‘He’s more of a friend… I think. He came here just a couple of weeks before me and I’ve been trying to find him, but I haven’t had any luck. I was thinking of going back and asking at the reintegration centre.’
Lara shakes her head. ‘Asking them would be about as helpful as asking mud. You won’t have any luck with the authorities. They’re all too busy with more important tasks and don’t particularly care about missing friends.’
‘I was worried about that being the case,’ I respond, trying not to feel too despondent. I will just have to find another way to get to him.
‘What’s his name?’ she asks.
‘Sebastian Scott.’
‘Sebastian Scott.’ She pauses as she considers the name. ‘He’s definitely not at East Hope High. I know everyone at East. It’s most likely he’s in the West Hope sector if he’s only been here a few weeks.’ Her face darkens as she says this and she hurries to continue walking.
‘With the talentless?’ I ask, catching up with her.
She hesitates before responding, ‘Most likely. I mean, there is the possibility he could be in North Hope. If a kid has a high enough reading in their test they can go straight there. It doesn’t happen often, but it does happen.’
‘How can I find out for sure?’
‘I have a friend who comes over from the west once every so often. I could maybe ask him if he’s seen Sebastian.’
‘That would be amazing. Would it be easier if I went to West Hope and met him?’
‘No, it’s best if we wait for him,’ she responds.
‘How about from North Hope? Do you know anyone we could ask there?’
‘No,’ she replies. She looks genuinely disappointed she can’t help me more.
‘Don’t worry about it,’ I say. ‘Hopefully he’s in West Hope.’ Please Sebastian be there! ‘When will you talk to your friend?’
‘He’s supposed to be coming here tomorrow night, hopefully I can ask him then.’ We reach the next intersection and Lara stops.
‘I’m down this way,’ she indicates around the corner, ‘you’re straight ahead a few blocks.’
‘Great. I’ll see you at school tomorrow?’
‘Yep. Meet me here at about ten past eight if you like and we can walk together again.’
‘Sounds good.’ I continue walking.
‘Oh, here,’ she says, stopping me. ‘We should bump cuffs just in case one of us is running late.’
‘Sure,’ I respond.
We nudge our CommuCuffs against each other and I look down at it to check it registered. @LaraTTaylor flashes across the screen.
‘Okay, all good,’ she says, looking up from hers. ‘See you tomorrow.’
Once she’s around the corner and out of eyesight I almost jump with excitement. I finally have something to go on to find Sebastian.
As I continue on towards the apartment, I begin to feel a sense of optimism stirring inside of me. For the first time since I left the ARC I have a lead. Lara’s help isn’t a lot to go on, but it’s a start.
CHAPTER SEVEN
‘Have you heard from your friend?’ I ask Lara, in a hushed voice. She looks over at the twins, who are deep in conversation, and then down at her plate again.
‘No, he didn’t come by last night,’ she replies.
My shoulders slouch in response. This is all I’ve been able to think about since she mentioned it to me, so it’s hard to hide my disappointment.
I take a bite of my sandwich. The bread feels dry and tasteless in my mouth, not appealing at all. I place the rest of it back down on my plate.
‘Why do you think he didn’t come?’
‘I’m not sure.’ She taps her fingers across her mouth as she thinks. ‘Maybe he’s struggling to get a pass into East Hope?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Anyone travelling between East and West Hope needs to be approved for a day pass. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s been denied entry.’
I frown in return. ‘Are they strict about that?’
‘Oh yeah, there’s major restrictions. Haven’t you seen the wall between East and West?’
I shake my head.
‘It’s massive.’
‘Can’t you comm him?’ I ask.
‘Nope. Doesn’t work. Your cuff only registers users in your sector. Convenient, huh?’
‘Very,’ I respond. I look down at my fingers, which pick aimlessly at the uneaten remains of my sandwich. It’s strange they would split the city up in such a way and prohibit movement between the sectors. It gives me a bad feeling.
‘How about if we went to see him?’ I ask.
She chews down on her lower lip as she considers this. It doesn’t look like she finds the option appealing. ‘We could…’ she wagers.
‘I haven’t got anything planned this weekend. If you’re free, we could go over there tomorrow?’
‘Sure,’ she says, with a strained smile. Her tightly pulled lips make it clear she isn’t happy about my idea at all. Why is she so against the idea of going into the western part of the city?
‘Are you excited for your first special studies session?’ James asks me.
‘Yeah, can’t wait,’ I say, with half-hearted enthusiasm.
‘You shouldn’t stress. The lesson is really easy.’
‘Okay.’ I attempt to inject more excitement into my voice, but I’m not very convincing. I’ve been worrying about the lesson all week and I’m not doing a very good job at hiding it. From what I’ve been told, the teacher can sense other people’s talents, so I have every reason to worry. I can’t let them know the truth about me.
The bell rings and the knots tied in my stomach tighten. I battle with my internal desire to ditch school for the rest of the day. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve missed a class, but it would be a first on the surface, and I still need to be careful about drawing attention to myself.
Lara stands up and gathers her stuff.
‘You coming?’ she asks.
‘Yeah.’ I pick my bag up off the back of my seat and sling it over my shoulder. We shuffle out of the cafeteria behind the twins.
‘The lesson will be fine,’ Lara reassures me, when we reach the door. ‘You can tell me all about it after school.’
‘Okay,’ I agree, hoping I’m still around to tell her about it once the school day ends.
Lara turns off towards the science labs and I start slowly trudging towards the special studies classroom. I know I’ll have to face this lesson at some stage, but it sure would be nice to avoid confronting my potential doom right at this very second. I’ve barely had a chance to look for Sebastian, and I don’t know what I’d do if I was sent back to the ARC so soon. My only hope is the teacher isn’t able to tell I have no talent.
When I enter the classroom I don’t recognise any of the students from my other classes. I quietly move past them and find a seat in an empty row at the back of the room.
As I take my tablet out I look around at the others in the room. Not one of them has their tablet out and half of them aren’t even seated in chairs. Most are sitting or lying on the floor silently with their eyes closed. I get the feeling this class won’t be anything like my usual ones.
When the teacher walks in none of the students notice. He’s young, maybe in his early twenties? He has long shaggy hair and wears large glasses that magnify his eyes. His clothes are crinkled and baggy, and he’s completely different to the other teachers I’ve met so far—definitely not what I expected. He spots me at the back of the room and walks straight towards me.
‘You must be Elle. Could I get you to come with me?’ he asks. I look around at the other students nervously. Have I done something wrong?
‘Uh, yeah?’ I respond. Like I have a choice. I jam my tablet into my bag and rush to follow him outside. He takes me over to sit at one of the benches that are perched on the grassy quad, bathed in sunshine.
‘I thought we should have a bit of a chat,’ he says. ‘My name’
s Mr. Kale and I’m relieving Mr. Finch, who would regularly take this class, for the next couple of months. Before we get you diving right in, I wanted to explain a little of what we do in this lesson.
‘You’ve probably already heard special studies is about learning to access and control your individual talent. For some people their talent comes quite naturally, but for others it can be more difficult to tap into.’
Or impossible, if you’re me.
‘Essentially, your talent is linked with your ability to focus and internally visualise what it is you want to do. It is different in each and every one of us. Some people are limited by their ability to focus and visualise. Others are limited by the way their genes have mutated. Either way, this class should help make the most of what you can do.’
‘I don’t know what my talent is,’ I say.
‘That’s okay. Lots of people are still finding their way, and you’ve been placed in a beginners’ stream, so there is no rush at all for now. Today the class is using this time for meditation.’
My eyebrows crease as I strain to comprehend exactly how this works. ‘We spend class meditating?’ I conclude.
‘And visualising,’ he adds.
‘Okay.’ I nod. I have no idea how to do this, but the class sounds like a breeze. I shouldn’t find it too difficult to sit around daydreaming every Friday afternoon. I’m almost lucky Gemma isn’t here though; we pretty much got detention every Friday for the entire month our class did yoga in PE last year. We’d spent every lesson laughing as we attempted the crazy yoga poses, and it only got worse when we were expected to sit and meditate. I can’t imagine Mr. Kale would take to that too kindly.
‘Take my hands,’ he says.
‘What?’ I respond, drawing my hands closer.
‘Take my hands,’ he repeats. I cautiously put my hands in his, not certain I feel comfortable with it.
‘I’m going to try and do a reading on you. Find out where your aptitude lies, so we can attempt to mould you appropriately.’
‘You want to do what to me?’
He ignores my question, closes his eyes and takes in several deep breaths. This is a bad idea. I should’ve skipped. What was I thinking?
‘I can see you’ve had a lot of turmoil in your life,’ he mumbles, like a bad fortune-teller. Normally I would’ve found it hard not to snigger, but I’m starting to get worried. What if he can tell I’m not like everyone else here?
‘Yes,’ he continues. ‘You’ve spent a long time alone, you were abandoned when you were very young.’
My blood turns cold. ‘How… How do you know that?’
‘You lost someone close to you recently and I can see how much you’re struggling with it.’
I hold my breath, waiting for his next sentence. Is he talking about Sebastian?
‘But you don’t have to worry. He’s close.’ I grip his hands tighter and move forward to the edge of my seat. If he knows where Sebastian is I have to get it out of him. I wait for him to continue, but he’s silent for several minutes.
‘Where is he?’ I barely whisper.
He opens his eyes and looks at me, confused. ‘I can’t see … usually I’d be able to see…’
‘What’s wrong?’ I ask. My concern grows as his brow furrows further. I’m pretty certain I already know what he will say.
‘I can’t see anything to do with any talent. It’s almost like you haven’t even got one.’ My heart falters in its beating.
He knows.
‘Could it be it’s just very, very weak?’ I ask.
He slowly shakes his head as he considers this option. ‘No, I don’t think…’
I clutch my hand to my chest. I can barely breathe. Everything I’ve gone through has been for nothing. What am I going to do?
‘I mean, I guess it’s a possibility,’ he eventually says. But when I look at him closely it’s obvious he’s doubtful that’s the answer. Then his eyes clear up.
‘No, you’re right. I guess there are some people even I can’t read. I am very sorry for you though, with you having such a lack of talent. You will find it very hard adjusting to life here and will have to work extraordinarily hard in special studies to improve.’
‘It’s okay,’ I say, my body sagging with relief. ‘Can I go back to class now?’
He nods in response. ‘Just please see that you do work hard on your special studies. It’s very important.’
‘I’ll try my best,’ I assure him, before escaping back to class.
Once I’m back at my desk, I close my eyes and pretend to meditate, or whatever it is we’re supposed to be doing. My hands are shaking, so I take deep steady breaths. That had been incredibly close.
I wish I’d realised there were people who could read me in such a way. How had he known I was an orphan? What had he seen about Sebastian? I open my eyes and look at him sitting at his desk.
Could he help me find Sebastian? He’d been suspicious about my lack of talent though, so I want as little contact with this man as possible. Even if he found out about me, what could they do? They can’t exactly put me back in the ARC now I know about all of this.
I put my head down in my hands. If they can’t put me back in the ARC, it means I can’t bring Sebastian home with me.
We can’t go back.
The words repeat in my mind over and over and tears form in the corners of my eyes. There had always been the possibility I wouldn’t return to the ARC. No one else has ever gone back, why would I? But, it’s so clear now the reason behind the one-way trip.
I subtly wipe under my eyes with my fingers and check to make sure no one’s seen. The other students are thoroughly immersed in meditation, but I catch Mr. Kale watching me, clearly concerned. I shut my eyes again trying to block him out.
No matter which way I look at it, I can’t accept this is okay. If we can’t go back, it means I’ll never see Quinn again, or any of the others; and they’ll never know about the surface.
When the bell rings for the end of the day I don’t wait for Lara. I slip a note in her locker telling her I’ll see her tomorrow morning. I can’t handle walking home with her now, trying to pretend everything’s okay when it’s not. Not today.
When I arrive out front of the apartment building I look up at it and then quickly look away. Cathy would be home and she’d be her usual perky self. I know she’s just trying to make my adjustment as easy as possible, but I can’t handle her enthusiasm today.
A leaf blows down onto the ground in front of me and I think of the park I’d walked to the other day. Yes, that’s the perfect place to go.
Once I arrive, I decide not to go too far off course in my wandering. Instead I head to the open grass area I’d seen people relaxing on the other day. It’s quite light outside, so when I get there I’m not surprised people are lazing around on the grass, enjoying the last hours of sunshine for the day.
In the middle of the field is a lone tree that offers some inviting shade. I walk towards it and sit in the cool cover of its canopy.
It’s relaxing here and I lie back on the grass. I stare up at the way the sun dances through the leaves in the branches above. It’s beautiful—almost hypnotic.
If I have lost my friends forever, and have no choice but to start over, maybe somewhere like here wouldn’t be so bad? I exhale and close my eyes, allowing myself to appreciate the breeze playing softly across my skin, the smell of grass tingling in my nose. For a moment I’m able to forget about the life I’ve left behind in the ARC and just live and breathe for this very instant.
My eyes feel heavy and despite my worry I gently fall asleep.
I awake to the sound of strangled moans whimpering from my throat. My entire body is frozen with terror, as though it is still within the icy grasp of my nightmare.
I attempt to jerk my body upwards, to sit up. But the reaction is more sluggish than expected. My head spins as I sit fully upright. I can still sense the presence of the dream. It’s eerie and foreboding. The feeling gat
hers around me like a thick coat of frost, chilling me to the core.
I shudder and swiftly wipe away the moisture I can feel under my eyes.
The nightmare had been so real.
I struggle as I try to remember the details that moments ago had been so clear. It had felt so important.
I shake my head, frustrated. I can’t remember…
A fragment cuts through the fog and into my memory. Quinn… Quinn had been in it. She’d been in danger.
I try to remember why she was in danger, but the details slip further from my grasp. I rub my face, sleepily. It’s not like the dream matters. If anything it probably means I’m in desperate need of a good night’s sleep.
I wrap my arms around my knees and pull them to my chest. I feel cold and slightly nauseas. My head is pounding. It’s as though several death metal bands have taken up residence inside it and are jumping around as they play their loudest set.
I stand and pat the grass off my pants as I walk away from the tree. I move quickly, wanting to distract myself from the raucous concert in my head. I’m walking so determinedly, so desperately trying to get as far away from my nightmare as possible, that I slam straight into someone.
‘Sorry,’ I mutter.
‘Elle?’
I look up and Hunter is frowning down at me.
He takes a hold of both my arms. ‘Elle, you’re as white as a ghost. Are you alright?’
‘I’m fine.’ I push out of his grasp to walk on.
‘You don’t look fine…’ he says, following me.
‘I said I’m fine Hunter.’
He looks shocked at my irritation, but quickly gets over it. ‘Are you sick?’ he asks. I shake my head. ‘Wait no, don’t tell me … you’re lovesick. You missed me so much at lunch today you’re physically ill.’
‘You know you’re impossible,’ I groan.
‘Don’t pretend you don’t love it.’
I want to roll my eyes at him, but can’t stand the idea of giving him any more attention—like his massive ego needs it.
‘Don’t you have other girls you could be busy irritating? From what I’ve seen you’re very popular with the girls at school.’
The ARC 02: Talented Page 7