Page 93 of The Fall

Alana breathed a laugh. “Typical. I don’t know where you got this idea that you have to choose to protect the Lake over being with someone.”

“Until now, who else was there to be with? And I do have to. Kerr can’t be a part of that.”

Alana shook her head “Just because your moms met and decided forever sounded good in two weeks doesn’t mean you have to. People date first. They get to know one another. You might find someone who fits you better than Kerr.” Alana swapped out the RDC canisters. “Though I doubt it. You’re a lot.”

Lusa let the jab roll off of her. Mostly because it was true. She knew her intensity had been the cause of her isolation and now, she felt lost. She had thought being social was trivial. Unimportant. Or at the very least, not for her. No-one had told her that there would be a test on it later.

“I know people date.” Lusa tried to cover her humiliation with indignance. “But I can’t do that with Kerr. She can’t come to the Lake unless she never leaves. How do you not see that?”

Alana took Lusa’s hand. Lusa flinched at the intimacy of the gesture from an adult that hated her until recently. Alana stared, boring into Lusa with her unnerving green eyes until Lusa relented and stared back. “You’re right. But you don’t have to stay.”

“I can’t leave them. They need me.” Lusa tried to look away, but Alana wouldn’t let her.

“We would have been raided and fallen apart a hundred times by now if you and Talia hadn’t helped us keep traders in check. Of course they need you. We need you. But we don’t own you. You can visit Kerr whenever you want.” Lusa didn’t know what to make of Alana’s sudden change of heart. Was she trying to get rid of her? But she seemed too sincere.

“We don’t have the resources for that.” Her voice sounded wet. She couldn’t handle thinking of the heartbreak right now. They were on the cusp of getting Pinga back and Alana was cruelly dangling the possibility of being with Kerr in front of her.

“You’re not the only one who can’t find their person at the Lake. If we don’t do something, we’ll keep losing girls to trader boys. We’re not stupid. We always knew this plan was going to be a long-shot.”

Lusa wiped her nose on the back of her arm. She shivered, which, given her attire, wasn’t surprising. “Kerr ran away.” Lusa could feel herself placing new bricks around her heart. She had things to do. Important things. She wasn’t a knife for vegetables.

But annoyingly, Alana saw through it. “You’re right. You can’t go chasing after some girl you’ve known for two days when your sister is in trouble.”

Lusa’s heart ached hearing the words. Even though she had already thought them herself and steeled her resolve.

“But I can,” Alana said.

“What?” Lusa stared, incredulous.

“You get Model 2 to the rendezvous point. The back-up transport should be here within a day and you can explain what’s going on.” Alana let her arms flap to her sides. “Because God knows, I have no idea.”

Breathing became difficult. The possibility, however faint it might be, of everything working out in her favour agitated her nerves. She needed to move, but Mackenzie wouldn’t budge. “First, she kisses me without asking, now she’s having a fucking nap.” Her legs cramped. Mackenzie continued to sleep.

Alana picked up the gun Kerr had dropped. “Tybalt or Mercutio?”

“Mercutio,” Lusa answered without hesitation.

“You’re in love,” Alana confirmed. “No-one else would know the difference.”

Lusa laughed wetly. “What is wrong with me?”

“A lot,” Alana said, not unkindly. “But as fun as this is, we need to go before more show up.” There was a note of panic in Alana’s voice – well hidden, but present.

“I can’t take all three of you on the bike. Or even Mackenzie unless she wakes up.” Remembering the awkwardness of moving Kerr with a concussion brought a slight smile to her lips.

Alana pointed toward the tunnels. “You think they all walked here?” Take one of their trucks. They have trackers, but once you’re outside of the city, they’ll be out of range.” Alana helped lift Mackenzie off of Lusa, leaning the surprisingly heavy woman against the wall.

“I had hoped to have Pinga back before now, but Callie is just going to have to forgive me.” Mackenzie started tipping over. Alana steadied her.

Lusa got to her feet and stretched her legs. It felt good to move again, but it did nothing to lessen her sense of urgency. “Why would she be angry with you?”

Alana took one shoulder and motioned for Lusa to do the same. “Callie isn’t a fighter. At least, not like Sesi and Talia. Or you.” They lifted Mackenzie together and walked her to the tunnels. The destroyed lorry was no longer on fire, but the charred remains of Styx bodies still crackled, overloaded cyberware emitting the occasional spark. “Remember what happened when Pinga lost her arm?”

“I got her a new one.” There was a hint of pride in Lusa’s voice, even though it could have ended a lot worse if her moms hadn’t shown up.

“Uh-huh, and when did your moms realise you were gone?”

Lusa remained silent.