by Rachael Wade
“Jet and I are no use to you, then. That’s something you’ll have to do on your own.” My legs remembered to move and I began to back away again, sneaking a glance at the door. “Where are the Invaders? They should be here by now.” If I wanted to escape alive, and make sure Jet and Hera made it out with me, I had to make my move now, before the invincibility drug wore off.
“They retreated back there, I don’t know.” He dismissed my concern and worked to pull my attention back to his gaze—which only made me more concerned. What had happened to his urgency since we’d entered the control room? “Look, you’re wrong,” he continued. “You’re like me, Skylla. You’re one of us. And Jet’s the human link. He’s a leader. Charismatic, confident, strong. And he loves you, I can see it. I need him, too. With both of your help, I can show the Invaders a new way of life is possible. We can coexist, can rewrite all the wrongs we’ve made—”
“Stop it!” I screamed, my lungs erupting with fury. My body was still shaking, but it was no longer from fear. My limbs were alive with fire, with pure fury at what he was saying. “I am not like you. I am human and will never, I mean never betray my race.”
“You don’t think I felt betrayed, Sky?”
I stopped moving. I hated how he said my name. How it rolled off his tongue so easily, as if we’d known each for years. I equally hated that I really felt that way, like he was a long-lost friend.
“I kept my identity quiet, didn’t dare say a word when I joined the rebels. I knew I had to play smart. When Rico sent me on my first mission, the one to C1 in New Orleans, I’ll never forget the betrayal I felt. It was all there … the control panel, the prototype models. Even though I wasn’t implanted, I could understand their language. I despised that. At least the others have the luxury of losing their ability to read the Invaders’ language. The minute they rip out their chips, it’s all gone. They can only remember bits and pieces. But when you’re one of the Seven? The instinct, the connection … there’s no escaping it. So I used Rico and the rebels, yes. And I’ve made it too far to turn back now. And … I think you’re one of us, Skylla. I wasn’t sure at first, but I’m almost positive now.”
“I said stop it, Kale! Stop pushing your crazy bullshit onto me, because I’m not buying. I’m not one of you. I don’t care if I make it out of here alive, but I’m willing to try if it means getting away from you and your delusions. You’re nothing but a liar.”
I finally found the strength to turn for the door.
“What about that mark on your neck, Skylla? Do you know where it came from? Just a birthmark, right?”
Kale’s words turned my feet to stone. My back to him, my chest rose and fell with deep, heavy breaths, my body stiffening. “I can’t read their language. I don’t have whatever connection you’re talking about. I’m. Not. Like. You.”
“Maybe not. But you have the same scar. You’re drawn to the water. You almost let yourself drown in the Abyss, didn’t you? Only it wasn’t drowning. It was like breathing to you, wasn’t it? We’re the same, Skylla. All the signs are there. Only, when the Invaders make contact with you, they cower and retreat. That tells me one thing. We are different. You’re more important than I am. Than any of the other five Shepherds. Don’t run from this.”
I spun around, penetrating him with a fiery gaze. My damp cheeks were warm, my throat constricting while I worked to swallow, to push the words out. “Fine,” my voice cracked, “then what am I? Tell me what I am!”
No other question was more vital than this one. It was the answer my soul thirsted for since I was a curious little kid running around our farm in Morton, wondering if I’d ever see more than the flat, open fields and the barn animals I’d cared for.
“You’re the Seventh Shepherd.”
TWELVE
My knees buckled and my shoulders sagged. The room began to spin, the water in the fish tank walls swirling and shifting, its bubbles creating a spellbinding illusion while I digested his words. My mind rejected them at first, kick-punching them backward, sending them ricocheting in the opposite direction, but some visceral part of me knew the truth.
I was different.
Not just from Kale, but from all the other children I’d grown up around. From my classmates and coworkers … even from my parents. For years, I’d felt the need to wander. To stray and find something, only I wasn’t sure what. I was bored, restless, and misplaced, and all of that led me here, to this. To Kale, to all he was revealing to me. Yeah, me either, his voice echoed loud and clear in my mind, I wouldn’t have changed a thing.
And as I pondered the reality that my feeling of being out of place had been more than just a typical young-adult phase, I was acutely aware of one thing: I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Because I was here now. And finally knowing what you are changes you.
“You feel it, don’t you?” Kale whispered. “Way deep down, you know what I’m saying is true.” He shifted, an intrigued smile curling his lips. “The oldest Keeper legend says the Invaders are forbidden to touch the Seventh Shepherd.”
He suddenly moved, closing the space between us in two swift strides. His arms wrapped around me, his hot breath at my lips. “That only the Creators in Lucenta have permission to communicate with you. You’re set apart. What happened to your chip, Skylla? Think hard. Do you remember anything?”
“No.” My voice was a shaky breath. “They’ve attacked me … I’ve been held prisoner … I can’t be the Seventh—”
“Without your ID, they have no way of telling who you are. Unless they touch you.”
“That can’t be right.” My tone was fueled with more anger now, refusing to accept his words. What good did it do to know who I was, if they were out to destroy me anyway? “That would mean they know I exist, and that I haven’t been activated. They’ve touched me before, so they know I’ve been out there, running somewhere.”
A fuzzy image of the Invader I’d shot in my backyard surfaced, along with the others, who’d been in my home, who’d killed my parents. I’d been so close to them, right underneath their noses.
“What if they died because of me?” My vision blurred and I lost my balance, the room’s spinning increasing. “Oh my God, Kale … what if my parents died because they removed my chip … just like your parents? What if the Invaders found out and—”
“You have no way of knowing that, Skylla. The Invaders have no way of finding you. They’re waiting for you to come to them. Just like they’re waiting for me. They’re not storming these doors right now because they must know … when they touched you in that hallway … they must know you’re here. They could’ve barged in here and executed me, but they’re keeping their distance. Now we can go to Lucenta together.”
“I don’t know if I can do this.”
“Yes. Yes you can. Look,” he pleaded, his voice strained. “I know you’re still attached to what this planet can offer you. I know it’s hard to separate your human life here and the life the Invaders have planned for you. I’ve run it through my mind over and over again, for years. I understand everything you’re afraid of right now, and I can’t take away that fear. But I can offer to share it with you. You don’t have to do this alone. We’ll have each other. No matter what happens, I’ll be by your side in this. I know … I know you want Jet. But this is where you belong. With me.”
My eyelids floated shut and then his mouth was moving with mine, his thumb spreading over the thin skin near the corner of my eyes. Our connection was broken by a loud slam, the door opening and closing just as quickly.
“Skylla?” Jet’s voice bounced around the room, splitting and breaking, its disappointment palpable. Kale released me and I turned, my gaze landing on a small, demure Asian beauty, her sleek, shiny black hair hitting her shoulders and wide brown eyes gazing up at me. Her hand was clamped tightly in Jet’s.
“You found her,” I breathed, eyes flicking between the two of them. “I knew you would.”
“If I didn’t have the invincibility drug, I never
would’ve made it through security.” Jet’s glare was scalding hot, penetrating Kale with restrained fury. “I owe you one, man.”
Kale cleared his throat and shuffled away from me, unable to look Jet head on.
“Care to tell me what’s going on?” Jet said. “The drug’s already wearing off. Whatever you’re here to do, better wrap it up.”
“Uh, yeah,” Kale said. “We’re all set. I made sure Rico can’t rig the location coordinates. Just one more thing. We have to head down to the Shepherd Capsule dock. That’s where the Shepherds are waiting.”
“So they’re all activated?”
“All except for two.” Kale’s gaze skipped to mine. “Are you going to tell him, or am I?”
“Tell me what? Why you had your mouth on my girl?”
“Jet,” I started, but I didn’t get farther.
“No,” he said, glancing down at Hera. “There are more important things to worry about right now. Let’s get to this, what did you call it? This Capsule dock, so we can get this over with and get out of here. Where are all the Invaders?” He scanned the room. “They don’t have security here? Something’s not right.”
“Uh, okay, let’s get moving,” Kale said. “Rico’s men have rigged the Shepherd Capsule dock with explosives—it’s the entrance to Lucenta. We have to strip the bombs before it threatens Lucenta. Jet, you’ve been trained in weapons combat. You know how to dismantle explosives?”
Jet pulled Hera tighter to his side, tucking her into the crook of his arm. She was still staring up at me, her brown eyes searching me. For what, I didn’t know.
“Wait, what’s Lucenta?” Jet said.
“It’s an underwater city, buried here by the Invaders. The next stage of the Shepherds’ activation process is to gather there. It’s the beginning of their leadership on Earth.”
“Forget it. I have to get Hera out of here. Explosives? No, I’m sorry, but this is as far as I go.”
“I thought you’d hold up your end of the deal,” Kale said, rushing forward. Jet moved Hera behind him, his broad shoulders squaring as he came head to head with Kale.
“I did hold up my end of the deal. I gave you weapons. And I helped you make it to Central Control. You gave me a chance to get revenge, and you’re right … I don’t want it anymore. I found all that matters to me. I’m done here.”
“So you’re just going to walk away?”
“It’s not like I have anything else to stick around for.” Jet’s blue gaze found mine and the anger there was just too much. I couldn’t let him run off thinking what he’d seen between me and Kale meant anything.
“Jet,” I pleaded, moving to stand by Kale’s side, “what you saw … it’s not what you think. You know what I want—”
“Do I? Because I’m pretty sure you made what you want perfectly clear just now, Skylla. And in case you forgot, we’re standing in Central Control, on enemy grounds, and any second, Invaders will swarm this place and none of it will matter anyway, because we’ll all be dead. You honestly expect me to follow you two to this Capsule dock? We’re already in enough danger without adding explosives to the mix. Screw revenge. I’m done. It’s not worth getting killed over. Not when I just got Hera back. This place, this battle is too big for me. I’m done fighting.”
“We need your help, Jet. Listen, I know you don’t want to believe a word I say right now … but I’m telling you, we need you.” I reached for his hand. He flinched as if I’d slapped him across the face. “Please don’t leave.”
“Then come with us. Leave him here, and we’ll never come back.”
Light from the control panel flared, illuminating the room behind my shoulder. The light flickered and danced over my skin, and I could hear Kale scrambling with the controls, mumbling frantically. “The Shepherd dock is preparing for launch,” he said. “We have to go.”
I turned my attention back to Jet. “If you trust me with this one thing, I swear I won’t let you down. I’ll explain everything. Please.” As I squeezed Jet’s hand, small fingers suddenly squeezed mine, drawing my attention downward.
“Skylla?” Hera stared up at me with those mesmerizing brown pools. Her voice was just as beautiful. Her thin fingers hooked around mine, and the sight melted me. “Thank you for the bear.”
I smiled. “Your brother gave you the bear?”
She nodded, her sleek hair bouncing against her shoulders. “Said it was a present from you.”
“He did, did he?”
She nodded again, this time more enthusiastically.
Jet fidgeted, looking anywhere but at me.
“I know you’re a little old for it now, but…”
“No. I like it.”
“You’re a brave girl to have gone through what you did in that children’s camp, Hera. I know it’s a lot to ask of you and your brother to come with me and my friend. But we need your help. Do you think you can do that?”
“Can we help your friends, Jet?” she asked, pulling on his finger. “Please?”
Jet dropped to his knees, taking Hera’s face in his hands. “Listen, Sunshine. I know you want to help my friend. It was nice she found you the bear, but if we don’t get out of here right now, we might never make it out, do you understand? Mom and Dad would’ve wanted us to escape. I can’t put you in any more danger.”
“But I’m not afraid,” she pouted, her docile face twisting my heart. “Not anymore. Please. They’re scared now. I was scared, and you came to help me.”
Kale reappeared at my side. “I hate to break up this tea party, guys, but we’re outta time.”
Jet pushed a frustrated breath from his lips, eyes darting between Hera, me, and Kale. He adjusted his weapons and closed Hera’s hand in his own. “Fine.” His gaze landed on me. “We’ll help stop Rico and his men from blowing this underwater city to pieces, but after that, this is over, you got it?”
Kale rubbed his hands together, shooting me a look that said it wasn’t the right time to break the news to Jet that we were the two remaining Shepherds. I agreed.
“I mean it,” Jet seethed, taking Kale and shaking him by the shirt collar. “You’re not just dragging me into this now, you’re dragging my little sister into it. If something happens to her, her blood is on your hands, we clear?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s get on with it, then.” Jet roughly released him, then turned for the door.
THIRTEEN
Kale geared up, and we exited Central Control, finding the hallways barren leading to the lower Capsule dock. The echoes of our feet filled the long corridors; our breathing mixed and mingled with the shuffles and taps.
“Looks like we don’t even need the invincibility drugs,” I said, shifting my automatic from left to right as we passed by another intersection. “I think mine’s wearing off already, anyway.”
“Doesn’t that strike you as odd?” Jet asked, pulling Hera alongside. There was no confusion in his gaze now, only suspicion. I well knew of Jet’s perceptiveness. Something was definitely not right, and he sensed it. The thought taunted me, wondering what he would do when he found out the remaining piece of the puzzle. The longer Kale and I held off telling him who we really were, the more angry and betrayed Jet would feel. I couldn’t let this carry on, couldn’t trick Jet into helping us, only to tell him when it was all over. He’d never forgive me for that.
Kale led us down a steep stairwell. We were burying ourselves deeper and deeper into the ship. I grabbed Jet’s arm. “There’s something you should know. Before we get down there.”
“What is it?” His tone was cold. “You want to tell me you’ve changed your mind about us? You interested in Kale now?”
“Will you stop making this about him or you? It’s not about that.”
“Then tell me fast, Skylla. I can’t get the image of you two out of my mind—”
“Guys!” Kale’s voice plowed into us, and we jolted to a stop. Hera kept her hand in Jet’s, but other than being out of breath from our sprint, she didn
’t seem frightened. Seeing her so unafraid filled me with bravery to tell Jet the truth and face whatever consequences came of it.
Kale said, “The security screen’s frozen. We need to do this manually.”
“Is that even possible?” Jet shook the door’s round, silver handles.
“Only one way to find out.” Kale stopped messing with the screen and shoved us aside, aiming his weapon at the door. He unloaded on the handles and screen, blowing the latches to pieces. A musical alarm sounded through the hall as we stepped inside, its distorted melody surrounding us from every direction. It sounded as if it were drowning, being held down under water.
“You know where on the dock the explosives were planted?” I asked while we herded into the room. It was round, just like Central Control, only instead of a glass wall filled with pristine water and colorful fish, there were six oval Capsules stationed next to one another, lined up around a breathtaking stone table. A majestic statue was placed in the middle, an ancient-looking fountain of some sort.
Kale bypassed the table and dashed to the Capsules, peeking through the transparent lids to search for the Shepherds. He stopped in front of the sixth. It was wide open and waiting. “Yeah, they’re underneath the table there, taped beneath the fountain statue.”
“Stay with me,” Jet said to Hera, ushering her closer to his side. “Don’t let go of me whatever you do, you understand, Sunshine?”
“Yes.”
Jet ducked beneath the table and plucked his knife from his belt. Hera squeezed under the table with him, keeping one hand on his thigh while he spread out on his back to go to work on the bombs. “How long until the other Shepherds get here? By the sound of that alarm, we don’t have long.”
“Any second now,” Kale answered, waving me over to meet him near the Shepherd Capsules. I eyed Jet as he continued to tinker with the wires beneath the table, then moved to join Kale, bringing my attention to the Capsule vehicles. The glass tops showcased five human beings, three women and two men of various ages, resting peacefully inside. Their eyes were closed and arms crossed gently over their chests, as if lying in coffins.