by Harper North
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
Book Two of the Manipulated Series
By Harper North
Copyright © 2017 by Torment Publishing. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced. Stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the author or publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, live or dead are purely coincidental.
North, Harper.
Surfaced
For more information on reproducing sections of this book or sales of this book, go to www.harpernorth.com or www.tormentpublishing.com
Contents:
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 1
I SHOULD BE DEAD right now. We all should be. Every last one of us.
It’s been five days since the battle in the Slack. I try to push the memories away and stay focused on the future—there’s so much to do—but forgetting what I saw is impossible.
Lacy’s bloody shirt.
The bullet piercing Mason’s skull.
The thud of his body slamming to the ground.
Elias’ sobs ripping through me as if I had been shot instead.
My breath comes heavy while a bead of sweat slithers down my forehead. My hands shake, and I wipe my sweaty palms on my cargo pants, trying to refocus as I search for a place to stash the modification kit. My newly enhanced mind scans around me, looking for the perfect spot. This room was once the mining operation’s headquarters, but now it’s full of nothing more than empty metal shelves and flickering lights. The air here is cleaner, though; preserved for the guards and their precious lungs.
I rummage through a desk, wondering if maybe there’s a hidden drawer. Instead, I find random pieces of paper and bits of dust. No food. No supplies. No lockbox. There has to be a better place to hide the device.
Maybe I should keep it with me.
No… I can’t protect it when I’m asleep.
I rush to the back of the room, into a barely visible dark hallway, the outline of its entrance separating me from the darkness. Inside, the air is cool. I collide with something hard, letting out a small yelp of pain. Reaching down, my hand traces the outlines of boxes, shipments sent down below from the EHC, no doubt. I grab for the nearly dead flashlight in my pocket and click it on, chiding myself for not having done it in the first place.
The crates are empty, their contents long since used ordispersed. I push them aside and shine the light on the metal wall behind, the dull yellow circle running along the smooth wall, until I come to a small panel. I lower myself to my knees, yank off the panel, and poke my head inside, shining the light around the small crawlspace inside. The stale air accosts my nose and I pull my head back out, but it’s not really any better out here, what with the stench wafting up from my sweaty shirt. I shove the mod kit inside the crawlspace, return the panel, and conceal the hole with a small stack of boxes.
Heading back to the guards’ table and pocketing my light, I feel a weight lift from my shoulders. Now to deal with this stinky shirt… I have so much to do, but there’s no way I can stand my own smell anymore. Not after days of hard fighting.
Beside the table is a cabinet marked UNIFORMS. The metal doors clang as I throw them open. A few uniforms lay on one of the shelves, but I pull back. No way I’d wear one of those. Beneath them is a clean white shirt—meant for an older man, not a seventeen-year-old girl—but maybe with a few alterations it could work.
I tear off the sleeves, then yank off my top, tossing it in the corner before slipping on the new one. It’s a bit loose on my thin frame, so I tie the hem in a knot and shove the excess into the waistband of my cargo pants. It’ll work for now. Somehow just changing shirts makes me feel considerably cleaner.
I wrap my sweaty hair back into a tight bun as I head out of the operations room toward the training area, where Elias and several fighters from Mason’s team are training the Dwellers. My boots ring off the metal floor, echoing down the corridor until I cross a rusted, metal bridge that leads back to an older section of the mines. The air is musty here, harder to breathe, especially after having experienced the air above ground. After being up there, how we survived this long in these mines is beyond me.
Up ahead, in a side tunnel, about twenty modified Dwellers practice hand-to-hand combat. There’s not as many as I’d hoped. Even though we’re becoming stronger and more resistant, it may not be enough. The EHC will be better prepared this time. We need to train harder and become better organized or we won’t stand a chance. I scan the men, woman, and even some kids. Not one of them is over twenty-five. Apparently, the kit doesn’t work on anyone over a certain age. The older dwellers all got sick after their modifications, and then nothing happened to them. No upgrade for them.
Elias works with a boy maybe a year or two younger than Drape, helping him focus on kicking a target. This is ridiculous, I think. Kids shouldn’t have to fight. But then they shouldn’t have to work in mines, or sleep in dorms, or grow up never knowing their parents or siblings, either. That’s why we’re fighting.
I take a deep breath and pull my shoulders back, lifting my chin. I can’t let them down.
“Nice kick,” Elias tells the kid.
“Looks like they’re almost ready,” I say.
Elias spins around. “Fin,” he greets me, his smile making his dark-brown eyes glow. He clears his throat. “The modifications have helped. The Dwellers have made a lot of improvements in five days, but they still need more time for—”
I cut him off. “How much time?” Time is not something we have a lot of now. Not with the Leeches.
“A few more days,” he says.
The kid turns fast and gives the target a swift kick, knocking the soft bag to the ground. He beams at Elias, then goes to pick up the bag.
I run my fingers over my hair. “What are we doing? These are just—”
“Willing volunteers.” Elias motions at all the modified Dwellers in this tunnel. “They chose this. They want this. Because they don’t want—” he motions at the tunnel itself “—this.”
I wave for Elias to follow me, and he tells the boy to go over to Jace and keep practicing. Once we’re out of earshot, I lean in.
“I think we need to move.”
Elias’ eyes go wide, his voice too loud when he asks, “Now?”
I throw up a hand to cover his mouth. A few Dwellers glance over, but luckily turn back around.
“I don’t want anyone worried,” I growl insistently, lowering my hand after I see my point sink in. “Intel came back that the EHC are bombarding the transit cavern. It won’t be long before they push through.”
Elias looks away, thoughtful, eyes narrowing as his brow furrows. His uncle’s death hardened something inside him. I’m sure he wants revenge, but I’m not sure what that would fix.
I brush a finger against his arm, bringing him back around. His eyes soften.
“There aren’t enough supplies,” I add quickly, keeping my voice low. “There’s maybe a couple of days’ worth.”
“A few days?” Elias echoes, irritated. “It’s been five. Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“I wanted you to focus on training, so I sent Sky and a few Dwellers out into the Slack. There’s gotta be a few hidden stashes out there.”
Elias’ brow crinkles. “You should’ve told me.”
I need to remember that I can’t do this all on my own, that I need to keep him informed, but he doesn’t understand what it was like for us before. Even when the EHC provided rations, it was never enough. Dwellers are used to it.
“We should have enough to get us out,” I say. “We’ll worry about provisions once we’ve reached your uncle’s camp, but we’ll have to leave today.”
“Hopefully they’re still there,” Elias sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Do you even have a plan on how to get out of here?”
I shake my head. “We can’t go back up through the transit station, and the Hope’s Gate tunnels have collapsed.”
Elias groans and starts pacing, as if the thought of being trapped underground is too much.
“We’ll just have to figure another way out,” I say. “But whatever we decide, we have to decide fast. These people are depending on us.”
He nods in agreement. Several voices sound from behind us and we turn toward them. Sky’s leading a few Dwellers, holding several candy bar wrappers in his hand. A brown streak over his lips tells me he’s just eaten a few too many.
I throw my hands up. “Sky! You’re supposed to be finding food for all of us.”
“Never fear,” he says, swinging a bag around from behind his back. “I’ve got a few cans of beans and some old containers of…Well, I’m not sure what it is, but it’s food.” He drops the bag before my feet. “Sorry, but we ate the chocolate.”
By the smug look on his face, I don’t think he’s very sorry.
The Dwellers who went with Sky race toward the bag, dumping its contents on the floor before collecting the food and rushing off to eat.
“Was that all?” Elias asks. “That won’t keep all of us fed.”
“There has to be extra rations somewhere,” I say. “The guards always stashed their own food, too.”
“Where do you think we found the candy?” Sky stuffs the wad of wrappers in his pocket “But I’ll search another section tomorrow morning.”
“We don’t have that long,” I whisper.
Understanding flickers in his eyes. Sky’s blond bangs swish in front of his face as he bends over and grabs his bag, swinging it back over his shoulders. “Don’t tell me. We’re heading back to the surface?”
My stomach twists, not in hunger so much as in worry. “We need to call a meeting and figure something out soon.”
“What do we need to figure out?” Lacy’s voice echoes from down the corridor. She struts closer, boots tapping the metal walkway with each stride. Her long, black hair is woven into a single, sleek braid over her shoulder. Drape straggles not too far behind her. From what I can see, Lacy looks completely healed, maybe even stronger than before, her arms and legs ripped with muscle.
“I’m glad you’re all here,” I say, truly grateful that Lacy’s still alive. Even though she’s a brat, she’s still my closest friend.
Lacy looks at Sky, a tone of arrogance in her voice as she says, “We were summoned.” A gleam of power radiates in her hazel eyes. I have no idea if it’s a good thing or not. “So, what is it?”
“I just thought you two might like some rations,” Sky says.
Lacy flicks her eyes from Sky to me. “When are we heading to battle?” she demands. “Hopefully soon.”
“Not too soon,” Drape says, backing away into the shadows, stuffing his hands in his pockets. His modified frame is still thin, and it’s hard to tell, but I think he’s trembling.
Elias steps forward, distracting me from Drape. “We need to leave,” he tells the group. “The EHC is moving in.”
“Who put you in charge?” Lacy snarls.
“We’re both in charge,” I say, stepping up beside Elias. “The Dwellers appointed us. And he’s right. We have to leave soon.”
Lacy scoffs.
“There’s not enough food,” I explain. “At least not enough to keep all of us strong enough to fight.”
“I’m ready,” Lacy spits out immediately. “After what they did to me, I’ll kill every last one of them.”
“Easy,” I say in a stern voice. “Not everyone is as ready as you are.”
“Fin’s right,” Elias agrees. “One wrong move, and all of us could be killed.”
Lacy lowers her eyes, turns, and picks up one of the training guns the Dwellers have been using for practice. “That’s not going to happen,” she says, defiantly pointing it at us.
“Whoa,” Sky says, backing up. “Who keeps giving this girl a gun?”
Despite the sudden adrenaline racing through my veins, I step closer to her and put my hand over the gun, lowering it. “Elias and I are leading this resistance. We both agree we need to move forward. What we need from you is help finding the safest route out of the underground.”
“What’s wrong with Hope’s Gate?” Drape asks, still hanging back.
“The tunnels collapsed, and the EHC has taken over the transit station.”
“What do you want to do then?” he asks.
I turn to Sky. “I want you to find another way—”
“I’ll find another way out if that’s what you want,” he interrupts. “That’s not a problem. But I’m not going to the surface. Not with Cia. She’s already been through too much.”
“But your little sister’s been modified,” Lacy argues. She nods toward the boy Elias was training earlier. “Just look at that kid.”
“She’s staying behind,” Sky growls. “It’s safer here, and she didn’t get enhanced strength anyway.”
“It’s fine,” I say, since I don’t really want a child army either. “We’ve all been through a lot. Only those who want to fight should go.”
Sky tightens the straps on his bag as he narrows his eyes at Lacy.
“So it’s agreed?” Elias asks, breaking Sky and Lacy’s stare down. “We go today if Sky can get us out?”
“I told you, I’ll find a way,” Sky assures him. “I know these tunnels.”
CHAPTER 2
“We’ve been at this for hours. There’s no way out,” Elias groans, shoving the maps to the floor.
I scramble to retrieve them and toss them back on the table. “Sky, you told us you could do this.”
“I need more time,” he murmurs, running his hands through his hair.
“We don’t have it,” Elias reminds him, rather unnecessarily.
“Look again, okay?” I ask, my voice coming out more strained than I’d like. “There’s got to be a map that will show us a way to get out.”
Sky takes the top map from me and smoothes it out on the table. “The east tunnel comes to a stop here,” he says, pointing to an unmined wall. “Hope’s Gate is collapsed,” he points again, “so we can’t go there… and, the west tunnel just works its way back around. We’d end up right back where we started.”
Elias snatches the map up a
nd crumples it into a ball.
“Hey,” Sky protests.
“Don’t waste your time,” Elias says, tossing it to the floor. “We haven’t got a chance. It’s just one giant maze.”
“I know there’s another way,” I insist. “Keep trying.”
Sky flips through the next few maps. “I just need another day. Maybe if I scope out the north tunnel—”
Elias leans in. “In another day, the EHC will be swarming this place.”
I take a step back. “We need to stay calm. There are too many maps, and none of us really understand the tunnel system.” I sigh, knowing what must be done. “But I have an idea. You’re going to hate it, but I think it’s our only chance.”
Elias cocks his head. “And what’s that?”
“We have to ask Yasay to help us.”
Sky’s mouth falls open. Elias tightens his jaw and clenches his fists.
“I know.” I hold my hand out to calm them. “Yasay’s not my first choice, but he’s a means to an end. He was top dog around here, and if anyone knows if there’s some secret way out of here, it’s him. He found the tunnels to Hope’s Gate, and if there are any others, I’m sure he knows of them.”
“We’re not asking that thug for help,” Elias protests, his voice echoing through the room.
“It’s the only option,” I insist.
“He killed my uncle! For all we know, he might lead us straight to the EHC.”
I bend down to riffle through the maps again. “We can’t wait. So, unless we can find a way out on our own…” I look over at Sky. “You’ll know if he’s leading us the wrong way, won’t you?”
Sky shrugs. “Maybe. I mean, I can sense if we’re heading up or down, but—”
“You’ll know when he’s put a bullet in your head,” Elias scoffs.
I ignore his comment. “Let’s go find out what he has to say.”
Elias shakes his head. “You think he’s just going to tell you?”
I pick up a gun from the side table. “With a little encouragement, he’ll crack.”
“What do you think, Sky?” Elias asks sardonically. “Do you want to be led to the Leeches by a murderer?”