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THE WORLD WAS moving too fast for him. Almost tripping over his feet, Jack ran down the streets of the colony in search of the prison. There were so many patients he had to worry about after Gaines had decided to beat everyone he saw. He had to worry about the dying boy to the left of the ward, and the woman who'd ran out of the hospital in search of the governor, and the mother tied up in the prison minutes away from giving birth. And himself. Everyone who wanted him dead. Everyone who knew his past. Everyone who didn't. Everyone.
His boots skidded across the stones. Guards were pulling a dead man away from the daunting rope that called Jack's name. Aster was there. He watched Jack sprint past before their eyes latched onto one another. Aster nodded, a subtle movement of his head that nobody would notice unless they were already watching. Jack forced a smile before running around the corner of a building.
Honora was walking towards the hospital when she saw him. Her brain was whirring too, filled with thoughts and doubts about the plan her father, Gaines, and the governor had conducted over a bottle of rum. Alcohol-induced ideas were never brilliant to begin with, especially if they were conducted in pursuit of an impossible conclusion. Her attempts had been futile, as she should have gathered as soon as she caught a glimpse of the empty bottles of beer lining the governor's desk. Instead, she'd been made a fool of as soon as Gaines had walked into the room behind her, stomping out all of her arguments with a smug smile Honora wanted to slap away. Now, she walked down the streets with a low heart and a pained mind.
Both Jack and Honora noticed each other at the same time. The woman's lips lifted in the smallest of movements, which Jack noticed immediately. He slowed down, his hand reaching for her arm as he moved past her. "I need you," he muttered through a tired breath. She didn't question it as she let him drag her away.
