Hard Wired Trilogy

by DeAnna Pearce

  Jewels stepped forward, placing a hand on Ari’s arm, but speaking to Tamar. “She needs to leave tonight.”

  Startled Ari pulled back. “What?” Granted, it may be just what Ari was thinking, but not so soon.

  Tamar must have been as equally puzzled. “Why, Grandmother?”

  “The work they have her doing is killing her. If she stays, she will die.”

  He turned to Ari. “Is that true?”

  Ari’s chest tightened as everything in her world spun out of her control. “Yes, it is. I want to leave, but don’t have everything set up. Could we do it later? Maybe in a few days?” At the end of the week, Kari was supposed to meet Antoine for vacation. If she could get her information together, she could pose as Kari and move between countries. She’d been playing with idea since her last meeting with Antoine.

  “The next boat won’t be going out for two weeks,” Tamar told her. “The good thing is if you get out in front of the storm, no one will be able to come after you for several days.”

  “Do you think they’ll send someone after me?”

  “You are an expensive commodity. If you leave, I assume you will be breaking contract and owe them quite a bit of money. They will come after you to prosecute you. I don’t believe they will hurt you. You are worth too much.”

  If she was ever going to leave, it had to be tonight. Right now. What about Reed?

  “My boyfriend, he came here with me.”

  Tamar shoulders sagged. “It will be harder with him. Getting new identities, traveling as a pair you will be more conspicuous. The new identities will be expensive, and you will have no money.”

  “But I’ve been paid—”

  “In electronic traceable currency. You have to go off-grid to truly get away.”

  “I can’t leave him without telling him.” Was that the right choice or would it just guilt him into coming along? Remorse ate at her that she was about to destroy his life again. Maybe he would choose to stay, and part of her hoped he would for his sake.

  Tamar nodded. “Let’s go then.”

  “Wait—my tracker.” She motioned to the back of her neck. “The guards are watching me from the car.”

  “I can hold that for you for a while. Give you a head start,” Jewels said.

  That’s all fine and dandy, except getting it to Jewels involved cutting it out of her neck. “Do either of you have a knife?”

  “I do.” Tamar said. “You’re not a man if you don’t carry one.”

  Ari let a nervous laugh escape. “Never heard that one yet.” Turning around, she pulled up her thick braid. “Don’t cut deep. It’s right under the skin and hopefully should slide out.”

  “Don’t worry. I can gut a fish with precision.”

  The wind wiped through the trees, the skin on her neck raising. “Great. Just think of me as an oversized fish.”

  A small sting bit into her skin. Then his cold hands added pressure to her neck. “Here.” He dropped the tracker onto Ari’s hand, a bit of blood along with it. Staring at the small silver device she realized it was all over. Her dreams of a better life, or starting over with Reed, they were all gone before they even got a chance to begin.

  She forced herself not to go down that dark train of thought. Now she had a chance at a real life, a life away from fake skins, electronic dangers, and people who wished to use her like a tool. It may not be the way she wanted, but this may be the best way for things to play out. Her heart tugged at the thought of Reed and the Islanders and everything they have done for her.

  Glancing between Tamar and Jewels, she said, “Thanks for everything. Really. I hope nothing happens to you because you helped me.”

  Jewels shook her head and pulled her into a hug. “Don’t worry about us. We’ve been dealing with these city folk for years now. They’re not as smart as they think.” She took the tracker from Ari and held her hand for another moment. “Be strong, Ariana. It’s a big world out there with a lot of paths. Find yours and find the courage to take it.”

  Tears fell from Ari’s face, a mixture of the wind and emotion, as she nodded. She found solace in the old woman’s words. “Thank you.”

  The woman turned to her grandson. “Take her to find her boy. Then hurry to the boat. The storm is angry, and they’ll be safer out at sea.” Jewels walked out of the safety of the trees and headed to the fire.

  Tamar reached for Ari, and they ran.

  Chapter 35

  Running fast through the dark night, the wind howled through the trees. Ari remained right behind Tamar, often grabbing onto his shirt for guidance to not get lost. Only someone who grew up on these paths could take them so fast. He maneuvered with a swift coordination that even Niomi would be impressed by.

  He slowed once the dorms came into view and turned to Ari. “Go in and grab your boy.” He motioned to his bare chest and tied skirt. “It’d attract more attention the way I’m dressed, which we don’t need right now.”

  “Okay.”

  As she walked off, he added, “You don’t have time to convince him. The boat will not wait for you if their shipment is loaded.”

  Nice to know. Jogging upstairs, she tried to gather her thoughts of what she’d say to Reed. By the time she arrived at his room panting from exertion, she still didn’t have a clue.

  Opening the door, Reed looked surprised as he took her jagged appearance in.

  He had no idea what was about to hit him.

  “Am I late?” he checked his HUB.

  “Do you trust me?” Standing up, she met his gaze and prayed this was the best thing for him.

  “Of course.”

  “I don’t have time to explain. I’m leaving the island right now. I have to.” She gulped knowing this was the hard part. “If you want to stay, I totally get it. You have a great life, with a chance of being reunited with your mom. I can’t promise you any of that. I just have to leave and couldn’t without telling you goodbye first.”

  He blinked and with a brief nod said, “I’m coming.”

  It was Ari’s time to be reassured. Despite the hell of the situation, she smiled, reaching forward and kissed him. He reached out, but she pushed back. “No time. We have to go, now.”

  “Should I grab anything? Clothes, food?”

  “No time… except do you have any money or stuff to trade.”

  “Yeah.” Keeping the door open, he rushed to his dresser. A bag lay on top, which he grabbed, and opening his top drawer threw stuff in it. It took all of thirty seconds before he turned. “Let’s go.”

  Ignoring the looks of others, they ran through the halls and outside to the outdoor patio, the same one in which they often shared several conversations, meals, and kisses. Standing in the middle of two tables was Vinh.

  His hands fisted by his sides, almost shaking. “Where are you going, Ari?”

  Her jagged breath did nothing to help hide her guilt, thankfully Reed was thinking straighter.

  “On a date.” Reed ran a hand through his hair. “We’re hoping to make it back to her rooms before the storm hits. You know, nice cozy night during a storm.”

  “Then why is her tracker on a beach dancing right now? I thought it funny when I saw her sprinting to your room, a bit over eager.” Vinh’s chest puffed up in an aggressive pose that didn’t suit him. Unlike his easygoing temperament, it appeared to take effort for him to be this confrontational.

  The wind picked up, and it was accompanied now by a light rain. She didn’t have time to waste. “Step aside, Vinh.” Ari moved forward, not willing to let him ruin this for them.

  “I can’t. I will lose my job.” He remained still, hands clenched at his side.

  “I trusted you,” she spit at him, her voice raising as drops of rain fell on her face. “I thought you were my friend.”

  “I am.” His earnest face showed that he actually believed the lie.

  “Friends don’t let friends kill themselves.”

  “What are you talking about?” Reed said next to her
.

  Vinh gulped and glanced down. “I was doing everything to keep you healthy and safe.”

  “You didn’t tell me the truth, so I could decide for myself if it was a risk I wanted to take.”

  “I couldn’t. I would lose my job and not be able to help you at all.”

  “Maybe. But it’s still my life to gamble, not yours.” A tinge of sympathy tugged at Ari. She knew about tough situations that life can put you in. She may be able to forgive him one day for this betrayal, but she couldn’t stay here.

  She started forward to forcibly move him, but Reed beat her to the chase. Storming forward, he punched Vinh in the face. He fell backward on the ground and didn’t move. Looking back and forth between them, Ari was surprised and impressed.

  Tamar emerged from out of the foliage. “About time,” he motioned to Vinh sprawled out on the ground. “We have to run. I just got a call from the boat. They will be gone in ten, fifteen minutes tops, and can’t wait.”

  “Okay.” Ari took a step before remembering one last thing. “Reed’s tracker.”

  “Right?” Tamar pulled out his knife.

  Reed didn’t blanch but turned around, which said a lot given he didn’t know Tamar well.

  “It’ll be quick. I already did mine.”

  “I know.” He flinched slightly as Tamar made the incision. “I saw your neck in my dorm. I figured it was pretty serious if you cut it out.”

  “Let’s go.” Tamar placed the tracker in Vinh’s pocket which was next to him.

  Reed turned to Ari, “You have a lot to explain.”

  “I will, later. Promise.”

  For the first time since her arrival at the island, Ari was grateful for Niomi’s obsession with running. Once they made it deeper into the jungle, Tamar pulled out a light to help speed up their trip. Her heart pounded in her chest, but every step took her closer to freedom and survival.

  With her legs rubber and numb and her hair sopping wet, the dock came into view. Ari had never been to this part of the island, and its dated and industrial structures were out of place in comparison. Guess VisionTech hides away the gritty side of life in more than one way.

  A tall light pole illuminated a portion of the massive boat, bigger than her apartment building growing up. It was large and dark but teeming with life. Men shouted on the deck, working against the rain now falling in a heavy sheet.

  They raced up the ramp, a man on top greeting Tamar with a hand on his shoulder. “Cutting it close, cousin.”

  “Keep safe on the waters.” Even Tamar appeared slightly out of breath.

  “We always do.” He motioned Ari and Reed on top of the massive boat.

  Hand in hand they stepped on to the boat, and the large metal gate shut after them. Ari turned back to tell Tamar just how much all this meant, for being a friend and caring for her when she really needed it.

  Tamar just shook his head. His kind eyes peering through wet clumps of hair that hung down his face. “No time. Be safe.”

  She nodded, knowing he was right. Emotion flooded through her, washed away by the rain splattering her face. There on the ship, she promised herself if she ever had the means, one day she’d return to the island, where beautiful people gave her a gift she could never repay.

  Chapter 36

  Being stowaways, Reed and Ari were led to a small mop closet for their lodging. Tamar’s cousin, Manu, handed them some water and a couple of blankets. “Sorry I can’t do much better. If we give you a room, then I have to log you in as passengers or crew. Both have a record I think you’d be better off avoiding.”

  “Don’t worry. I appreciate what you’re doing for us.” Ari squeezed the water out of the ends of her hair, straight into a drain. Practical at least.

  Manu shook out his short curly hair. His tall and wide build barely fit inside the room. “The crew knows you’re here, but it’s best if you keep to yourself and only deal with me. The bathroom is down the hall if you need it. Hunker down for the night as we sail ahead of the storm, and I’ll come bring you breakfast in the morning.”

  Reed reached a hand out and clasped hands with Manu. “Thanks again.”

  “Night.” Manu turned down the hall.

  For the next few minutes, Reed and Ari took off extra wet layers, squeezing out the water. In an undershirt, Ari wrapped the blanket around her. Reed, in a pair of boxers, did the same.

  They picked the corner without the drain and cuddled next to each other. Reed placed an arm around her. “Let’s hope our clothes dry by morning.”

  “It’d be nice.”

  “Since we have time now, can you tell me what happened? And why you didn’t tell me until tonight?” Reed didn’t yell or even sound angry for Ari flipping his world upside down.

  With guilt heavy on her shoulders, Ari explained the mess she found herself in and how the restrictions in her contract forced her to not tell him. Even though he knew that, he agreed the separation between them was just another ploy by VisionTech. He didn’t argue, just listened.

  Then when she began explaining about her mission, the hardest part came—explaining about Antoine. “I should have just broken up with him. Niomi told me too, but I thought the mission would end soon and Kari would have her life back. I didn’t want to ruin her life more than I already did.”

  “That makes sense.” He remained composed, his face not giving anything away.

  “And there’s more.”

  “What?”

  Ari pulled back, not willing to let herself be comforted. She didn’t deserve it. “I kissed him. At first, I pulled back. Only watching their interaction within the data. Like a director moving Kari’s body to react positively to her boyfriend. Keeping everything normal until…”

  “Until what?”

  “The last time I kissed him.” Tears fell silently down her cheeks. “I can’t really explain it. I don’t care for Antoine like that. I just… I felt bad for stealing his girlfriend, for destroying her life, maybe even being the cause for her death. I caused him so much sorrow that I wanted to say goodbye and have it be as real as possible for once.”

  Reed stood up, fists clenched, he looked like a trapped animal. With a loud exhale, he stepped forward and slammed his fist into the wall. Ari flinched, but he didn’t seem to notice.

  The punch dented the drywall, but probably hurt him more. Shaking his hand out, he then slapped the wall with such force. With both palms on the wall, he lowered his head. The muscles on his back strained.

  Ari gave him time. He deserved it with the bomb she just dropped on him. And now he was unemployed and on the run to a foreign country. He could have all the time he needed.

  “Do you love him?” He spoke softly, still looking down.

  “No. I care for him, mostly out of guilt. I love you.” She prayed he believed her. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you on the island, before you came with me.”

  He spun around. “Do you think that really would have mattered?”

  “I don’t know.” She lowered her eyes to her lap.

  After slowly exhaling, he kneeled in front of her and lifted her chin with a finger. His anger appeared to melt off him, his face softening. “I don’t regret being here with you. I’m furious at VisionTech for putting you in an impossible situation, and even more furious that I couldn’t do anything about it.”

  “It’s not your job.”

  “But I want it to be.” He cupped her cheek with a soft hand. “I know how you feel about the VR, and after Garrett last year I know how you feel about romance in the VR. I don’t think for a minute you did it because you had some virtual fantasy. We’re real, together, and that’s what matters.”

  The pressure of shame and guilt that had been bogging her down finally lightened as she reached for Reed.

  He sat back down and pulled her next to him. “What ended up happening with Antoine? Did you break up?”

  She bit her lip, hoping he wasn’t going to hate this next part. Her story just kept getting worse and worse.
“No, I told him to plan on their vacation.”

  Reed turned to look at her. “Isn’t that worse? Leaving the poor guy stood up on vacation by himself?”

  “Well, I thought we could meet him there?”

  A short laughed erupted from Reed. “That’s what a guy wants. Instead of a romantic getaway, two strangers show up. One who has been pretending to be his girlfriend.”

  “Not too far from home, but it should offer the privacy and freedom we need. I can’t think of any other options.”

  “You’ve thought this through.”

  “I’ve had a lot of time on the last couple runs with Niomi.” The mention of her trainer’s name pulled on her heart. After the months spent together, the betrayal hurt.

  “I suppose you did. Tell me about this vacation? And how you found your file?”

  She continued her story, letting him know everything she had been forced to keep from him. When she talked herself out, silence fell upon them. It was several minutes before he spoke. “Did you really think I would have chosen to stay on the island without you?”

  She shrugged. “You finally got your dream job, using your art.”

  “I only got that job because of you.”

  “But you’re so talented.”

  “Thanks, but apparently I was under qualified. My boss hinted more than once at that fact. Yet Niomi would always check in on me to make sure things were good between us. If I ever needed something, it was taken care of.”

  “Really, why didn’t you say anything?” It hurt to know that maybe he wasn’t as happy as he was pretending either.

  “I know you would feel guilty that we ended up here, even though you didn’t need to. I may not have chosen to move to an island or end up in the closet of a boat, but I chose you and all that entails. Every moment since, I have chosen you.”

  Her heart pooled around her feet as she leaned forward. “I love you,” she whispered before kissing him.

  His soft lips and warm taste flooded her mouth and she couldn’t get enough. His hand gently cupped her cheek, pulling her close. Her nerve endings in a flurry of delight. Every touch was bliss and with it a desire for more.