“What?” Evan says, sitting up. “You’re serious, aren’t you? Where was this?”
“They were outside of the south perimeter,” I explain.
“Why were you there?” he asks.
I take a deep breath, not wanting a replay of yesterday’s drama. “I told you, I was having a bad day. I just wanted to get out of this place.”
“I’m sorry,” he says, reaching over and squeezing my hand. “I’m going to check this out. I’ll take Nico and Alec with me and we’ll scout the area. You stay here and wait, okay?”
“No way,” I say. “I’m going back to work today.”
“You’re not seriously going back there?” he asks, looking back up into my eyes. His eyebrows pinch together but I hold my ground.
“I have to,” I say. “Not only are we testing the water filtration system today, but I can also use that as a cover and see if anyone knows what happened to the children.”
Evan stares at me with determination. I smile back, unwavering in my decision. Slowly his lips twitch and I finally see that mischievous smile play at the edge of his mouth. How I’ve missed that smile.
“Then I’ll walk you,” he says, getting up and getting dressed.
I grab my clothes from the night before, forgetting they’re stained with Ray’s blood. I drop them, suddenly overwhelmed by events that only moments ago seemed far away.
“I can’t wear these,” I say sadly, recalling my last moments with Ray.
“Go into Mom’s room,” he says. My eyes widen. “Don’t worry.” He kisses me on the cheek. “She’s at work. She rarely sleeps here.”
I quietly walk down the hall to Caroline’s room and click open the door. Inside is not what I expected. Instead of a bed and dresser, there’s a large desk, small closet, and a cot. This woman really takes her work seriously.
I find a closet of clothes and grab the first t-shirt and pair of jeans I come across. I set them down on the desk while I get undressed and notice a photo next to them. It’s of a younger version of Evan, Caroline, and a man I don’t recognize. It must be Evan’s dad, Jase.
I jump as the door opens, but it’s not Evan. It’s Ali. “Oh, my,” I say, quickly grabbing the clean shirt and covering my body.
“Oh, no!” she says, shielding her eyes. I put my shirt and pants on quickly.
“I’m dressed,” I say. “It’s okay to look.” Ali lowers her hands and looks all over the room, avoiding me completely. “Really, it’s okay.” I start to laugh.
“That’s never happened to me before,” she says, laughing as well.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“I’m Caroline’s personal laundry worker now,” she says, sporting her pride on her face. “What about you?”
“I date her son.” My face flushes with heat. It feels awkward to say it aloud to someone I barely know.
“Wow!” Ali says. “You sure moved up quickly.”
“I met him at my dome,” I say, irritated at the implication. “We just came here to finish up some things.”
“You get to go home?” Ali asks. I sense the jealousy in her voice. “You are the luckiest person I’ve met.”
Home—will we really be welcomed back? “Sometimes it doesn’t feel that way,” I say. “We should hang out before I leave. I don’t have any of my own friends here.”
“Really!” she says. “What about tomorrow night? I’m off. You could tell me all about your home!”
“Sure,” I smile. “I have to run. I’ll pick you up at your place?”
“We better meet somewhere else,” she says. “How about at the café just inside the dome?”
I agree and notice a little extra pep in Ali’s step as I walk toward the door. It will be nice to talk to someone not from this place.
Evan is waiting by the door for me. “I thought I could get you something to eat from a breakfast cart inside the dome.” He smiles.
Evan intertwines his fingers with mine and we walk out of the house. It feels nice to have a normal morning together. Combined with making plans to see Ali, this is all helping me to forget about the horrors of last night.
At the edge of the dome, there are a few New Order members. Two of them come toward us with their hands out, to stop us from entering the dome. I tighten my grip on Evan’s hand and he whispers, “Don’t worry.” I’ve heard that before.
“What’s going on here?” Evan asks, pulling me behind him.
“It’s a check-stop,” one of them responds. “After last night’s events in the north quarter, there have been some threats on the dome. Our orders are to take necessary precautions.”
Another New Order member comes over to us. He’s the one who spoke with us last night. “You can let these two through.”
“But, sir—”
“He’s a scout,” the member says. “And she works at the Axis. Let them through.”
“Yes, sir,” the member says, letting us pass.
After we are out of earshot, I ask Evan, “How did he know where I work?”
“Trust me,” Evan says, squeezing my hand. “After last night, they know who all the important people are.”
“Don’t flatter yourself, Carmichael,” I say, punching him in the shoulder. I let go of his hand and put my arm in his, and he takes me to a food cart on the way to the Axis.
Evan escorts me all the way to the lab. I assure him things will be fine, but he insists on checking in as soon as he’s back. I’m glad to be finally included in his activities, but I never wanted it to be because Quinn was missing. Though I’m confident if there’s any sign of someone scouting Dome 569, Evan will find it.
In the lab, I notice that there’s a new person standing next to Minton, but his back is to me. When I enter, he turns around, and I’m surprised to see it’s the younger judge from Court the other day.
“Natalia,” he says, nodding in my direction. “I’m Mason, Caroline’s personal assistant.”
I shake his hand uncomfortably and say, “You can call me Nat.”
“Mason’s here to check on our progress,” Minton says excitedly. “Caroline is very happy that we are testing today.”
“Yes,” Mason says, flashing a bright smile. “We’ll be able to use these as a present for you to take back to your home. That’s what I’m here to talk to you about.”
“What about it?” I don’t hide my irritation. I’m too exhausted to play around with their niceties today.
Mason frowns, and pulls me aside. “I’d like you to take an offer back to your dome when you go. We’d like to make an alliance.”
“I don’t know how I can help,” I say. “I’m not qualified to negotiate.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” he says. “I’ll be coming with you. I just need your assistance in getting to the right people.” He flashes me a smile. “Will that be a problem?” he asks.
“My dome isn’t going to be happy I brought your dome the serum,” I say. “If those in charge knew I brought the microchip with all our research they would freak. We lost a lot of people over the years to get the information on that microchip. I don’t think I’ll give you any of the leverage you want.”
Mason frowns again. If he keeps it up, he’ll pass his chin soon.
“Well you must know who I need to talk to,” he says. “I was assured this would be an easy transaction. Are you telling me your dome is hostile?”
“Only to me,” I explain. “Your best bet is to talk with my old friend Jak. He’s kind of the one in charge. I’m not even sure if I could get you a meeting with him. Evan and I left without any notice.”
Mason lets go of my elbow. “You’re our only key to Dome 1618. We’ll talk again before we leave.” He turns back to Minton. “Now, let’s get this finalized so we can start making plans for implementation.”
“How are we going to test it out?” I ask.
“We aren’t,” Mason says. “Minton and I will be doing that on another floor.
We need you to stay with Cabri. He needs some assistance to get his project completed.” Cabri looks up from his microscope with a scowl on his face. “Deadlines, Cabri, deadlines. Perhaps you can work your magic with him as well, Miss Greyes.”
Minton and Mason leave the lab and I look over at Cabri with dread. I can’t imagine spending an entire morning with him. I reluctantly sit beside him. His irritation with my presence practically oozes out of his pores.
“So,” I try to make small talk, “what are you working on?”
“I highly doubt you have any relevant lab training,” he says, looking up at me over his glasses. I shift uncomfortably under his gaze. “I didn’t think so,” he says dryly. “Why don’t you make yourself useful and wash that equipment over there.” He points to a sink full of beakers, test tubes, and flasks. “I need to run up to the freezers on Floor 15 for more of the samples I replicated.” He walks to the door with his laptop and then pauses. “When you’re done, you can join me,” he adds unenthusiastically.
I’m grateful I won’t be subjected to the scrutiny of Cabri, so I gladly fill the sink with soapy suds and get to work. After everything is cleaned, I grudgingly head for the fifteenth floor. The sooner I can ditch Cabri and do some nosing around, the better.
Floor 15 reminds me of my former co-worker Waldorf’s old lab. It was an area reserved for Microbiology, where my dome housed many viruses.
I see Cabri working diligently at his desk. I walk in, running my hand along the cold steel and glass of the freezers, looking inside at all the biological samples. It’s much emptier here than back home. Cabri clears his throat.
“You’re still here?” he asks, not tearing his gaze away from the computer. “I thought you might have taken off somewhere.”
I sigh, not interested in an argument. “You don’t keep many specimens here,” I say, changing the subject to something that might make him happier.
“An unfortunate side effect of our new-found freedom,” he says, pointing out the window. “They made me destroy almost everything when our dome was opened to the outside. It was an ethical decision, they told me. I was only allowed to keep what I could prove was for the good of all.”
“So, you don’t carry the virus here?” I ask.
“Unfortunately, not,” he says. I raise my eyebrows. “Oh, don’t get me wrong. It is extremely dangerous when used the wrong way. If I had my own, I could have duplicated this immune serum much quicker. For every good, there’s something bad. Even the best things can be manipulated into something much, much worse. To be afraid of something simply because it’s dangerous is foolish.”
“Sounds like you really love your work,” I say.
“I can create life,” he says. “Tell me who else can do that.”
“Women.” I smile.
“Not without a man,” he says, rolling his eyes. “Hurry up and make yourself useful. Take that envelope down to Caroline. It has some important information about my test results.”
I grab the yellow envelope and notice it isn’t sealed. “No peeking,” Cabri yells. “Not like you’d understand it,” he grumbles. I roll my eyes again at his arrogance and leave the lab.
I push the button in the elevator to go down to Floor 2. The yellow envelope in my hands is thick and I peek inside, seeing a bunch of graphs. I wish I knew what Cabri’s results said. Is the immune serum almost ready? As eccentric as he seems, at least he loves his job enough to make this immune serum work.
The elevator dings and I look up out of habit, and see I am on Floor 4, not 2. I must have accidentally hit the wrong button. The doors open and I see the back of a sandy-haired boy running down a hallway, laughing. I drop Cabri’s envelope, spilling the papers all over the floor. I lean over to pick them up but quickly look back up and see the boy is gone. The doors close and I scramble to gather the papers together.
The doors reopen on Floor 2, and Caroline and Mason are standing in the hall. Both look up at me, as I shove Cabri’s papers back into his envelope.
“Natalia,” Caroline says, “what on earth are you doing?”
“Are those Cabri’s reports?” Mason asks, raising an eyebrow at me.
“Yes, sorry,” I say, distracted. “Um, are there kids in here?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Caroline says sharply. “Give me those reports.” I hand the envelope over to Caroline. She rips it from my hands, pausing as she looks me over. “Are those my clothes?” she asks. I stare back at her blankly, unable to come up with anything to say. Caroline shakes her head and turns, stomping to her office.
“Don’t you have somewhere else to be?” Mason asks, smirking at me. He turns and follows Caroline.
I’m confused by their reactions, but I know I saw a kid. I must go see for myself. I hit the button for Floor 4; I’m sure Cabri won’t miss me for a few more minutes. The elevator opens to an empty hallway. I step through the doors and pause for a moment before continuing. Am I going crazy? I start to turn back to the elevator when I hear laughter. It’s real! I hurry down the hall to find its source.
Both sides of the hall are lined with doors. It must have served as a dormitory for the labs above. Back home the Axis had the same setup. It makes sense they designed them all the same.
I see an open door ahead and call out, “Hello?” The laughter stops.
“Is someone there?” I call again, peeking in the room. No one is there. I falter for a moment. Maybe I am hearing things? “Hello?” I ask one last time. I’m answered by a giggle from under the blankets on the bed.
“Hello,” Quinn says, popping his head out from under the blankets.
“Quinn!” I say, holding my arms open. He runs over and hugs me. “What are you doing here?” I ask. “How did you get in?”
“Mommy brought me last night.” He smiles.
I stare dumbfounded at Quinn as he smiles up at me with his round eyes and dimpled cheeks. He looks fine, as if he hadn’t been missing. As if he’s been tucked away safely all this time.
“What do you mean, Mommy brought you here?”
“It’s our secret.” Quinn giggles again, sending chills across my skin. He’s so happy, clueless of his absence on the outside. Instead, he just stands there, staring up at me with his big brown eyes and rosy round cheeks. Safe.
“Why did she bring you here?”
“Tag!” Quinn hits my arm and runs past me out into the hall.
“Wait, Quinn!” I call out. “Come back!”
I chase him out into the hallway. He giggles and squeals each time I nearly catch him. As we reach the end of the hall, he darts into a room, but I’m faster, and scoop him up under his arms, swinging him around as he laughs hysterically.
“It’s boring here all by myself.”
“What happened last night?”
“Mommy brought me here,” Quinn says again. “I couldn’t sleep and went out to play. She was outside the hostel and told me to come with her to work. I’ve never been in the Axis before!”
“Have you seen Molly?”
“I like Molly.” Quinn smiles. “She’s my friend, but Mommy says I have to wait to play with her because she’s busy.” A big frown and pouty lips appear on his little face.
“Do you know where Molly is, Quinn?”
“Quinn!” I freeze at the sound of Caroline’s voice calling from down the hallway. What will she do if she finds me here? I put my finger to my lips.
“Just like Mommy’s game.” Quinn giggles.
“Yes, let’s play a game,” I whisper, watching the door carefully. “I’m going to hide in the closet but you can’t tell Mommy. She’s on Evan’s team, okay. I don’t want them to find me, because I’m on your team.”
“Okay!” Quinn smiles.
“Remember.” I put my finger to my lips. “Don’t tell Mommy you saw me. It’ll be our little secret.”
“Deal,” he says, as I slip into the closet.
Inside, I stand as still as I can, holdi
ng my breath until I’m only able to hear my heartbeat. Quinn giggles from the other side of the door.
“Who were you talking to?” Caroline’s voice grows louder as she enters the room; I can see her through the slits in the closet door.
“No one.” His voice sounds like he’s hiding a secret, but will Caroline notice?
“Come, then,” she says. “You can play with your friends now.”
“Molly too?” Quinn asks.
“Yes,” Caroline says. “Let me grab you a sweater.” She walks toward the closet and puts her hand on the door.
“No!” Quinn yells. “It’s here.” Quinn holds up a sweater.
“Good,” Caroline says, turning away from the closet door. “Let’s go.”
As they exit the room, I hear Quinn’s voice trail back. “Can I turn the key this time?” If Caroline answers, I don’t hear it, but I do hear the elevator ding as the doors shut. I exhale. That was close. I push open the door and run for the elevator. Inside, I lean back and close my eyes. Why was Caroline outside the hostel the night of the raid, and why did she bring Quinn here? The doors open at the main floor, and I run out of the Axis, on a mission to find Evan.
I don’t want to stop at his place and risk running into Caroline. Maybe if I go home, I could wait for Alec to return and catch Evan before he gets to the Axis. But what if they don’t get back right away? I need someone to help me rescue the kids. I need to see Evan’s friends.
I slip out of the dome, skirting the exterior past the many commandments painted onto its side warning everyone to obey. Now that I know just how swift the punishments are, the final three make my skin crawl. Threats to the dome are crimes. All crimes go before the Court. All sentences are final. What will the final sentence be for the children?
I quietly slip through the east quarter unseen. People here are too busy working to be nosy. As I pass the dorms, something seems off; it’s the absence of voices, or any commotion whatsoever. I know Ali told me they worked shifts, so where are the others, the ones who should be resting before their next shift?
Here Skies Surround Us Page 17
