The Awakening
Page 25
ittoshreds.“Caughthereyeswandering,”he’dannouncedtotheroom,though
theybothknewitwasn’tso.“Howselfish,andtothinksuchbehaviorfromthe
topstudent—theonly‘A’intheentireclass.”Andsohehadmadehertakethe
testagain,allsixteenpages.
EveslappedherpacketontoRichards’sdesk.Itwascomplete—again—and
she would undoubtedly receive an ‘A,’ and the entire class would object and shoutandhissobscenitiesather.AndDr.Dick,allthewhile,wouldsmile.
Beforetheprofessorcouldmakeoneofhisusualsnideremarks,Eve
stormedfromtheclassroomandheadeddownthehallway.Thecorridorwas
quiet,almosteerilyso;classeswereinsession,andthankstoRichards’slittle
stunt, she was nearly twenty minutes late to Strategic Communication. Still, somethingaboutthesilenceofthehall,thesoundofnothingexceptherheels
clickingagainstthefloor,madeheruneasy.Somethingwasn’tright.
Anothersoundpunctuatedthestillness:footsteps,andnotherown.They
wereflatandclomping—thefootstepsofaman.Twomen.Nowthree.She
quickened her stride, and soon realized that the footsteps quickened, too. She couldseetheirshadowsbobbingalongthefloornow,growinglargerand
largerastheycameupbehindher.Sheran,andtheydidtoo,thoughsheknew their efforts were futile—none of them would ever catch up to her. Her skirt whippedbackandforthacrossherlegs,andherheartpoundedwithinher
chest,andassheturnedthecorneryardsaheadofthem,shefeltasifshecould
breathetheslightestbiteasier.
Butaroundthecorner,afourthmanwaswaitingforher.Heblockedher
pathandsenthernearlytopplingtotheground.Sherecognizedthisone:his
perfecthair,hisarrogantsmile—andthepittedcleftofhischin.
“Hey,Sweetie,”ChinDimplesneered.
Herbodysuddenlylurchedforwardassomeonegrabbedherfrombehind,
onehandsecuringherwristsandtheotheryankingherhair,shovingherface-
firstintothewall.Ashercheekwaspressedagainstthecoolsurface,shefelt
ChinDimplehoveringbesideher,hislipsclosetohers.
“Youdidn’tthinkI’djustletitgo,didyou?”
Theotherboyspunheraroundandthrustherbackagainstthewall.She
remembered him; she had fought him the day before. She couldn’t recall his name,butsheknewhissize,hismassivebuild,andthewayhe’dfallentothe
groundaftermeresecondsintheringwithher.
“There’sfourofusnow,”hegrunted.“Won’tbesoeasyforyouthistime.”
Twomoreboysstoodbehindhim.Theirsleeveswererolleduptotheir
elbowsandtheirfistswereclenched;theywerepreparedtofight.ChinDimple
folded his arms and faced her, though he didn’t dare stray from his burly
comrade’sside.
“Ihopeitwasworthit—makingafoolofme.”
“Youmadeafoolofyourself.”
Helungedforwardandgrabbedherface,squeezinghercheeksuntilherlips
puckeredtogetherlikethoseofafish.
“Who’sthefoolnow, chimera?”
Hereleasedherface,hishandnowtremblingwithrage.
“Myfriendshere—they’regoingtodoanumberonyou.Andwhenthey’re
done,well…”Hepaused,eyeingherupanddown,asickeninggrinspreading
acrosshislips.“I’lldomy ownnumberonyou.”
Shelookeddownathershoulders—atthehugehandsthatpressedher
againstthewall—andthenupintotheeyesofthefacetheybelongedto.
“Ifyouknowwhat’sgoodforyou,you’llletmego,”shesaid.
Theboylaughedloudlyandignoredhercommand.Heleanedincloserto
her,examiningherface.
“Lookslikeyourshiner’sgone.GuessI’llhavetogiveyouanewone.”
Hepulledhisarmback,flexinghismusclesasiftoprolongtheanticipation.
Then, with a deep breath and a menacing smile, he sent his fist barreling towardhereye.
Eve’shandsprangfromitsrestingplaceandgrabbedthegiantfist,haltingit
inchesfromherface.Herlong,skinnyfingersbarelywrappedaroundhis
knobbyknuckles,butstillsheoverpoweredhim,forcinghisentirearmstill.
Theotherboysgasped,andhercaptorstaredbackatherwithfearfuleyes.She
wascoolandinexpressive,butinsideherchestburnedafiery,overpowering
hate.
“Itoldyou,”shesaid,calmly.“Youshould’veletmego.”
She tightened her fingers, curling them around the boy’s fist, and then she twisted—snappinghiswrist.Thecrackofhisbonesbreakingwasmuffledby
his shrill, pained howl. His knees buckled, and with one swift movement Eve swungherelbowforward,smashingitintohisnoseandsendingblood
spoutingfromhisnostrils.
Theboystaggeredbackward,tryingtoclutchhisbrokennosewithhis
brokenhandashebellowedinagony.Theotherthreeboysjuststaredather,
theirmouthsgapingopeninshock.
“Anyoneelsewanttodoa numberonme?”sheasked.
Theybolteddownthehallway,leavingheralonewiththewoundedbeast.
Eve looked at the injured boy; he cowered on the ground, still crying and cursing as blood coursed from his nose. And then she felt eyes on her from downthehallway.Sheturned,andherbodywentnumb;someonewaswatching
themfromadistance,hisarmsfoldedasheleanedcasuallyagainstthewall.
ProfessorRichards.Hadhebeentheretheentiretime?
Withadisappointedscowl,heturnedthecornerandwalkedoutofsight.
EvewaltzedintoStrategicCommunicationclassnearlytwenty-fiveminutes
late.Hermindwasstillshaken,andshehardlynoticedthestaresofherpeersas
shetookaseatinthebackcorneroftheroom.Shebreatheddeeplyandlooked downatherhands.Theyquiveredwithanger,andshequicklydroppedthemto
hersides.Theelbowofherblousewasspottedwithblood,andshehopedno
onenoticed.
Classdebateshadbegun.Onebyone,studentsapproachedthefrontpodium
asifpartofanassemblyline,eacharguingtheatricallyuntilsomeonewonina
fitoffalse,meaninglessglory—andsomeonelost,coveredintheirownshame
andhumiliation.Evethoughttheentirearrangementseemedostentatious:a
platform for students to belittle one another and chalk it up as a learning experience.Sheignoredthedisplay,stillattemptingtocalmherrestlessnerves.
Guptaraisedhisbaseballcaphighintheair.“Thenexttopicwillbechimera
repression.”Hereachedintothecapandpulledoutaslipofpaper:aname.
“Representingtheproside:TravisBraverman.”
A boy with brown, gelled hair and a blue blazer stood up, his like-minded friendsshakinghishandasifhehadbeennominatedforsomegreat
achievement.
Guptacontinued,hisfaceglowingwithexcitement.“Andrepresentingthe
conside…”Heshuffledthroughthecap,finallygrabbingapieceofpaperand
unfoldingitbeforetheclass.Hissmiledroppedsuddenly,hisfacedrainingof
color.
“…EvelynKingston.”
Theentireroomhushed,andEvecursedunderherbreath.Whatluck—what
absolutelyunfortunate,shittyluck.Evelookedatheropponent,whofoldedh
is arms arrogantly and laughed. What a total jackass, she thought to herself as she lugged her body toward the front of the room, finally facing Travis and hermisfortune.
“Humanbeingshavealwaysbeentheapexoftheplanetaryecosystem,”
Travis began, his voice booming with over-dramatic eloquence. “We are the top of the food chain, the most fearsome predator in the world. That is, until chimerascamealong.Somebelievethatchimerasarethenextstepinour
evolution—the new apex predator . But I’m here to tell you that they’re wrong.”
HeglancedatEve.“Justasachromosomalabnormalitycancausedisabilityor
mutation,thismalfunction—this flaw—createdchimeras.Theyarenot evolved.
Theyare defective.”
Evecouldn’trestrainherself.“Whileyourlackofinsightisimpressive,
yourargumentisshit.”
“MissKingston,”theprofessorinterrupted,apprehensively,“it’sstillhis
turntospeak,andImustaskyoutopleasekeepthecursingtoaminimum—”
“There’sno chromosomalabnormality,”Evecontinued,ignoringGupta.
“Scientistscan’tevenfindageneticdifferencebetweenhumansandchimeras.”
“Justbecausetheycan’tpinpointthegeneticsourceofthegiftdoesn’tmean
we’reallthesame.Chimerasare dangerous.Everyoneknowsthat.”
“Everyoneiscapableofbeingdangerous,”Evesaid.“Humansandchimeras
alike.Nogroupismorepronetoviolencethantheother.Justbecausechimeras
arestrongerdoesn’tmeanthey’llusetheirstrengthwithevilintentions.”
“Saysthegirlwithbloodonhershirt.”
Evehesitated.Shelookeddownathersleeve—atherelbowspottedwith
patches of bright red blood, now dried and stiff. The scene from the hallway flashedbeforehereyes,andherentirebodybecamerigidandcold.
“Chimerashavebroughtnothingbutchaostothisplanet,”Travissneered,
notwaitingforEvetorespond.“Theyshowup,andlookwhathappens:
Interlopers.Abductions.Death.Whyshouldweacceptthem?”
Evewinced.“Becauseit’stherightthingtodo.Becauseanyonewithany
moralfiber—”
“Whatdoyouknowabout morals,chimera?”
Evetookastepback,physicallymovedbyhisretort.“Excuseme?”
“Isthereevenanyproofthatchimerasarecapableofmoral
comprehension?”
Sheglaredbackathimwithdisgust.“Areyou joking?”
“Chimerasaren’thuman,andthus,onecanarguethatwemustclassifythem
asanimals.Animals,afterall,bearsomesimilarfeaturestohumans,butthey
lackoneveryimportantquality:ahigherlevelofcomprehension.The
intelligence to wonder, to think, to believe in right and wrong.” His eyes piercedthroughEveashespoke.“Ifchimerasareanimals,whichlogicwould
dictateisso,thenthey’reincapableofmoralawareness.They’reignorant.”
“Wait,youcan’tpossiblybeserious.”
Travis tried to conceal his grin. “Professor Gupta, I’d like to dismiss this debateonthegroundsofincompetency: Eve’sincompetency.”
Evewasn’tsurewhethertofeelshockedorenraged.“INCOMPETEN—”
“Simplyput,youcan’texpectmetohavearational,fairdebatewitha
subhumancreature.A thing.”
Eveangrilyswungherarmupinprotest.
“Professor,youandIbothknowthatI’m morethancapable—”
Shestopped;outofthecornerofhereye,shecouldseeGuptahunchedover
intoaround,coweringball.Hecringedandshieldedhisface,hisentirebody
tremblingwithfright.Evebecamestill,almostnumb,andslowlyloweredher
armtoherside.
“ProfessorGupta,areyou scaredofme?”
Guptahesitantlyregainedhiscomposure,risingfrombehindthepodium
andstraighteninghissweatervestalmostshamefully.
Travissnickered.“Ithinkthatanswersyourquestion,chimera.”
Evecouldn’tmoveorspeak.Toknowthatherveryexistencewasenoughto
terrorizeagrownman—tocripplehimwithfear—waslikeaknifetothechest.
The classroom around her disappeared, and all she could see was the horror lingeringinGupta’seyes.
Theonlyvisibleescapewasthedoorway,andshetookit.Sherushedfrom
theclassroom,slammingthedoorbehindherandbarrelingdownthehallway
with no destination in mind. She needed to get away, far away, wherever her
legscouldtakeher,andwitheachstepshefeltalittlevoiceinsideofherdying toscreamlouder,andlouder,andlouder.Completehumiliationandrage
consumedher,somuchsothatshedidn’tevenhearthevoicecallinghername.
“Eve!EVE, wait! ”
Eveturnedaroundandsighedloudly.
“Whatdo youwant,JJ?”shesnapped.“Youwanttotakeashotatme,too?
I’llbehereforfouryears,soyou’llhaveplentyoftimetogetyourdigsin.”
“No,”JJstuttered,“that’snotwhyI’mhere.”
“No Rutherfordian commentstoday?Areyoufreshoutofcleverinsults?”
“Eve,I—”
“Becauseyouusuallyhaveanarsenalofabuse,solayitonme,JJ.Goforit.
I insist.”
“Eve,”JJloweredherchinwithchagrin,“Ijustwantedtoseeifyou’re
okay.”
Evefroze.Shecrossedherarmsandsquintedhereyes.“Excuse me?”
“Ijustthoughtyoumightneedsomeonetotalkto.”
Suddenly,Eveburstintolaughter.“You’recute,JJ.Reallycute.”
“Eve,comeon—”
“Stopit.Stoppretendingtogiveadamn.Youtreatedmelikeshitfor weeks.”
“Yeah,butthatwasbeforeIknew—”
“Knewwhat?”Evehissed.“KnewthatI’mnota‘princess’?KnewthatI’ma
chimera?Youknow,forsomeonewithsuchgreat observationskills,yousure screweduponthatone.”
“Eve—”
“Tellme,areyousoanti-establishmentthatyouonlywanttotalktomeonce
theentireschool hatesme?Isthispartofyourattempttomarchtothebeatof yourowndamndrum?Isthatit?”
“Look,I’mtryingtoapologize.I’mtryingtobefriends.”
“Youcankeepyourapologyandyourgoddamnfriendship,JJ.”Eveturned
her back and continued down the hall, leaving the girl far behind her. “I’ve gottenalongperfectlyfinewithoutthem,asyoucansee.”
***
“Weneedtokillthem.Allofthem.”
“What?”
“Wetakethemout,onebyone—”
“Eve—”
“Weaponswouldbenice,butwecouldmakedowithout.”
“Eve,please,stopforasecond.”
EveignoredJasonasshepacedacrossthehospitalroom,staringather
handsandramblingtirelessly.Hermindwasconsumed,producingincoherent
thoughts on top of thoughts, all of which meshed together into one massive knot.Shecouldn’tbreatheorrestordomuchofanythingexceptthink,
endlessly,abouttheInterlopers.
“Imean,we’rechimeras,”shecontinued.“Ifanyonecouldkillthem,we
could.”
“Eve— ”
“I’mreallystrong,youknow.Igaveaguytwicemysizeaconcussionwitha
singledropkicktheotherday—”
JasongrabbedEve’sshoulde
rs,haltingher.“Stop,Eve.Youhaveto stop.”
“Isn’tthiswhatyouwanted?”Evespat,tearingherarmsfromhisgrasp.“To
fighttheInterlopers?”
“Yes,butnotlikethis.”
“Notlikewhat?”
“Something’swrong.”
“What’swrong?”
“You,Eve!”hebarked.“You’reworkedup.Something’sgoingon, Icantell.”
“It’snothing.”
“It’s alwaysnothing.”
“Jesus,Jason,justback off—”
“God dammit,Eve,willyoujustletme helpyouforonce?”
Sheglaredathim.“I’mnotachild,Jason.Idon’tneedyourhelp.”
“Yeah,well,you’vemadethatprettyclear.”
“What’s thatsupposedtomean?”
“WhatdoIhavetodo,Eve?”hesnapped,wavinghisarmsintheair.“What
doIhavetodotogetyoutofinallytrustme?”
“For Christ’ssake,Jason,ITRUSTYOU!”shecried.“Don’tyougetit?Ilet youmeltmetwice!Itrustedyouwithmybody twice!I trustyou,Jason.Itrust youandI’mterrified.Whatmoredoyou wantfromme?”
Evestoppedinthecenteroftheroom,cradlingherheadinherhandsasif
her neck alone couldn’t support the weight of her thoughts. She breathed in deeply,tryingtosubdueherself,tojust relax,butstillherhandswereshaky.
Jasonwatchedher,puzzledanddistraught;itwassounlikehertolosecontrol,
to be anything but unbreakable, and yet there she stood, desperately trying to holdherselftogether.Withoutwarning,hescoopedherupinhisarmsandheld
hertightly,wrappingherinawarm,firmembrace.Sheresisted,pushingathis
chest like a defiant child until she finally gave in and rested her head against hisshoulder.
“I’msorry,”shemumbledasherbreathingslowlyreturnedtonormal,her
chestrisingandfallingwithhis.
“You’refine.”
They stood together in silence. She could feel the faint pulse in his neck, beatingrhythmicallylikeasoothinglullaby.Shepulledawayfromhim,
awkwardlypickingathercuticlesasshestaredatthefloor,andtheytooktheir
usual seats—Eve in her folding chair and Jason in his bed. He watched her dragthefrayededgesofherloungepantsbackandforthacrossthefloor
almosthypnotically.