“When? Where?”
“He’s close.”
“Just how close, Cal?” Ambert asked sternly, but I could tell he was joking by his smile.
“Outside the house,” I admitted.
We opened the door to outside. It was cold, and the air smelled like it would rain. A wind traveled through the trees and bushes, or at least what was left of them, knocking some ice off the branches.
“Wes, Ambert wants to talk with you,” I whispered.
Wes revealed himself from the bushes and snuck his way to the front porch. Snow covered parts of his black uniform, sticking out against the dark colors. Any more snow and Wes could’ve been the next snowman.
Gran talked about snowmen a lot, though I didn’t understand the concept. Maybe Gran would get involved in the secret too. After all, she bent the rules a lot.
Ambert and Wes analyzed each other for a second before making any movements. I looked back and forth between them, curious to see how well they would get along.
“Ambert.” My brother offered his right hand to shake Wes'.
“Wesley, but everyone calls me Wes.” Wes took my brother’s hand and shook it, looking into the other one’s eyes with total respect.
“I’m sorry about what happened,” Ambert said.
“Don’t blame yourself for that," Wes replied.
They tightened their grip on each other’s hands.
“Your hands are warm. That’s a sign of a warm heart.” Wes smiled.
“Thank you... I guess,” Ambert paused, “I’m glad I can help.”
They let go of their grips.
“So, what is our plan?” I asked the both of them as they glared back at me.
Wes sighed. “Ambert needs to access the main computer and look for Aurelia’s name.”
“I hope that won’t get you in trouble...” I said.
“I’ll be fine,” Ambert’s smile faded, “If we keep this a secret from Father.”
I jumped back in alarm. I hadn't thought about that. “That’s right! What are we going to do? He’ll be suspicious if we don’t watch our steps.”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something,” Wes said.
A pair of headlights gleamed down my dark street. The color was the same blood-red the man inside the car worked with. If The Regime wanted to instill fear into the population, those headlights were solid proof.
“That’s him. You better hide. We’ll just pretend to be cleaning up,” Ambert said.
“If you need anything, I’m at the abandoned warehouse on Necrosis Lane." Wes swiftly crawled into the bushes and took a back way into the distance.
Ambert nodded before we both hurried inside.
Father’s car slowly pulled into the driveway. The red headlights gleamed from the little black car. Peering through the window, I could see my father get out of the car. On his face, a twisted smile lingered as he approached the doorway of our house.
I raced back to the kitchen when I saw him get closer to the house door.
“Pretend like we just finished dinner,” I ordered.
We did so.
The front door creaked open. As he stepped inside the house, Father took in a breath of cold air and sighed.
“Well, looks like both of you are enjoying yourselves. How was your day?” Father asked.
His eyes burned into my guilt. Could I even lie to him to protect Wes?
“The usual stuff,” I lied, but my voice shook.
Father nodded, contemplating my answer long and hard.
Ambert smiled.
Father gave Ambert a cold glare. “Ambert, what have I told you about smiling? You know I discourage you from doing it, stupid boy. Finish the dishes. I would like to talk to both of you afterward.”
Ambert and I looked at each other, his smile fading.
Father left us and entered the living room. Ambert and I sighed.
“What do you think he wants?” my voice spoke a little above a whisper.
Ambert shrugged. “No clue, but I hope it doesn’t have to do with us.”
I gulped. My heart leaped in and out of my chest, wanting to tell Father its darkest secret. One question burned through my mind, and one question alone: Did Father know?
If the secret was out, it wasn’t just my life at stake. I would drag Wes and Ambert down with me.
Eleven:
When all of our dishes were done, Ambert and I entered the living room-- gray like the others, just with a television screen and a couple chairs and couches.
Father smiled, pleased by our compliance. Ambert and I looked around the room before Father cleared his throat.
“Sit down,” Father said with a stern face.
He gestured to the huge couch in the corner.
The couch was made of a shiny red leather that looked new besides the one brown stain. Ambert spilled food on it when he was six. That day, Father lashed out at Ambert and never let us on the couch again unless it was important.
Ambert still had a small scar on his neck to prove it.
We both sat on the couch as Father put his hands and elbows on the table. He glared at us with empty eyes, yet they were filled with curiosity. Maybe he rehearsed his words in his head before he spoke them. Maybe he had done it all afternoon. I couldn’t guess what news he wanted to tell us.
“I’ll spend most of my time at work this week,” Father looked coldly, “I’m working on a project that’ll benefit the nation. Project Dark Phoenix is its name.”
“But, don’t you have to use dreaming to do that?” I asked.
Father produced a glare. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
I gulped hard. That was a wrong move. My eyes widened, waiting for Father to pull out a gun. To my surprise, he paused, lingering in the living room’s silence.
Father smiled. “It does, Calista, but people in a high position have the approval to use dreams and talents for advantage. We create goals and accomplish them.”
“But it’s still unfair that…” I began.
Father interrupted. “What I’m working on will change our lives.”
I sighed. “Yes, Father…”
“That’s my girl,” Father paused, “Ambert, wouldn’t you like to live in a nicer house with nicer things, and have that kind of freedom under The Regime?”
Ambert smiled. “I guess so. It would be nice to do all of those things. I mean, a life like that would be living. This is nothing.”
I could tell by his eyes he wasn’t so sure and wanted to know more. Father didn’t notice.
“What is Project Dark Phoenix, Father?” I asked.
“It’s a program that’ll change the world,” Father informed.
“That’s it? You’re not even going to tell us what it is?” Ambert questioned.
“I know you both are excited, but I have to keep this a secret until the time comes,” Father explained.
Ambert and I nodded. “Yes, Father.”
“Now, I hope you enjoy the rest of your breaks. Schools will be open. Work will be twice the shift as well,” Father’s voice was coarse.
Ambert stood from the couch and clenched his fist. “I’m tired of work, Father. I want to spend more time with Cal. My destiny isn’t sitting behind a stupid desk for hours on end plugging your murders into the computer!”
Normally, he didn’t snap like that, but I could tell that he wanted to spend more time with me.
“You don’t understand. Son, The Regime finds you a valuable ally. One that if we lost would damage the entire system,” Father whispered, trying to calm us down, but I could tell how angry he was by Ambert’s answer.
“Valuable? All I do is sit at computers all day. I hate it!” Ambert said. He lowered his head, keeping his hatred for his work at a minimum.
Father raised his head up again with his hand, squeezing my brother’s face, “You will change your mind,” Father said as if he was a school bully... or maybe The Commander himself.
He let Ambert go and relaxed in his favo
rite hard, metal chair beside us.
“Can’t you see I can’t do this anymore?” Ambert crossed his arms.
“If it weren’t for me, you’d be dead!” Father clamped his teeth together, “I was told to kill you on the spot, but The Commander had other plans.”
That was true. At the end of a school year, sixteen-year-old students were reviewed by a panel of government officials— some executioners and military generals, others top scientists and researchers. They didn’t just look at one thing to place you. They looked at your heritage to see a physical family history. Anyone with terrible medical history wasn’t likely to be placed in the military.
Officials were keen to look at your physical capabilities, grades, personality, work ethic, and even your looks. This got you placed into different jobs to keep the system running.
Most people were happy with what they got, whether it was in a factory, technology, scientific research, executioners, population growth experts, guards, or soldiers. Anyone had the option to change, but most were killed by The Commander and his supporters unless it was for good reason.
When The Regime placed Ambert during his graduation, Father pushed for him to become a soldier. When it was announced, Ambert refused in front of everyone.
To this day, no one forgot the incident, and because of it, the bullying started. Any fool— no matter the age— would know Ambert wasn’t fit for the army, but, yet again, it was The Regime’s order.
Father dragged him to the military base. Doctors said what Ambert already knew: he was too scrawny and more than likely the military would destroy his psyche. Everyone wanted to see him dead, but for some reason, The Commander chose otherwise. For once, I felt grateful to the mysterious leader of The Regime.
“You’ve told me this before. I don’t understand…” Ambert began.
Father interrupted, a scowl formed on his face. He shoved his hand into his back pocket (probably to get a gun) before jolting away from it. “Be more grateful toward The Regime and towards me. That’s just part of the chain of survival.”
“Why spill blood? We can just loosen the law a little and everything will be...” Ambert started.
Father’s posture was stiff, letting anger take a hold of him before taking a deep breath in. “Grow up, Ambert! You will understand. Soon,” Father sighed, attempting to calm himself down, “Besides, you’re getting a promotion next week.”
Ambert sank into his chair, sadness watering in his eyes. He sighed heavily before replying softly to Father. “That’s great, I guess.”
Father smiled. “And Calista, graduation’s in a few years. Rumors have been going around at work. I know where you’ll be.”
I looked at him and faked a smile. I wanted anything but that.
“Now, the pair of you better get a good night’s sleep. I’m off to do one last patrol. Expect me home around midnight tonight. You better be in bed by then, son,” Father ordered.
Ambert and I nodded to him.
Father left the house and pulled his hover car out of the driveway.
“I can’t believe we’ll both be working for them,” I remarked.
“He can’t do that to you. I doubt he was serious about the whole job thing.”
“I’m not so sure. He might have been,” I paused, “What did you think of Wes? Do you trust him?”
Ambert smiled. “He’s solely interested in helping his sister. Family’s a great reason to break rules.”
“I trust your judgment, Ambert. I always have,” My lips curved into a smile.
Ambert nodded. “I try my best. I hate that I can’t be in school to stop the bullies anymore, but helping Wes seems like my best bet to help people.”
“How can we help Wes if you have work tomorrow?” I paused, “Congrats on your promotion.”
“I wonder what’s the catch. When I took my first job, I was told I couldn't take any time to lay off unless I was ordered to. It’s just the same thing every day, plugging in the names of people being executed and murdered by Father," Ambert sighed, "That’s not what I want in a job.”
“I don’t doubt that,” I changed the subject. “How are we going to help Wes?”
“Within the next few days, I'll check the database to find out where the information is. Then, we’ll find out about Aurelia.”
My face lit with excitement. “Now you’re dreaming! Wait, did you say ‘we?’”
“You and Wes should come along too. You can tell Father you want to see what I do in my job. Then, Wes will be able to sneak in.”
“What if I’m caught?” My lip quivered before I looked down to the floor.
Ambert’s voice was reassuring. “You can do this. I know you can. Look, remember when we had to walk across a log to get to the other side of the river to come back home?”
I sighed. “Yes, but this is more dangerous.”
“It’s about the same. It was a cold winter night, in the middle of February. You and I were done with our after school assignments we had to make up, and we headed home in the dark with nothing but a flashlight to guide us in the snow.”
“I know what happened Ambert. I was there.” I rolled my eyes.
Our normal route home was blocked off so we had cross a river. Anyone who fell off the bridge normally drowned, but we still crossed using a log that had fallen over.
He produced a wide, charismatic smile. “You and I had faith we’d come through for each other. I still have that faith in you.”
“We were just little kids back then,” I replied.
“But we promised to protect each other, remember?” Ambert paused, “I'll find out which computer has the information.”
Ambert’s smile continued to flourish while patting me on the shoulder.
We headed upstairs to go to sleep for the night, but instead of taking the dream-preventing serum, I gulped down Wes' fake serum and laid down in my bed, where a scanner awaited at my metal headrest.
"Brain waves low," the scanner said aloud in a monotone voice.
Mom entered my room, slowly creaking open the door. “How was your day, Darling?”
“Pretty good, Mom. Did you and Gran find everything at the store?” I asked.
“What?” It was like I caught her off guard, “Oh... yes.”
“You okay, Mom?” I took her hand.
A gentle moan escaped Mom's lips. “Just tired.”
“Get some rest, Mom. You shouldn't overwork yourself.” I said.
Mom smiled. “I'm lucky to call you my daughter.”
“Same for you, Mom.”
She gently kissed my forehead and embraced me. I didn't want her to stop. There was a chance Wes and I would get killed. Moments with Mom were precious now. She was no longer the woman who nagged me to get out of bed.
“Goodnight, Calista.” Her words shook as she exited. She turned off my light and shut the door behind her.
Sighing, I closed my eyes and fell fast asleep. he drowsiness medicine did its work.
I had my first dream, and it was the strangest feeling I ever experienced. Vivid images passed through my mind, taking me into a world different than my own.
As the next day approached, I whisked away within the realm of sleep, thoughts lingering in the path ahead.
Twelve:
My alarm blared, a wakeup call for me to get up for school. A sense of refresh filled my body with a life I wasn’t used to. Did dreaming do that? It was a strange feeling— a tingle entered my body to confirm it. I took deep breaths and smiled. I wanted to remember the dream forever.
On instinct, I grabbed my black notebook and began to write on a blank page:
“November 16, 2218,
My first dream:
Wes, Ambert, and I attempted our mission. In the dream, guards dragged Wes away. As for Ambert, he went missing and I could never find him. I still freed Wes and found his little sister.
She was beautiful with golden-blonde hair, lilac eyes, and tanned skin. In the dream, she wore a purple dress with light blue
and silver swirls. Her clothing looked similar to ones I wished I had. A soft smile etched across her face, and she waved at me from afar. She gave me the same vibe as Wes— free-spirited and filled with dreams.
Breaking Order: Book 1 (Breaking Order Series) Page 6
