The Gathering

THIRTY-SEVEN

NICOLE SCRAMBLED OUT BEFORE the SUV even stopped moving. She raced over to us.

“Oh my God!” she said. “Everyone’s been looking for you. They’re evacuating us. The helicopter’s here and—What happened to Rafe?”

“Smoke inhalation,” Daniel said. “My truck broke down.”

“Maya, Nicole, get inside,” her father said. “Daniel, help me get Rafe into the back.”

“His sister’s missing,” I said as Nicole tugged me away. “Has she come back to town?”

“Not yet,” Mayor Tillson said. “But I’ll let the search team know to keep looking.”

They laid Rafe across the backseat. I sat beside him, holding his hand and watching him breathe as Mrs. Tillson checked him out. She was a nurse at the clinic.

As Mayor Tillson got back into the driver’s seat, I said, “There are people in the woods. They set the fires.”

The mayor’s head whipped around so fast his elbow knocked the steering wheel. “What?”

“Drive, Phil,” his wife said. “Please. Just drive. We need to get the kids on the helicopter before the smoke’s too thick for it to take off. They’ll explain as we go.”

We did, as best it could be explained. There were people in the forest, pretending to be Fire Rescue officers. They said the blaze was set by someone named Aduros.

“I think they’re after stuff from the lab,” Daniel said. “A fire means we’ll all evacuate fast, leaving it unsecured. It’s an extreme way to steal a project, but if it’s important enough—”

“It is,” Mayor Tillson said.

He called Dr. Inglis to tell her, and as he did, we asked Mrs. Tillson about everyone else. She said some of the families had driven out ahead of the fire, but most of the kids had been evacuated by helicopter. The last one was waiting for us now.

She called my dad and said we were on our way. Then I got on the phone and he said Mom had already gone to Victoria with the animals before the evacuation began. She was safe and staying at the rehabilitation center until we could meet up. Dad was on his way to the helicopter pad. He’d see me there.

Finally, we reached the laboratory. The pad was on top and I could hear the helicopter up there, the whump-whump of the propeller. We were almost to the front doors when Dr. Inglis came barreling out.

“Are they okay?” She hurried to Rafe without waiting for an answer and impatiently motioned for Daniel and the mayor to put him down.

“Can you give him something to wake him up?” Mrs. Tillson said. “That’ll make it easier.”

“No.” When everyone turned to me, I hesitated. I knew what I had to say, and I knew Rafe might never forgive me for it. I took a deep breath, coughing slightly as I did. Dr. Inglis made a move to check me, but I waved her back.

“His sister,” I said. “He won’t let you evacuate him without her.”

“She’s right,” Daniel said.

“That’s settled, then,” Dr. Inglis said. “We’ll get a stretcher to take him up while we keep looking for his sister.” She took out her phone and stepped away to make a call.

Mrs. Tillson bustled Nicole and me inside the building. When a third figure followed, I jumped, startled to see Sam there. I suppose she’d been in the SUV but I’d been so stressed out, I hadn’t noticed her. She just brushed past me and started up the stairs.

When we reached the top, the helicopter pilot jogged over. Through the open doors of the aircraft, I could see Hayley and Corey. They looked as numb as I felt, staring into space, pale and anxious. Hayley lifted a hand in a hesitant wave. Corey unfastened his seat belt and leaped out.

“Is this the last of them?” the pilot yelled over the deafening thump of the helicopter.

“Two more,” I said, lifting my fingers. “One’s on a stretcher.”

“Who?” he asked, as if the answer would make a difference.

“Rafe Martinez.”

He pointed at the helicopter. “Get in.”

“But my dad—” I began. The pilot was already out of earshot, running to the door to help with Rafe.

“I’m sure he’ll be here, dear,” Mrs. Tillson said, laying a hand on my shoulder. “Just go and get in. They need to lift off.”

I thought of the people in the woods. I wasn’t getting in that helicopter until I saw—

“Maya!”

Dad pushed open the door onto the roof. He ran over, Kenjii racing alongside him, and caught me up in a bear hug, the way he hadn’t since I was twelve and he couldn’t swing me off my feet anymore. He managed to lift me now, though, hugging me so tight my lungs hurt. I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him back.

“Everything’s going to be okay,” he whispered. “You’re leaving now. The mayor is going with you. I’ll follow on the next helicopter.”

“Fitz—” I began as I patted Kenjii.

“He’s in the Jeep waiting for me. He smelled the smoke and hopped right in.” He put me down and took out his phone. “Your mom wants to talk to you.”

“We don’t have time for that,” the pilot said. “We have a narrow window—”

Dad waved at Rafe. “Get him loaded. We’ll be right behind you.” He handed me the phone.

Mom sounded like she was crying with relief. I assured her I was okay and Daniel was okay, and Rafe seemed fine, and we were getting on the helicopter now.

“We have to leave,” the pilot said, “or that last chopper will never make it in for the rest of you.”

Dad hugged me, tight and fierce. Then he helped me fasten my seat belt, kissed my cheek, and squeezed Daniel’s shoulder.

As he backed out, Kenjii leaped in and laid down at my feet.

“Come on, girl,” Dad said. “You’re going with me.”

When she didn’t budge, the pilot reached in to grab her collar. She growled.

“Leave her,” Mayor Tillson said. “She’s a good dog. She’ll behave.”

The pilot looked ready to argue, but someone buzzed his radio, telling him he had to get going. He closed the door.

Mayor Tillson climbed into the front passenger seat and looked back. “Everyone buckled in?”

It was a big helicopter. Six passengers in the back, plus Kenjii at my feet and Rafe, stretched out on the floor, still unconscious. Daniel sat beside me, right behind the pilot. Sam and Nicole were adjusting their seat belts. Corey and Hayley were in the last set of seats. We’d run through the drill often enough, everyone being told who they’d evacuate with, no changes allowed. Except Rafe.

I looked over the seat at him. I thought of Annie. Had she managed to escape the fire? God, I hoped so. When he woke up, though, and found out I’d made him leave without her …

I took a deep breath. I couldn’t think about that now. I’d made the only choice I could. He’d forgive me or he wouldn’t.

When I shivered, Daniel reached over and squeezed my hand, whispering, “It’ll be okay.”

I nodded. We had a lot of questions that still needed answers, but for now, the biggest danger—the fire and the people who set it—were behind us. We were safe, and there would be plenty of time for questions later.

The helicopter wobbled once, then lifted off.