“You okay?” Burn asks.
I nod and try to look calm.
Sound comes from above us. We back against the walls of the tunnel, weapons out. Heavy steps clang on the ladder and Comp boots come into view. My insides go into a tight spin.
“It’s a Comp,” I say. “Kill him!”
The Comp takes another step. Burn leaps up, grabs the Comp’s belt, and pulls him off the ladder and onto his back on the tunnel floor. An empty Comp uniform drops to the floor beside them.
Burn pins the Comp down with his knee and tries to remove the Comp’s helmet so that his knife can find skin.
“It’s me,” the Comp says through the amplified mask.
“Wait!” I grab Burn’s arm. “It’s Larsson.”
Burn backs off, and Larsson raises the visor of his helmet.
“Why are you wearing a Comp uniform?” Burn asks. “I could have killed you.”
Larsson sits up slowly. “You nearly broke my back.”
Cal helps Larsson to his feet. “What’s going on up there?”
Larsson removes his helmet. “I found a Comp locker room and grabbed a couple of uniforms. I thought they’d come in handy.” He bends at the waist, hands on his knees, clearly still in pain. “Cal and I can pretend the rest of you are our prisoners. That’ll get us through the mall and onto the streets.”
“Good plan,” Burn says. “All clear above?”
“Yes,” Larsson answers. “There was no one in the storage room corridors.”
“As soon as we’re out,” Jayma says. “I’m heading to the Pents to find my parents.”
“Not yet,” Larsson tells her. “There will be time to find parents and friends once we complete our mission. Cal, put on the other uniform.”
Cal nods and starts to get dressed.
“We stick together until we’re outside the mall,” Larsson says. “Once we’re out, Cal and I will make contact with the rebels and FA, assuming any of them are left. Burn, you help the others find a place to hide. We’ll meet at the southeast corner of the Hub in four hours and figure out how to convince Kalin to see Glory.”
He looks at me. “You ready?”
“Yes.” I have to tighten my legs to keep my knees from shaking.
“While we’re in the mall, you’re our prisoners,” Larsson says. “Stay together. Above all else, keep your eyes down. The screens are everywhere. One look into Kalin’s eyes and you’ll be trapped.”
He climbs back up the ladder, and everyone follows until it’s just Burn and me at the bottom. I start up, but on the second rung, I feel his hand on my shoulder and his breath on my neck.
I turn my head and he kisses me. Releasing the ladder, I wrap my arms around him, and our kiss lifts me out of the tunnels, out of Haven. For a moment I forget what I’m facing, how much danger we’re in. The only thing in my mind is the kiss, the heat, the warmth of his body against mine.
He groans deep in his chest and breaks away. I balance with my heels on a rung as he holds my head between his large hands and looks into my eyes.
“Thank you,” he says.
“What for?”
“For using your Gift to calm me last night. You made it possible for me to kiss you without—”
I put a finger on his lips to stop him. I didn’t use my Gift last night. I need him to know that he can control himself on his own, but now isn’t the time. I lightly kiss his forehead.
“Be careful,” he says.
“I will. I promise.”
“Are you lovebirds coming?” Drake calls down, and Burn helps me turn back to the ladder.
Climbing quickly, I feel the weight of his steps behind me.
Larsson and Cal put everyone’s wrists in restraints behind our backs. I’m prepared to convince Burn that this precaution is necessary, but he offers his wrists to Cal without question. Burn could probably break the binding anyway, if he wanted. So could Jayma.
“Burn, you go in front,” Larsson says. “Glory, you’re next. Drake and Jayma behind her. Cal and I will flank the group at either side.”
I shake my head. “Burn can’t go first. People know his face.”
“They know yours, too,” Larsson says. “But even if you’re recognized, you’re prisoners. No one will see a reason to raise the alarm or get involved.”
Down the corridor, the door to the mall opens.
“What’s going on?” asks a tall woman in a red dress. “Who are you? Why are you back here?” Her hand shakes as she reaches toward a button on the wall.
Larsson drops down the visor of his helmet. “Don’t touch the alarm.” His voice sounds so different through the mask—empty and cold. “Everything here is fully under Compliance Department control.”
Her hand falls to her side without touching the button.
“Clear the corridor,” Larsson says to the woman. He shoves Burn’s shoulder, then mine. “I need a path to escort my prisoners.”
“Must you do it through the mall?” The woman sounds offended, like Larsson asked her to dispose of his waste.
“We apprehended the prisoners down here,” Larsson says. “How else will we get them out?”
“Fine.” The woman presses her hand to her stomach. “Just do it quickly.”
“Move,” Larsson says to us. “You’re all headed to the Hospital.”
“Oh!” The woman raises her hand to her mouth. “You lucky people. You’re going to be part of something wonderful. Small sacrifices yield giant leaps.” She smiles. “Research is Haven’s top priority. Science equals safety.”
The woman opens the door to the mall and steps aside to let us pass. Burn stares at the floor. I whisper to Jayma and Drake behind me, “Look down. Don’t be distracted.”
As I walk through the door, the light is blinding. Looking down, I see Larsson’s feet to my left and Cal’s to my right. Over the murmur of voices in the mall, I hear the clomping of their Comp boots and the crunch of Larsson’s Aut as he slams it against his glove.
But penetrating all those sounds is Mrs. Kalin’s soothing voice. It’s impossible not to hear her. Her voice seems to project from every speaker in the mall, each set on high volume.
“Good people of Haven,” she says, “for the first time since the asteroid dust irrevocably altered the earth, our future is bright. Through scientific advancements, we can all live better lives: free from fear of the dust, free from fear of Shredders and Deviants.
“There is still much to learn,” she continues, “but through cooperation and teamwork we can accomplish anything. Small sacrifices yield giant leaps. Whether your contribution is big or small, we will collectively progress and survive.”
I can imagine how it feels to hear these convincing words over and over, while looking into her kind, brown, brainwashing eyes.
But I don’t need to imagine. I know how it would feel: powerful and safe, as if anything’s possible.
As we walk, the colors and lights from the screens reflect and bounce off the floor. The images become blurred flashes that dance over the polished granite.
“Are you looking for a challenge?” Mrs. Kalin asks. “Are you looking for a way to advance your career? Well, I’m happy to tell you that each and every Haven employee—no matter what your current work placement, whether you live in Management apartments or up in the Penthouses—everyone has the potential to make a difference. You, too, can contribute to our future success. Each and every employee of Haven is important to me.” She pauses and anticipation builds inside me. “I love you all.”
My urge to look up is unbearable. I stare at the lines between the floor tiles and dig my fingernails into my palms.
Hearing her voice—remembering how it felt when she loved me—I long to see her face again and feel the reassurance and comfort she offered.
But I know better, and I can only hope the others resist, too.
“The newly restructured Science and Research Department is hiring,” she says. “Apply today and you can be part of this exciting work
. Research is Haven’s top priority, so fill out your transfer applications for the S&R Department today. Obtain applications directly from your current Supervisor or from Human Resources. Don’t delay. And remember: science equals safety.”
S&R must be a new department, or maybe she renamed Health and Safety—the department she ran before anointing herself President.
“Keep moving,” Larsson barks.
“Even the terrorists,” Mrs. Kalin goes on, “who were once working against us, now support our scientific efforts. Isn’t that right?”
“Yes,” says a voice that I recognize. It’s Joshua, Sahid’s son, one of the first rebels I met. My heads snaps up.
The walls of the mall are covered in screens that reflect off the glass and mirrors and chrome to create a tunnel of identical images. On each of them, Joshua is smiling broadly.
“I was once a terrorist,” Josh says, “fighting against Management. But since Mrs. Kalin became President, there’s no reason to fight. Under President Kalin, everything is different. She will save us all. Science equals safety.” Joshua sounds and looks like himself, but he’s got some kind of a metal band around his head.
Mrs. Kalin’s image comes back on-screen. She puts her hand on Joshua’s shoulder and smiles. Instantly, my eyes lock onto her face and warmth spreads through me.
She’s looking through the screen directly at me. Only me. Mrs. Kalin loves me. She knows what’s best for me, for us all.
No.
I blink rapidly and my mind goes fuzzy as I push her influence out of my head. I look down and catch a reflection of my own image on the back of a shiny metal bench. I stop.
It’s been a long time since I looked at myself. Really looked. My dark hair hangs past my shoulders; my brown eyes are framed by strong eyebrows and heavy lashes. I look so much like my mother. Mesmerized, I can’t turn away, and I’m flooded by sadness and long-buried memories of the day she died.
It’s like I can feel my mother’s hands tugging on my shoulders. She’s trying to turn me away from something, to stop me from doing something, but I’m not sure what.
Did my mother grab me to stop me from going out that day? Is that what made me so angry? I know we argued. I know I said terrible things, but was there more? Tears rise and blur the image.
“Keep moving,” Larsson repeats. “Don’t even look at reflections,” he whispers to me.
Mrs. Kalin’s voice bombards me from all sides, and I know that I’ll find comfort if I look into a screen. But I don’t. I close my eyes.
I trip, and my knees slam onto the floor. I stop myself before my face hits. Cal turns to help me up but stops himself.
“On your feet,” Larsson says. “We’re going through those doors on the left. Only ten more yards.”
I admire how he’s guiding us without rousing suspicion, but I can hear the fear in his voice.
“Officers!” someone calls out.
“Halt,” Larsson commands.
I carefully glance up. Larsson’s talking in hushed tones to a man wearing a business suit.
“It’s against the P&P for any employee below Management to be inside the mall,” the man says.
“Sorry, sir,” Larsson replies. “We apprehended these Deviants in the storage area. We’ll be out of here in a moment.”
“What are your employee numbers?” the man asks. “I’m going to report you to the Compliance Department.”
“We are the Compliance Department, sir,” says Larsson. “Responsible for enforcement of the Haven Policies & Procedures Manual.”
“Don’t be insubordinate,” the man snaps.
“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.”
Larsson recites an employee number, and I wonder whether it’s his actual number. Growing up, I never imagined anyone would dare confront a Comp. Technically, they oversee all employees, but this man is Management and clearly considers his work placement far above a Compliance Officer.
“Now go,” the man orders. “Out of here immediately.”
“Yes, sir,” Larsson says.
I stare at Burn’s legs ahead of me.
“Drake,” Larsson says sharply. “Eyes down.”
I turn to see my brother smiling as he stares at one of the screens. He doesn’t react to Larsson’s command.
“Drake!” I shake him, and when that doesn’t work, I reach up and cover his eyes with my hands.
“Hey!” His armor rises and he pulls my hands down. He looks at me and I see something click in his eyes.
I start to relax. A close call.
But then Drake backs away from the rest of the group. “Help!” he yells. “Someone stop these people. They plan to kill President Kalin!”
Chapter Thirty-One
THE ENTIRE MALL converges on us at once. A big man yanks my bound arms up behind me, and my shoulders scream against the strain. Five people pile on top of Burn.
“Keep calm,” I mouth to him. “Keep calm.” If he changes, he might be able to save himself, but he won’t be able to save us all.
Burn nods and holds eye contact as long as he can, but more Comps swarm in and block my view. Larsson goes to Cal’s side and pulls him away from the group. I wonder if they’ll stay, or if they’ll go find the rebels before they’re found out themselves.
One of the real Comps grabs Jayma. She breaks the bindings around her wrists and slams her arm into him. He flies through the air, knocking down several people.
Jayma’s struck by the tags from at least three Shocker guns. Convulsing, she collapses to the floor. I try to run to her, but the man holding me is too strong. Rage builds in my chest. I want to kill the Comps who hurt Jayma—I could easily make eye contact with the closest one—but I need to remember that I’m here for the big prize.
Drake’s eyes are wide with alarm. Someone has cut his bindings, and he tugs on his sleeves as if he’s trying to cover his Deviance. Does he even realize what he’s done?
Our group is pushed and shoved—and in Jayma’s case, carried—through the mall exit and into the Hub. Mrs. Kalin’s voice echoes over the speakers. Reflections from the screens flash everywhere. It’s so hard to avoid them.
We’re forced up stairs and onto a platform. The man holding Jayma drops her unconscious body. I cringe.
“Don’t look up,” I remind the others, although I’m mostly trying to remind myself. Especially here in the Hub, one misplaced glance and we’ll be captured by her image.
“What do we have here?”
I know that voice. It’s my former roommate, Stacy, dressed in a full Comp uniform but with her visor lifted.
“Glory,” she says, “I always knew you were a traitor.” She grabs a megaphone and turns to the crowd. “What do we do with traitors?”
“Execute them!” The crowd shouts.
I glance around for Cal—he could always manage Stacy—but he and Larsson are gone. I hope their Comp uniforms helped them get away and they weren’t taken into custody.
“We’re here to volunteer!” I shout. “We want to go into the Hospital to help with the experiments.” If we get into the Hospital, I might still have a chance of finding Mrs. Kalin.
“Liar!” Stacy slaps me. The weight of her glove nearly knocks me off my feet. My mind fogs and I can feel a welt rise on my cheek.
Burn shouts. He breaks free of his captors, but they’ve already attached Shocker tags to his body, and I can only watch as the Comps turn up their dials. His body shakes. I think he’s about to change, but instead, he collapses.
Stacy raises her hands to quiet the crowd. “These traitors want to ruin everything that President Kalin has done for Haven. These Deviants want to kill our leader, our mother, our savior.” The crowd roars. “But we won’t let that happen, will we?”
The crowd cheers.
“They must all die.” Stacy grabs me by the hair and tugs. “This one first.”
The pain sharpens my focus as I’m dragged to a block at the side of the platform. It’s stained with blood.
One of t
he Comps holds an ax. This is it.
Burn and Jayma are unconscious, and Drake is barely visible at the far side of the platform. He’s staring up at one of the screens. I can’t blame him for being mesmerized by Mrs. Kalin, but the sight hurts more than my impending death. Because I’ve failed, my brother’s mind will be trapped by her forever.
Burn shifts on the platform.
“Kneel,” says the man behind me.
“No.” I turn to face him. “Take me to President Kalin.”
He laughs. “You’re making demands?”
“Do it, or I’ll kill you.”
“If you prefer, I can chop off your head while you’re standing.” He readies the ax.
I lock onto him with my eyes, grab his heart, and squeeze.
The Comp clutches his chest and drops the ax. He can’t look away.
“Glory,” Burn says. “Don’t.”
I look away just in time to see a Comp stomp on Burn’s back and another turn his Shocker tags on again. Three Comps, protected by their heavy gloves, lift Burn to a standing position. He’s limp and his legs are vibrating from the electric shocks.
I’ve lost eye contact with my executioner. He’s kneeling on the platform, his face pale.
“Kill her!” Stacy shouts. “What’s wrong with you?”
The man grabs his ax and tries to rise.
“Glory!”
It’s Mrs. Kalin.
All eyes turn toward the screens, including mine.
“It’s good to see you again, my lovely daughter.”
It’s as if she’s right here, as if we’re the only two people in the world.
“So it’s true?” Drake says. “You’re her daughter?”
Looking at Mrs. Kalin, a smile tugs at my mouth. “It’s good to see you, too,” I say, although I have no idea whether she can hear me.
“You came back to me,” she says. “Why?”
I feel her inside my mind, trying to make me trust her again. I struggle to build a wall to block her thoughts from my own.
“You haven’t answered my question,” she says. “Why have you returned?”
Glory Page 20