Collapsed: Book One of The Illusion of Truth, page 17
Just because there may be more bird deaths than the news has reported yet doesn’t mean anything sinister is going on. Even if Dr. Pierce is involved, who am I going to tell? It’s not as if anyone is going to believe me.
Or that I have anyone to tell.
Tap. The noise repeats. This time I know it’s not from a dream or the wind. I sit again, throw off the blankets, and make my way to the window to peer out.
My eyes widen into saucers, by the feel of it, when I spot the source of the tapping.
Kalib . . . throwing pebbles at my window. Seeing him outside my window has been a regular occurrence most of my life. But here? Not here.
This is not okay.
A concoction of nervousness, anger, and excitement swirls in my stomach. Quickly I wiggle at the latch and slide back the glass. “What are you doing?” I call, keeping my voice as much a whisper as I can. Don’t want to wake Ellie next door.
“I need to speak with you,” he answers.
I hold my hands out in question and gaze up at the darkened sky. “Now?”
Kalib nods curtly. “Yes, now. Or I wouldn’t be here.”
I purse my lips together in thought for a moment. This is the reason I did so much pushing away from Kalib. The risks he takes always seem to have the potential to get me in trouble.
Despite that, I say, “Fine. I’ll be down in a minute.” I must get him to go away, and calling down from the second floor is a bad way to do that. Quietly I shut the window, grab the letter for my parents off my nightstand, and head downstairs. This better be important.
Out the back door I hug myself tightly in the chilly air and search for my friend. “Kalib,” I call after a moment, and he steps from the shadows.
“No one saw you, right?”
I twist and peer back at the house. “I don’t think so. No one was up . . . it’s the middle of the night.”
“Okay.” He waves me over and begrudgingly I obey.
“Why are you here, Kalib?”
“Because I don’t know what’s going to happen next.” He shoves his hands into his pockets and stares down at the ground.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” A twinge of anger creeps into my tone that I don’t really want, but I shouldn’t even be outside . . . neither of us should. “Did something else happen to Kayla?”
He snaps his attention to me. “No, but it could have. Her hands were broken so badly because of the unsafe equipment in her factory that she might have never worked again.”
I gasp, thinking of the consequences of that. Kalib’s mom and sister could have ended up on the street, only to be rounded up by sentries sooner or later.
He pauses for a moment as if to choose his words carefully. “But some anonymous donor contributed to her medical bills, and she’s going to heal.”
“The Voclain factory didn’t help?” I don’t know why I ask or why that was my first response, because I know the answer. But dissonance swirls in my head at the fact that Mr. Voclain would send over Ellie’s fancy dress as a complimentary gift but not even bother to help one of his prized seamstresses.
Kalib places his hands on my shoulders and lets out a long sigh. “I don’t understand you, Tenly. It’s like you know all the injustice there is for Cobalts, but somehow you allow yourself to push it out of your mind.”
I shake him off. “It’s not as if I can affect how our society works, Kalib. I’m just one girl. What I want barely matters.”
“And you’re okay with that?”
I scoff. “Of course I’m not!” The words come out a bit too loudly, and Kalib pulls me further from the house. “But I can only sort of control my destiny . . . that has to be something.”
The moonlight spills across Kalib’s face, and he bites his lip. “Tenly, I’ve always respected you for your drive. You know this. I didn’t have that in the same way you did. In fact, I’d almost given up, but being out here has changed me. I can’t tolerate all the lies, all the cover-ups. Do you know that most Scarlets have no clue what even goes on in the Tenements? They go on their merry lives thinking that we’re different but treated well . . . not that our people die without a second thought or that we starve for the privilege to work the long hours needed to provide them with luxe goods they don’t even need. All because we lost a war a hundred years ago.”
My mind whirls with what I saw in the city. “Not too long ago I was in Carmine and saw a bunch of Scarlets protesting for Cobalts. We all had to leave because the sentries came and arrested them.”
“I’ll bet that’s not all they did.”
I narrow my brow. “You know about this?”
He clicks his tongue. “Of course I know about this. The whispers are getting louder, and President Nelson won’t be able to cover it up much longer. Tensions are heating up over the CPW. Mr. Robinson, my employer, heads up the entire program.”
“Why? What’s wrong with the CPW?”
“Some Scarlets are attempting to reveal it for what it is . . .”
“And what is it?”
He tips his head as if I should already know the answer. And I do. I’m fully aware of why Mrs. Pierce even brought me on the trip to the city; Jax confirmed it. The CPW program’s existence has become a way to make all Scarlets continue thinking that they’re doing the right thing. They can hold a few of us up as the lucky ones who worked our way out of the Tenement. The rest are simply too lazy or are fine with the life they lead there.
“But if even Scarlets can’t protest without being beaten down, how are Cobalts ever supposed to do anything?”
Kalib crosses his arms and turns his back on me. “So you’re okay that the things that happened to my pop and my sister just keep on happening, and no one out here cares?”
“You know I’m not fine with those things . . . I love your family. Why would you even say that?”
“I don’t know.” He spins on his heel back to me. “I just came to tell you that if for some reason I don’t come back here or am not able to get you a message, that you can contact Mr. Robinson.”
I narrow my brows. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because things might happen. Things are happening.”
“Things? What kind of things?” I ask.
Kalib’s nostrils flare slightly. “I’m not sure that you really want me to answer that for you.”
Honestly, I have a lot of questions that Kalib might not want to answer. “You might be right, but there is something I need to know.”
“What?”
“Why are you even here?”
He shakes his head. “I already told you why I was here, Tenly.”
“No, not at the Pierce house . . . in Carmine at all. Why are you in the CPW? And don’t give me that excuse that you just changed your mind. Only ten people even made it in this year. I know you’re smart, and if that was the primary determinant, I’d accept it. But you and I both know that they’re supposed to heavily weigh our past behaviors. You stood out too much . . . too many fights . . .”
“For you if you remember correctly.”
My heart drops to the ground. Of course I remember. Most of the fights Kalib had ever been in were about me . . . with kids at school who didn’t seem to like how smart I was or that I was always striving for the CPW program.
Too-good Tenly.
Scarlet lover. Not that I was . . . but saying anything negative about Scarlets out loud? Too dangerous.
Those were just a few of the names I got called. Most of them were worse—vulgar, and I won’t repeat them. But did I do anything about it? No, I just kept my head down like always. But not Kalib. He never could do that.
Kalib’s head is always out in the danger. Apparently it still is, even here in Carmine where it’s even more unsafe.
“And you know I’ve been grateful for that, but I never asked you to defend me,” I say.
Even under the moonlight I can see the hurt in Kalib’s eyes. “I couldn’t let them think that about you, Tenly.”
“Why not?” The question comes out as more of an accusation, and I don’t know why. I am truly thankful for him, but why he didn’t move on is a complete mystery.
“Don’t you remember all the nights on your balcony?”
I glance away. “Of course I do.”
“We sat there staring up at the electrodome. You had out your books of the stars, and we tried to guess where they were even though we couldn’t really see them. There were times you let me in, Tenly. Being closed off was not the person you were in your heart . . . it was the person you had to be to survive. But I see you . . . then and now.” As he speaks, he draws closer and closer to me, and by the time he’s done, he can’t be more than six inches away.
My breath hitches and I can nearly feel the warmth of his body, whether real or imagined. And suddenly it seems as if my soul is laid bare, splayed out for all to see, even if the only person here is Kalib and he’s probably already witnessed it before.
“You’re avoiding my question about the exam,” I say to change the subject.
Kalib releases a long sigh. “I can’t tell you how I got here. Doing so would put you in danger.”
“And you being here in the middle of the night doesn’t?”
This time Kalib doesn’t answer me.
“I have to get back inside,” I finally say after too long of a silence.
As I keep my gaze down, I notice Kalib’s clenched fists.
“Was I wrong about you?” he asks.
“Wrong about what?”
“That there is a passion inside you just fighting to get out.”
I gulp down my heart, which has risen into my throat. “You’re not wrong.”
Kalib nods. “I hope you don’t let it die then.”
His words sting at my chest, but there’s nothing more I can say about it right now. I glance around at the back of the house. “You are taking a real risk for both of us by being here.”
“Fine, I’ll go.”
I pull the letter from my pocket and hand it to him. “For my parents, if you can get it to them.”
Kalib nods. “Mr. Robinson will make sure it goes through the channels.”
The second he tucks it away, a light flips on inside the house and I gasp. Kalib and I hurry into a deeper shadow just as the back door swings open and Jax steps outside.
My mind swirls with what to do. I twist back to Kalib, who’s crouched behind me. “I’ll cover you,” I whisper, and before he can stop me, I step out into the light. “How was the gala?”
“Oh, it’s you,” Jax says. “I thought I saw someone.”
I release a big sigh while my heart clobbers my ribcage. “I couldn’t sleep and came down to get some fresh air.”
He eyes me for a moment before he speaks. “Same here.”
Quickly I glance to the side and see Kalib is gone. “Was the gala that good?” I laugh, but unfortunately it sounds fake. Will he notice?
“Um . . . no. But Eleanor did present well, thanks to you. Mother seemed pleased.” Jax scans out over the yard where Kalib and I had just been, and my heart picks up.
Does he think someone else was out here and is just not saying?
He brings his attention back to me and smiles. “We should both turn in. As always, tomorrow will be a busy day.”
Chapter 24
Up in my room I’m scarfing down a morning plate of bland eggs and a dry piece of toast when Ellie bursts into my room, still dressed in her pajamas. Her eyes are wide and terrified.
Immediately I abandon the food as my stomach seems to drop to the floor.
“S . . . s . . . sentries are here,” she manages.
“What?” I stand from my desk chair, hurry toward her, and kneel down.
My mind races. Why would sentries come to the house? Was it Kalib’s visit last night? Then my thoughts move to something bigger. Is it Dr. Pierce? What if the research he was doing on the birds was illegal? There are a lot more infected specimen slides in his lab than the news is reporting. What if he even had something to do with them and is trying to hide the evidence?
I shake aside all the thoughts since I could be completely overreacting again. “Did you see them?”
Ellie nods. “I woke up this morning, and before getting dressed, I snuck downstairs for a pastry. But then out the window I saw the guards and ran back up here to tell you.”
I take Ellie by the hand and lead her out into the hall to the window facing the front of the house. I gasp as I see three sentry vehicles parked in front and at least one airborne circling above. Nine sentries, all with weapons in hand, work their way around on the front lawn.
What’s going on? My hands go sweaty and heat travels up my neck and cheeks.
Ellie sniffles beside me with fear, and I reach down and take her up in my arms to carry her. She’s small for her six years, but still, toting her around is not an easy task. The child wraps her arms around my neck like she’s never going to let go and sobs into my hair. Not that she has mentioned the incident for weeks, but she’s obviously traumatized from the demonstration in the city and probably thinks the same thing is going to happen here.
“Okay . . . we need to get you back to your room. I’ll go downstairs and try to find out what’s going on. Isaiah will know.”
“Please don’t leave me!” she weeps.
I carry her back to her room and pry her fingers off my neck. “Ellie. I can’t just sit up here and be scared.” I hand her one of her dolls. “Hold dolly for a few minutes, and I promise I’ll be back.”
She nods but lets out a whimper.
I race down the back stairs and hurry to Isaiah’s office. He’s inside but fiddling with something in the open drawer of his desk, completely absorbed in his own world.
“Do you know what’s going on?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.
He looks up and stops what he’s doing. “Miss Hawkins. I was just on my way up to get you.” The tone of Isaiah’s voice is strained.
Something bad is definitely going on.
“You need to give me your Flexx.” He holds out his hand.
My body tenses as I peer down as his open palm. Dr. Pierce did say that Isaiah knew what I was doing with Ellie. But still.
“Why?”
Isaiah’s jaw tightens. “Please hand me the device.”
Still not positive if it’s the right thing to do or why Isaiah is asking for it, I quickly pull the Flexx from my pocket and hand it to him. What choice do I have? And if something is wrong he needs to protect his boss.
He promptly stores it in his desk and turns his attention back to me. “You need to listen and stay calm.”
Just hearing those words does the exact opposite for me. Questions fly through my brain and palms dampen. “What’s going on?”
“A few minutes from now, I’m to go and gather you without incident.”
“Me? Why?”
“You are acquainted with that Cobalt courier who has been to the house, correct?”
All my other thoughts fall away. This is not about Dr. Pierce or me being inside the lab . . . this is about . . .
“Kalib?”
Isaiah nods and manages to keep his voice steady. “Yes . . . something has occurred, and I am not aware of the full details. But I do know that in addition to searching the premises, they are . . . requesting that you be brought in for questioning.”
My mouth instantly goes dry, and instinct screams at my legs to run. Questioning? And they have so many sentries here.
“Do they think I did something?”
He comes out from behind his desk. “I can’t answer that, Miss Hawkins. All I can tell you is that you need to come with me now and stay calm.” Maybe sensing my urge to bolt, he reaches out and takes my upper arm.
I stiffen against him but don’t pull away. Compliance is what I’ve trained myself to do my entire life.
Before I can ask anything else, he pilots me out of his office. “Same rules as I laid out when you arrived. Don’t look them in the eye, nod, and do not speak unless you are spoken to.” A line of sweat drips down the side of his face as we climb the main stairs, and he takes me out into the foyer.
“I’ve told you my husband is not here this morning, Commander Treviño. But you may try to contact him at his lab.” Mrs. Pierce’s tense voice wafts to us. “I just want this over with as soon as possible.”
As I turn the corner, I see that there are three sentries near Madam. Two of them appear to be a regular ranking, while the older one speaking to Mrs. Pierce has some extra insignia on his sleeve. The commander is of medium height but more than makes up for his lack of stature with broad shoulders and chest muscles stretching at his shirt. It’s not long before all their eyes are on Isaiah and me. Mostly on me.
My heart picks up to a faster pace than I’ve ever experienced and my knees go weak, but Isaiah keeps his hold and I remain standing. Quickly I avert my eyes and tip my chin down to my chest.
“As you requested,” Isaiah says to Mrs. Pierce.
“Yes, Isaiah.” Her voice is flustered, unsteady. She wants these people gone from her house too. “Thank you. Did you have any issues?”
“No,” he answers. “And Miss Hawkins is quite willing to give any help necessary to the investigation.”
Quickly, I glance at the others and see that one of the sentries is heading toward me.
“Good,” Commander Treviño says with a sneer. “Then this Bluey should cause us few issues.”
A shiver runs down my spine at the insult. Isaiah is forced to back away as the guard grabs my arm, twists me, and cuffs me behind my back. I whimper.
“Is that really necessary?” Jax’s voice comes from behind me. “Did my father give his permission for you to enter our property?”
“Any time we are dealing with potential Cobalt criminals, we must take safety measures to protect our Scarlet citizens, sir,” Commander Treviño says in a gruff voice.
“Has she been formally charged?” Jax presses. “And you did not answer my question.”
Is he trying to protect me somehow?
The sentry pulls my restraints tighter and I grit my teeth.
“Miss Hawkins is under suspicion,” Commander Treviño says. “And that is plenty for us to take her in.”
