Oohh…Right…Um…I’m not ready for that. “I’m being weird about this.”
“You asked me to take them off, and I warned you.”
“Okay, are you going to put them back on?”
He shakes his head. “Nope.” And he leans in to kiss me, but I’m not…poked again.
I smile against his lips and push my hands through his hair. It falls between my fingers as I seize it. As I pull him closer, he wraps an arm around my back and holds me against him.
Time slows again, and my legs and hands shake, wanting more. What more could I want? How much more can he give me? My legs wrap around each of his thighs, and I slowly pull him to me. Or he might just be moving slowly.
Someone knocks on his door.
“Oh, no.”
It’s Luke. I just know it’s Luke, and if he had a cow because of Cory and me only kissing, I’m pretty sure he is going to shit a blue whale if he sees me like this…and Marc like that.
“Put your clothes on,” Marc whispers, getting up and pulling his pants on. He asks, “Who is it?” as he looks for a shirt. I search the bed for my things.
“Luke,” Luke says, causing me to search faster.
I get on my bra and look for my shirt. Marc throws me my pants as he says, “What?” He points behind me, showing me where my shirt is.
I nod as I slide on my pants and then slip on my shirt as Luke asks, “Is Kylie in there?” I see a shirt lying across Marc’s rack. I snatch it off and throw it to him.
Marc coughs to stall as I climb back onto his bed without making a noise. “Yeah,” he finally answers. He opens the door, and I shut my eyes, playing possum. “She’s asleep. Everything okay?”
Luke must have awoken and seen I wasn’t there. So my big brother needed to check on me and knows if I’m not with him, I’m in here. “What, Luke?” I whisper.
“Checking where you were.”
“I’m here,” I say, opening my eyes into slits.
Leaning against the wall, Marc mouths, “He is going to kill us.” I laugh, turning into his pillow to smother it.
“Be gone before everyone wakes up, Ky. And don’t enjoy yourself with my sister, Marc.”
“Bye, Luke,” I say dismissively, lifting my head from the pillow so I can see him leave. Marc closes the door and sits on the bed. “You’re scared of my brother?”
“No.” He smiles. “I was joking.”
I lean up, grabbing his shirt to pull him to me. “I like it when you smile.”
He leans back on his elbow and scoots up on the bed. “You make me smile.” He smirks brightly, warming my heart. “You and all your alien mojo.”
I lean away from him when he gets extremely close. “I don’t have mojo.”
He lies down on his back, asking, “What is it, smoke?”
I pinch my nose, thinking. “It’s more like dust.”
“Let me see,” he says, buzzing with interest.
“See what?” I sit up on my elbow, surveying him.
Nodding, his hand gestures in a circle, pointing at me. “What you look like,” he states in an obvious tone.
“I look no different. They’re just a part of my DNA. My mouth may glow a little when I activate the glittering particles, but my appearance doesn’t change.” I shrug as I continue, “I was born a Creation. Not a Vojin.”
“Let me see you release some glittering particles.”
I lie down and clear my throat. There’s no harm as long as it doesn’t escape the room. I move my hands into a cuff over my mouth and extended out about ten inches. I look at him. “Don’t go ballistic when my mouth glows blue and green. It looks off, not normal.”
“I won’t,” he says casually.
I turn back, facing the ceiling, and from my chest, I blow. Shortly, the particles start tickling my throat, and they escape, brushing past my lips. I see the glow reflect off my hands before they start filling with the fusing blue and green particles.
Momentarily, I stare at them circling slowly in my hands, wanting to be set free. “I hate it,” I say out loud, although I only meant to think it.
“Now what are you going to do with it?” Marc asks.
“I wish I could shoot it. I wish I could shoot all of them.” I bring my hand close to my mouth and suck in the particles until they’re gone.
I want to cough from the tickle, but instead I roughly clear my throat.
Marc pushes his arm behind me and pulls me closer. “How is it you’re infused with them? How did they infuse you?”
“Okay, so this part of your throat,” I touch where his trachea is, “Ours are lined with this coating. It’s their coating. When we were children, they stuck this tube down our throats, and stabbed us with a lot of miniature needles throughout that area, pushing this disgusting kind of organism that was about two inches in length, thin with legs or tentacles. It was the color of the dust stuff, like the particles they’re fused with. They call it our implant. They inserted a piece of them within us.” I want to tell him the entire truth about Luke’s and my implants, but I stop myself. I hate that I’m still a part of them. I don’t want to have any of them in me.
Marc pokes the skin beneath my right ear where a scar from years ago still feels raw. “You’ve got this scar here, does that have something to do with them too?”
I wince at the mention of it. This scar isn’t a secret I’m prepared to reveal, so I change the subject. “They want to control us and it’s something I don’t want to be associated with.” I lay my head on his shoulder and Marc looks down at me through his lashes.
“You hate them because they lied to you?”
“No, I don’t care about them lying. It’s because they killed my mother and father. It’s because I don’t understand what they are trying to prove.”
“Hmm.” He pauses and then asks, “But you will continue to put in work for them?”
“Not at all. We’re against them, and apparently, we’re not the only ones.” I sit up.
“What is it?” he asks, pushing back my hair that has fallen around my face.
“This may all be over soon, our world and our way of living.”
He turns down the corners of his mouth, questioning me.
I adjust so my arms are propped on his chest. “I’ll tell you. But don’t judge me because of it. It’s not my reason, and you can’t say anything.”
He rubs his hands over my shoulders and slides them to my elbows. “If I wanted to say something, you would be dead.”
I nod and say, “They want to destroy the world, and after they destroy it, they want to reconstruct it. Starting with four. When I was talking to Cory a couple of months ago, he used their words after I asked if he thought the wars would ever end. He didn’t respond in the way a Creation would; he said the world would be a better place after it’s destroyed and reconstructed.”
“Reconstructed?” Marc questions.
“The general heard him and asked the same question. We told Luke, and he had the same response.”
Marc’s brows knit. “But the general doesn’t treat him any different if he knows.”
“Exactly.” I sit up. “So one group of the outsiders has a plan of destruction, and another group has a plan to stop them.” I take his hands. “Like we wouldn’t want this, our planet destroyed…Some of them don’t either. They want us to help stop them.”
He sits up, and I sit on his legs. “Us, like you all, or us, like Creations?”
“Us, like Creations and humans, who do not want th―our planet destroyed.” I move away from him, feeling uneasy about not being able to positively claim this planet. “I don’t know what they want us to do. And even if I did, I don’t know if I could do it.”
“Okay, so are you and others supposed to make us go with you or something?”
“Yes. Convince you to side with them. Before, it was for their domination, and now, it’s to reserve our planet and fight against the ones that want to destroy it.”
“That’s not going to hap
pen, Ky. I’ll never side with the Vojin.”
“I know, Marc. Could I convince you to fight with me? To side with me and fight against them?”
He’s silent as he lies beside me, looking up at the ceiling. “I wouldn’t. I don’t believe them.”
“But you believe me?”
Hesitantly, he says, “Yes.”
“If instead, I ask you to help me destroy them and save our home, will you?”
“If that were possible…yes.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
The horn blares this morning, louder than usual. I’m still in Marc’s bed, snuggled up against him. He scoots off the bed. “I’ll leave first, with everyone.” Cracking his neck, he stretches his arms, adding, “Luke will probably come get you once the hall clears.”
I rub my eyes and stretch my arms over my head. “Cool.”
Marc puts a knee on his bed and leans over. He kisses me once. “Stay with you?”
I nod. “And let me stay with you.”
He nods and leaves his room. I release a heavy exhale, accepting our confirming seal that we’re together now. No more back and forth or avoidance. He loves me. He hasn’t said it, but he does. Smiling to myself, I lie back on his bed, throwing his pillow over my red turning face to hide my oversized, girlish grin.
His door opens. “Come on, Ky.” Luke pulls on my leg, quickly letting it go.
“Okay.”
The roads are full of buses with the last of the Creations returning. A large, all white SUV is parked out front of the general’s office. Maybe someone from the Guidance or the Premier making an appearance. “Why are they here?” I ask Luke.
“Don’t know.” Sir Jord’s office door opens. “But I have a feeling we are about to find out. Let’s smile for the people who don’t give a shit about us,” he quickly whispers.
Luke and I stop, watching two well-built, adult Creations stomp out of the office. With their shoulders straight and chests pushed out, they stand tall, wearing no facial blocking or headgear. One has medium-length hair, and the other is bald, but they resemble one another.
A woman dressed in a dark brown suit exits Jord’s office. Her straight black hair hangs loosely around her shoulders. A man with jeans and a buttoned black shirt isn’t far behind her. The two of them stand there on the porch, surveying the base as they exchange words. After she nods, they walk forward, and an older man walks from the office, hunched at the back, heels dragging. The wind tousles his thin gray hair, and a salt and pepper beard spots his chin and cheeks. He wears a black suit and shiny black shoes that are sprinkled with dust from the dirt roads.
The general comes out after him, hands on his hips, expression stoic. Jord looks our direction and waves us over.
“You were right,” I say to Luke as we head over.
Jord extends his arms as Luke and I approach. “Lukahn, Kylie, meet Premier Norman Stelloh and the leaders of the Guidance, Richard Majewski, and Arletta Fett.”
They salute as we do, dropping our hands after the Premier has. “We hear you two came in and obtained leader positions rather quickly, a reflection of your general and his twin.” Arletta says, admiring us with a smile, hands clasped in front of her belt buckle. Her nose is straight, and her sharp gray eyes make her expression daunting. “What an honor,” she adds. Her eyelids, smoothed with deep red eyeshadow, blink over her eyes as her gaze sweeps from one side of our line to the other. Her smile widens. The red lipstick flawlessly spread across her lips brightens her perfect smile, but a tiny twitch in the right corner of her mouth draws a falter to her beauty.
“We work hard and put our efforts into being better than the next man or woman,” Luke responds strongly.
“That sounds worthy. What do you think of there being implants in this division?” she asks.
“They should be executed,” I state.
“Could you perform that execution, Kylie?”
“Without question,” I state the way they would want a Creation to respond.
The four of them nod. “Can I meet your team?” The Premier asks. He attempts to straighten his hunched posture when addressing us. It looks uncomfortable, but I appreciate his effort. Unlike the Trade, his address shows we do mean something to them, and he appreciates us.
Besides fighting for him, per his requests, our teams hold no importance. His request to meet them is odd. Luke and I look at Jord, seeing if it is okay.
“There is no problem in greeting their teams. Gather your groups and bring them here. Quickly, they are preparing to leave. Respond.”
“We understand.” We run toward the rec hall to find our groups. We go to the Creations’ hall first. Upon entering, Luke speaks loudly, “Creations of Ky and myself, the Premier has requested to meet you. Here now, do not lollygag, present yourselves as Creations. Do not slouch or slack. Face forward unless instructed to do otherwise. Remain at attention. Fall out.” Luke and I turn, leaving for the Normals’ hall.
As I walk in, I say, loud and demanding, “Non-Creations of Luke’s and my team, stand to leave.” I repeat to them Luke’s instruction, and they are slower leaving than the Creations. Because of that, they will be trained hard today.
We run back to the Premier and stand at attention. Our groups gather behind us.
The Premier looks everyone over with Arletta and Richard behind him, doing the same. “How long have the Non-Creations been here?” he asks Jord.
“So far, three months,” Jord answers.
The Premier nods. “Training is too light on them. Their faces are at ease. They are too comfortable, not alert. The Creations in each group look great. Good job with their training, Kylie and Lukahn.” He stalls, looking each face over. “Why is there an uneven number of Creations?” he asks Jord.
“During a daytime attack of the undead, both groups were fighting, outnumbered. Kylie lost three Creations, and Lukahn lost two. It was unfortunate.”
The Premier slowly nods. “We will get a handle on these dead infestations. We are losing so many citizens and Creations to them, it’s unbelievable. We need to destroy the head, and the tail will follow in death,” he says, smashing his shaky fist to his palm.
I flick my gaze left and right. That is an odd implication.
“Let me go!” Someone yells from behind us. Everyone looks.
Fein is being dragged by her neck by Marshal hurrying in our direction. When they make it to Jord, he throws her on the ground. In his other hand, he holds a coyote that looks like its neck is broken. It’s dead.
“What is this?” Jord asks, brows furrowed and eyes wide. He seems embarrassed by such a display in front of the most important people in the world.
Marshal throws the coyote next to Fein as she starts to stand. He cocks his gun back, saying, “You better not get up. Stay on your knees.” He looks at Jord. “I saw her contacting the outsiders. Colorful mists left her mouth, her mouth was glowing. Shortly after, that thing howled and showed up.”
She didn’t learn when Luke and I caught her? Marshal’s actions should have been ours, but we let her go.
“Get her twin and bring him here,” Jord tells Marshal. He nods, running toward our rec hall.
Fein keeps her head down. I try to not look at Luke and instead look over my group to make sure the faces of the Creations have not faltered or been affected by this scene. This couldn’t have happened at a worse time, and in front of the Guidance, of all people. Sir Jord won’t be able to write this off like he’s done Cory or anyone else he’s discovered is on that list.
Arletta drags her red painted nails down her long neck as she looks Fein over. She asks, “What do you all do when you find an implant?”
Jord says, “The first two that were found are being held captive and tested on.”
She glides her index and middle finger back and forth over her mouth without smudging her lipstick. “Hmm.” She taps her bottom lip twice as she slightly nods. “Do you need any more for testing?”
Everyone looks at Jord for his answe
r, even Fein, her eyes begging him to say yes. He could save her, spare her and Floyd’s life by taking them to the labs. If he says no, Arletta will demand execution for them both right now.
It’s oddly silent as we wait for Jord’s answer. He avoids looking down at Fein. Right before he speaks, he quickly flicks his gaze to her and back up. I wouldn’t have seen him do it if I wasn’t staring him in his eyes. There’s a relationship there, and I think it’s their connection with the Vojin.
“No,” he says hard, looking at Arletta. I unnoticeably release a shocked breath.
I’m sorry, Fein.
“Good to hear,” Arletta says as Marshal comes back with Floyd, walking cheerfully at his side.
Floyd spots Fein on the ground on her knees. “Fuck!” He expresses his anger, throwing his head back. He turns to make a run for it, or he may be checking his surroundings, but Marshal stops him.
With her brother here, Fein straightens her spine and holds her head high.
“Kylie,” Richard calls. I pull my eyes from Fein to him, keeping my face strong. “Execute,” he orders.
Why me?
Marshal grabs Floyd’s neck and shoves him to his knees so he’s in the same position as his sister. I look at Luke when everyone’s eyes lock on me. Luke’s stare reads I have no choice but to follow orders.
I draw my gun and walk to the backs of Fein and Floyd.
I cock it back.
Floyd says, “Me first, Ky.” Floyd and Fein are my friends. I don’t want to do this. If I did, I would have turned them in myself. Why did they have to be so stupid, so negligent to get caught? You never make the same mistake twice. Now, I’m forced to kill my good friend and her brother.
Fein clears her throat and says, “Thank you, Ky.”
My heart’s thumping roughly, but my breaths remain steady. I aim at Floyd first, take in a deep breath, and slowly let it out. I pull back the trigger. He falls forward, and Fein wails, looking away from him. I cock my gun back again, wanting to end her misery as fast as I can. A heat of remorse washes over me as I aim it at her.
“Wait,” Arletta presses her index finger against the back of my hand, pushing it aside. I look at it, glossy fingernail polish matching her eyeshadow and lipstick. Having no choice, I wait, shifting my gaze from her hand to her face.
Salient Invaders: A Young Adult Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian Series (The Separation Trilogy Book 2) Page 19