half tempted to climb back to the roof to check.
“This box is a scrambler,” Anthony says. “Not only can it block different types of pulse transmitting within a quarter mile radius, but it can also send out false signals. No doubt the Institute has men scouring the area, but in about,” he looks back at the box, “thirty seconds, they will receive a signal that shows Colt moving away from here. The signal will lead them on a ghost chase for about a mile before it drops off.”
“This is a lot of close calls,” I say, cringing.
“It’s all worth it,” Anthony says. “You’re our priority.”
His words twist inside me all sorts of wrong. Everyone around me is taking risks because they think I’m special. Real special . I can barely stand.
I go into the bathroom without saying a word. My back slides against the closed door until I’m sitting on the floor. For years I dreamed about being around Primes and living in their world, but it’s clear I don’t belong. I was so naïve. Someone’s going to get hurtbecause of me. And even if I were mad at Colt for what he did, I’d never wish any harm to come to him.
I close my eyes tight before tears fall. Focus on Max. Nothing else.
After counting to sixty, I stand and go back into the wood-paneled room. Anthony and Colt are inspecting various weapons as if they’re preparing for something big. I try not to think about it and ask, “Where’s Jenna?”
Colt removes a gun with a long barrel and says, “Like I said, no one knows about this place. Not even her.”
“She’s at her mom’s,” Anthony says. He holds out a long stick-looking weapon. It’s an older model, but I know its tip has the ability to shock people. “This one needs a new charge, Colt.”
Colt walks toward him as if to take it, but suddenly he falls to the floor. At first I think he’s tripped, and I’m about to help him up when his back arches and he starts shaking, his eyes rolling into the back of his head.
Anthony rushes to him. “Help me turn him on his side.”
I drop to my knees and push him over, which is difficult because every muscle in his body is flexed and stiff. “Why is he having a seizure?”
“Just hold him still. It will pass in a couple of minutes.”
Anthony holds his legs and arms, while I cradle his head, making sure it stays sideways. Colt’s jaw is clenched tight and his rapid breaths force their way through his pressed lips. Sweat breaks all over his body and within seconds his clothes are wet. I hurt just looking at him.
“Is he aware of the pain?” I ask.
Anthony’s quiet for a moment. “I don’t know.”
Colt’s body jerks hard, and we tighten our grip. After another minute, his shaking slows and one by one his muscles relax. His eyelids close, and I lower his head to the floor. He looks asleep.
“Why did he have a seizure?”
Anthony withdraws his hands from Colt. “He has the Kiss.”
My head snaps up. “What?”
“He’s old, nineteen.”
“That’s not old! And besides, you’re at least, what, seven, eight years older than him?”
“But I’m not as mutated.”
I look down at Colt. How could he be dying? I reach out and gently stroke his black hair; my earlier anger toward him turns to sorrow even though I barely know him. He’s so young.
My father had told me stories of how it used to be before humans tampered with their DNA. People living until the age of a hundred, having children, grandchildren, and often great-grandchildren. They went to college, had long careers, traveled. Experienced life to the fullest. There was none of that now. With so few years to live, the majority of humans rarely lived to fulfill their dreams. They took whatever job they could get to provide for basic comforts. Many didn’t marry or have children. It was too painful for them to find love only to have it taken away from them so soon. It’s no way to live life. If hell existed, that would be it.
“You say my father helped people. How
“This box is a scrambler,” Anthony says. “Not only can it block different types of pulse transmitting within a quarter mile radius, but it can also send out false signals. No doubt the Institute has men scouring the area, but in about,” he looks back at the box, “thirty seconds, they will receive a signal that shows Colt moving away from here. The signal will lead them on a ghost chase for about a mile before it drops off.”
“This is a lot of close calls,” I say, cringing.
“It’s all worth it,” Anthony says. “You’re our priority.”
His words twist inside me all sorts of wrong. Everyone around me is taking risks because they think I’m special. Real special . I can barely stand.
I go into the bathroom without saying a word. My back slides against the closed door until I’m sitting on the floor. For years I dreamed about being around Primes and living in their world, but it’s clear I don’t belong. I was so naïve. Someone’s going to get hurtbecause of me. And even if I were mad at Colt for what he did, I’d never wish any harm to come to him.
I close my eyes tight before tears fall. Focus on Max. Nothing else.
After counting to sixty, I stand and go back into the wood-paneled room. Anthony and Colt are inspecting various weapons as if they’re preparing for something big. I try not to think about it and ask, “Where’s Jenna?”
Colt removes a gun with a long barrel and says, “Like I said, no one knows about this place. Not even her.”
“She’s at her mom’s,” Anthony says. He holds out a long stick-looking weapon. It’s an older model, but I know its tip has the ability to shock people. “This one needs a new charge, Colt.”
Colt walks toward him as if to take it, but suddenly he falls to the floor. At first I think he’s tripped, and I’m about to help him up when his back arches and he starts shaking, his eyes rolling into the back of his head.
Anthony rushes to him. “Help me turn him on his side.”
I drop to my knees and push him over, which is difficult because every muscle in his body is flexed and stiff. “Why is he having a seizure?”
“Just hold him still. It will pass in a couple of minutes.”
Anthony holds his legs and arms, while I cradle his head, making sure it stays sideways. Colt’s jaw is clenched tight and his rapid breaths force their way through his pressed lips. Sweat breaks all over his body and within seconds his clothes are wet. I hurt just looking at him.
“Is he aware of the pain?” I ask.
Anthony’s quiet for a moment. “I don’t know.”
Colt’s body jerks hard, and we tighten our grip. After another minute, his shaking slows and one by one his muscles relax. His eyelids close, and I lower his head to the floor. He looks asleep.
“Why did he have a seizure?”
Anthony withdraws his hands from Colt. “He has the Kiss.”
My head snaps up. “What?”
“He’s old, nineteen.”
“That’s not old! And besides, you’re at least, what, seven, eight years older than him?”
“But I’m not as mutated.”
I look down at Colt. How could he be dying? I reach out and gently stroke his black hair; my earlier anger toward him turns to sorrow even though I barely know him. He’s so young.
My father had told me stories of how it used to be before humans tampered with their DNA. People living until the age of a hundred, having children, grandchildren, and often great-grandchildren. They went to college, had long careers, traveled. Experienced life to the fullest. There was none of that now. With so few years to live, the majority of humans rarely lived to fulfill their dreams. They took whatever job they could get to provide for basic comforts. Many didn’t marry or have children. It was too painful for them to find love only to have it taken away from them so soon. It’s no way to live life. If hell existed, that would be it.
“You say my father helped people. How
Similar Books
