The Restrainers
by Lauren M. Flauding
© 2016 by Lauren M. Flauding
Blurtery Publishing
All characters and events in this book are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the author.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
The Halting preview
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 1
"Mari, jump on to the roof of the next building."
There is only a slight hesitation as I run to the edge of the roof I'm on and push off into the open air, stretching my body to cover the distance between the two rooftops: about 20 feet. I bring my legs up as I near the building, landing hard on my feet and rolling forward until I'm able to get up and start running again. I open my palm and glance at the face of the timer wrapped around my hand. I only have 3 minutes left.
The past six months of grueling drills and painful exercises is culminating in this 4 and a half minute test. If I pass, I'll officially be a Restrainer. These months have been the most physically challenging of my life, and the emotional strain has added to the unpleasantness of the experience. I haven't seen my mother or Daniel since the night I escaped the Dissenter base. I haven't seen Miles since he was dragged out of the control tower by three Restrainers, on his way to prison. I shudder as I think about what they might be doing to him in the Governor's "special facility."
Stop thinking about Miles. You have to focus.
I come to an apparatus mounted on the building with several long cables attached to it.
"Mari, rappel down the side of the building and enter through the 12th story window."
I'm careful to make the command as precise as I can. I know they're watching my every move. I grab one of the cables and ease myself over the edge of the building, sliding down the cord as I descend along the wall. The building is 20 stories and I count down until I get to the 12th. The window, as expected, is closed. I kick off of the wall and slam my feet into the glass. The window shatters and I fall into a dark room. I've got blood on my hands and face, but I can't assess my injuries. I'm running out of time.
I stumble across the room, pull open the door, and am confronted by a hallway of billowing flames. I slam the door shut, nearly choking on the smoke that has poured into the room. Great. What now? My uniform is flammable, and the fire barricades me from accessing the rest of the building.
My mind flits back to the numerous arguments I've had with my handler, Clint.
"What are you waiting for?" He would ask.
"I'm looking for the best strategy."
"Mari, you don't need to do anything," he would reply, throwing his hands up in exasperation. "Just tell the Amplifier your goal, and it will take care of it."
I glance around the dim room until I spot something useful. The carpet.
"Mari, find out a way to make it through the fire."
I pry up a large section of the thin carpet and wrap it around me, then open the door and dive to the ground, rolling underneath the scorching flames. I'm sweating inside my carpeted cocoon as I roll blindly across the floor, but after a few seconds I hit something solid — probably a wall. I quickly shake myself out of the remains of the burning carpet and take off down another hallway, away from the fire. The sleeve on my right arm is smoking.
I round a corner and almost run straight into a massive spike jutting out from the wall. Peering down the tall corridor, I take in the rows and rows of sharp rods shooting out and then retracting back into the walls, alternating from each side every couple seconds. Each set consists of five spikes and the rows are about a foot apart. There's a fraction of a second when the spikes are retracted on both sides where I might be able to maneuver through, but even if I somehow avoid getting impaled, waiting for the rods to recede with each step forward would take way too much time. But if I can't go through, maybe I can go over.
"Mari, climb up and run on top of the spikes to the end of the hall."
I grab on to the set of spikes in front of me, pull myself up to the highest one and begin running. The ceiling is high enough that I only have to crouch down a little bit as I run nimbly on top of the sharp instruments. When I feel them start to retract in to the wall, I leap over to the other side to catch the sets of spikes that are just shooting out. It's a little nerve-wracking to be running on these thin poles that are constantly shifting beneath me, but as long as I keep forward momentum and step lightly I don't lose my balance.
I reach the end of the spikes and nearly fall off the last one. I jump to the floor and tumble a little before I can get to my feet again and continue on to my destination. I run down several more hallways until I'm almost in the center of the building. I look at the timer in my palm again. 54 seconds. At the end of the last hallway there are three doors. I don't have enough time to pick the wrong one.
"Mari, figure out the correct door."
There's smoke seeping out from underneath the third door, and the second door is rattling, so I open the first one. At first I think I've chosen the wrong door, but then I catch a glimpse of the receptacle behind the large man preparing to attack me.
"Mari, evade your opponent and get to the receptacle."
I take a few steps into the room as the man rushes toward me. Just as he's reaching out, possibly to strangle me, I drop to the floor and he trips over me, flying out the door. I get to my feet and run to the receptacle. I've almost made it to the edge of the receptacle when two powerful hands grab my shoulders and wrench me backward. The man recovered much faster than I thought he would. I writhe to try to free myself, but his grip is secure. He drags me back a few feet then turns me and starts pushing toward a wall, apparently in an attempt to smash me against it, but it's the best maneuver I could hope for.
"Mari, run up the wall and flip over your aggressor."
The man tries to change course when he hears my command, but it's too late. Using him as leverage, I run up the wall and the momentum is enough to propel me over the man, bending his arms back at an awkward angle and forcing him to release me. I complete a back flip and land on my feet. I look at the timer in my hand. 3 seconds.
I race over to the receptacle while prying the timer off of my hand. I have fractions of a second left as I slam the timer into a small slot and collapse next to the receptacle. A metallic voice fills the room.
"Explosive contained. Testing complete."
A door opens on the opposite side of the room. I look up and see my assessors and Governor Plenaris approaching. I'm breathing hard. Too hard. I close my eyes and concentrate on steadying my breathing. I have to be stronger if I'm going to make this work.
Chapter 2
"Well, Miss Quillen, you barely passed
," Governor Plenaris observes, sneering. "I suppose that's to be expected of the youngest person to attempt the course."
I should probably be offended, but I'm actually pretty ecstatic. I can't believe I passed. The Governor, my handler Clint, and two other Restrainers are dismantling the receptacle.
"Hey, good job."
I whip around to see the large man who had previously attacked me walking forward and massaging his wrist.
"Uh, thanks," I reply awkwardly. It's weird to be making small talk with the man who was just trying to strangle me.
"You did things a lot differently than the others," he comments, studying me with some interest.
I don't know how to respond. Luckily, Clint barges into our conversation.
"Yeah, Mari always insists on finding the least conventional way of completing a task," he interjects, slapping me so hard on the back that I almost fall over. "She's made my life a whole lot more difficult, that's for sure."
I force a smile. Clint means well, I know I've been a challenge for him these past six months during my training, and he's helped me a lot. He's an attractive guy, in his late 20s with sandy hair and a nice smile, but his features don't make up for the fact that he's a real big jerk.
"Quillen," he hisses, pulling me aside, "you almost gave me a heart attack. Do you know how bad this would have made me look if you hadn't passed?"
"Forgive me, Clint," I respond sarcastically, "for not considering your reputation as I was almost burned, skewered, and pounded to death."
"Don't forget blown up."
"What do you mean?"
"That timer you were wearing was a bomb. If you hadn't made it in time, you would have lost more than just your chance to be a Restrainer.”
"Why didn't you tell me before?"
"Fear of death should never be an incentive for completing an assignment."
"I'd say that's the best incentive ... "
"Regardless, you passed, you're still alive, good for you," Clint says flatly. "But," he adds, handing me an Adhesive, "I want you to watch this so you can see all the ways you could have done better."
I take the small patch and put it in the pocket of my uniform. Clint stares at me expectantly.
"Now?" I ask.
"Yes," he says sharply. "Go find a room to watch it while we're finishing up here, and then report back to me."
I reluctantly walk out to find an empty room. What's the point? I already passed the test, is he asking me to watch this just to make feel bad? If that was his plan, it's not going to work. I'm euphoric.
These past six months have been the most demanding of my life - I've never worked so hard. Moments after I agreed to become a Restrainer that night in the control tower, Governor Plenaris sent me to the implantation wing in the hospital where I received my enhanced Amplifier as well as a transmitter, a tiny chip inserted right next to the Amplifier that allows me to use Amplification outside of the Community's boundary. It was almost the same procedure as when I got Amplified the first time. Then I was immediately shipped off to a remote location south of the Community to train. It was really lonely down there. There were only 5 other people and their handlers in the entire facility, and they wanted nothing to do with me.
Somehow, they all knew who I was and how I was allowed to become a Restrainer under special circumstances and they hated that. It didn't help that I was far younger than everyone else there. Clint would instruct me, but outside of training hours he'd ditch me to go hang out with the others. I'd use that time alone to get in extra practice and exercise. I didn't go there to make friends, but sometimes it was really depressing. I'm just glad it's over. I know it's not going to get any easier, but at least I'm finally moving forward.
I walk into an empty room and sit in a corner on the floor. It feels good to rest my body. I feel like I could fall asleep here in this corner, and I probably would if the Governor wasn’t a few rooms away. I couldn't risk him hearing the things I say in my sleep. I peel the backing off of the Adhesive and apply it to my temple. Immediately I'm surrounded with images from the roof I was on several minutes ago.
I watch a succession of several people going through the course. There are slight variations between them, but it's all pretty much the same. They run across the rooftops, then use their Amplifiers to scale down the side of the building and enter through the 12th story window. They locate and activate the fire alarm to extinguish the flames. They follow an intricate pattern to run, jump, twist, and swing through the sets of spikes. They attack the large man in different ways, but he always ends up unconscious on the floor. They all insert their timers into the receptacle with at least 30 seconds to spare.
Now I know the message that Clint is indirectly trying to give me, one that's become all too familiar to me over the past few years. I stand out. I'm different. If I'm going to survive as a Restrainer, I have to blend in.
_______
There are three of us being inducted into the Restrainer Corps today. The ceremony is short and simple, but I can't help feeling nervous. We're assembled in the huge ballroom at the Governor's mansion. The last time I was here was when I was stealing Digestion capsules. It feels a lot different having been invited here, but I'm almost just as scared.
The room is filled with Restrainers and a handful of soldiers. I automatically look for Alia among the soldiers, then cringe as I remember for the millionth time that she was one of the few taken captive by the North. I don't even know if she's alive anymore. I was cut off from everything during my training, so I have no idea what's been happening in the Community lately.
The Governor signals that it's time for the ceremony to begin. The sea of Restrainers splits in two, leaving an aisle up the middle leading to the Governor and three podiums at the front. I walk slowly up the aisle with the other two inductees, almost like the ancient wedding films we used to watch in school. I notice quite a few nasty glares from the other Restrainers. Seems like almost everyone here is unhappy about my induction.
We reach the front and each take our places behind a podium. I glance down and see a copy of The Equality Movement and The Restrainer Oath. Clint briefed me on what would happen during the induction. The Governor is saying something, but I'm not listening. I'm feverishly reading through the words of the Oath.
A Restrainer comes forward and removes the Oath from each of the podiums. Governor Plenaris instructs the first inductee on the procedure. Then the tall man gives himself the command.
"James, recite The Restrainer Oath."
I listen carefully to the words. He finishes, and the Governor moves on to the woman next to me.
"Monique, recite The Restrainer Oath."
I'm sweating. I shouldn't be sweating. I can't let my agitation show.
"Marianna Quillen," the Governor announces. I have to refrain from twitching at the sound of his voice. "Please place your left hand on the Movement and raise your right hand to take the Oath."
I steady my hands as they move to the correct positions. I look out at the room full of Restrainers and swallow hard. After what seems like hours, I finally open my mouth.
"Mari, recite The Restrainer Oath."
The words come automatically.
"I swear, upon removal of my Amplifier, to do everything within my power to serve the Community, protect the Governor, and uphold the Equality Movement."
The first of many lies I'll utter during my time as a Restrainer.
Chapter 3
I hesitate outside of Adrian's door. We haven't spoken in almost a year, and we haven't been on good terms for even longer. Plus, he thinks I'm dead. He thinks we're all dead; that my mother, Daniel, and I were all killed when our house exploded — the explosion that my mom planned to help her and Daniel escape the suspicion of the Restrainers.
What will he do when he sees me? Will he be mad? Happy? Relieved? Shocked? I would have tried to see him sooner, but it was impossible with Restrainer training and I've only been on duty in the city for a few days. I'm in between
my patrols at the Mall-cruiser station, and this is the first day I've had enough free time to try and see Adrian.
Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, I think. What would I do if my estranged sister who was supposed to be dead suddenly showed up at my door? I'd probably think I was going crazy. Or at the very least, a raw, emotional wound would suddenly be reopened. I'll do this another time, I think, turning to leave, but then the door opens, and I'm face to face with Adrian.
"Mari?" He exclaims. His expression is unreadable. I stare at my older brother. He still looks huge and muscular, but he seems weak somehow, like underneath all that bulk he doesn't have the strength or willpower to do anything. He has dark circles under his eyes and he looks a lot older than when I last saw him.
I'm still searching for the appropriate words to come to my mind when he surges forward and envelops me with his massive arms. I return the hug tentatively at first, then feel myself melting into his embrace, letting months of pent up stress and pain drain out of my body. Tears are streaming down my face. When I pull away, I see that Adrian is crying too. He pulls me into his apartment.
"Mari, how did you ... ? I ... I don't understand ... " he stammers, looking at me incredulously.
"I was knocked unconscious in the explosion and the Dissenters found me and took me prisoner," I say, repeating the lie that Miles told the Governor in order to protect me, the lie that has been circulating among the Restrainers.
"How did you escape?" Adrian asks.
"The night the North sent in the robots, the Dissenters got a little frantic and decided to move me to another location. Along the way, the transport was overturned by some robots, and in the chaos I was able to get away." I wince as I realize I'm getting a little too good at lying.
"What about mom and Daniel?" He ventures hopefully.
I look down at my stunted finger. I guess Adrian thinks my silence means that they're dead, which is the best I could hope for right now. I can't bring myself to lie openly to him about mom and Daniel, but I can't very well tell him that they're Dissenters either. He's my brother, but I don't know if he can be trusted.
The Restrainers: Third Book in The Amplified Series Page 1
