Mania by J. R. Johansson

she still in the van? I could see in Jack’s face that he’d had the same thought.
    â€œFinn, take Libby and head back to the van. Check on Chloe and make sure she isn’t causing any trouble and doesn’t go anywhere.” Jack’s eyes darkened. “I’m going to need to have a little chat with her when I get back.”
    I shook my head. “You think she had something to do with this?”
    â€œMaybe … but I’m certainly going to ask.” He shrugged and tossed Finn the keys. “If anyone heads in your direction, or the shooting stops and we aren’t there within fifteen minutes, drive away until we call you to come back.”
    Finn hesitated and looked at me. When I gave him a firm nod, he took Libby’s arm and started toward the van. She wasn’t resisting anymore. Her eyes were vacant, her mind elsewhere.
    Jack put both hands on my shoulders until I locked my eyes on his. “Stay with me and don’t get shot.”
    â€œUh … okay,” I barely got out before he took off. We dodged in and out around trailers, through trailers, and under trailers until we got over to where Randall was holed up with two guns and a huge bucket of ammo.
    â€œWhat can we do?” Jack asked, pushing me back until I felt like I’d been plastered against the side of the trailer. My heart was banging a staccato rhythm in my ears. A couple of feet in either direction and they could see me. It was surreal and terrifying.
    Randall eyed us both, then spoke to Jack. “Can he handle a gun?”
    â€œNo,” we both said at the same time.
    â€œYou said these guys are being controlled by the Takers?” Everything about what was happening in this camp felt wrong, and I couldn’t find a solution that felt right.
    â€œThey could’ve been blackmailed into it or something else, but it’s more likely they’ve been taken.” Jack hesitated, like he could see my argument coming from a mile away.
    â€œHow can we kill them?” I asked.
    â€œEasy,” Randall scoffed before firing off another six rounds. “They’re shooting at us.”
    I gave Jack a hard look. “If they’ve been taken over, they’re like Finn. They aren’t doing this. If we kill innocent people, then we’re no better than the Takers.”
    Randall spun around with his eyebrows impossibly high. “What did you just say?”
    Jack groaned and put a hand on Randall’s shoulder to mollify him. “What do you want us to do, Parker? I know what you’re saying, but we have to defend ourselves.”
    Randall waved dismissively in my direction and started shooting again.
    â€œFind a way to stop them without killing them,” I pleaded. “If anyone can do that, I know it’s you.”
    Jack stared at me, expressionless, for several seconds but I could see the battle raging behind his eyes. He reached into both boots and pulled out a knife in each hand. “I can’t promise not to hurt them … but I promise not to kill them. Good enough?”
    I nodded. “That’ll work.”
    Randall looked back at us like he was getting ready to argue.
    â€œI’m going to have to get closer.” The muscles in the side of Jack’s jaw clenched so fast it looked like a spasm. “Try not to shoot me, Randall.”
    The rebel leader shook his head. “I’ll do what I can. You be careful, Jack.”
    â€œI’m going with you,” I said. Jack didn’t respond, so I followed him as he darted past the backs of several trailers, circling around to where we could see a single police car parked.
    â€œWe’ll knock them both out and let the rebels sort out whether they are innocent or guilty later,” Jack said.
    I listened intently and followed Jack’s movements like my life depended on it—which it probably did.
    When we got behind them, Jack held up his fist to tell me to stop and