-Worlds Apart- Ruination (11 page)

The trees and grass become greener the farther I run and I know water must be near. I brace myself on the trunks of the massive trees and stumble straight over the small saplings. I’ve become sloppy in my desperation for the black rock. The foreigners are on my heels. I hear them snapping trees as their steps close-in. I draw upon the last of my strength to push forward.

The world hazes and then I hit the cold water. The wetness constricts my vessels and shoots blood to my fading brain. For a moment I have clarity. I frantically search for the rock.

One hundred feet ahead I spot the gigantic black boulder that sits completely alien to this landscape. I crash through the water, crossing the embankment just as the first foreigner breaks the tree line. He doesn’t hesitate as he shoulders his gun and opens fire.

Bullets splash water to the shoreline wetting my arms as I sprint. The bullets hit closer and closer as I run. One grazes my shoulder just as I reach the backside of the massive rock. Tucked beneath its ledge is my hope, a bow with two arrows.

“Over there!” The foreigner shouts to the other.

Immediate waves of gunfire rain down, it’s now or never. I grab the bow and swiftly fasten the first arrow. Gunfire’s closing in from the right much faster than the foreigner on my left. I roll to the right and aim. My arrow flies through the air, striking the foreigner straight in the chest.

It’s only a fraction of a second but in that moment I see the life leave his eyes. I realize the gravity of what I’ve done. I just killed a man. I killed someone’s son, maybe some-one’s father.

The gunfire to my left closes in and snaps me back to reality. I string the second arrow. I have a clear shot but I can’t take it. I won’t take another life even if it means dying.

Suddenly a veil of absolute darkness falls over me and my body feels like it’s plunged into an icy bath. My ears strain to hear but I no longer perceive the sound of gunshots from the foreigners.

The darkness continues to blind me but my ears begin distinguishing a slow and steady beeping. The sound reminds me of a medical alarm, nothing I’d expect to hear in the wilderness. The alarm grows faster in parallel with my pounding heart.

“She’s waking up. We have five minutes before she’ll be coherent.” I hear Dr. Glidden’s muffled voice.

“Her results are quite interesting.” Natalie says sweetly.

The alarm accelerates in conjunction with my growing confusion. They’re supposed to be dead, I saw them die.

“She made it to the black rock and even eliminated the first assailant, but it appears she chose death over killing the second attacker.” Natalie pauses, “It’s quite unique.”  

“Is that so?” Dr. Glidden asks, sounding halfway intrigued.

“Oh yes. Only sixteen percent of testers make it out of the facility and of that sixteen percent, less than one percent make it to the river. Let alone to the black rock.” She pauses adding a dramatic effect, “The elite few that make it there
always
kill both assailants.” Her voice fills with excitement.

“Well it’s in the designer’s hands to interpret the meaning. Our job’s to wake her and put her through the dummy test.” Dr. Glidden no longer sounds interested, he’s formal and direct again.

The darkness is beginning to bare a hazed quality as the minutes carry on.

“Let’s get her to the dummy room before she wakes.” Dr. Glidden barks.

Hands reach and pull at the pads stuck to my chest and head; I’m so confused by what’s happening. My body wheels across the concrete floor as I feel the heat from multiple hands pushing the giant chair out of the oval room.

“Less than one minute until eyes open!” Dr. Glidden shouts. My chair turns abruptly about face. My body’s set free from the shackles holding me down. “Thirty seconds people!” Dr. Glidden booms.

Someone pulls the goggles off my eyes just before draping my limp legs off the corner of the chair. In that exact moment my body is released, I’m awake.

“There, there, Miss Hollins. Everything’s alright now,” Natalie coos to me as she grazes my back with her hand.

“What happened?” I look to both her and Dr. Glidden.

“Miss Hollins, I’m Dr. Glidden. You had a syncope episode, nothing to worry about. It happens to many testers.” He flashes a smile to Natalie before turning his attention back to me. “What is the last thing you recall before you passed out?”

I almost reveal that I remember everything. The corridor, the icy drug dancing in my veins, watching them both die, but I stop myself. I’m not supposed to remember. Even Dr. Glidden had said I wouldn’t remember our meeting.

“I remember the shuttle ride over here and that’s all sir.” I try forcing confidence behind my words.

“It’s quite normal Miss Hollins. Not to worry. You’ve been cleared to test and I’m sure you will do quite well.” He says as his strong arm guides me off the chair.

I’m in a completely different room than before. No more screens or tablets, no more Centrals dashing around in white coats. It’s a bright, cheerful room that in no way resembles the sterile oval room from earlier.

Natalie takes me by my elbow, guiding me from the room into a large open arena. To my left I see weapons and trapping materials laid across a long brown table. To my right are stationary and moving targets located throughout the expansive room.

“Miss Hollins, you have a list of skills you must complete and then you’ll be free to leave.” Natalie says, handing me a sheet of paper.

My hands tremble momentarily. I grab the paper from Natalie, my mind is still in the other room. Why did I remember everything? Does everyone remember but nobody says anything? A part of me already knows the answer, I know that I’m different.

I have to construct a snare, use a bow and a spear to hit three moving and stationary targets and then finally, start a fire. This test can’t be serious. I’m angry that I prepared my entire life for these stupid tasks and then I remember, this is a dummy test.

I already had my test in the next room over. The one where the foreigners attacked me and I was in the elite few to make it to the black rock.

I smile sweetly at Natalie, striding over to the bow and arrow. I rapidly fire and hit every target squarely. In total my dummy test takes less than an hour. I’ve done everything perfectly but that doesn’t matter. What matters is how I did inside the oval room and even Natalie said it was unique, but unique isn’t always good.

Chapter 18

My mind races a hundred miles an hour. I went into today’s test light hearted after my night with Garrett. Now I’m leaving confused and anxious. I don’t understand how I’m so different from the other testers? I made it to the black rock and even Natalie said only the elite made it there. But unlike the others, I sacrificed myself. 

There’s something different about me, I’m certain now. I spent my entire life virtually keeping my visions a secret because I was afraid it’d prove I wasn’t normal. Now I have proof. I remember my entire leap-test despite the serum Dr. Glidden injected. It’s clear that I’m different.

The cool leather seats of the shuttle do nothing to absorb the nervous sweat I’ve broken into. My legs stick to the seat. My forehead flecks with salty drops. Words like ‘abnormal’ and ‘unique’ dance through my head, carrying with them a harsh undertone. 

The hour-long shuttle ride feels like an eternity. The closer I get to my sub the faster my heart pounds and my stomach spirals. I know Emma and Garrett will ask how it went today. The thought of having to answer makes me sick. The shuttle glides to a smooth halt at my sub and I slowly peel my sticky skin from the seats.

When I step outside the colors look muted compared to when I left this morning. I force my way home, stumbling over rocks and dirt that feel thicker than ever before. I round the corner and see our blue door. I have to lie to them. I can’t bear telling them that I may have failed and even if I could, I can’t explain why.

My hand hovers over the doorknob for minutes before I gain my composure. Painting a smile across my face I open it. The shouts of Emma, Garrett, and Papa all mingle in a splitting tone.

“Surprise!” They all shout.

I hadn’t expected to face them all at once and I’m actually shocked. Emma’s the first to move as she dashes across the room, folding herself around my waist.

“Happy birthday Nessa! How was it? How does it feel to be an adult?” She beams at me.

“What’s going on here?” I ask forcing a smile.

“We thought you could use a little celebration. It’s not every day you become an adult.” Papa says as he pulls me into his arms.

Garrett stands across the room smiling at me. His eyes look through me, penetrating me. 

“Before you ask a million questions, let me start by saying I don’t remember much. The parts I do remember I did really well on though.” 

“No one doubts that honey.” Papa says, clasping his hand against my shoulder.

“Can I get a hug from the birthday girl, I mean woman?” Garrett jokes.

Papa and Emma step clear and let my handsome man stride toward me. He wraps his strong arms around me and I instantly feel a mixture of electricity and guilt surge through my veins.

I’ll never reveal my secrets to him. No matter what Gwen says, I don’t think he’d understand. I wouldn’t want my perfect Garrett in a position to judge me anyways.

He whispers in my ear, “You look beautiful.”

I automatically blush even before he releases me from his arms. I wanted him to hold me for hours and tell me everything’s fine but I let his hands fall. I don’t want Papa or Emma thinking there’s something between us. I’m not ready to reveal that yet. 

Garrets deep voice focuses me, “We got you a present.”

He turns, walking into the sleeping quarters. I can’t even see his face when he steps back into the room; the bouquet of flowers completely eclipses him. This is a gift from him, they’re the same colors from when we were kids.

“They’re perfect” I say.

Emma and Papa smile. I’m nervous they can read my mind and my cheeks flush at the thought. I turn my eyes to each of them.

“I’m so happy you all were here.” Papa nods and clasps Emma’s shoulders before he talks.

“You could probably do with some rest. We’re heading to third line. Just make sure you come before curfew, they stop serving at dusk.” He guides Emma out the door leaving Garrett and I alone.

Before the door’s even closed I feel Garrett’s chest against my back. His arms are tender as he squeezes my shoulders, releasing all my tension. He caresses my neck in long steady strokes as I instinctively tilt my head to the side. He wastes no time, his warm tongue traces circles along my exposed skin.

Reaching my hands behind me, I find his arms, pulling them around my waist. His hands run up and down my stomach. Our bodies grow hot as I’m pressed between Garrett and the door. I lean forward, trying to press my hips into his. My head snaps as he turns me around to face him, my backs pinned to the door as his lips find mine. He grabs my leg, lifting it effortlessly as he wraps it around his thigh and pushes himself against me. My body feels like it’s set on fire. He moves against me as my leg pulls his hips closer. We hold our positions, swaying our hips to meet each other. With each contact my breathing becomes deeper and my body burns more. He drives his hips hard against mine. I focus on his body as I let my veins rush and my head spin. 

“We should stop before we go too far.” Did I just say that? I chastise myself. “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I said that!” I’m furious with myself.

He pulls his hips away. “Don’t apologize, I plan on being with you for a long time. We can do things your way.” He smiles, “You’re the boss.”

I laugh at that thought before wrapping my arms around his neck.

Without warning a jolt grinds in my stomach. I can’t imagine living without him and it hits me that it could happen. This is why I fought my feelings for so long. Central could separate us after tomorrow, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

He pulls me from the door, leading me across the room. I push him into the chair before folding myself in his arms.

He whispers in my ear, “I missed you today. I couldn’t stop thinking about you.” He pauses, “That’s part of the reason I came over tonight.” 

“What’s the other part?”

“I wanted to talk to you, see if you thought the test was as big of a joke as I did.”

He laughs as my eyes dart side-to-side like I’m waiting for a regulator to materialize out of thin air.

He speaks again, “I mean it was just some silly target practice and a few skills. Wasn’t it the same for you?”

I hesitate, trying to find the right answer. “Yeah. Pretty much. I don’t know how they can score on that alone.” I force a smile feeling horrible for keeping the truth from him.

“What do you think the chances are we leave together?” He squeezes my ribs while he talks. “I’m not going anywhere without you, you should know that.” He relaxes his grip slightly, his brown eyes pierce mine. “I won’t go unless you go.”

“Don’t worry Garrett. We’ll either go together or stay together.”

I try convincing him of my sincerity but my conscious says otherwise. Natalie said I was unique but it didn’t sound like unique was necessarily an admirable quality. I’ve been with Garrett long enough to know he’d be in the elite few to make it to the black rock, but he wouldn’t hesitate to kill the foreigners. He’ll be offered the leap for sure.

He lifts me off his lap. His hands run through my hair while he talks, “It’s getting late, I should head home. Plus, you need to eat.” I smile, trying to hide my anxiety.

“I’ll see you at the banquet tomorrow” I say pulling my hair from under his hands.

He flashes his crooked smile. “I’ll wait for you out front, we can go in together. We get to start the rest of our lives together tomorrow.”

With his final words I let him collect my body in his electric embrace, kissing me one last time.

I fall into the sitting room chair sinking my head against my folded arms. I don’t want to eat tonight. The thought of food makes me nauseous. I get ready for bed, falling into a deep and restless sleep.