The Awakening
Page 49
“You’reallfreetogo,”Eriksenmuttered.
Eve’seyesscannedhercomradesandimmediatelynarrowedwithanger.
“You sonofabitch, youdidn’teventakethemtothemedicalward?”
“It’sfine,Eve,”Jasonsaid,rubbinghisnow-freedwrists.“We’refine.Let’s
justgetthehelloutofhere.”
Theyfiledfromthewaitingarea,finallyrealizingwhereitwastheyhad
beentaken:theywereintheShelter,suddenlythrownintothemixofsoldiers
andtechnicians,someofwhomworkedtirelesslywhileothersstoppedtogape
at their battered intruders. The patrolmen, rifles in hand, escorted the group backtotheelevatorandthenthroughthedean’sbuilding,abandoningthem
onlyoncethey’dreachedthefrontdoors.
Sancholookedbacknervouslyatthelineofsoldiersasheandhiscomrades
hurriedacrosstheterrace.“Youknow,thatwasn’texactlythewarmheroes’
welcomeIhadinmind,”hemumbledoutofthecornerofhismouth.
Jasonsighed.“That’sbecausetothem,we’renotheroes.We’rejustabunch
ofworthlessbastards.”
Percygrinnedplayfully.“Well,I’vegottosay,Ithinkvigilantismsuitsus.”
“Quiet,allofyou,”Evewhispered.“Wecan’ttalkaboutthis,notnow.They knowwhatwe’redoing,andthey’llbewatchingus.”
“So,whatdo youthinkweshoulddo?”Sanchoasked.
“Laylowforawhile.Letthingscalmdown.”Evelookedbackatthe
patrolmenonelasttime;theywerefaraway,butstillshekepthervoicelow.
“We’llfigureoutournextsteplater.Untilthen,notaword.”
Thegrouppartedwayswhentheyreachedthecenterofcampus.Percy
decidedtoretreattohisroomandrelaxinthecomfortofhisluxurious
solitude—“Nothingthatashotofbourbonandapainkillercan’tcure” —and besides, a few scars would only enhance his rugged good looks. Sancho
headedtothemedicalward,adecisionthatsurprisedeveryone,asitwas
certainly the most mature option to take. But despite Eve’s urging, Jason refusedtoaccompanyhim.Heclaimeditwasunnecessary,thatArmaanwas
justascapableofstitchinghishandasthenursesattheward.Eveknewbetter
—sheknewthathewasafraid,thatheloathedtheideaofbeingtrappedinthe
wardforevenonemoreday,andthatnothingwouldevermakehimfeelany differently.
EveheadedfortheRutherfordshowers.Shestumbledintothewashroom
without grace or caution, and the other girls froze where they stood—at the sinks, by the changing benches, in front of the mirrors, their eyes fearful as theystaredbackatthebloodiedchimera.Quickly,theyscurriedfromthe
room,pausingonlylongenoughtogathertheirbelongingsandwraptheirwet
bodiesintowelsbeforedashingthroughthesilverdoors.Evewelcomedthe
isolationanddraggedherfeettothenow-emptychangingbench;withadeep
breath,shepeeledherstickyshirtfromherbody,groaningasthefabricripped
from her scabbing wounds. She angrily tossed her shirt into the trash, along withhertornjeans,andlookedatherselfinthemirror.Herbloodykneesand
gashedribsweregrisly,enoughtomakeanyhumancringe,butshehadbeen
beatenenoughtimestoknowthattheseinjurieswouldbegoneinamatterof
days.
Yes,shehadbeenherebefore,staringintoafull-lengthmirroratthetrauma
thatmarkedherbody.Butthistimeitwasdifferent.
Reluctantly,Eveforcedherselfintotheshower,wincingasthewaterstungat
heropenfleshandrivuletsofredandpinkbloodandbrownandblackdirt
streameddownherbody.Eachdropletoffereditsowntorment—cuttinglikea
shard of glass as it hit her skin, burning like sandpaper against her ragged knees—and so she propped her hand against the wall, leaning heavily as her legs became weak. She let her wet hair hang over her face as she hunched forward,hereyesclenchedshutassheenduredtheironictortureofcleansing
thefilthfromherbody.
Howfamiliarallofthiswas—thesuffering.Shefeltthewaterpouringdown
hernoseandlipsandthoughtforamomentthatshecoulddrown,butinstead
shetookinasingle,shallowbreathandopenedhereyes.Dirt,nowmuckyand
thick, accumulated by her feet as it slowly filtered through the drain, along with the red pool of water that swirled like silk between her toes. She was clean.Andthistime,unliketheothers,shewasrestored.
Evedugthroughthelost-and-foundbin,nabbingapairofloungepantsand
abaggysweatshirtandtossingthemontoherbodybeforeleavingthe
washroom. The Rutherfordians stared at her—she told herself it was because ofherwethairandtiredface,butsheknewotherwise—andshecontinuedpast
them,avoidingtheirgazesasshefiddledwiththelockofherdormroomdoor.
Shebargedthroughtheentrywayandsuddenlystopped—theroomwas
empty, or practically so. Not a single suitcase, diamond, or couture garment wasinsight.Thefloorwasvisibleforthefirsttimesincethesemesterbegan,
andMadison’sbedhadbeenstrippeddowntothemattress.Thedormroomfelt
huge, open, and naked, and though Eve had often wished for such a sight, it suddenlyseemedunsettling.Shelookeddownattheendtablebesideher;there
satMadison’sroomkey,itsgripadornedwithsparklycrystals.
“Shemovedout.”
HaydenstoodbehindEve,herarmsfoldedoverthebuttonsofherpeacoat.
Everolledhereyes.“Thanksforclarifying.Iwouldn’thavebeenableto
figurethatoutonmyown.”
“You’rewelcome.”
Evesighed.“So,letmeguess,shemovedinwithyou?”
“No.”
“Really?Butyou’rehershadow.Ifiguredyou’djumpatthechancetoroom
withher.”
Haydengazedatthefloor.“She’slivingwithLionelinstead.”
Evesmirked.“Backatthebottomofthetotempole,arewe?”
Haydendidn’trespond.Evewassurprised,asthegirlwastypicallyquick
withabarb,butinsteadHaydenjustshuffledthroughtheroomandpluckeda
smallcardboardboxfilledwithpinkparaphernaliafromthefloor.
“Ihavetogo,”shemumbled.“Thisisthelastofherstuff.”
Eve stared at Hayden—at her downcast eyes, her uncharacteristically somber look—andforthefirsttime,shepitiedthegirl.
“Youknow,youshouldmaybethinktwiceabouthangingoutwithMadison.”
Haydenwavered.“Whatareyoutalkingabout?”
“Shejustmaynotbewhatsheseems.”
Hayden’slarge,greyeyesbecamesmallandfocused.Shetookasteptoward
Eve,hernosewigglingasshestudiedeachandeveryinchofherface.Aftera
momentofsilence,shesneered.
“Iseewhatyou’redoing.You’retryingtopoisonmeagainsther.”
“Look,I’mserious.Youneedtobecareful—”
“I’mnot stupid,youknow.Youthinkyou’rebetterthanme,butyou’renot.”
“Hayden,shecouldbe dangerous.”
“Stopit,”shegrowled.“Idon’twanttotalkaboutthisanymore.”
“I’mjusttryingto help you—”
“Isaid, STOPIT.”
SuddenlythecardboardboxflewfromHayden’sgraspandcrashedintothe
wall,
sending its contents spraying across the floor. Eve gasped, glancing in shockattherandomtrinkets,nowinpiecesalongtheground,andthenatthe
limpboxthathadsoabruptlycometolife.Therewasonlyoneexplanationfor
itssuddenmovement,anditcertainlywasn’tEve—no,Evehadtotalcontrolof
hergift.Slowly,shelookedupatHayden.
“Didyoujust—”
“Don’tsayit,”Haydenspat.“Don’teventhinkit.”
Eve gazed blankly at the mess, still struggling to digest what she had just witnessed.“Oh…myGod.”
“Youdidn’tseeanything,okay?”Haydenmaintained,hervoicetrembling.
“You didn’tseeANYTHING.”
EvelookedbackatHayden,herforeheadwrinkled.“This whole time?”
“JUSTGO,OKAY?”thegirlcried.“JUSTLEAVEMEALONE.”
Evefurrowedherbrow.“Thisis myroom,Hayden.”
“Oh.”Shepaused.“Right.”
Haydenlingeredintheroomforamomentlonger,attemptingtogatherup
thebrokenshardsofwhatever-they-once-werefromthefloorbeforedeeming it futile. She hurried to the doorway, seemingly eager to be rid of Eve’s presence,thenabruptlystoppedbesidetheendtable.
“Eve,” she said, resting her hand along the table. “Please.” She paused and lookedbackatEve.Theireyesmet.
“Pleasedon’ttell.”
***
“Istillcan’tbelievetheyletusgo!”
SanchoflunghisbodyontoPercy’scouchandsankintothefoldsoftherich
leather.IthadbeenoveraweeksincetheirassaultagainsttheInterlopersand
subsequent run-in with the patrolmen, and despite their better judgment, the groupfinallyagreedtomeetbetweenclassesintheprivacyofPercy’ssuite.As
theyconvenedneartheHV,circlingacelebratorybottleofagedscotchanda
bowlofsalt-and-vinegarchips,along-stifledsenseofreliefandvictoryswept
throughtheroom.
Sanchoplacedhishandsbehindhisheadandsmiledcomplacently.“Ididn’t
realizeIwas thatconvincing.MaybeIshouldbeanactor.”
Everolledhereyes.“Theyknewwewerefullofshit.Percy’scarwasloaded
withguns.”
“Itoldthemwewereonahuntingtrip.”Percyshrugged,kickingatSancho’s
legsandfreeingaspotforhimselfattheendofthecouch.“Ifyouthinkabout
it,it’snotexactlyalie.We werehuntingaliens,afterall.”
“Theyonlyletusgobecause,bythesheergraceofGod,allofourstories matchedup,”Evesaid.
“Noonetoldthetruth.”JasonsqueezedbesideEveontheloveseatandrested
his arm around her shoulders. “I’ve never been so proud of you rotten little liars.”
“Wedodgedabulletthistime,butthey’llbewatchingus.”Eveanxiously
pickedathercuticles.“IfFurstgetstheslightestinklingthatwe’restilltracking the Interlopers, you can bet your ass he’ll send patrolmen to break down our doors.”
Assoonasthewordslefthermouth,therewasaknockatthedoor.Thegroup
froze, their lips stunned to silence and eyes wide with dread. Percy inched slowlytowardtheentryway,steppingsoftlyasifdesperatenottomake
asound,andwithadeep,nervousbreath,hegentlyturnedtheknobandopened
thedoor.
“You’reallunderarrest,”JJteased,shovingpasttheheirandtakinghisseat
onthecouch.“Justkidding,youbigbabies.”
“JJ,mydivine,celestialcreature,you’realive!”Sanchohurriedtowardher.
“Wherehaveyoubeen?”
“Wehaven’theardfromyousincetheWilds.”Eveglowered.“Youdidn’t
evencometoclassallweek.”
“That’sbecauseIwas tryingtoappearinconspicuous.”ShewinkedatEveand shovedahandfulofchipsintohermouth.“Alittlebitofdistancefromyou
guys didn’t seem like the worst idea after all the trouble you got yourselves into.”
Evegrowled.“Theyraidedallofourrooms.Weassumedtheyfoundyouin Jason’sdorm.Wethoughtyouwereexpelled.”
“Please,”JJscoffed.“Assoonasyouguysweretakenin,Ibolted.Didyou really think I’d stick around for that mess like a sitting duck? This isn’t my first time dealing with the authorities—and don’t be all high and mighty with me, because I know it’s not your first time either.” She shifted her attention from Eve to Jason and flashed a critical scowl in his direction. “Or yours. I know all,remember?”
Jasonclearedhisthroatuncomfortably.“Well,Ihatetobethebearerofbad
news,butwe’vegotnothingforyou.”
“Yeah,Eriksenconfiscatedeverything—ourearpieces,ourguns,eventhe
DirtySanchez.”Sanchobowedhisheadsomberly.“Godresthissoul.”
“Andmostimportantly,theytookthetorq,”Evesighed.
Percygrinned,hiseyessparklingwithself-satisfaction.“Ordidthey?”
Withasingleswoop,hethrewhisarmbeneaththecouchandpulledasmall,
concealedlever.SuddenlythemiddlecushionofhiscouchroseupwithSancho
stillontopofit,sendinghimtopplingtothefloor.Percycasuallysteppedover hisfriendandpulledadrawerfromthecushion,openedtheleathercasing,and
delicatelyremovedasilver,cylindricaldevice.Withaslygrin,herevealedto
the others the secret he’d been keeping for the past ten days: he still had the torq.
“Geez,Percy,”Sanchogrumbledashegatheredhimselffromthefloor.
“Howmanysecretcompartmentsdoyou haveinthisplace?”
“Howthe helldidyousneakthatpastthepatrolmen?”Evegasped.
“Ihavemyways.”
“Seriously,how’dyoudoit?”Jasonpried.“Youhadtohaveworkedsome
magic,becausetheyfriskedme.”
Evenodded.“Metoo.”
“Andme.”Sanchoeyedtheheirsuspiciously.“Youknow,acommonmethod
criminalsusetosmugglecontrabandistostickituptheir—”
“FortheloveofGod, pleasedon’tfinishthatsentence,”Percysnapped.
“Well,howelsecouldyouhavegottenawaywithit?”
“Iputitdownmy pants.”
“Buttheycheckedmylegs,andmypockets—”
“No, Sancho,” Percy groused, pointing at his groin. “I put it down my under pants.”
Jason’sjawdropped.“Excuseme?”
“Ididsome…well,some tucking,ifyouwill,andIputitinthecrotchofmy chonies.”
“Oh…myGod,”Evemuttered.
“Hey, you and I both know that thing looks like a, well, thing,” he spat. “I figured the patrolmen wouldn’t fondle the family jewels. And if that didn’t work,Ihopedthatthebulgealonewouldscarethemoff.”
Jasonlaughed.“That’sdisgusting.”
“Itwas genius.Andbytheway,you’rewelcome.”
“Hell,I’mnotcomplaining,”JJsaid.“Justremindmenottotouchitwithmy
barehands.”
EveturnedtoJJ,eagertochangethesubject.“So,nowthatyouhavethetorq,
canyoustartcodingthatvirus?”
“It’sgoingtotakesometime.IhavetofigureouthowitfunctionsbeforeI
canevenattempttocreateacompatiblevirus.”
“Well,whateveryouhavetodotogetthatthingworking,doit.”
JJflashedasmuggrin.“Yes ,YourMajesty.”
“Andkeepwatchingthebeacon’st
ransmissions.Ifsomethingelsecomesup,
weneedtoknowaboutit.”
“Andthenwhat?”Percyinterrupted.“Wecan’tdoanything.NotwithBig
Brotherbreathingdownournecks.”
“Nokidding.”JJpulledherscratchpadfromhershoulderbag.“You’reon
Furst’s radar in a big way. Over the last week, the Shelter doubled their camerasacrosscampus,andIcantellyou,they’renotjustlookingforaliens.”
Sancho’seyesbulgedcomically.“Whatifthey’rewatchingusrightnow?”
“Relax,”JJsaid.“Therearen’tanycamerasinthisroom,oranyotherdorm
room. Trust me, I’ve checked. Never mind the fact that that would be illegal, butregardless—”
“Wehavetowatchourbacks,”Jasoncutin.
JJsmiled.“OrIcanwatchthemforyou.”
Sheturnedherscratchpadtofacetheothers.Hundredsoftinyvideoclipsfilled
thescreen,displayinglivefeedsfromacrosscampus.“Youcan’tforget
myarsenaloftechgoodies.Ihavetotalaccesstothesurveillancesector,soI
cantellyouwhenyou’reintheirlineofvision.”
Sanchosighedadoringly.“You’llbelikeourveryownpersonalguardian
angel.”
“And youcancontinuetobemyveryownpersonalpainintheass.”
“Speakingofpainintheass,weneedtodiscussMadison,”Jasonadded.
“God, again?”Percygroaned.“Wegetit,she’sapossessive,psychoticmess.”
“Yeah,well,shemaybeahellofalotmorethanthat.”Jasonturnedtofacethe
group.“WefoundashesalloverthatnestintheWilds—thesameashesused
towrite DieChimeinEve’sclassroom.Thesameashes—”
“OnMadison’ssheets,”Evemumbled.
Jasoncradledhisforeheadinhishands.“Ican’tbelievethat MadisonPalmer
couldbeanInterloper,ofallpeople.”
“Noway,she’stotallyhuman,”JJcountered.“Whataboutallthatlovesick
puppybullshit?”
“Maybeitwasallanact.”EveglancedatJason.“Hell,maybeshesentyouher
underwearjustinhopesofgettingyoutwoalonetogether.”
“Wait,analiensentyouhis underwear?”Percyasked.
Jason’sfacereddened.“Don’task.”
“Haveyoutriedtalkingtoher?”Sanchoasked.“Youknow,tofeelherout?”