PANDORA

by Rebecca Hamilton

  Olivia flops back against the headboard. I am once again forced to pretend total unawareness. That isn’t easy considering that Olivia’s knee is pressed against my shoulder.

  Sighing, Olivia gives in. “Ugh, fine. I’ll ask him later, okay?”

  “Thank you,” her dad says.

  Ready to head back to bed, Olivia’s dad stands and holds his hand out to Olivia. “Come on, let’s get some sleep.”

  Olivia’s dad and I are both surprised when Olivia hesitates. I can’t stop myself from flinching when her hand brushes over my shoulder. My breathing is stalled as I wait for her answer.

  “Dad,” she asks, her breathing quicker than it was a second ago, “would it be okay if I stayed in here tonight?”

  I don’t have to open my eyes to know the look on her dad’s face. After the conversation he just had with Olivia, concern and just a bit of disapproval are a foregone conclusion. The agitated sigh only confirms it. I am sure he’s about to order Olivia back to her bed, but she speaks up before he can speak the command.

  “This isn’t about relationships or whatever,” she argues. Her hand strokes back and forth across my shoulder. “Dad, Mason really scared me earlier, and he was pretty freaked out, too. I’m afraid that if I leave, he’ll have another nightmare. You said you trust us. Let me prove I can live up to that. I just want to make sure he’s okay.”

  As much as I hate to believe that is Olivia’s only reason for wanting to stay with me, I know her dad can hear the sincerity in her voice as much as I can. When I hear him sigh, I know she has won.

  “Fine, but . . . ” He doesn’t finish the thought. Instead, he kisses Olivia’s forehead. A second later I can hear his slippers shuffling out of the room.

  I start to relax, knowing he has left the room, but right after his departure I feel Olivia lie back down next to me. I don’t expect much other than having the comfort of knowing she is so close by. When her hand slides across my body and closes around my hand, I am too stunned to react. I don’t know how long I lay there frozen. Olivia’s breathing slows to the regular pattern of sleep before I regain control and tighten my fingers around hers.

  “Mason,” Olivia whispers, startling me into gripping her even tighter.

  “Yeah?” I say, knowing it is a risk to admit I am still awake.

  Olivia’s quiet chuckle surprises me. “I knew you were awake.”

  Embarrassed, I mumble a quick apology.

  “You heard everything Dad said?”

  “Uh, yeah.”

  There is a moment of quiet as Olivia gathers her thoughts. “Don’t worry about what he said,” Olivia says softly. “I’m not saying you have to go to college with me . . . I mean, I want you to, but whatever you want to do after high school, I’ll make sure Mom and Dad go along with it.”

  “Thanks.” It’s a simple answer despite the complex mixture of emotions swirling around inside of me.

  “Um, so, do you know what you want to do?” Olivia asks.

  There is so much that begs to spill out of my mouth. I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself in check. It takes me a minute to give her an answer. “I want to go to college with you.”

  Again, Olivia is quiet for a while. After several long minutes, she says, “We could make it work, right?”

  Whether Olivia has any inclination of ever looking at me as more than her brother or not, I have no intention of discouraging her. “Yeah, we can make it work.”

  This time Olivia is the one to pull closer to me. Her head rests against my back, and suddenly everything else takes a backseat to the simple pleasure of having Olivia pressed against me. I want to take the peace she inspires into my dreams, but as sleep begins to claim me, fear of returning nightmares threatens to overpower. Even more, fear that my dreams are more than what they seem, that Robin’s arrival has set off a series of events I have no control over, tightens every muscle in my body. Olivia backed me up with her dad, but I can’t shake the feeling that sometime soon, I will be the one protecting her from a separation more permanent than college.

  Chapter 6

  Anything but Horror

  (Olivia)

  I slide into the chair next to Mason and fix my stare on Robin. She remains as perky as usual and chomps on a carrot stick. I have a zillion questions firing around in my mind, but the annoying sound of her crunching scrambles my thoughts. I already have my doubts about Robin. Getting very little sleep last night is not helping me play nice. Not that I blame Mason, of course, but I’m still pretty beat.

  I take a long swig of Coke and hope the caffeine will help clear out the ache behind my eyes as well as my short temper. I’m halfway through my meal before I can focus, be nice, and form a question all at the same time. Having to wait for Mason and Robin to stop chitchatting almost pushes me back toward grumpy, but I hold onto my pleasantness by sheer force of will.

  Finally, there is a lull in the conversation and I break in.

  “So, Robin, that split you mentioned, I tried asking my parents about it, but they didn’t really want to tell me anything. I’ve never really been in contact with any other Caretakers to hear about it, but I was curious about what you said,” I say casually. “If there’s something going on that might put Mason in danger . . . ”

  Robin shakes her head quickly. “Oh no, nothing’s going on that’s dangerous. Not anymore anyway. At least, not that I know of. We’re not really involved in Caretaker business so much anymore, but we still get news of anything major happening. I’m sure my parents would have heard about anything dangerous.”

  I take a deep breath. Her rambling may be more than I can take today. “So the split,” I say, bringing her back to the point, “what exactly happened?”

  “Well,” Robin says, putting her fork down and getting serious, “a long time ago, like when my parents were kids, the network of Caretakers used to be really connected, like downright glued together at the hip kind of connected. There were organized groups, a database, geographical boundaries that separated everyone into units, leaders who controlled each unit. Crazy! Everyone knew where everyone else was and who had Aerlings, you know like Big Brother almost.”

  “Sounds a little spooky,” Mason says.

  Robin’s eyes get big. “I know, right?” She shakes her head at the idea. “I guess some other people started thinking the same thing. The leaders were getting really controlling and it was making Caretakers nervous. Then it got even worse when rumors started going around that there were spies or traitors or something. I’m not really sure about all the details, but they thought someone was getting information about where Aerlings were and using it to track them down and kill them.”

  “What made them think that?” I ask.

  Robin gives me a “wow, you really are a blonde” look, and turns to look at Mason. “They thought that because Aerlings were disappearing.”

  “Disappearing like . . . ”

  “Like gone, dead, most likely. Sentinels aren’t known for their mercy. They have no use for Aerlings anyway. They just want to kill them.”

  “Why?” I demand.

  Again, Robin gives me a look that says I am asking really obvious questions. “Because, they’re like Nazi’s. Aerlings aren’t human. They think they don’t belong here. They think they’re bad news and they want to get rid of them. That’s what my parents told me, anyway. Sentinels are certified psychos, though, no doubt about that.”

  Robin shudders, and I wonder if she has personal experience with Sentinels. I know she said they killed Eliana, but I hope that doesn’t mean she saw it happen. I turn to look at Mason, thinking about what he said about his sister. The sad expression on his face makes me think the same thoughts are running through his mind. I pat his knee gently and he smiles a bit.

  “So, what happened once people realized their information wasn’t safe?” I ask.

  Shrugging, Robin says, “Exactly what you’d expect to happen. A bunch of people wanted out. Not from being Caretakers, just out of th
e Caretaker network of death. Aerlings might not be their biological children, but they love them fiercely. No one was going to stand by and watch their kids die if they could stop it. People went into hiding. The leaders tried to stop them, even tried to force people to stay by threatening them, but it didn’t work.”

  “How do you all stay in contact now?” Mason asks.

  After pushing her tray away and parking her elbows on the table, Robin continues. “Now, everyone is organized in groups of three. The three families in the group help each other and take care of each other. We have the contact info for one person outside of our group that can contact another group if we need reinforcements. There’s still a possibility of someone betraying us, but it’s a lot smaller.”

  “Then how did Eliana die?” Mason asks, his voice sharper than usual. When I look over at him, his eyes are fixed on Robin. I remember his concern that Robin felt guilty about something and is hiding the truth about Eliana. My eyes turn to spear her as well.

  “Nobody betrayed us, if that’s what you’re asking,” Robin says. Her hands start fidgeting and she stands abruptly. “Sometimes the Sentinels find us all on their own.”

  Robin picks up her tray and makes a hasty exit. Mason and I watch her go without saying a word. I think we both need a few minutes to process everything. It’s not just about Sentinels infiltrating the Caretakers, or possibly one of their own betraying everyone. We both realize that Mason was right. Whatever happened to Eliana, Robin carries a lot of guilt for her death.

  “I wish I could remember,” Mason says suddenly.

  “Remember what?”

  He rubs his head with his hand. “My real . . . I mean, my first family. My Caretakers.” He looks up, but his expression is pained. “There’s so much I can’t remember about them. Did they ever take me to play with other Aerlings? Did they keep me secluded? I don’t know. I can barely remember anything good about them anymore. Only the bad memories stay at the top.”

  “I’m sorry, Mason.”

  Smiling at my words, Mason still seems bothered. “I’m going to go find Robin. I didn’t mean to upset her. I’ll catch up with you later, okay?”

  I nod and he hurries off in the same direction Robin just went. Maybe he can get her to tell him a little more about the Sentinels and Eliana. They definitely have a few things they could bond over. A shiver runs down my spine thinking about the things Mason most likely witnessed. Even if he didn’t see the actual deaths, whatever he did experience was enough to scar him. The nightmares are proof of that.

  No longer in the mood to eat, I dump my tray and head for my next class. My feet tread the familiar halls easily. We’re only a month into the school year, but I’ve been wandering these halls for over three years now. It’s weird to think this is my last year in high school. Thoughts about graduating inevitably lead to college, and from there, to my conversation with Dad last night.

  My cheeks flush slightly thinking about it. I was shocked when Dad said he thought it was inappropriate for me and Mason to live together. I’ve never thought about Mason like that before. He’s my best friend and I’ve never done anything that would give Dad the impression that living with Mason would lead to us sharing a bed.

  The whole argument seems ridiculous, but as I stop off at my locker, thoughts of lying next to Mason last night creep into my mind. How did it feel? I struggle to define it. There is no question that I feel safe and happy with Mason. I love being with him. Nothing will keep me from always being with him. But as I move books around, I remember that moment when he squeezed my hand and my heart jumped. I don’t know why I pulled him closer after that. It just felt right. I wanted him near me. What does that mean?

  “I have never seen anyone think so hard about what books to take to class before,” Hayden says, making me jump.

  The book I was holding tumbles out of my hands and I pull my foot back just in time to keep it from getting smashed. I can feel my face turning red as I stoop to pick up my book. Standing back up, I shove it in my locker and swing the door closed.

  “Lost in thought, I guess.” It’s the only response I can think to say.

  Hayden laughs and smiles at me. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “It’s okay,” I say, smiling back.

  I turn away from my locker and toward class. I don’t know why Hayden stopped in the first place, and I don’t know why he starts walking with me, either. I look over at him with a curious expression and find him watching me. He smiles again and laughs at being caught staring. I know Mason thinks Hayden is an idiot, but he’s always been nice to me, and he has a nice smile.

  I don’t really know what to say to him, though.

  “So, I noticed you sitting with that new girl, Robin, at lunch. I have her in a few of my classes. She seems nice,” Hayden says finally.

  Glad he spoke first, I nod. “Yeah, she’s a little odd, but she’s nice.”

  Hayden laughs. “She’s kinda quirky, and man can she talk. We have AP chemistry together and I happened to ask her about ionic bonds and she went off for ten straight minutes. Nice girl, though, and really smart.”

  I don’t know about the smart part since we’ve never talked about classes, but I can definitely sympathize on the talking. She makes it even worse by speeding through what she has to say without breathing. It’s hard to focus on her words when she does that.

  “She says pretty much whatever she’s thinking,” I agree.

  Hayden shakes his head, but he’s still smiling. I try to figure out why we’re talking about Robin. We’ve never really had a conversation that didn’t revolve around assignment due dates or what chapter we’re supposed to read. Mason’s fascination with Robin from day one was partly due to her being able to see him, but I do have to admit that Robin is a cute girl. Maybe that’s it?

  “Are you interested in Robin?” I ask, realizing how blunt that sounds after it leaves my mouth. I try to follow it up with something a little more smooth. “Because if you are, I’m sure she’d want to go out with you.”

  “Really?” Hayden asks, a smile creeping onto his lips as he steps in front of me and forces me to stop. “What makes you think that?”

  I shrug. “You’re a nice guy. Good looking. Sweet.” I shrug again. I’m sure any girl would be happy to have Hayden ask them out.

  Hayden’s smile turns into a grin. “You think I’m good looking?”

  “Sure, but you’re nice too.” That’s more important. I may not know Robin very well, and I’m not totally convinced she’s safe for Mason to be around, but that doesn’t mean I’d want her get involved with some dirtbag either.

  I’m startled when Hayden suddenly moves closer to me. He’s taller than me, forcing me to look up to meet his eyes. He’s still smiling, but it’s different than before, more sultry. I feel my heartbeat pick up involuntarily.

  “I appreciate your blessing to ask Robin out,” he says, “but she’s not really the reason I wanted to talk to you.”

  “She’s not?” I ask. The scent of his aftershave seems to be filling the space between us. My hands suddenly feel clammy.

  Hayden picks up a strand of my hair and gently pushes it back over my shoulder. “No, I wanted to ask you what kind of movies you like to watch.”

  “Why?” I gulp.

  “Because I was hoping you’d like to see one with me sometime.”

  “Oh.” My brain seems to be having trouble working right now. He’s standing too close and his aftershave is making me dizzy. “Um, anything but horror,” I manage to mumble.

  Hayden must think I’m a total idiot. The corner of his smile is twitching, like he wants to laugh. “Is that a yes then?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe?”

  He seems to find that funny. I’m not sure why.

  The touch of his thumb gliding across my cheekbone startles me, but not in a bad way. He smiles again. “Well, when you decide, let me know. I’d love to take you to a movie, one that’s not horror.”

  “Ok
ay.”

  Before I can manage to embarrass myself any further, Hayden steps back and continues on his way to class. I have a hard time doing anything. I’ve known Hayden for years and I have never reacted to him like that before. As I remember how to breathe and walk, I try to figure out whether what just happened was a good thing or a bad thing.

  Chapter 7

  Up to Something

  (Olivia)

  Walking up to Mason after my last class, I scan the crowd for Robin. Mason didn’t say much after lunch about how his conversation with her went. I’m curious to know if he got any more details out of her.

  “So, you never really told me what Robin said,” I start. “You were pretty quiet this afternoon. Was everything okay?”

  Mason looks over at me with a strange expression. “Things are fine with Robin. I just apologized for making her feel bad. She said it was okay. We went our separate ways.”

  “So what’s wrong?”

  His shrug doesn’t say much, but he is clearly upset about something. I try not to be obnoxious and pry it out of him. It’s not easy. With everything he’s been going through lately, I worry that it will become too much at some point.

  When we get to the Jeep, I try again. “Are you worried that Robin will cause problems for you?”

  Like she apparently did for Eliana.

  “Why were you talking to Hayden?” Mason asks, dodging my question.

  The strange sense of embarrassment that spreads through my chest catches me off guard. “I don’t know,” I say with a shrug.

  “What did he want?”

  “He asked me if I wanted to see a movie sometime.”

  I look over at Mason and am surprised by his sour expression. I didn’t even realize he had seen me with Hayden. I know he doesn’t like him much, but the way his fingers curl into fists seems a little intense. What is going on with him?

  “What did you tell him?” Mason demands.

  Shaking my head, I say, “I said maybe.”

  Mason’s shoulders drop. I don’t know what I expect him to do, but I’m startled when he jumps out of the Jeep and announces he’s going to walk home. The door slams shut before I can say anything. That doesn’t stop me from jumping back out of the Jeep and trying to get his attention without looking like a total wacko in front of the whole school. Mason knows I’m limited on what I can do without drawing too much attention and keeps walking.