Inescapable (Talented Saga #7) (54 page)

“
What a bag of biscuits,”
Daphne muttered.

“
Total crap,” Ritchie
agreed quietly.

Oddly, aside from Cressa’s group of
coconspirators, everyone else was eating up every last morsel of
the Dame’s bullshit. She watched the 2Ps all nodding in agreement
with a sinking heart, feeling confused by their reactions.

Why are we
different?
Cressa wondered.
Why are we the only ones using common
sense?

Even without seeing the electric cages, the
other cadets should’ve been doubtful that the dismissed were as
happy as the Dame said. Anyone who had seen Damon Bizon in that
room, anyone who heard him crying and begging to go home, knew that
the dismissed cadets were not there by choice. And Kev told her
that the boys had seen a similar demonstration, so they should have
realized this fact, too.

Is it really because we
all actually saw the frog pond?
Cressa
wondered, thinking about the old seeing-is-believing adage.
Or is there another reason for their
unquestioning acceptance of everything the Dame says?

“
These four will also be
remaining at the Institute, but as prisoners for their crimes of
treason,” the Dame continued.

The common room broke out in unadulterated
delight. People were whooping and hollering, as if the news that
the Institute had a prison was epic. As if the four prisoners
hadn’t been their peers—even friends, in some cases—just the day
before.

“
You better join in,” Kev
muttered, nudging Cressa with his elbow. “Something tells me green
isn’t your color.”

“
I don’t see you clapping
like a deranged puppet whose master just told him to dance,” Cressa
shot back.

“
Right, because I’m an
actor,” he replied, as if that explained everything.

When Cressa turned to look Kev square in the
face, she watched as his eyes went from pools of intense emotion
back to the dead-eyed expression again. Then, he winked at her.

I’m so stupid,
she thought, stifling a grin.
It’s been a performance this whole time. Even that first
night in the elevator, he was acting.

The guy in the tunnels—that was the real Kev
Leon.

But why is he here?
Cressa wondered.
If he
never believed in the Privileged, why did he come to the
Institute?

“
The videos, these
inflammatory speeches—they’re designed to weed out the
nonbelievers,” Kev continued, still speaking under his breath.
“Leslie, Gregor, the instructors—they are all watching for our
reactions. They’re noting looks of disgust, sort of like yours
right now.”

“
How do you know so much
about, well, everything?” Cressa asked suspiciously.

Kev shrugged. “I played a
cult leader’s son in
Dawn of the
Idols
. While preparing for the role, I got
really into the psyche of a true follower. Believe me, what’s going
on here is textbook cult formation and growth.”

Shooting her a pointed look, Kev brought his
hands together slowly and mimed clapping. Reluctantly, Cressa
started clapping too, offering a toothy grin to those around her.
Daphne and Ritchie exchanged uncomfortable glances.

“
Play along,” Cressa
hissed.

“
Many of you may be
wondering why I have elected to share this news with the entire
school,” the Dame said. The chatter and excited applause died a
swift death, everyone anxious to hear what the almighty Dame would
say next. “Since founding the Institute nearly a decade ago, I have
kept many of the day-to-day dealings private, even from the
faithful instructors who have shared my vision since the beginning.
But now, as the time for the world to know of our existence nears,
I feel there should no longer be secrets between us. After all, the
ways of the Institute will soon be the ways of the
world.”

Naturally this brought another round of
hoots and cheers.

“
That is why,” the Dame
continued, “I want you all to know how I deal with the disloyal,
with those who break Privileged law, with criminals like the four
you see before you. Each has been offered a choice between two
options: incarceration in the Institute’s prison, or participation
in Dr. Masterson’s current research trial, which aims to perfect
the Privileged serum so that repeated injections will no be longer
necessary.

“
I am pleased to announce
that all four of these prisoners have decided to pay for their
crimes by taking part in Dr. Masterson’s trial. They wish for you
all to benefit from their lapse in judgment. And I wish for you all
to learn from their sacrifice. Remember this—even if you do happen
to stray down the wrong path, redemption is possible.”

Cressa felt sick inside. The woman’s ability
to twist facts to suit her own agenda was enough for Cressa to lose
her lunch.

“
Given the transgressions
of these four,” the Dame continued on. “I also feel the need to
remind all of you that the Institute has a plethora of rules, all
of which are in place for your protection. First and foremost, the
hidden tunnels inside the school are strictly off-limits to all
cadets, without exception. Any students caught in the passageways
will face the same punishment as these prisoners. While their
participation in Dr. Masterson’s trial is noble, they have still
brought shame on themselves and their families. Their flowers will
no longer bloom in our Privileged garden, but will instead wither
in the graveyard of dishonor. Please, I implore you all not to
succumb to temptation and curiosity. Do not condemn yourselves to
this most shameful fate.

“
In closing, I thank you
all for your dedication to our vision for a Privileged world. I
have the utmost faith that you will all stay the course, and will
rise up with the rest of us when the Privileged are
revealed.”

With that, the Dame’s voice was gone,
replaced instead by a rustling static that sounded through the
speakers until the comm system was switched off. The commons was
quiet for several long moments, and then excited conversation
spread through the room like wildfire.

Though the announcement was over, the
holo-images of Lyla and the others remained at the front of the
room, serving as a visual reminder of what happened to disobedient
students.

Cressa didn’t want to look
at them, but guilt made it impossible to avert her gaze. It could
have just as easily been her up there, branded as a traitor. Truly,
it
should
have
been her. If not for Kev’s intervention, Cressa and Daphne would
have wearing red instead of navy.

When Cressa tore her eyes from the holos of
the cadets she’d been with only hours before, she shot a grateful
look towards Kev. Unfortunately, he’d been surrounded again by
adoring fans, and had reverted back to the dead-eyed stare.

For the rest of their lunch break, the mood
in the back corner of the commons was decidedly somber. Ritchie,
Cressa, and Daphne talked very little, all three caught up in their
own thoughts. If Cressa had to guess, they were all feeling a
similar combination of guilt and relief. She couldn’t shake the
terror she felt when considering how close she’d been to being a
holo along with the other four, serving as a lesson to the cadets
who might be considering going against the Dame’s ranks. Several
times Cressa tried to catch Kev’s eye again—she still had so many
questions for him—but his groupies remained human barricades.

“
Listen up,” Suzu called,
dragging Cressa from her miserable thoughts. The older girl blinked
the lights several times to get everyone’s attention. “This
afternoon’s schedule has shifted. From this point forward, the
entire Institute is on lockdown. All advancement exams have been
cancelled until further notice, and you will all remain here for
the rest of the day. Madame Brink will join us shortly, and we will
continue light manipulation and telekinesis practice
here.

“
If you need to leave this
room, even to use the bathroom, you must ask permission from either
myself or Madame Brink. Cadets Abbot and Ivan will be here
intermittently, and they can also grant permission. If you have
questions, please feel free to ask any one of us.”

“
Lockdown? Do you think
something happened?” Daphne asked. She gestured miserably to the
holo-images still on display. “Well, something more than
that.”

“
Whatever it is, it must
be big,” Ritchie replied, eager to take her mind off of their close
call. “I’ve been here for six months, and the Dame has never
instituted a lockdown.”

“
I hear Natalia Lyons has
arrived.”

Cressa, Daphne, and Ritchie all looked up at
the newcomer. Dina, Ritchie’s short, squat roommate, was standing
behind their little circle.

“
Hey, Dina,” Ritchie
greeted the girl, sounding none too pleased about the intrusion.
She tipped her head toward Cressa and Daphne. “You know Daphne
Beaumont, and that’s Cressa Karmine. What makes you say Natalia
Lyons is here?”

Crossing her plump legs, Dina dropped to the
floor, wedging herself between Cressa and Ritchie. When she leaned
forward, the other three girls instinctually did the same. After
glancing around for eavesdroppers, Dina spoke in a faux
whisper.

“
Don’t tell anyone, but I
was down in med bay just before breakfast, getting my allergy
shots.” Her eyes darted to Daphne. “I saw Gracia. It was
so
freaky. She could be
Natalia’s doppelgänger, for real.”

“
That’s sort of the
point,” Ritchie said dryly, quickly losing interest.

Dina looked confused.

“
Gracia is Natalia’s
clone,” Ritchie added pointedly. “So, yeah, she should look exactly
like her.”

Laughing, Dina waved off Ritchie’s comment.
“Right, I know that. I’m just saying, she could totally trade
places with Natalia. I bet no one, not even Erikson, would know the
difference.”

Beside Cressa, Daphne went rigid. Cressa
felt confident the younger girl was remembering the third level of
the observation cavern. They’d both seen the transformation as it
occurred, had watched as Gracia’s features were seamlessly molded
into those of Natalia Lyons. It wasn’t something either would
forget anytime soon.

“
Anyway,” Dina was saying,
“a group of guards was leading Gracia out of the recovery wing. The
cute med tech with the glasses who gives me my shots told me to
stay inside the cubicle, but of course I didn’t.”

She grinned conspiratorially, as if waiting
for praise from her audience.

“
Get to the point,” Daphne
snapped.

“
I am,” Dina said with a
frown, though the expression quickly reverted back to one of
excitement. “I’m just saying, I knew something big was going down,
and I wanted to see it firsthand. Anyway, I snuck out into the
hallway. That’s when I saw Gracia and the guards. Then the med bay
doors opened, and I saw the Dame waiting by the elevators with Dr.
Masterson.”

“
Wait.” Ritchie held up
her hand to halt Dina’s rambling. “You’re saying that you saw the
Dame? In the flesh?”

“
Well, not exactly,” Dina
replied, backpedaling. “Not exactly ‘in the flesh’. She was there,
like moving and talking, except she was a hologram—the same one we
saw in the auditorium last night. It was definitely her, though.”
Dina tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear, which had come
loose as she bounced up and down. “Regardless, I heard Dr.
Masterson and the Dame talking….” Dina paused, ensuring she had the
full attention of the other three girls. “They said Gracia is
taking Natalia’s place today. Like, right now, as we speak, they’re
swapping. The Dame said, and I quote: ‘Natalia will be with us
shortly, of that I have no doubt.’”

Talia

London, England

Two Days Until the Vote

“
Oy, there you are!” a
voice I recognized called out.

I surveyed the crowd in the department store
cafeteria from beneath the short brim of a ridiculous black felt
and rhinestone hat, searching for a familiar face. A boy about my
own age waved excitedly in my direction. His medium brown hair and
medium brown eyes were unmemorable, boring even. His facial
features were plain, too ordinary to be handsome, too symmetrical
and normal to be unattractive. Even the jeans and gray tee he wore
made him blend in a way that ensured no one would look twice. Only
the power emanating from his medium frame belied his true nature.
And his true identity. Riley Wyld.