Program 13 Book One (7 page)

“I need to go. There are people looking for me.” I peered over my shoulder again, scanning the empty road for any sign of McVeigh or his men. “You’re more than welcome to join me. Who knows, I may actually be able to help you.”

“Who are you?” he asked.

I laughed, wondering that myself. “I’m Emile,” I responded. “And you are?”

“I’m
Colton
.” He extended his hand for me to shake, but I pulled away, retreating to the car. “I guess we should get going now.” He jogged past me, headed for the passenger side.

Thankfully the car didn’t sustain too much damage in the accident. The front bumper was damaged, and the passenger side door was a bit banged up, but that appeared to be it. At least, I
hoped
that was all that was wrong.

Colton
and I got into the car without speaking a word. I was sure he’d have questions, and hopefully, answers to mine. But for now I just needed to make sure we got out of here before McVeigh’s men found us. 

I buckled my seatbelt, mainly out of habit, and peered through my rearview mirror. From what I could see, the road was still clear. I reached down for the gear stick, throwing the car into drive.

“There’s no one there,” he said, forcing me to meet his gaze.

“What?” I asked.

“You keep looking at the rearview mirror, but the road’s empty. There’s no one there.”

I nodded, placing my hands in the ten and two position on the steering wheel. He was right, I knew that, but I couldn’t help but to keep watch. I wasn’t a fan of surprise attacks, and now that I’d made it out, I had no intention of going back. Or causing harm to
Colton
.

The car fell quiet, but I could feel his eyes locked on me. I kept picturing him standing alone in the middle of the road, standing there, waiting patiently for a car to drive by. What could have possibly driven him to stand in the middle of a road? Was he
trying
to kill himself?

“What were you doing back there?” I asked, unable to fight off my curiosity any longer. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, and I returned my gaze to the road.

“Life just doesn’t seem worth it anymore.” He was fiddling with his hands, his eyes staring out the window. “I’m seventeen years old with no place to live, no job, no family, nothing.”

I nodded, unsure of what else I could say. After all, what support could I offer? Here I was, left to fend for myself. Somewhat dead. Somewhat alive. But at least Hayden had made sure that I was set before leaving. Eventually the supplies he’d given me would run out, yes, but it was something. More than what
Colton
had, it seemed.

But even still, why would anyone be willing to give up on life when they were just beginning to live?

“Anyway,” he continued. “You said that ‘they’ were coming after you. What’s going on? Are you some sort of criminal?”

I glanced at him to see if he was kidding. He wasn’t. A criminal? Me? The idea was hilarious, although technically I was now a fugitive. But I couldn’t tell him that. I was rather sure that introducing myself as a dead teenager, turned into a replicated Program of her old self wouldn’t bode too well with
Colton
. It was probably in my best interest to keep him in the dark, at least for now. The less he knew the better.

“No, I’m not a criminal.” I gripped the steering wheel tighter. I could see the skin stretching over the metal casing beneath. I needed to relax before the flesh tore. “I got into some trouble. Let’s just leave it at that.”

“Ah, so you’re a fugitive. Gotcha!”
Colton
smiled, his eyes meeting mine briefly before he turned back towards the window.

His desire to end his life at such a young age made me want to save him. I knew what it felt like to die. I also knew what it felt like to live. Learning to live again was his best option. There was nothing rewarding in death.

“Where are we going anyway?” he asked.

I glanced down at the GPS. “Looks like we’re only a few minutes out,” I replied. Even I wasn’t sure where we were headed.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“To my new home,” I replied.

Short and simple
. I needed to remember to keep my answers short and simple.

“Well, since I’m already with you, do you think I can stay at your house for a few days? I don’t really have anywhere else to go.” His cheeks turned a bright shade of pink.

“I don’t see why not, as long as you don’t pull another one of your stunts.” I looked over at
Colton
. The pain in his eyes wasn’t as heavy as it once was.

“I can’t promise that, but I’ll try.”

9
DEATH

T
he car moved up hill slowly as we approached the house. The small house was overgrown with vines, giving it an abandoned feel. There were trees pressing against the roof, casting an arch around the house. Bushes lined the paved walkway, leading all the way up to the front door. The house itself was a forest green, allowing it to blend in easily with the surrounding woods. Hayden couldn’t have picked a better hideaway even if he tried.

Placing the car in park, I reached behind me to grab the bags off the back seat. As I pulled the bags forward, I accidentally jabbed
Colton
with my elbow.

“Ouch,” he yelped, rubbing his arm. “Can you not hurt me, please?”

Metal. Human outside, computer inside.

I’d need to be more careful around him, and people in general.

“What’s with all the clothes and shoes? Did you just come into money or something?” he joked, pulling the bags into his lap.

I shook my head no, unsure how else to answer. Would the truth frighten him if I were to tell him? I couldn’t lie forever. Sooner or later I’d need to tell him the truth. But did I want to do it now?

He was the only human connection I had for now. Hayden and the rest of my family couldn’t see me, not until McVeigh stopped searching for me. I couldn’t afford the truth right now. I couldn’t afford to lose
Colton
, not when I’d just met him.

“A girl can never have too many clothes or shoes,” I said, turning to look at him. A smirk spread wide across his face.

“So this is it, huh?”
Colton
jerked his head towards the house.

“Yes, this is it.”

This was home. It was a place that I could feel safe, a place to build a life…this was it.
Colton
opened the car door, stepping out carefully with the bags still in his grasp. He threw his right foot back, kicking the passenger door shut behind him.

I turned the car off, gripping the keys tightly within my right hand. I could sense my mind registering panic. I didn’t know what was in there, and I was terrified of what
Colton
might come upon.

“Earth to Emile.” He tapped on the driver side window.

Startled, I pulled my purse into my lap, tucking the keys inside of the front pocket. I threw open my door and slowly stepped out. As I turned to close the door,
Colton
began making his way up the walkway.

Slipping my purse strap over my shoulder, I leaned back against the driver side door. I couldn’t stop wondering what I was doing here, and if it was wrong to bring
Colton
with me. I knew that Hayden sent me here for my safety, yes, but I couldn’t help but think that this was all wrong.

I watched as
Colton
ran towards the house, his feet moving quickly up the paved walkway, nearly tripping on fallen branches and loose rocks.

“These bags are kind of heavy, you know?” He turned to stare at me.

My mind was yelling at me to move, to make it inside before him, to familiarize myself with my new home. But I couldn’t. I could only hope that Hayden would try to make this place as normal a home as any other. As in, I hoped that there wasn’t a Pod sitting in the middle of the living room, because then I’d actually need to tell him the truth.

“Patience.” I forced a smile, pushing myself off the car door. “I’m coming.”

I’m just taking my sweet old time
, I thought.

I was stalling, or at least trying to stall.

Hayden seemed to have thought of everything. I just hoped that he thought to continue the facade throughout the house. Of course, I knew that there’d be a Pod somewhere in the house as my new body wouldn’t function without one.
Just let it be in a bedroom, please.

Closing my eyes for a brief second, I decided it was now or never. I couldn’t stall any longer; sooner or later I’d have to open the door to the house - to my new life. Sooner or later the truth would find its way out. I couldn’t hide what I was forever. If my flesh tore, or my Program shut down, he’d know. I’d just have to be careful. That was all. It couldn’t be that hard. Could it?

I proceeded to head up the walkway. Moving in this body felt…different, heavier. It was as though I was being pulled towards the Earth’s core. As if the ground was pulling back against my every movement. It reminded me of the evaluations they performed at Vesta Corp, when I’d push forward to fight off the pain my Program registered, only to be thrown back.  It reminded me that I’d never truly be as free as I’d hoped to be.

“Finally.” He smirked.

I lowered my head as I stepped onto the doorstep. I dug my hand inside of the purse pocket, reaching for my keys. I could feel the rigged edges digging into my palm as I yanked them out.

Colton
was leaning against the doorframe, bags still in tow, watching as I took my time. I was beyond glad I didn’t have a heart, because right now, I was pretty sure it’d be pounding against my chest with fear.

Glancing down at the keys, I questioned if I was ready for this. The second I opened the door, everything would change. I’d be accepting this new life. I’d be accepting the truth of what I was. This wasn’t just a house. It was much more than that. Because once I opened this door, my new life would begin. There’d be no turning back.

“Uh…Emile? Are you planning on opening the door anytime soon? I don’t think I can stand here all day holding these.”
Colton
looked over at me curiously, struggling to balance the bags in his arms.

“Sorry.” I stepped forward and inserted the key into the lock, pausing before turning the knob. I was as ready as I was ever going to be.

I pressed my hand along the wall as I opened the door, searching for a light switch. I could feel the plastic switch beneath my grasp as I flung it upwards. The light revealed a house much like any other. The kitchen, covered in blue and white tile, was full of food, which seemed pointless, given I couldn’t eat, and the living room was furnished with a couch and a flat screen television. Clearly Hayden had thought to follow through on all accounts.
Thank you
, I whispered softly hoping that
Colton
wouldn’t hear me.

“Food!” He shouted with joy, moving in behind me. “You have no idea how hungry I’ve been.”

I smiled, turning to hook my purse on the wall beside the front door. Even though I couldn’t eat, I’d need to pretend around
Colton
. “Tell me about it.”

He laughed, looking for a place to leave the bags. “Do you mind?” he asked, lowering the bags onto the floor. “My arms are beginning to cramp.”

“Sure, sure, that’s fine.” I crossed my arms at my waist. “Why don’t you help yourself to something to eat?”

“Really?” His eyes lit up.

I nodded towards the kitchen. He smiled and ran to pilfer the cabinets. He didn’t appear to be the same boy I’d nearly killed this afternoon. His whole attitude had shifted, the anger was gone and replaced with a sense of warmth. He seemed content now. He seemed alive.

“When do you think you’ll continue with your story? There has to be more than what you’ve told me,” I said, curious about the change in attitude.

“You just wouldn’t understand. It’s probably best I don’t say anything else.” He pulled out a bag of chips and leapt onto the counter. “It’s not important anyway.”

But it was. I needed him to tell me, as crazy as it sounded. I needed to know why he was willing to throw away his life when he had yet to live. There was a possibility that I wouldn’t understand why, but I understood how it feels to die – to lose everything you cared for, to be erased from the world you once lived in. Death was much worse than life could ever be. Life was just too precious to waste.

“Try me,” I said, taking a seat beside him on the kitchen counter.

Colton
looked over at me, clearly annoyed that I wouldn’t drop it. But I could sense that behind it all, he
did
want to talk about it. He placed the bag of chips on the counter beside him, wiping his hands on his t-shirt.

“Honestly, I just don’t see the point in it, any of it,” he said, fiddling with his hands. His eyes were focusing on the floor in front of him. “I went from having everything to losing it all almost instantly. Something that traumatic changes a person. The anger, the depression – it shapes you until you become unrecognizable. Until the person you were has been erased.”