He turns his back to the counter, leaning against it, head slightly turned to me. “But it’s a vanilla shake.”
I contemplate his statement, frowning and twisting my lips before I say, “I never thought about it like that.”
He tips his chin toward my table. “I see my brother is getting comfortable with your friends.”
“Yes, I suppose he is. Marc, right?” He chuckles deeply in his throat. Contemplative, I glare at him, faltered by his hilarity.
“No, I’m Marc. He’s Sean.” He runs the nail of his thumb over his beard. “He always does this.”
“You’re Marc? You fought my brother Luke?”
“Yes, I did and lost. I would never fraternize with someone who beat me. I’m not a team player, and it’s more than just a fight, a game, or a race to me.”
“You take things personally.”
“I do.”
Seas brings me my shake. “Thank you.” I grab it, taking the straw to my lips.
“Can I ask you another question?” he asks once I’ve stop sipping my shake.
I look into his black eyes staring back at me. His hooded brows heavily shadow them. He cocks a questionable brow, awaiting my response.
“Okay. Sure.” I shrug.
“What’s your name?”
“Kylie.”
“Hi Kylie, I’m Marc, the real one.”
I smile. “Nice to meet you.” The awkward feeling I had watching Fire and Sean’s obnoxious, casual flirting passes.
“Same to you.” He looks away from me. “Your brother is coming over. Nice chatting with you,” he says casually.
“You too.” I hold back my grin.
Luke’s right in front of me when I turn away from Marc leaving through the side door of the Diner to the outdoor patio. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” I hand him the shake. He rejects it. “That’s Marc. Sean is,” I point to the young man sitting at the table, “the twin brother.”
“Ah ha.” Nodding, Luke crosses his arms. “So, that’s not Marc,” he says, looking over his shoulder. “I knew he was too comfortable to have just gotten a beating.”
“He didn’t just get a beating, so he’s more than comfortable.”
“What were you talking about?”
“Nothing, he just told me who Marc was and who wasn’t.”
Luke shrugs. “Don’t get caught up with that guy. I saw the way you looked at him. It was different, more concentrated than your normal obnoxious stares at people.”
“Shut up, Luke.” I pull him back to the table. “I didn’t look at him any kind of way. Plus, I’m only focused on our purpose, not a boy.”
“Good, and don’t say that too loud.”
I nod. He’s right to remind me. We’re not to reveal or discuss our true purpose, not even with each other. But when it’s time to execute it, we must be ready.
Just as I am taking another sip, Luke snatches the shake from me as we sit at the table. It drips on my lip and my chin. Major wipes it off and licks his thumb.
“Yuck,” I exclaim, grabbing a napkin to wipe off the residue.
Luke jumps up and shoves Major. “Don’t touch my sister, maggot.” He’s not angry, but he means it.
Everyone laughs as Major grabs the table to keep from falling out of the chair. “You should really calm down, Luke,” Major states coolly. “Your sister’s cute. Men are going to try to chase her.” He winks at me; long eyelashes fan over his deep brown eye with crust still resting in the outer corner. His dark lips, deepening in color from chain smoking for the past four years, smile as he licks them.
I close my eyes, shaking my head. “No.” I do not share his attraction.
“No,” Luke starts. “My sister is not a Breeder. If they want to chase someone, they should visit that division.”
“There are Breeders here?” Sean asks.
“Yes, there are, Sean.” Luke’s left eyebrow arches as he says his name.
Sean bellows a hearty laugh. Apparently, his lie is incredibly amusing to him. “Who’s Sean?” Pfeifer looks at Sean, confused.
I tap her shoulder to get her attention. “He’s Sean.” I point.
“Why did you tell us you were Marc?” she asks, giving him wide, disapproving eyes. He laughs harder, getting up, leaving the table without answering.
“I don’t get it,” she says to me.
I shrug and reach across the table to grab my shake. “Me either.”
Luke snatches it away before I can get a finger on it. He snorts a laugh, tilting his chair back on its hind legs. “Let’s get out of here, Ky. I’m ready to go,” he says, finishing my shake. The straw hits the bottom of the cup, making an annoying slurping sound in the empty glass.
I snatch it from him. “Don’t do that,” I shout. “It’s so annoying.”
He laughs. “Sorry. Go get another one for our trip home.”
I glare at him. “No way.” When he looks to the door chiming from someone entering, I slip the toe of my sneaker beneath a leg of his chair and further tip it back. He falls backward, drawing laughter from everyone who sees. Grumbling a line of cuss words under his breath, Luke smacks my leg when I step over him to head out of the Diner and to the car.
Chapter Five
Danny throws his duffel bag into the trunk of Luke’s coupé. I pull the seat forward for him to crawl in the back and drop down in the seat. Within seconds, it’s all too noticeable Danny hasn’t showered in days. Luke and I always leave the door open for Danny, and he’s aware he can visit and shower or sleep, whatever he needs. But Danny’s proud. He doesn’t need to be. We are all here to help each other.
Luke’s going to want to work out when we get home, and my body is still tired from yesterday. But he’s not going to let me sit it out. His words replay in my head, “Unexpected occurrences don’t wait until you’re at your best. You must put in your best work, even when you’re beat.” He’s right. With Separation in a few months, we have to be ready, look ready, and feel ready.
“Are you going to work out with us?” Luke asks Danny, confirming my thoughts.
“Sure, I don’t see why not. Just a basic workout, right? No demanding me to fight and then beating me down?” Danny asks, skepticism tightening the tone of his voice.
Luke snorts. “No, today is strength training. Tomorrow, we fight.”
Tomorrow we do fight, beating each other until one of us gives. I can count on one hand how many times he has given in. We don’t take it easy on each other because we know no one else is going to.
“Yeah.” Danny yawns. “I guess I can lift some weights.”
Luke backs into the driveway at the back of our aunt’s house. We enter through the back door, and Danny follows us into the basement.
“We are going to do the bench press first, so help yourself to anything else you’d like.” Luke points to the multiple workout and weight machines spaced out around our basement. Being the top contenders in our area has its perks. While the equipment is used, it’s in great condition. We come down here six days a week. The one day we do not, we are doing our bid for the government like maintaining the Waulers and enforcing order that never sticks.
There used to be jobs available for the Normals like police officers and security officials before the destruction. But since no one wanted the job and the New Establishment was in place, they did away with them. Too many were being murdered pointlessly. The Waulers and many Normals became unmanageable, and no one was willing to put their lives on the line anymore.
That wasn’t even the worst of what was brought upon our world, and I’d have to be classified to find out what was. The Premier and Guidance did everything they could, or so we heard. They increased salaries, promised safety, and ensured the citizens there was security in holding the positions, but the citizens of The America knew these were lies. The Creations are happy to do the dirty work, so this is where we come in.
Danny preps the chest press. “Thanks for letting me kick it here.”
“Anytime, Danny. You first, Ky,” Luke says as he puts fifty pounds on each side of the barbell.
I stretch out, sit on the bench, and lie back. Grabbing the bar, Luke lifts it off for me. I lift the one-hundred-and-ten-pound bar until my arms will no longer allow me to continue. He adds another sixty pounds to the bar and presses way more sets than I did.
A good hour-and-a-half workout always makes me hungry, and I like to make sure Danny gets a good meal whenever he comes by. And Luke, he’s a food savage. I whip up some dinner, and we crowd around our small kitchen table.
Danny downs his red juice and clears his throat. “If you all were not of age, would you still have to go in this draft?”
“Yes,” Luke answers quickly. “Why?”
“Just asking. It seems like twins are affected differently by Separation than others.”
His statement diverts my attention from the dishes. “Why do you say that? What would make twins different?”
“Well, the ones born as Creations, who can heal by linking with each other,” he points to Luke’s hand, “seem to be made for it, accepting of it. However, naturally-born twins are like everybody else.”
Luke looks at his palm. “It’s how they created us.” He smirks, eyes rising to Danny. “It’s why they call us Creations. Because they designed us to be accepting of it. They made us want it, conditioning us to be better than everyone else.”
Danny rolls his eyes and gestures toward Luke. “You’re weird. All of you Creations.”
“No,” Luke starts. “We’re not weird. We’re just better than all of you Normals.” I laugh.
“That’s something extremely conceited to say,” Danny says, eating the last of his peas.
“It may be, but it’s also true,” I say. I take his and Luke’s plates and put them in the sink. “Mind getting the last of these dishes, Luke? I’m going to grab a shower.” I yawn, and my sore muscles crave for me to rest.
“Okay, Ky, right behind you.” Luke gets up and comes over to the sink. Turning to Danny, he asks, “you staying over ’til the morning?”
“Yes,” Danny nods. “Unless your aunt comes home early.”
I leave the kitchen. Moving to the stairs, I take two at a time. From my room, I grab my pajamas and head to the bathroom for a quick shower. I turn the cold water on first and gradually make it hotter because I hate when my showers are too hot and practically burn my skin. Finding the right temperature is a science and makes for a perfect relief no matter how fast my shower has to be. I step in when it’s just right.
The water glides down the nearly transparent lined crevices of my body first, making them visible until my entire body is soaked. Sometimes the embellishments glisten, but the only purpose I know them to have is accelerating healing when Luke and I align our palms, and they visibly separate us from the Normals.
“Ky, hurry and get out. We have company.”
Darn it! I’ve only been in here for five minutes. “Okay Luke, I’m getting out.” The door closes.
I dress and head to Luke’s room. I don’t understand why he is so ready for me to have my own room. My sleeping in his room is fine, and we are both comfortable, or so I thought. I try to sleep alone; I test it once every year, and every time, by REM sleep, my pillow is torn to shreds, and Luke is waking me up ushering me back to his room.
Nightmares are my weakness. It’s odd because Creations shouldn’t have weaknesses. I shouldn’t be affected by anxiety: feelings of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. I lie on his bed, staring at his crowded ceiling, full of pictures and writing.
Luke writes motivational quotes on his walls, things like, “I live to live in life’s living” which is written right over our heads. Another of my favorites is scribbled under a picture of a man with half his face burned and the other whole. It reads, “I failed because I declared myself not good enough to succeed.” The entire quote is in capital letters save the ‘I.’
Danny comes in with a blanket and a pillow. “’Night, Ky.” He sets himself a pallet on the floor and gets comfortable, waiting for Luke to finish his shower.
“’Night, Danny.”
Luke comes in after his shower. “You have to be gone before the sun comes up,” he tells him.
“I know. I’ll be gone before your aunt gets in. Just for a few hours.”
“Okay.” Luke lies next to me, and I move my head to his shoulder, quickly falling asleep.
Danny stumbles into the dresser, waking me up. “Danny, keep quiet,” I snap.
“I’m sorry. It’s too dark in here. I’m leaving.”
“Leave quietly.”
Fumbling, Danny makes it to the window and fumbles with the lock. A door smacks a wall from somewhere within the house. Pounding footsteps hasten in the direction of our rooms.
Luke jumps up. “Danny, hide,” he hisses in a low voice.
I jump up as the door whips open, smacking against the wall.
Danny’s just barely hidden when three men in all black army suits enter Luke’s room. Wide awake, I stand next to Luke, spine straight and chest high.
“Now,” the one on the right orders.
We nod. They move aside so we can walk past. They’re at our backs as we’re leaving the house, so close I feel how cold their clothes and armor are. We exit our aunt’s home in our nightwear and bare feet as they carelessly force us into the cool night air. Gravel digs into the bottom of my feet, reminding me of a training seminar we were forced to attend two years ago when the Guidance ordered tests.
They escort us to a black van with tinted windows. I’m fearless as I climb into it. Luke’s behind me. I know better than to look around as I take my seat, scooting over so Luke can sit beside me.
One of the officials gets in the passenger seat of the van and hands us our blindfolds. We take them, tying them around our heads.
Another set of breaths rises behind me. I try not to think about them, try not to think about who else was snatched out of their homes in the middle of the night. I force myself to feel prepared, to only stay alert, stay aware, listen, and acknowledge.
The engine’s rumbling, and a squeaky gear shifts before my body is jerked back and the van moves. It never stops or slows. For what feels like two hours, we sit in the same position. No one speaks. Each of us knows better.
Luke nudges my arm. I nudge him back, letting him know I’m okay. We ride a while longer before the van finally slows.
“The six of you will be transported from this van to the bus that will take you to the base.” The deep voice is orderly and direct. “This is not a test. This is not a drill. You have been selectively chosen for an early Separation. Do not remove your blindfolds until you are on the bus and it has pulled away. Respond,” he demands with authority.
“We understand,” we answer in unison. Our voices are just as strong.
A door opens and closes. Another opens, this one next to us. The cool night air rushes in, chilling my naked arms and feet. I feel Luke move, and I follow behind him, exiting the van.
A gloved hand grabs my wrist and places my hand on Luke’s shoulder. A smaller hand firmly clasps my shoulder.
Luke starts forward.
I walk onto the bus and am seated. Patiently, I wait for the bus to take off. I’m ready to remove my blindfold.
Someone shuffles across the floor. “I’m not supposed to be here,” a girl mutters before saying louder, “we are not one of them!” She pleads as it sounds like she’s shoved in a seat, “Please don’t make us go. Take me back home. We are not supposed to be here!”
“Shut up and sit down,” a man demands calmly.
“No,” she shouts. “We are not supposed to be here. There had to be a—” Her words are silenced by a punch. There’s a hard thud.
The sound of footsteps follows.
Chapter Six
It’s just like them to haul us out of bed in the middle of the night, blindfold us, and force us
off to Separation earlier than the others. No warning, no time to say goodbye. The others’ breeding parents may have been upset to see their children go too soon. Even though parents of Creations are prepared for this, just like we are, there must be a pinch of sadness: the feeling of being unhappy, especially because something bad has happened.
After this, we are no longer able to see our families. Our old friends, who will not join Separation, will turn into distant memories. And if we live, we will fight for the remainder of forever. I was born with no other purpose.
The bus finally moves. I have my blindfold off before the wheels can complete their first rotation. Luke’s on my left, and his blindfold’s already halfway to the pocket of his blue plaid pajama pants. I look up and down the aisle as the others remove their blindfolds as well. The bus seats sixteen of us. A steel wall separates us from the driver and keeps any sunlight from entering. Luckily, the lights inside are good enough for us to see each other clearly.
“Trade seats with me. You sit on the inside,” Luke orders with a “get up” motion. I move over him as he slides under me to the outer side of the seat.
“Hey, Ky. Luke.”
I search the seats for the voice. Sean stands four rows back, leaning over the back of the chair in front of him. Marc tugs him by his shoulder to sit down. I tell them apart by the solemn look that’s always on Marc’s face. Sean’s is lighter, friendlier.
I half nod, acknowledging Sean before I take my seat.
“Sean’s the only one here who would actually yell across the seats,” Collins, a girl we have raced against in the past, says from the seat across from us.
I attempt to look around Luke to see her. He pushes me back. “Now would not be a good time to engage in conversation. Wait.”
I turn to the window expecting to see open fields and maybe a blue sky. Instead, I see black glass and my reflection. I turn away, staring at my bare feet, wondering if anyone else on this bus is wearing nightclothes.
Imminent Threat Page 4
