by Sara Daniell
THE SUN STARTS to come up, and every part of my body is stiff and aching, especially my side. Felix looks down, and his breathing immediately becomes fast and heavy.
“Felix, you have to calm down. You can’t climb down safely freaking out like that!” He doesn’t answer. He just clings tighter to the tree. Oh hell. I look at him until he looks at me. When he does, I compel him to climb down. Once we both make it down to the bottom, he looks up at the tree then at me, confused.
“How did I…” his voice trails off as he looks up at the tree again.
“You left me no choice. Damn, you need to toughen up, Bro.”
I stretch and wince when I feel my stitches pull. I lift my shirt and feel that ‘oh shit’ feeling when I see how swollen it is around my stitches. It’s getting infected. I pull my shirt back down and look at Felix who looks pissed.
“You used that mind control bullshit on me?”
“You wouldn’t have come down if I didn’t. You can’t be mad at me for that.”
I start walking in the direction the Hunters went. If my suspicions are right, they are probably headed towards Dandux to see if that’s where we went. Felix follows and scoffs.
“I would’ve come down eventually.”
I laugh and pretend to hug a tree. I make my face look like his did as he clung for dear life.
He rolls his eyes and laughs a little. “Bitch.” He walks faster so he’s beside me and not behind me. “Who were those people last night?”
“Sphere Hunters.” I look over my shoulder at the mention of them. “Ruthless bastards. They’ll slit your throat before you even realize what’s happening.” I try not to think about Plath, but I can’t help it. He’s the worst of them all.
“Oh. Have they been after you before?”
I nod. Only every damn day of my life since I left the Sphere. I push a branch out of my way as we walk. “When we get there, we need to find a way in where we won’t be detected. I have no clue how, so we’ll just have to hope for the best.”
“Wow, I feel so confident now.”
I cut my eyes at him. “Got a better idea?”
“No. But ever since you and Sage disappeared, Dandux and all the other towns are guarded hardcore.”
“I figured. That’s why I said we need to find a way to get in undetected. Are you familiar with where they guard the heaviest?”
He nods. “The whole perimeter of the fence that surrounds the town. There is no easy way in.”
“Of course there isn’t.” I look down at my clothes. “I need to wear something else. This is too obvious.”
“And how do you plan on finding something else?”
I shrug. “Not a clue. Don’t worry, I’ll figure it out.”
We walk the rest of the way in silence. I’m hungry, thirsty, tired, and sore all over. I’m sure Felix feels the same, but if he does, he hasn’t complained.
I look at him and notice how much he’s changed. He’s taller; his hair is shaggier and not cut perfectly like it always used to be, and his jaw seems squarer. He’s not built like a bodybuilder, but the distinct muscles in his arms shows that he’s taken the time to work out. I’ve never noticed how much he looks like dad until now. I clear my throat at the realization that I will never see my parents again or have the chance to apologize to them.
It is what is, Orion. Get over it.
As we get closer to a town, there are Dwellers everywhere.
“Holy shit, I’m a genius,” I say as I eyeball the clothes of a girl my age walking towards the post office.
Felix pulls up his shirt to wipe sweat from his forehead. “And why is that?”
I point to the girl. “I’m going to compel her to give me her clothes and tell us where Dandux is. Now, I just have to figure out how to get over to her and get her alone.” I look at the fence that surrounds the town but see no one guarding it. “Maybe the guards are at lunch.” I laugh a little because there’s no way it’ll be that easy.
“Fooood,” Felix says in desperation.
I touch my stomach when it growls. “I know. I’m starving too.”
We stop and look as far as we can. I see a few men in uniforms standing guard. Three I can handle no problem. I feel my pocket for the syringe and pull it out. I take the cap off of it and motion for Felix to follow me. I can tell he wants to talk me out of this, but he follows anyway.
I step on a stick and break it on purpose. All three of them turn and look at Felix and me. I hide the syringe behind my back. I need them on the other side of the fence, and I need to see how they get out. That will be Felix’s and my way in. I grab Felix’s arm as we run. I keep watch over my shoulder and see them exit from the far left through a tear in the fence. Our way in. I hold tight to Felix’s arm as I come to a stop, so he stops too.
“Why are we stopping?” He yells.
“We needed them on the other side of the fence. We can handle them!”
The guards come over and circle around us. When Felix’s eyes meet mine, I nod. I lunge myself at the one on my right and stab him in the neck with the syringe. I inject the green liquid and kick him when his body goes limp. He falls to the ground with a hard thud.
I feel arms wrap tightly around my neck as the third guard comes at me. His eyes meet mine. Get your friend off me then kill him. He looks past me then pulls the guard who had a hold of my neck off me. He then pulls a knife from his pocket and slits his throat. Felix whips his head in my direction.
“Get the knife!” I scream as the guard stalks towards Felix.
Felix freezes. He’s never had to fight, and fighting and emotions have always been forbidden here. He’s never been allowed to feel this way. I jump on the guard’s back and knock him to the ground. The knife gets eerily close to my neck; then his eyes meet mine. He looks away when Felix yells at him to distract him. Dammit, Felix! I could’ve compelled him! I think as I dodge the knife.
“Hey!” I scream to get his attention back on me.
He looks in my eyes. I want you to slit your throat. He slits his throat, and his blood spills from his neck and all over me. I move out from under his body and grab the knife.
Felix falls to his knees and starts throwing up. I wipe my face to get the blood off of me, but I’m only smearing it. I stand up and walk over to the guard that I injected with the green stuff. I feel his pulse, and he’s still breathing. I put the knife to his throat but stop when Felix yells for me to stop.
I jerk my head around to look at him. “I have to!”
“No! No, you don’t! He’s out! Let’s just go while we can! Please, Orion. Don’t,” he begs, and his whole body shakes with fear.
I curse under my breath and nod. I put the knife in my pocket.
“Let’s go.”
I have never not finished one off when I had the chance, except for Plath. But Felix saw enough. He couldn’t handle another. He’ll get used to it. Maybe.
We walk over to the tear in the fence, and I let Felix in first. We walk behind the buildings to try to stay hidden. I peek around the corner and spot the post office. I point to the same girl I saw earlier walking out of it. I look at Felix who is clean and doesn’t look like a murder scene incarnate.
“Go flirt with her and get her to come back here with you.”
“This is so wrong. How do you know she will?”
I slap my forehead. He’s wasting time. “Dammit, just do it!” I say in a hurry.
“Orion, I’ve never had a girlfriend. How the hell am I-”
I cover my mouth to hide my huge grin. I then point to the girl again. He groans and walks over to her. I wait for several minutes; then I finally hear footsteps coming in my direction. I peek around the corner and see Felix and the girl. She gasps when she sees me.
“What is going on?” She demands.
I look at her and compel her to give me her clothes and to tell us how to get to Dandux from here. She explains the way as she strips down. Felix is a gentleman and looks away. I take off the white suit an
d wipe the blood off me the best I can with it. I then grab her clothes and put them on in a hurry. Once I’m dressed, I grab the knife, put it in my pocket, and then Felix and I take off running back towards the fence. We get out and take off in the direction she told us to go.
“She said it was fifteen minutes this way!” I say as we run.
“She’s going to be walking through town in her bra and panties! That is so wrong!”
I slow my pace down when I feel like we’ve put enough distance between us and whatever town we just left. “Felix, you’re going to have to learn to accept bad things happening if you’re going to stay with me. And to be honest, it’s going to get worse.”
“Your hair isn’t blue anymore, and it’s long,” he says, changing the subject.
I laugh. “Yeah. And you should have seen all the tattoos. They’re gone too.”
“How many people have you killed? You acted like a pro back there.”
“A lot.”
“How many is a lot?”
I pull the knife from my pocket to see how sharp it is. It’s dull, but it’s better than nothing. I stick it back in my pocket as I look at Felix and shrug. I look ahead to see the familiar buildings.
Dandux.
I tie my hair in a knot to the side. I put my hands on my hips as I stop and look around. I know the ins and outs of this place, but that was years ago. And dammit, Felix was right about this place being flooded with guards.
I look over at Felix who looks like he’s about to keel over from dehydration, exhaustion, and hunger. I feel all of those things too plus excruciating pain, but I know how to function feeling this way. I spent the first two years on Earth like this. I remember getting so desperate for a drink of water that I had to drink from rain puddles in the street. Sage drank toilet water once, but I said I’d die before I got that desperate. I gag a little at the thought.
“Okay, Oreo. What now?”
Felix looks around until his eyes land on the same guards my eyes are focused on.
“You could get in there. You would be a good distraction. I’m sure word has already been sent out that I’m missing and you’re with me.”
“And what exactly do you want me to say? I mean, they’re not going to be too happy with me, Orion.”
I think for a minute. “Act like you don’t know me. I mean, you’re not supposed to anyway, right? Then-”
“I’m not good at lying! I’ve never been allowed to! I’m not you!”
I close my eyes as his words burn a little. I look down at my hands.
“No you’re not me, but if you’re going to survive this shit, you’re going to have to be like me. Whatever the hell that means.” I glare at him without meaning to.
“Okay, so I just go in like I don’t know what the hell just happened and I’m trying to get home?”
I nod.
“Shit. Okay.” He takes a few deep breaths of encouragement and shakes his hands like he’s preparing for a fight. “I can do this.” He goes to walk off but stops and walks back over to me. “Shit, I can’t do this! What do I do after I get in there? What are you going to do?”
“You’re going to act like you’re scared and just want to go home. While they’re trying to help you, I’ll sneak in. They won’t see me. I swear. And I want you to go home like everything is normal. I’ll be there later. Now go!”
He curses the whole way over. I stay hidden behind a tree and watch. It doesn’t look like he’s saying anything. He’s just hugging himself and shaking. I hear the guards demanding answers about me, but he just shakes his head and says he doesn’t know what they’re talking about. He then goes into a full meltdown about being hungry and tired. That’s not fake.
They look directly where I’m standing but don’t see me because I’m hidden behind a tree. They then turn and take Felix. One guard stays behind, but in two seconds, he’ll be either compelled or dead.
I hurry over and run through the gate. When he sees me, he shouts at me. I slam my back against the back of a building as he runs over. When he gets right in front of me, I grab the front of his shirt. He looks at my hands then my eyes. Go back and guard the gate as if you never saw me.
He blinks a few times then walks back over to his spot as if nothing happened. I take a deep breath as I focus on my next move. Knowing I had mind control could have been so useful on Earth. I sneak around the building and onto the familiar streets of Dandux. I turn my head as people look at me. I’m sure I’m a sight. I’m dirty, wearing clothes that don’t fit right, and my hair is tied in a knot. I look homeless. Shit, I am homeless. At least I’m not recognizable.
I head toward Sage’s house. I walk up the steps and knock on her front door without hesitation. I hear footsteps then see her mom, Dena. She freezes when she realizes who I am. She goes to slam the door in my face, but I stop the door with my hand.
“Please, let me in. I know the truth about Sage. Please,” I beg.
She looks past me, her eyes shifting left to right; she then moves so I can come in. After I’m in, she locks the door and closes the blinds.
“What are you doing here?” She whispers. “Are you here to hurt me? Did you bring others with you?”
“No. I’m not here to hurt you. No one is going to hurt you.”
I find a chair and sit down. I rest my head in my hands and close my eyes. As my adrenaline wears off, the pain from my side intensifies.
“Orion, dear, what are you doing here? What do you know about Sage?”
“I know she died, and it’s my fault,” I whisper.
She sits down beside me and touches my face. I jerk a little.
“I can’t believe it’s you. Are you sure Sage is really dead?” She looks at me like she’s seen a ghost.
I go to talk but being hungry, tired, and thirsty plus the emotions of everything that has happened hit me all at once. I can’t contain it. I burst into tears. I want my mom, my dad, Sage, Felix. I just want everything back to the way it was before I had to be stupid and look for Earth. I had no business doing that. I want to know that Kyle is okay. I want my emotions that got so tied up in Plath back. I just want this all to stop.
I feel Dena’s arms wrap around me. She rubs my back and lets me cry. This woman has never really liked me. I was always the rebellious Dweller that was unfortunately her daughter’s best friend. But I appreciate her kindness right now. I need it.
“Orion, you’re burning up. Are you sick?”
I shake my head and wipe my tears on the back of my hand. “No. I’ve been walking, and it’s hot outside.”
She furrows her eyebrows. “No. You are hot. As in fever hot.”
Shit. I touch my side and wince as pain courses through it. I pull up my shirt and show her.
“This could be the cause of that.”
Her mouth forms into a hard line. “I have medicine in the cabinet. Do you remember where the bathroom is?”
I nod and stand.
“Go get yourself cleaned up, and you can wear some of Sage’s clothes. I’ll let you stay the night here, but you have to leave tomorrow. I don’t know what you have got yourself into, but the Constable is looking for you. If they know you’re here and I’ve helped you, I’ll be hung first thing Thursday morning.”
“They won’t know I’m here.”
I smile reassuringly as I think about what I have to do. I’ll leave tonight, but before I do, I’ll compel her. She won’t know that I was ever here, and she won’t have to risk getting caught by pretending if she’s questioned.
She nods then walks into the kitchen. I go to the bathroom and take a much-needed shower. I stand in front of the mirror to get a good look at my side—it’s bad. I use my hands to take a drink from the faucet then wrap myself in a towel and head to Sage’s room. Tears fill my eyes when I close the door and see it hasn’t changed a bit. There are still clothes in the floor just like she left it. I swallow hard and walk to her closet.
After getting dressed, I look for a ponytail holder and
pull my hair up—trying to not freak out that I’m wearing my dead friend’s clothes. I start opening drawers, trying to find anything that might give me clues as to what Sage knew and if she knew anything at all.
I close the last drawer and sigh. Nothing. I look under her bed and see a shoe box that’s decorated. I pull it out and see pictures of her and me. I then rummage to the bottom of it and see index cards full of words and dates. I don’t have time to read them now so I take them and shove them into my bra. I look in the mirror to make sure they’re all hidden then walk into the kitchen. Her mom sets a glass of water and pills down in front of me.
“Here. One is for pain and the fever, and the other two are antibiotics.” She hands me the bottle. “Take them until they are gone two times a day.”
I down the pills. “Thank you.”
“Are you hungry?”
I nod. “Very.”
She starts fixing a sandwich. “What really happened to my daughter?”
“She was killed by Sphere Hunters on Earth.”
She nods without looking at me. After she fixes the sandwich, she hands it to me. I want to swallow this thing whole, but I pace myself.
“I figured as much. I assume you know about her abilities then?” She sits across from me at the table.
“Abilities? I know about mine, but I didn’t-”
She nods. “Mind control. And Plath? What do you know about him?”
I set my sandwich down and stare at her before responding. I have to let what she just told me about Sage process before I can respond to her mentioning the person I despise the most.
“What about Plath? Do you know him?” My voice comes out angry.
“He’s my son.” Those three words just coursed through me like a bolt of electricity. “He was taken from his father and me when he was three. Sage was almost two and too young to remember. We owed the Constable a debt…” She looks shamefully at the floor as her voice trails off into silent tears.
I feel sick to my stomach. So Caym isn’t his father. I rest my head in my hands as the room spins a little. It’s either the pain medicine or information overload. No, it’s definitely information overload. I hate Plath. I fucking hate him. What else could he possibly lie to me about? I stand and excuse myself. I need to find somewhere to lose it without an audience.
