Ill-Fated (Ill-Fated Series Book 1)

by S. C. McMurray

  Adam smiled. “Sounds like a plan.”

  Evelyn shifted in her seat. “Adam, you said that you read my file, did it mention anything about a Dr. Nicolai Larkin?”

  Adam crinkled his forehead in thought for a moment before answering, “No.”

  “He is the man who created me.”

  Adam looked at her strangely but the words even sounded strange to her as she said them.

  “Created you?” Adam asked.

  Evelyn nodded. “I’m a clone.”

  “Are you serious? Cloning is highly illegal, punishable by death.”

  “Yes. The cabin you raided on Lake Michigan belonged to him, the man who…made me. We were there to see him.”

  “What did he tell you?”

  “Not much actually. He was very old and very ill and you kind of interrupted everything.”

  “Then how do you know you are a clone?”

  Evelyn thought about the diary. It was probably nothing but ashes now, destroyed in the fires of the downed transport ship. “Do you remember that book you confiscated from me when you arrested me?”

  He nodded.

  “That was his journal. Dr. Larkin gave us a key to a deposit box in a bank in Detroit.”

  “Us?”

  “Me and my…” She saw Rillian’s face in her mind and felt an ache in her heart. “…friend.”

  “What did you and your friend discover?”

  “According to Dr. Larkin’s journal, he was working for the Party when he cloned me.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know.” She dropped her head. “But he wasn’t fond of his creation.”

  “Like Victor Frankenstein.”

  “Victor who?”

  “He is a character from a book. The book is named after him.”

  “Never heard of it, is it on the approved list?”

  “No.”

  “You read a banned book? First General Thatcher’s golden boy isn’t so golden after all.”

  “I don’t think he would mind.” Adam said. “I got it off his book shelf.”

  “Tell me about Victor Frankenstein.”

  “Well the book isn’t really about him its more about his monster.”

  Evelyn stomach flipped over. “Monster?”

  “The book was written in the 18th century so the science is kind of absurd, but Dr. Frankenstein wanted to create life so he made a man out of cadavers.”

  “Let me guess, he didn’t like his creation.”

  “Let’s just say that everything didn’t go has planned.”

  Evelyn thought about that for a moment. At what point did Dr. Larkin decide that his creation was a monster? Evelyn swallowed hard.

  “How does it end?”

  “Do you really want to know?”

  Evelyn nodded.

  “Dr. Frankenstein pays a very high price for his sins and the monster ends up in exile, vowing to destroy itself.”

  Evelyn exhaled and asked, “What if I told you that I was Frankenstein’s monster?”

  Adam thought about her question for a moment then reached out his hand and placed it on Evelyn’s. “I’d be fine with that. I always liked Frankenstein’s monster better anyway.”

  Evelyn smiled.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  “Are you sure this is a safe place to stop?”

  “There is nowhere safer.”

  “Is this a trap?”

  “If it was, would I tell you?” he answered. “You just have to trust me.”

  “I know, that’s the problem.”

  “Tell you what.” He pulled the keys from the ignition and tossed them to Evelyn. “If you even get an inkling that something is wrong, just run as fast as you can to the car. You can make a getaway and I will be electrocuted. Deal?”

  Evelyn nodded. “Deal.”

  Adam, who was excited, climbed out of the car. Evelyn followed suit and paused to watch a large iron gate close behind them. Before them was a short ribbon of pavement that led to a very large brick home that was nestled picturesquely at the bottom of a series of rolling green hills. There was a wooden fence that ran along the top of the highest ridge and a few horses feeding on the wavy grass.

  Evelyn stood for a moment in awe. “This place is beautiful.”

  “This place is the closest thing to being a home for me.” He gestured for her to follow. “Come on.”

  They hurried up the driveway to the house, Adam rang the doorbell and a few moments later an elderly man wearing a black tuxedo opened the door, his face shown with surprise.

  “Young Adam,” he said slowly, “I was not expecting to see you.”

  “I know.” Adam replied. “Is Arthur here?”

  “Yes, I will summon him for you.”

  The old man turned but Adam stopped him with a gentle hand on the shoulder. “Not before you give me a hug, Reg.”

  The old butler turned around and he and Adam embraced. “It’s good to see you, young Adam.”

  “You too.”

  A voice came from down the hall. “Who’s there, Reg?”

  Another old man appeared around the corner, leaning heavily on a cane. He was wearing silky red pajamas and was bald with a silver goatee. His face lit up when he saw Adam.

  “Adam, my boy!” He shouted as he limped down the hallway. “Are you alright? I’ve seen the news, did you escape?”

  “Umm.” Adam reached over and pulled Evelyn into the doorway where the old man could see her.

  The old man paused, his eyes narrowed on Evelyn. “What is going on?”

  “It’s a long story, Arthur, but we need your help.”

  Arthur looked at Evelyn then back to Adam, he exhaled slowly and then waved them in. “Come on, we’ll talk about it over some dinner.”

  They ate in a large dining room with a long mahogany table and they ate well. Reg, who wasn’t just a superb housekeeper but an excellent cook, whipped up a meal of shredded pork, mashed potatoes, corn and warm bread. Evelyn ate until she couldn’t eat anymore and she was thankful for the hospitality.

  Arthur didn’t eat, he just sat at the end of the table in an elegantly carved mahogany chair with his hands linked on the table in front of him, listening intently as Adam explained the situation. Arthur didn’t ask many questions and barely moved aside from bobbing his head every now and then.

  When Adam finished, Arthur leaned forward. “So, what my boy do you need my help with?”

  Adam looked nervously at Evelyn, took a breath and said, “I want to help Evelyn free her father and friends from Forsythe Prison.”

  “You want me to help you commit treason?”

  Adam swallowed. “Something like that.”

  “My noble Adam, what has changed in you?”

  “When I was in school, you always challenged me to look for the right in every situation.” He glanced over the table at Evelyn. “Let’s just say that I’m beginning to open my eyes.”

  Arthur tapped the table with his fingertips. “Why is helping her the right thing to do?”

  “It just is.” Arthur looked skeptical and Adam leaned forward in a pleading motion. “You also taught me to trust my instincts and my instincts are telling me to help this girl.”

  “You’re instincts are urging you to commit treason?”

  “What if helping her isn’t treason?”

  Arthur waved his hand, “Young Adam, would you help Reg in the kitchen? I would like to talk to her alone.”

  Adam nodded. “Yes,” he said, then exited the dining room through a thick swinging door.

  Arthur turned his attention to Evelyn, who suddenly felt like she was under the lights of an interrogation room.

  His eyes lingered on her for a long moment before he asked, “Evelyn, do you know who I am?”

  Evelyn answered uneasily, “Not really.”

  “My names is Arthur Grieves, former head teacher at the Unionist Party’s Leadership Academy. Do you know what that is?”

  Evelyn shook her head.

&nb
sp; “It’s where the best and brightest of our country’s youth are trained to be the future officers of our Armed Forces. It is extremely challenging and rigorous. Of all the minds that enter that academy, do you know what percentage actually completes the program?”

  Once again, Evelyn shook her head.

  “Less than five percent.” He glanced over his shoulder in the direction Adam went. “Not only did that young man graduate at the top of his class, he was the youngest student ever and he completed it faster than anyone.”

  “Why are you telling me this?” Evelyn asked.

  “I have known Adam since he was a young boy and I have never heard him speak this way. He was the finest student I’ve ever had, intelligent, resourceful and cunning. His future is bright, why would he risk everything to help you?”

  “He doesn’t have a choice. He’s my prisoner.”

  “Right.” Arthur chuckled. “Your prisoner.”

  “I know what you are insinuating. But, why do you care?”

  “Tell me something, Miss…”

  “Smoak. My last name is Smoak.”

  “Tell me something, Miss Smoak, do you recall the turmoil that brought the Great War upon us?”

  “Yes. Our teachers remind us on a daily basis.”

  “As they should, but a thirty something teacher doesn’t really know. It is one thing to watch footage or read about it, it is another to have lived it.” He paused. “I was young then, but I remember. The rights our country held so dear, tore us apart, divided us until the only common bond was patriotism. We are loyal to those we love but mostly to ourselves. A bond built by patriotism is so easily severed, especially when people are starving. Are people starving, now?”

  “Not like back then.”

  “Are people killing each other in the name of religion?” Evelyn didn’t answer and Arthur went on, “Are people squabbling over which politician to vote for? Do protests turn to riots? Are they jobless?”

  “You want me to answer no to all those questions and I can, but do their lives have meaning?” Evelyn paused, “You are right, the danger of another civil war is all but eliminated but they live in fear.”

  Arthur leaned back. “But they live.”

  Evelyn, growing exasperated with the conversation, pointed toward the kitchen. “What does this have to do with him?”

  Arthur glanced again over his shoulder. “That young man is the future of this nation, even if he doesn’t know it yet.”

  “What if he doesn’t want to be the future of this nation? Would you deny him the right to choose?”

  Arthur stared at her for a moment then smiled. “Miss Smoak, much of what I told you is bullshit.”

  Evelyn’s jaw dropped open.

  “Yes, my dear, you heard me correctly.”

  “Is this a joke?”

  “No.” Arthur answered with a straight face. “Much of what I told you is bullshit but not all of it. I was the head teacher at the Academy and Adam was my finest student, an extremely intelligent boy. I have never seen a student like him. You asked me if I would deny him the right to choose his path,” He spread a palm over his chest. “I would not, but a retired headmaster has little say in the affairs of the Party.”

  “What are you suggesting?”

  “Tell me something, Miss Smoak, have you taken the test yet?”

  “The aptitude test?” Evelyn shook her head. “No, it was still a few months away when all of this began.”

  “Have you given any thought to what it might have determined?”

  “No. I was dreading it actually.”

  “What if you had taken the test and it had determined that you should be a surgeon, would you have been happy?”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I have no choice.”

  “Precisely. None of us, even the son of a senator, have a choice.” He leaned to his side and retrieved his cane, then cumbersomely climbed to his feet. “We don’t have a choice, Miss Smoak, but we have purpose.”

  The door to the kitchen swung open and Adam emerged. “Is everything alright?” he asked.

  Arthur smiled. “Yes. Yes. Yes.”

  “Are you going to help us?”

  “We will talk about that tomorrow. Let us rest tonight.”

  Adam pursed his mouth and nodded, the old teacher hobbled down the hallway and out of sight.

  A loud gong sound rang out from somewhere in the house, followed by eight chimes. Adam counted them on his fingers, and then turned to Evelyn. “It’s almost time.”

  “For what?”

  He reached out his hand. “Come on, I’ll show you.”

  Evelyn took the hand he offered and he nearly pulled her out of her seat. Hand in hand he led her through the winding hallways of the house to large patio doors. He pulled a brass handle and opened one. “After you.”

  Evelyn stepped outside onto a large porch supported by rows of columns. Adam followed behind her, took her hand again and led her to the end of the porch, where a leather saddle was slung over a thick beam of wood. Adam stopped there, placed two fingers in his mouth and let out a loud whistle. A moment later, a large black horse was trotting toward them from the ridge.

  “What are you doing?” Evelyn asked.

  “What do you think?”

  Evelyn was apprehensive. “I’ve never ridden a horse before.”

  The first and only time she’d seen a horse in person was at the last Unification Day parade back home in Cincinnati. There’d been two of them pulling the buggy that carried the amiable Desmod Darias, Satrap of Satrapy 11. He’d waved to the crowd and Evelyn had waved back, but she couldn’t see herself doing that now, not after what the Party had done to her.

  “Don’t worry,” he said with a smirk, “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  Evelyn rolled her eyes. “I feel so much better.”

  The stallion trotted to a stop right in front of Adam and wasted no time in nudging him with his snout. Adam returned the favor by stroking the beast’s mane.

  “Evelyn, meet Traveler.”

  Evelyn looked into the horse’s large dark eyes. There was something warm about them. Evelyn slowly reached out her hand. She looked at Adam. “Can I?”

  “Go ahead. Traveler loves attention.” Adam rubbed Traveler’s snout. “Don’t you boy?”

  Evelyn slowly placed her palm on Traveler’s snout and caressed him gently.

  Adam lifted the leather saddle off the beam of wood. “Don’t be afraid Evelyn, he’s not going to break.”

  Evelyn pressed harder as she ran her hand up and down against his snout and Traveler in turn, plodded in place with appreciation.

  “He likes you.” Adam said as he slung the saddle over Traveler’s broad back. “Here,” Adam reached into the side of the saddle and pulled out a few sugar cubes. “Give him these, he will love you forever.”

  Evelyn took the cubes and offered them to Traveler hand open as Adam showed her. The horse took a long sniff before licking them right off Evelyn’s palm, tickling her in the process.

  Adam slipped the bit into the horse’s mouth and bridle over its head, then stroked the animal’s mane once again. “You’re a sucker for sugar, aren’t you boy?”

  Traveler responded in his own way and Evelyn could see the strong connection the two of them shared. Adam gave Traveler one last pat on the head then slipped a foot into one of the stirrups and climbed onto the saddle. He reached a hand for Evelyn. She took a step back.

  “Come on, we’re running out of time.”

  Traveler glanced back at them anxiously. Evelyn took a deep breath then reluctantly grabbed hold of Adam’s hand. He helped her on the saddle then took hold of the reigns. “Hold on to me.”

  Evelyn paused for a moment then slowly wrapped her arms around his torso. Adam jostled the reins and Traveler moved forward. That was the closest Evelyn had been to a man that wasn’t her father. She was expecting it to feel awkward, but strangely, holding onto Adam fe
lt natural and for a moment, she forgot the real nature of their relationship. She wanted to squeeze him tighter.

  They trotted up and over the ridge, where Adam tugged on the reins, easing Traveler to a halt. The view was remarkable. The setting sun falling behind a series of mountain peaks was like an ember glowing between an army of rigid stone soldiers. The ground was lush and green and just so alive, with a mirror-like stream gently winding through the grass. The sky above was orange and red and purple all at the same time.

  “Is this it?” Evelyn asked.

  “Are you disappointed?”

  Evelyn shook her head vehemently. “No, this…is beautiful.”

  Adam opened his arms wide. “This is my home.”

  “You are a senator’s son, you didn’t live in the capital with the others?”

  “Technically, my address is in the capital, but this is my home.” He slipped his feet out of the stirrups and hopped off. Evelyn joined him before he could even ask for her to follow. They walked together to the thick base of a nearby shade tree, while Traveler munched on some grass. “Do you ever climb trees?”

  “There aren’t a lot of trees in the cities anymore, but what kid hasn’t climbed at least one tree in her life?”

  “Come on then.”

  Evelyn bowed. “After you.”

  Adam smiled, then quickly climbed the tree. He wedged himself comfortably between two branches about ten feet off the ground then patted the spot next to him.

  “Room for one more.”

  Evelyn nodded then climbed up. She took a seat on a nearby branch. The two of them were still for a moment. Evelyn thought about the many dreams she’d had in the past, the meadow, the pond, him. She wondered if he was thinking about her.

  Adam closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He exhaled slowly. “Before I entered the Service, I would spend my summers here on Arthur’s ranch, and most of that time I was up here with Traveler.”

  “Traveler is a good horse.” Evelyn said as if she knew the difference between a good and bad horse.

  “He is more than that, he is my best friend…my only friend, really. Sad isn’t it?”

  Evelyn shrugged, she didn’t know what to say.

  “It isn’t easy making friends when you are younger than everybody and you are the Academy’s golden boy.” He paused. “But, when I’m up here, that doesn’t matter.” His gaze grew solemn and pensive. “Up here, there are no expectations, no pressure. I’m not a Senator’s son or the Godson of the First General. I’m just a man, like any other in this land.”