Juliet spins and walks away. In the bright glow of the spotlight, Dyl’s face falls and his shoulders slump.
Game over.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SIX
I drop my glass. It hits the ground, and I do nothing but watch as the liquid sloshes onto the wooden slats of the deck. Around me, snorts of laughter break out.
Congratulations, Caden! That’s enough for them. It’s done. You won! And I’m sorry about threatening you before, I just thought you might need an extra push to seal the deal. Now, I have a date, so I have to go. Drink something! Celebrate! You did really well.
That’s enough. They’re going to kill Dyl.
The boy who stood outside my window, the boy who drove me through the night, the boy who is obsessed with rock music and who is so much nicer than me, the kind of guy who should’ve been a Nice. I picture him waiting outside my room, framed by my chipped wooden window frame.
He’s about to die.
I need to process this. I won. Dyl will be executed. Everything is going too fast. The world is too loud, bright, and cruel and I can’t focus on anything because Dyl, my Dyl, is about to be murdered. It’s so horrific it’s almost abstract, like it can’t really happen. But it will. A Stalker will claim him, and if he runs, it’ll decapitate him.
I bend down and pick up the dropped glass. Dyl breaks out of the spotlight and forces his way through the jeering crowd toward the exit. He ducks through the doorway and moves out of sight.
I walk over to the table and place the cup down. As it touches the tabletop I realize how violently my hand is shaking. Why do I feel like this? This is what I wanted. All along, ever since I arrived at the LIC, this was the thing I wanted. To win. To survive.
But now that I have it I don’t want it. In fact, I hate it.
I want the boy who came to my window at night. I want him whole, and I want him with me.
Juliet appears out of the crowd. “Caden, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Where did Dyl go?”
“His aunt said he went to the lookout. She looked so mad at me and I—”
“He’s going to kill himself. I need to go. Right now.”
Her eyes widen. “Oh God. I’ll come too.”
Together, we run through the party back into the house. At the kitchen, I pause. I walk up to the wooden block filled with knives with silver handles. I grab the smallest one, then spin and chase after Juliet.
We step outside the front door. Juliet grabs my arm. “Why’d you grab that knife?”
I shrug her off me. “We can’t talk now. Come on.”
Kaylee, are you there?
Thankfully, there’s no response.
I reach the truck and swing the door open. Juliet stands beside it with her arms crossed. Her heels are digging into the soft ground. “Caden, what the hell are you doing? How do you know what Dyl’s going to do? He wasn’t even sure he knew your name at the start of the party, and now you’re upset because I rejected him?”
“I can’t explain, Juliet. I don’t have time.”
“That’s not for you to decide. I told you this was a big night for me and then Dyl ruined it and now you’re making it worse. Caden, you’re scaring me.”
“I’m a liar, Juliet. So is Dyl. I should be scaring you. It’s the rational emotion to feel when you’re around me.”
Tears fill her eyes. “What do you mean? I told you I want to be with you and now you’re freaking out because obviously you’ve changed your mind and don’t want to be with me anymore.”
“That’s not it. Trust me.” I take a deep breath. Am I doing this?
I picture Dyl, naked, a tear running down his cheek. Orange fire hurtling toward him. Him closing his eyes like he’s accepting it, but his bottom lip is shaking. The image makes the decision for me. I don’t want to live a life where Dyl is dead and I’m a liar.
I can’t be a Love Interest anymore, so I’m going to do it: I’m going to sacrifice everything I’ve worked for to give him a chance to survive. I’m going to put my head next to his on the chopping block.
I don’t have a choice.
It’s who I am.
“I’m a Love Interest, Juliet. And so is Dyl. For most of our lives we’ve been owned by a company that monitors important people like you. They want you to fall in love with one of us so that we can spy on you for the rest of your life. We tell them your secrets, and then they sell them. In order to make sure we comply, they kill whoever doesn’t get chosen. They burn him like garbage.”
She nods, her stare intense. Her eyes are watery.
“Do you hear what I’m saying, Juliet?” I shout. “I’ve been spying on you! I’ve been lying to you this whole time! I’m the worst fucking person you’ve ever met.”
The confession overwhelms me, and suddenly my eyes fill with tears. I lean forward, my chest heaving, and press my forehead against the steering wheel. I’m stupid, so stupid. What does crying achieve? Nothing. I can’t fall apart, even if I want to. I need to save him. I take a deep breath. The air smells like plastic.
A hand touches the middle of my back. I flinch and look up, expecting to see a dark, eyeless face staring at me. It’s not a Stalker, though. It’s Juliet. Her lips are pressed together and her cheeks are shiny.
“Caden,” she says. She’s shaking, but her tone is even. “If what you said is true, that means, because I chose you, they’re going to kill Dyl. Is that right?”
I nod, my strength coming back to me. I roughly wipe my cheeks.
“They want to,” I say. “But I think he’s going to kill himself before they can. I … I know him, and he’s too proud to let them kill him. That’s why I need to go. I need to save him.”
She walks around to the other side of the truck and climbs in.
“What are you waiting for?” she asks. “Drive!”
I plant my foot on the accelerator and speed away from the party.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SEVEN
We’re driving through the quiet streets toward the lookout. Juliet has turned in her seat so that her back faces me. Her shoulders are hunched, making her look small. Occasionally her shoulders move and she lets out a tiny sob, and each time I hear the sound, so soft and weak, a flare of pain hits me. I’d say anything to make her feel better, but I can’t think of anything to say that can fix this. So I just drive, and try not to think about the fact that I’m responsible for turning a sweet, wonderful girl into the suffering thing beside me.
She turns back to me. Her cheeks are glistening. “By telling me what you just did, did you …”
“Put you in danger? I did, and I’m so sorry. But they probably won’t kill you. They think you’re important enough for Love Interests. It’s not a thing everyone gets, only superimportant people. Or, at least, people who they predict are going to become important someday. I doubt they’re not going to give you that chance, so you’re the safest of anyone. I am sorry, though. For that, and for everything else.”
“So this is the real Caden, huh?”
I nod slowly. “The one and only.”
She looks out the window, turning her back to me again.
We reach the parking lot. The only other car in the large stretch of concrete is Dyl’s black convertible. It’s parked haphazardly, across two different parking spaces. An ice-cold shiver chills my blood.
Juliet sits up straight. “Do you want me to come with you?”
I shake my head. “You can’t. I don’t know how Dyl is going to act. Rejected Love Interests are famous for violence—they like to leave the world with a bang. Dyl’s not going to do that, though, at least I don’t think he is. Just … I’ll go.”
I know what I have to ask, but every part of me is saying it’s too much to ask of her. It’s awful, but I have no other option.
“And I need you to do something for me, well, for us. I know you hate me, and that’s understandable, but Dyl and I are going to have to run. So can you go back to your
place and get as much food and water as possible? Fill the back of the truck with anything you can think of that’ll help us survive. Dyl and I are going to go seriously off grid, so we’ll need supplies. Please, Juliet. I know it’s not fair to ask this of you, but believe me, it’s my only option. I can’t let them kill him.”
Juliet nods. “I’ll do it.” She smiles wryly. “You know, I wondered if everything happening to me was too good to be true. I kept denying it, but deep down, I knew something weird was happening. No one had ever shown any romantic interest in me before, so I should’ve known it was fake. I should’ve known.”
Ouch. I want to tell her she deserves only good things, but I don’t have time. Dyl needs me more than she does right now.
“So you’ll do it?” I ask.
“I will. I’ll meet you back here in twenty minutes.”
“Make it ten.”
I clamber out of the truck and kick the door closed behind me. Then I tuck my hands into my pockets and jog up the path to the lookout.
Kaylee?
Nothing.
My fingers grip the hilt of the knife. I need to get the implants out, and fast. Now that I’ve decided I won’t let Dyl die, the thought will be racing through my mind constantly. Trying to force the thought away just brings it back stronger. If Kaylee decides to listen to me it’ll take only a second for her to realize what I’m doing.
And then it’s all over.
If I can get the implants out, I’ll buy us some time. Not a lot, but it’s better than nothing. Plus, Kaylee told me they’re not bombs, but since when has the LIC cared about telling us the truth? I’m not an idiot and I don’t trust them. The implants need to come out.
I break out of the forest and reach the top of the clearing.
Dyl is standing on the railing, his back to me, the pointed ends of his shoes hanging over the edge. His arms are stretched wide, and his eyes are fixed on the stars.
“Dyl!” I call.
“Caden?” He looks over his shoulder at me. The wind buffets his hair. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I could ask the same of you.”
“I’m ending it, Caden. That should be obvious.”
I step onto the platform. “Don’t.”
He turns back to face the town. “Why not? There’s no nobility in letting my owners put me down like a bloody animal. This way I get to rob Craike of his murder boner.”
I step forward. “I said don’t. I told Juliet what I am. What we are. I can’t let them kill you, Dyl. So let’s run. Let’s get in the car and escape from everything. I’m as dead as you are if we don’t run, so get down off that railing and come with me. Please.”
He jumps down onto the platform and walks over to me. He grabs my shoulders. “You rebelled?”
“I did.”
He grins. “You freaking idiot.” The grin fades and he lets go of my arms. “Wait, it’s not because of the, um, gay thing, is it?”
It feels like a punch to the face. I know instantly that what I feared, what I desperately hoped wasn’t true, is in fact reality: he was playing me. Every moment we shared was part of his strategy to take me down. I’ve always known it was a possibility, but here it is, my nightmare confirmed. He doesn’t like me. His late-night visits. The drives in his car. The kiss in the shed. They were all scripted.
I barely suppress a whimper. “What do you mean, the gay thing?”
“The, you know … thing. Judy suspected that you, well, are what you are. And she suggested I play it up in hopes of derailing your efforts to make Juliet fall for you. And it was working, we both sensed you backing away, but Juliet had obviously already made up her mind. I’m not telling you this because I want to hurt you, because I don’t. I just need to make sure you don’t throw your life away because of something that wasn’t real. You’re a great guy, and you’re my friend, but I’m not in love with you. And I … I’m not gay. I like girls.”
A sharp burst of laughter escapes my lips. It’s totally fake, but I’m a good actor and he buys it. “Do you even hear yourself, Dyl? What in the world would make you think that after everything I’ve been through I’d want to be in love?”
He scratches the back of his neck. “I don’t know.”
“I’m rebelling because I’m not, nor do I ever want to be, the type of person who lets a friend die. That’s it. Yeah, sure, I’m attracted to you. I guess that makes me gay. I’m not ashamed of that. Don’t confuse that with this, because I’m not in love with you, Dyl. This is not a romantic gesture. I just don’t want you to die, because you don’t deserve it. Clear?”
Just like that, I’m back to being a liar.
“It doesn’t matter why you’re doing it, Caden. All that matters is that you’re doing it. I … I have no idea how you can be so brave. You’re risking everything to help me. It’s more than I deserve.”
“That’s probably true. Now, shut up and sit down. I need to cut your tracker out.”
He sits down on the bench and I pull the knife from my pocket. He stares at the blade and his lips part. “You’ve thought this through, huh?”
“Not really. But I’m glad it seems like I have a plan.”
I touch the side of his stupidly beautiful face and push his head so it tilts to one side, with his cheek hovering above his shoulder. My fingers press against the skin at the very edge of his forehead until I feel a lump. He winces.
I move the knife up and position it above the bump. “This is going to hurt.”
Dyl grits his teeth and closes his eyes. I raise the knife. It’s going to hurt like hell, yet I don’t feel bad about it. Maybe it’s because I know it needs to be done. Or maybe a sick part of me wants to make him suffer. It feels like vengeance. I—
A harsh sob rings through my mind. It’s a voice. A girl’s, to be precise.
Kaylee.
Oh no.
I … I … I’m so sorry, Caden. I was checking in and I heard everything. I know what you’re doing.
I take a step away from Dyl. My entire body goes slack. No no no. The knife feels cold in my hands. Dyl’s eyes are searching my face.
Kaylee, please …
The Stalker is on its way. I’m so sorry, Caden. Goodbye.
PART THREE
PROTAGONIST
CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT
“What is it?” asks Dyl. He’s leaning against the railing, holding his hair away from the lump where his tracker was inserted. “Why’d you stop?”
My heart is racing and my head feels fuzzy, like everything around me is crashing down. A sound like cymbals being smashed rings in my ears. I press my hands to my temples, trying to make everything shut up for a second so that I can figure out what to do.
I lower my hands. “It’s Kaylee. She knows.”
He turns around and kicks the railing. He moves his foot back and kicks it again.
“That means Judy knows as well; Kaylee would’ve told her.”
“It doesn’t change anything, Dyl.”
But that’s not true. This changes everything. This means there’s no going back for me. This means I’m risking my life for the guy who tricked me into falling in love with him.
Even though I know this, it doesn’t feel so bad, because looking at him now, knowing what he’s done, I’ll still do anything to save him. I’m probably the biggest idiot on the planet, but I can’t turn off my affection for him, even though he has no affection for me.
Oh wow, he has no affection for me.
Still, I’m not going to let the LIC kill him.
But just: ow.
He moves back into position and tilts his head to the side. “You’re right. Just do it.”
I reposition the blade, right beside the bump. I push the blade in, and Dyl screams and shoves me with both hands. I take a few steps backward. Blood is spurting from the wound, running down his face onto his jacket.
He takes in a deep breath that fills his chest, then he gets back into position. “So the Stal
ker is coming?”
“Yep.”
He scrunches up the material of his pants. “Then we need to hurry. Just do it. Come on, man, do it!”
A jagged red slash sits above his forehead. I step forward and peer closer. Peeking out through the slash are a few tiny red wires. I move my fingers up and go to grab the wires, pulling gently. Dyl roars, baring all his teeth.
“Stop!” he cries, shoving me in the chest again. I step away, raising my hands. He’s shaking. “I felt it, Caden, I felt it in my brain. It’s connected or something. You can’t take it out. You can’t. If you pull you’ll scramble me.” His eyes fill with tears. “I’ll die.”
Half of his face is covered in blood. It needs to be done, but I don’t want to hurt him any more, so I step backward.
I start unbuttoning my shirt. “Then we’re going to have to trust the LIC.”
“What are you doing?”
“I need to stop the bleeding. It’s something Kaylee taught me.”
I pull the shirt off my shoulders and drop it. Then I take off my undershirt, ball it up, and hand it to him. “Press that to the wound. Can you walk?”
He nods, and raises the shirt to the wound and presses it in. He winces as the white material turns red.
I pick my shirt up off the ground and jog down the path to the street. Dyl follows me. My phone buzzes. As I run I pull it out of my pocket and look at the screen. It’s a text from Juliet: We’re here. Hurry.
What does she mean, we’re?
“Come on!” I scream, and I pick up my pace. We reach the bottom of the hill, where Juliet is sitting in the driver’s seat of my truck. The headlights are on, and they cast two white beams of light across the gloomy parking lot. I sprint toward the truck and swing the door open.
Trevor is sitting in the backseat. “Hey,” he says with a wide grin. His hair is spiked up and he’s wearing a brown leather jacket. “I heard you’re a fugitive now.”
“What are you doing here?” I ask him.
The Love Interest Page 23