That shouldn’t be the case anymore.
“This doesn’t matter!” I smash my palm down on the glass. The event continues to play and takes over every monitor. I slap my palm down again in a different area, but it doesn’t stop. Over and over I slap the glass, trying to get the screens to change. “Shut this off. I was not free! I was fooled! I can’t see this as freedom or enjoyment!”
She presses her elongated middle finger against the screen in the middle. “No?” she asks as the video playing changes. They caught us, here, talking through the bars. They noticed my slight tell when I melt for him. It boils my blood.
I slam my fist on the glass again, knowing full well I have no effect on it. I lean over, palms on the glass, shaking my head as my breaths grow heavy. My feelings burn my cheeks, and an ache wrenches through my chest. I breathe and say, “What is your point?”
“The Volones want the Creations terminated and Earth destroyed. They’ve taken out many planets before, and it was only a matter of time before they tried to take out Earth again.”
Narrowing my eyes, I cross my arms. “Again?” To my knowledge, Earth has only been attacked once. “The Volones were responsible for the first destruction…”
She nods. It’s impossible to read her facial expression because she lacks the necessary facial features. No eyelids, eyebrows, or skin to help express a wrinkle from a frown or the stretch of a smile. “They partially destroyed the Earth, and then saved it so the Earth’s leaders would trust them. This not only implied their value, but also their strength.”
“It was all a ploy for this?” I gesture around me and realize I’m not on Earth, and she can’t see the herds of Zombies and their destruction on our planet. A thought trickles into my mind of the time we visited Highrum and the conversation came up about eliminating Creations. “It was all for the day they could make requests, such as destroy Creations?”
She nods. “Originally, we were to select four, you and Lukahn and two other humans. You four would establish a race of humans in which our values of order and control were already within the bloodline.”
“By the blood of an inserted Creation.”
She shakes her head and whispers almost too low for me to hear her, “By a rebellious Creation. Every offspring would have the DNA of a being that is of each of the parties. The human knows remorse and love, the Creation has the will to protect and heal, and the Vojin has the ability to latch and control. They would not only be able to care for each other, but care for the planet as well. Our hope is we can teach them, end the loss of life, end destruction, and eliminate hate.”
Since being a Creation, since being a forged host to Vojin, and living on earth, I’ve learned a lot. I’ve studied emotions and experiences; I’ve tested ideas and broken limits. And there’s one thing I’ve learned that I doubt will ever change. “Hate lies in people regardless. Blood has been shed on the land, there’s no erasing that, and the evil that rises with the revenge of those departed souls will continue to haunt the land and spread the evil.”
Her hands rise at her sides, palms up. “Understandable. This will take some practice. However, with strict observation and study of the mind, constant instruction, and induced behavior treatments, I doubt by the time we’re finished that evil will be a concern within the new generation.”
“Induced behavior treatments?” I lift my hand to my chin and take it between my fingers. “This is how you all created the Zombies?”
She makes an odd tittering sound, but her face can’t express amusement. “It is simple to create humans who want to hurt and destroy other humans. Although, establishing a human who wants to care for, love, give, and understand is a task that not even the Maker could help us achieve. We tried that with you and Luke, encouraging you to focus in on your dormant emotions, your human anatomy, to make you a better species, but it was a failure. Instead, it brought you here, raiding our command module.”
Wait, so this isn’t even their home base? What a freaking bust this entire plan was! I hang my head and press my thumb and middle finger to my temples, trying to suppress the escalating headache that’s traveling from the back of my head to the front. I shrug, replaying her statement in my head, how Luke and I were technically failed experiments. Looking back at her, I say, “No one is perfect. So what now? You’re going to help us out of here?”
“The destruction of Creations has already begun. Bases are crumbling as we speak, from your leader’s instruction to discontinue the Separation bases. Some Creations, however, are being reserved for the sake of protection, but it may not be for much longer. The Volones will continue their destruction, they’re careless about what can become of the humans because the more fear they can create, the easier it will be for the planet’s leaders to turn to them for help. Like the other planets they’ve taken over. Minimize population, set up homes, give Vojin free range to Earth’s resources, and the inhabitants live indebted to them.”
“Why me?” I ask. “Why are you telling me all this?”
“We need you, Kylie. You and Lukahn. Your mother and father were so close to putting an end to their mission, but were caught before they could.”
Easily piqued at the mention of my parents, I beg, “What can you tell me about them? I want to know everything. I demand to know the exact reason you all killed them.” It wasn’t a Volones who threatened me in that burrow or taunted me with the reveal of killing my mom and dad, it was a Vojin. A regular-sized blueish green Vojin.
Her hands grab my shoulders. The beds of her four fingers pressing against my flesh are firm and round like a coin. “We don’t have the time for that right now. Assist in stopping them. Pick up where they left off.”
Shoving her bright arms from me, I say, “I don’t know if you’ve noticed this or not, but you all currently have me locked in a Vojin prison where I have to pee on the floor in front of everyone. I can’t assist you in anything.”
“The brothers will help you when the sisters and Volones are not around.”
Pursing my lips, I murmur, “Sure they will.”
“Put aside your anger with them. Your tarnished freedom with your friend will reconstruct.” Noranti presses her hand against the glass on the switchboard again. The monitors turn on. “It was only partially destroyed, but the freedom that lives in your heart is long-lasting. You simply need to change your mind.”
Partially destroyed. Carden’s incredibly quirky smile flashes in my mind, and I remember him saying the same words.
“Things can be destroyed and reconstructed. It only takes a seed to grow a tree, even after you’ve burned down the entire forest.” She turns for the entry door. “We will return to your cell now.” She heads out of the room, and I follow behind her. Just before the door slides open, she adds, “They will execute their plan in two Earth days. Figure out your strategy quickly.”
Chapter Four
The glass floor is getting uncomfortable. I stand up from sitting in the corner and pace the floor. I’m tired, but I refuse to sleep. Anything can happen if I blink too long, and I don’t want to miss it. We’re still on day one, waiting on night, or at least for the hall to empty.
“Ky?” Sean whispers, gaze flicking back and forth from me to what’s in front of him, down the hall. He may be keeping an eye on Collins or his brother.
I press my thumb and index finger against my closed lids. Rubbing hard, I try to draw some water to my dry eyes and wake myself up. “Yeah?”
“Rest. You’ll need it. You’re good.”
Shaking my head, I say, “I prefer not.”
Grumbling, Sean leaves from standing on this side of the hall and goes to his brother. “Let’s go get some shut eye. Collins and Cecilia, you two. We’ve been up for hours. They’ll be fine.” I hear all four of their footsteps slap the glass floor before the door whishes open and closes behind them.
“Kylie?” Luke calls my name at the same time Jord says, “Pssst” to try and get my attention. “What’d that Vojin say?” Luke ask
s, four cells down. He’s farther away from me than I’d like him to be and closer to the door. I worry about him being snatched out of the hall, should I accidentally fall asleep.
I explain everything Noranti and I discussed, leaving out Marc. But I do mention, “She and Marc have told me they are on our sides. I just don’t know for sure.”
“You know him better than all of us, Kylie,” Seits starts. “Do you think he would turn on us? On you?”
“Or do you think they have something on him that would force his hand?” Jord adds.
I pinch my bottom lip and lift my gaze to the ceiling. “I…I don’t know.” Marc isn’t the type to be suckered into doing something he doesn’t want to do.
“You all need to accept your prince is a pauper and move on,” Cory says in his typical grumpy tone, turning onto his side as he lays on the floating bed.
I roll my eyes and lean against the glass wall of my cell opposite the bed. I refuse to sit on that thing. A shudder crawls up my spine every time I look at it. This whole place makes me uncomfortable. Being in the enemy’s camp, not knowing if anyone can be trusted. “We need to get out of here, guys. Any ideas?”
“Did you see anything on your walk with the pink one?” Jord asks.
“Nothing but hall after hall. No identifiers or anything that looked familiar. We’ll need to take out the Volones first, the big gray ones. They’re the cause of everything. And they plan on destroying our world in two days.” I think over my words and correct myself. “Their partial destruction, but that pink Vojin, Noranti, didn’t mention Earth being the problem.” Maybe their plan is to recycle the world. If they intend to only cause disruptions on Earth by eliminating humans and Creations, why wouldn’t they expect the Earth to be affected by their actions in some way? “But something can’t be partially destroyed, right?” I wonder out loud. Maybe they actually plan not only to wipe out the inhabitants from Earth, but to destroy the planet like they tried to do last time.
Cory walks to his bars and leans his shoulder against them as he looks down the hall. “Sure it can. You take what you can salvage, destroy everything else, and in using what you have, make something new or better than what you had.”
Enlightened, I push for more intel by giving more detail. Cory seems and has always seemed to know a lot about the Vojin’s plan. “You terminate all the people on earth, save four—two guys and two girls—and use them to rebuild mankind.”
“Train them up the way you please,” Harold chimes in.
Jord says, “And you’ll have their minds to mold and manipulate for an eternity.”
Shaking my head, though he can’t see me, I say, “Not if everyone is turned into Zombies. They aren’t hurting the planet at all. They’re only killing or changing people. The world’s technically safe this way, and the dead bodies possibly help fertilize the land.”
“Essentially, you destroy the people without hurting the planet,” Cory says matter-of-factly. “But people make the world whole, without them that’s destruction in itself. The only thing standing between them getting what they want is Creations. Creations will continue to fight as long as they exist. Once they’re out of the way, the Vojin or Volones will hold the planet in their hands.”
“Enough with the small talk,” Harold nearly shouts. “We can try to figure out these things once we’re back home. Kylie, that thing must have told you something we can use to get out of here.”
I nod, though I know he can’t see me. “Noranti will help us get out of here as long as we help them by taking out those Volones. Period.”
“Help while you’re behind bars, huh?” Cory scoffs. He goes to the floating bed and lies back down, throwing his arms behind his head.
“Then that’s where Marc and Sean come in?” Luke asks.
I wrap my arms around my middle. The idea of asking Marc for something or relying on him turns my stomach. I snort and say, “Yep.”
Luke asks, “Are you working on coming to terms with that?”
“No.”
“Well, Ky. You need to suck that shit up. Woman up and do what you need to do so we can get out of here. We’re all ready to go home, and if the only thing standing between us and getting out from behind these bars is you making nice with Marc, you’ll do that.”
I roll my eyes. I don’t need him telling me what to do.
“After we’re out, then what?” Cory asks.
“We fight without getting killed,” Harold answers.
Snores echo through the hall.
I sit against the wall, staring at the bed, my eyelids growing heavy with every breath. My head droops, and I jerk up, repositioning myself, stretching my legs out and pressing my palms to the cold glass. I breathe.
“Hey Ky?” Cory calls.
Thank goodness. Something to keep me alert. “Yeah?” The gray light of the hall has warmed to where it’s nearly hard to see. Nothing but a soft beam, like the glow of the moon on a cloudy day. This must be night.
“Remember when we would lay out blankets on my roof and watch the storm clouds blow in the wind? We’d have to keep our stuff from blowing away because the wind would be so strong.” He chuckles. “Those nights with fewer responsibilities.”
A small smile twitches at the left corner of my mouth. “I remember.” Those nights looked just like the dreary setting in this depressing prison. “I could go for the fresh air and breeze right now.”
Cory huffs a laugh. “Me too.” He pauses. “Sorry about all the trouble I caused you. I was just trying to do my job.”
“Un-huh.” There’s so much on my mind right now. The past isn’t taking precedence at this moment. “Thanks for your apology.”
“The list I was getting for the Trade, remember?”
I draw my knees to my chest to rest my head against them. Looking in his direction, I see him standing near his bars, bright green eyes looking my direction. “Of course I remember.”
It’s difficult to make out his face in the low light. But the low tone of his voice has a taut edge that makes my stomach squirm at the thought of his next words. “I knew you and Luke were mixed. I’d been undercover with the Trade. Something unconstitutional has been going on for years, and they needed someone age-appropriate to be in Separation. It’s why I was shipped out early.”
On my feet, I cross the floor to the bars.
“My placement mother, she was undercover with your parents.” I wish I knew as much about my parent’s dealings with the Vojin and the Trade as Cory does. All I have is what the crumbled letter told me, and it wasn’t enough. “They were placed to identify the roles played by the Vojin and Guidance. They may be in cahoots, but no one has had the chance to report back or confirm this as fact. When the Vojin discover there’s a traitor in the midst, they don’t have as much kindness as someone like you. What you are is what can make this world a better place.”
My brows draw taut. “In what way?”
The door slides open, and the hall lights up with the gray shine of a Volones entering. We back away from our bars and ease into the darkness of our cells. The snores once breaking the silence stop.
The Volones slowly strides down the hall to Cory’s cell. “Step out,” he orders, bars shooting up into the ceiling.
Cory steps into the hall, standing before the Volones with his spine straight and his shoulders drawn back. His face is even and not a glimmer of fear stains his eyes.
The Volones looks down on him. Almond eyes survey him as his arms hang at his sides and his fingers move fluidly as though he doesn’t know what to do with them. He asks Cory, “What was the reason for your implant?”
Cory’s brows furrow, confusion wiping over his face for a brief second before he sobers. “I was born Vojin. I am my implant.”
The Volones lifts his hand, first finger extended and swipes across Cory’s cheek as though he were wiping dust from a shelf. “Your flesh?” he asks.
Cory keeps his eye’s locked on the Volones. The sudden contact doesn’t faze him. �
��The way I was designed to blend in with the Creations from birth.”
At seven feet tall, the Volones towers over Cory, looking down at him with no expression on his face. It’s only by the deceptive tone of his voice that I realize this is an interrogation. “And you believe Creations do not need to be destroyed. Even though you are not a born Creation?”
Cory’s left eye twitches, but he’s yet to move. “I have lived this way for twenty years. It is what I am accustomed to.”
The Volones raises his hand to Cory’s face. His first and last fingers press to his temples, the middle one to his forehead, and thumb to his chin. Cory vibrates, along with the air around him, and he bursts with a soft poof. Blue and green particles sprinkle onto the floor and stick to the body of the Volones.
My heart pounds in my ears. Wide-eyed and slack-jawed, I stand as the world seems to expand and shrink with every beat. I hold my breath to slow my huffing and puffing.
The Volones wipes his hands over each other and turns on his heels to head for the cell beside mine. Harold hisses under his breath, daring the Volones’s attack.
I hear the bars rise, a quick whiffing movement as they lift into the ceiling.
If Cory was one of them, and the Volones had no problem taking him out, what does that mean for the rest of us? I lean against the bars of my cell to peer into the hall.
The Separation Trilogy Box Set: Books 1 -3 Page 63
