“Harold’s.” Luke snatches off his vest and plops down on the couch. “He can’t be a Creation. Creations would have fought our way out even knowing we were outnumbered, but he said it would be better for us to leave than try to kill all of them.”
“What’d Jord say?”
Kicking off his boots and propping his feet on the table, Luke says, “Nothing. I was surprised by that.”
“If you go off and become Captain―”
“You are captain too, and either way, we wouldn’t have gone to Citizen Management.” Throwing up his hands, he gripes, “I already know where you’re going with this.”
“How do you know I was going to say that?”
“You are always complaining about something, Kylie.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m going to change.” I run upstairs and go to my room. As soon as I enter, I hear a scraping sound coming from my dresser. I rip open the top drawer to find the marbles loose, rolling around. They request us, but we won’t answer. I grab a few pairs of socks and stuff the marbles into one sock, tie the top into a knot and stuff that packed sock into another. Just in case they want to continue rolling around, they won’t be heard.
Chapter Thirteen
I lie on the sofa, resting my head on Luke’s legs and propping my feet on the arm of the sofa. He speaks before I can. “Did you make sure we were the only ones here?”
“Yes. If the door has not opened, it’s just us.” I use the remote to hit play on a movie Luke paused for me. It starts, suspenseful music welcoming a dark, creepy building into view. “If this movie has kissing and the words ‘I love you’ I’m taking it out.” I crack open a bag of baked chips and rest it on my stomach. Cramming a couple in my mouth, I grumble.
“Ky. If you’re going to miss Marc and keep me from watching a movie when there is nothing to do here but talk to you, I’m going to someone else’s house.”
“Booo,” I sing, throwing a chip at him.
He catches it in his mouth. “Get over it.”
“You can be so heartless sometimes, Luke.” I eat another chip and hand him the bag.
He snorts. “Don’t point the finger at me, Ky. If anything, you would be the one who is heartless. We were created heartless, not to love. And do not comment on that.”
I chew on my bottom lip. I’m not a child, I know the things we aren’t supposed to discuss or think about, but Luke knows we’re different. He knows the things that make us different, and emotions and these feelings matter to me. He may just be trying to persuade himself more than to convince me. “Well,” I sigh, “I used to think the most I wanted out of life was to go off to Separation and get away from our aunt. Maybe even fight for our purpose and become the highest-ranking female here. But it’s deeper than that now.” I lower my voice and continue, “And it’s been being here at Separation and the Zombies that have shown me this. I still want the fight. But I want to fight for life, for growth, for the freedom to feel and revel in those feelings without worrying about consequences.” I lift my gaze to Luke, and he keeps his attention tuned into the movie.
He flicks his gaze down at me for a sliver of a second. I encourage him to say something with a quick rise to my brows. He takes in a sharp breath. “I’ve recently had the urge to want to fight harder to survive after finding out about the Vojin’s Zombie threat too. I want to have the opportunity to murder those glow in the dark turds.” Cracking his neck, he sniffs, and I watch the anger fade from his eyes and be replaced by uncertainty. “Being among the secrets and yet still being in the dark has made me even more uncomfortable. There’s definitely something going on with our general, maybe even the entire camp. I don’t know who to trust anymore.”
Maybe we shouldn’t trust anyone. “Seits said Cory is signaling to whoever is watching him who the implants are by constantly talking to them and being around them.”
Luke adjusts, sitting up from being slouched. “Think about this, Ky. Cory had the list when he was coming out of that office.”
“Right.”
“He had the list going back into that office too.”
“Right…”
Luke cocks his head left, and whispers, “They have seen the list and also know whose names are on it. So who are these people who are watching him? And if they want to know the names, why don’t they just go to Jord, the general, the head of our division, and ask? Since he’s the one who had the list first.”
I lick my lips and nod. “I was thinking that earlier.”
“Unless their names are on the list.” Luke leans back on the sofa and starts back in the bag of chips, shoving a handful in his mouth. “And that would explain why Cory is still here and moving back up. Bullshit they don’t trust him, but they are moving him back to captain.”
I think his words over. “Cory may be blackmailing them. But why wouldn’t they just kill him?”
“I think it’s because Cory isn’t the only person who knows. And this third party knows Cory’s and their names are on there.”
“How long have you been contemplating this?”
“Since Cory came here and talked to you that night. We don’t leave traitors alive. And even us doing so raises suspicions. If we’re ever questioned about it, we can’t admit we knew what they were doing.”
Jord and Seits’s names being on that list would change everything. “Which conversation with the Vojin do you take as the truth?”
In a monotone, Luke says, “All of them.”
“Hmm. Because everyone can lie and be lied to?”
“And because… One,” he throws up his index finger, “the way your neck looked that day you came home, it was a threat.” He lifts his middle finger, “Two. Because they killed our parents for trying to stop them, likely because they wanted to destroy this planet. And three,” he throws up the third finger, “because this wasn’t the way when it was first introduced to us, and people seemed happy about peace. I believe the story about them stopping the destruction. Now, to keep the mixed Creations on their side, they’re covering up the real truth with all these stories.”
He passes me the bag of chips back. “They cover up the truth with the story of us being here to implement peace, but we have to know that’s the major lie. What are we supposed to do?”
“Sit back and watch it unfold, let the mixed Creations present themselves to us, even if that means monitoring―” Luke stops talking mid-sentence. I eat a few chips, watching the movie, waiting for him to continue. When he gets an idea while he’s talking, he’ll just stop, leaving me hanging. When we were younger, I used to shake him until he snapped out of his thoughtful trance. Now I’m used to it.
“Seits wants you to stay away from Cory because the people he’s signaling to, whoever they are, expect him to reveal the implants. Jord wants us to keep an eye on Cory as he reveals the implants. He also wants us to see who the implants are.” Luke jolts forward, jumping to his feet, and I nearly topple off the sofa. “Has Cory told you yet if our names were on there?”
I readjust myself to sitting beside him as I say, “No, and I don’t think they are. He would have said something, or at least used his knowledge to get to you.”
He aggressively rubs his hand over his short hair. “You have a point.” His blazing ambition sizzles out. He sits back down, brows drawing in tightly, as he thinks. “Who are the people watching Cory?”
“Maybe the Trade. Remember, they never got the list.”
“And Jord likely wouldn’t tell them because their names are on it.”
“That’s what Cory said that one night, remember.”
“I can’t figure out why we would need to keep an eye on Cory. The only thing I’m getting is to show us who the implants are. But why would they want us to know unless they wanted us to do something about it?”
“Why would Jord care if Cory is an implant if he is too?” I lie back down.
“Unless he’s trying to throw us off. He may only be doing this to make us think Cory still shouldn’t be trusted and
make it seem like he’s only using Cory to get information. A misdirect.”
I nod. “Now that makes sense.”
“Seriously, Ky, think about it. Seits told you to stay away from Cory not five days ago. Now, they want us to keep an eye on him. Putting you around him.” Luke bumps his fist against his thigh. “Maybe it’s a setup.”
“Like you said, no one can be trusted.” Everyone has their own game plan. “Hold on, Luke.” I sit up and look at him dead on. “What if the generals don’t trust us, and they are trying to see if we are the implants? What if they are using Cory to lead them to us and that is why they are telling us now to keep an eye on him? Jord and Seits have both been telling me to keep my distance. What if it’s a test for us, not him?”
“Shit, Ky, you may be on to something. If that’s true, Cory is setting you up.”
Shaking my head, I say, “I won’t leave myself open to be set up.”
“Stay away from him. Every twin for themselves. If we all turn on each other, I want to come out on top.”
“Me too.” I ball up the empty bag of chips and toss it in the trash ben near the doorway. It goes right in. “If sports were still a big thing, I could be a football player. Did you see that shot?”
Luke’s silent for a second. “Yeah, and I don’t think the name of that sport was football. Football was the one with the eye-shaped ball. They still play sports in a lot of places. Like a pastime.”
Shrugging, I say, “I know, but before the first destruction, they played it in the movies. When they made movies like these. They said those people used to be big like the Premier.”
“That was a long time ago. Go get us another bag of chips and bring a can of soda.”
I get up and go to the small fridge in the corner of the den. “Okay.” Grabbing his drink from the small fridge and a bag of chips from the top of it, I say, “Fein thanked me today.”
“How did you respond?”
I hand him the can and open the chips before handing them to him too. “I told her she was welcome.”
“Fein is nice, but like I said, no one can be trusted.” He drinks from the can and finishes with a refreshing hiss. “You unscramble that letter yet?”
Pursing my lips, I shake my head. “Looking at that letter makes my head hurt. I think it’s saying Mom and Dad were implants to the Vojin from the Trade.”
“Then what? The Vojin implanted them in Separation…to kill them?” he asks.
“The Vojin found out they were implants from the Trade, and that’s why they killed them?” I question back.
I watch the wheels spin in his head as he stares at me. “What would have been the Trade’s reason for inserting Creation Breeders or even a Creation into the Vojin’s plan? Did they intend for their implants to be placed into Separation as mixed Creations? And why wouldn’t they inform their children?”
I think on that: a spy in a spy’s court. “Okay, Luke, if I followed you correctly, it would be to keep it from happening again?” I shrug, throwing my arms out at my sides.
“We only have one mission. We are dedicated to one thing.” He’s said this our entire life, but he knows he’s wrong. Especially now.
“That’s not one hundred percent true, Luke.” He knows our mission is beyond Vojin and beyond Creation.
He nods. “Let’s not discuss that detail here.” He’s right. We can’t be sure we aren’t being heard, even in our homes, by something beyond the Vojin and the Guidance. “It’s getting dark. You want to do a sweep before night falls? After the attack today, there shouldn’t be many Zombies out now.”
I cross my arms and throw my weight on my left foot. “They need to get control over this stuff.”
“I agree. That’s what the labs they are building are supposed to help with.”
Luke and I go to Jord’s empty office for reloads. As we’re leaving, we run into Jord coming up the porch. “Where are you two off to?”
“A sweep before night falls, Sir Jord,” I say.
“Three miles out and back is all. Take Cory and Hanley with you.” I bite back my grumble. We don’t need Cory and his puny sister.
“We were going out, Luke and I,” I say. The last thing I want is to go out with Cory and Hanley, putting a target on our backs, after being told to watch out for him.
“It is not safe if you all become outnumbered.” Jord continues into his office. “Do a sweep, taking Cory and Hanley with you. You should run into them on your way out,” he states sternly, dismissing us.
“Yes, sir.” We step off the porch and head away from his office to look for Cory and Hanley.
“Cory,” I call when they cross our path. “You and Hanley are doing a sweep with us. Are you armed?”
“We can’t sweep.” Cory continues past us, adding, “We have something we need to take care of.”
“General’s orders, Cory,” Luke states.
Hanley grabs Cory’s shoulder as a coyote howls far off in the distance. Hanley and Cory immediately look out to their right.
“What’s wrong?” Luke asks, eyeing them shadily.
Hanley faces us. “Nothing. We will go on the sweep with you. Give us an extra mag. We have guns.”
It’s an evil thought, but as we clear the ground, I’m hoping for a Zombie attack so we can see how they’d save themselves. If they’d risk revealing themselves in front of us. Something in my gut tells me they would. Hanley doesn’t know Cory’s trusting me with his most deadly secret. And with the way I’ve treated him, why he even trusts me is bizarre. What’s even more mind-boggling, which I’ve not even mentioned to Luke because I don’t want to panic him, is what Cory must think of me for not telling.
The sun sinks behind the hills, and the sky fades from blue to violet. We clear our third mile, and as we turn to head back, a coyote charges for us.
These Vojin are bold. Luke and I aim our gun at the wild animal, and Cory throws out his arms. “Wait!”
Luke and I look at each other as we lower our weapons.
“I think it is all clear. We are going to stay outside for a while. Can I talk to you later, Ky?” Cory asks, turning to me.
“No, Cory.” I pull Luke to walk. “Have fun with your wolf.” I don’t know why I said that. It just seemed like I needed to say something that wouldn’t give away what we know about the coyote.
I’m soaked with sweat and in desperate need of hydration. We head for our home, and I can hear the shower calling my name.
“You’re not tired yet, right Ky?” Luke asks.
“Why?”
“I need to go check on something.”
“Does that something have long hair and curves?”
Giving me a smug smile, Luke admits, “It might.”
“Bye, Luke.”
This would be a great opportunity for me to work on sleeping without nightmares. After my shower, I go to Luke’s room and lie on his bed. One step at a time. My room doesn’t feel safe yet.
Closing my eyes, I see Zombies, the dead bodies of my group members, dead bodies that I’ve caused, then the dead bodies of my parents. I open my eyes and think of something else before closing them again. I force myself to think of a white shake. A thick, creamy shake, topped with two cherries. The freezing glass wrapped in my hands. I drink it and lift my gaze from the glass cup to my right. Marc. He grabs my free hand and leads me to a booth in the diner. We laugh and share my shake and a basket of fries. I’m reminded of an old TV show I used to watch back home where people would go on dates at a diner and be…normal.
That’s what this is, a date. Marc and I are on a date like the Normals and Breeders. I want to go on a date. Sit with Marc and laugh about nothing. Watch him open up and uncover himself for me.
No Ky, you want to leave Marc alone and not miss him like these thoughts are forcing you to do.
I try to change my thoughts, but they persist. Marc and me laughing and enjoying my fantasies of events that could never happen in either of our lifetimes.
Chapter Fourte
en
“Wake up, Ky.”
I part my lids, surveying Luke, fully suited. “Why are you dressed? You didn’t wake me.”
Luke rubs the back of his neck and tilts his head to the right. “Well, Ky. I came back last night, and you were asleep, peacefully, by yourself. I didn’t want to disturb you, so I stayed out.”
“Crap,” I yell, throwing the covers off me as I climb out of bed.
“What’s wrong?” he asks abruptly. “This is great, Ky! I’m so proud of you!” He spreads his arms to hug me, but I refuse.
I throw my hands in my face, mumbling, “I fell asleep thinking about Marc.”
“He kept your nightmares at bay again? And no contact?”
“Yes,” I whine sorrowfully.
“Good, do that tonight too. In your room.” He points over his shoulder at the closed bedroom door.
“No, it’s not good, Luke. It’s bad.” And where is the horn this morning? Please don’t tell me it was such a great sleep I slept through the morning horn. “What time is it?”
Luke checks his watch. “Nine in the morning. The horn blew hours ago.”
I throw my head back and sigh long and hard. Just great. The fix to my biggest flaw is the one thing in this life that I can’t have.
“Let’s go so we can do a sweep and get to indoor training.”
I drag my feet. How can he not see how this great achievement is equally tragic? “Is there anyone else here that can do the sweep? I’m tired of fighting the undead. I want to do something else like go drink shakes at the diner.”
“You can when you retire, but for now, since the wars with the other countries are at a standstill and we are now at war with the Vojin and these Zombies, this is your life, this is what you will do, and being born to do it, you shouldn’t be tired or whining about it. This is no different from what you were expecting. We put ourselves in this position. We bust our asses to get where we are and have the responsibilities that we hold. There is no need to wish anything different from what we have now and where we are now.”
Salient Invaders: A Young Adult Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian Series (The Separation Trilogy Book 2) Page 12
