“I was sticking up for you.”
“I don’t need anyone sticking up for me. Lochie is my boyfriend, he already thinks I’m cheating on him. I don’t need you making it even worse.” I tried to keep my voice level but it was wavering with anger.
“Yeah, well, I think he’s a tool.” He continued to rifle around in the cupboards, it was only aggravating me even further.
“It doesn’t matter what you think,” I shot back. “You made it quite clear that you don’t want me. So it’s none of your concern about who does actually want to be with me.”
Garrick slammed the cupboard door closed. “So that’s what this is about? Because I kissed you?”
“I’m pretty sure that’s what you made it about.”
“I told you it was a joke.”
“You say a lot of things you don’t mean.” I tried to calm myself down but it wasn’t working. My hands still shook from the fist fight and my heart pounded in my chest. It was taking every bit of my resolve to stand there. “Things to hide how you really feel.”
“Like what?” He looked at me skeptically.
If he wanted to challenge me, then I would accept it. “When were you going to tell me about your parents leaving the project? Huh? You said you wanted to keep them out of it, but they were already out of it.”
Garrick’s face looked like he had been slapped. I instantly regretted bringing up his parents. I had stepped over the line but I wasn’t going to back down. It was about time Garrick started being honest with me. God knows I only told him the truth about everything.
When he next spoke, his voice was cold. “You had no right reading my file.”
“I didn’t mean to, I was going through all the documents and I found it accidently.”
“You should have stopped when you saw my name.”
I wasn’t going to let him blame me for everything. He was the one that just had a fistfight with my boyfriend. He wasn’t the angel here. “You should have told me about it. How can we fight the Department together when you’re keeping things from me? What else haven’t you told me?”
Garrick turned his eyes to the floor, staring at something intently, like it was the most important thing in the world. I took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down. Once those floodgates opened, it was difficult pulling them back in again.
“I’ve been honest with you about everything else,” Garrick finally replied, his anger now under control. In its place was sadness. “I didn’t know how to tell you about my parents. I wanted to, but I just didn’t know how.”
“I’ve told you everything.”
“I know, I’m sorry.”
“You beat up my boyfriend, you almost told him what we were, you made me feel like an idiot when you kissed me. I don’t think sorry is going to cut it.”
I couldn’t be in the tiny trailer any longer. The walls were closing in on me, sucking the air right from my lungs. I picked up the car keys and left. Garrick never tried to stop me, he just stood like a stone in front of the cupboards.
I took the VW across town, trying to concentrate on the road instead of getting lost in my head. Some time away from Garrick would be good for both of us, the pressure was clearly getting to us.
At noon I was supposed to be meeting my parents to say my final goodbyes to them. I drove there even though it was still an hour away. The extra time would give me a chance to calm down.
CHAPTER 21
“You look skinny, are you eating right?” Mom asked, her eyes searching all over me.
“Mom, seriously, I’m fine. I’ve just been a bit stressed. I’m sure you can understand that,” I replied, smiling to reassure her I was okay. We were standing on our picnic spot, trying to convince each other everything was normal.
The strain was starting to show on their faces too. My father looked like he had aged five years since I saw him only a week ago. They clearly weren’t just going about their lives like nothing was wrong.
“I’m more concerned about you two,” I said. “Have you heard any more from the Department?”
Dad nodded. “They are putting some pressure on us. They think you should have made contact with us by now so we must be hiding it. What are you going to do, Amery?”
“We’ve got some stuff in the works, it won’t be long before something happens. They haven’t told you anything about the project?” I was trying to determine if they knew about the meeting on the seventh. From what I had gathered so far, I didn’t think so. Which meant the Department wasn’t telling anyone. A secret meeting was not a good sign.
“The project is still on hold,” Mom replied. “As far as we know, the other members are still in the complex. Everything is in a holding pattern. They think we should be reassigned to another project.”
“Are you going to agree?”
They both shook their heads, making my heart stop racing. If they had said yes, I didn’t know what I would do. I couldn’t imagine what Garrick was going through.
“Maybe you should come home,” Dad sighed. “We can sort everything out with the Department. They might listen to us, they might even let you stay with us if we promise your safety. We worry so much about you.”
“Something’s going to happen soon,” I started. “It’s going to either fix everything or it will be all over. Either way, the Department will have to make a decision on the project.”
They each grew even more concerned. Mom gripped my hand. “What is it? Can we help in any way?”
“I have to keep you out of it, I can’t tell you. I’m sorry.”
“Amery, you don’t need to be the hero,” Dad said kindly. “You can just be our little girl and we’ll love you just as much. Let us be the adults here.”
I shook my head. “It’s not about just me, Dad. It’s about Trucon and all the people on it. I know it’s hard to understand, but I owe them. They are a part of me just as much as you two are.”
“They can work out their problems, you’re our daughter. I don’t want you getting hurt.” The concern in their eyes pained me so much. I hated what I was doing to them.
“I don’t plan on getting hurt. I plan on winning this.”
Dad suddenly wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a bear hug. My mom’s arms followed suit. We had a group hug for the longest time. I didn’t care how long we stood there, it would never be long enough for my liking.
We eventually had to say goodbye when it started to get dark. We had spent close to five hours there together, just talking and reminiscing. They didn’t ask me what was coming again, they knew the reason why I couldn’t tell them. There were some advantages to growing up with the Department’s gaze always watching.
“Please stay safe, Amery,” Mom begged. “We couldn’t bear to lose you. You are our family.”
“I promise I’m going to try to do everything I can,” I replied earnestly. “I love you both so much.”
We had another group hug as they walked me back to my car. Dad’s eyes were glassy as he choked back tears. “Do you need any more money? Is your car going okay? These bullet holes, were they always there?”
“It’s good Dad, everything is fine.” I completely glossed over the whole bullet issue, hoping he wouldn’t notice the missing mirror too.
“Good. It’s important to have a stable vehicle.” If only he knew what a piece of dirt the car was.
I gave them another hug before leaving. I had to go before the tears started, both my own and theirs. They waved at me the entire time it took to drive out of sight. I returned to town as twilight set in and long shadows crossed my path.
The thought of it possibly being the last time I would ever see my parents started the tears in earnest. They deserved a real daughter, not an alien pretending to be a human. I wished they could have had a family that didn’t consist of just me. Maybe Garrick’s parents had it right in adopting another child. At least they were still left with one.
I pulled the car over and parked, unable to see the road through my t
ears any longer. I rested my head on the steering wheel and let it all out. My crying soon turned into sobs.
One year ago, my life was so good. I was going to school, getting great grades, the entire student body was my friend, the teachers liked me, and my parents were strict but fair. I had everything I could have ever wanted, including a future.
I guess I was naïve for believing it would last that way forever. I thought the project was going to go for twenty-five years. It was restrictive, but it was saving the people of Trucon. I believed in the cause, doing everything I could to help.
Nothing had been the same since that day in the library with Lochie when men in suits started chasing us. They were members of the Originals but I didn’t know that then. I thought they’d be caught by the Department and then life would resume back to normal. I couldn’t believe how wrong I had been.
The thought only reminded me of Lochie and our argument. He probably hated me now too, along with Garrick. He had accused me of cheating on him, straight out asked me if I was hooking up with him. It hurt to think he would actually believe I could do something like that.
But what more could I expect? Lochie and I had spent our entire lives arguing with each other. I spent many hours thinking how much I loathed him. He might have declared his love for me, but he didn’t even know who I really was. I couldn’t truly believe him until he knew I was an alien. And I might never even get the chance to tell him.
Then there was Garrick. My only ally and we were at each other’s throats. I didn’t understand him well enough to know what his deal was. First he kissed me out the blue and then pretended it was a joke. He punched Lochie and thought nothing of it.
I was angry at myself for even getting upset about Lochie or Garrick. Come our meeting on the seventh, the entire world could be plunged into a war with Trucon. We were going to walk straight into the belly of the beast and probably never come out again. My guy problems then wouldn’t even matter anymore.
I considered driving until I ran out of gas, just heading down the road and never coming back. I could start somewhere new by myself, leave everything behind. I might even be able to make it out of the country before anyone knew I was gone.
It was tempting, but I knew I’d never be able to live with myself if I did. I had a responsibility here and couldn’t just run away from it. The harder road was to fight but it was something I had to do.
I wiped at my tears and blew my nose. Looking in the mirror, my eyes were red and swollen. Garrick would know for sure I was crying my eyes out. Considering we probably weren’t talking to each other again, he probably wouldn’t be game enough to say anything.
I headed back to the trailer. Garrick was slumped over Lochie’s laptop, flipping through all the Department documents. I couldn’t help but notice he had changed the background picture to the standard issue grey screen. Obviously the photo of Lochie and I had been too much for him.
I poured a bowl of cereal and ate it in silence for dinner. I had an early night, the silence deafening in the small space. I was glad to lie down and face the wall, letting my misery be my only company. I drifted off soon enough from nothing but sheer exhaustion.
I was plunged into a chaotic dream. My lungs were filled with smoke, the heat burning me from the inside out. I couldn’t breathe or see properly. All that surrounded me was smoke and four immovable walls.
In the background, someone was laughing at me. The male voice soon belonged to Agent Harrison, his amused face floating over me like a circus clown. He pointed at me cowering on the floor, repeatedly telling me I was going to die.
The cell walls pulled back, revealing everyone from the Department. Rob, Agent Scott, everyone I had ever come across on my visits to the building. They were waiting with ropes and handcuffs, ready to tie me down and gag me so I couldn’t scream. Not that I had the breath to anyway.
They started approaching as Agent Harrison held me down. His heavy body pressed on mine and squeezed me into oblivion. The noise was even worse, screams of other project members filtered through the roar of the fire. I could hear their despair and pain.
Agent Harrison pulled me to my feet and frog marched me through the long corridors. All the Agents followed as I was pushed through.
We stepped into the dining hall of the complex, except it wasn’t being used for dining anymore. A firing squad was on one side, the members on the other. I was pushed to the end of the line, taking my place amongst those condemned.
The firing squad started sending their bullets our way. The screams intensified to a deafening shriek as we all started falling, shot to death.
I woke up, sitting bolt upright in bed as my heart raced. Sweat poured down my face as I gasped for breath. Everything in the dream had seemed so real. I could feel the bullets as they tore through my stomach, I felt the ground as I hit it.
As much as I tried to tell myself it was just a dream, a part of me wondered if it really was. Perhaps I was just glimpsing my future. I knew from the Department documents they had called off the project. They would no doubt start killing off the project members as soon as they knew they could get away with it. Death by firing squad was as likely as any other method.
I couldn’t go back to sleep after that. I didn’t want to resume the dream where I had left it. I made myself some coffee, the first rays of sun just teasing over the horizon. I tried to be quiet so I didn’t wake Garrick. At least one of us seemed to be getting some peaceful sleep.
I flicked on the television and tried to shake the flashes of my dream. I remained there until Garrick stirred. He didn’t say a word to me, just headed for the shower blocks. I did the same, hoping a shower might make me feel better.
It didn’t. The impending meeting was never far from my mind and I doubted whether it ever would be again. We ate breakfast in the trailer in complete silence, the only sound chomping on the crunchy cereal.
I assumed I would have to be the adult. “We’re going to need some supplies before the meeting.” He gave me a grunt, I assumed it was an agreement. “We should get a fresh change of clothes to hide in the forest, it might help to throw off the dogs. We could hide some worn clothes too so they are led in a different direction.”
“They’re going to get us,” he finally said, a little more than grumpy.
“So you’re going to hand yourself over then? You’ll just put up your hands and surrender?” I stared him in the eyes, unblinking, and raised an eyebrow. If he was going to give up, then I wanted to hear him say it. Then I would know for sure I was in it alone.
He couldn’t stand my glare, he focused on his bowl. “We should get a knife to hide too. A sharp one.”
I think I won that particular challenge. When we had finished eating, we headed for the supermarket. Beside needing food, we stocked up on a new set of clothes and a knife each. I also bought a few spare burner cell phones, untraceable and disposable. The best investment was a flashlight each, making it easier to see the forest in the dark. As long as we reached our meeting point, we’d be well prepared.
Looking at our haul on the supermarket belt, it looked like an odd assortment of items. I hoped nobody would pay any attention, they might think we were survivalists or something. In a way, I guess we were. Except our apocalypse was unlike anything they anticipated. Unless they were expecting an alien war, anyway.
Next on our to-do list was to speak with Hayden. So much of our plan rested on his agreement. The moment we were back in the car and had some privacy around us, I dialed his number.
“Hey, Beckle21. You’re still alive, I take it?” Hayden’s voice was full of warmth and amusement. It was a really nice change.
“Yeah, barely,” I joked, kind of. “I was wondering if it was pushing it too much if I asked you for another favor? And before you answer, you should know it’s a big one.”
Much to Hayden’s credit, he didn’t hesitate before he replied. “Whatever you need.”
“It’s illegal.”
“I expected so.�
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A grin spread across my face at his good nature. Seriously, he was worth his weight in gold. “We’re going to a need a lift but I can’t say for sure when. The timing relies on when we will be able to escape from a federal facility.”
Hayden laughed. “I’m going to need to jot down the details, hold on while I grab a pen.”
I waited until he came back on the line and gave him the details, including the spot where we would emerge from the forest. I went through the plans after the pickup and the way we’d need to change vehicles a few times to try to throw off any tracking dogs. Hayden listened to it all, only interrupting if he needed something clarified.
For some reason, I trusted Hayden more than anyone else at that moment. His intent on finding the truth in the world was purer than any of our self preservation desires. I knew he would be waiting for us and I knew he wouldn’t let me down.
“Thank you so much for doing this,” I finished. “I don’t know if I can ever repay you for the help you’ve given us.”
“We’re all soldiers of the truth, Beckle21. We fight on.”
“We certainly do. I’ll see you soon.” I clicked off the line, noticing we were almost home. The trailer was only a slightly bigger metal box than the VW Bug.
We went inside just as the phone rang, I recognized the number as Kyle’s. “Hey, what’s up?”
“Are you with Garrick? I need to see you both.” He sounded worried. I sighed, not needing any more drama.
“We just got home. What is it?”
“Not over the phone. Can you come around?” Kyle asked urgently, a bee in his bonnet about something or other.
I saw something on the table that caught my eye, it was only a piece of paper but it wasn’t there when we left. I had tidied up myself, I knew it wasn’t something I’d missed.
“Amery?” Kyle said a little too loudly. “You still there?”
“Yeah, we’ll come right over. Give us ten minutes.” I hung up on him before he could argue. My attention was solely on the slip of paper. I picked it up. “Did you put this here?”
Project Integrate Series Boxed Set Page 38