The room goes quiet as they slowly turn toward Link.
"From someone other than an Original," Colt clarifies.
My hands curl into fists. I expect this type of prejudice from a lot of Primes, but not from those who I think are my friends. "Let him speak. He has every right to offer a suggestion that might help a lot of people."
Colt's hands mirror my own, and his expression tightens. For the first time, he stares at me for longer than a second, but it's not a look I like. His mouth opens. "Neither of you have a right to come into our world and tell us what to do. We have a system and it works. We protect Originals, and Originals are supposed to stay put, not put themselves back into danger." His eyes flash to my injured arm.
"Here it comes," Jenna says, her voice low.
I storm over to him, much to the surprise of everyone in the room, and drill my finger into his chest. "You should know better than anyone that I don't do well inside a box. You can't just hide Originals from the world and expect us to like it. We want to help, and we want to fight."
Colt straightens and towers over me aggressively, his electric blue eyes practically glowing. His chest rises and falls in rapid breaths. Link rushes over and drags me back while Anthony blocks Colt.
"What's your problem?" Link yells at Colt.
"Everyone just calm down," Anthony says, but he's only looking at Colt and me. "We need to work together. You two remember how to do that, right?"
"Let's hear what the boy has to say," Tank says. He looks as amused as Jenna, but by the others shocked expressions aimed in my direction, they aren't used to someone speaking like that to Colt.
Link clears his throat and turns to Tank. "You were taken to the Institute, right?"
"Yup. They had me there for three days."
"Did Ebony ever take you to the fourth floor?"
Tank's eyebrows lift, and he straightens in his seat. "That's where they tort—" He freezes. "I mean, held me. That's where they hold anyone they question or test." Tank stands. "This is easy, then. I'll just get myself captured again, demand an audience with Ebony, rip out her hair or something, and then they'll probably dump me back onto Purgatory Island."
"No," Colt says. "They'll kill you on site this time. Besides, if they know people can escape Purgatory, then they'll go investigate to see how. We can't have them anywhere near Eden." He clears his throat. "It should be me this time."
A chorus of protests fills the room at once, but he motions them to be quiet. "Ebony has been after me for some time. I'm sure she’ll want to confront me if I'm captured."
"There's no way," Tank says. "It can't be you. You're running this show."
"I can go," Link says, and the room goes quiet again.
My heart warms. He has no idea what's he asking for, and yet he's still not afraid.
Jenna moans through a smile. "You're a regular knight in shining armor."
"It won't work," I say. "To Ebony, you're just another Original. She will take your blood and marrow until there's nothing left, or transport you to a facility for testing. There's probably only one person Ebony won't kill right away." My chest begins to tighten at the direction my brain is going. "The one Original who got away."
"Don't say it," Colt says, his voice quiet.
"Me," I finish, my gaze locks with Colt's, but inside I'm trembling. "I can walk right into the Institute and demand to speak with Ebony. I can say that I'm tired of running from Primes, that my brother's dead, and my father has abandoned me. Maybe I can beg for mercy, and insist that I will do whatever they want in exchange for safety, food and a warm place." My thoughts seem to come together to make more sense of my crazy plan. "And who knows? If I'm lucky enough, they may even take me to Enfield, where I can shut off the electrical field. But if they don't, I can escape from the Institute. I've done it before."
No one says anything as they digest my plan. It has its holes, but it's better than anything else that's been presented.
"It could work," the blue-haired man says.
"No," Tank says, surprising not only me, but Colt too. Tank has always been the more aggressive one who never shies away from a fight. He was one of the few who had supported me fighting with Primes.
"Why?" Colt asks.
Tank groans and closes his eyes briefly. "Look, I'm all for Sage sneaking into Enfield, even knowing she may be shot by hundreds of darts, but she should not be going back to the Institute. It's too dangerous."
"Why?" Colt presses. "What are they doing there?"
Before he can answer, I say, hoping I never have to hear the Institute's new means of torture, "It doesn't matter. We need Ebony's DNA. There are no other good options." Even as I say it, though, I'm hoping someone will come up with something better.
"I agree," Raven says. "Let's vote."
"We're not voting on something like this," Colt says. "I'll make the final decision."
"Since when?" blue-haired man asks.
Colt stares him down. "Don't fight me on this, Ice."
"But Ice is right," Raven says. "I don't know why we’re suddenly doing things different because she's here. What's the deal?"
Colt's jaw muscles bulge as he bites down. I feel bad about the situation I've put him in. No one here, but Tank, Anthony, and Jenna, knows our history, nor can they.
"We have to vote," Anthony says, his voice low. He speaks quickly when Colt turns on him. "It would be different if Sage didn't want to go, but she's offering us something no other person can do, and you know this."
Colt opens and closes his hands. "Fine. Vote. All those in favor of sending Sage to the Institute."
"Wait!" Link says. "What about her father? Shouldn't he have a say in this?"
"He's not here," Raven snaps. "Now vote."
Most hands rise into the air, including Anthony's and Jenna's.
"I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't already know how tough and smart you are," she says.
"Me too," Anthony adds.
"All those opposed?" Colt asks.
Tank raises his hand, followed by Colt and Link.
"There you have it," Raven says. "Sage is going to the Institute."
18
I step back, followed by another and another until I'm leaning against the wall. I have to do this, or I will collapse. The thought of going back to the Institute terrifies me, but I know no other way. The others are discussing the best way to get me captured.
My gaze lifts and locks with Colt’s. We stay like this for several seconds until I can't stand to look at him anymore. The wound in my heart is too raw. It's a wound I created myself with all of my daydreaming of my future with Colt, the life we would have together if I ever got off the island. I'm such a fool.
The voices in the room have grown louder. Link is next to Tank and Jenna saying something I can't hear. In fact, I can't really hear anyone anymore. The pressure in the room has grown heavy and presses against me. I've lost my focus, and I don’t care to get it back right now.
Time to go. I'll leave the planning to them while I seek out some fresh air.
I slip out the door and hurry down the hall searching for a stairwell. I find one at the end and sprint up the stairs, all three flights, until I burst free into the night. Cool air fills my lungs, relieving the tightness around my chest. By this time tomorrow, I could be within the Institute's walls.
Guided by the light of the full moon, I walk across the grassy rooftop to the ledge and stare out across the city. It's mostly quiet, but many lights are turned on within shiny, rectangular buildings. So many people unable to rest. I sit on the edge and think about how they are doing. Are they alone? Are they hopeless?
My eyelids grow heavy. I slide to the roof floor and lie down in the soft grass. It reminds me of my childhood home in Maine. Sometimes Max and I would sleep outside on warm summer days, lulled to sleep by the sound of ocean waves rolling to shore. Things were so simple then. I let the memories come, knowing I may need to rely on them for strength later, until my eyes close.
"Sage?"
Colt is on the beach, trying to get my attention, but I'm in the water and can't hear him.
"Wake up, Sage."
The dream fades, and I become acutely aware of the cold grass beneath me. My eyes open slowly. The sky is no longer black, but more gray. The sun will make its entrance soon.
I push myself to a sitting position; something falls from my shoulders, and I look down. Colt's long black jacket has been laid over me, a gesture I hadn't expected.
"Thanks," I say and hand it back to him.
He takes it from me and steps back, his gaze on the city behind me.
"Sorry I fell asleep up here. I hope I didn't worry anyone."
His eyes lower to mine. "I knew where you were."
I attempt to swallow the tension in my throat.
"I'm sorry about before," Colt says. "You arriving like you did just took me off guard."
"Do you want me to leave?" The question escapes my mouth before I have a chance to stop it.
He runs his hand over his buzzed hair. "Of course I want you to leave. I want you as far from here as possible."
Grimacing, I look down at my worn shoes pressed into the grass. The pain in my heart has intensified. This was the last thing I expected. I had figured he would be upset at my arrival, but I thought he would eventually get over it and be glad I was here. Surely he had missed me as much as I missed him. Right?
He squats in front of me, his expression soft and gentle. "I'm not trying to hurt you."
Despite tears stinging my eyes, I glance up at him. "I just have one question. Did you ever think about me?"
He searches my eyes, but doesn't answer.
"Because I thought about you," I say, unable to hold in my stupid emotions any longer. "Every day, every night. I saw you in the sunrise, the stars. You were everywhere."
"Oh Sage," he says, his voice sad, like he feels sorry for me. "We share the same sky, but we’re in two different worlds."
This has me scrambling to my feet. "Why does everyone keep saying that? We can exist together! Originals do not need to be put away!"
Colt straightens. "That's not what I mean, and you know it."
"I don't know what you mean! I escaped Purgatory Island, leaving my brother behind, and arrive here to see some girl touching the man that I love, a man who supposedly doesn't even like to be touched, and then to have this same man tell me he wants me gone!"
Hard lines appear on Colt's face. "Is that what you think? That I want you gone because I've moved on with someone else?"
I don't answer, because I really don't know the answer.
"Everything I do, every second of the day, is for you! I am working out here so you can be safe in Eden with Max and the other Originals."
"But I want to be out here, fighting by your side."
"You must understand!" Colt begs, his expression pained. "I have nothing to offer you but safety."
"That's not true." I reach for him, but he steps back.
"Your father may have saved my life, but how long do you think that oDNA injection will last? Three years? Five, if I'm lucky? I won't do that to you! You deserve a long and happy life, free of pain."
"No life is free from pain, Colt. Besides, it's not up to you to tell me what you think I can handle. I would rather have a few years of true happiness than live a life full of regret. And guess what? That is my choice to make, not yours."
He's quiet for a second, then says, his voice tired, "And it's my choice to walk away. It's time to go downstairs. We've come up with a plan." He strides toward the roof door.
"Colt!" I call after him, but he doesn't stop. I remain on the rooftop, staring at the rising sun alone. At least I know he still has feelings for me, but what good are those if he's keeping them locked up? I get where he's coming from. If I had caged a bird to save it from a room full of cats, I wouldn't be too happy either if it kept trying to escape.
My arms hang at my side as I go after him, trying to find a bright spot. Maybe distance between us will be a good thing, for a short time anyway. Right now, my focus needs to be on saving my mother, and the only way that is going to happen is if I start by handing myself over to the enemy.
19
I walk down the steps slowly, feeling no need to hurry. There will be plenty of that later. As I grow closer to the main floor there are lots of voices, more than I could ever have imagined. I stop at the stairwell door and peek through the narrow window. All kinds of Primes are inside, walking and talking. Colt has made so much happen in such a short amount of time.
I quietly open the door and slip inside. I'm not sure where to find Link and Smoke, but figure the cafeteria is a good place to start. Link is always hungry. Once I've found them, I'll go find Colt and the others. I want them to be a part of the meeting. An Original's point of view could come in handy.
"Hey!" a voice says.
I turn around. Tank is hurrying toward me. Before I can ask him what's wrong, he's pushing me back into the stairwell and closing the door quickly.
"I have to talk to you before the others do," he says. His face is pinched tight and eyes serious, an expression that looks unnatural on him.
"What's wrong?"
He looks up and down the stairwell to make sure we are alone before saying, "I need you to know what you're getting into before you willingly turn yourself over to the Institute."
"But I know firsthand what they’re capable of. Remember?"
"Things have changed, and they are desperate to stop this uprising. Their cruelty has reached a whole new level, Sage. They did things to me in there…" A heavy breath interrupts his words. "I barely survived before Ebony had me dumped onto the Island. I would be dead if it weren't for my great genetics."
"Did you tell Colt?" I ask.
"I can't."
"Why?"
He shakes his head and leans against the wall behind him. "Colt doesn't show it, but I know him well enough by now. This war has been difficult on him. He takes responsibility for everyone's suffering, like it's his fault. He barely sleeps, barely eats sometimes. He's constantly fighting, constantly thinking of new ways to hit the Institute. If I told him what they’re doing to people within those walls, he would rush in right now, alone if he had to, to try and stop them." He searches my eyes. "Colt can't know about it. We're not ready for that kind of battle."
I touch him tenderly on the arm. "I'm so sorry. I can't imagine what you've gone through, but do you really think they will do the same to me? Won't they want to keep me alive and mostly damage-free so they can sell my DNA to buyers?"
"Maybe six months ago, but they are desperate now. If you return, they’ll question you about Eden's location, and they won't be nice about it. If they do to you half of what they did to me, I worry you won't survive."
I lower my hand. "But I have to go. It's the only chance we have right now at getting Ebony's DNA, which means I can save my mother and the others."
"I figured you would say that." He reaches into his pocket and withdraws something. "I want you to take this." He holds out his hand. Resting in his palm is a small blue pill.
"What is it?"
"It blocks your nerve receptors for up to twenty-four hours so you won't feel any pain. I didn't dare take any more from medical without drawing suspicion. They’re extremely hard to come by."
I take the pill, grateful that I've got it. "I'll take it right before I go in, okay? Besides, I'm sure they will question me within the first twenty-four hours of my arrival anyway. Don't worry, Tank. I'll be okay."
His mouth is open like he wants to say more. I don't think he believes me. I'm not sure if I believe myself, but I don't have any other choice.
"Come on," I say. "They’re probably waiting for us." I open the door before he can stop me.
His words have chilled me, and I have never been more frightened. I've been hurt plenty; I know how to deal with pain, but this feels different. The kind of pain Ebony will most likely inflict upon me will
be long and cruel. I fear by going to the Institute, a part of me will never be the same.
I grind my teeth together, thinking of my mother. If she was in Enfield, then it was probably because she had sacrificed herself to help someone else. Possibly even her family. It was just the sort of thing she would do. I remember as a child, both my mother and I were gravely ill. My father was away to find us medicine, but it took longer than expected for him to return. That meant we only had a little medicine to share between us. My mother gave it all to me, even though she was probably sicker than I was. She hated to see people suffer, to feel pain, and so do I.
Now it's my turn to help her.
20
I hurry through the halls, acutely aware that everyone is staring at me as I pass. Some of them whisper to each other. Word of our arrival must've spread quickly. I give a small smile and nod at those who will meet my gaze.
As I pass a couple who look to be in their early twenties, the girl steps in front of me. "I just want to say that you're pretty brave."
"Huh?"
Her eyes flash to her partners and then back to me. "We heard you’re turning yourself over to the Institute so we can get inside Enfield. We just want to say thank you."
"People already know?" I ask, incredulously. This worries me. What if one of them tells someone at the Institute. Security really should be tighter.
"Word travels fast, but don't worry. There's not a Prime here who would betray HOPE," the man says seeming to read my mind.
"I'm Lexi, by the way," the girl says. "And this is Leo."
She smiles kindly, something I really need right now. It's a good reminder that I'm not just doing this for my mother or other Originals. There are a lot of Primes too who would benefit from bringing down the Institute by finally having access to their research and possibly even a real cure for them.
"And I'm Sage. It's nice to meet you."
"Maybe we can hang out some time?" Lexi asks. "When all of this blows over?"
Leo snorts. "This isn't going to blow over for a long time."
Escape from Eden (Original Series book 2) Page 12
