Collapsed: Book One of The Illusion of Truth, page 23
My body starts to tremble again as the weight of what I’ve agreed to presses on me, and my shoulders roll into a slump. I gulp and say, “I don’t know if I can do this.”
His expression tightens. “Tenly. At this point you don’t have a choice. You need to move on as if nothing happened tonight. Teach Ellie like you always have, avoid the staff, and let Dr. Pierce be entertained by the fact that he has a science protégé . . . even if she is a Cobalt.”
I know he’s right if I want to live. And if I want Kalib and everyone else I love to survive, these are the things I must do. I inhale deeply, hold it for a second, and then release it as I give Isaiah a curt nod.
But how can I reconcile the fact that my father is one of the Scarlet–Cobalt alliance leaders? He has been living a secret life for years. Does Mama even know? I should have asked him.
“I will do my best to run interference,” Isaiah says. “But you do need to be more careful now than ever—one misstep and all this could come crashing down.” He places a hand on my shoulder. “I only know of him, but I do know your father is a brave and capable man. There’s no doubt in my mind, after what I was told about tonight, that you are the same type of person.”
The corners of my lips twist into a smile. “Thank you.”
“Now, you still have two hours before you need to be ready to work. Go upstairs and try to get some rest.”
I nod and obey. When somehow I get to my room undetected, I close the door and lean my back against the wood. My head spins with the events of the last hours. How could so much happen in so little time?
Everything has changed.
Everything.
Present and past . . . the future I’d always dreamed of. Gone.
It’s for the best, but course correction is never easy.
Exhaling a forceful breath, I push myself from the door, sit at the end of my bed, and take my device from my jacket pocket. Once again I launch the hidden access to the online information on my Flexx and search Carmine headquarters news mentioned by that newscaster the other day.
The link comes up immediately and I click it. When the page loads, my eyes widen at the top headline.
Terrorists Executed.
Are they talking about us? From what I know no one was captured. Did something else happen?
I gulp as I scan the story . . . basically that last night, unidentified terrorists descended on a secret government building and attempted to steal data. It goes on to say that they are looking for a link between these people and the recent bird deaths around Carmine.
That’s really it. Nothing about the Scarlet–Cobalt alliance. Nothing about any escaped prisoners. Nothing about any links to the Cobalt Premier Workforce.
Apparently President Nelson and the Scarlet government are quickly covering everything up . . . spinning what happened as what they want the general population to know.
Terrorists are bad . . . but they were detained and gotten rid of. Case closed. But why the mention of the birds?
Pushing aside the currently unsolvable thoughts for a moment, I do my best to focus on the one good thing I know. I pluck Kalib’s drawing of me from the side table, lean back onto my pillow and clutch it to my chest. Closing my eyes, I inhale deeply and let the memory of our last moments together invade my senses.
Our kiss tasted of salt and loss. Loss of the things I thought were true. Principles I would have staked my life on before yesterday.
Principles that I now know were lies. My own illusions.
Lies that I’d heard enough times to forget what the truth was.
Lies that the people of the Tenement have little choice but to be there. Yes, I made it out, but that too was a façade. The lies of Scarlet society to placate themselves into believing their continued mistakes are advancement.
Even I had let myself see the tragedy but believe there was nothing I could do for anyone but myself.
I was wrong. I have to be wrong.
A ray of sunlight peeks through my window and casts its beam on the opposite side of my room. I blow out a quick breath, knowing that I can’t stop time. What I agreed to do for this rebellion is real. I can’t go back. Even if I could, I’m not sure I’d ever want to.
I hold out the pencil drawing of myself and let my eye fall along the gentle gray and black strokes. I hadn’t wanted to admit it to myself, but each one was drawn with love . . . passion.
And I can’t unsee it.
Not that I would want to.
My best friend’s face comes to the front of my mind . . . Kalib and his sometimes mischievous but usually gentle hazel eyes and the sweet freckles that dance across his nose. My lips arch into a smile just at the thought. All I want is to be with him.
Hold him.
And share a kiss laced with tomorrow and what’s to come.
* * *
Can’t get enough of The Illusion of Truth? Continue the saga with Shattered.
Buy on Amazon or read for free in Kindle Unlimited.
About the Author
I‘m Jenetta, and I am a lifetime lover of Sci-Fi (thanks Dad). I had a weird LONG stint (declaring HOW long would give away too many age secrets… and eh-hem… a girl never tells) where I read almost no books for pleasure (the horror!). Near the end of 2014, I picked up Hunger Games, and I was off like a rocket.
That next year I read about 40 YA books (mostly Sci-Fi/dystopian) and a couple months into it, got the idea to write a book (with no prior experience or even desire) about children who were not allowed to be raised by their biological parents. You see, I am an adoptive mama of two lovely daughters from foster care.
You can connect with me on:
http://www.jenettapenner.com
Subscribe to my newsletter:
http://jenettapenner.com
Also by Jenetta Penner
The Configured Trilogy
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075V5SP2F
There will come a day…when love will mark her a traitor.
In a society where emotions are outlawed and function is everything, Avlyn Lark is just trying to blend in.
Born into the lowest level of society she was fortunate to have been removed from her biological parents and assigned to a Level Two family.
But mastering her emotions? That’s a problem… especially when a rebel bomb blows up a building right in front of her.
On Configuration Day, Avlyn’s official transition to adulthood, she starts seeing strange visions. And instead of being placed with a basic job where she could hide her urges, she’s hired by Genesis Technologies, the government firm that controls every citizen.
If Gen Tech discovers her secrets and exposes her for what she really is, it will ruin her life. And if they find out about her illegal meetings with a mysterious but handsome member of the rebel forces, her life will be more than ruined.
It will be over.
The Starfire Wars
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WD14SCT
Earth is dying. Hope waits light-years away on Arcadia, a planet veiled in cyan atmosphere… and harboring a dark side.
On the last day of Cassie’s starship journey to her new home, her father is killed in a mysterious explosion. Somehow, she manages to escape death - helped by a vanishing stranger with otherworldly blue-green eyes.
But his presence lingers in her dreams.
Officials swear the explosion was a horrible accident, but she’s convinced they are hiding something…
About her father. About Arcadia.
Orphaned and alone, Cassie begins to see curious glowing visions and soon the boy with the cyan eyes reemerges. He offers her one chance to uncover what became of her father and the secrets the planet holds.
Two worlds collide, and a powerful attraction draws her to Javen. She can’t say no to the opportunity…
Even if saying yes forces her to choose between saving humanity or saving Arcadia.
Spellcaster Academy
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08JJNMQ5P
Magic is real…who knew? Too bad I suck at it.
I was a freak from day one - no parents and a head of white hair that makes me stick out like a sore thumb. So, when a mystery aunt invites me to start a new life, I don’t ask questions. I board a plane. Pronto.
But surprise! *insert sarcasm* It’s all a lie and a weird lady in a dusty junk shop basically shoves me into a closet… and I tumble into a magical world.
Which might be awesome, if I weren’t a freak there too. Apparently, at Borealis Academy, my white hair means I’m public enemy number one.
Just my luck.
Thank the stars, they can’t kick me out unless I’m unable to master magic – which, unfortunately, is even more difficult than it sounds.
One bright spot is my hot spellcasting tutor required to help up my skills. Although, he won’t give me the time of day, let alone help me pass.
But my magical problems are only just beginning when my dark family past catches up with me. Now, if I can’t learn to master my powers, it could lead to a far worse fate than expulsion…
It could destroy everything.
Jenetta Penner, Collapsed: Book One of The Illusion of Truth
