his, what did you call us? His lackeys?â
Todd stiffened, and I stopped laughing, not wanting to offend.
âThatâs not what Iâve heard,â Todd said. âMy mom said that guy is so power-hungry heâll recruit just about anyone if it means keeping control.â
âYou donât know what youâre talking about,â Shawn bristled. âThe Noah saved us. The compound protects us; without it, the human race would be extinct.â
âIâd like to present exhibit A,â Todd mocked, gesturing to himself, âthat proves that statement is dead wrong.â
âWell, this has been fun,â Shawn said, âbut we need to get going.â He started to turn away, but I grabbed his arm and jerked him back.
âWait,â I said, irritated. I turned my attention back to the dark-haired boy in front of me. âHave you ever met anyone else from a compound? We are looking for someone. His name was Jack Mundy?â When Todd didnât say anything, I went on. âHe was around six feet tall, brown hair, a beard? Kind of skinny?â
âNo, sorry,â Todd said, and I could tell he didnât want to give us any more information than he already had.
âSky,â Shawn said. âI doubt your dad came this way.â
Toddâs eyes softened a little. âYour dad?â
âYeah,â I said. âHeâs been missing for five years.â
Todd hesitated, biting his lip. âWell,â he finally said. âJett might have heard of him. Heâs the leader of the Oaks.â
My heart gave a hopeful squeeze. âCould you tellme where to find him? Please?â I stopped, processing what heâd just said. âWait. Whatâs the Oaks?â
Todd studied us. âAre you sure you arenât government spies?â
I groaned in exasperation. âI promise.â
Todd stood for a moment, torn, and I held my breath.
âIâm really not allowed to show you where I live,â he finally said, and I deflated a little in disappointment. âBut after that stunt you just pulled, I donât think you two would survive much longer without some help.â I grinned at Shawn, but he didnât grin back.
âBut,â Todd said, pointing a long finger in our faces, âif you betray us, donât think Iâll hesitate to put those ventilation holes in you I mentioned earlier.â He patted his bow.
I gulped, nodding. âThank you.â
âDonât thank me yet,â Todd said. âJett might not let you up.â
âUp?â I whispered to Shawn as Todd turned and headed away from the meadow, obviously expecting us to follow. I was about to when Shawn grabbed my backpack.
âWhat?â I hissed as Todd stopped and turned back, waiting.
âHow do we know we can trust this guy? For all weknow, heâs taking us back to his mud hut to eat us. Heâs not from a compound, which means heâs been living with no laws his entire life.â
âHe saved our lives.â
âSo he says. I donât like it, Sky. He has no respect for our Noah.â
I groaned in frustration. âListen. Iâm willing to risk it if it means finding out about my dad. If things look dicey, we run for it. Deal?â Shawnâs lips pulled into a tight line. I rolled my eyes. âI promise I wonât let him eat you in his mud hut or whatever.â
âIâm holding you to that.â
âArenât you even a little bit curious how people have managed to survive if it wasnât in a compound?â
âNo.â
I gave him a look, and he huffed in defeat.
âOkay, fine. Maybe a little.â
âMake up your mind,â Todd called, glancing nervously at the sky. âItâs almost dark, and you already cheated death once today.â
âWeâre coming!â I called. âHow far away is it?â
âNot far,â he said, smirking. âLet
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