by Walker, Nina
Seventy-four. Seventy-five.
I just want to get to my family, to help them. Where are they now?
Eighty-nine. Ninety.
I’m in so much trouble.
One hundred.
I took a step toward my house.
I should’ve run in the opposite direction. But I couldn’t help it. I had to know. If I could get a view of the back window, I could see who was inside. Maybe if I knew my family was safe, I could turn myself into Faulk and deal with whatever punishment came.
Ducking low, I dropped to my knees and began to slowly crawl through the bushes. I was only three backyards away from my house. If I was careful, I could get close enough to check things out without being spotted. This was my territory. I’d spent my childhood in these trees. I could go unseen.
Well, at least that was what I told myself.
Something jammed into my back, sharp and direct to the spine. I tried not to scream as I lashed out at whomever or whatever was behind me.
It was the girl from the train. She sneered down at me as she held my face to the dirt and elbowed me again. “There you are. We’ve been looking for you.”
“What are you doing?” I spat, trying to reach out and knock her off me.
She dug her knee into my back and pinned me down.
“What do you think, Jessa? You shouldn’t have run away from the palace like that. How stupid are you?”
Pain shot up my arm as she bent it behind my back.
“Who are you?”
“Royal officer in the making. Didn’t see me practicing in that gym yesterday, did you? No, you were too busy drooling over that alchemist pretty-boy, Reed. Now, hold still so I don’t have to hurt you. Though, at this point, I’m sure Faulk wouldn’t mind.”
The realization slammed through me that she had been there just yesterday when I sought out Reed. But there had been so many people that my eyes had skimmed over the majority of them. Well, royal officer in training or not, if this girl thought for a second I was going to let her push me around, she didn’t know me at all.
I held still long enough for her to shift her weight and relax. I bucked backward, slamming the back of my head into her face. A crunching sound proceeded her shrill scream.
“Be quiet,” I hissed, jumping up.
She gripped my leg as I tried to run. Her fingers dug deeply into my skin. “You asked for it,” she said as she spat blood from her mouth. It poured from her nostrils. I was positive I’d broken her nose.
I kicked at her fiercely as she grabbed my other leg and toppled me back to the ground. I slammed into the thick trunk of a tree. My head stung and my ears hurt. Immediately, I knew I was no match for her. She was trained. I’d never been in a fight in my life. I was strong from years of ballet training, but I couldn’t defend myself from her attack.
She pulled my hands behind my back, twice as hard as before. Pain seared my shoulders. I cried out, begging her to stop. She was going to break my arm!
“Don’t move.” She leveraged her body so she could use one hand to reach into her pocket. She pulled out her slatebook and began to dial. Calling Faulk, no doubt.
Don’t give up! You’re stronger than her. You’re the one with the real power.
It hit me. Maybe I couldn’t fight with my fists. But I was a color alchemist. I could fight with my energy. I could fight with magic.
I need help! I don’t know what color you are. I don’t know where you are. But if you’re out there, I need you. Stop her. Please, get her off me.
I craned my neck and looked back at the girl, her grip still tight on me. She blinked rapidly and shook her head in confusion.
“Drop it,” I said. “Right now.”
The girl stared at me, still confused as the thin device fell from her hand. It landed with a small bounce against the dirt.
It’s working!
“Crush it,” I said, never breaking eye contact.
In a daze, she stood up and slammed the heel of her foot into the slatebook. It broke with an audible crack.
“Stay here and count backwards from a thousand. When you’re found, you won’t remember what happened.”
She nodded before sitting down hard and counting.
“One thousand, nine hundred ninety-nine.” Her voice was dazed and hollow.
“In your head, please. Be quiet.”
I studied her as she did what I asked. How did I do that? I had been so calm and sure of myself, as if I knew exactly how to control her.
I got up and brushed the dirt and grit from my clothing, looking around for an exit strategy. The girl sat still as the blood continued to fall from her nose. It dripped, gray and thick, in streams of iron down her neck.
Oh. I’d performed alchemy on blood. Red blood. And the implications of that truth rocked me. Because I used the alchemy to control her. To take away her free will. Possibly even her memory.
It will be like this never happened. I remembered the words I’d said to Lacey that bloody day on the playground. That must have been why Lacey never remembered the accident. And later, with Reed. What had I told him to do when he was upset about his cut? Calm down Reed, you’re fine. He’d listened. He’d relaxed about everything, not actually in line with the situation or his personality.
And this is exactly why they want you. You’re a weapon. You’re the tool they will use to control minds and wipe memories.
I couldn’t let that happen.
I hurried to the house, but stopped myself when I saw two royal officers through the window. Their backs to me, I knew I couldn’t go inside. All this way and for what? Is my family still in there? I snuck around the side of the house, peering through each of the nearest windows. Not one sign of them. Where were they?
I forced myself to give up and quickly made my way back toward the train station. The morning commuters were beginning to leave their houses. Thankfully, no one appeared to notice me lurking in the shadows. Not yet, anyway.
What was I going to do? Where was I going to go now?
Public transportation was out of the question. So was asking any of my old neighbors for help. Because, honestly, who would help a fugitive?
What am I going to do?
My only option now was to run and hide. The suburban neighborhoods sprawled for miles beyond our own, but they were all broken up by forested areas. I could use that to my advantage. If I could just find a safe place to think, then maybe I would be able to come up with a plan?
I hurried to the end of my block. The train station was just around the corner, but that wasn’t my destination anymore. I peered from behind the hedge at the unruly bushes and trees on the other side of the street. From years of adventures as a child, I knew there were several acres of unoccupied land beyond. Hiding there wasn’t a solution, but it was a start.
A couple of cars drove past, and I knew that in a few minutes more people would be walking to the train station. A dog started barking. The world was waking up, and if I didn’t hurry, I would miss my opportunity to find a hiding spot for the day.
I took a deep breath, double-checked the area, and sprinted across the road. The screeching of tires peeled around the corner. I looked back, horrified, as a small black vehicle came barreling toward me. My nostrils filled with the putrid smell of burning rubber. I momentarily froze. That only lasted for an instant. In the next moment, I was diving into the thicket of trees.
The car screeched to a stop, and a door opened.
“Get in, Jessa,” a deep voice called out.
I stopped in my tracks. I was just barely in the sanctuary of the tree line. I peered out in astonishment at the person on the other side of the rolled-down window. Prince Lucas.
“I don’t have all day,” he said, his voice almost playful despite the circumstances. “I’m not supposed to even be here. Hurry and get in. I’ll explain on the way.”
“The way?”
“I’m getting you out of here.”
I had to trust him. It was either that
or take my chances on my own. The distant wail of police sirens shook me into action. I opened the door and slid into the passenger seat next to Lucas.
He threw the vehicle into drive, and we shot forward with a burst of acceleration. I yelped and grappled for the seat belt. “What’s going on, Lucas?”
He didn’t answer as he shot the car around a corner and toward the nearest freeway entrance. Few people drove anymore. It was easier to take the trains. The trains were free, and gasoline was expensive. Cars were for the elite.
“Could you slow down? You’re going to give us away.”
He growled with frustration as he slowed to the speed limit. We were headed south, away from the palace, away from my home. I watched in the rearview mirror as the downtown high-rises faded into the haze.
“I don’t understand why you’re here.”
“What’s so shocking about it?” His hands tightened on the steering wheel as he shifted into the right lane.
“Because you’re Prince Lucas! For one, where are your guards? Aren’t you, like, never supposed to be alone outside the palace? And for two, I didn’t even know you could drive. And to top it off, why aren’t you taking me back to Faulk? Aren’t you mad that I ran away? Why are you helping me?”
The questions tumbled out of my mouth all at once.
“I know I have a lot to explain. But we’re almost at the meeting point, and there isn’t time to cover everything. But Jessa, you’re going to be okay,” he said, steering us toward the nearest exit. The area we drove through looked just like any other suburb, except maybe a little more rural than my own. Taller trees. Smaller houses. More space. Fewer people. The sleek black car probably stood out like a diamond in a bed of rocks.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Trust me,” was the only answer I got. Great. He was always saying that.
After several minutes, we pulled into an empty field. There was no sign of civilization out here. Lucas turned off the car and peered around, looking for something. What could possibly be out here?
“Let’s get out.” He pulled the keys from the ignition. I sat there, gripping the edge of my seat, utterly dumbfounded. He wanted me to get out? Here? In the middle of nowhere? What was going on?
When I didn’t join him so eagerly, he came to the passenger door and opened it. He kneeled, put his hand on the top of the door, and watched me. He didn’t say anything. This close, I couldn’t help but notice his beauty. The day-old stubble on his face. The way the muscles in his arms flexed. The intensity of his steel-gray eyes. He put one hand on my knee, and my body burned hot at his touch. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Jessa. And for that, I am truly sorry. But right now, you need to trust me.”
“You always say that.”
“This time, let me prove it to you. Someone is coming to pick you up, Jessa. Someone you know. They’ll take you far away from here. Far away from New Colony where you’ll be safe.”
My heart raced. “Are you coming with me?”
He shook his head.
I looked past him and noticed the shifting of the tall grass beyond us. There was a strange rhythmic sound, like whirring air currents. As the noise increased, the wind picked up, and I realized all at once why we were here.
A black helicopter appeared above the trees and started to make its descent into the center of the open field.
“Your ride is here!” Lucas called out over the sound of the helicopter.
My gut tightened when I realized I would be leaving Lucas behind. I had no idea where I’d be taken, but I knew I had to leave. I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out of the car. The wind carried my hair in a flurry around my face. I fought to push it back. Lucas joined in. Together, we pushed the tangle of dark strands away from my eyes. Once it was freed from the mess, our eyes locked. We held my hands against my face, each keeping our gazes on the other. Before another breath could pass between us, his lips were on mine.
The kiss was a flash of passion and movement. His strong arms wrapped around me tightly as we forgot ourselves in the embrace. His body pressed hard against me. I melted into him. My long hair whipped around us, stinging our skin with every blow. The deafening roar of the wind flying past and the sunrise heating my neck were nothing compared to the explosion of emotions racking my body. As our mouths explored each other, I could no longer tell where I ended and he began. I dug my fingernails into him, pulling him in even closer. A minute later, he stepped back, breathing hard. He closed his eyes for only a moment before opening them.
We stared at each other, grinning stupidly in disbelief. Then we turned and ran, hand in hand, toward the helicopter. Despite my fear of the unknown and the fact that I was about to fly away into an uncertain future, nothing could take away the joy of the perfect moment I’d just shared with Lucas.
We made it to the helicopter too quickly. The noise and wind were wild now. Lucas squeezed my hand as if confirming his feelings for me. Our hands released as he opened the door for me. He wasn’t coming with me. I already knew that. And yet, Lucas was still a gentleman. I didn’t want to leave him. Not now. Not after that kiss.
Stepping up into the small backseat of the helicopter, reality slapped me with what I saw. Or rather, who I saw. She was sitting in the pilot’s seat, large earmuffs perched snugly over her smooth blond hair. Her blue eyes shone brightly as our gazes met. It was Sasha. The girl who was currently dating Lucas. And it was painfully clear from her stiff expression that she had just witnessed the most passionate kiss of my whole existence, at her expense.
20
Lucas
“You’re coming with us,” Sasha called to me over the roar of the engine.
I shook my head. That wasn’t okay. I needed to get back to the palace before anyone could accuse me of being part of this.
“We’re not going to blow your cover, Lucas. Someone will hide the car, and you’ll get to be the hero in the end. It’s all worked out.”
The hero? What was she talking about? There wasn’t time to argue with her. Not with Jessa waiting. So, I decided to trust her. Sasha had never given me a reason not to. Not yet.
Jessa looked between us, her face flushed. She still didn’t know the truth about Sasha and me. The fact that Sasha wasn’t actually my girlfriend was finally something we could talk about openly. Guilt dug into me. Jessa probably thought I was a total jerk for knowingly kissing her in front of Sasha. But I didn’t regret it. I could never regret a kiss like that.
“Stop wasting time. We need to get her out of here!” Sasha snapped.
She was right. And if they weren’t going to leave without me, I wasn’t about to put them at risk and keep them on the ground. Not for another second.
I jumped into the backseat next to Jessa and squeezed her hand. She pulled away and widened her eyes at Sasha. Trying to do the right thing and clue me in, I assumed. I couldn’t wait to finally explain everything to her.
We quickly strapped ourselves in and put on the bulky headphones as Sasha began to lift the chopper from the grassy field.
“Where did you learn how to fly this thing?”
The headphones connected us so we could speak to each other above the roar of the helicopter.
“Oh, Lucas, I’ve got skills even you can’t touch,” Sasha said.
I laughed and took Jessa’s hand again. She looked at me warily and shook her head. Her blue eyes matched the morning sky behind her. They were filled with confusion and longing. And hope.
“What’s going on here?” Jessa asked.
“You go first, Lucas,” Sasha said.
I thought about where to start, but I wasn’t sure there was a good place. “First of all, we’re not working with Faulk. And we’re getting you away from her and my father.”
“Where are we going?” Jessa asked.
“Someplace safe,” Sasha responded before adding, “Oh, and Lucas and I aren’t really dating. You can spare me the public displays of affection, though. I want to be able to fly th
is thing without barfing.”
“You’re not together?” Jessa shook her head.
We were flying fast and low over the landscape. It blurred by in a stream of color as we left the city behind us. Jessa glanced out her window and nearly flinched. She stiffened in her seat, settling in. I was sure she’d never flown before. Regular citizens certainly didn’t travel by helicopter. Even the wealthiest ones didn’t have that luxury. Helicopters were a commodity controlled by my family.
“It’s okay.” I put my arm around her. “We’re safe up here. Sasha knows what she’s doing.” How does Sasha know what she’s doing?
Jessa seemed to relax as the chopper shot through the morning air. Luckily, it was perfect flying weather.
“I think you two have some explaining to do,” Jessa said.
I paused, and when Sasha didn’t jump in, I decided to start.
“A few years ago, I started to suspect that maybe the GC wasn’t as innocent as it seemed.” I considered the best way to explain this. “I would notice strange things that concerned me. People would go missing. Royal officers would be sent with the guardians on missions, and everyone would come back full of secrets. I had no proof of anything. And I don’t even think most alchemists noticed the things I did. Most of them were kept out of the loop, and they still are. But something wasn’t right.”
“So what does that have to do with Sasha?” Jessa frowned.
“Well, a few months before you got here, my father pulled me in on something that confirmed my fears. The GC is running secret tests on innocent people. Dangerous tests.”
“What kind of tests?” Jessa asked.
“I don’t know exactly what they’re for, except to test the boundaries of alchemy. But you know how when the color is all used up, only gray is left behind?”
She nodded.
“Well, it has to do with that. They’re testing to see if people can live off of gray food, gray land, gray…everything.”