“Why is all of this here?” I ask, thumbing my hand across some of the loose papers.
“Evidence.” Rory strides down one of the aisles, peeking into random boxes as she goes. “The government’s tracking abilities are too strong for us to risk compiling our evidence online. Any information we want to store, we print out and organize here. That way, we don’t run the risk that someone will discover us online and become suspicious of what we’re doing.”
Rory pulls out a few more boxes before finding the one she’s looking for. She carries it to an empty table and takes off the lid. Inside are more papers.
“Here.” Rory lifts a stack of pages and hands them to me. “Be careful to keep them in order though.”
I look through them sheet by sheet. Some are emails, others pictures. There are even a few formal contracts, though I’m not sure how The Revealed got their hands on these.
How could Westerfield be doing this? My heartbeat pulses in my ears. I feel so many mixed emotions, but confusion and fear top the list. My whole world has been turned upside down in less than forty-eight hours. And to think, Westerfield is behind it all.
A breeze picks up, tossing my hair.
“Calm down, Lily.” Rory places a hand on my shoulder, and after a moment, the wind around me dies. “You need to learn to control your emotions. Your abilities are connected closely with your mind. If you lose your focus, bad things could happen.”
I created that wind!
I take a deep breath.
“Where did you get this?” I stare down at a transcript of a phone conversation between Roderick and Kai.
“Kai allowed us to tap his phone,” she explains.
“He allowed you to tap his phone? How long has he known about you?”
“Since shortly after he left for his military assignment. They’d sent him to track us and gather information. We found him, showed him what we’re showing you. The facts told him everything he needed to know. He agreed to help us.”
“Why didn’t you do the surgery on him, too?”
“It doesn’t work like that,” Rory explains. “The surgery isn’t compatible with everyone. The mind needs to have susceptibility that’s hard to describe unless you understand the procedure. I don’t even understand it fully. But not everyone can survive. If performed on the wrong person, bad things can happen. Kai isn’t a candidate for the procedure.”
“But he’s one of the strongest people I know,” I say.
Rory smirks. “I’m sure he is, but it isn’t about physical strength. It’s something genetic, inherent. We can test for it using DNA sequencing. Usually we find a hair sample or a tossed paper cup. We track all of our potential members to ensure compatibility before they’re taken.”
“And Kai trusted you enough to let you take me?”
“Yes, but he also knew that if we didn’t, his father would have you murdered. Jeremy wasn’t the only one working for him. Kai did this because it was the only way to protect you.”
My hands absently slide to my neck. I picture the gun in Jeremy’s hand and shiver.
Rory answers my silent question. “His body was found the next morning. I’m so sorry, Lily. We had no idea Jeremy was working for Westerfield. I never should have left you alone in that house with him. We knew Westerfield was after you, but I never thought Jeremy could have been involved. I thought you were safe with him. We were more worried about Westerfield targeting your father at this point. We didn’t know who was sending the notes. We knew they were coming from someone in the Westerfield camp trying to set us up, but I never in a million years would have guessed it was Jeremy. I’m sorry,” she reaches out and touches my arm.
“It isn’t your fault,” I say.
She purses her lips and shakes her head. “Jeremy was trying to make you believe The Revealed were after you instead of Westerfield. That way, when he … succeeded, The Revealed would be even more reviled. If you suddenly disappeared then it would be easily explained away. No questions. Plus, he controlled your trust. When he taped that note “Run” to the gate, where were you going to go? Of course, you’d turn to the head of security in your panic. He’d lure you in and then take your life, setting it all up to look like The Revealed.”
“That’s insane.”
“Well,” Rory continues, “along with your disappearance, the murder has been pegged on The Revealed. Just like Westerfield wanted.”
“What? You were blamed for what happened?”
Rory shrugs, “We’re used to it.”
“How are we going to stop Westerfield?” I ask. “Do you have a plan?”
“Yes,” Rory tells me, “and we’d like you to be a part of it now that you’re here. We didn’t want to take you like this. We wanted to avoid it if we could. But after everything that happened with Jeremy, we decided it was the safest move for you. I’m sorry you’re caught in the middle of all this.”
“What do you want me to do?” I ask.
“You have to learn to control your abilities. Right now, your mind is sensitive. The abilities are new to your body and unfocused. It could be even more detrimental to your family and the mission if we send you out there without the proper training. We have about two and a half weeks until the election. During that time, you’ll train. Every day. If, at the end of it, we think you’re ready, you can help us.”
“If I’m ready? No.” I shake my head. “I have to be there. My parents’ lives are in jeopardy. I’m not just going to sit at the bottom of the ocean while you go up there.”
“If you aren’t ready, being there could cause more harm than good.”
“No. No way. If you want me to even consider joining this band of vigilantes, you can’t keep me down here on Election Day.”
“I can’t make that promise.” Rory remains firm.
“I thought you said this was my choice.” I feel my temper rising again.
“It is. You are welcome to go back to Washington and live in your father’s shadow again. But I know that’s not what you want. You have an opportunity for something great here. Lily, you’ll get to travel the world and help people. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?”
I don’t answer. Because she’s right. It is everything I want. Desperately.
Rory isn’t done. “But if you’re going to be a part of our mission, you have to be part of the team. Sending you up on land before you’re ready doesn’t just put your life at risk. You could risk everything. The mission could be compromised. Your parents could be hurt. The Revealed could be exposed. Not to mention the countless innocent lives that could be lost. I know you’re worried about your parents, which means you can’t think rationally about this situation. So I need you to trust me and the rest of The Revealed. We’ll make the decision if you’re ready.”
“I don’t know if I trust you,” I tell her.
She looks taken aback, swallows, but then nods. “I hope you decide to.”
“I’m trying.” Ready to change the topic, I ask, “When do we start training?” Just because I haven’t decided I completely trust The Revealed, doesn’t mean I’m just going to sit here helplessly.
“Now.”
We walk back upstairs. My presence draws whispers and stares as we pass people in the halls. Rory glares at them and shakes her head.
I watch them as we walk, unable to hear what they’re saying.
Rory shakes her head and sighs, “I told them not to do this.” She tries to be as casual and familiar as we once were. “But you’re the hot new topic, babe. Everyone’s curious about Lily Atwood.”
“Great.” I roll my eyes. The last thing I want is to attract attention.
“You’re part of the family now.” She grins. “The attention will die down.”
“Do you even like to cook?”
She gives me a sidelong glance. “Sure. I just don’t do it very well. Why do you think I was always asking for your help? The only reason I was there was to watch your back.” Rory shivers. “The idea of you alone in
that house. When we got the call from Kai saying he was going to get you, I was so worried. And out in the field … you have to know Lily, it was never our intention to scare you. It definitely wasn’t Kai’s intention. Once he got back from his mission, he went back and forth on his decision. He really didn’t know what to do with all this new information. He wanted to tell you, but was worried for your safety like the rest of us. He asked to meet with me several times before actually agreeing to go through with the plan.”
“That’s why he was acting strangely. And you were the woman he was photographed with in the magazines.” It was all falling into place. I should have recognized Rory’s blonde hair from those pictures.
So Kai wasn’t dating a model. I stare at the ceiling and can’t help the laugh escaping my throat. I allow myself to enjoy that one shred of good news.
“Yeah. It was really hard for him. It’s hard for anyone to take in all of this information. Plus, no one wants to believe their own father is a murderer.”
I think about the turmoil in Kai’s eyes when he came to my room. It made sense now. He wanted to tell me everything that night. He wanted to keep me safe. All this time he’d been protecting me.
We walk into a gymnasium. It reminds me of Elias’s gym, in a way. There are punching bags hung throughout the room, along with assorted workout equipment. A cool breeze hits my face from the large vents tunneling along the ceiling. It smells like plastic and sweat. But this gym is different. It’s meant for people with unique abilities.
There are a few other people already working out. One snaps his fingers and repeatedly lights, then extinguishes the flame of a candle. The flame grows progressively larger and larger until it almost reaches the ceiling. I can feel the heat from where I stand. Others have lined random items against the far wall. They stand a measured length away and throw out their hands, freezing the items, melting them, and then repeating the process again from a greater distance. The last person in the room is standing in front of one of the bags; she doesn’t touch it, just stares with intense concentration. I watch her for a moment. Her hands are resting at her sides. She takes a deep breath and throws out her palms. The bag flies back so forcefully that it makes me jump.
My fists ball at my sides in anticipation. My muscles twitch with the desire to move in that way, to control the world around me as they do. I resist the urge to reach out and try right away.
“She’s using wind to increase her strength,” Rory explains when she sees me staring.
“Ah, Lily.” I jump again and turn to see Julia approaching. “Right on time. You’re going to train with me today if that’s alright?”
Rory takes a seat against the wall to watch. I wish she wouldn’t. I’m already nervous enough without her staring.
Julia doesn’t look like she’s messing around. She holds a glassy ball in her hands. “This is what we call a training orb. It’ll help you practice and learn to control your new abilities. Got it?”
“Okay,” I say, but I’m not sure I am. What if I can’t do this? Sure, I’ve done a few weird things since I got here, like creating that ice on the glass, but what if the procedure didn’t work? What if I can’t learn to control my abilities, and I’m some fluke of a failure? How am I going to get out of here to help my parents then?
Julia hands the sphere over to me.
“Now I want you to use wind to make the orb levitate,” she instructs.
I stare at her for a moment, then down at the orb in my hand, then back to Julia. My stomach knots. Levitate? Is she crazy? She watches me steadily. She fully intends for me to give this a shot. A helpless sigh escapes my chest.
“Just focus,” Rory calls out.
My brow furrows as I stare at the tiny glass ball in my hand. I don’t even know where I’m supposed to begin. I look hesitantly up at Julia again, and she nods encouragingly.
“Um,” I stare down at the orb. “Float!” I command, and I think maybe it shakes a little.
Rory snorts and my cheeks flush. Julia glares at her.
“I’m sorry,” Rory holds up a hand, not looking the least bit sorry with that dopey grin still plastered on her face.
“It doesn’t work like that.” Even Julia is smiling a little though. “The commands don’t come from here,” she points to my lips, “they come from here,” her finger taps my forehead.
“So I have to think what I want? I was thinking about it.”
“It’s emotional, Lily,” Julia lectures. “It’s more than just a command. You have to feel it. When you move your arm, you don’t say ‘move.’ It’s intuitive. This is the same thing. You must simply feel what you want.”
I’m not sure about what she’s saying, but I focus again on the orb, wanting it to rise from my hand so badly that I start to feel frustrated. But glass orbs aren’t supposed to float. If I snap my fingers, fire isn’t supposed to appear. Lifting my hands shouldn’t create wind. Having these abilities is counterintuitive. I can’t do this. I don’t understand. I drop my hand in resignation.
“You’re thinking about this too logically,” Julia says, her thin arm coming to rest against her hip. “Raise your hand again.”
I hesitate as the frustration begins to rise, but do as I’m told.
“Now,” she begins, “you aren’t trying to make this orb float, alright? What you are doing is connecting with everything around you. Think of yourself as part of everything here.” She waves her hand around the room. “This is not negative space. There is substance here whether you can see it or not, and you are going to grab it and use it just like you would move your arm. You know you can.”
I take a deep breath and close my eyes.
“The human mind, through evolution, disconnected itself from the particles around it. It separated itself instead of being part of the whole. The surgery brings us partly back in tune with everything around us so we can utilize its potential while retaining our selfness. Does that make sense?”
“Kind of,” I tell her.
“Feel it inside, not at your fingertips. Feel the warmth of it.”
When I think of warmth, I think of Kai, and my heart aches. All this time, everything he’s done has been to help me. When he handed me over to The Revealed, I assumed he was giving me over to the enemy. Instead, he was saving my life, and I can’t even say, “Thank you.” Rory told me it was too dangerous to communicate with the outside world. The Revealed send people directly if they ever need to communicate. With the surveillance technology available these days, there’s no doubt the government would be able to track any calls or emails, and locate The Revealed’s headquarters. So while I’m here, I am completely shut out from the outside world.
“Concentrate, Lily.” Julia snaps me out of my daze.
My hand wiggles unsteadily and the orb falls from my grasp. It shatters on the ground, spewing glass around my feet.
“I’m so sorry,” I blurt out, moving to pick up the pieces.
Julia waves me off. “Don’t bother. Do you know how many broken orbs we’ve had? If you hadn’t broken this one today, you would have made history. Why don’t we move on to something else and get back to the orb tomorrow?”
We clean up the pieces, and then Julia guides me over to the candle where we practice fire skills until I manage to make the edges of the wax melt on command. I’m not quite at the point where I can create a real flame, but it’s a start.
At the end of the lesson I’m exhausted, though Julia tells me I’ve done well. My body hurts as though I’ve run a marathon.
“Let’s get some food,” Rory says, taking my arm and leading me to the cafeteria. “You need to keep your strength up. If your body isn’t alert, neither is your mind, and your abilities will suffer.”
The dining hall is set up like a high school cafeteria. There are long tables in the center and round tables around the outside. The food line is run by a group of kitchen staff, all preparing fresh dishes. Behind the service counter I can see the kitchen. Chefs in black aprons work on a l
ine that reminds me of my kitchen at home. The grill sizzles with meats and fish. The charred smell hits my nose. The air is circulated quickly in the building though. I’ve noticed how efficient the vents are, streaming in fresh air so smells are whisked away and replaced by others. Now I can smell potatoes in the fryer. Then the scent of something sweet after that.
Rory leads me past a full salad bar, stocked with four different lettuce options and over a dozen vegetables. My eyes light up with the myriad colors, from purple beets to orange carrots.
At the end of the cafeteria is a sandwich station. The sandwiches are displayed on top of the case, each labeled. Rory grabs a turkey sandwich on wheat bread. It’s exactly the sandwich I want. She puts it on my plate knowingly. “It’s important you always take care of yourself, otherwise you might get into a position where you temporarily lose your abilities due to lack of energy.”
“Good to know.” I take a bite of the sandwich.
“The food here isn’t super-gourmet—nothing like the creations from Ilan’s kitchen—but it’s good,” Rory continues. “We won’t be spending a lot of time here though,” she warns. “Most members are in and out. We’re always going on missions around the world, helping out where we can. A group just went to the Western European Sector, actually. They’re going undercover to help develop clean drinking water supplies. It makes a big difference when you can draw water out of the atmosphere with a flick of your wrist. We have to be discreet about it, though, otherwise people get suspicious. But we do what we can.”
She finds a table and sits down. “Eat up,” she pushes the tray closer to me until it nearly teeters on the edge of the table.
“We have less than three weeks until the election,” Rory says.
And that hits home.
Time is running out.
I take a deep breath to steady my nerves, the weight of my decision bearing down on me. Nineteen days until The Revealed stops Westerfield, or I watch my parents get killed.
The Revealed Page 17