Rise of the Mare (Fall of Man Book 2) by Jacqueline Druga Read Free Book Online

do, only they’re free and
happy. It’s where I want to be and it’s where Sophie should
be.”
    “Do you really mean that?” my mother
asked. “Is it better there?”
    “Yes. It is.”
    “Then we’ll go,” she said with a nod.
“We’ll leave before the ceremony, we will go at first light. All of
us, to Angeles City.”
    “I can’t.”
    “You said you want to live
there.”
    “I do. I want to live there without
the threat of Nito, the other Ancients, the Savages or the Day
Stalkers. That will only happen if they are all defeated by the
rebellion. And they will be, with my help.”
    “You give yourself too much credit,
Vala. How do you plan on helping?”
    “By being chosen.”
    I suspect she didn’t understand, and
the expression on her face showed that. I started to go to my room,
but I paused, turned, and walked to her. I gently placed my lips to
her cheek and said my goodnight. No matter what, she was still my
mother.
    She claimed she wanted what was best
for all of us. I did, too. I guess in more ways than I wanted to
admit, she and I were truly alike. Both of us selling out and
sacrificing for the sake of those we love. Only, hopefully, I would
do so without any further hurt to the ones I cared about.

FOURTEEN – TANNER
     
    The smoke from the bodies of the burning Day Stalkers was thick,
black, and it stunk. I kept thinking that we were sending out a
smoke signal, but the only ones to follow would be other Day
Stalkers. The Savages were well aware of where to go.
    It was just about evening, and we
were finishing the cleanup. Thankfully, we didn’t suffer any
casualties in the Day Stalker attack, however, the men and soldiers
were worn down.
    That was after battling only
sixty.
    The people that remained in Lyons
Estates wouldn’t leave for a safer location. Contrary to what Davis
wanted, they insisted that if the guards on duty sounded off the
alert, then they were safe in their safe rooms or basements.
    After Davis was informed that the
people of Lyons Estates and other neighboring communities were
opting to remain, he flipped.
    “You need to go back there and try
harder!” he roared.
    “What do you want me to do?”
    “Tell them this is what they have to
do. Get on the transport and get into town.”
    “So we’re just put everyone in one
place?”
    “It’s the best way to keep them all
safe.”
    “It’s the best way to get them all
killed.”
    “That’s insane. And that is immature
reasoning at best,” Davis scolded. “Lyons Estates is your security
detail. You wanna take that risk?”
    “I will. Because anything less with
these people is taking away their freedom.”
    Davis shook his head. “We need to
enforce this.”
    “So you’re saying don’t give them a
choice. What’s next, Davis. Hiding in the subway? Living down there
in garages?”
    “If that’s what it takes.”
    “That’s no way to live.”
    “What else is there? What do you want
us to do? We are outnumbered by the Sybaris, the Savages, and the
Day Stalkers.”
    “Fight.”
    “I am.”
    “No, you aren’t,” I argued. “You’re
defending. Fight for our freedom. Let me tell you something, Davis.
Let me tell you what we, the young people, see. We see the older
soldiers giving up. Becoming complacent in just surviving under
their wrath.”
    “Oh, that’s bull and you know it,”
Davis scoffed.
    “ Do I? I remember being a young
boy and watching you plan. That plan has changed. You had a plan
here recently to let the Stalkers and Savages battle the Sybaris
and we pick up the pieces. Well now they’re battling us and if we let
them go on, there won’t be enough of us to attack and destroy the
Sybaris.”
    “I’m out of options. I have a plan in
motion with Vala. What else can I do?”
    I smiled. “Have you ever thought of
going after them?”
    “What?”
    “They’re coming from somewhere. I’m
not talking about some queen bee bringing in a truckload of Day
Stalkers. I’m talking about the Savages.