Aberrant

by Ruth Silver

  "I'll tell you whatever you want. Just save his life." I nodded through wide tear-filled eyes. "Please, you have to save Josh's life." I knew the truth had slipped out, but I hadn't cared. Chancellor Collins smile only seemed to grow with the satisfaction of his answer. "Do something!" I screamed at him. Time was ticking away and he hadn't budged.

  "Talk," he demanded. "Then I'll save him. You have 90 seconds."

  "I'm Olivia Parker," I admitted, telling him what he already suspected. "The journal was my father's, Gavin Parker. He's dead." I wiped the tears as fast they fell. "Joshua helped me escape from prison and we left Genesis for Haven. The rebel alliance wanted me to have a baby, be their savior. I was actually relieved when the government destroyed their town," I answered bitterly. "We had no home. Nowhere else to go. Joshua had the map and we took a chance, we came here." It was everything that had happened, everything important. "Now save him, damn it!" I stood up and stomped my foot, growing angrier by the second.

  Collins nodded stepping out of the room and a moment later brought Joshua back in. He looked a little flushed but otherwise fine.

  "Josh?" My hands went to his cheeks, staring into his eyes. "Are you okay?" My heart pounded as I looked him over. I wasn't a doctor, but he looked all right.

  "Other than a bitter taste in my mouth. I'm okay," Joshua answered.

  Chancellor Collins smiled proudly. "That was easier than I thought. He'll be fine. Just a simple truth pill he swallowed, now stay here," he told us. "Do not move," he insisted, heading out the door we came in, shutting it behind him forcefully.

  "I don't like this," I breathed looking around the room. I stood up, heading quietly for the door, finding it locked. Why was I not surprised?

  Joshua sighed. "At least there's an upside to it."

  "And what's that?" I couldn't possibly think of anything good coming of this.

  "We can go back to calling each other Olivia and Joshua." He smirked. I wondered briefly if the truth pill had worked on him. Was there anything I wanted to know that Joshua hadn't told me? No. I wouldn't ask him when he was drugged. That was wrong.

  "Cute," I muttered, trying the handle again. Nothing. I walked to the opposite wall, peering out the blinds through the window. We were too high up to jump. It wouldn't be a smart idea. My hands roamed the walls, desperately hoping to find a way out or at least a weapon to protect us.

  Jaxon opened the door, stepping into the room with Margo behind him.

  "What are you doing here?" I asked staring at them, confused. Were they here to help us escape?

  "Come with us," they both answered, not giving any explanation. I glanced back at Joshua. He merely gave a slight nod to go ahead. We followed them down the stairs to the third floor and into a large room with an old wooden table and chairs.

  Inside the room, Chancellor Collins sat at the head of the table. To his right was Maya and next to her was Elsa. Across from Elsa, Jaxon took a seat and Margo sat beside him. My mouth dropped further, if at all possible, seeing Cate and Mason beside Margo and on the other side of the table Hazel, and to my surprise, Aidan. He was still alive!

  "Have a seat," the Chancellor instructed, gesturing at the two empty seats at the table.

  I didn't know what else to say or do, but sit down. "Was this all some kind of trick?" I was more than slightly confused.

  I was grateful Joshua wasn't trying to communicate with me telepathically. I didn't trust these people and the last thing I wanted was for them to listen in on a private conversation.

  "Everything isn't as it seems. I'm sorry for the smoke and mirrors, but you must understand we had to test your capacity to fit in. We don't just let people come into our town. Most, in fact, never see it. We're on no maps, and those who drive through keep going. I'm not sure how you found us. No one's ever stopped. At least not accidentally." Collins smiled awkwardly.

  Joshua spoke up, the pill having some effect on him. "That's not true. Olivia and I snuck out one night and saw you speak with someone who drove in and out of town the same night."

  I nudged Joshua to shut up, but it didn’t matter. The truth was out.

  Collins nodded slowly. "You saw that?" He didn't seem upset by the news only mildly surprised. "That was someone who could authenticate Gavin Parker's journal."

  "Who?" I asked incredulously.

  The Chancellor sighed. "He comes from one of the five cities. The second born Parker and younger brother to Gavin. His name is Hunter. Apparently, though they'd never met they have nearly identical handwriting. Genetics," he laughed. "They play an amusing role in our world."

  "He's my uncle?" I tried to make sense of the Chancellor’s words.

  The Chancellor nodded slightly. "I suppose he is. We don't really use such terms anymore, Olivia." It was odd, hearing my name again after so long while I pretended to be Jacqueline.

  Joshua nodded slowly in understanding. "Why are we here?" Neither of us understood what was going on.

  Maya spoke up, "We are at the verge of war with the government. What we have told you is in part the truth. There are five great cities of the rebellion that have clung together west of the sun mountain. The recruits you met are all from those towns, and they had the honor of joining our elite city over the past few years. Some are older than eighteen, have lived here for five or more years, but we have ways of making them appear younger. They had all passed – at one time or another – the tests.”

  I didn’t know what that meant. I could only assume whatever the Mindonsiphan did allowed the aging process to slow or perhaps showed us what we wanted to see, to believe. I didn’t interrupt as Maya continued to speak.

  “The government doesn’t know of our existence – it's better this way. On a map we are old towns, obliterated during the Fourth World War. We made sure to rebuild in dead cities so we would be unseen by those watching. I know much of this is new and confusing. Please understand we did this to test your ability and commitment to your team and to the rebel city. You showed a great level of respect, Olivia. When Margo was picked on by Cate you stood up for her. We admire bravery. We also admire that you didn't join in, that you weren't mean to Margo or to any of the other recruits. Being competitive is acceptable, but being cruel or unjust is not. That’s why we asked Aidan to do what he did to Joshua," Maya explained. "Had Joshua not ducked, I would have averted the arrow at the last possible moment."

  Somehow I doubted it, but I kept my mouth shut.

  Maya continued, "The procedure you underwent makes you special and makes you like one of us. It's a rare gift that will excel not only your natural abilities, but will also allow us to win the war against the government. We couldn't wait much longer to administer it though, because of its importance in brain development during your teenage years. Unfortunately, neither of you is getting any younger," she remarked. "Our community of cities is small, but we are a great force. Together with the technology of the new world and the wisdom of the old world, we are stronger than the government. You were both brave for the procedure and the skills test afterwards."

  "I thought it was training," I admitted, shooting a confused look at Joshua.

  "If you knew we were testing you it would have changed the results," Maya smiled faintly. Chancellor Collins spoke up, "Same with the tests of honesty, integrity and self-worth. You offered yourself to protect Joshua. We know and recognize the value placed on you because of how you came into this world." He stared oddly at me, "You are incredibly special, Olivia. You have no idea the impact you can have on society in our world."

  Just a short time ago I’d been an ordinary eighteen-year-old girl. Except the reality was, I wasn't ordinary. I was anything but ordinary. I was aberrant. I couldn't help but make a face in disgust. "I have no desire to breed just to help the rebel alliance." It was the truth. If they expected me to become pregnant for their agenda, I would leave and Joshua would come with me. If I had to fight my way out of the room, I would.

  "We'd never ask of you anything we wouldn't do ourse
lves." Jaxon nodded.

  I rolled my eyes. "No offense, Jaxon, but you're a boy. You can't exactly have children," I retorted.

  Elsa sighed. "No one can, Olivia. That's the point. Without science meddling, none of us can bear children. We're not asking you to have children. We're not asking you to give them up to us like the government would demand, either." She made it clear what they expected of me. "We just need a few body scans. Our technology can do the rest. We're looking for a cure."

  Joshua spoke up, "And what happens after you take these scans, and it's not enough? What if it doesn't give you the answers you want? What then? And why bother making either of us special if you just plan on letting us go."

  Chancellor Collins laughed softly. "We have no intention of letting either of you go. I'm sorry if that’s what you thought. You've been mistaken. We would prefer you to be on our side, to help us wage war and fix this severely broken system. Of course the choice is yours. We can do this willingly or we can force you into submission, take what we need and leave you both rotting in a cell until the war is over."

  I knew he wasn't joking. The bile rose in my throat and I swallowed it down. "I'll do the scans, but frankly, I don't see why you didn't do that when you performed the procedure. That was certainly against my will," I remarked.

  Elsa spoke up cheerfully, "We didn't know you were Olivia Parker. We weren’t really sure who you were. Perhaps some of us hoped it was true, but it seemed impossible."

  "It's Olivia Warren now," I reached for Joshua's hand giving it a squeeze.

  Everyone at the table looked at one another.

  "What?" I asked confused.

  Elsa glanced at me curiously, "The marriage ceremony, it went through?"

  I nodded slowly, wondering why all the looks and quiet whispers. "Yes. Though Haven refused to see us as married."

  Chancellor Collins spoke up, "It's neither here or nor there," he waved his hands. "If you shall choose to be wed, that is your decision, and we will have a ceremony to make it such. If you choose not to be, then so be it."

  Joshua glanced at me. "You won't separate us?"

  Elsa laughed. "Why would we? You two have been acting pretty cozy lately, but we had no idea the ceremony had commenced. With the timing on your escape, it was rumored you were newlyweds. No one knew for certain."

  Joshua squeezed my hand, grinning at me. "Marry me?"

  I laughed softly and chewed the bottom of my lip raw. "Seriously?"

  "Yes." Joshua's eager smile and shining eyes made my heart leap.

  I shifted in my seat as I reached toward him, my thumb stroking his jaw. My eyes met his piercing blue stare. He looked like himself, but what did I know? "You took truth serum, Josh." I glanced down at his lips with a soft laugh and back up at again at his eyes. "Maybe it's the drug talking."

  "It isn't." He stared at me, convinced he was entirely in control. "I'll ask you a thousand times over." His gaze refused to waver. "I love you." I swallowed the lump in my throat.

  I nodded faintly. It was no secret. "I love you, too." My cheeks blushed as I ignored all eyes on us in the room. "I don't think this is the right place, though, for you to ask me to marry you." It wasn't that I expected some huge romantic gesture. I just didn't want there to be any regrets. He didn't have to marry me. He had a choice, we all did here. It was what made this place special.

  "What?" He pulled back, though only slightly, and my hand fell into my lap.

  "No," I sighed, seeing his shift and change in behavior. "Josh," I scooted closer as my hands found his arms. I gave him a light squeeze, drawing his attention back at me. "I love you," I stared at him, willing him to look at me. "You know that." He nodded slowly, realizing what I was telling him. It wasn't only because he'd said the words that I felt it necessary to reciprocate the gesture. "I just think the truth serum,” I paused. “It's unfair to either of us. I don't want to take advantage of you." I confessed. "I'd never forgive myself."

  "Then believe me when I tell you I want to marry you." His eyes bore into mine.

  I felt the wind knocked out of me and nodded ever so slightly. "Okay." I did believe him. Maybe it was the fact we shared a connection greater than ever before with the Mindonsiphan. I could feel his heart beat with mine in the same rhythm. I shifted forward, brushing my nose against his, ever so softly.

  "Is that a yes?" he whispered, caught up in the moment as he leaned down and brushed my lips with his. The kiss was warm and inviting. It wasn't filled with curiosity and question, but hope and wonder.

  I nodded vigorously as I wrapped my arms around his build, pulling him in for a hug. "Josh," I whispered, burying my lips against his ear. I could feel his heart skip a beat against my chest. "Yes, I'll marry you."

  In a fury of haze I could hear the others chatter of excitement and a few cheers. My eyes refused to move from Joshua's as I kissed him once more.

  Chancellor Collins cleared his throat, interrupting us, "Now that it's settled, we'd like you to join our forces."

  I pulled back only slightly from Joshua, though my hand found its way entwined with his. "You want us to be a part of your military?" What did I know about fighting and battle?

  Collins smiled, though I felt my stomach tense at the sight. "We'd like you to become a part of our community. It will entail Elsa training you in Combat. Jaxon will help you to develop fire, and Margo can prepare you with sheer strength. Cate will teach you–"

  I interrupted, holding up my hand. "Does Cate really have to teach me anything?" I still hadn't forgiven her for what she'd done in the shower that morning. She’d had absolutely no reason to have stolen my clothes from the stall.

  "Perhaps you could teach Cate kindness and forgiveness," the Chancellor remarked.

  I tried my best not to roll my eyes. "Forgiveness? She ran off with my clothes!" It was hard to forgive and forget, especially when she’d acted intentionally cruel for her own purposes.

  Margo nodded. "That was definitely not part of the plan, Chancellor."

  Chancellor Collins glared at Cate. "You, my dear, are more trouble than you're often worth." He shook his head and sighed, realizing he couldn't ignore her behavior. "Maya, you will remind Cate about respect. Cate, I'll decide your punishment for the month after this meeting is over." He turned his attention back to Joshua and me. "From here on out, we expect no lies from either of you. We understand the sensitive nature of who you both are and respect that you had to lie to us to protect yourself."

  "I still don't trust you." I shook my head. "You lied to me as much as I lied to you." It was a valid point.

  Elsa sighed. "We couldn't very well allow you to leave. You'd seen the town, and once we confiscated your vehicle we found the journal right away. Our only choice was to make sure you were who we hoped and to test your ability and eagerness to be one of us."

  Hazel piped in, "Plus Sydney told us about the knife wound on Joshua's foot and how you were attacked. The fact you both survived out in the Gravelands on your own is a pretty big deal."

  "I'm still not sure I want to be one of you," I muttered, staring down at the old cracks of wood in the table. I knew we didn’t have many other options.

  Joshua spoke up. I wasn't sure if it was the truth serum or not compelling him, but was there a difference? "I'm for it as long as you promise two things."

  The Chancellor nodded, "We're listening." Joshua had their full attention.

  Joshua stared at the Chancellor refusing to let his gaze waver, "Promise to do no harm to Olivia or myself."

  Maya laughed softly. "We've never intended any harm on either of you." She glanced at Aidan and then again at Joshua. "I can assure you, even when things seemed dire, they weren’t."

  Joshua nodded slowly. He reached for my hand on the table and gave it a squeeze. "The second request we have is if we choose to leave at any time, you will let us go."

  The Chancellor's smile faded. "I can promise that after the war and the uprising, you may choose to live anywhere you wish. Until the
n," he stared at us both seriously, "we need your help and you need our protection." A part of me knew he was right. After what Haven had wanted of me, I couldn't leave without pretending to be someone else wherever we disappeared to. I also wasn't incredibly confident that another town would willingly take in two strangers. Roaming the open Gravelands was a death sentence. It was only a matter of time until another outlaw would find us on the open roads. With no food or shelter, we'd be lucky to survive a few months. The Chancellor's eyes landed once again on Joshua. "I promise we intend no harm to either of you. We only ask that you allow us the chance to fix whatever has caused our world to become infertile."

  With a sideways glance at Joshua, I gave a faint nod. "I'll do it." I was more than slightly nervous they wouldn't hold true to their word. As it was, all these recruits were council members of this town and had come from the five cities we knew nothing about. "The tests you want me to undergo, will they hurt?"

  Elsa smiled reassuringly. "We have a few scanners that are completely painless. Joshua used one of them when we healed his foot."

  I waited for Joshua to tell me the truth. I knew he'd never lie to me.

  Joshua turned towards me. "It didn't hurt but it's up to you, Olive." As if we actually had a choice.

  I nodded, slowly letting out an anxious breath. I wanted to believe her and I knew Joshua wouldn't lie. "I don't want to be a test subject," I stared at them.

  "You won't," Elsa assured me. "It's a series of images, scans, maybe a little blood work. I assure you, Olivia, you are not the guinea pig. We merely want to understand what makes you different."

  I glanced from Elsa to Chancellor Collins. "What if I'm not different?" Everyone was betting on me to be something special.

  The Chancellor folded his hands together on the table. "Then we've wasted nothing." He stared at me. "We have to try." I knew he was right. If I had any chance of being unique and I could conceive a child naturally, then I had to do something to help others.