Tested

by Stalder, Janelle

  “Mmm hmm,” she hummed. “Is that why you discreetly suggested I not attend the function?”

  The woman was way too quick for her age. “You were the one complaining and saying that your hip couldn’t handle standing around all night. I simply said it was probably better you not go for that reason. I had no idea there was going to be trouble. Although, to be honest, I’m happy you never went, all things considered.”

  Her aunt placed the cup back on the saucer. “You know you can always come live with me, Lake. It would keep you safe and out of trouble, and I wouldn’t have to be worried about you constantly.”

  “You don’t have to worry about me, Auntie,” she said quickly.

  Angela grunted. “As if I could just sit here all day and not be, knowing what you’re out there doing. Just knowing you live in one of those ghettos is enough to have your grandmamma looking down on me disapprovingly. She wouldn’t want such a life for you.”

  “Grandma wouldn’t want this kind of life for anyone,” Lake pointed out. They stared at each other, until Lake felt her shoulders drop. She hated fighting with her when she came for a visit. “I can’t pretend to be an Upper when I’m not. I have friends that count on me. I can’t just turn my back on them. Please try to understand.”

  With a heavy sigh, Angela picked her cup back up, turning to stare out the window that looked down on one of the nicest sections of the upper area. “I always do,” she said softly.

  “What do you have planned then for the rest of the week?”

  “There’s a function this evening at the community hall. I think I’ll go there for a bit to see some of my friends.”

  Smiling, Lake nodded, drinking the rest of her tea. “That’s nice, Auntie. I hope you have a good time.”

  Lake left her Aunt’s shortly after, pulling her hood up to shadow her face. Most people didn’t pay her much attention, just assuming she was supposed to be there. It probably didn’t even occur to them that a lower would be walking casually amongst them.

  She knew she took a huge risk sneaking here to visit her Aunt, but it was something she had to do. The only thing she felt bad about was hiding it from Phoenix and the others. If she thought they’d understand, maybe she would have told them. But she knew them better than that, and even knowing she had a relative in the Upper section would most likely make them mad. Not that there was anything Lake could do about it. Things had just worked out this way, but that didn’t make her begrudge her Great Aunt at all.

  Angela had always been better off than her sister, Lake’s grandma. The two rarely spoke when her grandma was alive, something Lake knew bothered Angela to this very day. That distance was solidified when Ludwig separated the population into classes, but thankfully by that time her grandma had already passed. Lake wasn’t sure her grandma could have survived in the poor conditions of the ghetto.

  It was long after the city fences and gates had been erected that Lake sought out Angela. Ever since then she’d go for a visit once in a while. They were all they had left of their family. It was important to her to have some sort of relationship with Angela, even if it was something as simple as a quick visit now and again.

  Lost in thought, she didn’t see the person standing in her way until she crashed head first into their chest. Cursing, she tipped her head back to look up and apologize then she froze at who stood there.

  “Fancy meeting you here,” Garrett said with an easy grin. His hands steadied her, gripping her upper arms lightly.

  “Garrett,” she said, surprised. Her eyes instantly looked around for the others. “What are you doing here?”

  “I should ask you the same,” he replied.

  Crap. She’d never imagined she’d actually be caught this way.

  “Don’t worry, Lake,” he said with a laugh, “I’m not going to rat you out.”

  Her chest eased up a fraction. “I’m not trying to be deceitful, I just know they’ll worry,” she explained.

  He nodded as though he understood, which she was extremely grateful for. “I know exactly what you mean,” he said with a wink. The fact that he was here too made her believe him.

  “My aunt lives up here,” she confessed. “I like to come visit with her.”

  His smile widened. “I come here to visit this old man that used to teach me how to play chess before the bombings started,” he said. “Mr. Samson, the only man, besides my dad, who could actually deal with me when I was young and rambunctious.”

  Lake cocked an eyebrow. “You mean you were even worse when you were younger?”

  He laughed, throwing his arm loosely around her shoulders, urging her to start walking beside him. “You have no idea,” he said. “My dad only dealt with it because he had to, but Mr. Samson actually enjoyed spending time with me. He forced me to actually sit still for an hour and focus on something. I’ve always felt bad that he was put here in the Upper section.”

  An incredulous laugh escaped her. “Yeah, poor guy,” she said dryly.

  “The accommodations might be better here, but he’s all alone. What comfort is it to have sturdy walls around you and food on your table when you have no one to share it with?”

  She knew exactly what he meant and found herself nodding. “Maybe we should introduce him to my Aunt,” she said as they made their way through streets clear of debris and wreckage, where street lamps that actually worked when it grew darker lined the sides of it. It was amazing how different things were from one side of a fence to another.

  “Nah, he’s a miserable old coot. You wouldn’t want to put her through that, trust me.”

  She laughed. They walked in companionable silence before she spoke again. “So now I know where you go when you always disappear.”

  He chuckled. “I guess so. Just don’t tell my brothers or they’ll have my head. Especially Trent.” A heavy silence fell between them. Trent and Phoenix had been missing for over a week now and it was hanging over the house like a dark cloud.

  Lake forced herself to smile. “Your secret is safe with me, so long as you keep mine too.”

  “Cross my heart and hope to die,” he said, marking an X over his heart with his free hand. “Now let’s get back before they start noticing we’re missing.”

  She opened her mouth to ask how he’d gotten through the fence, wondering if they’d used the same spot, when a loud noise had her stopping. They both ceased walking, their heads looking up. Overhead, four large airplanes flew low over the city, their black shadows casting a feeling of doom over the area.

  “What the hell?” Garrett muttered.

  Lake would have replied, except the appearance of three more planes made it impossible. She could feel the sense of dread climbing up her spine as they stood in the middle of the street. More people had come out to see what was going on, their voices and questions now filling the space around them.

  “We need to move,” Garrett said urgently, his voice soft but close enough for her to hear. Lake nodded, following him as he led them through the streets, their steps now quicker than before. They didn’t run, because that would have looked suspicious, but every bone in her body wanted to. The planes were headed in the direction of the eastern ghetto, a small relief for them but still not a good sign. Something was going on, and it looked like Ludwig was bringing out the big guns for whatever it was. They needed to get back to the others – fast.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  It took every ounce of willpower and strength not to take her right then and there. Now that he remembered everything, there was nothing standing between them, but Tyler knew he still needed to take things slow.

  From the moment he saw Missy, he knew she was special. There was something about the timid way she carried herself, her shoulders always slightly hunched, her eyes never meeting another’s for very long. She’d kept that golden hair always partially in her face, a travesty in his opinion. The more he’d watched her, the more his protective instincts toward her grew.

  She was the kind of girl that need
ed to be nurtured and coaxed out of her shell so she could really live life. It had been a long, slow process for him to get her to trust him before he’d been taken. Like a timid rabbit, Tyler had to move slowly around her, his every word and action calculated. Eventually he noticed she wouldn’t step away from him if he casually leaned against the counter near her. When she’d bring food to the table, she’d come up beside him, her arm brushing up against his, and she wouldn’t flinch away.

  Tyler wasn’t sure if she even realized she’d begun to drop some of her protective shield around him. They were only little things, but for Missy they were huge, and he knew that. If Tyler was anything, he was observant, and he knew that the small allowances this girl made for him before his abduction were not to be taken lightly.

  To have her tell him now that she trusted him was like a balm to his soul. Even after everything they’d gone through while being here, she’d found the strength to really put her faith in him. Even in spite of his mind being messed up and him not knowing her. He could only imagine how scared he must have made her in the beginning. Thank God some part of him remembered that he needed to be gentle with her; the part that had been developing feelings for her no doubt. Otherwise who knew what could have happened while the drugs pumped through his system.

  He needed to really focus on getting them out, and getting back to the others. That meant he needed to control the urges inside him that were screaming for him to take her lips with his again. There would be time for that later, hopefully. Right now they had to focus.

  Reluctantly he stepped back and eased his body away from hers. He thought he caught disappointment in her eyes as well. The idea that she liked be held against him made him extremely happy.

  The sound of footsteps out in the hall had him stiffening, something Missy seemed to notice right away. She opened her mouth then closed it when he lifted a hand in warning. Her tiny hands gripped the front of his shirt as they both froze. He could smell her fear mixed with the natural sweetness that was just Missy, something that was still sinking in.

  His mind was back, but it was also reeling at all the changes he was noticing in himself. Whatever Douglas Hatcher’s scientists had given him, it had made a significant impact. Even hearing the men coming toward them was a shock, because some part of him knew they were still a long way away and yet he could hear them clearly as though they were just beyond the door. His ears could pick up the sound of their breathing, the rustling of their clothes. None of them were speaking, which put him even more on alert. There was no reason for anyone to come and see them again. Something must be happening.

  Tyler placed himself in front of Missy just as the men reached the door. A second later the lock clicked over and four men entered. He pushed her further into the wall behind him, his arm wrapped backwards around her to keep her pinned to him.

  “Easy,” one of the men said, his hands out in what Tyler assumed was supposed to look nonthreatening. Except Tyler knew better. These men were no better than the rats that crawled around the dirtiest parts of the ghettos. They were the lowest of the low, having no regard for anyone but themselves and their cause. The fact that they hadn’t injured or even killed Missy by now just to manipulate him was a relief. It wasn’t something he’d put past them.

  “What do you want?” Tyler asked, staying on guard.

  “There’s been a change of plans,” another answered. “Your little woman needs to go so you can get ready for your assignment.”

  Shit. What? It was too soon.

  “It wasn’t supposed to happen yet.”

  “I know,” the same guy answered in an annoyed tone. “Hence the change of plans comment. If you don’t want her here by herself while you’re gone, she’s going to have to come with us now.”

  Missy gripped the back of his shirt tightly. He didn’t like this. On the other hand, Tyler really didn’t want her locked away while he was out there. This would give her an opportunity to get back to Bridgette’s apartment and use the phone to contact the others. It was trusting these men to actually let her leave here alive that was making him hesitate.

  “How do I know she’ll be safe” Tyler asked.

  The speaker sighed. “We already gave you our word that nothing would happen to her. She’ll be escorted out and can return to her apartment. If she’s dumb enough to come back tomorrow to be your prisoner again, then that’s her choice. No one here is going to do her any harm.”

  He was lying. Tyler couldn’t tell what it was he was lying about, whether it was regarding her safety or something else, but there was definitely deception in his tone. It made his blood boil, wrath colouring his vision. He could hear Missy’s tiny voice calling out to him, but his focus was narrowed in on the threat in front of them. These men had something planned, and he was going to find out what.

  A haze blanketed him as he took a step forward. A part of him knew this reaction wasn’t normal, and most likely caused by the drugs still in his system, but that part was pushed to the back by the darker part of him that had now surfaced. His only thoughts were of removing the threat and protecting the woman behind him.

  He’d barely managed to take one more step before he saw one of the men pull out a gun and fire at him. He looked down at the dart now sticking out of his chest and cursed inwardly just as his vision started to blur. His body immediately slumped to the floor. He could sense Missy kneeling over him, her hands cold on his face, but the tranquilizer was pulling him under fast, too fast for him to do anything but fall into the blackness awaiting him.

  “Let’s go,” Geoff said, walking toward her and grabbing her arm. Missy tried to yank it away but he was a lot stronger than she was. She stumbled to her feet, her gaze never leaving Tyler.

  “Why did you do that?” she asked, emotion and concern making her voice catch.

  “Are you kidding me?” one of the other men said disbelievingly. “Have you seen that guy during one of his rages? We were all goners if he reached us. There was no way we were letting that happen.”

  “We need to get moving,” Geoff urged, pulling her toward the open door. “You should be happy about this. You’re finally getting away from that psycho. He didn’t hurt you did he?” he asked, looking her up and down as they entered the hall. Missy shook her head, her voice lost now that reality was settling in.

  They were separating them. What if she couldn’t get back to Tyler? What if they did something to him? Crap, what if they were planning on doing something to her? She looked warily over at Geoff and the others. None of them were looking at her as they walked down the empty halls.

  Missy remained quiet as they made their way toward the main hall that would take them out to the street. Fear made her hands shake, something she didn’t want any of the men around her to notice. She needed to remain calm, or at least outwardly so. It was becoming harder and harder, however, the closer she got to the exit.

  “I bet you’re pretty happy, huh?” Geoff said, interrupting the silence.

  Missy jumped slightly before looking over at him in confusion. “Happy about what?” she asked.

  He sent her a look that said she was nuts. “That you’re finally out of there. You must have been terrified of that ogre.”

  She instantly bristled at the insult then forced herself to appear neutral. “He never hurt me,” she said simply.

  “Well that’s good,” he muttered. His eyes trailed down her. “Not at all?”

  Her face burned at the insinuation. All she could do was shake her head.

  “I’m glad,” was all he said. They walked further before she got up the nerve to ask him a question.

  “When should I come back tomorrow?”

  Geoff looked at her and laughed. “You’re joking, right? You’re finally out and you’re actually going to come back here? Are you insane?” He stopped walking, his eyes narrowed on her as she stopped also. “Do you know that guy?”

  “Of course not,” she replied immediately. “He’s from the western ghetto, isn’
t he? I’m from here,” she lied.

  He nodded. “I thought as much. Then why come back?”

  Missy shrugged, trying her best to appear casual. “I just thought you guys liked having me around to control him.”

  The look on his face was one of relief. “Look, don’t worry about that. We can handle that guy. Plus, after tonight, it won’t even matter.”

  Blood drained from her face. “Why won’t it matter?” she asked, hating the way her voice had dropped, no matter how hard she’d tried to keep it strong. Her throat constricted from the panic clogging it.

  He smiled as though they were sharing a secret. “Let’s just say, he’s going on a mission he’s not expected to come back from. We don’t need guys like him around who are unpredictable. They’re only good for one thing.”

  She cleared her throat uselessly. “What’s that?”

  “Distraction,” he answered with a laugh as the other three guys laughed along with him.

  Missy could only manage to nod, her mouth now dry and cottony. She moved toward the exit doors, turning back just as she reached them. “Should I come back tomorrow anyway – for work?”

  “Why don’t you take a few days off,” Geoff offered with a smile. “You deserve it after all that. Things are going to be a little nuts around here for the next few days anyway. Best to stay out of the way.”

  “Right,” she said in almost a whisper. Missy walked out, a light drizzle hitting her face. It was the first time she’d been outside in what felt like years, and yet she hardly took notice. Her feet moved on their own accord as she made her way toward Bridgette’s apartment. She needed to get to her phone and call Phoenix ASAP. Something serious was happening, and it was clear Tyler was in more danger now than he’d ever been.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  It didn’t take her long to get back to the rundown apartment building. The air inside the tiny room was stale and musty from being empty for so long. She took a second to open one of the windows before going into the small bedroom and retrieving the phone she’d hidden beneath the mattress.