The Gene Rift (Destiny by Design Book 2)

by J. Andersen

  NINETEEN

  STEALING SECRET DOCUMENTS

  (KATE)

  Jaxon is down the hall and around the corner by the time I’m out the door. His foot is the only thing I see, so at least I know which way to go in order to follow him. But when I round the corner, I hear voices and footsteps in the distance. Opening the first door on the left, I slip inside, quietly click it shut behind me, and pull off my mask. The smell of cleaning solvent hits me, and when I trip over a bucket on the floor, I realize it’s a broom closet. My arms flail and reach out for the wall when I fall into something solid but soft.

  Muffled laughter fills the tight space. “I didn’t realize we’d get intimate on this little excursion of ours.”

  Jaxon.

  I sock him in the arm. “Shut up. They’re right outside.”

  The thunk, thunk, thunk of heavy boots echoes through the door but quiets as a troop rounds the turn and heads toward the operating room. I hope the rest of the team is out and moving; the fewer casualties, the better.

  “Before we go anywhere, you need to tell me about the insane parasite that’s eating your brain because it must be something like that for you to leave the rest of the group. Idiot!” I punch him harder for good measure.

  “Humph.” He takes a gasp of air. “What was that for?”

  “For being an idiot. And this is for not realizing that Jessica’s in love with you.” I smack him upside the head. Well, I try, but in the pitch blackness, I whack his neck instead.

  “What? She … she is? Jessica?”

  “Yes, she is. Now, can we talk about why you ran out like a maniac on some stupid, suicidal errand?”

  “Back the trolley up a minute. Jessica’s in love with me? How did I not know this?”

  “Because you’re a moron who can’t see what’s right in front of you.”

  “Funny.”

  “Now, what the heck is this mission all about? And it darn well better be good for us to risk our lives for it.”

  “It’s for Micah.”

  “Tell me.”

  “How about this; you get me to a computer with access to the main data files, and I’ll explain everything when we get outta here alive.”

  “Yeah, that’ll be easy. Just sneak in where there are no cameras or guards to get you access to a main data terminal. No problem. I’ll get right on that.” I can’t believe I’m stuck in a closet with Jaxon and can’t get out without being seen.

  “What? You don’t know a secret back hallway that will get me access?”

  “Not any without surveillance.”

  “And if I could override the surveillance and loop it back to erase any record of us sneaking through the hallways?”

  I sigh. “Then sure. There’s one place … if it’s clear.”

  “Lead the way, Sacajawea.”

  “What did you call me?”

  “Right. I forget. No books. Never mind. When we get back to the Hidden City, remind me to school you. You’re seriously uneducated.”

  “Gee thanks. Now why don’t you shut up and follow me,” I snap.

  We pause for a moment, listening for movement. Hearing nothing, I press the door open a crack. The light blinds my eyes after having been in the darkness. Down the hall and to the right brings us to a familiar place. The Creation Unit. Though I haven’t been here in months, it’s like I’m home.

  In my mind’s eye, I visualize the unit. There’s the lab, and just beyond that is the records room. It has computers and access to data. That’s where we’ll have to go. Now, if we can just get there without being seen.

  Racing past the Utero rooms, my heart clenches. That’s where I spent most of my time only a few months ago. It’s where I got to know Micah … and Brody. The urge to stop and reminisce is overwhelming, but I can’t. Doing so would ensure our capture, and as much as I’d like to think about what could’ve been if Micah had been just a normal Institute worker, those days are gone. Accepting my new life is what I need to focus on. But out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of the life-bearing tubes as we pass, and I wonder how many of those children are slated for disposal.

  Just beyond the Utero unit is the records room. A quick glance through the window reveals no bodies. It’s midmorning. Class time for most of the professors and students here. Any record keeping will be saved till later hours. My mind draws back to the many after hours I spent filing for Professor Limbert.

  I twist the handle. Locked. Not only that, but the old locks have been replaced by electronic ones. There’s no way we’re getting in. And if we don’t find somewhere to hide, someone will see us. We’ve probably already been captured on camera.

  I glance at my watch. Only five minutes till regular scheduled classes are over and the halls are teeming with people.

  Jaxon sees the nervous look on my face and the way I keep looking over my shoulder.

  “Out of the way. Let me work,” he orders.

  From his pocket, he pulls a small, box-shaped device with a few wires sprouting from the top. He attaches one wire to a screw on the top of the lock and another to a small card with a black magnetic strip on one side and yet another to the locking device on the door. Punching a few buttons makes green numbers scroll across a screen on his device. In seconds, the thing beeps, and he swipes the card through the reader. With a click, the door opens, and I look at him in awe.

  He grins proudly, and we slide into the records room.

  Jaxon takes his backpack off and sets it on the table next to him. Then he looks around, chooses a computer close to us, and slips into the chair.

  I grab his arm, shake my head, and point up to the surveillance camera scanning the room. We’re standing under it, so we have to move quickly and quietly to another storage closet. I’ve been back there once or twice, and I know there are terminals Jaxon might be able to hack into if we can avoid the cameras long enough to get there.

  I grab a metal pole leaning in the corner and push the camera at an odd angle, just like I saw Micah do when he brought me the scone so many months ago, back when we were first getting to know each other. It’s still scanning, so we watch to see where the blind spots might be. By keeping to one wall and then sliding under a table at the far end, we could reach the storage closet at the back of the room. The camera might pick up the opening door, but that’s a chance we’ll have to take.

  With Jaxon next to me, we creep along the wall, our eyes on the camera. As soon as it starts its sweep toward us, we dash under the table and crawl to the end. Jaxon’s ahead of me, so he reaches up and twists the handle, prying it open just far enough to squeeze through. Once I’m in the closet, the door clicks shut behind me loud enough to alert anyone nearby.

  Here I am again in a dark closet with Jaxon. He rustles through his bag, pulls out a flashlight and flicks it on. The single beam of light dances around the room until he steadies it on his cheery smile. “We have a thing for closets today, don’t we?” he raises his eyebrows in a flirty gesture and laughs.

  I don’t.

  My adrenaline is still pumping, and his joking annoys me. Right now, I just want him to finish whatever crazy scheme Micah gave him to do and get out of here alive. If things go the way I hope, I’ll never have to come back here again.

  “If there’s a junction box, it should be right near there.” Jaxon seems like he’s talking to himself, flashlight now hanging between his lips. “Yeph,” he tries to say. “There ih isss.” He taps my shoulder, and I move to the side and lean against a stack of boxes while he crouches in front of the wall next to the entry.

  “What is it?”

  “Hold this.” He hands me the flashlight. “Shine it right here on this control panel.”

  Sure enough, he’s opened the cover to a control panel, now flashing with all kinds of colored lights. Jaxon removes something from his pocket and pokes it into the case, prying it open to reveal what looks like thousands of wires. Without hesitation, he strips the colored coating off three of them and attaches the
m to another device he’s got in his bag. Then, with the push of a few buttons, he’s hacked into the main system.

  “This’ll just take a second.” Again his screen flashes, and apparently, he’s found what he’s looking for because he grunts in approval and punches in a few more codes on the screen. The thing flickers, and he grins.

  “The cameras in this wing are looping now. Give me one more second to erase our presence in the hallway and get what I came here for.” He unhooks one cord and pulls out two more, which he strips and links together before attaching them to a metal probe on his box. Another beep and a nod, and he pulls the wires out, tucks the device in his pocket, and shoves the cables back in the wall.

  “Ready to tell me what we came here for?” I ask.

  “Later. Let’s get out of here first.” He’s shutting the cover to the control panel when we hear voices.

  Crap!

  Jaxon clicks off the flashlight.

  I stand up, but I can’t see anything. When I try to move toward him, a box falls from a stack against the wall. It lands with a loud thunk.

  I freeze, and the thundering of my heart increases. I hope no one heard that or the flutter of papers falling to the floor.

  A muffled sound comes from the other side of the door. “What was that?” Then footsteps.

  They’ve heard us. In seconds it’ll be over. This was stupid! So stupid! Why didn’t we just go with the others? Nothing we could find here is worth never seeing Micah again.

  A hand on my arm makes me jump, and I stifle a scream.

  It’s Jaxon. He pulls me closer to him and out of the way of the creaking door. A beam of light spills into the closet, and suddenly, Jaxon’s lips are on mine, his mouth desperate with need. He wraps his arms around my back and tangles one hand in my hair.

  I’m so shocked, I don’t know what to do, and his grasp is so tight, there’s no way to break free. With one hand, he slams the door closed and draws me into another passionate kiss. As the door flies open again, he breaks away with a heavy breath and faces the person standing there, keeping me hidden in the shadows.

  “Do you mind?” he says. “I’m kinda busy here. Would’ve put a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on the door if I’d had one, but who comes in here anyway?”

  I can’t see the person, but I imagine a student with embarrassment printed on his face.

  Then I hear a guy’s voice. “S-sorry, dude. Didn’t know it was taken. I was going to get some work done, but I—I’ll leave you alone.”

  “Thanks,” Jaxon says, closing the door with his foot as he leans in for another kiss.

  This time, I push his face away from mine. “What the heck was that?” I whisper.

  “Didn’t want to get caught. Thought a hot and heavy make-out session in the closet might get us out of things. I was right. On both counts.”

  “Both counts?”

  “It got us out of trouble, and like I said in the other closet, apparently, you do want to get intimate with me.”

  Even though it’s dark and his face is shadowed, I can hear the mischievous smirk in his voice.

  “Jerk!” I slap his chest. “If this weren’t a life and death situation, I’d kill you myself!”

  “Micah will have my head when he hears about this. But I bet he’ll give me props for creativity.”

  I shake my head. I swear I’d slap him harder if it wouldn’t make too much noise. Only Jaxon could joke in a situation like this.

  “Well, shall we?” He steps back and turns to open the door, but it opens before he touches it, and a spindle of light slips in.

  Crap! He’s back …

  Just as before, Jaxon pulls me into his arms. This time, I don’t fight as he presses his lips into mine and holds the back of my neck steady so I can’t pull away from him. The door opens wider, and he breaks away, keeping me in his arms.

  “I thought I told you I was having a session here,” he says.

  “So sorry to interrupt,” a woman replies, and my heart drops.

  “Jessica?” I whisper.

  “I guess I’ll leave you two alone.” She glares at me as if laser beams would shoot from her eyes, then she stomps away, leaving a group of rebels staring at us.

  TWENTY

  DAMAGE CONTROL

  (MICAH)

  The thick haze of anesthesia still hangs over my mind, but when I arrive at the storage room door, it’s not difficult to put two and two together and see why Jessica stomped off. Jaxon wears a sheepish look on his face like a kid who’s just been caught stealing cookies. Except it’s worse than that.

  I should have told her not to open the door, but Jessica had to make sure no one followed us out the back. Saul told us the path to the passageway was clear, but she wouldn’t believe him. Judging by the look on his face, he’s enjoying this.

  I wish I could be mad at Jaxon, but with the pain in my neck and the escape situation at hand, I can’t waste my time worrying about Jaxon and Kate together in a closet. Get out alive. That’s the goal. I trust Jaxon with my life, and I know he’d never do anything without a darn good reason. My guess is he thought we were from The Institute, and he had to create a diversion so they wouldn’t catch him breaking into the computer system. That’s the way his crazy mind works.

  A wave of guilt washes over me when I see his hacking equipment sticking out of his pocket. They’re in this because of me. Not just because they came to get me out but because I gave Jaxon that extra task. Granted, I asked him about it so long ago—before we got Kate to the Hidden City—I nearly forgot all about it. But it’s the only possible reason he’d have to be here like this. It’s my fault they were stuck in that closet, forced into each other’s arms. And it’s my fault that Jessica saw it.

  Jessica.

  Jaxon apologizes to me, but I shake my head. “Not now. Find Jessica. Get her back here.”

  Kate inches out of the storage room, wringing her hands, unwilling to look me in the eyes. “Micah. I’m so sorry.”

  I pull her close to me with one arm, leaning the other on a nearby table. “Save your breath. Let’s get out of here first. We can talk about it later.” I kiss the top of her head, and she presses into me before sliding her hand around my waist to help me walk.

  Stupid drugs are still making me woozy. Every few steps, my knees buckle.

  “How about we put off this happy reunion and actually escape with-out being killed?” Saul says. “That’d be great. Move along, people.”

  “He’s right. Let’s go,” I say. I don’t trust him at all, especially after our meeting before my surgery, but he’s being helpful so far, so we’ll play this out and see where it leads.

  With Saul in the lead, we move through the back hallways with ease. It’s quiet at The Institute today. Too quiet. They know we’re here. They know this crew is helping me escape. If nothing else, we’re being watched. But the knot in my gut tells me we’re in for something more. I pull Kate closer to my side for reassurance. Everything in me hopes that Saul hasn’t set us up for a big showdown. Or worse, led us right into their hands.

  This hallway is clear, but a group of a dozen people clattering down it is bound to draw attention. Even though Jaxon looped the surveillance, I expect to see soldiers waiting with guns and knives at every turn.

  I’m managing the best I can, but my feet aren’t working properly. Thankfully, the anesthesia is wearing off and with every step, my legs grow stronger. Kate’s arm is still around me, but she hasn’t said a word since she apologized back in the records room. Every few minutes, she glances up at me with guilt in her eyes. I’m sure she’s wondering how I’ll react to what I saw, but honestly, there’s nothing to say right now. Despite the irritation I feel at seeing her slinking out from Jaxon’s arms, I’m grateful her body is next to mine again. Knowing she’s alive is all that matters. She came for me despite the risks, so whatever sins she may have committed in order to get me out of here are forgiven.

  I lean a little harder on her shoulders, and she looks
up at me. It’s not guilt on her face this time; it’s a look of hope. Hope that I’ll forgive her. She doesn’t realize I already have.

  I kiss her forehead again, and she closes her eyes for a split second, relishing my touch. She knows it’ll be okay.

  Glancing behind me, I see Jaxon. Jessica’s taken up the rear. At least he persuaded her to follow. Judging by her expression, she’s still not happy about seeing Kate in his arms. Looks like they’ll have some talking to do later. For now, at least everyone is together.

  After so many twists and turns, it’s hard to pay attention to where we are. I wipe my hand over my face in an attempt to clear my foggy-brained state, but it doesn’t help; I can’t picture our location. If I were totally with it, I’d lead us out undetected. All I know is Saul keeps pulling out his ID to open doors, and so far, we still haven’t seen anyone.

  As far as I can tell, we’re traveling deeper into the belly of The Institute. Past the basement labs set aside for more confidential projects. The hall-ways slant downward, and every once in a while we climb down a stair-well. We’ll probably end up at a dead end or in a dungeon of some sort.

  Finally, the group clusters around a doorway up ahead. When we stop, everyone goes silent, waiting for instructions or the message of our doom. It’s only after the heavy breathing slows that we hear a storm of boots up ahead.

  Saul pulls out his ID and slides it through the lock and holds the door open. “Hurry up,” he says, waving us by. “Follow this tunnel to the end. It’ll come out next to the training cabin. Hop over the barrier about a mile past, and you’ll be in the Outerlands.”

  He keeps pushing the team through the door as the marching moves closer. Jaxon disappears, pulling Jessica into the tunnel as Kate struggles to tug me along.

  The footsteps are now accompanied by shouts. “Stop them!”

  Saul lingers at the door. His eyes lock onto mine. “You go. Get her out of here. I’ll deal with them.” When his gaze shifts to Kate, some-thing in his expression tells me we’ll escape. This isn’t a trap. I don’t understand. Why would Goodman help us get out? There has to be something in it for him.