As I sound pompous to my own ears, I excuse myself to go talk to Kroll. I punch in my call to him when Damian takes my arm.
“For what it’s worth, I agree with your decision,” he says.
“Of course, you do. You practically planted it into my head.”
“We’ve laid low way too long. It’s the effect of Exodus on us. They’re turning us soft.”
“Soft?” I say with a smile. “I’m surprised you know what that even means.”
“I need something from you,” he says.
His voice is soothing and familiar like a mother’s lullaby.
“Yes,” I tell him. “Yes to everything.”
He arches his brows, not understanding what I have just told him. How could he? I’ve always acted like a furious little animal around him, holding my ground firmly and never giving an inch to an argument. And now I’m saying yes before I even know what he wants.
“Yes,” I repeat so there’s no misunderstanding. “The answer is yes to anything you need.”
But I should have known better than to offer such a reassurance to Damian of all people. Because his requests are never sensible or predictable.
“I want to go back to our old camp at the alien facilities,” he says. “Will you cover for me?”
Now it’s my turn to stare at him, unable to understand. “Why?”
“There are some things I need to retrieve.” He stops to take in a deep breath. “Daphne’s things.”
6
We’ve reached the Administration Offices. Damian opens the door and ushers me into the dark enclosure of the waiting area. He grabs my hand when I reach over to the light switch on the wall.
“What I’m about to tell you merits some darkness,” he says.
“What is wrong with you?”
“That handkerchief that the guards brought in?”
“What about it?”
“I think it belonged to Daphne.”
I switch the light on and am shocked to see the conviction on his face. Maybe he’s finally losing his mind.
“How could it be Daphne’s? She was never in this district. She didn’t even know it existed.”
“Precisely. Something really strange is going on.”
I let him talk about his theories but I don’t really listen. What concerns me is the fact that he would do something so reckless over a handkerchief that might or might not have belonged to a girl that’s been dead for over a year.
“We’ve never really talked about Daphne and you,” I say cautiously. “About what she meant to you.”
“Does that really matter now?” he says turning his back on me to step into the main administration office.
I follow him in and close the door behind me. “I’m trying to understand where you’re coming from with this.”
“Daphne and I became bonded when there was only a few of us around,” he says switching on the glass screen on the desk. “We trusted each other.”
“Yes, obviously. That’s not what I’m asking.”
“Just be patient. Do you know how to be patient?”
I shake my head. I have no patience for diversions right now.
“A couple years later and as we grew older, we got closer, mostly because of her persistence,” he says, unwilling to reveal more than absolutely necessary, spitting every word out with a hissing sound at the end as if I had thrown a fish hook into his mouth.
“You mean intimate?”
He nods.
“Were you in love? Like you and me?”
He gets impatient and puts his hands in his pockets only to get them out a second later. “No,” he says. “Not like you and me. How can you even ask that?”
“Are you sure? Because to me it feels like you’re still thinking about her.”
Damian bangs his right hand on the desk. The wooden construction quivers with a reverberating sound as the monitors and computers and paper-stands all shake along with it. I take a few steps back but he quickly rectifies that by taking a few steps toward me.
“Don’t you understand, Freya? I miscalculated and she died. I misjudged the situation and left Daphne unprotected. I knew that she was vulnerable. I knew she was having a hard time distinguishing between fact and fantasy. And what did I do about it? Nothing.”
His guilt runs a lot deeper than I thought. A lot deeper than he’d ever care to admit. It’s eating at him, chewing away chips of his defensive mechanisms. The more feelings he develops about Tobi and me, the more he is reminded of his failures. I don’t know how to help him.
“You did care for Daphne,” I say putting my arms around him. “I saw it with my own eyes, we all did. But whether that handkerchief belonged to her or not is inconsequential, Damian. She’s gone and nothing can change that. Promise me you won’t go.”
He remains silent and I start to hope I’m getting through to him.
“I’m sorry you’ve had to go through this terrible loss,” I go on. “If only we knew how to be perfect. Look at where we came from, what we were taught growing up. We’ve come a long way all on our own.”
His neck tenses under my fingers. I have no doubt that any moment now he will swipe my hands off him. He resists the urge, however, and channels his fury into his words.
“You’re sorry for me? I’m not the one who’s dead,” he says coldly.
I remove my hands and strike before he has a chance to react. “Well, you’re not going to the camp. That’s an order.”
“You can’t order me around, Freya.”
“Oh, yes, I can. I’m going to protect you from yourself whether you like it or not.”
“You know you could offer to go with me. But I guess you save all the adventure stuff for Finn.”
I can barely believe my ears. “Adventure stuff? Almost getting killed time after time to save your butt has not been fun, you idiot.”
He cracks a smile at my outburst which kind of makes it impossible to stay mad at him. “Don’t hold anything back on my account,” he says.
Maybe it’s the way he looks at me, or the fact that I know how he feels, or maybe it’s just that I want him to be able to move on finally. Whatever the reason, I make up my mind fast. “Do you really want me to go with you?”
He’s puzzled now. “What? No. C’mon, you know that I say things just to get a reaction. You’ve told me so yourself many times.”
Yes, I do know that. And now I also know that this is a different Damian talking to me. Six months ago he would have stayed pissed at me for days, weeks even, over an argument like this one. Today he’s poking fun at himself and does his best to keep the peace between us. It’s a step forward.
“Just promise me you won’t do anything without telling me first.”
“I can do that,” he says leaning in for a kiss. I get on my tiptoes to kiss him back but before I know it, he lifts me up and sits me down on the desk, his hands sneaking their way under my shirt, his lips still glued to mine until I have to push him away to take in some air.
“Not here,” I protest but I really don’t think he cares for anything I have to say right now.
His neck smells like an exotic fruit, sweet and sour at the same time, like the very first night I met him when he helped rescue me from Plantation-8. I giggle a little when he exhales in my ear. I push my fingers through his hair when I hear the first siren wail. It sounds like a dream at first, distant and faint, but then the second siren goes off and then the third followed by the fourth until they’re all screaming at top volume.
“What the hell is that?” Damian says as he pulls away from my arms.
“Those are the warning sirens,” I whisper in a daze.
“We’re under attack?” he says with disbelief in his eyes. “How did our systems miss that?”
We run out unsure of what we will find. The streets are crowded with guards and some of the older kids who have supervisor positions. The sky is on fire as three massive drones hover above casting their red lights across Spring Town.
&nb
sp; Finn and Zoe come running to meet us. My eyes instinctively turn back to the drones as soon as my friends gather around me.
“What is the meaning of this?” Zoe says loudly to be heard amidst the mayhem. “What are they hoping to achieve? I mean, the shields are in place, right? We’re protected.”
“They made it past our sensors,” Damian says. “That part worries me.”
“Some new kind of stealth technology?” Finn says.
I’m finally shaken out of my stupor. I dispatch messages to Dom and Kroll while Finn checks to make sure that all defensive systems are up and running. The systems are fully automated and alerted by the warning sirens so, unless the drones have managed to crack down our codes and disarm our weapons, we should be fully operational.
Damian briefs Nya, Theo, Tilly and Biscuit on what we know so far which isn’t much.
“Somebody better quiet those sirens,” I yell.
“I’m on it,” Theo says before running off to the control room.
Within seconds of the sirens shutting down, a fourth drone materializes out of nowhere behind the others. It stays there for a few seconds before it releases an avalanche of liquid explosives. They hit the shield with a deafening echo causing the ground to shake.
“HQ, now,” Damian says taking off.
We follow him as new explosions and detonations light up the sky.
When we make it to the control room, we find Dom there.
“Freya,” he says. “I need permission.”
“Permission for what?
“For striking back.”
Damian steps between Dom and me. “You want to bring down the drones?” he says.
Dom nods. “It can be done. They don’t have much as far as defensive systems going on right now.”
“It’s true,” Theo says. “Their shields are down.”
“But they do have shields,” Finn notices.
“Yes, and you’re right in your assumption,” Theo confirms. “It’s the first time we’ve seen drones using shields to hide their approach.”
“Why would they leave them down now?” Damian says.
Theo shrugs. “I have no answer for that.”
Damian turns to Dom. “Strike the bomber,” he says.
We’re taking a risk. Spring Town doesn’t have much going in terms of offensive weapons. A couple anti-air guns and one guided surface-to-air missile launcher with a shortage of missiles, as far as I know. I’d be surprised if there was more than one. Exodus spared all it could.
“I can confirm that the bomber isn’t manned,” Theo says.
Dom starts the calibration of the system. He’ll have to open up the shield just wide enough for us to take our shots. “We’ll use the neutral fire projectile. That should do it.”
I don’t even know what that means but I trust that Dom knows what he’s doing. That’s why he’s here anyway. Because he understands warfare systems and weapons better than anyone and knows how to ward off an air attack.
“I can’t stand this,” Nya whispers. “How can you stay so calm?”
“Who? Me? I’m not in the least bit calm, Nya. I want to get in the fight.”
My response pleases her. “That’s what I like to hear. Now if we just get Miss Sensible here to admit it,” she says stealing a glance at Zoe.
Zoe puts an arm around Nya. “I admit it,” she says nervously.
“Fire,” Dom shouts through his mouthpiece.
From within the windows we have a perfect view of the bomber drone as its right side bursts into flames. It quickly swerves out of position and attempts to go back. Dom resets the coding on his screen getting ready to fire again.
“Wait,” Theo cuts him off. “There’s a fifth drone lurking about a mile away near the Dark Legion camp.”
“We’ll blow the bomber up and then worry about the rest.”
Theo is uncomfortable. “This fifth one is manned,” he says. “The sensors receive movement inside.”
“What are you saying?” Finn says.
“I think this whole thing here is just a distraction,” Theo says. “It’s the camp where the action will be at.”
The Dark Legion. They want my warriors destroyed. The shield at the camp is weak at best without me there to reinforce it.
I turn to Theo. “Can you protect them?”
“I have minimal control from here.”
“Theo?” I say with pleading eyes.
“Do your best,” Finn tells Theo. “It can only help.”
I need to talk to Kroll. I reach for my touchpad which lights up almost simultaneously with an incoming call. Kroll.
“What is going on over there?” I say. “There’s a drone above your camp.”
“We have a prisoner,” Kroll says after a short pause.
“A prisoner,” I repeat, not quite understanding.
The room feels bigger somehow as if everyone is drawing away from me and into unknown corners of the world. I don’t know whether to be worried, scared or hopeful.
“Human or alien?” Damian says.
“Not quite sure,” Kroll responds. “You’ll have to tell me.”
“The drones are retreating,” Theo says.
“All of them?” Zoe says rushing to Theo’s side.
“See for yourself,” Theo says stepping aside to make room for Zoe.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Zoe says.
Theo nods.
“What do you mean?” Biscuit says. “What is it that you guys think?”
“Well, it looks like the prisoner came from the drone,” Theo explains.
There’s only one thing to do now. Meet up with Kroll and his guards who are transporting the so-called prisoner to Spring Town. Kroll’s reluctance to reveal anything about the identity of this prisoner has made everyone wary.
Finn’s at my side in an instant as I take my first step toward the gate. His hand squeezes my hand reassuringly. Why is it that he still feels the need to be there for me at every moment of uncertainty? Am I still the weak link I’ve always been?
At the main Spring Town gate, we encounter Kroll with his guards walking at a distance behind him. We can’t quite make out any details as the only light available is that of two flashlights but it’s quite clear that the six guards form a protective circle around their prisoner.
Kroll approaches with a vague smile on his face. “Are you ready?”
“Of course,” I say impatiently. “Stop being so cryptic.”
Kroll moves aside and waves at the guards to do the same. In the dim glow of the flashlights, a hooded figure stands alone and completely still in the quiet of the woods.
The figure’s two hands reach up to pull back the hood revealing a cascade of blonde, curly hair.
Time halts. My eyes widen as a breath escapes from deep inside. My blood runs cold. The earth seems to slow down on its axis. The moment overwhelms every bit of my senses.
I am not dreaming. Shadows dance across her beautiful face. She has risen and stands before us as intensely alive as ever. She who would not be forgotten. She who yet lives in our hearts.
Daphne.
7
Mind games. That’s what this is all about. The thought enters my head as the initial shock wears off. Zoe screams from fear and excitement. The Empress wants to push me until I break. That’s what drives her now. Her animosity for me.
Everyone stares at this strange apparition for a while, unable to believe their eyes. It’s Damian who takes the first step in her direction.
I quickly grab his hand as my uncertainty grows deeper. “Damian, it’s a trap,” I whisper. “It can’t be her.”
When he doesn’t respond, I turn to glance at his face. His eyes are blank; his teeth clenched; his entire being focused on one point only. His concentration is profound and total, his conscience shrinking like a sponge without water.
“It’s not really her!” I repeat although I could not tell whether he can hear me or not. He could very well be under a spell, bli
nd and deaf to reality.
Pale moon rays fall diagonally and tickle the skin on my face and arms; or maybe it’s just that I’m in pain but can’t fully sense it. Damian makes up his mind and rushes over to Daphne covering the distance between them with long strides.
Her face lightens up with a wide smile when she sees him. She opens her mouth to form words like a real living person.
“Damian, I’m so happy you’re safe,” she says unwrapping her arms to take him in.
Damian freezes inches away from her embrace. Mesmerized like in a dream, he takes one more small step toward Daphne.
I run after him, feeling a dark storm taking over my soul. I shake his arm violently as if to wake him. “Damian, look at me. This is a trick. Don’t be fooled. Something’s terribly wrong.”
But I am no match for Daphne. “Damian, it’s just me,” she says softly with lips red and full with life.
Damian shivers; leaves around us rustle in the breeze; nocturnal wings flutter. Little by little he stops shaking, his eyes taking in the beautiful young woman he thought he would never see again.
“You’re alive,” he says. “You’ve come back to us.”
“Of course I have,” she says collapsing into Damian’s arms.
I am stunned. Zoe steps beside me.
“It’s okay, Freya,” she says. “It could be a miracle.”
“Maybe we were wrong. Maybe Daphne never died at all,” Biscuit says.
I search for Finn. He’s as stunned as I am. But there’s also a glimpse of hope in his eyes.
Damian lifts Daphne and carries her into Spring Town.
I hope against reason that it’s all true, but when Daphne died, I connected with her through the white light. A part of her stayed with me. I feel zero connection to this strange creature who looks so much like my dead friend.
Whatever this thing is, it’s not Daphne. I may not be the one to prove it. This is a job for Doctor Armand.
*
SO THAT’S WHAT IT FEELS LIKE to lose your mind. My hands work fast, organizing books on the shelves of the new school library. Boxes of donated books have been arriving from Exodus steadily but nobody has taken the time to organize them alphabetically and by subject. I guess drones and bombs above your head change priorities.
rise of the saviors Page 5