by J. L. Weil
I rubbed the back of my skull, frowning. There was no point in denying that I was eavesdropping, so I didn’t even bother. “It’s not my fault the entire Institute is obsessed with me.”
Her auburn hair flowed loose over her shoulders in soft waves. It made her seem like less of a hard ass and more like the sister I remembered. “If you say so, but if you don’t want to be the center of attention, you might try not objecting to every rule.”
“I don’t. My only objection is being treated like I’m a prisoner. Besides, all anyone here is interested in is the meaning behind my crazy eyes and what kind of gifts they’ve given me.”
“You got that right.” She leaned a hip on the wall, watching me with heat in her eyes. Ember always seemed to be running hot. “Another tip: stop bringing up Dash in every conversation. The jerk left you here. He fled without so much as a goodbye. Why do you care what happens to him?” she challenged me.
“Why do you think?” I shot back. “You’re my sister. If there is anyone I should be able to talk to about this, it’s you.”
“You’re a fool if you think he loves you,” her voice inflating in volume.
“So I’ve been told,” I mumbled.
“Ember, is that you?” Mom’s voice called out a moment before she stuck her head outside the lab door. Surprise flickered in her eyes when she saw Ember wasn’t alone. “Charlotte. Wow, this is a pleasant surprise. Both my girls. I wasn’t sure this would ever be possible again.”
“We’re just one big, happy family,” Ember said dully, breezing her way into the room and propping a hip up on the desk that sat in the center.
I gave a small smile as I walked in, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “Hey, Mom.”
Ember put her arm around my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. I just bet she wanted to choke me. “Big sis was wandering the halls, looking a little lost.”
It took all I had to pretend as if I hadn’t just found out that Mom was experimenting with the DNA of the Gifted, searching for a way to duplicate their powers, but I forced my expression to be blank. “I was looking for you,” I told her as I inconspicuously pinched Ember in the side and weaseled out of her chokehold.
“Did you need something?” Mom asked, her long white coat swept with her movements, but before I had a chance to say anything, she turned to Ember. “How about you use a chair instead of my desk?”
“Don’t worry. I’m not staying.” Ember straightened, lifting her brows at me.
Was she going to tell Mom that I’d been spying on her? I held my breath waiting for Ember to out me. Monroe would have taken the secret to the grave. Ember I was positive would use it for ammunition or blackmail.
“Are you sure you can’t stay?” Mom asked. “The three of us haven’t gotten to spend any time together.”
With her hand on the doorway, Ember glanced back into the room. “Can’t. I’m allergic to lectures, and I wouldn’t want to intrude on your mother-daughter time.”
I rolled my eyes.
Ember winked at me. “See you later, sis.” Then the devil disguised as my sister headed out the door.
I exhaled as I listened to Ember’s boots clatter down the hall. Definitely blackmail. It would come eventually.
I glanced around the room, taking in the space that occupied so much of my mom’s time, and realized my father was nowhere in sight. He must have gone out another door while Ember and I had been having a row.
“So, what’s on your mind?” Mom asked once she sat down. Her fingers wrapped around a tin mug on the desk.
It unnerved me how she quickly jumped from doctor to mother, especially when she had just been plotting to steal my DNA.
Not cool.
But Mom didn’t so much as blink an eye. “Don’t tell me Ember and you were arguing again?”
I shook my head. “Shockingly, no.”
“Oh, good. I’m glad to hear that. I was beginning to worry the two of you would never be friends.”
I crossed my ankles and then re-crossed them the other way, unable to find a comfortable position. “Is that what you want? For Ember and I to be like we once were… close?”
A faint smile curved her lips. “Of course. Don’t you?”
“I don’t know what I want,” I admitted.
“I know this isn’t easy for you. You were tossed into this world like many of us were. I didn’t want this life for you, Charlotte, and if I could change it, I would. But sometimes things happen for a reason. We can’t always change our fate.”
But what if we could? This might have been an appropriate time to open up about my visions, and I might have before I learned what I had today.
The vision of Star dying came back to me, tumbling over my mood like black waves of doom. She had been injected with altered DNA, but the outcome for Star hadn’t been as successful as Mom hoped. Star died, and if I didn’t do something to stop it, the vision of my friend would haunt me for life.
I couldn’t let her die.
The world was a dangerous place for those who didn’t have abilities to defend themselves, but within the walls of Diamond Towers, it was even more dangerous to be human. A different kind of evil breathed in the white city, and I wanted to be as far from here as I possibly could.
I had to get out.
Star had to get out.
And I had to find Dash.
But I didn’t have the first clue as to how I was going to do any of those things.
Chapter Eight
Curled up on the bed, I toyed with the only thing I had left from my world before: a silver charm dangling from a dainty chain. I laid there, my brain replaying what I’d learned tonight, and tried to decide what I would do with the information. I couldn’t trust anyone here, other than Star, and I didn’t think it wise to tell her that I’d seen her death. So I was stuck dealing with the knowledge of what the Institute was doing on my own.
Inside my head was a scary place.
Star lay down beside me, her blonde hair curtaining over the bed. “I can’t stay long. The lab requested that I come in for my yearly physical.”
“Yearly physical?” I echoed, the wheels in my head spinning. This wasn’t good. Warning bells tolled inside me.
“Uh-huh. The usual. Blood work, fitness testing, shots,” she rattled off all things that sounded very legit…
But I knew better.
The mention of needles in any form sent up a red flare. I grabbed Star’s arm. “Don’t go.”
She wrinkled her little perk nose. “What are you talking about? It is mandatory. I have to go.”
I shook my head, sitting up and dragging Star with me. “I heard something today. Do you trust me?”
She folded her legs in an Indian style. “I probably shouldn’t, but I do.”
We’d get into the reasons why she shouldn’t trust me another time. Right now, I needed to convince her to run away with me.
No big deal. Easy-peasy. Piece of cake.
I mean, how hard could it be? I’d already seen it in a vision—Star and I escaping from the Institute—so eventually I would persuade her leaving was in both of our best interests.
Chewing on my lower lip, I attempted to keep my expression neutral. “The Institute is experimenting on humans, injecting them with DNA from those who’ve been mutated,” I said slow and cautious.
A dainty hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my God. Are you sure?”
“Positive. I overheard my parents talking about it today when I went to see them in the lab. I think they are using these routine physicals as a way to administer the cells into human hosts for testing.”
“What am I going to do? If I don’t show up to my appointment, they’ll send a guard to fetch me.” Panic set in, and Star started talking in turbo speed.
“Right. I have an idea for that. But you’re probably not going to like it.”
“Okay, the suspense is killing me. What is it?”
So much energy buzzed through me I couldn’t sit still. My knee bounced, shaking the
bed. “We’re going to escape,” I told her.
“I’m sorry,” Star choked out. “What? I swear you just said you wanted to escape Diamond Towers.”
I might not be Dash Darhk, but I had to try. Star and I were both in danger if we stayed here. I jumped off the bed and started pacing the room, barking out orders. “I did. Now grab whatever you need from your room that you can carry—keyword being carry—because you will have to lug it around with you. Make sure it is absolutely necessary, and then get your butt back here so we can figure out what to do next.”
“Charlotte …” Her fingers twisted together like she often did when nervous. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
I grabbed her by the shoulders and steered her toward the door. “Yes, you can. I’m giving you twenty minutes. If you’re not back here by then, I’ll assume you want to stay. I won’t force you to do anything you’re not comfortable with. This is a risk, I get it, but the payoff might be you no longer having to wait hand and foot on everyone else.” And you will live.
She chewed her lip, wrestling over the pros and cons. A longing entered Star’s eyes. She wanted more out of life. As scared as she was of what awaited us out in the Heights, her desire for freedom might win out, and I was counting on it. “This is ludicrous. Do you know what they would do to us if they caught us?”
“It is easier if you don’t think about it. Besides, we won’t get caught.”
“How can you be so certain?” she asked.
“You said you trusted me, and now I’m going to trust you with something very few people know. Not even my parents know. You can’t tell anyone what I’m about to tell you. Swear it.”
“I-I promise.”
Not the most convincing, but it would do. “I have more than one gift.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re bi-Gifted. That is amazing.”
“Depends on how you look at it. I get visions, and the other day, I had one of you and I sneaking out of the Institute. We’re meant to leave together.”
“You’re serious, aren’t you?”
With my right hand, I drew an X over my chest. “Cross my heart and hope to—”
She grabbed my hand. “Don’t you say it.”
I grinned. “You get the point. And I’m telling you, we need to leave tonight.”
“This is all happening so fast.”
“If there was time, I would gladly give it to you, but it has to be tonight. Now go.” I shoved her out the door, sending her down the hall. You can do it, Star. Be brave.
Leaning against the door, I gave myself a minute to breathe, and then I went into hyper-mode, throwing what I could into a backpack: my few measly clothes, some protein bars and fruit I’d stashed in my room for those midnight munchies, a hairbrush, and a scarce other provisions.
Now what?
That was the problem with spontaneity and no strategy: it was a good way to get into deep shit.
But I would take my chances.
I shoved both my hands in my hair, waiting on edge for Star. The girl was fraying my nerves. This didn’t seem real. I was doing this, planning a foolish scheme to sneak out of the white city in the middle of the night.
What am I doing?
What if I get us both killed?
I’d never be able to live with myself if anything happened to Star because I dragged her into this whole escape fiasco. Good thing I’d be too dead to care.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
What was that sound?
It came from the window. I squinted in the dark. “Blink?” I exhaled. The large black bird perched on my windowsill, his whiskey-colored eyes shining like a beacon of hope in the room. Blink was a Blinken. Original, I know, but I didn’t name the bird with extraordinary capabilities. He told me himself.
I moved closer, just to be sure my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me or I wasn’t hallucinating.
“Surprised to see me?” asked the bird, turning his head to the side to an angle that would have been painful for humans.
Even in my astonishment at seeing the bird again, I still found a moment to revel in his sleek and regal beauty.
As if the bird sensed my awe, he flapped his expansive wings and tipped up his beak.
“Surprise doesn’t begin to describe what I’m feeling. Sick to my stomach might be a better description,” I mumbled.
“You must hurry. I’ve taken care of the guards, but we don’t have much time.”
My lips turned down at the corners. “How did you—? I don’t understand … You did what?”
If a bird could roll its eyes, Blink had just done so. “We only have time for the CliffsNotes version. The pollen I used on the guards has an expiration. It will keep them comatose long enough for you and Blondie to slip away.”
My mouth was still agape. “How are you here? How could you possibly know my plan?”
He scoffed. “Lack of plan more likely. You sent me.”
“No I didn’t.” I would most definitely have remembered.
“Not the you now; the you from the future.”
Oh yeah, that totally made more sense. “Uh, if you say so.”
“Charlotte. We must go. Where is the girl?”
This whole future-me nonsense sent me tripping. During another time and in another place I might try to wrap my head around it, but for now, I folded my arms across my chest. “Okay, I got it. Don’t ruffle your feathers.”
The bird made a disgruntled noise in the back of his throat.
I’d never met an animal with more attitude and entitlement, but he’d provided me with an opportunity I couldn’t pass up, assuming he wasn’t lying. I hadn’t forgotten Dash’s mistrust of the Blinken. This could be a test set up by the Institute, not that it mattered much to me at the moment. I was doing this. Tonight.
Grabbing my canvas bag off the bed, I tossed it over my shoulder.
“Ticktock,” Blink clucked.
I shot him a peeved glare. “She’ll be here.”
“Who are you talking to?”
I spun around. “Jesus, you scared me, Star. You really need to learn to make some noise when you enter a room.”
“I thought the whole point was to be inconspicuous,” she whispered.
“It is. You’re just too damn good at it.”
“Were you talking to yourself?”
“Um, sort of.” I made a quick decision not to tell her about Blink. He had made himself scarce, and I took that as an indication he didn’t want to be seen. Not to mention, even in my head a conversation about a talking bird seemed batty.
Star had pulled her long blonde hair into a ponytail. “Please don’t tell me you’re going crazy. I mean, crazier than you already are.”
My mental stability could definitely be questionable at the moment. “Let’s go.”
Shouldering her pack, Star followed me to the door. “Now that I’m here, I’m not sure I can do this.”
I glanced over my shoulder. “You can. I happen to know for a fact that you are stronger than you think you are. We can do this. Together.”
She nodded. “I’m afraid, but I’m more afraid to stay here.”
“I know what you mean,” I muttered, moving out into the hallway toward the elevators. Here goes nothing.
“This way.” Star grabbed my arm, spinning me around in the opposite direction of the elevator.
I gave her a funny look.
“We can take the service stairs. It isn’t manned by guards at this time of night.”
Just what we needed. Star didn’t give herself enough credit. Who the heck knew? Star and I might just pull this off.
Sprinting down the hall, we came to a dead end. There was nothing but a blank wall. “I thought you said there was a service stairs exit. Where the hell is the door?”
“Here,” she whispered. Her fingers ran along a crack in the wall I hadn’t seen, and a split second later, the wall disappeared, like a sliding door, and vanished into a cavity. Voilà. A set of stairs appeared.
“Neat
trick.” How many other hidden passages did Diamond Towers have?
It was a heck of a trek down all those stairs, but by some grace of God, we made it to the first floor without running into anyone. Most of the staff must have been in their living quarters. Another hidden sliding door opened to the west side of the building, just outside the courtyard.
It was so easy, it almost felt wrong, but we kept going.
Now was the moment of truth. We were about to find out whether or not Blink had really fairy-dusted the guards to sleep.
As I pushed open the door that led outside, I held my breath, waiting for a tripped alarm to go off. The only sounds were the crunching of our footsteps, the chirping of crickitoes, and the flapping of wings.
Blink.
He perched on a tree in the center of the courtyard, looking pleased with himself. All around the lush grounds lay bodies. The glowing golden eyes of the bird met mine, and he gave a tiny jerk of his head, telling me I needed to quit gawking and move on.
Star inhaled sharply behind me. “What’s wrong with them?”
“Just a sleeping spell. They’ll be fine… I hope, but we don’t want to be lingering around when they wake up on the ground with a mother of all headaches. Come on. We need to keep moving.”
“I can’t believe we’re actually doing this.”
Me neither. “Stay in the shadows,” I murmured.
“What if they wake?” Star inquired as we crept past another comatose body.
“All the more reason to hurry.” I bent down and snatched one of the guard’s stun guns. You never knew when it might come in handy out in the Heights.
We ran through the courtyard, past the guard’s station, the center fountain, and right up to the front gate. Easy-peasy…
I might have spoken too soon.
Blink squawked from the sky, and I knew he was telling me something was wrong.
“And where do the two of you think you’re going this late?” Blink must have missed a guard. Oops.
“Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God,” Star started chanting in a panic.
“I know who you are,” the guard so obviously pointed out. I could see the little dots starting to connect.