Sweet Desire (Tales of Dystopian Decadence Book 2) by Finley Blake Page A
Authors: Finley Blake
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directly to the cooling chest or freezer.
It was no wonder Nicholas always found ways to keep me ignorant of everything he had working in his favor. That meant I could never be tortured for information, never lie about his resources. Only someone truly connected to the Constitutionals would be able to get the necessary information to make use of the laboratory. This ensured the Regime remained ignorant of the technology we had at our disposal.
“We have only one way out,” Adette told me as we packed our bags. “There’s a transport meeting me a mile north of here. If you want to come with me, this is your only chance.”
“Where exactly is here? I never figured that out.”
“We’re in the Alaskan tundra, between Circle and Barrow. I realize that doesn’t tell you much and that’s a huge area, but being in the middle of nowhere works in our favor. The Regime had to be desperate to send anyone up here looking for me, especially the commander himself. Korroziya doesn’t exactly make house calls, you know.”
“Wait…” I had to swallow hard as bile rose up in my throat. “That was Commander Korroziya?”
“The one and only. Don’t you feel special?” Adette winked at me. “This isn’t exactly familiar ground for them, especially with the Canadians and Native nations on our side.” She tossed her dark braid over her shoulder and zipped the backpack she had designated for me. I had done very little of the packing because, as Adette said, white gloves and pretty hats would do me no good on the war’s front lines. “Well, my prim and proper southern friend, are you ready for this?”
“I chose it, so I think I am. I’d better be.”
We took our bags downstairs and sat down to one last dinner in the warmth and security of the house. My stomach twisted in knots, but I forced myself to eat. The calories, Adette told me, were essential to my well-being in the tundra. My body needed energy to trek through the snow and to keep me warm. This wasn’t exactly a concern I had ever encountered in Georgia or L.A., so I took her word for it.
After we washed the dishes and put everything away, we checked the settings on all the electronics one last time. It was pitch-black outside and I couldn’t imagine how we would find our way. “Compass,” Adette told me. “It’s the most basic tool, but also the most important one. Failing that, we follow the stars, but it’s only one mile.”
“One mile in high snow,” I pointed out.
“Hence the snow shoes. They’ll keep us on top of the snow, and since there’s a storm forecast, that will cover our tracks. In fact…” She glanced out the window and a smile curved the corners of her mouth. “It’s already flurrying out there. We’ve got thirty minutes to make our ride, or we’re stuck here, so let’s go.”
“Thirty minutes to walk one mile?” I asked.
“Trust me, it’s not that far to walk.”
I nodded and started donning the layers Adette had chosen for me. By the time I was dressed and the backpack hung from my shoulders, I felt a bit lost inside the furs.
The trek through the snow, especially in the gathering storm, was a new experience for me. As was the lift we hitched on a military helicopter of some sort. Adette yelled over the noise of the chopper, “Our drop point is just over the border in the Northwestern Territory of Washington. After that, we’re on our own.”
“Where are we going?” I shouted.
“Back to where it all began.” She closed her eyes and rested her head against the curved interior of the helicopter, leaving me to wonder what would happen next.
Chapter 9
Dark alleyway? Check.
Same scene as a long-ago murder? Check.
Two Constitutional rebels skulking around incognito? Check.
I adjusted my cap, quieted the sarcastic voice in my mind, and shook my head. “This will never work. I don’t have the right attitude to make it convincing. You know I can’t do this.”
“You can and you will.” Adette peeked
It was no wonder Nicholas always found ways to keep me ignorant of everything he had working in his favor. That meant I could never be tortured for information, never lie about his resources. Only someone truly connected to the Constitutionals would be able to get the necessary information to make use of the laboratory. This ensured the Regime remained ignorant of the technology we had at our disposal.
“We have only one way out,” Adette told me as we packed our bags. “There’s a transport meeting me a mile north of here. If you want to come with me, this is your only chance.”
“Where exactly is here? I never figured that out.”
“We’re in the Alaskan tundra, between Circle and Barrow. I realize that doesn’t tell you much and that’s a huge area, but being in the middle of nowhere works in our favor. The Regime had to be desperate to send anyone up here looking for me, especially the commander himself. Korroziya doesn’t exactly make house calls, you know.”
“Wait…” I had to swallow hard as bile rose up in my throat. “That was Commander Korroziya?”
“The one and only. Don’t you feel special?” Adette winked at me. “This isn’t exactly familiar ground for them, especially with the Canadians and Native nations on our side.” She tossed her dark braid over her shoulder and zipped the backpack she had designated for me. I had done very little of the packing because, as Adette said, white gloves and pretty hats would do me no good on the war’s front lines. “Well, my prim and proper southern friend, are you ready for this?”
“I chose it, so I think I am. I’d better be.”
We took our bags downstairs and sat down to one last dinner in the warmth and security of the house. My stomach twisted in knots, but I forced myself to eat. The calories, Adette told me, were essential to my well-being in the tundra. My body needed energy to trek through the snow and to keep me warm. This wasn’t exactly a concern I had ever encountered in Georgia or L.A., so I took her word for it.
After we washed the dishes and put everything away, we checked the settings on all the electronics one last time. It was pitch-black outside and I couldn’t imagine how we would find our way. “Compass,” Adette told me. “It’s the most basic tool, but also the most important one. Failing that, we follow the stars, but it’s only one mile.”
“One mile in high snow,” I pointed out.
“Hence the snow shoes. They’ll keep us on top of the snow, and since there’s a storm forecast, that will cover our tracks. In fact…” She glanced out the window and a smile curved the corners of her mouth. “It’s already flurrying out there. We’ve got thirty minutes to make our ride, or we’re stuck here, so let’s go.”
“Thirty minutes to walk one mile?” I asked.
“Trust me, it’s not that far to walk.”
I nodded and started donning the layers Adette had chosen for me. By the time I was dressed and the backpack hung from my shoulders, I felt a bit lost inside the furs.
The trek through the snow, especially in the gathering storm, was a new experience for me. As was the lift we hitched on a military helicopter of some sort. Adette yelled over the noise of the chopper, “Our drop point is just over the border in the Northwestern Territory of Washington. After that, we’re on our own.”
“Where are we going?” I shouted.
“Back to where it all began.” She closed her eyes and rested her head against the curved interior of the helicopter, leaving me to wonder what would happen next.
Chapter 9
Dark alleyway? Check.
Same scene as a long-ago murder? Check.
Two Constitutional rebels skulking around incognito? Check.
I adjusted my cap, quieted the sarcastic voice in my mind, and shook my head. “This will never work. I don’t have the right attitude to make it convincing. You know I can’t do this.”
“You can and you will.” Adette peeked
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