Dispersion

  Silas studies each of us, his eyes finally resting on Dominic.

  “Who all among your group is Planned?” Before Dominic can reply, Silas continues. “Don’t lie to me. If you do, you will jeopardize everyone’s life here.”

  “I am, sir, as is Jess.”

  “She may not be,” I immediately interject. How could he throw her under like that when she’s never confirmed or denied it?

  “When everyone was at the genetic engineering building…” Dominic starts.

  My jaw clenches. He’s skating over the fact that he held us captive.

  “I ran tests on everyone to learn as much about the virus as possible,” Dominic continues. “When someone is genetically engineered, we alter an insignificant piece of their DNA. It is a way of marking them, if you will, to ensure that even if one moves territories, we can still keep track of who is Planned or not.”

  Jonah’s fingers twitch above his gun.

  “I ran this test on Jess and found the marking integrated within her DNA.” Dominic pauses to look me in the eye, so I can see the truth in his words. “Jess and I are the only ones who are Planned.”

  Jess’s eyes—still guarded—betray her dull acceptance. She thinks we’re about to get killed. The worst part is there’s almost a sense of relief coming from her.

  I don’t accept this fate. I subtly shift my body stance so I’m closer to her and Allison. Jonah narrows his eyes, but doesn’t say anything.

  As calm as ever, Silas says, “When my grandfather founded Veritas after years of searching for a new home, after your ancestors pushed science further and further until they eventually lost their humanity, the people put their trust in him to protect them and keep them safe. Though the Civil War was over, the danger was always lurking in the shadows. For how can anyone truly be safe when there is such savage genetic manipulation?”

  I expect Dominic to respond, but he remains silent and lets Silas finish.

  “Sadly, our fears were realized once the cruel, inhuman Planned created a weapon even more dangerous than the bombs they used to drop on us: they created the infection.”

  Still not breaking eye contact, Dominic flinches at the last statement. He may not have been part of the genetic engineers who isolated the gene that caused cancer and thus created the Letum, but his biggest pride and accomplishment was being a part of that team. How is he accepting all of these attacks?

  “Though we’ve taken our losses, I’ve kept us safe and strong. While the territories destroyed themselves from within, we still stand.” Silas’s voice gets even lower. “So tell me, Dominic, why shouldn’t I kill you? You’re a risk to everything I’ve built here.”

  Dominic steadies his shaking hand and responds with surprising calm. “If you want to maintain the status quo, you should.”

  “What?” I breathe, unable to help myself. Out of all the things he could have said, that’s the most shocking.

  Jonah’s fingers continue to drum against his holster. He’s itching for the chance to get to use it—to feel that power.

  “You do not strike me as the type of man who wants his legacy to be that he kept the status quo though, are you?” Dominic asks, starting to gain back his confidence.

  Silas raises an eyebrow. “What are you trying to say?”

  “If you want to truly be remembered for pushing Veritas ahead, you need me.”

  Jonah snorts. “You’ve got to be joking. Silas, let’s finish this now. Don’t listen to his madness.”

  Silas raises his hand to silence Jonah. He studies Dominic, somehow, even closer. The stillness in the room is uncomfortable. Every quick beat of my heart reminds me that there are some in the room whose heartbeats may be running out.

  Finally, Silas speaks. “Why do I need you?”

  “You need to visit the territories—specifically Potentia. I can help you bring some of that technology back here so you can advance your population.”

  “You mistake me, boy. As long as I live, there will be no genetic manipulation occurring in Veritas,” Silas spits back.

  Amazingly, Dominic smiles. “No, you mistake me. I am not offering to set the genetic engineers up here. You were right—we should have never allowed our society to mess with the will of God.”

  Jess jerks her head toward Dominic, eyebrows furrowed. I don’t understand it either. Is this my brother speaking?

  When Silas doesn’t respond, Dominic continues. “What I can offer you is to help bring over the other areas of technology, from our renewable resources to even our weapons, so you can protect your people. Think how much you have learned from tearing our vehicle apart.” He pauses to let his words sink in. “All of that technology is sitting, unused, waiting for someone to come take it. If you are not going to use it, someone else will. What happens when that person decides they want your compound? If they have the superior technology, how will you protect your people? It’ll be like the Civil War all over again—and your people will, once more, be the losers.”

  Jonah looks toward Silas for instruction, his hand finally going away from his gun.

  “I have been watching you, Silas, and the type of leader you are. It is so obvious you care about your people and have done the best you can for them,” Dominic says. “You would not be sucked into the power and let the technology take over. You would know when to stop.”

  Silas rubs his chin. “The entire Mess Hall heard you admit that you’re Planned. What do I say to them when they panic thinking you could turn at any time?”

  Dominic takes a deep breath. “The likelihood of one of us turning is fairly low. It is the same odds as an Unplanned developing cancer.”

  Quietly, Silas whispers, “My mother died of cancer.”

  Changing tactics, Dominic says, “You tell them the warning signs of someone about to turn. It is pretty straightforward—basic stomach flu symptoms. If any of us starts to throw up or even have a fever, you know we are potentially turning. There is a warning before it occurs.”

  Silas leans back in his chair and studies each of us, eyes lingering on Josie sleeping in her mother’s arms.

  “Jonah?”

  Jonah jerks his head toward Silas. “Yes?”

  “You have one week to prepare for a trip to Potentia. You’re to lead this trip,” Silas instructs.

  I exhale the breath I’ve been holding. Somehow, Dominic bought us time.

  “No,” Dominic says.

  “No?” Silas asks.

  “I will lead the trip.”

  What’s his endgame? He’s walking down a slippery slope and in doing so, putting all of our lives at stake.

  “You’re not in a place for negotiation, boy.”

  Dominic walks closer to Silas’s desk and stares him down.

  “If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it my way. I’m the one who understands Potentia and where the technology is. I’ve also spent time in the territory after it was overrun. I know the safe places.” He pauses and looks toward Jonah. “I need someone who I can trust to back me up. Elliot will come along and be my second in command.”

  He’s never put much esteem in me, yet here is he, trying to put me in a position of power.

  Jonah opens his mouth, but Silas shakes his head, cutting off any objection.

  “I’ll allow you ten total people, including yourselves. You may choose two, along with whoever else I decide will join you.” With one last penetrating gaze, Silas concludes. “You may leave.”

  Allison, Jess, and I instantly turn to the door, anxious to get out of the room, but Dominic remains frozen.

  “Yes, Dominic?” Silas asks.

  “Allison, Jess, and the baby will remain here while we are on the mission. If I come back and even one hair is damaged on their heads, I will use that technology to blow this place to oblivion. It won’t matter what your grandfather once founded—no one will even remember he existed.”

  Jonah slams his hand back down to his gun.

  “To be clear, are you threatening me?�
� Silas’s eerily calm voice rings through the room.

  “Yes, sir, I believe I am,” Dominic responds, staring Silas down with the fierceness that he’s been missing these last few weeks.

  Dominic turns his back on Silas and reaches for the doorknob. Before he can open it, Silas speaks in measured tones. “Then hear my threat, boy. If all of you don’t come back—including every single one of my people I’m sending with you—I won’t stop the crowd next time. I’ll let them tear you apart.”

  Dominic’s shoulders tense and he opens the door. Joseph looks at him warily, gun aimed at his chest.

  “Let them pass.”

  Dominic pushes past Joseph and the other guards and waits for all of us to file out. Looking back, he takes one last prolonged stare at Silas as the door shuts itself. Jonah is already leaning over, whispering urgently in his ear.

  “Elliot, we are going to walk them back to their living quarters and then we are going to go to my room and plan for the trip. We should all lay low for the time being.”

  We walk down the long hallway. It’s crucial we stay away from the mob scene in the Mess Hall, at least until Silas has time to spread the message that no harm is to come to us. Though, can one man have that effect on the entire compound?

  Allison, trying to relieve some of the pressure on one of her arms, rotates Josie and she lets out a weak noise in reaction.

  Dominic extends his hands toward Allison. “Let me.”

  I had thought nothing he would do at this point could surprise me, but, once again, my brother proves me wrong.

  With a quick, guilty glance toward Jess, she places her daughter in his outstretched arms. A little awkwardly, he pulls her closer to his chest and keeps walking.

  Both Jess and I pause as we take in this scene. Why is Dominic pretending to care?

  Allison stretches her arms, mumbles gratitude, and walks evenly with Dominic. While his strides are long, Allison is well over a foot shorter than him and takes quick steps to keep up.

  “What the hell?” I whisper.

  We continue walking, keeping about ten yards between us.

  “Is there something going on between them?” Jess asks. She may be trying to block me out right now, but there is a small twinge of betrayal in her tone—as there should be.

  Allison and Dominic turn at the corner, temporarily out of our view.

  “You spend more time with her than I do. The two of you share a suite,” I say.

  She glances at me, her eyebrows furrowed in thought. “Even if there were something going on, I can’t imagine she would come to me to talk about it.”

  I rub my hand through my hair. It’s getting longer. I’m going to need to get it cut soon.

  “I’m sure there’s nothing but a friendship developing between them. Not after Matt being gone so soon and everything…” I take a deep breath and finish. “And everything he did to you.”

  Her walking slows even more, and she surprises me by maintaining eye contact, scanning my face. I don’t say anything else, not knowing what else to say. It’s not her fault she was in the situation, but it happened. We can’t walk on eggshells around it forever.

  “Elliot—” Jess begins.

  Allison’s gasp and Dominic’s raised voice cut her off. “Step back now.”

  Instinctively, Jess and I run past the corner. Nathan and Peter, who I played football with, come out of one of the classrooms and are carrying a matching pair of knives, waving them threateningly toward Dominic and Allison.

  Nathan and Peter are distracted temporarily by the sound of our footsteps rushing toward them when we pass another door to get closer.

  Still holding Josie, Dominic takes advantage of their distraction and uses his other hand to push Allison behind him.

  Adam and Abe come out of the room we just passed to trap us between them. The two have the same kind of knives in their hands. Now that I’m closer, I recognize them. They took them from the kitchen.

  Following Dominic’s lead, I position myself so my body is a shield for Jess. Her uneven breathing hits my ears. Lightly, she touches my shoulder. We’re in this together.

  Even though we’re in severe danger, yet again, her touch is a reassurance—if we can get ourselves out of this situation.

  “Did you think we’d forgot about you?” Nathan sneers, rubbing the handle of his blade.

  Next to me, Abe says, “As far as we’re concerned, you’re all filth and dangerous.”

  “Do you think I would ever let my son sleep in the same building as a genetically modified mutant?” Adam asks. Out of everyone there, he’s the most painful to see here. He and his wife had struck up a friendship with Allison. Jeremiah and Josie were supposed to play together this evening. How can he forget that so easily?

  Dominic turns slightly, keeping his body between Allison and the others, and hands her Josie. Allison takes her greedily.

  Amazingly, Dominic smiles, though it does not reach his eyes. “Gentlemen, you understand that I am, how did you put it? Oh yes, a ‘genetically modified mutant.’ That means I had my genes carefully controlled and selected to produce a stronger, smarter version of your much weaker selves.”

  Compared to Dominic, I may seem small, but I still have a couple of inches on the men threatening us.

  “Watch your mouth,” Nathan calls out, spotting his group’s hesitation.

  Dominic eyes me and nods.

  At the same time, the two of us rush toward our attackers, taking them by surprise. Adam gasps in disbelief and lunges at me with his right arm. I duck to the side, Jess’s touch on my back telling me she does the same thing, and slam down hard on his extended arm.

  In reaction, he drops his knife. Ever so quickly, Jess leans down and picks it up, her forearm muscles tense in expectation.

  As strong and prepared as we are against the Letum, fighting real people is different. I’m not confident we can win.

  Adam, holding his arm, makes a lunge toward Jess. Using all of my weight, I slam into him, knocking both of us down. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Abe slowly circling Jess, preparing his move.

  Confident that she will be able to hold her own against him, I punch Adam square in the jaw. There’s a satisfying crunch as he cries out in pain. He tries to hit me back, but his uncontrolled tears hinder his eyesight and he misses. I strike another punch and break his nose. Blood gushes out. His hands, forgetting their attack on my body, cover his nose.

  I pull my hand back, prepared to strike him again, but stop. He’s so pathetic. He’s no warrior; he’s a scared father.

  “Stay,” I instruct and get back to my feet, ready to take on the next attacker.

  Jess is still warily watching Abe’s uncertain movements around her as he tries to determine her weak spot. Eyeing my movement, he notices my bloodied fist and his injured companion on the floor and drops his knife. Without a word, he runs down the hallway.

  Adam continues to moan and writhe in pain.

  Now I’m able to spare attention toward my brother. With Allison hiding behind him in a fierce, protective stance over Josie, Dominic is still squaring off against Nathan and Peter.

  Dominic’s eyes are alert, calculating their every move.

  If they try and openly engage him in a fight, even though Dominic is outnumbered, he’s still going to be able to overpower them. If he takes the offensive, he’ll leave Allison exposed. They’re at a standstill.

  I pick up the abandoned knife.

  “It’s already over,” Dominic says as we make eye contact. “Your cowardly companions are no use to you.”

  Peter breaks his focus from Dominic toward Jess and me. Using this opportunity, Dominic dives forward and takes Peter by surprise. There is a quick gasp of pain as he overtakes him.

  Nathan watches me close in on him, eyes Dominic fighting Peter, and spits out, “Disgusting mutated monster.” He turns his back on me.

  “Allison!” Jess calls out, but her warning is too late.

  Before I can stop N
athan, he lunges forward and a high-pitched wail echoes throughout the hall as he slashes his knife at Josie. Allison, who was watching Dominic, doesn’t move in time.

  No… Not Josie. I can’t allow that to happen.

  Without another thought, I plunge my knife through the back of Nathan’s throat. Missing his spine, it slides in easily. He turns around in confusion, knife sticking out from his neck, and coughs blood down his chin.

  Nathan falls to the ground.

  There’s a moment of shocked silence, the only other noise Dominic’s ruthless attack on Peter and Nathan’s terrible gurgling as he chokes on his own blood. Then, Allison lets out a scream.

  Jess jumps over Nathan and closes her arms around Josie’s wailing body.

  “Give me your shirt, Elliot,” Jess demands, pulling my attention away from Nathan’s collapsed body.

  I automatically rush forward to comply. She rips a section off of my shirt and blots it at Josie’s arm, trying to stench the flow of blood.

  Dominic finally stops hitting Peter. There’s a stream of blood falling down his right arm.

  “I shouldn’t have left you exposed, Allison. What did I do?” he cries out.

  “Stop talking and move out from my light. I need to see,” Jess instructs. “I don’t think it hit an artery or anything significant.”

  Dominic steps back as he anxiously watches Josie.

  “Is she going to be okay?” Allison asks.

  Jess continues placing the pressure on Josie’s arm. “I think so…” She sneaks a peek under her makeshift bandage. The flow has already slowed down significantly. “I know it’s hard, but I need you to hold her still.”

  I step closer to help still the frantic infant. Even though my ears are ringing, I take it as a good sign that Josie is able to scream this loudly. If she were dying, surely she wouldn’t be able to cry out with such strength.

  “We need to get her over to the infirmary,” Jess says. “Elliot, I know you’re trying to help. You’re only making it harder.”

  I take a step back. I can’t do anything to fix this.

  “Allison, do you see where my hand is? I need you to apply steady pressure on it. Once we start walking, it’s going to be hard for me to do this.”