He’s silent. I avoid looking at him as I shuffle to the door and leave without another word.
In my room, I dress to leave the house then rush to the front door to get out for some much-needed fresh air.
“Where are you running off to?” Luke’s calm inquiry is the opposite of his angered demeanor. He pulls the front door closed behind me and nods to his left for me to follow him. The afternoon is warming, but the wind is still, keeping down the dust.
“Oh no,” I sing. “What happened?”
“It’s true,” he bursts, fist slamming against his thigh. “Everything has been pointless,” he hisses through his teeth. “Everything we’ve given and sacrificed, Kylie. It was all for nothing.
We leave the house and head in the direction of the empty, running track. Luke may need to run off his rage. “Bring it down a notch, Luke. Besides confirming what Lafren said, did they say why?”
He releases a sigh that deflates his chest and shakes his bowing head. “They thanked us and said the efforts put forth to implement change weren’t enough. They thought things wouldn’t get as bad as they did so quickly.”
I shrug. “But what’s so bad? These people have been dying and killing each other since before we were born.”
“We aren’t the only ones here like us,” he states.
Wide-eyed and high-pitched, I squeal, “They said that too?” Though the news is shocking, it actually makes sense. In order to make a change as big as they require, it’ll take more than Luke and me.
“They said that none of us know about each other, but even though they told me, it still won’t educate me about who else is mixed as we are. Our purpose with the Vojin was greater than what we thought. What they originally wanted to do was show that peace could exist after the destruction. That if they used Creations—the people the entire planet envies and looks up to—to finally show feelings of understanding and love, rather than our heartless dispositions, then anyone could. This could enforce a change among mankind.” He makes air quotes as he says, “Happier people make a healthier planet.” He sighs again, further calming down. “They’ve discovered this is a bust, so they’ve decided to start over. Not all their implants will be destroyed, but not all of us will have the privilege of remaining.”
“They’re just going to destroy our home, and we are just going to stand by and let them do it?” I snap.
“Yes, and this is not our home,” he mocks condescendingly.
“Luke, you love it here as much as I do. We were born here, and we thought we would live here forever. This is our home, and we never thought about leaving. Now we are going to be forced out or killed. And by the Vojin of all beings. I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to stand by and watch those disgusting Zombies turn all these people into the walking dead, nor will I lay down at the hands of the Vojin and let them kill me.”
Luke’s silent for a while. We’ve made it to the empty track. Before I can offer to run off the anger, Luke grunts, and it turns into a roar as he squats down. I overhear his whisper, “Everything that I gave up for them. Everyone. All for nothing.”
I squat beside him and rub his back. “We can’t take it back, Luke. We can’t return and decide not to go through with it. It’s what we were implanted for. It’s our purpose,” I tell him.
“No, Ky,” he yells again. “This,” he gestures his open hands out around him. “This is what we were born for. What we,” he points to me and himself, “were made for, as Creations. We were made first, before they mixed us.”
“Stop yelling,” I cut him off again. “I get it.”
He breathes, calming down. “Ky,” he says as he lets it go. “I’m sorry, but if you knew the extent of it. We were supposed to help bring who we thought were our kind to leadership. A species our parents stood behind and risked their lives for. We were to help them rise above being the watchers and protectors, no longer be number two but number one. Now what we are is void. What we thought was our reason no longer exists.”
“Luke, there’s no change, like you said, we have put our lives in this. Like Lafren told me—all we can do is enjoy this while we can. Before they destroy it.”
He drags his hand down his chin as anger flashes in his eyes. “That’s what they want you to believe. There’s always more than one option. And yes, I will enjoy it.” He steps closer and whispers, “This is our home. We, like everyone else who lives here, do not want it to be destroyed again. We still have our mission. And what I will enjoy is making sure theirs doesn’t happen, making sure that the way things are… maintains.” Promise lies deep in his eyes. The unyielding tone in his voice assures every word.
“Luke, you cannot be saying what I think you are.”
He pulls on his goggles. With steady eyes and his mouth in a firm line, he doesn’t respond. His candid expression confirms my assumption. He takes off on the track.
Luke’s going to take on the Vojin. That’s worse than someone waging war with The America and fighting thousands of Creations. Though I know it’s an impossible task, I’ll fight by his side, but Luke has to know this is insane.
Two Creations up against probably a million Vojin aliens.
The Vojin have infested the world with Zombies as the start of a threat, and there are a lot of them, with some being mixed Creations. Soon enough, it will be more of them than there are of us. After the threat is reality, after the entire Earth is covered in Zombies… then what?
Our bodies were born Creations, and because of our parents, we are mixed; alien and an immunotoxin, genetically-altered humans. But that’s not where it stops for us.
I look my palms over, acknowledging the smaller circles within the bigger one. Unlike humans, where no fingerprints or palm lines are the same, our embellishments are identical.
Our bodies were born a human Creation before they inserted us as a host. From babies, we’ve lived in these vessels and on this planet, learning as they do, understanding our place in this universe. We were told they did this to make us a part of a bigger plan our parents helped to start. It wasn’t until after our parents died that the manipulators told us the plan’s desired outcome was to master humanity.
In addition to training as a Creation and preparing for Separation, came the training required to go against the other Creations and stand beside those who we thought were our brethren and fight for what they made us believe.
Now what? Revert back to the way of our parents? I can’t even remember what that was like. Find our own way? We’ve lived as someone else for so long.
Luke runs another lap around the mile-long track. He’ll be out here for hours trying to cool down. This news changes our lives. I’m not as angry as Luke, just confused, disappointed even. Maybe Luke’s real anger isn’t caused by the waste of our time or our being useless, but because he killed the girl he loved. He killed her because his feelings were growing stronger for her, so much so he’d put her before me. Anything that takes precedence over your twin must be terminated. Our twins must always be first in our lives. And with so much pressure on us, he felt obligated to stand by what he thought was the greater good.
I march across the red dirt, watching my feet as I step, studying the way I walk. Like everyone else, it’s calculated. Not pigeon-toed or slew-footed, just straight, ordered steps. I have probably marched too long for them to do otherwise. An exact replica of what I was created for. It may be time we stand against what we’ve been trained to do.
Headed no place in particular, I drag my heels along the dirt, desperate for a small change in my surroundings. I slide my thumb across my lips. What happened back at home should have been change enough. I crossed boundaries I never thought I would. Marc’s kiss made me hanker for him, wanting a human in a way I never dreamed of.
There was…uh. What’s the word?
Passion in that moment. Passion: strong and barely controllable emotions
I’ve never experienced that before. And while I wanted to explore the realms of those feelings, t
he what next after our bodies aligned, my past held me back. Not that I thought Marc would take advantage of me, but that I was expecting to be uncomfortable, to want him to stop. Like the discomfort that rolled through my stomach when Cory got too close or touched my waist. But with Marc, that was absent, and I don’t know what to make of it.
We can never straddle that line again. I embarrassed myself, first in the act, then the next second pushing him away. He probably thinks I’m a slut for taking my shirt off and touching my mouth to his chest. And neck…and cheek. And then touching over his stomach and back, feeling those scars I want to know about, considering he’s a twin of a Creation.
Dammit did I cross a major line.
“Hey Ky,” Collins calls, running to my side from the direction of the private’s corridors. “How was Chicago?”
She knows I can’t discuss this. “We served our purpose.”
“Understood. It must have been eventful because none of you put in any work today.”
“Eventful?” I replay the word, knitting my brows. “Yes, I could put that tag on it.” In many ways, this would be true.
“Cory’s looking for you. He said it was an order for you to see him immediately.”
“An order?” I snort.
She throws a point over her shoulder. “He’s in the rec hall. He said he needs you there in less than five minutes or you will be demoted. And then I can take your spot,” she says with a sassy smirk.
“Fine. I’ll report to him shortly.” I doubt there’s anything Cory needs or wants that’s so important I’d get demoted for not reporting in. The general gave us the day off. “Have you seen my group yesterday and today, Collins?”
“Yes, they sucked yesterday but were amazing today.” She slaps my arm so hard it stings. “I told them you’d be proud, and I would let you know. They’re in their recreation area.”
“All of them?”
“Except the evil twins, as you call them.” She looks out to the shooting range. “I think they’re practicing.” She points.
“Okay, thanks, Collins,” I say, spotting them running toward the obstacle course. “If you see Cory, tell him I’m on my way,” I call to her over my shoulder as I run to the twins. “Hey,” I shout to them, waving for them to come over. “Bring it in.”
They look at each other before running to me. “Hey,” they greet kindly.
Drenched in sweat, the twins lean over on their knees, panting. “How long have you two been out here?” I ask.
“Couple hours,” Jesail says. She throws her hands on her hips and leans back, teeth clenched as she heaves her next breath. “Agh,” she complains.
“It’s lunchtime, go fuel up on carbs, get you girls some energy.”
“Can’t stop.” She coughs and throws her shaking hand to her chest. Her bloods probably pumping faster now they’ve stopped. “We need to keep going.”
“We…keep pushing to…be better,” says Amber, heaving for air. “This way next time we go against you, we’ll win.” She smiles.
I grin, wanting to laugh, but I hold it in. “Or come close.”
“While you were gone. Um.” Jesail snatches her scarf from her pockets and dabs the sweat from her face. Her breaths even out. “We didn’t do so well yesterday, but we made up for it today.”
“Yes,” Amber cuts in. “You were a bitch before, like when we first started, but then you were nice, unlike the others.”
“Right,” Jesail follows. “The others make their groups run laps, and pushups, or jumping jacks, and there’s no rest the entire day. You aren’t that hard on us and we slacked off.”
Amber nods and adds, “So we talked and decided the Ky who is not shooting our kneecaps off and making us fight the strongest unit here is better than the one who does.”
“Yes,” Jesail cuts in, “and we thought if you were to come back and find we lost two days in a row, there would be a problem.”
I nod, crossing my arms. “A huge problem. I’m glad everyone did well today, but I need you guys to do well every day. We have only a few more days before everyone else arrives. It’s a win on win on win. And knowing General Jord, there will be a determination by the strength of the groups and individuals on the last day, or the first, in front of everyone, before the rest of Separation come in. We cannot lose. Honestly, I don’t doubt you two. And a few others are also up to par. But some of the others need more work. Especially the one who expressed his fear in fighting anyone. That’s embarrassing as a leader and for him as a Creation.” They nod, agreeing. “Wrap up soon. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Before heading to the rec hall, I peek on Luke still charging around the track like a mad man. I won’t bother him, but decide I’ll go see what Cory wants.
Hopefully he’ll keep a distance away from me, so if Marc happens to walk by, I won’t have to quench my thirst with a nighttime make out session starring Kylie and Marcain.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“I thought you weren’t going to come.” Cory, sitting at a table in the middle of the rec hall, watches me sit across from him.
I prop my elbows on the table and look him over, taking notice of the heavy pinch between his brows and narrowed eyes. I meet his anger with sass. “Well, had I not showed, you’d have come up with some lie to get me demoted. I’ve worked too hard to lose my position over someone who doesn’t take no for an answer. What do you want, Captain?”
“You and Marc, huh?”
Grumbling, I rise from the table. “Don’t you have orders to shout or a report to write?” Something other than being concerned with Marc and me? I break our gaze, attention drawn to Sean entering the rec hall, loudly talking to Marc a foot behind him. “Yes. Marc and me.”
The horn sounds for dinner, and Sean’s deep voice bellows over it.
“I messed up, Ky. And I’m sorry.” Cory’s gaze drops to the table. “We can’t even be cool?”
“Not when you’re using threats to talk to me.” Creations’ feelings lie dormant, so when they do things like express remorse, it’s an act. An act many play into because when Creations are not on duty, many of us like to fantasize about normalcy. And this act, I’m not falling for. I realize Cory doesn’t mean these actions, he wants what he wants, and I will not be giving it to him. “Cory, you are my superior. Start acting like it.” I pass him and lift my gaze to Marc’s, all the way on the other side of the rec hall. There’s that odd feeling again, rolling around in the pit of my stomach.
Marc mouths, “Night walk.” He stands with one arm across his body, clutching his upper arm. I nod once, and he leaves, heading back out into the dusk.
Cory cuts off my path as I’m headed for the door. “Okay, Ky.”
“Cory,” somebody calls, interrupting him. “Look at this,” they request urgently. Various people are laughing.
I divert my path, seeing him through the reflection of the big windows heading the opposite direction, behind me.
Luke pulls the door of the rec hall open for me. “Hey, where you headed off to?” he asks, breathless.
“To meet Marc. You’re doing better? Get that rage under control?”
“I’m fine. I think he went that way.” He points to his right. “What’s going on with you two?”
“Um, nothing.” I pivot, and he blocks my path, preventing me from going onward.
“There are limitations to enjoy it while you can, Ky.”
“Oh, come on, Luke,” I sigh. “Excuse me so I can pass.” He moves.
“Marc’s cool, Ky, I’m not being serious. Just remember the real reason why we’re here.”
I punch his shoulder before jogging off down the dirt road to my right.
“You looking for me?”
He comes up behind me. His hair flows behind him as he’s running at my side. Scars are on the left side of his neck, matching the ones I saw on his back. I slow to a stop, and Marc follows, eyes gazing into mine. He’s a specimen I’d like to study, dissect his brain, learn his body, and find out what it
is about him that makes me want to reveal my true colors.
“Maybe. Didn’t you want me to be?”
He nods to our left, out of the line of sight of passersby. “I wanted to talk to you about earlier.”
Shoving my hands into my pockets as I look away from him, I mumble, “We don’t have to.”
“Just a couple of things I wanted to address and maybe excuse myself for,” he continues.
Excuse himself? I was the one who was far too forward. “I should be excusing myself.”
Marc shakes his head as though to dismiss my response. “What happened, that was too much. Too far. You seemed… uncomfortable when you left and with how you left.”
“I wasn’t uncomfortable. I mean, I was uncomfortable but,” I look away from him, “not because of you. I mean,” I sigh, “it was because of you but not by you, but what you do to me.” I throw my head back, grumbling. I peer up at the sky, irritated I can’t get my words right. The sun’s sinking beyond the earth, turning the bright blue sky to black. “Hold on. That didn’t come out right.”
“Or, maybe it did, and you don’t want me to know it.”
I rub my hands over my hair and smooth my ponytail. “Okay,” I say, coming to terms with my feelings and pushing down the nerves that only seem to be present around him. “I possess a deep interest for you and didn’t know where that moment would take me. I didn’t know there was a line, and I crossed it.” I hold my breath before revealing, “But I liked it and maybe you did too.” I pause to ask, “D-did you? Like it?” The nervous question stutters past my lips.
The corners of his mouth twitch. He’s looking past my shoulder, seeming otherwise occupied. “Yeah,” he says evenly. “Maybe a little too much.”
I nod, taking my lips between my teeth to hide the smile. My cheeks are burning, and I couldn’t be happier it’s getting dark. “Too much,” I agree.
“Excuse me for that.”
“I started it. I shouldn’t have walked into your room.”
Imminent Threat: A Young Adult Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian Series (The Separation Trilogy Book 1) Page 21
