Exceptional (14 page)

THE NEXT DAY at breakfast, the others slowly noticed Willow’s absence.  Ally had seen two girls disappear in her time here and there always seemed to be a silent mourning period.  The girls didn’t spend much time interacting, or even forming strong friendships, but they understood the circumstances in which their fellow floor mates were being taken.

    Ally sat down with the two girls she met her first morning on the floor.  They sat with each other for breakfast and lunch; dinner was always served in their respective rooms.  She still didn’t know their names, and they didn’t know hers either.  Based on lessons, she knew that the girl on the right was J203 and the girl on the left was A024.  Just a number to the Exceptionals.  Always.
   
        
J203 leaned forward slightly.  “Did Willow finally get an assignment?”
   
       
Ally just nodded, not wanting to talk about it.  She had trouble falling asleep last night, and when she did she dreamt of Willow.  The room felt too big with out Willow there to occupy half the space.  Ally didn’t even have to wait for the shower last night, or worry that watching a movie would wake her best friend.
   
       
A024 picked at a dried piece of food on the table.  “At least she is fulfilling her purpose.  It’s better than rotting away in this place.”
   
       
“At least in here she is safe,” Ally mumbled.  

What she meant was that Willow was safe as long as they were together.  In the ORC, Ally could look after her.  But out in the City, she had no idea where Willow had been taken or what was being done to her.  She had an idea, but she didn’t want to dwell on that thought for longer than necessary.

    Ally thought back to how she had felt safe during her time with Luke.  Life was moving along just fine despite her purpose for being there, which she hadn’t even known yet.  She even had a few friends.  She wondered how Sabine, Asher, and Flint were doing.  How had they interpreted her disappearance?  Had they been told anything?  Surely they had known her reason for being there, and they had neglected to tell her.  Perhaps they thought she already knew and just didn’t want to speak of it.
   
       
“J102,” a voice boomed over the speaker.” All of the girls jumped.  “J102, please report to the main door and wait for further instruction.”
   
       
“Maybe you are getting assignment as well,” J203 said.  “That was fast.”
   
       
Ally shrugged.  “Apparently I had a contract before I even stepped foot in the City.  He must be here to collect.”
   
       
Mrs. Hughes met her at the door. “Mr. Mathias is here to see you.  You can gather your belongings and meet me back at this door.”
   
       
Ally froze.  Did Mrs. Hughes mean Aden or Luke when she said Mr. Mathias?  She swallowed back the lump forming in her throat and held her head high.
   
       
“I don’t have any belongings,” Ally responded.  “And there is nothing here that I would want to keep.”
   
       
Mrs. Hughes shrugged and stepped into the hall, leading Ally back the way she had come when she first arrived here.  She wasn’t sure what, or who, waited for her at the other end of the hall, and she started to mentally prepare herself for several different situations.   It could mean further incarceration, or freedom, and Ally found herself vocally wishing for the latter.  She didn’t care that Mrs. Hughes shot her a dirty look over her shoulder; Ally just wanted this all to be over.

   
       
Luke was surprised that his father had given him permission to bring Ally home from the ORC so soon.  He had worked hard during his three weeks at the training center, making considerable progress.  One of the trainers had even mentioned that he was advancing faster than Aden ever had, but Luke couldn’t tell his father that.  Aden might want powerful men in his circle, but one thing he definitely didn’t want was anyone more powerful than himself.  Still, it had seemed almost too easy.
     
      
He had only ever been in the ORC once, four years ago, and it wasn’t by choice.  His father had dragged him into the building and forced him to look over a line-up of young Ordinary girls, all chosen for their prime physical appearance and almost perfect genes.  He still had two years before he would be allowed to even put in a request for an Ordinary, but his father had wanted him to preview what it would be like.  He remembered that day and their conversation well.
   
       
“Why do I have to chose an Ordinary for reproduction? Or for my wife?” Luke had asked.
   
       
“The second part is optional, Lukin.” Aden had avoided his question.  “But the City needs to see you behind this.”
   
       
Luke had turned back to the girls lined up against a blank white wall.  Their faces were void of emotion.  “They look so sad.  Why do we do this again?”
   
       
Aden had taken Luke’s shoulders and turned him so that they were face to face.  “Because we do.   We never question the laws that the City has in place.  Do you understand?”
   
       
Luke had nodded quickly in response.  He had been told the same thing his whole life, at home and at the Institute.  The City laws are absolute.  Do not question them.  Do not go against them.  If you follow them, the City will prosper.
   
       
They had left the ORC immediately after that, but Luke’s father had pressured him multiple times over the next several years, urging him to go and choose an Ordinary as his own.  If it hadn’t been for Luke’s mother stepping in to defend him, he may have had no choice but to choose an Ordinary the day he turned sixteen.
   
       
Now he sat at a table in a similar room, waiting for one of the ORC staff members to bring Ally to him.  He was anxious to take her home today, but nervous as to how she would react to seeing him.  She knew the truth now, but still hadn’t heard his side of the story.  When the door finally opened, he jumped up from his chair, watching as Ally stepped into the room.
   
       
Her dark hair hung loosely behind her back, appearing stringy and knotted around her face.  Her usually sparkling green eyes were dull, and black circles were shaded beneath them.  She also appeared thinner, as if she hadn’t eaten since she arrived here.  It brought back more memories of his previous visit to the ORC and of the blank faces on the girls he had seen.
   
       
“Ally…” he started.
   
       
She walked toward him briskly, and for a second he thought she might hug him, but instead she reared her hand back and slapped him across the face.  The strike didn’t hurt, but his cheek vibrated around the spot where she had hit him.
   
       
“I deserved that”, he said.
   
       
She pointed a finger at him, bringing her hand up so quickly he stepped back.  “You deserve much worse than that, Lukin.”
   
       
She said his full name with distaste.
   
       
“Ally, if you’ll just let me explain…”, he pleaded with her.  
   
       
“I don’t want your explanations”, she yelled, pacing the room.  “I think I have things figured out just fine.”  
   
       
He stood there motionless; waiting for her to finish whatever rant she was about to go on.
   
       
“Take me out of here, Luke.” She stopped walking and turned to look at him.   For a moment, her mood softened and her eyes pleaded with him.  “I need fresh air.”
   
       
He nodded and stepped toward the door.  He thought about taking her hand, or just offering her his arm, but something in her eyes said his face might suffer from the gesture.  She followed him out into the small check-in area and he handed over the paperwork from his father.  He knew there was certain procedures the Ordinarys underwent before leaving, but before seeing Ally he had argued with one of the heads of the ORC, finally gaining permission to bypass them all.
   
       
A female Exceptional walked them through the hallways and into the main lobby of the ORC, and left them once they were near the exit doors.  Luke opened the door for Ally, and once outside, she relaxed a little.  She took a few breaths of fresh air and turned her face up toward the sky, letting the sun wash over her face.  Just when he thought she might stand there all day, she stalked off toward a side street.
   
       
“Ally”, he called out. “Ally, wait.”
   
       
He caught up and grabbed hold of her arm, which caused her to spin around and raise her hand high in a threatening position.
   
       
“We don’t have to talk right now.  It’s just that, well, you are going in the wrong direction,” he said, letting go of her arm and holding his hands out to claim innocence.
   
        
Her eyes narrowed and then she motioned for him to lead her forward.  It seemed as though he would be receiving the silent treatment for the time being.  It might take some time, but he knew that she would eventually talk to him again.  Until then he could openly blame his father for this situation.  
   

ALLY HAD A WELCOMING COMMITTEE waiting for her when they stepped into the house.  Sabine ran forward and gave her a big hug, while Asher and Flint squeezed her shoulders, welcoming her home with words of greeting.  Luke knew he was losing his chance to talk to Ally, and he needed to speak with her before she shut him out completely.  Even if she refused to respond, she could still listen.

    “Don’t you have work lists to be completing?” he said to the others, hoping they would get the hint.  Asher and Flint hurried from the room but Sabine was slower to move on.
   
       
“I do have some laundry to do,” she said.
   
        
“I’ll help.” Ally jumped the chance to leave and started to follow Sabine toward the kitchen.
   
        
Luke focused his mind on Ally’s presence, zoning in on the space around her.  With more ease than he had exhibited a week ago, he was able to lift her into the air and leave Sabine completely untouched.
   
       
“Hey!” Ally cried out.
   
       
Sabine turned and shook her head at Luke.  By now she had heard about his new abilities and didn’t seem phased by the sight of them, but he could sense the disapproval in her look.  
   
       
“That will be all.” He glared at Sabine, who finally turned and disappeared into the kitchen.
   
       
“Is this what you are resorting to now?  Using your abilities to get what you want?” Ally floated in mid-air, managing to keep her gaze locked with his.
   
       
“If it will make you listen to me”, he said. Using abilities to control Ordinarys was something his father might do, but not Luke.
   
       
Her eyes narrowed.  “If you put me down, I’ll hear you out.  But after that I want you to leave me alone.”
   
       
It was odd, receiving orders from an Ordinary.  The others followed a strict “do not speak unless spoken to rule,” and it was rarely broken.  Luke wasn’t even sure that he had ever heard many Ordinarys speak outside of their homes at all.  They normally walked with their eyes trained on the ground and their mouths tightly closed.  He was learning quickly that Ally was anything but ordinary.
   
       
He walked over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders, righting her stance before he set her back on the ground.  “I’m still working on replacing objects once I’ve cancelled gravity around them.  I’ve knocked a few doctors and trainees around in the past two weeks.”

His humor was lost on her as she easily maneuvered her way out of his grasp.  “Let’s talk in the garden, I’ve spent enough time indoors.”

    They made their way back to the fountain and sat down on the same bench they sat on just a few weeks ago.  Luke wished he could go back to that moment in time.  He would set aside his ego and either forfeit or postpone the challenge with Tighe.  Maybe then he would have finally told Ally the truth, and she would have been more prepared going into the ORC.   He now had no doubts that Aden had planned on sending her there one way or another.
   
       
“Ally.” He fought the urge to reach out and take her hand.  “I need you to know how sorry I am.”
   
       
“Tell me what you know.” Ally ignored his apology.  “About the breeding program at the ORC.  What did you know before you even met me?”
   
       
Luke had been preparing himself for this question for the past three weeks, but even now the words struggled to come out.  “All Exceptional males are required to conceive a child with at least one Ordinary female from the ORC.  We are allowed to start our contracts at the age of sixteen, and have until we are twenty-one to complete them.”
   
       
Ally sneered at him.  “And you see no issue with this?”
   
       
“I didn’t before.  We don’t question the laws of our leaders,” he answered truthfully.  “It was never appealing to me, and I had planned on holding out as long as possible, but then you came along.”
   
        
“That part at least makes sense to me.” Ally cut in.  “Why you were so kind to me when you brought me to the City.  Why you acted so interested in me.  And to think, I was really starting to change my view on relationships.  Then I got to the ORC and realized that I had just been another part of your Exceptional lifestyle.  Another requirement for you.”
   
       
“That isn’t true.” Luke spun on the bench and faced her.
   
       
“Isn’t it?  Did you not claim me knowing the purpose I would have to you?” She locked her gaze on something across the garden, refusing to look at him.  
   
       
“Yes, I knew what it meant when I claimed you.  I understood what would be expected of me, of us”, he said.  
   
       
“But to treat Ordinarys this way?” Ally gave him a quick glance.  “In the settlements we are conditioned from the beginning that we are less than Exceptionals.  We are told that if we wish to, one day we can come to the City and work for them, and that it would be considered a great honor.  Instead you are forcing Ordinary girls into the ORC and treating them like animals.  Work assignments is one thing, but forcing them to breed with Exceptionals goes against human nature.  There is no honor in that.  You Exceptionals may consider yourselves special, but us Ordinarys hold on to all the good that is left in this world.”
   
       
Luke let the full force of her words hit him. “You’re right, Ally.  And I need you to know, I never intended to hold you to a contract, or rush through the process.”
   
       
“What did you intend to happen then?” she muttered as she kicked a stray rock with her foot.
   
       
“I was hoping that maybe, if it were meant to be, you feel for me what I felt the first time I laid eyes on you, that first day in the woods.  You were coming to the City whether I stepped forward or not, but the difference is that I have given you a choice.  I’ve required nothing more than companionship from you since then. I
chose
you that day in the woods because I couldn’t bear the thought of you being with someone else.”
   
       
Ally finally looked up at him.  “And how do I know you’re telling the truth?  How do I know you aren’t making this up?
   
       
“I guess that is something you’ll have to decide for yourself.”  He stood and walked away from her, following the winding path that led to the house.  He had said what he could, and he was grateful that Ally had even listened to him.  Now, it was up to her to decide if and when she would forgive him.