“Turn away from him. Break free. Find a way to help me.”
“You act as if I’ve just laid down my whole life and easily given in to everything he’s asked. I’ve learned the hard way, just as you have. I tried to run away, and he found me and put me in solitary for a whole month after putting me through the dunking machine. I almost starved to death. And he killed my best friend, Sean, because he was the one who had encouraged me to run away.”
“Oh my gosh!” I said. I felt my heart soften. He had reason to act the way he had. He did want to protect me. “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
“I didn’t want to tell you,” he said. “But you’re so stubborn. I should have known I’d end up telling you sooner or later. I can’t seem to keep anything from you.” The look on his face tore at my insides. He was a pawn as much as I was. The horror of it all was compounded by the fact that it was Dakota’s flesh and blood doing this to him. I had been blinded by anger. Stupid. Stupid.
“Play along, Misha, and after your first few kills, I’ll start talking about you to my dad and see if he won’t let me have you eventually. It’s going to take time, though, Misha. Please be patient.”
“I’ll try,” I said. I didn’t want to be his possession. And it bothered me a lot that he wanted me to kill someone before we could even talk about an escape. “You know I won’t be satisfied just getting us out. We’ll have to find a way to save the others.”
“Let’s focus on ourselves, first.”
“But you will help me, won’t you? You’ll help me get everyone out, eventually?” There had to be a way. I would find it.
“Yes. Bide your time. Get a couple assassinations under your belt, and then we’ll let my dad start seeing us together more, and slowly, I’ll let him know I think you’re awesome. Hopefully, he’ll bless the relationship, and we’ll all stay alive.”
There was some movement in how he felt about helping me. I would keep working and digging and let Dakota’s subconscious mind look for a way to help. The truth was, if I wasn’t able to get out by the time Dakota’s plan was put into place, I would escape with him. Then I would leave him, free everyone, and kill Sterling.
Somehow, bizarrely, life at the compound slipped back into old rhythms. I worked out every day really hard, and I began to regain my muscle mass. Classes continued on. I still worked with the chemicals instructor, and the other kids stopped avoiding me. I still couldn’t get anyone in my group to talk to me, but I could tell Frankie was softening. She wanted to forgive me but wasn’t sure how.
On Sunday that same week, I ran into something else that interested me a great deal. Some kids were meandering in the woods after the production and had been for a solid hour. Slowly, one by one, all but two disappeared without me seeing where they went. I moved in closer, going into stealth mode and watched one disappear after going in a particular area. I staked it out. Ten minutes later, the last wandering girl disappeared, too. But I had seen where she’d gone. I made my way over, and after pushing my way behind a big group of bushes, I found a hole in the bottom of a hill. Tunnelers?
I decided to be brazen about my discovery of them and slid on my belly through the small opening. Once through it, the tunnel widened so that I could sit and had three feet on all sides of me. Four of the kids I’d watched disappear were a few yards in front of me widening the tunnel walls. “Hey,” I called out.
The four screamed, jumped, and grabbed at each other. Their reaction startled me a bit, and I took a step back. The tallest girl put her hands on her chest and gasped before crying out, “We’re busted!” All digging sounds stopped and six, dusty, dirty kids emerged from the tunnel beyond the four I could see.
“Busted for what?” I asked.
“This tunnel,” the tall girl said, looking completely annoyed. “It’s top secret. No one knows about it but the ten of us, and now, you. You’ve ruined it.”
“I don’t see how I’ve ruined it,” I said. “I’m not going to tell anyone.”
“You’ve contaminated the site by following us in. Now others will find us.”
“I doubt that very much,” I said. “I’m great at stealth. You guys did everything right in trying to lose a tail. I’ve just had a lot of experience in this arena. And in truth, I almost didn’t find the entrance you guys were so good, and I’m a pro. Besides, Sterling already knows where you are.” I tugged at the neckband I wore. That’s when I noticed none of them were wearing neckbands. How was that possible? “Wait a minute. Sterling doesn’t know where you are.”
They all looked at their feet.
“How did you manage that? You’ve got to tell me.”
Several nodded with a bit of hesitancy. “Wait a minute. You’re that girl that Sterling had to discipline for trying to escape,” a girl with gold hair said.
My face felt hot, but I could tell she was trying to decide if that was a good thing or a bad one. I had to make her believe it was a good thing, that she could trust me.
“Yeah, and he whipped my best friend for my indiscretion. I intend to pay him back for that.”
They all stared with wide eyes, so I forged on. “How did you get those removed and how close are you to getting past the barrier?” I asked.
“A guy in our group worked with a techie to figure it out. It’s not easy. Today, Sterling thinks we’re with some kids in the cafeteria,” a short, tiny boned girl said.
I guessed they figured I was trustworthy.
“We think we’ve got about 500 feet,” a tall, lanky guy said.
“Are you serious? How long will that take to go that far? And how can I get your guy to remove my neckband.”
“About a month. We get about 500 feet every month,” the tall guy said. “But we can’t remove your tracker. You’re too hot right now. You’ll have to leave the escape up to us. We’ll come back for everyone.”
“Fair enough. But when you get within ten feet will you let me know, and I’ll give you a note to take to a buddy of mine that can help spring the rest of us?”
“Hold on,” the tiny girl said. “We’re not trying to really escape.” I could hear the false note in her tone. “We’re just testing Sterling’s security for him. He thinks all the tunnelers are working on the obvious tunnel, and we wanted to throw him a curve ball.”
I laughed. “I totally understand. That letter I’m sending to my friend. It’s just a test, too. For Sterling, I mean.” I rolled my eyes, and they chuckled. “After you get it out, I’ll let him know I breached it.” We all laughed out loud now. Comic relief in a deadly serious situation.
“Any way you might speed it up and halve your time on this last 500 feet?”
“We might be able to do that with some extra workers.”
“Don’t do anything that would give yourselves away. I just figure, if we can get out of here, sooner is better than later.”
“Amen,” a black-haired girl said then smiled.
“I’ll get you the coded letter ASAP. Thanks guys.”
I figured I better hurry out of there and never return. They were right. I was too hot. Anywhere I went, Sterling was sure to take notice. As I left the cave, I took heart. More of the kids here were working to escape than I’d thought. I would have to rally the forces and get several groups heading for the exit with earnest. One was bound to succeed. If only I knew if Sterling was still going to let me assassinate the president and when it was going to be. I needed to go see Sterling. He would like that.
On Monday morning, I gathered my courage and walked purposefully to Sterling’s dining hall. As I neared the door, fear almost made me turn back. Memories of the pain he could inflict were still very raw, but I pushed through it. I was a spy, and I was trained to fake it. I would fake it. I squared my shoulders, took a deep breath, and walked forward. I raised my hand to knock, but instead I got a shock as the door opened of its own accord. Was he actually expecting me?
Sterling sat at his usual place at the head of the table, and the familiar sight of him in a garis
h tie and boxer shorts nauseated me, but I let no hint of it show on my face. Instead, I let my eyes fill with tears, and my expression showed nothing but hopeful admiration.
“You welcome me back?” I whispered, letting hope, disbelief, and gratitude mingle subtly in my tone.
“Misha, my dearest queen to be, I have waited here every Monday for your return. I knew that my patience would be rewarded. You see now that I am not only just, but merciful and forgiving. Where the colorless world would reject you, I am here to welcome you back with open arms. I knew you would recognize your rightful place is here beside me, if you were given the proper guidance. My faith in you has been confirmed, for here you are, ready to join me once again.” He beamed at me. He had no doubt that his conditioning had been completely effective. He gestured to my usual place at the table.
I crossed the floor eagerly and sat next to him. He held out his hand to me, and I took it without hesitation. I had to play my part perfectly.
“Thank you, thank you, sire,” I murmured. “This is all I’ve wanted.”
He smiled blissfully, “Of course, dearest.”
He let go of my hand, then pushed a button in his drawer and our meals rose out of the table.
After breakfast, our conversation turned seamlessly back to planning the president’s demise. It was as if nothing had changed.
After we discussed some hiccups with the drug we’d chosen, we moved on to dissecting all the plans, trying to find faults, no matter how picky. My mind wandered. Did he know about the second group of tunnelers? They were so close to escaping. He must not know. How could I find out without giving them away?
I got my opportunity to ask him when he brought up using manholes to get his team around.
“I couldn’t help but notice how close the tunnelers were getting to their escape.”
“Oh, that silly group. Insane isn’t it? They’ll make it to the border in about six months, they’ll come tell me about it and we’ll fill the tunnel in. It may seem like a waste of our time, but this group provides us with valuable information about our weaknesses and the strengths of the kids. You know, things like how long someone will persist at something that is futile. We also gain insight into the process of tunneling and what it would take for someone to really escape this way and what the signs might be.”
He didn’t know about the second group! I rejoiced inwardly. He was talking about the first group, the one that operated more openly. I smiled at Sterling. Let him think I was admiring his methods; inwardly I was celebrating. The pieces were coming together.
“Time for your classes, Misha dear,” Sterling said. I got up to leave, and he gripped my hand tightly. The strength of his grasp reminded me—I was playing a dangerous game. “It’s good to have you back.”
“It’s good to be back,” I said as I gently pulled my hand from his and began backing toward the door. “Thank you, for my second chance.”
I tried to meet his eyes to show my sincerity, but he was once again staring off in the distance. I slipped out unhindered.
After a hard day of hands-on training classes, it felt good to be in Dakota’s arms again even if we always had to sneak around. I wondered if he knew some of the kids had figured a way to unhook their neckbands. If he knew about the techies and got them to help him, what other resources did he have access to? I bet he could spring me tonight if I could find a way to convince him to do it.
Dakota brought me out of my reverie. “I’ve been thinking of places we could go hide after we escape. Places that my dad doesn’t know about, of course. I’ve been researching to see if there is a way. I think it would be possible if you completed the kill first.”
“I don’t understand why we can’t just go tonight. It would be like we were eloping.”
He shook his head. “Tonight is no good. I’m getting it all arranged. Everything has to be planned out seamlessly if we can have any hope of escaping permanently. Have faith in me, Misha.”
“If I agree to this, you have to tell me where this compound is so that I can send people to dismantle it.”
“The truth is, I don’t know.”
“What?” I couldn’t help but let shock hit my face.
“I was afraid to tell you before,” Dakota said. “It makes me look really stupid, but my dad has me blindfolded every time I come here.”
“You’re kidding. His own son? You must have an idea, though. How many hours did it take you to get here from Oregon?”
“I’ve never really paid attention.”
“Start paying attention,” I said. “Let’s do this. I wish we could do it before I have to kill someone, though. But, I’ll do it if I have to. I knew you’d find a way.” I actually planned to escape during the assassination attempt, which would make this option moot, but I needed a backup plan.
I could tell he was getting excited. “I can’t believe I found a way.”
“I knew you would,” I repeated.
“I’ve been getting the passports, documents, and disguises all together. I can’t believe I will get to be with you forever.”
“It’s wonderful,” I said. “It’s going to be great.” Dakota was only my backup plan. I was counting on getting my messages out to Jeremy. He would pull through and meet me at the hospital.
I sent Dakota away with another letter that said I felt the president’s assassination would be happening this month. Sterling and I had exhausted every possibility for failure and had a foolproof plan. I told him the assassination would occur at a little known hospital after a press conference. And that the president would insist on going there and it was a trap. He could save me at the hospital, and I would bring him back to save everyone else, even Dakota.
Dakota told me he only had a quick trip this time and would only be gone two weeks. I hoped to get a letter back in that short time. It would probably be info about my previous letter, but I didn’t care.
I continued to work out every day, building up my strength to an even higher degree than a month and a half ago when I’d been whipped. I pushed myself hard, never wanting Sterling, or anyone else for that matter, to be able to overpower me.
I got the coded message to Rakon and the coded letter to the tunnelers. They had doubled their manpower and their efforts to get done in the two-week period of time I gave them. I collected tools from the gardeners. The tunnelers sharpened them for me, and I figured they’d have to do. I planned out every last detail of the mission. It took a lot of coordination. Zoey would play an integral role in making it all happen.
She had recruited Adam to help, too. Rakon filled in a few of his comrades, and we were set to go. The excitement inside me threatened to burst over during the four meetings I had with Sterling during those two weeks. We were about to save everyone. I couldn’t wait.
The last piece of the plan fell together only a few days before I was to put everything in motion. On a trip to the bathroom, I discovered ten students in the biology lab working on something. I tried the door. It was open. The smell assaulted me immediately. It was dead-body smell. I covered my nose with my arm and made my way over to the kids. A corpse was on the table, and they were dissecting it.
I dry heaved. I couldn’t help it. A boy about six feet tall with glasses and black hair came over to me. The rest continued to work.
“Never seen a cadaver before?”
“Not like that.”
“It can be a bit disconcerting at first. Did you need something?”
“I was just wondering what you guys were doing.” I dry heaved again.
“Here, let’s talk in the hall.” He led me out. “I’m Greg, by the way.”
I had him follow me to a water fountain. I breathed deeply several times before taking a drink. “Misha. So what are you guys doing in there?”
“We all love medicine and want to be doctors, so Sterling gets us cadavers once a month to learn from.”
“Oooh!” I said, lifting my chin high. “I don’t think I’ll be joining you, but thanks.” I h
eld out my hand and shook his, hoping I’d found the right guy. I wiggled my pinkie finger across the palm of his hand three times. His eyes went wide and he gave me the secret handshake back. He grabbed my elbow and led me out into the gardens.
“What do you need? This better be good.”
“I need someone to remove my tracker tomorrow morning. I’d rather not have to do it to myself and risk bleeding to death.”
Greg stared hard at me then said, “Meet me here at nine. I’ll remove it and stitch you up.”
“Thank you,” I called after him as he disappeared behind the door. A little after nine tomorrow, I would be free.
I woke early, excited that the escape plans were going to go into effect today. The tunnelers were only five feet from freedom and getting to a post office to mail my letter to Jeremy, the radio guy was sure he could get a message out to Division if I was able to cause the power outage, and Rakon was ready to hack into the main server of the compound and send out an email to Jeremy. One of those things was bound to give us results.
It was also the day Dakota was supposed to return. My tablet beeped and I snatched it up, thinking he was setting up a meet with me. But it was something altogether different.
Today’s your day. Rise and shine. Meet me in my dining room in half an hour. Sterling
How could that be? I didn’t even know he’d told the president he was going to leak the story. Why hadn’t he told me when he had? My heart pounded in anticipation and sadness. I might not be able to cause the power outage we needed now. I had planned to do that part of the mission on my own. I couldn’t explain it all to someone in less than thirty minutes. Zoey might have a clue; I’d talked it all out with her over and over. It was a long shot, but maybe it could still work.
Regardless, today was the day I had to escape. Today was the day Jeremy would save me. I smiled, thinking Sterling was about to go down. After six long, tiring, horrible months, not only would I be free, but so would everyone at Sterling’s compound whether they wanted it or not.
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