If Luke were to get infected, I could shoot him to end his misery. Luke would never want to be a Zombie, and I wouldn’t want him to be either. It’s only right to kill him. Then there is Marc. If Marc was to turn, thinking about it now… I may not be able to do it. I couldn’t stand over him, look into his eyes, and pull my trigger.
I would, instead, take the bite, take his attack…and turn with him.
Rubbing my hand over my head, I shake away the thoughts. That sounds so stupid and ridiculous. “It is different for those of you who are not Creations. Those of us who are Creations, we appear to be bothered by nothing, but when it comes to our twins, believe me when I tell you, we can be weak.” I stall, recalling the bridge and Luke’s anger with me and his display of weakness. Then I think of Edward’s display of strength compared to Megan’s lack thereof. “If someone can hold their hurt and push out their pride when dealing with their twin, or with someone they care about, that is courageous. That is what you all need to learn how to do.”
“How?” a female asks. I still don’t know all their voices well enough.
“First, you have to remember fear is in your mind.” I press my index finger to my temple. “If you don’t think it, it doesn’t exist.”
“How do we eliminate fear?” Brandy asks.
“You have to change your way of thinking.” That is easier said than done. I look for a better explanation. “It may not be simple, considering you all have gone seventeen to eighteen years conditioned in your current mindset. But if you can overcome your way of thinking when it comes to your fears, that is equally beneficial. Tell yourself that you are strong, convince yourself that you can do anything, and just…jump.”
They nod. I try to think of ways to teach them to manage their fears and understand them. We would first need to discuss them and then work on ways to overcome them.
“Did you feel anything, Ky, when you did it?” Another girl asks.
“Who said that?” I ask.
“Me.” Kendra steps forward. “Should I not have asked?” Her shoulders draw forward as her frame shrinks. “We just figured that since you are our leader, you would share things with us. To help us. Ky, a lot of us are scared. Maybe not the Creations, but Non-Creations. We fear what’s out there: implants, walking dead, Creations dying. Our world is in danger. It’s a lot for us to accept. We are supposed to fight in the war against other people like us, not things we know nothing about.”
“I understand. This is why we are working so hard to train you. It’s why we’re still training you.”
Kendra interjects. “How do you train for something like this? It seems like you all don’t even fully understand what we’re up against.”
She is partially right. “They’re conducting studies so we can better understand—”
She cuts me off again, quizzing, “Can Non-Creations be implants?”
This question triggers an accusatory thought. But maybe it’s all still related to Fein. “Why do you ask?”
“Well, if Creations can be, why wouldn’t Non-Creations be as well?”
I shrug. “I don’t know what requirements outsiders look for in a Creation or Non-Creation.”
Kendra’s upper lip curls as she aggressively interrogates me. “What do you know, Kylie?” she says with a snarl.
My brows furrow. I move my hands behind my back, holding my anger together by clutching the handle of my pistol tightly between my hands. She’s challenging me. But why? “Are you an implant, Kendra?” I ask calmly, then I straighten, stretching my neck left then right to remove the tension.
She glares at me as her left brow hitches. Her eyes narrow, and for some odd reason, I sense her telling me yes. I grow impatient waiting on her response. “No,” she answers in a harsh tone.
I doubt it. I draw my gun and step to her. My barrel presses against her forehead, just between her eyebrows. She keeps eye contact with me, not a glimpse of fear in her eyes. I ask again, “Are you an implant, Kendra?” Her silence is revealing, and the group and I wait for her answer. I pull my gun away an inch to cock it back before pressing it back against her skin.
Her eyes widen and twitch, revealing a glimpse of fear. “N-No,” she stutters.
“You better not be,” I say low for only her to hear. “And the next time you’re asked, being hesitant to answer may get you killed.” I gently tap her temple with the barrel of the gun. “Never test me again, Kendra.” Taking a few steps back, I order, “Enough Q and A. Get back to business. Creations, do your worst.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
After battling rounds, Normals versus Creations, my group closes the day in the weight room, building their strength and endurance. Both will help in the war against Zombies, may it be fighting or just running from them.
I head to Jord’s office hoping, to get some answers to a few questions about Normals being implanted. Luke left with him earlier, and they should be back by now. I knock twice and wait for an answer. The lock turns, and Seits opens the door, “Hi Ky.”
I keep my face even, but ever since she turned me into a Zombie, her presence has made me uncomfortable. “Hello. I was looking for General Jord, is he here?”
“He’s out with a few of the leaders. Can I help you with something?”
I shake my head. “I’ll come back later. Thank you.” I pivot, and she grabs my shoulder. Looking at her hand first, then at her eyes, I ask, “Is there something you would like to discuss?”
“Can you step into the office?”
I move my arm from her hand, debating speaking with her or not. I’d prefer not. Though she may have been obligated to follow orders from the Trade, it would be fair to provide a warning. “I’m headed to the rec hall.” I give her an ultimatum. “Would you like to walk with me there and speak?”
“You would prefer this?”
“I would. I’m not comfortable speaking with you.” I’m not afraid of her. I just don’t have respect for her. However, I don’t want to be bad-mannered as I respect her position. I also know myself, and if she tries to do something to me again, I will kill her.
She nods slowly, agreeing. I turn on my heels and step off the stoop. At my side as we stroll, Seits says, “You can also speak with me, Ky, about any questions or concerns you may have. Both Jord and I are available.”
“I understand.” Is my simple response. “Have you seen Luke?”
“He left with Jord. Are you okay, Kylie? You performed an execution yesterday for one of your good friends here.”
Responding as a Creation would, I say, “She was not my friend. Feiney was an implant, and that voids any relationship and concern I had for her. She got what was coming to her.” But I would prefer to say, ‘I did, and it upsets me she would leave herself exposed to get found out and force me to perform that execution,’ though I cannot.
“Do you honestly feel that way, Kylie?” She stops and grabs my arm, so I stop too.
I drop my gaze to my grasped arm and then meet her eyes. “Please.” She releases me, and her hands fall at her sides. “Yes. I do honestly,” I mock the word as she spoke it quaintly, “feel this way. You don’t?”
“I feel that we lost someone, and she may have deserved a better way to be expunged.”
I turn to continue. “You should talk to Sir Jord about that. It was his choice for execution over saving her.”
“Excuse me?” she gasps in a bewildered tone.
I wasn’t looking at her before, but I am now. Her piercing purple eyes radiate, brightening and dimming as though they beat with her heart. Why is this news shocking? “Arletta asked him if he needed any test subjects of implanted Creations. He declined and ordered Fein and Floyd’s execution. What is the problem?”
She quickly shakes her head. “There…there is no problem. I thought the execution was the only option.”
“After he said he didn’t need them, it was. But I suppose if he’d said he would use them for tests, they may have let them leave and escorted them to the underground
labs, which you are well acquainted with.”
Slowly, she begins, “Kylie, I am sorry about what happened. I cannot stress that enough. I knew they were going to turn you into the walking dead. It is a part of the tests. But I could not warn you. They would have known by your reactions.”
“Madam Seits, it no longer matters. If you will excuse me, I’m going to eat dinner.”
“Yes, Ky. One more thing.” She takes my shoulders in her strong grip, fingers pressed firmly against my muscles. Looking at me head on, she says, “A coyote doesn’t just howl to call its pack…but to also warn them of intruders.”
Though my lips are parted, my gasp is silent.
“Hey Ky!” Sean calls, distracting me from Seits’s shocking reveal. She walks away and doesn’t look back. “Ky,” Sean calls again, now beside me.
We were right…
“Earth to, Ky!” Sean shoves me against my shoulder.
I blink. “What?”
“What’s wrong?”
I shake my hands, trying to remove this disturbing sensation crawling over my flesh as though her words have legs. “Nothing.”
“Have you seen Marc?”
“No, why?”
“I haven’t seen him. I checked with his group. They haven’t seen him for the past two hours.” His arms splay out before falling limply at his sides as he says, “It’s dinnertime, and no one seems to know where he is.”
“He may be with Luke and Jord. They are checking on the other leaders of our sector.”
He knits his brows. “How’d you find that out?”
“Seits told me. You’re worried?”
He heads for the doors of the mess hall, and I follow behind him. “Yeah. He may have gotten eaten by a Zombie or turned into one.”
I drop a pat on his shoulder. “Marc’s a big boy. He can handle a few Zombies. He’s fine.”
Sean shoves the doors open. “We have to go in here and sit with annoying-ass Collins. I do not like her. You should have cracked her in the face last night.”
“I wanted to. You know, since yesterday, everyone has been acting weird. They either fear or envy me. I don’t know what to make of it.”
“That has to be the Normals you’re talking about. My group wanted to talk about it. I kept the conversation short and explained you did what was ordered. If you had refused that order, everyone would have assumed that you couldn’t rid us of an implant because you are one, and you would have been lying there right along with them.”
I nod, agreeing. “My team asked me to explain how I could effortlessly kill a friend. I told them they’d need courage in the face of fear. We tell our twins that if we get turned into one of those things to kill us, but do we mean that? We know that we would prefer there be a cure. But there is none, so our escape is death. Think of the pressure we are putting on our twin.”
“I really meant for Marc to kill me.”
“But instead…”
“Right. He found another option. But if there was no other option, I know he would do it. What about you? If it were you and Marc. Would you kill him?” Sean’s question catches me by the legs, and I stumble forward. I grab Sean’s arm to catch myself from falling.
Regaining my footing, I clear my throat. “Why do you ask?”
“He’s my twin. He chose you over me. I’m trying not to feel uncomfortable about it.” Sean rubs the back of his neck. “The way I cope is by talking about what bothers me. I don’t understand you two. I get that you all feel a way about each other, but you can’t feel for him what he feels for you. It’s impossible.”
“This isn’t easy for me to discuss, Sean.” I don’t want to talk about Marc and me with him. Sometimes I don’t want to talk about Marc and me with Luke. I actually only want to talk about Marc and me with Marc. He’s the only one that matters.
Sean pulls me to a stop. I don’t like the way it feels when someone forces me to do something. “Just let me know, Ky. You would still choose Luke over Marc? We know Marc’s choice, but yours is still a mystery, so tell me. And don’t lead my brother on. If you know there is a difference in your feelings and his, don’t keep leading him on and making him think this is something that it’s not. I’m not going to stand out on a plank with you and wonder which one of us he’ll push or save.” There’s an edge to each word. His anger, though light, seems all the more violent because it’s rarely ever displayed.
“Sean.” I pry his hand from my left arm. “You know how I feel about him. You knew before he knew. There are things I am obligated to say. But we know―”
I’m slapped on the back. “Hey, what are you two talking about?” Luke asks.
“Luke, was Marc with you?” Sean asks him before I can answer Luke’s question.
“Earlier, but not recently. When I left him, he was headed to the house.”
“Couldn’t have been? I just left there before meeting Ky. He wasn’t there.” He throws his head back and pulls his hair in a ponytail. “Where the hell is my brother?” he asks himself and leaves the mess hall.
“Hey,” I say as I bump Luke’s fist with mine. “We weren’t talking about anything. He was trying to find Marc. What happened today?”
“Let’s eat first, we’ll talk later.” Hopefully, Luke learned some things today too.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Luke and I sit at our usual table, preparing to eat when Jord loudly calls, “Kylie,” from the door of the mess hall.
I jump up from my seat, startled by the aggressiveness of his call. “Sir?”
“I need to speak with you.” I nod and cross the mess hall, Luke hot on my heels. “You are not needed, Luke. As you were,” Jord says, dismissing him.
“Yes, I am.” Luke says in a stern tone, glaring at Jord, daring to tell him no again. “When you are uncomfortable with tasks your sister is up against, do you accompany her?” Luke nods once, answering for Jord. “And I will do the same for mine.”
Jord’s jaw works, and he narrows his eyes as he glares at Luke. Luke doesn’t bat an eye, meeting Jord’s silent challenge by not backing down. I wince when Jord’s lips part, expecting an accusing shout toward Luke. But he licks his lips, nods, and leads us from the mess hall.
I look at Luke and mouth, “What the heck was that?”
Luke widens his eyes and shrugs. A small smirk lifts the left corner of his mouth. It’s gone by the time we make it outside and continue behind Jord to his office.
“You wanted to speak with me, Kylie?” Jord asks.
I sigh, happy he wasn’t requesting me for something worse. “Yes, someone from my team said something odd today. I wanted to ask you about Normals being implants.”
“Was this asked in front of your entire group?”
“Yes, sir.”
Jord looks at Luke, then around us. “Let’s talk about this in my office.” Once we walk into his office, and he closes the door, he says, “Luke, would you like to inform Kylie of our talk today?”
I tug off my helmet and tuck it under my arm.
“I was going to later,” Luke says. “But if you would like for me to do it now, I can.” Jord nods. Luke faces me and easily says, “General Jord, Madam Seits, and Colonel Harold are implants. And yes, the Normals can also be implants.”
I’m holding my breath as I bite back my words. First, I can’t respond. I look at Jord, observing his straight face and relaxed disposition. He reclines on his chair with his left leg crossed over his right and clasped hands resting above his belt. Luke also wears a straight face. I’m silenced. How should I respond?
Luke continues, “They have this idea that the Vojin want to destroy the Earth, and they want to stop them.” I nod. “They have asked if we will accompany them in overpowering the Vojin and fight for our world.”
I purse my lips and narrow my eyes, asking, “What was your response?” I am unsure of what to say, not being able to ask the questions I want to, questions about us also having the same plan.
“I haven’t responded yet.”<
br />
I ask Jord, “Why tell him this? Why release to us the worst of your secrets?”
He stands from his chair, slowly walks around his desk, and leans his hip against it. “We need Creations who are strong and want to save the world.” He looks between Luke and me. “We also need Creations who are mixed and may have a reason to go against the ones they previously worked for. To get revenge. Possibly for…” he carries the word in thought, “killing their parents.”
What the hell did I walk into right now?
I flick my gaze to Luke. I think my facial expression has faltered; the poker face usually keeping my skin smooth has failed. My cheeks feel tight, and my eyebrows may have reached my hairline.
Jord continues, “I am not asking anything but for you all to fight with us, invade their realm, and assist us in defeating them. Can I rely on you two to do that?”
“We will be back with our response,” Luke tells him. He nods his head toward the door, motioning for us to leave.
“Before you go, understand there are others here who are mixed. They do not know about the Vojin’s deception, and they are still working toward gaining other Creations to fight with them to overcome this world.”
We leave his office and the screen door slams behind us. Walking to our house, we hurry across the dirt road, kicking up dust with every step. “What just happened, Luke?”
“Ky…I don’t know.”
“Are we going to help?”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to tell him?”
“Not yet.” He opens the door to our home, and someone is talking from upstairs. Luke puts his finger to his lips.
I hear Cory saying, “They are planning to come in two weeks to take over this planet, and we need to have enough people on our side so that we can convince everyone else to welcome them here.”
Luke and I creep toward the stairs to hear them better.
Collins says, “Cory, that’s not a good idea. Who would we convince? You saw what they did to Floyd and Fein. If we are found out, that will be us too.”
Salient Invaders: A Young Adult Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian Series (The Separation Trilogy Book 2) Page 21