The thing is massive. I take aim for the beast from behind the tree. Just as I’m about to pull the trigger, the girl is wrenched downward and lands in the snow with a quiet thump.
She didn’t even scream as she fell.
Her body lies absolutely still, but I take aim at the blood soaked air above her and pull the trigger. The Morph shudders, but doesn’t back away.
Am I too late? Is she dead?
The girl lies in a pool of blood, her face covered partially in her drenched hair. The outline of the Morph hovers over her, claws ready to attack again. The little gray birds screech and circle; some even attempt to attack the thing.
I release a second blast from the resonator and all the birds around the girl and her attacker take flight. Time itself stands still as the terrifying edge of the Morph’s face stares straight at me. I pull the trigger a third time. The creature shudders again, but this time, picks the girl up by the front of her jacket. The girl’s body is lifeless as the creature pulls her along. Blood-streaked hair and arms dangle across the snow like a ripped-up rag doll. Instead of coming at me, the Morph, along with the girl, vanish before my eyes.
As much as I try, I can’t get my hands to stop shaking. The sonic resonator is locked tight in my grip, and my insides feel like they’ve been stirred and spat out. Instead of movement, only echoing silence is left of the attack.
“What the hell?” I mutter, flipping the sonic resonator to my back.
I will my legs to move and race toward the scene of the attack, stepping through the soaked snow. I round the tree, but the girl’s not there. She’s not anywhere.
“People can’t just vanish.” I whisper, my voice wavering. “Hello?”
Glancing from tree to tree, I watch for signs of movement.
What if the damn thing comes back?
The backside of the large tree has a huge gash in its trunk, so I grab the edges and peer inside. My eyes widen and my jaw drops. The tree is hollow—and drops straight downward into—water?
Floating on her back, hair like a crown of lightning, is the girl. She’s a gory mess, and it’s impossible to tell if she’s alive. Removing my safety line, I jam the anchor to the outside of the massive tree trunk. Slowly, I drop myself inside; half climbing, half sliding down. The inner bark of the tree is covered in a green viscous fluid, making it impossible to get a good footing. Between that and my frazzled nerves, my hands and legs don’t want to coordinate the way they should. When I reach the bottom, I take a deep breath and slosh my way to the girl. Her face is mangled, and her undamaged eye lazily closes as I near.
“Can you hear me? Everything’s gonna be okay. I’m gonna get you outta here.” My reassurance sounds false, even to me. She’s dressed in standard NanoTech clothing, so I doubt she’s going to be able to process what I’m saying anyway. It’s not the eLink, after all.
Without warning, the murky water inside the tree bubbles around us and starts to rise. The water rushes around my body, warm and powerful. With extreme force, it pushes us both upward, back toward the entrance. I’m forced under a couple of times as it ascends. I claw at the sticky walls of the tree, but to no avail. Somehow, I need to find a way to get us both to the opening. In the depths below, the water begins to crackle and pop. The sound is like walking on ice and as the water reaches the opening, I begin to realize why. Beneath us, everything is freezing solid at a frantic pace. Grabbing hold of the girl’s left arm, I struggle to get us over to the entrance before we’re caught in the ice’s progression. I clutch at the snow on the ground with one hand, and try to hang on to her in the other. When I gain some traction, I wrench myself out. Quickly spinning around, I grope for the girl’s arms and tug. The water continues to rise and floods so fast, we’re both flung backward as the tree regurgitates us. Seconds later, the entire entrance to the tree freezes solid.
Sprawled flat on my back, with the girl bleeding in the snow beside me, I blink hard to focus. The cold air attacks, making the warmish water inside the tree nothing but a distant memory as my clothing freezes.
What in the hell is going on out here?
Shaking the fog from my brain, I push up to my knees. The girl is limp, so I maneuver her body to pick her up. Her head drapes lifeless over my right arm as her gash across her face drains onto the front of my jacket. The contrast between the white of her face and the red of her blood is frightening. If she isn’t dead yet—she doesn’t have a hell of a lotta time. Without a second thought, I take off running. I don’t know if she’ll hang on until I can get her help, but I have to try.
Just meters beyond the tree, the girl breathes in a deep, garbled breath as she lurches forward. I fall to my knees, nearly dropping her. A bright, amber colored eye locks with mine briefly, but then begins to roll back in her head.
I place my hand along side of her face, trying to help guide her focus to me. “I’m taking you to get help. Hang on for me, okay?”
The girl regains a moment of clarity as she hones in on me again. A second later, her face lights up, and in that moment, I swear she recognizes me—but I’ve never laid eyes on her before. I’d remember someone like her. I’d remember a girl with hair as white as the snow and eyes the color of a blazing fire.
Oddly enough, the girl seems to be both in the present moment and inexplicably far away. She reaches out and places her right hand on my jawline, touching my lips with her thumb. The sensation is very intimate and I hold still, unsure of how to react.
Her voice is barely above a whisper. “You don’t need to be sorry. I understand.” She searches my eyes, a hint of a smile spreading across her bloodied lips, “I love you too.”
All I can do is stare at her with wide eyes. Her words and the warmth of her hand are so purposeful, so sure, my insides constrict as she lets go and sinks back into oblivion.
Blinking away my uneasiness, I take a deep breath and slowly push back up. With her warm body cradled in my arms, I run. I don’t stop when I realize how long this could take or when my lungs burn and my muscles cramp. I keep running, reliving the words… words not meant for me. Unfortunately, I can’t outrun the strange, unexpected place in the pit of my stomach that kinda wishes they were.
4
Traeton
“YOU’RE GONNA NEED to give me more time.” I mutter.
Ash peers down at me, crossing his bulked-up arms over his enormous chest. His black shoulder-length hair resting on his red Lateral Guard shirt looks like it needs a good trim.
He’s great at being intimidating; I’ll give him that.
Ash doesn’t say a word, but his dark eyes are black and expectant.
“Delaney needs a decision. I know, I know.” Pacing in front of him, I spit, “Do you honestly think I’m not aware? I just need more time. Maybe push it out a week? We’ve got—there’s a girl here who’s healing from an attack. I can’t just leave her.”
The crook of Ash’s eyebrow twitches.
“What?” I snort, making a face.
When a smart-ass grin emerges on Ash’s face, I turn and walk the other direction. I don’t need to take his crap.
“Fine. Whatever.” I wave my hand dismissively. “I’m in.”
“We head out in twenty-four hours.” His words reach me as I turn the corner of the tunnel.
Yeah, yeah.
I know what’s at stake for this mission. If there are others on Pendomus living in their own society like us, we need to know. Maybe build an alliance against the Helix. Besides, I want to be there. I want to be on this mission. I just don’t like the timing.
A few days. That’s all I’m asking for. There’s a deep sense of curiosity with this girl and I’d like to ride it out. I want to know what happened to her. Why the Morph attacked her. To get any of these answers, I need to be here for when she wakes up.
Will she remember what she said to me?
Even now, the impression of her hand lingers on my jawline, making my insides churn. Who were her words meant for? Was she outside to meet someon
e? A sudden wave of jealousy catches me by surprise. I have no right to feel this way—I don’t even know the girl. She has every right to be meeting someone else.
Following the last twist, I enter the main section of the cavern tunnels we call home. The Haven. Outside our makeshift gathering room, Kani and Fenton are huddled together in conversation. The low lighting makes Fenton’s hair appear to glow like the sun, but makes Kani look even more ominous than usual. Her almond shaped eyes turn into slivers as she notices my entrance.
“I still don’t get what it wanted with her,” she proclaims, shifting her weight to one side. “Or why she still needs to be here, instead of being moved to the Lateral. They have ways to deal with this sorta thing.” Kani’s fingers dance in front of her as she half-points in the direction of the girl in the other room.
Ignoring her, I step past them both and walk into the room where the girl rests on our bench. Her face blends into her hair, she’s so pale. She lost so much blood, but at least we were able to bandage her up and stabilize her. Hopefully she’ll come to soon.
“Don’t ya think it’s a bit weird, Trae? Coulda eaten ’er straight off. Why go for ’er eye? Doesn’t make any sense,” Fenton says, scratching his messy golden blond head.
“That I got no clue, guys. She was being attacked and I needed to get her out. All I know is, she couldn’t be left to die.”
“What if she’s not sympathetic to our—situation? What if she wakes up and promptly turns us in to the Labots? What then, Traeton?” Kani huffs.
“There’s no guarantee, guys. But she’s injured, and she’s not gonna be promptly going anywhere. Besides, she was out in the woods. Doesn’t that tell you anything?” I pause, waiting for a reaction. Kani continues to look indignant, and Fenton sits quiet for a change. I continue, “Tells me volumes. If she were in league with the Labots, why would she be this far out?”
Pretty sure it’s not the way those types roll.
“Trae’s gotta point,” Fenton agrees as he pushes up his yellow-tinted glasses he acquired on one of our explorations of Pendomus. “I don’t think she’s a threat. Look at ’er. She’s so … peaceful” He cocks his head to the side, smiling at the new girl.
Kani redirects her glare at him.
“There are plenty of what-if scenarios I can think of as to why she’d be out in the woods. You’re kidding yourself if you think she couldn’t be one of them. They’re clever—you of all people should understand, Trae. With their mind control capabilities, they can be anyone, even pretty, dumb blonds. For all we know, she was playing up to see what idiot might come to her aid.” She jabs a finger in my direction and makes a face.
“What would you have done, Kani? Left her to die?” I say.
“Of course not. I would’ve put her out of her misery and been done with it. Then gotten the hell out,” she snaps back.
Well, that’s pragmatic. I suppose she’d use that fancy sword she’s so keen on bringing everywhere, or one of her knives.
Kani rolls her eyes, “Oh, don’t make that face. If the two of you weren’t so controlled by your hormones, you’d see sense too.” She drops her arms and spins around to leave, her black hair twirling behind her like some sort of crazy fan. “You both gawk at her like she’s some sort of new toy.”
I open my mouth, trying to think of a good comeback, but nothing comes out. She’s probably right. Despite the bandage over her eye, this girl is captivating ... and so different from the others. I’ve been outside the Helix for a long time and I’ve never felt this kind of magnetic compulsion before; and I don’t even know her name.
Kani makes her escape down the hall, sputtering, “And now I’m stuck with her, because there’s no way Delaney is letting her go back to the Helix. Super.”
I sneak another sideways glance at the girl before turning back to Fenton. Hormones or not, I’d be a fool not to notice something special in her appearance. The Geneticists inside the Helix modify everyone to have dark hair and dark eyes. There are few anomalies who have light hair, like Fenton. But his family was never Helix born, so he really doesn’t count.
I always thought the dark eyes made sense because of the ultraviolet light. But the standard hair requirement always drove me nuts.
Enter my blue-hair rebellion.
I don’t want to be a clone of everyone else. I don’t even like everyone else.
But with her… What’s her story? Did she alter her hair or was she born this way? Was she treated differently inside? Was she quarantined too? Why was she in the woods? Why did the Morph attack her? Has she been on the outside long? Will she already be familiar with the ways out here? There’s so much I was caught unaware of when I left the Helix. Humanity… ways of life. Natural courses.
My stomach flips. The biggest shock was learning about hormones and sex. If she’s as clueless as I was, that’ll be some kinda conversation for her. As much as I hate to admit it, Kani does make a point.
In the reflection of Fenton’s archaic eyesight enhancers, the white-haired girl stirs.
Fenton notices too, as he cranes around my body and whispers, “Our mystery woman’s wakin’ up.” His eyebrows twitch up and down suggestively.
My blood runs cold, and I hesitate. I need to talk to her, but I’m almost afraid of what she’ll say.
I turn around slowly to face her. The bandage over her damaged eye wraps all the way around her head. I’m sure the whole thing is disorienting, but it was the best we could do with what we had on hand. Her shredded calf is suspended a couple inches off the bench so it’s not resting on the wound. Looks like a weird contraption, hanging from the cave ceiling and looping around her foot, but it does the trick.
I raise my hand, silently motioning Fenton to stay behind, and walk into the gathering room. It’s a larger room along the cavern’s tunnel system where we keep all the things that occupy our time—books, games, supplies, you name it.
Allowing a moment for her to catch her bearings, I stand off to the right of the bench. She appears so frail, and the bandage on her eye only adds to it. The wounds were deep—doubt she’ll ever see outta it again. For sure she’ll be scarred for the rest of her life.
Well, assuming she doesn’t escape, then promptly turn us over to the Helix, and have the scars surgically altered. Could happen. I wouldn’t admit it to the other two, though. Especially Kani.
“Hey,” I whisper, leaning in.
Placing my hand on hers, I wait for her to come around. I can’t even imagine what she must be going through.
Her lips part and she lets out a soft groan, but doesn’t say anything intelligible.
Fenton and Kani aren’t aware this girl can speak aloud yet. For me, it’s another reason why I don’t think she’ll turn us in. People inside the Helix don’t have a clue how to speak out loud. They learn once in the beginning of their download series and never use it again. Mostly because people are lazy. As soon as they’ve got the concepts in their head, the eLink is all they need. Why hang on to a fumbling language if you can instantly transfer your thoughts, feelings, and images through your mind?
The girl groans again, her hand twitching in mine.
Suddenly, my mouth is sucked of all moisture. Maybe I forgot how to speak.
“S-sorry. We, uh, aren’t hooked in to the exchange-Link.” I shake my head, and glance at Fenton. “If you’re trying to connect that way, it won’t work. We’re kinda primitive here.”
At the sound of my voice, she opens her good eye and slowly concentrates in my direction. As soon as we make eye contact, I take a small step back and release her hand.
The memory of her amber eye so purposefully fixed on me, the burn from her hand on my face …
Wetting my lips, I sputter, “My name is, uh, Traeton. Traeton Revasco. Trae, if it’s easier to remember.” I run my fingertips along my forehead. Stupid. I sound stupid. Set me up to explore unchartered territories and I’ll be just fine. Set me in front of a beautiful woman and I’m a bumbling idiot. Great.
<
br /> Fenton snickers in the doorway.
I take a beat and start again, “What’s your name? How are you feeling? What were you doing out in the woods? Do you remember being attacked by the Morph?”
Way to overwhelm the girl, Trae. Good going.
Man, I’m no good at this. Where the hell’s Landry when we need him?
The girl’s fire-colored eye widens as she locks onto me. I didn’t think it was possible for my insides to constrict more, but somehow they do. I shove my hands into my pockets.
Fenton’s eyes bore into the back of my head. I wish to hell he weren’t here.
The girl struggles a bit but surprises me by whispering, “Air?”
“Air? Is it hard for you to breathe?” I kick myself for not having the proper medical equipment. Maybe Kani’s right—we should have moved her to the Lateral.
She shakes her head imperceptibly. A small, bony finger lifts as she points to the blue spikes on top of my head.
Oh. Hair.
My face flushes, and I scratch at my scalp. “Er, yeah. I altered it. Sort of a rebellion thing, I guess.”
The corner of her lips curl slightly, and she croaks, “Nice.”
Fenton huffs behind me. “Figures, she’d like blue.”
She clears her throat and says, “Oona Copp-em.”
Her speech isn’t as clear as before, and I lean in. “Uh, what? I’m not sure what you mean.”
“My—name.” She swallows hard, taking a labored breath. “R-runa. Cophem.” She closes her eye again and tenses her jaw.
“Glad to meet you, Runa.” I nod, taking in her name for the first time. It suits her—it’s unique, like she is. “I, uh, sorry to repeat myself, but why were you in the woods?”
“Where am I?” She shifts, ignoring my question.
“Safe. I found you pretty beat up out there.”
Reopening her eye, she says, “I got attacked by the—the bird!”
She tries to sit upright but gasps and drops back down.
Even I wince at her pain. All the color she was regaining drains out of her cheeks.
The Complete Pendomus Chronicles Trilogy: Books 1-3 of the Pendomus Chronicles Dystopian Scifi Boxed Set Series Page 3
