Marked

by Stephanie Arehart

  Noah was visibly annoyed with her response. He looked like he wanted to say something else, but instead he shook his head and turned to walk away. Jenna realized how her tone might have upset him, and she felt bad for being so mean when he was clearly just trying to be kind. She needed more kind people in her life at this point. Besides, there was still some chemistry brewing between them.

  “Wait,” she called after him.

  He stopped walking away, but didn’t turn back to face her.

  “Look, Noah. I know you were just trying to help, and I appreciate it. I’m just going through some…things right now. I don’t think you want to get involved with me or my issues. I’m just trying to protect you.”

  “Thanks, but I don’t need protection.” Noah started walking away again.

  Jenna called out, “Do you want to have coffee later?”

  Noah stopped and slowly turned around, walking back toward her. “I’m confused. I thought you were trying to blow me off, and now you’re asking me out? What kind of a game player are you?”

  “I wasn’t trying to blow you off. I’m in a bad mood, but I like you. Can we just start over?”

  Noah relaxed a bit. “Yeah, I’d like that. How about Grind at 4:00 today?”

  Jenna smiled. “See you then.”

  Noah nodded and turned to go back to class just as the masses unleashed into the hallway, onto their next class. Jenna autopiloted her way through the rest of the day. She found herself in a better mood, but still checked out on learning anything new.

  Jenna smiled uncontrollably all the way back to her dorm room. An hour earlier, she’d felt almost zero will to keep living, but now she was excited about something. Even though her own destiny was partially in question, she was still a firm believer in the concept. She had to believe that there was a reason she’d met Noah, a reason that she came to this school and was in a class with him, a reason that she ended up being his lab partner. It was as if they’d known each other in a past life, an instant connection she’d never experienced with anyone else.

  Maybe that’s love?

  *****

  As Jenna sat on her bed, daydreaming about a future with Noah, she realized that she still hadn’t heard from the mark analysis company about Vivian. She pulled out her phone and called the number Mr. Woodall had called her from several days earlier. There was no answer, and no answering service, which seemed strange to her. She went through her emails to retrieve the website information and looked around for a phone number, but there wasn’t one listed.

  She used the rest of her afternoon to listen to music and take a quick shower. During that short time, her mother called twice to check on her. It was clearly overkill, but also greatly appreciated by Jenna, considering the circumstances. She didn’t mention Noah, or her plans for that afternoon, to Judy.

  Her parents had never really encouraged dating, and with everything going on, Jenna knew it would just raise more problems. She didn’t want to chance anything ruining her one good thing. Just as Jenna was almost finished getting ready for her coffee appointment, Vivian made an appearance.

  “Back to whistling and getting gussied up? Barbie’s back!”

  “I’m feeling a little better, so why not?” Jenna whispered.

  “Look, I don’t know where you were all weekend or where you’re headed now, but I think you should be careful.”

  “I was at home with my parents, not like it’s any of your business. I don’t need you worrying about me. I know martial arts, remember?”

  Vivian sighed loudly, obviously frustrated by Jenna’s defensive response.

  Jenna finished her makeup and left the room without another word to Vivian. She entered the coffee shop and scanned the room quickly. Noah wasn’t there yet, but she was still a few minutes early. Spotting an empty table by the front window, she sat down and waited.

  Right on time, Noah walked through the front door, and Jenna waved to get his attention. He casually approached her and sat down. Jenna felt that spark again, deep in her being, but she wasn’t sure if Noah felt the same thing. His demeanor was much more guarded, so she wasn’t sure what feelings he could be hiding.

  “How are you?” he asked.

  “I’m feeling better. How are you?”

  He laughed a little and said he was just fine. The waitress appeared and took their orders.

  “So, Jenna, I’m glad you asked me out.”

  “I asked you out? It’s just coffee.”

  They both laughed and smiled at each other. Jenna was fairly confident that Noah felt something too, but she wasn’t sure what he’d think when he found out she may or may not be a phony. She quickly suppressed those worries and fears and just tried to be happy in the moment, which was easy there with Noah.

  They sat in silence for a minute or so, staring into each other’s eyes. Jenna found herself with a strong urge to confide in Noah, to tell him everything. She had no filter whatsoever. In a matter of minutes, she rambled to reveal all the events of her past week, barring the part about her own questionable mark, finishing just as their coffee arrived.

  After she was done, she paused and waited for his reaction. He took a sip of his coffee and continued to stare at her, not discernibly impacted by her revelations.

  She was impatient enough to ask a bold question. “So, do you think I’m crazy?”

  “Why would I think that?” he answered. “You haven’t done anything wrong or irrational.”

  “I’m potentially involved with a murderer, maybe even an accessory to her crimes.”

  “You had nothing to do with what happened, if anything did actually happen. At this point, you have no real proof of Vivian’s guilt, though I admit it doesn’t look good that she took off already,” he said before offering a solid show of support. “But even if you are involved, I feel like you’re the victim in all this. I get a good feeling about you, Jenna.”

  Jenna processed his words. She’d been so focused on what she herself had been doing wrong that her attention was totally off Vivian, or whoever was actually committing crimes. She could be an innocent victim.

  “What do your parents think?”

  “They’re in denial or something. My mother just tells me to avoid Vivian until the police take care of things. She’s mostly worried about me staying safe myself. Honestly, I don’t know who to trust anymore. I really wish I could learn the truth about Vivian, know for sure what mark she’s supposed to have.”

  “You sure put a lot of faith into the Mark Theory,” he said.

  “It’s how I’ve lived my whole life, Noah. Without it, I don’t know who I am,” she replied sadly.

  Noah sat pensively for a few seconds. Then he looked like an actual light bulb had gone off inside his head. Jenna leaned in to hear his amazing idea.

  “I have this friend, he’s a guy from my hometown. He’s in the Sub. I know he can help you.”

  Based on his tone, Jenna wasn’t convinced. “Okay, what’s the Sub, and how’s it going to help me?”

  “You really have led a sheltered life, haven’t you?”

  Jenna rolled her eyes, acknowledging that he had a point while also demonstrating her displeasure in hearing that direct feedback.

  “Jenna, there’s this whole other world you probably don’t even know about. The Sub’s like an underground movement, most likely where Vivian went to get her medical mark added and her original one removed. Do you know if she has any other marks?”

  “I don’t think so. I haven’t really checked her out naked,” Jenna said with a shiver.

  “Don’t you share a room together?” he asked.

  Jenna ignored that question, deeming it rhetorical. So Noah asked again.

  “Jenna, surely you’ve seen her change clothes once in the past week. Did you notice anything?”

  “Actually, yes, I saw her naked. Just for a second, though. Other than that, I haven’t seen her change clothes at all. She’s the weirdest person ever, Noah.”

  “Okay, hope
fully we can get answers through the Sub,” Noah suggested.

  “How do I reach this Sub? Can we trust your friend?” she inquired.

  “Yeah, he’s trustworthy. His name is Chris, and he’s a technical mark. He’s been involved as long as I can remember, so he probably knows more about all the ins and outs than anyone.”

  “Okay, I’m game. I mean, it can’t be any more dangerous than my current situation.”

  “If you’re serious, I’ll contact him and set up a meeting,” Noah said.

  Jenna nodded and took another sip of her coffee. She was really glad to have Noah helping her with this dangerous mission for truth. It felt wonderful not to feel so alone. Though she still wasn’t confident she could completely trust him, having only just met, she believed it was a great excuse to start some type of relationship.

  Things had moved so quickly to that point. The first day she met him, she thought he was lucky to be her lab partner. Now, a few days later, she was seeking excuses to be around him, hoping he’d be interested in something more.

  They finished their coffee with a little more casual conversation. Jenna hoped they could extend their date for a stroll in the park, but Noah said he had to get back to his studies. He did offer to walk her back to her dorm, though, which she eagerly accepted. On the way, she felt the impulse to hold his hand, but fought it off. Jenna didn’t have any experience around boys, other than academic and sports competitions, but something instinctual was on fire.

  They reached the steps by the front door, and Jenna paused to thank Noah. Before she could formulate the words, he leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips. Butterflies tickled her insides from her tummy all the way to her toes. She forgot anything she’d been planning to say.

  Guess he does feel the same spark.

  She smiled and said goodbye, skipping all the way up to her room. Vivian was inside, sitting at the desk, looking out the window. Her bed looked less messy, like maybe she’d been taking some neatness lessons from Jenna. Normally, Jenna would have been suspicious and questioned Vivian on her change in behavior, but none of that mattered right now. Life was great again.

  Chapter 9

  The next day in Anatomy lab, Noah told her that Chris was ready to meet. They made plans to connect at a bar just off campus that evening. Jenna wasn’t familiar with the place he suggested, but she trusted Noah enough to agree to it. He said it would be darker and less crowded there, so Chris would feel more comfortable.

  Noah met Jenna outside her dorm so they could walk together. It was approaching dusk, the time when everything looked like someone hiding in the shadows waiting to jump out. Autumn was in the air, and leaves were starting to lose their battle for existence.

  Jenna walked nervously, fearful of what she might learn or what direction her life was heading. But her need for knowledge was greater than her fear of the unknown. She was finally at a place where she felt in control of her own future, making choices that could change her path.

  I’m not going to let a mark traitor hold me back.

  Noah must have sensed her apprehension, or maybe he was attracted to her strengthening confidence. He reached out and grasped her hand for the rest of their walk. Their hands felt like puzzle pieces to Jenna, completing her in a way she didn’t know possible.

  They reached the bar just before night officially fell. She let him lead the way, still holding his hand tightly. Once inside, Jenna could see a few neon lights guiding them to the bar area through all the smoky haze.

  Noah wasn’t lying. This place is certainly great for anonymity. Like it was designed for it, really.

  Noah used her hand to navigate Jenna through the crowded bar. His assertiveness ignited those butterflies for her again. He looked back over his shoulder at her, and she gave him a silent confirmation to keep going.

  Back in the corner, almost in pitch blackness, they sat down at a table with a guy who Jenna assumed to be Chris. Noah and the guy shook hands, and said something to each other that she didn’t catch. Chris was a wiry little guy, probably not much taller than Jenna, though it was hard to tell with everyone seated there in the dark. He had wire-framed glasses and wispy, unkempt brown hair. There was no doubt that this guy was a technical mark, even though Jenna couldn’t see the evidence.

  “This is Jenna,” Noah said, introducing her to Chris.

  She extended her hand, eager to get started gathering information. He grasped her hand with a medium grip and shook it.

  “Hi, I’m Chris. I’ve heard so much about you.”

  Jenna blushed and changed the subject. “I can definitely tell you’re a technical mark.”

  “Not sure how to take that,” he said with a laugh. “Actually, I’m a law enforcement mark.”

  Jenna looked confused. “Oh, I thought—”

  “It’s okay. I’ve been altered.”

  “Altered?” she asked.

  “Noah, you weren’t lying. She’s naïve,” Chris told Noah.

  “Just tell me what I need to know,” Jenna said firmly.

  “And spunky,” Chris said. “Altered means that you got your original mark removed, or had a different one added, like a tattoo. I was born with the law enforcement mark, but I chose to have that removed and replaced with a technical mark.”

  Jenna nodded, suppressing an urge to blurt out a million questions.

  Sensing her interest, he continued, “I was sixteen when I did it. It was something I’d thought about for several years; then I finally got the guts and just went for it.”

  Noah interjected, “Chris’s parents were murdered when he was little. He’s adopted like you, Jenna.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. How old were you?”

  “I was three years old,” Chris answered. “My parents were killed by a police officer, and the whole thing was covered up by a bunch of crooked cops. My adoptive parents tried really hard to protect me from finding out, but the story had been all over the news. It was kind of hard to avoid. I grew up hating the very thing I was supposed to become.”

  Jenna felt tears welling up in her eyes. She didn’t even try to fight it, feeling an intense release as drops splashed onto her cheeks.

  “How did you decide what to alter your mark to? I mean, you seem like you’re really a smart guy, yet you were born to protect people. I understand your reasons for wanting to change, but how can you just get a tattoo and become a different person? It doesn’t make sense.”

  Chris turned sullen and cold. “Not everyone buys into the Registry or the Mark Theory.”

  “I see,” Jenna replied. “Well, I guess you’re lucky that you had that choice.”

  “Am I?”

  Jenna realized that she’d accidentally offended Chris, but there was no taking it back. Apologizing would probably only make it worse. Instead, she switched to a new topic. “Is there any way I can find out what mark someone was born with, like a friend?”

  “Honestly, I’m not sure. We can try. But you should know, it could be dangerous, as in life-threatening. People in the Sub don’t mess around. The government’s always on the lookout for anyone viewed as violating the Registry laws. If someone’s caught associating with the Sub, it’s a virtual death sentence.”

  Noah squeezed Jenna’s hand in a show of support, to relieve the tension Chris was building with his intensity.

  “Yeah, I’m willing to take that risk,” she said. “I just really need to know.”

  Chris ordered a few drinks from the waitress, and he continued to talk about the Sub as they drank. Though Jenna remembered the pact she had made with herself never to drink again, she watched Chris and Noah with envy. She felt herself wanting to be like them, enough to chance it on one drink.

  Not even halfway through her first one, Jenna quickly began to feel funny. She didn’t expect to have much tolerance to alcohol on her second attempt, yet the strong immediate reaction surprised her again. After a few minutes, she could no longer understand what Chris was saying. Noah was still there next to her, so
she felt safe. Then everything went black.

  It felt like several minutes passed, but it could have been hours, or days for that matter, before Jenna came to again. When she first opened her eyes, she couldn’t see anything except flashes of light, but she quickly recognized the familiar motion and sounds of riding in a car. Her head pounded, presumably from the alcohol, and she felt a touch of panic as she realized she wasn’t in control of herself or where she was going.

  “Shhh, it’s all right. I’m here,” Noah’s voice was like velvet to her soul, instantly calming her down.

  He was a surrogate for the soothing effect that her father always had on her. She snuggled closer to him, trying to melt into his body. He started to rub her arm softly, which did more to excite her than reduce her anxiety, but she let him continue anyway. Jenna realized they were in the back of a truck or van of some kind, lying on the floor.

  It was just a few minutes until the vehicle came to a stop, and she heard the driver’s door open. No one else moved until the back door of the van flung open. At that cue, Noah nudged her toward the opening, and they climbed out. Then they stood in an empty parking lot, under a dimly lit streetlight.

  “Where are we?” she asked.

  “Lower your voice. We’re going underground,” Noah affirmed.

  Noah and Jenna followed Chris through the deserted parking lot onto a dirt walkway, then through brush. She had a fleeting thought that Chris might be bringing them there to kill her, but she didn’t have time to think that theory all the way through before they arrived at their destination. Chris abruptly stopped and sharply pulled some large lever downward, causing a door in the ground to pull open. It looked to be some kind of storm cellar or bomb shelter. Either way, it was well-hidden, most likely quite intentionally hidden.

  Jenna wasn’t sure how she felt about going down there, but Chris didn’t give her a chance to think about it for long. He quickly disappeared down into the opening, so she followed without further hesitation. Noah was right behind her, with his hand on Jenna’s shoulder. Once inside, they waited to the side while Chris closed the door.