From the Dust: A Dystopian Novel (Ember Society Book 1)

by AR Colbert

  “She was murdered by Outsiders.” He already knew the answer of course, but this was a test. He wanted to see if I could answer hard questions without getting emotional. It wasn’t easy.

  “I’m sorry, that must have been difficult.” I sensed his sympathy, and it was genuine. But there was something else there that I couldn’t place. “And your father?”

  Double whammy. He was hitting me hard.

  “He was exiled two years ago.” That fact was a little easier to accept after meeting some of the Outsiders. They weren’t all horrible murderers. It was a small chance that my father found a group as solid as Cato’s friends, but at least there was some hope.

  “I see,” Raf continued. “So tell me why you want to work for the government, the same people who sent your father away.”

  I swallowed again. That question might have been the most difficult because my answer was a lie. I didn’t want to work for the government. I cleared every other thought from my head and spoke as though I was reading lines from a piece of paper.

  “I believe our laws are designed for the greater good of our people. My father was found breaking those laws, and any crime against New America or Classen City is a crime against me and all of our people. I believe our government and its officials are just, and I would be honored to serve our people as a Peacemaker.”

  Raf clapped. “You’re amazing. I can’t believe you’ve made such great progress in just a week.”

  I remained emotionless, curious to see how long I could keep it going. But my hypothetical puppy dog tail was wagging so hard my feet couldn’t stay on the ground. Maybe it was wrong to keep training with Raf when I knew I wasn’t going to specialize, but I really enjoyed our time together. And he said it would help me either way.

  “Thank you.”

  “Wanna have a little fun with it?” he asked, scooting closer to me.

  “Whatever you think will help is fine by me.” I tried to sound cold, bored even, but he was close enough that I caught his scent. It was a mix of mint and lemongrass, fresh and clean, and I wanted to lean in and take a deep drag of it.

  “Alright. You’re getting really good at blocking out the negative emotions. Let’s try some positive ones. What’s your best friend’s name?”

  “Sela.” This was too easy.

  He scooted an inch closer. “If I wanted to make you a cake for your birthday, which flavor would you want?”

  I paused, closing my eyes as I remembered the few cakes I’d sampled over the years. Vanilla was always a classic, but chocolate was so rich. Then I recalled Sela’s tenth birthday. Her mom baked a yellow cake with the creamiest chocolate frosting I’d ever tasted. It was the perfect combination. The corner of my mouth threatened to turn up at the memory, but I caught myself. Raf was grinning wildly across from me.

  “I almost got you there! You must have a sweet tooth.”

  I shook my head and calmly responded, my voice steady. “Yellow cake with chocolate frosting. Heavy on the frosting.”

  Raf chuckled. “Interesting choice. I like it.”

  He scooted closer again so that our knees were touching. I tried to ignore the warmth of his body creeping into mine. My pulse picked up and I concentrated on deep slow breaths to steady it. Raf had a crooked half-grin as he leaned forward and brushed a stray wisp of hair from my face. Inhale. Exhale.

  “Last question,” he said.

  I steadied myself, quite certain he already knew exactly how I was feeling in that moment. But our lesson was cut short.

  A very frantic Cato came panting through the front door. Raf pushed himself backward faster than I’d ever seen him move. I didn’t have time to be embarrassed, though. My brother was in danger.

  Cato’s wide eyes looked from me to Raf. “What is going on? Actually—no. You can explain later. I need your help.”

  His face was shiny with sweat, cheeks red from the cool air, and he still hadn’t caught his breath. I wondered how far he had run. My brother’s endurance was incredible, so I knew it had to have been a really long distance, or at least really fast, for him to get this winded.

  I felt his fear in my very core, and I had to lean over to rest my hands on my knees.

  “Anything, Cato. What can we do?” Raf’s shaky voice told me he was feeling it, too.

  “They found out about the stuff I took from the Center.”

  “The trash?” I asked.

  Cato nodded. “Dax met me at the curb in front of his house. He heard there was an accusation made against me for theft. Protectors are waiting for me to return to headquarters. I’ve got to get out of here.”

  “Where are you going to go?” I knew he was right. He had to get out. If the Protectors caught him he would be exiled by tomorrow. But I didn’t see any other option. If he ran, he’d just be running to the Outside anyway.

  “I’ve got to go underground for a while.”

  Raf nodded and walked to the kitchen. He rummaged through our cabinets, pulling out bread and peanut butter.

  “I don’t understand—”

  “We can tell you everything you need to know, just not right now. I only have a few minutes before they send someone here to look for me. My truck will be getting back to headquarters any minute now, and they’re gonna be pissed when they see Johnson driving. He’s telling them I got sick and had to take off early.”

  Raf was filling empty jars with water from the tap. Cato grabbed a flashlight and a blanket from his closet and began shoving everything into a backpack. There was a method to their madness that told me this wasn’t the first time they’d sent someone “underground.”

  Cato pulled the zipper on his bag and joined Raf in the hallway. They opened a closet door and pushed the coats hanging there over to one side. Raf pulled out a couple of boxes sitting on the floor, and Cato dropped to his hands and knees. He slid his fingertips across the floor, looking for something. Stopping at a knot in the wood, he moved his fingers back and over to the corner of the plank. It took just a few seconds for him to find a gap big enough to slide his thumbnail under. He lifted the board just enough to get a hand underneath, and I watched in amazement as he pulled up a square section of our floor measuring about three feet long by three feet wide.

  He flicked on the flashlight and descended onto a secret staircase under our floor. My skin was clammy all over, and I was shaking. But Cato was so brave. His courage was awe-inspiring.

  When his head was at floor level, he turned to look back with a nervous grin. “See you soon.” He gave us a salute before disappearing into the darkness below.

  “Help me get everything back in place!” Raf spoke with urgency.

  But wait. I didn’t even get to say goodbye. Where was Cato going, and when would I see him again?

  “Come on.” Raf dropped the floorboards back into their spots, nudging them slightly to hide any evidence of a gap. His speed told me now was not the time for questions. I rushed over to his side, spreading the coats out evenly over the hanging bar as he pushed the boxes back inside. He closed the door and placed his hands on my shoulders.

  “Remember to stay frozen, no matter what happens. Do not let them get a read on your emotions.”

  I nodded, and a pounding on the front door seemed to shake the entire room. Raf gestured toward the door with his head, and I took a deep breath. He propped himself up on my kitchen counter with his elbow and examined his fingernails. He was really a master with the blank face.

  I made my way slowly to the door, trying to steady my shaking hands. I could do it. I could stay frozen. I’ve got this.

  The pounding sounded again, this time with a gruff voice on the other side of the door.

  “Protectors. Open up!”

  I turned the knob, feigning a look of surprise.

  “Hi, Officers. Can I help you?”

  “Claren Greenwood?”

  I nodded.

  “Officer Patton. This is Officer Sims.”

  The two men walked in without an invitation. Office
r Patton, who I assumed was in charge, was a huge man, almost as wide as he was tall. He had a thick orange beard, and his teeth were barely any whiter. His breath reeked of stale coffee as he barked out his words.

  Officer Sims was young, probably in his early twenties. He was searching every inch of my house, stun gun at the ready. I focused my attention on him, feeling his hesitation as he rounded the corners. He didn’t have much experience with this, and I suspected he’d never fired that stun gun at a real human being.

  The novelty had worn off for Officer Patton, however. This was routine procedure for him.

  “We’re looking for your brother Cato. Have you seen him?” He studied my eyes, and I concentrated on stuffing my fear deep into my belly before I responded.

  “I saw him this morning,” I answered innocently. “He probably won’t be home from work for a few more minutes. Is there something I can help you with, instead?”

  “I’m afraid your brother is wanted for theft. We’ve received multiple reports from the Center. This is a very serious crime, Ms. Greenwood.” Office Patton scanned the room, noticing Raf for the first time since his arrival. “Who are you?”

  “Raf Miller, sir.” He extended his arm to greet the Protector. Officer Patton warily shook his hand.

  “What are you doing here?” the officer asked him before eyeing me suspiciously.

  Raf looked upset. He wasn’t doing a very good job of blocking his own affect, and I wondered what had made him so angry.

  “I was trying to get here before Cato got home so I could finally get my jacket back. If Claren will grab it for me real quick, I’ll get out of your way.”

  Both men turned to look at me and I couldn’t hide my surprise. My eyes widened at Raf and I shook my head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Raf looked at the ceiling and groaned loudly. “Ugh. I know he took it. He was the last person at the headquarters yesterday. I swear if he doesn’t give me back—”

  “Do you have reason to believe Cato Greenwood stole your personal property, Mr. Miller?”

  “I don’t know who else could’ve done it.”

  “Did you hear that, Sims? Write that down.”

  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Raf was such a liar! He acted like he cared about us, but here he was adding to my brother’s criminal accusations.

  “You got it, sir.” Officer Sims scribbled into his notebook before exchanging it again for the stun gun. He approached the hallway closet and my heart lurched in my chest.

  “I hope you catch him.” Raf was seething in the kitchen. “And if he’s wearing a navy blue jacket with a red zipper, please hold it for me. It’s mine.”

  “We’ll see to it that you get your jacket back, Mr. Miller.”

  I exhaled as Officer Sims pushed some coats around and then shut the door, satisfied that the closet was empty. “He’s not here, sir.”

  Officer Patton frowned. “Well he won’t be long now. I’ll station myself in the house across the street to keep an eye out for him. Sims, you take the back alley. We won’t let him get away.”

  He turned to face me and Raf again. “And I’m afraid you will both have to stay here until he returns. We can’t risk him trying to contact anyone.”

  “Of course, sir. I understand,” Raf said. I stormed off to the couch as the Officers let the door slam behind them on their way out.

  CHAPTER 10

  “Don’t even look at me right now.”

  I wanted to punch Raf in his stupid, beautiful face.

  Instead, I slapped his hand away as it reached out to rest on my knee. He could save his projecting for the Protectors. There was no way I was going to be manipulated anymore.

  “I had to say something.”

  “No you didn’t. I had everything under control.”

  “How else was I supposed to explain my presence in your house?”

  “I don’t know. But I can think of a thousand different ideas that wouldn’t further incriminate my brother.” My glare was sharp, cutting through him like a hundred angry knives. He was lucky I hadn’t learned to project my emotions yet, or he’d have been in severe pain.

  “You’ve come a long way in a short time,” Raf said. “But if either of them were Empaths, you’d have been caught in an instant. Your pulse was racing a million miles an hour.”

  “Empaths? Those two? Patton couldn’t think of anything but getting home for dinner, and Sims was too scared to think at all.”

  “He probably just couldn’t think over the sound of your heart pounding.”

  I huffed and walked over to the window. Officer Patton shook the hand of Mr. Reavis, our elderly neighbor across the street, and they disappeared into the house together. He’d be setting up in Mr. Reavis’ front window, watching the streets to catch a glimpse of Cato if he returned home.

  “Keep an eye out for me, I’m going to see if Cato is okay.”

  Raf stood. “Oh no you’re not. Cato’s long gone by now.”

  “Gone? Where could he have gone?”

  Raf took my hand and led me to the kitchen table. “We don’t have much time, so I’ll have to be brief. But Cato is safe.”

  I shook my head. “That’s not good enough. I want to know where he is.”

  “I can’t say for sure. There’s a whole network of underground tunnels beneath the city—decommissioned sewer lines from long ago. There are a few families who have tapped into them around the city, like you guys, but I imagine he’s probably gone Outside for a bit. At least until the hunt for him cools off.”

  My brother was gone, and I didn’t even get to say goodbye. There was sadness in Raf’s eyes, but it couldn’t compare to the torture I was feeling inside. I was all alone. And it was Raf’s fault.

  I stood and paced the worn wood floors. Raf stood as well. He moved to comfort me, but I pushed him away, shoving my hands hard into his solid chest.

  “I need you to stay away,” I said, choking down a sob.

  “I’ll leave you alone if that’s what you want, but I need to say something first. Like I said, there’s not a lot of time.”

  His shoulders sagged with rejection, but there was still a touch of hope bubbling inside.

  “Say it then.” I remained cool, forcing my grief into the shadows for a little longer. My tears would have to wait until he was gone.

  “You need to go to the Peacemaker training.”

  That was it. I was done talking to him. Why would he attempt to lecture me about the training after helping my brother leave me behind? I turned down the hall to my room, but he grabbed my arm, swinging me back toward him.

  “Please hear me out. By accusing Cato of theft, I separated myself from him. At least in the government’s eyes. Now you need to do the same. It’s going to look extremely suspicious if you turn down the Peacemaker opportunity to stay here in this empty house. They will watch you like a hawk, hoping to prove that you’re harboring a fugitive. And they will find a way.”

  “But what if he comes back and I’m gone?”

  “He’ll understand, Claren. Trust me. This is the safest option for both of you.”

  I didn’t want to go. I wanted to curl up into a ball on the floor and cry until my brother came home.

  Raf sensed my grief and pulled me a little closer, holding me against his chest. My breathing slowed, and I basked in the safety of his arms. But he wasn’t projecting that feeling into me. I knew it because for once he allowed me to sense what he was feeling as well. His nerves were heavy in the pit of my stomach, and his heart was pounding against my cheek. It was good to know that I wasn't alone. The safety and the comfort he brought me were real. They were my feelings.

  “I’ll be right back.” I hated to cut the moment short, but I had to retrieve my letter. I pulled the wrinkled envelope from under the corner of my mattress and pulled out the letter as I made my way back to the kitchen table where he’d resumed his seat. Laying the paper flat, I finally read the words I’d been avoiding.

/>   Ms. Claren Greenwood,

  We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected as a Peacemaker. Peacemakers keep the fabric of New America pure and true. Only the noblest of individuals can successfully ensure that each of our great cities is operating to the highest of standards. Based on your aptitudes, we believe that you are exactly the right kind of person for this job.

  We would like to offer you the opportunity to join a specialized training program to prepare you for the work of a Peacemaker. The training is rigorous, so only the best and brightest such as yourself will succeed. If you accept, you will report to the 23rd Street bus station at 8:00 pm on Wednesday, May 27th for your transportation to the training facility. Please pack lightly, space is limited in the trainee living quarters.

  You have one week to respond to our offer. For your convenience, we have included a reply card with your statement of intent. Please return this card to us at your earliest convenience so that we may prepare for the new trainees accordingly.

  We look forward to your reply and hope very much to meet you soon.

  For the Greater Good,

  Emmaline S. Frasier

  Emmaline S. Frasier

  Director of Career Development for Classen City

  I pulled the reply card out of the envelope and passed it to Raf. “I never sent this in. I probably don’t even have a spot in the program anymore.”

  “When is it due?”

  “It was due today.” I glanced at the clock hanging above the kitchen sink. “The bus leaves in thirty minutes.”

  “I told you we didn’t have much time. Go! What are you waiting for?”

  I wanted to go. Truly, I did. But I was so overwhelmed in that moment, processing all the ways my life was changing in an instant, that I couldn’t even move my feet. I stood in the kitchen, dumbstruck, while Raf took off in a flurry of activity around me.

  He marched straight back to my bedroom and pulled a backpack from my closet shelf, throwing in a sweater and a pair of pants.

  “You’ll need to step outside and wait for Officer Patton to meet you. He’ll be angry, and probably accuse you of trying to escape. Don’t give him any more reason to be suspicious. Just hand him your letter. He’ll have to let you go. Where do you keep your underwear?”