Burning Day

Chapter 21

We drove through the night, only stopping once to siphon some gas from a parked car, eat some of the bananas, and relieve ourselves.

We ended up on an empty highway, and sped down the open road. Not once did any of us even consider stopping.

Well, any of us other than Amandi.

"Please," she begged for the millionth time, leaning toward the front seats and grating against my nerves. "Let's go back, I'm sure they're gone by now. We hurt them badly enough."

My fingers clenched into a fist, and it took everything I had not to pound it into my face. "We can't. I'm not about to get my ass dragged back to the facility, thank you very much."

"Please, they won't be there anymore—they'll have left to search for us. If we don't, they'll—"

I twisted around and slammed my palm against Gwen's seat so fast Amandi flinched. "NO—we're not turning back! How many times do I have to say it before you shut up!" Gwen clenched her jaw, but she didn't speak. She knew I was right. "They won't be gone," I continued, "because they're waiting to see if we listen to you!"

Amandi shrank into her seat at my outburst, and the movement snapped through my temper. Guilt washed over me, and I was suddenly super aware of the way I was looming above her, my fist clenched at my side. What was I doing? After losing Sarah, after the way Gwen and I had exposed every last of her nerves and left them raw by taking her home, here I was—yelling at her?

Amandi was my family, and I promised I would always be by her side.

"I'm sorry. That wasn't fair of me," I said softly, tears budding in my lashes. "But please, try t-to understand, I c-can't go back there, Amandi. I don't want to get shut in a Burning Day tube again." At the mere thought of the acid-like brown liquid, a fresh wave of tears spilled. Being still without my Gift, the fire would burn as painfully as ever.

Amandi's eyes welled up with such shame, I almost caved in and told Gwen to turn around. But I kept firm—I wasn't going back, no matter what.

Amandi sighed. "But—"

"Kiara's right, Amandi." It was only when Gwen spoke, her voice cracking, that I realized she was crying too. "I'm sorry, but we're driving to Osipyan non-stop."

It was our plan from the very start, so why did Amandi's sniffles in the backseat wring my heart with guilt? We had no choice, but for some reason, I forced myself to listen to each agonized sob in punishment.

I forced myself to listen until sleep lulled them away, and Amandi's cries faded into deep, ragged breaths.

"I hope you're happy now," Gwen said quietly. "Did you get your point across?"

I looked down at my lap. "I shouldn't have gotten so mad."

"Yup," Gwen agreed, but she let it drop at that. She squeezed the wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white, and they didn't ease up until I put a hand on her shoulder.

"It's okay," I whispered. "Everything will be fine."

Gwen's lips stretched to a thin line. "Will it? They crop up everywhere we go. And with your dumbass flaring up every few minutes, we'll never make it to Osipyan in one piece."

"No, I was way out of line. It'll never happen again."

Gwen shot me a look like she didn't quite believe me, but she didn't comment further. "How far should we drive before it's safe to stop?"

I crossed my arms, examining the signs rushing past overhead. "I have no idea. Let's—let's just go for a couple more miles."

Gwen nodded in agreement just as a whimper came from the back seat. I looked over to see Amandi, still asleep, but trembling as she curled herself in. Tears dripped down her face.