Level 2 (Memory Chronicles)

by Lenore Appelhans

  Julian gives me a What now look as the door shuts seamlessly. I tap the side of my forehead in an I’m thinking about it gesture, and he nods.

  “Why don’t you sit with me, and I’ll answer any questions you might have.” He takes up his cross-legged, straight-backed yoga pose in the middle of the floor, and Virginia plops down in front of him eagerly. She really must be boy crazy.

  “Can I check out your chamber for a minute?” I ask.

  She startles at the sound of my voice, as if she forgot that I’m still here. “Go for it,” she says, waving dismissively and turning her full attention back to Julian. He whispers something I can’t quite hear, and she whispers back. At least Julian is good for distraction.

  Once I’m positioned comfortably in Virginia’s chamber, I scroll through her folders idly, trying to form some sort of plan. Since she never met me on Earth, she has no stored memories of me. But is there some way I can insert myself into her life? Like the way Eli imprinted all our memories with visions of our deaths? I scan her tags, praying for inspiration. And then I see it. Ouija board. Of course. I click on the memory to live it first and see if there is anything I can use to my advantage.

  It turns out to be a fairly standard teen Ouija board experience, at least if movies and books are to be believed, with Virginia in the basement trying to impress the girls on her cheerleading squad. Because they tease her, Virginia ends up getting out a Ouija board to show how grown-up she is. Someone uses the planchette to spell out a scary message, and they all freak out and then bond over the experience.

  I wonder if I can stay remote enough in the memory to affect it instead of merely reliving it, like I did with my tainted memory of Neil at camp. I’ll have to concentrate on manipulating the planchette to spell out what I want it to say. I go in.

  Burrell, Virginia. Memory #26376

  Tags: Ouija board, Rainbow style, Cheer squad, Sleepover

  Number of Views: 12

  Owner Rating: 2 stars

  User Rating: 2 stars

  Virginia’s mother calls down the stairs that the pizza has arrived, and Virginia sighs with relief. Six pairs of eyes have been drilling into her all evening, obviously still upset that Virginia was chosen to replace their former teammate on the squad.

  Virginia retrieves the pizza and sets it out for the girls. Amy makes a few snide comments, which have Virginia biting back her anger. But they eat in relative peace.

  Soon Amy is taunting Virginia again, wondering aloud if the night’s entertainment will consist of board games for babies. Virginia had planned to share a pedicure basket from her mother’s salon with the girls, but doesn’t feel like it anymore. She remembers the Ouija board her brother brought back from college and dares the girls to use it.

  Amy says she’s not scared. She declares Ouija boards to be fake and has no problem joining in.

  They light candles and plunge the room into darkness to set the mood, huddle around the board, and place their hands on the planchette. Here’s where I come in. The candles flicker, and I move the planchette to spell out:

  W-H-E-N-Y-O-U-D-I-E

  The girls freak out, pull their hands away from the board. Until one of the girls, Gail, insists they continue.

  As if hypnotized, the girls comply. I cause the planchette to wobble wildly and spell out:

  T-R-U-S-T-F-E-L-I-C-I-A

  I swoop an arc from the A to the “good-bye.” And with a whoosh the door to the basement slams, blowing out all the candles.

  The girls’ screams ricochet through the room. There’s a pounding on the stairs. The door swings open, and the lights come back on. Virginia’s mother checks to see if everything’s all right.

  The girls are shaken, but Virginia’s mother comforts them by assuring them that Ouija boards are a load of bull. To make amends Virginia offers up her pedicure basket, and the girls react with enthusiasm. Because there are twenty colors to choose from, Virginia proposes to paint each nail a different color, rainbow style. The first layer of ice has been melted, and Virginia smiles for the first time that night.

  I burst out of Virginia’s memory. I never believed in Ouija boards before—never touched one, actually—but this one might be the key to getting Virginia to come with us. I mean, it’s not like I actually talked to those girls. I only altered the memory so it seems like I did.

  “Hey, Virginia,” I call. Her seated posture is as perfect as Julian’s, and her expression is spellbound as they stare at each other. “Don’t you feel kind of woozy?”

  Julian looks up at me sharply, and as he does, Virginia slumps over.

  She picks herself up and climbs toward me, her movements sluggish. “Gotta plug in,” she says.

  I step aside so she can get into her chamber. Once she’s positioned, I point out the Ouija board memory on her hologram screen. “I think you should view that one.”

  “Uh, sure.”

  When she’s out, I watch her. She flinches every so often. Must be her reactions to Amy.

  Julian joins me. “So what was your big plan?”

  “I inserted myself into her memory so she’ll know to trust me,” I say, grinning. “They were playing with a Ouija board, and I was able to put pressure on the planchette to make it spell out what I wanted to say. Pretty cool, huh?”

  “If it was so easy to alter her memory, how can you be certain someone hasn’t messed with yours?”

  Julian’s comment renders me momentarily speechless and rips the grin right off my face. “But, why would they?”

  “Maybe someone wanted you to trust them.” He steps in very close and brushes strands of my hair over my shoulder. “Or they wanted you to react a certain way, so they pruned your life to form a new narrative.”

  My eyes narrow. “Wait—do you know something you’re not telling me? Am I being manipulated?” I can’t even begin to process the implications of Julian’s suggestion.

  Julian puts his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “How would I know? I’m asking you to think about it. Can you really trust your memories? Like, how can you be sure Neil even really exists? Or if he does, that he’s the person you think he is?”

  “Oh, now I get it.” I materialize a rubber band and tie my hair back. “This is about your jealousy issues again.” He’s trying to unbalance me, get me to doubt my love for Neil. So he can what? Swoop in and pick up the pieces of my broken heart? Forget it. I have to trust my memories. They’re the only link to my life that I have left.

  He tilts his head back slightly, lifts one eyebrow, and peers down at me. “Think what you want. I’m just looking out for you.”

  “Ha! I might believe that if you were actually doing what you promised me you’d do.” I cross my arms. “How hard can it be to take me to Neil? If you really know where he is?”

  “It’s complicated.”

  “I’m listening.”

  He turns sharply away from me. “I don’t have to explain myself to you,” he growls. Then he stomps down the stairs, returning to his position on the floor.

  Arrogant jerk. I fume and wait for Virginia to surface, sneaking glances at Julian at regular intervals. Did he ever intend to lead me to Neil? I’m starting to seriously doubt it. Finally Virginia finishes her memory viewing.

  “So?”

  “I always forget what a bitch Amy could be sometimes,” she says.

  “That’s all?”

  “She was my best friend. I miss her.”

  “What about me?” I press.

  “What about you?” Virginia says. Her disinterest stings and makes me feel thirteen again.

  “I mean, what did the Ouija board say?”

  “What’s your name again?”

  “Felicia.”

  “It said to trust Felicia.”

  “Bingo!” I say, excited that inserting myself into her memory seems to have stuck. “So trust me. Let’s go.”

  She laughs. “Everyone knows Ouija boards are totally fake.”

  “Seriously?” Has all my effort b
een for nothing? “So, you think it’s what—a coincidence?”

  “It is a pretty strange coincidence, I’ll give you that.” She takes a hard look at me. “I mean, even if I did trust you, why would I want to go with you? I know what I have here, and I don’t think it’s that bad. I don’t know what’s out there.”

  I’m not sure what to tell her. If I explain Eli’s experiments, it will only scare her more. Why would she want to go hang out with a guy who holds her life in so little regard? She wouldn’t, and I can’t blame her for that.

  “Can we leave soon?” Julian calls up at us.

  “Just a second,” I tell her. I descend the stairs and lower my voice to a whisper. “We need a different tactic. The longer we wait, the higher the chance is that Eli hurts her. We can’t let her overload.”

  “Do you owe her your loyalty even though she doesn’t remember your friendship?”

  “Of course!” And I need to do this, to atone for all my misdeeds on Earth, and prove to myself that I’ve changed for the better.

  “If you insist.” He seems to make some sort of decision. “Hey, Virginia! Do you smell smoke?”

  Virginia flies down the stairs, missing the last one and tumbling to the floor. “My chamber. It’s on fire.”

  Julian winks at me as he scoops up Virginia. “Out!” he shouts. “Now!”

  I rush ahead of them and pound out the code to open the door. Julian pushes me through just as an explosion rocks the hive, throwing us off balance. I twist in time to see Virginia’s chamber destroyed before the door closes. And understanding dawns. That manipulative son of a— “You did this.”

  “What do you mean?” Julian lowers his eyes, the picture of coy innocence.

  “My chamber. Virginia’s chamber. Mind over matter indeed.”

  “Umm . . .” Virginia pulls at my arm. “What are those things?”

  Scanner drones. “Flatten yourself against the wall. Quick.” The three of us squeeze into an alcove. Virginia trembles beside me. A whole swarm, at least fifty, rumbles past us, low and steady, never breaking formation. But they aren’t casting their yellow light. They’re just flying.

  “We’re lucky,” says Julian once the drones are gone. “If they had actually been scanning, they’d have picked us up for sure.” He scratches his head. “You know, it looked like . . . like they were going to war or something. We’d better rendezvous with Eli and Mira as soon as possible.”

  Now’s probably a good time to tell Julian I don’t want to go back to the rebels. “I changed my mind about going back. I want you to help me find Neil. Right now.” I’m tired of always having to put finding Neil on hold.

  “No chance,” Julian says. “Virginia’s a liability now. Our hideout is a safe place for her to hang out while she weans herself off the drugs.”

  “I don’t feel safe there.” I take hold of Virginia’s hand. “We can help Virginia detox on her own. On our way to get Neil.”

  “You know Eli’s not going to let you go after all our efforts to recruit you.” Julian wipes his wrist across his forehead, mussing up his bangs.

  Julian’s right once again. Eli’s the type who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. But I don’t care. “Then I guess I’ll be on the run from the Morati and the rebels.”

  “Don’t you want to help mankind escape from the Morati’s bonds? What about all those kids? Won’t you feel guilty hanging out drinking tea with Neil while little children are still strapped in?” He shakes his head slowly, sadly. “I never thought you were that selfish.”

  Am I selfish? I don’t want to be. But I’m so confused. Don’t I owe it to Neil to break him out? Don’t I owe it to my friends to make sure they’re okay? And if I help the rebels, does that mean I’ll be responsible for putting other innocent people in danger?

  “I’m sure you can do it without me,” I tell him. My allegiance to Neil and my friends has to be my priority. And I don’t want to hurt anyone. I couldn’t stand it if my actions led to collateral damage.

  “Why would we go to all the trouble to find you if we didn’t need you?” Julian asks.

  “I don’t know!” I tug on Virginia and start walking. She hasn’t said a word while Julian and I argue, and she looks nauseated. “But I don’t really understand you all either. You’re so secretive. And supercilious.”

  Virginia swoons, her knees buckling. The only reason she doesn’t fall flat on her face is because I’m still holding on to her hand. Julian picks her up and carries her. “We can’t stay here. The Morati might come personally to inspect the damage to Virginia’s chamber. It’s the second major anomaly in this hive.”

  He takes off running, Virginia’s head lolling on his arm. I follow and try to keep up. Once we’re twenty quadrants away, Julian stops. We enter a hive, and he sets her in a chamber to recharge. He does it so gently, I could almost believe he cares about her, too. My heart softens the tiniest bit more.

  I push past him to pull up her account, and notice how low her credits have gotten. Not that she necessarily cares what she views at this point, and she doesn’t need credits to relive parts of her own life. I pick out a memory from her favorites folder and then turn back to Julian.

  “Why don’t you ever plug in anymore?” I ask him.

  “I meditate instead,” he says. I wait for him to elaborate but he doesn’t.

  “But don’t you miss reliving stuff from Earth? TV? Stargazing? Apple pie?” I can almost taste the tart sweetness of fruit and sugar-sprinkled crust in my mouth. Impulsively I grab Julian’s hand and squeeze. His skin is warm.

  This time Julian breaks off our contact. “Well, I’m not there now, am I?” he snarls.

  It’s such a strong reaction, I don’t even know what to say.

  “I prefer to live in the moment. You should try it sometime, instead of constantly pining for what you can’t ever really have again.” His words lash at me like a whip.

  As I attempt to form a coherent response, the air in the hive shifts, and my whole being tenses. I turn slowly, and when I see Eli, I am overcome with a sensation akin to falling off a cliff.

  “You look so surprised to see me,” he says, his grim smile tinged with gloat. “I told you I could find you anywhere.”

  CHAPTER 14

  “THE HIDEOUT IS OUR NEXT STOP,” says Julian, interceding on my behalf. He steps between Eli and me, and suddenly I’m immensely grateful he stuck around.

  Eli stares us down for a half minute and then emits a strange sort of sound, like a high-pitched grunt. I think it may have been a laugh.

  “We need to stop playing games and wasting time,” he says, turning on his heel as if he expects us to fall in line behind him like good little soldiers. “The Morati have been hunting for us with scanner drones, but our intel from other rebel cells suggests that at least some of the Morati have left the palace to conduct a search themselves.”

  It just got even more dangerous to be out on my own. Will Eli punish me for coming to rescue Virginia?

  Neither Julian nor I move. Eli pauses before reopening the door, and looks over his shoulder at us. He is not amused.

  “I did not give you permission to leave.” Eli clenches and unclenches his fists.

  I’m going to have to come clean at some point, so I say it. “I rescued Virginia.” I can’t help letting a note of pride slip into my voice.

  Eli’s gaze darts around the half-full hive at the occupied chambers. He stomps over to the closest drone. “Where is she?”

  Again, Julian moves to shield me from Eli. “I think Virginia can help us more by being with us. You said yourself she’s a high potential.” His voice is steady, his tone reasonable.

  “She’ll slow us down.” Eli turns back to us, and crosses his arms over his broad chest.

  I step forward so I’m standing next to Julian. His arguing my case has made me more confident. “Virginia’s important to me. If you want me to happily contribute to the team effort, we have to take her with us. And it would also be nice
if you’d tell me what’s going on. You’ve told me about phase one. What was phase two?”

  “Phase two was our attempt to force targeted subjects to relive the memory of their death over and over.” He admits it without remorse or apology.

  “And that’s what you did to Beckah?” I caution myself to remain calm, and step closer to him. Julian steps forward with me. “You made her think she was dying? Made her suffer?”

  Eli raises his eyebrows slightly. “If she was one of our test subjects. I don’t remember any names. We hoped it would force her to move on.”

  So there is hope that her disappearance from our hive means she moved on. “And did she?”

  “So far all test subjects have overloaded. They couldn’t handle the op. Swiss-cheesed their brains.”

  I dig my fingernails into my palms, but I barely feel a thing. “So that means she’s in the isolation plains, like Mira said.”

  “Probably.” He starts to pound the code into the wall to open the door, as if to indicate that our conversation is over.

  “We have to go get her, too.” I wedge myself between him and the wall so he can’t open the door. I need him to know I’m serious about trying to help Beckah. Because she’s my friend, and I promised her I wouldn’t leave her.

  Eli steps back, shakes his head, and waves me away like I’m a fly that won’t leave him alone. “That subject is useless to us. Forget her.”

  I set my jaw. “I’ll go get her myself.”

  “You’ll be much too busy with phase three.” He turns his head toward me and half smiles. A smile that doesn’t reach his cold eyes.

  “And what is phase three?” I ask, dreading the answer.

  “Phase three is you.”

  “What do you mean I am phase three? What do you think I’m going to do for you?”

  “Thanks to a certain someone”—Eli flicks his head in Julian’s direction—“with an unhealthy interest in you, it was brought to our attention that you are special.”

  Julian chuckles at this, and puts his arm around me. I step to the side, away from him, annoyed that he’s apparently been stalking me both in life and in the afterlife, for reasons I can’t fathom. “How am I special?”