by Nicole Sobon
“It was working fine yesterday. What’s wrong with it today?” I was just as puzzled as he was, although I had a slight idea of what could have happened. We were on the run. People were looking for us. It wasn't hard to put two and two together. “Colton, wait…” I said, throwing my arm over the steering wheel. “Go check the battery cables, make sure they haven’t been cut.” He looked at me like I was crazy before making his way out of the car.
As soon as he lifted the hood, I knew I was right. Someone had found us. Someone that didn’t want us to get away. It couldn’t have been McVeigh or his men because we were still alive. So who was it?
“The damn wires are cut,” Colton whined from under the hood. “What are we supposed to do now?”
He dropped the hood and headed over to the passenger door, pressing his arms over the open window.
“Well, for now we can stay here.” He tried to protest, but I lifted my hand, indicating for him to hear me out. “Now look, whoever it was that cut the battery, I’m fairly certain they don’t work for Vesta Corp or McVeigh. If they worked for McVeigh, we’d be dead.”
“But we’re still alive,” Colton said, understanding where I was headed.
“Exactly, there's no way McVeigh would have let them leave us alive. I'm rather certain that we're still safe here. Unfortunately, we just won’t have transportation for now, unless you know how to fix this?” I smirked, locking my eyes with his.
“I guess we’re stuck here for a while, then,” he said, opening my door to let me back out. We grabbed our belongings and made our way back to the house – home.
17 THE LETTER
Leaving wasn’t an option, at least not for now. But then again, we didn’t actually have options. We needed to remain out of the public eye as much as possible. So, maybe it was best we were locked away in the middle of nowhere. But I still couldn’t figure out who it was that cut the battery cables, and it was beginning to drive me nuts.
Charles McVeigh’s men would have taken us in, if not killed us, and Hayden was far away. He was forbidden to be near me for both of our sakes. There was no way he could have done it. So then who the heck was it?
“You know, Emile, I think it was your brother,” Colton said while reaching forward to unlock the front door. I looked up at him and shook my head. Hayden wouldn’t be that stupid. He would be endangering both of our lives if he pulled a stunt like that. “Who else would have done it?”
When we opened the door, my question seemed to have been answered. Lying in the middle of the room was a small, blue envelope with Emile Reed written across it in fancy lettering. Colton and I looked at each other, curious as to what it might be or what it might say.
We slowly stepped through the front door, our eyes searching the room to make sure we were alone. Colton moved aside, letting me go ahead of him. I was anxious to know what the envelope hid, but at the same time, I was nervous that its contents might worry me.
I walked to the middle of the room, squatting down to pick up the envelope. Sliding my finger under the flap carefully, the seal easily lifted, as if it’d just been placed here while we were outside.
The letter was from him.
Hayden had been here.
I removed the letter from inside the envelope, unfolding it slowly, trying to cherish it while I still could.
Dear Emile, it read.
The paper was creased and yellowish in color. The writing was neat and in red ink on my mother’s old stationary. I continued reading on, curious as to what would make him break his own rule.
Please don’t be upset with me. I know I said I wanted to give you your life back, but I couldn’t let you leave the state. There are some things I probably should have told you, things you’ll need to know in order to survive.
As you may have already noticed, your core will begin to fuse with Thirteen’s. They will continue to fuse until you’ve become one. This was something I didn’t consider until I began to read over your reports. To my surprise, both you and Thirteen were already fusing before we left Vesta Corp. Unfortunately, Thirteen’s Program still carries a tracker. The more she comes through, the easier it’ll be for them to find you.
I need you to stay here where I will be able to help you.
I will be back in an hour. Please, Emile, whatever you do, do not leave.
Love,
Hayden
Hayden was here. He came back for me. “Colton,” my voice boomed throughout the room. “You were right. It was Hayden!”
I lifted my hand, the note still within my grasps, and motioned for Colton to come to me. He was smiling, but he hesitated to move forward. “Do you think he knows about me?” he asked.
“What do you mean?” I questioned, unsure of where he was going with this.
“You know..." He blushed. “About me being here, I mean.”
“He has to. This letter was left recently,” I replied.
Hayden had left the note after we had gone to the car. He had to have been watching us. How else would he have known we were going to take off? Surely he knew that I wasn’t alone.
I suddenly found myself laughing hysterically. I’d somehow missed the hidden meaning behind Colton’s words. He wasn’t asking solely if Hayden knew he was here. He was seriously asking me if Hayden would have thought that there was something going on between us.
“Oh, you mean that,” I finally said after I allowed myself to calm down. “You do realize that isn’t possible, right?”
He looked over at me and smirked. “I tend to forget that you’re not human.”
“Eh, that’s to be expected. I mean I kind of sprung it on you only what, twenty-four hours ago?” We both grinned as we took our places on the couch. “But no, trust me, you’re in the clear.”
“I hope so.” He relaxed.
Hayden would be back within the hour, and that thought pleased me, even if it was only temporary. I was going to see my brother again. I glanced over at Colton who was sitting with his head between his legs.
“Is something wrong?”
“I’m still adjusting to all of this,” he answered honestly. “So much has changed over the course of a day. Changes that will continue to affect my life from here on out. It makes me wonder if we’re doing the right thing, or even worse, if I’m doing the right thing.”
I wanted to lean over and comfort him, but I couldn’t. Only Colton could decide if he was doing the right thing. I had no say in the matter. Sure, I wanted him to stay, but that was because I was being selfish. If he wanted to go, I would have to let him go. I would have to allow myself to let him live his life freely, because that was what I wished someone would have done for me.
This body was becoming a prison cell, a realistic version of hell. I was happy around Colton, and I was more than enthusiastic to see Hayden, but what else did I have? I could never truly be with someone. I could never experience the rush of first love again. My heart would never beat for anyone, because I no longer had a heart. I was a steel case full of wires, and Colton…wasn’t.
He deserved more than this.
He deserved more than me.
“Emile,” he said, placing his left hand on my shoulder. “I may not know if this is the right life for me, but I don’t have anyone out there besides you. No matter if it’s right or wrong, you are my home now. You saved me from myself, and I will forever be tied to you. I just need time to adjust. If you see me sitting in a corner shaking, feel free to keep on walking,” he joked.
“You are an amazing person. You do realize that, right?” I looked at him and smiled. He was so welcoming, so accepting of me, that it was hard to imagine him leaving. He had become my shade of happiness throughout this hell.
“If you say so.” He laughed, pressing his forehead against mine gently. “Hayden should be here soon.”
The sound of his name rang through my ears. “Can you promise me something?” I asked, knowing it would be within my best interest to forewarn Colton. He nodded his head, his eyebrows r
aised in suspicion. “Well, if Hayden brings out a chair with restraints, I need you to promise me that you won’t get freaked out.” I flinched, almost human like. “At Vesta Corp, whenever they performed hard drive evaluations, they’d strap us into these chairs. I’m almost certain he’ll be bringing one and I want you to be prepared.”
“That sounds like a lot of…fun,” Colton said, looking at me with pain in his eyes.
“Oh yes, especially when the shocks throw you forward, and all you can do is scream, unable to move anywhere.” I allowed the images of past evaluations to fill my mind, images that consisted of Thirteen’s sessions along with my own.
“I can’t imagine how Hayden must feel knowing that in order to keep you alive, he has to physically put you through hell.” A single tear rolled down his cheek as the words fell from his lips.
I never stopped to think of that before, the pain Hayden must have felt each time he watched me fall forward in agony. Watching as I gave in to the volts as they soared through my body at inexplicable rates. The physical pain was strong on my end, but what about Hayden? What about his emotional pain? What about the misery in watching a loved one suffer and knowing there wasn’t a damn thing you could do about it?
I lowered my head, trying to erase the image from my mind. No one should have to suffer because of me, especially Hayden.
“Hey, why don’t you lie down?” Colton slowly eased himself off the couch and turned back to face me. “I’ll come get you once he gets here. I’m pretty sure you could use some time to relax.”
It was a sweet gesture, one that was almost useless as I knew what was waiting for me the second I closed my eyes – the spliced memories that have been finding their home in my mind. “Please, come get me the minute he arrives,” I begged as my eyes fought to remain open.
“I will,” he promised, grabbing hold of my hand before releasing it slowly.
Gradually my Program eased into sleep mode, blocking out the world around me. I expected the images, to relive the horror of losing my family, but this time, they were different.
We were back at Vesta Corp. Standing beside me were Tina and Hayden, while Colton remained behind me. I searched the room for him, because I knew he would be there. McVeigh’s eyes met my gaze. A slew of guards filled in from behind him, restraints in tow.
“I believe it’s time that we deactivate Thirteen, agreed?” he asked, turning his head to look at his guards.
I could see Tina and Hayden turning into pixels, slowly fading away, piece by piece. I reached out to grab them, but they were already gone. I looked for Colton, only to find that he had vanished along with them. They no longer existed. In here, I was alone.
“Ah, finally, I have you alone,” Charles McVeigh whispered, lunging forward to grab me by my shoulders. Two of his guards came behind me and placed restraints on my arms and legs. “Get rid of her men,” he muttered as if disgusted by my presence.
I was on my way to deactivation.
“Emile!” I heard his voice, almost as if it were real. Hands gripped my arms, shaking my body. When I opened my eyes, I could see his face. I reached out my hand, cupping his face to make sure that he was real and that this wasn’t an illusion or false memory.
But it was real. He was here.
18 THIRTEEN
“Emile,” he whispered, pressing his hand to my cheek.
Colton took a seat on the opposite end of the couch while Hayden hovered over me, making sure that I was okay. “Has she been doing this a lot?” He turned to Colton in search of an answer.
“If you're referring to her zoning out, then yes, she's been doing it quite a bit." He examined my face, concern visible throughout his own. "What happens to her when she zones out?” his voice cracked. Colton, much like Hayden, wanted nothing more than to protect me. But they couldn’t protect me from this. No one could protect me from this.
“I’m not sure yet. I’ll need to run some tests. Her core is beginning to fuse with Thirteen’s.” Hayden paused to look at Colton. He stared at Hayden blankly, clearly not understanding what he was saying. “I probably should’ve explained that, huh? Thirteen is the Program she was before I brought Emile back.”
I was struggling to keep my eyes open. My body was weak with exhaustion, but I wasn’t ready to let him go. Not yet. I fought back, forcing my eyes to stay open for as long as I could. Hayden began to fade from my view, becoming nothing more than a silhouette, although I could still, albeit faintly, make out his voice. No, please, no. I was beginning to drift away again, and there was no one within view that could bring me back.
“Emile,” she called out, her eyes shining like diamonds in the sunlight. My mother was waiting for me across the field. Her hands were on her hips with a smile stretched across her lips. I started making my way towards her. But as I moved, the sunlight began to fade. I ran with desperation, trying to reach her before the light faded from view. My heart was pounding against my chest. I could feel my pulse in my ears as my knees buckled beneath me. The wind hammered against my skin, sending chills throughout my body. I sat on the ground with my knees folded below me, and searched through the darkness for her. There was a flash of light that illuminated the entire sky. And then it all fell to black.
“Emile!” she screamed. I wanted to answer, to let her know that I was coming, but it was too late, just as quickly as she appeared, she vanished.
Images of a white room replaced the memory of my mother. I was lying on a metal table, covered in battered clothing. I looked down in horror, seeing the restraints for the first time. I could feel the straps digging into my skin. Get out of here, I thought. I tried ripping my wrists from the leather straps, forcing them to dig into my skin more. I let out a scream. Around me, the walls began to fall, thrusting me into complete darkness again.
“We need to wake her up!” I could barely make out Hayden’s voice now.
“Hayden,” I whispered so low that I was sure no one would hear me. I could feel a hand gripping my right arm. A single tear splashed against my skin.
“What’s wrong with her?” Colton’s voice was shaky. “Why isn’t she waking up?”
“I’m not sure.” Hayden’s hand slipped from my arm. There was a loud sound off in the distance. “Dammit!”
“Calm down!” Colton was screaming now. “You don’t need to punch the wall.”
“She needs to enter the Pod as soon as possible.”
The buzzing of the computers began to fill the room. I could hear the screeching of metal against the wooden floor. “Push.” Hayden’s voice was tense. “Be careful as you round the corner of the table.”
“Yeah, wouldn’t want to destroy anything else.” Colton laughed, but Hayden didn’t return his laughter. “Lighten up, man. It was a joke.”
“Save the jokes for later. We need to get her set up in the Pod quickly. I don’t know how much longer she can hold out against him. Her body is beginning to beat out her mind.”
Their voices became whispers before fading altogether.
“Emile,” my father called, angry with me. “How many times do I need to tell you to come straight in once it starts getting dark outside?” I nodded my head, knowing exactly where this was going. Every day I went out into the field behind our house. I sat against the large oak tree in the center of the field and curled up with a book. The nighttime brought a feeling of peace and wonder. The nighttime brought freedom, freedom that I so desperately sought after day in and day out.
“Your mother is waiting inside, now hurry in.” His voice broke my trance. I looked up to find my father walking back towards the house. I leapt to my feet, preparing for my mother’s ranting, but when I looked again – there was nothing there. No house. No father. Nothing.
“Dad!” I started to panic. I was alone and lost.
“Daddy isn’t here, Emile.” A twig snapped beside me. The wind grew cold around me, sending goose bumps throughout my body. I peered over my shoulder and found him leaning against the tree. His arms were fol
ded across his chest, and a smile peered up at the corner of his mouth. “I’m sorry. It’s Thirteen, isn’t it? My apologies.”
It was McVeigh; he’d found me.
A shock ran throughout my body, forcing me to open my eyes. Colton and Hayden must’ve carried me to the Pod when I zoned out, because I didn’t remember moving an inch from the couch. The door was latched shut, and my hard drive was connected to the slot in the back. It’d be hours before I could move.
They stood above the Pod with their eyes fixated on the window, peering down on me. I wanted to ask them questions, but I couldn’t. There had to be a reason Hayden came back. He left because it was dangerous for me - for us. So what was it that brought him back?
“Hayden, can I ask you something?” Colton’s gaze drifted to Hayden. “Why are you here?”
“Well, I suppose I could ask you the same thing, no?” my brother smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He appeared distant, full of worry.
“We’re not talking about me. I asked why you are here. What made you come back?”
Hayden smirked, shaking his head as he placed both of his palms on the Pod’s window. “Emile is my sister, Colton. As her older brother, I’m expected to protect her. I need to make any effort possible to help her.” Pulling his hands from the glass, he turned to face Colton and continued. “Plus, I never actually left. I followed her here because I was worried about her being alone. Obviously my concerns were foolish,” he said, gesturing towards Colton.
“Colton, McVeigh has his men looking for her. As it stands, Emile and Thirteen are fusing together rather quickly. Somehow I overlooked that slight detail when I installed her core. Once the fusion is completed, the tracker in Thirteen’s Program will become active again. If that happens, then they’ll be able to locate Emile at all times. I need to prolong that from happening for as long as possible.”