Cheating Time

by T. R. Graves

  It was Thorne who realized my collapse was near. He stepped toward me and said, "Sir, Carles is still recovering. Sh-she needs her rest. General St. Romaine and the others will show you where your tent is located. I think you'll find the amenities to your standards."

  Barone glanced around. "Where has Carlie been staying? Why hasn't she been staying in my tent?"

  Thorne nodded. "She's been a patient here. I've been monitoring her vital signs and giving her medication. Your tent is not set up with the equipment necessary for me to take care of her appropriately," Thorne explained.

  Barone seemed satisfied. "Very well, then. I'm going to my tent to get some rest. After I awake, I'm going to tour the camp, thank the team for their support, and Carlie and I are heading back to the city. My special little girl only has a few more days before her seventeenth birthday. I have celebration plans for her."

  Barone turned back toward me and smiled like he and I were already lovers.

  "You didn't think I'd forget, did you? You're my special little girl. I'd remember your birthday before I'd remember my own," he said.

  If you say my special little girl one more time, I'm going to kick you in the face myself and run.

  "Thank you," I said lamely.

  Really, I wasn't sure what the hell I was supposed to say to that.

  "I have a celebration you'll never forget planned for us," he promised, and the mere thought of plans with him made a little vomit bubble to the back of my throat.

  I swallowed it down and smiled. I knew well the mask I was supposed to be wearing. It was one I'd become familiar with over the years, and because of that, it slipped on easier than it should have.

  Jayden… I mean… General St. Romaine looked like he wanted to talk to me. I avoided his stares and pretended as though I had no idea we even needed to speak, pretended as though those late-night make-out sessions were an everyday occurrence for me.

  Like the good lap dog he was, Jayden followed President Barone from the tent. A few seconds later, he popped his head back in and said, "I'll be back after the president is settled."

  I whirled around and whisper-shouted, "Don't you think about coming back here. If you do, I swear to God I'll throttle you until my hands are covered in blood. Then I'll gouge out your eyes just because I can."

  Jayden's mouth dropped open like he couldn't believe what I'd just said, and Thorne was back to glancing back and forth between us like he was trying to figure out what the hell just happened.

  I stared over to Thorne. "Get Rorie out of hiding, put her back in bed, and let's get some sleep."

  Without another word, I walked over to my cot, picked up Jayden's sleeping bag, and threw it at him. I would have given my pinky finger for it to have been a baseball I could have aimed at Jayden's nose. If it had been, I would have used every ounce of hurt, hate, and anger surging through me to hit my mark.

  I swear to God…

  Chapter 24

  Crushed Puppy Love

  Carlie

  It may have been the middle of the night when Barone arrived, and I may have been exhausted beyond belief, but I couldn't sleep. I wouldn't sleep.

  For the first time in my life, I understood perfectly what it meant to have to sleep with one eye open. There was no one I could trust. Jayden had already proved that to me. Then I thought about what Rorie had said about Barone and Thorne talking.

  What could they possibly have to talk about?

  I was learning life lessons the hard way. Nothing about my thinking was as benign as a simple case of paranoia. Something was wrong, and there were lots of pieces to the puzzle that I hadn't put together. Yet.

  As soon as the sun's rays began beaming through the tent's flap, I heard Thorne gently waking Rorie. The morning's routine was the same as it had been the day before. Since I'd promised to help Rorie while I was here, I sat up on the edge of my cot.

  The days of hiking, snake bite recovery, and discoveries were taking their toll on me. My head throbbed, my muscles ached, and, yes, after checking, I found my heart was still broken.

  "Rorie's going to the kitchen by herself today, Carles. You and I need to talk before you leave," he said after Rorie was up and her bonnet—the one she'd not been wearing yesterday—was fastened tightly around her face.

  I glared at Thorne as if he'd lost his mind. "She needs to stay here with you. I'll go over and make something. It might not be edible, but I'm not sure anyone at this camp, with the exception of Rorie, deserves anything edible. Poisonous maybe. Not edible," I said with every ounce of cynicism I felt.

  "Are you kidding me? If Barone found out you were helping Rorie in the kitchen, he'd be livid." He turned back toward his sister. "Rorie, I'll come check on you as soon as I can. I want you to stay in the kitchen as much as possible," he ordered.

  She nodded and ducked out of the tent without any more fanfare. Thorne sat next to me, reached over, and took my hand.

  "I know something's bothering you. You don't have to tell me what it is, but it might help. I might be able to help, and I can assure you anything you tell me… anything… will stay between the two of us. I promise you that," he said.

  I wanted to talk about the web of lies and deception I'd gotten tangled up in, but I didn't know him well enough to share anything. I worried confiding in him would entrap me further. I was in deep enough.

  I shook my head.

  "I hope this doesn't offend you because it's really the last thing I mean to do, but it's recently come to my attention that trust is overrated and can only lead to pain and disappointment. I'm not sure there's any reason to trust anyone but myself. I'm the only one who's gonna watch out for me. In that spirit, I'll keep what I know to myself and do what I'm asked," I said.

  "Why don't I tell you what I know? You don't need to confirm or deny. I'm just hoping it helps to know someone else sees what's going on," he said.

  I stared down at our joined hands.

  "You and St. Romaine had a thing. I'm not sure how long it went on or how far you went, but I know things got hot and heavy a few times here based on your MicroPharm alarms."

  Uh-oh!

  I'd suspected, but I'd not known for sure that Thorne could see my body's reaction to those very exciting moments.

  "It seems—at least to you—that St. Romaine played you in order to keep you on the straight and narrow while he waited for Barone to arrive."

  I didn't say anything. I just sat there reliving the pain from earlier and cursing my naïve stupidity.

  "As far as Barone goes… what the hell? Why is he calling you his special little girl? You don't have to answer this if you don't want to, but has he ever touched you… inappropriately, Carles?" Thorne asked.

  I couldn't control myself. My stare jerked toward Thorne. I felt a wave of relief wash through me. He'd seen it. I wasn't crazy. I wasn't anywhere near ready to admit anything to Thorne, but something about him seeing what Barone was capable of made me feel a little less alone.

  "He has, hasn't he?"

  I closed my eyes and looked away. It was in Thorne's best interest and by default Rorie's for him to not know what kind of sick bastard Barone really was.

  True to his word, he didn't push me. Instead, he squeezed my hand tight and said, "Just know if you need to talk to me, I'm here. I won't judge you, and I won't go off half-cocked against Barone. I can't afford to do anything like that. Not with Rorie. I'm all she has. That doesn't mean I won't listen or that I'll let him lay a hand on you as long as I'm around," Thorne said.

  My voice was small when I said, "I completely understand the position you're in. You have Rorie to look out for, and I get that. I'd do anything for my family. Unlike you and me, it seems Jayden was just looking out for himself. Still, thank you for… making me feel a little less alone… a little less crazy, and like I might actually have a friend in the world."

  Thorne smiled right before his eyes got big. "Hey… you and I are betrothed. I'm not sure there's anything he can do about that. We can g
et married when you turn eighteen, and when we do, there won't be anything he can do to you. While I had plans for all of this to be a lot more romantic and a lot less rushed, I want you to know I'm willing to go through with our marriage at any time you're ready so he'll have to keep his hands off you. Even President Barone himself is subject to corporeal punishment for adultery," Thorne reasoned.

  Before I knew what I was doing, I wrapped my arms around Thorne and hugged him. There were tears leaking from my eyes, but that couldn't be helped. This man was willing to put himself in danger in order to protect me from the most powerful man in the world, and he was the only one willing to do that.

  Again, I said, "Thank you, Thorne. I won't take you up on your offer because I'm not sure what Barone would do to you and Rorie, but the fact that you're willing to help me… that means more than you'll ever know."

  Thorne pulled me closer and stroked the back of my head. "Anytime, Carles. Anytime."

  "Uhm-hm!"

  With a throat clearing behind us, Thorne and I jerked apart. When I saw it was Jayden standing in the door of our tent, I made my eyes into slits and asked, "What the hell do you want?"

  Jayden put his hands up in surrender. "I just thought we'd talk."

  I hid my face in Thorne's chest. "I don't talk to traitors." My words were muffled.

  "Just give me a chance to explain before everyone gets moving around here, Carlie. I think you'll understand."

  "Did you manipulate me to get me back to Barone? Yes or no? The question is simple."

  Jayden looked like he wanted to throw up.

  "Yes or no?" I repeated.

  He still didn't answer.

  As if issuing a final warning, I said, "Yes or no? Which is it?"

  Finally, Jayden nodded. "I manipulated you, but not for the reasons you think."

  I put my hand up, shaking my head. He wasn't getting off that easy.

  "The only answer I needed was yes. Now that I have that, I don't want to have anything else to do with you. Don't come near me. Don't talk to me. Don't try to get messages to me through other people. I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU!" I sobbed with my next words. "I DON'T LOVE YOU!"

  Jayden looked as if I'd finally followed through with every one of my previously threatened physical threats. All at the same time. His head visibly jerked.

  I needed to get away from him. From here. He may have been standing in the only way in or out of this tent, but I was going to get by him. On my way past, he grabbed my arm and tried to twist me toward him. "Just listen to me. You'll understand if you do."

  I snatched my arm back and through gritted teeth and tear-filled eyes, I snapped. "Don't you ever touch me again."

  The Surrogate Soldier, the Lead Surrogate Soldier was stunned by the vehemence in my words and my face. He let go and stepped aside. I ran from the tent and headed toward the borders of the camp. I had no idea where I was going. I just knew I needed to be miles away from Jayden.

  Behind me I heard Thorne calling my name. I didn't slow down, but I didn't speed up either. I really didn't mind if he caught up with me. Soon, he'd done just that. Fortunately, he didn't try to talk about anything more than his casual observations regarding the wildlife surrounding the camp.

  He pointed out two squirrels chasing each other until one made a fatal move. With it, he would have plunged to his death if the other more conservative squirrel hadn't offered a tail for the squirrel to use to climb up on. Despite my mood, I was amused by the way the two of them carried on as if nothing had ever happened as soon as the death wish squirrel was out of danger.

  "I watch them all the time. I've even named them," Thorne said wistfully.

  Yet another surprising fact about Thorne. "Really! What did you name them?"

  "Well, the one who is most careful is a female. Because of her nature, I gave her a very traditional name, Ester. The one who is willing to risk his life in order to keep her attention is named Nut," Thorne murmured reflectively.

  The instant he told me what he'd named the Evel Knievel of squirrels, I chuckled. No matter how upset I'd been earlier, I couldn't help but giggle over the squirrels' names, Ester and Nut. They were as fitting of names for forest creatures as any I'd ever heard.

  "Why are you laughing? Do you think you could have done better?"

  There was nothing funny about his question, but it fueled my giggling fire. I chuckled harder while leaning my back against a tree, sliding to the ground, and grabbing my stomach in fits of laughter.

  The squirrels' names were cute. They weren't nearly as funny as I'd made them out to be, but my body had endured all the anxiety, pain, and torture it could handle. There was something inside of me that was clawing its way out and letting me know laughter was the the only real cure for everything I'd been made to endure over the last week. Six months.

  Confusing Thorne was the fact that laughter for me equated to tears, and they were rolling their way down my cheeks. One after another. I did nothing to squelch them or wipe them away. At least, I didn't until I remembered the last time I'd laughed like this was with Tawney. It was after she'd forced me to read her favorite romance novel.

  It really was amazing, but there was no way I was going to tell her I loved the book. Instead, I mocked the book's ever-romantic line and feigned fainting over the ruggedly handsome man every Procreate girl considered her book boyfriend. I may have been a Procreate girl, but Jayden was the only imaginary boyfriend I wanted or needed so I wasn't nearly as smitten as others.

  Jayden.

  Suddenly, the tears coming were real and the sobs were muffled as I pulled my knees into my chest and hid my face in my folded arms. For me, laughing and crying had always been reactions that were closely related. Right now, they were bleeding over into each other's territory in a way that made me look—feel—psychotic.

  Thorne sank down next to me, put his arm around my shoulder, and pulled me into his chest. There and in the peace and quiet of the forest, the only real friend outside of my family that I'd ever had let me cry the tears of a broken heart, of crushed puppy love, and of unexpected betrayal.

  Chapter 25

  Dr. McGorgeous

  Carlie

  Soon, we heard the bustling of the camp. It was coming to life as the news of Barone's presence spread like wildfire.

  "Let's go back to the supply tent, pick you up some more clothes, and head over to the showers to get cleaned up," Thorne suggested.

  I'd laughed and cried all I could. I was sure my face was puffy, red, and swollen. The only thing that was going to help was one of the ice-cold showers I'd hated the day before. Today, there would be a reason to relish it.

  I nodded and grabbed his outstretched hand. I didn't even try to pull it free after we were up and walking back toward the busy camp. Thorne had been there for me. If he wanted to hold my hand, begin letting others think there was more to our relationship than there was, who was I to say no?

  He and I respected each other. I understood his loyalty lay with Rorie, and he knew I'd just had my heart broken and handed back to me without so much as a thank you very much.

  After a quick trip to the supply tent, he left me outside the shower room. Today, there were a lot more people up and about, getting cleaned up so they could put their best foot forward for Barone.

  I'd caught glimpses of several of the women who were unceremoniously ducking in and out of the showers without making the first effort geared toward grabbing a towel and covering themselves. Several of them were MediTech nurses. Others were MediTech EMTs.

  During our survival training, Dad had told me if I were ever in trouble, I should be on the lookout for these camps. He explained they were set up every fifty miles and all housed one physician, usually one in training. The resident in training was in close MicroCam communication with his or her faculty physicians, all of whom were centrally located within the major cities' hospitals.

  With the MicroCam, residents in training, those like Thorne, could slip on a pair of special g
lasses that allowed the faculty physician who was miles away to see what the residents were seeing and direct that resident as he or she treated patients. It was the only way for people in these outlying camps and communities to get the care they needed.

  In addition to the resident, there was a team of MediTech nurses and EMTs. Much like the residents, they were stationed within the camps for two-month rotations.

  The final team of people stationed for one-year tours were the dozens of Surrogate Soldiers who were charged with guarding the camps from the Shadow Soldiers who periodically made their way over the dividing wall. It rarely happened, but when it did, it was bad because the Shadow Soldiers took anything they could get and they were prepared to murder anyone who stood in their way.

  As if suddenly noticing a stranger in their midst, the female nurses' and EMTs' movements slowed while they caught clandestine glimpses of me, the one person among them who was too self-conscious to strip naked and wander freely around the shower room.

  In my defense, I was the only one who was covered in horrific snake bites, though even if my body were in immaculate condition, I wouldn't be nearly as comfortable wandering among these strangers in my birthday suit.

  "They're not going to quit staring until you strip naked and satisfy their curiosity," someone said from behind me.

  I spun around and came face to face with a raven-haired girl who could easily star in Tawney's favorite love story. Her full lips were naturally red and her eyes were unnaturally blue. She was much shorter than me, a little bit older, and a whole lot tougher.

  "What are they curious about?" I asked.

  She blew out a breath as if she couldn't believe I was so dense.

  "They're trying to figure you out. You're a girl but a girl that has the same flawless beauty of a Surrogate. The only Surrogates we've ever seen or heard of are men. Then there's the Surrogate who follows you around like a lost dog, the one you convinced to work in the kitchen yesterday. We might not know much, but we know most Surrogates think a little too much of themselves to stoop to the level of kitchen help. Especially when that means taking orders from a Genetic Anomaly."