by Belle Malory
“It’s good news. I think you’ll be excited.”
She leaned forward in her seat. This was it, the moment she’d been waiting for—she just knew it.
“We’re sending you home,” he said with a warm smile. “On vacation. You’ve been approved for a month’s time.”
What?
Every fiber in her body deflated. That was the last thing she expected Mason to say, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about it. Thoughts of home and family filled her mind, and while they were nice, getting clearance for fieldwork outweighed her desire to go home. Not to mention…
“But the Sae-yers. You can’t send me home now when they’ve told us outright they’re on their way here.”
Only a few days had passed since Olympus received their message. All of Level 3 was in an uproar, debating strategies of defense, possible evacuation plans, and most importantly of all, whether citizens should be told about the Sae-yers.
“Actually, that’s a big reason why we are sending you home. We don’t know what to expect, and we need everyone in top form. Spend some time with your family, kiddo. If it comes down to a fight, you need to understand what you’re fighting for.” He typed something into his computer, and the brace on Kennedy’s wrist beeped. “That’s your flight schedule. You’re leaving tomorrow.”
She shook her head, more confused than she’d ever felt. “This doesn’t make sense, Professor. Don’t you need me here?”
It was a valid question. After all the training they’d instilled in her over the last few months, all the education, she was starting to feel needed, like she belonged here. Sending her away after getting that threat was the dumbest thing they could do.
“Of course we do,” he said. “When the time is right. Sae-yers aren’t going to magically appear on our doorstep without us knowing weeks in advance. We have satellites positioned all over the perimeter. And when they do come, the Peri-Guard will be the first to strike.”
Kennedy supposed that made sense. Everyday since they’d received the Sae-yer message, more and more troops were being sent out to fill the perimeter stations.
Still…the idea of leaving for a month, not training for all that time…it scared her. She was the last of the keepers to be discovered. Out of everyone, she needed the most preparation. “A month is a long time to be out of training.”
“There will be plenty of time for that when you get back,” he tried assuring her. “Until then, you can spend time painting those watercolors you told me you love so much. Read a few classics.”
“Nice one, Professor, but you’re forgetting that you told me yourself, keepers have no time for those activities.”
“Now you do,” he said, more serious now. “Take advantage of it.”
Kennedy sighed, pushing the memory of that conversation to the back of her mind. Whatever Professor Mason’s reasons were, there was more to it than simply understanding what she was fighting for. She loved her family; they were everything. How could she not realize what was at stake?
Kennedy drew herself back to the present, back on the beach where darkened clouds were forming on the horizon. A storm was on its way. She wasn’t planning on sticking around for its arrival. It was bad enough, trying to get used to the ocean again. Mix that in with some rain and lightning, and her fear would turn into hysteria real quick.
Kennedy packed up and lugged her tote over her shoulder. Her wrist vibrated as she walked back to the street. The blue flashing light let her know it could only be one person.
Okay, not a person. But close enough.
She pressed a button, and Matilda’s voice sprang through the metal brace. “Why haven’t you been answering my calls?”
Kennedy rolled her eyes. Living with Ashley again, who felt obligated to catch up on motherly duties, filled in more than enough time for that parental stuff. Matilda needed to remember she was a robot and give it a rest, at least until she got back to Olympus.
“I’ve been busy, Matilda. What’s up?”
“Busy sunbathing?”
Kennedy recalled the homing device programmed inside her brace. Nosy little intruder. Lying was not something she ever got away with. “Busy training,” she clarified. “The beach happens to be a prime location for someone with my skillset.”
“My calls should always take precedence.”
“I’ll try to remember that. Speaking of which, was there a reason for this call or were you just checking up on me?”
“Matter of fact, there was,” came the android’s smooth reply. “You told me to call whenever I came across something important.”
“What did you find?”
“I’ve been scanning the airline’s logs, and I came across a few interesting ticket holders.”
“You can do that?”
What sounded like a snort came from Matilda’s end. “I’m a Series Seven, cupcake. I do what I want, when I want, where I want, however I want—”
“I get the picture. Excuse me for thinking otherwise.”
“I’ve been bored without you here. Something had to occupy my time.”
Kennedy grinned. “I bet hacking into the airline’s database took a good chunk.”
“Oh please. It didn’t take long at all. Anyway, you’re missing the point. I found tickets registered under familiar names. Certain keeper names, if you catch my drift.”
“Matilda, I told you Phoenix and a few others went to Russia to do an investigation—”
“That’s not who I’m referring to, cupcake. These tickets were registered under an Alexia Brümfeld, a Colton Hobbs, and a Gabriella Martinez.”
Kennedy’s steps slowed.
Matilda said, “Ah ha, you weren’t expecting to hear those names, were you?”
No, she wasn’t. “Where were they headed?”
“Home, just like you.”
Home.
That didn’t make sense. This whole time she suspected she’d done something wrong, either that or she was still too new to be trusted, and they wanted to create the defense plans without her there. After all, she and Phoenix proved even long-term commissioners could turn corrupt.
“So why would DOE send over half their keepers out of Olympus at a time like this?”
“I wondered the same thing. So I ran some theories through my system, and I came up with a list of possibilities.”
“Wow, you really were bored.”
“Don’t get cute. Would you like to know what popped up as the most likely possibility?”
“Sure, why not.”
“You’re not going to like it.”
“Tell me anyway.” Impatience ran thick in her tone. She swore sometimes Matilda dragged things out just to annoy her. Or the robot genuinely missed her. Emotions came with her developing personality.
“Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. The top pick was that DOE sent you home as a sort of goodbye.”
“What does that mean?”
“Come on, cupcake. You’re starting to sound less human than me. They want everyone to go home in case the outcome ends in annihilation. They can’t rule it out, considering the aliens managed to obliterate China with the press of a few buttons. It is a possibility.”
Kennedy bit her lower lip, feeling that familiar sinking feeling that came whenever she thought of China’s Great Disaster. She’d been made to swear she would never reveal the truth—that it wasn’t a toxic meteor shower that wiped out what was once the world’s most populated country.
Goodbye.
The time was meant to be with family and friends, in case this was the end for all of humankind. Why hadn’t the thought ever crossed her mind?
“I think I need to go. I’ll talk to you later, Matilda”
“Uh oh. Did I hit a sore spot?”
“You might have.”
“Don’t let it stress you out, kid. Do what you have to, then get your butt back here and train as hard as you can.”
Kennedy switched the line off. Stressing out was unavoidable. Knowing what
she knew, she couldn’t be near her family everyday, see their faces, and stay relaxed.
~ ~
By the time she made it home, all Kennedy wanted to do was shower and take a nap. She originally planned to fit in a decent workout, but after talking to Matilda, she already felt worn out.
Most of the time she craved a physical outlet, especially since her body was so used to being beat up all day. It was ironic too, because not so long ago the only exercise she could credit herself with was the occasional pretense of yoga and whether her class schedule included P.E. that semester. Back then she was the chubby girl, hiding behind a wardrobe exclusive to grays and blacks. Now when she looked in the mirror, she barely recognized the person staring back at her.
The change wasn’t just the weight…it couldn’t be, because she hadn’t been that big before. If anything, it was the strength. Strength radiated from her, erasing the soft, fragile girl she used to be. The girl in her reflection was admirable—she was strong and toned and powerful—and Kennedy liked her. But at the same time, she felt like she was losing pieces of her old self. That was something she wasn’t so sure she liked.
“Hey, gorgeous.”
Kennedy swung around, nearly tripping over her front porch steps in the process.
A very sweaty, shirtless Hunter stood below her, a subtle grin playing at his lips as she gripped the side rail to avoid falling on her ass.
She took a few deep breaths and said, “Hi, Hunter.”
He was the last person she wanted to see, but living next door made it impossible for her to avoid him. To make things worse, lately Hunter had been spending a great deal of his spare time doing yard work, not only at his house, but hers too. He was constantly mowing, weeding, planting flowerbeds, and whatnot. She rarely ever saw that guy with a shirt anymore—and where had he gotten those abs? Seriously. Last she remembered, there were no signs of those.
“Whatcha up to?” he asked.
God, why did Mason have to send her home over spring break? It would’ve been nice if this vacation started off last month when people actually had school and activities to occupy their time.
“Nothing much,” she said, and before he could invite her to hang out, she added, “I was just about to shower, and then help my mom with dinner.”
Seeing his face drop immediately made her feel guilty. It wouldn’t have been noticeable to anyone but her. At times like these, she really missed her old friend and wished things could go back to the way they used to be, the way they were before she’d been discovered by DOE, and if she were being honest, the way they were before that kiss.
Kennedy’s eyes roamed over the porch to the very spot where it happened. If she had never left, things would have been different. Chances were pretty good that she would’ve fallen head over heels for the boy next door. She knew herself well enough to know whatever she felt for Hunter could’ve surpassed the love she felt for him as her best friend.
Of course, then she would’ve never met Phoenix. And the thought of not knowing Phoenix was…tragic. Because as happy as she might’ve been with Hunter, she knew it couldn’t compare. Phoenix filled her heart in ways she never thought were possible, made her feel things she wasn’t even sure other people felt. Be it a blessing or a curse, it was safe to say he’d ruined her for all other guys for as long as she lived.
But she would rather lie naked in a bed of broken glass than tell Hunter about him.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” He wiped the sweat from his forehead and gave her that hopeful look that worsened the guilt.
She couldn’t keep doing this. He was her best friend, and if this really turned out to be a goodbye and she didn’t get a chance to spend time with him before the Sae-yers arrived, she would never forgive herself.
“I’m thinking about wandering around the historic district, maybe buying some Floridian souvenirs for the other keepers.” She swallowed and pushed her next words out. “Wanna come with me?”
His brown eyes lightened. “I’d love to.” He took a few steps closer, swinging an arm around her side and resting it against the railing she leaned on.
Kennedy’s gaze dropped to his arm, and then drew back up to his face. He was getting mighty close for comfort.
Hunter stood over her and slowly bent down until he was mere inches from her face. His voice turned raspy as he said, “Looking forward to it.”
Oh boy.
Kennedy took a shaky step backwards. What had she just gotten herself into?
Hunter grinned, probably thinking it was only shyness that steered her away from him. She wished that were the case.
And now she had to spend all day with him tomorrow. God help her, but fitting in quality time seemed hopeless, especially if she had to dodge his advances the whole time.
Before he could make another move like that one, Kennedy escaped into her house, bolting the door behind her.
She loved Hunter. He was the best friend a girl could ask for. That being said, neighbors were so overrated.
Two
Phoenix pressed a button on his brace, hoping the message he sent would make Kennedy smile. It was pathetic that he couldn’t go a whole day without contacting her, or that he didn’t have the focus he prided himself with anymore.
Stop thinking about the damned girl and get back to work, he ordered himself. Easier said than done when her face was entangled with his every waking thought. His focus no longer mattered as much as it used to, and he wasn’t sure what that said about him.
Rubbing his hands together, he blew into them, trying to get back to the task at hand. It would be easier to think straight if it wasn’t so bloody cold. He would never understand why people chose to live in this glacial country. It didn’t matter that Oslo’s climate was nearly the same as St. Petersburg, or that the Jorgensen family name had bred a long line of robust Norwegians with ice practically coursing through their veins. It was freezing, dammit.
“You sure this is a good idea?” Fang asked. Snowflakes shimmered atop her black hair, and she kept brushing them off her face and out of her eyelashes as if they were annoying her on purpose.
“Yes,” he answered. “We’ve been on this stakeout for hours. We need answers.”
They stood beneath a leafless tree a good quarter mile away from a lone two-story wooden house, which looked more like an alpine vacation chalet going unused for the winter.
No cars had driven in or out of its garage. No one had come or gone at all for that matter. Once the sun went down and darkness set in, no lights shone from any of the windows. Phoenix didn’t feel like waiting anymore. Going inside was the only way they would find anything.
“I don’t know, Nix.” Fang shook her head, still looking at the house. “I’m not sure Mason would approve.”
It wasn’t in her to hesitate. This was the first thing they’d been entrusted with outside of Olympus, and Fang didn’t want to screw it up. He didn’t either, but the difference between them was he saw going back empty-handed as the real failure. If there was a reason the unknown signal was being traced back to this place, he was determined to find out what it was.
“We have a warrant,” he said. “It’s not like we don’t have permission.”
“But if something is going on, we risk that whoever lives there will bolt. Or worse, they’ll put a gun to your head before you figure out what’s going on.”
“Fang, everything will be fine,” he tried to assure her. “And we’ve been plenty patient. No one has been inside the house all day. For all we know, they’ve already taken off. Just stay here and keep post while Nika and I look around. If someone comes, dial my brace, and we’ll get out of there straight away.”
Fang gave one last look around, then straightened, and gave him a quick nod. She wasn’t comfortable with him breaking in, but thankfully trusted him enough to go along with it.
“Fine. But you damn well better be careful.”
“Absolutely.” He turned to Nika, who hadn’t spoken more than a few w
ords all day. Her presence was easy to forget. “You ready?”
He wished he could leave her out here with Fang, but that would be a stupid move. His Russian was pretty much crap, and he needed her for translation. Just in case.
Nika’s answer was to tread through the snow towards the house. He followed behind, keeping his eye out for oncoming vehicles. One long road led to the hilly area they were perched on, but the city was only about ten minutes away. If someone did live here, it was possible they were working late or running errands.
Nika approached the front entryway, and then stepped aside. Phoenix tested the door first. It didn’t budge. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a lighter. The flame flickered in the snowy air. A current of energy shot through his hands as he cupped them around the lock. Twisting the fire with his mind, he melted the lock. Once he heard a click, he shoved the door.
Nika lifted a brow, impressed. “Pretty cool trick.”
“Thanks,” he said, surprised to hear her speak at all. “I’ll go in first. Stay behind me—and please don’t leave my sight.”
He felt bad for treating her like a child, and by the look on her face, she didn’t appreciate it either, but spelling things out was necessary when it came to Nika. She was way too unpredictable.
They stepped into the foyer and were met with a degree of warmth, thank the bloody stars. Phoenix used the flashlight on his brace to scan the area while Nika quietly closed the door behind them.
It was your basic living room set up, a few sofas and chairs surrounding the television mounted on the farthest wall. He traveled through the space, making sure to check every entryway and listening for suspicious sounds. Silence permeated the air, except for the muted whirring of the outside winds.
One thing stood out. The atmosphere here seemed impersonal. There were no messes, no photographs on the walls, no evidence to attest that this was someone’s home. It almost looked abandoned.
He quickly scanned the kitchen and dining room before telling Nika he was headed upstairs. She stayed close like he’d asked her to, always an arm’s length away.