“No, not that,” he shakes his head. “If I felt the need to stop someone, or protect myself, I’d want to put in a fail safe. Not all people behave, think, or physically operate the same. So I’d want assurances.”
“You know, man. I can’t tell if it’s awesome or creepy that you can make sense of the crazy shit the Helix does,” I say.
Landry, shrugs again, accepting the burden of being dangerously smart.
I take a breath, and pinch the bridge of my nose. My eyes are sore, but my head feels like it’s beginning to clear.
“Anyway, no one has seen Kani for a while. Ammon and I found you unconscious in the woods. Near the Tree of Burden. We brought you back here to get help. You’ve been out for days. When Landry and Alina told me what happened before, I went to the Archives to see if there was anything there I could make sense of. But everything was a mess. Tables knocked over, stuff everywhere. The mainframe has been destroyed.”
My eyes wide, “Wait—what?”
Memories of what happened at the Archives are still fuzzy. I remember getting Kani out of the box and getting her to Landry. I remember the mess—but not the mainframe. Then again, I guess I never really took a moment to take in the extent of the damage.
Landry interjects, “The way Runa tells it, the mainframe is in a million pieces. Doubt we’ll be able to get it operational again. On the upside, I’m close to being able to untangle the memories I extracted from Kani on the the event. We should be able to get to the bottom of things soon.”
“You can do that?” I say, astounded. “Do you think Kani’d be happy with this?”
Kani was always the one against Landry’s fascination with meddling in the mind. From the beginning, she fought him, trying to get him to reconsider his techniques. I suppose it was the inner medic in her.
But if she knew Landry had removed memories and was going through them, she’d be pissed.
Landry makes a face but says, “I don’t think she was really in a place to argue. Right now, they’re our only lead.”
“Do you think this is a good idea?” I ask, turning to Runa.
She takes a moment, her multicolored eyes going a bit distant as she considers, “At this point, I think Landry’s right. We need answers. But more than that—if you were attacked by Videus, which is the likeliest of explanations, then we need to know what was worth attacking Kani, or destroying the mainframe over. Or even hurting you.”
Suddenly, the memories about the vassalage, Baxten, and the strange feeling of possession come flooding back.
My eyes widen and I lick my lower lip, “I think I know exactly what was so important.”
Both of them turn to me with quizzical expressions.
I take a moment, weighing what to tell them and what to leave out. Until I know what’s going on for sure, I don’t want to worry anyone. Hell if I want to become Landry’s next lab rat.
“It’s the Vassalage. I found out where it is.”
“It’s in the Helix,” Runa says.
“How’d you—?”
“It’s not important,” she says, dismissively.
“Well, if we can get inside, I think I can find Baxten,” I say.
Runa slides off the bed, standing with her hands on her hips. Her face is ashen, and her eyebrows tug in.
“What do you mean?” she asks, frowning. “That’s not going to be possible, Trae.”
“Why’s that?”
“I’ve been told he’s gone.”
“By who?” I ask, indignantly. Deep in my bones, I know there’s more to the Helix and the Crematorium than any of us thought.
“It doesn’t matter. He’s gone.”
My heart breaks for her as her sorrow becomes palpable in this small room. I know how she must feel, taking the responsibility onto your shoulders. It’s a heavy load to carry.
“Listen to me. We need to be sure,” I say. “And like you said, you need a place to start. Kani and I talked about the Crematorium before all this happened. Maybe she went there looking for answers—or vengeance.”
Something flickers in Runa’s eyes and I see a hint of determination creeping in as she stands a little straighter.
Landry sighs, “We’ll get this all figured out soon. But no one is going anywhere anytime soon. You need to rest and get your health back. I want to watch your brain scans for a bit to make sure you’re not still suffering any of the effects of the scanner.”
“How long?” I ask, suddenly agitated and antsy.
“Trae, your vitals look good for now. But even Runa needs some rest. She hasn’t slept much since she got you all back here.”
“You all? There’s someone else?” I say, vaguely remembering them talk about someone else.
Confused, I throw my legs over the edge of the bed and walk into the kitchen. Curled up on the couch is a small boy, no more than eleven years old.
“Who’s this?” I ask, pointing in the direction of the sleeping child.
Runa shifts slightly, her eyes wide, “Traeton, this is my brother, Ammon.”
Silence falls for a few moments as I take in her words.
“You have another brother?” I finally say.
She nods.
Thinking back to the information Fenton and I discovered about Runa, I’m suddenly not surprised. There was something off about her family. The Helix didn’t have her father’s information down. I’ve always thought that was a bit odd.
“There’s a lot I need to tell you, just not right now. We really should—” she begins.
I step forward, placing my hand along her jaw and my thumb against her lips, silencing her words.
“Okay, Runa. I trust you. We’ll figure this out—tomorrow,” I sigh.
I reach my arm around her back to pull her closer. I kiss her forehead and she sighs as she relaxes into my body. It feels so good to finally hold her in my arms again and I find myself wondering why I ever fought this.
Because it’s what I’ve always done.
As I release her from my embrace, I take her hand, “Landry’s right. We should both rest. You need your sleep. We’ll be better prepared to take on whatever comes next.”
“I’ll get out of your hair and go see Alina. Come get me when you’re ready and we can work out a plan of action,” Landry says, making his way to the front door.
With all that’s happened today, my brain is working overtime to make sense of it all, shifting the data around. I’m sure the Seize Scanner hasn’t helped. If that’s what the weird feelings of possession are, then it’s far worse than even Landry believes. Maybe it was just a dream? That has to be it, right?
With Runa’s hand in mine, I walk with her back to the bedroom and take a seat on the edge of the bed. I’m suddenly so tired.
Together, we curl back up in bed. I know after days of being asleep, I should be sick of it, but my brain feels like sludge. A little deliberate sleep might be exactly what we both need.
Runa rests her hand over my heart again, and I allow my body to meld together with hers. There’s so much to discuss. So much to sort out and make sense of. Not only will I have some explaining to do, but I want to know where she’s been. How she got back. Tomorrow will be a full day.
I allow the mixture of memories, thoughts, and desires to wash over me as I settle into a restless sleep.
The dreams that ordinarily fill my headspace turn ominous.
I meander a hallway so hot and stifling I can barely breathe. In the rooms branching off on either side, there are people held captive to the walls. Some are huddled in the corners, hiding their heads. Somehow, I’m unconcerned. Almost as if it’s a normal, everyday occurrence. Like it’s a good thing.
There’s a loathing that washes over me and I find I can’t stand any of them. They’re all so pitiful and weak. So incapable of redeeming themselves, utilizing their innate ability—it makes them easy to control and it makes me sick.
I turn into one of the rooms, moving swiftly to the latest prisoner. Kani’s face is gray
and her body depleting. When we’ve achieved the outcome we’re looking for, she will be assimilated into our legion. This I know for a fact, and I am again, unconcerned.
As she slowly raises her head, struggling to lift it level—I let out a laugh. Her suffering amuses me. Beside her, in the same room is the boy we took earlier. The Daughter of Five’s brother.
“We’ve located her,” I cackle. “When she comes, and she will—everything will finally be over.”
Abruptly, I’m pulled from my sleep, cold sweat dripping off my body. Runa has shifted slightly, but is still curled up beside me.
I can’t stop shaking. My insides are coiling tight, making me feel sick. There’s a deja vu in this dream, in the events, and even in the feelings everything aroused. I can’t shake the suspicion I’ve been to this place. That this was no dream, it was a memory resurfacing. If that’s the case, then I know what happened to Kani. I was the one—
What the hell is wrong with me?
To be concluded…
Afterword
Did you love Polarities?
If so, please kindly leave a review. It helps others like you find this crazy, beautiful series.
Many thanks!
Carissa
Leave a review here: Amazon Reviews
Polarities will be available on audiobook August 2018!
Next up—
Revolutions
Book 3 of the Pendomus Chronicles
Revolutions: Book 3
Contents
Pendomus: Book 1
1. Runa
2. Runa
3. Traeton
4. Traeton
5. Runa
6. Runa
7. Runa
8. Traeton
9. Runa
10. Runa
11. Runa
12. Runa
13. Runa
14. Traeton
15. Runa
16. Runa
17. Traeton
18. Runa
19. Traeton
20. Runa
21. Runa
22. Runa
23. Traeton
24. Runa
Afterword
Polarities: Book 2
1. Runa
2. Traeton
3. Runa
4. Runa
5. Traeton
6. Runa
7. Runa
8. Runa
9. Traeton
10. Runa
11. Runa
12. Traeton
13. Runa
14. Traeton
15. Runa
16. Runa
17. Runa
18. Runa
19. Runa
20. Traeton
21. Traeton
22. Runa
23. Traeton
Afterword
Revolutions: Book 3
1. Runa
2. Traeton
3. Runa
4. Runa
5. Traeton
6. Runa
7. Traeton
8. Runa
9. Traeton
10. Runa
11. Traeton
12. Runa
13. Runa
14. Runa
15. Traeton
16. Runa
17. Runa
18. Runa
19. Runa
20. Traeton
21. Runa
22. Runa
23. Runa
24. Traeton
Afterword
About the Author
Also by Carissa Andrews
Nonfiction by Carissa Andrews
In times of great strife, our success is not in standing still . . .
But in beginning revolutions.
1
Runa
AFTER EVERYTHING WE’VE BEEN THROUGH, it all comes full circle.
I fought hard to escape the reality of the Helix; to become a different person on a different path than they wanted me to be. Who would have thought everything would prepare me for the eminent reality of breaking back into the Crematorium? Yet, here I am.
At least this time, it’s under different circumstances—and with friends by my side.
“How are you handling this plan, Runa?” Trae asks, placing his hand on my shoulder. “I know it’s a little crazy, but—”
I shake my head. This is exactly what we needed.
“I’m good. We don’t have much time, if Kani is inside. We have to get to her before she’s tortured, exterminated—or converted. Videus needs to be stopped. Putting an end to the Crematorium—or the Vassalage—whatever it is, is the best chance we have at hitting him where it hurts. He’s done all he can to ensure no one even knows he exists. It’s time to make sure it stays that way,” I say.
The remainder of the plan goes unspoken, but neither of us are taking it for granted. We know what needs to be done and who has to do it.
With every passing day, it feels as though the memories outside myself are getting stronger. I’m not sure where they come from—Adrian, the bloodlines, the Four Pillars. All I know is my calling—my purpose is getting stronger. More persistent. It’s almost as if I have no control over it any more. Honestly, I’m not sure I mind.
I take a seat on the edge of the large wooden table inside the Archives. We’ve been studying the digital paper schematics we were able to find of the Helix, trying to suss out the best way back in for hours now. The ones Landry had were far too old to provide the level of detail we needed.
“Ammon, do you think you’d be able to use your powers on metals? Or are you limited to stone?” I ask, turning to him.
Ammon raises his head from the table, groggy and disoriented.
“Huh? Did you say something?” he asks.
I realize this is a bit much for a young kid like him to handle—even someone as smart as Ammon.
“Can you manipulate metal the same way you manipulate rock?” I repeat.
Ammon’s small shoulders shrug, “Dunno. Never really had a chance to try.”
“Maybe it’s something worth trying. It would certainly come in handy if you can,” I say.
Trae nods, “And all that comes second to what Landry’s working on. If we can get the EMP ready, we can shut everything down. It should at least buy us enough time to get inside before the system’s repair can kick in.”
Tapping the table beneath me, I nod and bite my lip.
“I wish there were better guarantees, but I know we’re well beyond that. We don’t have the time or the resources to launch anything bigger than a small surprise. I hope it’s enough to get Kani back, at the very least,” I say.
“Runa, I know you don’t think Baxten’s alive—but I think we should still try to look for him when we’re in there,” Trae says, rubbing his temple.
“Adrian told me he’s too far gone. I have no reason to believe otherwise.” I say, shaking my head. “Besides, we’ll only have time for one search and rescue.”
Accepting this truth has been a hard one, but necessary.
Trae nods, his mouth flattening into a thin line as he sits with my decision.
I know he doesn’t understand, but I’ve tried saving Baxten—and nothing I’ve done has ever led me to his rescue. Even if he is alive, I have a feeling his timeline is tied and can’t be meddled with. For some reason, I understand that now, even if I don’t understand why.
“How long do we have before Delaney and her team are ready?” I ask.
Trae raises his eyebrows and leans back in his chair, “Hopefully soon. But getting everyone on the same page takes time. We might be better off getting into the swing of things and letting them catch up.”
“That might be a good idea,” I say.
I feel agitated, like I need to be in motion soon or my insides will make an escape for the outside.
“Guys, we’ve been going over all of this forever. Are we ever going to eat?”Ammon asks, eyeing the food pack.
“If you’re hungry, help yourself, Ammon,” I laugh, forg
etting how uncomplicated things are for someone his age.
Ammon may be my twin, but he’s lost years by being pulled from his timeline and brought ahead into mine. He’s also extremely intelligent for his age, but he isn’t able to grasp all the nuances Trae and I have to consider. In some ways, it reminds me of the way I was before I left the Helix. It’s only been a few short months, but it feels like I’ve added years into my life experience.
Ammon digs in, happily engaged with finding his latest snack.
I turn back to Trae. His eyes are on the virtual map, but I can tell his mind is elsewhere. He’s been this way since I came back. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but something isn’t quite right with him. He seems unhappy, discontented—disconnected. Perhaps he’s grieving still. Losing Fenton was a blow to all of us, but I think it was harder on Trae than he allowed himself to feel.
Landry still suffers, too, but his grief is more outward. Easier to understand. Trae seems to have gone in deep, pretending as though nothing has changed. With Kani missing, and feared captured, I’m afraid it’s thrown Trae into a tailspin.
The Complete Pendomus Chronicles Trilogy: Books 1-3 of the Pendomus Chronicles Dystopian Scifi Boxed Set Series Page 48