Swarmed

by Simone Pond

Harper holds my hand. “I know this must be difficult. But it really is our best option, Kalli.”

  She doesn’t seem to understand that I’m all in, so I make sure they know. “I’ll do whatever it takes to help. But you already tried this approach and it backfired. My brother doesn’t care about me.”

  Harper continues. “You’ll have to convince him you’ve had a change of heart and that you want more time. That you want him to fix your DOD.”

  “It’ll take more than that to entice him to help me. Why don’t I offer the safe house locations in exchange for fixing my DOD?”

  Johnson nods. “Smart, Kalli. That just might work.”

  Leo points to one of the maps. “It’s nearabout impossible to get onto Jekyll Island. Many have tried and failed because the bastards demolished the bridge. And the waters are heavily guarded.”

  The waters are heavily guarded repeats on a loop. I don’t know why I’m surprised. Why wouldn’t an island be surrounded by water?

  “You okay, Kalli? You look a little pale.” Noah’s smug grin has returned.

  Leo doesn’t waste time with civilities and continues. “Our informant has agreed to meet up in Darien, and from there he’ll transport Kalli to the island.”

  Noah’s posture stiffens at the mention of their informant. He glares at Leo. “Hold up a second. You want her to go to the island alone with Roman?”

  “She’ll go over first to distract Achilles,” Leo says.

  “What about the rest of us?” Noah asks.

  Johnson steps in. “Roman can only bring one person, otherwise we risk blowing his cover.”

  Noah shakes his head. “I don’t know about this.”

  I laugh. “I’ll be fine. Roman isn’t like my brother.”

  Noah clenches his fists by his sides, but he can’t contain his temper. He snarls at me. “And you’re basing this on what? Dancing with him for a few minutes?”

  I’m too stunned to speak. Is he lashing out at me because he regrets our kiss? Harper steps forward and uses her most soothing voice to ease the rising tension blustering through the room. “Don’t worry, Noah. We’ll be close by. After Kalli goes with Roman, we’ll follow behind. There’s an outpost where we’ll get a boat down the Altamaha River to the Atlantic. We’ll take it to the northern tip of the island. While Kalli is distracting Achilles, we’ll have less attention on us.”

  “I like those probabilities,” I say confidently.

  Leo cuts back in, waving his hand. “First and foremost, you all need to get to Darien. Additionally, you’ll need to pick up more geo-shields at headquarters in Midway. Otherwise the chances of you getting swarmed along the way are pretty high. You might be safe if you can get to water, but that’s never a guarantee.”

  Noah looks puzzled. “Swarmed? Won’t fixing Kalli’s DOD help with that?”

  “Doesn’t matter about the date. They can track any of us through our DNA,” I explain.

  Johnson starts shoving the maps and devices into one of the packs, looking up at Noah. “The shields will protect all of us.”

  “But you’ll fix her DOD, right?” Noah keeps referring to me like I’m not in the room, which is starting to infuriate me.

  “Yes. We’ll get it deactivated in Midway when we pick up the geo-shields. At the same time, we’ll do a search on your brother,” Johnson assures Noah.

  Leo grunts, “Are we good here?”

  Johnson gives Leo a sturdy nod, then looks at the rest of us. “Since we didn’t get any sleep last night, I suggest getting some now. We leave for Midway at sunset.”

  All of us shake, sealing the deal. It’s no secret that my end of the bargain will be the most difficult. But I have a purpose, and I’m feeling solid in my own skin. I look over at Noah, my heart doing double time. He’s proven himself a reliable traveling companion, and I trust him. But it’s probably a good idea to forget about that kiss, as well as the after effects still burning on my lips.

  24

  (still 7 days remaining)

  Back in the bedroom, Noah repositions himself in the armchair a hundred ways in a valiant attempt to get comfortable. I’m too afraid to offer the other side of the bed. Afraid of what might happen and what might not. I’m also slightly irritated for that abrupt and untimely kiss. The entire matter seems to have reopened the chasm between us. Damn him, and me for allowing it to happen. Noah glances over like he wants to say something, but he stays quiet. Tuckered out from no sleep and the beat-down courtesy of my brother. We both need to get some rest, but that seems darn near impossible. How am I supposed to sleep with him shifting around like he has ants in his pants? Like he’s uncomfortable being within sniffing distance of me. I hope he doesn’t expect me to act like one of those chirpy gals who dote on him, because there’s absolutely no way I’m about to change everything about my constitution to appease Noah Brenson. The minutes slog on and on, making it difficult to ignore the heap of awkwardness in the room.

  “You seem awfully huffed,” I finally say.

  “I’m fine.” He’s curt and doesn’t look in my direction.

  “Then what’s bugging you?”

  “I’m not in the mood to talk, Kalli. I need to get some shut-eye.”

  “How can you sleep?”

  “Easy. I just shut my mouth and my eyes. You should give it a try.”

  The sharpness of the comment feels like someone just lobbed a rock in my direction, hitting me square in the chest. He shifts around in the chair, then pulls the quilt over his head, making a bold and clear statement. If he’s going to hold his cards close to his chest, then I will too. After a few minutes the low rumble of his snoring hits my ears, making me want to shout. Impervious fool! It’s not like I want him to stay awake discussing the kiss or anything, but I don’t understand how he can sleep. More importantly why am I tossing and turning? I pick up The Portrait of a Lady from the nightstand but find myself getting irritated by Isabel’s taste in men. How can she not see Gilbert Osmond is too good to be true? She was better off on her own.

  Prickling with an undercurrent of annoyance, I get out of bed and storm off to the bathroom. I fill the claw-foot tub with piping hot water, which I’m fine with since it’s a controlled environment and all. Easing down into the soothing warmth, my sore muscles unwind, along with the tangled mess of thoughts. The memory of Noah and his inconvenient kiss starts to waft away with the steam, and I’m finally able to sleep.

  A knock on the bathroom door interrupts a dream, jerking me back into reality. The water is tepid, and my fingers are pruned. I climb out of the tub and wrap a towel around me.

  “Who is it?” I ask.

  “Wanted to make sure you didn’t drown in there,” Noah says through the door.

  “Couldn’t sleep. You were snoring.” I shout back, pulling the towel around me tighter.

  “Okay,” is all he says.

  I dry myself furiously. Angry that he’s acting so casual. More irritated that I care. I didn’t expect things to get so complicated. Life was easier to navigate with Noah as my archenemy. Now I don’t know what we are. I guess I like him. I might even like him a lot. But the societal scales are so unbalanced that someone will end up with a mess of heartbreak. There’s a strong probability that it’ll be me—Kalliste Reines—the Short-Timer with a death wish.

  When I go back to the bedroom, Noah’s stretched out in that armchair with his eyes closed, supposedly sleeping. Dark curls fall over his forehead, giving him a younger and more approachable appearance.

  “You asleep?” I ask.

  “What do you think?”

  “I have something for you.” I dangle the gold pocket watch before him.

  He jumps out of the chair and snatches it. “I thought I lost it.”

  “George was nice enough to fix it.” I smile, feeling my cheeks prickling with a rush of blood.

  Noah opens the watch, admiring it. “Thanks. It means a lot.”

  “I know it’s important,” I mumble.

  He leans over a
nd gives me an stiff peck on the cheek, all of the passion now drained. Still my insides tremor from his touch. His masculine smell. Those beautiful hazel eyes. We have to talk, but I’m can hardly look at him. I stare at the pocket watch and attempt addressing the subject we’re avoiding. “So, do you know what’s happening here?” I ask.

  A knock on the door blares into the room, and Johnson peeks in. “Time to hit the road.”

  Noah doesn’t give me a second glance and trails after Johnson, leaving me behind in a cloud of dust motes. I grab The Portrait of a Lady from the nightstand and slip the musty book into my backpack. Isabel Archer might drive me nuts with some of her questionable choices, but I appreciate her determination. And mostly I want to know how it ends.

  Downstairs we check our backpacks to make sure we have our communications equipment, maps, food, camping supplies and water. I stand next to Harper, blocking my line of vision to Noah. Whatever is going on with us cannot distract me any more. Our goal is to get to Midway as soon as possible without getting detected, pick up some more geo-shields and deactivate my DOD, then head south to meet up with Roman. It’s not complicated, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be easy.

  Leo stays by the front door of the deteriorating mansion. “Contact me after you’ve made it to Midway. Might have to make last-minute adjustments to the route. Lots going on out there.”

  I must look worried, because Johnson pats my shoulder and assures me that we’ll be fine.

  “If the radio goes silent, that means you’re on your own. If that’s the case, remember to stay off the main roads. Get to the bottomlands and use the water routes.” Leo’s chock full of great news.

  Harper and I throw our gear in the back of the truck, then climb into the backseat.

  “You look a bit ill,” she says.

  “I’m nervous,” I admit.

  “You have nothing to be nervous about, Kalli. You’ve got more grit than any girl I’ve met.”

  “Posing as a lady of society is a lot easier than what we’re about to do.”

  “I’m not talking about the party … you risked your life to save Johnson and Noah. And you went up against your brother. Give yourself some credit, Kalli. If you don’t, no one else will.”

  I force a smile, wanting to believe her. Noah gets into the passenger seat without glancing back. I’d like to shake him and force his attention back on me, but I know that will only escalate his frustration. Besides what more is there to discuss? We pull away from the house and drive through the shadowy tunnel of oaks, and I turn my head, looking for the moon. Every night its radiance and size continues to diminish. The beautiful indicator of time passing.

  The drive is quiet, everyone in their own world. Harper is studying a sheet of paper filled with a bunch of numbers and symbols. I try to figure out what it is, but I can’t decipher the meaning.

  “What’s that?” I ask.

  “The code that will shut down the DNA tracking program and hopefully break the SOB.”

  Knowing the importance of that sheet of paper makes everything way more real. We’re actually going up against the system. And somehow I’m the linchpin in this scenario. My confidence is shaky, but growing stronger the closer we get to Midway. Without the pressure of my DOD, I’ll feel better about everything. Harper folds the paper and slips it into her back pocket.

  “Do you think it’s possible? To break the SOB?” I ask.

  “Anything is possible.”

  “Sure is,” Johnson chimes in, glancing over his shoulder and giving Harper a coquettish grin. “When I found Harper, she was a goner. I mean, lowest of the lows. Honestly, I don’t know how she was still alive. But when I looked into those baby blues, I saw a flicker of light. It was the slightest sign of hope, but it was all I needed to snatch her off the floor and get her on her feet. Now look at her—working for the resistance, gathering intel and kicking arse.”

  Harper laughs, touching Johnson’s shoulder with such profound intimacy I feel myself blush. She leans forward and kisses his cheek without an inkling of doubt or trepidation. Not worried about his reaction, but relishing his response. If I didn’t adore her, I’d be irritated beyond belief.

  “My parents were in a car accident when I was about thirteen,” Harper tells me. “My father was killed, and my mother paralyzed. She could no longer work or contribute to the SOB. Eventually the flies came for her, and I was left to fend for myself. They tried to put me into a home, but it was awful. The man of the house, well, let’s just say he was less than mannerable. He thought he owned me. I started getting more and more reclusive and depressed, until someone at a party brought me to a speakeasy. All it took was one high to keep me going back. Things got really bad. But then Johnson swooped in and got me out of there.”

  “But you did all the hard work,” Johnson says to Harper.

  “And work it was,” she sighs, remembering some far-off thing.

  “Making a better man outta me was no small feat,” Johnson adds.

  She giggles modestly.

  A slight pang of jealousy rises to the surface, letting me know that this connection they have is something I want. Noah shifts around, fiddling with his pocket watch.

  Harper grabs my wrist, giving me a start. “What happened to your DOD?”

  My date has changed again—going from seven days to three. Achilles’s message is loud and clear.

  Noah flips around, his eyes wide and deep lines stretching across his brow. “What is it?”

  I hold up my wrist.

  “That son-of-a-bitch!” He punches the dashboard.

  I should be more upset than Noah, but his concern over my DOD not only warms my chest, it brings a smile to my lips.

  “Easy, fella.” Johnson holds Noah’s arm. “Conserve your energy for the actual bad guys.”

  “Guess my brother got the message that I want to meet. Didn’t give me much time, did he?” I try lightening up the dark cloud that has settled in the truck.

  Johnson looks at me in the rearview mirror, his eyes are intense and focused. “Don’t you worry about a thing, Kalli. Once we get to Midway, we’ll take care of your DOD. We’re almost there.”

  What Johnson doesn’t understand is that I’m not upset about losing time. I’m completely crushed over the fact that my own brother—my former champion and protector—would rather see me dead than free. The dream of getting my family back is officially over. My brother has decisively chosen the system over me. I never thought—in a million phases of the moon—that it would come to this, but I can’t wait to see Achilles fall.

  Johnson turns down a secluded dirt road. It’s so dark I don’t know how he spotted the turn off. We bounce along the bumps and tree roots, heading toward the Midway location. After they remove my DOD, I will have beaten Achilles on some level. We’ll pick up more geo-shields and continue south without any annoyances dragging us down.

  Coming around a bend, I notice an orange glow between the silhouettes of the trees. Johnson must see it too, because he accelerates. He revs the engine and steers the truck into a clearing. Everything—our hope, excitement, and courage— is sucked away as we gape in stupefied amazement at the structure burning in sea of raging flames. Black smoke billows into the sky all around the clearing like the arms of Death embracing us. Johnson jumps out and starts running toward the mountain of flames, but Harper runs after him and holds him back. Noah mutters something, but I can’t make out the words. I can only hear the proverbial time bomb on my wrist ticking louder and louder.

  25

  (3 days remaining)

  We find shelter deep in the woods away from the fire and toxic smoke. Without extra geo-shields, we can’t risk driving any further south. Johnson sends a message to Leo, explaining what happened and requesting options. We’re staying put until we get a new route from Leo. This newest wrinkle in the plan also means we won’t be able to deactivate my DOD. I sit on a log and stare at the blazing fire in the distance, wondering what will take me out first—the Technocra
ts who did this or the swarm of flies coming in three days. Two days if you don’t count what’s left of today, which isn’t much.

  Noah sits next to me. “You okay?”

  “Describe okay.”

  He smiles, trying to make up for the cold shoulder he was giving to me earlier. It’s astounding that even in the midst of this horrible moment, my heart starts a round of intense palpitations.

  I return the smile. “I suppose this puts a damper on things.”

  “A little fire never stopped anyone.”

  “Actually, it kinda destroyed the South during the Civil War.”

  A light chuckle. “Good to see you haven’t lost your sass. Would hate to see that fall by the wayside.” He tugs my ponytail playfully, inviting me into his personal space.

  “Are you sorry you stayed?” If he is, I don’t want to know.

  He nudges my shoulder with his. “I could think of a few other places I’d like to be, but this isn’t so bad.”

  “Oh, please. If there was a list of most probable dreadful outcomes this would be in the top five.”

  “Honestly, Kalli, being off-grid with you has been the highlight of my high-school years. One can only take so much hobnobbing with pompous jerks.”

  “You shouldn’t talk about your old chum Parker like that.”

  We laugh a bit until it peters out into an awkward silence. A thousand words hang in my chest like a cage of butterflies wanting to be released. But I don’t know where to start because I’m afraid I’ll scare him away. Noah rests his arm around my shoulder, pulling me under his wing. I look into his eyes and before I spoil the moment with a smart-aleck comment or reject him before he has a chance to reject me, I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. He embraces me, and we cling to each other on the log as our lips meld together and our bodies pulsate. I’m swimmy-headed and breathless. He’s savage and determined. We slip off the log onto the cold dirt, his hands caressing my waist, my arms, and my breasts. I arch up against him, wanting more. Wanting to keep going until we’ve gone all the way. To let him have me right here in these woods, against the hard edges of this fallen tree. I unabashedly press against his strong body, his touch is like lightning striking, sparks flying through my insides with a million volts of joy. We’re gasping for air as we pry ourselves apart before we go too far.