It could be dangerous for Freya to listen to her lies; she chanced getting turned by a highly skilled manipulator, but her curiosity piqued. There were so many questions left unanswered.
“And what would the purpose of your organization be?”
Devina shrugged. “I already told you: to save humanity.”
“But you destroyed most of humanity.”
Devina looked her directly in the eye. “We had to. It was the only way. Humans caused the issue and wouldn’t stop. We had to break it down into something more manageable before we could save it.”
Freya gripped the wall with her fingertips, struggling to keep a neutral expression. “How did you save humanity by breaking it down?”
Devina rolled her eyes. “I thought you were brighter than this, Freya. I mean, it’s all there. You took history in school and again in your Council training. Humanity was imbalanced. They were destroying the planet just to protect their way of life. No one would change, at least, not in time.”
Freya narrowed her eyes. “You’re saying your organization did this to save the planet from humanity’s lifestyle.”
Devina barked a dry laugh. “We can’t live without this planet.”
“Fair.” Freya nodded. “Is that all? You wanted to shrink humanity so the planet’s environment could recover. Why was I, along with many other women, sterilized?”
“Besides population control, we did it to enforce Natural Selection—something else humanity destroyed. With every generation, our genetic code got weaker and our planet more toxic.”
Freya’s fingers dug into the concrete. “And so you faked a war, brought a few people into this mountain, and worked to correct our genetics.”
Devina’s eyes narrowed. “We handpicked people with the best genetics, regardless of race or social status. We took control of reproduction to ensure the best genes survived. Now, only the brightest and healthiest versions of humanity exist inside the mountain, and the planet has made substantial progress since humanity disappeared from the surface.”
It was hard to keep her emotions neutral, but experience had taught her too much to be swayed. There were lies planted between Devina’s truths, and Freya was going to find them. “You can’t have done this for the environment when you have routinely been bombing the colony.”
“Yes, bombs slow environmental recovery, yet we do it so infrequently that the small cost outweighs the damage. We tried biological warfare in the beginning, but it was too sloppy. It killed indiscriminately. We lost some of our own, while our intended targets lived.”
“And complete control is the only way you feel we can achieve something different?”
“Yes,” Devina groaned. “People are too selfish. I know you don’t like the things we’ve done, but you’re going to find out we were right. Mark my words: you will go down in the history books as the person who destroyed the world. You think you’re liberating people from an oppressive government, but you’re only destroying all of our hard work.”
Freya’s brows stitched together. “I think you underestimate people. We can learn from our mistakes and do better. It may not be perfect, but I’ll ensure that your reasons behind your family’s reign are never lost. You did what you thought was right, but now, it’s time to start anew with the knowledge of our past to help guide our actions.”
Devina laughed. “You’re so deluded. You think everyone will just play nice and get along? Pathetic. I never thought you were that dumb. How long do you think that will really last?”
Freya had to admit that Devina brought up some valid points. Keeping humanity on track could be tricky, but Freya believed it was possible. Humanity deserved another shot; a chance to get it right. “It will last as long as it can.”
Devina laughed. “See. Even you know that humans are incapable of learning. All our progress will be destroyed in no time.”
“You’re right. We may resort back to some old habits, but we deserve another chance. But it won’t be like it was before. We now have the technology to rebuild our society in ways that are more harmonious with the planet.”
“But you won’t. Not without my family in charge.”
Freya bit her bottom lip. “Does it upset you to know that three of your family members were killed?”
“I’m more upset about you destroying the world.” Devina sneered.
It suddenly dawned on Freya. If they were a family, then there would be more of them than just the five people Lewis took screenshots of. “If you are a family, then there must be more of you. What about partners? I can’t imagine you’ve been inbreeding.”
Devina scrunched her face. “Only High Council-born women have offspring. Once we’ve had our required children, we dispose of the fathers. Our males never couple.”
Such an act sounded incomprehensible yet on par with the High Council’s treachery. Her breath hitched in her chest in anticipation as she struggled to keep her expression neutral. “What about your children? I assume there must be little Rhetta’s running around somewhere.”
Devina smirked. “Of course, there are children. And they will grow up hidden, just like the High Council has always been, just as we’ve already taught them to do. So, you can do whatever you want to torture me. I’ll never give them up. They will continue our teachings and reform right under your nose. My family will always be here to ensure the continuation of the human race.”
Despite Devina’s threatening tone, Freya couldn’t suppress a slight giggle. It was nothing more than an idle threat from a sore loser. “That’s okay.” She coughed in recovery. “I’m sure we can figure it out. We’ll sterilize your family to ensure your teachings die out along with the name Rhetta.”
Devina flinched, a spark of fear ignited in her eyes. “That might work, except you’ll never find them. You may know our faces, but you don’t know our cover identities.”
Freya shrugged casually. “No, we don’t. But we currently have access to two of you and three bodies, and your organization has done such a wonderful job of documenting everyone’s genetics. As you’ve said, you’re all family. One simple blood test should do the trick.”
Devina’s demeanor cracked. Her gaze darted off to the side as her jaw trembled. Moisture flooded her eyes as she curled her legs up in front of her. A heavy silence hung in the air between them.
It was clear from her reaction that Devina had at least one child. The Rhetta family had stripped so many women of the right to bear children that it was only fitting that Devina should lose the life she had envisioned for her family.
Freya’s curious mind grew quiet. There were so many questions she could ask, yet the answers had lost all meaning. It was over. Time to move on. The Rhetta family line ended; Freya’s vengeance delivered.
“Once things settle,” Freya began, “I’ll bring you some food and water. We can continue our conversation then.”
Devina huffed. “No. I don’t want anything. Not from you. And I have nothing more to say.”
Freya’s brows came together. “Maybe not now, but eventually, you’ll get hungry.”
Devina locked her gaze on Freya. “No. I won’t ever want it. I would rather die than live in the world you build.”
Freya shrugged. “I will ensure you have meals and water delivered. It’s your choice if you partake or ignore them.” She pushed off the wall and started toward the door.
Devina yelled to her back. “I won’t! I refuse to watch you destroy everything. I’ll die of dehydration long before you clean up the mess in this mountain.”
Freya slipped out of the room without response. She would hold true to her word. If Devina wanted to end her life, so be it. It was her right. Sustenance would be delivered, but consumption would remain optional. This world was now run by a new government, a government that respected the individual’s right to choose.
Chapter 41
Freya
She was alone. There was no Colin waiting for her, nor any guide to help her navigate through this maze-like
structure. Placing one foot in front of the other, she continued down the hall, hoping to find someone.
Her head tilted upward as she took in the space. There were exposed pipes and electrical wiring, not something she would expect to see in a structure that had stood the test of time. It felt vulnerable somehow, seeing all the moving parts.
The hall came to a T-intersection. Cautiously, she turned to the left. It looked identical to the previous hallway. Just as she peered in the opposite direction, a little boy slammed into her knees.
A gasp echoed down the hall from a little girl with both hands clasped over her mouth. The little boy stepped back, looking up at Freya through his long, thick eyelashes. He momentarily stared wide-eyed, giggled, then turned and ran back the way he had come.
As Freya had never been around children before, she didn’t know how she should interpret the exchange. She stood, slack jawed, in silent observation.
The girl rushed forward toward her. “I’m so sorry. We were just playing, but I’m afraid my brother can get too rowdy.”
Freya raised an eyebrow. “Rowdy?” Her back bowed as she hunched down to be closer to their heights. “And what would you know about being rowdy?”
The girl looked away sheepishly “It’s what my mom always says when he’s like this.”
Freya looked up and down the hall. Just as she expected, there was still no one else in sight. “And where is your mother?”
The little girl shrugged. “I don’t know. She told us to stay in our apartment, but we got bored. We decided we wouldn’t get into too much trouble if we just played in the hallway. We didn’t wander around. Promise.”
Freya wasn’t sure what to do. She knew little about children, but she didn’t think they were supposed to be left alone. Part of her felt as though she should stay with them until one of their parents returned, but she didn’t know how to care for them. Over the years, she had developed many unexpected skills, yet she doubted that she could be an effective caregiver.
“What’s your name?”
“Katrina.” She sucked in her thin lips, accentuating her pointed chin. “What’s yours?”
Freya smiled at her abrupt way of speaking. “I’m Freya.” She darted her eyes over to the little boy. “And what’s his name?”
“Mathias.”
Freya straightened her back again. “And how old are both of you?”
Katrina puffed up her chest. “I’m seven, and he’s three.”
Suddenly, Katrina’s stomach made a loud gurgling sound. She gripped both hands over her belly; her cheeks flushed.
Freya eyed her thoughtfully. “I think you’re hungry.”
“Starving!” Her thin arms flailed to the side. “My mom’s been gone for forever.”
Freya’s empty stomach churned. Something was wrong. Someone should care for these children. She had to help them but didn’t know what to do. It wouldn’t be appropriate to take someone else’s children with her yet couldn’t fathom abandoning them.
Freya took a deep breath, momentarily pressing her eyelids shut.
You’ve been the Head of State, led the colonists over a mountain, and won the war against the State. You can take care of these children for at least an hour.
“You know something.” Freya perched her hand on her hip. “I’m pretty hungry too. Where does food come from in this place, do you know?”
Katrina’s eyes brightened. “We all eat at the cafeteria.”
“And you know how to get to this cafeteria?”
Katrina nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, will you take us there?”
“I think you’ll be the one taking me there. I don’t know where it is.”
Both of the children’s eyes brightened at the prospect of getting something to eat, but this time it was Mathias who responded with wide eyes. “Food!”
Katrina grabbed his hand and tugged him to her side. “My mom would get mad at us if we went by ourselves. But sometimes, if she’s busy, someone else takes us there, and that’s okay.”
“Then lead the way.” Freya almost flinched as she felt the delicate skin of Katrina’s hand grasp her own.
Together, they walked through the geometric concrete structure into a large open space filled with multiple tables. In a way, it reminded Freya of a common room, but on a grander scale.
The smell of rice and steamed vegetables wafted toward them as they approached. She noted that there were a few people standing in a line, and so she joined in succession.
If anyone noticed her, or that her companions weren’t her children, they didn’t show it. There was only one person serving behind the food counter. The more she looked around, the more she could see how war-torn everyone appeared. She spotted blood splatters and bruises. They were dirty and depleted.
The server looked up with glossed eyes before she flinched, then dropped the spoon back into the large chafer dish. “Madame Head of State!” She looked around nervously. “Why don’t you take a seat and I’ll bring plates out to you.”
Freya gave a strained, polite smile. “That won’t be necessary. Please, just prepare three plates of what you normally would for myself and my two new friends here. We can carry them to the tables ourselves.”
The woman vigorously completed the task, handing the plates over one-by-one. Katrina led them to a table and then showed Freya where to get silverware and beverages. They all settled into their table together and ate. The children dug into their meager meals without hesitation, where Freya picked at it morsel by morsel. She had been hungry just long enough to be weary of eating too much or too quickly.
“There you are,” Aakil hollered as he approached her. “I was starting to doubt I’d ever find you again.”
Freya gave a half laugh. “Likewise. I came out of the room and there was no one to be found—except for these two.” She nodded to the children.
“Yeah, I wondered about your new friends.”
“Katrina and Mathias, this is my friend Aakil.”
They both muttered their acknowledgements but were more interested in shoveling down the contents of their plates.
“I found them playing together in the hall and they don’t know where their parents are. They were hungry, so they showed me to this dining area.” She spoke each word slowly, hoping Aakil would grasp the urgency in her tone while the children remained ignorant. “Their parents told them to stay in the apartment until they returned. I wonder if there are other children whose parents are detained.”
Aakil cursed, turning his head to the side.
Katrina looked up and gasped. “He said a bad word.”
Freya glared at Aakil. “Yes, he did.”
Aakil sighed and rubbed his face wearily. “We need to find someone from here who knows who is… busy, that has children.”
Moisture flooded Freya’s eyes. “I think a lot of the parents here might be busy. We need to find the children who are waiting patiently for their parents to come home.”
Aakil looked down at the ground. “Everything is kind of a mess right now. Can you stay here, and I’ll send down all the kids I find?”
Freya gulped. She was anxious about tending to just these children, and now Aakil was planning on sending more.
She looked down at the children who were just finishing their plates. “Katrina, could you help us, please? You seem to know your way around this place.”
Katrina nodded eagerly. “I can help.”
“Can you take my friend Aakil around here and help him find all the other children waiting for their parents? It’s a big job, but it looks like most people here are too busy to help.”
Her eyes lit up. “Yes! I go to school and know where lots of children live.”
“That’s great.” Aakil leaned down to her. “I can tell you’re very smart; you will be a big help to me.”
Katrina grabbed Mathias’ hand and the pair of them led Aakil down the hall. Freya had no way of knowing how many children would filter into the cafeteria. All she could do was hop
e that if these children’s parents had died, there was someone close to them who could deliver the news instead of her.
A stranger.
Chapter 42
Three Days Later
Freya
He was too slow. It concerned her to see sweat glistening on Colin’s brow from merely taking a few steps, but at least he was walking. He had been in rough shape when he was admitted to see a doctor. Although Freya was assured Colin would make a full recovery, she couldn’t stand to see him in pain.
Delivered: A Young Adult Dystopian Romance (The State Series Book 7) Page 30
