Renegade (The Elysium Chronicles #1)(14)

I stuff my items back into the little pack I brought them in, trying to ignore the tiny flutters still tickling my stomach. “No, but I do not suppose Mother would be pleased, either.”

His eyes move to meet mine. “I appreciate everything you’re doing for me. You could have left me here, as sick as I was. I probably would’ve given you the answers you needed, eventually.”

“I know.” I pause for a second, then decide to finish my sentence. “I want to help you.”

He watches me carefully. “Why?”

I take a deep breath. Why am I helping him? Charity doesn’t extend to Surface Dwellers, does it? “I don’t really know. I just … want to.”

Before he can reply, the door to the cell opens and a Guard gestures me over. Mother is waiting. Her presence can mean nothing good. She’d never risk a walk by the turrets.

Before turning back to Gavin, I make sure any trace of fear is erased. I don’t want him to know anything is wrong. “I guess my time is up. I will be back when I can.”

He nods, but there is disappointment in his eyes.

I step out and carefully close the door behind me, taking the time to calm myself before turning to face Mother.





CHAPTER FOUR



We are all Mother’s children. It is a privilege to show her our ultimate obedience to her laws.





—ENGRAVED ON A PILLAR IN THE SQUARE, SECTOR TWO





Mother stands before me, or rather her hologram does. I can see now what I hadn’t been able to see from the cell: the wavy lines of the projection and the concrete wall behind her semitransparent body. She hadn’t risked a walk by the turrets after all. This should make me feel better, but it doesn’t.

She has eyes only for me. And those eyes are filled with a rage I’ve never seen before.

“Just what do you think you’re doing?” Her eyes bore into mine, as if she can see all my secrets. Her voice is tinny and echoes around the room.

“I don’t know what you mean.” I struggle to keep my eyes on hers and not squirm under the scrutiny of her stare.

“Why are you treating his injuries? You are supposed to be getting information.”

“I am, Mother. B-but he was very sick. He couldn’t answer. Besides, I needed to regain his confidence. He didn’t trust me after the Guards beat him.”

She only asks, “What did he tell you?”

Obviously that bit of information didn’t have the effect I’d hoped for and again I struggle to keep my eyes focused on hers. I’m about to smudge the truth and it will be disastrous if she senses I’m lying. She’ll never forgive me. Again I question why I’m even helping him, but I can’t answer myself.

“Only that he came through one of the emergency exits.”

She narrows her eyes and then turns her head. Unable to stop myself, I follow her gaze. She’s focused on Gavin, who glares at her.

“Does he remember how to get there?” she asks. Her eyes are blank now. None of the anger I’d seen previously is visible. No emotions are. It’s worse than if she was angry.

I swallow quickly, which is almost impossible, because my mouth has turned to sand. “No,” I finally manage to say. “He said everything was a blur after his friend set off the DNA camera.” I have no idea if he does or not, but any other answer puts him at risk.

“Turret,” she corrects me. “The other one set off a turret.” She continues to study Gavin. “Is that all you’ve gotten from him?”

“Yes. He’s not very lucid between his infection and the medicines I had to give him.”

Mother purses her lips. “It is of the utmost urgency we get answers from him. There comes a point where the danger he presents outweighs the import of his answers. If he was able to get in, others may do the same. Besides, I don’t want my one and only daughter hurt.” She smiles at me and I relax. “Surface Dwellers are manipulative, and you are so na?ve.” She waves me off, her attention focused back on Gavin. “Your Therapist is waiting for you.”

I hurry away, breathing a quick sigh of relief, but I don’t even dare look at Gavin as I leave. I just have to hope Mother doesn’t take it upon herself to start where I left off.

*



Guards flank me as I make my way toward Dr. Friar’s office in Sector Six—the Medical Sector. If I wasn’t with my Guards, I’d stop and chitchat with several of the shopkeepers who are scattered around in organized chaos in Sector Two along the Bazaar, or the Square.

Like all the other Sectors, Sector Two is in its own building, connected to the other Sectors by glass tube hallways. Sector Two itself is the largest of our Sectors, with the Square being its largest part. Although it’s only one floor, it’s several stories tall. The domed ceiling and three of the walls are entirely made of glass so the ocean is visible at all times—just like in my gardens. Mother says the Square was designed to replicate what the Surface city streets used to look like before the War, complete with alleys and dead ends. While it looks like there’s no pattern to any of it, Mother has arranged the shops to make it easier for people to get from one side to the other and get what they require quickly. There are also areas next to trees and the central fountain for recreation, like picnics or birthday parties and such.