Species Traitor: A Science Fiction Dystopian Novel by Kate Mary (universal ebook reader .TXT) 📗

attention either. Unless I wanted to get hurt even worse than I had the day before, I needed to time this just right.

The guards were keeping the protestors away from the gate, which was the only way I could get in, so I stuck to the section of sidewalk between the fence and sign holders. I wasn’t alone, and as I walked, I had to weave my way between people who were moving too slowly or had stopped to watch the commotion. Angry voices slammed into me, making my heart race faster with each passing second, but I stayed the course and kept my pace steady.

It wasn’t until I was four feet from the gate that a sudden break in the crowd gave me a straight shot, and I held tight to the strap of my bag as I took off running. My sudden movement didn’t go unnoticed, and after only a few steps, people started shouting. I could feel the crowd surge forward, closing in on me, and tried to move faster. But it was useless.

A hand grabbed my arm, and I let out a shout as I tried to jerk free. From behind me came a snarl that sounded only part human, and my pulse quickened as I was pulled away from the gate. I reached for it, yelling for help as it swung open and someone stepped out, but there was nothing I could do to break free of the punishing grip.

“Species traitor,” the man holding me snarled.

Brentwood appeared from out of nowhere, pushing his way through the crowd. Dean followed, his face red from exertion and anger—directed at me. They both had pulse rifles, and Dean’s was up as he shoved the crowd back while Brentwood clutched his in one hand. With the other, he reached out and grabbed me.

“Back off,” he shouted, his furious glare directed at the man trying to drag me into the crowd.

The hand holding me slipped away, and I stumbled forward, falling against Brentwood’s chest. His arm went around me, and something about the half embrace felt familiar and welcome. It also reminded me of seeing him in the crowd during the Landing Day celebration, and again later when Finn and I were hiding.

I was still thinking about that when Brentwood pulled me from the throng, which now seemed to pulse with a fury that took my breath away. Beside us, Dean did his best to keep people back as the other guard led me forward, and we were less than five feet from the gate, which was open and waiting with two other guards standing sentry beside it, their pulse rifles aimed at protestors.

“Come on,” Dean shouted.

The way his eyes bounced back and forth between the crowd and me made my heart pound harder. I looked over my shoulder just as we reached the gate, curious what had the men so on edge, and was met with hate and rage. Even worse, a few people had tossed their signs aside so they could grab other items. Rocks, old bottles or cans, and in a couple instances, even clubs. A man at the front of the group had a stone the size of his fist clutched in his hand. He hurled it at us just as we rushed through the gate, and a bang followed us, along with a stream of curses.

The gate slammed shut, and I turned, panting and terrified, to find one of the guards holding a hand to his bloody forehead.

“Fuck,” he muttered, then turned his fury on me. “What the hell is this, Johnson? Does your girlfriend have a death wish?”

“I’m not his girl—”

“What the hell were you thinking, Ava?” Brentwood spit at me before Dean could correct his coworker. “Two days in a row, are you serious? You could have been killed!”

“Haven’t you realized by now,” Dean said, glaring at me, “she’s a fucking idiot.”

My blood was already hot, and Dean’s words pushed it to the boiling point.

“I told you I wasn’t going to stay away. Ione is my cousin. She’s family. I won’t abandon her!”

“Exactly what do you think will happen to her if you get killed?” Brentwood’s words were angry, but there was sympathy in his eyes. “This is the last time, Ava, do you hear me?”

“You can’t tell me what to do,” I snapped, even though after today it would be moot point. I wasn’t leaving these walls until Mayor Waters sent her people to arrest me.

Dean shook his head to let everyone know how much of a fool he thought I was. “Let her kill herself if she wants to.”

He returned to his post by the gate, his coworkers glaring at me when he stopped beside them.

One of them said, “I told you not to get involved with anyone who hangs out in here. Fucking species traitor. They should all be thrown in jail and left to rot.”

“And the halflings should be lined up and shot,” Dean said, his blue eyes focused on me.

My entire body jerked from the impact of his words, and I moved without thinking. “You asshole.”

“Watch out,” one of the guards said, chuckling. “She’s coming for you, Johnson.”

Dean didn’t flinch or step back, not even when I was standing in front of him. It wasn’t until I’d put my hands against his chest and shoved with all my might that he finally stumbled back.

“Prick,” I hissed.

He stepped forward, getting in my face. “You assaulted a guard.”

Before I knew what was happening, he’d grabbed my arm and pushed me face first against the wall. The rusty sheet of metal, warmed by the sun, was hot against my already bruised and throbbing cheek, forcing a hiss of pain out of me. I tried wiggling from his grasp, but he only pushed harder.

“Stop,” I managed to get out. “You’re hurting me, Dean.”

“It’s nothing compared to what that mob will do to you once they realize what a species traitor you are.” He moved closer, his lips brushing my ear. “They’ll beat