Abandon by Elana Johnson Page A

My mother favored him, but my father doted on me. He counseled me on how to use my talent without detection; he introduced me to the physics educator at school; he took me to work with him and let me experiment in the wind machines.
    My father also covered up the infraction with Vi. The house had alerted him, and the report would’ve gone on my official record since I was already thirteen.
    He knew about the Resistance—because he was involved. He’d recruited me; he’d taught me the subtle art of playing both sides; he’d introduced me to Jag.
    I adored my father.
    He didn’t understand my sudden withdrawal from the Resistance, but I blamed the failed mission during which Blaze Barque had died. I’d never confessed the deal I’d made with Thane Myers—he’d matched me with Vi in exchange for information about Jag. My first true test of living the Insider life.
    I’d “left” the Resistance, but I’d never revealed anything of importance to Thane.
    Insider Tip #4: Give information that is either already known, or that won’t damage the other side .
    Jag hated me because I’d quit, but I’d had no choice. Thane held more power than Jag knew—power to make my life difficult. He’d threatened my father; he’d threatened Vi.
    I’d do anything to keep the two of them safe. The decision was easy: I defected. Jag could deal.
    *   *   *
    As I pressed into the alley wall in Harvest, I remembered that mission to Freedom when Blaze had disappeared. The fear felt the same, but the stakes were much higher now. I flattened myself against the wall as the battle cry became aroar. The taser-happy crowd surged forward, joined by more people from the alley behind me.
    Saffediene cried out, and I turned to find her on her hands and knees. Anger boiled through me as I grabbed her hand and pulled her to a standing position next to me. I stepped partially in front of her to shield her from further danger.
    “Our boards,” she moaned, looking down the alley roiling with a steady stream of people. “No way they survived that horde.”
    I had to agree, but we had to focus on our most pressing problem: getting out of here alive.
    “Who’d you vote for?” a man asked a mere half foot away, his taser sparking with blue techtricity.
    I swatted it out of my face. “Get that away from me,” I growled.
    For a moment he looked like he might leave. Then he saw Saffediene. “Oh, I get it. She voted for Duarte.”
    “ She’s not even from here,” I said. “Leave us alone.”
    His eyes glazed at my voice control, and he joined the fray of anti-Duarte supporters.
    “We’ve gotta get out of here,” I said quietly. “Come on.” Saffediene’s hand trembled as we ran down the alley together, away from the square.
    I didn’t look back, despite the screams that pierced theair. Saffediene stumbled, but I kept her upright. As we hurried away, I realized that the scene in that square could’ve been one of the vids the Association showed students. See what happens when Citizens are allowed freedoms? I heard the slogans in my mind with little effort.
    I didn’t look back, even when the hovercopters arrived, blaring with instructions and popping with taser fire.
    Free vs. functioning? looped through my mind.
    Next to me, Saffediene wept openly, but I didn’t feel the slightest bit like crying.
    I didn’t look back, because I couldn’t stand to see the proof that humanity couldn’t manage themselves. That they’d always need a Thinker.
    That I’d been fighting for chaos these past four years.
    *   *   *
    At the end of the alley, our hoverboards were indeed gone. I mourned their loss for only a moment before I snapped my fingers, and a current of air stalled in front of me. Its edges shimmered in my vision, gray and then purple and then blue.
    Saffediene wouldn’t be able to see it, so I pulled her closer and said, “Hold on to me, okay?”
    “Are you going to do that freaky wind thing again?”
    “Yes,” I said.