Renegade (15 page)

He narrows his eyes. “If she was expecting us, where are they? Shouldn’t they be trying to stop us?”

He has a point. I glance around and listen. Not a sound. Not even a peep. The slamming of the door should have brought
someone
.

“You’re right. Something is wrong.” I press my fingers to my eyes, smearing blood on my face. “Okay. This is what we’re going to do. We need to get out of the Palace Wing. It definitely isn’t safe here. Then we’ll need to come up with another plan. Follow me.”

It’s obvious Mother already knows what we were planning, or at least was sure Gavin would try something. But I need to get us out of here and to a place they won’t be able to find us—and it’s very much an
us
situation now. But finding a place they won’t find us is much easier said than done, especially with Gavin looking like the Surface Dweller he is.

I remember there’s supposed to be a waterproof map in my evac bag. Extremely mindful of the time we’ve been standing there, I pull out the map and study it quickly.

“What is that?” Gavin asks.

“A map. It lists all the designated evacuation areas in case of facility failure or Surface Dweller attack. If we stand any chance of escaping, one of those will be it.”

He lifts an eyebrow. “A map? Can we trust it?”

I don’t even spare him a glance. “Of course we can. It’s supposed to be used for emergency evacuations. Mother doesn’t want her Citizens to die and she especially wouldn’t want me to die.”

He doesn’t look convinced, but doesn’t say anything.

“All right,” I say after a minute. “It looks like there’s an evacuation area in the Square of Sector Two. Let’s head over there.”

I fold up the map, but keep it in my hand, so I can reference it quickly if I have to change course and pinpoint the exact location.

We slip by the Guard, who is too busy reading something on his holoscreen to notice us—not that he would be looking anyway. His duty is to prevent people from getting in, not from getting out.

This time we hurry to the Square, still keeping to the shadows and avoiding the large crowds of Citizens. It’s more crowded than usual today because of Festival. With all the Couples dressed in their colorful carnival clothes, we probably won’t stick out as much as I thought we would, but I’m still the Daughter of the People and highly recognizable, and so is Gavin with his torn and dirty clothes. The only problem is, the farther into Sector Two the thicker the crowds. Even in the shadows it’s difficult to push our way through so no one will notice.

Making it worse, Gavin gawks at everything. It makes him stick out like a sore thumb, but he keeps up so I don’t say anything. I need to focus on getting us through here. My nerves are stretched to breaking and my heart is in my throat because I’ve spotted three Enforcers. They don’t appear to have noticed us and from their relaxed postures I know they aren’t on alert, but I also know that doesn’t really mean anything. If I can see them, they can see me. We must tread very carefully.

Six Guards are straight ahead, but they appear too busy flirting with the group of young women surrounding them to be paying attention. Since it’s either them or the Enforcers, I lead Gavin in their direction, double checking our position against the map and the location of the evacuation area. It looks like the evac area is in the middle of the Square, which doesn’t make sense, but maybe there’s something there I don’t know about.

When we reach the designated spot on the map, I frown. This can’t be right. This is a supper club. Only Coupled Citizens and their families are allowed in here. But, I’ve been here a few times with Mother to catch a show with our dinner and I think I remember there being some kind of back room. Maybe that’s the evac area.

Being mindful of the Enforcers and the Guards, I rush into it, with Gavin nipping at my heels. While music is playing, something from the entertainment for the night, I’m sure there’s no one in here yet. It must still be too early for the dinner crowd, but I don’t stop. My heart is thumping so hard I can feel it in my head. I pretend like I’m supposed to be here and keep walking until I find what I’m looking for—a drapery-covered wall. I push it aside and see a door. I open it to reveal a set of stairs, leading up into darkness.

Gavin shuts the door behind us and the sound from the club becomes muffled, with only the
thump, thump
of the bass audible. At the top of the stairs the sound of music gets louder again and I can see lights peeking through a tiny gap in the wall. Curious, I go to it and find it’s another curtain. I’m actually peering out from behind the bronze metal latticework behind the bar. I release the curtain and continue forward, my foot kicking something that hits the wall with a metallic clink.

I lift it up and study it in the light dripping in from the gap in the curtain. When I see what I’m holding, my blood turns cold. It’s a casing to a bullet. I’m sure this is where the Enforcers hide to watch over the Citizens. I glance up at the wall, just to verify, and sure enough there’s a plaque with one of Mother’s Enforcer statutes on it. The one about an Enforcer having to act at a moment’s notice. I’m sure if I looked farther I’d find another.

“We have to get out of here,” I say.

“You brought us here,” Gavin replies with a tight laugh.

“I know.” I guide the way to two doors. The one ahead of me leads to another set of stairs. It seems familiar to me, so I’m hopeful it leads to the evacuation area.

At the bottom of the stairs, a quick study reveals a large room and a second exit. That must be the evacuation area. I lead the way over to it. A group of large boxes blocks the door and when I try to push one, I know it must weigh at least fifty kilograms. I’m not sure if I can even lift it, but before I can try, Gavin picks it up and moves it out of the way. Impressed, I can only stare as he moves the rest of them. Before long he’s cleared us a path and I’m opening the door.

The hinges make a squealing sound as I push the door open, and the breath I didn’t know I was holding releases in a hiss when I see not a tunnel like I was expecting, but the back side of the supper club with an unimpeded view of the other half of the Square.

Gavin peers over my shoulder. “Um … I may be wrong, but that doesn’t look like an evacuation tunnel.”

I only turn to glare at him and slowly close the door, hoping the squeal of the hinges doesn’t alert anyone to our presence.

“Now what?” I mumble, and take a closer study of the room.

There’s a broken light in the far corner and it appears no one has come into this area in a long time. There’s a thick layer of dust on the boxes and on the floor. We leave footprints in it as we make our way to the shadowed area. My prints are quite small compared to Gavin’s. Then again, he’s tall. Even in my boots, he’s at least fifteen centimeters taller than me.

For lack of a better plan, I sit on the floor and start going through my backpack, hoping for a better plan to come to me. I’m not sure why Mother’s map was wrong, but I have a bad feeling that Gavin was right about everything and I don’t really want to think about that right now.

I’m pretty sure there’s a first-aid kit in there, unless Mother’s messed with that as well, and my hand is beginning to really hurt. Besides, there’s a lot of blood, and if it drips, they might be able to follow us.

Gavin sits and watches silently as I try to fumble open the kit. He finally takes it from me. “Here, let me help you.”

After opening the kit, he uses the antiseptic wipes to cleanse the wounds and sucks in a breath when he sees the large gash across the top of my hand.

His touch is gentle as he says, “You have to be more careful. Your hands are too pretty to be smashing into walls like that.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I say, handing him the healing wand. “Just press the red button and hold it over the gash. It’ll do the rest.”

He studies it for a few seconds. “This is that thing you used on me, right?”

“Yes.”

“How does it work?”

I watch his fingers as they hold the wand. They’re long, like a musician’s hand. “Do you play an instrument?” I ask.

He gives me a strange look. “No. Why?”

“Your fingers. They’re long, and I thought…” I trail off and blush when he grins. “Never mind. We use the wand instead of sutures, which really only make things worse and invite infection. It super accelerates the body’s own healing processes. It only works on small to moderate wounds, though. Anything severe would just retear, which is … not ideal.”

He considers this, nods, then does as I ask. His face lights up as he watches the wound knit itself back together. “There. Good as new.” Before he releases my hand, he presses a kiss to where the wound was, keeping his eyes on mine.

Tingles zip up my arm and I can only stare at him as he takes the antiseptic towel and gently wipes it across my face, cleaning the dirt and blood from it.

His eyes are sad, and cold air fills the space he vacates when he pulls away. It makes me shiver, so he pulls me closer again, chafing my arms with his hands. “It’s really cold down here.” I don’t have anything to say to that, so I don’t say anything; I just let him continue to rub my arms, enjoying the warmth of his skin on mine. He clears his throat a minute later. “Feel better?” he asks.

I nod. “Thanks,” I say, and although I find now that I don’t want to, I pull away. Our time here is short. It won’t be long before Mother comes looking for us.

I dump out the contents of my bag and reorganize it, while taking an inventory.

There are two first-aid kits. The stupid map that didn’t help at all. Some small, waterproof case that clinks when I move it. My extra set of clothes, which I set off to the side so I can change. And a few rations of food, which won’t last very long, especially not with two of us eating it now.

Gavin stops me and gestures to the case. “What is that?”

“I don’t know.” I pull it out and flip open the flap, then pour the contents into my palm. It’s a series of vials, each with different caps: a smaller version of the DNA testing kit and an envelope made from some kind of slick material.

Frowning, I tear open the envelope.

C
ONGRATULATIONS
!
Y
OU’VE BEEN SELECTED AS
M
OTHER’S SPECIAL FEW.

Since you’re reading this, chances are you’re facing an emergency of a fairly large scale that you are unlikely to escape from alive. But, good news! You’ve been hand-selected by Mother to preserve your genetic makeup for a special new program that will allow Mother to use your DNA to repopulate Elysium in just this type of event.

Before you report to your assigned evacuation location, please follow all instructions as carefully as possible. Maintaining a quality sample is crucial, so don’t rush! When you’ve collected all required samples, seal them in the waterproof container provided.

If you are currently undergoing a Surface Dweller attack, please make sure to place the sample in one of the safe, but accessible places noted on your map. In case of flooding, or other facility failure, place your sealed container as close as possible to one of the exterior walls of the facility and activate the flotation device at the top of the container. The device is only sufficient to bring your samples to the Surface, so please don’t attempt to use it as a personal flotation device.

No matter what cataclysmic event you’re facing, please be sure to double-check the seals on all of your samples and the tamper-proof container before reporting to your designated evacuation area. Thank you for your generosity. Long live Elysium!

I can only stare at the letter with my jaw hanging open. I have no idea whether to laugh or cry.

“Evie? What does it say?” Gavin asks and, wordlessly, I hand him the letter.

At first, he looks confused, then he starts laughing, and he looks over at me. “Is this serious?” he asks, but even I can tell he’s being sarcastic. “She actually wants you to stop running for your life and take the time to not only fill these vials with God knows what, but then hide them safely? No wonder that map led us down here. She has no intention of letting you—or anyone—escape. And you want to stay here? Unbelievable.”

I blink, looking again at the kit in my hands. In some small way, I almost admire Mother’s efficiency. But that feeling is overwhelmed by shock and … revulsion. How could anyone be so calculating?

“Evie?” Gavin asks when I haven’t moved for some time. I slowly raise my eyes to meet his. He seems angry as he takes the vials from my hands. “Want to know what you can do with these?”

“What?”

“This.” He drops them onto the floor, then smashes them under the heel of his shoe. He smiles at me. “That. Now, is there anything in that pack that can actually help us?”

I shake my head. “Maybe the first-aid kits?”

He grimaces. “Let’s hope we don’t need those. So … what now?”

I don’t know. The first order of business is to change in case we have to move quickly. Running in heels is not ideal. I’ve almost twisted my ankle twice in these things. Gavin is in a pair of jeans, but he’s still wearing his dirty, torn T-shirt.

“Put this on.” I toss him the extra shirt I’d grabbed for him. It will probably be too tight for him, but it’s too large for me—I sometimes use it as a nightshirt—and I hope it’ll be big enough to do for now. “We need to disappear, and the dirt and blood on your white shirt is like a beacon.”

He removes his other shirt and pulls on the one I handed him. It’s a little tight, but it looks really good on him, showing off the lines of his muscles. Somehow, it’s almost more alluring than seeing his bare chest.

To distract myself, I start to change my own clothes. That’s when I realize I need to strip in front of him. “Turn around,” I say.

He spins in a circle, his arms at the ready to defend himself. “What? Why?” He frowns at me.

“I need to change. I can’t keep running around in this silly dress and stiletto boots.”