VOLITION (Perception Trilogy, book 2) (16 page)

The TV returned to scenes of people lining up around street
blocks to vote.

“There’s something about Senator Vanderveen that scares me,”
Mary said.

I agreed. “I’m terrified of him.”

“Too bad we couldn’t vote,” Jabez said before popping a handful
of popcorn into his mouth.

I knew why Noah and I couldn’t vote, but I didn’t understand
why they couldn’t. “Why can’t you vote?”

Jabez’s gaze flew to Mary and then back to the screen. Seemed
Noah and I weren’t the only ones with secrets.

The tallies continued to come in. The map grew bluer.

By midnight, President Walker conceded his loss. Grandpa V was
the new president of the United States of America.

I had never been more afraid.

Chapter
21

The sky didn’t fall the day after Grandpa V won the election,
or the day after that, or the day after that.

In fact, I was beginning to think that maybe this was the best
thing that could’ve happened as far as I was concerned. Grandpa had more
important things on his mind now than me, more important duties to fulfill than
to chase down a wayward granddaughter.

Even one who knew his terrible secret.

I was going stir crazy in this oversized cell, a permanent
captive, the only one of the four of us who wasn’t permitted to leave.

Noah and I got into a big fight over it before his morning
workout. I pulled him aside before he entered the gym.

“Grandpa is pre-occupied with bigger problems now. I’m going to
go for a walk. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

Noah dragged me farther down the hall to ensure we weren’t
overheard. “No, that’s a bad idea. We can’t chance it.”

“I hate it here,” I spit out.

“You’re better off staying inside.”

“I’m literally a prisoner. How am I better off?”

Noah’s dark, troubled eyes pierced mine. “You’re not dead.”

“I might as well be,” I said coldly. I turned on my heels and
stormed away like a child.

After spending an hour reading—or rather, stewing over the
state of my life and my complicated relationship with Noah—I suited up and
headed for the courtyard. I picked up the snow and patted it into a ball. It
reminded me of Taylor Blake and the snowball fight we’d had.

And the stupid kiss that fractured my relationship with Noah. I
chucked the ball hard at the cinderblock wall and found a weird sense of relief
when it smacked and fell in clumps.

I made another one and another, throwing them with all my
might, angry that Noah was getting cozy with Mary, mad that he kept insisting
they were just friends and not believing him, furious that he didn’t love me
anymore.

“Nice arm.”

I spun toward the voice. Jabez stood on this side of the door dressed
with his winter garb on and an amused grin on his face.

“I’m glad to have entertained you,” I said. My eyes darted to
the object in his hand. A cigarette. I didn’t know he smoked. I lifted my brow.
“Last I heard those were bad for your health.”

He took a long puff, his eyes not leaving mine. “They’re still
bad for your health.” He tapped the burnt ash into the snow by his feet.
“Please, don’t let me stop you.”

I brushed the snow off my gloves. “I think I’m done.”

He took another drag then pulled the package out of his pocket.
“Want one?”

“I’ve never smoked before,” I admitted. “I’d make a fool of
myself.”

“I promise I won’t laugh.”

I scoffed but stepped closer. “Of course you will.”

His face spread wide in a full grin. It was the first time I’d
seen him smile and it looked good on him. “Com’on,” he pressed. “I hate smoking
alone.”

“Mary doesn’t smoke with you?”

He shook his head. “Nope.”

I knew I shouldn’t but I found myself reaching for the offered
cigarette and placed it between my lips. It was something to do. And Jabez was
someone interesting to do it with. He stepped in close to me and held up a
lighter.

“Go slowly at the beginning,” he said while flicking the light.
His voice was low and sexy. The swelling around his nose was long gone and even
though there was new bruising on his cheek bone, it didn’t take away from his
looks. I felt a flush of heat shoot up my neck. He put a hand on my arm. “It’s
going to be okay, I promise.”

I tugged on the cigarette, and the smoke bit at my throat. I
let out a little cough, but at least the cigarette hadn’t gone out.

“There, see?” Jabez said, his dark eyes bright. “That wasn’t so
bad.”

I took another tentative puff, and choked back the cough that
threatened. I tapped the ash and watched with satisfaction as it dropped to the
snow. I felt like a pro. “One thing I don’t understand,” I said.

“What’s that?”

“Why doesn’t anyone else squat here? I mean, it’s plenty big
enough for more than four people.”

He laughed. “That’s what you think we are? Squatters?”

I pulled back, feeling embarrassed. “I just thought…”

“We’re not squatters, Chloe. Mary and I own this place. It’s
our inheritance.”

I couldn’t stop the shock I felt from stretching across my
face. “But…”

“Why don’t we run the factory?”

“Yeah.”

“It made aircraft parts. Engines, propellers, stuff like that,
mostly for smaller, privately owned planes. No market for new planes or for
parts anymore. Even though we have title on this place, we don’t have the cash
to start something new. At least not yet.”

“That’s why you’re running the ring? To save money.”

He smirked. “At this rate we should be able to start something
new by the time I’m eighty. No, at the moment, we do it because we like eating.
And keeping warm in the winter.”

“Okay, so you’re not squatters. Why’d you let us come?”

“I didn’t want to, but Mary talked me into it. Said that Jude
was built to fight. Plus I think she has a thing for him.”

I squirmed at that.

“And,” he continued, “she said the dude was bringing a girl.”
He smirked again. “I thought I’d take a chance on that.”

I remembered his cool welcome. “I disappointed you, didn’t I?”

He dropped his cigarette and scrubbed it out with his boot.
“You were a little too skinny for my tastes, and a little too white.” He moved
in closer. “But I think you put on a little weight since you arrived.”

I had. All the carbs we ate around here.

He bent down to speak in my ear. “And I’ve decided that white
can be beautiful.”

Jabez was a good looking guy and even though I wasn’t
interested in him as more than a friend, it felt good to be noticed. To stand
close to someone.

“Chloe? Are you all right?”

I jumped back at Noah’s voice.

I don’t know what it looked like we were doing from his angle,
but I couldn’t miss the disappointment in his eyes. He disappeared back into
the building.

I stomped out my cigarette and chased after him.

Chapter
22

The bedroom door to Mary’s room was closed and I assumed she
was behind it. Noah wasn’t in the living area. I ran out the front door.

His back was turned to me and I called out, “Noah!”

He spun and gave me a “what the hell” look. Right. I used his
real name. I couldn’t stop screwing up.

“I can’t leave you alone for a minute,” he spat. “Is no guy off
limits for you?”

“It wasn’t like that.”

“It sure looked like it to me.”

“Well, what do you care anyway? You have Mary now.”

“I don’t have Mary.”

“She thinks you do.”

He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m just so bored. Aimless. I’ve been
holed up here for almost a month. I told you I was going crazy.”

Noah puffed and stuffed his hands into his pockets. He kicked
at the snow. “Okay, you’re right. It’s not fair to hold you here like a
prisoner. Let’s go for a walk.”

“Now?”An unfamiliar sense of excitement sizzled through my
being. Not only had I not been out in the real world since we’d arrived, I also
hadn’t been alone with Noah.

“No time like the present.” He tugged down on my hat, covering
my ears, and tightened my scarf. “Just make sure your face is covered.”

It felt more than great to be away from the factory and
especially to have Noah all to myself. I wanted to explain things to him. I
hated that he misunderstood what had happened back there with Jabez.

The fact was I
was
in love with Noah Brody. I realized
it the night of my attack, when Noah had chased after me and saved me. I know
he’d saved me before, but I
remembered
this time. I remembered how my
heart had swelled as he’d gently helped me and held me up. How he’d pressed
himself against me and comforted me in the night.

I’d missed my chance to tell him when it mattered, and it
killed me that he didn’t believe it anymore.

The streets of St. Louis were crowded with pedestrians and
noiseless vehicles. Billboards flashed bright with ostentatious ads. The latest
fad in fashion, the newest models of pod cars—which made my heart skip a beat
with longing for my own—and the most essential gadget for the modern home,
humanoid domestic help.

The humanoids sprung out of some of the boards in 3D.

“They look creepily realistic,” I said.

Noah lifted his chin. “Look around.”

I hadn’t noticed them before, but they were everywhere. Walking
across the street with messenger bags, serving coffee and fast food at hotdog stands.
“No wonder there aren’t any jobs,” I said.

“It’s scary how fast they’re taking over.”

Noah grabbed my hand to cross the street. I squeezed it tight,
and when he went to pull away, I wouldn’t let go. He gave me a questioning
look.

“Noah.” We stopped on the corner and even though I knew this
wasn’t the most romantic spot around, I didn’t care. I was a volcano of
emotion.

“Are you all right?” he asked, dipping to look into my eyes. I
felt them well up.

“I’m not. I haven’t been all right since…you know.”

Noah’s eyes flashed with a look I recognized. Regret.

“No,” I said. “Please don’t be sorry. You did the right thing
by taking me from Sol City. And I know I’ve screwed up since then. Badly.” I
had to tell him how I felt before I lost my nerve. “I fell in love with you
once and then I forgot. I totally get it now how I could’ve loved you before.
Because I’ve done it again.”

I inhaled. “I love you.”

There, I said it. The words he’d been waiting for me to say.
I’d hoped for a smile. For his eyes to light up.

Instead he dropped my hand and looked away.

“Noah?”

“I’m sorry.” He removed his gloves and rubbed his face with
bare, ruddy hands. Then he steadied his gaze on me. The pain in his eyes cause
dread to leak into my pores. “The Zoe I fell in love with doesn’t exist
anymore.” His voice cracked. “I don’t know who this Zoe is.”

“It’s still me. I’m still here.”

“I know. And I’m committed to seeing you through this, however
long it takes.”

My stomach flipped and all my hurt swirled into anger. “I don’t
want your pity!”

“It’s not pity. It’s loyalty.”

Loyalty
? My face stung as if he’d slapped me. “That’s
the same thing.”

He sighed long and hard. “It’s better this way, in the long
run. You know it is.”

“Because I’m a
GAP
? We’re back to that?”

“It’s an issue. It always has been, even though we didn’t want
to face it.”

“It was never an issue for me.” I stormed away, but he ran
after me and grabbed my arm.

“Let go of me!” My eyes pooled with tears and I swiped angrily
at them with my gloved hand.

“Zoe,” Noah said. “I know this is hard. It’s hard for both of
us. It’s important that we stick together now. More than ever.”

I wrapped my arms around my chest, trying to hold in all the
pain. If I let it out now, I’d be a weeping mess.

I dared to look up into Noah’s eyes, but he was staring at
something over my shoulder. I turned and saw what had captured his attention. All
the billboards were flickering, and then for one second a scroll of Chinese
writing flashed across every single one of them before the original images
returned.

“What was that?” I said.

“I don’t know, but we’d better get back.”

So that was how it was. Noah didn’t love me anymore, and it was
back to business as usual.

Chapter
23

“Did you see it?” Mary said the second we walked in. The TV was
on and my grandfather’s face filled the screen. “It’s all over the news. The
Chinese government is threatening to attack.”

“What?” I said.

Jabez added, “Vanderveen just issued a warning. He’s pushing a
bill through to fast track cyborg technology in order to raise an American army
to stand against them.”

My knees melted and I barely made it to a chair. Grandpa V had
done it. His fear tactic policies were working.

“He did this with one gimmick?” Noah asked.

Mary nodded. “He said this is proof the Chinese are spying on
America and that he has intelligence that confirms the Chinese already have
their cyborg troops hidden in cells underground and out of satellite range.”

Noah pinched his eyes together and rubbed his forehead with his
hand, a move I’d seen him do a lot lately.

“Do you think it’s true?” I asked. “Does China really have
cyborg troops?”

“I doubt it,” Noah said. “But it doesn’t matter if they do or
don’t. Your gr—”

He almost said my
grandfather
.

“The president,” I said, “is getting what he wanted all along.”

Noah’s eyes drilled into mine. “Yes, he is.”

The night of Noah’s first fight arrived. I sat with the crowd
in the collapsible chairs, trembling nervously like I was the one about to get
into the ring instead of just watching. Around me people murmured, loosening
scarves and removing hats, unzipping the first layer of winter clothing. Sizzling
apprehension and body heat had warmed up the room. I tugged on the collar of my
sweater.