Compliance (25 page)

I creep forward, stop to shine the light around, and pull my t-shirt back over my mouth to draw a less-choking breath.

Something rustles off to my right. I shine the beam and catch movement. “Tobin?”

No answer. It might be a rat, but seriously, no rat would live up here. It’s horrible. Plus, above a factory there’s nothing for rats to eat. I crawl toward the movement and a cool rush of air hits my face. Rush is an exaggeration, but compared
to the still, dank air, a mere puff feels like a breeze on the top of a hill Outside.

I redirect the light toward the spot where I saw movement, but the torch has faded so much it’s next to useless. Pressing onto my belly, I free both hands and crank the lantern until it glows brightly again. Ahead of me there’s a low wall that blocks my view of the roof’s far edge.

My combat and patrol training click in, urging caution. It’s dumb to be crawling blindly toward something or someone I can’t see, but this isn’t combat. It’s a rescue. I hope.

I crawl forward, the torch illuminating sprays of black dust each time I set my hands down. Soon I’m near the wall. About three feet beyond it, the roof’s edge abuts the sky—or seems to—but I realize whispers of fresh air are flowing up from the side of the building and escaping through the small gap between the roof and sky.

“Tobin,” I say softly. “If you’re here, I’m a friend. I’m here to help you. Kara sent me.”

There’s no response so I continue forward until I can peer behind the wall. Nothing.

My light fades again, and I flatten to free my hands to work the crank. Ahead, in the darkness, the shadow of a head appears, then disappears against the sky as if someone poked up over the side of the building. Surely he’s not hanging off the building’s edge waiting for me to leave? That thought almost makes me go, but I’ve come this far. If it is Tobin, I can’t leave him behind. I must find a way to make him trust me.

Leaving the torch uncharged, I creep forward, slowly,
willing my eyes to adjust to the near darkness. The edge of the roof looks smooth, no hint of fingers holding on and I hope that doesn’t mean he’s fallen.

“Tobin, please,” I say. “Come up. It’s safe, I promise.”

His head slowly reappears in silhouette, then his shoulders. I’m not sure what he’s standing on, but he’s not holding onto the edge of the building.

“Hi.” I reach out one hand. “My name’s Glory. Are you okay?”

He moves quickly. Light glints off something and I realize he’s got a sharp piece of metal in his hand.

“Stay away or I’ll slit your throat.” His voice breaks with early adolescence and fear.

“I’m not here to hurt you.”

He lunges forward, knife first, and I grab his forearm.

“Let me go.” His voice shakes and the back of his t-shirt bulges like he’s storing the rest of his belongings over his shoulders.

“Drop the knife and I’ll let go.”

“Not a chance. You’ll stab me.”

I drop my lantern and press down on his knife hand with my other elbow. His fingers unfurl from the pain. I grab the knife and throw it as far as I can to the side.

“There,” I say. “Neither of us has a knife now.”

The back of his t-shirt’s almost throbbing, as if whatever’s under it is alive, and I hope I’m not up against two people here.

“Tobin—”

“How do you know my name?”

“I know your dad.”

“My dad’s dead.”

“And I talked to your sister.” I decide it’s best not to mention his mother. If she rejected him like I suspect, bringing her into this might backfire. “Kara told me where to find you. I can help.”

“Help?” His voice quivers. “How can you help?”

I pull forward and see that his legs are hanging over the side of the roof. There’s only a small gap between his body and the sky, but below that there’s a platform, and the air is definitely better here.

“How did you find this place?” I ask, and he doesn’t answer so I pose another question, keeping my voice light, unthreatening. “Is that a platform? That’s a pretty cool hiding place.”

I shift forward again and loosen my grip on his forearm. Our heads are only a foot apart now and I pull forward again. He lurches and his backside bangs the sky.

“Careful.” Our faces are close now, and I smile and let his arm go.

“I can take care of myself.” He pulls away and pushes back to slip through the gap and out of sight.

I quickly pull forward and peer over the side. He’s cowering on a platform that’s about five feet long and three feet wide and wedged between the building and a beam of the sharply curved sky. The two ends of the platform are open. If he fell there’d be nothing to stop his descent for at least fifteen stories. Still, I’m glad he’s not living on the grimy roof.

“How long have you been here?” I ask.

He shifts and rubs his back as if it’s itching.

“When’s the last time you ate?”

He shrugs.

“Here.” I hand him some food I have tucked in my pocket. He grabs a chunk of meat and gobbles it eagerly.

I survey his space again. It’s isolated but the access is terrible. Tobin and Jayma wouldn’t be spotted here, but this far west side of Haven is too far from the barracks. I’ll have problems delivering food and water if they have to wait a few days for Burn to plan an escape route. Plus, I’m not sure Jayma will be up for crawling over this grimy roof.

“Is there another way onto your platform?” I ask. Still eating, he shakes his head. “Listen,” I say. “I really can help you. I have a friend and he knows your dad too. He can get you somewhere safe, somewhere that they don’t care that you’re a Deviant.”

He almost loses his balance on the edge of his platform.

I reach down. “It’s okay. I’m a Deviant too. Let me help you. It’s what I do.”

“What do you do?”

“I help Deviants get to a place where the Comps won’t bother them.”

He licks his fingers and I cringe at the amount of grime that was on them when he took the meat. “No. What do you do?”

For an instant, I worry that he’s asking about my work placement, but then I realize he wants to know the same thing Adele did. He wants to know my Deviance.

“When I get super scared, or angry, when I feel emotions really strongly, I can hurt people, using my eyes.”

He leans forward. “Show me.”

I shake my head. “It’s too dangerous.”

“You’re lying. You’re not a Deviant.”

“I can’t just turn it on at will.” I have, but I can’t risk hurting him.

“Liar.”

“Tobin, it’s late. I have another friend who’s hiding too. I want you both safe, but I don’t have all day.” I realize my tone sounds impatient. I am impatient. I want to return to the barracks before lights out so I’m not missed, then sneak out again for the rebel meeting once Stacy’s asleep.

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” he says, “until you prove you’re telling the truth.”

Frustration bubbles up inside me, threatening to turn into anger. “Fine.” I focus on his eyes as my ability leaps to life and sparks behind my eyes. I think of his lungs and squeeze.

Alarm builds in his eyes. Fear.

I snap my head back and close my eyes.

“What did you do to me?” Tobin’s eyes are still wide when I reopen mine. He’s shaking.

I reach for his arm. “Are you okay? I told you my Deviance was dangerous.”

“I’m okay.” He pulls onto the roof. “Where are we going?”

“Do you trust me?”

He nods.

“Then let’s go.”

“This is the Exec Building.” Tobin backs away from me, looking like he might make a run for it.

“You promised to trust me, remember? You’ll be safe here.” I’m actually not sure he’ll be safe, but I’ve yet to come up with a better plan.

I guide Tobin across the roof to the big metal box where I left Jayma, and we slip through the bent panel that’s doubling as a door. I’m pretty sure this metal box used to house some kind of heating or cooling system for the building from BTD, but all the machinery and parts have long ago been repurposed. It’s surprising the shell still exists. No chance would all this metal still be around or uninhabited if it was on the roof of any other building.

Jayma’s sitting in the corner, staring ahead, and doesn’t seem to notice we came in. Not a good sign.

“Jayma, this is Tobin.” I crouch and wave my hand in front of her eyes. Finally, she shifts them to look at me.

“Tobin could use some company,” I tell her. “Can you hang out with him until I can get you both somewhere safe? I really need your help.”

At the word “help” she shrugs, but the gesture’s so slight I’m not positive her shoulders moved.

Tobin stretches his arms forward, accentuating the lumps on his back. I’m still so curious about his Deviance but don’t want to ask questions that might spook him now that I have him somewhere temporarily safe.

“Jayma.” It looks like she hasn’t moved since I was here
hours earlier. “Come outside with me for a minute so we can talk.”

She doesn’t move, so I reach down, grab her hand, and tug. “Come on,” I bend over and whisper. “You need to help me. I can’t take care of this kid without you.”

She lets me drag her up, swaying slightly, confirming my suspicion she’s been sitting in one position for a long time. We squeeze out past the bent panel, and after a few steps across the roof, she doesn’t need my help to walk anymore. She scans, searching for danger, and I take this as a good sign.

“How are you doing?” I ask.

“Who is the kid?” she counters. “What’s going on, Glory? Why are you so dirty?”

“Tobin needs help. As soon as I can, I’ll get you both somewhere safe.”

“Like the roof of the Exec Building?” Her voice is cold and full of sarcasm.

I reach for her. “No. Someplace where there are no Comps, no Management, no Shredders. Someplace really safe.”

She crosses her thin arms over her chest. “No such place exists.”

“Yes it does. I’ve been there, and you’re going to love it.”

“If it’s so great, why aren’t you there?” Her skepticism is better than ambivalence.

“I was there, but I came back to Haven to help others get to safety.”

Her eyes get wider and she backs up a step. “Are you taking us to the place where your kidnapper held you?”

My stomach churns. I close the gap between us and take
her hands. “Jayma, I need to tell you something and you need to promise you’ll never tell anyone—ever.”

She nods.

“And promise me you’ll listen and keep an open mind, no matter what?”

She shrugs.

My heart is racing and I draw a long breath. “That guy, his name is Burn and he took me and Drake Outside, to this beautiful and safe place.” Her brow furrows but I continue. “I was never kidnapped. I went willingly. Burn didn’t kidnap me. He was saving Drake.”

“Drake is alive?” A smile bursts onto her face, then vanishes, and she pulls her hands away. “No he’s not. You’re lying. Why would you say that? How is it even possible? No one can live Outside.”

“It’s true. And Burn will take you too. He can save you.”

“Save me? Why do I need saving?” Her voice trails off as if she realized the answer while asking.

“You’re suspected of sabotage.” I grab her hand. “If they don’t ex you, they’ll put you in the Hospital for your depression.”

She steps back. “I thought you said the Hospital was safe?”

“Yes, well…” She’s got me there, and explaining my divided opinions about Mrs. Kalin would make things too complicated right now. I don’t have time.

“Scout’s dead, isn’t he?” She shakes her hand free and drops down, wrapping herself into a tight ball. “You lied.”

“No.” I crouch and rub her back. “I saw Scout the day
before yesterday. So did Cal. Scout was fine then. He was still unconscious, but he was alive, and they’re helping him get better.” I’m no longer certain, but Jayma doesn’t need to know that. Not now. “Burn will help get Scout out of Haven too. You can be together.”

She lifts her head. “Really?”

I pull her up. “Really. You’ll be so happy Outside. Believe me.”

She shakes her head and backs away from me, shaking.

Putting my hands on her shoulders and concentrating to control my emotions, I look into her eyes. “You have to believe me. It’s possible to survive Outside, even for Normals. I’ve been to a place where there’s fresh air and light from the real sun and a whole lake full of water. More water than you could ever imagine. There’s fresh food too—everything tastes amazing—and people are happy. That’s where Drake is and—” I stop before mentioning my father. I’m already asking her to absorb too much at once.

“How do they breathe Outside without drowning on dust?” Wonder creeps into the skepticism in her voice.

“There’s barely any dust where they are, and if a storm blows some in, they wear masks.” As all this information tumbles out of me, I feel lighter, easier—almost giddy. I want to tell Jayma everything about me, every secret I’m keeping.

“What about Shredders?” she asks.

“There aren’t many around there, because of the lack of dust. But guards keep watch, just in case.”

“And Deviants? No Deviants are allowed there, right?”

My lungs squeeze, my giddiness crushed. “Everyone
lives happily together.” She can decide what that means. I’ve already told her more than I should. I can’t tell her I’m a Deviant—not yet. “We should get back to Tobin. He really needs your help. He’s alone and he’s scared.”