Read Judgement: The Undergrounders Series Book Three (A Young Adult Post-apocalyptic Science Fiction Thriller) for Free Online

too dangerous to split up. Let's get that wound tied up and get out of here." I pull a shirt from my pack and tear it into strips.
    Jody works to secure the makeshift bandage around Ida's leg.
    I wipe the sweat from my face with what's left of the shirt and look across at the rider examining the lame horse.
    "What's wrong with her?" I ask.
    "Could be a torn ligament," he says. "Her leg is badly swollen. I'll take her back to the city at a pace she can handle. The rest of you go on ahead with Ida."
    "I don't want to leave you behind," Jody says.
    "Ida's lost a lot of blood," he says. "You need to get her to the clinic before it's too late."
    Jody gives a reluctant nod. "Thanks, Curly. Watch your back out there."

    T he moon lurks behind a webbed fog on our return trip and visibility worsens with every step. We position Ida as best we can in front of Jody on Condor's broad back and set off. Our lead-footed pace is unnerving, especially now that we've stirred up the hornet's nest of Rogues Lou predicted. Between Ida's injury, and the shadowy hazards on the forest floor, we'll be lucky to reach the safety of Shoshane City before dawn. I hope for Curly's sake that the Rogues don't pursue us. He won't stand a chance on his own if they find him.
    I toss my braid over my shoulder and fix my eyes on the murky trail. I might as well scratch The Ghost off my shrinking list of allies. He showed his true colors when he stole the horses out from under us. And after pulling off this stunt to retrieve them, I'm right up there with Rummy in the most-likely-to-be-eliminated category. Part of me knew this day would come. The idea of someone like The Ghost settling down in the city and taking orders from the Council is so far removed from reality that I don't know why I ever thought it would work. His agenda will always trump the common good. He did save Izzy and Brock, so he's not a total scumbag, but maybe only a child can move his heart.
    The horizon is flush with an ambient ruby light by the time we arrive at the outskirts of the city. To my relief the container gate swings wide on our approach, reassuring me that we have a guard rotation back in place. We make a beeline for the clinic and Jody and I carry Ida straight back to one of the examining rooms.
    A moment later Jakob appears, dressed in scrubs. "What happened?" he asks.
    "Gunshot. Where's the doctor?" I ask.
    "I sent him home," Jakob says. "He's been on his feet for seventy-two hours."
    Jody clenches her fists, her eyes fixed on Ida's pale, trembling lips. "Get him back here right away. We need him."
    Jakob lays a hand on Jody's arm. "I can take out the bullet. Hannah will help me." He gestures to the door as a young woman walks through with an armful of freshly laundered sheets.
    Jody's eyes dart to me. I give her a reassuring nod. "He knows what he's doing."
    I watch as Jakob unwraps the makeshift bandage on Ida's leg and rattles off a list of supplies for Hannah to gather up. Jody smooths a hand over Ida's forehead. "I'm right here with you. You're going to be fine."
    I tap Jody discreetly on the shoulder. "I need to find Jerome."
    "He's gone," Jakob says, without looking up. "He left with the deviations."
    I stare at his back in disbelief. I've been gone less than twenty-four hours and already the city's inhabitants are defecting. Even though we agreed it would be in the deviations' best interest to return to the Craniopolis, I didn't expect it to happen while I was gone. It still stings that my vision of a blended community is fragmenting around me faster than I can process it. "Where's Sven?"
    Jakob steals a glance in my direction. "He's with Trout at the courthouse."
    "I'll be there if anyone needs me," I say. I give Jody a quick shoulder squeeze in passing. "Ida's in good hands. I'll look for you back at the barn."
    As I make my way to the courthouse, my stomach flutters in anticipation of seeing Sven again. I wonder what goes through his head when he thinks about us. Does he