#Chapter 106 – Training Camp

“Is Amelia going to be there?” Alvin asks as Evelyn loads a cooler full of snacks into the back of the hummer.

“What?” Evelyn says, confused. “No. Why would Amelia be there?”

Ian shrugs. “She said she’s gonna ruin our lives. She didn’t say when. She could be anywhere.”

Evelyn shakes her head and goes to kneel next to her boys, concerned. She really wishes that they hadn’t been privy to that conversation, but she can’t help it now.

“You boys don’t need to think about that,” she says. “Amelia was just mad – she didn’t mean it. And your daddy and I can protect you. Plus! We’re going to a military Beta base!” she says, very cheerful. “There are lots of Betas there, all sworn to protect you. I promise, you’ll be fine.”

The boys nod, encouraged, and climb into the back of the car.

Victor is cheerful as he comes down the driveway, dressed not in a suit but in tactical black. Evelyn smirks, thinking that the last time she saw him dressed like this was during her rescue from her father’s house. When she’d had a chance to get up-close and personal with that tactical gear, pressed into the little hideaway in her closet.

She glances down at herself, her jeans and blue cardigan. “Am I…underdressed? Do I need something in a camo print?”

He laughs, considering her. “No, civilian. You’re fine.”

“I want camo print!” Ian shouts from the back of the car.

Victor smirks and gives Evelyn a false look of derision. “Now you’ve got them started.”

She laughs. “You’re the one dressed like a GI Joe.”

“Touche!” he says, swinging him into the car. “Everyone buckled up?” When he hears three assenting answers, Victor swings the car out of the driveway and onto the open road. To more hummers full of Betas follow.

eyes had welled up at the idea – and it’s time

farm and the woods in which they had gone camping, out to a flat plane of earth where it looked like there was nothing around except the barracks planted smack in the

forces. “Oh my god, Victor,” she says, truly

metal gate topped with barbed wire and drive through what seems like a small city’s worth of cinder-block buildings topped with corrugated tin roofs. “These are the

train – fields dedicated to target practice, a small set of woods in which they will

leans forward, squinting to see better. “Is

“What else

“You have a helicopter?”

“I have

seat when she hears Ian shuffle close to

get one?” she asks. Ian, equally serious, shakes his head

laughs again and turns her attention back to the front of the car as Victor pulls into a spot by the nicest building in the area, made of bricks

his own door and stepping out.

and take them by the hand, leading them into the office. Ian and Alvin

love it here,” Ian whispers,

adds with a

of…bland. Needs some flowers. Or colorful paint.” She

just don’t get it mom.” She laughs

desk at the center of it. In a corner is a single bed, sparsely dressed with a green wool blanket and a single pillow. Behind a wall to the right – Evelyn grimaces to see that there’s no door even –

to see, is actually a sliding glass door that opens into a grassy area, with a firepit sunk into the ground. She notes a series of camping chairs lined up against the wall. For

considering this office’s contrast with Victor’s modern

love it here, mom,” he says, very seriously.

and takes her hand. “We can stay for a little while,” he says, and then looks up at her. “But maybe we can go home

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