by SF Benson
His shoulders slumped forward. “I don’t think she lied on that one. I don’t trust him. He might use you as a bargaining chip.”
I put my hands on my hips. “For what?”
“To do whatever he wants me to do. Or to give him—”
“That stupid card.” I ran my hands through my hair. “He wants it. He’s not above killing me to get to it.”
Zared faced me. “Not that easy. I won’t let him hurt you.”
I pressed my lips together. “I’ve got one more for you.”
“What?” He stroked my palm with his thumb.
“I told my mother we found proof of human experiments at RMA. She knows something. I just don’t know what.”
He moved closer to me. “I don’t know how to find out that info from here.”
“We can—”
“No. You’re going back to your room.”
I opened my mouth, and Zared put up his hand.
“Our parents need to think we won’t be any problem whatsoever.”
I rolled my eyes. “For how long?”
“Long enough to earn my father’s trust. If he trusts me, I can do just about anything. The guards won't refuse his son.”
“I don’t like this, but you're probably right. The Riza guards do seem to respond to his commands over Eden's.”
“I’m counting on it. I need to get access to a computer.”
“And then?”
“I get proof of what my father’s doing, and hopefully a bargaining chip to get us out of this place alive.”
“What if you can't get it?” I countered.
“We use the card. We’re not expendable until they get it.”
I heaved a sigh. “I don’t want to leave you.”
He wrapped his arms around me. “I don’t want you to go either, but it won’t be for long. I’ll demand to see my father when you leave. We’ll be together soon. I promise.”
“The American Republic is currently making strides in eradicating genetic illnesses thanks to advanced genetic engineering. Due to the efforts of our scientists, parents are now able to produce perfected children—children who are free of illness and debilitating malformations.”
—Interview with Jacob C. Venter, response to the UN ban
Two guards escorted me to my room. Mom greeted me with a frown and her hands on her hips. Her foot tapped out an incessant Morse code—prepare for a lecture.
“What have you been up to?” she snapped.
I brushed past her and sat on the sofa. “Remember, I went to Zared’s room? You took me there.”
“That was hours ago.” She hovered over me. “What did you do?”
I rolled my eyes. “We talked. I took a nap.”
“Just a nap?” Accusation tinged her question.
“Yeah. Why?”
“That’s not what I saw.”
I massaged my temples. I wasn’t in the mood for games. “What on earth are you talking about?”
“Didn't I tell you cameras were everywhere?” She approached me.
“And?”
“Do you think any parent wants to see what I saw?”
“What did you see?” There were no cameras in the bathroom. We took a nap, nothing else to see.
Mom picked up a tablet, accessed something, and shoved it at me. “You tell me.”
I regarded the video stream. It captured our make out session in the bathroom. The scene faded out. The next scene showed us in bed not napping. It was like the video of Mom in restraints with a black eye. I turned the screen off and gave her the tablet back. Obviously, there were cameras in the bathroom, but what explained the steamy scene?
“This never happened,” I said firmly.
She glared at me. “You expect me to believe nothing happened?”
“Yes. Unlike you, I’m telling you the truth.” I stepped out of Mom’s range.
“I should have forced you to have the vaccine,” she murmured.
I did a double take. “What did you say?”
“You heard me,” she said louder. “It’s still not too late.”
“The vaccine acts like birth control too? Mom, tell me that’s not the case.”
“It’s the only reason I thought you should have it. Your actions just prove I was right.”
I assumed my mother was clueless, but didn’t her file say she was also a chemist? My stomach rolled. “You knew everything about the vaccine?”
“Of course I did. I worked with Kat’s wife. We knew all about his research.”
Emptiness settled in the pit of my stomach. She knew about the side effects yet, she wanted me to have the vaccine. Did my life mean so little to her?
I wheezed. “If you knew what he intended, why didn’t you stop it?”
“How could I?” She held her palms out.
My shock soon dissipated. “I can't believe you,” I yelled. “Did you create the vaccine too?”
Mom’s eyes narrowed. “That’s enough, Tru.”
“How can I trust you? Everything you tell me ends in a lie!”
Thwack!
I hadn’t noticed my mother moving closer to me. “I said that was enough. Everything I’ve ever done has been for you,” she yelled.
Staying in that room was no longer an option. Riza guards blocked my exit. Katsuo approached me, the last person I wanted to see. He manufactured that damn video. I ducked into the bathroom and slammed the door. I gripped the edge of the sink so hard my knuckles blanched. Nausea hit me like a tidal wave. I closed my eyes and willed my stomach to lie still.
Every time I let my guard down, my mother lied. She had the audacity to be upset with me. How about that sick, twisted, beast of a man holding us captive? Why would he doctor a video and show that shit to my mother? I let go of the sink and stepped to the door. I froze when I heard him speak. I turned on the shower. For once, I might hear some semblance of the truth.
“Can we talk, Gabriela?” His husky voice reminded me of Zared’s.
“Come in.”
“What happened here? I heard yelling.”
“It doesn’t matter,” she said thickly.
“You saw the video?” His voice teased, waiting her response.
“Yes.” Mom had her ‘I’m too tired to be bothered’ voice going.
His father exhaled. “You do realize they are too close?”
“Kat, they’re kids experiencing a crush.”
“It's more than a crush. You know that.”
“Big deal. They think they’re in love.”
“They’re going to get hurt.”
“They’ll be fine.”
“Like I was supposed to be?”
“Low blow, Kat. We weren’t meant to be.”
“Are you denying you have feelings for me?”
“Had, Kat.”
“You walked all over my feelings.” He choked out the words.
“What was I supposed to do? We were both married to other people.”
“I would have gladly left her for you.”
“Do you think I wanted you to desert your wife and child for me?”
He cleared his throat. “It's not important anymore. The kids will tire of each other.”
“What do you want, Kat?”
“Just to talk. Nothing more than a conversation between friends. We are still friends, aren’t we?”
“How can you ask that? There’s no way we could ever be friends. Not with the things you've done.”
“What about the things you’ve done, Gabriela?” My mother’s name trilled across his tongue like a melody.
“I haven't done anything I regret.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I have no regrets whatsoever.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I thought we could reach a common ground for your daughter's sake. Do you want Tru to live her whole life here?”
“I want her to live. It doesn't matter where.”
“Then we must agree on some things.”
“Like?”
<
br /> “You turn over Intrepid and all the information you have.”
“And?”
“Your heart.”
“You’re still living in the past.”
“I’m trying to help you live in the future. You can spend your life here with me. There’s nothing in our way this time. Or we can just end it.”
So Zared’s father still loved her. I wasn’t hanging around to witness it. More importantly, what had my mother done without regret?
The voices stopped. The door opened and closed. I stepped out of the bathroom to an empty room. My mother may have convinced herself that life in a jail cell was acceptable. I refused to sit around waiting for her return.
Zared stared at me incredulously as I entered his room. “What are you doing here, Tru?”
I paced the floor. My thoughts were jumbled. What could I say knowing we were being watched?
He grabbed my shoulders. “What happened?”
“Your father created a little video to share with my mother.”
“Of what?”
“Of us. It’s doctored to look like we’re having sex.”
He grinned. “Can I get a copy?”
I punched his shoulder.
“Ouch.” Zared rubbed the spot. “Sorry. Didn’t you tell her it never happened?”
“Of course I did!” I jabbed my finger in the air. “She assumed the video was real. She slapped me when I called her a liar. Oh, and I forgot to add she knew all about the vaccine.”
“What do you mean she knew about it?”
“She knew all about your father creating it. She’s known everything he’s done, but, never tried to stop it.”
“Oh, man.” Zared ran his hand through his hair.
“Now, what do we do?”
He gathered me in his arms. “It’ll be okay. I’ll talk to my father. You’re staying with me.”
I hugged him tighter. No matter what my parents thought of him, Zared supported me. “He went someplace with my mom. I overheard them talking.”
“Learn anything?”
“They’ve got some sort of secret between the two of them. Oh, here’s a kicker for you. Our parents had something between them years ago, and your dad still has the hots for her.”
He leaned back. “I didn’t know that.”
“Well, he gave her an ultimatum.”
“What kind?”
“She gives up Intrepid and lives the rest of her life here with him. Or he’ll kill her.”
“I need to find my father.” He stormed out of the bathroom and opened the door to our parents.
“Dad, we need to talk.”
“That’s what we’re here for.” They entered the room.
“Where’s Tru?” Mom asked frantically. Senseless. It wasn’t as if I were able to go anywhere else.
I stepped out. “What do you want now, Mother?”
She approached me. “We all need to talk.”
“I don’t feel like it.” I pushed past her and stood by Zared.
“Now might not be a good time,” he suggested.
Mom’s voice wavered. “Haven’t you done enough for one day?”
“Whatever you think you saw never happened,” Zared assured her.
“I know what I—”
“Mrs. Shepard, I need to speak with my father right now.”
His dad addressed Mom, “Leave us. You must be hungry. The guards will take you to get something to eat.” The pig leered after my mother. “Magnificent woman. Too bad she will choose to die.”
He flashed an icy smile at me. “Perhaps you can convince your mother to make the right choice.”
I rolled my neck. “I wouldn’t count on it.”
He shook his head and then spoke to his son. “You seem better now.”
“I am. I guess I, uh, was in shock earlier.”
“I expected it. Seeing me after so much time had to be disconcerting. Never mind all that now.” He clasped his hands together. “You said you wanted to talk.”
“Yeah.” Zared slid his hands into his pockets. “But first, I, uh, need to make sure Tru will be safe.”
“Of course.” Katsuo nodded. “I promise you, Zared. No harm will come to her.”
Zared cleared his throat. “She’s staying with me.”
“I don’t think Gabriela will approve.”
He clenched and unclenched his jaw. “She doesn’t have to.” He looked Katsuo in the eye. “It's not her decision. Tru will not be hurt again.”
“Her mother would never—”
“Not. An. Option.”
Katsuo ran his hand through his hair, another familiar move. “If you want her here with you, consider it done. I'll alert the guards. What else do you need?”
“Nothing else.” Zared crossed his arms. “As long as we can be together, I don’t need anything else.”
The man smiled and clapped his son on the back. “I’m so glad you are coming around. I do not want to lose you twice. I have missed you.”
Zared shoved his hands in his pockets, avoiding eye contact. “Dad, can I, uh, help you out around here?”
“How so?” His father beamed.
“Well, if this will be my home, I want to be useful. Y’know I’m good with computers.”
Katsuo hugged him. “You don’t know how happy you’ve made me. Let me think on it. I’m sure I can find suitable work for you.”
Zared grimaced before returning the gesture. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Oh, son. One more thing. This is for both of you. Yes, I made that little video as a warning. We’re keeping our eyes on you. And I trust you, Zared, to keep it in your pants. If you don’t think that’s possible, we can go ahead and have Tru report for her vaccine. Better safe.”
Zared huffed. I dug my nails into my palm.
“Can’t walk the streets without a D.P. harassing me…”
—from Stuck in New Detroit by DJ Cash, rapper, 2022
Zared
Sleep was a cruel partner. At times it worked with you, nourishing your body and soul. Other times it stole from you, leaving you fatigued and begging for relief. Fortunately, it was on Tru’s side right now. Her low snores reached me in the doorway. The nightmares weren’t plaguing her nightly anymore, but she hadn’t been sleeping. She thought I didn’t know that she was too afraid to close her eyes at night. Tru had yet to realize I missed nothing when it came to her.
The last decent sleep I had was the nap we took together. I was tempted to curl up beside her, but the two of us in the same bed was not a good idea. I picked up a pillow and headed for the sofa. A piece of hard-ass modular furniture wasn’t the best place for sleeping, but I didn’t have any other options. I punched the pillow and lay on my side. My mind woke up.
The thought of faking enthusiasm about working with my father made my skin crawl. I needed him to get off the island, and he needed me to think I forgave him. I didn’t think I was that good of an actor, though. It reminded me of the time I used Dad’s computer to change my grades. He walked in on me and I made up a tale about a computer virus. He bought the lie that I used his computer to download software to fix the problem.
I exhaled and rolled onto my back. I refused to live the rest of my life in this room. Caged. Confined like a lab rat. I tightened my hands into fists and then loosened them.
I needed to contact my superiors, but that might just be relying on the Devil himself. Most likely they knew exposing the New Order’s plans would lead to revolution. Perhaps the real mission all along. Would I be a bystander and let them wage war?
Pain shot through my temple. Another migraine. Being around my father wasn’t good for my health. I’m sure he had the means to stop them in exchange for the card. Wasn’t happening.
My muscles tightened, intensifying the pain. Pain caused weakness. And, using another’s weakness was my father’s strength. He played sick, twisted games controlling people’s behavior through their emotions. I suspected the doctored video was his perverted game piece, and if that f
ailed, he’d have no problem killing any of us to get what he wanted.
I punched the pillow again. It would be nice to put all the crap in my life in a bag, and punch the shit out of it. I rubbed my forehead. All I was required to do was retrieve Intrepid and leak it to the media. End of mission. Debt over. But that was before Tru. I knew I was in trouble when her picture fell from the folder. I knew she’d ruin me, distract me, and make my life difficult. I welcomed the complication.
Involving Tru put me in this fancy prison cell. I tried to convince myself getting close to her was necessary to find Intrepid. But I fell in love with her. And now, I’d die before I’d let anything happen to her, which required playing my father’s sadistic games.
How would I appear enthusiastic about my father’s resurrection? The man abandoned me, no longer conjecture. My desire to hurt him the way he hurt me fueled my anger. The man hadn’t been a father in years. He robbed me of my childhood. He wasn’t even curious about how I survived. Perhaps I wasn’t supposed to survive.
I swung my legs to the floor and raked my hand through my hair. Enough with the histrionic bullshit. My requesting a job on the island made my father glad. I pulled that off. I could pull off a plan as well.
My thoughts—the plan, the mission, Tru—tormented me. I longed to wake her, but... Eff it! My muscles twitched. A walk or even a run might help. Work off some energy. I guess I should find out whether my father controlled the island. I grabbed my jacket and headed for the door. A solitary guard, a young red-haired boy, was on duty.
“Hey, do you think I, uh, can take a walk? I can't sleep.”
The guard, perhaps no more than fifteen or sixteen, tapped the device in his ear and spoke to someone. His ill-fitting uniform dwarfed him. But that’s what you got when you recruited puppies to do a dog’s job. I wondered if my father had anything to do with it. When it came to screwing up the lives of kids, my father was an expert.
“Can I talk to you?” I hadn’t noticed when Gabriela stepped into the hall.
My eyes shifted between the guard and Tru’s mother. She thrust a finger toward the stairs. The guard was still talking. I shrugged my shoulders and followed her down the wooden staircase. The amount of freedom she had impressed me. Being my father’s pet had its perks.
