Remainder (12 page)

Bailey and Killian don’t return until late and Bailey beckons me to her room. When I arrive, I hear her talking, but I am not sure who she is talking to.

“Can you believe he did that to me? Me! He has the audacity to break up with me! I should be the one dumping him,” she yells. “He said it was because I am too busy to spend time with him. It’s all my dad’s fault. If he hadn’t started making me train with him every single day, then Percy and I would still be together. I know. I know. I’ll talk to you later. Bye.”

With the conclusion of her conversation, I knock on the door and slowly open it.

“There you are!” she snaps. “Where are my dresses? I want to wear the pink one tomorrow.”

Oh no! The dresses. I must have dropped them somewhere during all the chaos this afternoon. I completely forgot about them. The only option now is to tell her the truth.

“I...I lost them,” I say in a voice so low it is almost a whisper.

“What do you mean, you lost them?” Bailey asks growing angry.

“I was attacked in an alley and I must have dropped them. Then I forgot all about them.”

“What were you doing in an alley? Never mind. How could you forget about them?” She throws her arms out and looks at the ceiling. “Why am I surrounded by incompetent people?” She focuses her gaze back on me, her eyes dark with anger. “Those were my favorite dresses.” She walks toward me and points a finger in my face. “You will be sorry.” She holds up her right wrist and looks at her alueron. What is she going to do to me? My mind goes back to Training Day and the moment when Roderick used his alueron on a young clone boy.

“How does this thing work again?” She presses it. I am struck forcefully with excruciating pain in my head and the feeling that it is going to explode. I grab my head and bend over, screaming loudly. The waves of pain travel down my body until it feels as though every inch of my body is being stabbed by knives over and over. I fall to the ground, close my eyes, and lay in the fetal position, my hands still gripping my head. Warm liquid slowly leaks out of my nose and onto my lips. A metallic taste invades my taste buds as the liquid seeps into my mouth. I’m going to die! That is the only thought racing through my mind over and over. I am going to die before I have had a chance to live.

“This is what you get for losing my stuff,” Bailey screams over my screams of pain. “You better not ever lose my things again.”

I hear the door to Bailey’s room thrown open.

“Bailey, stop it! You’re going to kill her,” I hear Alec yelling.

“She deserves it! She will learn, she is my slave,” Bailey says with malice.

“She will be of no use to you if she is dead,” he argues.

“I don’t know how to stop it.”

I open my eyes and see Alec grab Bailey’s wrist. He touches her alueron and the pain stops as quickly as it began. I lay on the ground panting and drenched in sweat. I can’t find the strength to move.

“Get her out of my sight!” she tells Alec.

Alec scoops me up effortlessly as if I weigh as much as a feather. He takes me out of Bailey’s room away from my tormentor. He walks to my room and places me on my bed, then sits on the bed beside me.

“What happened?” he asks.

“I lost her dresses today during the attack,” I say weakly.

“She did this over dresses?” He looks stunned, like he can’t believe I would be so severely punished over something so trivial.

He goes to the bathroom and comes back with a tissue and proceeds to wipe the blood away from my nose.

“I am sorry she did this to you,” he says sadly.

“Thank you for stopping her.”

“I should have gotten there sooner,” he responds. He runs his hand through my wet hair.

“There’s nothing you could have done. She was so angry.” Tears start to run down my cheeks. “This is not the life I want. I will never be free. Killian was wrong about not having freedom being a luxury. It is a curse. A curse from which I want to be free,” I sob.

“No. You are strong and brave. You have to fight for what you want and I know you can. You have to take it one day at a time, but right now, you need to rest.”

He leans down and places a soft kiss on my forehead. “I will let you sleep,” he says and rises to leave.

“Thank you, Alec,” I say, my tone matching his. I really don’t want him to go, but we both know that he can’t stay.

“No problem. Get some sleep.” He quietly exits the room.

I lay in my bed and think about the events that have transpired today. First, I am attacked and nearly...used. Then Bailey uses her alueron on me and causes me to experience pain that I didn’t even know was possible for someone to endure. The only saving grace for me today was Alec. I am grateful for him. If it was not for him, I would probably be dead. It pains me to think about the fact that I can never be with him. My tears begin to flow again because I am experiencing a new kind of pain. This time, it is the pain of heartbreak. I cry because I will never be free. I cry because my life will always belong to someone else. I cry for all of the things I will never be allowed to experience. What does it mean to be an individual? To have freedom? To have a name? To love someone? To have someone love you in return? I guess I will never know. I am a mere copy of an individual. I will live and die as a copy, a clone. And on my tombstone, all that will be written is “656.”

The next day, Bailey wants to join her friends at Falls Lake for a day of swimming and sunbathing. Of course, this means I have to accompany her. Killian is so proud of her for working so hard that he decides to let her go. He also sends Alec with us to protect us. Falls Lake is big and the sunlight reflects off the water. There are huge trees that provide ample shade for the people who want to stay out of the sun. I wonder if the lake got its name because of the huge waterfall that flows down into the lake. The waterfall is a tall, beautiful sight. Huge rocks sit below the waterfall and glisten as the water bounces off of them. I have an urge to stand on one of those big rocks underneath the cool, clean water. I bet that would feel so refreshing.

I bring Bailey food and drink. I even apply sunscreen to her fragile pale skin. She has not said anything about the events that occurred the night before. I suspect she never will. I sense no remorse from her. I really am dispensable to her. She falls asleep while sunbathing and I take the opportunity to go down to the lake. I sit on a rock and put my feet in the cool water.

“Feels good, doesn’t it?”

I turn around and see Alden standing on the rock behind me, his black backpack hanging off his shoulder.

“It does, yes,” I say.

“May I join you?” he asks.

“Of course,” I say with a smile. He takes a seat beside me on the rock and dangles his feet in the water.

“How are you?” he asks with genuine wonder. His brown eyes search mine.

“I’ve been better,” I say dryly.

“I heard what happened last night. Bailey has been bragging about it all day. I’m so sorry.”

I do not respond, but look down into the water. I move my feet and feel the cool waves of water rushing over them.

“Can I ask you something?” I say and look at him.

“Of course.” He beams a beautiful pearly white smile and I can’t help but smile back.

“Remember when we were at Bailey’s party, you told me that clones have friends everywhere, I just have to look?” I ask.

His smile fades and is replaced by confusion. “Yes, I do remember.”

“Where can I find them?”

Alden smiles his big smile again. “I am glad you have asked.” He takes a piece of paper out of his backpack and picks up a dark black rock. He uses the rock to draw on the paper and then hands it to me.

“Here. This is a map that will show you how to get there. We are meeting tonight at midnight. Think about this real hard. What we are doing is dangerous. If you get involved in this, you will be in danger. I want you to understand that.”

“I’m in danger even if I don’t get involved.” He nods his head, acknowledging the fact that I am right.

“Memorize the map and then destroy it. When you get there, knock three times, then once, then three again. I hope to see you tonight.” He smiles again and gets up. He leaves me sitting on the rock studying the map. I memorize it, rip it up, and drop the pieces in the water. The black soot starts to disappear. I watch the strewn paper float away to some unknown destination where they will be free of our secret location. I look up and see that Bailey is awake, so I get up and head back to my duties.

The rest of the day drags. I am eager to meet Alden at midnight. I want to know what he means by clones having friends and the danger that surrounds them. What is so dangerous about meeting up with people? Why does it have to be done at night in a secret location?

Finally eleven thirty arrives and I get out of my bed. I put on my shoes and sneak out of my room. I go through the kitchen and out the side door that exits on the side of the house. I see an Enforcer in a watchtower pacing, holding a gun. When his back is turned to me, I run to the trees in the nearby woods. I use the trees to shield my body and only move when the cameras mounted on the house move in the opposite direction. It takes a while, but I finally maneuver my way far enough from the house. I mentally go through the map and follow every turn. I come face to face with the alley where I was attacked the day before. I hesitate, but decide to enter. I walk the long way down and realize it is void of people. I guess after the four men being shot, the Enforcers made the rest of the sick move to a different location.  I arrive to the building where Alden and I are meeting. I am face to face with the door Alec pulled me into after I was attacked. I knock the way Alden instructed. The door opens and I step inside.

A fire is going in the center of the large room, even though it is no longer cold. I suspect the fire is more for light than warmth. Several figures stand near the flames and I hear muffled voices talking. I walk toward the fire and hear Alden’s excited voice.

“She’s here!” I hear Alden exclaim excitedly. He rushes over to greet me.

He pulls me over to the fire. “This is Larik. He is the leader of the sick people who have joined our cause.”

Larik is an older man in his forties. He has long stringy gray hair and wears rags. He gives me a wave, but doesn’t try to speak. Some others I don’t know stand with him. I assume they are more sick people who are tired of being mistreated by pure bloods. I look around the room, examining the faces.

“Of course you already know Milo, Zareh, Alec, and Emory.”

“Emory?” I ask as Alec’s clone walks toward me.

“We are not clones here. We pick our own names,” he says.

“So you should pick a name too,” Alden beams.

I toss up names in my head that I have heard, but nothing seems right. Rebecca, Michelle, Aubrey, Marie, Haley. Then I remember the dream I had of the beautiful woman who called me Remy. Something about the name fits and feels right.

“Remy. My name is Remy,” I say confidently.

“Remy. I like it! Welcome to the Resistance,” says Alden. Alec walks toward me and I get the feeling he is not happy to see me here. He gently places his hand on my arm and leads me out of earshot of the others.

“What are you doing here?” The fire illuminates his face, causing me to see the furrow in his brows as he waits for my answer. I release my arm from his grip and cross my arms over my chest.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, no longer intimidated by him.

“Don’t turn this around on me and dodge the question. It’s not safe for you to be here. You need to leave.”

“I can’t leave, Alec. I can’t sit back and allow horrible things to happen to me, to other clones. I have to do something. I have to take action, so I’m staying.” I lift my head up high and assert myself.

“Why do you have to be so infuriating?” he asks and runs a hand through his thick black hair.

“I could ask the same of you.” He opens his mouth to say something else, but is interrupted by another voice in the room. I look in the direction of the voice and see a familiar face. Rhydia, the leader of the Laborer sector stands before us. I walk away from Alec and gather with the others to listen to what she has to say.

“Thank you all for coming. Let’s get down to business. Alec, where do we stand with Killian?” Alec steps forward.

“He suspects there is a resistance, but he doesn’t know our numbers. He disappears into his laboratory every day. I haven’t been able to get in there, but I suspect he is creating a substance for chemical warfare,” Alec says.

“Get into that lab and find out for sure what’s in there,” Rhydia demands. Alec nods in compliance. “How much time do you need?”

“Two days,” responds Alec. Rhydia nods, acknowledging his answer. She turns to Larik.

“How are the numbers amongst the sick?” Rhydia asks.

“Growing every day, ma’am. We have nothing to lose,” Larik says assuredly.

“Excellent. We need to take action soon. Clone sympathizers are dying every day. Killian has declared war on them. On us. If we don’t strike soon, our numbers will not be enough to take action and Killian will exterminate us.”

“We need to crush them now,” Emory exclaims, walking closer to Rhydia. “We need to take them out while we still have the numbers. We can’t afford to wait any longer.”

“We can’t act prematurely, Emory. We have to know what we are up against,” declares Rhydia.

“While we stand around waiting, clones are being tortured and fear for their lives. They are dying while you wait for a golden opportunity to take action. It’s no skin off your back, because you are not a clone,” he spits.

Unaffected by Emory’s tone, Rhydia walks closer to him and sternly stares in his eyes. “You are not the only one who has lost people you care about in this war. Your headstrong and cocky attitude is what is going to get you killed.”

“Is that a threat?” Emory hisses.

“No, not a threat. It’s a fact. I call the shots. I say when it’s time to strike and when it’s time to stand down. Right now, I am saying stand down. I will not allow you to do anything to jeopardize this cause. Do I make myself clear?”

Emory says nothing.

“We will meet back here in two days,” declares Rhydia.

Emory storms out. Alden starts to follow him.

“Let him go,” Rhydia demands and Alden halts. Rhydia greets me with a beautiful smile. “Welcome, Remy! We have never been properly introduced. I am Rhydia and I am the leader of the Resistance. I am so glad that you have joined us.” Around her neck, I notice a silver chain with a single charm. The charm is of a red bird with chains around it, the same bird I have seen twice before.

“Thank you! I must admit that I am surprised that you are the leader,” I say cautiously. Doesn’t she work closely with Killian as the leader of the Laborer sector?

“Why, because I am a pure blood or because I am the leader of the Laborer sector?” she asks, raising her eyebrows.

“Both,” I admit. “I guess I just expected the leader of the Resistance to be a clone.”

“Clones are not the only people being mistreated by the leadership. There are people who believe that clones should have rights just like pure bloods. There are more clone sympathizers than people realize. As for working with Killian, I know where my loyalty lies and that is with my people. I hope to prove that to you in time.”

I smile and then point to the pendant around her neck. “What is that on your necklace?” She clasps it in her hand and holds it away from her body so I can get a better look.

“It is a phoenix wrapped in chains.”

“It’s beautiful. I’ve seen it before,” I say as I examine it closer.

“I hope so. It is the symbol of the Resistance. The phoenix represents the clones and you can probably guess why it is in chains. Whenever you see this symbol, you know the person who adorns it is a friend to clones.”

Alec comes and stands with us. Rhydia turns to him. “Do you really think you can get in his lab?” Rhydia asks Alec with hope in her voice.

“If I can get away long enough for Killian to not notice, then yes, I can get in.”

“I can do it,” I volunteer and both Alec and Rhydia turn to look at me.

Alec chuckles a little and shakes his head. “Absolutely not!” he says with certainty in his voice.

“Why not? I am there all the time. I can sneak in there at night when everyone is asleep,” I protest.

“She has a point,” Rhydia agrees.

“You don’t even know where his lab is,” argues Alec.

“Draw me a map. I can memorize it. I know I can,” I say.

“And how do you think you are going to get into a locked laboratory?” asks Alec.

“I’ll figure it out,” I say with confidence, although, deep down, I am not sure I believe myself.

“What if you get caught?” Alec asks.

“Killian may punish me, but he can’t kill me. He needs me for Bailey. I am the best option,” I state my case.

“Again, our new recruit has a point,” Rhydia argues. “Sounds like a plan. Remember, you need to get in there in the next two days,”

I nod and Rhydia leaves me standing with Alec. I think he is going to argue with me further, but to my surprise, he does not.

“Remy, huh? I like it.” He appears to have relaxed since our earlier encounter and actually smiles at me. “Come on, I want to show you something.”

I follow him to a door. He opens it and come face to face with a staircase. Alec begins to climb, so I follow. We climb until we reach the top. I am not sure how many flights we climbed since I lost count. I am thankful when Alec opens a door and we step onto the roof. He walks to the center and sprawls down on his back on the hard brick.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Join me!” He pats the space beside him. I lay down and we look up at the dark sky. Although it is dark, we can tell it is cloudy. The stars peek through the clouds as they navigate the sky, temporarily providing more light.  “I like to come up here. It’s peaceful. I lay here and look at the stars. This building is not as tall as The Towers, but it is tall enough. The Towers are always full of people, so I can’t escape to have some privacy. But no one comes here. They’re beautiful, aren’t they? The stars?” He points to the sky.

“Yes they are!” I smile to myself. I think this is the most I have heard him say in one sitting. Gone is his reserved professionalism. He seems relaxed and willing to open up. I revel in this moment and want to keep him talking. It feels good to have a relatively normal conversation. “How long have you been a clone sympathizer?” I ask.