TRINITY GLANCED BACK TOWARD THE TREE, scanning the surrounding area for Gaar. Had he left? He was concerned that attacking the Almightys’ Guards would cause trouble for him and Mirra.

“Hey, J.R., one of them escaped,” yelled the burly Guard.

“Don’t be joking now, Pat,” said J.R. as he stepped into the yard. “Well, I’ll be. You ain’t kidding. Boys, we got a loose one.”

Six other Guards shoved out of the building. They were all short. Most were fat but a few were solid muscle. None of them looked fast, but they did seem bigger than they had when she’d been observing them from the safety of the brush.

“There, there, now. No reason to be afraid.” Pat stepped forward, slowly.

“Hold on,” said J.R, leering at her. “If she comes nicely, we don’t get to have no fun.”

“What do ya mean?” asked Pat.

J.R. looked at the other Guards. They nodded, but their eyes never left her.

The hair stood on the back of her neck. She could not let them catch her. She’d worry about Gaar later. Right now, she had to focus on the immediate danger. Even if the Guards were really slow, she’d never make it under the fence without getting caught. Her only option was the gap in the barbed wire on the gate. Unfortunately, the Guards stood between her and that exit.

“Yeah, Pat. You’re new here. This don’t happen often. Every now and then, one escapes and we get to bring it back,” explained an older Guard who was missing a front canine.

“Escapes,” scoffed one of the other Guards. “You mean we let it go so that we can chase it. I ain’t never seen one get out on its own before.”

“Let’s not quibble over the details,” said J.R. “The point is we get to catch it.”

“I could use some exercise.” Pat grinned at her as his eyes traveled up and down her body.

She took an involuntary step backward. As a group, they moved a step forward. Her heart pounded. She was going to have to lead them away from the gate and circle back around but which way should she go?

“I never saw one just stand there before,” said the Guard with the missing tooth.

“This ain’t gonna be no fun if she don’t run,” said Pat.

“Oh, she’ll run.” Without warning, J.R. raced toward her.

The rest of the Guards followed, hooting and howling. She said a quick prayer that they were slow, at least slower than her and bolted in the opposite direction. She tripped over her feet, staggering forward a few steps and then took off running. Of the eight, three were fast, too fast. She headed around the buildings. Their yelps of joy snapped at her heels as they gained on her.

She raced by where Travis was being held and was almost past Mirabelle’s building when a Guard burst from the alleyway, blocking her path. They had her surrounded. She couldn’t turn around. The other Guards were too close. She had no choice. She had to get past the lone Guard in front of her, but she’d have to be fast. The backpack was weighing her down. It had to go. As she continued running, she reached around, pulling it off her shoulders. The Guard leapt forward, clasping the back of her shirt. Without thinking she raised her arm and flung the backpack, hitting him in the face. His head wobbled and he fell to his knees, dropping his hold on her. I’ll never complain about Gaar’s bread again. She ran past the next building and ducked down the alleyway. She emerged in the yard. It was empty, but two of the faster Guards were still right behind her. She shifted her angle, heading directly toward the gate.

“We got her now, boys,” yelled J.R. “She thinks she’s getting through the fence.”

She glanced back. The slower group of Guards was closer now that she’d circled back toward them. The Guard that she’d hit passed the others, rage fueling his speed. He wanted to kill her; it was in his eyes. She had to get out of there. She launched herself on the fence and began climbing. It was easier than a tree.

“Ain’t never seen one do that before,” shouted a Guard. “Get over here, J.R. We need the keys.”

“I ain’t waiting,” shouted another Guard.

Someone hit the fence. It was too easy. The Guards could climb it too. She flung herself over the top, sliding down a few feet and then letting go. She hit the ground and rolled, her legs vibrating from the impact. There was a thud. She clamored to her feet and ran. Footsteps close behind her. Hot breath wafted over the back of her neck. She ran faster. She had to reach the safety of the forest. A hand skimmed over her shoulder. She shoved her chest forward to avoid his grasp. The trees were right there, only a little farther. Someone screamed.

Her head snapped backward and her feet flew out from under her as the Guard grabbed her hair. She landed, hard, on her back. The Guard pounced on her, knocking the breath from her lungs. It was the guy who she’d hit and he was beyond angry. She gasped for air as she struggled to get out from under him, but he was too heavy. She pried one arm loose and brought her hand up in a fast jab to his nose. His body jerked back from the blow, giving her space to wiggle free.

She flipped over. There were two Guards on the ground. Neither was moving. Spears stuck out of their bodies. Gaar was fighting hand-to-hand with the other five Guards. Relief washed through her. He hadn’t left her, but could he defeat all the Guards? She pulled herself up and something hit her in the center of her back, knocking her forward, her face hitting the ground. Her teeth bit into her lip and the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.

“I’ll tear you apart,” snarled the Guard as he straddled her hips. He grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled her head back. He lowered his mouth to her neck.

He was going to kill her. Maybe, hitting him hadn’t been such a good idea. She tried to break free but her arms were pinned at her side. She struggled and was able to wiggle her right hand. She grasped the handle of her knife but couldn’t move enough to unsheathe it. She tried again but it was no use. This was it, the end. She’d failed. Travis and her mother would die because of her. Her body tensed as his teeth grazed her neck.

“I want to see your face as I tear your throat out,” he growled as he lifted himself a couple of inches, loosening his hold, and flipping her over.

She pulled up her arm. He bared his sharp, yellow teeth and leaned forward. She shoved upward with her knife. Hot, thick blood poured over her hand as the blade slid into his gut. His eyes, once gleaming in anticipation, showed surprise. He looked down at his stomach. His face contorted with fury. She twisted her wrist. Die already. His eyes burned into hers and he lowered his face to her neck. Suddenly, his head shot back. There was a glint of silver and then blood sprayed from his throat. He was yanked backward; his body tossed to the ground.

Gaar grabbed her by the arms, pulling her to her feet. “Are you okay?”

He was covered in blood. His beard and clothes were no longer gray but red. The eight Guards lay scattered around. All dead. Some by spears, some by knife and, she swallowed back bile, some torn apart.

“Are you okay?” he asked again, shaking her gently.

She nodded. “Yeah.” She used her arm to wipe the Guard’s blood off her face. “It’s not my blood.”

He released his breath in a slow sigh of relief and then grinned. “You didn’t look for my signal.”

She shook her head, unable to stop staring at the Guards. It was her fault that they were dead. “No. I…I’m sorry.” Her hand trembled as she sheathed her knife.

He laughed and slapped her on the back, knocking her forward. He quickly grabbed her elbow to steady her. “Sorry. I get a bit excited after battle.” He glanced at the Guards, licking his lips.

She covered her mouth with her hand and turned away. The building where Travis was being held loomed in her view. “Why are they doing this to them? It’s a punishment, I know, but it doesn’t make sense. Why not just kill them? Why keep them locked in that building? Chained in cages. Forcing food down their throats?”

“You still don’t understand.”

“Then explain it to me.” Right now, she didn’t know anything except that she was confused and scared and…glad to be alive.

He patted her on the shoulder. “Let’s leave this place. You’ve seen what they do to your kind. That’s what I promised.”

He couldn’t be serious. “But, I still don’t know anything. Only the one building was bad, horrible, but Mirabelle likes it here. She’s looking forward to going to the Warehouse District.”

He snorted in amusement.

She grabbed his arm. “Why is that funny? I need to see for myself. Take me there.”

He shook his head. “Absolutely not. Trust me, nothing good happens to your kind at the Warehouse District.”

“If you won’t show me, then tell me.”

“Ah, Little One, I don’t want to be the one to tell you the truth of life.” He looked up at the sky for several moments then he lowered his gaze, his eyes pleading. “This knowledge will change you and I don’t want that. You’re kind and helpful.”

“What does that…”

“You’re different, Little One. You’re the most compassionate creature I’ve ever met.” He kicked one of the carcasses, hard and then took her arm, leading her toward the woods. “We’re holding you against your will and yet, you offered to help us with the serum without asking for anything in return. You saved Mirra when it would have been in your best interest to let her fall. You even helped a River-Man.” He stopped and stared at the encampment. “I’m begging you to let this go. Some truths in life are better left unknown.”

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“I’m tired of secrets. I need to know. I deserve to know.”

He nodded and sighed as if this decision pained him. She inhaled slowly. This was it. She was going to find out what even adult Producers didn’t know. He covered her hands with his much larger ones. His eyes were filled with a lifetime of sorrow. Her heart skipped a beat. Did she really want to know?

“They kill and eat you.” He blurted it out as if saying it quickly would lessen the horror.

She blinked. She opened her mouth to speak but the words froze in her chest. She must not have heard right. That had to be it. She shook her head to clear her ears.

“You heard me correctly,” he said as if reading her thoughts.

He was still holding her hands. His were warm but hers were now cold as ice, like her words. She pulled from his grasp and as she did all warmth fled her body. She was frozen. Numb. She walked a few feet away, amazed that her legs obeyed. They were foreign, no longer belonging to her. She turned back to face him. Please, let this be a joke. A terrible, awful joke.

He stared at her, his eyes bleak with the sadness of truth.

“No. That can’t be.” She slumped against a tree. Her body was limp like someone had removed her bones. “All those Producers. Every year. Adam.” She slid down to the ground. The bark scraping her back, but there was no pain. There was nothing. No hope. No future. Nothing. How was something like this kept secret? “Who all…eats us,” she whispered.

“Wild predators, ones that live in the forest, like Mirra and I, will kill and eat anything. The others…the domesticated ones, they may not know what they eat. They just know that it’s meat.”

“Meat. But you said meat was rabbit.”

“I didn’t exactly say that. I told you that Producers didn’t eat meat and that I was cooking rabbit. I let you draw your own conclusion. Meat is flesh. In the forest it can be rabbit”—he looked at the dead bodies—“or Guards or any creature, but in town it’s mostly Producer.” He broke a stick off a tree limb and began whittling. “Your father probably doesn’t know that meat is Producer.”

Her father. She hadn’t even thought of him. Did he eat meat? She’d never seen him eat it but she only saw him at home. He was a House Servant. Jethro said House Servants ate meat. Jethro ate meat. He’d offered her a sandwich with meat on it. Who was that? Did she know that Producer? She tried to swallow the bile that was rising in her throat, but failed.

When she was done retching, she stood, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. Her kind were prey as Gaar had told her from the beginning. She just hadn’t understood the extent. “I have to go home and warn them.”

“No.” He stared at the stick that he sharpened, refusing to meet her gaze.

“How can you say that?” Her heart twisted.

“Why do you want to go back? They never accepted you anyway. You had no friends, you said so yourself.”

Her mouth dropped open. What difference did that make? They weren’t her enemies. They didn’t eat her. “My mom is there.”

“Ahh, yes. The mother who forced you to hide what you are after she created you.”

“I love my mother. She did what she had to do.”

“Really?” His black eyes met hers and held.

He was right. She’d been angry with her mom for years, but this was different. This went beyond anger. “I’ll make you a deal.”

He raised his brow, a small smile playing about his lips.

She wanted to hit him for his arrogance. He believed that she had no power. Everyone believed that she had no power. “Tell me, truthfully, that there is a retirement camp for Producers and I won’t go home. My mom is going to be retired soon. If she’ll be safe, I’ll stay away from the camp.” She put her hands on her hips and waited.

He sighed. “I should lie to you, but I won’t. There is no retirement. Only death.”

She fought back tears. That was what she’d expected him to say but it still hurt. She stared into the distance but instead of trees, faces appeared. Maple, the elderly female, who had given her flowers when she was eight. Buster, the old male, who had taught her mother and her about medicinal herbs.

“I’m sorry, but you can’t go home.” Before she could argue, he held up his hand. “Mirra won’t allow it.”

“Mirra can’t stop me.”

“Do you really believe that?” He laughed, but the sound was mocking. “Even if you do slip away, she will hunt you down. A few fences won’t keep her out. She’ll be inside your camp in a flash and you’d better hope that no one tries to stop her.” His gaze held hers. “She won’t care if they are your friends or family. She will slaughter them without a moment’s hesitation.”

He was right. Her stomach churned again. “I need to be alone.” She walked farther into the woods and sat down, wrapping her arms around her knees. What was she supposed to do, just sit here and let her mother be slaughtered? Let everyone she knew, everyone like her, be murdered?

There was a rustle in the weeds. Her ears adjusted to pick up the sound, but other-than-that she didn’t move. Who cared if it was a predator coming to kill her? What difference did it make if she survived? She had no future. She would be alone. Even if she, by some miracle, found a mate, she couldn’t have a child knowing that it was destined for someone’s plate or to be stuck between two slices of flimsy, white bread.

Mirra stepped out of the brush. “You alone. No safe, Little One. Predators smell blood. They come.”

She shrugged. She should be dead by now. Something’s dinner. It was why she was bred.

“What wrong?” Mirra cocked her head.

The concern of the Tracker was the last straw. “Why? Why didn’t you eat me?”

Mirra crouched in front of her, swaying back and forth studying her. “Don’t know. Something different about you. Special.”

“But I’m not.” She wiped her nose on her knee. “I may be a Producer and House Servant but I’m not special. I’m no more special than Adam, or Travis or any of the others.” The tears she’d been fighting to hold back escaped.

“Ah, you know fate you kind.” Mirra reached out and wiped the moisture off Trinity’s cheek, her nail gently scraping the skin. “Long time ago, Mirra and Gaar-Mine lost all others. Mother, father, friends. Everyone. Mirra can’t undo. It happened. No changing.” Mirra’s dark green eyes clouded with sorrow.

“But I can change it for my kind, my mom.” She grasped the Tracker’s hand. “Please, let me go home. I won’t stay. I promise. I’ll just warn them. Help my mom and Remy escape. Save them.”

Mirra studied her for a moment and then pulled her paw away. “No. It no safe. You no go. Mirra and Gaar-Mine you family now.”

The words were like blows. “That’s not fair.”

Mirra bristled and the sadness fled her eyes. “World no fair. It no fair Mirra has no mate. It no fair Mirra take shots make Mirra sick.” She stood. “This you life now.”

That was it, then. She could save no one. Nothing mattered anymore. “What if I don’t want to live this life?” she said quietly.

Mirra glared at her and bared her long sharp teeth. “Mirra help with that.”

The Tracker leaned toward her, eyes gleaming. Suddenly, it wasn’t the Mirra who had saved her, but a wild predator. Without thinking, she leaned back and reached for the knife at her side.

Mirra dropped her lips over her teeth and her eyes shone concern not anticipation. “Little One, want live. Everything does, even when hurt.” She reached out and touched Trinity over the heart. “Pain here. Will stop hurting later. Trust Mirra.” She stood. “Come.” She held out her hand. “Mirra hungry. We go find Gaar-Mine now.”

Mirra was right. She did want to live, but on her terms. She’d figure out a way to escape, to warn the others. She let the Tracker help her up and they walked back to where Gaar waited.

“All better?” he asked as he put another spear in the quiver.

The question was so absurd that she almost laughed. It would never be better. “I’ll be fine. Until someone decides to eat me.” She wanted to take the words back; they sounded childish even to her, but it was how she felt.

“Everything is food for something.” He nodded at the Guards.

A crow had landed on the chest of the Guard who had attacked her and was feasting at his throat. She pushed down her revulsion. Guards ate Producers, so why should she care that the crow ate the Guard.

“What the Almightys do to your kind is not right. They trick you into believing that you’re their friends, helpers, but the fact remains that everything is food for something,” he said.

He was so nonchalant about it. Too bad Handler wasn’t on the menu. Then he would sing a different song. “Really? What eats the Almightys?”

“Anything in the forest. Anything wild. If they don’t go into the forest and they die some other way, then the bugs eat them and they become food for the plants.”

“So, I’m supposed to feel better that they live to be old and then in a sense I eat them when I eat plants?” He was unbelievable.

He shrugged. “I never said you’d feel better.”

She gritted her teeth. He could be such a Grunt’s ass sometimes. She headed toward the encampment. The sadness and hurt was changing into something raw and hot. She refused to leave and forget about this. She was going to do something. She was going to save her kind and she knew exactly where to start

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“To free the Producers.” The sooner this was done, the sooner she could go home. She wouldn’t allow Gaar or Mirra to stop her. She’d figure out some way to escape from them.

“What are you going to do with them once you set them free? The forest is a dangerous place.”

Harsh laughter burst from her throat. “Not more dangerous than our homes.”

He grunted. “You have a point, but some of them are happy here. How are you going to convince them to leave? You can’t tell them that they’re going to be killed and eaten.” He jogged to catch up with her.

Why did everyone insist that it should be a secret? She stopped and spun around. “Why?”

“It’s cruel,” he said. “They can’t do anything about it. You can’t save them all. Most won’t believe you. Most will refuse to leave.”

She shrugged, but the thought of leaving any of them behind burned in her gut. “I can’t force them to go. I can only tell them the truth and let them make their own choice.”

“But by telling them, you’ll plant a seed of doubt in their head and they will live the rest of their days in fear. Let them live in ignorance instead.”

“I will not,” she spat out. “I did nothing once. When they took Adam.” The raw wound oozed and the pain bubbled up becoming strong and poisonous. “I stood there while they squeezed and poked at my baby brother, making sure he was tender enough for their plate.”

“You didn’t know that at the time.”

“It doesn’t matter! I should have done something. I should have stopped them.” She turned away, wiping the tears off her cheeks. “He cried for us when they took him.”

“There was nothing that you could have done.” He placed his hand on her shoulder.

She stepped away from his touch. “Ignorance is what got us into this mess. If we band together we can live free.” She held up her hand when he started to interrupt. “Some of us will still die. Most, probably, but we will be free. We will have a chance. A choice.”

“Yes,” he snapped back. “A chance to live free and be afraid. Think of how you felt when you were alone in the forest. You would have been torn apart if Mirra hadn’t come along.”

She wanted to scream, but she kept her voice low. “Do you think I don’t know that? I know that I owe you and Mirra my life, but at least out here, I have a chance.”

“You say that now, but what if you didn’t know your fate? Wouldn’t you be happier in the encampment with others of your kind? You would feel safe, at least until the end. And trust me, I have been there for the final moments of many and no one feels safe at the end.”

Would she be happier in one of the encampments as long as she didn’t know any better? Yes. It had only been a few hours ago that she’d been thinking this camp would be ideal for her, but that was only because she didn’t know. The other Producers should be told. They should have the freedom to choose how to live and die.

Gaar grabbed her arm. “Think about this. They won’t live long out here alone.”

He was right. She wouldn’t have lasted a day if it weren’t for Mirra. “Help me, please.”

“I can’t babysit a camp full of Producers. We need to free the Trackers and the Handlers.”

His kind came first for him, which was understandable but why couldn’t he see that her kind came first for her. “I’ll help them. I’ll show them what you’ve taught me.”

He grunted. “It’s getting late. Do what you need to do. We’ll stay here tonight. Other predators are coming. They smell the blood.”

The tension fled her body. He was going to let her free them.

He glanced back at the carcasses and pursed his lips. He pulled out his knife and walked over to the nearest Guard. He sliced through the Guard’s pant leg and then cut off a chunk of the Guard’s thigh.

Mirra grinned at him and picked up one of the other Guards, tossing him over her shoulder. She headed toward the forest and leapt into a tree. She stretched out on a limb and began to feed.

She turned away, fighting the urge to vomit. They were predators. They’d never pretended to be anything else. They ate meat. It was better that their dinner be Guard than Producer.