“Is everything all right over here?” Mercer appeared around the corner of an adjacent hall, his attention directed at Evelyn with an unpleasant coolness. “Has your rod given you advice you are unwilling to heed?”
Anthon disapproved of the term for trainers—rod—which made pupils an object to be beaten into submission. “It’s not—”
“I’m not talking to you, Anthon.” Mercer sliced a hand between them as his stare bore into Evelyn. “Your answer, atom.”
“I understand his advice,” she said, “but I find it shortsighted.”
Anthon’s heart beat rose. Be careful, Ev.
Mercer almost smiled. “Oh? How is his question of a better alternative to Order shortsighted?”
She lifted an upturned fist and extended a forefinger. “I guess that depends on how high you can count. That’s one.” Middle finger. “T—”
Anthon swung a backhand into Evelyn’s mouth, stopping her from speaking what could get her banished.
She stutter-stepped backward, shocked at his assault.
Anger curled his fist. You think you’re shocked? He had no idea what he’d have to do to overcome the Chaos in that action.
Now wasn’t the time to break character, not if they planned to get rid of Mercer.
Anthon absorbed the dimensions of her uni, orden-slipped his finger into the noose-loop on her collar, and yanked her off her feet. His orden-worm heated his stomach at the use of power. It was the first time he had ever used that piece of their uni.
It felt awful.
He carried her away from Mercer, drowning her curses by counting out loud the distance between points of rock in geometric sequences.
Mercer did not follow them.
That minor success did little to ease the tightness gripping his upper back. Discipline reminded him of the night his father forced him out of the house. He could still feel the tug on his shirt. In the aftermath of that wicked night, their family had split. He’d never seen his brother again, and his parents... he would never forget the way Chaos and clan Fiend had changed them—even his mother, who was just following after the man she’d married.
Anthon led Evelyn down a long series of hallways, keeping his hand up in the orden connection that held control of her uni—for appearances—until he reached a crease in the Order mount. He sent his orden into a crack, which pushed the wall into a crevice tall enough for her to walk through; she was in no condition to walk through stone.
Three acres of cornfields separated their mount from a farmstead’s pond. When they reached it, the sunset’s rays colored its waters purple and red. Beyond it rose a two-story, dark blue house as desperate for maintenance as the grass that sprouted around its sides.
He lowered his hand and released the connection between him and Evelyn.
She whipped her arm into the space between them, narrowly missing connecting a sidepalm to his throat.
“Ev, please, forgive me. I had to stop you from forcing Mercer to take you away. You know I would never hurt you. Here is your way out.” He lifted a palm to the farm beyond. “Josai is a kind man. Tell him I sent you.”
Shila would banish him, maybe worse, if she knew what he was doing.
Everything I worked for....
He inhaled through the tight knit of Chaos in his chest. This had to be done. “I’ve brought him atoms wanting to defect before. We have an understanding. He doesn’t know what we are, but will take care of you until you can afford to leave on your own. He can craft a story to convince police where you’ve been.”
She looked up at him with rage, blood from her cut lip drying dark on her chin.
He wanted to wash her wound clean, but feared snapping whatever restraint kept her from lashing out. “Mercer won’t rest until you’re a lost one. Josai’s farm is how you survive tonight.”
“I won’t leave without Jeremy.”
Anthon put a hand up to stop her. “Listen, you aren’t getting back there. Mercer knows about you two. It’s no coincidence he showed up. If you go after Jeremy, I won’t be able to defend you.”
Now that he thought of it, Mercer had left without much argument. Anthon glanced into the dark hall behind him but didn’t see Mercer.
Evelyn bent her knees into a cushioned, fighting stance.
He started to lift his finger, orden-connecting to her uni noose-loop. “Don’t—”
She stepped to her left.
Anthon shot his finger into orden’s hold on her noose-loop.
She spun left, pulling him off balance—he hadn’t expected such a quick and powerful reaction. His orden lost its connection as she spun.
She swiped her lead foot across the floor.
He leapt before the stone lost stability, orden-stabbed his finger into her noose-loop, and yanked her into the air. He flicked her around and palm-punched her chest. Orden extended his attack into her ribs without his need for touch. The blow was weakened by his guilt, but not enough to fail.
She hit the ground and bounced.
He landed with his knee beside her. She rose from the waist, and he pressed orden into her chest. Heated vibrations shook his hand as the ground melted under her, parting the molecules enough to swallow her three inches deep.
She threw a punch at his jaw.
He dodged it and let go.
She cried out as the ground pinched all around her, holding her in place.
He carved his mark—a cursive C—on the stone and stood.
(interior art in final copy)
The idea for his mark came from his brother, Carl, forming his first initial like an orden-worm scar—Order for Carl—because it was about more than one atom refusing to accept charity. He did this to find his brother, and make the world right for them both.
She wiggled until she knew he’d won, then relaxed, staring up at Anthon with her best plea. “Please, I can show you the third.”
“I’m not interested in a god who left us to clean up after its mistakes.”
“He hasn’t left.”
“Ev, listen, we aren’t having this discussion. I’m telling you what your two options are: Josai’s, or death by Mercer’s hand. I know which one Jeremy—”
A soft footstep echoed down an unseen, but terribly close, hallway.
I knew it.
“If Jeremy wants out,” he whispered, “I’ll send him to Josai.” He eased the ground under her, orden-grabbed her loop, and lifted her to her feet. “Now go before you banish us both.”
He physically pushed her out of the mountain’s edge, and solidified the crevice into black shale, as she turned to watch the wall form between their worlds.
As it closed him off into darkness, he couldn’t help thinking she may have found the better side. Even if he’d go kicking into the grave for Order, that didn’t mean he wasn’t afraid, or lost.
Anthon turned and walked toward his sculpture gallery. His orden needed training. If Shila decided to reward his newest recruitment with more responsibility, he wanted to be strong and ready.
He felt anything but.
Chapter 2
Caroline met the head nurse’s handshake halfway, forcing a smile to quell any more salesmanship.
“So great to meet you, Caroline. I think you’ll really like it here. So much to learn and such a great opportunity for you to expand your career.”
“Thank you, yes.” She shifted left toward a path for the door and loosed her grip.
“I’m going to keep an eye on your application.”
“Be sure that you do.”
They both half laughed. The woman’s eye contact burned Caroline’s cheek as she refused to entertain her for one more second. The door below the red EXIT sign was two strides away, but felt like ten.
She’s gonna call me when I don’t apply.
What would Caroline tell her? In spite of the courage displayed in visiting the campus, she still feared the leap.
She offered another, “Thank you,” and shut the door behind her.
In
the lobby, a twenty-something guy held up a walking mat and shifted in an apparent effort to align it perfectly between coffee table and chairs.
Caroline shook her head at one aspect of campus life she could do without: weird boys.
He laid it down like a magician setting a cape over a stunt, and brushed off his hands as he admired his handiwork, oblivious to her approach.
She stopped behind his left shoulder. The mat seemed level from her vantage point, but she couldn’t help teasing him. “It looks fine from here, but did you think about whether the table is in line with the rest of the room first?”
He turned her way without reflecting the humor she’d intended.
Why had she said anything? She could have kept walking, been nearer to her car, and farther from the embarrassing and unlikely pairing that was her and this campus.
He examined the table in question. The slow grin forming on his face released a breath she hadn’t noticed restrained. “How very considerate of you to help.” His tone mocked her right back.
He leaned over the chair, fixed the table, and righted his balance to stand before her with a handsome grin. “May I return the favor?”
“I’m sorry?” She hadn’t expected that, and checked the door behind her. Thankfully, Head Nurse LaGwin wasn’t watching. “Don’t mind me.” She faced him again. His slightly freckled face offered no threat or pressure, but in that gentleness she felt more confused. “I’m a little out of my element here. I don’t know what I’m saying.”
“You and me both.” He extended his hand, his freckled and tan arm smooth and corded with muscle.
She gave in and accepted a strong shake.
“Anthon.”
“Caroline.” Her gaze drifted to the rivers of orange in his pulled-back hair. It made him look like a martial artist, and she’d always liked boys with longer hair.
“Good to meet you, Caroline.”
“Thanks.” Thanks?
“So what is your element?”
“My... oh. My element? Right. I guess not overly friendly nurses planning to sleep outside my door until I enroll in their program. Nor students who love the alignment of waiting room furniture.”
“How do you know that’s not my job?”
“I don’t know. I suppose I hope it isn’t. Do you have any backup career plans?”
His gentleness extended into what seemed like appreciation of her company. He folded his arms and tightened his smile into a straight face. “Where do you work?”
“Dr. Hartwell’s office in... um... Edison.”
“Is he hiring? I can do other things, like clean bathrooms or protect you from ISU directors.”
“I don’t know about the bathrooms, but I’ll let you know if I see anyone peeking out from behind the bushes.”
“Definitely. Take their picture, too, if you can. I’d love to tease them, especially Ms. LaGwin.” He lowered his face toward hers and whispered, “She may come off as a little strange, but her interest in students is genuine.”
He rose back to his full height half a foot above hers. “By the end of their four years, most girls give that woman tearful hugs for all she did to help them get through. Nursing is hard, but she makes it bearable and fun.”
“Huh.” Caroline’s imagination stretched toward a day when she’d shed a tear to leave Ms. LaGwin’s company. At that point, she’d have a legitimate job and could go to any city she wanted. That might not be so bad.... “Okay. Good to know.”
The discomfort of silence led her to spot the doors leading outside. She looked back to Anthon, who continued to watch her, but didn’t know what else to say.
“Edison,” he said. “That’s not far from here.”
“Yeah, like twenty-three miles.” Ugh, you sound like an idiot.
Should she shut up and walk away, hope she never saw him again? She didn’t want to. The thrill of meeting a new person had surprised her. She’d dreaded this day for weeks.
“That’s pretty exact. I like that.”
She chuckled a little. “Okay. Thanks.” What? Again? She started to navigate around the chairs.
He went with her. “What do you do at Dr. Hartwell’s? Surgery? Heart transplants?”
She laughed. Don’t be a ditz. “I’m just a receptionist. I mean, I do other things....” She lowered her voice and checked the empty hall behind her. “I’m not licensed, but I’m pretty much an RN.”
“I see, and you’re thinking about making that an official title?”
She shrugged. “Yeah, maybe.”
“So what’s stopping you?”
Debt. Failure. Change. Failure. “I don’t know.”
“Sure. I get that. You just met me. I’ve been known to get deeper secrets in under a minute.” He patted his cargo shorts. “Oh, I didn’t bring my stopwatch.” He spoke something under his breath.
Is he counting?
A couple walked out from a hall on the other side of the reception desk, lost to the world in their whispers and intimate smiles.
She stopped to let them pass, wishing she could skip this awkward part and get straight to that part.
The girl slipped her arm around the boy’s elbow as he led her toward motion sensor double doors, out to the sunny day and parking lot.
Caroline imagined walking off into that life. If only it were that easy.
“Would you like to get a smoothie with me?” Anthon had seen her watch the couple, but he offered no judgment in either his words or in his tone. “Bean and Berry is across the street. The school gives me a card to treat prospective students.”
Wait. “Prospective stu—”
“I work at the Registrar.”
What? “Um... I was joking about the bushes comment.”
He swatted the thought away. “Bushes are for amateurs. Garbage cans are where it’s at—dinner while you wait.”
Caroline laughed first, and he joined her.
He tapped the back of her arm. “Come on. It’s not like that. We gave up the spy tactics after the Canuck Conflict.” His joke fell a little flat, but it did help. “I helped a friend who sprained his ankle. Jeremy’s in there somewhere getting ice and a bandage. I’m just asking because you....” He stopped himself, and redirected. “I see those two there all the time and it made me thirsty. If you don’t want to go—”
“No. I mean yes. Sure. I’m kind of thirsty, too.”
“Okay, good. First let me just check my masterpiece.” He adjusted a chair, then motioned her on. “Perfect. Let’s go.”
Caroline was tempted to nudge it back, but decided to let his hand on her shoulder guide her.
Outside the medical center, warm spring air carried with it the scent of a nearby bar’s cooking beef.
How many bars is that? Seven? Eight? How am I going to fit in here?
They walked in stride for a few breaths before she said, “You look a little older than most of the students I’ve seen.”
“I’m not a student anymore. Art and History major. Big time smarts.”
His non-threatening personality gained another notch. He didn’t assume to be better than her, and challenged her fear that she couldn’t meet anyone she’d like to hang around with.
“Are there many graduates with....” She stopped herself from teasing him as they crossed the street to a corner pharmacy with neon-drawn sales on its windows.
“With... stunningly good looks?”
“Um, that’s a good question. Do you know any?”
He laughed. “You’re good. I like you.”
He looked away before she could take his compliment too seriously. They were just having fun. She wasn’t ready to date anybody. Being a farm owner in Edison had kept her fairly excluded from her age group.
“I was going to ask if there are many graduates with pointless degrees....”
His face expressed mock shock.
“...But that was before you said you liked me, so I’ll add, other than yours, who work for the Registrar?”
He chuckle
d. “Yeah, there’s a couple. Jen was a Communication’s major. Alexis, Human Resources. I don’t know. I like my job, but it isn’t my main thing, you know?”
Bean and Berry took up the corner on the other side of the intersection. Black iron gates framed the outside patio, where a dozen students enjoyed drinks and stared silently at their laptops, most with earbuds in.
“What is your main thing, then?”
“Sculpting.” A flash of seriousness turned to a smile as he flexed his bicep and tucked his shirt back to expose the muscle.
Her cheeks warmed and she checked to see if anyone at Bean and Berry was watching them. They weren’t. “Put that away. You’re embarrassing yourself.”
“I’m sorry.” His smile said only half so. “It’s a defense mechanism. I sculpt art, pottery, blow glass, carpentry, whatever I feel like or have an order for.”
The idea of him spending time alone like she did made her like him more. They had that in common, though she was no artist. Just alone.
She nodded. “That’s cool. I’d like to see your work sometime.”
“Sure deal.” They slowed to wait at the crosswalk while a truck revved past, and resumed their walk. “Maybe I’ll make you something.”
She smiled, truly enjoying his company. “Okay. What will you make? A rocking horse?”
“Are you three?”
She laughed and hurried across as a car sped out from its parking spot. She had to jump over a curb and landed awkwardly.
He caught her by the arm, and for a second she wondered how, given the distance that had been between them.
“Careful.” He helped her adjust back to walking. “I’ve already escorted one sprained ankle today, and as I said, I’m kind of thirsty.”
“I’ll try. Are there a lot of crazy drivers like that out here?”
He dropped her hand and let his attention follow the roar of the old car’s engine.
She kind of wished he hadn’t let go, and thought that if something like that happened again, it would be okay with her if he let go much later. Well, not too much later.
Bean and Berry’s coffee, ice cream, and waffle-cone aroma welcomed them through its doors, accompanied by the background of calm chatter. The hiss of an espresso machine drowned out some grunge song Caroline didn’t care for.
Scavenger: A.I.: (Sand Divers, Book Two) Page 31
