The Forgotten Ones Read Free Page A

recognize. It’s getting bigger, closer. We’re almost there. And it dawns on me exactly what it is—with everything that’s happened I’d practically forgotten.
    Miles out from the main base, along the perimeter,there was a watchtower. Was. When Malcolm and I first got here, it had been the first thing we spotted, along with a generator right behind it that was powering the base’s electric fence. I decided to bring it toppling down, sending it crashing into the generator, in order to sneak in and rescue Sam.
    I thought I’d destroyed the tower completely, but now as we approach it, I begin to see that the actual guard station at the top survived, a metal-and-concrete room that’s now lying on its side a hundred feet from the ruined generator. It’s not much, barely bigger than a bathroom, really, but we can hole up there for a while. We’re almost there when I hear the most wonderful sound in the world. I try not to run—at this point if I fall down I doubt I’d be able to get back up again—but I hurry towards the noise. And there, jutting up within the tower’s twisted, bare foundation, is a jagged, broken pipe.
    Bubbling up from it is water.
    I drop to my knees right next to the fallen tower where the spouting water has formed a little pool around the pipe. I would jump in if I could; I’d let it soak in through every pore.
    Since I can’t do that, I scoop up as much water as I can into my cupped palms and splash it on my face. Then I take another scoop, raise it to my lips, and drink. The water is warm and metallic but tastes like life itself.
    I feel immediately better. I’m filled with a burst ofenergy spreading through my body, from my chest all the way to my toes and fingertips. I take another greedy sip. I can think clearly again.
    Then I remember Rex. He’s on his knees beside me, staring at the pool with bloodshot eyes, but he’s not drinking. It’s like he doesn’t remember how. I reach down and splash some water on his face. His eyes widen. He licks his lips, and then he’s hunched over the pool, scooping handful after handful up to his mouth, lapping at it furiously.
    I pull away and just sit back on my haunches, taking it all in. We’ve got water now, and shelter. Maybe there are even some rations in there, if we’re lucky. We might just survive this yet.
    Or will we? As I’ve started to feel like things are going to be okay, I hear a low, threatening rumble. A growl.
    I turn my head, startled by the noise, and come face-to-face with a huge, powerfully built beast. It’s a wolf—the largest I’ve ever seen. His golden eyes are narrowed menacingly; his tail is twitching and his ears are pricked for a fight. He bares his fangs.

CHAPTER FOUR
    “ EASY THERE, BIG GUY ,” I SAY CAREFULLY , clambering up as gracefully as I can manage, hoping not to spook the animal any more than I already have. “We’re not here to hurt you.”
    He digs his paws into the ground and hunches forward. If he decides to pounce, we’re done for, but if I can call up One’s Legacy again, I might be able to shake things up enough to knock the wolf off his feet, giving me time to run for the protection of the guard station. It’s not the best plan ever, but it’s the only one I’ve got.
    The water’s refreshed me a bit, but my head’s still throbbing. I’m swaying on my feet and my skin’s burning. Not the ideal circumstances to try to use the Legacy I don’t have a complete handle on yet.
    But I concentrate as hard as I can and clench my hand into a fist. I raise it slowly and point it at theground. There’s a soft rumble, and the earth below us stirs like a table that’s been bumped by accident. It’s something, but it’s not going to help much.
    I’m surprised at how the wolf reacts: he gives a small yelp and backs away a step, eyeing me now with curiosity rather than anger. He tilts his head to one side like he’s trying to figure me out, and then slowly begins padding toward me. This time,