The Defiant by Lisa M. Stasse Read Free Book Online Page B

mountain of foliage, their branches and leaves forming a thick canopy. We make it into the forest just as more gunshots ring out.
    We quickly find the river, using our ears to locate it. It’s wide, and its rushing water sparkles in the few slivers of moonlight that penetrate the cover of trees. My mind churns. Our landing was supposed to be secret. If there are soldiers out here in the trees, already looking for us, then we’re in trouble.
    Gadya and I travel rapidly alongside the river. Tree branches lash our arms and faces, and I feel the underbrush crunch beneath my feet. The rushing sound of the river next to us is our sole companion, hiding the noise of our footsteps. We keep low to the ground, running in a half crouch. Trying to stay hidden from view in case anyone is watching.
    I can scarcely believe what we’re doing. It feels like we’re still back on Island Alpha instead of in the continental UNA, close to a big city. Soon we will be rescued by the rebel convoy and then taken right into the heart of New Dallas.
    As we continue racing forward, my folding screen nearly falls out of my pocket. I cram it back in and keep running. I can’t afford to lose it.
    A few more minutes pass. Our breath is ragged in our chests as we run. We’re making good progress. By now we are probably just a mile away from our destination, and I haven’t heard any more gunshots. But just as I start thinking that we’ve escaped, I hear a voice scream out.
    â€œ Stop! ”
    I freeze. So does Gadya. I sink down to the ground. She does the same. We crouch in the brush, trying to hide. The smell of dank earth is thick in my nose. I can feel my heart pounding against my ribs.
    Gadya’s eyes lock on to mine. There’s no need for us to say anything to each other. The slightest noise could give us away.
    I can’t believe we’ve been spotted. Are these the rebels that we’ve been expecting, or someone else? I’m going over a cover story in my mind, in case we’ve stumbled upon government soldiers. But there’s no good reason to explain why we’re out here in the forest, even with the fake government papers that we carry.Our presence is far too suspicious. We’re going to have to fight if we get cornered by anyone other than rebels.
    I also know that we’re going to have to cross the river soon in order to rendezvous with the rebel convoy. We don’t have any time to waste.
    I hear footsteps crunching through the underbrush. A figure appears in the darkness, stepping out into a shaft of moonlight.
    â€œYou there! You girls!” it yells, seeing us instantly. But the voice is high-pitched and oddly unsteady.
    As the figure gets closer, I stare down the source of the voice. It’s a chubby boy, about twelve years old at the most. His face is dirty with mud, and his blond hair is long and ragged. He’s clutching an old bolt-action shotgun.
    â€œWho are you?” I call out.
    â€œJonah. I’m a rebel.” He keeps the shotgun pointed at us, his cherubic face marred by the suspicious look in his blue eyes. “Names?” he asks us. “Real ones.”
    I stare back at him. “Alenna,” I say.
    Gadya gives him her first name too.
    The boy nods. “You’re late.”
    â€œThere are soldiers out here—haven’t you heard the gunshots?” Gadya asks.
    The boy nods. “That’s why they sent me. To find you.” He pauses. “There’s supposed to be more of you.”
    â€œThey got lost on the way down,” I say. “They’ll be here soon. One of them is named Liam.”
    The boy nods again. “I know. The head of my resistance cell gave me the manifest for the flights.” Gadya and I exchange wary glances. We expected to meet rebels when we landed, but we did not expect that one of them would be a child.
    Jonah takes a primitive-looking walkie-talkie from his belt. “Short-range encoded