I dodged the question. “So what about Dafina? Did you ever find out what happened to her?”
Zander sighed and picked at an invisible thread on his coat. “No. But I have a pretty good theory.”
I covered his hand with mine to stop his fidgeting. He glanced at me, his blue eyes shadowed by the memory of his lost friends. “Tell me your theory.”
“I can’t. Not until I’m sure. It’s too dangerous, Luna. The less you know the better.”
I collapsed back against the bench, frustrated. “I think it’s too late for that, Zander. Because you’re right, I do have two sets of memories.” The words tumbled out of my mouth before I even realized I’d said them—announcing even that much terrified me. Should I trust him? What if all this had been some concocted propaganda to get me to talk? No, I doubted it. Reading people was my specialty. These incidents with his friends were real, his loss and sorrow were tangible. There was grief there you couldn’t fake. Besides, I was starting to grapple with the reality that my own friends had disappeared. But it still didn’t explain how he’d learned about me. I couldn’t tell him just yet about Orion and the others. Not till I was sure. My heart ached not being able to tell someone. The weight of the implications threatened to bury me.
Zander took hold of my shoulders and stared me straight in the eyes. “Be careful, Luna. The government officials have already been to your house, which means you are on their radar. That’s how I guessed you were like me. Plus, you were asking way too many questions. Probably why the law got on your tail in the first place.”
I opened my mouth to speak; something didn’t add up. Zander had singled me out long before those officials had shown up at my door. My gut told me he’d known about me all along. But why was he being so evasive?
Zander continued before I had a chance to say anything. “You have to trust me. I know what I’m talking about. I’ve been on their radar before, too. And after Dafina—” his voice cracked a little. “Well, it all clicked into place. I started thinking about how the authorities always seemed to identify the perfect moment to make contact. She would become panicked, almost hysterical about something—more than was normal—and suddenly they would call to check in on her. And every time that happened, her paranoia grew. The day I asked Dafina what had her so scared, I received a phone call. When she disappeared, I examined my cell and discovered the tracker. I immediately realized that’s how they were doing it. But Luna, we have no way of identifying if there are other devices. They’re bound to have spies everywhere. You must be on alert at all times. I scoured the park on several occasions before we met. So, I’m fairly sure it's safe to speak freely. But just because we don’t have our phones, we can’t get complacent.”
“Okay, what are we supposed to do, then?” I asked. “We have to figure out what’s going on. We are being manipulated. And I for one, want to get out of this godforsaken place.”
“We took a big risk meeting today.” Zander said. “It’s taken me a while, but the government officials finally trust me again. I accepted a job at the library after I graduated high school last year and am taking college courses via correspondence. I’ve been keeping my head down, so they’d stop looking. As soon as they did, I started working on my project. But Luna, it’s not the same for you. You have a huge bullseye on your back. We can’t jeopardize this, and shouldn’t talk again for a while. We must lie low. I will contact you when I have a breakthrough. I’m close. I promise it won’t be forever.”
I stiffened. “I’m not stupid. It’s clear there is so much you’re not telling me. I don’t care about the danger. Tell me what you’re working on. Maybe I can help.”
Zander shook his head. “No. They will figure us out in a heartbeat. It's better I do this alone. Nobody pays attention to me anymore. I promise I will find a way out of this for us. I give you my word. Now come on, I should get you home.”
He stood, indicating he was done talking. The cold wind he’d been blocking with his body hit me head-on, just as Zander’s information had. I wanted to demand he tell me more. But the truth was, he was right. If I started to help him in whatever he was doing, the government would start watching him again. And God knows what the consequences for Zander would be if he got caught. Hell, he’d taken a risk even meeting me today.
I reluctantly stood and took his hand and we headed toward home. We were quiet, both of us aware that outside our safe little area in the park, we could quite easily be watched.
Since I’d snuck out of the bedroom window, Zander and I stopped at the corner a few blocks away, so I could walk the rest of the trip alone—hopefully to creep back into the house unnoticed. I turned to go, but he pulled me into a hug and whispered, “It’s all going to be okay. Don’t worry.”
Before I could catch my breath, Zander drew away a little to look at me. “Luna,” he said hoarsely, “just this once I…” he trailed off, his fingers slowly tracing the edge of my jawline. “I want to—” something inside him surrendered before he finished his thought. He brought my face near to his, so close our noses nearly collided. Then he kissed me, his mouth soft and warm on mine. I wanted to stay lost in the fiery heat created between us and forget about all the problems that plagued me. But before I realized it, he’d disappeared, leaving me standing alone on the street, with the cold wind biting at my flushed cheeks. I touched my fingers to my lips, trying to preserve the tingling excitement that had arisen deep inside me, sparking a strange sensation I’d never felt before.
Zander had demanded nothing from me. I’d admitted to him I also had the memories of my previous existence, but I gave him little else. Nevertheless, he was willing to place his life on the line. He wanted to get us both out of this mess.
My eyes misted over when I thought about how sweet and kind he’d been. I swiped furiously at my tears. Now was not the time to become sentimental. I must never allow my emotions to override my good sense.
I still knew very little about Zander Barringer and it would behoove me to be cautious.
Trust no one had always been my motto. And it had gotten me this far. I wasn’t about to change that. Especially not over a single stupid kiss. It meant nothing.
With resolve in my step, I headed towards the house, preparing to fit back into the role of the perfect daughter. I hesitated, pausing on the street under the shadows of the lamplight, glancing over my shoulder one last time, to reassure myself no one was following me.
No one was there—but a sinking dread somewhere deep down inside me simmered just the same—as I thought about my hopes for the future.
I couldn’t control the huge area of my heart that desperately hoped Zander was the real deal. I loved the idea that the two of us together could escape this artificial place, and I would no longer have to play the part of a stranger.
Still, I’d learned long ago that hope was a luxury, one I couldn’t afford.
Had anything in my life ever been that easy?
I didn’t allow myself to answer that question as I took the last few blocks home.
Chapter 21
When detention ended for the day, I had to say I felt relieved. Mrs. Lennor, acting even more creepy than usual, had stared me down for the entire hour. Sweat dripped down between my shoulder blades as I did my best to pretend I hadn’t noticed her intense scrutiny. I feigned giving my full attention to my Biology homework. But her eyes boring into my head distracted me so I couldn’t focus on the words on my tablet, explaining the intricate workings of a cell.
When she finally dismissed us, I crammed my belongings into my backpack and made a beeline for the door—which unfortunately was becoming a necessary habit. I flew down the hall, eager to run as far away from Mrs. Lennor as possible. But I stopped short just outside the school exit, realizing I would never get the answers I wanted by being a coward. What if Mrs. Lennor was a spy? Zander said anything was probable. She certainly didn’t seem like any teacher I’d ever met. And I refused to stand around and do zilch while I waited for Zander to
get in touch. He needed my help. If we worked separately, nothing could be connected back to him. He had no clue how skilled I was at being sneaky. Nobody would discover I’d snooped. Besides, we had to discern fact from fiction. And fast.
I stuffed my hands deeper into my jacket pockets, trying to protect them against the cold wind that was making them tingle. I glanced around, searching for somewhere to lie low. An adjacent parking lot lay beyond the periphery of the school where a small brick wall bordered the area. I could sit, remaining hidden, behind a smattering of trees near the back of the property, with a perfect vantage point of the school exit. I would be able to see when Mrs. Lennor left and follow her.
Taking one more swift glance about, I hurried across the street. Just as I’d settled down in my spot under a tree, the door to the school opened, and Mrs. Lennor appeared, donned in a beige wool coat. Apparently, she disliked hanging around after her detention duties. Unlike the other teachers, she didn’t carry a briefcase full of papers, only a small black bag that hung over her shoulder.
She seemed a bit jittery, her hands trembling as she put on her sunglasses and buttoned her coat to ward off the chill. She darted a glance over her shoulder, spooked, then, seeing no one, pulled her bag against her chest as if protecting the contents. Setting off at a speedy trot, she quickly moved down the street, her low-heeled pumps clacking lightly on the bordered sidewalk. I popped up from my perch and waited a beat, wanting some space between us. Quiet as a mouse, I trailed her as she disappeared around the bend, away from the high school.
My curiosity peaked as I wound my way down the main thoroughfare, dodging out of her line of vision every time she paused to scan her surroundings. What had her so nervous? In the classroom she was a force to be reckoned with, out here in the open she seemed almost feeble.
A bit of homesickness washed over me. Shadowing people brought back memories of W1 Nova. Stealing money credits or food was pretty much an everyday occurrence for me back home.
Fortunately, this time my belly was full, and I had warm clothes to wear—but it had been a steep price to pay. Tracking Mrs. Lennor, I felt more like the old me, taking action again. Whatever the outcome—I was doing something. I’d hardly allowed myself to think of my little sister Trinity since I left W1, afraid it would be my undoing. But today her tiny face swam in front of my eyes, and I inhaled sharply, an agonizing pain piercing my chest. I wondered what had become of her and my other siblings. Had Mama’s trade of her oldest daughter been worth it? I hoped by some measure they had a better life, even if I wasn’t part of it. The sting of that possible truth slashed knives through my heart. I allowed the pain to spur me on. The government might be able to track me, and listen to what I say, but they couldn’t read my mind. I would cling to my memories and my thoughts. They were mine. And I wouldn’t let anyone take them from me.
I picked up my pace, matching Mrs. Lennor as she turned the corner and headed out of the main city center, toward the outskirts of town. I never had much opportunity to venture outside the area since I’d arrived in P8. I cast a cautious glance in both directions. Even on the outskirts, the trees looked indistinguishable from one another. Laid out in the same strange way I’d seen in the park—except here there were a lot more of them. The pristine sidewalk under my sneakered feet appeared so clean you could almost eat off it, a stark contrast to my previous existence. Up ahead, I spotted a small cluster of brick buildings. Four to be exact, standing like lone giants in a sea of perfectly clipped green grass. Identical in size and shape, they created a sort of tetrad square in the midst of this otherwise empty space. If I didn’t know any better, I would say we had landed in the middle of the countryside, and the inhabitants of these structures were the only humans around.
As I came closer to the buildings, I realized the grass appeared greener than in town, the air a bit warmer. But how was that possible? We hadn’t walked that significant a distance. Now that I thought about it, I never heard any mention of the outside of town at all. It seemed strange no one said anything about these tall, erect buildings so out of place in their surroundings.
I followed Mrs. Lennor as far as I dared; there was nowhere to hide once you left the main road—as the woods opposite the clearing were too hard to reach without being seen from this vantage point. She made her way up beyond the gates to the central entrance of the first multistory high rise. I watched as she slipped past the wrought iron fortress and trudged up the walkway until she reached the front door of the about facing building. She paused only seconds, before twisting the doorknob and entering.
She’d been here before.
Her mannerisms indicated she knew exactly where to go. After she disappeared completely from view, I dared creep closer, squinting to see the lettering on the side of the structure. “Dillinger Research Center,” I whispered aloud. “Why did you come to the research center, Mrs. Lennor? What game are you playing?”
I turned to head back. I’d explore later, after I hatched a plan and identified exactly what kind of place the Dillinger Research Center was. Besides, my parents would be home any time and would expect me to be there. I didn’t need any more trouble.
That night, after dinner, while Mom and Dad relaxed by the fire, I broached the question burning in my mind, as casually as possible.
“So I overheard one of the kids at school talking about Dillinger Research Center,” I said, picking at the cotton thread of the cushion I held in my lap.
“Oh, yeah?” Dad turned away from the blaze to study me. “That’s a bit strange. What did they say about it?” He took a sip of his tea.
I shrugged, pretending I couldn’t care less. “Something about how it lay on the outskirts of town, and was most likely haunted. It got me thinking, I can’t remember going to see it.”
“That’s because there’s no reason for you to go there. You have everything you need right here in town. The only people there are the technicians that conduct the scientific studies. I’m surprised you believe such stories, especially coming from teenagers.” Dad gave me a pointed stare, as if to include me in that grouping. Obviously, I wasn’t high on his trust list. Not that I blamed him.
Mom’s eyes narrowed. “You wouldn’t sneak over there on your own, would you Luna? You know that’s frowned upon. They are doing very important work; we shouldn’t disturb them.”
I waved a hand away. “Why would I want to go to a boring research center? Don’t worry Mom, I have no interest in it. Haunted or not.”
As cool as a cucumber, I casually yawned, and stretched my legs out on the couch. She visibly relaxed. Good thing she couldn’t see inside my mind, running at full throttle. If only scientists worked at this locale, what had Mrs. Lennor been doing there? And why was it off limits? I’d been around my parents long enough to perceive when they were lying. They didn’t want me anywhere close to that research facility. I had a suspicion that if the authorities caught me near that place there would be hell to pay.
I let out a breath, glad I’d left my phone at home today. It allowed me to do as I pleased. Of course, there was always the danger of someone following me. But it was a risk worth taking if I ever wanted to escape this plastic hellhole.
I was startled by the sound of the doorbell ringing through the house. My heart almost leapt out of my chest.
Only one person would come calling at this time of night. I gripped the armrest so hard my knuckles turned white.
Dad got up and went to answer the door.
From my spot on the couch I heard a deep, baritone voice echo down the hall, and shivers ran down my spine.
I recognized that voice.
“Good evening, Mr. Redwood. Agent Morrow. I’m afraid we have a problem.”
Chapter 22
I sucked in my breath, not daring to move. This was it. This had to be the end. My mind ticked over. They must have seen me go out to the old research center. I’d been too cocky. Why had I believed I could outmaneuver them?
I wasn’t in Nova anymore.
/>
My throat constricted with fear as I forced myself to stand, trying to appear confident—as Dad looking haggard and tired, led Agent Morrow into the living room. The agent was exactly as I remembered him, in a crisp white uniform straightened to perfection, and unmoving gelled hair. His mouth twisted into an ugly scowl as he regarded me with disdain.
“Everyone, you remember Agent Morrow. He came to visit us during the routine visits.”
Mom inclined her head, nodding a greeting. “It’s good to see you again, Agent,” she said in her best diplomatic voice.
Despite the horrid situation, I choked back a laugh. That was the biggest lie I’d ever heard. Mom’s expression spoke volumes about how she really felt. She definitely shouldn’t be a professional liar anytime soon.
“Yes, well, I’m not here under happy circumstances I’m afraid, Mrs. Redwood. I’m sorry to report there’s been a glitch in our system. I apologize for the inconvenience but I will need to look at all the phones in the household.”
Cage of Glass (Cage of Glass Trilogy Book 1) Page 14
