saying a single word.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Clover finally asked. “Why are you here?”
    The firelight did nothing to make Leanne look less like she might be sick. Jude watched her gather herself to say whatever it was she had to say. It looked like a painful process.
    When she finally spoke, her words weren’t exactly profound. “I’m not sure I should be here.”
    Clover made a dismissive noise. “Has something happened?”
    Leanne ran her hands through her hair, hiding her face. Whatever was bothering her, it seemed to be causing her physical discomfort, as if the effort of holding it in hurt her. She finally lifted her eyes to look at them. She seemed like a reprimanded child who needed to confess, but hadn’t yet gathered the nerve.
    â€œYou might as well just say it,” Jude said. “Whatever it is.”
    Leanne exhaled slowly, then inhaled again and said, “Langston Bennett is going to make you come back to the Company, as a Messenger.”
    Jude felt as though the air had been sucked from him. “He can’t do that.”
    â€œHow do you know?” Clover asked.
    Leanne straightened herself, and for the first time Jude thought she looked like she might make it through the night. “I’ll be your trainer again Monday.”
    â€œMonday?” Mango lifted his head at whatever he heard in Jude’s voice. “This Monday?”
    â€œYes, this Monday.”
    â€œWhy are you so upset about that?” Jude asked Leanne. Sure, Clover didn’t want to go back to the Company and he had no intention of letting that happen. But Leanne shouldn’t be bothered enough to be out past curfew to meet with them when it might not be in her best interest.
    â€œI’m pretty sure—”