The Badass Protector

IrisContent property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“WHY THE fuck did you just run away without telling me? How many times did I tell you to stay with me all the time? But you couldn’t just do it, could you? You’re hard-headed and stubborn, and you have to defy me!” Colt’s voice roared like thunder.

I stayed still, guilty, and unable to say a word because I had forgotten everything when I saw James. He was one of the people with me at the West Colony.

“Jesus, Blue! What the hell are you doing here?” He dragged me inside the textile stall and pushed me against the used clothes. The place smelled of mothballs, dust, and old.

I pulled him into a hug. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“We don’t have time for this, Blue. Have you not seen the wanted posters?” He fidgeted and looked pale. He lost weight, sure, and his eyes were sunken, but it was good to know someone was still alive after what they did to us out there.

“What posters?”

“You are wanted for stealing their property. That was bullshit, and I didn’t believe it. But you know how powerful they are. You need to get out of here now and never come back. This place is a fucking death trap for you.” He gripped my arms with wide eyes, forcing me to believe he was telling the truth.

“I did not steal anything,” I protested.

“Do you think I don’t know that? But you need to leave now.”

“I can’t. I am with friends.”

“I saw them.” He grabbed some clothes and threw them at me. “Just get out of here and find a dark blue sedan. You don’t wanna end up in that fucking place again, Blue. You might be running out of luck the second time. You might not be able to survive once they catch you again.”

I shivered. “You’re scaring me.”

“You should. Hide there until your friend comes to you. Don’t look back. I will give Alonzo a plastic bag to give to your friend. My boyfriend-he’s one of the securities on duty and the reason why I am still alive until now, but I still have to donate my blood every month as payment for my stay.”

I was already wearing the ridiculous white dress that looked like from Cuba. “Stay alive, James. Thank you for this. And please, look for my friend and tell them I’m okay.”

He threw the straw hut to me. “I think I saw them at the meat stall. Leave now.” He hugged me one last time. “Take care.”

“Iris!”

I yelped in my seat. “What?”

He hit the steering wheel out of anger and cursed about a hundred times, making me feel guilty for just running away, afraid I might lose James in the crowd.

Colt briefed me every now and then, and I threw it out of the window for a split second. I could have put their lives in danger, and if that had happened, I could not forgive myself for the rest of my life.

We used the blue sedan James owned. Colt was wearing the uniform Martinez had offered and said that we might encounter a checkpoint or patrol within two miles radius, so Colt had to pretend he was one of them.

“Just calm down, Colt. We found what we’ve been looking for in the Greenebach and why Iris is wanted. They wanted her alive, and that’s a good thing.”

Colt huffed. “They want her back, and that’s a good thing?” He shook his head in disbelief.

“I didn’t steal anything. They had already killed my brother. What else do they want from me?” I yelled in anger. I’d been thinking many times since we left Greenebach an hour ago about why they wanted me badly. But I still couldn’t find the answer.

They were willing to offer a reward and gave what Colt had asked from them, and that idea alone was driving me insane.

“What about their secret facility or top-secret dossiers, something like that? What do you know about it?” Gael asked.

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen papers or files since they had us. And I already told you everything I know. James said he’s still donating his blood every month as his payment of stay, and the reason he’s still alive is because of Alonzo Martinez.”

“I’m glad you’re okay.” Colt calmed down a little bit, but the scowl on his face was still deep.

“We need to go back to the camp. I’m afraid they’re all in danger.”

“That’s where we’re heading. We don’t have time to spend a night’s rest,” said Gael, biting the protein bar. He threw a bar for me, but Colt refused to take his.

“I can’t believe my life is worth five guns and grenades.” I rolled my eyes, still furious, when I found out my worth.

Colt met my gaze through the rearview. “I wanted to kill him ten times the moment he.” He paused, breathing through his nose. “He said if I saw the woman on the flyer. I swear to God I don’t like to have blood on my hands, but I wanted to give him a slow death.”

After his descriptions, I realized who he was telling us.

“That’s Otis Wise. He leads the army, or maybe he hires mercenaries, but he doesn’t lead the West. He follows orders from the top. I don’t know who’s behind this, though. There’s this geek guy he treats as his brother. I think his name is Zephyr, or probably just a code name. I don’t know. If someone touches Zephyr, Otis will not think twice about killing. That’s the only thing Nuke told me.”

“We’ll talk about this shit later. Take a nap, Iris. I need you to drive once you wake up. I have a lot on my mind right now, but I need to focus on driving.”

“Let me drive. You’ve been up for almost two days. You need to sleep, Colton,” I insisted.

“No. We need to get out at least a few miles away.”

“Of course, you just boss around.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” His face turned red.

“Nothing. Go ahead and drive.” I shrugged.

“Do you think I can sleep or rest when my brain is running a mile, and my rage is still pumping in my blood?” he roared angrily.

I could sense the anger coursing through his veins, and I didn’t have to provoke him, so I reached out to grip his shoulder. “I didn’t mean to run just like that. I almost put you and Gael in danger, and I am truly sorry.”

He nodded.

“Just do what he says, Iris. He needs to calm down,” Gael agreed.

I leaned against the window and watched the green scenery pass by in a blur. My lids fluttered closed.

A hard impact plowed straight from my right side, sending the car flying in slow motion. A loud noise erupted like an immense explosion, but we were not on fire. And I could still feel my body, reminding me I was alive. The collision flipped the car up and tossed us right into the air.

My breathing held.