Unremembered (Unremembered #1)(63)

‘We’re in the process of relocating to a more remote position. My agents have already attracted too much attention, chasing after you in public places. Not to mention all the attention you’ve managed to draw to yourself.’

I glance around the café. Everyone who turned to stare at me has gone back to their own conversations.

‘You’re quite the publicity whore, aren’t you?’ Alixter says with another disturbing chuckle. ‘Although it was that very popularity that helped us locate you in the first place so I suppose it’s a catch-22.’ He pauses, seeming to contemplate his next words.

‘Anyway, we can’t afford to attract any more attention to ourselves. We will be in touch once we arrive at our new location. Until then, I guess you’ll have to wait.’

I’m about to slam the phone down when I hear, ‘Oh, and Sera?’

‘Yes,’ I seethe through gritted teeth.

‘I’m very much looking forward to seeing you again. It’s been far too long.’

There’s silence on the other end of the line and I hear a tiny click. I throw the phone down on the table. It bounces and slides off the side. Cody catches it before it falls to the floor.

‘What was that about?’ Cody asks.

But I don’t answer. I just grab the laptop back and start typing. I don’t hesitate. I don’t stop to think. There’s no longer anything to think about.

Visitor: Where do you want to meet?

I drum my fingers impatiently on the table as I wait for a response. Fortunately it doesn’t take long.

Maxxer: I’ll be outside in ten minutes.





37


TRUSTING


I rise from my chair and dash towards the front door of the coffee shop, shoving it open with my shoulder and exiting on to the street. The warm sunlight is a welcome distraction. I gaze up into it, and for the briefest of moments everything goes pale pink. My eyes water. The world disappears. And I can pretend that none of this is really happening.

But that brief moment is over far too quickly.

I blink and look away. Cody is hurrying out the door, his laptop tucked under one arm. ‘Sera, or whatever your name is, you can’t do this,’ he insists. ‘I’ve seen this horror movie and trust me, it doesn’t end well. Let’s just get out of here while we still can. We’ll figure something else out. We’ll keep searching the Internet until we can find more information about this Diotech place.’

‘He has all the information I need,’ I say with complete confidence. ‘I know it.’

‘But what if he works for them?’ Cody argues. ‘The very people who are after you. Who took Zen! You could be walking right into their trap.’

‘Then at least I’ll have no trouble finding him.’

Cody fumes, making a variety of grunting sounds in response.

I won’t deny that I’m afraid, but I allow my fear to be overpowered by my yearning to find Zen. I already made a huge mistake by running away instead of staying to fight and protect him. I let him be captured. I let them take him. This whole thing is entirely my fault.

And there’s no way I’m going to run away again.

I don’t care what Rio said about my instincts or what’s in my DNA. I won’t flee this time. I’m going to do whatever it takes to find him. Including this.

It’s just like Zen said to me back in the kindergarten classroom when I made a dash for the exit. I can’t keep running away every time I’m afraid. At some point I have to stay and fight for something I know is right.

And I know this is right.

A grey car pulls up to the kerb and stops. A window rolls down and a woman I don’t recognize sticks her head out.

‘Sera,’ she commands in a stern voice. ‘Get in.’

I look to Cody but he’s still brooding and doesn’t offer me any help.

The woman has thick wiry grey hair that’s cut bluntly across her forehead. Her skin is pale and loose. As though it’s been stretched too far and then released. Her narrow dark eyes are hidden behind a pair of glasses with thick black frames.

‘But you’re not . . . Where’s Maxxer?’

She glances suspiciously up and down the block. ‘I am Dr Rylan Maxxer. The photograph on the website is a cover. I’ll explain everything later. But right now you need to get in the car.’

I peer over at Cody again. ‘So? Are you coming or not?’

He rolls his eyes and finally releases his tightly crossed arms, letting them drop down to his sides. ‘Well, it’s not like I can let you go alone.’

We approach the car together. Cody gets into the back seat and I walk around the front to the passenger side. I yank on the handle and slide in, pulling the door closed behind me.

The woman steps on the gas before the door has fully shut, screeching away from the kerb and causing me to be thrown backwards against the seat. I peek behind me to see Cody pulling his seat belt across his body and fastening it. I reach up and do the same.

‘Where are we going?’ I ask the person claiming to be Maxxer.

‘Probably to a murder house,’ Cody responds under his breath.

Dr Maxxer peers anxiously in her rear-view mirror but doesn’t answer my question. Instead she jerks her thumb over her shoulder and asks a question of her own. ‘Who’s the annoying kid?’