CHAPTER 38: SUSPICIOUS
16 years old
After class, Landon leads Summer outside for fresh air before they have to go to their next class: Space Exploration in the Edward Complex. They run into Jaden and Lucy who have just come out of their History and Pop Culture class in Cherry Hall. They exit together. The sun’s still bright in the sky, and Summer’s stomach starts to growl—her food from lunch is still on the table in their room, untouched.
“You look better,” says Lucy with a smile, hooking her arm with Summer’s.
“I think they made up,” says Landon while glancing sideways at Summer questioningly. She nods quickly and smiles at all of them.
“That’s good,” says Jaden. “Now I don’t have to kick his ass!”
“Where are you two going next?” asks Landon.
“Law class or something,” says Lucy while looking at her wrist to confirm.
“That’s in the Edward Complex, same as us,” says Landon with a smirk. “Dr. Frankfurt is . . . interesting. We’ll talk about it at dinner after you listen to what he has to say.” Landon’s expression turns grim. Summer understands—she’s not quite sure what his whole spiel was on the Outlander camps not being a prison. Not that she really cares at this time—it’s better than where she’s been.
“What does that mean?” Jaden cocks her head to the side while her dark eyes flip between Landon and Summer.
“You’ll understand after class,” he replies and leaves it at that. They part ways and go to their next class.
The biggest question everyone has for the NASA representative is answered in their Space Exploration class. No one’s living on other planets yet, but the idea is currently being researched and tested as the space program continuously gains more information about the galaxy and galaxies beyond. Apparently, the next big project is to try to find out what happens when they deploy a spaceship into a black hole. The funny thing is many scientists think they’ve already figured out the mysteries of a black hole and that’s how so many people were transported two hundred years into the future. They suppose it’s too much of a coincidence that it’s exactly two hundred years down to the second. June 8th, 2010 at midnight: the day of the Exodus. June 8th, 2210 at midnight: the day over two hundred million people appeared from the Exodus.
On the other hand, they do find out that trash is now disposed of into space using spaceships that regularly leave the planet and go far enough away that the trash doesn’t come back to Earth. Summer finds all of this information strangely fascinating.
During the class, Summer notices Leaguers passing by the door and peeking in, searching, just like with her other class. One or two might be normal, but it’s constant; and every time it seems that their eyes lock on her. She’s not even in the Leaguer building anymore. By the end of class she’s squirming uncomfortably in her seat. Landon notices this too, and as they walk out he asks, “Is there something going on I need to know about? All of those Leaguers were staring at you. There were like twenty of them—that’s strange, right?”
She uses her Astropad as they walk toward the cafeteria and writes, “I have no idea. It was strange.” They exit from a side door to get away from the stares of the Leaguers as they walk by.
At this point Summer’s stomach is roaring like a caged lion being teased with fresh steak. She can’t wait to eat. She was used to skipping a meal or three—it was no big deal, but since the hospital and eating three meals a day regularly, her stomach’s grown accustomed to it. They’re about to walk past two small maintenance buildings when a figure suddenly jumps out and pulls Summer and Landon into the shadows between the buildings. Her automatic reaction to cover herself kicks in, and her arms fly up to conceal her face.
“Flower, it’s me,” whispers Gage apologetically.
The nickname compels her to drop her arms immediately. Gage’s frantic expression makes Summer’s once roaring stomach curdle like sour milk. Her heart skips a few beats, even though she isn’t sure what she should be frightened of, her body just automatically reacts to his appearance: disheveled hair, wide eyes, his fidgeting stance.
“Sorry,” says Gage breathlessly. “This is the only safe place in the camp where there aren’t cameras.”
“What’s this about?” asks Landon angrily, folding his arms. He’s still upset over the Kayla incident from earlier.
“I couldn’t have Summer going to the cafeteria. They’re waiting.” Gage meets Summer’s eyes. He’s seriously worried and scared.
Three guards burst from the side door that they just exited. When they don’t find anyone, they start barking orders to search for “the blonde girl” and then they scatter like bees from a disturbed hive. Gage pulls her farther into the shadows of the two small buildings.
“Where’d she go?” one of them asks as he passes.
“I don’t know, but they won’t be happy if we don’t bring her to them,” replies another.
Once they pass, Landon asks, “They? Who?” He looks between the two, and his arms drop from his stiff position as he deciphers the horror in their eyes.
Summer looks over and, with her Astropad still out, writes quickly, “I don’t know.” They both look to Gage for answers.
Gage’s voice lowers as if there’s someone nearby. “Have you ever heard of the Secret Clock Society?” The color drains from Summer’s face, and her breath picks up pace. She exchanges a petrified look with Landon.
“I take that as a ‘yes.’ ” Gage backs away, and he pulls at his hair. “How the hell do you know them?” The hysteria in his voice doesn’t go unnoticed.
“That’s who we were running from when our ship exploded,” explains Landon, his voice tight.
Gage takes several deep breaths while Summer retreats against the wall behind her, the memories of that night flooding back in flickering images. With everything going on, she’s forgotten about that night: meeting Jaden for the first time since she was four, running from the people who had boarded the ship and taken the crew captive, hitting the man repeatedly with the broom stick, and the woman who held the gun up and almost shot Landon. Her throat tightens at the thought—who are these people?
Gage suddenly starts speaking rapidly in French, a language she didn’t even know he spoke. He’s obviously upset over the news, and this secret society has clearly disturbed him just as much as Jaden. “Okay, I need to get you out of here. Both of you. Your friends too, actually. They’ll be in danger if we leave without them,” says Gage quickly. “Go between these buildings here”—he points to the Leaguer building and Cherry Hall—“and then around building A. Stay behind the dorms. I’ll meet you at your room after collecting the others. Okay?”
They both nod at him, even Landon’s speechless.
Phantom Universe Page 40
