CYPHER: A Dystopian Novel

by Barbara Winkes

  “You owe me, and you know it. You can keep me here, nothing much I can do about it, but you can’t force me to serve your cause. The system, whoever backed it up, has screwed me over enough. You need to give me a good reason.”

  Paul Trenton stood up. He seemed to be weighing her words.

  “I’m not going to stand in the way,” Ami said. “I just want the truth.”

  “Fair enough,” he said. “Come with me.”

  * * * *

  They weren’t bringing her to the IdA, to an interrogation room somewhere in the maze underground. Katlena was painfully aware that this wasn’t necessarily a good thing. She wasn’t just any prisoner with fairly good chances to go into an exchange for Drago’s minions. She had fairly good chances of getting killed. That or having a price named that might be too high for the Committee and Kenneth Raymond. Drago might still want to make her a cypher. Either way, she was sure he intended to make her suffer for hurting his ego.

  The road got even worse, a surprisingly long trip that, if she remembered it correctly, would bring them close to where the early rebel camps had been suspected. She wondered how Noelle was doing.

  The van stopped, but Katlena soon found out it wasn’t because they had reached their destination. She groaned inwardly. If they were taking a break, it meant that the trip would go on. She already felt bruised all over. It didn’t get better from there.

  The smell of coffee and pastry made her empty stomach churn. Katlena found it ironic that in the midst of chaos, these men found the time to have a coffee break with what smelled like fresh donuts. There wasn’t much talk, just the sounds of the two officers enjoying their meal, the rustling of paper, and lids lifted off of coffee cups. She had an irrational hate for them, even though within the next few hours, Katlena knew food would be the least of her problems.

  * * * *

  “I’m sorry about earlier,” Cara said. Ami wasn’t sure anymore whether or not she should believe her, but she gave her a nod anyway. You should be. Whatever.

  “You should rest a bit more. I’m not sure if this is the right time…” She sent an imploring look to Trenton who just shrugged.

  “Oh, the time has never been better,” Ami said in a scathing tone. There was no point in being polite any longer. “I don’t have a job anymore that you can throw me out of. I believe I’m a person with my own valid identification papers again, unless you plan to keep hiding them from me. This is a good time for me to learn the truth, about me and Katlena.”

  “Well, you better sit,” Trenton warned her.

  “I still think—” Cara tried.

  “Caroline. She has a point. It’s her past.”

  “Katlena Cervantes isn’t. She’s an opportunist who thought she could play us. Sorry, Ami. We don’t owe her, and neither do you.”

  You have no idea, Ami thought. “Let that be my problem? If the evidence you have has any merit, then at least it will make it easy for me to let go.”

  Cara made a sour face. “You letting her go is not the most important issue when the City is burning, literally!”

  “Why don’t we get this over with? I don’t see any of you eager to get into battle, so I’m sure you can spare a few more minutes.”

  “All right, Ami, you may take a look and then brace yourself for an even bigger shock. We’ve found protocols that Cervantes obviously signed up on, regarding the treatment of prisoners and psych ward patients. I’m sure Caroline told you about the latter.” Trenton opened a cabinet and took out some papers he laid in front of Ami. “I’m sorry. We never meant for you to find out that way.”

  “I bet you didn’t.”

  Ami leafed through the neatly typed pages, transcripts of interrogations, each of them signed at the bottom. She skimmed over the content, which was enough to tell her what the people whose names were blacked out had gone through. She’d barely escaped that fate because of Katlena. She couldn’t believe it. She didn’t want to.

  “Are you sure she really signed those? I got the impression that backstabbing was kind of the favorite sport at the IdA. Someone could have set her up.”

  “Ami. Some of those were from before she was an inspector. Cervantes certainly had a lot of ambition, but she was also careful, laying low. In whose interest would it have been to trick her?”

  “Drago’s and everyone’s who kissed up to him?” Ami answered promptly. There was a small shadow of doubt clouding her mind. It was enough. She was feeling guilty and anxious. There was no doubt that Katlena was ambitious, but she wasn’t ruthless. She wasn’t. Sometimes, in a system like in the City, it would be hard to back out and still have a job the next day. In the same system though, Katlena Cervantes had risked a lot to give Ami her life back, and now hers was in danger. She couldn’t write her off like this.

  “If we believed even for a moment, and I don’t, that she signed those protocols, you still need her. There’s a lot of information on how the IdA works that she can help you with, so why the hell don’t you contact Drago if you can?”

  “We’re working on that,” Trenton said. “That’s not all. We have to tread carefully and avoid Drago taking an interest in you.”

  “Why would he?”

  “Oh, I don’t know, maybe because your charges forced his hand and started all this craziness?”

  Something in Ami’s expression must have warned her, because Caroline said, “Paul,” a warning in her voice.

  “You’re saying all of this is my fault?”

  “That’s not what I’m saying. Look, Drago is on a mission here. He had a son who went through his rebel phase and, pardon the pun, toyed with the idea of becoming an ally, just to piss off his dad. You can imagine that caused some friction.”

  “What does it have to do with me?”

  Caroline shook her head, then she got up. “I still think this is a bad idea. You can tell me later though if I was right. I have things to do.”

  “Drago’s son, like many others in the City, disappeared one day. Rumor had it though that he had fathered a child. The past few years, Drago has been trying to find the woman and the child. Let’s say I don’t think he has a peaceful family reunion on his mind.”

  “Wait—” There was no denying this was changing everything she had believed. “You’re not saying—” She was feeling cold all of a sudden. It couldn’t be. Ami felt like she was trapped in a web of lies with no way out. For most of the past five years, she had pushed away the memory of the night Lily had been conceived. Lily was perfect, with absolutely no connection to the mistakes that Ami had made, or the college freshman she’d spent that drunken party with. You didn’t have to make a mistake more than once to create consequences.

  “It turned out to be a bit of a race,” Trenton said quietly. “I believe it’s a good thing we learned the truth first.”

  “I’m very much comforted, thank you.”

  “Do you understand now why we have to keep you in the safe house, at least as long as he’s still dangerous? You’re the heir’s dirty little secret. Whether Drago wants to make it go away, or simply draw out his son in order to punish him…It would be bad for you, and Teresa.”

  “My daughter’s name is Lily.”

  “The Davidsons have kept her safe. They are the only parents she knows.”

  “They kept her close to people like Jenkins who obviously knew someone who was involved in the bomb attack. I wouldn’t call that safe.”

  “We can argue about all this once the fighting has ended, don’t you agree?”

  Something else sprang to her mind. “What is Drago going ask you in return for Katlena?”

  “If she’s still alive, that is? We have to wait.”

  His calm delivery was driving her as crazy as the terrible facts.

  “Why can’t you just go in with a bunch of guys like you did at the IdA? I don’t understand!”

  Trenton looked solemn. “That’s because right now, there’s a bunch of guys out there trying to regain control over the City. You bett
er hope they make it, because if not, neither of us will ever be able to go back.”

  “Okay. Is that all or do you have any other bomb to drop? Sorry. It’s a bad metaphor.”

  “Ami, I’m really sorry.”

  “Could you leave me alone for a moment? I promise to be a good girl.” This time, the irony was unmistakable. Trenton had gotten the hint.

  “I know it’s a lot to take in. Call me if you need something. I’m not going to lock the door.”

  “A vote of confidence. That’s wonderful.”

  When he had left, Ami sank back into her chair, the hopelessness of her situation catching up with her. She felt herself shaking. She wouldn’t give up. There had to be a way out of this mess, and she’d find it. Right after the crying fit she couldn’t hold back any longer. Ami had finally found her child and the woman she wanted to be with, but neither might be in her life.

  Ever.

  * * * *

  When they removed the sack, Katlena wasn’t too surprised that they were in the middle of nowhere. Hidden behind a row of trees was a log cabin. She could barely keep her balance, her muscles cramping after her body had been forced into the same position for so long, but the gun at her back was incentive, if nothing else.

  A few steps away from the stairs leading to the small porch, she stumbled over a root. Neither man made an attempt to help her, nothing to stop her fall. Even through the pain she had some consoling thoughts of when the tables would be turned. It was a form of survival. Of course her chances weren’t that good, but if she allowed this reality to enter her mind, she’d be as good as dead. Better to imagine that she was going to kick these jerks’ asses anytime soon.

  “Hey! Get up!” one of them yelled at her.

  She considered screaming, but it was a moot point with nothing around other than trees and rocks within a radius of miles. Better to save some energy. They dragged her up and into the cabin, through the front room to a door that led to a tiny chamber, not much bigger than a closet.

  Katlena was relieved to have a moment to herself to sort out her options. It didn’t look good for her, alone in the woods with two of Drago’s loyal men who seemed to have too much time on her hands.

  She wondered what Drago’s plans were, and if he was to reverse everything she had started. Better not think about it. The Committee had their own people behind them, but Drago had been visible. People often tended to side with the devil they knew. She sat up against the wall, wincing at the water dripping down the wall, soaking the back of her shirt. She might be hungry and overall miserable, but she wasn’t badly injured. Yet. If she could get out of this rope, she might have a chance the next time they opened the door. Once Drago had arrived, her chances would be considerably slimmer. She had to try, even though The tables had turned on her, the job, her whole life. This would not be the end of it.

  Chapter Twenty

  “Where are we going?” Noelle asked. She thought they might get to the heart of the City where the fighting was, but as it was, the path seemed to lead them deeper into the woods. She didn’t like it. She had absolutely no way of contacting her partner or Katlena. What was more, this guy had her on alert. She thought he might suspect her.

  “Got some babysitting job to do,” he grumbled. He didn’t seem to like being here any more than she did. “Direct orders from the boss.”

  “Wow,” she said. “That was some smart takeover. The press thinks it’s the rebels, still.”

  He laughed. “Well, we are the rebels, aren’t we?”

  “I guess so,” Noelle said. She was quite sure this wasn’t what her brother had in mind all those years ago. She’d never been this aware of how much she missed him.

  * * * *

  Ami had thought long and hard about her alternatives. She’d seen Jean Davidson feed and bathe Lily and tuck her in. Her heart was breaking with the realization. It was clear that the woman loved Lily, her child. The last word was not yet spoken on the issue, but at least she knew for sure that the people here cared about the girl. In a strange way, they seemed to care about her too, because they could have just handed her over to Drago.

  There was something she needed to do, but she couldn’t take Lily with her.

  She needed to go back to the City. This time, she was going to ask for the blessing of the people who gave her shelter, first. Ami found Trenton in his office.

  “No way,” he exclaimed when she shared her plans.

  “What are you going to do, drug me again?”

  He looked embarrassed. “You were about to take off with Lily. Can’t you see, you are both in danger! Drago doesn’t care about you. In fact, he wants to make sure you’ll never get the chance to talk, about his son or any experience as a cypher.”

  Ami shook her head. “I’m sure there will be others who will speak up. He can’t control that anymore.”

  “So what’s your plan? Go and ask him to play nice? Believe me, we did. Being polite doesn’t work with him.”

  “You could trick him. Offer him an exchange.”

  It was up to Trenton to shake his head in disbelief. “That’s an excellent idea, Ami. We’ll send you right into the lion’s den. You have no experience in combat, but oh well, things are just going to work themselves out, simply because they have so far. Is that your reasoning?”

  “We need to do something. Lily is safe here. I can’t just sit idly by while this is happening!” She didn’t need to elaborate.

  He laid a hand on her shoulder, meant to comfort, but the gesture made her feel even more trapped. “We don’t even know if she’s still alive.”

  Ami shrugged out of his touch, jumping to her feet. “Then find the hell out! If you’re not helping me, fine, I’ll go by myself. I can’t believe you’re willing to give up on her over some accusations! A lot of people could have faked that signature. Insa for example. You can’t keep me here forever, and you know that. You told me the risks. I’m willing to take them.”

  Trenton studied her for a long moment, obviously concluding she wouldn’t let this go. “Let’s make sure you won’t get killed, then,” he said. “You’re lucky there’s someone who might be able to help.” He made a quick call on his cell phone, and less than two minutes later there was a knock on the door. Trenton went to open it.

  The man who stepped inside looked fairly familiar, and the next moment, Ami learned why.

  “Ms. Moore, hi,” he said. “I believe you know my sister Noelle.”

  * * * *

  Katlena hadn’t always lived in the City, or a nice cozy apartment, with enough money to buy all the food, clothes, necessities and comforts of life she wanted. Her parents had started out poor, but worked themselves up to become skilled workers. Eventually, those qualifications secured them a spot in the lottery, years before the cypher program was created. That came later after the City government’s realization that even if you hand-picked your citizens, you couldn’t completely count out bankruptcies, unemployment or sickness. Or people who would go against a system that eventually reached into every aspect of their lives.

  It hadn’t been until the past few weeks that Katlena had realized how much she had settled. She’d paid for her comfort with having to hide who she was, sacrificing happiness for a career that could already be over. It had never occurred to her that outside of the City, there might be people striving to have both.

  She wasn’t so lucky now, locked in a dusty closet smelling of mold and damp wood. Her attempts to get rid of the rope had so far only resulted in driving splinters into her skin. With bitter regret she thought that this might be what it all came down to. She’d been blind to the real issues of the people in the City, until recently. She’d been naïve enough to think she could change all of this in a matter of months. It didn’t really matter if they still wanted her as a chief. She’d become a pawn in the game between Drago and the Committee, at their mercy.

  There was some noise, and the door sprang open. She sat up straight against the wall, mostly to avoid gettin
g hit by it in the face. She blinked against the light streaming in from the hallway, until the blurry shape turned into that of a man.

  “Officer,” she said by way of a rather ironic greeting.

  He set a plastic plate in front of her, intentionally tipping it so the content fell onto the dirty floor. Katlena couldn’t help it. She shuddered at the thought. It was a half-eaten donut. She’d rather starve than go anywhere near it.

  Looking up into his grinning face, she said, “Do you know where you can stick it?”

  The grin vanished immediately, and he hit her across the face.

  “You don’t talk back to me, bitch. You can eat dirt for all I care.”

  He spun around and left, plunging her into darkness again.

  Add the taste of blood and the mental image of bugs going for the pastry to the unpleasant sensations. Katlena wanted to curl up and cry. As it was, she didn’t have that luxury. Trying not to think of food, she kept working on the rope.

  * * * *

  “Chief Cervantes seemed rather resourceful to me,” Kenneth Raymond said.

  “Yes, and how much that will help her mostly depends on how much Drago wants her dead,” Trenton returned. “I don’t like this. Even if Ami wasn’t the mother of Drago’s grandchild, I wouldn’t want her anywhere near him. He is out of control. There’s no saying what he will do—to her, or Chief Cervantes.”

  Learning that Raymond had talked to Katlena the night before the takeover had Ami overcome with a sense of longing. There had to be something they could do to make it right. They couldn’t leave the fate of all people in the City to one man.

  “How can he do that and get away with it, all the time? Storming the IdA was one thing, but the whole City? He’s playing everyone against one another, and it’s working out for him. Could there be anyone on the Committee who…?”

  “No, Ami. There’s a regular background check for any member. They are beyond doubt.”

  “Right,” she said sarcastically. “What about your people, Kenneth? Did you even know that Noelle and another inspector were about to infiltrate the rebel camp?”