Children of the Underground Read Online Free Page B

it.”
    â€œI promise,” Michael said. “You can count on me.”
    â€œI know,” I said. “That’s why I’m here.” I reached out and grabbed Michael’s hand and squeezed it tightly against the book. His hand felt thick and weathered.
    He looked down at my hand on top of his and then turned to go. He walked toward the door and unchained the lock. “Am I safe here?” I asked before he left.
    â€œYou thought I stayed here last night to protect you?” Michael said as he opened the door. I was nearly blinded by the sun. The room flooded with light. “You’ve got a lot to learn, Maria. I stayed here last night for my protection, not yours.” Michael stepped into the daylight. “You’ll be safe. They’re after me. Now that Joe’s gone, nobody cares about you anymore.” Then Michael walked out the door, closing it behind him.
    He hasn’t come back yet. I have to believe he will. I have no choice.

Three
    Twelve of them were sleeping in the house that night. As far as Evan and Addy knew, they were the only two that made it out alive. Dutty was gone. So were Soledad and Kevin. So were the others.
    Evan woke up in a strange bed, the smoke choking his lungs. He could already feel the heat from the fire. It took him a moment before he remembered where he was. Then he heard the gunshots. Everything was chaos. He heard running and screaming. The smoke filling the room made it hard for him to see. He looked across the room to the other bed. It was empty. His friend’s absence only added to the madness. Evan sat up in his bed and shouted his friend’s name. There was no answer. Evan’s shout was followed immediately by a coughing fit as the smoke crept into his lungs and his body tried to expel it. More gunfire. Evan rolled off the bed and onto the floor. He yelled his friend’s name again, sure that this time he’d get an answer.
    Addy heard Evan calling out through the smoke. She was already making her way toward him. It was a relief to hear his voice. Addy crawled along the floor beneath the smoke and bullets. She knew what room Evan was in, but until she heard his voice, she had no idea if he was still there and still alive. Hell, she had no idea if the room would still be there. For all she knew, the room could have already been eaten by the fire. She tried to crawl quickly, but her inability to pull in a full breath slowed her down. She felt the heat and smoke in her lungs, leaving little room for air. Her eyes stung. Tears ran down the sides of her face. She heard more gunshots. She didn’t know if the bullets were finding targets or were simply cutting like missiles through the smoke. She heard Evan call out again. She knew that he wasn’t calling out for her but she was going to him anyway. She’d made a promise.
    Addy crawled toward the sound of Evan’s voice. As she neared him, she saw his body slumped on the ground next to the bed. He was only ten feet in front of her. She could see his chest heaving, trying, like hers, to find usable air. “Evan, are you okay?” Addy shouted through the dark gray haze, though her shout came out not much louder than a raspy whisper.
    â€œAddy,” Evan called out, his eyes searching for her through the chaos. “I’m okay. What about—?” Evan began.
    Addy cut Evan off before he could finish. She knew what he was going to ask. He was going to ask about him. “He’s gone,” she shouted at him, shaking her head. She knew what the words implied. She knew what Evan would think when he heard them. She wanted him to think it. At that moment, death was better than the truth—it was more expedient anyway.
    Evan could barely believe what he’d heard. How could his best friend be gone? Evan froze. It didn’t make sense. Things like this didn’t happen—not where Evan came from. Addy saw Evan freeze. She’d expected it.