Remember Me

by Stacey Nash

  “We’ll get her soon,” Lilly says. “How’s the … thingy … coming along anyway?”

  “I got it to power up today. Not that it did anything.”

  She questions me with her eyebrow.

  “It just hummed. I felt it too, like the bass at a rock concert.”

  “And that was it?”

  “Yep.”

  “Let’s go check it out.” She glances at Garrett.

  “I …” His Adam’s Apple bobs. “I’m going to see about this issue with the hide-all.”

  “Oh.”

  “But we should hang out later, sink a few balls,” he says, and she giggles. “Play pool, Lilly.”

  I look from her to him and back again. That’s new. She grabs my hand and hauls me toward the stairs. We walk through the corridors side by side, heading back to my workspace. After a few moments, Lilly turns to me. “Have you told her?”

  “Told who, what?”

  Breaking eye contact, she looks ahead. “Told Mae how you feel?”

  I swallow and keep walking, eyes front. I kind of did, but I know that’s not what Lilly means.

  “You should.” She pauses to shove the door open. “When she’s herself again.”

  “But—”

  “No excuses, Will.” She walks into the room, ending the conversation.

  The small black box is right where I left it in the center of the round table, looking just as lifeless as when I left. Lilly picks it up and flips the switch on, immediately starting the vibrating hum. She flips it straight off and rubs her chest. She must have felt it too. “That’s odd,” she says. “What does Marcus think?”

  “He hasn’t seen it work. But we both think it’s some kind of transmitter.”

  She switches it on again and the feeling makes my bones shiver. In a millisecond she flips it off and dumps the thing on the table. Yep. Weird.

  “When did you get it to work?”

  “This morning.”

  “When this morning?”

  “Right before I came to find you.”

  “You mean right before my protect-it didn’t work?”

  I gasp as our eyes lock, my mind racing to place all the pieces of the puzzle together. Holy crap. That’s it.

  Scooping it up off the table, I bolt out the door.

  “Where are you going?” Lilly calls as she rushes to catch up.

  “To test it.”

  With the prototype tucked under my arm, I rush through the corridor and right back to the basement training room. Then plonk the box on a counter and grab a protect-it from the floor. I yank it on over my clothes as Lilly runs down the stairs.

  She reaches the bottom, places her hands on her hips, and doubles over, panting.

  The sling shot’s on the table then in my hand and I toss it to her. “Hit me.”

  She arches a brow. “For real?”

  “Come on, do it.”

  She goes over to the counter, pulls the lid off the container and grabs a handful of ammo. Loads one ball the leather strap, moves back to the other side of the room, raises the weapon, and stretches the sling back. It snaps free of her fingers.

  The ball hits me square in the chest and pings right off like a bouncing rubber ball. I hit the switch on the black box and the humming reverberates through me even with the protective suit on.

  “Shoot me,” I say.

  Lilly loads the sling again, takes aim, and fires. I feel my muscles tense a split second before I hit the floor like my legs have been swiped out from under me. My muscles quiver with an electric current. It hurts, but the warmth of understanding rushes through me totally overriding the pain.

  “Oh my gosh,” Lilly says, running across the room. She bends beside me and flicks the switch then retreats to the far side of the room.

  I take a deep breath and push myself up onto my ass. A ball pings off my chest then another off my arm. “Hey.”

  “It makes the protect-it inactive.” Her eyes goggle.

  My head spins as I rise to my feet, and I tip to the side. Blinking, a little blearily-eyed, I straighten myself before I fall then I run my hands through my hair. It clicks. “No. The hide-all.”

  I almost fumble the metal box as I scoop it under my arm and dash up the stairs. Lilly clambers along behind me again. When I get to the hall, I have a mental blank. “Where’s the port room? Which way?”

  “This way.” Lilly scurries off to the left. Adrenaline pumping through my veins and pushing my thoughts a step ahead of my body, I follow her. She shoulder barges the door open to everyone in the room losing their cool. Sam, Beau, Marcus and Garrett shout over the top of one another.

  “If it keeps happening, they’ll be on us.”

  “We’ve turned all tech off there’s nothing more we can do.”

  I clear my throat. “Excuse me …”

  “There’s got to be a reason for it—”

  “And we’ll figure it out.”

  “Guys,” I say.

  “It’s like a disruption.”

  An ear ringing whistle cuts through the air and everyone turns, looking right at us. I glance sidelong at Lilly, her index fingers are jammed in her mouth. Nice work. She pulls them out and gestures to me. “Will has something you want to hear.”

  “I … well … this …” I point to the prototype under my arm.

  “What is it?” Beau snaps. “We don’t have time for this.”

  “Is the hide-all working?” Lilly asks.

  A chorus of “yes” echoes around the room.

  “And the scanner?” I ask.

  “The scanner never stopped,” Sam says.

  Beau looks agitated. “I turned it off when we turned off the other tech.”

  “Oh,” Lilly says, a little crestfallen. “Maybe it’s not this.”

  “Not what?” Beau says. “Get to the point.”

  “I think this is what’s disrupting the hide-all.” I place the box on a table next to the port-all’s computer. “I’m wearing a Protect-it.” I glance around the room.

  “Take it off.” Beau says at the same time Sam says, “Damn it. I told you no tech, Will.”

  “Just watch.”

  “I’ve got it,” Lilly says and something shoots into my back.

  “Flick the switch.” I toss my head toward the box.

  Beau frowns. “What? We don’t have time—”

  Marcus reaches across and flicks the small metal stick-like switch up. Something shoots into my back again, leaving a sharp pain. I let out a groan, but no one hears as the room’s gone into panic again.

  “It’s down.”

  “I know it’s down. Move out of the way.” Marcus elbows Beau away from an oval rock thing.

  I flick the switch down then stand there watching them all. Marcus and Beau, all elbows and hands, vie for the prime spot to fix the hide-all. Garrett looks at me slack-mouthed and Sam seems confused.

  “It’s that.” Garrett points at the prototype.

  I nod.

  “Does it disrupt all tech?” he asks.

  Beau and Marcus continue their argument until Lilly strides across the room and taps her father on the back.

  I shake my head at Garrett. “It can’t affect all tech. The sling and ball things still worked. It only stopped the protect-it.”

  “And the hide-all.”

  Marcus looks from me to Sam and back again then points at the box. “That did this?”

  “Looks like it.”

  His eyes twinkle like they’re suddenly lit from within. “It is a transmitter. It’s transmitting some kind of wave that disrupts the protective barriers of the protect-it and hide-all. Have you got Mae’s cover-up?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I bet it works on that too.”

  “Would it work on the Collective’s barrier?” I ask.

  He meets my eyes over the rim of his glasses. “I believe it would.”

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  Mae

  Darkness fell long ago. Nik’s loitering in h
is usual place outside my door, acting all friendly every time I poke my head out. Even flirting in his double-meaning way, and I forced myself to flirt back so he won’t suspect I’m sneaking out, or that I know what they did to me. Every time I’ve thought of Jax today I’ve smiled. Now as I think of him, remembering our sweet reunion and that I’ll see him soon, that fluttering starts in my belly again.

  I poke my head out one more time and Nik’s not there. Thinking of him slumped against the wall last night makes me feel far too satisfied. Cynnie’s fabulous. He hasn’t mentioned it today, probably just thinks he fell asleep on watch. I peer to the left, to the right, and to the left again. No sign of him, so I pull my head in and ease the door closed. This is way too good to be true. I don’t buy it.

  “Nice night for a stroll.”

  Squealing, I clamp my hand over my mouth and spin around to Nik standing in the center of my sitting room. The hair on my arms salutes as a cold shiver runs through me. “What?”

  “I said, it’s a nice night for a stroll.”

  My mind races trying to figure out his game. “You don’t like strolls.”

  “No, but you do. I thought you might like to do something nice together.” He smiles and I don’t like it one bit. An intuitive feeling in my gut says something is off. Way off.

  “We can stay in.” I walk backwards toward the door which leads to my bedroom.

  Think, Mae think.

  “But it’s such a beautiful evening,” he says.

  “It is and it’s really sweet you thought of me, but I’m so tired after all our training.” I continue moving backward, not game to take my eyes off him.

  He drops onto the antique chair, my favorite one. Not good enough. I have to see Jax and I can’t get out while Nik is here, but if I try and make him leave he’ll know something is going on.

  Think.

  I glance around the sitting room. Chaise lounge, antique chairs, low table, writing desk, Persian rug, fireplace. Nothing I can work with. Not a darn thing.

  “I’m keen to spend some time together. What do you want to do?” I stop moving and lean against the doorframe between the two rooms, looking up through lowered lids.

  He raises a brow and rises from the chair. “Ah huh.”

  He shoots me another one of his creepy smiles and I smile back, but on the inside I’m cringing and wondering if he buys it or if he’s trying to call my bluff again.

  “I … ah need to use the restroom,” I say.

  Holding my hand behind me, I back out of the room, taking in its contents: linen, side table, lamp, four-poster bed with silk drapes, fireplace. A plan starts forming in my mind, it’s risky but it’s worth it. I don’t have everything I need, though. Not yet. I duck into the bathroom and pull the door closed. Still walking backward, I collapse onto the closed toilet, my legs weak and trembling. This is getting dangerous. I’ve got to get out of this house, this mess, away from Nik and his insane father. Glancing around the black and white tiled room, I hope to find a clue: hairbrush, deodorant, bath towel, toiletries.

  Once again nothing useful.

  I look up at the small window then I stand on the toilet to peer out, but my hopes plummet. The ground’s a million miles below. No point even thinking of climbing out of the third floor window or I’ll end up splattered on the ground. The ceiling nine feet above me isn’t much better. Five-foot-three-inches, not on your life. I’ve got a sudden urge to laugh hysterically, but I bite down on my tongue to stop it. Another look at the window and I’m struck with a thought.

  Curtains.

  I splash cool water onto my face, to make it look like I’ve been doing something in here. Planting my hands on either side of the basin, I stare into my own reflected blue-grey eyes. You can do this. He’s just a guy and you have to get out of here, whatever it takes. Do whatever you have to.

  The toilet’s loud when I flush, which is good. He’ll hear it. I open the door and he’s standing by my bed, his fingers tracing the duvet’s brocade. Another shiver slithers through me. Nik’s so creepy.

  I saunter over to the fireplace, careful to look casual even though I feel the dead opposite. Picking up the iron poker, I lean over the guardrail a little lower than necessary and poke the dying embers back to life. With it still in hand, I grab a lump of wood and toss it into the fire.

  Nik’s eyes are on me, making my back tingle as I build up the fire. Good, hopefully I’m distracting him. Trying not to be obvious, I peek sideways at the bed. Damn, too far from the fireplace. Turning and leaning on the poker, I look right at him with fake confidence. His hand rises to the opening of his shirt giving a little tug like he’s too hot. It’s not his usual training leathers either, he’s actually dressed casually in jeans and a V necked tee. He fidgets with the shirt again, his eyes never leaving mine, and leans against the post of my oversized bed.

  “I … ah … I taught you about the keys yesterday because we’ve been given a top secret mission.”

  Walking slow and trying to sway my hips, I move to stand a few inches away from him, twisting the poker like an accessory. It feels unnatural and completely stupid, but I concentrate hard, trying to be sexy and not blush or fall. I need him to buy this. His eyes rake over me and he turns a little to the left, angling his body to face me. This crazy plan might actually be working.

  “Uh huh.” I lean close to him and graze the inside of his elbow with my free hand. He tilts in further, his eyes on my fingers.

  NOW!

  I raise the poker, bringing it down hard and fast right across the back of his head.

  His yell is so loud, I cringe. Please don’t let anyone hear. He lunges for me, his hand clamping around the poker. “You bitch,” he says, “give it to me.”

  I yank my weapon back, my mind filling with images of the past month: his fingers digging into my arms, the mind games, him saying being around me is infuriating … all the terrible things he’s done. With another tug, the poker slips from his fingers and I almost topple backward, but manage regain my balance in time. Raising the poker again and putting even more force behind my swing, I slam it into his head.

  Nik crumples to the floor.

  Legs shaking with adrenaline or maybe fear, I race over to the heavy drapes and unhook the thick cord holding them open. It takes two arms to carry the load back and by the time I get there, Nik groans and starts to rise from the floor. But I hit him again and he falls. His arms feel limp when I lift them up over his head and wrap the rope around his wrists, tying it off in a tight knot. The end of the rope wraps easily around the bedpost and around again for good measure.

  A few steps back and I take a quick look at him slumped against the bed, out cold. Estimation: five minutes before he wakes up and gets out of my knotted mess. I dash out of the room, down the hall, the stairs, and out the front door. My legs pump fast and hard as I run down the street with no intention of ever coming back. For a brief second I have a moment of panic, shooting looks in all directions, unable to remember which way to go. I start out to the left then skid to a stop and spin around, running back to the right. Temple. Yes, the clue was temple, that’s the direction Cynnie and I went last night. I dash through the streets and come to the supply store.

  The building looms closer and I start searching the shadows, looking for Jax. When I’m close enough for its shadow to fall over me, I slow and peer into the darkness. He’s got to be here somewhere. He definitely meant meet at the temple around the same time as last night. It’s later though—getting around Nik took forever.

  Just when I should give up, I see a figure leaning against the brick wall in the shadows of the supplies store. If my heart hadn’t already been hammering, it would start anew. His face is hidden in shadows, but enough light falls over it to highlight his sexy half-smile. Something pangs in my chest, a strange but nice feeling, and my fingers ache to touch him. As I draw closer, my strides lengthen until I’m there and he’s pulling himself off the wall and holding his arms open. I fall into them and kiss
him like I’m about to lose him all over again. My affection’s returned with matching zest, but it’s over too quickly as he pulls away. “We’re out of here.”

  “Thank God. I can’t go back after how I just left Nik.”

  His hand strokes my back, tingling every last one of my nerve endings. “There’s only one person rumored to have ever made it out and stayed under their radar for years before being dragged back. I went to her today to ask how she did it and she was keen to help us.”

  “Are you sure we can trust her?”

  “Absolutely. She’s a sensor, they’ve all sworn an oath of secrecy.”

  He slides his hand into mine and we move away from the building and through the streets. “A sensor? So we’re porting out? But … what about Cynnie?” This is too quick, I’m not ready. “I need to say goodbye.”

  “There’s no time, we need to go right now. And no, we’re not porting. She says it’s not safe, something about a tracking system.”

  Damn. I wish we could see her one last time. She’s been such a loyal friend. The one I could really trust and she—

  Jax tugs on my hand, pulling me back into the shadows, where we stay as we move through the streets, going down the hill and toward the outer boundaries.

  “She’ll be waiting,” he says. “She said it’s impossible to do it alone, so she’s going to disarm the barrier for us to get out. After that, we have to go straight to the resistance. She said they’d be able to help us disappear from Collective radar.”

  I nod. Resistance, they’ll keep us safe. Okay, we’re really doing this. Jax and me, we’ll be safe, we’ll be free, we’ll be home. As we get closer to the fence my stomach clenches. I only know of two exits in the stone wall, and they’re both heavily guarded. The first with the gaping hole, which they’ve slowly been rebuilding, and the second near the tree platform, which is now guarded too so it can no longer be used. We passed the school a few blocks ago, and we’re headed in the opposite direction of the other gap. The front entrance of the agoge comes into view and I can’t freaking believe it. I turn to Jax. “No way.”