by SF Benson
“Dr. Aoki questioned you again?” Holden’s frosty voice interrupts my thoughts.
My body is rigid with tension. I’d prefer not talking, especially to him. I merely nod my head and lean forward, resting my arms on my thighs.
I can feel my heart beating so fast I feel faint, breathless. Thankfully, the officer didn’t stop Asher. If that was Asher… of course it was Asher. Otherwise, Holden wouldn’t have shown me the video.
My captor is a twisted oppressor. He probably gets off on causing mental anguish. Even now, he won’t let me be. I can feel his eyes on my back, burning a path to my soul.
Letting him win is the easy way out, but I must stay strong. What sacrifice will I make to escape this godforsaken place? The thought sends shivers through me, cutting off my breathing.
“I need some air,” I gasp. Every fiber in my body quivers uncontrollably. I recognize the signs. Now is not the time for a panic attack.
“Sorry, love.” He plays with a lock of my hair. “It’s not going to happen.”
The music races along with my pulse. The room spins. My voice cracks. “Please.”
His hand rests on my back. An exasperated sound comes from him. “Let’s go.”
A cold breeze grazes my face. It’s welcoming. Refreshing. I zip the parka Holden gave me. Breathe.
This discarded place, under a blanket of snow, in the middle of nowhere, is depressing and beautiful. A perfect dichotomy. Time has ravaged the brick buildings, leaving the carcasses of fighter jets, but God laid His finger on the place and turned it into a pristine canvas unmarred by living things. The cold wind whistles through the endless line of pine trees and whips the AR flag in the yard. Freedom and captivity.
Holden threads his fingers with mine and tucks my hand into his side. On impulse, I jerk, but he won’t let go. The gesture is too intimate, although I do appreciate the warmth of his hand.
He kicks at the ground with the toe of his boot. “Better now?”
“I’m fine,” I say quietly.
“Do you have those often?” The hint of concern catches me off guard.
“No,” I say. I’d never had them before all this shit happened in my life. Now they’re an infrequent disturbance. “I think I just needed to get out. Breathe some chemical-free air.”
Holden chuckles. “I know what you mean. The sterile air can be crushing sometimes. You don’t mind this Arctic blast?”
“No, it’s peaceful. I love this time of year. Do you get to come out here much?” I glance up at him.
“Why would I?” He wrinkles his nose. “There’s nothing to look at. Nothing to do. I prefer springtime. It’s warmer.”
“Then, why are you here?” Nice. Maybe he’ll be honest and tell me why he stays in a place forgotten by those who care.
“Fulfilling my obligations, love,” he complains and pats my hand. “When you work for the New Order, you’re expected to do your part.”
And there it is, the blatant reminder the New Order is always the source of our suffering. I take my hand back. “Just what is your part?”
Holden stops walking. The corners of his eyes crinkle. “Ah, there she is, my clever girl. I can see why Aoki fell for you.”
“What?” I implore. The first beads of sweat drip down my back.
A smile tugs at his lips. “It’s easy talking with you. I’m relaxed, and you take expert advantage of it.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” His words baffle me.
“Oh, but you do.” Holden runs his soft gloved hand over my cheek. “Did you think I wouldn’t realize what you were up to when you sent me for an antiquated iPod?”
I bite my bottom lip. Just play it off. “What do you mean?”
“Too late to play dumb, but I’ll humor you. You wanted to figure out where you were so, you sent me for the device.” His hand snakes its way through my hair and then roughly grips my neck. “You calculated the distance and how long it would take round trip. Good work for a Creative.”
Worry courses its way through me. Holden has me at a disadvantage. I didn’t consider he might uncover my little scheme. All I can do is stare into the distance, gulping down breaths.
“If you knew I was up to something,” I hesitate, “why did you do it? You could have refused.”
“To make you happy.” He fondles my neck. “If you’re happy, you won’t try to leave me. No matter what you think about me, Tru, I do care about you. I want to protect you. Trying to escape will get you killed.”
My skin crawls, and a bitter taste settles in the back of my throat. Holden’s unrelenting stare exposes me for all the world to see. I avert my eyes and take in the barren landscape, the perimeter of my paltry prison.
“I should thank you.” His hand sinks into his coat pocket. My eyes widen when I spot what’s in his hands. The notebook. It’s how I learned about the library of the truth and my being the key to a secret.
Holden slowly turns the pages. “Your little request helped me find something we’ve been trying to locate.”
Any semblance of kindness on his part… erased.
“That’s mine,” I stutter.
He raises an eyebrow and tilts his head. “Let’s call it payment for services rendered.”
“It’s just a notebook. Nothing special.” The urge to snatch it from him makes my palms itch. Instead, I smile. Convincing him to return it on his own would be better.
“Ah my dear, that’s where you’re mistaken.” He taps it against his hand. “This little journal contains codes, data, and research. Things that went missing when your mother made the card.”
I turn away from Holden and examine my surroundings. My stomach quivers. Now, I have two tasks—regaining the notebook and breaking out of this prison. Just what lies beyond the front gates? A long, unyielding road? Icy lakes and snow-covered hills?
“Survey the area all you want.”
My skin tightens as he speaks the words against my ear.
“You won’t find a route to your independence. No hiding places. We’re quite a distance from the main road and civilization. If you think there’s someone coming to your rescue, you’re wrong.”
My spine stiffens. Did he overhear my conversation with the girl? Never let the enemy see you struggle. My brother’s words bounce in my head. I face him, lifting my chin and squaring my shoulders.
“Wherever you’re getting your information, it’s flawed. I appreciate that you brought me my things,” I say. “It should be obvious to you, though, I’m not going anywhere.”
He releases a deep, gratifying sigh and continues walking. “You’re an interesting girl, Tru. Even when caught, you’re still poised. But I know your secret.”
“I have no secrets,” I say, falling into step beside him.
“We all have secrets, my love.” His lips twitch. “And I know yours. You’re scared. For the first time in your life, you’re getting up close and personal with fear. Even now, you’re racking your brain trying to figure out how I know these things.”
“You’re wrong.” I keep the smile on my face. The butterflies in my gut move like tiny slayers, slicing my stomach with minuscule blades on their wings. “It’s so far from the truth.”
“My dear, you don’t lie well. Too bad you didn’t inherit the ability from your mother, bless her soul,” he says with reverence.
I grit my teeth. How dare he mention my mother? “You’re a hateful person, Holden Pratt.”
“Maybe,” he utters matter-of-factly.
“No. There’s no maybe about it. How can you live with yourself? You’re despicable,” I reply.
He laughs. “I never claimed to be an admirable man. Remember, I’m an employee of the AR.”
“Just say NO to the Alliance. NO to abusive government subsidies. NO to lowered academic standards. NO to lawlessness. NO to indoctrination. NO to classroom restrictions. NO to environmental disaster.”
—A message from the Educators for a Brighter Republic
Zared<
br />
Silence weighs upon us like ominous black clouds before a killer storm. No one’s said a word since the run-in with Griffin. I can’t shake the feeling we’re being followed. Every few miles, I check the side mirror. No silver truck. Doesn’t eliminate the dread churning in my stomach.
Asher pulls off the interstate and drives down a narrow road bound by waterfront properties on either side, leading to a turnoff for an old marina. He parks at the edge of the lot.
“What is this place?” I ask.
He reaches for Ko’s bag along with his own and replies, “Consider it a gateway to sanctuary for now.”
I shake my head and follow him to a red and white powerboat. The rusty, paint-chipped Crestliner’s seen better days. “Asher, this piece of shit doesn’t look safe.”
He removes the nozzle from a gas pump. “Don’t worry. Miss Charm still has plenty of miles to go before her retirement.”
“Miss Charm?”
Asher checks out the engine, and then powers it up. “It’s my grandfather’s boat. He named her for my grandmother. Pops said she charmed him, that’s why he married her. He said the same thing happened when he saw the boat. He had to buy it.”
As we pull onto Lake Muskoka’s Georgia Bay, I notice an elderly man tending to a docked boat. I hope to God he’s not paying attention to us.
Five minutes later, we’re trudging up a set of wood and gravel winding steps on Caisses Island. Asher unlocks the emerald wood and glass paneled door of a private cottage at the top of the hill.
The air is stuffy and stale. Old ceiling fans hang from the rafters. A thick layer of dust coats everything with a pale fuzz. Cobwebs lining the windows partially block the remaining sunlight.
Ko grimaces and asks, “Which way is the bathroom?”
“Down the hall. On the left.” He holds up a bag. “You need this?”
Her eyes darken with pain. “Not right now.”
“Asher?” My friend doesn’t hear me. He’s staring down the hall. I tap his shoulder. “Ash.”
“Huh?” he grumbles.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.” Asher runs his hands through his hair and clears his throat. “Make yourself at home. This is my grandparents’ place.”
I drop my bag next to an overstuffed, faded blue chair. “Okay. How long are we staying?”
“Overnight. We’ll get some rest, eat. I’ll contact Mark.” He looks down the hall. “I need to get some firewood. Can you check on Ko? I’ll be back.”
His long-legged strides have him out the back door in seconds. He’s hiding something.
I walk down the dark hall and find Ko lying on a bed. I knock on the open door. “Can I come in?”
She pushes herself up on her elbows. “Sure.”
I rest on the edge of the bed and ask, “Is the injury bothering you?”
“Just a little bit. Nothing to worry about,” she says in a low, pained voice.
My fingers curl, and I dig my nails into my palms. Ko wouldn’t be in pain if it weren’t for my father. “I’m sorry about what happened. You weren’t—”
“Not your fault, Zared.” Ko touches my arm. “You kept things from escalating. I owe my life to you.”
I drop my chin to my chest. May not have been my fault, but I still feel responsible.
“Zared, you did what you had to do. Don’t beat yourself up over it.” She lies back and snuggles beneath the floral comforter. “Getting shot is a chance we all take. At least I’m alive.”
What can I say? No problem. Happy to kill my dad for you. I pull at my collar. “If you’re sure you’re okay, I’ll go find Asher.”
“Go on. Wake me when it’s time to eat.”
I hurry down the rear stairs of the cabin and down a dirt path. The crisp air refreshes me. I kick at the twigs along the trail which ends at a fire pit.
Asher stands off to the side, chopping wood. Legs planted wide, breathing laboriously, and a bright red face scream something’s bothering him.
“Man, what are you doing?” I stop a foot short away from him. There’s a cord of wood already chopped.
“What does it look like?” he pants.
“I can see what you’re doing. Why are you doing it?”
“Need to blow off steam,” he says.
“About?” I ask.
Asher drops the ax. “Griffin.”
“Want to fill me in?”
He picks up the ax and continues taking his frustration out on innocent stumps. “Not really. It’s Riza shit. Ancient history.”
“Doesn’t feel like history.”
Asher stops before swinging, and thankfully, he lowers the ax to the ground. “Well, it is. Leave it at that.”
I hold my hands up. The man is like my brother. We both have shit in our pasts we don’t want to dredge up. Best to drop it unless I want to recount my own sins.
He blows out his cheeks. “You check on Ko?”
“Yeah. She’s resting.”
“Good.” Asher glances down at the ground. “I’m letting you know right now I’m making plans.”
“What type of plans?” I pick up the ax before he makes another move for it.
“After all this is said and done, I’m going back West. I’m not cut out for this life. Too damn cold. I’d rather be on the beach. Catch some waves.”
“Do me a favor and think before you do something.” I draw in my breath and then release it. “You can’t just walk away. Remember, you’re kind of AWOL.”
Asher smirks. “There’s no kind of to it, dude. I’m full out A-W-O-L. If I’m caught, I’ll be killed. Hey, maybe they’ll like, ship me off to North Woods instead. I could check on Tru for you.”
“Not funny, Ash,” I say flatly.
“I know, but don’t worry. I’ll figure out how to do it before I leave.”
I prop my butt against the cord of wood. “You contact Mark?”
“Yeah. He’s on his way to Sudbury. He’ll hang out till we get there.”
Great. Something to look forward to.
“Let’s get something to eat,” Asher says, walking up the trail.
“Dude, how much info did you share with Griffin and Leon?” Asher empties a couple of cans into a pot and places it on the stove.
The smell of noodles and tomato sauce hits my nose. Spaghetti again. I try not to grimace.
“Not much, but he knows about the Alliance.” I sit on a stool at the kitchen counter.
Asher continues stirring the spaghetti.
I place my elbows on the faux granite surface. “What’s your beef with Griffin?”
“I don’t have issues with him,” he says, turning off the stove. He serves up the food and passes me a plate. “It’s like I said earlier. Just some past unimportant shit. We should talk about you, my friend.”
I take a bite of the spaghetti. “About?”
“Weren’t you listening to me back on New Belle Isle? I told you about getting close to the target,” he says.
Nice way to ignore the real topic. “Tru was never the target.”
“The Alliance considered her one.” Asher reaches across the counter and slaps my shoulder. “You… we wouldn’t be in this mess if you hadn’t screwed up. You got involved with the target. You fell in love with the target. And now you’re making decisions based on rescuing the target. You should’ve listened, my friend.”
“Doesn’t matter, Ash. I love her. One day you’ll understand.”
His lopsided grin wavers. “Doubt it. Not a road I care to travel.”
Now I want to change the topic. “What’s the plan for getting to North Woods?”
“We meet up with Mark. He’s Special Ops now. Knows North Woods inside and out.” Asher fills the sink with water and dish soap.
I don’t give a shit about his status, but I’m not stupid. He’s probably a better choice than Griffin. Carter’s good at his job. Wait a second… the name. Gliese introduced herself as… “Asher? Is Mark any relation to Griffin?”
He tur
ns on the water. “What did you say?”
Yeah, right.
“The Alliance would have you believe the vaccine against Ebola is evil. The vaccine prevents another worldwide pandemic. Ask yourself—why does the Alliance feel the need to lie about the vaccine? What other lies are they telling you? Why should you believe anything the Alliance has to say? What’s their real motive? Don’t believe what you hear on the streets. Trust an expert from the Centers for Human Advancement.”
—An announcement from the Centers for Human Advancement
Tru
The trek back to Holden’s room is a silent one. I half-expected the mental torment to continue. Instead, he went to take care of some business, locking me in his room with plenty of questions and no answers. The man isn’t a mind reader, so how did he know all the information he spat in my face? Who told him?
The swirling flakes of snow outside the window catch my attention. I imagine building a snowman or having a snowball fight with Zared. A fun day—
Someone enters the room behind me. I whirl around. Taa, dressed in all black leather—jacket, pants, and high-heeled boots—stands behind me.
“How did you get in here?” I ask tightly.
She flashes a key card. “We need to talk,” she says in a hushed tone.
“No joke.” I glare at her. “Did you tell Holden anything I said earlier?”
Taa raises an eyebrow. “No. What happened?”
I recount the verbal exchange with Holden for her. “He’s under the belief Zared’s on his way here. The stream I saw earlier—”
“Was in Canada.” She perches on the arm of the sofa. A pained expression crosses her face.
Joy radiates through my chest. My hand flies to my mouth covering my smile. Zared’s coming for me. “You’re helping Holden?”
“No. My contacts are tracking Zared as well.” She folds her hands in her lap. “They’re feeding me info and trying to keep him safe.”
I bite my lip. “How?”
She waves her hand about her head. “Not important. Just know we’re doing our best to keep him alive.”
A weight falls from my shoulders. It still doesn’t explain how Holden knew about Zared. I tip my head side to side, evaluating what Taa said. “Did your contacts tell Holden?”