by Kristie Cook
Kaitlyn twisted her hair into a ponytail, lowered the hat on her head, and slid on the eyeglasses. It would be enough of a disguise to get her by … just in case they had police looking for her, which she doubted. They wouldn’t want to draw attention to her. To be on the safe side, she knew she should cut her hair and change the color when she figured out where she was going. Lucas had said to trust her instincts. Easier said than done. Her mind worked on logic, not instinct.
Once again, her thoughts drifted to her new memories. She couldn’t stop thinking about the woman who had been raped. Was she okay? Was the attacker—her murderer—caught? For some reason, knowing her old life had ended trying to save someone else made her feel better than if she had been in a car accident. She had no idea why she felt that way. Feelings and emotions were so confusing. She wished there was some kind of manual to help her sort through them.
Time to move. Kaitlyn continued on the path and soon broke out on to a main highway. She jumped over the railing and strode forward, whipping out the phone and consulting the map. The nearest town was only three miles down the road. Once she got there, she would have to find transportation to get further away. She had to put as much distance between her and the compound as possible. Eventually, she would need to rest; she didn’t want to over-stress her system. She could technically last for days without sleep, but Lucas had told her it was better to get periodic breaks as long as she wasn’t in danger.
A dark sedan pulled over, and an older man leaned out the window. “Need a lift, sweetheart?”
Caution. Unsure how to respond, Kaitlyn ignored him and kept walking. The man pulled away and continued down the road. Ahead there was a sign that said Maryville, population 1725.
When the town came into view, Kaitlyn wondered if she would be able to pull it off. She had never interacted with anyone outside of the compound before. From what she could see, it wasn’t much of a town. A few houses lined the street, and there was a run-down gas station on one side across from a diner with a flashing arrow.
Kaitlyn pushed open the door into the gas station. A bell went off above her head, and she tensed. Was that a warning?
“Morning, dear,” a plump woman with a nice smile and grey hair greeted her. The badge on her shirt said her name was Marcy.
“Good morning,” Kaitlyn replied.
“Can I help you with something? You look a little lost.”
Great. Her first interaction, and they already knew she was lost. “Is there a train station or bus stop anywhere close?”
“Sure is. There’s a Greyhound about three miles up the road, and you can take that to connect to Alexandria Union Station. Where are you headed?”
“Fort Lauderdale, Florida.” Kaitlyn frowned and wondered why those words had slipped out of her mouth. Somewhere deep in her subconscious, she knew that was where she was supposed to be. However, she wished she could take back the words once they escaped. The security team would probably come looking for her, and ask if anyone had seen someone matching her description. She could kill the lady, but that seemed harsh. If they followed her to Florida she would just have to lose them.
“Well, that’s quite the trip. You might want to grab a few snacks.”
Humans ate all the time, she reminded herself. If she wanted to blend in, she had to act the part.
“You’re right,” she said, smiling. “I’m starving.”
She made her way to the back of the store, and grabbed a couple of bags of chips and two candy bars. When she reached for the Butterfingers, a memory flashed through her mind. She looked to be around twelve years old, and she was rummaging through a plastic pumpkin filled with candy, searching for Butterfingers.
A slow smile spread across her face. She was starting to welcome the memories. It was like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle slowly fitting together. Once she had all of the pieces, she would have a clear image of who she used to be.
“Don’t forget to grab a drink.” Marcy tilted her head toward the cooler.
Right. Can’t forget a drink, Kaitlyn thought wryly as she reached in for a bottle of water.
“That will be seven dollars and ninety-nine cents.”
Confused, Kaitlyn stood there for a moment until her processor flashed money. She rummaged through her bag, pulled out her money, and dropped a hundred dollar bill on the counter.
Marcy eyed the bill. “Don’t you have anything smaller than that?”
Kaitlyn flipped through her bills; she really should have researched more. Finally, she found one that had the number ten on it and handed that to the woman.
“Thanks, that’s better. And be careful flashing that kind of money around. The world is filled with bad people.” The woman handed Kaitlyn her changes, which she stuffed into the side pocket of her bag.
“Bad people?” Kate asked.
“Don’t you watch the news?”
She shook her head no. “I only watch movies.”
The woman was looking at her strangely, and Kate realized she said something wrong to draw attention to herself.
“Thanks for the advice. I’ll be more careful from now on.” Kaitlyn turned to exit the building.
“Have a safe trip.”
“Thank you.” Kaitlyn could understand why the IFICS were concerned about her interacting with humans; she wasn’t very good at it. She felt like a fish out of water. The saying had just popped into her head, an element of the slang chip, she suspected. It reminded her of Quess and made her feel strange. She didn’t have time to analyze feelings; she had to get to the bus station.
It was as if she were set on autopilot. At the bus station, a kind-faced gentleman in a uniform helped her find the right bus.
She boarded and made her way to the back, wanting to be able to see who entered, and also have quick access to the emergency exit.
The memory of the attack kept playing through her mind as she watched the scenery pass. The bus rolled down the highway in the early morning; once in a while, they passed quiet little towns. She couldn’t stop thinking of the the woman at the gas station’s words: bad people. Why was there so much wicked in the world? What would make someone want to hurt a defenseless woman?
Kaitlyn scanned her information drive, appalled to see that in the United States alone over 1.2 million incidents of violent crimes were reported yearly. Over 90,000 of those incidents involved rape.
She stewed over the statistics for many miles, and it fueled her desire to make the world a better place. Could one person really have that much of an impact? One less woman being abused would be something.
Without being obvious, she observed the passengers. It was interesting to see people outside the setting of the compound. She wondered if anyone on the bus had been a victim of a crime, or if there were criminals on board. More than likely there were both.
There was a young couple sitting diagonal from her, and they didn’t seem to be very happy. The young woman had her arms crossed against her chest, and the man stared out the window. She wondered if they were in a fight, and if so about what. Instantly, she felt a pang of loneliness for Lucas. She would probably never see him again.
The old lady, who sat across from Kaitlyn, pulled yarn out of her bag and started knitting. Kaitlyn watched her old hands move at a rapid pace, fascinated as the yarn started to become a large square.
The old woman caught her eye and smiled.
“Do you knit?”
Startled, Kate shook her head no.
“It’s relaxing. Helps make the time pass. I could teach you if you want.”
“No, thank you.”
The woman shrugged and went back to her knitting.
Maybe she could fit in. So far no one had treated her differently. Other than some gross guy with a mustache that kept turning to leer at her. Doing a scan, Kaitlyn realized the man was sexually aroused. The thought repulsed her. She wanted to use a pressure point to make the man pass out, but she knew that was not a good idea. She didn’t need to draw attention to herself i
n the enclosed environment.
Why Fort Lauderdale? Why couldn’t she remember if it was her home?
In Alexandria, she switched to the train without incident. The further south they went, the less the leaves had changed. The stunning red, golds, and orange turned to all green. She watched the sun set and rise again from her window seat.
She dozed off with her head against the cool window and dreamt of Evan. Only this time, the dreams were more than just flashes. They were complete scenes. They had been in love; that much was obvious.
Kaitlyn woke up from a particularly vivid Christmas memory. She had just been about to open a small package from Evan, her cheeks flushed with happiness. She searched her memories, but couldn’t find that one.
As the train drifted into the station, she wondered what it meant that she was dreaming and thinking of Evan when her heart ached for Lucas.
Chapter Twenty-Three
After twenty-one hours on the road, between trains stops and layovers, the train finally pulled into the station. She was certain she hadn’t been followed. Search teams were probably still combing the woods for her.
When Kaitlyn got off the train in Fort Lauderdale, she had a feeling she had been there before.
Could her instincts have taken her home? The thought scared her. What was she going to do, just waltz back into her old life?
She was way beyond that point.
Maybe she could get back on the train and go further south, or even west. However, there was something about the coast line that was drawing her in, so she shouldered her bag and started walking. Palm trees lined the road. For some reason, this made her miss Quess and their walks. A palm tree could never replace her favorite birch tree.
Kaitlyn wandered down the highway, following the signs that said “Beach”. As she crossed a large bridge, cars whizzed by, and a few of them honked their horns. She had no idea what that meant. The smell of the salt air tugged at a memory. She was getting fragments, but nothing strong and overpowering like the earlier memories. She must have spent a lot of time near the ocean in her past life, which would explain the pull.
A parking lot edged up against the sand, and Kaitlyn mounted the long boardwalk that led to the beach. Neon lights ran down the length of the boardwalk. People sat on the edging, bikers rode by, and a few people skated past her.
She left the sidewalk and stepped on to the sandy beach. The grey-blue ocean spread before her beneath a sky of white, fluffy clouds. There were couples walking hand in hand or sitting on blankets near the water while their children made sand castles. Kaitlyn pulled off her shoes and stepped barefoot on to the warm, gritty sand, making a straight line for the water. No one gave her a second glance. For the first time in her new life, she felt invisible. She was just another person enjoying the beach. The thought was comforting, even though she knew it was far from the truth. She would never be truly human again.
It felt so natural to step into the surf. The ocean waves lapping against the sand and her feet had a calming effect on her, almost like the way Lucas calmed her mind.
She noticed some people were sleeping on the beach, and she briefly wondered if she should do that as well, but her sensors flashed ‘caution’. After a quick scan, she realized she needed to find a hotel. Reluctantly, Kaitlyn made her way across the beach and back to the main road.
Several hotels lined the street, many of them with flashing vacancy signs. She entered the first hotel and greeted the clerk behind the counter.
“I would like to stay the night, please,” Kaitlyn said.
“Of course.” The older woman turned to her computer and started clicking on the keyboard. “One night will be ninety-seven.”
Kaitlyn reached in her bag and handed the clerk a hundred. “No, sorry. We need a credit card to keep on file.” Kaitlyn stared at her blankly.
“A credit card. You know, the plastic card with one of these symbols.” The clerk pointed at a sign on the counter.
Kaitlyn’s scans recognized the five colorful emblems. Within seconds, she knew what each stood for and she knew she didn’t have one.
“I don’t have one of those,” she replied, holding out the hundred dollar bill. “I only have cash.”
“Company policy. No card, no room.”
Kaitlyn shoved the money back in the side pocket of her bag before she slung it on her shoulders. “Do you know of any hotels in the area that don’t require credit cards?” she asked stiffly.
“Sorry, dear. Those kinds of no-tell-motels are across the bridge on the bad side of town.”
Why did everyone keep saying bad? Bad people. Bad side of town.
Pushing the glass door open, she stepped back outside. She didn’t need to sleep, but her body needed to recharge, and if she stayed awake too long it would drain her energy. Since she was on the run, that wasn’t ideal. She needed to find a place to rest for the night. She also needed to find a change of clothes.
Follow your instincts.
Kaitlyn walked, letting her feet take her wherever they wandered. Off the main highway and deep into a residential part of town, she passed colorful Spanish-themed houses with brilliant green lawns beneath the spray of sprinklers.
She had been wandering for two hours when a wave of familiarity washed over her. She had been here before. The sun had set and the street lights came to life.
She turned left down Green Street and walked to the end of the cul-de-sac. Without a thought, she came to a stop in front of a large, white stucco home. The porch light was on, and lamps glowed from several windows. She stared at the wooden swing on the porch, and images flashed before her—sitting on the swing with her parents, and later, with Evan. This house had been her home. Her body tingled with excitement. Her parents were behind the door.
She fought the urge to run up the stairs and ring the doorbell. It would be cruel to come back from the dead. Her parents would never understand. Her excitement quickly turned to overwhelming sadness.
Kaitlyn hung her head and spun on the ball of her foot, leaving without a single glance back.
On autopilot, Kaitlyn took a left down Sanders and a right down Oakwood Drive. Evan. Her body was pulling her to Evan. She wanted to resist, but her feet kept moving forward. Just one peek. She wanted to see him, she had to, and then she would leave.
She was watching the pavement, lost in her own thoughts, when she heard laughter. She looked up to find a couple walking toward her—a blond-haired guy and a beautiful blonde girl.
Kaitlyn’s body revved up, and just as quickly her body stabilized as her sensors overrode the fight or flight impulse.
Evan.
Her eyes met his, and she forced her face to stay blank.
“Cassidy?” His voice was incredulous. He abruptly let go of the woman and stepped forward.
Cassidy. Not only had the IFICS taken her old life, they had given her a new name.
“Excuse me?” Kaitlyn pulled her hat down lower.
He was silent for a long time; his girlfriend shifting uncomfortably behind him, and Kaitlyn in front, standing still, her heart hammering.
“I’m sorry.” He shook his head, his face pale. “You look like someone I once knew.”
Kaitlyn covertly scanned Evan and was surprised to see he had a wedding band on his left hand. She glanced over at the blonde, discovering that she wore a matching band. Kaitlyn gritted her teeth; he hadn’t wasted any time moving on. She kept her face expressionless.
“It’s uncanny, really. The resemblance.” Evan’s face looked pained. “It’s like seeing a ghost.”
The blonde woman came up and grabbed his hand, squeezing it. “Sorry, sweetie,” she said. Addressing Kaitlyn, she added, “He lost someone once. Any girl with dark hair and your build always stops him in his tracks.”
“It’s okay.” Kaitlyn was proud when her own voice didn’t waver. “I saw a movie once where they said everyone has a twin.”
“We should go, babe,” the blonde murmured to Evan.
Ev
an’s eyes were glued to Kaitlyn’s face. It was making her uncomfortable.
“Your friend’s name was Cassidy?” Kaitlyn asked the question before she lost her nerve. “What happened to her, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“She was murdered. A long time ago.”
A long time ago? Kaitlyn opened her mouth to ask how long, but Evan turned to his wife and asked, “The resemblance really is uncanny, isn’t it, Rachel?”
The woman nodded in agreement, her sapphire gaze regarding Kaitlyn seriously. “Yes. It is eerie. Come on, babe. Let’s leave this poor girl alone. We’re sorry to bother you.”
Kaitlyn nodded, but didn’t say anything more as the woman took hold of Evan’s arm and pulled him past her. She could smell his cologne as he passed, his eyes catching hers one last time. Kaitlyn breathed deeply; the scent was so familiar. She continued down the sidewalk, her hands still shaking from the encounter.
How could he have replaced her so quickly? He was married?
Something wasn’t right. Quess had said Evan was twenty-one, and it had bothered Kaitlyn at the time, but she wasn’t sure why. If she was only seventeen, had her parents let her date a twenty-one year old? A cursory scan of state laws told her that was illegal.
She was murdered. A long time ago.
How long?
Kaitlyn waited until Evan and the blonde had turned a corner and were out of sight, then she took off at a steady run. Lucas had warned her she was faster than humans, and she needed to be careful not to draw attention to herself. A six mile per hour pace seemed adequate. She ran through the streets and came to a stop at the first store she found. The store had bars on the windows; she had obviously ventured into the bad side of town.
Taking a deep breath, Kaitlyn walked through the door, grabbing a soda and some beef jerky. After she paid the cashier, she asked, “What is today?”
“Monday. All day it’s been Monday.”
Kate shook her head. “I mean the date and year.”
The older woman looked at her through narrowed eyes. “Are you being fresh with me, child?”