Ryan Quinn and the Rebel's Escape Read online

  DEDICATION

  Life is full of daring adventures.

  But they’re a lot more fun if you have

  amazing people to share them with.

  So thanks to Mom, Dad, and Brian for

  all the great adventures growing up.

  And thanks to Eufe, Alex, and Claudia

  for all the journeys we still have in

  front of us.

  —RM

  CONTENTS

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Part One: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You Chapter 01

  Chapter 02

  Chapter 03

  Chapter 04

  Chapter 05

  Chapter 06

  Chapter 07

  Chapter 08

  Chapter 09

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Part Two: Into the Lion’s Den Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Part Three: No Way Out Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Part Four: Do or Die Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Chapter 57

  Chapter 58

  Chapter 59

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Credits

  Copyright

  About the Publisher

  PROLOGUE

  NANSANG PROVINCE,

  ANDAKAR

  Lan was only sixteen and about to die.

  The Army Services Intelligence agents were narrowing the distance, getting closer every second. Struggling up the steep hill, Lan glanced back, fighting exhaustion and fear. The jungle was dense here, and moonlight broke through only sporadically. The flashlight beams of the ASI agents in pursuit bounced wildly back and forth.

  Slipping on wet leaves, Lan stumbled, dangerously close to tumbling back down the steep incline. At the last possible moment, a powerful hand reached out and grabbed hold.

  “We just have to make it to the temple. You can do it,” the American said. In the gloom, his face was all hard lines and shadows, but there was determination in his eyes. Lan didn’t want to disappoint him after he’d risked so much in getting them both to safety. Supporting each other, they made it over the last rise of the hill and onto the open plateau up top.

  The grounds of the Mae Wong Temples appeared ghostly in the moonlight. Abandoned for two thousand years, these ancient ruins remained strictly off-limits to tourists. Forty years ago, when this country’s military regime seized power, Mae Wong was the site of a bloody massacre of Buddhist priests. It remained a potent symbol of rebellion that Lan had often dreamed of visiting. But not like this. Not just to become yet another victim of the brutal government’s soldiers.

  “There,” the American said, pointing to a small structure about thirty yards to their left. “The hiding place is inside that stupa, the one with the golden dome.”

  Lan looked back at the flashlights bouncing their way up the hill. “They’re right behind us.”

  “We’ll be safe inside the temple. Come on—we’re almost there.”

  Lan wanted to believe it was true. After all the months of secrecy and risk, the constant fear of being discovered, would it finally be over? Could this stranger actually save them? Suddenly, an explosive blast shattered the night and the American jerked forward as a bullet ripped into him. Blood splattered Lan’s cheek.

  Watching the American fall to the ground, Lan knew that now all hope was lost.

  PART ONE

  WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW CAN HURT YOU

  CHAPTER

  01

  NEW YORK,

  USA

  No more fights.

  The promise he’d made to his mother ran through Ryan Quinn’s mind as he stood in the school hallway. Drew Stieglitz, a junior and the starting center on the basketball team, shoved Ryan’s friend Danny into the metal lockers. Stieglitz was a full head taller than Danny, with a square jaw, giant hands, and the swagger of a guy used to getting his way.

  “I told you to leave her alone.” Stieglitz slammed Danny into the locker once again for emphasis.

  “I thought that was more of a suggestion,” Danny said. Short and slim, with spiky black hair and a cocky grin, Danny had a never-ending supply of manic energy. He showed no fear, but Ryan knew his friend was sweating.

  Stieglitz leaned in close. “Keep it up, you little dwarf, you’re gonna get your butt kicked.”

  “For talking to a gorgeous girl?” Danny glanced at Kasey, Stieglitz’s beautiful and popular little sister, who watched with an alarmed expression. “Gotta tell you, Steeg, even a butt-kicking from you sounds worth it.”

  A few of the students who had gathered around laughed at Danny’s confident attitude.

  “Drew, chill,” Kasey said, putting a hand on her brother’s arm to calm him. She was in two of Ryan’s classes, but they’d talked only once. Well, actually she’d talked and Ryan had just sort of nodded and stared. And then felt so embarrassed that he couldn’t even look at her again.

  “Stay out of it.” Stieglitz shrugged her off, focused on Danny. “You’ve a real smart mouth. Think you’re funny.”

  “I’m guessing you’re not a fan.” Danny tried to sound tough, but his nerves were starting to get the better of him. He looked at Ryan, hoping for some backup.

  “You’re about to find out,” Stieglitz said.

  No more fights.

  Ryan had been at his new school here in New York for more than two months without any problems. Almost a record for him lately. He’d been in trouble for fighting several times over the last year. The worst was when his family was living in Ghana for a few months. A couple of English teens, tourists visiting Africa with a school group, were throwing rocks at kids from a local village and calling them names. Ryan just wanted them to stop, but things got out of hand. One of the boys ended up with a broken nose, the other with his arm in a sling, and Ryan got hauled off by the police. Luckily, his dad was able to talk the cops into letting him go with a warning.

  There were other fights, too. Ryan had a bad habit of getting pulled into other people’s problems. It was like he couldn’t help himself. Here in New York, though, things were finally going well—really well, actually. And the last thing he wanted was for anything to screw that up.

  Like getting dragged into this. But what was he supposed to do, stand by and watch Danny get beaten to a pulp?

  Ryan stepped forward. “Let him go.”

  Stieglitz gave Ryan a dismissive glance, then looked back to his two buddies behind him. “Did somebody dose all the eighth graders with stupid pills this year?”

  “He was just talking to her. Kasey’s in a couple of classes with us.�
� Ryan moved in closer, his tone relaxed but making it clear that he wasn’t backing away. “No big deal.”

  Stieglitz turned to face him. Ryan could tell that the jock was keenly aware that people were watching.

  “She’s my sister. I’ll decide what’s a big deal,” Stieglitz said. Stieglitz shifted position, zeroing in on his new target. Ryan kept his expression neutral, but watched Stieglitz closely, searching for a sign of his intentions.

  Stieglitz’s first swing was a respectably fast sucker punch, coming in high and from the right. Ryan instinctively dodged, keeping his body weight balanced on the toes of his left foot as he pivoted out of the way. The momentum of the swing threw Stieglitz off-balance and he barely stopped himself from falling. Ryan had a clear shot, but he held back. He didn’t want to hit the other boy unless he absolutely had to.

  Stieglitz glanced back at his friends. “Kick his butt, Steeg,” one of them said, inching forward.

  “I don’t want to do this,” Ryan said. “I kinda promised my mom I wouldn’t get into any fights.”

  “Should’ve thought about your mommy before you opened your mouth.” Stieglitz shot forward, trying to grab Ryan’s well-worn Psychedelic Furs T-shirt with hands that could easily palm a basketball. Ryan stepped back, once more shifting away from the bigger kid so that he missed and stumbled.

  “Whoosh—all air! And the crowd goes wild!” Danny said, beaming as Kasey’s friends laughed.

  Ryan glared at Danny.

  “What?” Danny was all innocence.

  Students drifted closer, smelling blood in the air and wanting a ringside seat. Stieglitz spun around, angry at being made to look stupid.

  “Drew, come on—lay off,” Kasey said. She glanced at her brother and then looked anxiously at Ryan. Was she actually worried for him—or did she just think he was nuts for taking on her brother? Ryan couldn’t quite tell.

  “Big mistake,” Stieglitz growled.

  Ryan managed to pull his eyes away from Kasey’s just in time. Stieglitz charged, determined to ram him into the lockers. Ryan sidestepped with the smooth moves of a dancer. The bigger boy’s lack of control would be his downfall. Stieglitz whizzed past and Ryan tapped his shoulder just enough to throw his balance off. Stieglitz crashed into the metal lockers with the force of a bull.

  A collective groan went up from the watching students as they heard skull hit metal. Stieglitz dropped to the ground, dazed, as the fourth-period bell rang. Everyone scattered, excited to spread word of how Stieglitz was beaten by a kid half his size.

  “That was awesome,” Danny whispered to Ryan. “Stupid and probably suicidal—but definitely awesome.”

  “Mr. Quinn.”

  Ryan and Danny whirled around to find Principal Milankovic staring at them. The hall cleared quickly as students made themselves scarce. Ryan noticed Kasey’s friends grab her by the arm and pull her away. Stieglitz took one look at the principal, then lurched to his feet and stumbled off as well.

  “My office, Mr. Quinn,” the principal said.

  Ryan’s shoulders slumped. “I barely even touched him.”

  “Now.”

  CHAPTER

  02

  NEW YORK,

  USA

  The International Community School of New York was only six blocks from the United Nations Headquarters and had a student body that included kindergartners all the way up to high school seniors. Many of the kids who attended were the sons and daughters of UN employees. Ryan’s algebra class alone had a Saudi Arabian prince, the Minister of Thailand’s daughter, and a Somali refugee whose mother was on the Human Rights committee.

  It was a perfect fit for Ryan, whose father, John, worked as a director for the United Nations Development Programme. Until recently, Ryan had spent most of his life as a nomad, traveling from place to place. His dad was stationed for a year or two at a time in different countries, and the family had lived all over the world.

  When he was younger, Ryan enjoyed living in unusual places. He made friends with local kids pretty easily and each place offered some cool new experience—hide-and-seek in a forest in Belarus, paddleboarding off the coast of Nicaragua, ice fishing in Norway. He never had time to get bored anywhere because they’d soon be off to someplace different.

  Out of necessity, Ryan learned to adapt. He studied local kids closely for clues on how to act and then imitated them, becoming good at blending in. He’d change the clothes he wore, the expressions he used, the foods he ate. Whatever made him fit in. Language wasn’t much of a barrier when he was young, especially among boys who could occupy themselves for hours playing sports and games.

  But as he got older, fitting in was harder. Kids already had their group of friends and weren’t as quick to talk to the new guy. Ryan had become something of a chameleon, able to change with each new environment, but he didn’t feel like he belonged anywhere. He was always on the outside looking in.

  More and more, he just hung out alone. He’d get home from whatever school he was attending and go to his room. Some days, he’d practice the magic tricks his dad taught him when he was growing up, or maybe play guitar. He’d read until his eyes glazed over, then put headphones on and listen to music.

  His room became his refuge. Though the location changed every time they moved, one thing was the same: his awesome collection of baseball caps always hung proudly on the wall. Ryan had caps from every Major League team in America. He’d started collecting them when he was eleven and his parents took him to a Washington Nationals game. It was on one of their trips “home,” as they called it. Which was totally weird to Ryan since he’d never lived in the States for more than a month or two at a time.

  After that trip, though, he started thinking about living in the United States a lot. What would it be like to go to a backyard barbecue and wolf down hot dogs and hamburgers? Or to watch a Friday night football game with cheerleaders and a marching band? Or grow up with the same set of friends who’d known you for more than a few months? Every baseball cap Ryan added to his collection made him feel a little more connected to an America he knew mostly through books and movies.

  That’s when the fights started. Ryan insisted to his mom and dad that there was always a good reason: A younger kid was being teased or some bully was picking on Ryan. Kids could be jerks in every country around the world. But secretly, Ryan knew it was more than that. Sometimes, he just felt like he was crawling out of his skin, like he was keeping all this stuff inside that needed some way to get out. The fights didn’t really make him feel better, but they kept happening.

  One night, he overheard his parents arguing. Ryan’s dad thought the moodiness and acting out was normal, just a teenage boy growing up. But his mom understood how unhappy Ryan really was. Their work was starting to hurt Ryan, she told his dad. He needed to plant roots, to make friends. He needed a home. As Ryan sat behind the wall listening, he realized she was right. What he wanted more than anything was to just be a normal American kid with a normal, boring life.

  It took a while to work everything out, but now he finally had what he’d been dreaming of: a home in New York City (which had two baseball teams, the Mets and the Yankees!), a school where he felt like he could finally just be himself, and a best friend he could really talk to.

  Everything he’d wanted—and he was about to lose it all.

  Principal Milankovic glared at Ryan from under bushy eyebrows. “You understand that fighting is grounds for immediate dismissal?” For a school principal, he was surprisingly big, with massive arms and a barrel chest that made him look more like an aging boxer than a high school principal.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “That’s all? You’re not going to tell me he started it? That it was self-defense or something?” The principal’s Slavic accent was noticeable.

  “Would it matter if I did?”

  Principal Milankovic smiled. “No, it would not.”

  Milankovic came around his massive desk, overflowing with stacks of paper piled hap
hazardly. “Our actions have consequences. The reasons for those actions may be sound; you may be justified in what you choose to do. But you will still have to deal with the consequences of those choices.”

  Ryan didn’t meet Milankovic’s eyes, his gut twisted in knots. If he made it through this without getting kicked out of school, he promised himself he’d stay out of the fight next time—no more risking his own neck, even for a friend like Danny.

  Sitting next to him, Milankovic shifted his tone and said, “Your grandfather understood about consequences.”

  Ryan’s head jerked up, meeting the principal’s steady gaze. “You knew my grandfather?”

  “A little. He was an extraordinary man. I was sorry to hear of his passing.”

  “How did you know him?”

  “He did me a great favor once, many years ago.”

  “What kind of favor?”

  For a moment, Milankovic looked thoughtful, his mind far away. Then his eyes snapped back to Ryan’s as he dismissed whatever memories had flooded in, stern once more. “You do not fight in my school. Understood?”

  Ryan nodded. “I won’t—I promise.”