Scythe

by Christina Bauer

  This situation is all kinds of crazy. Stuff like this doesn’t happen to people in general, or to me in particular. Thorne is an alien. He may seem familiar from my dreams, but what does that mean? If anything, it’s probably a reason to trust him less.

  At this point, I realize we’ve been staring at each other for a really long stretch of time. As in, birds could start chirping soon. Finally, I manage to speak again.

  “What about you?” My voice comes out a hoarse whisper. “Do you need to sleep?”

  “I don’t require much rest.” He takes a pointed step away from me. “Especially when I have work to do.”

  “Looking for Luci?”

  “Among other things. I can’t do anything until my gear is ready.” He stares at me so intently, it’s like he can see into my soul. Which is nutso.

  I really need some sleep.

  “Well, good night.” I step toward my room, pause, and give Thorne a half wave.

  “Sleep well,” he intones.

  I head off toward my bedroom, feeling his eyes on me the entire time.

  Once I’m upstairs, I check that Mom’s safe in bed. She looks so tiny, curled up on her side. Shifting beams of greenish moonlight seep through the window, casting her in an otherworldly glow. The look makes sense somehow. After all, Mom made a deal with someone from another world.

  I tuck the threadbare blanket under her chin. What did my parents really do? Is any of this real? My head feels heavy with questions. Yet all my queries will have to wait until tomorrow. There isn’t an inch of space left in my consciousness for anything but rest.

  I slog my way to my room and tumble into bed. The moment my cheek presses against the cold pillow, my consciousness collapses into sleep.

  Chapter 17

  That night, I dream of the Merciless.

  In my vision, I lean against the kitchen counter. Miss Edith stands nearby, preparing one of her many cups of tea. Wisps of steam curl up from the liquid, forming odd shapes in the air.

  A gentle hum sounds. Miss Edith and I share a confused look. The rumble quickly becomes deafeningly loud. The brick wall presses inwards. Long cracks form on the surface. My pulse skyrockets.

  SMASH!

  The wall implodes as a cone-shaped metallic vehicle spears through. A hoverdigger. The counter bursts under the force of the onslaught. Beams smash. Equipment shatters. The hoverdigger retreats, leaving a massive hole behind. Using that new entrance, warriors in black body armor pour into the room.

  The Merciless.

  Without hesitation, a Merciless warrior shoots Miss Edith in the chest. The gash gun tears through a huge swath of the sweet woman’s torso. Miss Edith slumps to the ground, dead. I scream.

  My dream world turns psychedelic and watery. Up is down. Doors morph and disappear. Somehow, I rush off and find Mom. Meanwhile the Merciless overrun the factory, smashing everything in sight. The warriors topple over the vats of old chemicals. Blood-red liquids seep across the floor, forming shapes that resemble skulls.

  I sprint into Mom’s room, but she’s asleep and won’t awaken. I shake her shoulders, screaming her name. She doesn’t move, and that’s when I realize it. Her sheets are thick with blood.

  Mom’s already dead.

  “NO!”

  I wake up screaming, my body covered in sweat. Thorne bursts through my door and pauses, his outline framed by green-tinted moonlight. The Sentient glisten on his arms, slipping down to his hands in a dark stream. Within seconds, they form a pair of short black swords.

  I clutch my throat. “What are you doing?”

  “Guarding you.”

  “From what?”

  Thorne sniffs. “Do you want an alphabetized list?”

  He looks so serious, I can’t help but grin. “That would help, yes.”

  A glint of humor shines in Thorne’s brown eyes. “Well, the letter A is for the asshat who took your prototype.” Thorne twists his wrists; the Sentient-created swords retract into his skin. “Not sure if you can tell, but I didn’t like that guy.”

  My smile widens. “Yeah, I got that.”

  Now that I’ve recovered from my shock, my brain finally processes what just happened. Thorne has been sitting outside my door, guarding me. Something warm unfurls inside my chest. It’s been years since anyone spontaneously took care of me.

  The situation is intoxicating.

  Thrilling.

  And frightening.

  How can I rely on someone? What if something happens to Thorne like it did to Mom? I pull my covers up under my chin. “Thanks for checking in. I’ll just ...” sit here in the dark and freak out “…go back to sleep.”

  Thorne slowly crosses the room. With gentle movements, he sits beside me on my tiny mattress. Reaching forward, he traces circles on the back of my hand with his pointer finger. I won’t lie. It’s incredibly soothing.

  “Tell me what happened.” Thorne’s voice is deep and kind. His big brown eyes reflect sympathy and moonlight. “Why did you scream?”

  “I had a nightmare.”

  “What did you see?”

  “I was in the kitchen downstairs with Miss Edith. The Merciless showed up. Everyone was killed. Mom too.”

  “Rose is safe asleep. Miss Edith won’t be here for hours. And I’ll be right outside that door.”

  “You aren’t treating this as just a dream.”

  “It’s not.” He lifts his gaze to mine. “It’s a warning. My people place a lot of emphasis on dreams. And my Sentient are restless, which is another danger sign. But I merged some of them with the security system. If anything comes close, I’ll know.”

  “Ah, your alphabetized list. A is for asshat.”

  “B is for Bad guys.” He runs his finger along my jawline. The touch is electric, sending a shiver across my shoulders. “You need to rest …” He pauses, tilting his head. A frown mars his handsome face.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Information is coming in from my Sentient. The Merciless are approaching the factory. I can clearly hear their conversation.”

  Every nerve ending in my body seems to light on fire. “Mom.”

  “No, they’re not after her. They’re talking about you.” He pauses. “Once they cross into the factory, my systems will scan their tech more deeply. I’ll get a better read on their plans.”

  “The Merciless have only one plan. Shoot people.”

  A smash sounds downstairs as windows break. The security system wails a few long sirens before falling silent. Voices echo through the factory. I recognize one tone above all the others.

  “Ya, ya,” says Fritz. “You’ll find her upstairs. Second room on the left.”

  A jolt of shock moves through my limbs. “This is more than the Merciless.” I set my hand on my throat. “Fritz and the Scythe sold me out.”

  Dark light glistens on his Thorne’s skin. This is just like what happened to me with the Lacerator, right before our minds connected.

  Thorne is linking to someone as well. Or something.

  “I have access to their tech.” Thorne rises from the cot, his face angry as thunder. “They have plans for you, Meimi.”

  Thorne and I stare at each other in the moonlight. Downstairs on the factory floor, a chorus of bootfalls echo, along with the click of weapons being unholstered.

  The Merciless are here.

  I whip off my covers. “I have to get Mom.”

  “Go to Rose, and they’ll shoot her just to reach you. They don’t care about your mother. They won’t kill you because they plan to—”

  Standing, I place my fingertips on his lips. “I don’t want to know. All I want is for Mom to be safe. Please, Thorne. Guard her as you would me.”

  “Don’t ask me this.”

  “If there’s some connection between us, you already know the truth. I won’t be moved.”

  Thorne cups my face in his hands. “Then let me help you in another way. Can you trust in that?”

  Our shared connection returns. Thorne’s emo
tions flow through my soul. I don’t need to look down and see the now-familiar blue particles. Instead, I soak in the feelings.

  The searing pain of worry.

  Rock-solid conviction.

  Raw honesty.

  “Yes, Thorne.” My voice comes out rough and low. “I trust you.”

  Thorne closes his eyes, and even in the dim moonlight, I can see his skin change color. Not just particles, but every inch of him is now colored in azure.

  “You’re blue.”

  “Yes.”

  “You really, really are an alien.”

  A small smile quirks his mouth again. “And you’re not frightened of me.”

  “I should be.” In fact, I should scream and run right now, and for multiple reasons. Maybe it’s my dreams. Or the intensity of Throne’s emotions. Or something else I’m too afraid to name.

  Whatever it is, I can’t help but stare at his mouth.

  “Never be frightened of me, Rosa Meimifloria Archer, my glorious girl named after the drift rose.” Thorne leans in closer. His breath fans across my lips. “I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. And for me, my people, a kiss can connect our consciousness in special ways.” He gently moves his mouth across mine.

  Black, silver, and blue light now flare across Throne’s azure skin. The same colors shine from me as well. Deep in my soul, new links form. Energies entwine. Psychological cogs connect and spin. Warmth and affection spread.

  I break the kiss, breathless. The light from our skin dies down. The azure hue disappears from Thorne.

  “What was that?” I ask.

  “The only way I can keep you safe.” Thorne’s mouth thins to a determined line. “Although it will mean a battle with my father.”

  “Over me?”

  Thorne nods.

  Fresh panic streams through my veins. “Don’t do that. I’m not worth it.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong, Meimi. You’re remarkable.”

  “Why? Because I build prototypes?”

  “No, because you’ve a true heart, stellar mind, and fighting spirit. I’d tear apart any number of universes for you. You may find this hard to believe, but I already have.”

  A flicker of my old dreams appears. This time, I remember one word clearly. It’s the same one Thorne spoke a few hours and a million years ago.

  “Transcendent,” I whisper.

  Thorne frames my face with his fingertips. The touch of his skin is rough and sweet, all at once. “That’s right.”

  Moving up on tiptoe, I touch my mouth to his. The kiss quickly deepens. Bootfalls sound on the metal staircase outside. The Merciless. Thorne and I break apart. My heart cracks.

  That might be our last kiss.

  Thorne gives me a sad smile. “When the time is right, that kiss will help you remember.” Stepping over to the wall, Thorne sets his hands against the concrete. “And until then, your mother will be safe.”

  Sentient shimmer on Thorne’s hands. The tiny particles with spread out from his arms, creating an oval on the wall. For a heartbeat, the concrete shimmers with silver light. Then an opening appears in the wall, connecting my room to Mom’s.

  Relief and fear tear through me in equal measure. Thorne will enter Mom’s room and make sure she’s okay. But I’ll be alone.

  Thorne steps through the newly-made exit in the wall. A moment later, the concrete returns to its regular gray.

  There’s no sign of the Sentient.

  The wall is smooth and unbroken once more.

  Thorne is gone and it breaks my heart.

  Fritz stomps across the threshold, followed by four Merciless warriors. My pulse goes through the stratosphere. He points at my nose. “That’s her, ya.”

  My gaze automatically shifts to the spot where Thorne left to guard Mom. There’s still no sign of him. I repeat words in my mind like a mantra.

  Thorne got away. Mom will be safe.

  And Fritz is a dick.

  I glare at my one-time handler. “So you’re pawning me off to the Merciless. How could you?”

  “There was just too much money in it.” Fritz drops the fake accent for once, and I take that as a sign that I’m in deep trouble indeed. “The things you can do, Meimi. You’ve gotten too big for even me and the Scythe to control.”

  One of the Merciless steps forward, but Fritz holds out his arm, stopping the warrior in his tracks. “Let me explain things to her. It will go more easily that way.” Fritz steps closer. “The Authority is taking you, but don’t worry. You’re far too valuable to be killed.”

  “And my mother?”

  “You already know the answer to that question, Meims. Once we’re done with you, we’ll euthanize her. That should have happened long ago.”

  Fritz reaches behind him. When his arm comes back out, he’s holding a syringe with blue liquid. There’s only one substance that particular shade—the very tranquilizer I’m immune to. A glimmer of a plan appears in my mind. Maybe I can fake being passed out. There’s always opportunity in the unexpected.

  I lift my chin and keep right on glaring at him. “We had a deal.”

  “A deal means equal parties, Meimi.” Fritz’s eyes widen with sadness. “That’s never how it was with us.” He snaps his fingers, and four Merciless guards leap toward me, holding me in place. Something pinches my neck.

  A needle.

  It’s the blue fluid.

  They’re giving me an injection.

  My head turns murky. It takes a lot of concentration, but I’m able to speak once more. “Nice try.”

  “Because you think you’re immune,” says Fritz. “But not from this level of dose.”

  My breath catches. Of course, Fritz would’ve tracked that about me.

  “Don’t worry, Meims. When the Merciless are done, you’ll have a new identity, memory, sponsor family, everything. This will be better for you. Rose was holding you down.”

  My head feels wobbly on my shoulders. The tranqs are kicking in. Even so, I manage to stay upright as a new figure steps into my bedroom.

  Doctor Godwin.

  Oh, crap.

  Godwin raises a briefcase in his hands. And not just any briefcase, it’s the one that holds my latest prototype. “Did you build this?”

  It’s hard to stay vertical. Somehow, I manage it. “No.”

  “Don’t listen to her,” counters Fritz. “That thing is set for her high school and it’s covered in her DNA. It’s like I told you right after the massacre at RCM1. Meimi is brilliant. She can get you what you need. You saw what she did at RCM1.”

  “I only witnessed a petulant child who knows how to toss a chem dart,” says Godwin.

  “So?” counters Fritz. “That’s why we sent you the enhancer as proof. But you still weren’t convinced. Which is why Meimi built you this prototype in less than a day.” Fritz folds his arms over his chest. “It’s pretty clear to me that she’s what you need. Or are you just sore that she knocked you out? Big bad doctor getting dosed with tranqs?”

  “I’m not sore.” Godwin’s nostrils flare. “I do need a drift scientist.”

  “Like I said, that’s Meimi,” declares Fritz.

  Much as I hate to admit it, Fritz is trying to help me. His efforts are demented and loaded with self-interest, but I can’t deny that it’s also keeping me alive.

  “We’ll see,” says Godwin in his sinister whisper. “I need to see her perform in a controlled environment over time. No tricks. Bring in her sponsors.”

  A couple steps into my bedroom. My head turns fuzzier than ever before. Maybe it’s the drugs, but I didn’t notice their faces when the pair first entered the room. And now? Their backs are to me.

  “Meet your new charge,” Godwin says to the couple. “You’ll sponsor her for the summer. If her work pleases me, she can attend ECHO Academy. I might even bring her into my plans with the Lacerator.”

  The woman turns to face me. All the breath seems to leave my body. Chills run across my skin.

  This can’t be
right.

  No, no, no.

  It’s Luci.

  My sister looks as she always did: white-blonde hair, thin frame, and icy blue eyes. For the first time I can remember, she glares at me with a look of pure hatred.

  “I told you already,” snaps Luci. “Meimi can’t help you with drift science. She’s useless.”

  I stumble backward, her words hitting me like fists. The back of my legs slam against my cot. I crouch down to sit.

  This can’t be Luci.

  Here.

  Hating me.

  Godwin rounds on my sister. “What part of my instructions were unclear?”

  Luci frowns. “But—”

  “Don’t test me, Luci. You’re only here because you’re her sister and every other attempt we’ve made to recruit this girl had failed. We ask her to volunteer at school? She’s not interested. The Scythe request to be her sponsor? He gets turned down. Now it’s up to you two.” He eyes Luci from head to toe. “You and your husband are the worst sponsor parents in our system. Do you want to keep the credits rolling in? Fix this.”

  Luci stomps her foot. “I already told you, Meimi can’t do it.”

  “You better hope she can,” says Godwin. “Or you’ll pay the price.”

  For the first time, the guy speaks. “Hey, she’s not my sister.”

  “My threat goes for both of you.” Godwin stares at the Merciless guards. For a moment, I think he might order them to fire on Luci. Instead, Godwin slides the briefcase under his arm and marches out of the room.

  Good riddance.

  Now, it’s the man who turns around to face me. My heart sinks. Sure enough, it’s Josiah. He reminds me of a shabby version of the Scythe, but with everything out of place. Uneven features. Overly greased back hair. Cheap frayed suit. Josiah scans me with what can only be described as a leer. “You’ve grown up, Meimi.”

  It’s the leer that pushes me over the edge. How is this guy my new sponsor father? I turn to my sister. “Why are you doing this?”

  My sister doesn’t reply, only stalks closer. “Dad loved roses, you know that? It all started because Mom’s name is Rose. Then he named me after the white rose, Luciae. You’re named after the drift rose, Meimifloria.”

  The drugs hit my nervous system, hard. I crumple onto my side, the mattress feeling impossibly cold under my skin.