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The Awakening

Page 9

by Jenna Moreci


  ***

  Thebluecarresembledapieceofmangledtinfoilwrappedaroundthe

  telephonepole.Athintrailofsmokeoozedfromthehoodandcrawledupthe

  mutilatedframe,disappearingbeneaththecolossaltruckthatsatatopthecar’s

  remains. Eve watched as the truck’s driver fumbled for the door handle, and sherealizedthatshehadbeenheremany,manytimesbefore—butforwhatever

  reason,thistimesomethingwasdifferent.Shelookeddownatherhands—they

  were smooth and mature, with long, slender fingers and a faded, pencil-thin scarheadingstraightacrossherrightpalm.Shehadgottenthatscarduringa

  fightintheseventhgradewhenoneofherclassmateshadthreatenedherwitha

  knife. “I’m gonna cut that gift right out of you, chime,” he’d said to her throughgrittedteeth.Suddenly,sheknewwhatwassostrangeaboutherdream;

  shetouchedherfaceandfelthersharpcheekbonesandpointednose.The accident was so real, so accurate, but for the first time in eleven years, the dreamhadchanged:Evewasnolongerachild.Shewasseeingthenightmare

  throughtheeyesofhernineteen-year-oldself.

  “Don’tyoutellanyone,littlegirl.Don’tyoutellagoddamnsoul,y’hearme?”

  Eve’sheartracedassheresistedtheurgetokillthemanwithherowntwo

  hands.Whatgoodwouldthatdo?Afterall,thiswasonlyadream,andhewas

  alreadydead.Still,shecouldn’tslowtheheavybeatinginherchest.Afteryears of being haunted by this recurring vision, she had grown accustomed to it, desensitizedeven;andnowthatithadchanged,shefeltherselfpanickingonce

  again.

  Sheclosedhereyes— MaybeI’llwakeup,shethoughttoherself. WhenI open myeyes,everythingwillbebacktonormal. Withonelastmomentofhesitation, sheopenedhereyes.Thedrunkdriverwasgone,andinhisplacestoodJason

  Valentine.

  Helookedexactlyashehadonthehospitalgurney:hischestwascarved

  open,andhisfleshandmusclehunglimplyathissides.Evestaredinhorrorat

  his pulsing heart, at the blood that drizzled down his stomach, past his navel, and onto his jeans, while his eyes looked back at her with an empty, lifeless gaze.

  “We’reallgoingtodie.”

  Hisvoicewascalmandunwavering.Eve’slegsbegantoshake;shewanted

  torun,towakeup,tofindawaytoescapeJason’spresence,butshecouldn’t

  stopherselffromstaringdeepintohisunblinking,expressionlesseyes.

  “Wehavetostopit.Wehavetomakeitend.Oreveryonedies.”

  Evelurchedupinherseat,andacoupleofnearbystudentsgiggledand

  whisperedtooneanotherastheywatchedhercatchherbreath.Shewasinthe

  Rutherfordstudyhall,tryingtotackleherassignmentsfromthedaypriorbut

  failingmiserably.Hereyespanneddowntoherscratchpad;herdigital

  textbook read Page One, and she cursed under her breath. It was Heather ’s fault

  —hersleeplessnight,hertossingandturning,thenew,horriblenightmares

  thattormentedher.Withasigh,sheadmitteddefeat,gatheredherbelongings,

  andheadedforthedoor.

  Evehoppedintheelevatorandpressedthebuttonforthefirstfloor.Itwas

  nearlyseveno’clock,anddinnerwouldsoonbeavailableinthedininghall.

  TheideaofeatingtherewiththeBillingtonelite,andevenworse,with

  MadisonandHayden,madehercringe.Shewouldmuchrathereatbyherself—

  beingalonewashercomfort,herrefuge,theonlythingthatfeltfamiliarand

  safe—butitwasaluxuryMadisonhadensuredshewouldneverenjoyagain.

  TheelevatordoorsopenedtorevealasightEvehadn’texpected:thelobby

  was filled with students, all madly dashing in the same direction—straight to therecroom.Curious,Evefollowedsuit,peeringovertheirheadsand

  shoulders as they squeezed their way through the tight space. The room was crammedwithRutherfordians—manysatcross-leggedonthefloor,while

  otherssharedthescantchairs,andsomeeventeeteredatopthetables—but

  everylastoneofthemhadtheirsightssetonthewall-sizedHVscreen.

  Thenewswason.Asharplydressedanchorwoman’shologrampacedthe

  floor,walkingthroughafewofthestudentswhosattooclosetotheprojection.

  Shestoppedandfacedtheroom,hertonesomberandurgent.

  “Inourtopstoryoftheday,controversytearsthroughBillingtonUniversity.

  Accordingtowhatwebelievearereliablesources,Interlopershaveinvadedthe esteemedcollege.EvenmoredisturbingarereportsthattheInterlopersarenot just occupying the campus—they are, in fact, abducting chimera students and performinglivedissectionsonthem.”

  ThestudentssurroundingEvenervouslymurmuredtooneanother,butshe

  remainedsilent.

  “AnanonymoussourcewithinBillingtonhasinformedChannel4Newsthat

  asmanyasninechimeraabductionshavetakenplaceattheuniversityoverthe past several months, and that Billington officials have resorted to extreme measures in order to keep these attacks out of the headlines. The most recent abduction and dissection, occurring just yesterday, is certainly the most shockingofthemall:Channel4hasconfirmedthatBillingtonsophomoreJason

  Valentine, son of New York Senator Donald Valentine, is the latest attack victim.”

  AsmallphotoofJasonappearedinthetopcornerofthescreen.Hissmile

  wasfriendlyandsincere,butEvefeltachillrunthroughherbody.

  “Accordingtoouranonymousinsider,JasonValentinesufferedlife-

  threateninginjuriestothechestandabdomenandiscurrentlyinrecovery.

  SourcesspeculatethatnoonewithintheValentinefamily,includingJason,was awareofhisstatusasachimera.SenatorValentinetookananti-chimera-rights stance during his campaign, and thus far, has not released any statements regardinghisson’sconditionortheattacksatBillingtoningeneral.”

  AfewstudentssnickeredtooneanotherastheypointedatJason’sphoto.For

  abriefmoment,Evethoughtthatsheheardoneofthemmutter,“Chime.”

  “ThistragicdiscoveryatBillingtonUniversitymarksaturningpointthat

  many have feared: the US Government has now officially declared the

  Interloperpopulationaphysicalthreattochimeras.”

  “Whatareyoudoing?”

  AsharpvoiceranginEve’sear,breakingherconcentration.Shejumped—

  thenlookedtohersideandsawHayden’sgrey,beadyeyesstaringbackather.

  “God,Hayden,youcan’tjustsneakuponpeoplelikethat.”

  “Madisonsentmetolookforyou.You’relatefordinner.”

  “I’m late?Isshemyroommateormymother?”

  “Lesstalking,morewalking.”Haydenscannedtheroom,herfacevapidand

  expressionless.“Let’sgo.”

  EvefollowedHaydentowardthedininghall,shovingherthoughtsofthe

  Interloperstothebackofhermindasbestshecould.Astheymadetheirway

  past the long rows of tables and chairs, she saw Jason’s mangled body flash before her eyes, and she blinked furiously to rid herself of the images. With littletimetocalmherself,shefinallyfoundMadison’stableandsatinfrontof her.

  Madisontrailedherforkthroughhersalad,tossingbitsoflettuceacrossher platelikeachildplayingwithherfood.

  “Ugh,”shemoaned.“Thissaladistheworst.
Thesecherrytomatoestaste

  likebarf.”ShelookedupatEveandgrowled.“Wherehaveyoubeen?”

  “IwasintherecroomwatchingHV.Haven’tyouseenthenews?They’re

  talkingaboutyour belovedJason.”

  Madisonploppedherforkinthemiddleofhersaladandgrimaced.“Don’t

  evenremindmeofJason. So disappointingtohearhe’sachimera. Gross.”

  Evewinced.“Gross?”

  “Totally! Just think, if we were to have babies, they’d be tainted, like crossbreeds,or mutts.Plus,I’msurehischestlookslikeavomitosismessnow thatit’sbeenrippedopenandsewnbacktogether.”Shewrinkledhernoseand

  pushedherhalf-eatensaladofftotheside.“Ican’teveneatjustthinkingabout it.”

  Evebitherlipandshovedherhandsdeepintoherpockets,attemptingtokeep

  herangeroutofsightasshedugherfingernailsintoherpalms.

  “So,I’mguessinghe’sbeencutfromyourlistoftoptenfuturehusbands?”

  “God no. He’s been demoted, but not removed completely. He’s down to numbertennow—barelyhangingonbyathread.Buthe’sstillrichandpretty.

  Thatcountsforsomething.”

  Everolledhereyes.“Ican’tthinkofanythingthatmattersmore.”

  “Idon’tknowwhatsheseesinhim,”Haydenadded,slurpingherjuiceand

  glaringpointedlyinEve’sdirection.“Idon’tknowwhatsheseesina lotof

  people.”

  “Ladies!Fancyseeingyouhere!”

  AbubblyvoicetrilledbehindEve,catchingheroffguard.Shecringed—she

  knewexactlytowhomitbelonged.

  “Heather!”Madisonbeamed,muchtoEve’ssurprise.“Hon,youlook

  fabulous!”ShehoppedupfromherseatandgaveHeatherafirmsqueeze.

  HeatherglancedbackandforthbetweenMadisonandEve.“Ididn’tknow

  youtwoknewoneanother,”shesaid,hereyeslightingupwithdelight.Evewas

  familiarwiththelook—andshedidn’ttrustit.

  Madisonsmiled.“Oh,wemorethan knoweachother.We’reroommatesand

  instantfriends.Attachedatthehip,really.”

  EvelookedbrieflyatHayden;theblondeangrilyscowledbackatherand

  downedherjuicelikeitwasashotofvodka.

  “Well,isn’tthatspecial.”Heather’seyesdancedacrossMadisonandlanded

  onthelarge,glitteringorbsthathungfromherearlobes.“Madison,Imustsay,

  thosearesomebeautifuldiamondearrings.”

  “Younoticed!”MadisonshotaquickgloweratHaydenandEve.“Thesetwo

  bottomfeedershaven’tsaidawordaboutthem.”

  “AretheyagiftfromDaddy?”

  “Youknowmetoowell,Heather.”Madisoncuppedthedanglinggems,

  stroking their platinum settings affectionately. “They’re new, you know. You

  can’tbuytheminstoresyet,andthey’realreadysoldoutinpresale,butthose sortofrestrictionsdon’tapplyto me,obviously.”

  Heathercockedherhead.“They’reawfullysparkly.”

  “That’sbecausethey’reEverlastingDiamonds,thelatestthinginsynthetic

  gems.”

  “Synthetic?”Haydenasked.“So…they’refake?”

  “They’rethe future of fashion,youidiot,”Madisonsnarled.“Naturaldiamonds arescratch-resistant,butthey’renotshatterproof.Everlasting

  Diamondsaretotallyindestructible.”Madisonflickedherwristnonchalantly.

  “It’schemistryorsomething,Idon’tknow.ButIdoknowthatit’sthefirstof

  its kind, a diamond to surpass all diamonds. Nothing like this has ever been madebefore.”

  Evesquintedhereyes,blindedbytheshimmeringmonstrosities.“Idon’t

  understand.Whywouldanyoneneedashatterproofdiamond?”

  “Whywouldanyoneneedaneedlelacedresshand-stitchedbyFinnishnuns?

  Becauseit’sextravagantanddynamicandaboveallelse,it’sa statement.”

  “Astatementofwhat?Wealth?”

  “Exactly.Besides,thetoughnessiswhatmakesthesebadboyssotwinkly,

  andreally,that’sallthatmatters.”MadisonturnedtoHeather,hereyesglowing

  withself-regard.“Mydaddyevenletmecomeupwiththecommercialslogan:

  yourheartwillneverbreak,andneitherwillyourdiamonds.”

  “Well,aren’tyouthelittlemarketingmaven.Somuchsothatyou’vesold

  me,”Heathercooed.“It’sashamethey’renotavailableforpurchase.”

  “Iknow,it’sarealpaininthecrotch,butwhatcanyoudo?”

  “What canyoudo?”Heatherrepeated,strokingherchinalmostcomically.

  “That’saphenomenalquestion.Ifonlysomeonehadspecialaccesstothese

  EverlastingDiamonds.IknowifIdid,I’dgivesometomyfriends.”Shestared

  atMadison,hereyesfiercelyfocused.“Myclosestcompanions.Theoneswho

  knewmy deepestsecrets.Youknow,outofthegoodnessofmyheart.”

  MadisonlookedbackatHeather,hercheekssuddenlymorphingfrompink

  towhite.

  Heatherfoldedherarms.“Butthat’sjustme,ofcourse.”

  Madisonsprangtolife,immediatelydiggingthroughhergoldenclutchlike

  adogtrackingascent.Sheyankedavelvetcoinpursefromherbagand

  pouredoutitscontents:threesmalldiamonds.

  “AnEverlastingDiamondfor each ofyou,”shesaid,placingoneintothepalm ofeachgirl’shand,“becausethat’showmuchyouallmeantome.”

  Eveeyedthejewel;itwassmall,thesizeofapea,andyetsheknewitsvalue

  likelysurpassedevenhermostlavishestimates.

  “Madison,youare sogenerous!”Heatherchirped,admiringhergeminthe

  light.“HowunfortunatethatIhavetwoearsandonlyonediamond.”

  Madisonforcedapainedgrinandreluctantlypulledonelastgemfromher

  coinpurse.“Nowyouhavetwodiamonds,”shemanagedtoutterthrough

  poorlyconcealedgrittedteeth.“Justforyou,myoldestfriend.”

  “Butwhatabout—”

  “Shutup,Hayden,”Madisonsnapped.SheturnedtoEve,whohadremained

  quietthroughoutthisodddisplay,andscowledresentfully.“Iknowyou’renot

  toofamiliarwiththefinerthingsinlife,butthatdiamondisworthmorethan

  youare. Ifyouloseit,I’llgutyoulikeafish.”

  “Speakingofguts…”Heatherplacedherdiamondsinherhandbagand

  turnedtoEve,gentlyrestingherhandonhershoulder.“Howareyouholding

  up,darling?”

  Evegrumbledandshookthegirl’shandfromhershoulder.“I’m fine,thanks.”

  Heatherleanedintowardthegirls.“Wewereinthemedicalwardyesterday

  whenthewhole…”Shepausedandlookedfromsidetoside.“… situation

  happened.”

  Hayden’seyeslitupwithcuriosityandMadisongasped.

  “Eve!”theheiressyelped.“Howcomeyoudidn’ttellme?”

  “It’ssomethingI’drathernottalkabout.Ever.”

  HeathertookaseatfacingEve.“Youknow,IhadaclasswithJasonduring

  thefirstsemesterofourfreshmanyear.Ineverwould’vesuspectedthathewas

  oneofthem.”SheturnedtoMadison.“Whataboutyou,doll?You’veknown

  himforquitesometime,haven’tyou?”

  “No one is more shocked than I am, that’s for sure.” Madison pouted

  melodramatically.“Ifeelliedto—betrayed,really.Heshould’vesaid something.Heshoul
d’ve told me—”

  “Hedidn’tknow.”

  Thetablefellsilent,andEvefeltalleyesonher .ForGod’ssake,learnto keep yourmouthshut,shethoughttoherself,andyetshecouldn’thelpit.Shelooked upatthethreegirlsbesideher.

  “TheysaidsoonHV.”

  Heatherfrowned.“Youseemsotense,darling.Areyousureyou’reokay?”

  “IsaidI’mfine.”

  Heathergiggled.“Oh,Eve,sotight-lippedandfullofmystery.Iswear,

  you’re like an onion—you have to be peeled back layer by layer.” She stood from her seat and patted down the pleats of her skirt. “It’s been so lovely catching up, but I have places to be and things to do. Thank you for the diamonds,Madison.”Justasshesteppedawayfromthetable,shestoppedand

  turnedtowardthegirlsonelasttime.“Oh,andEve,mylittleenigma,dotake

  careofyourself.Icertainlycan’twaittoseeeachandeveryoneofyourlayers.

  They’refascinating,I’msure.”

  ThethreesomewatchedHeatherscamperaway,completelysilentuntilshe

  hadturnedthecornerandleftthedininghall.

  “Thank Godshe’sgone,”Madisonhissed,slumpinginherchairwithrelief.

  “Thatcould’vebeenasuckgasmicmess.”

  “Whatwas thatallabout?”Eveasked,dumbfounded.“Thecompliments,the

  diamonds.Ithoughtyouhatedher.Youtoldmeshewasa vulture.”

  “Yeah,well,shecan’tknowthat.”

  “Whynot?”

  “Eve,don’tbesonaïve,”theheiresssneered.“Thatslopholehasruinedtoo

  manyreputationsinherlifetime.Ican’triskgettingonherbadside.Youknow

  whattheysay:keepyourfriendscloseandyourenemiescloser.”

  Eve caught herself before she rolled her eyes. In fact, she realized that her disapprovalwasalmosthypocritical.Afterall,shewaseatingwithMadison

  andHayden,twogirlsshecouldn’tstandtobearound,andforwhat?For

  safety. For survival. That was what she had told herself each day as she toleratedtheircompany.Inherdesperationtocoastbyanonymously,shewas

  becomingwhatshedespised:afake. Keepyourfriendscloseandyourenemies

  closer—thewordsechoedthroughhermind,andsheknewtheydescribedher

 

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