by Eliza Green
‘On it,’ came back the reply.
He sat back in his chair. Having Ben work as his right-hand man released some of his stress. Julie had been a great help managing the first floor, but Ben would become his eyes and ears. When he’d first met the curious eight-year-old boy in Belgrave Square, he couldn't have imagined him working beside him in the ITF eight years later.
Bill activated his screen and checked on Harvey’s location. The geneticist was back at his clinic. But before logging out of the hospital, he’d spent a further ten minutes at the site after the meeting had ended. He hadn’t gone far. The prison had recorded his time stamp. It had only lasted a few minutes, but it was long enough to put Bill on high alert.
What business did Harvey Buchanan have with Marcus Murphy?
25
The change happened so fast that Stephen almost didn’t notice it. A strange energy shift in the district made him shiver.
Anton looked up from his invention. What was that?
Don’t know and don’t care.
He still bristled from Emile’s earlier play for power. When he’d told Serena he was done, he’d meant it. It gave Stephen a chance to return to his first love: science. Although, despite Anton’s suggestion he hang out for a while, Stephen’s interference in his projects was beginning to irritate his long-time friend.
Anton’s bustling lab was the distraction he needed to forget about Emile and his plans for the district. Stephen had walked away from the responsibility, the pressure, and the disdain for his leadership skills. Emile could have it all. He didn’t care anymore.
I’m not sure I like this uncaring version of you, Stephen.
Tough. If Emile wants leadership, he’s got it.
Give it time. Serena’s right, Emile will get bored first, or the Indigenes will. Either way, things will be back to normal soon.
Anton was only trying to help, but Stephen had had enough. He wasn’t sure how to make that any clearer to his friends.
To take the edge off, he pottered around Anton’s lab. It had an array of inventions, including the breathable skin to disguise their appearance, which they no longer used, and the synthetic blood half the district hated drinking. Anton had also made a second neurosensor to help him read the minds of younger Indigenes who’d been taught how to mask their emotions. Stephen reasoned the skill had probably been passed on by other second-generation Indigenes. The first generation had the least mutated skills. Second gens, like Stephen and Anton, could evolve and improve on theirs.
Stephen picked up one of the inventions, prompting a wide-eyed Anton to lunge for it. ‘Put that down!’
Stephen paused with his hand in the air.
‘It’s very delicate.’ Anton huffed. ‘Can’t you mope somewhere else while I work? I’m getting nothing done with you around.’
Only a proper distraction would banish the heavy thoughts from his mind. He set the item back down. ‘Let’s go hunting.’
Anton frowned at him. ‘After your speech out there, banning hunting to once per day and a lottery system? Really?’
‘What does it matter anyway? Emile’s rules overrule mine.’ He shrugged. ‘I’m just doing the same as everyone else.’
Anton folded his arms. ‘Stop feeling sorry for yourself. So the elders have upset things here. This is nothing compared to a few weeks ago when the Elite attacked us. Consider this a holiday, a break from the norm. Take up knitting, or finger painting. I don’t care. Just let me work.’
‘I’m sensing some hostility between us.’
Stephen wasn’t sure when he’d become more argumentative. Maybe losing his title had freed him from his constraints.
‘Yeah? You work that one out on your own?’
Anton blew out a breath, but the smile he fought against said he was not angry.
‘Okay, you win. I’ll leave you alone.’
‘Thank you.’
He left the lab, feeling out of sorts. Maybe he could hunt, or use the Nexus. No, either activity would only lend support to Emile’s ideas and reinforce in his charges’ minds that they had been the right ones.
They’re not your charges any more, Stephen.
A strange noise caught him off guard. It permeated through the tunnels, a low, erratic hum that grew louder and steadier. He listened, hearing a second sound of feet slapping on the uneven floor. The sound was headed his way.
Margaux rounded the corner, out of breath and looking rattled. The medics must have discharged her from the infirmary. The wild look in her eyes worried Stephen. Maybe she had been discharged too early. He stopped her with his hands.
‘Margaux, are you okay?’
Her eyes hinted that she might not be lucid, but her words made sense.
‘Trouble, Stephen. I sense it, more now than I have before.’ She gritted her teeth, glancing at the ground, at the walls. ‘That damn bubble protected me from the changes. I couldn’t feel them.’ Her manic gaze caught him. ‘Can’t you feel it too? You must.’ She clutched the sides of her head. ‘It’s drilling, drilling deep. Like a burrowing insect...’
Okay, perhaps she wasn’t lucid.
He hooked his arm in hers. ‘Come on, Margaux. I want the medics to take another look at you.’
She yanked out of his grasp. ‘I’m not mad. Listen to me for once.’
Stephen startled at her words.
Her expression softened suddenly. ‘I apologise. I’m not angry at you, but at myself for not sensing these changes.’
He switched to his inner voice. What changes are you referring to?
She pressed her fingers into the sides of her head. ‘Please, telepathy, it hurts too much. Voice only.’
He nodded at her, wishing she would let him take her back to the infirmary.
‘What’s the matter, Margaux?’
The former elder of District Eight had always been odd, but maybe her oddness gave her a unique perspective.
She touched the walls. ‘It’s in here. The change.’
Stephen pressed his palm to the wall. He didn’t feel an erratic pulse that might indicate tension but a steady hum, like a heartbeat.
He pulled his hand away. ‘Feels fine to me.’
Margaux stared at him. ‘Really? You can’t sense that? I can’t be the only one to feel it.’
‘Feel what?’
‘The extra heartbeat. It’s soft, but it’s there. Growing.’
Stephen didn’t know how to answer. So he asked, ‘Who does it belong to?’
Margaux looked around her, at the ceiling, at the walls, at the floor. She muttered to herself, then began counting on her fingers. When she forgot to answer, he assumed she’d lost her mind again.
But she surprised him by replying, ‘A dark passenger. One who does not belong here.’
The sound of heavy footfall approaching in the tunnel set his pulse pounding. He’d recognise his friend’s stomp anywhere.
Arianna appeared before him and out of breath. ‘Stephen...’
‘What is it?’
‘It’s Emile. He’s sick.’
She ran off before he could ask her more. Following her down the tunnel and with Margaux on his trail, his mind raced at the possibilities. She led him to one of the tranquillity caves. There he saw an unconscious Emile lying on the floor next to one of the units. A small group had crowded round him.
‘What happened?’
One Indigene looked up as Stephen neared. ‘He was fine, talking to me, asking me how I liked the new Nexus layout. Then his eyes rolled back and he started groaning. He stumbled, hit his head and passed out.’
Stephen observed the sets of eyes on him, all looking to him for guidance. ‘Get him to the infirmary, now.’
Four Indigenes picked Emile up by his arms and legs and carried him to the infirmary where Margaux had spent her time. He followed them inside, surprised to see a frazzled Serena there. Six beds had become ten, occupying the space on either side of the room; seven were taken up by the other three elders, plus four of his o
lder Indigene charges.
‘What happened here?’
Stephen should have sensed Serena’s worry long before now. Maybe his distractions were interfering with his skill.
His mate left one bedside and joined him. ‘They all fell ill within moments of each other. It’s been nonstop.’ Her eyes followed the latest casualty. ‘What happened to Emile?’
‘I don’t know. He hit his head after feeling ill.’ He nodded to the others. ‘What happened?’
‘They were all using the Nexus.’
‘And Emile too,’ said an anxious Arianna.
Margaux tugged on his sleeve like a child. ‘Believe me now?’
Serena frowned at the former elder. ‘What do you mean?’
Stephen explained, ‘She detects an extra heartbeat in the district. I don’t know if it means anything, but this is all too coincidental.’
‘We need to stop all use of the Nexus,’ said Arianna.
The Nexus was looking like the common denominator, but to admit it would be to admit Tanya’s entry had left a lasting impression.
‘What do you think it is?’ he asked Serena.
‘We won’t know until we do more tests. I could be out of my depth here. We may need outside help.’
Serena looked more worried than he’d ever seen her.
He knew who she wanted him to call, but Emile’s invasion had hurt his pride and turned him more stubborn.
‘Bill isn’t a geneticist.’
‘But he knows people who can help.’
‘I promise to ask, but it could be temporary, like Margaux’s illness was.’
His eyes slid to the former elder, who was over by Emile’s bedside, her hand on his forehead.
‘Stephen...’ prompted Serena. ‘What do you want to do?’
He closed his eyes. This was all too much. Should he ban all use of the Nexus? Should they control the issue in house or seek outside help? Stephen wished his envisioning skill worked. Maybe then he could see how this would play out. It worried him his newest skill might never resurface.
He opened his eyes. ‘Okay. Ask Laura to contact him. But we could be wasting his time.’
Serena nodded and pointed. ‘Arianna, get Anton. Both of you gather a team to block the entrances to the tranquillity caves. And find out how often everyone has healed since the Elite showed up. We need numbers now, a definitive correlation between the use and this mystery illness, before we can assume that’s what the issue is.’
Margaux had sensed something he had not. She could be the only one not affected by this illness. Stephen didn’t want to admit his own skill might be on the fritz because of the changes Tanya had introduced. If the problem stemmed from there, the entire district could be infected.
Serena rubbed his arm. ‘They’re going to need to hear about Emile from you.’
Stephen drew back his shoulders and nodded. He would resume his leadership, whether the district liked it or not.
26
Laura didn’t need heightened awareness like Arianna or Stephen’s ability to see auras in colours to know the mood in the district was off. As a human, she wouldn’t have noticed any difference in the quiet nature of the Indigenes. But as a half Indigene, their silence deafened her. A pulsating sound permeated through the district and added to an already tense energy. It sounded like a low and steady heartbeat, a reverberation that made her skin prickle. Laura hadn’t felt energy like this since Tanya’s attack. Her mind raced with the possibilities of what this change might mean.
She pushed past her feelings to continue training with Clement. With the neurosensor in place, she tested out her new skill on him. But Serena’s shock arrival in their training area cut her interaction with Clement’s ghost short.
‘Laura, come, I need you.’
Her friend turned and left through the same tunnel. Laura didn’t hesitate to follow. Her destination? Unknown. She peeled the neurosensor off her head and tucked it into her pocket. Clement kept close in the tunnel, neither speaking nor making a sound. Both Clement and Arianna had been her rocks over the last few weeks.
Serena exited the tunnel and entered an accommodation area. She pulled Laura into the first vacant room.
‘What is it? What’s happened?’
When Clement also entered the room, she hesitated to speak. ‘I think it would be better if we spoke alone.’
‘Clement is my friend. You can speak freely in front of him.’
Serena looked unsure, but she took a deep breath and said, ‘Stephen and I need you to contact Bill.’
Her eyes slid almost imperceptibly to Clement. Had Laura been fully human she might have missed it. But with her skills improving, she caught Serena’s glance. It was clear her friendship with Clement was becoming gossip.
‘Why?’
Serena focused on her again. ‘Emile, he’s sick.’
She shook her head and frowned. That couldn’t be possible. She’d just spoken to him. He was on his way to the Nexus.
Another memory slammed into her mind. She gasped.
‘What?’ asked Serena.
‘I spoke to him a couple of hours ago, outside one of the tranquillity caves. I thought he looked sick. He coughed into his fist.’
Serena grew angry. ‘Why didn’t you tell me? We could have stopped him from going in there.’
‘I didn’t think there was anything to tell...’
Except for what his ghost had said.
Serena glared at her. ‘You hesitated just now. Why did you hesitate?’
Laura held her hands up, not ready to share her ability with Serena, or the message from Emile’s ghost.
Her friend sighed and looked away. ‘I’m sorry, I’m stressed. It’s not just Emile who’s been affected. The other elders have, plus a few first gens.’ She looked back. ‘So can you call him?’
Laura nodded. She had talked herself out of calling Bill, but her feelings didn’t matter in an emergency. ‘I’ll do it right now.’ She turned to Clement, noticing the fire in his eyes had died a little. ‘Can we continue training later?’
He nodded and smiled, but avoided her gaze. To Serena he said, ‘Where do you need me?’
‘With Arianna and Anton. We need to block access to the tranquillity caves. If there’s a virus affecting the Nexus, using it will only make things worse.’
Laura left the pair and returned to her private quarters, where she kept her DPad. She sat on the thin mattress stuffed with dried moss and soft materials, pressing her back up against the wall.
With a heavy heart, she called his number. Bill answered, but he was frowning at something on the monitor and hadn’t seen her. The DPad must have been flat on the table because she had a view of his chin.
‘Yeah? What do you have for me?’
‘Bill?’
His eyes shot down to her.
‘Laura,’ he whispered, picking up the DPad and setting it against the monitor. A look of surprise came first, followed by a hardening of his features. He cleared his throat. ‘How’s Margaux?’
‘She’s still okay...’ The stress left his furrowed brow, but not for long when she added, ‘We have a bigger problem here.’
‘Is it Stephen?’
‘No, the elders. Emile and the others, they’re sick.’
‘Like Margaux was?’
‘Different. Have you done any research on your side?’
Bill blew out a breath. ‘Harvey’s being cagey about his progress and Jameson is busy trying to keep the Elite alive.’ He shook his head. ‘I followed a hunch by ordering them to be put in stasis, but I didn’t expect this outcome. What is it, a virus?’
‘Could be. We have limited data at the moment, but the common denominator appears to be the Nexus.’
‘Anyone else showing symptoms?’ Bill leaned in to the screen ‘How are you feeling?’
His concern took Laura aback. She’d forgotten what normal felt like between them—easy conversation and no pressure.
‘I’m okay, not showing
any symptoms.’
His expression softened at her admission. But his flexing jaw said he was not relaxed.
‘So, to recap, just the elders?’ he asked.
‘For now, we hope.’
‘What do you need from me?’
‘Answers from Harvey and Jameson would be good.’
Bill nodded. ‘I’ll see you soon.’
‘Wait, I didn’t mean—’ But it was too late. Bill had clicked off.
A shocked Laura stared at the black screen. Bill was coming here? Or did he mean he’d see her when he called again?
Shoving the DPad away from her, she decided she didn’t care. Both options made her stomach swirl.
Get a grip, Laura.
Her feelings about a visit from Bill didn’t matter. If Bill could help, he should deliver it in any way possible.
She sat in the dark wondering what she could do to help. Laura got to her feet. Except for her nerves at seeing Bill again she felt fine, no worse for wear. She opened the door to her quarters, intent on doing more than ask her husband for help.
Finding Clement standing outside startled her. She jerked back from him.
His gaze was on her neck. ‘Is he going to help?’
‘Yeah,’ she replied softly, closing the door behind her. Laura couldn’t convey how grateful she was to have Clement as her friend. Calling Bill felt like she’d somehow betrayed him, and she hated it. ‘It’s just until we figure this thing out.’
Clement lifted his eyes to her. Doubt marred their blue beauty.
She switched the subject. ‘Hey, I thought you were helping Anton?’
‘I was but I wanted to check you were okay first.’
She smiled. ‘I’m fine.’
Before she could react, Clement gripped both her arms. ‘Are you sure?’
She nodded again, her smile tightening. ‘Come on, let’s go find Anton.’
He let go. ‘Actually, I think we should split up. You should help Arianna.’