"Hmm. You must have had a good lot."
Which I still think is incredibly odd. How are food bars a valuable trade again?
The woman gestures us toward a table for four and pours water from the container into each glass. I claim the first seat, and when Aron moves to sit beside me, Meyer clears his throat, but Aron sits in the chair anyway. Meyer sits across from me instead. Part of me wants to roll my eyes at him and his silly jealousy, but Aron was almost my spouse, so, in a way, I get it.
"What can I get you?" Katherine asks.
Sanda looks up. "Do you have a menu?"
"Not really." She laughs, producing several paper-wrapped forks and knives from the pocket on the front of her dress, placing them in front of each of us. "But fresh rabbits came in this morning. I'm confident we can whip something up with them if you like."
When she says the word "rabbits" the memory of Ben's stuffed one I found in his hiding place in Bess's apartment comes to the forefront of my mind.
"The baker brought over a few loaves, too," Katherine continues, and my attention returns to the present. "I'll get you a basket of slices."
The thought of the bread perks me up a bit, and I imagine biting into the crispy crust and what must be a chewy inside.
"That would be great, thank you." Meyer nods at me and smiles. "Can you bring some extra pieces for her?"
"No problem," Katherine says, spinning on her heels and walking the way of the double doors.
"Thanks," I say to Meyer.
"I saw you ogling the stuff in the bakery window."
One of the men, of medium height and build with leathery skin, rises from his seat in the corner and strides over to our table. The other guy, taller, with brown slicked-back hair, goes out the front door.
"You kids have something to do with the grid activation?"
My heart jumps at his words. Does he know?
"No, no." Aron shakes his head. "We're in Thornton to trade, and it happened to come online while we were at the sheriff's. It was really odd."
The man eyes us, causing my pulse to beat faster, and then he reaches for a chair at the table behind ours and pulls it between Sanda and Aron, causing Aron to scoot his chair nearer to me.
The man sits and rests his elbows on the table, speaking in a low voice. "That system hasn't turned on for years, and we don't get a lot of visitors in Thornton. Thought maybe you powered it up."
I lower my eyes to the table, but sneak a look at Sanda to gauge her reaction. The air grows thick in the room until the man bursts into a jolly laugh.
"You are a serious bunch." He chuckles. "It's been forever since the entire town has had electricity. News travels quickly and people are talking about it."
"I don't understand," Aron says. "Wouldn't it be better to have it all the time?"
The man leans back in his chair, placing his hands at the back of his head. "The folks here avoid anything to do with the grid. Better to be self-sufficient. We'd rather be left alone out here to live our lives. Get online, and too much information gets passed back and forth. Then a person with an agenda decides they don't like us, and bam! It's Aves all over."
I have no clue what this guy is talking about. "Aves was a natural pandemic," I say, shaking my head.
The man chuckles. "You living under a rock, girl?"
I throw Meyer a look, but he appears as confused as I do.
"Sorry, sir, we don't get out much," Meyer says. "What are you talking about?"
"You hear a lot from passersby, but I've collected data for years. When the weather's warm, I travel around; interview folks, find old documents. For the winter, I return here, and in my free time I piece all the facts together."
Sanda drifts forward toward the man. "And what do the pieces tell you?"
"That Aves was planned."
"Planned?" I ask, my mind tumbling. "By who?"
"The big guns, the politicians in charge. Had a goal to shape the world the way they saw fit. The worthy survived, unworthy died. The point is, more than one group, with unique ideas, created their viruses, unbeknownst to each other. After their release, the viruses merged, mutated, and, from the looks of it, the whole problem spread like wildfire before it was nipped. But that all got buried. Everyone was moving on with surviving. A few leaders emerged with what they thought were the most plausible ideas, and cities were formed."
Meyer leans his elbows on the table. "New Philadelphia and Elore."
"Exactly. See, you kids know," the man says.
"But events are causing change, again," Aron interjects.
The man scratches his head. "They sure are. For a long time they stayed out of each other's way, but Manning and Waters seem primed for a rematch. That's why I feel safer out here, out from under either of their watchful eyes."
Manning's intention to launch a new virus in the Outerbounds makes total sense now. What he's doing is nothing new. The rift has been going on for more than a hundred years, if not longer. There's no way this will end before Manning finishes what he set out to do.
Maybe I was mistaken about Waters. Maybe he really was trying to protect New Philadelphia—and me. Manning was always the one attacking while the only thing Waters did was rescue us. The thought of it makes me feel foolish.
"Why are you bugging these nice kids, Vincent?" Katherine scolds as she carries a tray of food, holding it to the side of us. The savory aroma of the rabbit dish meets my nose, making my mouth water, and she places a plate in front of me. The meat is covered in gravy alongside cut potatoes and carrots.
"Oh, they looked as if they'd enjoy an interesting story," he says.
"Stories, hmm?" She lowers a second plate to Meyer, steam rising from the dish. "Don't you believe a word this crazy old coot says. People out here like the quiet life. It suits us. That's it."
"Might be the reason you came to Thornton, but not everyone has the same agenda, Katie."
As she places the last plate of food, she smacks him on the shoulder. "Stop scaring these kids with your agenda. They're just here to trade."
With a wave of her hand she shoos him away and he slowly rises.
"Have a good lunch," he says, and with that, he leaves.
"Y'all need anything else?" Katherine asks as she sets a basket covered with a checked cloth onto the middle of the table.
"No," Sanda says in a bubbly voice. "This looks delicious, thank you."
Katherine nods. "Well, you let me know if you do."
As she exits, I lean into the group, whispering, "What was that? Does he suspect something?"
Sanda shakes her head. "I've seen it before. Residents out here clamor for new blood, new people to listen to their stories. Who knows how much of it was true."
"But it could be true," I press, keeping my voice lowered. "Take Manning for example. It's exactly what he's doing now, with his 'pruning' inside Elore. And he planned to use a virus on the Outerbounds. He told me."
Concern takes over Aron's face, as if the knowledge of Manning's real agenda is sinking in further. Of course, he had no idea of this before. The reality that we can't go back there must weigh heavy since he didn't leave by choice.
"I still believe in Ruiz," Meyer says, finishing his first bite of his rabbit. "Some people want to do the right thing."
"But everyone thinks they're doing the right thing. Even Manning," I say.
Meyer plunks his fork down and reaches into the folded cloth in the basket, pulling out a slice of bread. "Have a piece of bread, Avlyn, and let's discuss this later in a private setting."
I grab the bread and tear off a bite. Moist and chewy, it really is delicious. Probably one of the best foods I've ever eaten, but that could be due to not eating more than a bite of a food bar this morning.
"What's in bread?" I ask Sanda, remembering Meyer said she enjoyed preparing food.
"Water, flour, yeast, salt, a few more ingredients," she says. "I've only made it a couple of times."
I haven't actually seen flour or yeast or salt
. Gabrielle had containers labeled as such in her eating area, but I didn't know their use.
"You'll have to show me some time."
"You got it." Sanda grins and lifts a bite of food to her mouth.
I glance at my meal. Rabbit, huh? I try not to think of what happened to get it here on my plate as I stab a small piece of meat with my fork. I pop the morsel into my mouth and taste a savory concoction of flavors I've never experienced. The meat is similar to chicken or pork, which I have eaten, but the printed kind, not meat caught this morning. It's a little chewy, and the carrots and potatoes add a bit of sweetness to the dish. Bits of green plants speckle the sauce. All in all, it's tasty, but with what was just told to us, no one seems to enjoy it much.
We finish our meal mostly in silence. Katherine reappears from the rear of the café.
"The sheriff just came in through the back," she announces. "The supplies you asked for are ready to go. You can pick them up out front."
Meyer nods. "Thanks for the meal."
"You're very welcome. It's my pleasure to share."
"Time to go, people," Meyer says, ushering me to the front door. Outside, he bends to search the two over-loaded packs sitting on the porch of the café. When he appears satisfied, he pulls one of them onto his shoulder.
"Grab a pack, Aron," Meyer instructs.
The two of them lug the stuffed packs, and I walk with Sanda, ready to return to Gabrielle's and see Ben again. As the four of us make our way out to the main road, a few men and women have gathered to study us as we leave. Among them, a young, shaggy-haired boy raises his hand and waves in our direction. I copy the gesture.
Vincent steps from a building near us. "You four be careful on the way out," he calls over. "Never know who or what you might discover on the trail."
The hair on my arms stands on end at his warning. The time I trusted any journey I took to be safe is long past.
Chapter
Seventeen
The crisp air nips at my face and ears, and I snuggle deeper into my jacket, wishing it had a hood. The group has fallen silent. Meyer remains ahead, on guard, and usually chipper Sanda appears lost in her thoughts while she kicks at the dirt on the path.
This time my EP is active so I can detect any humans other than us on the trail. Fortunately, from the lack of illuminated green words in my vision, it's all clear. At this point, I need to learn to keep it on, despite the distraction, but the thing makes me feel less human, and there are so many moments when that's all I want to be.
I jump as Aron speaks up behind me. "So, what's the plan?"
"Plan? What plan?" I ask.
"Well, you've been completing so much testing with Gabrielle and Ben, and she has me on drone production overtime. Meyer's off doing whatever it is he does." He laughs nervously. "Gabrielle has found a place for us to go, right?"
My back stiffens. Running away sounded like the right choice a few days ago, but I'm not sure if I can do that anymore.
"I don't know, Aron."
"Come on. You have to know something. Nobody tells me anything."
"It's complicated."
He tips his head and pinches his lips together. "Well, complicated is nothing new for you." Aron chuckles, letting his frustration fade. The dimple on his cheek forms, making him appear sweet and boyish. A flutter twitches in my stomach.
"You're right." I return the smile and think of a way to turn the conversation. "What was your life like in Elore?"
It's not as if Aron and I ever talked much about that, even before arranging a pairing agreement. Only during that one disastrous meeting in the café. In Elore, everything appears to be perfect. Speaking of what isn't only serves to reveal you as an outsider and brings attention to your differences. When all you want to do—have to do—is fit in.
The brief smile vanishes from Aron's lips and his eyebrows furrow. Nervously, he brushes a strand of hair from his forehead. Compared to the cropped style he wore in Elore, his hair has gotten shaggy since we left.
"I hated it," he says. "Not surprisingly, my parents never understood me."
I know the feeling.
"As dutiful citizens are, they were—are—very serious. The fact their bio son had a sense of humor was incredibly shameful."
"That's how a lot of Elorians would respond," I say. "My parents had a lot of difficulty accepting me."
"Yeah, but how many times can you hear 'Why weren't you deemed a Level One intelligence? Then we could have sent you away and tried for a new child?' before you start to believe it? That and the occasional beating."
I twist toward him. "They beat you?"
Aron lowers his voice. "Sometimes, but doing it too much and too often would have left marks on the outside. Words were their favorite weapon, since no one knew about those scars but me. I think they secretly hoped their words would make my personality disappear. There were days I wished it would, too."
Warmth and sadness washes over me, and I reach out and briefly tap his arm. "I'm sorry, Aron."
"When you agreed to the pairing contract with me, I saw it as a tiny bit of hope in my dark world. Something positive, a kind person to look forward to spending my life with."
Guilt eddies in my stomach. The evidence of it must show on my face.
"Don't feel bad," Aron says. "We're not in Elore anymore."
"You know …" My lips pull into a shy smile. "If we had made a contract, we would have been content."
"Content." Aron chuckles. "That is the word I used." He seems to consider his thoughts as we continue walking. "No, not content. Happy. We would have been happy. I used the word ‘content' in my proposal because it was the right thing to do. But happy was the word I meant."
I touch him on the arm again, this time changing his hair back to blond. I think for mine to revert too. I smile at Aron and pick up the pace to catch up with Meyer. "We should talk," I say to him.
"Yeah, we should."
"Okay, you first," I offer, hoping maybe he has some sort of solution for what's going on in Elore.
Meyer produces a thin smile and looks back to Aron, who's now hiking alongside Sanda. "I've been a jerk about Aron. This stupid jealousy keeps getting in the way and hijacking my brain." He has a sheepish air about him and, to be completely honest, his ability to admit he's wrong is kind of attractive.
"You know, I'm perfectly capable of making my own choices about what I do and the people I associate with."
"Yes," he says. "I'm highly aware you are your own person. I'm sorry."
I puff up slightly. "Apology accepted."
"Now what do you have to tell me?" he asks.
I deflate as the thoughts of Elore flood back. "Running away is the wrong choice. Ben wants us to hide what we can do, and I relate, but if we can somehow end Manning's control in Elore, we should. The problem is who to trust eludes me." I hug myself tight as we continue to walk. Overhead, a few lone birds soar in the cloudless blue sky. "Vincent back there might have been somewhat off, but what he said makes more sense than it doesn't. If there was some sort of unspoken understanding between Elore and New Philly, it reached its expiration when Manning tried to release the virus on the Outerbounds and attacked New Philly. Waters is bound to strike back, and soon."
"That's why we need to bring Affinity back into the mix."
Meyer's words cause my heart to drop into my stomach. "No way. Ruiz gave me up."
Meyer pauses and grabs my shoulders. "Ruiz got you out. You know that. She did what she had to."
I hug myself tighter and step back, putting some space between Meyer and I, but he closes the gap.
"The woman is a voice of reason and not consumed in a power struggle. You know we can't go this alone. We need support."
I hate to admit it, but he's right.
"I won't go forward with that unless I discuss it with Ben. It's his life, too."
"Take time to process it. And yes, talk to Ben when we get back. I'll fill in Gabrielle and see if she has any ideas."
&n
bsp; Hiding is the wrong thing to do, but is it smart?
So how is it that a girl who wanted to remain in the shadows somehow keeps thrusting herself into the light?
Chapter
Eighteen
"Where's Ben?" I ask, rounding the door to Gabrielle's lab.
She spins to face me on her chair. "In his room, I think."
"Thanks." My eyes flit to one of the viewers with the volume inactive. Manning is on the screen. I speed into the lab and activate the volume. Gabrielle comes up beside me. "A Direction vid is on," I say, wringing my hands as I watch.
Manning moves back from the podium, glances quickly to his side off screen, then back toward his captive audience. "I'm pleased to announce the newest program we have in place. The Alliance of New Adults. For those between the ages of seventeen and twenty-one, you will find a new section in your Citizen's account in which you may access specific vids and answers to questions concerning the program. We value this segment of Elore's society highly, and wish to convey the fact through the special program."
What's Manning doing? First, he admitted the existence of New Philly and now this? Forming groups has always been in opposition to the pillars of Direction. Their goal is to keep everyone as isolated as possible.
"With this in mind, it's my pleasure to announce the spokesperson of the Alliance of New Adults, or AONA."
My mouth hangs agape when Manning steps to the right of the podium to allow a tan-skinned, blonde-haired girl with steely-blue eyes to take center stage.
"Kyra," I whisper.
My best friend.
My betrayer.
"You know her?" Gabrielle asks. I don't answer.
Her once-lengthy blonde hair is now cut shoulder length, combed straight with a blunt edge on the bottom. A sharp pain saws at my chest.
"Greetings, Elore." Kyra squares herself toward the podium, drops her shoulders, and raises her chin. "My name is Kyra Lewis, and it is my privilege to represent the Alliance of New Adults. Over the coming weeks, I will be creating new vids with the assistance of Director Manning to explain the program."
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