The Tribe

Chapter Fifteen

Stay away from them my ass.

Night had fallen. Most of the mall was fast asleep, and I was waiting for Trudy and Bray to stop talking and go to bed. Zoot wasn't going to wait forever and my window of opportunity would be missed.

Looking through Trudy's room entrance, Bray put a quick kiss to Trudy and his nieces head before leaving the room.

I'd gotten what little valuables I had, a few bottles of water but left the food. This place was turning me soft. These kids needed it more than I did. The sooner I got away the better.

When I was cautiously satisified with Trudy sleeping, I tip toed my way to her room. The baby was awake and moving around quietly. I gave her the softest smile as not to alert her into a fit of tears and screaming.

She was a cute thing, and she gave me a cute little smile as I settled her in my arms. Another twinge of guilt ruffled through me, but I buried it. I just had to make it through tonight. Tonight and then I was free. I tip toed down the staircase, my heart racing in my chest. So many questions of doubt in my mind, but none of them were strong enough to stop me from moving.

I started towards the sewer, the baby in my arms. But as I went for the door, a dreaded blond man stood before me. Eyes ice blue and the moonlight reflecting every harsh angle on his face.
"What the hell are you doing here!" I whispered harshly. "We were suppose to meet at the trains."

"Plans change." Zoot shrugged.

"How'd you know where to find me?" I questioned, chucking a look over my shoulder. He knew where they lived now. He could do anything to them, and I cared. God dammit.

"Is that her?" Zoot nudged his chin towards me, taking a step towards his daughter.

"Yeah it's her." I said, instinctively taking a step back. Every part of my brain told me not to do this. To run back upstairs and get Bray. "Remember the deal? I walk free, and we have nothing to do with each other from this moment onwards."

Zoot took her from my arms, her sleeping, innocent unmoving body taken by those cold hands. "What's her name?"

That was a good question. And one I couldn't answer.
"I don't know, Trudy hasn't given her one yet." I readjusted the bag on my back, which suddenly felt lighter and heavier all at the same time. "I need your word Zoot. You don't come near these people or me, ever."

Zoot took his eyes off his daughter for a minute. And he looked calm, a little bit happy and maybe even human. "You have my word." Zoot said calmly.

"And don't tell my brother where I am." I hadn't thought of him the entirety of my stay in the mall. It was strange to think of him now. But he was a locust through and through. He would never understand my decision to leave instead of die to show my true loyalty to Zoot.

"He thinks you're a traitor to the cause, anyway." Zoot said, looking back at his daughter.

It was understandable. Those were the lies Ebony and Zoot spread about me to the entire tribe. All because I'd gotten caught for doing his dirty work, I was branded a traitor.
"We should go." I told him harshly. If Bray finds us here it won't be good."

"Too late, Maia."

I spun around, to find Bray and Trudy standing at the entrance of the mall. "Give me my baby, Zoot!"

Trudy shouldered past me, and snatched her daughter from Zoot's grip. He didn't object, but the small light in his eyes faded.
"So this is what you were planning all along. To trade my niece for your freedom? An innocent life so you can frolic in the hills."

For once in my life I didn't have any words. Nothing to defend my actions. From the day I made this agreement was the day I knew I was making a terrible, selfish decision.
"Bray I —"

"And you." Bray interrupted, snapping his hurt, sharp eyes to his brother. "I let you in to meet your daughter and you use me so you can kidnap her."

"I don't know what you're taking about man. You took Trudy and the baby away from me. That's my baby, and that's my woman and you took them like you take everything."

"He didn't take me, Zoot. I left remember." Trudy said her voice rising above what I felt was a comfortable level.

"Quiet." I hissed. "You really want Lex to wake up?"

"I don't know why it matters to you. You're out of here anyway." Bray spat at me. "I told you not to come near them." He took two very heavy steps toward me, towering his body and muscle over mine.

"And I told you that sometimes you have to be selfish. Being marked as a locust traitor is worse than being on the streets alone. I was looking out for me."

"Oh here we go!" Bray rolled his eyes. "The speech, about how you're always looking out for number one. You ever think that that's the problem?"

"Jesus Bray wake up!" I shouted. "Look at the world we're in, we're kids and we have no one but ourselves and —"

"So you take a baby!?" I had never seen Bray so hurt and angry. The way he looked at me was the way Zoot looked at me. And it was a look filled with hatred. "I defended you to them. But today you've shown your true colours."

The mall was quiet, I could hear Trudy's baby hiccup and Zoot breathe behind me. But other than that it was quiet. Bray's eyes were on mine, and underneath his stare...It brought up emotions I wasn't ready to feel again. "I'm sorry." I whispered. "You're right, I'm sorry."

Bray retreated back a step. Looking down at the ground, with an expression I couldn't read.
"Leave. Get out and don't ever come back. You're not the person I thought you were, Maia. You make me sick."

"Not so fast." I didn't have to look to know that voice belonged to Lex. "Ain't this a pretty picture."

"Crap." I whispered. If there was one thing worse than being a locust traitor on the streets it was listening to Lex try to one up everyone with his senseless nonsense. I'd take the streets over that any day.

"I was right. I knew it all along but now I finally got my proof." Lex marched forward nunchuck chains rattling at his side. "How many?"

"Just Zoot, and he's unarmed." Bray said, moving to stand between Lex and Zoot.

"Good, I prefer one on one anyway." Lex snickered, he brought up his nunchucks ready to give a blow to Bray but, Bray deflected with his arm.

"Don't, Lex." He said sternly. "Listen to me."

Bray took a knee to his chest which had him hunched over himself trying to catch his breath. Zoot took this opportunity to flee. Not into the sewers which would've been sensible but further into the mall somewhere.

"Please, Stop it!" Trudy wailed, cradling her crying baby.

"Get after him!" Lex screamed at Ryan who took off into the mall.

I bent a knee at Bray's side. My heart racing. "Are you okay?" I asked sternly.

"Do not touch me." He swiped away my hand, and jumped to his feet, already after his brother.

I tried not to let his words hurt me but they stung more than they should've. I took off after him anyway, knowing full well he couldn't stand up to face Lex and Ryan alone.

"What's going on?" I heard Ambers voice from upstairs.

"It's the Locos they're inside the mall!" Ryan answered.

"What!? We're being attacked?" Salene asked with a horrified panicked sound in her voice.

"It's alright, it's alright. There's only one." Lex sighed. "Just leave it to me and Ryan, we'll find him, and when we do..."