by Brinda Berry
“Right,” I answered. Cassie made it sound so normal. “Tell me about Vega.”
“She is a Volo.” Cassie tilted her head to the side. “A Volo. It means a wish. She is the Makers’ wish for perfection. And because of her perfection, they intend to make more of her. She has traits beyond their expectations.”
“More? As in more girls like her?” I pictured the face of the girl who’d fallen from the horse.
“Many more.” Cassie grimaced. “It’s the reason why Bleeker originally went to your world. To be a Keeper. He helped us smuggle the Volo to safety. Like Vega.”
I froze. “Bleeker? You guys work with Dr. Bleeker?” My mind whirled like a carnival ride.
“Worked. Worked.” She laughed, a rich sound tickling my ears. “In the past. I should not laugh, but your face was so very funny. You looked like you discovered your mother was an Artificial or…um…something like that.”
I still didn’t laugh with her.
She coughed into her hand. “Maybe that was not a very funny thing to you. I apologize.”
“Well, he’s a very much a psycho killer now,” I said.
She nodded. “Yes, we have heard this.”
“What happened to him? If you think he was a good guy before, what happened?” I asked.
“I’m not sure. Maybe he will tell the IIA. Maybe not.” Cassie began packing tools into a bag. “Maybe his family will know.”
My head snapped up at that. “He doesn’t have a family. Or I don’t think he does.” I remembered meeting him in his office at the university at the beginning of the fall. Dr. Eli Bleeker worked with high school students on science projects.
He did have photos of his children. He had mentioned his wife. It’s how he’d won my trust in the first place. Later I’d thought it fake.
Where were they?
“Back to the plan, ladies. This seems too easy. Now tell us the things that could go wrong.” Austin placed both hands on his hips and rocked on his heels, examining the maps.
“Plenty could go wrong. We will be lucky if only a few things do.” Cassie answered with a wave of her hand. “The important thing is that we don’t panic.”
I nodded. “I need to know the plan for what happens to Em, Regulus, and Arizona after we go through. I can’t leave Em here.”
“Corona will take Em to a portal outside the city. He may take her as soon as we leave. It will be easier for the two of them to travel to the Outbounds,” Cassie said.
“And Regulus and Arizona?” I tried to steady my voice.
“We give them Eli Bleeker. They’ll return with him to the IIA.” Cassie gave me serious eye contact. “You realize that your time with the IIA is at an end. They’ll figure out that you helped us find the portal within Magnum Opus.”
I nodded. “I know.”
“Cassie.” A voice came from a speaker. “The girl Em wishes to say good-bye to Carina. What do you want to do?”
“Take Em to my room. I’ll bring Mia Carina,” she answered.
I smiled at her. “Thanks. I do need to say good-bye.”
22
Regulus
Regulus stood at the door, waiting for anyone to walk down the hall. He needed to move back to the room next door. Mia needed him. And he definitely needed her.
No one came.
“Cassie’s a mean little thing. She really amped up the stun for you.” Arizona sat against his bedroll. He resumed chewing the end of a pencil.
“She seems pretty gutsy to me. I mean, she’s going with Mia and Austin.” Em ran fingers through her hair, trying to untangle the crazy mess around her head. Her face was scrubbed free of makeup, and she looked her age for once.
Arizona sighed and leaned back against the wall. “They need her. It will be a miracle if they pull this off and don’t get us all killed.”
Em narrowed her eyes at Arizona. “You don’t have a lot of faith in your friends.”
“You’re right, Em. You aren’t trained for this. I can depend on Regulus, but Mia doesn’t know what she’s doing. She is out there, wavering in her allegiance from one minute to the next. I’m never positive if she has my back or not. And Austin, he’s…well…too impulsive.” Arizona laughed. “I recognize him for what he is because we’re alike in so many ways.”
“What about me?” Em moved to stand beside Regulus at the doorway “Do you think I’m a stupid girl?”
“I never said you were stupid.” Arizona shrugged. “You shouldn’t have come.”
“You are the absolute, most frustrating—” Em pursed her mouth. “You wouldn’t know a good friend if she followed all the way to…to…” She looked around with a forlorn expression, eyes wide and downcast. “I don’t know where we are.”
Regulus closed his eyes in a long blink and let out a frustrated breath.
“Sorry,” Em said. “I know you’re worried.”
“Worried? I am not worrying. I am trying to think and it’s difficult when you two…” He waved at hand at both of them. “When you choose to have a lovers’ quarrel.”
They both stared at him. Neither said a word for several minutes.
“How many assignments did you have before coming to Whispering Woods?” Em stared at him, her head tilted to one side.
“One.” He furrowed his brow, confused at the sudden shift in her thoughts. Why did she ask?
“Tell me about it,” Em demanded.
“What do you want to know?” There had to be some reason she asked and she was distracting him. He turned back to watch through the door. He couldn’t risk missing his chance to talk to someone. He needed to convince them to change their plans.
“Where was it and what did you do?” Em moved to stand beside him, obviously bothered by his lack of attention.
“A little town in Maine. We were sent to find a couple who had lived there for ten years but were recently discovered.”
“And you found them?” Em moved her head into his line of vision.
“Yes. They were easy to locate.”
“Then what? You brought them here?” Em pressed her head to the glass door.
“Yes.” He exhaled. This girl loved to talk. When he’d been younger and training in the vault, he’d wished to spend time with females. The Vault Training facility housed males only. It wasn’t a discriminatory practice. If there had been more females in his world, it may have been different. But females were sparse.
Mia didn’t talk as much as Em. He enjoyed sitting in silence with Mia. And he didn’t mind the things she talked about. What was Mia doing right now?
“And were they causing trouble in my world? Is that why you had to arrest them?” Em asked.
“No. They were unauthorized.” He glanced back at Arizona and wished she would ask him these questions.
“Do you ever wonder if you ruined their lives? Did they have children? Did—”
“It’s the way. I’m not to question my orders.” His voice grew gruff from irritation. Surely she would stop this meaningless interrogation soon.
“But you’re breaking the rules now. What happens to you and Arizona when you leave here?”
“We take Bleeker in and will get some level of reprimand.”
“Why do the IIA still want Mia? Will they be the new Dr. Bleeker for her? Badgering her chance they get because she doesn’t want to work for them?”
Arizona cleared his throat. “Em, come sit with me and leave Regulus alone.”
“No. He needs to hear this. And you.” She swiveled and glared at Arizona. “You are only worried about him. What about Mia? Do you ever worry about her? You’re supposed to be her friend.”
“Regulus and I have been a team for a long time.”
“I get that. I know you guys would do anything for each other. Like I’d do anything for Mia.”
Arizona nodded, relaxed his body, then closed his eyes. “After my mom died, I lived in foster homes. Strange families who didn’t care about me. My father took me to the IIA—to the Vault—and my life ch
anged,” he explained. “I was thirteen and alone. And I had Regulus. But I don’t expect you to understand.”
Emily moved away from the door. “Hey, sorry. I didn’t know.”
“I’m not asking for your pity. I want you to know that Regulus is my family. I don’t care whether you understand the IIA’s motives or not. The IIA and Regulus have been my family when I had no one.”
“Point taken.” Emily put her hand on Arizona’s leg.
“And the IIA and the Makers know what’s best.”
Emily removed her hand from Arizona’s leg. “You are so brainwashed.”
Regulus turned away from them. He was finished with this conversation that went in circles. He had no choice. Did he? He knocked harshly on the wall, hoping that Mia would answer. Was she in there?
Adrenaline barreled through his body at the thought of running out of time.
“Corona,” he yelled. “Corona.” He banged on the door. Kicked it once. Twice. Slammed his fist against it and smeared blood from his knuckles by placing his hand against it. He was losing control.
“You know that won’t work.” Emily placed a hand on his arm. “Come away from the door.”
“I can’t let her do this.” He shrugged Em’s arm away and leaned his forehead against the door.
“Corona will come back to let you and Arizona go after Bleeker. Beating up the door isn’t going to help.”
Emily had said the magic words. Corona would let them go after Bleeker. Them. Arizona could go after Bleeker and he would intercept Mia at Magnum Opus.
“Em, I need for you to do something.” He considered giving her a charming Arizona-like smile but changed his mind. She’d do it because she trusted him. And because she knew it would be for Mia.
“Do you think you can get someone to open this door and let you say good-bye to Mia? I think they’ll do that for you. When you talk to her, find out the plan and you can tell me.” He walked forward and knelt beside her at the bed. He took her hands in his. “You cannot let Mia or anyone know you’re doing this for me. Can you do that?”
“Piece of James Bond cake, I can.” She leaned down and squeezed his hands. “No worries. I’ve got this.”
Emily released his hands and went to the door. “Hel-lo,” she yelled. “I need Cassie or Corona…” She waited ten seconds and began yelling again. Her bellows brought a surly looking guard to the door.
23
Mission Impossible
“Are you scared?” Em fidgeted in the chair.
Cassie had given us ten minutes to talk privately. It seemed out of character, but I thought she only did that for me. Maybe it was a chance for final farewells.
“No. I’m not. I want to get this over with. I’ve worked so hard at avoiding things and it’s time for me to confront the problems. Do what has to be done. Does that sound crazy?”
“Not at all.” Em put her hands on my shoulders. “But be careful. I need my friend.”
“You be careful,” I answered. “I’ll be fine. And Austin will be fine. We’re getting out of here alive and going back home.”
“I’m glad you’re so confident.” She smiled. “It’s good to see you this way.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s like the way you act when you’re racking up life points in Quest. All smiley and happy. I mean, I know this isn’t a game…really not a game. But you make me think we’ll make it.”
“They’ve limited my options so I’m going to think of this like an escort mission. I make sure that our NPC Vega gets out. Everything up to this point has been level grinding.”
Em grinned at my gaming references. “Tell me the strategy.”
I explained what Cassie had shown me and Em listened, nodding periodically, and agreeing that it was crazy.
“They had this mapped out,” she guessed. “It’s like they’ve been waiting for you.”
“No. I think they’ve been waiting for any lucky break. They’re like us when we’re playing Quest of Zion. Well, except that it’s real. And a head shot will definitely mean game over. They see opportunity and they run in full force.”
Cassie entered the room. “Sorry. Time’s up. We have things to do.”
* * *
Cassie placed a hand on my shoulder as we stood side-by-side looking at the maps.
I thought about Regulus almost kissing me.
Regulus telling me about Nancy’s murder.
Regulus kissing me before he’d forgotten by way of the memory cleanse enforced by the IIA.
Regulus telling me the silly line from the Shakespeare play he’d been reading for his class.
Regulus telling me that I could sense portals and needed to be their gatekeeper. His gatekeeper.
“Mia? You’re OK, right?” Austin’s voice broke through my trance.
“Oh, yeah. Sure. Fine.” I smiled at him.
“Let’s rock and roll!” Austin shouted. He put his hand in the air and I halfheartedly gave him a high five.
Cassie turned to me. “Carina?” She hesitated for a beat. “I think Regulus and Arizona will be fine when they turn Bleeker over. They’ll probably be reprimanded by the IIA. But the IIA will overlook their indiscretions.”
I closed my eyes for a second. “But they’ll be OK, right? You know that?”
Cassie nodded. Austin walked away from us and pretended to study a holographic map.
“Good,” I said. “It’s for the best.”
“I would guess they’ll be reassigned after this,” Cassie said. Her voice held a soft tone.
“Uh-huh.”
“I’m not saying you must, but I think it would be best for you to say good-bye. That scene at the table…well…Agents never act like that.”
“Like that?”
“Lose control. Regulus and Arizona are trained to harness their emotions. I sometimes wonder if Arizona actually has emotions. Regulus, earlier today…” She waved at the table. “He didn’t act like an Agent. He acted like a person with a lot of emotions he couldn’t control.”
I sighed a rattling, shaky sound that left my chest in a whoosh.
“I don’t have to see him. We should go as soon as possible. He and I were…we were—”
She shook her head. “You don’t need to tell me. I think you will regret it if you don’t say good-bye to him.”
I stared into her eyes. She knew how I felt.
“You’re right. Can I talk to him?” I asked.
“Come with me.” Cassie looked to Austin. “We’ll be back quickly.”
Austin shrugged. “Got nothing but time.”
I followed her, wondering what I would say to him. My throat tightened from the effort of holding back tears. My steps were slow and unsteady. And then I stopped altogether.
She turned and frowned. “I don’t want to take you if you will incite him.”
“Huh?”
“He’s going to try and stop you. Tell him good-bye but tell him it’s for the best.” Cassie gave me a look of pity. “If you let him see your emotions, I think you’ll make it worse. Maybe this isn’t good.”
“No.” I gulped in air. “Give me a second.” I placed my hand on the wall and turned away from her. Taking several deep breaths and remembering all that was at stake, I pivoted. “Ready.”
“Good. I knew you were stronger than that. You’re like me. You do what has to be done. A broken heart or a weak mind won’t save the ones you love.” Cassie turned and gave me a sad smile. “You will be OK.”
We rounded a corner and entered the hallway where we passed two rooms. At the third, I almost stumbled at seeing Em, Arizona, and Regulus sitting in silence.
Regulus jumped to his feet and hurriedly made his way to the glass door. Now unlocked, he opened it and stepped through, causing me to step back. Cassie walked to the far end of the hall to give us some privacy.
“Hey.” I forced myself to look him in the eyes.
“Hi.” Regulus took a step closer. “So you’re not going.” He gave me
a relieved smile.
I shook my head. “No, I am.”
His brows lowered. “I don’t understand. I can get us out of here. They can’t force you to do this.”
“They aren’t forcing me.”
“You can’t go out there without me. Corona was telling you the truth. It is too dangerous for you to be here.”
I looked away. “So, it was OK for you to run off chasing Bleeker with me, but not OK for me to take care of this.”
“Yes. Um…no.” His eyes darted back and forth, searching for the right response. “I can protect you. You need me.”
“Take Bleeker in and come back to Whispering Woods.”
Regulus placed his hand on the back of his neck and stared at the floor with a tortured look that made my chest constrict.
I made up my mind in that moment. “I need to go back. You need to stay. It’s the only way.”
He shook his head in slow motion. “Why are you giving up?”
“I’m not giving up. I’m choosing to be strong. Choosing to do what’s best for everyone. I have a choice. And I know you don’t.”
He wouldn’t look at me and a bowling ball sized bullet of hurt slammed into my chest.
I signaled to Cassie. “I’m ready.”
“Mia,” Regulus said. “Wait.”
I needed for him to hurry before I lost my nerve to leave him. “Hmm?” I asked, not trusting myself to say any more.
“You’re the bravest person I know.”
“Brave isn’t always smart or easy but sometimes it’s the right thing to be. No matter how crappy of an idea it may seem to you, I know this is right.”
“I never said it was smart. The IIA will know that you’ve helped the rebels. You don’t comprehend the risk you’re taking. If you’re caught in Magnum Opus—”
“What? They’ll capture me? Kill me? So, they’re pretty much on even ground with Bleeker. Killing to get what they want.” My anger spilled out without my consent. I’d meant to say good-bye in a different way.
He lowered his head, not meeting my eyes. When he finally looked at me again, he seemed afraid. “No,” he said hoarsely. “It’s not their way. They’ll perform a memory cleanse to wipe away the obstacles.”