1 Year Later
Victor
He crouched low to the ground, test tube in hand. He scooped a small amount of soil into the vial, corked the top and placed it gingerly in his pouch. It was the protocol to test soil in specific locations of the State House grounds. They tested around the outskirts near the glass, close to the house, close to the surrounding buildings, and just for dramatic emphasis, the soil right smack in the middle of the forested area.
Victor often wondered what they did with these samples. He had his suspicions but wouldn’t consider asking questions. Questions were for people who doubted their government.
He had been on the grounds for just over a year now. During this time, he had seen things, questionable things, which led his mind to drift in a speculative direction.
He suspected the soil sampling practice was a red-herring—something to distract the groundskeepers from what they saw. What suitable explanation could there be for the wildlife he often spotted on the other side of the dome?
Yet the dogmatic nature of the practice, meticulously conducted and routinely collected, would convince the caretaker of the toxicity of the world outside the dome.
He diligently gathered the soil, and any other task he was assigned—along with extra duties. He worked hard every single day and smiled while he did so. Some military personnel would view placement in the State House gardens as a waste of his life, whereas he saw it as an opportunity.
It wasn’t exciting. It didn’t have the danger or intrigue of his previous missions, yet he couldn’t shake the feeling he was a chess piece placed in precisely the right position. At any given moment, it would be time to make his move. More than any other mission he could complete, this one had the potential to make his life more thrilling, more valuable.
He was still given no information from the High Council, nothing exciting, anyway. It appeared this mission was, as promised, not going to be a quick one.
The Head of State kept to himself most of the time. He dined alone, hiding behind his closed office door.
Stupid.
How can he ever expect to gain the loyalty of his staff doing that?
Victor only entered his office when it was his scheduled time to care for the plants contained within. The Head of State was perfectly aware of each of his scheduled visits and had never once been present when Victor entered his office. He no longer bothered to knock before entering. He simply pushed his way into the room and walked directly over to the greenery, expecting to have the room to himself.
Victor pushed open the door in his customary irreverent fashion and froze in his tracks. The Head of State was looking down his nose at his tablet in hand, sitting at his desk. He looked up, his piercing gaze landing squarely on Victor.
Victor stammered briefly before collecting himself. “Sir, I apologize. I have never seen you in here before. I’m afraid I have developed a rather disrespectful habit of barging in. Please, message me at an appropriate time to enter as I don’t wish to disturb you any further.” He bowed his head.
“It is alright, Victor. I know your schedule. I was expecting you.”
Victor stood with his head still down turned, slowly lifting his head to meet his gaze. “Would you like me to perform my civil duty at this time?”
“I would like you to come in, close the door behind you, and take a seat.”
Victor contained an air of nervousness, rapidly flicking his eyes around the room as though he were not sure where to look. Naturally, it was an act, his best impersonation of a civilian about to be reprimanded.
“You have been a member of this staff for a considerable time now. How have you been enjoying your time in the State House?”
Victor looked up briefly and returned his gaze back to the desk. “I have enjoyed it immensely, sir. It is an honor to serve in your house.”
The Head of State wrinkled his nose. “I suppose I should have expected such an answer.” He huffed.
Victor looked up at him briefly again. His insides felt as though a balloon was expanding, filling him with an excited energy.
“I have received a report from our Head of Security. It appears your diligence and keen work ethic has not gone unnoticed. It appears they would like to bestow a token of their appreciation on you.” He sneered as he spoke.
“Sir, I am most honored to be recognized, but I do not require any sort of a token for my service.”
The Head of State blatantly rolled his eyes. “It was not my choice to do so.”
Victor pretended to be surprised. “But sir, you are the Head of State. Who could possibly have higher authority than yourself?”
“The High Council,” he spat, “and they aren’t keen to let me forget it either.”
“I’m sorry, the High Council?”
“Yes. I am simply a figurehead in the government, a face for the masses to recognize as their leader. I do not solely hold the power.”
Victor squinted. “Wow. I didn’t know that.” He shifted his weight in his seat. “Sir, is there a reason you are making me privy to such information? Is there a way I could assist you or your High Council?”
He scoffed, shaking his head. “The Council feels so. They want to recruit you.”
Victor winced. “Recruit me? Why me? I am but a simple grounds keeper. Who am I to help lead the people?”
A rather smug look came over the Head of State’s face. “A lowly greenhouse worker. You going to stick with that story? With me?” He paused, folding his hands on his desk, pursed his lips and looked Victor squarely in the eye. “I know exactly what you are, and why you were brought here. Can you just save me this bullshit routine?”
Victor's face fell, his shoulders slumped. “Sir, have I offended you? If I have, I will return to my work and leave you to yours. I didn’t mean any offense, but I can see now that I have spoken out of place.” He stood from his seat.
“Sit down,” the Head of State barked.
Victor sat and ran a hand over his dark wavy hair. He licked his lips, then met his gaze.
“The High Council has reviewed your file and informed me that they would like to extend you an invitation. This will be a top-secret job for you, not information you are at liberty to share with even your most intimate relations.” His tone was disinterested as he went through the motions.
Victor nodded. “What will my role be as a Council member?”
“You will receive a series of trainings on your tablet, then when the time is right for you to serve, you will be contacted.”
Victor nodded. “I look forward to my training, sir.”
The Head of State rolled his eyes. “I’m sure you will. Watch your home tablet for a new tab; the information will be there. Work on your training in your free time, and a contact will approach you when the Council sees fit.”
Victor stood. “It is a great honor to be of service to my government. Thank you for this opportunity to do so. If that is all, I will take my leave so we may both return to our duties.”
With a scowl, the Head of State gave a curt nod, dismissing him. Victor gave a slight bow and exited the room. The moment he stepped onto the balcony with his back to the State House, a broad grin lit his face.
Two years was a long time to go with no contact or intelligence, even for a man with his experience. In just the briefest of moments, everything he had been working for had been validated. Things were shifting, and he was in the center of it.
Chapter 11
2 Years Later
Hope
Hope did her best to appear casual. Comfortable. Relaxed.
In contrast to the turmoil brewing inside of her, she woke up as though it were a normal day; she didn’t notice the absence of her alarm.
She had nearly finished brushing her teeth before her mind connected the odd sensation lurking in the back of her mind and a slight jolt to her daily routine.
Once she figured out what felt so odd about this morning, she returned her toothbrush to its holder and walked into her
general living quarters. The red light was flashing on her monitor, the rhythm matched the escalated pace of her own heartbeat.
How did I miss a message from the State? Her mind clouded in a mixture of panic and confusion. As she reached forward to activate the screen, she realized she must have stepped into the shower before the message arrived.
It only took seconds to activate the monitor and for the message to load, yet a dozen scenarios ran through her mind. Am I being questioned again because of our slow progress? Was Chastity sick? Had they found Joshua’s village, and they gave the State my name? There were too many variables to predict yet she knew in her core, the outcome was unfavorable.
She tried to force her eyes to focus on the words sitting casually on the screen.
Hope 986,
You have been granted this day as an extra day of free time. Your daughter has been sterilized and is currently on medical leave. You may use this time to speak with her and counsel her in any way you see fit to help ease her through this transition.
Regards,
The State
Her hand covered her mouth, stifling her gasp. She limply fell to the sofa. Her head rested, tilted up, she looked at the ceiling blankly.
It was too late.
Everything.
It was over.
Her bloodline would end—possibly Joshua’s as well.
She had never once considered the possibility of Chastity getting sterilized. Even with Joshua contributing to her DNA, they still should have selected her to reproduce. According to the State, Weston was her father. Coming from two lines of breeders, it just wasn’t right; it didn’t add up.
Hope realized her miscalculation, fighting the tears pressing at the corners of her eyes. All along, she had been waiting for Clint to make his move since she returned to the dome. He never confirmed a timeline or set plan, yet she waited every day for his army to arrive.
She hadn’t thought through what was to become of Chastity; she assumed the State would come to an end, leaving the future unknown, but in her hands. For whatever reason, Clint didn’t appear to be coming to their rescue. Now, it was too late.
His army had yet to come to liberate those innocently trapped inside the dome. Did I bring his effort to a halt when I left? Did Joshua turn Reuben into the town council in a fit of rage over my leaving? A more horrifying thought pierced her mind. Did the State see Clint’s army coming and neutralize them before they could attack?
All this time, she had assumed she would someday be free of this place, that she could properly be a family with Joshua and Chastity—a chance to correct the wrongs of her past. She had erased him, their existence together, and now, their bloodline. Soon, it would be as though neither her nor Joshua had ever existed.
With that thought, a sea of emotions washed over her.
I have been a damned fool.
When she was placed back under the dome, she thought she had beat the State, but it was a delusion. Her only child would never bear a child; all was now lost. Even if they escaped the dome now, Chastity was damaged beyond repair.
As the depression washed over her, she finally acknowledged the other fact she had been hiding from: Clint wasn’t coming—not in her lifetime, at least. She was trapped. This dome, it was her life, the rest of her life.
When she finished her current project, she would undoubtedly be retired. Her ability to contribute was drawing near its end—like most people placed in independent living. Once the dome was secure, she was certain her life would end.
She was so lost in her own dark cloud, she momentarily forgot why she was sitting on the sofa in the first place. This day was meant to be about Chastity, not her. She tried her best to clean herself up, force a pleasant look on her face. Regardless of her own suffering, she had to be brave for Chastity.
She activated the monitor once again and tried patching through to Chastity’s apartment. She sat with her back straight, chin up. This was a time for strength.
The monitor flashed for a few moments until Chastity came into view.
The first thing Hope noticed was the coloring of Chastity’s face. Her face, ears, and neck were flush. Her eyes were bloodshot, the delicate skin surrounding her eyes and nose rubbed raw.
Tears instantly filled Hope’s eyes. She blinked rapidly in an attempt to contain them before they exploded and consumed her.
This time is about Chastity, not me.
“Baby girl. I wish I could be there with you right now.”
Chastity flopped down on her sofa, returning to her mounds of soiled handkerchiefs surrounding her.
“What good would it do? I’ve already been sterilized—not something you can fix. I don’t care how perfect you are.”
Hope’s jaw dropped before she could recover herself. The last thing she expected was for Chastity to lash out. There had been an accusatory tone in her speech, as though this was somehow Hope’s doing. She couldn’t comprehend how she played into this emotional fit, so she chalked it up to teenage hormones and would do her best to support her daughter.
“I know I am powerless to change your fate, but I love you. Seeing you hurting hurts me. I wish I could be there to hold you, to comfort you in any way possible.”
Chastity shook her head. “Well, I’m surprised you still want anything to do with me.”
Hope kept a steady gaze on her while Chastity refused to make eye contact. “I feel as though you are angry with me, although I can’t understand why. What would lead you to believe your sterilization would change how I feel about you? You are my child, my only child.”
Chastity kept her eyes cast away from the monitor, her arms crossed in front of her. She labored to gain control of her breathing, working to suppress her tears. “I don’t know. Cora didn’t seem to have much use for me anymore once I was selected to become a lowly administrator. Now that I’m also not good enough to have a child, well I—”
“Cora is a terrible person!”
Chastity flinched, struggling to find her voice.
“I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t speak poorly of others, especially not the woman who helped raise you, but that’s how I feel. She was a terrible mother to Ursa, and as soon as you were selected for a civil duty that wasn’t in a high enough standing for her, she abandoned you. I know she spent more time with you than I could, but she’s not your mother. I will never stop loving you, no matter what.”
Chastity lost her composure once again. She wept openly for a time, and Hope felt utterly useless. There was nothing more she could do for her wounded child than to simply sit and wait for her to sort out her emotions.
“There is something wrong with me. I thought because I’m broken, you wouldn’t want me anymore.”
So many words filled her mind, most of them curse words she would like to say to Cora. She took a few deep breaths in an attempt to salvage her composure. “There is nothing wrong with you. I wish you didn’t have such silly thoughts. If you could see yourself the way that I see you—”
“Mom, stop. I get it. You think I am perfect, but I’m telling you, there is something wrong with me. I didn’t turn out right.”
“Chastity don’t be silly. Cora made you feel this way, but it’s wrong. She was wrong.”
Chastity shook her head, a fresh batch of tears threatening to spill over. “No, Mom, this isn’t about Cora. You’re a genius! So was dad. The two of you were brought into a special program at 13 because the pair of you were so extraordinary. How is it that I’m not a genius? Why am I going to be an administrator?”
Hope sighed. She leaned closer to the monitor, trying to get Chastity to look up at her. “You are incredibly bright. You may not be a genius, but you are a cut far above the rest. Genetics are funny that way. Not all of my siblings turned out like me—neither did your fathers. A few of us were deemed a genius, and the rest considered very bright. There is nothing wrong with you.”
She paused, searching for a new angle to take. “You also have to remember that your per
sonality plays just as large of a role in your selection for a civil duty as does your IQ. My personality was suited to become a scientist, yours suits administrative work. Didn’t you say Ursa loves working in a greenhouse? I have no doubt in my mind, you are the best damn administrator in your class. I bet you become someone important wherever it is they choose to place you.”
Chastity shook her head. “But if dad hadn't died, you would have been sent to a breeding center. I am not good enough to have even one child. Not a single one when you should have had 5 or even more.”
Hope covered her mouth with her hand. It suddenly occurred to her why Chastity wasn’t selected for reproduction. She should have seen it coming sooner. Perhaps she didn’t get away with anything. She had been caught from the beginning, but it was her daughter who suffered her punishment.
Betrayed: Book Five of the State Series Page 6