by Krista McGee
“Because the Designer is greater than you.” Rhen speaks calmly, authoritatively.
“Nonsense.” Loudin laughs. “But I would like to see where I went wrong. More specifically, where James went wrong. It is obviously a hidden anomaly. And it must be rectified before the creation of the next generation.”
“No.” I stand between Loudin and Rhen. “We cannot take Berk and Dallas and Rhen and still have room for the people in South America you want to bring with us. The aircraft isn’t large enough.”
“I am well aware of the limitations of this aircraft.” Loudin pierces me with a stare. “Which is why we will return to the State. We can postpone our trip to South America. Knowing what has changed Rhen is more important.”
“Why Dallas?” Rhen places her hand in his. “You don’t need him.”
“I don’t need him, no.” Loudin remains, unmoving, in his spot at the entrance. “But what a contrast to Alex, is he not? Both born and raised here, sixty miles from one another. One, the son of a king, the other, grandson to Scientists. But what are the differences between Alex’s brain and Dallas’s? These are questions I want to answer.”
“You’re going to experiment on my brain?” Dallas looks from Loudin to Rhen.
“Enough talk.” Loudin motions for us to come aboard. “There are seats enough for all of you. And Thalli can tell you that any attempt to disobey my wishes will result in a most unpleasant experience.”
“He’s right.” I hate to say those words, but I do not want anyone hurt.
“You’re not taking them.” Carey pushes his way forward, moving faster than I thought possible for someone as old as he. He takes two steps up onto the ramp and then falls on the ground, groaning in pain.
“Stop.” I bend down to Carey, but I cannot touch him. I can hear the electricity flowing through him. If I touch him, it will transfer to me as well. “You will kill him.”
“He deserves no less.” Loudin releases the button on the weapon. “But I will show mercy. Now come aboard.”
A crowd that has gathered behind us begins to murmur. They are good people. They will follow Carey’s lead in trying to stop Loudin. But they will fail, as he did. I cannot let anyone else get hurt.
“He will do that to anyone who tries to stop him.” I raise my voice so the crowd can hear me. “You have to let us board.”
Rhen turns to the people. “God delivered his people from far worse than this man. From lions and fire, from slavery. There is nothing he cannot do and there is no human who can overpower him. Pray for us, that God once again shows his power to those who would try to usurp it.”
The people nod at Rhen’s words, and we board. I am amazed at Rhen’s faith. I wish I were as confident. But I am not. I am frightened. Fear is crushing my faith. The door closes, and with it, my hope that I will ever see freedom again.
CHAPTER 19
I am seated between Alex and Berk. We do not speak. Rhen and Dallas are across from us, Rhen’s head on Dallas’s shoulder, both asleep. I do not understand how they can rest. Loudin is bringing Rhen and Berk back to the State, bringing Dallas there. I know what his cerebral testing is like, how Loudin can make virtual worlds seem real, how he can strip away senses, memories, anything.
Alex and I were so sure our plan was going to work, that Loudin would be left in South America, that we’d return to the State and free the people and finally go back to New Hope and Athens. What a ridiculous notion. I cannot believe I allowed myself that dream. How could I have ever thought it would be that easy?
“We’ll be all right.” Berk places a hand on my knee. Alex’s gaze immediately goes to that hand.
“Loudin is taking us to the State.” The muscles in Alex’s jaw flex. “We have no guarantee we or anyone else will be all right.”
“There’s no reason to think the worst.” Berk squeezes my knee.
“No reason to think the worst?” Alex’s voice reverberates around the aircraft. “I can give you a dozen reasons right now. Nothing good happens when Scientists are in charge.”
“No?” Berk pulls his hand from my knee and folds his arms against his chest. “Of course not. You prefer the rule of kings, right? Because that obviously worked well in Athens.”
“I am not my father.” Alex hits the seat, the sound echoing around the transport.
“And I am not Loudin.” Berk speaks softly, but there is so much anger behind his words. I have never heard him sound like this. “But I do care about the State, and I care about New Hope. And Athens.”
Alex tenses beside me. I need to find a neutral topic, to remind us we are all working toward the same goal.
“How are things in New Hope?” I ask Berk. “I saw some of the Athenians there. Are they all right?”
Berk sighs. Several moments pass before he speaks. “The Athenians have been very helpful.” Berk nods toward Alex, a slight concession. “They did just as you asked—they are seeking peace with us. In return, the farmers in New Hope have not only given food to the Athenians, they are also training them to be farmers.”
“That is good.” Alex speaks softly, but I hear the relief in his voice. He cares deeply for his people.
“There have been some minor skirmishes, but that is to be expected.”
“My people have been at war a long time.” Alex leans forward, his elbows on his knees. “It will take a long time to convince them that mentality is no longer necessary.”
“Your people?” Berk says. “They belong to no one.”
“You have been there a few weeks.” Alex’s nostrils flare. “Don’t presume to speak on their behalf.”
“Beg your pardon.” Berk frowns. “Your Majesty.”
“Berk.” I cannot believe he is acting like this. “Enough.”
“They are working on developing a council with members from each village,” Berk continues, ignoring both Alex and me. “They are hoping you will return in time to lead that council.”
Alex says nothing. We both know our lives are in Loudin’s hands. But his ears are everywhere, and we will not give him the satisfaction of knowing our fears.
Dallas opens his eyes and smiles at the three of us. “Hey, guys.”
“Dallas.” I cannot help but smile in return.
“So, Alex.” Dallas leans his head to the side. “I heard some good stuff about you.”
“Thank you.” Alex is still tense, and his eyes look everywhere but at Berk.
“The folks aren’t too happy with your dad though.” Dallas’s accent is so odd I find it hard to concentrate on what he is saying. “Stuff’s coming out about him that is making the people pretty mad. But they aren’t mad at you. Don’t worry about that. They see he mistreated you the way he mistreated them. And I’m real sorry to hear about your sister.”
Alex turns white at the mention of Helen. Killed by order of the king, her murder blamed on Berk and me. Everything surrounding her death is painful to Alex. He has not spoken of it at all since he left Athens.
“Your sister?” Loudin is suddenly standing beside us. He has been seated behind the controls since the aircraft left New Hope. “I was not aware you had a sister. I thought I extracted everything from that brain of yours. You must have buried her deep in there.”
“I do not wish to speak of her.” Alex’s every word seems to take monumental effort. I reach over to take his hand in mine, but he pulls it away and folds his arms across his chest.
“Helen and Alex.” Loudin ignores Alex’s request. “Very stately names. Very Roman.”
“I do not wish to speak of her.” Alex’s words come out as a growl. He begins to move forward, but Loudin is surprisingly fast. He presses a button, and the straps across Alex’s chest tighten.
“Have you not yet learned that fighting me is futile?” Loudin shakes his head. “Enjoy the rest of your flight.” He walks away, laughing.
“That guy needs to be punched,” Dallas says.
I am not sure what a punch is, but I hope it is painful, and I hope Dallas
can find a way to deliver it.
CHAPTER 20
What an excellent opportunity to test Kristie’s work on our oxygen system.” Dr. Loudin stands at the door to Pod C as Rhen, Dallas, Alex, Berk, and I enter. The living space has been returned to its original state—with couches and chairs replacing the medical equipment that had been here. I walk down the hall and see that three cubes have sleeping platforms, but the rest have the medical equipment that had been in the front.
“You will live here.” Loudin looks at each of us. “Together. Try to function as much like a pod as you can.”
Another experiment. Of course.
“All these emotions under one roof.” Loudin walks the length of the living area, speaking more to himself than to us. “I have not seen this since before our rogue Scientists left us. It’s a danger, of course. But a controlled danger.” Loudin motions to the kitchen. “There are provisions for you. And learning pads. I have decided not to send in Monitors. Assistants will come throughout the day. There are some tests I want to run . . .”
“And what if we refuse?” Only Dallas would ask such a question.
Loudin steps within inches of Dallas’s face. “Refuse?”
Dallas does not back down or turn away. I bite my lip to keep from smiling.
“Refusal is not an option.” Loudin takes a long breath. “Your only options are to obey willingly or to be forced into obedience.”
Dallas grunts but does not move. Loudin pulls out his communications pad and types. “Get some rest tonight. Tomorrow will be a full day.”
The door shuts behind him, and we are all silent. Dallas slams his hand against the door. “This is ridiculous. We’re just stuck here, doing whatever he says, whether we like it or not?”
Rhen puts a hand on his shoulder. “The State is very different from New Hope.”
“No kidding.” Dallas shakes his head. “I can’t believe you lived like this for seventeen years.”
“I lived in here for seventeen years.” Rhen looks around. “This was all I knew.”
“Because it’s all that jerk let you know.” Dallas hits the door again. “He lied to you about survivors, and he tried to make you into his own version of a house pet.”
“Don’t forget he is also single-handedly responsible for destroying the world in the first place.” Alex slumps down on the couch.
“Right.” Dallas leans against the door. “There’s that too.”
“He is also very likely listening to every word we are saying right now,” I remind them.
“Good.” Dallas raises his voice. “I hope he is. I hope he knows we see through his act. We know he is a lying, twisted, evil man.”
“Calling him names will not benefit our cause.” Rhen speaks quietly, but all of us turn toward her. “We need to think about this logically.”
“I am being logical.” Dallas straightens.
“You’re being emotional.” Rhen’s voice remains soft. She walks toward Dallas and places her hand in his. “And Loudin is expecting that. I believe he wants nothing more than to see us divided. He thinks he can demonstrate the dangers of emotion by placing us in a petri dish of sorts. We start out angry at him, but that anger will spill over into our relationships.”
“I could never be mad at you.” Dallas wraps his arms around Rhen’s waist and leans down to kiss her forehead.
He is so open with his affections. In this, he is very much like Alex. But I am not like Rhen. I cannot look at Alex the way Rhen looks at Dallas, cannot reciprocate emotions in that way. I cannot even evaluate my emotions. Not with Loudin, Berk, and Alex all in the same room.
“Rhen’s right.” Alex leans forward. “Loudin seems to love playing with people’s minds.”
“And in people’s minds.” I feel the tiny hole in the back of my head.
“Well, I won’t let him play with mine.” Dallas releases his hold on Rhen.
“Then don’t let him get you angry,” Rhen says. “Let go of your anger toward him. Forgive him.”
“Forgive Loudin?” I am shouting now. “He almost had both of us killed, Rhen. He manipulated us, tricked us. Did you know he watched every step of our escape? He planned it? He watched us in New Hope? Dallas is right, Loudin is evil.”
“I understand how you feel.” Rhen’s quiet voice is no longer soothing. It is annoying. “And I am not suggesting you excuse Loudin. He will face judgment for what he has done.”
“You better believe he will.” Dallas strikes his fist against his open palm.
“But we are not the executors of that judgment.” Rhen raises her eyebrows at Dallas. “God is. He has commanded us to forgive our enemies.”
None of us says anything. I don’t know what the others are thinking, but I am amazed at this change in Rhen. Just a few months ago she called anything to do with faith “primitive.” Now she is telling us to make decisions based on that faith. And as much as I want to agree with Dallas, to stay angry and do whatever I can to see Loudin face punishment for his crimes, I feel the truth of what Rhen is saying deep in my being.
“We should pray.” Rhen holds Dallas’s hand and then reaches for mine. “There’s a scripture that says where two or three are gathered in his name, he is there in the midst of them.”
The Designer. He has felt so far away. When I have prayed, I have felt nothing in response. But maybe Rhen is right. Maybe when we pray together, he will hear me, he will answer. Berk takes my other hand, and Alex and Dallas close the circle. Rhen leads us in a prayer for wisdom. And for deliverance.
CHAPTER 21
Grandma!” Dallas rushes to hug Kristie, who has just come into Pod C. “Are you all right? What are you doing here?”
“I just need to check a few things.” Kristie returns his hug, her hand rubbing circles on his back. What would it have been like to grow up like Dallas in New Hope, surrounded by family who loved me? Kristie pulls away from Dallas and looks at me. Her brown eyes bore into mine and she smiles. “You know.”
I swallow hard. Nod.
Dallas’s forehead wrinkles. “Know what?”
Kristie releases a long breath. “Let’s go outside.”
“But Loudin . . .”
“I don’t care what he hears.” Kristie’s voice is soft but confident. Dallas and I follow her out the pod doors. She is silent for a long while, her gaze going from Dallas to me and back again. “There are things about my life I wish I could change. Coming here, following Loudin . . . I wish I could go back and erase all that we did.”
“But you left,” Dallas says. “You and Grandpa risked your lives to escape because you knew what was going on here was wrong.”
“But that was after we had done so much . . .” Kristie motions toward the State walls. “We made it possible to live down here, to have air and water. We allowed Loudin to achieve his dreams. We enabled him.”
“You wish you hadn’t done that?” My heart feels heavy in my chest.
Kristie places a hand on my arm. “John and I talked about this. He taught me that God allows good things to come out of even the worst situations. You are proof of that.”
“You said Thalli knew something.” Dallas steps closer to Kristie and me. “What does she know?”
“Dallas.” Kristie’s smile lights up her face. “Thalli is your aunt.”
I laugh at the look on his face. “My aunt?”
As Kristie explains, Dallas’s jaw drops. “So there are more?”
“I have a brother and a sister,” I say. “I’ve seen my sister, briefly, though I didn’t know at the time we were related.”
“You knew this?” Dallas asks Kristie.
“Not until Loudin came to New Hope.”
“That’s why you came.” It isn’t a question. “It’s why you did what Loudin asked you to do.”
Tears glisten in Kristie’s eyes. “Thalli is my daughter.”
The words sound like music, beautiful music. Then a minor chord intrudes. “But Loudin is my father.”
Kristie
takes a deep breath. “He is not all bad. Joseph is a brilliant man, passionate, driven. When I first met him, I was swept off my feet. I thought he could do anything.”
I glance at Dallas—what must he be thinking? “But he destroyed the world.”
Kristie sinks onto the grass outside our pod. Dallas and I join her. Her eyes are looking far off in the distance, toward the water towers. “I’ll never forget where I was when that happened.” She wipes a tear that has fallen onto her cheek. “I had just gotten out of the shower when we got the call to come to the headquarters right away. I threw on some clothes and ran down. My hair was very long back then. By the time I got to the headquarters, the back of my shirt was soaked. It was dripping on the floor, and Carey slipped in the puddle when he arrived.”
“My grandpa could slip on anything.” Dallas shakes his head. “Not the most graceful man.”
Kristie smiles. “Very true. Nevertheless, he was not happy with the mess I’d made, and we started to argue. Then Loudin turned on the screen.”
Kristie closes her eyes and her shoulders shake. Dallas scoots beside her and pulls her into his arms. I want to join them—my family—but I cannot move. I just watch, an observer, and my heart seems to sink lower in my chest. I need to hear what she will say next, but I dread it.
“Cameras were everywhere then, on all the street corners, in every major building. We were used to turning them on and observing. ‘People watching’ it was called. Usually it was an escape. We’d see angry pedestrians yelling at cars or mothers chasing toddlers down the sidewalk. Just life among the regular people.” Kristie sighs. “We’d laugh at them and congratulate ourselves on being so much more valuable than they were. So much better.”