A black curtain opens on a stage behind them and an exotic-looking woman steps forward. I gasp and stare. She has straight, white hair just past her waist and she’s wearing a dress that looks like it’s made of aqua-colored snakeskin. It twists around her until it reaches the floor where it spreads out behind her like a shimmering lake. She opens her mouth and begins to sing, but it isn’t just one voice I hear. There is bass, tenor, alto, and soprano. Her voice is a whole choir. I forget what I thought earlier. This is the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.
I want to keep listening, but Colt’s voice on the com says, “We’re in position.”
“Good,” Anthony says. “Most of the heat signatures we’re seeing are on the main floor with you. On the second floor there are fifteen people and six on the third.”
“Have any of them not moved for an extended period of time or at all?” I ask, thinking of Max. He could sit still for hours if he was upset.
“I’m not sure. Give me a minute.”
“What’s that all about?” Colt asks me.
I just shake my head. The time for explaining my brother’s actions would come soon enough. I go back to listening to the beautiful woman. The words she sings are in another language, but I can tell by the emotion in her voice that she’s singing of great loss. When the music crescendos, my eyes tear. I quickly wipe at my eyes when I feel Colt watching me.
“There’s one,” Anthony’s voice says on the com. “Third floor, east side. And whoever it is, they’re alone.”
I’m about to say it’s Max, when an exceptionally tall, muscular-looking man in a lime-colored suit approaches us. His eyes match his suit, and he has slicked-back blond hair with olive-toned skin. He’s smiling big, revealing a set of perfectly shaped white teeth. I can’t place him as a specific breed of Prime, which means he hasn’t had any synthetic DNA, but that didn’t mean he isn’t dangerous.
“I haven’t seen you before,” he says to me. His voice is deep, but smooth sounding, making me think of melted chocolate.
“She’s with me, Tank,” Colt says.
I turn to him. “You know him?”
Colt grimaces. “Everyone knows him.”
“But I don’t know you,” Tank says. “Either of you.” He looks back and forth at each of us.
“I’m Dick, this is Jane,” Colt says.
Tank laughs. “Sure, okay.” His eyes lower to mine. “You really don’t know me?”
I study his face, strong jaw, butt chin. There is something familiar about him, but I can’t place it.
“Sorry,” I say and shake my head.
“Tank here,” Colt says, his voice sarcastic, “is the world’s best athlete. There isn’t anything he can’t do.”
Tank laughs again. It’s sweet sounding, making me feel at ease. “I wouldn’t go that far, but I am good.”
“Not for long,” Colt says. “Another few years and,” he drags his thumb across his own throat as if it’s a knife, “it’s lights out for you.”
“Co—I mean Dick!” I say, quickly catching myself from calling him by his real name.
“The old man’s right,” Tank says. “But I plan on living every day to the fullest.”
Colt straightens. “Don’t call me old. We’re probably the same age.”
“I measure someone’s age by their attitude, and you, sir, are an old fart.” Tank punches his arm. I think it is meant to be playful, but Colt stumbles back.
“Would you like to dance?” Tank asks me.
“She’s with me,” Colt says.
“Let the girl decide.”
I glare at Colt, frustrated by his negativity. “I’m sorry, Tank, but we have to go.”
“One dance,” he says. “I promise you won’t regret it.”
Colt steps threateningly close, regardless of the several inches of height Tank has on him. “She said no.”
For the first time, Tank’s smile disappears. A few people near us must sense the tension between us because they look in our direction. To prevent any further attention, I take hold of Tank’s arm.
“One dance,” I say.
Tank winks at Colt and guides me to the other side of the pianos where there’s an open area for dancing. We join only a handful of other couples, and I’m very uncomfortable being this out in the open. Tank, on the other hand, seems to enjoy the admiring stares of those around us.
He stops in the center and pulls me into his arms as if I’m a feather, and I gasp at his strength. I rest my hand on his upper arm. My palm doesn’t even come close to gripping it; his muscle is too big.
“I find it refreshing that you don’t know who I am,” he says. “How is that possible?”
“I’m not from around here,” I say, my eyes on the singing, exotic woman. As much as I will miss her voice, I hope she stops singing soon so I can get Max.
“You’re an alien. I knew it.”
I look at him. “What?”
“From another planet. That explains why you don’t know me, and why you’re the prettiest woman in the room.”
My face turns red. “Not in here. I’ve never seen such beauty.”
“Neither have I.”
I meet his gaze. It burns into mine and I turn away, speechless. Of all the lessons my father gave me, he never taught what to do in this situation. Should I fight him? Be flattered?
“What’s your real name?” he asks.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
He stops dancing and brushes a stray hair away from my cheek. A chill spreads throughout my body.
“You can trust me,” he says.
My heart races and I hope it’s not because of his touch. “I better go.”
“But I can help.”
“I don’t think so.” I turn to leave, but he grabs my arm.
“I know about your brother.”
My heart stops, and I look back at him, waiting for him to say more.
“I’m with Bram,” he says, glancing around the room as if he’s afraid someone might hear him. He pulls me back to him. “Keep dancing.”
I do as he says, forcing myself to sway to the music. “If that’s true, then what’s my brother’s name?”
Not even the Institute knows it. If Tank can tell me this, then I’d know that he’s our guy on the inside.
Tank closes his eyes and taps the side of his forehead. “I know this. Give me a second.”
While he thinks, I glance back at Colt. He’s standing rigid with arms folded tightly to his chest. I motion him over.
“It’s Mac,” Tank says. “Wait, no. Matt.”
When I narrow my eyes and take a step back, he stretches out his arm as if to stop me and says, “Max! It’s Max. I remember now.”
I exhale the breath I was holding. “Let’s go.”
I lead him back to the side of the ballroom where Colt is standing.
“Everything okay?” he asks. Colt stands close to me, closer then he’s ever been before; our arms are almost touching. I wonder if the closeness bothers him.
“Tank is our man,” I say, my voice low. “He knows about Max.”
Colt is shaking his head. “That’s what I heard through the com, but I don’t believe it. It’s a trick.”
“It’s true, old man,” Tank says.
Colt leans toward him. “You’re saying that the world’s biggest sports star, who has these amazing abilities, supports a cause that wants to get rid of people like you?”
Tank smiles at Colt. “And people like you.”
“Why?” I ask.
“Because there’s so much I want to do with my life, with or without my enhanced abilities, but I won’t live long enough to accomplish even a fraction of them. So I might as well help build a world where others can.”
Colt scoffs. “Then why don’t you use your position to get all of your buddies to help us out too?”
Tank shrugs in frustration. “I tried. A couple of years ago I was very vocal about what I thought, but I was laughed at. No one wants
to be normal again. They think a world like that would be pathetic.”
“I don’t get it,” I say. “You’d think people would be upset that everyone’s dying so young. Why aren’t they?”
Tank keeps his voice low. “For a couple of reasons. First, because they know their time is short, they want to enjoy as much of it as they can. Look around. Everyone here is young, most under the age of twenty-five. They don’t want to spend what precious years they have left fighting a government who has ten times the resources they do. Besides, if you read our history, most uprisings were led by older men and women who had learned a better way through great hardship. Right now everyone’s just having a good time.”
“But people they love are dying.”
“They’re used to it. Party. Have fun. Don’t get close to anyone. It’s the world we live in. Messed up, I know.” He shakes his head. “All we can do now is find and protect Originals, then hope that when their numbers are enough, they can make things right. If only I could live to see that day.” He turns away, his jaw muscle clenches tight.
“It’s a brilliant plan, if you think about it,” Colt says. “As long as the population stays young while those in control grow old using serum made from Originals, they’ll be able to control the population for centuries.”
“Then we’ll change things,” I say. “Starting with saving my brother.” Hot anger courses through me, igniting me with new energy. Everyone around me is so young, beautiful, and full of life, but within ten years they’ll all be dead. So many deaths. There has to be a way to stop the Institute. I think of my father. With all the secrets he kept from me, he’s bound to have a solution. I have to find him.
“Do you know Max’s location?” Tank asks.
“Has the person on the third floor moved?” I ask Anthony through the com device. “I believe it’s Max.”
“He hasn’t moved,” Anthony’s voice confirms.
Tank touches the back of my elbow. “I’ll take you up.”
“I thought you wanted to be an observer only,” Colt says.
Tank doesn’t take his eyes off me. “That was before I met her.”
“I’m coming too,” Colt says.
“No. It will appear suspicious with all three of us, but me wandering off with a pretty girl won’t draw any attention.” He smiles and winks at me.
I look at Colt, unsure of how I feel about being alone with Tank.
“You okay with this?” Colt asks me. “I can go with you.”
I glance back at Tank. He’s staring over my shoulder toward the exit. “I’ll be fine. See you soon?”
Colt nods, his expression grim.
Tank grabs my hand and pulls me next to him as we walk out of the ballroom.
“Don’t look so worried,” he says. “The guards have to believe that you want to be with me, or we’re going to get questioned.”
“How do I do that?” I ask.
“Haven’t you ever liked a boy before?”
“I’ve never been around a boy before until recently, other than my brother and dad, of course.”
He doesn’t stop moving, but squeezes my hand gently. “Just giggle and stuff. Stare at me and touch me a lot. That’s what other girls do.”
“I thought people didn’t like to touch?”
“Oh, there’s plenty of touching, but there’s no emotion behind it.” He glances sideways at me.
“Then why bother?” I ask.
“Pleasure, my dear.”
I turn away, embarrassed.
“Oh, come on now. You’re saying this body doesn’t turn you on?”
I scrunch my nose. “Turn me onto what? I don’t understand.”
He shakes his head and chuckles. “You’ve been living under a rock, haven’t you?”
His words sting, and I once again realize how little I know of this world. I may be able to point out the weaknesses of just about every living species, or have the layout of buildings memorized, but I don’t know much about how humans interact with each other. From what I’ve seen so far, I’m not real impressed.
Tank starts up a grand stairway, taking me with him. At the top are two men in white suits. Although they match several of the other guests, I know they are guards by their rigid stances.
“Remember what I said,” Tank whispers in my ear as he wraps his arm around my waist.
I take a deep breath and nuzzle up against him, smiling big.
“Let’s go have a good time, babe,” Tank says and nuzzles me back.
When I giggle, the guard nearest me rolls his eyes, but he lets us pass without a word. As soon as we’re out of their sight, Tank says, “I like when you cuddle up against me. Maybe we can do it again?”
I lean away but let him keep his arm around me since there’s a camera nearby pointed in our direction. Still smiling, I say through my teeth, “Only under the threat of death.”
“I can make that happen,” he says, but nudges me playfully.
At the end of the hall a door opens. Tank pulls me closer to him. A woman, thin and a foot taller than Tank, steps out from a room and looks up. My heart beats a painful rhythm when my eyes meet with Ebony’s, the Techhead from the Institute.
I’m so dead.
Mr. Bailey,” Ebony says, “shouldn’t you be downstairs celebrating?”
Tank laughs. Even though every muscle in his body is tense, it doesn’t show in his voice. “I was just showing my girl around,” he says.
“And which flavor of the week is it today?” Ebony’s eyes start at my feet and slowly move up to my face. She frowns and narrows her eyes like she’s trying to figure out a complex math equation.
I swallow hard. She’s going to recognize me soon if I don’t do something fast.
“I’m strawberry because that’s his favorite flavor,” I say and give him a big hug. “Isn’t that right, baby?” I kiss him lightly on the cheek.
Tank squeezes me. “It sure is. I could eat strawberries all day long.”
“You disgust me,” Ebony says, lifting her narrow chin. She turns away from us and walks away.
“Love you, Ebony!” he calls after her. She doesn’t acknowledge him.
When Ebony turns the corner and we are alone again, Tank opens a door toward the end of the hallway and ushers me inside a stairwell.
“That was close,” he says as soon as the door closes.
I move two steps away from him and inspect the area. It’s well lit with stairs going both up and down. I don’t hear anyone, and I don’t see any cameras either.
“Why did she make you so nervous?” I ask.
“Remember how I told you I tried to convince people that saving Originals was the only way out of this mess?” He starts climbing the stairs.
I nod and go after him.
“Word got back to Ebony and she had me called in for a little chat. I refused to go, but they used Titans to arrest me.”
“Isn’t that illegal?”
“Technically, but the Institute is never punished. They live by their own set of rules and no one ever questions them.”
“So what happened?”
“She threatened permanent imprisonment or worse. Only when I convinced her that it was only a joke did she let me go. I’m not afraid of much, but that woman scares me.”
“I know the feeling.”
We reach the top of the stairs. My brother isn’t far. It’s all I can do to keep from breaking into a run to go to him.
Addressing the com, I say, “Anthony?”
There’s a slight pause before he answers. “Yes?”
“How many are on the third floor now?”
“Only three. Your brother still hasn’t moved, but there’s two people just outside his door.”
“Just two,” I say, thinking. Between Tank and I, we should be able to get through them easily enough. I look up at Tank.
He is shaking his head. “I’m sorry. This is as far as I can go.”
“What do you mean? My brother’s just down the hall.�
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“I can’t be discovered. My position is too valuable.”
I clench my jaw until it hurts. “You mean you don’t want to give up your fabulous life.”
He takes me by the shoulders. “That’s not it at all. HOPE needs the information I provide them. There’s no one else with the connections I have.”
I shrug off his hands. “But you’re already discovered. As soon as they know my brother’s gone, they’re going to check the cameras and see that you were the last one with me.”
Tank reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small syringe full of a clear liquid. “That’s why I brought this.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a drug that will knock me out. When they find me, I’m going to tell them you injected me with it.”
“And they’ll believe you?”
“Easy. Everyone thinks I’m all brawn and no brains. It’s a role I have to play.” He looks at me for understanding, but I give him nothing.
“What if they capture me?” I ask. “Are you saying you won’t help?”
“Of course I will. That’s why I’m doing this.” He raises his hand holding the syringe and injects it into his neck. “I can’t help you if they suspect me too.”
“I can’t believe you just did that,” I say, a shaky breath moving from my lungs.
Tank slumps against the wall. “I’m so sorry.”
He slides to the floor slowly and closes his eyes, but he looks anything but peaceful.
I stare at him for a few seconds, shocked. What am I going to do now? Only two people stand between me and Max, but they are surely much stronger and faster than I am. The only thing I have going for me is my father’s training. Hopefully I’ll recognize whatever species they are so I can exploit their weaknesses.
“Everything okay?” Anthony asks into the com. His voice is hesitant, and I’m afraid he is close to calling the whole thing off.
“Slight setback, but nothing to worry about.”
The com is silent again.
I breathe in and out, quick breaths through puckered lips, trying to summon some courage. I can do this, I think as I shake my hands in the air. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I escaped from the Institute, getting by more Primes than this, but that was before I had my memory. Now that I remember who I am, with all of my faults and insecurities, I’m not sure I can do it.
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