We’re making our way up the road, towards our house, when I spot the flashing lights. Rounding the corner we see two rovercraft parked outside our house and several Rangers standing guard. We lock hands even more tightly as we continue walking. One of the back doors swings open and a familiar face appears.
It’s Zolt Rada.
“Get in,” he says.
CHAPTER 22
He won’t permit me to speak with Lily. I know she must be going out of her mind with worry, but making a scene and being forcefully restrained would only add to her anxiety, so I get in without uttering another word.
We pull up outside the Velo station and are escorted inside. Once onboard the government shuttle, Cal sits protectively beside me and clasps my hand tightly in his. Zolt doesn’t speak to us throughout the journey; you could cut the tension with a knife.
The trip to Militia is fast and it’s not long before the outline of the NSAF building appears in front of us.
***
I’m surprised when we’re both led into the same room and ordered to wait, I presumed they would separate us for the interrogation. We take seats on one side of a large table and wait silently, neither one of us is under any illusion; we know that our every word is being recorded. A few moments later Zolt enters the room and sits down in the chair opposite us.
He stares at both of us, wordlessly, one at a time. While I know it’s a deliberate attempt to disconcert me, I can’t stop myself from silently freaking out. I try to hold my composure, so that at least outwardly I don’t look ruffled. But I’m really scared and literally quaking on the inside. “Well, well, what to do with the two of you,” he finally says, as he taps his index finger slowly on the table. It’s more of a statement than a question, so neither one of us responds. “On paper this looks like a perfect match, two children from military families, attractive, intelligent, devoted Cadets, popular within the community, what better couple could we find for the first ‘Amor Regale’? A perfect example to be used in successive years, to help us lead our society into the next generation?” he asks rhetorically. We both wait anxiously for him to get to the point. “And it would be perfect if this couple could be trusted,” he says emphasizing the last word. “But you aren’t trustworthy,” he says as he glares at both of us menacingly. I don’t know where I find the courage to speak.
“Who says we can’t be trusted?” I ask bravely.
“I do, and the president.”
“But he’s never met us,” I say.
“He knows all about you. Tell me, when exactly did you both decide to hijack the pageant?” he asks.
“What?” I ask, stupified.
“We didn’t,” Cal says honestly.
“This meeting will be more productive if you volunteer the information rather than forcing us to extract it,” he says bluntly. It’s clear this isn’t an empty threat.
“I don’t know what you think you know, but you’re mistaken,” I say calmly, although I’m anything but underneath.
“When did you discover your father’s involvement in the resistance movement?” he asks, staring directly at me.
“What? What do you mean,” I try to sound indignant. I notice Cal knotting and unknotting his hands under the table.
“Let’s re-phrase, when did your father request your help?” he says sharply.
“Help with what? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say innocently. I pray that my acting skills are measuring up.
“Fine, have it your way,” he barks. He abruptly gets up and leaves the room. Cal and I trade wary looks.
The door re-opens almost immediately and a man and woman in white medical uniforms enter the room. They tell us both to hold out our arm and they inject the truth serum - at least that’s what I suspect it is. It doesn’t take long for me to feel it working, a hazy fog is gradually spreading over my body and my head feels fuzzy and unclear. But then I feel myself emerging from the fog as if an invisible wall is shielding me from it’s worst effects. I still feel a little groggy but fully in control. The anti-truth serum works! I think deliriously.
I’m taken out of the room first, and brought down a long corridor to another smaller room. Zolt Rada is already there, standing beside a huge white-board and an elongated chair, with wide arms either side. He motions for me to sit down and I comply. My arms are instantly encased in electronic cuffs, locked securely to the arms of the chair, and I hear a gentle whirring sound. As I look up I spot a square scanning device as it steadily lowers towards me. Zolt tugs it down securely over my head. Thank God I’m not claustrophobic, I think. It rests just below my forehead; so I can see him as he presses various buttons on the side of the device. “Keep very still,” he demands. A digital image of (what I can only presume is) my brain is projected in front of the board.
Zolt sits down on a low stool, eye level with me. He fires a rapid, succession of questions at me, mostly about my father and his planned contribution to the resistance movement. I think carefully before I answer so I don’t slip up. His gaze alternates between me and the screen. Finally, he asks, “Where is the information your father stole?” When I reply that I don’t know, Zolt slams his fist against the wall and then promptly storms out of the room. I don’t know how long they leave me there but by the time the man returns to release me I feel fully restored to normal.
I’m brought back to the earlier room and I’m relieved to see Cal. “Are you OK?” he asks in a hushed voice.
“Yes, are you?” He nods. “What did they ask you?” I enquire.
“I can’t fully recall, my head was so groggy, but they asked what I knew of the resistance movement on Earth and something about stolen information,” he says slowly.
“Same as me then,” I say. I want to hang my head in shame, it feels so wrong to be keeping so much from him. But, if I’d told him they’d now know the location of the information. It was the last thing that my father entrusted to me, I’m determined to see it through. Whatever the information is, it’s of huge importance, that much is totally obvious. I resolve to keep its location secret until I’ve found someone that I can safely confide in.
Zolt Rada re-enters the room, he’s clearly in a foul mood. “We know they have a plan in mind for you so we’ll make it nice and simple. For some reason, which I cannot fathom, the public is enamoured with you two. As much as I might like to order your extermination, the public would demand an answer. That would only play into the rebel hands; instead we’ll play it our way,” he says as a slow smirk spreads across his face.
“You’ll do as you’re told,” he says in a threatening tone. “You will represent Aqua in the ‘Amor Regale’ and be crowned the first Novo Silentium Couple. You will act as the strongest supporter of our regime and make public appearances at the request of the authorities, anything less than total cooperation will be viewed as an act of treachery.”
“And if we refuse to cooperate?” Cal asks.
“Then you’ll endanger the lives of those you love.” I have no hesitation in believing him. “Now get out of my sight,” he says, as two Rangers appear to escort us off the premises. We are transported directly back to the house.
Once safely inside, the terror I’ve been fighting makes a break for escape, but Lily appears at the top of the stairs before I can let it overpower me. She runs down and flings her arms around me. “Where were you? Why did they take you?” she cries out, sobbing hysterically.
“Lil, it’s OK. They just wanted to talk to us about the ‘Amor Regale’, it’s looking like we might be chosen. I thought you were asleep otherwise I'd have pinged you an IM. I’m sorry,” I say, hoping that my excuse stacks up.
“Really? That’s all they wanted?”
“Yes, really,” says Cal as he coolly locks eyes with me, “now time for bed, you’ve got school tomorrow” he says authoritatively. He kisses the top of her head as I take Lily by the hand and walk with her upstairs. I stroke her hair and face and hug her close, silently promising myself that I wil
l do whatever it takes to keep her safe. I stay until she falls asleep and then make my way downstairs to the living area, where Cal has turned on the fire.
He opens his arms for me and I gratefully sink into his warmth. “Ariana, do you know what’s going on?”
“No,” I say, even though it’s only partly true. I remind myself that to divulge the truth would only risk his safety, but I still feel completely lousy. I’m glad that I’m snuggled into his chest while we’re having this discussion, at least he cannot see the lie that’s surely written all over my face.
“It proves one thing,” he muses.
“What?”
“The resistance movement is real, and gaining momentum, something has the authorities very rattled.” I nod my head in agreement. “I just don’t get what this has to do with us?” he says as he looks at me purposefully. I suspect, that he perceives that I know more than I’m letting on; nevertheless he lets it go. I yawn uncontrollably and notice it’s 4 a.m. “Come on gorgeous, time for bed,” he says. I say goodnight to him outside my room and he kisses me lightly.
It takes three attempts to remove all the pins from my hair and I wipe my make-up off through very sleepy eyes, I hope it won’t take me long to get some shut eye tonight.
Zane is staring fixedly at me and there’s no masking the look of fear in his eyes. “Ari, if you can hear me, please heed my warning. Don’t trust Cal. I love you, be careful.”
I must have been crying out in my sleep as Cal comes crashing into the room, semi-conscious. “What’s wrong?” I can’t speak through a combination of sadness, uncertainty and confusion. I can’t make sense of any of this! I think, as I start to sob. He cradles me in his arms and I pull him into the bed with me, I don’t know what my head thinks anymore but I know that my body still craves his. We fall asleep locked in our embrace.
I wake as the alarm blares, signalling the start of another day. “Are you awake sleepy head?” he whispers as he tousles my hair, I’m sure it’s in a million knots and standing out all over the place.
“Uh huh,” I mumble and I feel him laughing quietly beside me.
“What about a run? We have time,” he says and I’m immediately alert.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I need,” I say as I move to get up out of bed.
“Not so fast.”
He’s too quick, he pulls me down for a kiss and I immerse myself in him. In seconds, we’re cocooned closely and I feel his hands all over me, pulling me even more tightly to him. My hands are roaming his body feeling the hardness of his muscles, the smoothness of his skin and I know how much he wants me. Zane’s warning instantly pervades my thoughts and I push Cal gently away, I’m awash with conflicting emotions. I raise my arm over my face and try to steady my breathing. Neither of us speaks until he says, “I need a cold shower.” I burst out laughing spontaneously, it helps to break the tension.
***
We are both locked in our own thoughts as we run around the track. We make companionable running partners as we jog together at a consistent pace. I try to sort out the mess that is my head. First my dad; now Zane. Why don’t they trust Cal? What am I missing here? Surely if he knew anything it would have come out with the truth serum? Or did it? I don’t think so, Zolt was totally mad, his emotions were not that of someone who had gotten his way. Is it inconceivable to suspect that Cal is keeping something from me, when I’m hiding something from him? I’m concealing it to keep him safe, so it’s possible that he’s doing the same? Or is he in cahoots with the authorities and this is all an act? The last sentiment causes a chest pain so severe that I have to stop to take a breath.
“Can’t hack the pace gorgeous?” he teases. I look up into his sparkling blue eyes and I can’t believe that he’s deceiving me, I refuse to accept it! If I choose to believe he can’t be trusted, then where does that leave me? Alone. And I know I can’t go on alone. Besides he’s going to be my husband, whether Zane trusts him or not. Cal looks at me with total concern. “I wish you would tell me,” he whispers in my ear. He knows I’m keeping things from him. I need to give him something to demonstrate that I can be trusted.
“I can’t tell you all I know, it’s not safe, you have to trust me on that,” I whisper carefully. “I’ve received some messages from Zane, he says he’s coming to rescue me.” His eyes widen in surprise.
“How?” he whispers, his warm breath tickling my ear.
“He spoke directly to me in my dreams,” I whisper back.
“When?” I shake my head. He understands that I don’t know and that this conversation must come to an end, we’ve risked far too much as it is.
“Race you to the finish line,” I dare him as I spring up and sprint quickly away. He has incredible pace so it doesn’t take him long to catch up and outrun me.
***
“Cal, when did you realize you had feelings for me?” I ask him as we walk back to the house.
“About a year ago,” he says, startling me.
“Really?” I ask in amazement.
“Why is that so hard to believe?”
“How come I never noticed?”
“Because love is blind,” he mocks.
“Hilarious—seriously, why didn’t you ask me out?” I demand.
“I would have if I could’ve ever gotten close to you, but every time I came near you, you ... shot me down instantly! Most times I only managed to get a few words in before you brushed me off or stomped away, it was infuriating,” he says in clear annoyance. “I’m not used to having to try so hard, it made me determined to win you over,” he continues as his thumb caresses my palm. I don’t know how I was so oblivious.
“I’m glad you did,” I say shyly. He stops and kisses me, right there in the middle of the street. My body reacts as if on auto-pilot. This time he breaks away. “This is really getting out of hand,” I say in agitation as I attempt to run my fingers through the bird’s nest in my hair.
“I desperately want to be with you,” he says. The look he gives me causes an intense burn to rage all over my body.
“I think I’m the one that needs the cold shower now,” I joke as I take off running down the road.
Deacon is coming out of the house as we reach the front door. “Have a good day little muffin,” I say and I kiss the top of his head as he passes.
“Ari! stop, all my friends are watching,” he says unhappily as he points to the many faces pressed tight to the glass windows on the bus.
“Since when did you become too big for kisses?” I ask.
“Eh, since forever,” he tells me sarcastically as he moves past me and hops on. I resist the inclination to wave, I’m not sure if that’s forbidden now as well. I laugh even though I feel sad, the baby of the family is growing up far too quickly for my liking.
Lily has breakfast ready when I come down from my shower; it took four lots of shampoo to untangle the mess in my hair but now it’s glossy and smooth, falling seductively down my back. I decided it was time to start making an effort with my appearance again, so I’m wearing tight black jeans with a light black shimmery off the shoulder jumper and pink cami underneath. Cal looks me over appreciatively before pulling me to him.
“Knock it off you two, you’re turning me off my food,” Lily says in between mouthfuls. Suitably rebuked, I take a stool beside Cal and make quick work of my pancakes.
“Lily, I can’t remember what you said before about your trip to the lab, what was it like?” I ask innocuously.
“Awesome,” she says. It’s unusual to have to pry information from her: I usually have to interrupt her incessant chatter. She’s shy in front of Cal, I think. I try another tack.
“What did you learn?”
“The facility is massive and they have several teams working on diverse aspects of research and development, they said the potential within the Vita is huge and they’re already in test phase on some of their latest initiatives,” she responds enthusiastically.
“Did you see any NSAF personnel when y
ou were there?” I ask.
“Yeah, there was a team of technicians working with military personnel and technologists in a special room off to the side, though they wouldn’t tell us anything about the work they’re doing. When I asked they said it was top secret!” she says giddily.
“What exactly did they say, can you remember?” Cal enquires.
“That the team was focused on advanced Vita technology to support military strategy or something like that,” she says, somewhat unsure of herself.
“Wow, that does sound awesome,” I say as I smile at her. We don’t risk probing further.
Cal is uncharacteristically quiet on the walk to the Academy, I look at him questioningly. He stares at me pensively for a while and I wonder what’s going through his head. “Strata this evening,” he suddenly whispers in my ear. The idea perturbs me so I shake my head. “I need answers,” he whispers harshly in my ear as his face registers both pain and anger in equal measures.
“OK, but we go when everyone is asleep,” I whisper back and he nods.
Suddenly I hear rushed footsteps behind us and turn to see a Ranger approaching from the rear. “Move,” he says as he pushes the butt of his gun in Cal’s back. Is this the result of all the hushed conversations and forbidden contact? I sigh as I think about how unbearable life is going to be, constantly under such microscopic scrutiny; the thought is depressing. The Ranger leads us both around the side of the Academy building and stops under an enclosed alcove.
True Calling Page 24