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CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Memphis and Lana didn’t move immediately after the helicopter’s whirring blades drifted out of earshot. Only after the stifling heat produced by three bodies became unbearable, (in a very small space, mind you) did she finally allow Memphis to open the door.

I stumbled from the room, breaking free from Memphis’ arms and sucked in a fresh clean breath. The space where my Complement had been didn’t sparkle anymore. Had I imagined her?

“Well, then.” Lana closed up the room and turned, her face wrought with concern. “Since Abby has decided to stay, I need to speak to your father.”

Memphis’ cat-like smile made me regret my decision.

“Where’d you see Kaden last?” Lana pulled on Memphis’ arm, drawing his attention away from me. “If they’re scanning the forest and have come this far—”

“He’ll be fine, Ma,” he said. “He’s with Jewels.”

Jewels? A snarky bit of jealousy rose my hackles. Who was Jewels? I pushed the stupid thought away.

Lana’s shoulders tightened as she looked out the window. “Well, that’s good to know, but I hate to say it. We can’t stay here now.”

Memphis kept watching me adoringly, as if his adoration swayed me to stay. His smile broke as soon as the door flew open.

“Why is she still here?” A man with a striking resemblance to Kaden pointed at me. “You had your chance. They came for you.”

Lana moved alongside the man. “Abby has decided to stay.”

The man clenched his jaw. “I don’t care what Kaden has done, she’s not welcome here.”

“She’s not the enemy, Peter,” Lana retorted.

My life was being batted around like a birdie caught between two cats. Why did my Complement insist I stay in this nightmare again?

“She’s not a threat, Dad,” Memphis began. “Kaden took—”

“You have no say in this, Son,” Peter barked. “And until Kaden returns, safe and sound, I’ll hold you responsible.” Though he said it to Memphis, his glare found me.

I stepped backward.

“We need to discuss this in private.” Lana tugged on Peter’s arm, pulling him outside.

As the door closed, the awkwardness escalated. I moved to the window, felt the sudden pang of queasiness from the height, then decided to sit on the bench. I tried to look everywhere but at Memphis and his inquisitive eyes.

“Glad you decided to stay.” He sat across from me.

“Your dad isn’t.”

“Ehh… once he sees reason, he’ll get over it.”

The extra joy in his voice made me want to tell him I hadn’t chosen to stay because of his admission of whatever that was. My Complement’s shove wasn’t something to argue with.

With the confirmation of Kaden’s experience, everything he had said began to replay in my mind. That my Complement told him to rescue me otherwise I’d be bait against the future-me and that I was to lead the rebellion. I felt completely overwhelmed and inadequate, and mostly unwelcome in this foreign place.

“Yeah, well, before I decide to stay indefinitely, Kaden needs to explain some things.”

Memphis sighed and shook his head. “You know, he’s kind of unpredictable.”



I snorted in agreement. Unpredictable topped my list, next to cryptic, complicated, and way down at the bottom was cute… but I had a tiny inkling he did have a good heart. “So what exactly did he tell your dad about all of this, because he doesn’t seem very happy to see me, the future leader of your people.”

“Don’t worry about my dad.” Memphis pushed his hand through his hair. “Kaden said he had a vision that you needed to be rescued from Brighton and that you’d be a vital part of our community in the future.”

A vital part, but no mention of being the leader. Great. He was just as scared to tell his dad the truth as I was to actually take charge. “Did your dad believe him?”

“Uhhh… he wanted Kaden to wait, and see if an Elder received duplicate confirmation first.”

“Duplicate confirmation?” I could see it now, the Oracle leading a group of seers, all fighting over whose vision was better.

“There’s been an Elder or two who’s had dreams about stuff the colony should do to stay alive…” He sat back and propped his hands behind his head. “It was Kaden’s first vision, and no one has suggested we visit Brighton before, if you know what I mean. We kind of want to stay out of their way.”

I furrowed my brow. That wouldn’t last for long if future-me had anything to say about it. Rebels typically attacked.

“But you knew Kaden didn’t have a vision. He actually met someone from the future.”

Memphis narrowed his eyes at me for a moment, the corner of his lip tipping up.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m starting to believe, don’t get too cocky,” I’d wanted to say.

Then he straightened. “Well… that would’ve definitely not gone over well, especially since he had to bust you out and you weren’t in trouble exactly.”

“But you believed him?” I questioned.

He looked upward. “I know my brother. He wouldn’t lie about this. Besides, beautiful women don’t appear in front of you in the forest. You know?” His cheeks pinked as he coughed. “Well… yeah, it’s not an everyday event, especially here. He kinda had to go with the whole dream thing.”

I pressed my nail into the soft wood of the table, trying to keep from smiling. Cute guys don’t typically come to the rescue when you didn’t know you needed rescuing, either. The idea they both thought I was pretty made me warm and tingly inside.

“I mean,” he continued, “if your future self visited me, I’d be all over it, too. There’d be no way I’d let anything bad happen to you, ever. But… Kaden’s more of the quiet type. He decided on a solo mission.”

He eyed me sheepishly.

“I see.” The awkwardness returned. I still had no idea what to think of him, or anything, accept that Memphis was working every angle, hoping I’d believe them. But the thought of something happening to Kaden rattled me. How long did a decoy take to set up? And why hadn’t he returned after the helicopters left?

I stared at the spot where I’d heard the woman’s voice and questioned my sanity. Was that my Complement?

The door opened and Lana walked in alone. “Memphis, I’d like to talk to Abby. Can you please leave us?”

“What?” He huffed. “Why?”

She pointed outside. “Please.”

He walked past her, shoulders low, with an invisible tail between his knees. I felt sorry for him. Considering all the times he’d stuck up for me he should at least hear what his parents decided.

“So,” she said, after shutting the door. My heart leapt into first gear. “You have two choices. Either you request asylum with us, or we’ll give you a weeks worth of rations and send you on your way toward home. What will it be?”

I stared at her. These were her options?

“What about Kaden?”

“What about Kaden, Abby?” Lana propped her hand on her hip. “He kidnapped you, against your will as you’ve stated, unless there’s something going on between you and my son.”

I spit out a quick laugh. “No. Of course not. He did kidnap me. I just…” I lost my train of thought. I didn’t exactly care for him, but I didn’t wish him ill will either. Leaving without saying good-bye felt wrong, now, especially after the Complement thing I experienced.

“Then what?” She leaned forward, impatient. “I don’t have a whole lot of time.”

I frowned. Yes, the EA could return again, but I couldn’t be expected to rush this decision. The stakes were huge. Her continuing glare made me want to take the rations and run, and I would have if I didn’t have such an irrational fear that zombies existed.

“Why is this such a hard decision?” She sat down, her voice softer.

“Because there’s just stuff I’m trying to sort through.”

“Like?” She folded her hands.

Like why Brighton lied about the condition of the land. And why they kept us cooped up when there weren’t any zombies that I’d seen. Not to mention why they felt so compelled to get rid of those with blue eyes. But I didn’t want to tell her that. The EA apparently had their reasons, being privy to the future and all. I kept staring at Lana, trapped in her gaze, and shrugged.

She closed her eyes and rubbed at her forehead. “It wasn’t long ago when I was in your shoes. I was a conscientious citizen in Brighton, living with my parents. Peter and I were at a point where we’d wanted to get married and had planned to, until I learned Peter wasn’t a DNA match for me. We’d appealed, but being in love wasn’t enough for them to change their mind. And in Brighton, you do what the EA wants or else, right? They’d expected me to marry another man, and for Peter, another woman… because of the color of our eyes.”

She zinged her blue eyes at me and captured me. “And by a miracle, we were given an opportunity to leave undetected. It hasn’t been easy in the wild lands, but here, in our colony, as long as you follow the rules, it’s fair, unbiased, and we have the freedom of choice. But we cannot chance this to be flaunted in front of the Elected Agency. We live in fear one day they’ll find out about us. So you must decide once and for all, asylum or not, because you’ll never get this opportunity again, I assure you.”

I tried to remain calm. If what she’d said was true, that the EA did know about them, then why had Kaden said I was to be bait for the future rebels’ whereabouts? Was that because they were closing in? Or did Kaden know something his mother didn’t. Either way, it was only a matter of time.

And if everything Kaden said was a lie, then what was said at my meeting was my future. My Complement expected me to be single and serve Brighton and I’d be taken right out of the pool of the eligible women along with Elle. Going home meant agreeing to that and denying I was the Oracle, denying someone had appeared from nowhere and pushed me across this kitchen. Yet staying meant saying good-bye to my family and friends, and bathrooms, apparently.

I looked away and rubbed my neck. “This is a hard choice.”

“Yes, it must be, and the fact that the EA used the choppers means you’re important to Brighton. You should go home, then.”

I studied the marred table. The last thing I wanted was to be important to Brighton, so much so they’d make me a slave to them.

“But I think you’re more than just a pretty face if my son would disobey his father and risk his neck for you…”

I startled at her words, then swallowed. Though she led on she didn’t know why he’d taken me, she understood her son.

“What if I don’t fit in here?”

“Well…” She chuckled. “Unless you break the rules, I think you’ll fit in just fine. But if you choose to stay, Abby, you can’t leave. We’ve worked hard to stay undetected and that system keeps us safe. We’re already trusting you with too much as it is. If the EA finds out about us, they’ll destroy us.”

I tugged my hurt arm closer to my body, torn with what to do.

“I’ll leave you to decide.” She stood quickly.

“No.” The words came out, almost like my inner survivor shoved them out. “I’ll stay.”

Lana stiffened. Surprised perhaps? Then her face brightened for a moment in relief, then darkened once again. “Fine.” She slapped her hand on the table. “It’s finally decided. We need to pack up and get moving. It’s not safe here anymore.”

I watched her turn for the door, gnawing on the inside of my lip, wondering if I’d made the right decision, when the “yahoo” of one happy guy filled the air just outside.


Date: 2015-02-03; view: 619


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