Renegade (The Elysium Chronicles #1)(29)

He obliges and I swab the inside of his mouth with three swabs, then get a scraping of his skin, a sample of his hair, and draw some blood. When I finish I pack everything as neatly as possible back in the kit and stand to leave. “I can’t come back until the tests are done, but I’ll let you know the results if I can.”

He nods, and I gesture for the Guards to let me out. The young Guard appears immediately at my side and walks with me as I go to the lab. The labs are near the Residential Sector, on the complete opposite side of the complex from the Palace Wing. To get to them we have to pass through the Square.

As we pass through the Square, it seems like it’s taking a hundred times longer than it should and I feel the Citizens watching me. Not in the normal way, but because the truth of what I’m doing feels like it’s written all over my face. And I’m sure that one of them is going to see it and go running off to Mother, but they all just smile and nod in greeting.

When we pass one of the alleys, I feel a flash of déjà vu and have to stop. I don’t know why, but I’m drawn to the end of it.

At the end of it, I press my hand to the brick wall. An image of a smaller version of the Square flashes through my mind so strongly that it has to be a memory. I stumble backward and knock right into the Guard, who can’t quite catch me before I fall onto the ground.

Immediately, he helps me up and asks if I’m okay, but I’m still staring at the wall. What was that? I press my hand against the bricks again, but nothing happens this time.

“Miss Evelyn,” the Guard asks, drawing my attention back to him, and the rest of the memory fades as if it was never there. “Are you okay?”

“Y-yes. I just—” I stop myself from blurting it out. I shouldn’t tell anybody until I know for sure what I’ve seen. “I just wanted to touch the bricks. I like the roughness,” I tell him, turning around and leading the way out of the alley, making sure to trail my fingers over the bricks as we leave.

He doesn’t say anything, but I know he doesn’t believe me.

When we finally get to the DNA lab, I poke my head in and immediately spot my best friend, Macie, sitting at one of the microscopes. The lab hasn’t changed in the six years since I first remember seeing it. The walls are all white, as is the floor and the ceiling. There is no view of the ocean, and it always makes me wonder how Macie survives working in such a claustrophobic environment.

There are three long rows of white lab tables with a dozen microscopes per row. Lining the walls are more white lab tables with all sorts of strange unidentifiable things placed over their surfaces.

Macie hasn’t changed all that much, either. Her hair is shorter and no longer in the twin braids she wore when we were ten, and the glasses she used to wear were recycled after the surgery she had last year, but other than that she looks the same.

I don’t remember how we met, but I know she is the one person I consider a true friend. I trust her almost as much as I trust myself. I hope that she feels the same way about me, because I need her help.

“Macie!”

She looks over and smiles at me, showing off her burgundy lips. “Well, look what the catfish dragged in. Been a long time.” She gets off her stool and gives me a hug. She’s taller than me, but only by a few centimeters.

I return the hug. “I know. I’m sorry. Time seems to slip by sometimes and I don’t know where it’s gone.”

She laughs. “Isn’t that always the case? I was just talking to Nick about that the other day. I get so wrapped up in this stuff I forget about our dates.”

“So, you’re still seeing him?”

“Yes.” Her blue eyes sparkle when she says, “We passed our genetic matching. We’ve been approved for coupling.”

“Really? That is so great! I’m happy for you.” I give her another hug.

She returns the hug. “Thanks. Though I think this is all going too fast for him. He’s been humming some children’s song the past few days.”

I chuckle. “Probably just imagining those pretty babies you’re going to make.”

She pulls back and I notice sadness in her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” I ask. She couldn’t possibly know what’s happening. I doubt even the Guards really know, and besides Mother—who won’t say a word—they’re the only ones who could.

She gives me a strange look. “I heard Timothy disappeared. I know you were really close to him.”

“Who?” I furrow my brow. That name is familiar to me and my knees feel a little weak at the mention.

Macie’s eyes narrow and then she lets out a disgusted breath. “She did it again. I knew she wouldn’t leave you be.”

So, Gavin was right. Mother is Conditioning me. And apparently everyone knows it but me. My hands tighten into tight little balls, my nails biting into my skin. But I can’t let on that I’m aware of what’s going on, so I just say, “I’m sorry?” and force my fingers to relax.

She shakes her head. “Never mind.” She gestures to the kit in my hand. “If that’s about Three, take it to Tony. He’s handling all that. Won’t let anyone near it but him.” She rolls her eyes.

My heart somersaults at the mention of Three, but I frown. “It’s not about Three. What’s wrong with Three?”