by Strauss, Lee
Jabez carved the roast in the candlelight. The room felt festive and cozy and I decided to try to enjoy the moment.
“Thanks,” I said as Jabez laid the slice of meat on my plate. I didn’t know if it was real meat, like we had on the commune, or lab-grown meat like we ate back at Sol City. I was famished and decided I didn’t care.
Table chatter was non-existent as everyone dug in, thankful for a good meal, something most of us never took for granted anymore.
“This is amazing,” Noah said, taking another spoonful of mashed potatoes and gravy. “I feel like I died and gone to heaven.”
Mary smiled at him. “Thanks.”
I scowled and stared into my lap.
True to form, Taylor added to the obvious tension. “Zoe tells me you’re planning on leaving tomorrow.”
Noah’s eyes narrowed, challenging me. “When did you talk to him?”
“This afternoon. In the gym. He thinks we should go to Arizona. Because of the caves.” I leveled my gaze on Taylor, angry that he chose this moment to bring it up. I’d planned on talking to Noah after the meal.
“I’ve done some research,” Taylor said, seemingly oblivious to the tension he repeatedly caused. “Cyber spies and satellite probes can’t penetrate cave walls. There’s a whole system of caves in the desert. A great place to get off the grid. Plus, it’s warm.”
“Warm’s a bonus,” I said lightly.
Noah set his fork down. “Even if we did decide to go to Arizona, and I’m not saying we are, how would we get there from here without getting stopped by the authorities?”
“I haven’t exactly worked that one out,” Taylor said.
Hannah sat back in her chair and held her stomach.
“Are you all right?” Taylor asked her.
“I’m not feeling that great.”
My stomach twisted. “Actually, I’m not feeling a hundred percent, either.”
Rebecca smirked. “Maybe you and Hannah have come down with the same thing.”
“Rebecca!” Hannah said.
Rebecca didn’t know that I knew Hannah felt ill because she was in the first trimester of pregnancy.
I glared back at her. “I can assure you that we have not.”
Hannah covered her face with her hands, and I felt bad that I’d lashed out.
“Dessert?” Mary said, diffusing the awkwardness.
Hannah was the only one who refused, making it easy for Mary to cut the pie into six equal pieces.
“Jabez and I are going to Mass after dinner, if you want to come.” Mary addressed us all but her eyes remained on Noah.
Noah nodded. “I’d like that.”
“But you’re not Catholic,” I said. Last thing I wanted was for them to bond over religion. I remembered how Mary had kissed Noah earlier and I didn’t want any more of that to happen before we left.
“It’s the same God,” Noah said. “I’m okay with it.”
“Can we go?” Hannah asked Taylor.
“Really? You want to go to a Catholic church?”
“Sure, why not? I think we need all the help we can get. Besides, it’s Christmas Eve.”
The tenderness that spread across Taylor’s face as he studied his sister squished my heart. It reminded me of my own lost brother. I missed Liam so much.
“Sure,” Taylor said. He looked at Mary. “It’s only an hour, right?” She nodded.
Rebecca huffed.
“Are you coming?” Hannah asked her.
“I guess so. It’s not like I’m going to stay here by myself.”
I swallowed. “I am.”
Noah stared at me. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?” I stood and tossed my napkin on the table. My heart thrummed against my ribs, and I gave into the irrational anger I felt. “What difference is it going to make if I’m alone or not? Nothing’s going to happen here.”
I stormed out and down the hall, surprised when I heard footsteps follow me. Noah grabbed my arm.
“What’s gotten into you? It’s Christmas Eve. Would it kill you to be civil?”
“What do you care? It’s not like we’re together anymore.” I shot daggers at him with my look. “I heard what you said to Mary this morning. Why don’t you just go back to LA? I won’t hold it against you. You don’t owe me anything anymore.”
Noah stared hard at me with a haunted glint in his eyes. “There’s a price on my head, Zoe. I can’t go home without endangering my family.”
When he said that, I knew he’d thought about it. I knew he wished he could go, but he was trapped. Because of me. Because of what he’d done for me.
“Then maybe I should.”
Noah’s eyes widened in alarm. “Go back to Sol City? No way. Not after everything we’ve done to get you out of there. Are you nuts?”
“Yes, I am. I’m out of my mind, can’t you tell? You of all people should know.”
“I can’t talk to you when you’re like this.” Noah back stepped with his hands up. Like he was surrendering. Like he was giving up. “We’ll talk when I get back.”
Chapter 34
I busied myself with cleaning up the dishes while the others got ready to go—vying for the bathroom, wrestling with jackets and boots, waiting in the entrance for Rebecca, the reluctant Catholic Mass attendee. I kept my head down and eyes averted. I didn’t want to catch anyone’s gaze, especially Noah’s.
A swirl of energy sucked out of the room when they left. I sighed, with a sense of relief. I needed some time alone in the quiet of the empty factory. My own thoughts were enough to torment me. I didn’t need anyone else’s judgmental glares and harsh words.
I thrust my hands in warm, soapy water, enjoying an odd sense of comfort as the suds passed between my fingers. I scrubbed the pots and counter-tops, dried dishes and put away left-over food like my life depended on it.
When the kitchen and living area was cleaned up, I sat on the sofa, facing the TV. I couldn’t bring myself to turn it on. I didn’t think I could bear a warm-hearted Christmas tale, especially the family-centric ones.
I didn’t have a family anymore. I couldn’t even consider Noah family.
The quiet grew loud. Creaking noises you didn’t really notice when there were other people around. Just the normal sounds of a building contracting in cold weather.
And it was bitterly cold. The others had to be desperate for spiritual encouragement to face it.
The wind whipped against the windows, and I swore one of the panes in the upper floor blew out, the echo of smashing glass reaching me.
I was completely spooked and moved slowly to the front entry door to make sure it was locked. I checked the time and guessed the others would be back in half an hour, forty-five minutes if you included time for them to walk back from the church. That suddenly felt like forever.
My legs shivered with nervous jitters and I raced down the hall to the gym. I’d pass the time beating the hell out of the kicking bag.
I shuddered to a stop at the doorway. The kicking bags hung in the shadows, looking like bodies hanging by the neck from nooses. My heart stuttered.
“Lights on!”
I bent over to catch my breath. What was the matter with me? There was nothing here that wasn’t present when the others were home. I tried to pretend that Noah and Jabez were watching a boxing match on the TV in the living area, that it was the middle of the day, that my time here was just a continuation from my work out earlier in the afternoon.
I did a set of kicks and punches until I worked up a sweat. I took a drink of water then stared at the ring. I’d always wanted to try out the virtual trainer and since we were leaving tomorrow, now would be my only chance. I turned on the panel and applied the sensors to my body the way I remembered Noah doing it. I lifted the ropes and climbed into the ring.
“Mickey,” I said. “Novice.”
The virtual trainer appeared like magic in front of me, all buff and ready to fight.
“Go easy on me
, Mic,” I said.
He corrected my fighting stance, and I had to keep from laughing. I wasn’t used to taking instructions from a hologram.
“Bend your knees,” he said. I almost couldn’t hear the robotic tone in his voice. “Keep a spring in your legs”
I did as instructed and pulled my fists up close to my face. I tested out a right jab, then a left. Mickey dodged.
“Come on, Mickey,” I said, with a lilt of laughter in my voice. “Fight back.”
He threw an easy jab to my gut, his hand disappearing into my body.
“Weird.” I wondered if I’d actually feel the hit if I increased the program to intermediate. Did I actually want to feel his punches to my stomach? Then I laughed. Jabez obviously had started Noah on intermediate.
Something caught my peripheral vision. I turned expecting to see Jabez or Noah, or maybe even Taylor.
Not this. My breath hitched.
Grant’s sidekick, Mara the cyborg, stood in the doorway. The light glinted off her cyborg forearms stretched out in front of her. She had a gun pointed at me.
“Found you.”
I instinctively dropped to the mat, and rolled off the edge of the ring just as the gun sounded. I thought she was dead!
My heart pounded, and my breath accelerated like a little rabbit’s. Someone turned me in. Who had betrayed me?
“Lights off!” I shouted.
I held my breath, curled up under the ring. A small beam of light from her ComRing skittered across the floor.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
Then why had she shot at me?
“I’m here for your grandfather. He’s concerned about your safety. He wants you to come home.”
The light beam grew closer, and I dug my heels into the floor pushing myself deeper into the center of the underside of the ring.
“Zoe?” she said, her voice smooth like she was addressing a small child.
I rolled the rest of the way to the opposite side of the ring.
Her soft steps grew closer. “You must know you can’t beat me.”
I exited the underside of the ring, just as her ComRing light passed under it. Mara was on the other side. She didn’t know where I was for certain. I crawled toward the door, staying away from the cone of light that shone into the gym.
I was close enough to make a dash for it. Could I make it through the door without getting shot?
“Your new hairdo looks good, by the way. Short and dark suits you.”
I chanced it, dashing madly. The gun went off, and I flinched. I turned left down the hall, away from the living area. I didn’t know when the others would return and I couldn’t risk anyone getting hurt because of me.
I pushed through the first door into the kitchen. It was dark, dusty and cold. I grabbed a carving knife from the knife rack and crouched down behind the large, stainless steel freezer. My breath shot out in short, ghostly puffs. I cupped my hands over my mouth.
The door squeaked as Mara entered the kitchen, her ComRing light reflecting dully off the metal surfaces. She approached, almost perpendicular to where I hid. I sprung to my feet and whipped the blade at her, hitting a crease in the cyborg material just as the gun went off again. The blade hit the circuitry creating a show of bluish zapping. She dropped the gun and it slid under the cabinetry.
Mara cursed.
And so did I. The bullet had grazed my left bicep. I grabbed the wound with my hand, a gush of warm liquid squishing in between my fingers.
Mara stepped toward me, and I was trapped. Her left eye glowed red, an electronic camera, replacing the eye that was shot at the commune. The ray scanned me.
“Your vital signs are strong,” she said. Her right cyborg arm hung limply, but she reached for me with her good arm.
My instinct was to shrink back. Then I heard Mary’s voice in my head. Step into your attacker.
Despite the excruciating pain and my mind-numbing fear, I forced myself to do it. I stepped toward Mara and blocked her arm, screaming from the pain that scorched down my injured limb. I flattened my right fist and like a cobra, I struck her sharply in the throat.
Mara folded over, grabbing at her neck. I ran out of the kitchen toward the factory.
Blood dripped from my wound, like red breadcrumbs for the evil witch to follow. I pulled off my shirt and pressed it to my arm as I ran. The factory door was stiff from lack of use, but I tugged on it with all my strength. It inched open enough for me to slip through. Mara came around the corner in time to see me go in.
I didn’t bother trying to shut the door after me. I needed to find a place to hide.
The factory hadn’t seen heat in months. It was like a massive walk-in freezer. Ice had built up on the inside of the windows and a skim of frost covered the machinery.
I shivered in my bra as I searched for a place to hide. I crouched behind a broad, stout piece of machinery.
And waited.
Was this how I was to die? Did Grandpa V really see me as that big a threat? Did he hate me that much?
My breathing was deep and erratic. I tried to calm myself, quiet my breaths. I held back a sob. If Mara was going to kill me, I was going to make her work for it.
My arm throbbed with pulsing, searing pain. I shivered with unimaginable chills.
“Zoe?” Mara called out sinisterly sweet.
I stiffened.
I peeked around the machine in time to see her bionic legs in action as she jumped to the top of a cabinet twice her height. From there she had a full view of the room.
She could see me.
I dashed away anyway, knowing it was hopeless. She pounced off the cabinet and shouted, “Stop!”
I didn’t want to die. If I stopped, maybe she’d show mercy. I raised my uninjured, goose-pimpled arm. “G-grandpa w-wants me a-alive.”
Mara snickered. “Actually, he doesn’t. You’re a nuisance and you know too much.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Too bad.”
I turned to face her and heard the shot.
I waited for the burst of pain or the blackness of death, but only shuddered in shock as I stood there unwounded.
Mara dropped to the ground, dead, this time for good. Blood pooled around her head where part of her skull was missing.
Noah stood behind her, arms held out, gripping his gun with both hands. He tossed it to the floor and ran to me. “Zoe, oh my God! Are you all right?”
“My arm,” I whimpered through chattering teeth.
He pulled off his coat and covered me, gently embracing me. He kissed my head, and I burst into tears. “You’re okay,” he said. “I got you.”
Then he cupped my chin and stared hard into my eyes. His lips landed on mine, and he kissed me passionately like we both would die if he didn’t.
Chapter 35
Noah led me around the cold body of agent Mara, scooping to pick his gun up on our way out. I still couldn’t’ believe that he’d found me, that he’d saved me from certain death. “How did you know?” I asked.
“I looked for you when we got back, and saw this.” He pointed to the blood spots on the floor. His eyes caught mine. “My heart almost stopped. I’m so glad I got there in time.”
“Me, too.”
The others must’ve heard the blast. They reached us just as we entered the hall.
“Quick, Mary,” Noah said. “Zoe’s been injured.”
Mary peeked under Noah’s coat and took in my blood soaked shirt wrapped around my arm, then jumped up to retrieve her first-aid kit.
“What happened?” Jabez asked
“She’s been shot.” Noah lifted me into his arms and carried me back to the living area.
“It’s just a flesh wound,” I said, but I couldn’t keep the pain out of my voice.
“Who shot her?” Taylor asked, equally alarmed.
“One of the cyborg agents.”
“From the commune attack?” Taylor raised his arms. “Seriously, they didn’t follow us. We�
��re clean.”
“I don’t know how she found us. It doesn’t matter now. All that matters is that Zoe and I get out of here asap.”
“We’re going with you,” Taylor said. Then he turned to Rebecca. “Get Zoe her clothes.” For once Rebecca did something without rolling her eyes and huffing. She looked thoroughly freaked out.
Noah stared at him. “I don’t even know where we’re going or how we’re getting there.”
“I told you,” Taylor said, like we were stupid. “Arizona.”
Mary cleaned my wound and I couldn’t help wincing. “Sorry, I should’ve warned you it was going to hurt.” She taped gauze over it. “It really should be stitched, but that will take more time than I think you have.”
Noah caught her eyes. “I’m sorry, but you guys might be getting unwelcomed company soon.”
Mary’s gaze darted to Jabez. They stared at each other like they were communicating telepathically.
“Is it time for Operation Red Bird?” Mary asked.
Jabez nodded. “I think so.”
Rebecca arrived with a shirt and sweater. Noah helped me ease into them. It was like the old Noah was back. The one who obsessed over me and possessed me. The one who loved me.
“What’s Operation Red Bird?” I asked.
They ignored my question.
“We’re seven people here,” Mary said, like there wasn’t anyone else in the room.
“Zoe and Rebecca are like the weight of one person,” Jabez answered. “I think it’ll be okay.”
Mary closed up the first-aid kit. “It’s a risk. We could just do four.”
Jabez’s eyes flickered to Hannah. She sat primly on the collapsible chair, her face pale and etched in worry. “No,” Jabez said, his eyes still on her. “We all go or none at all.”
“What are you talking about?” Noah asked, barely keeping the panic out of his voice. “Do you know a way out of here that we don’t? Now would be a good time to tell us.”
Mary and Jabez locked eyes again.
“Okay, let’s do it,” she said. Then to us, “Take one small bag, bare necessities only, and I mean bare necessities.”
We all scrambled for our things. Noah and Taylor double checked that the dead bolt lock on the front door was secured.
