The Awakening
Page 32
you.”Hisvoicewasstern,buthecontinuedwiththesameintensity.“Youarein
danger,morethananyoneelseatBillington.Morethananyoneelseinthe
world. You are, and will forever be, their most prized mark. You’re the one Faironwants.”
Evedidn’tspeak.Shedidn’tbreathe,ormakeasound,ormoveaninch,and
yet in her complete stillness, her mind was racing feverishly. It was all too muchtotakein,andsoshedidnothingbutstareblanklyatthefloor.
“MissKingston,doyouunderstandwhatI’msaying?”
Evepartedherlipsslowly,stillsearchingfortherightwordstosay.“Find
the lair, kill Fairon, and destroy the list,” she said. “That’s what needs to be done.”
“Oh,Iseewhat’sgoingonhere,”thecolonelinterrupted.“Look,thisis our
responsibility,notyours.”
Jasonsneered.“Yeah,andyou’redoingahellofajobofit.”
“You’resoconfident,aren’tyou?”Eriksensnapped.“Youkillone
Interloper,andwhat?Youcantake’emall?Youcantakeon Fairon?Letmetell yourightnow,you can’t. Faironisfarmoredangerousthanyoucanpossibly imagine.IfyougoafterFairon—ifyoufighthim—hewill win.Andhewon’t justkillyou—hewill obliterate you.”
“Thecolonelisright,”Furstinterjected,turningtoEve.“Youdounderstand
that,althoughweagreedtoexchangeinformation,youarenottoactonanyof
this?”
Evedidn’trespond.
“MissKingston,doyouhearme?”
“Yes.”Shefinallylookedbackatthedean.“Thelair.Fairon.Andthelist.”
Again,therewassilence.Eve’sfranticthoughtshadsuddenlycoalescedinto oneclear,concisesentence: Findthelair,killFairon,anddestroythelist. She hadn’tnoticedthattheentireroomwasstaringbackather,Jasonwithworry,
thecolonelwithapprehension,andFurstwithconviction.Weretheystaringata
deadwoman?
Furst brushed the pleats of his trousers and rested his hands on Eve’s and Jason’sbacks.“Well,itappearsyoutwohavebeenbroughtuptospeed,yes?”
hesaidalmostlightheartedly.Hegavetheirshouldersahardsqueezeand
flashedasmile.
“Now,showmethat damnalien.”
***
“HOLYBALLS,”Sanchosquealed,dashingthroughPercy’sdormroomlike
anoverexcitedchild.“Thisplaceisdynamic!”
Eveeyedtheprivatepad—room1502,oneoftheexclusiveluxurysuites
atopthefifteenthfloorofRutherfordTower.Itwasimpressivelylargewitha
marblekitchen,moderndiningnook,andacomfortablelivingroomcomplete
with a state-of-the-art entertainment center and a sumptuous seating area in rich,blackleather.Percy’sbedroomwastowardtheback—locked,ashe
claimed, to keep out the manic pyro—but Eve imagined that it was just as lavishlystyledastherestoftheapartment.AssheandJasongrabbedacouple
of barstools and took their seats, Sancho flung himself onto the plush couch, andPercytookrootinthekitchen.
“Hey,howcomeweneverplaypoker here?”Sanchowhined.
“BecauseIhavenicethings,andI’dpreferifsaidthingsweren’tsetonfire,”
Percyscoffed.“Idesignedthisplacemyself,youknow.Everything’scustom.”
“Youhadyourdormroomcustombuilt?”Eveasked.“Why?”
“Trust me, it was necessary.” He pulled a bottle of booze from his liquor cabinetandraiseditintheair.“Scotch,anyone?”
“Yes, please.”
“Notforyou,Sanch.You’llprobablyuseitaslighterfluid.”
“Thedrinkingcanwait,”Jasoninterjected,turningtowardEve.“Wehavea
lottodiscuss,andthefirstlineofbusinessisyou,Eve.”
Shewrinkledhernose.“Me?”
“Wehavetogetyououtofhere.AwayfromBillington.”
“What?Why?”
“Didn’tyouhearFurst?Faironiscomingfor you.”
“There’s no point in running,” she countered. “If he wants me so badly, he’ll followmewhereverIgo.”
“Look,thisisserious.You’renotsafehere.”
“I’mnotsafe anywhere,Jason.”
“Jesus,Eve,ifyoustayhere,Fairon will find you,” Jason snapped. “He’s not goingtostop,notnowthatheknowsyou’rethestrongestchimerainthe
world.”
Evecringed.SheglancedatPercyandthenatSancho,wholookedbackat
herwithwide,intriguedeyes.
“You’rethestrongestchimerainthe world?”heasked.
EvesighedloudlyandscowledatJason.
“Sorry,”hemuttered,sinkinginhisseat.“Forgottheydidn’tknowalready.”
Percychuckled.“Relax,yoursecret’ssafewithus,”hesaid,swirlingthe
alcoholinhisglass.“Thoughitwasn’tmuchofasecret,atleastnotafter you beattheshitoutofGary.Andwhatdidhesaytoyou,again?Somethingabout
being divine or magical or whatever else? It doesn’t take a genius to put two andtwotogether.”
Despitehiswords,Evefeltlittlerelief.Jasonwasstillwatchingher,hiseyes
pleadingforhertolistentohim—toabandonBillington.Shemethisgaze.
“I’mnotleaving,”sherepeated.“Wefight.”
Percylaughed.“Fightwho?”Hedownedhisdrinkandpouredhimselfa
double.“Haveyouforgottenthatyourenemyhasamajorcamouflage
advantage?”
“God,wedon’tevenknowwhowe’relookingfor,”Jasongrumbled.
“Come on guys, it shouldn’t be that hard to come up with Interloper candidates,right?”SanchoflashedEveanencouragingsmile.“Can’tyoujust
thinkofeveryonewhoreally, reallyhatesyou?”
“Everyonehatesme.Waytonarrowtheplayingfield.”Sherolledhereyes.
“Look,wecan’tfindthelairbecausewedon’tknowwheretosearch.Wecan’t
find the list because we haven’t found the lair. And we can’t find Fairon because,well,”shegrimaced,“heprobablylookslikeeveryoneelse.”
“Well,wecan’tjustdo nothing,”Jasongrowled.
“We’llfocusonself-defense.”Hervoicewasself-assured,butinsideshefelt meek. She turned to Jason. “If they’re watching us—or watching me—they’ll attackagain.Wejusthavetomakesurethatwhentheydo,we’rereadyforit.”
“Butwhataboutus?”Sanchoasked,innocentlypointingtohimselfand
Percy.“Whatarewesupposedtodo?”
Jasonfurrowedhisbrow.“Whatdoyou meanwhatare yousupposedtodo?”
“Wewantinontheaction!”
“Oh,no,”Everebutted.“Youtwocan’tgetinvolved.Thisisreallydangerous.”
“God,Eve,stopbeingsomaternal,”Percyquipped.“Youcan’ttemptuswith
anadventureandthenyankitaway.Don’tbesuchatease.”
“She’sright,guys,”Jasonadded.“Itonlymakessensethatwedothisalone.
We’refaster,we’restronger,wehealbetterthanyoudo—”
“Icandesignweapons!”Sanchoblurted.“Comeon,Jason,youknowIcan!”
Percyslidhisnowemptyglasstowardthesinkandsmirked.“Hehasapoint.
Disasterandmayhemaresortofhisbreadandbutter.”
“Andit’snotjustbombs—Icanbuildanything.WhenIwasthirteenIbuilta
flamethroweroutofsodacansandthedismantledpiecesofmycousin’s
bicycl
e.”
JasonpausedandglancedatEve.
“Wedoneedweapons,”shemumbled.
Hesighed.“Fine.You’rein,Sancho.”
“Dynamic!”Thenewestadditiontotheirteampulledhisscratchpadfromhis sweatshirtpocketandimmediatelybeganflippingthroughdigitaldrafting
plans.
Percyfoldedhisarmsandleanedcasuallyagainstthekitchencounter.“So,
whendowestart?”
Theroombecamequiet.Histhreeguestsfrozeinplace,theireyesdartingback
andforthatoneanother,theirlipsfirmlyshut.
“What?WhatdidIsay?”
Eve and Sancho stared at Jason, silently willing him to say the words they darednotspeak.Hisfaceflushedandheclearedhisthroat.
“Yousee,Percy,wewerekindofthinkingitwouldbe,youknow…justthe
threeofus.”
Percylaughed.“You’rekidding,right?”
Again,noonespoke.Instead,thethreesomegazedawkwardlyatthefloor.
“Oh, God, you’re serious?” he spat. “The pyro gets to join the crew, but I can’t?”
“It’snotpersonal.EveandIhavethegift,Sanchisanengineeringgenius—”
“AndyouthinkI’m—what?Useless?”
Sanchohesitated.“Well,Imean,lookatyourplace.Lookatyourclothes.
Yourlifestyledoesn’texactlyscream‘survivalofthefittest.’”
“Really?AfterI vouchedforyou?God,Sanch,you’rearealscrote.”
“Comeon,Percy,don’tbelikethat,”Evesaid.
“We just don’t want you to get hurt, that’s all,” Jason added. “Having you aroundcouldbealiability.”
“Wow,sonowI’museless andahandicap?”
EveshotJasonaglareandattemptedtocleanuphisverbalmess.“Wejustwant
tomakesurethateveryonecancontributeequally.Ifyou’vegot
somethingtobringtothetable,byallmeansletusknow.”
Percygrumbledtohimself.“IfI’vegotsomethingtobringtothetable,
huh?”Heturnedawayfromhistraitorousfriendsandheadedtohisbedroom,
pouting.
“Wait,Percy—comeback!”Evegroanedassheandtheothershurried
behindhim.
Percyflunghisbedroomdooropen,revealingasleekking-sizebed,
mahoganyfurniture,andcrispwallscoveredinblack-and-whitepaintings.The
heirstoodinthedoorwayandshovedhishandsintothepocketsofhisdesigner
jeans.
“Percy,don’tjustrunawayfromus,”Sanchopleaded.
“I’mnot runningawayfromyouguys. God.”
“Thenwhatareyoudoing?”
Percysmirked,stillfiddlingwithhispockets.Finally,hepulledoutasmall
remotecontrolandhelditinfrontofhim.
“ShowingyouwhatI bringtothetable.”
Withasingleclickoftheremote,Percy’sentirebedroomcametolife.The
cabinetsandshelvesofhiswardrobeanddresserswungopen,revealingsecret compartmentslinedinblackcrushedvelvet.Hispaintingsswiveledoutfrom
thewallsandfoldedintogrooveshiddenwithintheframes,displayingrowsof
drawersdivviedintomultiplesections.
Eve,Jason,andSanchostaredinshockatthenewlyexposedgemsbefore
them:guns.Gunsinallshapesandsizes,gunsineverymakeandmodel,guns
fromeverycountryandera.Percystrolledtowardoneofhishidden
compartmentsandretrievedasmallfirearm,admiringthecraftsmanshipand
gentlystrokingthegrip.
“Motherofballs,”Sanchogasped.Hewanderedaroundtheroom,eagerly
inspectingthefirearmslikeachildinatoystore.
“I’macollector,”Percyexplainedsmugly.“Thesearejustmyfavorites.The
restofthemareatmymom’splacenotfarfromhere.”
“There’s more?”
“Of coursethere’smore.”HelookeddownatSanchoandsneered.“How’smy
lifestylelookingnow?”
“Youown guns?”Jasonasked.“Since when?”
“God,Jason,whatanobservantfriendyouare.I’vebeenshootingsinceI
was twelve.”
“Youcan shoot thesethings?”
“JesusChrist!Younevernoticedmyshootingawards?”Hepointedtoa
stackofmedalsandplaquessittingonhisdesk.
Jasonloweredhisheadsheepishly.“Ithoughttheywereforphotography.”
Evestoodinfrontofthewardrobe,hereyesdancingacrossthefirearms.
“Billingtonallowsyoutokeepthesehere?”
Percywinked.“Whattheydon’tknowwon’thurt’em.”
“Wow.Whatanironicstatement.”
“Canyoushowushowtousethem?”Jasonasked.
“DoesthatmeanI’min?”
“Youare soin,”Sanchogushed.“Right,guys?Imean,he hastobein.”
“Yeah,yeah,”Jasonsmirked,playfullypunchinghisfriendintheshoulder.
“You’rein.”
Percygrinned.“ThenIcandefinitelyteachyouhowtoshoot.And
fortunately,Ihavetheperfectplacetodoit.”
***
ThesoundofgunshotsreverberatedinEve’seardrums.Sheheldherfirearm
withbothhands,herstancesolid,hermindatease.Shestaredathertarget—a
sloppilydrawnInterlopertackedtoahaystack—andimagineditwasreal,thata
monstrousalienstoodbeforeher,hischestheavingandhismouthsalivating.
The hairs on her arms stood on end, and she fired once, twice, again—until before she knew it, her magazine was empty and a thin trail of smoke glided from the barrel of her gun. This was really happening—the gun in her hand, the pull of the trigger, and the ten silver bullets buried in the center of her target.
“You’reanatural,”Percysaid,slappingheracrosstheback.“Butthenagain, youchimerasaregoodat everything,sowhatelseisnew,right?”
ThefoursomehadtraveledtoPercy’s“thirdhome,”ashehaddescribedit—
astatelyCalabasasmansiononlyashortdistancefromcampus.Theyhad
navigated their way through the manor ’s endless backyard to the makeshift gun
range:arowofhaystackscoveredinpaperaliensandtableslinedwithdelicate
trinketsjustwaitingtobeblowntoinsignificantbits.JasonandPercystoodby
Eve’s side, each aiming a firearm at one of the targets, and Sancho sat on a patchofsodbehindthem,fidgetingwithhisscratchpadwithsuchintense
concentrationthathehadmanagedtoignoretheshootingentirely.
“Hey,Percy,”Eveasked,flinchingatthesoundofanothergunshot.“Ifyour
houseissoclosetoschool,whyevenbotherlivingoncampus?”
Percylaughed.“Please,andlivewithmy mom?Noway.Sometimesshe’s
hereforaslongasa week. Ineedmyspace.”Heraisedhisfirearmandeyed histarget.“So,whatareweaimingfor?”
“Hardtosay,”sheanswered.“IsawahordeofcopsshootingatanInterloper
once,andthebulletsdidnothingbutpissthedamnthingoff.”
“Butweknowthekillzones,”Jasonadded,firingatabrokendish.“I’msure
thecopsdidn’t.”
Evesighed.“There’snowaybulletswillbreakthroughtheirbones,andthe
lifesourceisprotectedbytheirteeth.”
“Whatifyouknockthefangsout?”Sanchoadded.“Youknow,likethatold-fashioned carnival game, the one with the giant clown face with the wooden teeth?”
Eveglancedattheheirandsmirked.“That’snotabadidea.Shootouttheteeth,
thendestroythelifesource.Couldwork.”
Percynoddedandloadedhisgun.Evewatchedashetookaimatoneofthe
manyInterloperdrawingsandthenfiredaslewofbulletsintothecenterofthe
fauxvictim’smouth.Histechniquewasfluidandnatural,asiftheweaponwere
simplyanadditionalpartofhishand.Hegrabbedasecondfirearm,now
holding one in each hand, and fired them consecutively, launching a blaze of bulletsintothetargetandrippingthepaperintodanglingshreds.Hereloaded
bothweaponsandfiredagain,fanningthebulletsacrosstheothertargetsuntil
eachdish,vase,andsodacanhadbeenreducedtoshards.Finally,Percyspun
his guns in each hand, twirling them on his trigger fingers before lowering themtohissides.
“Balls,” Sancho whispered from his spot on the ground. “You’re like a cowboy.IsitweirdthatIkindofwanttobeyourightnow?”
“Everyonewantstobeme,”Percyquipped.
JasonturnedtowardSancho.“Whatthehellareyoudoingbackthere
anyway?Shouldn’tyoubeshootingwithus?”
“Idon’tneedpractice.I’vekilledplentyofaliensinmyday.”
“Hologamesdon’tcount,Sanch.”
SanchoscowledatPercyandcontinued.“I’mdoingresearch—lookingup ouroldfriendGary.Apparently,hewentmissingsixmonthsago.”
Eveperkedherheadup.“Missing?”
“Yeah,I’mreadinganarticleallaboutit.”Hewavedhishandoverhis
scratchpad,projectinganimageofthenewsheadline.“Thepolicefoundbones
andeverything—withGary’sDNA.”
“Goddamn,”Percymuttered.
“Theweirdestpartis,theguyjustmiraculouslyreappearedafewdayslater.
The DNA lab was accused of evidence tampering. Everyone there lost their jobs.”
“Holy shit,”Jasonmuttered.“Thatmeans—”
“TherealGaryisdead.”Evecrossedherarms,herbodysuddenlytense.
“ThatInterloperhadbeenposingashimforthelastsixmonths.”
“Whoknowshowmanyothersthey’vedonethisto?”Jasongrowled.
“MarshallWoodgatewasn’tthefirsthumanthey’vekilled.They’vebeen