Friction (The Frenzy Series Book 4) Read Free

would even begin to show its head, unless a miracle or tragedy happened. Both were strong enough to spark change; catalysts of life-altering changes of perspective, as we’d all learned lately.
    “Thank you for the food,” he said, looking up but refusing to meet my eyes.
    “You’re welcome. What do you plan to do after you leave here?”
    “If Mountainside will allow me to stay, I will do that and see if it’s a fit. If not, I’ll follow you to the next settlement and try there. I’ll keep trying until I find somewhere to belong.”
    My chest tightened. “I’m sorry, Saul.”
    “No sorrier than I am, Mercedes.”
    The pieces of fabric were small but bright red-orange, and would be an effective trail of bread crumbs as long as Porschia or Tage didn’t catch on. Hopefully Roman wouldn’t feel well enough to pay close attention to anything. I was the one who bit Saul and turned him into a monster, so I was partially responsible for the monstrous things he did and would be responsible for making sure he survived. In another settlement, he could start anew. As a human, with a new life, new prospects and possibilities, he could live out his days in peace. Saul could become anyone he wanted to be. Hovering around Blackwater was torturous to him, as it was to the Elders. Although he didn’t have much contact with them, he watched the forest closely and saw the ones who came to offer them help, his former boss included.
    I jerked my thumb back toward Blackwater. “Keep a lookout. I need to get back in case they leave soon.”
    He shifted his feet. “I’m ready and I’ll watch for you.”
    “Okay,” I said with determination, already turning my back to him and jogging back toward the river. I firmly believed it wasn’t a betrayal to my sister; it was simply helping someone who needed it. As I approached the swirling currents of the water, I saw that Porschia was waiting for me on the other side. “What are you doing, Mercedes?” Her voice wasn’t angry, just exasperated and tired.
    Pursing my lips together, I tried to think up a good lie but decided with her uncanny instincts, it was pointless. “Saul needs food so I took him some.”
    She inhaled deeply. “Was it some of what Father sent for you and Roman?”
    “Ford packed extra.”
    “Did he know who was getting the extra rations?” she bit out crossly.
    I straightened my shoulders. “He did.”
    “Why would Ford help Saul?” She was asking one question, as well as another unspoken one about why I was helping him. The answers were different and yet the same.
    “Saul wants to leave Blackwater behind. He is going to follow us to Mountainside, where he plans to start a new life.”
    My sister’s jaw tightened. “So Ford only helped so he could be rid of him?”
    Mine tightened, too. “More than likely.”
    “And you? What’s your excuse for visiting him so often? For bringing him food and helping him follow our trail?”
    “Are you jealous or angry, Porschia?” She stared intently at me, and if her eyes could have burst into flames or lit me on fire, it wouldn’t have surprised me at all. But I told her how I felt and for once she listened instead of getting angry and walking away. “I made him the monster he became, and I feel responsible for how everything happened.”
    “You feel responsible? Guilty? Good. You deserve it, Mercedes. You made many monsters and several enemies along the way.”
    “Porschia, I know that. I’ve said I’m sorry a thousand times, but I can’t apologize forever.”
    “Then don’t bother,” she said as she sped away.
    Porschia was right. I bit her, bit our mother, and bit Saul. Mother was gone, and although Saul was human again, he was an outcast because of me. And Porschia… she was damned because of my actions. I could say it was because of Pierce and how he frightened me, but the fact of the matter was that I had a choice and I chose to avoid his wrath by infecting others. I took the easy path and made